Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Friday November 27th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we’re sharing a closer look at one of our top stories. Today we have the story of an Arvada couple whose hobby of hand building desks, has turned into a volunteer operation to help kids studying from home. 

 

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to November 27th, 1900 when Sugar City’s factory started work on the town’s first campaign. It was a part of the beet sugar boom and the population of Sugar City went from zero to 2000 in just one year. But the factory closed in 1966 and there are now less than 300 residents. 

 

Now, our feature story. 

 

With plywood, glue and a lot of love, an Arvada couple is giving Colorado kids a place to study -- one desk at a time. 

 

After Eric Janota built 18 desks by hand in his Arvada garage-turned-woodshop earlier this month, he wondered if anyone would want them. He quickly realized there was an incredible need.

 

Enter - Desks for Kids, the project that has grown into something much larger than Janota ever anticipated as the demands for desks have continued mounting. What started as a simple volunteer initiative is scaling up into a community effort led by Janota and his wife, Kim Gonsalves, both of whom recognize the struggles remote learning has introduced for many families.

 

Today Colorado Sun reporter Erica Breunlin is joining us to tell us more about the organization.

 

Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock flew to Mississippi to visit family despite sending messages on social media and to city staff asking them to avoid traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.

-

Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order allowing Colorado restaurants to delay paying up to $2,000 in state sales taxes that they collected in November. 

-

Colorado’s voting system performed without major flaws this year, but voting advocates are wondering how to improve it and critics suggest a recent constitutional change makes it ripe for legal challenges.

-

“the critter COVID art campaign” in Gunnison Valley has hit a nerve – in a good way. A grinning racoon with soapy paws asks citizens to “Keep your paws clean. Wash away COVID-19.” And a bald eagle sporting red shorts and a 6-foot wingspan recommends, “Spread your wings. Not COVID-19.” 

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. 

 

And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. So Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again on Monday. We also encourage you to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts!





See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Friday November 27th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we&rsquo;re sharing a closer look at one of our top stories. Today we have the story of an Arvada couple whose hobby of hand building desks, has turned into a volunteer operation to help kids studying from home.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
&nbsp;
Today, we take you back to November 27th, 1900 when Sugar City&rsquo;s factory started work on the town&rsquo;s first campaign. It was a part of the beet sugar boom and the population of Sugar City went from zero to 2000 in just one year. But the factory closed in 1966 and there are now less than 300 residents.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
With plywood, glue and a lot of love, an Arvada couple is giving Colorado kids a place to study -- one desk at a time.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
After Eric Janota built 18 desks by hand in his Arvada garage-turned-woodshop earlier this month, he wondered if anyone would want them. He quickly realized there was an incredible need.
&nbsp;
Enter - Desks for Kids, the project that has grown into something much larger than Janota ever anticipated as the demands for desks have continued mounting. What started as a simple volunteer initiative is scaling up into a community effort led by Janota and his wife, Kim Gonsalves, both of whom recognize the struggles remote learning has introduced for many families.
&nbsp;
Today Colorado Sun reporter <a href="mailto:erica@coloradosun.com">Erica Breunlin</a> is joining us to tell us more about the organization.
&nbsp;
Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
&nbsp;
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock flew to Mississippi to visit family despite sending messages on social media and to city staff asking them to avoid traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.
-
Gov. Jared Polis signed an <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14XzzJFsMR8F4BH3KL07Z1sK77qt4Q4Qi/view">executive order</a> allowing Colorado restaurants to delay paying up to $2,000 in state sales taxes that they collected in November.&nbsp;
-
Colorado&rsquo;s voting system performed without major flaws this year, but voting advocates are wondering how to improve it and critics suggest a recent constitutional change makes it ripe for legal challenges.
-
&ldquo;the critter COVID art campaign&rdquo; in Gunnison Valley has hit a nerve &ndash; in a good way. A grinning racoon with soapy paws asks citizens to &ldquo;Keep your paws clean. Wash away COVID-19.&rdquo; And a bald eagle sporting red shorts and a 6-foot wingspan recommends, &ldquo;Spread your wings. Not COVID-19.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. So Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again on Monday. We also encourage you to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts!
 See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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