Longmont Times-Call Community Review

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

100 Longmont Times-Call Community Review • March 27, 2011

Get to Know Your Neighbors

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

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m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

From the editor I bumped into David and Mary Lu on a recent Sunday morning. The day before, they had brought their daughter Morgan (Page 41) down to the Times-Call to have her photo taken. She had been selected as one of our 100.

They told me they were in and out fairly quickly but that if the photo shoot had taken hours, it would have been fine by them. They were fascinated by the others who also came to get their photos taken.

They wondered just what goes into this special edition.

And what about the man who spent his Saturday morning taking photographs?

TimesCallMedia.com Want to see more of these neighbors? View full portraits of all 100.

You might wonder, too.

Welcome to the 2011 edition of the Times-Call’s Community Review, an annual look at the people of the greater St. Vrain Valley. As we have done twice before, we chose the theme of 100.

That’s it: 100 faces and names. Some you will recognize, others you will not, until you’re finished reading.

Counting to 100 is not as

easy as you think, especially when you’re trying to count people who are coming and going, some saying “sure, I’m in” and others, “sorry, I can’t.”

So difficult is it that even as this edition was being proofed, a final count of the list below equaled 101. Turns out, Dave Wagner (page 65) was listed twice. Whew.

When an edition is titled “100,” that’s exactly what people expect. But whether it’s 99 or 101, people are the reason for this edition. And as with previous 100s, we again were amazed by the character of our communities and the

characters we discovered.

From talented teenage twins to an 89-year-old legend, and from natives to newcomers, we found the folks who love living and working in the St. Vrain Valley, and who make this a better place to live. And we put them in almost-alphabetical order.

I know the Lu family is eager to pour over this year’s edition. (David and Mary, you’ll find Joshua Buck on Page 13).

We trust that you, too, will want to spend the rest of the day with the people you are about to meet.

— JOHN VAHLENKAMP

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Who’s on the cover Top row, from left: Randy Ahlberg, Alan Ahlgrim, Chad Auer, Bob Ball, Greg Beery, Clark Bell, Michael Bellmont, Pat Billson-Houston, Mariah Bledsoe, Mark Bradford Second Row: Julie Kocjancic, Tom Chenault, Olivia Phillips, Betty Heath, Bonnie Sims, Will Gregorak, Sue Mesch, Terry Kroenung, Loretta Richter, Laura McConnell Third row: Ron Morrow, Carol Salter, Genaro Laynes

