The limited series, which is being produced to mark the 30th anniversary of her killing, will star Melissa McCarthy as JonBenét’s mother, Patsy, and Clive Owen as her father, John. They were immediate suspects in the brutal murder of the child beauty queen on Dec. 25, 1996, when she was found dead in the basement of her Boulder home.

A long ransom note, and the still-unsolved nature of the case, continue to inspire lurid fascination in the entertainment world. The crime has inspired documentary and narrative shows such as 2016’s “Getting Away with Murder” and Netflix’s 2017 experiment “Casting JonBenét,” amid many others before that. That last show casts local actors from Boulder to “offer multiple perspectives on her 1996 murder as they vie to play roles in a dramatization of the case,” Netflix wrote.

The Paramount+ series will take the dramatization route.

“(The Series) follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation,” according to a statement from Paramount+.

“At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people – as husband and wife, as mother and father – who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.”

The show will be produced by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios, with production beginning soon in Calgary, Canada, according to the studio.

“JonBenét Ramsey continues to be one of the country’s most fascinating unsolved murders,” said Jeff Grossman, executive vice president of programming at Paramount+. “The incredible talent of Melissa McCarthy, Clive Owen and the creative team led by (showrunner) Richard LaGravenese will illuminate her story with the acuity and nuance it deserves.”

McCarthy is primarily known as a comedian, but has also taken on dramatic roles.

There is no release date for the show.

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Sap Sua, which began service that same month, at 2550 E. Colfax Ave., serves owners Ni and Anna Nguyen’s non-traditional takes on traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

“At Sắp Sửa every team member’s name is listed at the bottom of the menu. There’s Ben Carolan, the sous-chef responsible for the trúng và trúng — cloudlike scrambled eggs laced with bright fish sauce and brown butter served over warm rice. And Theo Bodor, who helped develop a dish of fried tofu served in a rich tomato stew punctuated by bites of crunchy peanuts,” Bon Appetit’s Kate Kassin wrote in her entry for the list, which was released Monday.

“Husband-wife owners Ni and Anna Nguyen moved to Denver from Los Angeles in late 2020, intent on introducing this city to the Vietnamese American cooking of Ni’s first-generation upbringing. Along the way they created a restaurant shaped equally by the influences of their talented, enthusiastic team. In a lively dining room that’s consistently packed, Vietnamese flavors blend into those of other cultures–turmeric-batter fried catfish sandwiches topped with slices of American cheese or grilled corn ribs with shrimp aioli—and point to two leaders who know when to stick to tradition and when to color outside the lines,” Bon Appetit concluded.

In April, the magazine called Xiquita, the Mexico City-inspired, masa-focused restaurant from chef Erasmo Casiano, as one of its seven most-anticipated restaurant openings nationwide.

And in 2022, Denver’s La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal was named among the 50 best new restaurants in the nation by Bon Appetit.

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Alma Fonda Fina, a high-end Mexican dining room, which opened just nine months ago at 2556 15th St., in Denver’s Lower Highland neighborhood, joined the one-star club, which includes Beckon, Bruto and The Wolf’s Tailor, all in Denver, Bosq in Aspen, and Frasca in Boulder.

“Chef Johnny Curiel started off in his family’s restaurant in Guadalajara, and after years of high-end culinary experience, he revisits dishes and flavors from his upbringing with creativity and finely honed technique delivering results that are both satisfying and delicious,” Michelin wrote in its new guide to Colorado restaurants, which was released Monday morning.

“Resist the temptation to fixate on any one item, as the menu is littered with treasures: perfectly crisped pork belly carnitas make for a brilliant taco on a sourdough flour tortilla, while agave-roasted sweet potato with nutty salsa matcha and luxuriously creamy whipped requesón is a revelation, and vibrant seafood crudos like thinly sliced Maine diver scallop with tomatillo and apple aguachile are downright electric. No desserts are offered for the time being, so there’s no reason to leave any extra room,” the Guide continued.

In addition, Michelin added one Bib Gourmand recommendation to its list: MAKfam, a Cantonese-American restaurant that opened in November 2023 at 39 W. 1st Ave. in Denver. Bib Gourmands recognize “eateries for great food at a great value,” according to Michelin.

