Longmont Magazine Fall 2015

FALL 2015 || TIMES-CALL

ROBOT

the

I •N •V •A •S • I • O • N

Robots have arrived in Longmont with their mechanical fingers in everything from entertainment to healthcare. How are they affecting your life right now?

DRONES: What exactly are they and what can they do?

ROBO-LIFE: Bots from the past, present and future

LEAGUE SPORTS offer up fun and fitness for fall

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Studies prove regular visits to the dentist help minimize the amount of plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to inflamed gums, cavities and more serious problems such as root canals or crowns. Gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss, can be prevented with regular checkups. But if tooth loss has occurred, Smile Designers suggest patients consider small diameter implants. A much less involved process than most dental implants, small diameter implants, provides patients with the ability to eat, smile and speak after one visit to the dentist. The non-surgical technology behind small diameter implants has been expanded to include anything – from replacing a single tooth to full mouth restoration.

Drs. Thomas Drake and Steve Sampson have 36 years of combined experience in treating family dental needs. They have served more than 30,000 residents and continue to accept new patients.

LONGMONT HAS MADE SMILE DESIGNERS THE #1 RECOGNIZED DENTAL OFFICE IN LONGMONT.

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www.wyattswetgoods.com Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 3

contents

22

featuring...

ENTERTAINMENT

Robots, Robots Everywhere.... 32

HEALTH

Robotics in Healthcare ......... 40

TURNTABLE

Local Music Scene ....................... 12

ENTERTAINMENT

Off the Couch, Into the Game.... 14

HOME & GARDEN

Perennial Fall Chores .................. 19

FAMILY

Building on a BiBli............... 46

Longmont in top 10 best cities for first-time home buyers ................ 20

OUTDOORS

RECREATION

Take to the Sky with Drones .......................... 50

BOOK SHELF

Colorado Authors, Darla Roselle and TeraShea Nesbit .................... 8 Area Book Clubs and Events ...... 10

66

46

Finding a League of Your Own .................................... 22

COMMUNITY

The OUR Center: Offering Support in Tough Times............................ 54

RELATIONSHIPS

Dealing with the changing nature of love in relationships ............... 64

TRAVEL

Weekend getaway: Colorado’s Wine Country............................... 66

PARKS

Golf Courses and City Parks ..................................... 68

FAMILY

Family Harvest Time ................... 26 Dress, Don’t Stress this Halloween............................. 60

FALL 2015 || TIMES-CALL

RO O ROBOT

the

I •N •V •A •S • I • O • N

Robots have arrived in Longmont with their mechanical fingers in everything from entertainment to healthcare. How are they affecting your life right now?

On the Cover The robots are coming! Longmont Museum’s exhibit Robots Rising

FACEBOOK

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TWITTER

Follow @LongmontMag on Twitter for updates in the community, events and upcoming magazines.

Photo by David Jennings

DRONES: What exactly are they and what can they do?

ROBO-LIFE: Bots from the past, present and future

LEAGUE SPORTS offer up fun and fitness for fall

Pages 32-53

PINTEREST

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Fall 2015

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Dear friend,

“I Just Don’t Believe in That…”

When I meet people in town, they usually say, “Oh, yeah, I know you, you’re Dr. Jessica. I’ve seen your ad in the Longmont Magazine.”

Let’s start with me. Nineteen years ago when I was a freshman in college taking pre-med courses, I developed allergies which led to chronic sinus infections. My medical doctor had me on some really powerful drugs, but nothing was helping! The infections kept getting stronger and stronger and so did the doses of antibiotics. I was so sick for so long that my parents decided to take me out of school so I could focus on getting healthy.

A large percentage of Americans no longer have health insurance and those who do have it have found that their benefits are being reduced as each year passes. Deductibles are rising, and restrictive HMO’s are now common.

A friend of mine convinced me to give chiropractic a try, but I just didn’t believe in it! Out of desperation, I went to see him. The chiropractor did an exam, took some films, and then “adjusted” my spine. The adjustment didn’t hurt, it actually felt good. I finally got relief from the terrible pressure in my sinuses! My course of care worked so well that I have never had another sinus infection in over 18 years…and I went to chiropractic college instead of medical school, as I had planned.

That’s where my practice comes in. I have found a way so that more people are able to afford the care they need, people with or without health insurance. A whole week of care in my office could cost what you’d pay for just one visit elsewhere.

It’s strange how life is, because now people come to see me with their sinus and allergy problems. Also they come to me with their headaches, migraines, chronic pain, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash from car accidents, backaches, ear infections, asthma, allergies, numbness in limbs, athletic injuries, just to name a few.

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Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

“It Shouldn’t Cost an Arm and a Leg to Correct Your Health” You should know a little about my qualifications.

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I’ve recently joined practices with the Cafe of Life, which is located at 202 Main Street in Longmont. My phone number is 303-772-8311. Please call my wonderful assistant Megan today to make an appointment.

Thank you.

-Dr. Jessica Thompson P.S.: When accompanied by the first, I am also offering the second family member this same examination for only $35.

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202 Main Street in Longmont www.longmontchiropractorsmassage.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 5

editor’s note

Robot Roundup If you were anything like me you watched the Jetsons as a kid and thought about how cool it would be to have a Rosie of your very own. (I also wanted a Mystery Machine, but that’s a different story.) I’d still kill for an electronic maid some days. Though we may be pretty far away from personal servant bots, robotics are getting more and more complex and quickly gaining a foothold in our daily lives. Take a good look around and you may be surprised by the level of involvement you find.

They entertain us, they assist us, and in some cases they help cure us. There are groups out there that speculate about The Singularity; the point at which technology will advance beyond our own intelligence. The dominant viewpoint holds that we don’t have to worry about machines achieving sentience, Terminator style, but that it will be a complete paradigm shift someday. I don’t think we necessarily have to wait. Robots are here, in their many forms, right now.

The Longmont Museum is presenting an overview of robots through the past, present and into the future with its exhibit, Robots Rising and businesses throughout Longmont have a hand in the development of robotics for many useful applications from photography to exploration.

Even healthcare has been impacted by the presence of our mechanical friends with more precise surgical tools that lead to less recovery time and, often, less postoperative pain. Procedures that used to mean an overnight stay in the hospital, can now be completed in an afternoon with the patient being allowed to go home the same day.

So, the next time you need a helping hand around the house, look and you just might find a bot for that.

- Misty Kaiser

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

David Jennings,Tim Siebert

MARKETING AND PUBLIC ATIONS EDITOR Misty Kaiser kaiserm@dailycamera.com, 303.473.1425 MARKETING & ADVERTISING FEATURES COORDINATOR Greg Stone stoneg@dailycamera.com, 303.473.1210 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Summer McElley, Elise Oberliesen, Beth Firestein, Carol O’Mera, L.L. Charles, Adam Martin, Darren Thornberry, Dan Powers, Jolie Breeden, Judy Finman, Shay Castle, Rhema Zlaten

6 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

RETAIL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Christine Labozan labozanc@dailycamera.com, 720.494.5445

Longmont Magazine distributes 30,000 copies to Longmont, Berthoud, Boulder, Dacono, Del Camino, Estes Park, Firestone, Frederick, Gunbarrel, Johnstown, Lafayette, Louisville, Lyons, Mead, Milliken, Niwot and Platteville. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

EDITORIAL & EVENTS:

LONGMONT MAGAZINE A Publication of the Longmont Times-Call 350 Terry St., Longmont, CO 80501 303.776.2244; 800.270.9774 www.longmontmagazine.com

To submit a story idea: Call: 303.473.1425 Email: LongmontMag@times-call.com or kaiserm@timescall.com

SOCIAL NETWORKS:

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Copies are inserted into the newspaper and are available at the Chamber of Commerce, visitor locations and businesses throughout the area.

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Fall 2015

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Fall 2015

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 7

book shelf

THE COBALT MINE Intrigue and mystery flare as readers are taken deeper into the domain in the sequel, The Cobalt

Mine FORT COLLINS, COLO. – Readers were left hanging with unanswered questions and an unforeseen ending in The Cobalt Domain, the debut novel

by Darla Roselle. Roselle masterfully crafted a colorful dimension where humans and creatures with unworldly powers struggle between control and trust, while the main character Casey battles her way–physically and emo-

by Darla Roselle

tionally–to get back to the other side.

The first book in the Cobalt The adventure and intrigue set in the Series, The Cobalt Domain, has rapfirst book heighten in the exciting seidly built a strong fan following. “An quel, The Cobalt Mine, available now. incredible read - a great blend of fanThe Cobalt Mine takes readtasy, the supernatural and adventure,” ers deeper into the mysteries of the says one reader. “I am completely domain as the journey to cross back invested in the characters, who they to the other side creates more compliare and what their future holds!” says cations than what meets the eye. As some questions get answered for read- another. ers, new questions emerge. Roselle also are responding enCrownCritics Imperial continues to grip readers with fascinat- thusiastically. “Imaginative flourishes ing characters and the challenge to perk up old tropes in Roselle’s debut look within ourselves for trust and novel, a slowly wheeling blend of instrength as the thrill ride continues trigue, teen drama, fantasy and fun.”– when the Reds bout in the Meccas, the KIRKUS REVIEW. Torch continues to fluctuate, and the The Cobalt Mine is available residents of the domain experience a wherever books are sold. surprising leadership change.

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Fall 2015

THE WIVES OF LOS ALAMOS

editor’s pick

by TaraShea Nesbit

This book is a little bit personal to me since I’ve twice spent time in the atomic city, once as a child and again during my college years. I still have family and friends there. The Los Alamos National Laboratory is still there also. Throughout town there are little reminders of its origins and what they did there and though Fat Man and Little Boy are long behind them, it’s still considered faux pas to ask someone what they do for a living. The secrecy endures. I had to sign a security clearance to wait tables at a hotel that hosted visiting scientists. Where else does that happen?

The history of a city that secret, even to the families of those who lived there has always been fascinating to me.

I’ve been to the museums, but the personal stories are so much more interesting. The Wives of Los Alamos presents an interesting take on the personal stories, maintaining an objective distance by telling everyone’s story at once and no one’s story in depth. The book is written from a collective first person point of view. The style was a little offputting to me at first, but it became more engaging as the book progressed and I realized that no single experience was universal. I saw the fear of the unknown as the women followed their men to a town they weren’t even allowed to speak of. The day to day concerns of caring for a family in a militarized situation and the stress of living with husbands that spoke little about what they did, beyond working on “The Gadget”, take front row in every narrative. They waited anxiously for the war to be over just as the rest of the country did, with no idea how much ending it would cost them all.

The Wives of Los Alamos is a wonderful read for anyone who is curious about that period of history or just enjoys a story of strong, yet fallible women who held the world in place while it tried its best to fall apart.

- Misty Kaiser

Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 9

book clubs & happenings The Longmont Book Club

There are three groups of the Longmont Book Club.

All book clubs meet at 10:15 a.m. at Barbed Wire Books, 504 Main St. in Longmont.

First Editions Meets every first Saturday of the month.

September 5 -”The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown October 3 - “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins For more information visit meetup.com/firsteditionsfirstsaturdaymeetup.

Third Rocks!

Meets every third Saturday of the month.

September 19 - “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin October 17 - The Good Lord Bird”, by James McBride

For more information visit meetup.com/longmontbookclub.

Fourth Edition Meets every fourth Saturday of the month.

August 22 - “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie September 26 -”The Reader”

by Bernhard Schlink October 24 - “Preparation for

the Next Life” by Atticus Lish

For more information visit meetup.com/longmont-fourtheditionsaturdaymeetup.

Longmont Public Library

The Rise of the “Islamic State” September 24, 7-8 p.m.

Dr. Ian Feinhandler, geography faculty at Front Range Community College, will present an analysis of the rise of the selftitled “Islamic State”. Dr. Feinhandler will examine the factors that gave rise to this organization. Registration is not required.

The History of Native American Boarding Schools October 8, 7-8 p.m.

Anna Wing will speak about the history and impact of Native American boarding schools.

Ms. Wing has a Master’s Degree in History from Loyola University in Chicago with an emphasis in Native American History and Gender History.

First Thursdays monthly, 2 p.m.

September 3 - “Soldier

Girls: the Battles of Three Women at Home and at War” by Helen Thorpe October 1 - “The Underground Girls of Kabul” by Jenny Nordberg November 5 - “Killing Patton” by Bill O’Reilly December 3 - “I’m a Stranger Here Myself” by Bill Bryson Second Mondays monthly, 7 p.m.

September 14 - “A DarkAdapted Eye” by Barbara Vine October 12 - “Sweet Thunder” by Ivan Doig November 9 - “Life After Life” by Kate Atkinson December 14 - “The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion For more information on LPL Book Discussion Groups please visit longmontcolorado.gov/departments/ departments-e-m/library/ books-and-reading/bookdiscussion-groups

Online Book Clubs Through a premium service, the Longmont Library offers patrons 12 different online book clubs, divided by genre and preference. You

must have a library card to participate.

Visit supportlibrary.com/nt/ landing.cfm?x=7613485&m enu=bccarousel&submenu= bcsignup to participate.

Barbed Wire Books The Grey Havens Group Tolkien Discussion Society Thursdays, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Inklingsiana! brought to you by The Grey Havens Group second and fourth Monday monthly from 6-7:30 p.m.

