March 2015 Castle Rock Magazine

CASTLE ROCK’S PREMIER MONTHLY COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

castle

ROCK e n i z a g Ma

INSIDE THIS ISSUE JOIN THE SOLAR REVOLUTION! PAGE 5

SAFEGUARDING YOUR HOME PAGE 11

POSTAL PATRON 19751 E. Mainstreet Suite R-18 Parker, CO 80138 303-805-9455

ECRWSS

PAID

Prsrt Std U.S. Postage

Details on page 4

Permit 5377 Denver, CO

WIN A KINDLE FIRE

CastleRockMagazine.com

MARCH 2015

MARCH 2015 1 CASTLE ROCK MAGAZINE

MARCH 2015 WWW.CASTLEROCKMAGAZINE.COM 2

MARCH 2015 3 CASTLE ROCK MAGAZINE

CONTENTS CASTLE ROCK

MAGAZINE

castlerockmagazine.com

This Issue

5 7 11 12

GO SOLAR!

Join the SOLAR revolution!

March 2015 Volume 11 Issue 3 PUBLISHER MIKE WAID

mike.waid@waidpublishing.com 303-805-9455 xt 700

AD SALES TIFFANY GRIZZLE

tiffany@waidpublishing.com 303-805-9455 xt 702

CREATIVE DIRECTOR ADRIENNE ZEAK BRUST

adrienne@waidpublishing.com 303-805-9455 xt 701

SAFEGUARDING YOUR HOME

2.5 million non-fatal, but preventive falls happened in 2013.

BOOKENDS

The Hundred-Foot Journey

by Richard C. Morais

LOCAL AUTHOR

Bridal Veil by Monica Wright

7

WIN A NEW KINDLE FIRE How would you like to win a Kindle Fire? It’s easy to enter in our Castle Rock Magazine scavenger hunt contest. Simply go to www.castlerockmagazine. com and click the CONTEST tab. Find the “secret phrases” shown online in this month’s magazine and enter the page numbers. That’s it! Good luck.

MARCH 2015

Castle Rock 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, 303-805-9455.

Castle Rock Magazine is available online at www.castlerockmagazine.com. Castle Rock Magazine 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 Castle Rock Magazine. Copyright 2015 Castle Rock Magazine - All rights Reserved.

WWW.CASTLEROCKMAGAZINE.COM 4

SOLAR

JOIN THE SOLAR REVOLUTION

T

he Time For Solar Is Now! Solar power is not just for tree-huggers and back-to-the-landers anymore. For many years after commercially produced solar panels became available, they were accessible only to very wealthy, environmentalists and survivalists. But with new technological advancements in the design and manufacturing of solar panels, equipment costs have come way down. So much so, that the average American can now afford to install solar on their homes (the largest consumers of solar today make between $40K and $90K) and pay the same or less on a monthly basis than their current electric bill from the grid. The federal government and state legislatures also recognized the benefits of solar power by offering some helpful rebates and tax incentives. With lower materials costs and the incentives, solar has become a great investment all across the United States, often outperforming the major stock indices.

That is why Go Solar Inc. is here to help you work your way through the wicket of solar technology and sales and leasing schemes that exist in the market today. Go Solar Inc., soon rebranding to be Revolution Solar, are local solar experts since 2009 and have been helping Colorado consumers save money and convert their homes to solar. Initially founded by Dennis Beaver, our Chief Technology Officer, who has been installing solar photovoltaic grid tie and off grid systems since 2006.

Dennis has also been actively involved at Red Rocks Community College, Arapahoe Community College as Adjunct Professor and Ecotech Institute teaching Photovoltaic Installation and Repair.

Here’s why you should join the “Revolution”:

go!

1. Colorado is a prime for solar energy with over 300 days of sunshine a year.

2. Local utility incentive programs offered.

3. Colorado State offers property and sales tax exemptions.

4. Federal incentive programs 5. Variety of financing options to save on solar equipment and installation.

6. Colorado has some of the strongest support in the nation for renewable energy.

7. Several municipalities and county governments developing streamlined application and approval processes.

“Deciding on solar for your home is a big investment” says Dane Lomax, V.P Sales, “You make a payment now and expect a substantial return in the future. One way to ensure return on your investment and success of your solar panels is to make sure you hire the right solar installer who can guide you through the entire solar installation process: everything from financing and finding the right rebates and incentives to installation and maintenance. I love my work and I am here to help my fellow Coloradans save money while converting to a cleaner form of energy!”

Here are 5 tips when looking for the right solar installer:

MARCH 2015

1. CERTIFICATION: Check to see if they qualified, registered or a member of: National American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP); National Electrical Contractors Assoc. (NECA) or Colorado Solar Energy Industry Assoc. (COSEIA). Also check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there have been any complaints registered.