“What began as a pop-up back in NYC, where owners and married couple Doris Yuen and Kenneth Wan first met, and then became a stall in a Denver food hall, is now at last a full-service restaurant. The winsome, colorful space and the compact menu both celebrate the pair’s Chinese American roots, both having been raised by immigrant families who worked in restaurants.

“Fried crab and cheese wontons and hand-shaped chicken and chive potstickers are inspired by Chinatown favorites and takeout staples, made with particular care and big flavor. Chicken wings with a spicy, tingly málà seasoning are favorites with good reason, and larger dishes, like the familiar-yet inventive corned beef fried rice or spicy garlic butter rice cakes, impress as well,” Michelin continued.

And finally, two Denver restaurants joined the list of recommended eateries, Brasserie Brixton, at 3701 Williams St., and Kawa Ni, at 3200 W. 32nd Ave.

“Opening Kawa Ni this past November has been an exciting challenge, and naturally, there was some concern about fitting into the Colorado culinary community. Thanks to the fantastic team in Denver, we’ve been warmly welcomed beyond expectation, and to earn Michelin recognition within just a year of opening is truly special,” Kawa Ni chef and founder Bill Taibe said in a statement.

There were three special awards this year. The Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award went to Jessenia Sanabria of Sweet Basil; the Michelin Sommelier Award went to Chris Dunaway of Element 47; the Michelin Outstanding Service Award went to Allison Anderson of Beckon; and the Michelin Young Chef/Culinary Professional Award went to Johnny Curiel of Alma Fonda Fina.

Two restaurants that were on the 2023 guide are not listed in the 2024 guide: A.J.’s Pit BBQ, which won a Bib Gourmand in 2023, and Potager. Both are in Denver.

“As we celebrate year two of the Michelin Guide in Colorado, we can see the passion and
momentum continue to grow in this culinary community,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the
International Director of the Michelin Guides, in a statement.

“The famously anonymous Inspectors were also eager to shine a light on the growing talent in the local community, with a handful of new restaurants added to the selection,” she added.

This is a developing story.

Colorado’s 2024 Bib Gourmand restaurants

Ash’Kara, 2005 W. 33rd Ave., Denver
Basta, 3601, Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
The Ginger Pig, 4262 Lowell Blvd., Denver
Glo Noodle House, 4450 W. 38th Ave., Denver
Hop Alley, 3500 Larimer St., Denver
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, 2233 Larimer St., Denver
MAKfam, (new) 39 W. 1st Ave., Denver
Mister Oso, 3163 Larimer St., Denver
Tavernetta, 1889 16th St. Mall, Denver

Colorado’s 2024 Recommended restaurants

A5 Steakhouse 1600 15th St., Denver, 80202
Barolo Grill 3030 E. 6th Ave., Denver, 80206
Blackbelly Market 1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, 80301
Boulder Dushanbe Tea House 1770 13th St., Boulder, 80302
Bramble & Hare 1970 13th St., Boulder, 80302

Brasserie Brixton (new) 3701 N. Williams St., Denver 80205
Dio Mio 3264 Larimer St., Denver, 80205
Element 47 675 E. Durant Ave, Aspen, 81611
Fruition 1313 E. 6th Ave., Denver, 80218
Guard and Grace 1801 California St., Denver, 80202
Hey Kiddo 4337 Tennyson St., Denver, 80212
Kawa Ni (new) 1900 W. 32nd Ave., Denver 80211
Marco’s Coal Fired 2129 Larimer St., Denver, 80205
Mawa’s Kitchen 305 Aspen Airport Business Center, Ste. F, Aspen, 81611
Mercantile Dining and Provision 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, 80202
Mirabelle 55 Village Rd., Beaver Creek, 81620
Noisette 3254 Navajo St., Denver, 80211
Oak at Fourteenth, 1400 Pearl St., Boulder
Olivia, 290 S. Downing St., Denver

Osaki’s, 100 E. Meadow Dr., Vail
Prospect, 330 E. Main St., Aspen
Q House, 3421 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
Safta, 3330 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Santo, 1265 Alpine Ave., Boulder
Smok, 3330 Brighton Blvd. #202, Denver
Splendido at the Chateau, 17 Chateau Lane, Beaver Creek
Stella’s Cucina, 1123 Walnut St., Boulder
Sweet Basil, 193 Gore Creek Dr., Vail
Temaki Den, 3350 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Wyld, 130 Daybreak Ridge Rd. Avon
Zoe Ma Ma, 2010 10th St., Boulder

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Here are six promising options to consider.

