Get to know your neighbors 100 by Times-Call Newspaper

Longmont Times-Call Community Review March 30, 2014

Get to know your neighbors

100

Good Health What’s More Important?

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Medical Specialties Allergy/Asthma • Cardiology • Dermatology • Endocrinology • Facial Plastic Surgery • Family Medicine • Gastroenterology • General Surgery Head & Neck/ENT Surgery • Infectious Disease • Internal Medicine • Obstetrics/Gynecology • Occupational Medicine • Orthopedic Surgery Pediatrics • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation • Rheumatology • Sports Medicine • Travel Medicine • Urgent Care • Urology • Vascular Surgery

Health Services Anti-Coagulation Clinic • Audiology • Diabetes Care Team • Laboratory • Nuclear Medicine • Nutritionists and Dietary Services Osteoporosis Center • Pain Management • Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging • Skin Care

1925 West Mountain View Avenue, Longmont, CO 80501 303.776.1234 :: www.longmontclinic.com Visit our web site for more detailed information on our programs and physicians.

Who’s inside Jill Andreozzi..............................5 Cathy Balan.................................5 John Beck ...................................6 Michael Bell................................6 Angel Berdiales.........................8 Karen Bianco..............................6 Hank Blazon................................6 Kimberly Brayman....................6 Heather Britton..........................7 Robin Bryant...............................7 Tim Chaffin..................................7 Giselle Collazo............................7 Wilma Crofford..........................7 Kelsey Deems..........................10 Cliff DeJong..............................10 Meca Delgado.........................10 Liz Donaghey...........................11 Murry Drescher.......................11 Donald Dreyer.........................11 Sabrina Duey...........................11 Liz Durfee..................................14 Gary Elmquist..........................12 Craig Engelhorn......................14 Sandra Esters...........................14 Wes Everett...............................14 Joycelyn Fankhouser............14 Patty Fiest..................................15 Emily Flemming......................15 Megan Forrest.........................15 Charlie Garcia..........................15 Deb Gardner............................18 Chris Gischel............................18 Mary Ann Grim ......................18 David G. Hawkins...................18

From the editor Cynthia Hess............................19 Ellen Hine..................................19 Virginia Huppe........................19 James Insogna........................19 Jay Jakosky...............................22 Roberta Johnston..................22 Jeffrey Justice..........................22 Leslie Kaczeus..........................20 Steve Kaczeus..........................20 Konni Keuter............................28 Bobby King...............................28 Deb Kitt .....................................28 Jason Kokenzie.......................29 Stacy Kokenzie........................29 Gay Kuhlman...........................28 Christopher Kukich................28 Chad Kupper............................29 Josie Lamp................................24 Maciel Leon..............................30 Linda Liang...............................29 Kay Lloyd...................................29 Mary Macomber.....................30 Richard Macomber................30 Gary Markowitz......................30 Pat McCarthy...........................31 Miguel Medina........................26 Eliberto Mendoza..................31 Joanie Moore...........................31 Chuck Morris............................31 Betty Ann Newby...................31 Stan Owens..............................32 Clay Peck...................................32 Anne Postle .............................32 Simon Quince..........................34

Carmen Ramirez.................... 32 Ray Ramirez..............................32 Brian Rezac...............................36 Alma Rico................................. 38 Michael Roberts......................36 Glenda S. Robinson..............36 Benny Romero........................36 Stephen Ross...........................42 Phoenix Sagen........................36 Anna Sauer...............................36 Pete Schones...........................40 Melissa Seipelt........................40 Dan Siddall...............................40 Lenny Sigwarth.......................40 Josh Sipfle.................................40 Tyler Sorensen.........................44 Amulya Srivastava.................44 Jason Stillman.........................44 Whitney Swander...................44 John Taft....................................44 Ana Temu..................................48 Rachael Teufel.........................48 Frank Tiff....................................48 Sally Van Meter.......................46 Garian Vigil...............................44 Maria Villagran........................48 Rebecca Vincent.....................48 Ron Vogel..................................50 Sarah Wise................................50 Richard Wolniewicz...............50 Diane Wood.............................50 Kyle Zimmer.............................50

The youngest is 9. The oldest, 100. Another served as an interpreter for some of the greatest Colorado Rockies players. Another won a Grammy. Yet another is two-degrees separated from Salvador Dali. You will find these and others in “100.” That’s the theme we chose for this year’s Times-Call community review edition. Community review is our chance every year to take a broader look at the region we cover and to tell stories that often are missed in the day-to-day coverage of news. Among these 100 people, several already have made headlines, but many more quietly have made a difference in their communities with little if any recognition. They are native residents, newcomers and immigrants. They have built

businesses, raised families, taught generations, served as leaders in government, survived a flood, and inspired us. “100” allows us to meet so many members of the community for the first time. At last, we can put a face with that name, or a name with that face. There’s always the unusual and the humorous, like the man whose prized possession is his “flood tub.” That’s the hot tub that was submerged by the St. Vrain River during the September flood but still works. “Flood tub lives!” Enjoy this slice of our community, from the foothills to the Carbon Valley, from Berthoud to Erie. It’s an easy read — and in mostly alphabetical order.

— John Vahlenkamp, managing editor

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 3

omen W IIn n Bu BusIness sIness In ness

TAWNA IRVINE AND TAMMY ORR SAVING SHOES ONE SOLE AT A TIME

You may ask, How did two women get into this maledominated business? Owner Tawna Irvine and her colleague Tammy Orr worked for Phelps Shoes for 25 years, until the family wanted to retire. Tawna bought the business from them in 2009. She got started in shoe repair in Boulder during a recession; a friend taught her the craft. It was on-the-job training in several shops where she learned multiple ways to get the best results. Tammy sews expertly. Put their talents together and expect excellence. “We have such good customers,” Tawna says. “They like us being women. We get really good feedback.” Tawna had training as a pedorthist – “like a pharmacist for the foot.” She takes over-the-counter orthotics, tweaks and ﬁts them and makes Tammy Orr and Tawna Irvine them work for the customer. That service makes Phelps different make work, from ffrom rom oother ther sshoe hoe rrepair epair bbusinesses. usinesses. IIff sshe he ccan’t an’t m ake tthem hem w ork, sshe he rrecommends ecommends ggetting etting a ddiagnosis iagnosis fro m a podiatrist. Phelps also carries sandals and slippers from Vionic, one of the few brands with arch supports. When it comes to saving old shoes from the trash heap, Tawna is persuasive: “There is a lot of footwear that people think is not repairable – but it is. If you’re not sure, ask us. Even less-expensive footwear can be repaired, like the boots made of man-made materials with rubber soles. You can get another year out of them; don’t send them to the landﬁll.” They also rejuvenate purses, zippers, leather coats and belts. Want stunning proof of how these two superb women excel at their craft? Visit the fascinating Facebook page of Phelps Shoe Repair and see how they transformed a battered pair of loafers into the pride of any country club habitué!

Phelps Shoe Repair, 2255 Main Street, Suite 103, Longmont, 303.776.9762

DR. NICOLE PYGOTT

Director & Doctor of Audiology, Au.D. F-AAA

Dr. Pygott has been providing outstanding audiological services to patients in the Longmont area at the Colorado Hearing Tinnitus and Balance since 1999. As a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Academy of Audiology and Colorado Academy of Audiology she expands her knowledge in the field of tinnitus therapy through exclusive training opportunities. Colorado Hearing Tinnitus and Balance is proud she is able to preserve an over 35 year old tradition of exceptional patient care in all aspects of medical treatment for hearing, tinnitus and balance disorders. 2030 W. Mtn. View Ave. • Ste. 500 Longmont (303) 776-7770 www.colohear.com

Dr. Jill Biles Dentist/Co-Owner

Jill has been with Avanti Dental Care since July of 2006 and became a partner in 2010. She regularly attends continuing education courses to stay current with the latest dental procedures and methodologies. She is also member of the ADA, Colorado Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Jill’s patients inspire her everyday and are the reason she loves dentistry. 303-776-9701 900 S. Main Street, Suite 201 Longmont, CO www.avanti-dental.com

Sunflower Community Acupuncture Jill Andreozzi L.Ac., Dipl.O.M, R.N. Owner & Clinic Director

Jill holds a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine fr from Southwest Acupuncture College, Boulderr. She also rience to her brings twenty-two years of nursing experience se rrecliners skills as a practitioner. In our clinic, we use ith surr surround encircling a spacious community room with ambient sound for privacy and enhanced therapeutic 45, so effect. We offer a sliding scale of $20 - $45, onent in your acupuncture can be an affordable component ncture model total health care. Our Community Acupunctur is designed to remove the barrier of cost so you can ugh to receive quality treatments frequently enough be truly healthy. See our web site for morre details and to schedule appointments.

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11753 North 75th Street, Longmont 720-684-8865 www.SunflowerCommunityAcupuncture.com

Linda Snyder

Owner, Snyder Jewelers When Linda Snyder says she grew up in the jewelry business, she means it literally. Her grandfather Hobart and father John opened Snyder Jewelers in 1948. As a child, she would go to the store with her mom and dad. She made pretty bows, put charms on bracelets, sized watchbands, replaced watch batteries and cleaned silver. Linda is a certified graduate gemologist and specializes in custom design. In high school, Snyder loved working at the store after school. She learned more every day and eventually started making jewelry at night and sold it at school the next day! Snyder Jewelers specializes in custom design, fine quality, large selection and on-site restoration repair and appraisals. Linda believes that building relationships is more important e . “It is important to than just “closing the sale”. isions so make well informed decisions onfident one can feel completely confident in the quality, uniquenesss and ade. value of the purchases made My team will take the timee to sts. educate and inform our guests. At Snyder Jewelers you will be treated like friends and he family, and we provide the opportunity to select from a large collection of uniquee, high quality, beautiful, andd fairly priced jewelry!

303 776-2992 2201 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont, CO www.snyderjewelers.com

Jill Andreozzi

Age: 43 Occupation: Acupuncturist, owner of Sunflower Community Acupuncture in Hygiene Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7 What brought you here? What kept you here? Acupuncture school. We lived in New Mexico prior to then and we had a daughter who was 9 years old, and we wanted her to live in an area where there were more school options. ... Now? The community, definitely. I’ve met a lot of people around here, and I’ve met more working in the hospitals in the area. I love the people here. What exactly is “Community Acupuncture?” I have seven recliners set up in about a 1,000squarefoot room with soft music. I schedule them

every 15 minutes — I bring them in, they sit down and I tend to them, all in a community setting. They basically roll up their sleeves to the elbow, roll up their pants to the knee. People take naps in here. It’s actually quite relaxing, which is really conducive to healing. ... You don’t feel like you’re in a room with other people. You feel like you’re in your own space. How do you handle patients who are afraid of needles? I explain to them that acupuncture needles are very, very tiny compared to the needles they’ve become accustomed to in Western medicine. You might feel a tiny sensation with an acupuncture needle, but that’s it. I’ll put the first needle in and they’re immediately relieved that it’s not as painful as they thought it was going to be.

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Cathy Balan

dress made from plastic bags or a working clock from recycled computer Age: 59 parts. Grahame Atkinson has done a Occupation: Administrative assistant oneman show using his Earth Mother for Longmont Council for the Arts series, which was incredibly moving. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 The comics show, “Sequentially What brought you here? Speaking,” opened my eyes to What has kept you here? I the depth of story preparation am a Colorado native from the and character design involved San Luis Valley. I grew up to create a chapter in a comic. spending time in the What’s your first memory mountains all around me but from childhood? My fondest left the area after high school. childhood memory is the days All my adult life I looked for I would drive to ski at Wolf the opportunity to return to Creek Ski Area with my father, them. In 1999 my family who helped start the area. moved to Longmont. We love Many times the warming hut would being close to the mountains and in the have to be dug out to reach the door. community of Longmont. Inside was a huge potbellied stove to What are your favorite personal warm my cold feet and hands. These shows in the LCA’s Muse Gallery: The memories and his work for the area EcoCreations shows are always were honored when he was inducted interesting. The artists are so creative into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard with recycled/found materials, such as a Museum Hall of Fame in 1996.

Who’s on the cover Top row: Mike Bell, Hank Blazon, Heather Britton, Robin Bryant, Tim Chaffin, Wilma Crofford, Cliff DeJong, Meca Delgado, Murry Drescher, Donald Dreyer. Second row: Sabrina Duey, Craig Engelhorn, Sandra Esters, Joycelyn Fankhouser, Patty Fiest, Emily Flemming, Megan Forrest, Deb Gardner, Chris Gischel, David Hawkins. Third row: James “Bo” Insogna, Jay Jakosky, Roberta Johnston. Fourth row: Jeffrey Justice, Konni Keuter, Bobby King. Fifth row: Deb Kitt, Jason Kokenzie,

Stacy Kokenzie, Christopher Kukich, Maciel Leon, Linda Liang, Kay W. Lloyd, Gary Markowitz, Eliberto Mendoza, Joanie Moore. Sixth row: Chuck Morris, Betty Ann Newby, Stan Owens, Clay Peck, Ray Ramirez, Carmen Ramirez, Brian Rezac, Michael Roberts, Benny Romero, Anna Sauer. Seventh row: Pete Schones, Dan Siddall, Lenny Sigwarth, Tyler Sorensen, Jason Stillman, Glenda S. Robinson, Ana Temu, Rebecca N. Vincent, Ron Vogel, Kyle Zimmer.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 5

John Beck

Age: 76 Occupation: Retired, master plumber for 42 years Years in this area: 64 What brought you here? What has kept you here? What brought me to Berthoud from Indiana was my mother had severe asthma. The climate agreed with her so much we stayed. ... I was in the seventh grade and was accepted well from my other classmates. My father had a plumbing and heating company, so I was fortunate to receive a lot of business knowledge, even while still in school. An apprentice school helped me to become a journeyman pipe fitter and a master plumber. What kept me here was I married a Berthoud girl and we had three children who went through the Berthoud schools. Now 4 of my grandchildren have graduated from Berthoud. Also I was blessed to have worked for 42 years for a large (mechanical contractor) from Fort Collins to Denver. Can you mention a few of the organizations that you have volunteered for and why you think its so important to be active in your community? It seems I have always volunteered; some of these are: eight years on the school board; 10 years on the Berthoud Town Board; 32 years as a volunteer firefighter; many years of service in my church; ; and a board member of the Berthoud Historical Society. Recently, I became a volunteer driver for a new transportation service named R.A.F.T. in the Berthoud community. It helps people who need a ride to Longmont or Loveland who does not have anyone to help them. This service covers Interstate 25 to Carter Lake, and Campion to Yellowstone Road just north of Longmont. You moved to Berthoud in 1950. What do you think is the biggest difference between Berthoud then and now? One of the differences is the many homes outside of the city limits. Back then, it was a few farm yard lights between Berthoud and Longmont and Loveland. ... I was so very fortunate to grow up here in the 50s. Those days are gone, and we must fill the empty storefronts and tell other people how nice it is to live here and support our nice town.

Mike Bell

Age: 62 Occupation: Longmont Police Department Traffic Sergeant Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 36 What brought you here? What has kept you here? The Federal Aviation Administration brought me to Longmont. I have stayed because of the mountains, the wonderful changing weather and the dry climate. What do you wish motorists knew about your job, and why? I wish that motorists knew the importance of wearing safety belts and motorcycle helmets. In my career, I have investigated the untimely deaths of 58 people involved in traffic crashes. In all of the motorcycle crashes, had the motorcyclists been wearing a helmet, I believe that they would have survived. In most of the deaths resulting from vehicle crashes, the deceased would have survived if they would have been wearing their safety belts at the time of the crash. The forces, in even a low speed traffic crash are far greater than what we often think. What is your favorite vacation, and why? Any cruise. When the ship moves from the dock, you are on a new adventure away from your regular life and society. A true escape!

Hank Blazon•

Age: 72 Occupation: Retired Years in St. Vrain Valley: 60 What brought you here? What has kept you here? Born in Longmont, moved to farm east of Mead in 1945 (and) attended school in Mead. Graduated in 1960. Moved to Denver to attend school. Graduated from National Electronic Institute 1961. What was it like growing up with a dad who was a leader in the Latino community in the 1930s? Dad had a pool hall for about two or three years in the late 1930s. Dad and Marian Gallagoes had Latino dances at the old Memorial Building at Roosevelt Park. In addition, he also owned properties in Longmont. In 1942, he bought a farm east of Mead, where he retired farming. How did your dad’s role as a strong Latino leader in the community shape who you’ve become? Because he was involved in the Longmont community, this encouraged me to also buy properties and also be involved in the community.

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Karen Bianco

Age: 64 Occupation: Teacher at Crossroads School Years in St. Vrain Valley: 52 What brought you here? What has kept you? Our parents moved here in 1962. ... Dad worked putting up all the stuff that would make the phone operate in your home. ... There were several colleges nearby and (my parents) liked that because they didn’t have to send you out of state. And Longmont schools prepared us well to go to any of the schools in that small area. We have traveled all over, and Longmont is wonderful. It is a community that could be much larger, but the thing is, it’s still a community. It’s like Crossroads School, there’s something for everyone. Your travels included a mission trip to Nicaragua. What did you find? We worked 16 days with Casa Unida and I got to teach seven vacation Bible schools, all of them enthusiastic. The most we had was 110 kids. ... All I can say of those people is they have nothing, but they were so joyful. We can learn a lot. (Smiles) I would love to send all the teenagers in America over. ... We built our own classroom. We laid bricks. Very primitive, all hand tools. It was backbreaking work, but you really felt so much love. What prepared you for a less traditional setting at Crossroads, after 31 years in the public schools? Me and (my husband) Michael are both teachers. He was industrial arts, so he received a lot of children that didn’t fit the mold. And at Central School, we had gone from very highend rich people in Victorian homes, and we became a central hub for bilinguals. The whole complexion of the school changed, and our goals changed. ... So we both worked with children that were often not in the AP classes. But their parents had the same goals, they wanted their children to be very successful. And that was our job. ... You know what it is? Showing love. You have to show love and listen. These are the things that will help you across all generations.

Dr. Kimberly Brayman

Age: Midlife and thriving Occupation: Psychologist Years in St. Vrain Valley: 16 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I moved here as a single mother of three young children from Canada to go to graduate school. I thought Longmont would be a good, safe community to raise my family in. My children grew up and now live in Africa, Canada and Colorado, and after looking literally the world over a few years ago, I chose to stay because in my heart this feels like “my home.” Although I strongly feel my Canadian heritage, this is the place I feel roots and the place I most want to serve with my work. What were you doing in the Philippines earlier this year? From Jan. 31 to Feb. 15, I was in the Philippines volunteering. My passion is to assist in healing individuals in my private practice and also to help individuals and groups affected by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Yolanda. I am traveling with an international team to offer trainings to local relief workers and civilians and to do research. Upon my return, my private practice resumed and my office, which includes two social workers, offered any one in the community insurance to sliding scale to a pro bono session who is still emotionally suffering from our flood. What’s your flood story? I lost the roof on my residence, and all of my coping skills came into affect as “it rained inside.” My wonderful cowboy and I reroofed my house (I remodel houses for stress management). It got five skylights as a way to make lemonade out of lemons. Professionally, we saw all of my clients deal with a much higher level of stress as many were ousted from homes, lost basements, some from Lyons entire properties. We did Skype sessions. We had teenage girls come and hand out towels and let them take showers while we made brownies in the office kitchen. We did our best to support those we saw.

Heather Britton

Age: 32 Occupation: Emergency communications specialist with the Longmont Police Department Years in St. Vrain Valley: 22 years What brought you here? What has kept you? I moved here in 1992 with my family from Minnesota. I moved to Mississippi for a short time, and Colorado drew me back. I love the atmosphere and opportunities that are here. I feel like I live in a small town but still have the conveniences of being near or in a big city. What is the best part of your job? I enjoy helping people, so being able to help someone every day is exciting. No matter how small a problem appears to the person calling, it is a big deal, so I want to do what I can to make that problem just a little easier for the person calling. I come to work every day not knowing what the day will bring and find that exciting. I have the duty of taking care of the officers and firefighters on the street to make sure that they are safe. I am one of many who are the ears of the city. If a genie granted you three wishes, and you could not wish for more wishes, what would be your first? I would wish to be taken away to a tropical island where I don’t have to do anything but relax and be spoiled. My husband and I just had our second baby in October. To have some relaxing mommy and daddy time would be a dream.