Explore myth and imaginative literature with emphasis on the works of the Oxford Inklings.

The Godric’s Hollow Group A Harry Potter Discussion Society, is meeting the first and third Monday of every month.

Game of Thrones Book Group First and third Wednesdays of every month, 6-7:30 p.m.

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LongmontMagazine.com

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turntable

SONGS WITH A STORY PAUL KIMBIRIS

Local singer-songwriter Paul Kimbiris weaves a good yarn. His songs craft poetic, yet relatable, stories of human journeys physical, emotional, and mental, in the tradition of Bob Dylan and James Taylor. Also, anyone that can work Cecil B. DeMille into their lyrics has my vote.

Storytelling in song goes back to the days of sitting around campfires with the clan, but I often feel like it’s a dying art. It takes work to tell a story. Verse, chorus, verse, hook, is catchier, easier and keeps people coming back. I think John Popper wrote a song about it.

Folk artists still dominate the story-in-a-song idea and musically, the album is definitely folky. Though it’s largely acoustic, it’s more deeply layered in composition than a good percentage of folk music which keeps it from being labeled strictly as a folk album. There’s a small, but persistent, group of them out there right now—Lord Huron, Tallest Man On Earth, Dan Mangan...Paul Kimbiris— they’re working well within the paths left by those who came before, and still pushing the edges of what it means to be “folk” artists.

LIVE: SAT SEPT 12 :: eTown Hall

:: Boulder

THU OCT 8 :: Jamestown Mercantile :: Jamestown

THE HUNTERS

Google The Hunters and it will come back with a Canadian poprock band, an acid-rock outfit from Pennsylvania and a “berlin country band”. (I may have to go back and listen to that last one. I’m having a hard time imaging the German take on country music.) This is none of the above. This duet, performing under the moniker The Hunters, is a local Colorado band.

Though if you know them at all it might be under their former name “The FAM Band”.

The Hunters show that you can tell a story and still throw out a good hook. Carolyn Nicely’s voice is a soft little feathery thing that lilts through the guitar work of Dan Hunter, giving it a little air. The presentation is simple, but pretty and listenable folk music with a light heart beating behind it. Storytellers can sometimes get bogged down and muddled up in their own efforts to get their ideas out, but - Misty Kaiser LIVE: SAT AUG 22 :: The Roost

:: Longmont

FRI SEPT 11 :: CHUBurger

:: Longmont

FRI SEPT 25 :: Powder Keg Brewing

:: Niwot

BEE CAVES - ANIMALS WITH RELIGION

editor’s pick

Before anyone even asks... Bee Cave is a town in Texas not too far from Austin, where the band makes its home. It’s a strange name that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but I promise, the songs on their recent EP will. I have them stuck in my head for hours every time I listen. And that has been embarrassingly often.

Animals With Religion is quirky in that first album kind of way, one single style is hard to pin down, so it feels like a jumble of experiments—they underscore one track with the sound of a flag hitting a flagpole, a sound so nostalgic that there’s no doubt what it is. The whole album begins with this loping sort of guitar on a horse sound that clops right into some synth funk which gives way to a guitar driven tune with a smack of southern rock and culminates with a longing ballad that tugs at the heartstrings. Each song has its story and the music is just there to score it. And it does, just perfectly.

At only six songs they don’t give you a chance to really critique much, but they do leave you wanting to hear more.

I’m sure that was the point. It worked on me, anyway. I’ve signed up for and followed everything I possibly can, so that I know the minute they decide to put out a full album or, even better, tour. If I can inspire one other person to do the same, my job is done. Call me. We can be front row fanatics together. — Misty Kaiser 12 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

LongmontMagazine.com

Fall 2015

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Fall 2015

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 13

entertainment

The indoor laser tag area at Dizzy Family Fun Center is fun for all ages. (Photo courtesy of Dizzy Family Fun Center.)

OFF THE COUCH, Into the Game

By Darren Thornberry, Longmont Magazine

front of a computer. You don’t need the government to tell you why that can be harmful, but the U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that too If you play it long enough, you much screen time can make it hard to probably will beat the game. sleep at night and increase the risk of Then what? obesity, attention problems, anxiety A fact sheet on the education. and depression. com website states that the averIt’s not all bad news, though. Now age 8- to 18-year-old American plays more than ever, gamers can get their video games for 13.2 hours a week. fix and get off the couch at the same That’s a lot of screen time, and that’s time because off-screen gaming is ennot even counting the amount of time joying a mighty resurgence. This might spent watching television or sitting in be the zenith for the board game industry; they are more fun and creative than ever. The latest crop of two-player, multi-player elimination games and cooperative games are attracting people Laser tag equipment lined up in droves to meetupfor players. (Photo courtesy of style game nights.

Dizzy Family Fun Center.)

Escape rooms, laser 14 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

LongmontMagazine.com

tag venues, and even historical societies are seeing interest from people who want to have a blast and enjoy a sense of community. This article will introduce readers to a variety of local gaming purveyors who have something more scintillating to offer than the latest electronic shoot-em-up.

Zombies!?

If you love battling zombies in your favorite video game, the Longmont Public Safety Department has an event that’s to die for. It’s the Halloween Zombie Shoot! The scenario: zombies have taken over the research facility and you must locate Dr. Myers with the antidote and return him to safety. You must enter the research facility and clear all rooms of live “zombie” actors. If you fail to locate the doctor and antidote, then you have failed your mission. It’s an actionpacked, simulation-based activity using “paint ball style” handguns.

Fall 2015

IntroducIng nextlIght

tM

Longmont knows light. More than a century ago, we built our own electric utility to light our community. Today, we’re lighting Longmont in a whole new way. NextLightTM is your community-owned broadband service from Longmont Power & Communications. As the city’s only 100% fiber-optic network, it carries information over beams of light, connecting residents and businesses at speeds among the fastest in the world and for a price that can’t be beat.

To learn more about service availability, construction progress, rates, and other broadband information, please visit www.longmontcolorado.gov/nextlight or call 303.651.8386.

Fall 2015

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 15

Dates are Oct. 16-17, 23-24, and 30-31.

Enigma Escape Rooms, immerses players in a live mystery experience. (Photo courtesy of Enigma Escape Rooms.)

Paintball Blitz Paintball in Dacono sees 450 - 650 players show up every week at its world-class facility. “For those who love paintball, it is one of the most fun things they have ever done in their life,” says owner Isaac Blizzard. “You don’t have to be big, fast or strong to be a great player. You learn how to work together to accomplish objectives and it helps build camaraderie. Best part, it is like playing the most popular video games but instead of being on the couch, you are in the game!”

Laser Tag Dizzy Family Fun Center in Longmont is, as the name suggests, the epicenter of family fun, boasting Laser tag, Laser Maze, Toxic Meltdown (cannonball air blasters,) arcade, kiddie town and a café. The venue routinely hosts birthday parties, corporate event and field trips. “Laser tag is taking the country by storm,” says owner Aaron Nagell. “Our laser tag is for all ages so even the little ones can have fun. We designed our laser tag arena after the Sugar Mill here in town. It looks like you’re running around the Sugar Mill 100 years in the future!”

Tabletop Games Longmont’s TinkerMill has a regular board game night on Fridays at 7 p.m. Deck builder and co-op games are popular offerings. To get involved, just show up! Brian Trotter, who leads the event, says bringing games can be a good idea. “I tend to bring several games, trying to cover a range of themes and difficulties. We mostly end up playing shorter games, in the hour range. We get a few more games in that way and can accommodate people showing up and leaving at different times.”

16 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

Greg Collins regularly attends, too.

“Current trends are deck builder games and co-op games …Star Realms, Dominion … other fun games are Settlers of Catan, Munchkin, Arkham Horror, and Pandemic, to name a few.”

Karliquin’s Game Knight in Boulder hosts a board game night on Thursdays at 6 p.m. All kinds of games are on the table, be it Settlers of Catan, Splendor, Eclipse, and more. “There are so many genres now that there are countless options,” says owner Jackson Wood. “Games that have mixed mechanics (i.e., deck building and board control) are on the rise as are legacy games (in which you change the game in some way from one play through to another). This is akin to getting new abilities for characters, changing the map, and so forth.”

Atomic Goblin Games in Longmont also hosts a board game night on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. The store is a combination retail store and destination game-playing venue for game enthusiasts of all ages.

Escape Rooms Escape rooms may well have originated in point-and-click adventure video games, as Matt Sisson, co-owner of Enigma Escape Rooms in Ft. Collins LongmontMagazine.com

and Boulder, suggests. Sisson says that about five years ago, the concept went “live” in Japan and eventually made its way to the U.S. Enigma Escape Rooms, as described on its website, are live-action, interactive puzzles that take place inside a locked room. For 60 minutes you will be literally locked inside and challenged to escape. Find the hidden clues, uncover the secret mystery of the room, and unlock the door.

“It’s a new and exciting experience,” says Sisson. “People like being removed from reality working towards a similar goal: escape. We also take away all factors that would distract you, such as cell phones. It’s also a huge plus for companies, as it’s a team building experience that doesn’t involve alcohol and isn’t some rope course.”

Murder Mystery Anyone wanting some old-school grownup fun in a classic western venue will find it at Gold Hill Inn’s Murder Mystery, held adjacent to the inn at the historic Bluebird Lodge in Boulder. A champagne reception kicks things off, followed a meal and teams then surveying the scene of a crime, looking for clues and interrogating Fall 2015

Players find and process clues in an escape room scenario. (Photo courtesy of Enigma Escape Rooms.)

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ronism (SCA), Inc., is an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17-century Europe. The Barony of Caer Galen is the local chapter.

“All sorts of things draw people to the SCA: interest in history, the role playing aspect of persona development, the combat aspect of our martial activities and the arts,” says Baroness Anne Bigod. “So many aspects of art are available; from making armor, to calligraphy to sewing clothing.”

It’s easy to get involved. Show up at Roosevelt Park in Longmont on a Tuesday night at 6:30 for weekly fighter practice. The group usually has loaner gear on hand so new participants can try out the martial aspects.

“One thing that keeps people coming back is that we are a group that gets together just to be nice to each other,” adds the Baroness. “Reenacting the better parts of the Middle

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 17

Ages includes chivalry, courtesy and honor. Having that type of escape can be very powerful and necessary in this sometimes cold and harsh modern world.”

Archery Tag Head on down to Moving Target Archery in Centennial for something

If you go...

Atomic Goblin Games 1801 Hover St., Unit D, Longmont; 720.684.6074; atomicgoblingames.com Blitz Paintball 5340 Summit Blvd., Dacono; 303.337.7109; blitzpaintball.net

completely different: Archery Tag! It is similar to dodgeball with bows and foam-tipped arrows. This exciting, action-packed game offers the ultimate family-friendly experience that engages everyone.

“It is family friendly – something that the entire family can play,” says John Jackson, the creator of the patented game. “Not the pain associated

Caer Galen caergalen.org, facebook.com/ groups/caer.galen, sca.org

with paintball. It’s easy for anyone to play, even if you have never shot a bow before. It’s intense enough for thrill seekers, yet safe enough for the entire family. Archery Tag knows no age, race, gender, or nationality!”

The beauty of Archery Tag, besides the fun, is its simplicity. There are no electronics or outdated technology from year to year.

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Fall 2015

home & garden

Perfect gardeners are those that work with the rhythm of the seasons,

By Carol O’Meara rolling with the Colorado State vagaries of the University Extension weather. Rain or sun doesn’t ruffle their feathers; they simply are one with the earth and its little mood swings.

I am not a perfect gardener. If I were, the lingering heat wave wouldn’t bother me. But I’m shocked at the temperatures whenever I step outside, my mind insisting that Mother Nature is going to have to start cooling off.

Now that we’re nearing September, it’s time to start planning for fall, not host a pool party.

Each season brings with it a list of chores that promote good plant health, and in fall, perennial beds and borders should be rejuvenated with a little late season planting and cleanup. Local Fall 2015

PERENNIAL fall chores garden centers offer an excellent assortment of these long-lived plants, bringing in fresh material for shoppers’ delight.

Fall is a good time to plant , especially in September. But it’s still warm, so water them carefully after they’re in, then plan to winter water plants, especially their first year in the ground.

Cleaning up after plants stop growing for the season removes insects, their eggs and any diseases that over-winter on fallen leaves. But in good gardener fashion, there are several schools of thought on how to care for perennial beds in fall. For those who like their beds tidy, cutting back the foliage once it is dead gives it a neat appearance over the winter.

Others subscribe to the “do-itlater” tack of leaving all the plants in place, frozen into a winter tableau of browned leaves, spent seed heads, and dried flowers. Both techniques have pros and cons; cutting some perennials back will open up stems to drying winds of winter and accelerate winterkill, while leaving dead, decomposing plants in the garden increases risk of spreading disease.

Hedge your bets by cutting some perennials back after they die to the ground but leave ornamental grasses, seed heads of Rudbeckia, Echinacea, or poppies until late winter for texture LongmontMagazine.com

and food for birds. If you do this, leave only healthy plants standing; if they’re diseased, remove them and throw them out.

Leaving your plant clean up until spring allows the plant to capture more snow, funneling moisture to the soil. Snow, along with mulch, gathered at the base of plants sitting close to each other in a winter garden also gives them some added protection from wind. After the ground freezes, apply mulch to stabilize soil temperature and prevent alternate freezing and thawing of soil, which can lift crowns above soil levels.

