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“The Librarianist,” by Patrick deWitt, and more short book reviews from readers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

“The Housekeeper and the Professor,” by Yoko Ogawa (Deckle Edge, 2009)Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. Sure, you could read advertising blurbs on Amazon, but wouldn’t you be more likely to believe a neighbor with no skin in the game over a corporation being fed words by publishers? So in this series, we are sharing these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email [email protected].“The Housekeeper and the Professor,” by Yoko Ogawa (Picador, 2009)Intimately written in first person, this book seems more memoir than fiction. We never learn the housekeeper/narrator’s name (nor her son’s real name), but we learn so much about their personalities and grow to love them. The glimpses into Japanese culture were surprising in how Western things often seemed, such as meals that could be on my dinner table. And t...

Sushi-quality fish rolls in daily to this downtown Denver poke spot | Opinion

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).Anthony Bourdain warned diners in his famous “Kitchen Confidential” book to usually avoid sushi spots on Monday because most restaurants use old fish from the weekend.But at Denver Poke Company, a truck rolls up every day to deliver fresh, sushi-grade fish. I have personally witnessed this, since I used to work in the office next door. And it quickly became my go-to lunch spot and favorite poke restaurant in town.“We basically copy what barbecue restaurants do, where we order and cook as much for that day, and if you run out, you run out,” owner Anh Nguyen said. “It keeps the integrity of the quality.”Nguyen was a sushi chef for most of his career, previously working for Sushi Den and Kenichi in Aspen, but after starting a family, he was ...

“We literally get run over”: Golden Gate Canyon State Park braces for another busy leaf-peeping season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

Front Range leaf-peeping season will begin any day now, and at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, that means rangers are bracing for crazy crowds that annually overwhelm the scenic mountain area northwest of Golden when the aspen turn.“We literally get run over,” park manager Todd Farrow said recently on a tour of the 12,000-acre park, which is located 12 miles up Golden Gate Canyon and seems to have aspen stands every direction a visitor turns. Some of them frame gorgeous views of the Continental Divide.Golden Gate Canyon State Park will be a very popular destination when leaf-peeping season begins this year. The change is expected to start around Sept. 23.(Bridget O’Rourke, Colorado Parks and Wildlife)Golden Gate consistently ranks as fourth-busiest among the 42 parks operated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, behind Lake Pueblo, Cherry Creek and Chatfield, and it’s No. 1 among CPW’s mountain parks, attracting 1.3 million visitors last year. Of that, 291,00...

10 can’t-miss beer tappings and events during Great American Beer Festival week in Denver

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

There isn’t as much buzz this year around the Great American Beer Festival, which takes place at the Colorado Convention Center on Sept. 21-23, as usual. The annual event — considered to be the largest commercial beer fest in the United States — has had trouble generating momentum since taking two years off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.And while there are usually dozens, even hundreds, of events at metro Denver breweries, bars and restaurants during the week of the fest, 2023 isn’t seeing nearly as many. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of rare, special or fun beers to drink. Here are 10 of the best tappings or events, along with some other suggestions if you can’t make it to those.Cerebral Brewing hosts Bottle Logic for a blending session at its Aurora location. (Staff photo: Jonathan Shikes)Cerebral Brewing/Bottle Logic Live Blending SessionWednesday, Sept. 20. From hazy IPAs to wild ales and from lagers to barrel-aged stout...

Colorado weighs new plan to cut greenhouse gasses. Critics fear it’ll let major polluters pay to avoid reducing emissions.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

Colorado’s air-quality regulators this week will consider a plan for the state’s 18 largest manufacturers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s running into sharp criticism from legislators and environmentalists who are concerned about a loophole that could allow companies to buy their way out of making cuts.The 18 companies, which include Molson Coors, Cargill Meat Solutions, Microchip Technology, Leprino Foods, Natural Soda, Western Sugar Cooperative and Suncor Energy, also oppose the state’s plan, saying it will place a regulatory burden on them that could force the companies to eliminate jobs or relocate out of Colorado.Ahead of this week’s hearing to finalize the rule, 16 state legislators who created the law that mandates the reduction in emissions sent a letter to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission to voice their concerns. Opposition also is coming from the advisory council created to guide the Colorado Department of Public ...

