Why were all those folks decked out in Santa hats and armed with hoes, shovels and wheelbarrows swarming around the Columbine Memorial in Clement Park on Friday?
Most days those elves are employees of Terracare Associates, a Littleton-based company that specializes in commercial landscape management and public infrastructure.
In lieu of doling out client gifts this holiday season, they elected to spend their time and money on the year-long upkeep of the outdoor memorial that commemorates the tragic shootings at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999.
The memorial is maintained through donations solicited by foundation board members and by volunteer sweat equity. Annual maintenance costs are between $10,000 and $15,000.
“A lot of us live in the area,” said Dean Murphy, Terracare Associates executive vice president, whose daughter plays softball at the high school and came up with idea that her dad’s company get involved. “Over the years, we’ve gone and helped on occasions fixing concrete, mowing. No one thought when they built this that they don’t have money in perpetuity to maintain it.”
The memorial, built in 2007, includes perennial flowers, trees, stone pavers, and symbolic stone walls called The Ring of Remembrance and The Healing Wall.
“The pavers constantly need to be adjusted because ground moves under them, and the water feature is a high-maintenance item too,” Murphy said.
Working in the great outdoors will be a welcome change of scenery for Murphy, a desk-bound exec who spends his days studying financial statements for the $30 million company with offices in California and Colorado.
“The employees will get a kick out of making me work,” he said.
Turn on TV.
A crew from “CBS Sunday Morning” was at the Wynkoop Tuesday to shoot a segment with reporter Barry Peterson on craft beer in the U.S. He interviewed head brewer Andy Brown, 2009 Beerdrinker of the Year Cody Christman, and Wynkoop mouthpiece Marty Jones.
“CBS Sunday Morning” airs 8-9:30 a.m. on KCNC-Channel 4.
Colorado’s key.
The official key to the state of Colorado, created by Hyde Park Jewelers and presented to Gov. Dick Lamm in 1984, was moved last week to the Capitol Rotunda during an official proclamation and ceremony with Gov. Bill Ritter.
The key is made from precious materials indigenous to Colorado. It contains:
• 3 ounces of 14-karat gold.
• 1 ounce of 18-karat gold.
• 1.5 ounces of sterling silver.
• 2.6 karats of yellow sapphires.
• 2.7 karats of blue sapphires.
• .75 karats of round brilliant diamonds, and it took 55 hours of labor to create.
For 25 years, the key to the state has been in secure storage away from public viewing.
Not so blue.
Call me crazy, but I’ve never been a fan of the wildly popular Blue Bonnet restaurant, the Denver fixture at 457 S. Broadway that seemed to be a monument to orange cheese.
But when owner Gary Mobell threw an invite-only party to re introduce some of us to his nearly 40-year-old scene, I figured I’d give it another try.
I was happy to leave my skepticism at the door. We were treated to some killer posole, stuffed pob lanos, soft tacos, pumpkin flan and great guacamole with four flavorful salsas and homemade chips.
These and other seasonal features are now available on the winter menu. Open seven days including a late-night happy hour, and gluten-free menu.
EAVESDROPPING
A woman at a chef’s charity event:
“I’ll sit by the trash can. I’m using to sitting by trash all day.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on “Caplis & Silverman” between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