Dig and store tender summer flowering bulbs and corms after frost has nipped the foliage and leaves are blackened. Gladiolas, cannas, and caladiums need to be lifted and kept in a cool l ocation over winter. Dig carefully to avoid injuring corms since wounds are often entry points for disease organisms. Clip off and destroy plant tops immediately, then let the bulbs dry for a few days before storing them in a cool, dry area.

Our Colorado Master Gardener program in Boulder County is currently taking applications for the spring class.

If you are interested in helping others garden, the Colorado Master Gardener program is for you! Classes run January through March and will be held every Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please contact the Colorado State University Extension Office in Boulder County at 303.678.6238 to receive an application.

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 19

Longmont in top 10 best cities for first-time home buyers

Shay Castle, Daily Camera

Longmont homeowners have long known they got a good deal in a special place.

Now, they’re getting confirmation on a national scale.

Longmont was named the ninth-best city for first-time home buyers in a report released last week by personal finance site WalletHub, and No. 1 for living environment — factors including crime rate, recreational opportunities, schools, driving, jobs and weather.

Experience Matters...

“Being on this list is a nice assessment,” said Longmont City Council member Gabe Santos. “To be ranked as the No. 1 living environment says a lot about what previous city councils and city managers have done for Longmont.”

“Plus,” he added with a laugh, “it’s nice to beat some of these other communities.”

Several other Colorado cities scored high in terms of livability. Centennial (No. 2 overall) and Fort Collins (30th overall) both cracked the top 10. Boulder was

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ranked seventh-best for environment, but its low mark for housing affordability (No. 226 out of 300 cities surveyed) brought it to 116th overall, the lowest of any Colorado city.

Rising prices throughout the county have pushed more people to Longmont, which WalletHub ranked No. 41 in terms of housing affordability.

The median sales price for a single-family home in Longmont was $305,000 in the first half of 2015, according to D.B. Wilson of Re/ Max of Boulder. That’s up 11 percent from last year, but still the most affordable by far in Boulder County, where the median price is $469,000.

Kathy Draz and her husband purchased a Longmont home, their first, in 2011 after moving from Boulder.

“It’s a pretty cool town, she said. “The joke that I’ve heard that I like the most is that we’re the Brooklyn of Boulder.

“There’s so much pottential here. Good restaurants are moving in, there’s r entertainment options on Main Street. Plus, our home M vvalue is going to rise because so many people are moving here.” m Steadily rising home prices are a boon to firsttime buyers, said Kyle Sny-

LongmontMagazine.com

der, sales manager for Land

Title Guarantee Company.

“A buyer wants their house to (gain value),” he said, “so buying in an appreciating market is a positive.”

That upward trend, combined with the affordable options that attract young buyers, has contributed to Longmont’s desirability, Snyder said.

“In a region, I think when you stand out like that, you have affordability because you also have availability of inventory,” he said. “Last year’s data shows that we still have the most volume sales in all of the cities around us in the under-$250,000 range, something like 480 (homes).”

The WalletHub ranking is a nice affirmation of the work done by city officials to increase those affordable options, Santos said.

“The council over the last couple of years is hopefully doing the right thing as far as building and growth,” he said. “Just seeing those other towns (on the list), it’s nice to see that we’re in a good place.”

“Hopefully, those firsttime home buyers will stay here for a long time.”

Shay Castle: 303.473.1626, castles@ dailycamera.com, @shayshinecastle Fall 2015

Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 21

recreation

Finding a

Longmont Recreation Center flag football teams line up for a play. (Photo courtesy of Longmont Recreation Center.)

By Misty Kaiser, Longmont Magazine Amid the forest of HIIT, spin, crossfit, Barre, Zumba, Pilates, and on and on, there lies a sometimes forgotten path to fun and fitness; the adult recreation league.

As adults, we can get so caught up in watching the pros play our favorite sports, we don’t always remember that we can get out there and play them ourselves. Maybe you haven’t suited up for your sport of choice since college, or even high school, but it’s not too far gone.

LEAGUE of YOUR OWN

“The City of Longmont Recreation and Golf Services offers a variety of adult team sports. Register your team or sign up as a free agent to get on a team. The City of Longmont’s Athletic program wants to make it as easy as possible to get involved,” says Terri Calvin, Recreation Program Supervisor of Athletics for City of Longmont Recreation Services.

On Thursday evenings year round, the rec center hosts men’s basketball leagues in an eight game series.

Teams are classified as either leisure or recreational, so players can choose their desired level of competition. The series runs from September 16 through November 11.

If pigskin is more your thing, you’ll have to hurry; August 24 is the

Recreational leagues are a great way to have fun and stay fit. (Photo courtesy of Longmont Recreation Center.)

The Big Four Basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer are usually among the first sports that come to mind when thinking of organized league play.

If any of them make you want to get up and play, The Longmont Recreation Center is an excellent place to start the search.

22 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

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Fall 2015

Being a soccer mom (or dad) need players and free agent teams we last day to sign up. “Competitive and build in house.” doesn’t mean your playing days are Recreational divisions are available for Ambrose and his partner, Patrick the 8v8 Adult Flag Football program. done. Adult soccer leagues are No. Keane, began the Teams play a soccer club venture hearty eight game Patrons watch a game from in Boulder and season both in the bar area. (Photo courtesy the spring and of Longmont Indoor Soccer.) expanded into Longmont after seein the fall on ing that there were Tuesday nights many more kids inunder the lights at volved with soccer Sandstone Ranch in Longmont. They soccer complex,” also developed a Calvin says. If strong relationship you make it, the with St. Vrain FC, season starts on a local club many September 1. will be familiar Though with. With those reregistration is lationships building closed, it’s worth within the commumentioning that nity, it was a short Longmont Recleap from working reation Center with the kids to also hosts a fall their parents. softball league— Not only do something to adults get to play keep in mind for a favorite sport next season. and get some For women excercise, LIS has a interested in playvery unique social ing basketball, aspect… a bar. “We the Carbon Valley With so many divisions, it’s easy to have a license to Recreation Center find the right league for you. (Photo courtesy of Longmont Indoor Soccer.) serve beer & wine. in Frederick is We record all of offering a new our adult league women only three 1 at Longmont Indoor Soccer (LIS). games and then replay them in the bar on three league. so teams can watch the game that’s You’ll find just about every division Women also have a volleyball just been played and enjoy a beverleague all to themselves at Carbon Val- you could possibly dream up; men’s age with their teammates, friends, and women’s, coed, over 30s and over 35s ley, but, for those who would rather families,” explains Ambrose. You just are then divided again based on complay in mixed company, there is a can’t get better than that. petitive level. coed option as well.

The fall session is already in “We are only in our second year Prospective players of any of the progress, but the winter session begins and the community has embraced our rec center leagues don’t need to be October 12. Ambrose recommends new facility with plenty of teams and on a team prior to registration. Free registering soon as the leagues tend to players but we have room for more,” agents can sign up to be placed on fill up quickly. says LIS founder and co-operator/ a team by management—it’s a great way to meet new people, make a few friends and burn some calories while you’re at it.

Fall 2015

owner, Peter Ambrose. “We register teams, single players or free agents all the time and place them on teams that LongmontMagazine.com

Hockey

While not strictly a league, the city LONGMONT MAGAZINE 23

of Longmont’s Ice Pavilion drop-in hockey games start on November 8 and carry on through March 12.

According to Mark Mann, Ice Pavilion Manager, the number of players per game is capped at 24, and games are self-managed. “In general, most players are very good about playing for a couple minutes and then allowing the next guy on. Shift lengths are usually directly in proportion to the level of attendance, more players equal shorter shifts,” Mann said.

If your skills are a little rusty, or even nonexistent, sign up for a Hockey skills class on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. beginning in November.

Each hour-long skills class is followed by a 30 minute scrimmage that gives players a chance to put their newfound skills into practice.

While it’s a good idea to have a base level of skill, Mann points out that any player can join a game and have a good time and a great workout.

“New players will be amazed at how quickly their skills will improve.

Playing outdoors at the Longmont Ice Pavilion is the ultimate hockey experience with its nostalgic feel and addition of the outdoor elements,” he says.

If, like many, you feel that the usual roster of team sports is great but you would prefer to branch out into something a little bit different, Carbon Valley Recreation Center is with you.

How? Well, with a red rubber ball and a few inner-tubes.

Kickall

What was once a playground staple, has since become a league sport for adults. Somehow, kicking that rubber ball and hearing the resounding thwack is satisfying—and maybe a little therapeutic—especially for grown-ups.

Why kickball? “The question is why wouldn’t you choose to play kickball!,” says Aaron Stewart, Adult Sports Coordinator at Carbon Valley Recre-

24 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

Hockey is a popular rec league for kids and adults. (Photo courtesy of Longmont Recreation Center.)

ation Center in Fredrick. “Anyone, no matter what their skill level is, can play this game! [It] allows participants to relive their childhood game in a very fun and social setting.”

The atmosphere is relaxed and lighthearted rather than highly competitive with 10 to 12 people per team. Teams are coed and evenly split between men and women. Registration ends quickly —August 25— so if you want to participate you’ll need to sign up ASAP. The eight game season begins on September 2.

Though registration has already closed Longmont Recreation Center also offers a kickball league a little closer to home. If you want to see what it’s all about, catch a game at Garden Acres park on Tuesday nights starting in September. Summer and fall coed leagues are both very popular, so keep them in mind for the coming year.

Inner-tube Water Polo

You read it right—Inner-tube Water Polo. It’s a brand new league at the Carbon Valley Recreation Center.

You should probably enjoy the water, but strong swimming skills are not required, so if you’re curious, join a team and hop in the pool.

Rules are similar to those of tradiLongmontMagazine.com

tional water polo, with the assistance of an inner-tube, in a shortened playing distance.

This somewhat new and definitely interesting take on the sport descends from college intramural teams. It may sound like something born of a late night, post beer pong, conversation, but the inclusion of inner-tubes actually opens the league up to those who might not be the best swimmers, but still enjoy playing in the water. It also adds a different dimension, and makes it a little less serious.

Stewart says, “We felt this would bring something new and exciting into the adult sports world here at the district.”

Trying these new ways to get out and recreate, are more than just a chance for some exercise disguised as something a lot more fun, it’s a chance to relive some of the glory days or even create some new ones.

For all the gym haters out there (and you know who you are), stacks of machinery and classes full of repetitive motions may never be your thing.

Thank goodness it doesn’t have to be.

Rec league sports can be a much more enjoyable route to fitness as well as a way to connect with others who share your interests.

Fall 2015

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Fall Gardening Tips Fall is an important time for your garden. It’s a time to clean up and edit this year’s plantings, and to prepare and plan for next year. Here are some questions that we hear at The Flower Bin:

Can I still plant perennials now?

Absolutely, fall is still great for planting perennials. Most of the high heat and stress of the summer is done, but the soil is still warm for growing roots, and the days are long, with less intense light. Roots are what you want to grow in the fall, not a lot of new foliage.

Which perennials are good for fall planting?

Most perennials can be planted in the fall, an exception might be cool season perennials and grasses because they go dormant early, and you want good rooting for winter survival.

Mums and Asters are eye-catching because they are in full bloom in the fall. They like at least 6 hours of full sun. Water by hand to get them established; there is no substitute for the attention of the gardener in the first crucial few weeks after planting.

You can still feed until mid-September or apply a slow-release fertilizer; then switch to Root Stimulator, and reduce the frequency of watering as the plants go dormant. Water over winter!

Of course, fall is the time for planting tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other bulbs for spring flowers! That includes iris!

Pansies and violas are great for fall planting because they can be seen blooming in the snow, and through the spring, until it gets too warm for them.

Can I transplant/divide perennials now?

Cut the foliage back before you dig, trim roots, and replant using Root Rally and Root Stimulator, to support the plant, not fertilizer. You don’t want to push lots of top growth; that would weaken the plant as it prepares for dormancy. Making new roots below ground, will strengthen it.

Roses - How should I take care of my roses now?

Deadhead, prune out dead canes, maybe selectively prune back canes that are wild and in your way. Prune out no more than 1/3 of the live growth on the bush. Do any severe pruning while the plant is dormant over winter. Spring is the time to evaluate how much the canes have died-back over the winter, and prune back to live buds. You can wrap the plant in burlap for winter protection. Be sure to cover the graft of any grafted roses with mulch.

Trees – What about the trees?

Just like with the roses, prune out dead branches. Wrap the bark, mulch the roots, discontinue fertilizing, but apply some Root Stimulator. Water over winter!!

Soil prep - Fall garden soil preparation?

This is a topic for an entire article by itself. Some people prefer to leave the microorganisms intact in the soil, some turn the soil. Some layer plant material over the soil to compost in place, some sow a cover crop to be turned under in the spring, some leave the soil uncovered. Our recommendation is to have the soil covered in some fashion to reduce weeds and conserve moisture.

Next year’s garden? Now the fun begins!!

Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 25

family

Family Harvest Time Get out and experience our land, agriculture and community

By Rhema Zlaten, Longmont Magazine

Fall harvest season brings the aroma of fresh tilled earth, crisp apples and the bounty of nature as the land slowly relinquishes summer’s warmth to winter’s sleepy embrace. What better time to get the entire family out to enjoy the fresh air and learn about the backbone of Boulder County’s agriculture scene? The Longmont area offers many activities for kids and grownups alike to experience the harvest bounty.

