Joe Vaccarelli

Denver/South Jefferson County

Joe Vaccarelli

Joe Vaccarelli covers Denver and Lakewood for the YourHub section of The Denver Post. Prior to coming aboard in 2011, he worked with Mile High Newspapers. Vaccarelli also teaches percussion at schools in Golden and Littleton and performs with the Denver Broncos Stampede and Denver Nuggets Skyline drumlines.

DENVER, CO - December 20: Denver International Airport Hot Shot worker and Denver Parks and Recreation horticulturalist Mike Cockrell checks the oil on a snow plow truck with windshield wiper fluid at the Tower Rd. Snow facility at DIA December 20, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

From the parks to the planes: Denver employees shuffle jobs according to the season

December 27, 2016 at 4:44 p.m.

The shared service program between Denver International Airport and Denver Parks and Recreation sees parks employees spend six months of their year working at the airport on the snow removal...

First phase of Carmody Park improvements underway

December 27, 2016 at 4:28 p.m.

Lakewood is working to upgrade Carmody Park, one of the city鈥檚 larger and busier parks, and should have the first phase of construction done in March or April.

LAKEWOOD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 15: Mike Thein, center, speaks with group lead Kristen Rahm, right, at The Table dinner and worship service Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood, CO. The meal for the night was enchiladas, Spanish rice, cookies, and coffee and concluded in a 50 minute service. Next week's menu on Thursday Dec. 23 will be Christmas-themed and serve ham, potato salad and pie. Pastor Drew Ross has led the weekly event for three years, but it started in 2009. "We can provide for the community well, serve a meal well... but the goal is to partner with other organizations," he said. Many volunteers dedicate their time to serve food or play music. "There's some dedicated folks around here that make it happen," Ross said. Between 125 and 200 people attend every week. (Photo by Daniel Brenner/Special to the Denver Post)

Lakewood Church provides dinner for homeless on Thursdays

December 20, 2016 at 4:29 p.m.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church has been providing dinner and worship services for the homeless in Lakewood on Thursdays for the past seven years. The program has grown along with the homeless...

Senan Abdalsatar, a refugee from Iraq, and Abang Oletho, a refugee from Ethiopia, make to-go salads for Spring Cafe, which helps local immigrants and refugees with work Dec. 16.

Denver’s Spring Cafe gives immigrants and refugees a chance to learn retail

December 20, 2016 at 1:47 p.m.

The Spring Cafe just celebrated its one-year anniversary and gives immigrants and refugees an opportunity to hone their language skills and gain their first experience in retail work.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) turns up field after a catch during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars December 4, 2016 at EverBank Field. John Leyba, The Denver Post

Fantasy Post podcast: Playoffs Week 15. Emmanuel Sanders or Larry Fitzgerald, Cam Newton or Russell Wilson

December 14, 2016 at 11:21 p.m.

The Denver Post fantasy squad previews Week 15 in the NFL with a little fantasy would you rather. Also, they take an in-depth look at some of this year's busts...

From left: Liz Zukowski, Councilwoman Kendra Black, Kathy Gile and Tate Carpenter go for a jog along a trail. (provided by Kendra Black's office)

Denver Councilwoman Kendra Black to start run club along Highline Canal

December 13, 2016 at 3:22 p.m.

Denver City Councilwoman Kendra Black wants to help her constituents get an early start on their New Year鈥檚 resolutions while also showing off the amenities in her district.

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 9: Denver Police officer Adam Foisy, right, gives a couple some suggestions on where they may gain some help with needed city services, while officer Aaron Carlson checks the ID of one man who is drinking from an open container of alcohol. Carlson has the man pour out the alcohol and instead of issuing a citation, he gives the man a warning not to drink alcohol in public. The Denver Police Department is making the pilot safety patrols that started earlier this year on Colfax permanent for next year. The District 6 office has increased bike and foot patrols along Colfax and the Business Improvement District in the area has said it has really helped businesses along Colfax. (Photo by Kathryn Scott/The Denver Post )

Denver police adds bike, foot patrols along Colfax in Capitol Hill

December 14, 2016 at 6:54 a.m.

Denver police have dedicated a bike patrol to East Colfax in an effort to reduce crime in the area and meet the needs of the community.

Belmar shopping center gets in spirit of the season

December 13, 2016 at 2:40 p.m.

The Belmar shopping center in Lakewood is in full Christmas mode with its ice rink open for the season and decorations all ready for the busiest shopping time of the...

Zainab Jalal, 14, an immigrant from Iraq, watches the press conference from afar near the playground at Denver Housing Authority Sun Valley Homes Opportunity Center on Dec. 12, 2016.

$30 million grant will help revitalize Sun Valley, Denver’s poorest neighborhood

January 31, 2017 at 4:32 p.m.

Sun Valley has long been Denver鈥檚 poorest neighborhood, but it soon could be Denver鈥檚 next great neighborhood thanks to a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and...

Felisha Young works on homework with her daughter, Christina, 6, at their apartment in the Sun Valley neighborhood of Denver on April 30. Felisha and Christina have lived at Mercy Housing's Decatur Place Apartments for two years. The transitional housing program requires that residents are employed full time, attend school full time or a combination of the two. The pair live off the $300 a month Felisha receives from TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and $300 in food stamps. (Craig F. Walker, Denver Post file)

Denver’s Sun Valley neighborhood to receive $30 million HUD grant

December 9, 2016 at 8:03 a.m.

Denver鈥檚 Sun Valley neighborhood will receive a $30 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to improve housing, increase business opportunities and access...

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Joe Vaccarelli

All Stories

From the parks to the planes: Denver employees shuffle jobs according to the season

First phase of Carmody Park improvements underway

Lakewood Church provides dinner for homeless on Thursdays

Denver’s Spring Cafe gives immigrants and refugees a chance to learn retail

Fantasy Post podcast: Playoffs Week 15. Emmanuel Sanders or Larry Fitzgerald, Cam Newton or Russell Wilson

Denver Councilwoman Kendra Black to start run club along Highline Canal

Denver police adds bike, foot patrols along Colfax in Capitol Hill

Belmar shopping center gets in spirit of the season

$30 million grant will help revitalize Sun Valley, Denver’s poorest neighborhood

Denver’s Sun Valley neighborhood to receive $30 million HUD grant