Alma Thomas, “Composing Color,” Denver Art Museum, Sept. 8 through Jan. 12.

Alma Thomas was a great painter with an even better story. Wide recognition only came to her later in her life, after she retired from decades as a schoolteacher in Washington, D.C., and major museums and galleries caught on. Thomas, who died in 1978 at the age of 86, went from being an inspiration to generations of kids to an international art star whose paintings now sell for millions of dollars at auction. This traveling exhibition of her abstract canvases is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which has considerable holdings of her work. The paintings show the artist’s skill at using hyphenated, acrylic marks to capture deep emotion and boundless energy.

Location: 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway. More info: 720-865-5000 or denverartmuseum.org.

Verdi Requiem, Colorado Symphony, Oct. 18-20

This production of Verdi’s choral masterpiece is special for two reasons. First, it is meant to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Colorado Symphony Chorus, which debuted back in 1984 with the same piece of music. Second, it marks the final concert of Duain Wolfe, the chorus’ founder and a beloved institution on the local classical scene. Wolfe outlasted seven separate chief conductors of the symphony during his tenure. It will be a bittersweet weekend, no doubt. Guest conductor Alexander Shelley will be on the podium.

Location: Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex. More info: 303-623-7876 or coloradosymphony.org.

Ethel + Robert Mirabal, “The Red Willow,” Oct. 14

The Lakewood Cultural Center does not get the regional recognition it deserves. Its annual LCC Presents series has consistently produced gems across the disciplines of music, dance and family entertainment for two decades now, making the suburbs a much more interesting place than they were back in the day. This concert is a good example of LCC Presents at its most interesting. Ethel is one of the top contemporary classical music quartets on the touring circuit, and Mirabal, who hails from the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, is among the most respected flute players and music makers in the country. Expect a night of sincere, and ethereal, sounds. The concert is meant to coincide with Indigenous Peoples Day.

Location: 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood. More info: 30-398-77845 or lakewood.org.

“Movements Toward Freedom,” Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Sept. 20-Feb. 2

The MCA is taking a real risk with this show, filling its galleries for more than four months with a high-concept exhibit that looks at the way body movement acts as a form of creative expression across artistic disciplines. This group show, curated by Leilani Lynch, has varied participants, including well-known names like Senga Nengudi and Ronny Quevedo, but also local artists, such as Laura Shill and Ben Coleman. The draw here is that much of the art will be activated through performances during the run of the show. One highlight: an installation by Brendan Fernandes that will resemble a dance studio where performers can interact with his three-dimensional works. This is the kind of adventurous move that deserves support from local art lovers.

Location: 1485 Delgany St. More info: 303-298-7554 or mcadenver.org.

“Sleeping Beauty,” Colorado Ballet, Oct. 4-13

The Colorado Ballet is expecting a sell-out for its eight performances of “Sleeping Beauty” — remarkable, really, for a title that has been around since 1890. This production goes back to the basics of the work, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and movement by Marius Petipa, and the type of big, magical sets that keep customers coming for ballet’s biggest numbers. Everybody knows the story, and the Colorado Ballet knows to keep this work traditional in every way. This is a family-friendly event.

Location: Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex. More info: 303-837-8888, ext. 2 or coloradoballet.org.

Ivalas Quartet, Sept. 24 and 25

Friends of Chamber Music is offering a lot of options for formal events this season, including promising concerts by the Takács Quartet and soprano Karen Slack. But these two concerts, featuring the emerging musicians of the Ivala Quartet, are a small and welcome special attraction. On Sept. 24, the quartet, which fuses sounds from various genres, will take the stage at downtown’s Dazzle Denver, a venue more traditionally known for straightforward jazz.  The next night, they move a few streets over for a second show at the landmark Clocktower theater, which will center around Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2. The ensemble is just off a residency at the Juilliard School in New York City, and this is a chance to — two chances, really — to catch them before they become famous.

More info on both events: 303-388-9839 or friendsofchambermusic.com.

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A few years back, the Wall Street Journal had a piece on gardening attire influencing men’s fashion.

