Harvesting Hope 5K Stapleton Turkey Trot

Most of the events listed below are FREE or support nonprofits. Additional events are listed on pages 24-27. Also visit FrontPorchStapleton.com to view additional events and to submit events.

Harvesting Hope 5K Nov. 24
The Second Annual Harvesting Hope 5K Stapleton Turkey Trot will be held Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24 at Stapleton’s Central Park. A free 1K kids’ race for children 10 and under will begin at 9:30am, followed by the main 5K race at 10:15am. The race is run on a timed and certified course. Strollers and dogs are welcome and the race will begin near the park pavilion and kids’ playground. In addition to the race activities, the event will host a Kids’ Zone with games, bounce houses, balloons and prizes.

Last year, 624 participants from 10 states registered and over $40,000 was raised to support research for Prader-Willi syndrome, the No. 1 genetic cause of life-threatening child obesity that overlaps with other disabilities such as autism and childhood diabetes. This year, the goal is to register 1,000 participants and raise $60,000. The race is organized by Rachael Fischer and Julie Foge, who each have a child with Prader-Willi.

Online registration is $35 and day-of registration is $40 per runner. Families of four or more receive a 10 percent registration discount per participant. To register for the race, visit www.harvestinghope5k.com. To learn more about Prader-Willi syndrome, see www.fpwr.org.

Extreme Mammals Open at DMNS through Jan. 8
“Extreme Mammals,” is open at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science through Jan. 8, 2017. Fossils, reconstructions and lifelike models trace the ancestry and evolution of mammals. Included are the largest land mammal ever—a 15-foot-tall, 20-ton extinct vegetarian named Indricotherium, the tiny 50-million-year-old, one-inch Batodonoides, the biggest marsupial to walk the earth, a giant pig whose teeth grew through the top of its snout, “walking” whales and a car-sized relative of the armadillo. Free with museum admission. dmns.org/mammals

Winter Welcome
Friday, Nov. 18, 6–8pm
Join the MCA at the West Crescent to kick off the holiday season! The MCA will host a night of festive traditions including the lighting of the trees and streets of the 29th Ave. Town Center. Holiday lights will be strung across trees on 29th Ave. and we will have a Christmas tree on the West Crescent and a menorah on the East Crescent. Participating Town Center retail shops will be open and many will feature holiday specials. The streets will be lined with booths that will include a roasted almond vendor and fire pits complete with s’more makings, hot chocolate and much more. All event proceeds will benefit local nonprofits.

Active Minds Seminar
This is a free, no-reservation-needed public program brought to you by the Stapleton MCA. Location: Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St.

Thursday, Nov. 10, 6:45–7:45pm
Brazil
The political leadership of South America’s largest country has plunged into turmoil with the recent impeachment of the country’s first female president Dilma Rousseff on corruption charges. Also implicated is her predecessor and architect of Brazil’s recent political and economic evolution, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (“Lula”). Join Active Minds as we explore Brazil’s emergence as a young democracy with a growing economy and how these developments may influence its future.

Thursday, Nov. 17, 6:45–7:45pm
The Supreme Court
The unexpected death of Antonin Scalia has created one of the most charged political events in a generation. With the end of the presdential election and future of a divided court hanging in the balance, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Join Active Minds as we examine the current dynamics surrounding filling a vacancy on our highest court. We will look at past confirmations to better understand the intracacies of the process.

Stapleton Night with The Nuggets
Friday, Nov. 25, 7pm
Join the Denver Nuggets for the second annual Stapleton MCA Community Night with the Nuggets on Friday, Nov. 25! Forty select kids will take part in our Red, White and Blue Crew, presenting the American flag during the performance of the National Anthem. Visit stapletoncommunity.com to buy tickets!

Santa’s Best Christmas Trees
Visit your local tree lot for your 2016 Christmas tree! Santa’s Best Christmas Trees will be located at each of The Greens starting the Friday after Thanksgiving. The Greens are located at 29th Ave. and Roslyn St., and 49th Place and Valencia St.

Community DNA
We are excited to see our young community hanging out at the 29th Ave. Town Center, the West Crescent and Founders Green. We want to encourage use of Founders Green and the West Crescent. Parents of the young community, we ask you to please remind your children to be respectful of community property and to pick up after themselves. We want to make sure these areas remain clean and enjoyable for everyone’s use. We also ask the community to step up and say something if they see anyone being disrepectful to the property or leaving trash.

If you have any questions or comments about the information above, please feel free to contact jolsen@stapletoncommunity.com or call the MCA office at 303.388.0724.