Who’s inside Randy Ahlberg ................................ 4

Bob Goff ........................................34

Joe Pelle ........................................44

Alan Ahlgrim .................................. 4

Josh Goldberg ................................20

Payton Peterson .............................50

Chad Auer ....................................... 4

Larry Green ...................................33

Olivia Phillips ................................ 51

Bob Ball.......................................... 6

Will Gregorak.................................34

Ray Potter ..................................... 51

Greg Beery ..................................... 7

Lacey Haddock...............................35

Ben Ready ..................................... 51

Clark Bell ....................................... 6

Lindey Haddock .............................35

Regina Renaldi...............................54

Michael Bellmont ............................ 7

Scott Hamlin ..................................35

Mary Reynolds ...............................54

Pat Billson-Houston ......................... 8

Betty Heath....................................38

Loretta Richter...............................54

Lexie Birren ................................... 10

Eric Hozempa ................................38

Edwina Salazar ..............................48

Mariah Bledsoe ............................... 8

Gillian Hyde ...................................38

Carol Salter....................................55

Mark Bradford ................................ 7

Dave Johnson .................................39

Gabe Santos ...................................55

Laura Brown ................................... 9

Brad Jolly ......................................39

Jeffy Satur .....................................55

Barb Brunk ....................................13

Lucia Salomone Kaczeus.................39

Jennifer Scheidies ..........................56

Joshua Buck...................................13

Julie Kocjancic...............................39

Terry Schueler ...............................56

Larry Burkhardt ............................15

Terry Kroenung..............................40

Brandon Shaffer .............................57

Dale Carr.......................................13

Genaro Laynes ...............................40

Mike Shea ......................................57

Steve Carver ..................................17

Thad Lear ...................................... 41

Bonnie Sims ...................................56

Tom Chenault .................................17

William Ledesma ...........................40

Annie Sirotniak ..............................60

Kevin Clowers ................................18

Kathleen Leiding ............................25

Paul Sorensen ................................60

Jim Cochran ..................................26

Dick Lentz......................................30

Carolyn Storz ................................. 61

Scott Cook ......................................18

Sarah Levison.................................40

Bridget Sutton ................................ 61

Bob Dacey......................................18

Morgan Lu ..................................... 41

Jul Swan ........................................52

Zeb Dennis .....................................18

Erik Mason ....................................42

Connie Syferd .................................60

Drew Depler...................................27

Scott Mayfield ................................42

John “Jaytee” Tanguma ..................65

Steve Desmond...............................28

Laura McConnell ............................42

Troy Terry......................................65

Marvin Dyer ..................................28

Joaquin Melendez...........................43

Eugene Waara................................59

Mario Miguel Echevarria................29

Sue Mesch......................................42

Dave Wagner..................................65

Jennifer Eisenlau ...........................28

Mark Mills .....................................43

Pam Ware ......................................66

Bill Ellis ........................................29

Annie Moore...................................37

Amy Weed......................................66

Tracy Evans...................................29

Ron Morrow ...................................44

Jeff Wilkes .....................................66

Buzz Feldman ................................29

Mike Murphy..................................44

Serena Williams .............................66

Christy Friesner .............................33

Isabella Musser..............................43

Dr. Jane Wolford .............................63

Jenny Friesner ...............................33

Bill Nelson .....................................44

Reed Gattman ................................33

The Rev. Carol GanSho O’Dowd .......50

Fourth row: Ben Ready, Lyndie and Lacey Haddock Fifth row: Reed Gattman, Bob Dacey, Laura Brown Sixth row: The Rev. Carol GanSho O’Dowd, Drew Depler, Gabe Santos, Jennifer Eisenlau, Marvin Dyer, Jenny Friesner, Buzz Feldman, Eric Hozempa, Gillian Hyde, Joaquin Melendez Seventh row: Scott Mayfield, Regina Renaldi, Scott Hamlin, Isabella Musser, Brad Jolly, Dave Johnson, Terry Schueler, Mike Shea, Annie Sirotniak, Payton Peterson Eighth Row: Morgan Lu, Tracy Evans, William Ledesma, Jennifer Scheidies, Scott Cook, Christy Friesner, Lucia Salomone Kaczeus, Joe Pelle, Mario Miguel Echevarria, Sarah Levison Bottom row: Paul Sorensen, Carolyn Storz, Bridget Sutton, Connie Syferd, John “Jaytee” Tanguma, Troy Terry, Dave Wagner, Pam Ware, Amy Weed, Jeff Wilkes

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Randy Ahlberg

Alan Ahlgrim

Age: 59 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Born and raised in Longmont Occupation: Funeral director/co-owner/operator of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory How did you choose your line of work? Growing up watching my father, Rod Ahlberg, in our business, I was drawn to the way he was able to help families deal with the loss of a loved one — Ahlberg from embalming and cosmetology to prepare a body for viewing, making the necessary arrangements with minister, musicians, speakers, cemetery and other aspects for a funeral or memorial service, to just being there with a sympathetic ear so that those who need can share some of their burden. As I grew older, I knew I too wanted to be a funeral director like my dad.

You face grief on a day-to-day basis. How do you deal with that? Dealing with grief every day is not easy; however, what gives me strength is my Christian faith, knowing that God provides me with all I need to overcome any difficulty. Also, having the families I serve tell me that the help I have provided, no matter how great or small, has made a positive difference in their time of grief. I make a deposit in my “grief bank” every time someone lets me know I have helped, and then when difficult situations arise or the hours and days of work begin to blur and run into each other, I make a withdrawal from the bank, remembering those I have helped, knowing that the present work and effort is worth it for the family I am assisting.

How has your business changed since you started? Are people requesting cremations over burials because of cost? Certainly the increased rate of cremation, probably 10 percent when I started in 1976 to today’s nearly 65 percent, is one significant change in funeral service, and the fact that cremation is generally less expensive is a factor. One of the changes I see as very positive is the many different ways families wish to remember and honor those who die. Early in my career, we did funeral services, and they were often thought of as sad and depressing.