“Fall’s most improbably sought-after outfit is the ‘Garden Gi,’ a pair of trousers and a kimono-style jacket. The $330 set — made by Cactus Store, a succulent shop in Los Angeles — looks like a modified martial arts uniform with extra pockets for packing seeds and toting trowels,” WSJ reported.

Oh, we had a good laugh at that.

Not at the fashion inspiration (even though it wasn’t all that, IMO) but that gardeners actually wear specially designed attire. (And was the shop actually succulent, or did it sell cacti?)

Search for “gardening clothes” online and you’ll find companies like Dovetail Workwear, Gardener’s Edge, Terrain and many others selling adorable outfits. Duluth Trading sells Heirloom Gardening Bib Overalls. For me, it’s just too hot in Denver most spring and summer days to think of wearing long pants and a bib to boot. The company’s “gardening skort” would work, but it’s just too cute, if you know what I mean.

For only $138 plus shipping, April Cornell’s online store takes it even further with an adorable pair of floral overalls in pastels just for gardeners. Bogs sells a sturdy gardening clog for just $90; Sloggers has a darling pair of Flower Power Rain & Garden Boots for just $42.99.

Who are they kidding? (If you are a homeowner who wears those things, I am not making fun of you. Well, I guess I am.)

Of course, I do see the need for actual farmers to wear clothes from Carhartt or Farmers Defense. And any employee of a nursery or botanic garden likely has a special wardrobe dedicated to the hard work of planting and growing and reaping. I also recognize the necessity of wearing protection — i.e., sunscreen, long pants, long-sleeved shirt and a hat — from Colorado’s damaging sun when you’re out for an extended period of time.

My “gardening outfit”: old capri pants, beat-up tennis shoes, a worn T-shirt and a not-very-chic sun visor.

One day I might be persuaded to wear one of those aprons that holds a shovel and dandelion picker. Or I’ll just keep on walking to the garage and getting what I need when I need it.

Is it Colorado’s laid-back style? Our (mostly) lack of bougie affectations while outdoors? Being over 50?

Really, there are days I don’t even wear a bra under those “gardening T-shirts.”

And no one cares.

What passersby will see are the lilacs that pop up every spring in my front yard, and the lavender that scents the air along the sidewalk as they pass. If invited around back, they’ll rave about my glorious zinnias, the seeds of which I save year after year and plant in the ground where my spring bleeding hearts have died off.

They will enjoy the bounty of my grape vines, when I share the jelly I’ve made. Or the tiny hand pies using blackberries from my two bushes. Or, should the squirrels leave me any fruit, applesauce made from my own apples.

And the tomatoes — oh, the tomatoes! I can’t give those super sweet cherry tomatoes away fast enough. I’m very proud of the fact that I grew them — some nurtured from seed — in my own raised garden boxes. While dressed very unfashionably.

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— Still Grieving

Dear Grieving: I’m so sorry for the loss you’re enduring. Grief’s shadow is always longer than we think it will be. It comes at us, seemingly, out of nowhere sometimes.

Your daughter is processing her grief by keeping your son’s name alive. That’s a lovely gesture but it also makes sense that it doesn’t work for you right now.

Asking her to choose another name for her son won’t solve anything for either of you but see if you can come up with a nickname that you can call him. Ask for her help and blessing in this. Maybe it’s his middle name or maybe it’s something else altogether. You and your daughter can create something special that holds space for your grief while making room for the love you’ll have for your grandson.

Dear Eric: I have recently noticed a disturbing trend during road trips with my wife of more than 30 years. As we visit our college-age children at their campus, we regularly face car rides of three hours or more. I willingly drive, and that’s my wife’s preference as well, although she would take a shift without issue.

After a short time, she will retreat to her phone. I will try to continue a conversation, but I will get short answers and no attempt at real participation. We have a great marriage, and communication is not an issue, nor is phone use a problem during other moments.

I get that she is trying to make a boring car ride go quickly; and I don’t need help staying awake, navigating or maintaining concentration on the road. I will inevitably put on a podcast or music and life goes on. However, I find myself annoyed and think the behavior is slightly rude. I feel there is an unwritten rule that if you ride “shotgun”, your role is to engage with the driver. Am I off base here?

