November 2013 - South Aurora Magazine

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CONTENTS SOUTH AURORA

MAGAZINE

southauroramagazine.com

In This Issue Magazine

November 2013 Volume 5 Issue 11 Publisher Mike Waid mike.waid@waidpublishing.com

Editor Pamela Waid pam.waid@waidpublishing.com

Ad Sales Tiffany Grizzle tiffany@waidpublishing.com 303-805-9455 xt 14

Graphic Designer Adrienne Brust adrienne@waidpublishing.com

South Aurora Magazine is published 12 times per year by Waid Publishing (www.

WaidPublishing.com), a division of Mike Waid & Associates, Inc. (www.MikeWaid.com), 19751 E. Mainstreet, Suite R-18, Parker, CO 80138, 303805-9455. South Aurora Magazine is available online at www.southauroramagazine.com.

South Aurora Magazines is a trademark of Waid Publishing. All rights reserved. The views, opinions and/or statements made or expressed by individuals and/or entities, are not necessarily reflective of the views and opinions of Waid Publishing. No part of this publication may be reproduced without explicit permission from South Aurora Magazine. Copyright 2013 South Aurora Magazine - All rights Reserved.

5 7 9 11

Saluting our Veterans: The Douglas County Veterans Monument

Restaurant Review Mt. Fuji at Southlands Bookends: The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?

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SALUTING OUR VETERANS: The Douglas County Veterans Monument

by Tiffany Grizzle

November 2013

R

ecently we took our kids to a Denver Broncos game and I watched as a hush fell over the crowd, people removed their hats (and Bronco heads) as the first lady of Denver began to sing the national anthem. Several Bronco fans around us quietly sang along as the huge flag on the field was unfurled and cheers rang out as the fireworks went off towards the end of the anthem. I’ve always considered myself a very patriotic person and a proud daughter of an Air Force veteran; as such I’m always moved when I see people paying their respects to those serving and those who have served in the US military.

Moments like those at the pre-game ceremony are poignant, but fleeting. Here in Douglas County we now have a lasting reminder of the brave men and women who have served with such bravery and dedication. The Douglas County Veterans Memorial is a monument years in the making.

What started as a sketch has materialized into a stunningly beautiful memorial, but not without tireless fundraising efforts and the flames of support continually fanned by the members of the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation and the community. If you haven’t yet made it out to see the monument, located at the corner of Wilcox and Fourth Street in Castle Rock, it’s well worth the short drive over to Monument Plaza.

All six service branches are represented; with seals for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Corps, Coast Guard and the Merchant Mariners adorning the base of the sculpture along with dedication and service plaques. Perched atop the humble granite base is a magnificent bald eagle, draped by an American flag, soaring upward with his wings outstretched. The monument is flanked with flagpoles proudly flying service flags and a POW/MIA flag. There is seating for individuals or small groups and school groups can arrange to visit the monument and have a veteran speak with them. The monument is lit from dusk till dawn daily and serves as a stunning salute to veterans past, present and future.

All the hard work and dedication by the members of the monument founda-

5 SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

tion and the supportive members of the community is not over just because the Douglas County Veterans Monument has been officially unveiled; there is the upkeep, but the salute to veterans doesn’t begin and end with maintaining the integrity and beauty of the monument. The foundation is committed to reach out to local veterans in need. Foundation members want to be able to help provide support, whether that’s in the form financial aid, assistance with medical needs like service dogs or scholarships for children of veterans. Those that worked so tirelessly bringing this Veteran’s Monument to fruition don’t want the attention to be fleeting, the board members welcome the larger community of Douglas County’s support and salute to our local heroes. Those interested in making a tax free donation, possibly in memory or honor of a veteran, can do so right from the foundation’s web page. Should anyone or any groups want to hold a patriotic/veteran oriented special event at Veteran’s Plaza, the board can also be contacted through the site. This is an especially wonderful opportunity for school groups.

My father, father-in- law, brother-in- law and grandfathers all served or are currently serving in the military. Each and every time the national anthem is played before a ball game or I drive by a home in my neighborhood that has a flag flying out front, I think of those family members who have served or are serving and I filled with pride and admiration. The people of Douglas County are so incredibly fortunate to have such an exquisite and striking monument to remind us all of the men and women who willing march into the unknown, filled with pride and determination and without hesitation.