Robin Bryant

Age: 54 Occupation: Assistant to the vice chancellor for administration, University of Colorado Boulder; parttime potter Years in St. Vrain Valley: Almost 3 What brought you here? What has kept you here? After 28 years of living in Boulder and raising our two daughters, my husband and I were looking for another community to live in for our retirement years. We have friends who live here and had heard wonderful things about the Longmont community and the support for art and artists. Everyone I have met has been so welcoming and supportive and friendly. You recently organized a local ceramics group, Longmont Clay. What do you hope to accomplish with the group? The overall goal is to connect with and develop relationships with other clay artists and create a community of people who are passionate about clay. As in many art mediums, working in clay can be a solitary path. I find connecting with and learning from other clay artists to be inspiring. I have been a member of the Boulder Potters Guild for many years and that organization offers an instant community of others who are passionate about clay. When I moved here, I was trying to figure out how to meet others in this community who work in clay. Through a friend, I met Katy Diver, who teaches totem classes out of her studio. My husband and I then took a totem class from Katy and through the relationship with Katy, we started talking about combining functional and sculptural clay for a show. Longmont Clay recently held a show at the Firehouse Art Center and it was so wonderful to see how the two different types of work complemented each other. Ultimately, I would love to see regular clay shows and sales in the community and promote clay as easily accessible art that people can add to their every day life. ... In the short term, my goal is to invite members of the community who are working in clay and would like to connect with others working in clay, to email longmontclay@gmail.com. What are your favorite local places to go see art? Muse Gallery, Firehouse Art Center and the Sun Rose Cafe.

Tim Chaffin

Age: 61 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 16 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I began a 25year career while in high school in Montrose, Colorado, working parttime in the Cable TV industry. I continued on with the same company, TCI Cablevision, after college working in Colorado, California and Missouri as a general and area manager. I decided to move back to Colorado after finishing my tenure in Missouri when an opportunity became available with Longmont Cable Trust — Channel 8. In my position as general manager, I have been able to meet and create video programming with city, county and state legislators, local community and business leaders and area nonprofits. What’s the weirdest situation you have had to deal with at Channel 8? Longmont Cable Trust (LCT) was established in 1984, broadcasting programming on Channel 3 of the local Cable TV system for 26 years. The FCC forced LCT to vacate the Channel 3 position in May of 2010 to comply with the Federal Regulations, thereby, allowing another broadcaster the rights to the Channel 3 position in the Denver television market. To comply with FCC regulations, LCT and Comcast Cable repositioned the broadcast of the programming to Channel 8. LCT has been broadcasting on Channel 8 for the last four years. LCT has been providing community, governmental and instructional programming to the community for 30 years. What is one lesson you wish could teach your teenaged self? Get your priorities straight, don’t dwell in the past, always move forward and dance your way to happiness.

Giselle Collazo Age: Noun or imperative? Occupation: Mother, musician and business development manager at Rally Software Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I first came here for a personal relationship. I soon discovered Longmont’s people, parks, breweries, restaurants, arts, history and all these beautiful old trees. As a performer in the band Idlewhile, you have an insider’s view of the local music scene. What about the scene have you learned that most people don’t know? I don’t know if any of this is littleknown or unique, but here’s what I’ve seen: 1) The camaraderie around here feels pretty special. Many musicians here respect and champion each other’s work. There’s a lot of moral support and collaboration among us behind the scenes, too. 2) The great partnerships between us and several local venues ensure variety and quality for audiences in their own “backyard” while offering compensation, exposure and good stages for the musicians. The local media, both commercial and independent, have also been great to work with. Describe the best moment you’ve had on a local stage. The best moment is when folks respond so passionately to our original songs, songs they’ve never heard before! That’s when I know souls have been stirred, that I am right where I belong, and I feel immense gratitude. Oh yeh, and there’s the other moment when someone brings me a beer while I’m playing. ;)

Wilma Crofford

Age: 100 Occupation: I was an accountant for the Jefferson County schools. I retired after 21 years. Years in the St. Vrain Valley? 28 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My father moved to a farm north of Simla (Colo.); he moved there in 1918. I grew up on that farm until I married in 1933. (After moving to Littleton my husband and I) moved to Lakewood in ’37 and lived there over 20 years, raised two daughters there. Then Wheat Ridge and we lived there 20plus years before we came to Longmont in 1985. We were looking for a small town. After we came here it wasn’t as small as we wanted, but we found just the right house for us, so it was what we wanted. (Daughter Elaine: “And I lived in Boulder so I was close by.”) What is the most remarkable thing to come along in your century of living? Electricity. I think electricity. Of course, there may have been electricity and I didn’t realize it because when I lived on the farm, we never had it. So when we finally lived where we had it it was a revelation to us. Your ability to recall the events of your life is exceptional. What advice do you have for someone who wants to stay as mentally sharp as you are as they age? I would say stay active and do exercise. Keep exercising. I’ve been exercising my whole life. I still go to the hospital and exercise in the warm water three times a week. I still do it.

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 7

Angel Berdiales, owner of Shalom Bikes, poses for a portrait at his shop in Frederick

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On an up cycle Frederick bike shop owner regains dream of competitive cycling

o budget. No training. No logistics worth the name. Not the most auspicious way to re-enter competitive cycling. But for Angel Berdiales, last year’s Race Across the West was a rebirth. A door that closed 30 years ago in Lima, Peru, had creaked open and let him through. “I feel like a little boy again,” said Berdiales, 52. “God finally gave me my dreams again, but in a different direction.” This June, those dreams will put him back on the grueling run for the second time — though admittedly with a bit more preparation this time. There’s even a cause now, a church mission trip that he’s using the ride to raise money for. But before all that, there were youthful dreams of glory. In Peru, dreams were about all Berdiales could afford. He started bicycle racing when he was 11 years old, but he couldn’t afford expensive training or gear. (During his first competition, joined on the spur of the moment and an official’s impromptu invitation, Berdiales cycled in flip-flops.) So improvement was slow, little by little, year after year. By his early 20s, it all seemed to come together. He had his own bicycle shop now, more experience, more opportunity. And at last, he had his first big win. “In 1984, I was national champion for beginners,” he

said.”I was excited. I thought, ‘Oh, finally!’” He joined the Peruvian national team, and international competition beckoned. But in 1985, “finally” became “final.” A bad accident during a 1,000 kilometer race ended his career; the newspaper picture of Berdiales in a neck brace still has the power to induce a wince of sympathy. “I started thinking ‘Maybe next year I’ll return,’” he said. “But it never happened.” Instead, life moved on. So did Berdiales. He became a Christian in 1989, a Colorado resident in 1991, a husband in 1992. For four years after that, he hopped between continents until his wife’s immigration paperwork could be approved, staying in the U.S. just long enough to hold down his work permit. “I spent 85 percent of my time in Peru,” Berdiales said, chuckling at the memory. “I was spending so much time, I almost lost my own legal papers.” The bike life never left, but it started to take a different form. After working in several bike shops, he once again had a chance to start his own in Frederick. In 2003 — on the Fourth of July, as a matter of fact — Berdiales opened Shalom Bikes, a name that means “peace in God.” “Each year, I thought about racing, but now the kids are growing up, going to school.” he said. “I tried a

times by the skin of their teeth. At one stage, BerOccupation: Owner, Shalom diales said, he and his wife Bikes in Frederick studied a map at 9 p.m. and Age: 52 realized they had 200 miles Years in Carbon Valley: 12 left to complete a stage by the next morning. That prompted a frantic burst of couple of times, to Mt. energy. Evans, but my time was real “We had to ride all night, slow because I’m not in my but we made it,” Berdiales 20s anymore.” said. “We were excited.” What finally turned He smiled and shook his dreams back into reality was, head. “And then, the next appropriately enough, Shalom Bikes. About a year ago, stage, we got lost.” The family was 40 miles he decided that while busiinto the next stage before ness was good, it could be they realized they’d taken better. the wrong route. Getting “I spent time thinking back took too long; a plea about the promotion of the lodged with the race officials shop,” he said. “What do I have, $1,000 for advertising? got no response. There had never been much hope of No, I don’t have that. What winning, but now even findo I have? Oh, I can ride. ishing seemed unlikey. Why not one of those crazy There just wasn’t enough rides, like across America?” time. He ended up settling on “By that point, we were the Race Across the West, an discouraged,” Berdiales said. 860-mile bicycle race from “My kids were saying ‘Go Oceanside, Calif., to Duranhome.’” go, Colo. It was a journey Then his wife Monica that would test a cyclist with spoke up. No, she said. She heat, with elevation, with didn’t care how well he finfirm deadlines for each secished, she told him, only that tion. It didn’t take long for Ber- he kept trying to complete diales to realize he was a lit- the course. “You need to finish,” she tle under-gunned. Most of said. the racers, he said, had full “Normally, she didn’t love backup teams and two or bikes,” he said. “But she has three support vehicles to a lot of determination.” take on the course. The road ended at Cortez, “My crew is only my close but not close enough. daughter, my son and my wife — and my van,” he said. Berdiales was too late. He was out. “We had no good logistics, And then, abruptly, he was no experience and lots of back in. challenges.” A morning phone call They kept up, but some-

Angel Berdiales

brought the news. The Race for the West board had reviewed Berdiales’ case and determined that yes, he had gotten lost and no, the delay was not his fault. If he could finish the last 50 miles of the race in three hours or less, his time would qualify. “Ooooh, my kids jumped!” Berdiales said, laughing. “Everyone is hurrying up, yelling ‘Keep going, we’re back in!’ We made a plan, checked the maps, and we finished in two hours and 25 minutes.” It was an exhilarating way to end. And it’s led to a new start. In late February, Berdiales and his family decided to take on the race again, but with two key changes. “We decided if we race again, we need a budget ... we need good logistics,” he said. “And the second thing is, we need a purpose. We’d seen teams cycling for cancer, for the military, for charity ... we needed to race for something.” So this year, Berdiales is racing for his church’s youth group, to help raise funds for their mission trip. It’s brought together all his loves — his faith, his family, his sport — in one package and pushed him to shoot even higher. If everything works out, he said, in 2015 he wants to try the big one, the Race Across America. Heavy dreams for someone who thought he’d never race again. “God gave me something special in my old years,” Berdiales said.

Story by Scott Rochat • Photo by Matthew Jonas • Longmont Times-Call

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 9

Kelsey Deems

Age: 22 Occupation: Barista at the Barking Dog Cafe Years in St. Vrain Valley: 2 What brought you here? What has kept you here? After six months of long distance dating, I packed up my life in east Tennessee and closed the 1,300 mile gap between myself and my now exboyfriend. When the relationship ended, we both realized it was the very reason I found myself exactly where I needed to be. I didn’t know it at the time, but I didn’t find my heart until I arrived in Colorado. For that and to him, I am forever thankful. You live in Longmont, but you are active in the Lyons Community. Tell us a little about the involvement you have had with the Lyons Fire Department and the community. From the moment I stepped into Lyons as a bank teller, I was welcomed with open arms. I found myself getting to know the community as a whole after taking on a second, and now only, job at the Barking Dog Cafe. I am also an auxiliary member with Lyons

Fire Protection District. What that basically means is, I don’t fight fires — I fund raise. After the flood of September 2013, I started a Tshirt fundraiser that benefits LFPD and the Lyons Community Foundation. So far, I have raised a total of $5,500. I may live in Longmont, but my heart was found in the people of Lyons. Why do you want to attend Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, when do you plan to move, and what got you interested in the zoo keeping program? My passion has always been with animals. I have a love for zoos and have always dreamed of being a zoo keeper. During a visit to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, I learned about an awesome twoyear program at Pikes Peak Community College. Most of the keepers even went there. I finally made the decision to apply and was accepted within 24 hours. I will be making the move this summer to start school for the fall semester. My goal is to have my very own tower of giraffes. I have honestly never been more proud of myself for chasing after my dreams.

10 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Cliff DeJong

photography very well, but it’s the creative side I need help on. (The club is made up roughly halfandhalf of more Age: 70 Occupation: Retired; president of the technically inclined members and creative types, he explained.) When I St. Vrain Photographic Society; also look at the stars at Rocky Mountain write a weekly column for a Nascar National Park — which I’ve fantasy website called done quite often; if you’ve ever fantasyracingcheatsheet.com. done that, looked at the stars Years in the St. Vrain and the Milky Way at Valley? 3 midnight, it’s an overwhelming What brought you here? experience. How do you What has kept you here?We photograph (and truly capture) have two (children) in Denver, that? So that’s what I like to two in Longmont and one in think about. Erie. We moved back here You write a weekly because my wife missed the prediction column and blog grandkids. So I live here occassionally for because my wife lives here. And the grandkids of course — I love them too! fantasyracingcheatsheet.com. How did that come about? I worked an You’re the president of the St. awful lot in statistics, and got involved Vrain Photographic Societybut your with Nascar through a fantasy league. I degrees in math and computer developed a method for determining science would have seemingly little where everybody would finish, every to do with that hobby. Does your aerospace background — working on race, and I sent it off to (the) website the Apollo program and with ballistic and they picked it up (starting in 2010). missiles — have anything to do with If you look up my name, Cliff DeJong your photographic interests? It really and Nascar, it’ll bring up all kinds of does. I understand the technical side of stuff.

Meca Delgado•

because the chances of youths suffering longterm negative Age: 30 consequences from engaging in these Occupation: Boulder County Healthy behaviors declines, with every year of Youth Alliance program specialist delayed initiation. Some of the long Years in St. Vrain Valley: 23 term negative consequences prevented What brought you here? are addiction, heavy use, What has kept you here? lifetime use, and the Besides the amazing beauty derailment of healthy brain that surrounds this area and development during the numerous outdoor imperative years. My advice to activities one can enjoy in our families is to start area, there are two things that communicating with their keep me in Longmont. First is children about these issues my family, which most are early. Talk to your children located in the Boulder County about all of these concerns. area. In enjoy having most of Make sure conversations are my family very close, seeing each other age and development appropriate but regularly for birthdays, holidays, and talk about it. random reasons to spend time together What was the worst day of your life means the world to me. The second and why? I can think of a few bad days reason I stay in this area is the sense of in my life; days when I wish I could take community I feel here. something back, make a different What’s the most common bad decision, or spend more time with health habit you see and your advice someone I love, but none stands out as to families facing that issue? Due to the worst day of my life. I am an my work with the Healthy Youth optimist. I view the world as glass half Alliance we focus on preventing full. When I have a bad day or make a unhealthy habits before the age of 13. mistake I do my best to learn from it. I For example preventing smoking, try to grow and become a better marijuana use and drinking before the person from all of my life experiences, age of 13. Age 13 is a focal point, good and bad.

Liz Donaghey

licensing authority brought you any surprises? Every day I learn something new. I’m not sure surprise would be the Age: 32 right word, but it’s been nice to learn Occupation: Boulder County about the owners of the marijuana marijuana licensing authority businesses in Boulder County. The Years in St. Vrain Valley: Moved to owners have been great to Longmont in 1998; joined the work with — attorneys, military/traveled for about six investors, moms and dads, just years; moved back to regular hard working folk. Longmont in 2005; preparing How does that position to move to Berthoud. differ from what you were What brought you here? doing on the county staff What has kept you here? previously? Before being Originally I moved here appointed as the marijuana because my parents moved licensing authority, I worked here for a job opportunity. I for Boulder County on internal have stayed because I love the communications and was the project area and culture. I really enjoy the manager for a wastewater local active lifestyle of the area, and I will improvement district. It’s been a shift in never get over the beauty of the focus, but otherwise it’s still about mountains. Have your experiences in two years communication and public relations. The more we keep communication as Boulder County’s marijuana open the better things flow.

Murry Drescher

Age: 61 Occupation: Cardiologist, Longmont United Hospital’s Milestone Medical Group Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 1½ What brought you here? What has kept you here? I’m originally from New York. I grew up in the big city, Brooklyn. The job brought me here. I moved here from Plantation, Fla. A colleague that I’d formerly practiced with in the Fort Lauderdale area told me about three years ago about plans to form a medical group here. My wife went to CU. I was familiar

with the area. What do you think about the area after having moved here? I really like Longmont. I like the people a lot. I like the hospital. They treat me very well. I like my colleagues. I really like the place a lot. Would you recommend the Longmont area to other medical professionals? Absolutely. This is a great place to practice. It really has everything. You have nice places to eat here. It’s close to Denver. It’s close to Boulder. I live about a block north of the BoulderLarimer County line, in the Berthoud area. It’s really beautiful. I have coyotes walking by my fence.

Sabrina Duey Age: 17 Occupation: Student at Frederick High School Years in St. Vrain Valley: 13 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My family and I moved to Frederick when I was in kindergarten. My parents wanted to move to the small town like Frederick because they wanted me to grow up in a smaller community. I have stayed in Frederick because every time that I would try to run away as a child I would, unfortunately, always find my way home after a few hours. What inspired you to become involved with depression awareness and suicide prevention? My junior year was a very hard time for not only me but for my classmates, as we experienced the death of our dear friend, Jordan McMullen. We were all blindsided as we found out that he had committed suicide. This man who

had such a happy, kind and carefree spirit was one who we never thought would take his life. Jordan McMullen has inspired me to become involved with teen depression and suicide awareness. I want to help teens who become depressed not make the decision to end their lives. I want to teach teens that they are important and their lives hold value in the world. In order to accomplish my goals, I plan to attend college at Colorado State University and major in the Human Development and Family Studies program. What are your educational career goals in the next 10 years? As of right now my educational and career goals include me hopefully graduating early and getting my bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. After college, I plan to work as an interventionist and help teens with depression and suicide awareness. As an interventionist I want to focus my attention on students in high school.

Meet at the

Golf & Tap

Donald Dreyer

primarily been small animals. There probably are higher expectations now, Age: 70 both on the part of the veterinarians Occupation: Veterinarian; recently and the pet owner. There’s more retired laboratory equipment, more digital Years in St. Vrain Valley: 43 technology, wholebody Xrays, all of What brought you here? which helps us to do better What has kept you here? I diagnoses and treatment. graduated from Colorado State Have there been changes University’s veterinary medical in what you’ve seen about school in 1969, practiced in people’s preferences in pets, Denver for about two years and how they care for them? and then joined a practice I think our practice is now here, the Animal Hospital, in about 10 percent exotic birds 1971. I’ve really enjoyed and 90 percent dogs and cats. Longmont. Probably the most Of those, about 60 percent are enjoyment has been dogs and 40 percent cats. Pets becoming friends with people while have become much more of the family, helping their pets, and in a general way, so to speak. In a number of instances, helping society. we’ve been seeing smaller families with What changes in veterinary more pets. We see far fewer pet injuries medicine have you seen in the years from car accidents. People are better you’ve been here? To start with, our about keeping their dogs on leashes. practice was about 5050 large and People are better about keeping their small animals. For the last 30 years, it’s cats indoors.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 11

Gary Elmquist, pictured with the organ he plays at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, graduated from Longmont High School and taught math there until he retired in 2004.

12 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Keys to success

‘I’ve always felt like it was a privilege to use what talent I have, what talent I’ve been given’

ath and music. These are the gifts Gary Elmquist enjoys, and these are the gifts he’s chosen to share with the Longmont community. Elmquist, 63, retired in 2004 after 30 years of teaching mathematics in the St. Vrain Valley School District. And after 36 years of playing the organ at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Longmont, he’s still going strong. “I’ve always felt like it was a privilege to use what talent I have, what talent I’ve been given. Hopefully, it serves a purpose,” Elmquist said. “It’s satisfying when you’re able to enhance worship, which hopefully I do.” Born at Longmont Hospital at Fourth Avenue and Coffman Street, Elmquist was baptized at First Lutheran and grew up on a small family farm in the Rinn area, southeast of Longmont. “This is the church where I grew up,” Elmquist said in February as he sat in the choir loft, where the organ sits. His parents, Ray and Lorraine, both loved music. When Elmquist was 7 years

old, he started playing the piano; his younger brother Stan began learning the instrument the following year, he said. “We were the cute little kids that got paraded in front of everybody,” Elmquist said. “It was enjoyable.” When Elmquist was a child, the organ was on the main floor of the church, on the west side of the sanctuary. “You could sit and watch the organist play,” he said, adding that it looked like a fun thing to do. He couldn’t remember exactly, but he said he probably started playing organ in junior high or high school. He became First Lutheran’s full-time organist in 1978.

Gary Elmquist

Age: 63 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 63 Occupation: Organist at First Evangelical Lutheran Church; retired math teacher

Thirty years ago, the church purchased a new organ. Surrounding it in the choir loft, the silver pipes rise toward the ceiling. “For this job, I don’t think you can beat the organ, and we’re lucky to have a nice organ,” Elmquist said. Of all the music he plays, Elmquist said his favorite is the “Hallelujah” chorus from George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” Although the piece has become a Christmas standard, First Lutheran’s choir performs it at Easter — the holiday for which the oratorio was written, according to Smithsonian.com.