— Lonely Driver

Dear Driver: Ah, shotgun. The vice president of the car. A hallowed position, ruling over the music, the navigation, but never the air-conditioning. As with any other vice presidency, the role of shotgun is what you make it. Personally, I appreciate occasional navigation help but prefer to choose the music myself. If you want your wife’s engagement, ask for it. That said, if you’re just as happy putting on a podcast, let the unwritten rules go and consider these college car trips down time with low stakes. A Camp David for shotguns, if you will.

Dear Eric: I am a recently retired divorced man in his 60s. I’ve been divorced for 15 years and during this time I was affected by severe erectile dysfunction which, after consultations with urologists, can only be corrected with a penile implant. I’m not yet willing to take this step.

I’ve accepted my situation. Because I’ve decided against an implant, I’ve stopped seeking any romantic relationships. For years I’ve been questioned why I stopped dating or seeking a new relationship. I’ve even been asked if I’m gay, which I’m not. Many of these questions come from longtime friends or their wives. I’m not sure how to respond without sharing the details of my situation. I wish to be able to respond in a polite manner that will end the questions and speculation.

— Single By Choice

Dear Single: “I enjoy my own company;” “I like to sleep in the middle of the bed;” “I don’t want anyone around spoiling TV shows for me;” “Baseball season tickets are cheaper this way;” “After my divorce, I found I was quite happy, and I don’t see any reason to change that.”

Well-meaning friends will poke and prod, particularly around relationships, with good intentions. Sometimes it’s an indicator that they see a problem you don’t; other times it’s an indicator that your choice doesn’t square with the way they live their lives.

Either way, you can tell them, kindly, “buzz off; I’m fine.”

Now, at the risk of being a well-meaning prodder, I want to point out that not every relationship involves sexual intimacy. If you desire romantic companionship, apps, dating sites, or even in-person meet-ups can help you find a person who understands erectile dysfunction and may not even want intercourse herself.

But if what you desire is exactly what you have, I support that wholeheartedly and I’ll buzz off.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

At one point I petitioned the court and was granted legal custody. She has left and come back multiple times over the years.

Angel just had a baby and is struggling in every way. She seems angry all the time. She has a history of being mean, rude and disrespectful to me over the years and at each turn, I decided to stick around.

Angel is a trauma survivor and victim of abuse and neglect as a child. I strive to offer empathy, support and unconditional love. It’s a hard job. I’m feeling that I am at a crossroads after a recent incident. Can I just be done with all of this?

I feel disrespected, taken advantage of, unappreciated and just plain sick of all the drama. Then I remember that nothing I feel could possibly compare to the challenges that she has faced, and the lifetime of trauma she has experienced.

Angel has demonstrated that she is either unwilling or not capable of working toward a healthier connection. Am I OK with being one more adult who lets her down (in her eyes, anyway) and walks away?

— Fatigued Foster Parent

Dear Fatigued: This process of “rupture and repair” is a lifetime one, according to Priscilla Singleton, LMFT, LSCW, director of Clinical Standards at the Council for Relationships. Angel is going to keep pushing to make sure that you’re actually going to stick around, Singleton told me. But your steady presence, whether Angel is accepting or rejecting it, is still a message that maybe the world is a safe place.

As a foster care worker, Singleton ran training and support groups for parents. But if you didn’t receive that — say, if Angel came to you through family connections — a lot of this probably feels unmanageable. Parents don’t have to be punching bags, but you have tools that Angel doesn’t.

Instead of walking away, work with a therapist or support group that has specific training in fostering and adoption. They can help you better understand where Angel is coming from and set a boundary that will keep you both safe. This boundary also models healthy parenting for Angel and her daughter.

Dear Eric: I was married for 25 years to a good man. We just weren’t great as a married couple. We have two grown children that live on their own.

Now that our amicable divorce is final, he has moved in with the person he started seeing while we were divorcing. I respect the relationship and I’m happy for them. The problem is, she has cut me out of any communication with him.

Apparently, she doesn’t believe our relationship is appropriate and now he is trying to make her happy by telling me not to contact him anymore. There are things regarding our daughters that I would like to discuss with him. I can’t understand how us talking can be an issue.

I realize this is out of my control, but I am having a hard time accepting it. Knowing the conversations that we have had during our divorce process and how we both agreed that our friendly relationship was best for our family going forward. Am I out of line here?