If you haven’t already paid Veteran’s Plaza a visit and paid your respects, take time to pause and acknowledge Veteran’s Day and make it a point to make the short drive into Castle Rock to visit the Douglas County Veterans Monument; a fitting and lasting tribute to our veterans.

Douglas County Veterans Monument is located at the corner of Wilcox and Fourth Street. For more information go to www.dcvmf.org or email info@ dcvmf.org. v

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Restaurant Review Mt. Fuji Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant

by Mike Waid

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November 2013

onveniently located in the heart of Southlands Mall is one of my family’s favorite places to eat, Mt. Fuji Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant. We first found Mt Fuji several years ago right after they opened. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of eating at Mt. Fuji with family, friends and even business associates for lunch.

This past weekend my wife and I decided to take the family out for a special lunch. When we asked the boys where they would like to go, Mt. Fuji was the top of their list. Without hesitation we agreed with their choice and headed over for a Saturday lunch and show. I say show, because that is the best way to describe your Hibachi experience at Mt. Fuji. There is something to be said about fresh ingredients being prepared right in front of you with captivating style and flair.

In addition to the amazing Hibachi, Mt. Fuji has some of the best sushi you will find.

My wife is a sushi lover and has never been disappointed with anything she has had there.

Of course, my boys always say they want the Hibachi but end up “stealing” some of mom’s sushi along the way. That’s fine because the portions are generous and we always have plenty to go around.

Personally, I love the steak Hibachi. Not only is the steak expertly prepared, but the addition of Hibachi soup and fried rice ad a variety of flavors I can’t do without. My intention is always to eat only half of the immense meal and save the other half for later…but it always tastes so good that I end up eating it all.

I have also had several business meetings at Mt. Fuji that were on a limited time frame.

Their non-hibachi menu also includes some great fare that is just as delicious and fresh as their Hibachi. My favorite is the Beef Teriyaki. Of course, I haven’t tried anything there that wasn’t outstanding.

No matter if you are looking for a unique dining experience, fun outing with the family or quick lunch you won’t be disappointed with Mt. Fuji Sushi & Hibachi. They are located at Southlands Mall right near the movie theater and skating rink. You can also find more information online at www.mtfujico.com. v

7 SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

Mt. Fuji Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant Southlands Mall 6100 S Main St. Suite #H-101 Aurora, CO 80016 www.mtfujico.com 303-699-9388

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BOOKENDS The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker What begins as a case of a missing person becomes a poignant love story that spans a great distance and time.

Julia’s father gets on a plane for a supposed business meeting, but never comes home. The family does not know where he has gone and the authorities have no leads after the trail goes cold in Bangkok. Then Julia’s mother finds an old love letter to a woman in a village in Burma. Against her mother’s wishes, Julia decides she must follow this trail and try to find her father, or at least the truth about her father and his past.

PAM: I have been eyeing this book for a while, as the summary drew my interest.

I was not disappointed, as the story grabbed me right away. Becky, did you find yourself drawn in to this book?

BECKY: This is an enjoyable tale with interesting characters. The author did a wonderful job developing this story and only gave us enough information to make you want to come back for more. A good portion of this book is a love story between Tin Win and a girl named Mi Mi. The setting is in a remote mountain area of Burma and both of these characters have disabilities. Which character did you enjoy most?

PAM: Both of the characters drew me in, however, Mi Mi was my favorite. The author describes her strengths and attributes in a very poetic fashion. She has such grace and beauty (both inside and out), that nobody focuses on her disability. As Tin Win and Mi Mi began to know each other, they became inseparable and really two parts of one heart. The enduring, non-judgmental love they shared was inspiring. Becky, did you feel the same way?

BECKY: Although the circumstance of both of them having a disability was a bit unbelievable, their connection was beautiful. They had a pure love and appreciation for the other and it was wonderful to watch their intense love grow. The story of their youth is told by an old man named U Ba, a stranger that Julia meets upon her arrival. He knows a great deal about her father and takes his time revealing the mystery of her father’s past and his disappearance. Did you enjoy this teasing approach to storytelling?