Although there is no way to avoid sadness in death, today we assist families in personalizing the service, to create a “celebration of the life.”

What do you like to do in your spare time? I try to be a good husband and father to my wife, Sue, and children Torre, Krista and Sofie. I enjoy volunteering through my Rotary club and many community organizations on boards past and present.

My recreation is hiking our wonderful mountains with Sue and getting in as many rounds of golf as I can.

Age: 63 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 27 Occupation: Lead pastor of Rocky Mountain Christian Church.

We’re all about helping people better connect with God and each other through our teaching, fellowship and service opportunities.

Rocky Mountain Christian Church has two campuses — one Ahlgrim in Frederick and the other in Niwot — and you are the lead pastor for both. How do you manage to lead two congregations without cloning yourself? Yes, I’m the lead pastor of RMCC, one church, one vision, one leadership team, but with two campuses. Since I’ve never been cloned, I serve people at both campuses. That’s possible only because of a strong group of teaching pastors and a terrific support team. The teaching pastors alternate campuses and venues; however, I am usually teaching on the Niwot Campus. We have two chapel services and two in the main auditorium at Niwot on Sunday, and three services on our Frederick Campus, two on Sunday and one on Saturday evening. Seven services each weekend, as well as a full range of programs for children and students in addition to a variety of midweek events, keep us all in high gear!

Five years from now, what would you like to see at Rocky Mountain Christian Church? More of the same — more answered prayer, more kids taught, more marriages mended, more families strengthened, more lives changed, more ministries flourishing in the community and around the world and even more joy as we celebrate God’s blessings!

What is your favorite Bible verse and why? I have many; however, I find myself frequently sharing Romans 15:13 with those low on hope: “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t desire deeper hope, joy and peace.

Have you ever seen someone actually fall asleep during a service? Usually just the babies, but unfortunately, not all of them! Whenever I see people closing their eyes during a message, I prefer to assume that they’re seriously and prayerfully meditating.

All joking aside, I am privileged to enjoy the God-given opportunity of watching Him at work every week when His people gather. I see countless illustrations of people having their heads and hearts changed and their lives transformed. God continues to work powerfully both through imperfect people and imperfect pastors.

His grace is amazing!

Chad Auer Age: 39 Years in St Vrain Valley: 29 Occupation: Manager for the Targeted District Improvement Partnership program at the Colorado Department of Education You grew up in this area. How hard is it to be a civic leader in a place where people still remember you playing high school sports? Given the fact that I was a mediocre high school athlete at best, I doubt too many people remember any of my athletic Auer accomplishments. That being said, growing up in the area, I was blessed with a large number of people who invested in my life. I had incredible teachers who inspired me, coaches who guided me and community leaders who mentored me. Additionally, many of the kids I grew up with continue to live and work here, just like I do. These are my people. I love them, and by serving well, I hope to make them proud.

Firestone hit a growth spurt for about a decade, then cooled off with the national economy. How far away is the next “spurt,” and what do you think will trigger it? There is no doubt that Firestone ... felt the impact of the economic downturn. While it is true that we are not issuing building permits at the rate we once were, Firestone does continue to grow. We have outpaced neighboring Front Range communities in residential and commercial development over last three years. I believe that Firestone will begin another aggressive growth spurt in the next 12 to 24 months. I believe this uptick will be triggered by the growthfriendly policies and innovative economic development program that we are implementing as a community.

You’ve used both the slopes and the fairways to unwind. Where’s the best skiing and the best golf these days? I will ski just about anywhere there is a nice fall line, powder and a chance to catch some air. My kids would say that the best skiing is in the terrain parks, but I like the solitude of the less-traveled slopes labeled with black diamonds. The best fairways? Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone is my favorite course — but I’m not very familiar with the fairways.

What’s the most unusual issue you’ve ever faced as mayor? Perhaps the most unusual is the prairie dog issue. The fact that TV news outlets came to Firestone and interviewed me about our prairie dog policy amazed me. Even further, I later learned that the story was carried by a Tampa TV station, and I was even approached by a reality TV producer! I also received a number of very candid offers from well-intentioned and well-armed citizens to “handle” the problem for me.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Bob Ball Age: 55 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 23 years on the Front Range; began work in Longmont in October 2008 Occupation: City of Longmont traffic engineer What got you into the traffic world? Did you just say, “I want to be a traffic engineer when I grow up”? My favorite college teacher taught transportation engineering.