— Amicable Ex

Dear Amicable: You’re not out of line. Your ex’s new partner may be feeling insecure because you have a longstanding and healthy relationship with your ex. Not your problem… but it will probably continue to be your problem.

You should respect what he’s asking for but be clear to him, calmly and reasonably, it’s not what you discussed with respect to your daughters. I wouldn’t press it though. This relationship is still new and pales in comparison to the depth and breadth of your relationship. Give it time to settle and reach out when/if your daughters need it.

Dear Eric: I must disagree with your answer to Trapped at Home whose husband has a history of infidelity and whose children are encouraging her to divorce him.

My advice is to get tested for STIs and protect herself going forward. See a divorce lawyer to get a clear understanding of her financial reality in the event of a divorce. Her state may be a community property state, her husband may have to pay maintenance and will surely have to pay child support. She should also see a tax adviser to understand potential effects post-divorce. She may conclude her financial situation has the potential to be better than she supposed.

— Been There

Dear Been There: Thanks for sharing this perspective. I do hope you’re right and she’s in a better position than she thinks.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

Focus on cool-season vegetables that will sprout quickly in warm soil. They like to grow in cooler temperatures and can be harvested starting in a few weeks. Once they are up and growing well, it is fairly easy to cover them with frost blankets or sheets on cooler autumn days and nights so the harvest can continue well into fall.

Use seeds on hand or visit your local garden center to buy what looks good to you and the family. The seed packet will list the window of days in which seeds emerge and when they mature; look for short, 30-day growers, give or take.

The easiest, quick-maturing cool crops include lettuce, spinach, arugula, kohlrabi, green onions, kale, broccoli raab, Swiss chard, carrots and radishes. Also consider mustard greens, mizuna, collard greens, beets and salad turnips, which can be harvested when small (radish size) in about 40 days.

There are so many crops to choose from and only so much space, so remember that you can use empty containers; they are wonderful for fall crops and can easily be moved inside when nights are frigid.

For a warm crop, try seeding basil even though a plant may not grow up to six sets of leaves before frost. Because soils are warm, they should grow beyond the tiny microgreen stage if seeded immediately. Use the tasty young leaves in salads, on tomatoes and in sauces. (Do you know what food goes well with basil? Almost anything but oatmeal!)

Tuck in seeds wherever there is room in the landscape or vegetable area. Try the shady side of taller crops like tomatoes and pole beans as long as they receive at least four or more hours of sun a day. This location keeps the plants cooler late in the day.

As always, make sure the soil is loose and crumbly with no large clods so the roots can grow and get established. Leafy crops are high nitrogen feeders, so add a handful or two of compost or a light sprinkle of fertilizer into the soil if the area hasn’t been used in a while or recently grew crops.

My favorite way to seed leafy greens is to create planting areas by pushing aside about a half inch or less of soil, like creating a very shallow crater. Sprinkle seeds of your choice (lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, etc.) in the space. Do not worry about seed spacing; they can be thinned later or not. The goal is getting the greens up and growing. Then take the moved-away soil and gently cover the seeds. They don’t need a thick layer to sprout.

Water with a light hose spray so the seeds are not displaced. Use this same planting method in containers.

Other non-leafy crops — including green onions, kohlrabi, radish and broccoli raab — can be planted in rows or squares as usual.

Since hot temperatures continue in September, it is important to keep seeded areas moist, not soggy, so they may need watering twice or more a day. The best-tasting leafy green plants are harvested when they are small (baby greens) and not fully mature. Use scissors and cut a few of the outer leaves first, not all, because you want the plant to continue growing.

Season extenders allow for extra fall growing days and extended harvesting. Consider putting in place tunnels or cold frames where sheets or row covers can quickly be attached. Most of the cool-season crops can easily tolerate nights in the 40s but will need to be covered when nights are in 30s and near freezing.

Check out my handy tunnel videos (below) from a few years back; they are still applicable.

Resources

Easy Hoop Houses, Part I youtube.com/watch?v=aFN9ldnwsNw

Easy Hoop Houses, Part II youtube.com/watch?v=B4YtOpXdgiQ

Time to Seed Fall Vegetables https://planttalk.colostate.edu

Betty Cahill speaks and writes about gardening in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Instead, she is choosing a less costly homeopathic route, along with supplements and a modified diet, telling me she knows the cat may not have long to live.