“It was just something enjoyable. I am not a professional musician, but it’s been The “Hallelujah” chorus something that’s been an enjoyable sideline,” Elmquist might be the hardest piece Elmquist plays, he said. said. “When we do it, and it The tradition, when the comes off well, I feel really church was built in the late proud,” Elmquist said. 1930s, was to keep the organ’s pipes out of sight. At As he grew up, Elmquist First Lutheran, the pipes attended elementary and were in a tower on the east junior high school in Mead. side of the church, he said. He worked on his family’s

farm, near Interstate 25 and Weld County Road 20, growing sugar beets, corn and barley, and raising milking cows, he said.

took college-prep classes, sang in the choir and found his love for math. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, then “It was a good life,” taught in Colorado Springs Elmquist said. for one year. His least-favorite farm “I was able to do it, and it chore was milking the cows. was interesting. That’s “It was never done,” he where it led,” Elmquist said. said. He returned to the St. Vrain valley to teach at Mead At the time all Mead and Junior High, then at LongLongmont-area students mont High School. attended Longmont High School — but he did not “Math is tough for a lot of attend what is now called the people,” he said, adding that Main Street School. His he hopes he made it “less graduating class of 1968 was tough” for his students. He the first to spend all four still teaches night classes at years of high school in the Front Range Community Sunset Street building, College. which opened when “Even though this is Elmquist was in eighth where I’ve always lived, ... grade. Longmont’s changed a lot,” “That was quite a privilege Elmquist said, pointing out to go a brand new high that the city isn’t a farm town school,” Elmquist said. With any more. 425 students in his class, He appreciates that the everyone knew everyone, he city has become more said. diverse as it’s grown. “I grew up with a lot of “We were all kind of alike,” people who were and still Elmquist said of the city he are good friends,” he said. grew up in. “It’s good to People were close then, and have people from different church events were an backgrounds come together important place to socialize, and get to know each other. he said. “It’s still home, and it’s still In high school, Elmquist special.”

Story by Victoria A.F. Camron • Photo by Lewis Geyer• Longmont Times-Call

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 13

Liz Durfee

Age: 59 Occupation: Art and gift gallery owner Years in St. Vrain Valley: 34 What brought you here? What has kept you here? During college I did an Outward Boundtype trip that included kayaking and rock climbing in the Colorado Rockies. Six years later I bought a coasttocoast bus pass. ... (I) left Massachusetts and headed west, stopping to visit a high school buddy in Boulder. Thought I’d stay and explore the area for a year or two. ... As the founder of Rabbit Brush Gallery in Hygiene, what has been the most rewarding part about bringing original art to local audiences? I enjoy connecting people — and handmade art has an artist behind it, a creative person with a vision that they hope others may connect to on some level. Sometimes it is the image that evokes a response in the viewer through the subject matter or use of colors, or a shared laugh, or an appreciation of the craftsmanship or the creative process and so forth, but there is frequently a connection being made. It is also gratifying that there is such a growing consciousness about how buying from small local businesses keeps a community strong. If you could say one thing to describe Hygiene to someone who has never been there, what would it be? Hygiene is a gem in beautiful rural Boulder County with an incredibly diverse community (check out the Jaguar parked next to the beatup ’75 Ford pickup with a load of hay next to the rack full of bicycles). I think to borrow a phrase from William Kittredge, it is one of those “last best places.”

Craig Engelhorn

Age: 52 Occupation: Distiller Years in St. Vrain Valley: 17 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I had just left AT&T Bell Laboratories in Naperville, Ill., and my wife got a great chance for a position here. We were willing to move, especially to Colorado — a state we had fallen in love with years before. ... Being small town folks decided to look at Lyons. Lyons is a very eclectic community with an incredible music seen and a lot of artistic talent. I’ve been kicking myself ever since we arrived for not moving here sooner. From an engineer to a distiller. How does that happen? I was a science dork as a kid. I obtained my electrical engineering degree at MIT (Missouri Institute of Technology!) and landed my dream career at Bell Labs. I’m driven by the desire to learn new things, and after convincing Dale Katechis to start a brewpub, I became a brewer at the Oskar Blues’ Lyons brewery for four years. While at Oskars, I investigated distilling. Sadly, the rules were overbearing and I gave up. I dabbled in construction and remodeling for several years as one of my partners at Spirit Hound, Wayne Anderson, would pester me to start another brewery. Ultimately I suggested we start a distillery. What life experiences have you had that make you, you? I’ve restored old cars, built all kinds of things from wood. I’ve even built my own telescope, grinding the mirrors by hand. The combined knowledge from years of projects like that gave me the confidence to suggest that we could build our own whiskey still from copper sheets, handhammering complex shapes and welding it together. We were able to build an incredibly unique, beautiful and functional still. In high school, I was a tour guide at a small Flour Milling Museum, an experience that taught me that I really love speaking to a crowd. Showing off our wonderful accomplishments to our customers is one of the favorite parts of my job.

Sandra Esters Age: Decline for safety reasons Occupation: Domestic violence detective at Longmont Police Department Years in St. Vrain Valley: 11 years working here What brought you here? What has kept you here? I grew up in northern Colorado; family and career have kept me here. I love my work in the Domestic Violence Unit and am always so humbled and honored to share the lives of the victims I meet. What is the hardest part of your job? The hardest part of my job is worrying about victims and their well being, even when I’m not at work. They are living, breathing, real people who struggle to survive, mentally, emotionally and physically; their challenges do not go away when I am off duty. I want to be sure I’ve done everything I can to ensure the people with whom I’m working are safe. What did you want to be when you grew up and why? I’ve always wanted to pursue careers that served humanity. Until my junior year of high school, I wanted to be a teacher and an Army medical doctor. I changed my mind and decided to enlist in the Army instead. After serving in the Army in Military Intelligence, I studied Eastern European and Russian history with the hope of working for NSA. Life happened, though (as it usually does), and I changed paths again. Ultimately, I came to work for the Longmont Police Department because I truly enjoy serving people and helping them find their way in the world. I have the perfect job!

14 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Wes Everett

Age: Just turned 60 Occupation: I am a selfemployed audio engineer and consultant. Owner of Everett Audio, specializing in digital multitrack recording. Years in St. Vrain Valley: I have now lived here for close to 24 years. What brought you here? What has kept you here? I moved to Longmont in June of 1990 to join Colorado Concert Sound. As the sound engineer at the Dickens Opera House, what have you found are the particular characteristics of that room that you have to account for? The size of the Dickens Opera House is the main characteristic I have to deal with. Providing even coverage for everyone in the room is hard to accomplish using the older speakers we have. The owners are determined to upgrade the system so that we can give the patrons a better listening experience. What bands that have performed at the Dickens Opera House were the most satisfying for you to work with? We have had some great bands at the Dickens. Hard to beat local band Last Men on Earth for their large productions and great shows. Traveling blues rock bands headed by Hamilton Loomis and Dustin Pittsley have been some of the best regional acts. Bands love to play this beautiful room.

Joycelyn Fankhouser Age: 46 Occupation: Social worker, Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services flood recovery coordinator Years in St. Vrain Valley: 18 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I attended college at the University of Northern Colorado. … I moved to the Midwest for a short time with my husband with the intention of moving back … after five years. Almost five years to the day, we moved to Longmont. … My husband and I handpicked Lyons while renting in Longmont … The culture in Lyons, the great school and the people helped us to decide to stay. Where were you when the flood hit Lyons on Sept. 12, 2013, and how did you react? (On Sept. 11), my daughter was kayaking and called it the “the champagne powder of kayaking” as, at this time of the year, the St. Vrain is typically dry. The river is right behind our home. … Later that evening, my phone alerted me to flooding in the Four Mile area. … My husband … went to look at the river. He came home and told us to pack as it was nearly cresting the bridge. We ... went to a friend’s home on higher ground in Lyons. … We thought it would just “be for the night” until the water went down. What a surprise that was. What is the biggest challenge, personally or professionally, that you have faced since the flood? I was working in child protection. ... I split my time between flood recovery and child protection for several months. I did not have damage to my home, but I could not live there. We were blessed to find a rental in Boulder, but my two daughters were in school in Longmont. Trying to balance work with getting the kids to Longmont was very challenging. In November, (county officials realized) they needed a person to do what I was doing in Lyons across the county. … I started as the Boulder County flood recovery coordinator just before Christmas. Understanding the flood recovery process, getting to know all the rules and players was a challenge, but I was also excited to learn about something new while helping the town I love.

Patty Feist

Age: 64 Occupation: Retired from the position of coordinator of the organic chemistry teaching laboratories at CUBoulder, a position I held for 25 years. Volunteer at the flood store in Lyons. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 33 What brought you here? What has kept you here? The beauty of the area and the affordability of a building lot brought us to our homesite northwest of Lyons. The grand views and accessibility to outdoor activities kept us here. Plus, it is a great place to raise kids: a small, closeknit community with good schools. As a volunteer at the Lyons flood store, what is the most surprising way you’ve seen someone help flood victims in Boulder County? The river levels in the days immediately following the Lyons floods separated both the town and the outlying areas into isolated communities. In each, leaders stepped up to organize, and everyone gave what they could to help and even save — their neighbors. Once just neighbors, the communities became families. It was an incredible experience. It warms my heart to know I live among courageous, helpful and compassionate people, people who openly share resources, people who would knock on my door in the middle of a rainy night to save my life. What are the most interesting places you’ve visited? Our daughter went from kindergarten to 12th grade in the Lyons schools, then completed a college education at CUBoulder. Her interest in international affairs took her to a stint in the Peace Corps in ... country of Togo in West Africa. Now she is teaching young adults English and business skills at a private university in Lome, the capital of Togo. We have visited her twice, both times residing right among the Togolese, learning the local customs and rich culture of the hardy, helpful and peaceful people of Togo. We have also been on an African safari, and we traveled to Turkey in 2013. We stood at ancient Troy, walked in old churches and mosques in Istanbul, marveled at Ephesus, and hiked to ruins on an island in the Aegean Sea. At the time of our visit, many young people in Turkey were protesting against government policies, and so we were right in the midst ... of history in the making.

Emily Flemming•

Age: 35 Occupation: Pastor, Lyons Community Church; founding member of Rebuild Lyons, One Life at a Time campaign; board member of Lyons Community Basic Needs & Emergency Fund; coordinating committee member for the Boulder County LongTerm Flood Recovery Group and member of the Case Management & Needs Assessment Subcommittee; member of the Lyons Human Services Recovery Working Group. Years in St. Vrain Valley: Moved to Lyons July 5, 2013, two months before the flood. What brought you here? What has kept you here? I was invited to serve as the pastor of Lyons Community Church, which is why I moved to the St. Vrain Valley with husband Regis, 9monthold daughter, Lillian, and our 6yearold blue heeler, Leon. Regis was raised in Estes Park and still works in Rocky Mountain National Park. His love for his job is the real reason I ever came to Colorado in the first place. What a blessing that I’ve also found work and a town that I love and now proudly call home. What is the biggest benefit and downfall of b eing a female pastor? Raised Southern Baptist, I grew up unaware that women could be pastors. I joined the United Methodist Church in Munich where a wonderfully strong female pastor taught me that love and skill can transcend political opinions. The biggest benefit of being a pastor is joining diverse people on all types of spiritual journeys. Being a fulltime student, wife and mother and parttime pastor is challenging (and I am grateful than I learned to juggle in high school, literally!) The biggest downfall is making new friends, usually easy for me until they find out I’m a pastor. I think God cares more about how we love and care for one another than about our sexual hardware. You can juggle? Before I was a mom or a wife or a pastor, before I worked in corporate business and before I studied German literature and was a teacher, I dreamed of becoming an actress. I had been doing community theater since third grade. In high school we put on a production of “Barnum.” Our teacher brought in professional clowns and circus performers who taught us to juggle and walk a tight rope. ...I can still toss around oranges well enough to impress the kids. It’s a skill that’s certainly come in handy since the flood.

Megan Forrest Age: 20 Occupation: Care coordinator at Cafe of Life Zone Chiropractic and Massage Studio Years in St. Vrain Valley: 20 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I was born in Boulder, but was raised here. Many of my family members are still currently living in Longmont. I am being held hostage, I mean, kept here by the Boulder County Bombers (my roller derby league), my career and my family. What is your proudest moment? I have hit so many life milestones while living here. It makes it hard to single one out as the “proudest.” One of the most recent ones would have to be my first bout with BCB as a Bombshell. Not only did we win by a substantial amount, I received the MVP Jammer award. That bout was my first experience with competitive derby, and it was epic. Who inspired you most in your life? My parents inspired me the most out of everyone in my life. My dad inspired me to be an athlete and to push hard to achieve my goals in life. My mom inspired me to be happy with my life and to do things for my own reasons. My parents gave me a very wellrounded outlook on my life and my future; because of their love and support, I know I can accomplish anything I set out to do.

Charlie Garcia

Age: 58 Occupation: Currently teach fourth grade at Erie Elementary School; have taught there 37 years. Years lived here: In Old Town Erie for 35 years. What brought you here? What has kept you here? From the moment I walked into Erie Elementary in 1977, the day Elvis died, until today, the school has had a wonderful atmosphere of community. I feel right at home alongside caring and dedicated staff members, supportive parents and delightful children. You were recognized with a special teaching award in 2013. What does that say about your approach to teaching? The Century Link/Denver Nuggets Leadership in Education Award I received last year was a great surprise. I am truly honored that I was recognized for doing what all teachers do every day: being compassionate to their students, trying new ways to help a child learn and participate, and embracing the responsibility of being an educator. My colleagues at Erie Elementary inspire me daily with their dedication to children. Their passion for teaching is contagious. I am proud to be a part of this enthusiasm. What could be done to improve students’ education experience? Educators are tirelessly working to improve the educational experience for all students. I have been blessed to benefit from the dividends of creating constructive partnerships with the families of the students I teach. Somehow, the natural curiosity of children must be fostered and maintained as educational decisions are finalized. A teacher has the awesome responsibility of creating and sustaining a community of learners within their classroom and school. Teachers must ensure that their students feel safe and are accepted as valuable members of their educational community. As educators, legislators and community members, we must always remember to put children first when discussing educational reform. We know so much about how children learn; we cannot lose sight of that which makes a child love the process of learning and discovery.

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 15

omen W In In BusIness BusIness In ness Jan Kahl,

Owner Niwot Jewelry Jan Kahl grew up helping at her father’s jewelry store in Boulder. Now, her son Jason Scarbrough, who occasionally helped out, is currently working at Niwot Jewelry full time. 17 years ago, with her father’s encouragement, Jan opened Niwot Jewelry. Today it’s a family affair: husband Vern provides expert watch, clock and jewelry repairs (a somewhat lost art in today’s “throw-away” society); Jason uses his friendly, welcoming personality to service customers and assists with repairs. You get the best of both worlds at Niwot Jewelry: a full-service sales, design and repair jewelry store that offers variety, combined with intense commitment to personal service. National buying trips and a commitment to carry Colorado brands results in a unique and varied selection that you’ll not find elsewhere! Clock repair, gold buying services and estate valuations also set Jan’s store apart from the rest. They will fix anything – including the metal tip of a customer’s cane! No matter your budget or special occasion, you will be amazed and satisfied with the expertise, variety and impeccable service at Jan’s family-oriented jewelry store.

303-652-1433

300 2nd Ave., Ste 102 Po Box 1084 Niwot, Colorado 80544 Niwot_Jewelry@earthlink.net Mon 10 am - 4 pm Tues - Fri 10 am - 6 pm Sat 10 am - 5 pm

dr. Jamie GilGren Board Certified Audiologist

Dr. Jamie Gilgren has been practicing audiology and fitting hearing aids since 2002. She is board certified by the American Board of Audiology. She has extensive experience fitting and programming today’s latest hearing aid technology, Bluetooth technology, and assistive listening devices. She also has extensive knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders. Dr. Gilgren takes pride in doing the best job for her patients and enjoys helping people of all ages to hear and communicate better. Dr. Gilgren spends her free time four-wheeling and camping with her family. 2318 17th Ave, Unit H Longmont 303.532.4956 www.hearingrehabcenter.com

linda Heil

Owner - In Home Pet Sitting LindaHeil, Heil,isisaaLongmont Longmontnative native owner of Paw Linda andand owner of Paw Au Au Pair. Linda truly truly loves loveswhat whatshe shedoes doesand andis isloved loved Pair. byby all all herfurry furryfour fourlegged leggedclients. clients.We Weprovide provide top-quality her top-quality carecare for your yourpets petsininthe thesecure securefamiliar familiar environment of their for environment of their ownhome. home.We Weunderstand understandhow how important to find own important it isit tois find high high quality as professionalism. Linda quality serviceservice as wellasaswell professionalism. Linda and her prides herself in providing such asuch service. Whether you staff pride themselves in providing a service. Whether needneed ourour services you services for dog dogwalking, walking,pet pet for sitting,trip triptotothe the sitting, groomersororvet’s vet’s groomers office,we wecan can office, meetyour yourneeds. needs. meet For your yourpeace peace For mind,Paw PawAu Au ofof mind, Pair isisbonded bondedand Pair and insured, insured, veterinarian veterinarian and recommended arecommended member of PSI. and atruly member Linda loves of PSI. what sheLinda does trulyisloves and lovedwhat by sheher does all furryand fouris loved by all her legged clients. furry four legged clients.

Paw Au Pair

In Home Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Service

303-485-8498 • www.pawaupair.com pawaupair@msn.com

Two local women vie for The TiTle of ursula marry & debbie morton Co-Owners “mrs. colorado.” Business women, Rose Chamberlain & Shelly Steele-Morehead, friends with a mission, are competing side by side in this year’s “Mrs. Colorado Pageant.” Rose, now known as “Mrs. Longmont” is no stranger to the business world; she and her husband together, own “Chamberlainn Coins & Collectibles.” She is the owner of “Marketing and Networkingg Solutions with Rose Chamberlain” and also founded the women’s Rose Chamberlain & Shelly Steele-Morehead professional networking group, “Coffee and Connections.” Shelly, representing “North Central Colorado,” is the event & promotions manager for Martini’s Bistro. As a side business, Shelly is able to showcase her talent & creativity through “entICING creative cake design.” The pageant will be held April 12, 2014 at the beautiful Ellie Caulkins Opera House in downtown Denver. The mission of the Mrs. Colorado Pageant is to inspire women to seek personal excellence through preparation and competition. A special thank you from Rose & Shelly to the members of “Coffee & Connections” for all of their support.

16 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Two great agents…..One exceptional team! First Choice Insurance Agency is a locally owned, independent,Trusted Choice® agency offering auto, home, business and life insurance. We represent top rated carriers such as Auto-Owners, Hartford, MetLife, Safeco, State Auto,Travelers and many more! Co-owners Ursula Marry and Debbie Morton have over 45 years combined experience in the industry. We invite you to put our ‘award’ winning customer service commitment to work for you! Ursula Marry CIC, CISR, CPIW

Debbie Morton CISR, CPIW

303-772-8101 5855 Firestone Blvd. Firestone, CO 80504

omen W In In BusIness BusIness In ness Olivia Neill

Co-Owner, Happy Hounds Dog Care Center Dog Tested, Owner Approved

As Co-Owner of Happy Hounds in Longmont, Olivia fills many roles. Aside from the daily challenges of running a safe and clean daycare, boarding and grooming facility, she offers private dog training. Olivia enjoys the one-on-one interaction of working closely with her clients and their dogs, while striving to fulfill their training goals. Her passion for animals spans a lifetime, from pet sitting for neighbors as a teenager, college summers working at a vet hospital, volunteering with rescue groups, helping rehabilitate shelter dogs, and over 9 years working as a dog trainer. Drawing on these experiences helps Olivia daily as a small business owner and drives her able organizations. support of local charitable es supervised & Happy Hounds provides super fun daycare for dogs of all ages and sizes, luxury boarding, a self-serve dog oming services wash and basic grooming ser first and is proud to havee won w ars in place the past two years the Reader’s Choicee Best Pet Daycare/ Boarding category. Come on by and check us out!

Co-Owner with husband Robertino

Raluca loan, who co-owns Romana Cake House Bakery and Coffee House with her husband, Robertino, has always had a lifetime passion for baking. Recognizing her highly creative and artistic baking and decorating skills, husband Robertino encouraged and supported the opening of this bakery that brings a profound commitment to quality, flavor, presentation and customer service. All their pastries and cakes are made from scratch using only the highest quality, fresh natural ingredients, no artificial sweeteners and preservatives. They create a wide variety of products from warm, out of the oven morning pastries to individual desserts, all celebrations cakes, but what really sets them apart are their amazingly delicious and elegant wedding cakes that could make a bride and groom’s wedding day a dream come true! It’s certainly not easy trying to raise two young sons, age 4 and 7 ½ and supporting a busy, ever-changing business, but the second you step into the relaxed atmosphere of their European bakery and are welcomed by their smiling faces, you know that their dream of creating a friendly, family oriented business came true. Have a taste of one of their desserts, cakes and pastries, and you’ll never want to go elsewhere!