November 2013

PAM: Although I am often impatient to have a story unfold, I did enjoy this author’s approach. I was very caught up in the tale and forgot to be impatient for the ending. When Tin Win is a boy, he is suddenly left without parents. Su Kyi, a neighbor steps in to take care of the abandoned little boy and becomes his family.

What were your impressions about Su Kyi and their relationship?

BECKY: I thought that although a small role in the story, this was an interesting character in Tin Win’s life. Su Kyi is an older woman who has already lost her only child and husband. She notices that Tin Win has been abandoned and she feels as if she is a burden on her household she is living in so she moves into Tin Win’s home and starts to care for him. I enjoyed this character and admire the way that she stepped in to help this little boy. They both have tenderness for each other but did you feel that there was a mother-son depth to their love?

PAM: I felt that Su Kyi had a motherly love for Tin Win, but he did not seem to have the same depth of love for her. Although he had much affection for her, 9 SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

his feelings for her were not portrayed as deeply as I had anticipated. All of Tin Win’s relationships throughout the book paled in comparison to his intense feelings for Mi Mi. Perhaps this was the author’s plan to help the reader realize the importance and deepness of their love for each other. Tin Win is summoned to his uncle’s house in another town and he must leave all he knows. How did you feel about his uncle and this portion of the story?

BECKY: His Uncle is a wealthy man that often consults an astrologer. He has recently been told that a catastrophe is to come his way unless he assists a family member in great distress. He recalls some mention of a blind nephew that he has never met. His Uncle views his poor status and blindness as an opportunity to appease the stars and calls for Tin Win to travel to Rangoon.

His Uncle selfishly plucks Tin Win out of his perfectly happy life and provides a surgery that gives Tin Win his sight back. Although many might see that as a blessing Tin Win is horribly unhappy but has no power to stand up to his selfish Uncle. Did you enjoy the fact that while his sight is impaired Tin Win can hear the heartbeats of those around him?

PAM: When Tin Win loses his eyesight, he slowly realizes that he can hear sounds that nobody else can hear or explain. One of those sounds he realizes is the sound of heartbeats. I also love that the author took his disability of being sightless and turned it into a positive for Tin Win. After his surgery, when he regained his eyesight, his sensitive hearing fades. Although he is grateful to his uncle and the doctors, he feels that he was better the way he was. This was a great way of showing that Tin Win wasn’t less of a person without his sight, he just navigated differently. Did you find it plausible that Julia did not know so much about her father?

BECKY: To some degree I did not find it believable because Julia and her father were close but then again how well do we know our parents as young adults? It would have been more reasonable if he was distant or disconnected from Julia but that was not the case. I also would understand if he didn’t share everything from his past but it seems like she didn’t know her father’s past at all. Did you like the way that the author tied up this tangled story?

PAM: Actually, I really did like the way the author wrapped up the story and brought the different characters and story lines together at the end. I didn’t think there would be a resolution that I would feel truly addressed the different aspects of this story, but I felt that the author really pulled it off. Do you agree, Becky?

BECKY: It was a unique ending but if you are a fan of romance than this will not disappoint you. I was hoping to know a little more about Julia but overall it was a fitting ending to this story. Now hop on board with us while we read Orphan Train

by Christina Baker Kline. v

LOCAL AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Jewels and the Treasure ME Discovery by Spirit Corley

F

November 2013

irst time self-published author, Spirit Corley, has ignited a passionate desire to touch children’s lives through imagination and affirmation. Her new book, Jewels and the Treasure ME Discovery is the first piece from the “I AM ME Discovery” empowerment project and book series. This book delivers positive messages to young multi-ethnic children 4-8 through a vibrant picture book and storytelling for the young and child within.

Since the books release, Spirit has donated over 200 books to charities, foundations, schools, and organizations, as well as sharing the message of positive affirmation and self-discovery through storytelling, self-awareness, and healthy positive esteem. Spirit speaks regularly to groups of kids to empower them.

Jewels and the Treasure ME Discovery is available online at www.spiritsjewelsbooks.com. v

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November 2013

by Josh Long, MD

IS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY Right for You?