This profession is challenging and rewarding, though there are times when I wish he had Ball taught something else.

When it comes to traffic, it seems like everyone’s an expert. What’s the biggest challenge Longmont faces these days in literally keeping things moving?

How to best utilize and maintain what we have. Revenues are not keeping up with costs and maintenance needs, so building more or wider roads is less often a viable solution. We also need to maintain connectivity and transportation options with the Denver metro area and other neighbor communities.

How have the needs changed from when you first entered the job? The economy and gasoline prices have caused traffic volumes in Longmont (and

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Clark Bell Age: 80 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 10 Occupation: Retired; college music professor at Florida Atlantic University How does a former college professor in Florida end up living in Longmont?

What brought me to Colorado was grandchildren. My son-in-law was with IBM, and they shifted him to Boulder from Boca Raton, Fla. Florida and Colorado are distinctly different states.

What’s the biggest difference that you’ve noticed in the 10 years you’ve lived here? I guess one of the main things is the humidity. It’s pretty brutal down there, especially in the Bell summertime. My wife noticed the difference right away. She used to have problems in Florida, and as soon as we got here, they just cleared right up.

Tell me about writing the Florida Atlantic theme song. In 1980, there was a contest for an alma mater (song) and a fight song. They didn’t like the

nationally) to be flat in recent years, which is a big change from consistent traffic growth over recent history. Only time will tell if this is a temporary or long-term trend.

Writers often find themselves analyzing books they read. Actors subconsciously pick apart movies. Do you ever find yourself mulling over a town’s streets while you’re on vacation or taking a weekend? To my family’s chagrin, I am constantly looking at traffic engineering “stuff ” as we travel or drive elsewhere. It helps to see what works well, and not so well, in other communities.

How do you balance what drivers/walkers/cyclists want to see on the roads? Cars, buses, bicycles, pedestrians and adjacent residents are all legitimate roadway system users and often have conflicting needs. It’s important to balance the safety and efficient travel needs of all users, and to meet people’s expectations so they can travel safely.

How do you relax? Along with keeping up with my two teenage boys, I like to relax outside on a ski slope, trail, camping trip, road trip, a walk or bicycle trip around town. Colorado is such a great place to live.

second verse of my alma mater. ... But the fight song — I never heard anything until about a year ago. They got a new band director, and he found my sheet music for the song and asked me if he could use it.

I also have about 30 original songs on the website teacherspayteachers.com.

They’re a collection of children’s songs that I recorded in the late ’70s.

I understand that you’ve had a busy retirement, including learning to ski at 70 years old. I took my first ski lesson in 2000, and it didn’t go well, but I tried again and I loved it.

I had 33 ski trips that year.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday I’m usually playing volleyball, in the season. I play tennis Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. And I like to ski, of course, and then I play golf when it’s nice and sunny. And me and my wife are in a camping club; we go camping at least once a month in season. We just got back from a 6,300-mile trip to Florida, pulling a 31-foot trailer.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

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Michael Bellmont Age: 56 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 Occupation: Owner of Long-Term Care Planning and Long-Term Care Insurance; local musician Your background is in insurance, but I understand caring for your father while he was suffering from Alzheimer’s is the reason you got into the field you’re in. It was driven by that. I had followed my father into the insurance business.

I realized if I could be passionate about anything in insurance, this was it.

That was a major factor in why I’m a specialist today.

Greg Beery Bellmont

You grew up on music in Houston, learning everything from blues and black gospel to earning a performance degree in classical guitar. What’s your favorite kind of music?

Spinach. No — my favorite kind of music? Good music. That probably comes off a quote from Duke Ellington, who said there are two kinds of music in the world: good and bad.

I love variety — rock ‘n’ roll, Cole Porter, funk, Latin. ... I am particularly attracted to rhythmic forms. ... It depends on what hour of the day you catch me.

You’re very giving with your music, whether performing for those who attend Old Chicago’s annual Thanksgiving dinner or giving intimate house concerts to raise money for charity. You see music as a pretty powerful tool, don’t you? You know, there have been countless studies on the chemical effect of music on our moods. It’s age-old that music is more than entertainment.