303 774-8158 1822 Sunset Pl. #2 Longmont, CO www.happyhoundscolorado.com

Clarissa EdElEn, Owner

Fabulous Finds, Upscale Consignment The passion Clarissa has is evident the moment you walk into Fabulous Finds. Clarissa’s mother was a fashionista who took her shopping in the best Philadelphia stores and favorite consignment haunts. “That’s where I learned the thrill of a fabulous find as well as how to recognize quality brands and top designers.” The store offers both clothing & accessories as well as furniture and home décor. Clarissa’s excitement about sharing her “finds” is seen in the way the store is appointed—it definitely is “upscale”! And her enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff will help you consign or put together the perfect ensemble. Active in the community, she stages fashion shows and silent ses and seeks auctions for worthy causes help for people in need. “A “ little help nce in the can make a real difference lives of many and we trry to do our part.” us Finds won Opened in 2011, Fabulous w Rookie Business of the Year Y and has expanded thrree ail times. “Guilt-Free Retail Therapy” is alive and well er thanks to Clarissa and her “fabulous” staff.

600 South Airport Rd., Longmont 720-340-4152 info@fabfindsconsign.com www.fabfindsconsign.com

Marj Sater and Vicky Andrew

Co-owners, Front Range Mercantile

Marj and Vicky met when their sons played baseball together in Hygiene. For over 25 years, they have been a family-owned and operated business. What started as a hobby, became Front Range Indoor Flea Market. They operate on traditional values: customer service, satisfaction and hard work and they attribute their success to their great customers. Many feel they are a part of the Front Range Flea Market family. The store and the 90+ vendors repurpose, re-use and recycle. You’ll find an incredible high quality selection of antiques, vintage, retro, mid-century, gift items as well as new products and a great line of chocolates and candy. As co-owners, Marj and Vicky thank you for voting them winners in the Reader’s Choice Best of the Best contest for 7 years!! Quality, variety, excellent service and value for your dollar are just a few of the reasons for this accolade and why Marj and Vicky will celebrate 25 years in business this year.

F lea Market

1201 S. Sunset, Longmont 303-776-6605

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 17

Deb Gardner

groups of people. Since the flood in September, this opportunity presents itself almost daily. Age: 64 Early in my tenure we made the decision to increase the income level allowed to qualify for Occupation: Boulder County commissioner the Child Care Assistance Program. Now more Years in St. Vrain Valley: Almost 13 years in families and children can participate in this Longmont; since 1992 in Boulder County beneficial program and the opportunity to help What brought you here? What has kept make this happen is very rewarding. you here? I moved here in 2001 because the What has been frustrating as a old town neighborhood where I live commissioner? As a commissioner I feels like the neighborhood I grew up am more acutely aware of the need for in in Illinois. I like the big trees, old help among our most vulnerable houses and the diversity of people. I citizens. Even before the flood caused have stayed because Longmont has a large group of our friends and such a strong sense of community, neighbors to need assistance, it had and each year I feel more a part of become clear that the economic that community. recovery was leaving large numbers of What has been most satisfying individuals and families behind. My about serving on the Board of frustration comes from the speed with County Commissioners? Serving on which recovery is happening both for the board has given me the the flood survivors and the time it takes to opportunity to help people when they need it correct the systemic problems that drive an most. Sometimes this takes the form of simply increasing number of people to live in poverty answering a question for an individual, and at every day. But I am unfailingly optimistic and other times there are policy decisions we make feel the power of us coming together as a as a board that positively affect the lives of large community, so I don’t stay frustrated very long.

Chris Gischel

Age: 47 Occupation: Self employed, Simply Shabulous in Berthoud Years in the area: Grew up in Loveland but have been in Berthoud for 21 years. What brought you here? What has kept you here? From Rochester, New York, but moved here when my dad was transferred with Kodak in 1971. Where did you get the idea for your store? I have always had a love and a passion for the past. I started collecting antiques when I was just 19 years old. I believe that surrounding yourself with the things you love brings a certain enjoyment and serenity to your

life. My deep appreciation for bygone eras is what lead me to open my shop, “Simply Shabulous.” I specialize in items from the 1920s to the 1940s. There was a certain romance and excitement from those times that deserves to be preserved, remembered, and appreciated. Much of what I do is considered “rescuing,” as I see beauty, even in a piece that has been discarded. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do. Every vintage piece deserves to be appreciated and enjoyed. What is the proudest moment of your life? I am proud of many things in my life, but as with most of us, I find my I am most proud of my children and grandchildren. There is no greater accomplishment.

Mary Ann Grim Age: 40 Occupation: History faculty, Front Range Community College Years working in St. Vrain Valley: 6 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I moved to Colorado in 1998. I always knew I wanted to leave my home state of Virginia. I was looking for a more progressive lifestyle and fell in love with the mountains. … What keeps me here? I have a fantastic partner, a wonderful job, and a dog that loves the trails in Boulder. I hope I never have to leave!

18 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

David G. Hawkins

Age: 55 Occupation: Ex house husband, and now an electric vehicle converter Years in St. Vrain Valley: 36 What brought you here? What has kept you here? The wife and I came to the St. Vrain Valley, or the Town of Lyons, from Boulder Valley, or the City of Boulder, for cheap rent. We stayed here to raise our kids, a son 28, and a daughter, 25. How did you get the nicknames “battery boy” and “electric Dave”? I got the nickname Battery Boy, or BB, from an old local of Lyons named George Murphy, who was a fellow musician and taught Tai Chi. We would hang out at an old coffee shop that was in a small building off of Broadway Street and Fourth Avenue. I walked in one morning and he said, “Hey BB!” I said what? He said, “BB, BB Hawkins!” and it stuck! I think the nickname Electric Dave was coined by the local musician KC Groves, but don’t quote me on anything! What sparked your interest in electric vehicles? I got into electric vehicles back in 1900 and 99, when I had been a house husband for about 10 years. Although I was raised a gearhead and drove way too much in my deformative years, after I had kids I started to realize that we had an environment that infernal combustion engine vehicles were affecting, so before I became a house husband I was riding the bus back and forth to Boulder, and this was back in the ’80s when the bus route was in its infancy! Anyway, my first EV conversion is my daily driver, an S10 pickup, which I started in ’99. My kids grew up driving an RX7 conversion that I bought used and rebuilt. The truck was really handy when the kids were BMX racing out by Union Reservoir, especially when I was running the track and driving out there multiple times per week.

What inspired you to become a teacher, and why do you continue to teach? My love for history initially inspired me to become a teacher. … I love presenting information, various points of views and dynamic historical conflicts that have changed the world. The great thing about teaching history is that it is different in each moment depending on my students, their perspective and life experiences. Lastly, I would have to thank professor Martha Hanna at the University of Colorado, Boulder. … She inspired me with love of history and connection with her students. I continue to teach to examine the past — learn from it and to encourage and inspire others to do the same.

Of all your travels, what place have been your favorite and least favorite? I have been lucky enough to travel to Europe twice in the last three years. My travels are a way for me to experience the history I study first hand. ... Having a nonAmerican experience and seeing thousands of years of history was a big deal for me; I came from an impoverished, rural, conservative background. In the summer of 2012, I traveled to Germany. My experience was that Germany took great ownership of her heinous past. This fall, I traveled to Poland and visited Auschwitz. There are no words to describe the horror. Seeing it for myself was moving beyond words. Being steeped in the antisemitism, the hatred, was incredibly hard to handle. I believe for me this was a necessary trip but not one I would choose to go on again.

Cynthia “Cindy” Hess

Age: 55 Occupation: Community manager, River Valley Village trailer park in Del Camino Years in St. Vrain Valley: Been back 1½ years. Formerly managed St. Vrain Village in Longmont, 20002008 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I bought a new mobile home in 1999. Back then, there were no lots available. Developers were contacting the owners of the older homes and offering to buy them out — we’re talking homes from the ’60s and

‘70s. So we moved into that home and the manager at the time was thinking about retiring, and she decided from the getgo that I was going to be her replacement. ... It’s a smalltown feeling, but you have all the luxuries of a big city. What I really loved was the Greenway, but the flood took that out. But Longmont is so close to the mountains. It’s just beautiful. River Valley Village was one of the areas hit by the September flood. Tell me about that: I was a little more prepared than some. When I worked for a previous employer, I went

to St. Petersburg, Florida. But guess what you get in Florida — hurricanes. I went through two of them. ... So when this happened, my residents were worried and I was like “OK, this is what’s happening. This is what we need to do.” ... It wasn’t really the river that got us, it was Gooding Ditch. The water was coming through the east side, coming through our fence, and there’s no river there. Fortunately, only

Ellen Hine

Age: 68 Occupation: Coowner of the Lyons ReRuns thrift shop Years in St. Vrain Valley: 40 What brought you here and what kept you here? My husband and I were kind of traveling vagabonds. One day I said, “That looks fun! Let’s move here!” We have five kids, and we really love Lyons. Lyons is a great community filled with artists and musicians. Anything you want will manifest in Lyons. What’s the most unusual request you’ve had to fill at the shop? During the flood, this guy came in and he had lost everything. He had really big feet, size 14, and he needed boots. “I know you won’t have this,” he said. “You baby sit my store and I’ll be right back,” I said. My husband is size 14. I went home and grabbed a pair of his boots. You were one of the first businesses to reopen after the flood. Tell us your flood story. We had to be. We opened during the flood with flashlights. We had to give people clothes and shoes and blankets and towels. We were open again about three weeks, four weeks after the flood full time. But during the flood, we were open because people needed us.

Virginia J. Huppe

Age: 75 Occupation: Have a bachelor of music degree (taught piano 50 years), taught junior/high school band, vocal music. Worked for Iowa State University. Have a master’s degree in guidance and counseling with a counseling office in my home. Have written a couple books and write a weekly poem for the Berthoud Surveyor. Years lived in the area: Born and raised in Berthoud, Colorado. Left for college a nd stayed 50 years, then returned to Berthoud in 2006. What brought you here? What has kept you here? I love the mountains having grown up here and the small community and all the friends I have here and I have always volunteered, all my life and my mother (also a Berthoud museum volunteer) and father farmed west of Berthoud and instilled in me, “to serve my community, pay back what they have given to you, and then you can give it away to others.” I believe when “all of us” are gone the only thing left to carry history on is our museums and we have three museums in Berthoud that get a lot of attention. While volunteering at the historical society, is there something you learned about Berthoud that you didn’t know growing up there? I knew my mother served as a docent/volunteer at the present museum downtown, but I didn’t realize she was in on the ground floor and was one of the first nine docent/volunteers when the Little Thompson Pioneer Museum was opened for the first time on July 19, 1980. Now I am following her, years later, and what is so great is this: I have the same goals as she did back in 1980s for the museums, and that is to keep history alive so our people today see it, and the people in years to come will see and respect the objects/history of long ago that others collected and maintained. This way you can keep the people of yesterday alive today in the minds of today’s citizens. What is a memory that sticks out for you growing up in Berthoud? To think that my Huppe family came to the Berthoud area around 1870 from Germany, settled here by farming and raising cattle and lived along the Little Thompson River and were homesteaders here and came before me; when the town of Berthoud hadn’t been established until 1877. I feel so honored to be a part of that family and heritage.

half of (the park) got flooded. “Only” half, but that was still hard enough. ... Out of my vehicle, I set up a command post at a nearby 7Eleven just to be there for my residents. How are things going now? We’re basically almost back to normal. We’re still replacing electric pedestals for the homes that did go underwater, but that’s just a timeconsuming thing. The only thing we have to clean up, we have a field where the irrigation ditches run; some of our residents trying to get the water out dug trenches. We’ll be putting in a basketball court and a picnic pavilion there.

James “Bo” Insogna

Age: 55 (and not thrilled about it) Occupation: Professional photographer Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7; lived in Boulder for eight years What brought you here? What has kept you here? Moved to Boulder in 1979 at the age of 20 and did not know one single person. Best experience ever. Picked it off the map when “Mork and Mindy” was big and ended up living two doors down from the house on Pine Street. Left in 1987 to be with family in Scottsdale, Ariz. Moved back in 2007, bought a house with home studio in northwest Longmont. ... Longmont is just the right size town, everything is 10 minutes away. When did you start taking pictures? What do you remember about the first pictures you took? When growing up, I always took a lot of photos starting with the old 110 camera. ... Then, after giving up the dream of being a rock star like a lot of young men, photography was my creative outlet. Studied with The New York Institute of Photography, after that opened a studio in Boulder in 1984 on Pearl Street. The first photo ... that really changed my life forever was my first lightning image in 1987. … When I hear thunder roll, I am out the door. Always striving for that awardwinning image. This will be my 27th year chasing lightning, aka “The Lightning Man.” What’s the key to getting fantastic photographs of lightning and other nature scenes? People always say to me, “You must have to be really fast to get a shot of lightning.” Well, it’s the opposite. You must be very slow to do long exposures and have a good tripod. The key is to watch where it is hitting. At night, open up your shutter from three seconds to 30 seconds on delay or using a bulb, depending on the lighting and exposure. During the day is really tough; you have to use a trigger or be really fast. I do not use a trigger and I have gotten some day shots. … As far as nature scenes and storms, you need patience, composition and lighting.

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 19

Leslie and Steve Kaczeus both left hightech careers to open their brewery in June 2012. In two years, the Niwot residents have created a community hub that didn’t exist in Niwot before. Aside from its popular beers, Bootstrap features live music on Saturdays and Monday nights and other fun events during the week.

20 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

From high-tech to hops T

Niwot couple found happiness and built a gathering spot at the same time

he word “pub” is short for public house, an ages-old English term meaning a community gathering place. That’s what Niwot’s Leslie and Steve Kaczeus have successfully created in less than two years since founding Bootstrap Brewing Co., 6778 N. 79th St., in Niwot. Bootstrap — a name coined by Leslie after the couple was forced to pare their original business plan back to keep expenses in check — is the fulfillment of the couple’s long-standing dream to go into business together. “We spent a lot of time in breweries and beer gardens thinking, ‘What are we passionate about? What do we enjoy doing together,’” said Leslie Kaczeus, whose Bootstrap business card reads “chief of stuff.” It turns out that during those discussions the couple were, literally, holding the answer to their dreams right in their hands. High-tech industry veterans, the couple met while both worked at Longmont’s MiniScribe in 1986. In June of 2012 they opened Bootstrap in the town they love. “We live here in Niwot,” Steve Kaczeus said. “Our kids went to school here. And we always thought it would be a great spot to have a local brewery.” The seedlings for Bootstrap go all the way back to

Christmastime 2005, when Seagate announced it was buying out its biggest competitor, Maxtor. A mechanical engineer and program manager, Steve was a Maxtor employee in Longmont when the news hit. “None of us knew if we had jobs or not,” he said. “So that was kind of the catalyst. (Leslie and I) had always talked about starting our own business.” Steve survived the first wave of layoffs the following year, when Seagate cut twothirds of the former Maxtor workers. But discussions between him and Leslie of taking his hobby — he had been homebrewing for 20plus years — and turning it into a business continued. He talked to every local brewer he could find and asked them about the business of running a craft brewery. They were welcoming and realistic with him, Steve said. And the more he heard and thought about leaving behind some of the constrictions of corporate life, the more excited he became. A turning point was signing up for courses with the American Brewers Guild, a nationally renowned brewing school where he could learn the science behind his hobby. “Me being an engineer, I needed to understand what’s going on at the molecular level. ... It was extremely important for me to have

Steve and Leslie Kaczeus

Ages: 54 and 46 Occupation: Owners, Bootstrap Brewing Co. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 19 and 22

that as a background, because I didn’t have any professional brewing experience,” Steve said. Leslie flew out to California in 2011 to join Steve at his graduation ceremony, and afterward, the couple was scheduled for a week’s getaway to Napa Valley, where they would decide once and for all if they were going to leave their jobs — he at Seagate and she running a nonprofit — and pursue their dream. “I pulled into the parking lot and I went in and saw his face and I said, ‘OK, there’s no discussion,’” Leslie said. So the trip to Northern California turned into a celebration of their decision, Steve said. Then came the hard work. They bought a turn-key, 3½ -barrel brewing system and stuck it in storage. Leslie started looking around for a location, first in Niwot and then other cities in Boulder County. She wasn’t having a lot of luck, she said, until she saw a blurb in the Niwot paper that CrossFit was closing its Niwot location. She went in to take a look.

“It had so much character,” Leslie said of the space. “A lot of the ones we had been looking at were more industrial.” Steve said he loved the space’s high ceilings, and added that it didn’t hurt that the building’s owner is, as he put it, a “beer geek.” Friends and neighbors stepped in and helped his wife turn the space into what you see today, Steve said. “Leslie was really the primary driver of the construction while I was completing my time at Seagate,” he said. In less than two years Bootstrap has distinguished itself among Boulder County’s busy craft brewing scene. The couple feature live music on Mondays and Saturdays, trivia on Tuesdays, game night on Wednesdays, and they’re adding other specialty eventfeatures such as a dessert and beer pairing and maybe some beer dinners in the future, Leslie said. Supporting the nonprofit and the arts scene in Niwot has been important to the couple since the beginning, she said. The foundation of the business, though, is the beer, for which Bootstrap has won multiple awards. The brewery keeps seven standard flavors on tap, including green chile beer, and its 22ounce bombers are in 27 area liquor stores. The company recently

bought a 15-barrel fermenter that will support enough production to begin canning, something Sanitas Brewing Co. in Boulder is helping them with. This spring they’ll come out with at least two of their beers in cans, Steve said. “My fear was what if I brew and nobody comes, and Leslie’s was what if you can’t brew enough?” Steve said. And, in the interest of further putting Niwot on the map and helping promote their industry, the couple are helping the Longmont-based Colorado Beer Trail plan the New Brew Fest: Boulder County, a daylong music and craft beer event scheduled for May 10. New Brew Fest is open only to breweries five years or younger, and already more more than 25 have signed up. All of which is keeping the couple extremely busy, and they are quick to say thanks to their staffers, Bob and (another) Leslie, who keep the Kaczeuses from having to put in 80- to 100-hour workweeks. And, they say, they’re thankful to the community of Niwot and Boulder County at large for embracing them as they have. “We have so many people, especially the locals, that come in here and thank us for opening this place,” Steve said.

Story by Tony Kindelspire• Photo by Lewis Geyer • Longmont Times-Call COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 21

Jay Jakosky Age: 36 Occupation: Computer consultant. Also founder of the Longmont Lighthearts, a club dedicated to laughter. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 3½ What brought you here? What has kept you here? I was in California until about seven years ago, when I moved out to Colorado. I lived in Boulder, Denver, then settled in Longmont. A lot of the people we knew were here, and the housing prices were better than Boulder. I bought my first house here. How did the Lighthearts get started? I wanted something fun to do, and I wanted it to be really

easygoing. I thought, “Why isn’t there a place where I can just go for a few hours, have a good time and not feel pressured to participate — just go, and be, and enjoy to the best of my ability?” There was no Meetup and no Facebook group I could find and I thought, “If I’m interested, maybe somebody else would be.” You’ve also acted in a number of comedies in Longmont and the surrounding area. What keeps you pulling to the funny side of things? That’s what I need. I need some lightheartedness. I don’t want to only do things that are serious and dark. ... It brings me relief. Release. Joy. Joy, and creating opportunities for joy, resonates with me.”

Roberta Johnston

late 20s. ... That was five years ago, and at least once a year, sometimes twice, we go to Cozumel, Mexico, to meet with three other couples from other states to enjoy our diving vacation together. It is a totally different environment underwater, with the beautiful, colorful corals and sponges. The currents are strong and we always see moray eels, nurse sharks, green turtles, eagle rays, octopus, squid, stingrays and all kinds of fish. I’ve been down 112 feet, have been wreck diving, night diving and even diving in a “cenote” — an underground limestone cave. You also volunteer a lot for the Longmont Humane Society. What other ways do you like to spend your time?I fish, I hike, I bicycle. Well, now my bicycle trail is washed out.

Jeffrey Justice•

If you could teach every person you met one valuable life lesson, what would it be? Not to be too afraid of taking risks. There was much uncertainty when I moved to Longmont. I was leaving a lot behind. I had no job and I didn’t know the area very well. But now that was one of the best decisions I have made. I have no regrets.

Age: 69 Occupation: Accounting/ administrative secretary for the Colorado State University Extension office in Boulder County since 1998. Years in St. Vrain Valley: I’ve lived in Boulder County for the past 35 years after graduating from the University of North Carolina with a major in textiles merchandising. I started my own decorating business in the Lafayette/Louisville area, (and) I worked at Longmont United Hospital in diagnostic imaging for nine years. What has kept you here? My husband, Bob, and I have three grown children who were all born here. You’re a scuba diver. How did you get started in scuba diving? We were at a “vacation discovery” event at the Longmont Senior Center, where Ocean First Divers from Boulder had a booth. I stopped in to say I had always wanted to scuba dive ever since being stationed in the Marshall Islands in my

Age: 61 Occupation: manager, BikeNHike Years in St. Vrain Valley: 5 What brought you here? What has kept you? I am from San Diego, Calif. When the economy crashed in 2008, California was hit very hard in the job market and real estate. I had always liked Boulder County, having visited the area a few times. The economic situation here was much better and the time was right to move and start a new life. I choose Longmont because of the close proximity to the mountains and hiking trails, the miles of bike trails and the smaller town atmosphere.