H

ave you tried to lose weight and been unsuccessful? Do you sometimes feel trapped in your body? If you are concerned that your weight is impacting your health, weight loss surgery may be the answer to regaining your quality of life.

Research shows that fat acts like an organ, producing hormones that inhibit your ability to lose weight with conventional lifestyle modification. This is one of the reasons few people are able to lose and maintain significant weight loss with diet and exercise alone.

If you have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise and have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher, a surgical weight loss option may work for you.

BENEFITS OF WEIGHT LOSS (BARIATRIC) SURGERY Bariatric surgery is known to be the most effective and durable treatment for morbid obesity and many related conditions. It can improve or resolve more than 30 weightrelated diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, hypertension and high cholesterol. Bariatric surgery may allow you to improve your life expectancy by up to 89 percent and significantly reduce your risk of premature death due to obesity-related disease.

Typically, patients achieve maximum weight loss within one to two years after surgery which quickly leads to improvements in weight-related conditions.

WHO IS A CANDIDATE? Patients qualify for bariatric surgery by meeting the following minimum criteria: • Be at least 18 years of age.

• Have a BMI of greater than 35 with at least one related disease, or greater than 40 without. Calculate Your BMI online at http://bariatriccenterco-px.rtrk.com/Calculate_BMI • Be smoke-free for at least two months before surgery and be committed to being smoke-free for life.

• Any current health or psychological co-morbidities must be well controlled and monitored by a health professional.

At the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado, we offer a comprehensive approach that includes professional dietary evaluation, psycho-social counseling, and endocrine/metabolic treatment to address all of the factors that may be contributing to your health problems. We also offer the most innovative, minimally invasive, and effective surgical approaches. We tailor this coordinated program to your individual needs to maximize your weight loss success and to restore your health.

For more information about bariatric surgery, we invite you to attend a free seminar from 6:30 – 8 p.m. on Dec. 11, Jan 8 or Feb 12 in the Conference Center at Parker Adventist Hospital. Call 303-777-6877 opt. 1 to register. v

Josh Long, MD, fellowship trained bariatric surgeon at the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado and Parker Adventist Hospital, 9397 Crown Crest Blvd. (Sierra Medical Office Building), Suite 440, Parker, CO 80138. Office Phone: 303-269-4370, www.bariatriccenterco.com.

11 SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

Free

WEIGHT LOSS

Surgery Seminar Now is the time to being your journey to newfound freedom and health by attending a FREE weight loss surgery seminar.

Learn if you are a candidate, what the surgical options are, and what to expect following surgery.

Get the answers you need to lose weight and win back your life.

At The Bariatric & Metabolic Center of Colorado, our service excellence goes beyond offering advanced surgical weight loss options; we partner with our patients to achieve long-term weight loss success.

Speaker: Joshua Long MD, Bariatric Surgeon.

Location: Parker Adventist Hospital • 9395 Crown Crest Blvd.

The seminar will be in the Inspiration Room in the Parker Hospital Conference Center located on the garden level at the west entrance.

Seminar Dates Dec. 11, Jan 8, Feb 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9 All classes are from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Register: Registration is required by 303-777-6877

9397 Crown Crest Blvd., Suite 440 Parker, CO 80138 303.269.4370 | bariatriccenterco.com Operated by Centura Health Physician Group Centura Health complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in the provision of any care or service on the grounds of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual preference, ancestry, age, familial status, disability or handicap. Copyright © Centura Health, 2013

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November 2013

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$39.99 Microdermabrasion $65.00 value Thank you for all who particupated in our 2 Year Anniversary event/fundraiser to benefit the Red Cross to honor flood victims Wesley Quinlan and Wiyanna Nelson. We could not have done it without the many donations we received from area merchants such as Biondi Jewelers, Tan Your Hide, Massage Envy, European Wax, Garbonzos, Which Wich, Ace Hardware, Cornerstar Wine and Spirits, Discover Chiropractic, Outback Steak House, Slatterys, Pet Mosaic By Milisa, Purple Palm Vacations, Snow Creek Ranch, Elk Mountain Brewery, Vines Wine Bar, Passion Party, etc. we also could not have done it without Social Buzz Network, our staff and those who bid and attended the event.

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