Some big biz players in LoDo were picked as the 2010 Limelight Award winners, given by LoDo District Inc., during an event Wednesday in the Seawell Ballroom.
Jim Theye, managing broker-owner of Kentwood City Properties, won the Cares Award for philanthropy and community involvement.
Architect Chris Shears of Shears Adkins Architects was given the Legacy Award for best practices in the fields of development, renovation or preservation.
Samantha Martel, owner of the Downtown Denver News, won the Spotlight Award for helping drive activity to LoDo through marketing or events.
And Laurie Helmick, owner of Luxe salon, took the Service Award for demonstrating exceptional dedication to the organization.
Each award winner was presented with a red brick, representing the architecture of the century-old buildings in LoDo.
R.I.P.
Joe Fuentes, the consummate public-relations man well-known throughout Colorado’s media world, died Tuesday of complications from cancer.
Fuentes’ last job was in media relations at Xcel Energy. His colleague and next-door-cubicle dweller Mark Stutz said he best remembers Fuentes — who had previous PR gigs at Mountain Bell, Coors Brewing, Quark and Storage Tek/Sun Microsystems following a career as a journalist at the Rocky Mountain News — for forcing Stutz to change his beverage of choice.
“The first time I saw him at the Denver Press Club, I was drinking a Budweiser,” Stutz recalled. “I noticed that this guy kept giving me a dirty look. He came up to me and said, ‘I work for Coors, and you need to start drinking Coors in here.’ He changed my beverage habits, if you will.”
One of Fuentes’ passions — which included golf and the Nuggets — was the Press Club. He was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame and last served on the board of directors.
“Joe was a great guy, very classy, always friendly, upbeat and optimistic,” said Press Club board president Bruce Goldberg. “And he was one of the backbones of the Denver Press Club, serving in many capacities. I’m very saddened by his loss and was glad I got to know him and his family.”
The most touching tribute to Fuentes that was posted online was written by Doyle Albee, president of Boulder PR firm Metzger Associates, who worked with his mentor.
The seen.
Oscar- and Tony Award- winning actress Marcia Gay Harden was a guest of the Viceroy Snowmass resort over the weekend and charmed the crowd at Aspen Film’s Academy Screenings party.
EAVESDROPPING
A woman in the bar at Morton’s LoDo:
“The best part about this place is no matter what time of day it is, you walk in here and feel like it’s cocktail hour.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on Caplis and Silverman between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. 303-954-5224 or pparker@denverpost.com