Our culture is shameful, in a way, that we have separated music out from the fabric of culture. In other cultures — whether it’s to celebrate, grieve or meditate — every significant part of life had its musical counterpart.

Tell me about the time you met Jimi Hendrix. In the summer of 1970, I was 15 and I had my learner’s permit. That was in the day you could call a hotel and ask them, ‘Is Jimi Hendrix staying there?’ ‘Yeah, he’s staying here.’ ... So my dad drove me over there.

I went up to his room, and next door, Billy Cox, his bass player, had his door open, and he comes out and starts talking to me.

Then Jimi comes out — the most respectful, courteous guy you’d ever want to meet.

What do you say riding down an elevator with Jimi Hendrix? So I asked him, “Can my dad give you a ride to the concert?”

The musician politely declined, Bellmont said.

Mark Bradford Age: 43 Occupation: Software engineer and technical manager at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 12 (moved from Broomfield to Longmont in 1999) What made you realize you had a talent for voice work? Tell us about a Bradford couple of your projects. I’ve enjoyed working with my voice since I was a young child playing with puppets and my parents’ battery-operated cassette recorder. For a number of years, I’ve been the master of ceremonies at the annual Nan Desu Kan anime convention in Denver, and that led indirectly to a volunteer position as an announcer for the Denver Roller Dolls roller derby league, with whom I’m starting my sixth season. I’ve also volunteered my voice for the LibriVox project, creating free audio books from public-domain texts, and for the charity Recording For the Blind & Dyslexic. More recently, I’ve recorded narration for educational materials for meteorologists and joined the cast of Pendant Audio, a group that writes and records audio dramas for the Internet.

How long have you been studying tae kwon do, and are you pursuing a third-degree black belt? What kind of work will go into that? I took up tae kwon do in 2000, achieving my firstdegree rank in 2005 and second degree in 2008. I would like to achieve the rank of third degree, but I’ve had some conflicts in the past year, and to get back on track, I need to spend more time in the classroom, not only perfecting my techniques and learning new ones, but reinforcing them by teaching students of lower ranks.

What moved you to audition for a play? Did you get the role you sought? Now that you have the stage experience, will we see you in more local productions? To improve my voice acting abilities, I’ve been taking evening acting classes down in Denver, and I recently reached the point where it made sense to start auditioning for various productions. As a newcomer to the scene, I expected it to take a while, but after about a half-dozen auditions, I landed a role in George Bernard Shaw’s “The Philanderer” at The Upstart Crow in Boulder. The role is of a scientific man, in a period production, so it was almost tailor-made for me.

Age: 52 Years in St. Vrain Valley: I was born in Community Hospital and have lived in Boulder County ever since.

Occupation: Automotive tech shop owner You’ve had the off-roading bug for more than 40 years. How did you manage to turn that hobby Beery into a business? I learned early on not to go fourwheeling alone. So I joined a four-wheel club in Boulder, Boulder 4 Wheelers, so I would have other people to go with.

What I found out was that with more people, there are more places to explore. We would help each other with problems that would come up and, of course, upgrades to the Jeeps. Then I was involved in an auto accident with work and was unable to return to the type of work I was doing. To keep from going crazy, I asked a very good friend if I could use his garage to tinker with my Jeep. So I was renting his garage to work on other Jeeps when my father and I started talking about becoming a business. We found a small shop in the back of an old building. That was the start of 4WD XTREME, and nine years later, we are still fixing Jeeps and other brands. We did move to a better location.

Do you belong to off-road club now? I have been a member of the Trailridge Runners 4WD club since 1995. It’s a Longmont club that’s very active, with 50 to 55 family members. Since 1990, we have put $499,240 worth of volunteer time, skills, material and grants into public lands. We do annual maintenance on five trails we’ve adopted in the Arapaho and Roosevelt forests — Middle St. Vrain, Coney Creek, Miller Rock, Nugget Hill and the Left Hand Canyon OHV Area — to maintain motorized public access to public lands. In 2000, we started working with the Boulder Ranger District and other recreation groups to improve the condition of the Left Hand OHV area. In 2001, the Colorado State Parks approved the Left Hand Canyon Restoration grant for the amount of $230,000. With the projects that we are able to do, we are able to keep the four-wheeling experience available for the generations to come.