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(303) 776-EYES (3937) • www.longmonteyecare.com Se Habla Español 22 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

In 100 years, how do you want to be remembered? I was very active in the 2013 legislative efforts for Colorado’s Dog Protection Act. The new law that mandates dog encounter training for all police officers. We are now trying to have this legislation passed in other states. My efforts to reduce the amount of officer involved dog shootings is my life’s work, my greatest accomplishments.

A Special Tribute to

Volunteers The Inn Between of Longmont, Inc. For 2013 we had 189 volunteers that contributed 4,032 hours. We couldn’t have done it without you!

We provide:

A self-sufficiency program that promotes stability for diverse homeless families and individuals by providing time-limited housing, comprehensive case management and life skills trainings

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Inn Between, call 303-684-0810.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 23

Skyline High School senior Josie Lamp helps develop computer applications for local businesses. In college, she plans to study artificial intelligence.

24 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Science, art light her up Student who bucks computer science stereotypes can go ‘wherever she wants’

She does it all, and doing it all takes a lot of time. “There’s a lot of late nights,” said the Firestone resident. “There’s a lot of no sleep.” And what she does she She’s a dancer (not just a tries to do well. dancer — the 17-year-old “At the end of the day, at senior is captain of the Skythree in the morning, it’s line High School dance team). She’s a computer soft- going to get done,” she said. “If it has my name on it, it’s ware developer (she designed a content manage- going to be above and beyond.” ment mobile app for use by She’s the kind of student the city of Longmont fiber optic system). She’s active in who rues the fact that she’s Skyline’s Science, Technolo- not first in her class. “I’m third,” Lamp said, gy, Engineering and Mathemaking a “grrrr” face. matics (STEM) Academy. She’s done projects with Her drive and achieveWorkforce Boulder County. ment attracts the attention of She’s a public speaker. She adults. Her computer sciorganizes school activities ence teacher, Richard Guenand events. ther, noted how Lamp exhibith a student like Josie Lamp, the question is not “What is she involved in?” It’s more like “What is she not involved in ?”

Josie Lamp

Age: 17 How many years in the area: 12 in Firestone Occupation: High school student

its a talent for managing people that is unusual, especially among tech students. “Her leadership skills are really beyond what you see in computer science,” he said. Lamp has bucked computer science stereotypes by integrating her artistic interests with tech pursuits, Guenther said. Asked where he sees Lamp 10 years from now, Guenther said, “Wherever she wants. … She is so employable.”

Lamp once gave a Pacesetters presentation for the National Center for Women & Information Technology. A representative from Apple approached afterward and told her, “If you ever end up in California, I have a job for you,” she said. She’s going to college, first, though. “I love learning, so I’’m not ready to give that up,” she said. She’s not yet sure where she’ll go to college, but she interested in studying Bioinformatics, which, broadly defined, refers to the use of computer technology to manage biological data. Lamp is interested in the discipline for its application to the study of DNA.

When a reporter visited Lamp at school last month, she was preparing to perform a dance in the school’s Fine Arts Festival. She comes from a ballet background, but when she choreographs a dance it’s typically in the form of jazz or lyrical dance. She’s also into hip-hop dance. “I have so many passions, so many things that get me excited,” she said. As Guenther pointed out, her passions often blend. Lamp was creating a tutu for her dance costume. This tutu was to come with LED lights, and they were to be programmed to change to the music. “I’m really into combining science and art,” she said.

Story by Quentin Young • Photo by Matthew Jonas • Longmont Times-Call

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 25

Miguel Medina poses for a portrait with his Colorado Rockies Baseball memorabilia at his Longmont home.

26 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Rockies’ pinch interpreter Immigrant and baseball lover was called upon to help Spanish-speaking players

t may look only like a cheap, plastic binder, but to Longmont resident Miguel Medina, the book of baseball cards is priceless. Clear card protectors enclose hundreds of professional and minor league baseball cards, mostly autographed. Many of these players are Medina’s idols, professionals who play the game he worships. Others are more than just faded faces on cardstock. They are his friends. Medina, 76, spent six years as a volunteer for the Colorado Rockies, interpreting for the Spanish-speaking players. From 1993 until 1999, Medina went to spring training, home games, press conferences and ran personal errands with the players who needed assistance. “I was like a kid in a candy store,” Medina said. “I love baseball, and there I was at all the games and talking to players in the dugout and

everything.” Medina interpreted for former Rockies pitcher Armando Reynoso, third baseman and shortstop Vinny Castilla (currently a special assistant coach) and first baseman Andrés Galarraga. He worked with Spanishspeaking players from visiting teams and even chaperoned Ms. Universe Alicia Machado, who is from Venezuela, around Denver while she was in town for a MakeA-Wish event at the stadium. Medina’s wife, Elana, allowed him to escort Machado on one condition — that she come along as well. The couple still laughs about how Medina snuck hot dogs to Machado while her trainer, who kept feeding her carrot sticks and celery, wasn’t looking. Medina spent a lot of time with the players at Mile High Stadium and then Coors Field.

Miguel Medina

Age: 76 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 40 Occupation: Retired music shop owner and former volunteer interpreter for the Colorado Rockies

“I got to go anywhere I wanted in the Rockies’ stadium,” Medina said. But he spent just as much time with the players off the field. Medina moved to the United States from Puerto Rico with his father when he was 16. He did not speak English and had to learn how to communicate and navigate his new home, so he understood the challenges that the Rockies players were facing. “When I came to the states I didn’t know English or anything,” Medina said. “I saw a need, and I helped them.” Medina and his wife hosted dinners at their home for the players and served traditional rice and bean recipes

from Puerto Rico. The couple gave advice to the players and answered questions. Medina accompanied many of them to the hospital or the doctors office so they would not be alone. “I wanted to give them a place like home,” Medina said. Before he was assisting Rockies players, Medina was helping Longmont’s Spanishspeaking community. Medina opened a music shop, Casa Medina, on Main Street in 1977 with 75 long play records, or LPs. He said he loved music and he loved people and there was a space to rent, so he couldn’t think of a reason not open the shop. Local Spanish speakers began flocking to the shop for music and advice. “They were just like me,” Medina said. “They didn’t know what they were doing, and we could help them, so they came there.”

Taking care of people comes naturally to Medina, he said. Medina has served on the city of Longmont’s Multicultural Action Committee and the Senior Center’s board of directors, and helped found the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County. Medina retired from his store and hasn’t worked with the Rockies for more than 10 years — though he still manages to attend several games a season — but he still spends his time caring for others. Now, it’s his wife. Medina plays househusband most days, cooking and cleaning at their Longmont home since his wife had a stroke. Making dinner and dusting is equally satisfying to escorting Ms. Universe around town in a limousine, Medina said. “Every day that I can wake up is my greatest day,” Medina said. “I’m just happy to be here helping.”

Story by Whitney Bryen • Photo by Matthew Jonas • Longmont Times-Call

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 27

Konni Keuter•

rewarding at the same time. The hardest thing is getting a relationship built. Helping a hurting Age: 50 child feel loved and safe establishes a trust that is Occupation: Teacher at Crossroads School so important. You have to put up with a lot of Years in St. Vrain Valley: 37 anger and misplaced resentment. It hurts What brought you here? What has kept you sometimes and you just have to keep loving here? My parents moved my family to Longmont them. The rewards, though, far outweigh the when I was 13. The crime rate in our bad. Watching a foster child blossom, seeing neighborhood in Denver was rising, them adjust and come into their own is and they felt that Longmont would so inspiring. It simply melts your heart. offer a safe place to raise their large What is the first memory you have family. I can remember being so angry of your childhood? Growing up with with them. I was 13, moving away from seven siblings, my childhood was filled my friends to a small, boring oldpeople with fun and craziness. My dad raced town. I was so wrong. Longmont was dragsters when my two older sisters welcoming, friendly and so much fun to and I were very young. I think my first grow up in. I have had many vivid memory would be getting opportunities to move away but have dressed in team shirts and going to the stayed to raise my family here. track to watch him race. His partner Longmont is a wonderful community had a family similar to ours, with kids and has become my home. the same age. We had a great time climbing in As a parent and foster mom, what is the and around the dragster and listening to the most rewarding and most difficult part of raising teenagers? Raising any teenager is hard. loud cars. He gave it up later as the family grew, because the money was needed at home, but I have raised seven of my own and fostered we had a great time while it lasted. several. Fostering is amazingly hard and

Bobby King

Age: 59 Occupation: Chief human resource officer, city of Longmont Years in St. Vrain Valley: Worked in Longmont 15 years, lived here for 5 What brought you here? What kept you here? Seagate, as human resources director for the operation. We had 600 employees, and when I left, we had 1,600 employees. ... What kept me here is my wife. We’ve been married 23 years and she said, “No, you are not moving me out of this community!” It’s a great place to raise a family. How much have things changed? You became Longmont’s first African American HR director in a city where the Klan used to march. It has little to do with me, and more with where God wants to send me. My mother always said, “Don’t be afraid to be

the pioneer. If that’s what He wants you to do, do the best you can.” I’ve never ben worried about being “the first one” or “the only one.” Challenges present opportunities. And opportunities present you the chance to grow. ... We are being more tolerant about our emerging minority populations. You look at our Chinese New Year, the Dr. King program, the work done by El Comite. We’re embracing emerging cultures much more than we did in the past, at a lot of levels. You have a reputation as one of the bestdressed city employees, if not the best dressed. How did that start? (Laughs) There was a story we read in 10th grade, I think it was called “Clothes Don’t Make The Man,” and I said “Mrs. Crosetto, it helps really well!” It’s just important that you’re sending the right image. You may inspire someone and they’ll stop to get your story and learn what’s behind the clothes you wear.

Deb Kitt

friend offered me some herbs to help with my sinus infections, and they actually helped. I Age: 56 began to feel better and did more research in Occupation: Traditional naturopath, digestive natural remedies. I … wanted to learn more, so I specialist decided to start my studies to become a Years in St. Vrain Valley: 18 naturopath. Naturopaths are like the What brought you here? What general practitioners of natural health. has kept you here? It was a return to What advice do you have for Colorado. My husband, Tim, and I met people interested in naturopath during our graduate studies at treatment? Your health is a very Colorado State University. We married personal thing. It includes every part of and started our life together there. you, including your physical We moved several times ... as Tim’s biochemistry, emotional ups and military assignments changed. … We downs, spiritual connections and your purchased a Minuteman Press belief system. … When one part of you franchise here in Longmont in 1995 is out of balance, everything is and have lived here since. affected. Treating symptoms alone What led you to a career in with natural remedies is safer than natural health? I worked in agriculture research using drugs with nasty sideeffects, but what is for over 10 years and was exposed to a number more important is getting to the root cause of of chemicals. ... Eventually, I became chemical the issue. … It is important to find a practitioner sensitive and was diagnosed with exercise you feel comfortable with and who will work induced asthma. I struggled with several with you. … Interview anyone you are debilitating sinus infections … Eventually I considering seeing for your health and make experienced anxiety, panic attacks and sure that you like their approach … Tune into sleeplessness. I visited doctors and had a ton of your intuition and “Go with your gut.” After all, it tests … Their answer was to offer me anti is considered your second brain. anxiety drugs to help me sleep. … Eventually a

28 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Gay Kuhlmann Age: 72 Occupation: Retired Years in St. Vrain Valley: 3 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I am a native of Boulder and was somewhat discouraged with my hometown. In the meantime I had been working in Longmont for the past couple of years for a housing development and felt very much at home here. Longmont feels the way Boulder used to. The two cities are almost the same size, but I found a friendliness and warmth here that made me want to become a resident. Why did you get involved in the Longmont Newcomers Club and why do you think it’s important for new members of the community? Having been a lifelong resident of Boulder County, I have a lot of friends and acquaintances, but I felt the need to meet new people. The Longmont Newcomers Club has members from all over (including some foreign countries) with many experiences to share. I have made new friends and have learned from them all. In addition to meeting new people the club is a great way to learn about our community. You had mentioned you are on another committee. Tell us a little about what that is and what you feel are the benefits of giving back to your community. I feel honored to have applied for and been accepted as a Longmont Housing and Human Services Advisory Board member. Having raised my family and retired from the workplace, I felt it was time to give something back to my community. There are so many worthy nonprofit organizations in Longmont, and I am very respectful of their need for funding to continue their missions. I hope I have been able to fairly help distribute what monies are available to further their causes.

Christopher Kukich

Age: 40 Occupation: Owner of The KUKICH Creative Marketing Firm Years in St. Vrain Valley: 5 What brought you here? What has kept you here? Frank Kaven brought me to Longmont, and I am forever grateful to him for introducing me to this incredible city. Together, we rebranded Martini’s Bistro. Within a few years we built the restaurant to a milliondollar company. We fell in love with each other and Longmont. We felt so blessed and wanted to give back and make a difference. We became more community involved and created mega events to support our local nonprofits. We had our commitment ceremony, which was the happiest day of my life, and we were together up until his death in August 2013. What is the proudest moment of your life? The proudest moment in my life: Well there are a couple of those, but the number one would be finding the person that completed my life, my soul mate Frank Kaven and having the most wonderful fairy tale ceremony. Second would be the amount of money and awareness we have raised for our local nonprofits. I’m very proud and blessed to call Longmont home. How to you see yourself in 20 years? In 20 years, well, with so much going on in my life right now with starting a new marketing firm on Main Street and future plans to open a new restaurant, I pretty much see myself on the same journey Frank and I started — providing a wonderful place with food and cocktails for people to come be social without any judgment, and continuing my love and support for the community.

Jason and Stacy Kokenzie

as well. Stacy: I was excited to come back. We Ages: 32 (Jason) and 34 (Stacy) love Colorado and we’re excited to come back to friends and family, and to Occupations: “Planters” of Firestone minister to a growing area. Baptist Church What does it take to start a church Years in Carbon/St. Vrain Valley: Jason grew up in Longmont area; Stacy from the ground up? came here in 1998. The Kokenzies Jason: When I told people I was moved out of state in 2006, returning to going to do a church planting, some Firestone in 2010. people said, “You’re awesome” and What brought you here? What kept others made a face and said “You’re crazy.” you here? Stacy: And some just said “What’s Jason: We always had a heart for this that?” area. When we moved to New Mexico, we knew our long term goal was to Jason: You have to be flexible and come back and live here. I grew up in understand there’s going to be a lot of the area, I was familiar with it. And the discouraging things along the way and population growth of the area was a lot of encouraging ones. I’ve made up begging to have more church growth a verse that says “Blessed are the

Chad A. Kupper

Age: 34 Occupation: Attorney Years in St. Vrain Valley: 5 years, 6 months What brought you here? What has kept you here? I was initially brought here for the job opportunity at Lyons Gaddis Kahn Hall Jeffers Dworak & Grant, but I’ve really grown to love this city. I like that Longmont is close to the mountains, since I enjoy the outdoors, hiking and snowboarding, I like that Longmont has its own unique sense of community, different from Boulder and Denver, and I think the people in Longmont are downtoearth and make this a great place to live. You’re actively involved in community and civic groups. Why did you volunteer or join those organizations? I’m currently a board member of the Friends of the Longmont Museum, I’m a Rotarian with Twin Peaks Rotary, and I’m on the committee for the NEXT Young

Kay W. Lloyd Age: 54 Occupation: Executive director, Longmont Symphony Orchestra; and music director, Longs Peak United Methodist Church Years in St. Vrain Valley: 25 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My husband’s teaching position in the St. Vrain Valley School District. You’re the principal flutist for the Longmont Symphony Orchestra. Describe what it feels like to be part

Professionals with the Chamber of Commerce. I was introduced to Rotary through another lawyer in our office, and that really sparked my interest in volunteer work. As far as the NEXT committee, I was just part of a group of people who got together and decided that Longmont needed an outlet for young professionals to network in the business community. ... As for the museum, I’ve always enjoyed learning about history and science, and when I was approached to be on the museum board, I jumped at the chance. It has been a very rewarding experience, especially as the museum prepares for construction of its new auditorium. What’s the experience been like? Should others consider similar community involvement? I’ve enjoyed the service aspect and giving back, I’ve found volunteer work to be interesting and educational, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know people in town. I believe that people who have never volunteered before would be surprised at how rewarding the experience can be.

of a symphonic orchestra? Performing has always been a passion of mine, and collaborating with other musicians is very rewarding. I enjoy the process of learning a piece from the first rehearsal through the final performance. The Longmont Symphony feeds my soul and gives me a conduit in which to express myself artistically. You’re also the music director at Longs Peak United Methodist Church, and you teach music to students in the area. What nonmusic interests do you have (if there are any)? I enjoy reading mysteries, traveling, and quiet evenings at home.

flexible for they shall not be bent.” Stacy: A lot of times, families will visit, but they have to be willing to build a church as well. They come looking for programs that are established, not

Linda Liang Age: 49 Occupation: Coowner of The Royal Wok with husband, Qian, since 1993. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 29 What brought you here? I had family in Denver — my whole family was in Denver. I lived in Denver for nine years and then I moved to here.

realizing that someone who’s interested has to start it. Where do things stand right now? Stacy: Right now, we’re around the mid30s. But there’s times when you’ll have 20 or 25 and then you have a family get a job transfer out. Life happens, and you feel that in a bigger way, in a smaller church. Jason: We feel things are ready to explode. Our goal is not just to start this church, but to start other churches out of this church, train up leaders, train up pastors. If we have a large number of people that live in Fort Lupton, why not start a church in Fort Lupton? If we have a large number of people who live in Dacono, why not start a church in Dacono? ... But for now, we’ll make this church the best we possibly can.

Where were you born, and how did you end up in the restaurant business? I was born in China. My husband had a friend who walked in here. Then he told my husband (who was a chef in China) that they wanted to sell the restaurant. Where do you like to eat when you and your husband are eating out? Oooh, we like the Texas Roadhouse. We love it.

Longmont’s Trusted Downtown Jeweler for 49 Years. Home of the “Original” Longs Peak Pendant

Ron R. Hogsett, Owner 452 Main St., Longmont • 303-651-1125 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:30 - 5:30, Saturday 9:30 - 1:00

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 29

Maciel Leon Age: 37 Years in St Vrain Valley: 11 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My parents moved to Colorado shortly after I left home for college. Once I graduated I took them up on their offer to move to Longmont and see if it would be a place that I would consider calling home. What I thought would be temporary became my permanent home. Who inspired you most in your life and why? My fifthgrade teacher, Mrs. Diana McDermott. On the second day of my fifthgrade year, my life changed forever. She called me to her desk while holding a copy of my straight “F” report card from the year before. I stopped breathing and kept wishing that on my way to her desk a hole would appear and swallow me. Sternly, she looked into my eyes and said, “Did you know that people will

instill shame in those that do not fit their perception of what is ‘ideal and acceptable’ in order to compensate for their own insecurities? I know that this report card is not an accurate representation of who you are. You have a choice; you can continue to fail and live up to the stereotypes or live up to your potential and succeed.” She handed me the report card, smiled, and said, “We are going to work on this together.” I think of her and wish I could tell her, “Thanks for believing in me when no one else would.” What is one lesson you wish you could teach your 16yearold self? The one lesson that I would teach my 16yearold self comes from Maya Angelou, “When people show you who they are, believe them.” You will save yourself a lot of pain, anger and disappointment by trusting your instincts when it comes to choosing who and what you allow in your world. Surround yourself with greatness, people that will build you up, and that know how to laugh

Richard Macomber Age: 74 Occupation: Retired but active volunteer and mayor of Mead Years in St. Vrain Valley: 18 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My employer (IBM) was closing the New Jersey facility and offered me a job in Colorado. After a short exploratory trip we found it a great place and decided we would move here. What drew you to want to become mayor of Mead? We found Mead to be a great place and when we moved here I decided I wanted to be a part of assisting the town to grow and be a great place, that it is, to live, work, play and raise a family. I thought the best way to do that would be to offer my services and thoughts for our community and to the constituents of Mead. I wanted to listen to the town residents and assist them as much as feasible. What is the greatest challenge of being the mayor of growing small town? A relatively small town has many challenges. Infrastructure of the town (there were many dirt roads) was a key factor but that had to be addressed within budget constraints. Infrastructure(roads, water, waste water, storm drainage, parks) attracts families to Mead as well as businesses (we have over 200 businesses licensed in Mead) and makes this a desirable place to be. The key was to plan for the infrastructure without taking the town into major debt which we were very successful in doing. We have been extremely successful in this regard as witnessed by our steady growth over the years, the vast improvements in our infrastructure, steady tax rate (actually reduced taxes in 2014), and lowest sales taxes in Northern Colorado.