2. SUBCONTRACTORS VS. COMPANY TRAINED EMPLOYEES: Does your solar installer subcontract their work? Or do they have trained installers that take “Pride in Ownership” of their work. Just like we have all seen in the “hail chaser” roofing business, subcontractors are here today and gone tomorrow.

3. LICENSES/INSURANCE: In case of an accident during installation, it is important that your solar installer has the proper licenses and insurance to ensure against any liability.

4. WARRANTY: Buy American made! And as with any product you buy, always check the warranty. This includes the overall warranty of the system (which generally is 20 to 25 years) and the warranty that ensures that the solar installer will fix your panels should anything malfunction.

5. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT… FINANCING & PAYMENT OPTIONS: Make sure your bid explicitly indicates the payback and monthly savings on your electric bill and how much of your electricity will be coming from solar. Make sure YOU are capturing YOUR tax credits and NOT the installer company. Compare bids as a solar system that only provides 50% of your power needs will obviously be cheaper than one that provides 90% or 100% - . Your solar sales professional should be fluent on the different financing options available (ie. purchase, lease, power purchase agreements) and the benefit (or lack thereof) to the consumer.

“We must have the sense of urgency to seize the low-hanging fruit that saves tax payer money, preserves the environment and creates economic opportunity.” —Governor John Hickenlooper For more information on how to obtain Zero Money Down Financing and save $750 off on your Solar Installation, Call today: 720.580.0527

5 CASTLE ROCK MAGAZINE

• Family Owned & Operated 20+ Years • High Quality Plantation Shutters • VERY PERSONAL SERVICE Committed to you and your home’s needs • SUPERIOR PRODUCT & SERVICE We are dedicated to delivering the very best plantation shutters as selected by the best designers

NEW SHUTTERS & SHUTTER REPAIR

Free in home consultations!

$150 Off

20+ years industry of experience

$250 Off

www.coloradoshutters.com

Exp. 3/31/15

250 Sq. Ft. or more Expires 3/31/15

WWW.CASTLEROCKMAGAZINE.COM 6

MARCH 2015

303-857-5791

150 Sq. Ft.

SAFEGUARDING your home BATHROOMS As you could imagine, most accidents occur in the bathroom. There is where you can get the most bang for your buck. Grab bars should be installed in the shower or tub and near the toilet. They are not as difficult to install as you may think. Additionally, when locating or anchoring into a stud is not possible, anchoring kits rated up to 300 pounds are available. Products such as the Security pole and Curved grab bar by Stander are quick and easy to install and do not require any drilling. Many of the fixture manufacturers even have decorative bars to match your faucets and shower trim.

BATHMATS A simple and often overlooked solution is anti-slip bathmats. To avoid both slipping on puddles and slipping on a loose mat, bathmats should be placed outside of the tub or shower and in front of the toilet and sink.

LIGHTING Lighting also plays a key role in the prevention of falls. Rooms and hallways should have proper lighting and easy to find switches. If your house has the older toggle style switches you may want to replace them with the decorator style rocker switches. Decorator switches also help increase the value of your home. It is also important to look for switches that are illuminated, which are even better. The quickest and easiest solution for dark hallways and bathrooms, for those of us who make the midnight bathroom trip, are motion activated night lights. Many of these now use LED technology and are battery-powered so you can place them anywhere. Some manufacturers offer switches that can be used with a remote control for rooms that should have a three way switch but do not. The use of extension cords should be also avoided.

by Bill Leahy

MARCH 2015

S

pring is coming, tax refund checks are in hand and, for many of us, home improvement projects are on our minds. So before you start that larger project or buy that new hot tub I would like to share some ideas for making your home, or the home of a loved one, just a little safer.

The CDC reports that one in three older adults fall each year.

In 2013 2.5 million non-fatal falls in older adults alone were treated in emergency rooms.

Many of these accidents could have been prevented.

7 CASTLE ROCK MAGAZINE

AREA RUGS Area rugs and mats are another common cause of fall related injuries. They should be removed where ever possible. If that is not an option, make sure that they have anti-skid backing or place grip tape under them.

Here are a few other suggestions not directly related to fall injuries that can still make life a bit safer and easier for you or a loved one. If you have plans to remodel a bathroom or bedroom, or you are planning on replacing entry doors, consider making them large enough for a wheelchair to fit through. The minimum size for any interior door should be 32” and the front door should be a minimum of 36”. You may not need it now, but it can make a huge difference down the road.

Many ailments such as Arthritis limit the use of your hands, so when you are replacing those doors install lever style doorknobs as they make it much easier to open the door.