Though I would follow a different path, I listened to my friend and did not challenge or try to change her personal decision. My problem is that I feel sad for her cat and am surprised; after hearing her gush about how much she loves her pet companion for years, by how casual she now is about his current state.

Everyone grieves in their own way, and I need to not judge but I find I am disheartened and am judging my friend. How can I frame this situation so that I can be present for and help my friend?

— Pet Heartsick

Dear Heartsick: Oh, I feel so sad for this cat and for your friend. It sounds like your friend is making the best decision she can, given her financial circumstances. I know it sounds cruel to you, but she might be backed into a corner. To wit, if she feels she can’t rely on the vet for good advice, it’s likely a kind of hopelessness has crept in.

In terms of re-framing, it might put your mind at ease to offer a little help. If it’s within your means, you can ask her if she’d like support paying the vet bill. Or, if that’s not possible, you could help her look into lower cost vet care or financial assistance for pet owners. Your local No-Kill shelter or nonprofit is a good place to start searching for resources.

If she’s resistant, however, remind yourself that this is a significant loss for her and this may be the only way she can wrap her mind around the grief. Being there for her as she processes it is a kindness.

Dear Eric: My husband died 11 years ago. He was the greatest love of my life (so far?). Things became really bad two years before he passed due to his alcoholism.

When we met, both of us were clean and sober. About four or five years later, during a romantic weekend, we both lost our sobriety. However, nothing changed between us or our relationship. We only drank on weekends after our son was in bed, and we never frequented bars. We drank at home. His drinking escalated quickly, especially after his father died. Things between us went downhill from there.

Eventually, I realized I had to leave. But when I found out he had three to six months to live, I moved back to take care of him.

Since he died, I have not only struggled to survive financially, but I struggle with moving on emotionally. I haven’t dated or sought any relationship with any man. I don’t trust any man who shows an interest in me.

I want to be happy again. I want to feel that joy, enthusiasm and lust for life, and find someone to share that with! I know something has got to be wrong with me if I’m rejecting men who want to know me.

Should I seek a therapist or just accept that I might be too messed up to move on?

— Stuck in Grief

Dear Stuck: You are not too messed up. You are suffering, yes. You are dealing with a lot, even 11 years later, yes. But you aren’t broken beyond repair.

If you haven’t been already, please see if an Al-Anon meeting or a Smart Recovery Family meeting feels right to you. As you know, alcoholism is a family disease and his drinking affected you, even when you were drinking, too. Maybe you’re feeling guilt, blame, anger, or codependency and those feelings are keeping you from moving forward in your life and in other relationships.

The whirlwind of the dissolution of your marriage and his death blew up your life. Without processing your feelings around it, it’s going to be hard to move ahead. Seek out the free resources mentioned above to begin the journey. They may also be able to point you to free or sliding-scale therapy, where you can get more specific in your healing journey.

Don’t feel that you need to jump back into the dating pool too quickly. Time takes time. But the fact that you’re reaching out, that you’ve expressed such a strong desire to connect, indicates that you’re ready to let some of this go in favor of a more healed future. I wish you luck.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

The community contributed more than $42,000 for the 2024 parade scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 19. With more than $6,100 in community donations and business sponsorships ranging from $1,000 to $7,500, organizer Luke Johnson was able to resurrect the family-friendly event. Any funds not used in this year’s parade will be reserved for next year’s, Johnson said.

In August, Johnson told The Denver Post the beloved South Broadway promenade of ghouls and goblins was in jeopardy as a result of its growing popularity.

Because of the tens of thousands of parade-goers who flock to watch costumed marchers, floats and hearses make their way down South Broadway, the city mandated parade organizers buy barricades to line the route for safety.

Johnson agreed the barricades were necessary but was shocked to see the safety precautions cost around $25,000 — more than double the budget of the previous year’s entire parade.

Johnson asked for community donations to keep the parade afloat.

“We asked the community to help save the parade and they stepped up like I’ve never seen before,” Johnson said. “We’ve never had more than a few hundred dollars from community members and we’ve never raised more than
$13,000 in a single year for sponsorships.”

Johnson said the barricades would bring a new level of safety the parade needs to continue.

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