30 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Gary Markowitz

Age: 62 Occupation: Artist, publisher Years in St. Vrain Valley: Less than a year. Relocated from Paris, France What brought you here? What has kept you here? My family is from Boulder, and I returned to Boulder County after living in Hawaii for 13 years and the Europe for 13 years. I returned to be closer to family and particularly my father and son. I choose Longmont because of the artist community and the plans the city has to develop the arts and entertainment district. As the owner of aHa Gallery, downtown Longmont’s newest art venue, what niche are you hoping to fill in the local art scene? Contributing and helping to build a vibrant artist community in Longmont. Providing a space for artists to gather, exhibit their work and teach. At the studio we offer marketing for fine artists including: business consultation and design services, web design and maintenance, photography of art, giclèe printing and

publishing. You’ve lived and worked in various locations in the United States and Europe. What was your favorite and why? This is a hard one having lived in Hawaii, Cadaquès and Barcelona, Spain, and LanquedocRoussilion and Paris, France. Choosing one it would be Cadequès, Spain, on the Costa Brava bordering France. Cadaquès was the home of Salvador Dali, who was friends with a number of our new friends. I was fortunate to live somewhat of a storybook life in a villa on a private island in the bay alone with my wife. We had the island to ourselves. The lights, sea, nature were inspiring. The village was beautiful, white Mediterranean casas and cobblestone streets. The light was fabulous for painting and the village was renowned as a home of artists. Both the Catalans and French appreciation of art and artists was wonderful. The French and Catalans were warm, open and welcomed us into the community from the first days we arrived. I showed in a gallery there and in Barcelona for seven years

Mary Macomber Age: 74 Occupation: Retired from nursing; kiosk manager and supervisor of a percolation test crew for an engineering company. Currently volunteers at Longmont United Hospital Years in St. Vrain Valley: 18 What brought you here, or if you grew up here, what has kept you here? My husband was transferred by IBM and we thought Colorado was a great place to move to. What is a percolation test crew supervisor? Many residents of New Jersey do not have their homes hooked to the sewer system. In order to build homes they would need a septic tank, but not all soil in that area of the country absorbs the septic water at the same rate. I was a supervisor of one of these crews that made sure the absorption of septic water was in the standards of the health code. I just enjoyed being outside. They would dig a pit, test the absorption rate of water, then dig the minimum of 10 feet down to make sure they did not hit rock. Many a night I would take a Richard (husband) and a flashlight out to the woods because we had a test running. If the tests failed they would have to put in elaborate septic systems or bring in different soil. I met some fantastic people. You can’t imagine how many backhoe operators have college degrees, they just like to be outside. What is something you miss from back East that’s just not the same here or you can’t get here? My three daughters and four grandchildren — three granddaughters and one grandson

Pat McCarthy

Age: 61 Occupation: President and founder, Colorado Demolition and Deconstruction Years in St. Vrain Valley: 20 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I grew up in New Jersey. I just wanted to get a new start in life, so I got here when I was 18. When I got here, I literally lived on the streets for six weeks. The first day I came here, I worked at a temp place and made $10 a day. (As for why now) It’s Colorado — are you kidding me? My family’s here, my children, my grandchildren. My wife and I like to go hiking — during the warm months, anyway, not in the snow season.

How thorough is “deconstruction” compared to demolition? We take everything from the whole house down and recycle it, we donate a lot of stuff to Habitat for Humanity. ... We can recycle cabinets, bath fixtures, all the lumber, trusses, walls, the flooring, the subflooring. ... Sheet rock is not recyclable. The shingles used to be but not anymore, that I know of, anyway. You can raze a house in a day or two. But depending on the size of the house, deconstruction can take one or two weeks. We’ve got it down to a science now. What keeps you at it? I love it. I really do. They say if you find a job you really like, you never work a day in your life. I get to take things apart. It brings out the kid in me.

Eliberto Mendoza

families to get ahead in life. Almost everybody has a story from Age: 37 the Flood of 2013. What’s yours? We had planned a vacation the week of the Occupation: Circles Campaign flood. My father was flying in from Texas, Coordinator for Boulder County my fatherinlaw had rented a condo in Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7 western Colorado, near Grand What brought you here? My Junction. That Thursday wife grew up here. She went to morning we found out that Faith Baptist; this is her Longmont was cut off. My hometown, basically. So we fatherinlaw lives in Firestone, came back. so we called him to go pick up You’re the former president my father. He stayed the night of the Latino Chamber of at my fatherinlaw’s place. Commerce of Boulder County, (Meanwhile) my sisters were you’ve worked with evacuated at 4 in the morning Intercambio De Comunidades — they live two blocks north of and your current job in the the Sunset (Street) Bridge. ... Circles Campaign again has you again working with people who need a hand What ended up happening is we still went on vacation. (I told them), “Why up. What inspires you to give of your time in such a way? I grew up a migrant don’t you fill up my garage with your stuff and stay until you figure out what kid — the fields of Illinois and Texas. you’re going to do?” So it was a blessing People gave me opportunities that I that we were going on vacation (because probably didn’t deserve. I just want to be them being gone freed up space for his a part of any organization that provides sisters to stay at his his and his fatherin opportunities for Latino and lowincome law’s house). And that’s my flood story.

Joanie Moore

finally getting in the second one and passing your state test, getting an Age: 71 apprenticeship and then becoming a Occupation: Retired from being master barber. It sounds like a Longmont’s first female barber. struggle. (Steve Nikkel) was kind of a Years in St. Vrain Valley: I was born progressive barber. He was the first one on a farm two miles north of Erie. My to start (taking) appointments. ... He was grandma and grandpa came the only one who would hire here in (1907). me. I went door to door but he What has kept you here? I was the only one who would guess it’s just a root. It’s a hire me, and I’m thankful for home. None of my family have that. ... What I remember was ever left. It’s just home. there would be shops filled with Did you always want to be people waiting, and nobody a barber? When I was little — would let me cut their hair. ... as I remember 6, 7 years old — Every once in a while there I would play barber shop, and I would be a serviceman or have no idea why. I would something — someone who pretend I was cutting my brother’s hair. had been stationed over in Germany or You describe what you went France, and they would let me cut their through to become a professional in a hair because they were used to a lady time that female barbers were a rarity: barber. But I had to be very careful Getting denied admission by the first (because people were watching me so barber school you approached, then closely).

Chuck Morris

Age: 72 Occupation: Retired; now a caricaturist at Casa Bonita restaurant in Lakewood Years in St. Vrain Valley: 17 What brought you here? IBM. I worked for IBM for 30 years and retired from there. I worked in Kentucky for about 15 of those years and here for about 15 of those. How do you go from working in hightech to becoming a caricaturist?I have absolutely no experience in art except in high school. I was a digital design engineer for IBM and other companies — GE, Lockheed. I was stationed at Cape Canaveral (now the Kennedy Space Center) for three years working on the Apollo program. (He enlisted

during the Vietnam War and joined IBM immediately after leaving the service.). ... I retired, and got tired of watching TV. I sat out and wrote a list of pros and cons (of what I wanted to do), decided on this, and studied on the Web. I sat down for one whole winter, practiced eight hours a day, and went and got myself a job at Elitch Gardens. (After just under two years there, he says left and approached Casa Bonita and got a job there.) It’s the best job I could have: I set my own hours, I set my own prices, I’m my own boss. How would you describe Casa Bonita for someone who has never been there? It’s for kids — it’s an indoor amusement park. ... Have you ever walked through the whole thing? It’s wild.

Betty Ann Newby

about and do. I worked as a volunteer at the Longmont Museum. I worked Age: 84 hard at the research for my book, “The Occupation: Meadarea farmer; Longmont Album: History and Folklore local historian, author, former of the St. Vrain Valley.” That forced me newspaper columnist to get around, meet people to try to Years in St. Vrain Valley: get the history right. I just Going on nearly 40 years loved to go and talk and What brought you here? visit and find out What kept you here? My information from people. I husband, Raimon, who went was fortunate in doing that to Mead schools, brought me to get acquainted with back here to the Newby family people who didn’t have farm. I stayed after he died. ... much time left. It’s sort of a It’s a desirable area. You can community kind of thing. see the mountains, even on a What are some of the cloudy day. Living in the more important things country, to see all that, it’s gorgeous. current residents of the area should It’s far enough away from Denver, and know about the people who it’s close enough. preceded them? Basically, the How did you become interested in farmers. I grew up on a farm in the writing newspaper columns and a Severance and Eaton area. It wasn’t book about the St. Vrain Valley’s that easy for many, especially in tough history? I just sort of got into that. I’m times when nobody had anything. a farmer. I’m a hay farmer. But I’m a When you think of how many stuck it former school teacher, and I’ve always out, through thick and thin — people been interested in those kinds of worked together with each other. They things. It was something I could think helped each other out.

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Stan Owens

Age: 69 Occupation: Retired since 2007. Former warehouse worker at True Value Hardware, now planning commission chairman and a volunteer for numerous boards, commissions and causes in Dacono area, including the Carbon Valley Music Festival, the Weld County Mobile Food Bank and the local Easter egg hunt. Years in Carbon Valley: 42 What brought you here? What kept you?: Originally, I was from Chicago. My first wife was from Rock Springs, Wyoming, and had family out here at the time, and she didn’t like the big city. I love this area. I love Dacono. It still has that smalltown feeling and everyone seems to be friendly. ... You can still walk down the street and people say ‘Hi.’ You seem to be one of the busier volunteers in the area. What started you off?: My dad was on the town board, and one day he said he needed people for the Board of Adjustment, they had an opening. I said, “I have no idea what that does, but I’ll help until you find someone.” (Laughs) Nancy Elliott, the town clerk at the time, said the only way off of one of her boards was to die. And I haven’t done that yet! What keeps you doing it?: I’d like to think I’m doing some good for the community. I feel good helping people. I don’t have to have any name recognition, I’d rather be in the background. But my daughter likes that kind of stuff. If I get a writeup, I’ll send it to her.

Clay Peck Age: 51 Occupation: Lead/Founding Pastor of Grace Place, Berthoud Years in the area: 18 What brought you here? What has kept you? I grew up in Colorado and moved away as a teenager. I always hoped to return. Once Colorado is in your blood, it is always there. I love the mountains, skiing and hiking, the healthful lifestyle, the rugged western, outdoors culture, and people who are adventurers. What is the best part of your job? Building into leaders, helping people find fulfillment, ministering to people in pain and confusion, inspiring people to collaborate and achieve a vision that is bigger and more rewarding than anything they could accomplish by themselves, teach enduring principles for a truly successful life. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? In order to accomplish anything significant and lasting one has to be willing to take risks and fail. “Failure is not an option” is not an option. Fail forward. Don’t try to live life totally safe. Safe is boring. Be willing to take calculated risks, learn from failure, and never give up pursuing a dream that is large, compelling, and God honoring.

Anne Postle Age: 52 Occupation: Owner of Osmosis Art and Architecture in Niwot Years in St. Vrain Valley: 13 years in Niwot, 25 years in Boulder County What brought you here? What has kept you here? I moved here for a job in Boulder, and eventually opened the architecture firm and gallery. Niwot is such a vibrant community. I never want to leave. You have done a lot to promote the arts in downtown Niwot. Which arts events or activities have you seen draw the most interest from members of the public? The Niwot Art Walk, on the first Friday of every month, is one of the strongest art draws for the town. The art walk includes Second Avenue and Cottonwood Square and offers art openings, music, wonderful boutiques and restaurants. The “Why Not Niwot” juried art show is another great draw for art lovers. The entries have to show the uniqueness of Niwot. Artworks that are accepted into the show are on display in businesses throughout Niwot during May, with the winners announced at the June Art Walk. The Left Hand Chair painting competition is one of the newest exciting art events in Niwot. There are 28 concrete lefthand chairs scattered around the town. A mix of different artists from the public and from Niwot High will be painting the chairs in the coming months. The competition will be open for a “peoples” choice voting during the April Art walk. What was your greatest accomplishment in the last year? Osmosis Art and Architecture has had a wonderful year. The gallery continues to thrive, featuring fine art and unique gifts. In February, the architecture firm won a Judge’s Special Award of Excellence at the Nationals for “Clermont Commons,” a series of three homes for homeless female veterans and their children in Denver. Clermont Commons was built by HomeAid, with Osmosis donating all of the architecture.

32 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Carmen Ramirez

Age: 54 Occupation: Program coordinator for Longmont’s Community and Neighborhood Resources department, advisory committee of Latino History Project Years in St. Vrain Valley: 23 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My husband kind of dragged me, kicking and screaming, from El Paso, Texas. If you can imagine this border community with the U.S on one side of the line, Mexico on the other, and the beauty that comes when the two mix with each other. ... But this community has provided me with some great opportunities and challenges. It’s allowed me to find employment and to bring people together in valuing our diversity. How did you happen to get involved with the history project? As part of the Latino Task Force. We had a retired professor, Marjorie McIntosh, who came to us and said “I’ve been reading history books and I don’t see Latinos in them anywhere.” I said, “Yeah. We knew that.” She said, “So how do we plant the seeds so we can grow interest and gather this information?” We’ve been establishing that the Latino community isn’t just a community of immigrants. We’ve been here, and we’ll continue to be here, for generations. Tell me your flood story. It went from job to job as fast as possible. When it comes to community service, the staff here was amazing. It didn’t matter if you worked in recreation or worked in the library, you were helping out. Most of my flood work has been with the Royal Mobile Home Park and helping people manage that situation, assisting with FEMA, helping people see what other options are on there and working on longterm flood recovery — connecting them, eventually, to resources.”

Ray Ramirez•

Age: 68 Occupation: Editor, grant writer for the Native American Rights Fund Years in St. Vrain Valley: 23 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I was born in Fort Collins; however, after graduating from Colorado State University, I moved to Arizona and worked for the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation and then for the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo for a total of 20 years. After receiving a job offer from the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder, I decided to relocate with my family to Longmont. I have family in Fort Collins, Greeley and Frederick. I have now been with the Native American Rights Fund for 23 years. Why is the Native American Rights Fund headquartered in Boulder County, and what do you do? The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) relocated to Boulder in 1970 to be more centrally located to the majority of tribes in the country. NARF is known nationally and internationally for its role in defining the field of Indian law and providing legal representation to tribes and Native peoples. Longmont is also home to First Nations Development Institute, which believes that when armed with the appropriate resources, Native Peoples hold the capacity and ingenuity to ensure the sustainable, economic, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of their communities. The Denver area has a thriving and active Native community. What legacy do you hope to leave behind? Besides my wife, Carmen; my sons, Kiohod and Rio; my daughter, Vanessa; and my grandchildren, all of whom I’m so proud, I hope that I have contributed in some little way in helping people to understand the true histories of our community, state and country. Unfortunately our school curriculums do not allow for the accurate teaching of our histories (Native Americans, Mexican and African American) and our present lives. Because of this, too many people do not know these valuable histories, and if they did, much of the misunderstanding and racism toward my peoples would not exist.

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Simon Quince, 12, of Longmont is known for his juggling at the Boulder County Farmers Market.

34 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Going for the juggler Middle-schooler still turning heads with dancing pins

his is the sound of Simon Quince. Tick-tick, tick-tick, tick-tick, tick ... The whisper, soft and steady, could be a metronome. A watch. A quiet turn signal left on a mile too long. It is none of those things. It is Simon Quince And Simon has started to juggle. Simon, now 13, has become a fixture at the Longmont Farmers Market. For two summers now, as the customers pass by with their fruits and vegetables, his clubs have danced through the air, drawing attention to the young boy with the steady hands. He likes the dance. But it could stand to grow, he thinks. “Three so far,” Simon said back at his home in the winter “off-season,” his trio of clubs nearby. “I’m working on four. From there, hopefully more. Maybe even swords someday.” “It’s fine with me,” his mom, Heidi Quince, responded. “I have seen some of the most amazing

jugglers, and I think ‘more power to you.’” After all, this is something he can do with one hand behind his back. Originally from Longmont, Simon and his family moved to Minneapolis in 2006. They came back in 2010 — but that four-year time span was just enough time for a friend to invite him to a book festival, full of booths and crowds and entertainers. That’s where he saw the juggler. “There was a guy there who had only one arm — and he juggled,” Simon remembered. “He was juggling over eight balls in one hand. It was amazing.” He got in line to talk to the juggler, with one question at the front of his mind: Can I learn this? The one-armed man started Simon on two balls. He kept dropping them. At home, he got some beanbags from his mom and practiced. And practiced. Always with one hand, just trying to find the rhythm. “It was probably close to a month before I could do it

a juggler isn’t careful. “I hit my nose, my finger, Age: 13 my toe,” he said. “They’re Occupation: Student, Sunset not very heavy, but they still Middle School hurt.” Years in St. Vrain Valley: 9; came back in 2010 Second, as Simon worked on finding the pattern that would bring the clubs to his naturally,” he said. hands with their soft ticks That single-handed rouand clicks, he also began to tine served him well when search for a stage. the Quinces returned to “I knew they had bands at Longmont, livening up a couthe Farmers Market, so I ple of talent shows. Then in called the manager and the sixth grade, he was tabbed for a play called “The asked how much it would cost for a spot,” he said. “He Unlucky Duck,” a lighter thought about it and said, version of the story about the monkey’s paw that grant- ‘Since you’re not selling anyed cursed wishes. An Arabi- thing, it’s free. Just find a an scene called for entertain- spot with no trees, where ers, such as snake charmers you’re not going to hit anyone.’” ... and jugglers. Within the first week, peoThat, he decided, called ple were stopping to watch. for the classic three balls. By the end of the 2012 sea“I was surprised at how fast I caught on,” he said. “It son, he’d won a “people’s choice” award. took me about a week.” Now he was the one who Not long after that show, had kids coming up and asktwo things happened. First, ing for lessons. It didn’t take Simon found the Boulder long to like it. Circus Club and began to “Once you get a pattern in learn club juggling, the juggling, it helps you think white bowling pin-like objects that catch the eye — about it a lot,” Simon and sometimes other parts if explained. “I’d teach them a

Simon Quince

pattern of where the balls go — and for me, that helps me to visualize it.” There’s more to Simon than juggling, of course, There’s the classes at Sunset Middle School, the drum practice, the time spent on a bike (and with Bicycle Longmont, where his dad, Devin Quince, serves on the board). He’s even been working on a board game about a zombie apocalypse, though it’s still got some kinks to work out. “Right now, it’s fun, but it’s not Uno,” Simon said. Like many a middle schooler, he hasn’t quite worked out yet what he wants to be. Maybe an actor. Maybe an artist. Maybe an art teacher, or a chef. Whatever he does, it’s good odds that his passion for juggling will find a way in. Even as a chef. “If Mom’s making guacamole and she’s not looking, I’ll juggle the avocados,” he admitted. Keep listening. The sound’s not done yet. Tick-tick, tick-tick, tick-tick, tick ...

Story by Scott Rochat • Photo by Lewis Geyer • Longmont Times-Call

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 35

Brian Rezac

Age: 53 Occupation: Musician, bartender Years in St. Vrain Valley: 23 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My wife was offered a job here; she was in mall marketing and management. Now we’ve raised three kids here, they all went to Colorado colleges. It’s home. So when did you and the guitar first meet? “When I was 19, I bought my first guitar — and I broke it right before I moved out here! I didn’t get back into it until I hit my 40th birthday. My brothers back in Delaware pitched in and gave me the Martin that I play now. I thought I had a guitar I

Michael Roberts

Age: 51 Occupation: President, First Nations Development Institute, a national Native American nonprofit organization Years in St. Vrain Valley: 9 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I attended the University of Colorado, graduating in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental design in architecture. I spent five years in a venture capital business before joining First Nations. It formerly had its headquarters in Fredericksburg, Virginia. My wife and I spent 13 years trying to get back here. We moved here nine years ago; First Nations moved here eight years ago. The affordability of Longmont is great for an organization like us. I thought the organization belonged in the West. What is First Nations’ mission? Our

Glenda S. Robinson

Age: 65 Occupation: Self employed Years in St. Vrain Valley: 34 What brought you here? What has kept you here? In 1980, my husband was an executive with IBM. As a result, his position required our family to be relocated to the IBM headquarters in Boulder. You participated in civil rights marches in the ’60s and ’70s, including some with Martin Luther King. Which march was the most memorable? The Memphis march on March 28, 1968, was my most memorable. It supported basic human rights of the sanitation workers, awakening the community to the tragic, inhumane conditions and

wasn’t worthy of, so I started practicing a lot more. It became a second wind thing. These days, you’re almost as well known for organizing musical events as you are for playing them. How did that start? The one that I’ve done for the longest time is the Dickens open mic. Through that, I’ve met so many musicians and the musicians think I know all these people and want me to do something for them. ... It was about three owners ago at the Dickens that I went up and asked “Let me do an open mic.” At first, they were against it, and I said “Give me your slowest night.” And it worked really well. And now, when anyone thinks of an “open mic,” I get called.” core mission is economic development for American Indian people and their communities. What’s the impact of your organization’s presence in Longmont? The economic impact is a big one, and we have a pretty low environmental impact. we’re a fairly large notfor profit organization serving a fairly large Indian population. We’re a 35yearold organization with an annual budget of about $5 million, including about $2 million to $2.5 million in salaries. We have 19 on our staff, including 17 in Colorado. Of the national Indian notforprofits, we’re probably in the top five or 10. We bought our building, at 2432 Main St., which was twice the size we needed but had the potential for our expansion. There’s a goodsize Indian population along the Front Range, a lot of folks who look like us.

treatment they endured. As an impressionable college student from an upbringing that was sheltered, protected and loving, I found myself in the midst of utter chaos and confusion. It was traumatic, frightening and life threatening. For me, the tables turned. In the safety of a church, I found myself being victimized, rather than protected by the very agencies that were entrusted to protect and serve. If you could pass along one piece of advice to your children or grandchildren what would it be? The one thing that I would pass along to my children and future generations is that they live Godfearing lives, always treating others the way they want to be treated.