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Fall 2015

Fall 2015

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 27

Farms, Food and Fun

Visitors can take self-guided tours to peruse posted educational information about the farm animals and orchards.

The public can also sign up for tractordrawn weekend hayrides, go on a farm scavenger hunt, watch Apple cider pressing or just bring a picnic for lunch on the farm.

“People can connect with these community roots by showing up to the local farms and supporting them,” Perdue said. “This has been an especially challenging year for all farming in Colorado - nothing has come easy

Students from Creekside Elementary learn about farming at Pachamama Farm and Wellness. (Photo courtesy of Pachamamafarm.com)

Sharon Perdue of YA YA Farm & Orchard in Longmont believes farming is the root of humanity. “It is how we as humans survive,” Perdue said.

“The area between Longmont and Fort Collins has some of the best farming soil in the United States; historically the area between Longmont and Loveland was covered with all kinds of orchards. In this day and age where everyone wants to be so conscious of their food sources, what better way to do that than to go straight to the farms where the food is grown and connect with the land and

the people who are growing the food?”

YA YA Orchard stems from the Goss Family Farm dating back to the 1800s, with the original apple orchard planted in 1936. A few of those trees are still in production today. YA YA Farm & Orchard is open for visits from 10-4, Tuesdays through Sundays, through September and October.

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Fall 2015

for anyone Kids learn traditional crafts at this season. It The Living Ar ts School in Niwot. is important (Photo courtesy of The Living Arts School) to support the farmers not only in prosperous seasons, but also in the challenging ones.”

Oliver Weber, part owner and head farmer of Pachamama Farm and Wellness in Longmont also believes play in the dirt. that community strength comes from Kate Johnson of Briar Gate Farms connecting with local farmland. As a in Longmont raises goats, and is now part of a heritage tour, Weber accepts teaching multiple cheese classes under school farm tours where he teaches her secondary business, The Art of kids about organic farming, compostCheese. Johnson conducts her classes ing and all things vegetable. at 350 Terry Street, and she offers “Being in touch with where your many options for kids and adults, from food comes from is essential,” Weber beginning cheesemakers to experts at said. “As a whole, our culture has the craft. grown very quickly away from agri“We teach about 11 different cultural roots. A few generations ago, classes at the cheese making school,” everyone had direct contact to farmJohnson said. “We cover about 27 ing. Nowadays, most kids don’t know different cheeses. A lot of them will where food is grown, or if it is grown. be tailored to what that group wants It is good to get to know your farmer to do. I have done it where we do and what it takes to produce food, so mozzarella, but we turn it into string that people can appreciate it more and cheese. Or we will just do a quick and also become better consumers. Our easy ricotta, and then they can learn goal is really working with kids, and about acids and bases. high schoolers and adults, to get them For the kids classes, we keep in touch with food, ecology and food it a little more simple, and the adult preservation.” classes go into more details. I have Pachamama Farm and Wellness also been known to bring goats to will host a harvest festival from 2-10 kids classes. They can learn how to p.m. on September 19, doubling as a milk a goat. I always try to figure out fundraiser for Dance 2B Free, a female ways to help the kids understand that inmate dance fitness program. The fes- milk comes out of a thing called an tival will feature live bluegrass, tours udder, and then what to do with the of their herb garden, farm fresh food, milk when it comes out, and how hayrides and many opportunities to does it become cheese.”

Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

In Niwot, The Living Arts School offers a wide array of classes aimed at helping students and adults connect with traditional living skills, folk arts, crafts and modern day homesteading. They will host a backyard beekeeping class, as well as a backyard vineyard class, this fall. The school will also host a traditional Autumn Barn dance with live music and a dance caller from 7 to 9 p.m. on November 13 at the Altona Grange in Longmont.

“Children especially need to be connected to their agrarian heritage because their need for things that are real, true and beautiful can be met by experiences that take them back to the land, back to their hands and back to their ability to make useful things for themselves and others,” Living Arts School founder and director, Elizabeth Uhrich, said. “In our fast-paced and screen-saturated world, we are deeply in need of opportunities to reconnect to our roots, and to encounter life as slow, ever-changing, and full of promise, like the earth planted with seeds. It’s for this same reason that we are inspired to teach children traditional living skills. What better way to understand our food, where it comes from and how we nourish our bodies, than by having real experiences with planting, nurturing, harvesting, preservation, fermentation and much more?”

Local Tributes to Fall

Local businesses and nonprofits LONGMONT MAGAZINE 29

Longmont Oktoberfest celebrates all things fall (and German) in Roosevelt Park. (Photo courtesy of Left Hand Brewing Co.)

are also sponsoring harvest-themed events this fall in Longmont. The celebration season will begin with Left Hand Brewing Co.’s Longmont Okto-

berfest and the LOCOmotion festivities from 4 to 10 p.m. on September 11 and 12 to 10 p.m. on September 12 at Roosevelt Park in Longmont.

This event doubles as a fundraiser for local nonprofits.

There will be malt sack races, and many opportunities to sample German beverages and food. There will also be a building of the world’s longest bratwurst—300-feet—on the grill and a parade featuring local kinetics, art and high school marching bands. For kids, there will be a kid zone, pony rides and a petting zoo, as well as a craft area, bounce castle, rock climbing and face painting.

The idea behind this event is to grow a community-focused weekend that showcases the best of Long-

mont.

“We’re celebrating our local town, bringing local artists and creatives,

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When Mark Chamberlain was 13, he put a nickel in a grocery store gumball machine and his prize was a 1913 penny. He has been hooked on collecting coins ever since.

Mark turned his lifelong passion into a business and has been running Chamberlain Gold and Silver Exchange Limited since 1996. With over twenty years of experience in rare coins and precious metals, Mark is also a life-member of the American Numismatic Association and Canadian Numismatic Association.

Mark, his wife Rose, and their two children have been long time residents of the Boulder county area. Through their volunteer work and charitable contributions, they pride themselves on giving to the community and local non-profits such as The Inn-Between, OUR Center, Longmont Museum and Cultural Center, Safe Shelter, Mountain States Children’s Home, L.E.V.I. and A Woman’s Work to name a few. They have been involved with Longmont St. Vrain Rotary Club for the past seven years where Rose Chamberlain has served the Assistant Governor for District 5450 Area 8 Rotary Clubs and on other numerous boards in Longmont.

Mark and Rose Chamberlain are not only passionate about the locally-owned business they operate, but also the community in which they live.

Mark loves to see families visit the store and makes sure that each child who visits with an adult receives a Buffalo Nickel. He hopes his generosity will stir their interest in numismatics.

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Fall 2015

fooderies, and certainly breweries all together to display the talent and spirit of our community,” Community and Events Manager, Josh Goldberg, said.

Also coming up is Community Harvest Day at Sandstone Ranch Visi-

tor and Learning Center, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 19. This day is a family event celebrating the changing of the seasons from years past, according to City of Longmont Recreation Center Supervisor, Sue Jacobson.

Activities will include pumpkin paint-

ing, scarecrow stuffing, weaving, and old fashioned yard games and music.

“Teaching youth that everything has a purpose in nature and in daily life is the key,” Jacobson said. “History and nature come together right outside your back door.”

LOC A L FA R M E X PERIENCES AND EVENTS Sunflower Farms, Longmont

McCauley Family Farms, LLC, Longmont

This nature-inspired play space offers oppor tunities for feeding animals, playing in treehouses, digging in the dir t, summer har vesting, a zipline and a tire swing, pony rides and giant hay bale climbing.

Public hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, and reser vations are required.

“Sunflower Farm is an authentic rural working farm,” co-owner Bren Frish said. “[There are] no corn mazes, haunted houses or caramel apples. We feel nature is relevant to a child’s development. In addition, [children need] an understanding of where their food comes from... a relationship/understanding of farm animals and rural lifestyle has a huge significance on their awareness of the world around them.”

For families with older kids who are interested in diving into farm life, McCauley Family Farms offers volunteer and internship oppor tunities. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least a once a week shift for a four week rotation. Shifts are available for different times of the day, from now until December. Volunteers will get to know the land, cycles, plants, creatures and people who make local food economies possible.

Miller Farms, Platteville Miller Farms is just a shor t drive east out of Longmont on Highway 66. There’s an Antique Alley for looking at old cars and farm equipment, as well as farm animals, climbing structures and other play activities.

People can also pay to pick their own produce, or purchase it from the farm stand. And, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Labor Day to mid-November, the Fall Harvest Festival opens for families to come and experience life on a working farm. There’s a petting zoo, tractor rides to pick produce, and a corn maze as well.

Because Tanaka farm is owned by Boulder County Open Space, public visits to the land are not available. Children can, however, come to the open market located in Longmont to shop with their parents. Radio flyer wagons are available during Halloween season for children to take and pick their own pumpkins.

“I think it is very impor tant to remember how we... have the oppor tunity to still be able to taste a real homegrown tomato and real sweet corn,” Owner Dick Tanaka’s daughter, Debbie Williams, said. “To me nothing tastes like my father’s vegetables (but I’m a bit biased).

His family began farming in the 20s in Boulder County and there aren’t many farmers from that generation still farming today. It is so impor tant for all of us to know and remember what real food is supposed to taste like and not compromise that.”

Shupe Homestead, Longmont

Anderson Farms, Erie Anderson Farms offers a more formalized fall festival, complete with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, pumpkin launching, pedal kar ts, mine cars and a barrel train.

There’s also a lot of climbing and play structures. And, as Halloween season takes off, there’s a terror corn maze as well as zombie paintball.

Fall 2015

Tanaka Farms, Longmont

Shupe Homestead will host a FUNdraiser for the Family Garden with a Family Harvest Festival from 2 to 6 p.m. on October 4. The event will feature face painting, pumpkin decorating, balloon creations, kid’s music, food and desser ts.

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 31

ROBOTS, ROBOTS

featuring: entertainment

By L. L. Charles for Longmont Magazine

EVERYWHERE! Send in the robots.

Don’t bother, they’re here. With apologies to Stephen Sondheim, robots and robotics are big time, making inroads into the way we work, play and learn.

32 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

LongmontMagazine.com

Fall 2015

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Interactive displays at Longmont Museum’s Robots Rising exhibit let kids see what it’s like to control the Mars Rover.

LONGMONT IS NOW A HUB FOR THE ROBOTICS INDUSTRY The U.S. uses more robots than any other country except Japan. The Robotic Industries Association reports that the North American robotics market set a new record for the first half of the year, with over 14,000 robots ordered and $840 million in sales.

A good share of those sales were generated right here in our hometown.

Longmont is an important player in the tech sector that has coalesced along the Front Range. Companies working in biotech, software, semiconductors and aerospace are locating here because of our well-educated, technically forward work force.

Robots may be everywhere, but they haven’t taken over just yet. It still takes a human to create a robot, local experts say. And keeping our nation 34 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

competitive in this space requires a steady pipeline of young, creative minds. We recently visited with several local groups who are playing an active part in this new world of robotics.

Robots are Rising at the Longmont Museum We’ll start at the Longmont Museum, where the current “Robots Rising” exhibit is turning out to be one of the most popular ever. Well over 6,000 people have attended to date, with four more months remaining before the exhibit closes.

“The inspiration for this exhibit came out of several meetings we had with the local hacker group Tinkermill,” says Jared Thompson, curator of exhibits for the Longmont Museum, “and a lot of this was created with their help. We also met Robert Van Deest, who became a major contributor in making all of this happen.” Van LongmontMagazine.com

Deest has created animatronics for many Hollywood projects, including Disney Studios and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Many fascinating items from Van Deest’s personal collection are on display, from a firstgeneration clockwork Mr. Machine (you had to assemble it yourself, from 44 pieces) to an “unskinned” animatronic skeleton that reveals its inner workings.

Entering the main gallery, you’ll hear an anarchy of sounds, from beeps to burps to electronic bongos. Kids are all over the place, taking full advantage of the interactive displays. A boy stands in front of a robotic arm, using the controls to pick up foam squares.

At a play table, younger children are putting together Cubelets, robot cubes that link together to help teach logic and inspire curiosity. It’s learning through play, and it’s fun.

We enter an enclosure full of flashing sensors and switches that let Fall 2015

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you generate weird spacey sounds on a Theremin-like device, ring electronic bells, or play those crazy bongos like it’s your last luau. “This is all run by a MIDI system and off-the-shelf Arduino boards that cost twenty four dollars apiece,” Thompson says, emphasizing the accessibility of today’s technology. Arduinos were designed especially for these kinds of interactive projects and the units are a mainstay in teaching children the basics of programming.

In the middle of the gallery, two gentlemen have removed the back of a Rube Goldberg-like machine. They created this piece especially for the exhibit, and when asked how much time they have invested, one of them replies laconically, “Not much… maybe just a few hundred hours.”

Up-A-Creek Robotics

School robotics groups have become a hugely popular way for tech-inclined students to work with mentor professionals to create their own robots and compete with similar groups to navigate an obstacle course or complete a specific challenge.

John Rigsby, lead mentor for UpA-Creek Robotics, has been involved since the group’s founding in 2004.

