I guess that we can all breathe a sigh of relief that we’re still alive at the end of 2021. What a challenge for America and the world. Overall, I think the nation has done the best possible to fight the pandemic. However, I would never
discharge military members or health care workers for refusing to be vaccinated for any reason.
While science indicates that it is the best way to combat the dreaded plague, it is a matter of personal choice. I’m fully vaccinated with the booster shot and feel much safer because of the inoculations. I have suffered almost no side effects, except sometimes the sniffles.
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December 15 I accompanied by good friend Bob Pulsipher to the “Winter Rendezvous” of The Denver Posse of Westerners; a group of Colorado writers and historians of some repute. Mr. History Colorado, Tom Noel, is one of the notable writers in the creative group of book writers and authors.
The event was held in an active bookbinding building at 1401 West 47th Avenue in North Denver. This is Senator Dennis Gallagher territory and he was present for the Rendezvous in good health and spirit.
The evening featured the annual Rosenstock Award to the Beulah Historical Society for “Outstanding Contributions to Colorado History.” The group has established a new museum on a one-acre parcel of land in Beulah; a small community of 800 to 1000 residents, 25 miles Southwest of Pueblo. The Beulah Historical Society was established in 1975 with 25 members, today they have grown membership to 220 in their new home.
A second award for “Lifetime Achievement In Western History” was presented to Joe Sokolowski, a longtime members of the Denver Posse and a one-time student of Tom Noel. An active writer, Sokolowski is an Air Force veteran and worked at Ralph Schomp BMW from 1983 until 2010. He is an active member of Historic Denver and has written over 100 histories on a variety of topics. He and his wife Rita have worked tirelessly in supporting the Posse organization, along with Boy Scout service and hosting dozens of exchange students.
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Afshin Safavi hosted a magnificent birthday party for his wife Dr. Atousa Safavi at the Franciscan Event Center in Centennial Saturday, December 11. 100 friends of the couple were present at the surprise party. This event center is very close to the Centennial City Bldg., located on Revere St. First visit ever to this exquisite facility that holds special events and weddings. The birthday party was fabulous with Afshin celebrating his wife’s birthday with dancing and a buffet dinner. The Cherry Hills council member first met his wife at a dance 27 years ago. It was a very festive occasion enjoyed by the couple’s many friends. Happy Birthday Dr. Atousa Safavi who owns and operates a South Denver dental clinic.
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Attended another surprise birthday celebration December 18 for Glory Weisberg who observed a milestone birthday December 14. Steven Edmonds and Daniel Kopnisky hosted a house party for Glory who has communicated with Steve and Daniel for years. The intimate dinner party included Glory’s society leaders who she worked with covering non-profit events over three decades at the Villager Newspaper. Son Steve and daughter in-law Fatima Weisberg escorted her to the dinner party. Glory was in good spirts and missing venerable David who accompanied her on so many charitable events. It was Glory who made a brave decision, supported by the newspaper, to cease coverage of non-profit smoking events bringing a halt to the fume’s decades ago.
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We’re about to wrap up this year of change and challenge. The New Year will be faced with courage, patience, and dedicated service by our many care givers and medical staffs who have done so much for the nation’s pandemic patients. Doctors and nurses should be on the cover of TIME magazine as the heroes of the century.
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Dr. Purnima Voria, CEO of the National US-India Chamber of Commerce, hosted a two-hour event at the Metro State Campus student center building Dec. 14, featuring a gift painting received from Denver’s Indian Sister City “Chennai,” resulting from a recent Denver Sister/City delegation trip. The program also included a preview video presentation of the major premiere movie “The Kashmir Files” and a panel discussion of the controversial split of Hindu Kashmiri (India). The Harvard graduate film director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri was present and discussed the intense research done on the film over an 18-month period. Agnihotri is a leading film maker in India. The film is being released in the United States in January. Denverite Ambassador Sam Zakhem introduced the program to invited guests and Denver city officials and Sister City staff.
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The new student center and administration building on the Metropolitan State University Campus is outstanding as the University soars over 30,000 students, leading the state in diversity, higher education, and opportunities for all students.