36 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Benny Romero Age: 74 Occupation: Retired from Rocky Flats Years in St. Vrain Valley: Entire life, except for time in the U.S. Navy — four years, two reserve What brought you here? What has kept you? I just wanted to come back home to the mountains, that and my family. What is your proudest

Phoenix Sagen

Age: 34 Occupation: Vice president and co owner of Kukich Creative Marketing Firm Years in St. Vrain Valley: 6 (10 in Colorado) What brought you here? What has kept you here? It was July 17, 2004. I was visiting a friend in Arkansas, and on the way back, my truck broke down and I stayed. I’m a military brat. I’ve moved 29 times in my life. Colorado’s the first place that ever felt like home. Tell me your flood story. My husband and I were going to move outside of Longmont to a bigger home. We decided instead to turn our current home into the one we wanted.

Anna Sauer Age: 65 plus 368 days Occupation: Basically retired; president of Champion Greens Homeowners Association Years in St. Vrain Valley: We moved to Longmont in 1998, so that’s (almost) 15, and 25 years in Littleton before that. What brought you here? What has kept you here? My husband’s job. ... He had been commuting to Longmont from Littleton every day for two years. ... We decided to start looking in Longmont and fell in love with it. In Champion Greens, 86 of the 88 homes were flooded to some degree. Where were you on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013? My husband had left that morning to go buy a sump pump, which was a joke because it wouldn’t have made a bit of difference. Then the power went out, late morning, and all the neighbors started gathering in the street. ... We

accomplishment? There are a lot of them. One of my highlights in 1955 I ran cross country on the state championship team for Longmont High School. Other than that, I was commander for the American Legion Post 32 in Longmont six times. What is the No. 1 item on your bucket list? I am pretty lucky, I have lived this long. I don’t have any, to be honest with you. I am just proud to be from Colorado. I am very happy. I am married. I have four kids.

... We were halfway through this project when the flood hit. I even have video footage that I was shooting out the window saying “Yeah, it’s still raining.” I had no idea it was going to be a 500year storm! ... So we did the last week, week and a half of the project in the flood, under a tarp. ... But it’s finished. It’s beautiful. I love my first floor, I love my new house. You’ve also described yourself as “addicted to travel.” (My husband and I) travel two, three times a year. We’re not waiting to get older to check things off our bucket list. We’re doing it along the way. ... For my birthday, I’ve jumped out of planes, off bridges, scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef. But last year was kind of mellow. (Grin) This year, we’ll be in Cambodia, though. figured if we’d get flooding, it would come from the south. ... I heard it before I saw it, just this whoosh of water coming in under our fence. And instantly it was 8 to 10 inches deep, and it started pouring in our window wells. ... We thought it would stop. ... (Sauers’ and her husband ended up being evacuated out of their neighborhood, along with some neighbors, on a Longmont Fire Department engine.) What, if anything, did the flood teach you? The power of water. I had no idea until I saw moving water what it was capable of. When the fire engine was taking us up Ninth ... they slowed down enough and said, “Look down that street.” And at the end of that street was just this pile of cars. ... The city of Longmont was amazing with their response to everything. ... And the volunteers that just came out of the woodwork. ... I guess more than even the power of the water, it was how kind people can be to each other when someone needs help.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 37

Alma Rico’s sister pressured her to try Zumba in May 2012. The 31yearold now coowns and teaches at Tumbao Fitness in Longmont.

38 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Tapping into ‘sexy swagger’ Hesitant at first, newcomer fell in love with Zumba

ears well up in Alma Rico’s eyes when she talks about stepping into a Zumba class for the first time and feeling stress and a persistent depression fall off of her body.

“I didn’t want to be there,” she admitted.

In 2012, the 31-year-old Longmont woman and mother of two boys had come through a divorce and was struggling to recover from the emotional upheaval.

“After I got divorced, I was very depressed and my sister was always trying to get me out of the house,” she said.

Her sister kept on about Zumba, and Rico finally consented in May 2012 to attend one class at Latin Rhythm in north Longmont. Her sister knew well that dance and choreography — the cornerstones of Zumba fitness classes — would hook Rico. For her part, Rico was skeptical that anything would help the hurt she was suffer-

ing. Then the music started and she began to dance.

Alma Rico Age: 32

“It relieved all of my Years in St. Vrain Valley: 8 stress, and all of my worries Occupation: Coowner, left at once,” she recalled. “I teacher at Tumbao Fitness felt so happy, and all of my stress went away, and I fell in quality is impossible to see love with it.” when she dons the neon-colored workout and dance Now Rico owns Tumbao Fitness at 1108 Main St. with gear common to Zumba. Her enthusiasm bursts out with two partners. The name of her own choreography, and the business refers to a a big personality leads Cuban slang word that she packed classes from novice defines as “sexy swagger.” to expert. Soon after she started

Zumba, she worked with Jose Jimenez at Latin Rhythm to learn the basics of the choreography and earned her teaching certification in November 2012 after completing an all-day class. She started teaching at Fusion Fitness and then struck out with partners to launch Tumbao Fitness, which is open to having parents bring their children to the studio for workouts or to hang around while mom and dad shake off some calories and stress. While Rico says she is “shy, shy, shy,” that

“It was very natural to me,” she said of teaching. “I was meant to do that.” Rico was born in California and raised in Compton with five siblings. Her parents would take her and her siblings to Disneyland at least once a year, and there she fell in love with dancing.

“I would see the parades and the princesses dancing, and I would be so happy I would cry,” she said, adding she would go on to come up with dance routines in her

bedroom. Her mother would secretly record her. Annual visits to grandparents in Durango, Mexico, provided long summer breaks from the city life and from school. She took her own sons to Mexico last summer. She said they thrived in the small town with no phone or Internet service in a home without television. She got married at age 18 and had her first son when she was 21. Eight years ago, when she got pregnant with her second son, the atmosphere in Compton felt too dangerous. Drive-by shootings and other crimes were too common. She and her husband set out for Longmont, where her parents had settled two years earlier after deciding to leave Compton, as well. She said they just packed up and left California and moved without even visiting beforehand. In Longmont, she said, she found a home. She had expe-

rience working in Section 8 housing programs and works for Thistle Community Housing as an occupancy specialist. She handles compliance issues and leasing. “I feel like it is a really tight community and I like that,” she said. “Everybody knows everybody and everybody helps everybody.” Tumbao is still getting off the ground. Classes already include yoga, Zumba, and “Warrior,” a class that combines CrossFit and Tabata training techniques. She said the partners are now adding nutrition components for clients who struggle with food issues. She said she has heard before that some of her routines are a little too “sexy” for Zumba, but she notes that the critic keep coming back. Sexy, she said, is not physical. “It is thing where you feel confident and good about yourself,” she said. And that is how Rico feels.

Story by Pierrette J. Shields • Photo by Lewis Geyer • Longmont Times-Call

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 39

Pete Schones Age: 49 Occupation: Head honcho, el presidente — owner — of Acme Bicycles, 1817 Main St., Suite 202 in Longmont. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 13 What brought you here? I purchased the business from Tim Gust in 2001. I knew Tim because I used to work on the wholesale side of the industry and he was one of my customers. I got tired of traveling for what I did, and that’s how it happened. With 30 years in the cycling business, is this an industry you always knew you would want to be a part of? My family has been in this for a long time. My grandfather was a professional cyclist in Hungary — the pictures all over the shop are of him. I started working at my parents’ shop — Adventure Cycling in Aurora — in 1983. It still exists; it is now owned by my uncle. How has cycling evolved over the time of your career? When I started in this industry we had no suspension forks, we had no fullsuspension bicycles. We now have electronic shifting bikes. The bike industry is like many other industries — it is definitely moving forward. Bikes shift better, they brake better. You’re getting a lot more bang for your buck.

Melissa Seipelt

Age: 63 Occupation: Cosmetologist and Halcyon Hospice volunteer Years in St. Vrain Valley: 30 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I came to visit a relative who had moved to Boulder and fell in love with the climate and beauty of this area and decided to move here also. What got you interested in the spa business (owner of Talk of the Town) and why did you think it would work in town like Mead? I believe in an integrative approach to health. Research shows more people are seeking alternative therapies for a more holistic (body, mind, spirit) and preventative care to their health. Although Mead is a small community, the people living here do see the value in supporting local business and also the importance of good selfcare. This is my 19th year in business in Mead. When I first moved here Fourth Street, now Main Street, was dirt. The town has seen a lot of changes and growth since then, but has not lost its small town appeal. What/where are studying for your master’s degree, and why is that field of interest to you? I am working toward a certification in Thanatology at Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass. Thanatology is the study of death and dying, especially in end of life care. After my undergraduate degree, I began volunteering for Halcyon Hospice in Mead. I have been volunteering at Halcyon for over a year and love working with the elderly and those facing the end of their lives. I decide to seek a certification in the field, which requires 60 credits and a thesis paper and then passing a national certification test.

Dan Siddall Age: 59 Occupation: Realestate broker Years in St. Vrain Valley: 18 What brought you here? What has kept you here? Lyons’ small town character and excellent schools. Where were you when the flood hit Lyons on Sept. 12, and how did you react? I was at home, and my first thought when I heard the sirens go off was to drive into town and help my daughter and her two kids evacuate from the confluence area because her husband was on shift as a firefighter. What is the biggest challenge, personally or professionally, that you have faced since the flood? Personally it has been helping my daughter and her husband through the rebuilding process because their house was completely destroyed. Professionally, it has been assisting other clients who have lost homes find replacement housing as well as assist my property management clients with repairing their homes.

40 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Lenny Sigwarth

Age: 46 Occupation: Business manager and membership director, Ed and Ruth Lehman YMCA. Years in St.Vrain Valley: 14. First came to Colorado in 1990, from Bolivia. What brought you here? What has kept you here? We were looking for a place that is really familyoriented and had a community feeling, That’s how we ended up in Longmont, we wanted to be part of a close community. ... I love Colorado. I’ve got to tell you I’m not that happy about winter, though. I grew up in a very tropical area, where I went swimming every morning. I have been here 23 years and I still can’t get used to winter! When it comes, I look like a bear, layer upon layer. The snow on the mountains is very pretty — through the window. Why “Lenny”? What’s it short for?: It’s a very unusual name for Bolivia. I never met anyone named Lenny. It’s not short for anything; my father picked it out. ... The funny thing is that my mother didn’t even know until he came back from registering me. She wanted me to be named Denise. My father was a very colorful man, very fun in everything, everyone loved him. So who knows what went through his mind? You’ve had a lot of chances to see the various pieces of the community: through the Y, nonprofit work and elsewhere. How hard is it to put those pieces together? You have to identify the people in every organization who are “brokers.” If we knew how to use them, we’d be so much better at helping the community, not duplicating programs but working together. ... For example, you see a lot of organizations that have minorities on staff. That person has so much knowledge of their own community, they can have so much input in what programs are needed, what the community will need. They can be a connection with the organization, not just a person on the phone who says “Hello.”

Josh Sipfle

Age: 18 Occupation: Student; worship ministry intern Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I went to a private school here in Longmont, then the rest of the family found a great church. Also, my mom had work in town and the school system was great, so we stayed. What misconceptions do adults have about teenagers? I believe that a common misconception is that kids are just knuckleheads and don’t truly grow up till they turn 18. And to be honest. I know plenty of people who haven’t grown up and are well into their 20s. I think that teenagers are quite capable of great responsibly, and furthermore, should be exposed to responsibility to push them toward the reality of adulthood. I think it’s important to encourage teenagers to grow up and take responsibility for their own lives, because not only can they handle it, but if you wait to long to progress through life, you might miss out on what life has to offer. We shouldn’t grow up to not be kids anymore, we should grow up to be the smartest and best kids we can be. You are in the Skyline High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy. What’s it like to be a part of that? Is it like “Glee”? I get this question a lot actually. I use to watch “Glee” a fair amount, and one of the vast differences we see between “Glee” and VPA is the money. Glee portrays a seemingly struggling program that has all this money at its disposal. Skyline is a thriving program, gaining state recognition in many areas, that struggles to have enough money because funding is just not there. Lucky for us we have an incredibly welltrained and talented Visual and Performing Arts staff, including the amazing Stephen Ross. We have a terrific staff that hold the program in their hands, but we lack some tools and opportunity to grow because funding isn’t present.

y t i n u m Com Review Support the local businesses that hat make make a difference difference in in our our community community 1962

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Applewood Living Center

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Briggs Carpet Care

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COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 41

Stephen Ross, a member of the vocal rock band Face, poses for a portrait at Vance Brand Auditorium.

42 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Professional harmony Skyline High School’s director of vocal music practices what he teaches

tephen Ross’s office at Skyline High School is around the corner from Vance Brand Auditorium, a performance venue that surpasses the high school standard and is the site of much adult programming from community groups throughout the year. To get to the office you have to walk down a hall and through a large music rehearsal room where a grand piano is the main piece of furniture. Ross’s office, off to one side of the rehearsal space, also contains a piano, though a much smaller one. The piano came in handy recently when he was describing the limited singing range of some of his male students whose voices are changing. Five notes on the keyboard looked exceedingly narrow. The main instrument housed in this office is not a piano, though. It’s Ross’s voice. Ross is director of vocal music, co-chair of the fine

arts department, and coordinator of the Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Skyline High School. Members of the community outside of the school might know him better as a member of Face, the Boulder-area vocal band. Face has long been a popular act in the Boulder area. It received national attention in 2009 when it appeared as a contestant on the NBC show “The Sing-Off.” In December, the band had a delay at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, and a video of the band caroling for fellow inconvenienced travelers went viral. Last year the band put out its latest album, “How Was the Show,” a release that showed the band’s growing interest in original material. Face performs at local schools and conducts workshops with students as part of the band’s educational outreach program, and this aspect of the band highlights the alignment of Ross’s work

very good sight reader, so he would learn by ear and Age: 32 sing the notes. His dad was a How many years in the big Beatles fan, and Ross area: 5½ in Louisville absorbed much from the Occupation: Director of vocal Fab Four. music, cochair of the fine “I think I learned a lot arts department, and coordinator of the Visual & about harmonizing and Performing Arts Academy at chords from the Beatles,” he Skyline High School; and said. singer in Face When he was in fourth grade, his piano teacher sugand band life. When he sings gested he look into joining in Face, he practices all the the Colorado Children’s singing fundamentals — Chorale. That proved to be a tone, pitch, breath support turning point. He joined the — that he teaches students. chorale and excelled. He When Face performs at Sky- became one of the top singline — on the Vance Brand ers and traveled to other Auditorium stage, that is — countries to perform. he enjoys the added bonus “That kind of took over of students getting to see your life,” he said. him as a local celebrity. By high school he found “That rock star status lasts for about 48 hours,” he said. that the time required for his singing career meant he had “Then I’m just Mr. Ross.” Ross, who is 32, was born to drop other activities, such as sports. in Winnipeg, Canada. His “I was good at it,” he said family moved to Highlands of singing. “It was a calling Ranch when he was 9 after for me.” his father’s employer transferred him to the area. Ross He went on to the Universtarted singing while trying sity of Colorado, where he to learn piano. He wasn’t a studied music education

Stephen Ross

with an emphasis in vocal performance, and he became involved in student a cappella groups, including BufferZone, which he and another student founded. Around this time he met Ryan Driver, who later invited him to audition for Face. In recent years, Face has been offered opportunities that suggest Ross could have to make some hard decisions if the band achieves further success. When it was invited to perform on “The Sing-Off,” Ross had to request extended time off at school. Ross was thankful that the administration was accommodating. The Louisville resident is married and has two daughters, and family life also makes it difficult for him to just pick up and leave to pursue band opportunities. But for now he’s able to fit it all in. “Right now I’m along for the ride,” he said. “I’ve miraculously achieved this balancing act.”

Story by Quentin Young • Photo by Matthew Jonas • Longmont Times-Call

COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 43

Tyler Sorensen

Age: 9 Occupation: Thirdgrader at Centennial Elementary in Firestone How long have you lived here? Since July What brought you here? My dad’s job (he received a promotion and was transferred here). You been in Cub Scouts for four years. What do you most enjoy about scouting? Probably all the events and the awards. (Also) selling popcorn and eating popcorn. What do you want to be when you grow up? I think I want to be part of an oil rig when I grow up.

Amulya Srivastava

can do out there on the tennis courts. If I feel like I can go out there and compete with the best kids and I don’t doubt myself, then I should have no problem playing my best tennis. I also have to make sure that I put in the right amount of time into my practices, because practice does make a man perfect. Who is the biggest inspiration in your life and why? My biggest inspiration in life would the first Latin Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor. I had a chance to meet her last year and really had a chance to talk to her oneonone for 15 minutes, and in those 15 minutes, she just told me about how she had been looked down upon when she was in high school and nobody believed in her and her abilities. But she never really bothered about what other people thought of her, and ... she just had to focus on what she wanted to do in her life. She was just very downtoearth about everything and extremely humble. And I think that’s where I get my inspiration.

Jason Stillman

three plunges per winter. Probably the most insane thing I’ve seen at a plunge was at our 2013 Valentine’s benefit plunge. Right after about 40 50 people plunged the river on a frigid day, an enormous bald eagle flew over the plunging hole. I think this was a sign from the great white bear of the north, expressing his appreciation for our plunging the icy waters. What is your most prized possession and why? My most prized possession, that’s easy. My hot tub. Without the hot tub, the LPBC probably would’ve never come to life. Many dreams have been lived in this hot tub, and today we lovingly call it the flood tub. Flood tub lives! The hot tub survived the great flood after totally submerging in the St. Vrain river in September. After digging out, I was sure the tub was finished. Sure enough, on New Year’s Eve, we got the tub going again, and yet another dream was lived in the hot tub on Prospect Street in Lyons, Colorado.

Age: 17 Occupation: Senior at Silver Creek High School Years in St. Vrain Valley: 4 What brought you here? What has kept you here? What brought me here was the fact that the U.S. (is) the “land of opportunities.” I feel like everyone deserves an opportunity to grow, achieve targeted goals in life and to leave a positive impression for the future. ... And there was no better place for me to get an opportunity that I deserve than in the United States. You have excelled on the Silver Creek tennis team. How do you arrive at the mental strength it takes to be a successful athlete? When you want to be successful at something, sometimes its not about how much talent you have, it’s about how much hard work and focus you are willing to put into it. For me, confidence is the first step in the process of building that mental strength. I know my abilities and what I

Age: 37 Occupation: Art director/graphic designer Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I bought a house in Lyons in 2007, knowing very little about the town. ... I was drawn to Lyons because of its physical beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities and proximity to work in Boulder. I really liked the smalltown feel of Lyons. What I ended up finding there beyond these things was the most amazing community of people I ever could’ve imagined. What’s the most insane thing you’ve seen at the Polar Plunge? A few of my friends and I started what would become the Lyons Polar Bear Club in January of 2010. ... About seven of us jumped into the icy St. Vrain River on New Year’s Day. Since then, the LPBC has gained around 180 members and organized roughly

Garian Vigil

Age: 44 Occupation: Publicist/writer/editor Years in St. Vrain Valley: 6.5 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I had just started working with a number of musicians in Lyons, and it seemed like the best place for me to live. I am a Colorado native (from the Western Slope), and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. As the editor of the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society’s monthly publication, Pow’r Pickin’, you’ve got a panoramic view of the local bluegrass

scene. What makes this area such fertile ground for that kind of music? I think like minded musicians are drawn here because of Planet Bluegrass or they become familiar with bands or artists who live here and it just sort of snowballs from there. Describe the best local concert experience you’ve had in the last year. All of them. I don’t mean to be vague, but I’ve really branched out in the past year as far as live music goes, and I’ve been saying “yes to everything.” It has proven to be a great, fun strategy for me.