The team is comprised of middle and high school students in the St. Vrain Valley School District. “Our students get excited about working on projects that have real-world relevance,” Rigsby explains. “We give them a solid grounding in the theories of science and engineering, and then apply that to a real-world project that has a timeline, limited resources and an applied goal. And while they are designing and fabricating their robot, they are 36 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

Student robotics team, Up -A-Creek design robots to compete in real world challenges.

(Photo courtesy of Up-A-Creek)

also learning the life skills of organizing, and working collaboratively.”

Up-A-Creek Robotics is a fullyear program that starts in the summer, when first-time students begin developing their technical knowledge.

“Some of these kids are already doing programming, and some have never picked up a screwdriver,” Rigsby says.

This learning series continues through the fall. Then, usually on the first Saturday in January, it’s time to start building their robot.

Each year’s challenge is different, and the group has about six weeks to process everything: creating strategies, developing the hardware and software, prototyping and fabricating all the components. “We use the same CAD design tools that large engineering companies use, so the kids are learning on real-world software. They’re also learning how to use the industrial tools required to create their robot,” Rigsby says. These aren’t your average tabletop Robbies, either – these robots can weigh 150 pounds and stand five feet tall.

Work groups are organized by LongmontMagazine.com

tasks, which allows students to explore and find their own muse. There are mechanical, electrical and software teams, a web site team, and even a “spirit” group. Yes, these robots have their own cheerleaders and special cheers. Even robots can feel the love, it appears.

This past spring, 60 students and their 15 adult mentors competed in three events and took home the honors in both the Colorado and Utah Regionals. Thanks to a generous sponsor, Up-A-Creek Robotics is now expanding into a new facility with 6,000 square feet of dedicated space for multiple classrooms, a machine shop, assembly area and large practice arena to put the robots through their paces.

Up-A-Creek is now mentoring start-up robotics teams at other schools as well.

Tinkermill: A creative community workshop for everyone

Longmont’s Tinkermill is the largest hacker space in Colorado, a hub for people who want to make the things that they imagine. Most of all, Fall 2015

it’s about sharing, whether that means taking a turn at the 3D printer, signing up for a class or leading a workshop.

The group was started by Scott Converse, a former Apple executive and “high tech guy.” It evolved out of the DIY maker movement that empowers everyday Edisons to imagine, design and create. Ron Thomas, a founder and the executive director of Tinkermill, recalls the early days. In true hacker style, the first meeting was held in a garage. “Six people showed up at the first Meetup, then there were ten, fifteen, twenty-five… and we were on our way.”

Until recently, Tinkermill has been using a space in the now-defunct Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont. “When they told us, ‘if you’re going to be setting anything on fire, take the carpet out first,’ we knew it was the perfect place for us,” Thomas laughs.

In their new location, nearly a thousand members now have access to a huge workshop, data center, lounge and fully-wired conference room. Tinkermill hosts an open house every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. to share their passion and get others involved – and you are invited!

from an initial napkin sketch through the testing and delivery of space flight mechanisms,” says Erik Mumm, vice president and director of flight systems. With their home office in New York City, Honeybee Robotics came to Longmont in 2010 with just two employees. “We wanted to be near our prime contractors and all of the activity in the space sector. It’s amazing how many people are working in high tech jobs here. It’s good for the area, and it’s good for Honeybee as well.”

Expansion of their facility in February allowed them to grow to 13 employees and scale up their testing and fabrication services. New certification ensures that they are compliant with the exacting production standards that are expected in the aerospace industry. “We do full assembly in our clean rooms, and we can also do environmental and thermal vacuum testing,“ Mumm explains.

Mumm forecasts that the aerospace and defense industries will see growth along the Front Range corridor for some time to come. That’s good news for business, he says, as well as the many local graduates who want to work in these fields.

Honeybee Robotics creates some local buzz

Get STEAMed up

Satellites have to perform some very complex functions, and that’s where Honeybee Robotics comes in.

From their facility on Left Hand Circle in Longmont, the company provides the mechanisms and sensors that activate these highly specialized spacecraft. Since 1983, the company has completed over 300 projects for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and scores of other industrial end users.

Honeybee’s systems have been on board the last three Mars landers, designed to drill, process and sample the planet’s soil and rocks.

“We are able to handle everything Fall 2015

The Rocky Mountain STEAM Fest, scheduled for Labor Day weekend, is your chance to get up close and personal with robots, drones and autonomous vehicles. Over 100 exhibitors will be presenting science and arts activities that include robot races and obstacle courses. “Our goal,” says Martha Lanaghen, cofounder of the Rocky Mountain STEAM Fest, “is to create as many opportunities as possible for people to experience science and arts first-hand.”

Companies like Robots-4-U, Kitables and Sparkfun will be bringing out their coolest stuff so that kids of all ages can roll up their sleeves LongmontMagazine.com

and tinker, hack and play, Lanaghen says. “We even have Mountain States Droid Builders bringing several R2D2 replicas, a robotic cupcake, and we’re working on a secret ‘hidden’ robot that should make for a few fun surprises.”

Go, See, Do HONEYBEE ROBOTICS 1860 Lefthand Circle, Unit C, Longmont, 720.340.4491, honeybeerobotics.com.

ROBOTS RISING An exhibit of interactive robotics especially designed for kids, runs through January 2016 at the Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road, Longmont, 303.651.8374.

Admission is $5 students/seniors, $8 adults, free for ages 3 and under ; the second Saturday of each month is a free day. “We love it when our visitors become museum members,” says Joan Harrold, marketing and development manager.

“Your membership includes free admission to all exhibits. Bring your family twice and you’ve paid for the cost of membership.”

ROCKY MOUNTAIN STEAM FEST Sept. 5 and 6 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Children’s tickets are $5, adults $10, and a Family Four-Pack is $28.

For more information, go to GoSTEAMFest.com.

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 37

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 39

featuring: health

ROBOTICS In the Medical Field

By Dan Powers, Longmont Magazine

In recent years, demand has grown in the medical industry for robotics. As the relevant technology as improved and doctors have become more familiar and skilled with robotic options, patients of Longmont-area doctors have benefited from the innovative use of these systems.

The use of robotics is more

tors are not turning over their prac-

verable than traditional instruments,

pervasive than you may realize: there

tice and responsibilities to machines.

especially as it relates to incisions.

are surgical robots, rehabilitation

Robotics, in a general sense, refers to

Based on various needs and the man-

robots, non-invasive radiosurgery

a range of more specialized technical

ner in which they aid traditional sur-

robots, hospital and pharmacy robots,

tools that allow for the doctor to do

geries, medical robotic systems help

and others. there orthopedic surgical

their jobs even better. They remain

with a diverse neurology, orthope-

robots, neurosurgical robots, laparos-

100 percent in control.

dics, laparoscopy, special education, and other areas.

copy robotic systems, and steerable

The robotics used in surgery

robotic catheters. Outside of surgery,

typically feature a magnified 3D high-

there a variety of recovery-oriented

definition vision system and special

assistive robots, prosthetics, orthotics,

“wrist-jointed” instruments that bend

cant cost savings in terms of pre- and

therapeutic robots, and exoskeleton

and rotate far greater than the hu-

post-operation care costs and length

robotic systems.

man wrist. This increased capacity

of stay at hospitals. There are several

for viewing within a patient—both in

companies making surgical robot-

term “robotics” – this should not con-

magnification and access—enables

ics systems; the da Vinci Surgery

jure up images of the Lost in Space

a surgeon to operate with enhanced

systems are one of the most common

robot from television or the various

precision, dexterity and control. They

and trusted and are in use in various

“medical droids” in the movies. Doc-

also can be much smaller and maneu-

Longmont-area hospitals and clin-

But don’t be turned off by the

40 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

LongmontMagazine.com

Apart from being accurate, robotic procedures also offer signifi-

Fall 2015

ics. The robotics such as the da Vinci system focus on the theme of “minimally invasive” and can translate the hand movements of the surgeon into smaller, super-precise movements that in essence take surgery beyond the limitations of the human hand.

As you can imagine, the details of each surgical technique are complex and each patient’s situation has its own nuances for the doctor to address. Even so, physicians have used the da Vinci System successfully worldwide in approximately 1.5 million various surgical procedures to date. For example, if you have throat cancer, the da Vinci Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) allows your surgeon to operate through your mouth – avoiding a large incision through the jaw and throat.

Dr. Brian Nelson with UCHealth

Longmont Clinic performs hysterectomy, various prolapse surgeries and related procedures with the da Vinci robotics systems; he is currently is the only gynecologist in Boulder County performing robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy, the “Gold Standard” treatment for uterine and vaginal prolapse. He also is one of a handful of gynecologic surgeons performing robotic surgery through a single 2.5 cm incision through the belly button, a virtually scar-less surgery. At a recent presentation on this topic he reviewed details of such surgeries and the typical outcomes. The audience was particularly intrigued at the recovery time. “You can be back on your feet much quicker with this system, sometimes leaving the hospital within one or two days,” he described. See more of his informa-

tion at coloradogynrobotics.com.

Dr. Amy Johnson, MD performs various gynecological surgeries at Longmont United Hospital using the da Vinci systems; she has been using the robotics for about three years.

“An important aspect is the visualization of the patient’s pelvis the robots provide,” she says. “That allows for a much more precise operation, which leads to a reduced complication rate, less blood loss and a quicker patient recovery.”

Also at UCHealth Longmont Clinic, Dr. Robert Powell, MD uses robotics for single site gallbladder surgery, colorectal cancer and other general surgery procedures. “We’re trying to do most surgeries with less invasive methodologies,” he says.

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Many procedures that were previously performed laparoscopically, are candidates for robotic assistance

The da Vinci surgical system uses precision instruments to deliver superior results. (Photo courtesy of davincisurger y.com.)

smaller incisions, which provide more precise viewing inside a patient’s body, and importantly results in quicker recovery time.” The pace at which people recover is impressive,” agrees Dr. Johnson. “They have heard the ‘old’ stories from their mother or grandmother and expect a 6 week recovery or longer. When they can get back to their regular life in a few weeks they are often very surprised.”

In fact LUH is one of only two Center for Excellence in non-invasive gynecologic surgery. Learn more about her practice at luhcares.org or call her at 30.702.5910.

Dr. Powell clarifies the robots are NOT doing the surgery: “We get 3-D 44 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

optics from cameras on the robots.

The surgeon observes through a viewfinder and can control the location of the cameras. You can apply this for any inter-abdominal surgery; it’s up to the surgeon to determine if the patient is going to benefit from this tool.”

Also at UCHealth Longmont Clinic, Dr. Powell’s colleagues Dr. Sean Manion, MD and Dr. Troy Malcom, MD, use the da Vinci system for prostatectomy and other urologic procedures. See more details at longmontclinic.com or call 303.776.1234.

Dr. Johnson says there is extensive and ongoing training: “There are several courses that we continue to take, as you become a better and better surgeon there are always more trainings, new equipment and intricacies to keep you on the leading edge.” Dr. Nelson has gone beyond just attending trainings: he serves as a da Vinci Certified Proctor for other gynecologic surgeons learning robotic surgery.

In addition to the demand for LongmontMagazine.com

less invasive surgery, there are other factors prompting the interest and overall growth in the use of medical robotic systems: basic demographic, societal and lifestyle trends. Colorado and Boulder County has an aging population (including retirees moving here) whose health issues can often be assisted through robotic systemsenhanced procedures. Nationally there is a rise in the incidences of neurological and orthopedic disorders, and growth in the demand for telemedicine. The bottom line for most patients is the expectation for less pain and quicker recovery times. The rise in robotics are helping achieve at least a little bit of these demands.

Learn more about the services and procedures utilizing medical robotics at UCHealth Longmont Clinic 1925 West Mountain View Avenue, longmontclinic.com, 303.776.1234 and Longmont United Hospital, 1950 Mountain View Avenue, luhcares.org, 303.651.5111.

Fall 2015

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Mead Community Events: Mead Community Day Saturday September 12, 2015 2:00pm-9:00pm Kids Activities, Vendor Booth, Free Dinner, Concert in the Park and fireworks!

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family

BUILDING ON A

BiBli

Longmont’s Library Bot Heralds New Frontiers in Robot Education

By Jolie Breeden, Longmont Magazine Photos by Tim Seiber t 46 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

LongmontMagazine.com

Fall 2015

Robots are invading Longmont this summer— and that’s a good thing, especially in the case of BiBli, a toddler-sized bot that recently took up residence at the Longmont Public Library.

As the newest nonhuman member of the Children’s and Teen Services team, BiBli comes bearing a bevy of skills.

He can help kids who have difficulty communicating. He greets and entertains younger patrons.

He inspires technological curiosity in teens. But even while the bespectacled, spaghettish-haired droid keeps busy with those tasks, he’s poised to take both library interactions and robot technology to a new level.

Fall 2015

“There’s lots more that can be done with him.”

BiBli began last year as serendipitous partnership between the library and Jalali Hartman of Longmont-based ROBAUTO. The library was looking for ways to expand the involvement of kids on the autism spectrum and Hartman—who was interested in using robots to increase communication and engagement—was looking for a community to help him develop a prototype that would do that and more.

They soon formed a working group that included a mix of kids on

Bibli enables kids on and off the autism spectrum to engage with each other.

“The purpose of having him was to break down barriers for a particular demographic, but he’s really done that for all of us,” said Elektra Greer, head of Children’s and Teen Services.