Victim shot in Jack in the Box drive-thru in Huntington Beach

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

The search is on for a gunman in Huntington Beach who opened fire on a vehicle in a Jack in the Box drive-thru, striking one victim Sunday night.Officers responded shortly before 11 p.m. to the restaurant in the 16000 block of Beach Boulevard following reports of a shooting, a Huntington Beach Police Department spokesperson confirmed. Police investigate a shooting at a Huntington Beach Jack in the Box on Sept. 17, 2023. (OnScene.TV)One victim was found by officers with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and taken to a local hospital. The victim appeared to be going through the drive-thru when the shooting occurred. Video showed a red car with evidence markers around it stopped at the drive-thru ordering area. Witnesses said they heard gunshots and screaming before police arrived. Teen firefighter in training severely burned in tragic accident The gunman remains outstanding and there is currently no description being provided by police. The motive for the shooting is still being...

Humphrey’s Journey: From Vision to Success

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

Introduction:As an authoritative expert and industry pioneer in the field of the internet, Humphrey Smith has over 40 years of rich experience. He is a visionary leader who understands the art of team motivation. By fostering an empowering, collaborative, and continually innovative corporate culture, Humphrey has consistently stayed at the forefront of technological innovation and market expansion. This article delves into the pivotal moments that shaped his journey and the valuable experiences gained along the way.Embracing Innovation：During his tenure at McKinsey & Company, Humphrey instilled the course of his career with a commitment to innovation early in his professional journey. Innovative thinking enhanced his listening, communication, and problem-solving skills. Humphrey recognized the urgent need for innovation in a dynamic market and adjusted McKinsey’s organizational model. The streamlined organizational structure and its unique problem-solving approach made th...

Students, parents had raised concerns about Castro Valley High School music teacher before sex abuse charges

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

Parents in Castro Valley are sharply criticizing school administrators for delaying an investigation amid early signs of improper behavior by a high school music teacher who was charged this week with sexually abusing a student.Visual and performing arts teacher Keita Hasegawa, 31, was booked Thursday at Santa Rita Jail and is scheduled for arraignment Monday, according to online jail records. He remained in custody Friday.Months earlier, at a public board meeting April 26 of the Castro Valley Unified School District, parent John O’Hara told board members that his family received an email informing them that Hasegawa — who had been put on leave in March immediately following allegations of possible inappropriate teacher-student behavior — was scheduled to return to the classroom.“My wife and I were gravely concerned,” O’Hara told the board. “When we went directly to law enforcement, we learned that there is still an active investigation underway. None o...

These South Bay teens are competing in a global science competition — and you can vote until Sept. 20

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

Arjun Gurjar and Sophia Tran have always been interested in science. For 17-year-old Arjun, that began when he got a DK Encyclopedia at age 5. For 16-year-old Sophia, it started with her high school psychology class, and a fascination with the inner-workings of the brain. For years, the two South Bay teens dove into different scientific topics — from trying to understand Alzheimer’s disease to attempting to unravel the immune system.But now, both South Bay high schoolers have put that knowledge to the test: they are among 30 finalists in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a global competition that challenges students to create original, digestible videos about a complex scientific topic. Arjan focused on how viruses can cure diseases; Sophia explained how neurotransmitters affect the nervous system.“Science has always been something where you go into a classroom, take out a textbook, read something and learn it,” said Sophia, who lives in San Jose and attends St. Francis High,...

Alameda County DA promised to hold police accountable. Why are reopened shooting cases languishing?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:53 GMT

OAKLAND — When Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price became the county’s top law enforcement official in January, she vowed to hold police accountable for misconduct.She quickly announced that her office would review six fatal police shootings and two in-custody deaths to determine whether any of the officers involved should face criminal charges.So far, however, the DA’s Office has not publicly announced any charging decisions in any of the police shooting cases, which had previously been reviewed and cleared by former longtime District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, who retired at the end of her term last year. Price said the goals she originally set for these cases were ambitious — and the process of re-examining them has taken longer than she would have liked.“Our goal is to be far more timely than the office — my predecessor’s administration — was,” Price said in a recent interview. “So we started off with our own internal goal of try...