Denver Zoo director of communications Tiffany Barnhart is taking a ride on the wild side.
Barnhart, 35, is the winner of the zoo’s first Wild Ride challenge, a program where one zoo employee gives up his or her car for commuting to work for one year by cycling, riding the bus or carpooling to work.
Barnhart started curtailing the use of her car keys July 1.
“We have an entire committee at the Denver Zoo to make sure everything we do at the zoo is environmentally friendly and sustainable,” Barnhart said. “I’m having a good time so far mostly taking my bike or riding the bus on my 12-mile trek every day. If I can do this, people close by can do this.”
The zoo’s spokeswoman lives in Wheat Ridge, works 10 hours a day four days a week and has a supportive husband who takes their 3-year- old to school.
“We’re really trying to be an environmentally friendly place and making sure all our employees have the opportunity to do the same,” she said.
For her green efforts, Barnhart’s rewards include a Sentinel messenger bag and jacket from Rocky Mountain Hardwear, bike maintenance sponsored in part by Jackrabbit Bike and Trail, a chiropractic treatment from Petersen Chiropractic, a massage from Everett Wolfe CMT, gear from Green Guru Gear, a Netbook and a one-night stay at Hotel Monaco Denver.
At the six-month mark, Barnhart will also receive a hand-crafted bamboo bicycle from Fort Collins-based Panda Bicycles.
Mickey Mouse Club.
A Littleton family won a trip to New York on Thursday for the reveal of Disney Parks’ marketing theme for 2011: Let the Memories Begin.
The family, headed by single dad Mike Principato, submitted a video about his breaking the news to offspring Elizabeth, 13, and Nick, 11, that the family would be going to Disneyland, in Southern California.
Starting next year, a projection show will appear on the It’s a Small World facade in Disneyland and Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World featuring YouTube video submissions.
The public is invited to submit user-generated content to . Some of the home videos and snapshots could end up as part of a national marketing campaign seen by millions.
In the Principatos’ video, Mike gets his kids to the airport on the ruse that they are going to see grandparents. Instead, he springs it on them that they’re going to Disneyland.
“The whole theme is to visit Disney theme parks and to make memories for your family,” said John McClintock, Disney spokesman.
In the Hall.
Six notable locals will be inducted into the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame during its 16th annual Hall of Fame Banquet today at the Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Place.
The inductees are Mike McPhee, who recently retired from The Denver Post; Cynthia Hessin of Rocky Mountain PBS; Neil Westergaard, editor of the Denver Business Journal; and, posthumously, cable pioneer Bill Daniels; Greg Pearson, former journalism professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver; and William Byers, founder of the Rocky Mountain News.
Tickets are $65. Reservations: 303-571-5260.
EAVESDROPPING
On a young man to a middle-aged woman:
“My girlfriend is a tattoo artist.”
“Do people have those like most people have hairdressers? Who knew?”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