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 47

Bibli interacts with children at a computer station.

the autism spectrum, parents, and others interested in robotics. That group took the original robot—which Hartman described as a cross between and dog and a car—and morphed it into the humanoid BiBli, who can talk to people via voice and messages on a LED screen, quote movies, and make fun noises. Along the way, they learned a lot about they wanted in a robot, as well as the technology.

“What really amazed me, was how quickly they picked it up,” Hartman said. “It got to the point where I was having a hard time keeping up with them and finding new things to keep their interest.”

Hartman tapped University of Colorado graduate student Jason McGrath to incorporate the group’s sketches and feedback into the tangi48 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

ble BiBli library visitors are learning to know and love today. But not without a stop at the Denver Comic Con first.

“It was great,” Hartman said of the May convention. “We really learned a lot just seeing how people interacted with it.”

Aside from giving a BiBli a chance to meet Spiderman and Wonder Woman, the convention’s Educator Day gave him a chance to see and be seen by teachers, librarians, and a wide variety of people attending the convention. BiBli’s creators let people operate him, watched their interactions, and incorporated what they learned into the BiBli version that now cruises the stacks. One of the biggest take-aways, though, was finding out how cool BiBli really is.

“You have the Batmobile and LongmontMagazine.com

these million dollar things [at the convention],” Greer said. “And then we have this shoestring robot and he was really popular.”

BiBli’s shoestring aspect is big piece of his design—and why his kind is bound for more schools, libraries, and possibly even households in the future.

“The idea was to create a costaccessible, durable device that could be used for communication,” Hartman said.

That idea is about to be a reality.

ROBAUTO hopes to launch a commercially available robot based on BiBli by 2016. With an estimated price tag in the range of $500, it will be much more affordable than $7,000 to $9,000 cost of the popular educational robots now available—and a portion of the proceeds will benefit autism research in schools and libraries.

Meanwhile, back at the library, the original BiBli continues to grow.

In the future, the library hopes to give BiBli more mobility, the ability to carry on more in-depth conversations, and the capacity to help patrons find books based on their interests.

Perhaps some day he’ll do the shelving, but for now, his uses aren’t limited to guest appearances at story hour. According to the library’s Jason Merrill, who is BiBli’s human alter ego, he’s inspired a number of potential future robot makers.

“The thing most people enjoy when he comes out is seeing how he works and the things he can do,” he said. “A lot of our teen patrons have asked what parts are in BiBli and how he was programmed.”

That inquisitiveness has led the library to create a new robotics club that will certify kids 9-18 to work with BiBli and learn more about programming in the process.

For those with no interest in his Fall 2015

inner-workings, though, BiBli will remain the quirky, fun-filled library mascot he is today, even as he grows more sophisticated. That’s the beauty of BiBli—he holds a little something for everyone.

“He’s like a really high-tech puppet,” Greer said. “Some patrons want to know how he works and others just really like the magic.”

If you go...

ROBOTICS CLUB WITH BIBLI WHEN: Alternate Thursdays, beginning September 17, from 4-5 p.m.

WHERE: Longmont Public Library, 409 Four th Avenue, Longmont WHO: Ages 9-18 WHAT: Learn basic robotics and programming and get cer tified to work with BiBli. HOW: Call to register— 303.651.8477

Bibli made some impressive friends at Denver Comic Con. Photos courtesy of City of Longmont.

Meet Colorado’s Best Kansas City Style BBQ! Fall 2015

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LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 49

featuring: outdoors

Take to the sky

with

DRONES

Hobbytown store manager, Dave Hoag, demonstrates how to fly a quadcopter.

B Ad By Adam M Mar ti tin, LLongmontt M Magazine i Photos by Tim Sieber t When you hear the word “drone,” there’s a good chance your thoughts turn first to unmanned military aircraft—the kind used primarily for surveillance and reconnaissance. After all, those kinds of drones have gotten a fair amount of attention in the past few years. However, drones have a host of alternate applications, both for businesses and hobbyists.

What Are Drones?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines drones as “unmanned aircraft systems” (or UAS), and the name is more or less self-ex-

50 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

planatory. A drone is any aircraft, big or small, that takes to the sky without a human onboard. In general terms, that includes everything from large, airplane-like radio controlled vehicles to multi-rotor crafts, like quadcopters.

Drones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on their application and the skill set of the operator. Some are small enough to safely use indoors and some are simply too big to fit through your front door.

Additionally, some models are considerably easier to fly than others.

The Rules

As you might suspect, the FAA has a set of guidelines for drone use.

While just about anyone can own and operate a drone, there are certainly things you cannot do with them.

To ensure safety, the FAA mandates that UASs keep to an altitude of 400 feet or lower, reaching speeds no greater than 100 miles per hour.

Operators are required to maintain eye contact with the drone at all times, LongmontMagazine.com

even if the craft is equipped with a live first-person video feed. Drones cannot fly over or near stadiums, sporting events or airshows from one hour before the event until one hour after the event is over. And, of course, drones are required to keep clear of airport flight paths and are even required to adhere to FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions.

That’s all well and good, but for many there’s an additional concern: privacy. Consider the recent example of William H. Merideth who took down a drone flying near his home with a shotgun. The drone’s owner claimed he was merely taking pictures of a friend’s home while Merideth told police the drone was hovering as low as 10 feet off the ground, giving it a clear view of neighbors’ patios.

The FAA has yet to implement thorough rules regarding privacy, though the state of Colorado is currently considering various legislative approaches to regulating drone use. In the meantime, common sense makes Fall 2015

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LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 51

ones run $100,” Kolm said.

Commercial Use

Skip Miller, CEO and Founder of UASUSA, shows off the Tempest ET drone. (Photo courtesy of UASUSA.)

this a bit of a no-brainer. Don’t use drones to spy on your neighbors. That kind of misuse is a clear violation of others’ privacy.

Recreational Use

Make no mistake about it—even with some fairly stout regulations already in place, drones are growing in popularity. Which begs the question, what’s the appeal?

Gary Kolm, owner of multiple HobbyTown USA locations in the area, believes the driving factor is an increased interest in aerial photography.

“That’s kind of the whole craze with this stuff,” he said.

According to Kolm, recreational drones allow for levels of photography and video previously inaccessible to amateurs. He explained that newer technologies, like the accelerometers found in virtually every smart phone, have paved the way for crafts that are easier to fly and capable of taking surprisingly good pictures.

Speaking specifically about quadcopters, Kolm said, “Anyone can fly these now.” A quadcopter works on the same basic principles as a helicopter, but has four rotors instead of one.

A small onboard computer does all the hard work, keeping the craft level

52 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

and stable. While it could take a year or more to competently fly a model helicopter, Kolm said an inexperienced operator can learn to fly a quadcopter drone in a single afternoon.

What’s more, these small aircraft are capable of some impressive tech tricks. Not only are most mounted with cameras, but some can even transmit live images and video feeds viewable on a smart phone, tablet or even on the remote control, itself. Some come with GPS, allowing them to maintain a position, automatically compensating for wind. If the radio signal is lost, there’s a “return to home” function.

Some include a gyroscope which keeps the camera steady and still, even if the craft is jostled. More advanced models even have the ability to follow a target, allowing a mountain biker, for example, to shoot video footage of him/herself in action.

In addition to photography, Kolm said there’s also growing interest in drone racing. Racing is typically done via a first-person live video feed with spotters used to maintain eye contact with the vehicles.

The cost of recreational drones like the quadcopters Hobbytown USA carries start as low as $20 and top out at over $1,000. “Our most popular LongmontMagazine.com

Hobbyists aren’t the only ones getting in on the drone action. There are plenty of business related uses, as well.

Skip Miller, CEO and Founder of UASUSA in Longmont, has been flying small aircraft for more than four decades. “Five years ago, a drone was a predator,” he said, referencing military applications of UAS crafts.

He says Amazon dramatically altered that perception when they announced they were considering drones for delivery of small packages, calling that kind of use “a game changer.”

Miller’s organization provides both multi-rotor drones, like those commonly used by hobbyists, as well as small aircraft more reminiscent of airplanes. “Both can fly with an auto pilot,” he explained.

The commercial applications for these kinds of aircraft are staggering.

Miller spoke of geological companies that use drones equipped with magnetometers capable of locating mineral deposits from the sky. Moisture levels in soil can also be assessed by drones, allowing farmers to monitor crops more efficiently. Surveillance firms, wild life preservations, search and rescue teams, and law enforcement have all tapped into the advantages of utilizing drones.

Miller also addressed concerns over privacy and safety, readily admitting that both are important. However, he sees considerable advantages with each new advancement in drone technology. He’s hopeful that regulatory agencies will see those advantages, too, and develop rules that allow for continued use while guarding against misuse.

Fall 2015

Getting Started

If you’re interested in checking out the drone craze and would like to snag one of your own, the good news is entry level devices are very affordable. Small models run as little as 20 bucks. Not only that, but the folks at Hobbytown USA are happy to provide demos to interested buyers and help out new operators by providing quick tutorials before you’ve even left the shop. Stop by Hobbytown USA at 1935 Main St for more information.

Longmont’s own makerspace organization, TinkerMill, also hosts a Meetup group for those interested in drones. The group is called TinkerDrones. Matt Stallard serves as the host of the group and explains, “We meet weekly and work on building and flying.” He adds, “We’re mostly about the education and building of

Hobbytown USA carries a drone for every need and budget.

hobby model multi-rotors.”

Anyone can join the TinkerDrones Meetup group, and Steller

plete amateurs to seasoned fliers.

More information about TinkerDrones can be found on their Meetup page at

says it’s a great resource for operators

www.meetup.com/LongmontHacker-

of all experience levels, from com-

Space/events/223943563.

2250 Main St. Longmont,, CO 303.776.4 4101

Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 53

community

THE OUR CENTER:

Offering Suppor t in Tough Times

By Judy Finman, Longmont Magazine Renderings cour tesy of The OUR Center Where do Longmont-area folks go when they are down on their luck and need help?

Longmont is fortunate to have the OUR Center, an organization entirely focused on preventing homelessness and moving people toward self-sufficiency. It occupies a unique place in the community.

Thanks to the OUR Center, nearly 3,000 people avoided homelessness in the Longmont area in 2014. The same year, the OUR Center served 120,696 meals in its Hospitality Center, and distributed 934,700 pounds of emergency groceries to 16,392 households.

OUR stands for Outreach United Resource Center, Inc. By unifying community resources, the Center helps people move toward self-sufficiency.

Founded in 1986, it provides emergency services to help people through short-term financial crises, and partners with clients to develop case plans for 54 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

those needing longer-term assistance.

The OUR Center serves anyone in need in the greater Longmont area, which includes Longmont, Allenspark, Hygiene, Lyons, and Niwot. It welcomes people from all walks of life experiencing an array of challenging life circumstances, without regard to race, color, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, political belief, mental or physical disability, or any other preference or personal characteristic, condition or status.

The OUR Center’s staff members work with every client to develop an individualized case plan, keep a roof over their head, keep food on their table and clothing on their backs. Most who turn to the OUR Center need just a little help to get through the challenges that life sends their way. Whether it’s assistance with a rent or utility payment, or both, just that short-term help can change everything for the person who is on the verge of losing their home.

LongmontMagazine.com

Development Director Elaine Klotz notes: “Seventy-five percent of OUR clients are employed. We help to give them a hand up, not a handout.

We see veterans who can’t get to the Denver V.A.”

Services and Programs

OUR Center services include emergency food and shelter, daily hot meals and fellowship at OUR Hospitality Center, groceries through OUR Food Pantry, clothing through OUR Clothing Bank, housing assistance and homelessness prevention, rent and utility payment assistance, healthcare expenses assistance, career services, budget counseling, mentoring, nutrition classes, energy efficiency training, local transportation, and child care through Aspen Center for Child Development.

Longer-term programs help clients solve underlying problems such as financial difficulties and unemployment and are handled by trained caseworkers. Clients are taught useful life skills, problem solving, budgeting and planFall 2015

Come Worship with us!

Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church 640 Alpine Street 303-776-1789

Worship 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Fellowship/Education 9:30 a.m. www.coslongmont.org Facebook: Christ Our Savior, Longmont

Niwot United Methodist Church 7405 Lookout Rd (Gunbarrel) 303-530-0241 www.niwotumc.org

I believe that no one who asks for help should be turned away.

I believe a church isn’t a building.

I believe that to embrace diversity is to embrace God. Join us Sundays at 10:20 am (Sunday School at 9 am)

Embrace the community, change the world!

All Are Welcome!

Light of Christ Ecumenical Catholic Masses: SatCommunity 5:00 pm, Pastor: Sun 11:45 am, Wed 9:00 am Masses: Pastor: Fr. Don Rickard, Ph.D

1000 W. 15th Avenue, Longmont

(sharing space with Bethlehem Lutheran)

www.lightofchristecc.org 303-772-3785

Fall 2015

701 Kimbark St. 720-340-8260

www.vistaadventistfellowship.netadvent.org www.vistasda.com Worship Times

Saturday – Sabbath School 11:00 am - Worship Service - 9:30 am Wednesday - Prayer Meeting 7:00 pm Fellowship Hall

Third Avenue and Terry Street, Longmont, CO

303-776-2800

ww www ww.firstluth.org w “Rooted first in worship, learning and hospitality” Worship Times Saturday Evening 5:30 pm Sunday Morning 7:40, 8:30, and 11:00 am Education Hour 9:45 am

Interim Pastor Randall Mundt; Pastors Paul Judson and Julie Brooks

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 55

From Marie, a Longmont resident who appreciates The OUR Center:

“ I took the Getting Ahead Class along with my husband Tony, last year. My husband suffered a stroke three years ago and is par tially paralyzed and has a speech impairment. His brain is not as functional. Because he cannot work we were thrown into pover ty. He attended the class along with me and it helped him to think more and exercise his brain more than he had since he had the stroke. He star ted to remember a lot of things. Tony is a very smar t man but remains quiet most of the time due to his speech impairment. He listens to everything everyone talks about and occasionally speaks up with answers some of us can’t think of. He also corrects us when we are wrong. People in the class are appreciative of his help and don’t mind at all when he corrects us. The class has helped both of us learn new skills to become self-sufficient and we have learned how to use community resources to move out of pover ty.