If changing doorknobs is not an option there is a product called Great Grips that can be installed on standard doorknobs.

Whether you are young or old, caring for a loved one or looking to “age in place”, it is my hope that this information can help keep all of us just a little safer and injury free. v Bill Leahy is the owner of Independently Yours. In their local medical supply showroom they offer a wide variety of supplies for bathroom, bedroom, compression, mobility and orthopedic needs. For more information visit IndependentlyYours.com or call (303) 840-4444.

MARCH 2015 WWW.CASTLEROCKMAGAZINE.COM 8

MARCH 2015 9 CASTLE ROCK MAGAZINE

MARCH 2015 WWW.CASTLEROCKMAGAZINE.COM 10

BOOKENDS The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais

Hassan Haji was born in Mumbai and grew up in the middle of his grandfather’s busy restaurant.

After tragedy strikes, his family leaves India and ends up in a small town in the French mountains.

His father eventually opens an Indian restaurant in their house. Hassan is drawn into the culinary world and it will change the course of his life.

PAM: This novel was recently made into a movie. Although I have not had the opportunity to see the movie, I have been excited to read the book. Have you seen the movie Becky? Did this book grab you from the beginning?

BECKY: I saw the movie first which is unusual for me. However, as I started to read this book I had a vivid picture in my head so that pulled me into the story very quickly. Hassan is the second born of six children and shares a special bond with his mother. While he was young the two of them would go to different restaurants as their special time together. Do you think that these experiences created his love of food and cooking or was that desire already in him?

PAM: I think it was a combination of the special times with his mother and the smells, sights, and sounds which were embedded in his memories from growing up in his grandfather’s restaurant. Hassan recalls the smells that would reach him while he was napping in the rooms above the restaurant. His family seemed loud and boisterous. Did you feel that they were a happy family during the beginning of the story?

BECKY: It was different than an American family as he had all of his immediate family and extended family together. It was definitely a loud bunch and although most of his family relationships were not discussed in detail through the story, I did have the feeling that they were a close family. Hassan seems to be a bit of a loner. As he matures, his time is devoted to his craft and he keeps a distance from almost everyone. Did you get the impression that Hassan was a happy person?

PAM: That is a difficult question, as I think it depends on the part if his story. He seemed to be a happy child, but after a tragedy occurs he struggles (as well as the entire family). Later, he is alarmed when cooking falls to him in the family’s restaurant in France. He thrives in this role and this fact does not escape his grumpy neighbor, Madame Mallory. She reacts quite theatrically after tasting Hassan’s food the first time. Were you surprised by her reaction?

BECKY: Madame Mallory was such an interesting character. Her reaction was definitely over the top, but it often was. She runs a very nice French restaurant across from the Haji’s casual establishment. She is an intense person that intimidates most people. Hassan’s father is quite the opposite and decides to push back.

What follows is a battle of the wills. What did you think about this war?

MARCH 2015

PAM: It was interesting and humorous at first. Madame Mallory was so serious and intense, while Hassan’s father treated it like a joke. However, one day none of the merchants will sell to Hassan’s father at the market after being intimidated by Madame Mallory. This war became serious and an inventive solution was necessary...a Haji family restaurant delivery truck! Did you feel this day strengthened or changed the rivalry?

BECKY: I think that Madame Mallory was at a point where no one would challenge her. His move to bypass her power gave him a level of respect from Madame Mallory. She didn’t roll over easily and if you watched the movie, don’t expect the same ending for this storyline. This was a great pick and I recommend both the book and the movie but it’s time to move on to Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng for April’s book.

11 CASTLE ROCK MAGAZINE

LOCAL AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Bridal Veil by Monica Wright

C

harly Ellington should be proud to wear her great-great-greatgrandmother’s wedding dress. Instead, the bodice is too tight, the skirt is too loose, and the dress comes with a century of expectations attached to it. As the daughter of the democratic presidential nominee, Charly is marrying America’s most eligible future senator to help her father get elected. But there is only one problem: Charly does not love Trenton Foxworth III. Worse yet, Charly wishes she was the one running for office.

Even though Charly knows she is the first to break the family history of fairy tale love matches, she dutifully dons a period costume and prepares for her rehearsal dinner and her new life as a senator’s wife. But after a distressed Charly suddenly sees her great-great-great grandmother’s refl ection in her mirror, she touches the glass and falls through to face Charlotte Foster in the year 1885.

MARCH 2015

For more information or to purchase Bridal Veil please visit their website at monica-wright.com.

WWW.CASTLEROCKMAGAZINE.COM 12

MARCH 2015 13 CASTLE ROCK MAGAZINE

MARCH 2015 WWW.CASTLEROCKMAGAZINE.COM 14