44 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Whitney Swander

Age: 38 Occupation: Doctor of audiology and owner of Hearing HealthCare Centers. Years in St. Vrain Valley: Coming up on 13 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I graduated with my master’s degree in audiology in 2000 and immediately landed a job at the practice I now own. I commuted from Greeley until I realized this could be a permanent gig, and I purchased a house in Longmont on my 26th birthday. I have grown some deep roots both with my business, my church and the friends I have here so I do not see myself leaving anytime soon — or ever! People visit dentists and eye doctors for regular checkups, but not many see an audiologist regularly. How do you know if you are supposed to see an audiologist? It is recommended that everyone over 50 get hearing tests annually. Hearing loss can creep up so slowly it can stay undiagnosed until it is really causing problems for the person and their family in terms of frustration, isolation, difficulty performing job functions, etc. Hearing loss often begins as a subtle lack of clarity which leads people to feel as though others are mumbling or not speaking clearly when the problem is not the other people. What’s the number one cause of hearing loss? Is it rock ’n’ roll music? At this point it is still a close call between excessive noise and the aging process as the number one cause of hearing loss. True agerelated hearing loss does not develop until a person is in their 70s, which is why admitting you had a hearing loss made people feel so old in the past. As society gets louder and abuses their ears more with earbuds, loud music, noisy hobbies, etc, the age of people with significant hearing problems is coming down significantly so it will not be an “old age” problem for much longer.

John Taft

Age: 53 Occupation: Artist Years in St. Vrain Valley: We moved to Longmont in 2004. So we are coming up on 10 years. What brought you here? What has kept you here? I grew up back East, attended college in California, and drove through the West five times during those years, and something about the West, and the Rockies in particular, captured my imagination. As a landscape artist, do you have a favorite location to paint in the area? Colorado is beautiful, with a variety of subjects for an artist who paints the landscape. My first approach to Longmont was driving east on Nelson from U.S. 36 through open space. I thought to myself, “I could paint this.” One advantage of living in Longmont is the convenient access to such a wide variety of terrain. I love heading to the mountains to hike, explore, paint and sketch. Two of my favorite locations are Rocky Mountain National Park and the Indian Peaks Wilderness. At other times, I can stay close by and look east to the horizon. So, from the mountains to the prairies, it’s all good. You just opened a studio in downtown Longmont, and it features hours when members of the public can visit. What has been the public reception so far to your downtown presence? It is has been a good step for me to become more connected to the community through this move. It provides an excellent space to create and exhibit work locally. I am surprised by how many people seem to be at least as excited to visit as I am to be here. We welcomed nearly 300 people at our grand opening in December. We’re open Friday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. and extended hours on Second Fridays.

y t i n u m Com Review Support the local businesses that hat make make a difference difference in in our our community community 1981

The Food Bank for Boulder & Broomfield Counties

A Little Giving Goes a Long Way. In Service to the Community for 33 Years! www.communityfoodshare.org

1983

Terry E. Robinson, M.D. Board Certified Ophthalmologist, Eye Physician & Surgeon

Specializing in: Cataract Surgery, Glaucoma, Muscular Degeneration and All Age Related Eye Diseases

650 S. Taylor Ave • Louisville, CO 303-652-3663 • Fax 720-864-8020

500 Coffman #109 • Longmont (303) 776-EYES (3937)

1984

Longmont’s Home Improvement Warehouse for over 30 years!

Commercial • Residential Architectural • Sheet Metal

1983 of

Longmont

Po BoX 1511 Longmont, Co 80502

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Keeping Lawns Healthy for Life.

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Steve’s Plumbing Repair • Remodel

224 Main St. • 303-682-9980

Hot Water Heaters • Service Work Maintenance • Gas Log Installation

www.JestersTheatre.com

Steve Moskel, Master Plumber 303-651-1898

1987

2919 W. 17th Avenue Longmont, CO 80503 303-772-0300

1988 26 years in Business!

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Firestone: 6140 Firestone Blvd. • 303-678-1616

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COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 45

Grammy Award winning musician Sally Van Meter poses for a portrait at her home in Lyons.

46 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

‘Music chose me’

Saying yes to a gig led to a 40-year career — and a Grammy win — for this small-town girl

t was in a large Victorian house in Chico, Calif., where Lyons musician Sally Van Meter found her muse. Van Meter was inspired by the 13 other residents, mostly musicians, living in the “hippie hamlet” where she spent about a year learning to play the 1934 Dobro resonator guitar that she purchased for $42 from a thrift store. “I think what it meant to me when I got my first Dobro was that I felt grounded, completely grounded,” Van Meter said. When she was about 16 years old, Van Meter learned to play the family Martin slide guitar, lap-style. Her style was inspired by her mother — a former lyric soprano opera singer who retired to be a full-time mom — and the mesmerizing sounds of her father’s Hawaiian trio. Music is in her genes. “Music chose me,” Van Meter said. “I wasn’t looking for it.” She learned her first chords from her neighbor, Fey — a “mountain woman” who lived in a sawmill town where Van Meter lived before moving to a farm in Chico where she spent most of her childhood.

Fey would sit on her amp and sip on a beer while playing a Fender Telecaster with Van Meter. “It was a natural fit,” Van Meter said. “It was like spiritual food.” Music was a welcoming community for Van Meter, who ended up in her first band Good Ol’ Persons in 1976 when she was 19. A representative of the band came knocking on the door of Van Meter’s Victorian collective after seeing her perform. “They wanted me to come down and play a gig with them, and in my complete naiveté, I went ‘sure, why not,’” she said. “I drove down with about seven of my friends in a Volkswagen van and played a gig.” Eventually, the band invited her to become a member, launching Van Meter’s 40year music career. “It was a big change for a girl who went to a one-room schoolhouse in a much smaller town that played with goats and sheeps and horses and that kind of stuff to pack it up and move to San Francisco,” she said. But Van Meter jumped into her new career head first. Coming out of her shell in front of an audience seven nights a week was scary for

ing 10 resonator guitar players. Age: 58 At the time only producers Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 got a gramophone trophy, so Occupation: Musician, a gold Grammy certificate filmmaker, member of hangs in a frame with a goldLyons Housing Recovery coated copy of the album in Task Force Van Meter’s home office. Van Meter moved to Colorado in 1996 during a search Van Meter, who describes for something new. herself as a very private per“I was in a place where I son. couldn’t connect anyIt took years for Van Meter more,” she said. “I was restto break out of her shell but less, and I wanted to figure once she cracked the surout what else was out there.” face music came pouring In 1998, Van Meter moved out. from Boulder to a house in “We (musicians) really Lyons — a quaint town with play music just because a surprising, positive and that’s what you do, that’s wide-open music scene, she what speaks to you,” she said. said. “For most working Van Meter had rediscovmusicians, music is your ered the connection she church.” briefly lost and her creative Her career kicked off with juices were flowing again. an array of studio work and One day, Van Meter said, live performances. The she was “pondering the unioffers were plentiful for a verse,” when she decided to young, energetic musician apply for admission to the playing a slide guitar. University of Colorado. Van Meter found odd jobs, She was still on the fence like assembly line capo-mak- about attending when she ing, to fill the financial gaps got her acceptance, which in her music career. Europe- she took as a sign pointing an tours and a solo album to her next step in life. were highlights of the next Five years later, in 2012, two decades. then 56-year-old Van Meter In 1994, Van Meter won a graduated with honors Grammy for the Best Bluereceiving a bachelor of fine grass Album for her work on arts degree in film produc“The Great Dobro Sessions,” tion and studies. Van Meter has made seva collaborative album featur-

Sally Van Meter

eral short films since receiving her degree, including an 8-minute film detailing the struggle of a Lyons family whose home was destroyed by the September flood. Van Meter is a member of the Lyons Housing Recovery Task Force and has spent much of her time since the flood volunteering for rebuilding efforts. Eventually, she would like to make a full-length documentary about the flood in Lyons, but for now Van Meter continues to lend a hand when she can. Occasionally Van Meter finds time to teach music lessons, record in the studio and write, she said. In about 1½ years, Van Meter is looking forward to jumping into another film project as she heads back to Europe to work on a music film and travel. Despite the occasional detour, Van Meter has always found her way back home; back to the one thing that sustains her. “Playing slide guitar is my form of church or ritual that keeps me completely upright in life,” Van Meter said. “Still does. Always will.”

Story by Whitney Bryen• Photo by Matthew Jonas • Longmont Times-Call COMMUNITY REVIEW • MARCH 30, 2014 • 47

Ana Temu Age: 22 Occupation: Student senator at Metropolitan State University of Denver; intern for Colo. Senator Jessie Ulibarri, DAdams County Years in St. Vrain Valley: 16 What brought you here? What has kept you here? I was born in Los Angeles. I am a firstgeneration citizen in the United States. My mother escaped genocide from the Guatemalan civil war in the late 1980s and raised me to be a strong, independent and accepting woman. HIV threatened my mother’s life when I was 4; we left California seeking a better life in Colorado. ... Her sister had already been living here for a few years, and that is how she decided to move to Longmont. Growing up, I’ve loved Longmont and all it has to offer. Why do you find it important to share your immigration story? Before my mother received her residency, I saw the struggle she went through to obtain proper medical attention and medicine. ... My stepfather who works on a farm comes home ... with a lingering stench of chemical fertilizers. My father, a reformed convict, studying psychology, educating youth on the importance of not being involved with drugs or violence still has to go through immigration court .... I used to think, “Why don’t they just get in line?” but the truth is, there is no line; there is no form that can be filled out. … Time after time, I’ve learned that people … can relate to my struggle and my comebacks throughout life. Once a common ground is established, I can start to introduce the issue, explain the true problems and how it can be fixed. What are your personal and career goals in the next 10 years? As of now, I am not sure exactly what I want to be doing 10 years from now. ... I want to help people in anyway they need helping. My life feels at its fullest when I put myself in a position to help others, whether that’s teaching, organizing or being in politics — all I want to do is help.

Rachael Teufel Age: 36 Occupation: Owner and sugar artist, Intricate Icings Cake Design, Erie Years in the area: I have lived in Erie, Vista Ridge, for 8 years. What brought you here? What has kept you here? My husband and I moved to Erie from Connecticut in 2006, due to a job opportunity for him. We love the small community atmosphere, while still being close to major attractions and popular destinations in Colorado. What got you involved in creating cakes as works of art? My passion for cake started as a young girl baking with my mother and grandmother. I was always involved in the arts like painting, drawing and sculpting due to my dad’s influence, too. These two passions worked quite well together and were a great escape from day job as a physical therapist. I eventually turned this into my current business. How could people in other professions and occupations take a more artistic approach to their products and creations? Should they? I think it all depends on the person and the company. Sometimes artistry is warranted and fits well with the product being created. Often products are more focused on function and leave less room for creativity. Businesses should mold their companies into what works best from them and the client they are trying to reach.

Frank Tiff Age: 90 Occupation: Retired heavy construction equipment operator Years in St. Vrain Valley: 43, all of them living in Longmont’s Historic East Side Neighborhood What brought you here? I moved here because I had work here. I originally came to Colorado from Kansas, to begin with. Then I lived 10 years in Steamboat. You’re known for your homemade popcorn balls. How many do you make? Do you sell them or give them away? I make a bunch of them in the wintertime. I sell a few of them. I have my own recipe. Some are caramel coated, some coconut, some cinnamon, some cherry. Whenever I go to the cafe, the waitress gets one. Whenever I go to the grocery store, the sacker gets one, the clerk gets one. I’ve made probably over a thousand this winter, but I haven’t eaten one yet myself this year. You’re said to be a familiar fixture in your neighborhood. Do you take walks to visit your neighbors? I just stay here in my own yard. I do my own yard and garden work. Or I sit on my porch. They walk by and call me by my name, but I don’t always know theirs.

48 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Maria Lily Villagran

Age: 55 Occupation: Own a homebased child care center Years in St. Vrain Valley: 47 What brought you here? What has kept you here? My parents and our family moved here from Anthony, New Mexico. We were migrant workers. A friend of my father’s said, “Try out Colorado.” We came here and stayed. I had three sisters and three brothers; one brother has passed away. We grew up here. We just got used to the society here. I graduated from Niwot High School. My mother Lucia, who’s 89 (as of early March), still lives here. I’ve raised four girls here in Colorado. I have seven grandchildren, with one more on the way. What got you into child care? I’d done volunteer work in my children’s schools when they were young and had tutored in English as a Second Language programs. A girlfriend who’s been in child care for 23 years said, “Why don’t you do it?” I thought there was a need for it and got my state license in 2008. What’s been most rewarding about operating a child care center? I’ll be honest with you, sometimes it can be tiring. But the children are my therapy. When a child leaves here having learned something, that’s therapy for me. Every day is a learning experience. They don’t learn from me. I learn from them. And when a child laughs, they all laugh, and I laugh with them. If you can’t beat them, join them. And that’s therapy too. I laugh every day. I need that to keep young.

Rebecca N. Vincent Age: 18 Occupation: Senior at Frederick High School; parttime group leader in the Spark! Discovery Preschool wraparound program and the Legacy Elementary Lion’s Den before and afterschool childcare program and summer camp. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 14 years. Began preschool in August 2000 at Prairie Ridge Elementary School. What brought you here? What has kept you here? My family and I moved to the Carbon Valley area with the goal of a larger home, and a place to raise a family. Throughout the years, this has become more than that, it has become our home. ... I love being here. The people are friendly, compassionate and hard working. Why is volunteering in your community so important to you? A community is what you make it. … It takes great people to make a great community. When I was a young Girl Scout, I was taught to always leave behind something that is better than it was when I arrived. And that’s what I’m doing. I’ve been active in many community organizations, all with the goal of making a positive impact on those around me. I am currently serving as the chairwoman for the Frederick Youth Commission. I am incredibly proud of the work the Commission has done, ... but particularly of our Thanksgiving Dinner Box program. This year, the commission with the help of our community provided full Thanksgiving meals for 15 families in need. I think this project made as much of an impact on me as we did on the families. What are your educational and career goals in the next 10 years? In the fall, I will be traveling to Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. I plan to double major in leadership and marketing, with a minor in business administration. I have a passion for leadership and public speaking. I enjoy teaching people and helping them reach for their dreams. Initially, I would like to begin my career in the marketing department of a large corporation with the eventual growth towards corporate training.

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Ron Vogel

What year did you begin flying professionally, and what’s changed since then? I started flying in 1959 in Age: 74 college, and then all through the ’60s, I Occupation: Retired United Airlines flew out of Longmont, instructing and pilot. I ended up (my career) as a 747 charter flying, and I was hired by United captain. in 1969. What’s changed? Everything changed for the Years in St. Vrain Valley: airlines on 9/11 (Sept. 11, I was born a few feet from (the 2001.) And prior to that was TimesCall building, on deregulation — when they Coffman and Fourth Avenue, deregulated the airlines and in 1939. And aside from a few they became much more years living in Europe, post competitive. ... But to me it’s college days, I’ve lived in still a magical thing, just the Longmont my whole life. whole environment of airlines. What brought you here? The new technology, it’s still a What kept you here? My grandparents magical thing. To get on a 787 at Denver and fly nonstop to Tokyo — first came here in 1920 (farming first that was never heard of before. along Niwot Road then later east of Longmont off Colo. Highway 119). I flew What are some of the perks of the world with United Airlines as well as being a pilot, and what’s your traveled the world, but we always liked favorite destination? The perks are discounted travel and free travel, Longmont, and of course we had our depending on which airline you were family and friends here. We have the mountains and all that we enjoy here in with. ... I’ve got bunches of favorites, but if I had to boil it down to one, we Longmont. And I’m thankful for the airport — I was able to do a lot of flying still like Hawaii. We still find that to be very relaxing (although Arizona and out of there, and I still fly out of there. Europe are also favorites).

Sarah Allene Wise

Age: 90 Occupation: Retired professor, taught medical laboratory science at the universities of Vermont, Utah and Nevada; local historian. Years lived here: About 50 years, total, in the Erie area. What brought you back here? What has kept you here? I’ve lived on a farm in Canfield, two miles west of the county line and old Erie. I went to high school in Erie. I grew up in the house that I now use as the Wise Homestead Museum office. When I was a child, Mother and I spent many hours helping my grandparents at the homestead home, which was next door. I returned to my childhood home after I retired from the University of Nevada. This is where my roots are, and I plan to remain. What was your family’s role Erie area history? They had a store and a

Kyle Zimmer Age: 20 Occupation: CU student, Boulder County Sheriff’s cadet Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 What brought you here? What has kept you? I moved to the Longmont area with my family when I was young. I have grown up and spent the majority of my life here, and I really like the area. How do you see yourself in 15 years? In 15 years I want to be working in law enforcement fulltime, ideally in the Front Range area. I want a career

flour mill in Canfield. My great grandfather, O.E. Wise, came from Wisconsin with a sick wife, Ada, and three children — two boys in their late teens and a girl, 11. He was a blacksmith and farmer homesteading land in 1886 and building a house in 1872. One boy, William O., was an editor of the ErieCanfield paper and a legislator, while the other, J.O.V., was a farmer, cattleman and an active community leader. They also became owners in a coal mine. What should the area be like for future generations? In the future, Erie will grow slowly but should retain an element of historical Erie and the “small town” atmosphere. I hope I can help the younger generation learn and appreciate the life and hardships of a family that homesteaded in the late 1800s. This, I think, can be done by maintaining the homestead farm home for tours. It is open by appointment. Come visit! that really allows me to give back to, and make a positive impact within, the community that I grew up in. Describe the best day of your life so far. While 20 years is a significant amount of time to have been around, I don’t think that I can narrow the most positive experiences in my life down to a single day. I have had some great experiences and met a lot of great people, but I don’t know that I can call out any day as the single best day of my life. I think that there are a lot of great moments in my life yet to come, and I look forward to finding them.

50 • MARCH 30, 2014 • COMMUNITY REVIEW

Richard “Wally” Wolniewicz

Age: 74 Occupation: After retiring both from a 24year career in the Air Force followed a 24year career as an aerospace engineer with Lockheed Martin, I’ve become a down toearth farmer. Years in St. Vrain Valley: 17 What brought you here? What has kept you here? Family ties brought my wife, Gretel, and I here. Gretel’s sister, Elaine Hansen, was director of Colorado’s Space Grant Consortium at CU. She is also coowner of Blue Cloud Farms riding stable. Elaine alerted us that the farm next to Blue Cloud was for sale. Additionally, our son, Richard, earned his undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees at CU. Rich and his wife, Katherine, have raised four children in Gunbarrel. Being close to our grandchildren was a definite influence in our decision to move here. What is a memory that sticks out from your time at the Air Force Academy? One of my proudest moments came at the end of basic cadet training when our class was accepted into the Cadet Wing. It

Diane Wood

marked the culmination of a couple of years of hard work applying for and getting an appointment to the academy. Another great memory occurred in March 1964 just before I graduated. Sight unseen and outof theblue, I phoned a beautiful young lady and asked for a date. Next thing I knew we’ve been together half a century with loads of memories. Has farming been passed down in your family? If not, what made you decided to start farming in the area? More specifically, my grandfather, who died 10 years before I was born, was a blacksmith and florist in Chicago and my father was also at times a florist. There was, however, no direct passage of farm experience to me. During my high school years, I worked three summers on a South Dakota farm, enjoyed it, and learned that farming required much hard work. At the time the farm next to Blue Cloud became available ... I was nearing the end of my years of gainful employment, was knowledgeable about what I was getting into, and felt up to the challenge. It has been great fun since then.

did a lot of stained glass and really loved it. But when I turned 50, I developed arthritis in my neck and all Age: 76 the pinching and scoring affected my Occupation: Artist neck to the point where I could not Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 sleep at night. So, I began to think of a What brought you here? new creative endeavor. I took What has kept you here? a few art classes at adult We first came to Colorado in education, but did not the1970s after reading earnestly concentrate on (James) Michener’s book painting until we moved to “Centennial.” We fell in love Colorado in 1999 after retiring with Colorado and came from work. After working 30 back several times on years for the president and vacation. You don’t move CEO of a high tech company, 2,000 miles unless you are he passed away and my definitely sure that you wish position changed drastically. to do so. What a joy to paint. Your bio mentions a switch from Is there a big difference in the art the business world to the art world after 40 years. Was there one reason community in Longmont from the time you moved here in 1999 and in which you decided to pursue art now? I believe the Longmont full time, and what was the biggest community has become more aware challenge in switching to art field after being in the business world for of the artistic ability in their community. We have great events that so long? I always had a desire to bring attention to the arts: I try to create something artistic. My first participate in as many of these as endeavor was the piano and began possible. A wonderful favorite event is lessons at age 10. At one point in my Rhythm on the River. I manage the Art life I was a single mom and Zone Tent and fill it with local artists. supplemented my income with ArtWalks are a great way to introduce creations with found seed pods, the public to the arts. There are more mushrooms, dried flowers on barn galleries now in the Longmont area wood. I sold these to individuals and than when we moved here in 1999. also to a specialty shop in Vermont. I

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