The class has given us hope for the future. Housing, along with medical, are our main problems. However, being around others who are in the same or worse situation has helped us understand that they are not alone. “ ning. Caseworkers also connect clients with other community resources to create financial stability for themselves and their families.

The OUR Center is the most comprehensive community-based agency in the area because it has extensive and creative partnerships with a wide range of more than 35 community resources, such as local, county, regional, state, and federal government agencies, businesses, other non-profit organizations, the faith community, schools, and individuals in the area. Boulder County, Boulder Shelter for the Home56 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

less, City of Longmont, Colorado State University, University of Colorado, are examples of its many partners.

As a result of these partnerships and collaborations there is far less duplication of services than there would likely be, enabling the OUR Center to be an excellent steward of donor dollars.

The OUR Center saves the greater Longmont community millions of dollars per year. Studies show a chronically homeless person costs a community as much as $44,000 per year for emergency shelter, hospital and medical LongmontMagazine.com

services, jail time, and more. Children in unstable housing are 34 times more likely to end up in foster care, are more likely to drop out of school and to need mental health services.

It receives funding from diverse sources: individuals (30 percent), private grants and foundations (14 percent), businesses/corporations (14 percent), churches (5 percent), government (18 percent) and other sources (6 percent).

“Eighty-eight percent of donations to OUR Center go directly to client programs and services,” Klotz says.

Fall 2015

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LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 57

Capital Campaign for a New Building While offering so many critical services and programs, the OUR Center has outgrown its less-than-ideal quarters in five different buildings at three different locations. So it has embarked on a $4.7 million capital campaign to create a new, single center at 220 Collyer Street that will more effectively serve the community.

Groundbreaking was July 15, and they expect to be in the new building by next summer. Their space will increase from 18,000 square feet to 31,000 square feet, enabling them to consolidate services and offer space to more community partners with services.

Executive Director Edwina Salazar says, “We will be selling our current buildings and using the money for the new center. We have some grants, but we need community donations to fill out the campaign. All sectors of the community can participate with donations of any size. Longmont is a tremendously compassionate and supportive community. The new center will be an asset to the community.”

She says, “We have 10 domains in which we offer services now; we are expanding to 16 in the new building.

We’re expanding to a Family Resource 58 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

Center model with services for individuals and families at risk. We will have space we don’t have now for meetings and classes and classroom space for other community nonprofits and our partners.”

A Family Resource Center is a welcoming community hub that provides access to services and opportunities for families to strengthen family functioning and enhance community connections. FRCs partner with individuals and the entire family to help them become more self-reliant in key areas that affect family stability, including parenting, health, education, employment, housing, and financial management.

Salazar says, “Times are hard for people, and we have an affordable-

housing crisis. We are helping people to gain additional skills and move forward with their lives.”

Contact OUR Center Intake and Main Office, 303 Atwood Street, Longmont, 303.772.5529, info@ourcenter.org, ourcenter.org The OUR Center welcomes donations to its Capital Campaign for the new building, or to provide hot meals, safe shelter, long-term rehabilitation and other basic needs services to the hungry and homeless of Longmont and the surrounding area. If you have questions about giving, call 303.772.5529.

If you go...

ROCK & SOUL: A Benefit for the OUR Center Saturday, October 3 • 5 to 10 p.m.

The Plaza Conference Center, Longmont

Featuring toe-tapping enter tainment from Wash Park Band.

The evening also includes a fully served dinner, program, live and silent auctions.

Tickets are $60 each ($70 at the door if available). Sponsorships star t at $1,000. For tickets and sponsorships, or to donate an item for the auction, contact the OUR Intake Office by calling 303.772.5529, or visit the OUR website: ourcenter.org Sponsored by Micro Motion and Seagate Technology.

LongmontMagazine.com

Fall 2015

M A E T E V I T O M O T U A S ’ E STEV

Steve’s Automotive and Alignment offers a range of services to make your life easier. As a full service automotive repair and automotive maintenance shop, Steve’s Automotive prides itself on providing high-quality service.

Locally owned and operated by Steve Powers, the shop is committed to providing personalized auto repair for each customer. At the shop, no one is simply a repair order. The staff at Steve’s treats each vehicle individually and thoroughly to ensure the best customer service, quality and value.

The shop’s goal is to provide service that will leave customers with peace of mind and the staff is committed to excellence, integrity, value and positive relationships.

Services at Steve’s are as varied as the type of autos the shop repairs. With four alignment systems in place, Steve’s can align almost any vehicle, from cars and trucks to SUVs and RVs. Steve’s is also certified to perform alignment and repairs on big rigs. Other services include transmission or brake work, air conditioning or a general tune-up. Steve’s also performs manufacturer-recommended services and has a full-service diesel technician on staff.

With 21 years in business, Steve’s has proven to be a local favorite for auto repairs and maintenance. The mechanic staff at Steve’s has a combined 150 years of experience working on a variety of cars, trucks, SUVs and semis, and are known as Boulder County’s alignment experts. At Steve’s, customers don’t just get great service, but peace of mind.

Service and Repair of Domestic and Imported Automobiles, SUVs, and Light Trucks Serving Boulder County and the Colorado Front Range for Over 23 Years

303-682-9015 • www.steves-alignment.com • 510 2nd Ave. A • Longmont Fall 2015

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 59

family

Dress, Don’t Stress THIS HALLOWEEN

By Summer McElley, for Longmont Magazine Halloween is a lot of fun! Whether you are a child or an adult, dressing up and being whimsical, all while getting “free” candy, brings out the kid in all of us. The only problem? Finding the right costume, at the right price.

Whether you start planning early or are shopping the week of, finding the perfect costume that portrays your favorite cartoon character can seem overwhelming. And while getting your child the best-of-the-best may seem like a no brainer, there is no reason to put a dent in your wallet just for one night.

Consider these

60 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

tips from Avagay Lindsay, Party City Spokesperson, when costume shopping this year.

PLAN AHEAD If possible, before heading into the store have your child or yourself make a “Top 5” list of possible costume ideas. Being flexible on what costume or accessories you might need will take some of the stress out of searching everywhere for one particular costume.

SHOP EARLY With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, most stores are planning for a rush the week of the holiday.

If you have time to get in early, you will be more likely to get one of your top costume choices. It will also allow you to peruse not only the stores, but online. Avagay says their online shop naturally carries a larger variety of costumes that will fit anyone’s personal style.

STICK TO A BUDGET Before choosing a costume, know what you can afford. If you have gone over in the

LongmontMagazine.com

Fall 2015

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SaTurday SePT. 12, 10-2Pm Public Welcome!!

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• Oldies DJ! Trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place On-site registration 8-10am, Sept. 12 (day of show)

For questions, contact John Stonum: jstonum@msn.com or 303-485-9303 Please No Pets, Bicycles or Skateboards.

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 61

past when costume shopping consider going the old-fashioned route and just taking what you can spend in cash.

That way you will be forced to stick to a budget.

Avagay also suggests shopping in your closet beforehand. “We offer thousands of accessories for your kids to create a one-of-a-kind costume to mix, match and make it their own.”

By igniting your child’s imagination

and letting them come up with their own costume idea, it will let them explore their uniqueness all while saving some money.

While planning ahead may seem like it takes the fun out of costume shopping, trust me it won’t.

Planning ahead will limit stress and will allow parents and kids to have fun and enjoy the memories that they are making. Just remember Halloween

can be a cold time of year so consider buying your costume a size larger to allow for layering and to also utilize it throughout the year for dress-up time.

For more information on costume ideas, visit partycity.com or Party City at 900 S. Hover Rd. in Longmont.

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Create a

Boo-tiful Outdoor Display Before the Halloween costume shopping begins, homes around the neighborhood will probably star t showing signs of the ghoul-fully happy holiday. In fact, Halloween has become so popular that it falls second only to Christmas. If you are planning on decorating this year, Par ty City says you don’t need a huge budget to create a bewitching look for your home. Here are some tips:

HANGING DECORATIONS

Hang these guys on your porch for an inviting feel for Trick-or-Treaters.

JACK-O-LANTERNS

If you don’t have time to carve one (or don’t want to deal with the clean-up) use plug-in pumpkins for a classic look to your front porch.

Fall 2015

YARD SIGNS

Direct young ghosts and goblins to your home with fun and easy signage.

LIGHTS

String lights are an easy way to create a warm and welcoming Halloween display. They’re also great for the transition to fall.

LongmontMagazine.com

LONGMONT MAGAZINE 63

relationships

Dealing with the changing nature of love in relationships Dear Dr. Beth,

I have a great partner relationship with my husband.We have been married for 10 years and he is a great guy.We share household responsibilities and parenting.We enjoy the same activities.We have the same values. My question is: what about being in love? We were in love when we married and that feeling seemed to last for several years. Now, I still love him but I seldom feel “in love”. Is this how marriage is supposed to be?

This is a question I think most people struggle with once they’ve settled into their marriages. Whether it takes 2 years or 15, the initial glow of “love” tends to change over time.

While there are a few couples for whom that feeling remains strong throughout the marriage, most experience an ebb and flow in romantic feelings and sexual desire. This doesn’t mean that something is wrong. However, there is a difference between still feeling an emotional bond and being “just a roommate” or coming to fear them due to domestic violence.

Feelings shift for many reasons: daily challenges can wear on a couple and familiarity can lead to annoyance over habits. Taking your partner for granted and becoming parents are also major factors that influence feelings.

Sexual and romantic energies wax and wane, but the core of the relationship remains. If your marriage is “normally flawed” but fundamentally characterized by love, respect and kindness, 64 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

your marriage is probably fine.

Most couples report that they still feel in love with their partners at times or realize the depth of their caring when a partner has an accident or life-threatening illness. Any event that threatens to take a spouse can bring the actual depth of feeling to the forefront. Such feelings can get lost in the day-to-day of our lives.

You can certainly do things to nurture the romance and passion. Be sure and create couple time as well as family time in your weekly or monthly schedule of activities, attend a class or workshop on reconnecting intimately with your partner, or give a small, unexpected gift to your spouse for no reason. Marriages are not always going to bubble with excitement, but they can still be rich, rewarding and romantic.

———————

Dear Dr. Beth, We have a 33 year old daughter who has been using alcohol and drugs since her mid-teens. Her experimentation turned into regular use and started causing her legal and financial problems.And for the last LongmontMagazine.com

5 years, it seems like she has moved into full-blown alcoholism and probably uses other drugs as well. She went from being a smart, kind, motivated young woman to a bitter, angry, volatile person. She blames everyone but herself for her problems.We have bailed her out of I don’t know how many legal, financial and housing problems connected with her drug and alcohol use.We are tired of feeling used and about ready to cut the financial cord, but I’m worried about what will happen to her if we stop coming to her rescue.

It sounds like your daughter has moved from use to abuse to addiction.

Alcoholism and addiction are powerful beasts. They take over a person’s life and eventually can destroy health and eclipse a lot of their character.

It becomes hard to tell whether the person you are relating to is still the daughter you raised or some other personality that has taken over. They seem possessed by something that is “not them”. Over time, addiction alienates the person from their true self and strains relationships.

Helping your child (even as an adult) is natural to most parents, but when your child’s life is one ongoing crisis and the help never seems to help for long, it is time to re-evaluate.

The term codependency has been popularized over the past several decades and many people aren’t sure what it means or how to tell when they are being an enabler. Enabling Fall 2015

and codependency are behaviors intended to help an addict but often backfire because it rescues them from the consequences of their choices.

When a person is strongly entrenched in addiction, such assistance can become more hurtful than helpful, preventing them from “hitting bottom”—experiencing enough negative consequences that she has a chance of waking up from the nightmare of addiction.

Cutting the cord is a hard thing to do, but your efforts have no real impact on alcoholism or addiction that has become that severe. Any rescue is temporary and ineffective until the person hits their own bottom and decides (or is forced by the courts) to seek help.

I strongly urge parents, spouses, friends and family members of alcoholics and addicts to utilize the resource

of Al-Anon to learn tools for getting out of destructive patterns. It is a support group that is free to anyone who loves someone with alcohol or addiction problems. The program does not tell you whether or not to cut the cord, but helps you regain balance and perspective in decision-making regarding the addicted family member.

Educating yourself about alcoholism can be key in understanding what is and is not within your power to do or influence in attempting to help your daughter. Individual and group counseling with a counselor knowledgeable about addiction and codependency can also be helpful. It is frightening to realize that your addicted child may not find recovery.

Sometimes an individual’s “bottom” ends up being death. This is a tragic potential and a tremendous loss for their surviving loved ones.

What is important to realize is that as long as a person is alive, they have the chance to recover, but this is not something anyone else can do for them. I hope your daughter finds the help she needs. Regardless of her choices, your own life can be better by embracing healing and recovery as parents.

Dr. Beth Firestein is a licensed psychologist. She has 27 years of therapy experience and has practiced in Loveland for more than 16 years.

She may be reached by calling her office at 970-635-9116, via email at firewom@webaccess.net or by visiting www.bethfirestein.com.

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 65

Weekend getaway:

Colorado’s Wine Countr y

Story and photos by Elise Oberlissen, for Longmont Magazine

W

ere you late in planning your weekend summer getaway? Summer isn’t over yet. Instead of lamenting about the dwindling days of summer and the excursions you meant to plan, but never got around to, just hit the road now.

That’s what I did when I recently roadtripped to Grand Junction, also known as Colorado’s wine country.

Fortunately, I test drove a 2015 Toyota Camry XSE provided by Rocky Mountain Redline, LLC, in Dacono. Not that it was the fastest vehicle on the

66 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

road, but driving a 3.5L V6 engine with 268 horse power, well, it was quite the treat. My main concern—a speeding ticket. I could hardly stop myself from testing the outer limits of the gas pedal.

Keep in mind, my daily driver is a 4 cylinder sedan with very little pick up and go—a mom car.

Whether you’re planning a trip to wine country with adults, or incorporating family into an excursion to the Western Slope, activities abound. As you plan the trip to Grand Junction, keep in mind, Main Street is centrally located and offers plenty of shops, hotels and restaurants within walking distance—including the iconic and historic, Avalon Theatre, built in 1923.

Let’s just say—scenery in Grand Junction is nothing like the Front Range. The landscape offers three distinct geologic features: Grand Mesa, which stands at 11,333 feet; Bookcliffs, a mountain range that extends 200 miles from Colorado’s De Beque CanLongmontMagazine.com

yon, into the Grand Valley and through Price Canyon, in Utah; and, Colorado National Monument, where eroded sandstone and 11 canyons offer hikers, campers and road cyclists plenty of ways to rekindle their love for nature.

While mountain biking in Colorado National Monument is strictly prohibited, Mistalynn Meyeraan, head of marketing and public relations for Visit Grand Junction, she says fat tire enthusiasts (mountain bikers) can hit multi-use dirt trails nearby, at McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area, located in Fruita, off Highway 340; or ride Lunch Loop Trailhead, off of Monument Road, which is near the east entrance of the park. Park entrance is not required, access is free.

Hikers might consider a sunrise hike that starts at Colorado National Monument Visitor’s Center, where you could take Canyon Rim Trail, a one mile round trip hike, according to a park ranger. If you wake up early enough, Meyeraan says, the reward Fall 2015

is all that magnificent color drenching the landscape as sunlight streams through the canyon.

Need a chance of pace? If puttputt, go-carts and arcade games sound like your idea of family fun, consider a visit to Bananas Fun Park, located about ten minutes, by car, from Main Street. Keep the sunscreen, hats and sunglasses nearby. Though, bumper boats will help to cool things off.

For those eager to sample some award winning Colorado wines—then it’s back in the car to Palisade, about a 15 minute drive east, from Grand Junction. Palisade, Fruita and Grand Junction make up the Grand Valley— home to about 22 wineries, according to tourism officials. Grand Valley offers just the right growing conditions for grapes because of its unique microclimate of hot, sunny days and cool nights.

Barrels of wine age as they await the right time for bottling.

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Wine tasting rooms like this one give patrons a chance to taste before purchasing

Instead of driving to each winery, I picked up a cruiser bike at Rapid Creek Cycle and Sports, in Palisade.

Half day cruiser rentals run about $30.

After talking to bike shop co-owner, Rondo Buecheler, he put me on a bike, gave me a map and sent me on my way. While he encouraged riding on the low traffic roads, (as opposed to the sidewalks) bear in mind, it requires that you follow all traffic laws— including stop signs.

First stop—Talon Winery and St. Katheryn Cellars. Housed in the same space, the two tasting rooms offer about 30 different wines, from Merlot and Cabernet, to Riesling, Pinot Grigio and some desert wines. Anyone interested in honey-based wines? A third tasting room off site, known as Meadery of the Rockies, offers yet another tasting experience.

Talon Winery was my first stop and Talon Merlot was my first sip.

During wine tastings, it generally never happens that the first taste is my favorite, but it happened here. I could 68 LONGMONT MAGAZINE

have stopped sipping at that point, but field research required a few more stops on the wine trail—so off I went.

Next stop—Grand River Vineyards, there I met with Spokesperson Missy Burns, who offered me tastings or their Merlot and Syrah. She then brought me around back where she schooled me on toasted wine barrels.

As she pointed out barrels with labels

that read “medium toasting,” she said it’s this rating system that determines the smoky flavor notes in wine. Barrel makers literally char the insides of the barrel as part of the toasting process.

A hot seller at Grand River; a red table wine called “Havin a Cow.” Can’t make the trip to the winery?

Burns says you can find it locally in Fort Collins at Wilbur’s Total Beverage.

In addition to wine, Palisade is well known for its peaches.

LongmontMagazine.com

Fall 2015

Reader Tip...

Didn’t have time to visit Colorado National Monument before heading home? Consider taking the 23-mile rim rock drive that starts at the west entrance of the park, in Fruita.

While soaking up scenic views of towering canyons and jaw-dropping cliffs, the road leads east and ends near I-70—en route to the Front Range. The drive takes about an hour and includes a few photo stops.

If you go...

SEPTEMBER 17-20

Colorado Mountain Winefest, in Palisade Sample local wines, enjoy live music and don’t forget to check out the much anticipated wine stomp.

Visit coloradowinefest.com for more information.

OCTOBER 10-11

Grand Junction Air Show

with a special appearance by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

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CITY PARKS

offer a variety of fun and relaxing opportunities

Here’s a glimpse at the parks and some of the features they include. Numbers in parenthesis correspond to map locations.

Affolter, (1), Holly Avenue and S. Judson Street. 5.3 acres, basketball courts, multi-use field, softball field, tennis courts, restrooms, shelter and playground.

Alta, (2), 10th Avenue and Alta Street. A half-acre, picnic area and playground.

Athletic Field, (3), 11th Avenue and Kimbark Street.

Basketball courts, soccer/football field and picnic area.

Carr, (4), 21st Avenue and Gay Street. 8.4 acres, basketball courts, soccer/ football fields, picnic area, barbecue pit, playground, restrooms, shelter, softball field, tennis courts and roller hockey rink.

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Clark Centennial, (5), 1100 Lashley St. 48.5 acres, baseball field, basketball court, soccer/football field, picnic areas, barbecue pits, playground, restrooms, shelter, four softball fields, tennis courts, volleyball areas, concession stand and roller hockey rink. Recreation center/pool complex includes wading pool, indoor pool and fitness equipment.

Collyer, (6), Sixth Avenue and Collyer Street. 5.2 acres, picnic area, barbecue pits, playground, restrooms, shelters, volleyball and tennis courts.

Dawson, (7), 1757 Harvard St. 12.9 acres, volleyball court, picnic area, playground, restrooms, shelters, barbecue pits and tennis courts.

Flanders, (8), 2229 Breakwater Drive. 4.1 acres, fishing, soccer/football field, shelter, barbecue pits, restrooms, playground, volleyball court, basketbll hoops, picnic area and roller hockey court.

Garden Acres, (9), 2058 Spencer St. 4.1 acres, shelter, playground, picnic area, restrooms, soccer/football fields, barbecue pit, concession stand and softball fields.

Golden Ponds, (10), 651 Third Ave. 94 acres with 56 acres of water surface, nature area with shelters, restrooms, trails, picnic areas, barbecue pits and fishing.

Hover Acres, (11), 1361 Charles Drive. 9.2 acres, tennis courts, basketball court, playground, horseshoe pit, volleyball

courts, soccer/football fields, picnic area, shelter and barbecue pit.

Izaak Walton, (12), 18 S. Sunset St. 21.5 acres, clubhouse, fishing, picnic area, barbecue pit, shelter and restrooms.

Jim Hamm Nature Area, (13), 17th Avenue and County Line Road. 23.9 acres, fishing, nature trail, barbecue pit, restrooms and shelter.

Kanemoto, (14), Missouri Avenue and South Pratt Parkway. 8.7 acres, ball fields, picnic area, playground, restrooms, shelters, soccer/football fields , volleyball courts and wading pool.

Kensington, (15), 100 E. Longs Peak Ave. 18.2 acres, fishing, basketball court,

picnic area, playgrounds, restrooms, barbecue pits and shelters.

Lanyon, (16), 19th Avenue and Collyer Street. 7.7 acres, basketball court, picnic area, barbecue pit, playground, restrooms, shelter and softball fields.

Left Hand Creek, (17), 1800 Creekside Drive. 10 acres, playground, softball field, basketball hoops, volleyball court, picnic area, barbecue pit, restrooms, shelters, soccer/football fields and roller hockey rink.

Loomiller, (18), 11th Avenue and Sumner Street.15.3 acres, fishing, picnic area, barbecue pit, playground, disc golf, restrooms and shelters.

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LONGMONT MAGAZINE 71

Quail Campus, (21), 310 Quail Road. 8.6 acres, skate park, picnic area, horseshoes, concession stand and recreation center with basketball courts, fitness center, climbing wall and indoor pools.

Raber, (22), 24th Avenue and Sunset Street. 3.2 acres, shelter, picnic area and playground.

Rogers Grove, (23), 220 Hover St. 10.5 acres, arboretum, outdoor learning center, picnic area, shelter/ interpretive center, outdoor amphitheater, demonstration garden, restrooms and barbecue pit.

McIntosh Lake, (19), located west of Longmont on Colo. Highway 66. 55 acres, fishing, basketball court, picnic area, shelter and restrooms.

Pratt, (20), Baylor Drive and Ithaca Court, 4.2 acres, basketball court, picnic area, playground, restrooms, shelter, softball field, tennis courts and roller hockey rink.

Roosevelt, (24), 700 Longs Peak Ave. 21.7 acres, shelters, restrooms, barbecue pit, picnic area, playground, horseshoe pit, recreation

center, rose garden and splash pool.

Rothrock Dell, (25), 700 E. Fifth Ave. 6.4 acres, basketball court, picnic area, playground, restrooms, shelter, softball field and roller hockey rink.

Sandstone Ranch, (26), 2929 and 3001 Colo. Highway 119. Community Park, 103 acres, ballfields, soccer/ football fields, volleyball court, shelters, restrooms, barbecue pits, picnic areas, playground, concession stands, 24,000 squarefoot skate park with in-ground concrete bowls and street course. District Park, 180 acres, 1880’s historic home and visitors center, scenic overlook of the Front Range, 0.7 mile trail with connection to St.Vrain Greenway,

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Fall 2015

open space and wildlife area, cultural history and natural resource programs, tours and special events. Due to wildlife no dogs are allowed in the District Park.

Valley, (30), 28 Troxell Ave. 2.5 acres, basketball courts, barbecue pit, volleyball court, horseshoe pit, playground and shelter.

Spangler, (27), 200 Mountain View Ave. 5.1 acres, picnic area, playground, restrooms, barbecue pits and shelter.

Willow Farm, (31), 901 S. Fordham St. 9.4 acres, basketball court, picnic area, barbecue pits, restrooms, playground, roller hockey, softball field, multi-use field and shelters.

Sunset, (28), Longs Peak Avenue and Sunset Street.

7 acres, nine-hole golf course, picnic area,barbecue pits, playground, shelter, outdoor swimming pool and concession stand.

Thompson, (29), Fourth Avenue and Bross Street. 5.4 acres, picnic area, barbecue pits, playground, restrooms and shelter.

PARKS WITH DOG PARKS Blue Skies Park, (1), 1520 Mountain Drive. 11.4 acres, basketball court, volleyball court, skate park, shelters, restrooms, picnic area, playground, barbecue pit and off leash dog exercise area.

off-leash dog exercise area, water spray fountain for children to play in, playground, restrooms, shelters, picnic area and barbecue pits.

Dog Park I, (2), 21st Avenue and Francis Street. 2.5 acres, off leash dog exercise area, picnic area and shelter.

Dog Park II, (3), Airport and St.Vrain roads. 2.5 acres, off leash dog exercise area, picnic area and shelter.

Union Reservoir, (6), 461 Weld County Road 26. 736-acre lake, fishing, camping, picnic area, restrooms, shelter, volleyball, 24 barbecue pits, playground, horseshoes, wakeless boating, wind surfing and swimming beach. Dog beach for off leash and play and swim.

Entry fee. Call 303-7721265.

Rough and Ready, (4), 21st Avenue and Alpine Street. 9.8 acres, skate park, basketball courts, sand volleyball court, bocce ball and horseshoe courts, multiuse play field, off-leash dog exercise area, playgrounds, restrooms, shelters, picnic area and barbecue pit.

For more information, call 303-651-8446, or visit www. ci. longmont. co.us/parks/ park_list/overview/index. html.

Stephen Day Park, (5), 1340 Deerwood Drive. 15 acres, skate park and BMX / mountain bike area, basketball court, sand volleyball court, multi-use play field,

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