What other organizations are you involved with? I’m also a member of the Colorado Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs and United 4WD Association. I also attend a monthly meeting with the Boulder Ranger District. I have held a few board positions with the Trailridge Runners, including president, vice president and delegate to the Colorado Association. In 2004, I was awarded the State Trail Worker award and the Four Wheeler of the Year award for the work that was done in the Left Hand Canyon OHV area. I was the grant coordinator, but I couldn’t have done it without the help of everyone involved.

Is it really a Jeep thing? In my case, I think I’ve gone to the dark side.

I drive a 1968 Jeepster Commando — the only original parts left are part of the body and the windshield frame. It’s enjoying the outdoors, exploring and seeing places that otherwise I wouldn’t be able to experience. And doing it with good friends.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Pat Billson-Houston

Mariah Bledsoe

Age: 64 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7 Occupation: Retired illustrator for Ball Aerospace in Boulder, and member of the Frederick Arts Commission, Longmont Artists’ Guild, Colorado Watercolor Society and Tri-Town Artist to Artist.

Why did you become involved in arts in the community? I became involved in arts because this picturesque town of Frederick and the TriBillson-Houston Town area are full of talented and interested folks who are excited about their history and their future, and my passion is to be part of this place by making our future as rich as our past.

What is the most important thing the Frederick Arts Commission does? The most important mission of the Frederick Arts Commission is to bring art into the community on a permanent basis through its public art installations and on an ongoing basis through its Revolving Art Show at the Bella Rosa Golf Course. The 12 Revolving Art Shows each year include two special shows — a student show and a photography show that gives each group its own venue. This brings art to the community, and gives artists a public place to exhibit their work.

Who is your favorite artist and why? My favorite artist is Brighton portrait artist Judee Dickinson, the first woman commissioned to paint a Colorado governor’s official portrait for the state Capitol building. Gov. Bill Ritter’s portrait was just installed. (Recently,) Adams County Government Center installed “We the People of Adams County,” 41 portraits of community members from all walks of life in two 4- by 7-foot panels. Art critics consider her in the country’s top 10 percent of portrait artists. I admire Judee for her passion in bettering her community, as evidenced by her involvement in the renovation of the new Brighton Armory Cultural Center.

What can we expect to see in terms of arts in Frederick in the coming years? An exciting new venture for the Frederick Arts Commission is working with Frederick High School Student Council, principal Pete Vargas and the Frederick Youth Commission to install a sculpture in the median near Colorado Boulevard and First Street to honor the Frederick High School Warriors. Our commission is looking for the right sculptor or finished piece to represent this concept.

Our commission also is collaborating with Parks, Open Space and Trails to implement Phase II of the Frederick Recreation Area Plan.

Age: 17 Occupation: Erie High School softball player Years in Weld County: 17 What attracted you to softball?

My dad coached it at Erie, and I grew up watching it, and it looked Bledsoe to be fun. My dad said he would coach me from T-ball on up.

(Former EHS softball player) Melanie Mahoney inspired me to want to be a pitcher like her.

What is your favorite memory of your team on and off the field? On the field, my favorite memory was winning at 4A and finishing on top my senior year with a home run in my last high school at-bat. Off the field, pre-state team dinners and team bonding prayers.

What went through your mind when you hit your first-ever home run against D’Evelyn last October? Yay, I did it! I was fired up, and when the bat connects at the sweet spot, you just feel it! On contact, I knew it was going over!

You were a part of four championship seasons. How can Erie softball keep its dynasty alive? It is simple: great coaching, talented athletes, hard work and dedication, tradition, and God with you every step of the way. Believing you can do it is half the battle.

What’s it like to have your dad as your coach? I feel really lucky to have had my dad as a coach. I will be honest: It isn’t always easy to be the coach’s daughter.

However, having his support and guidance is something that has molded me into not just a softball player, but a leader ready to take on new challenges.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Laura Brown Age: 53 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 8 Occupation: Partner/CEO of Sunshine Services LLC, a company providing museum exhibit services (and chairwoman of Frederick Arts Commission) Do you have a favorite work of public art in Frederick? They are all my favorites, for different reasons. If I must make a choice, I choose two of Brown them. I choose the piece at the corner of Colorado Boulevard (WCR 15) and Fifth Street, titled “Frederick’s Roots,” which we commissioned from artist Jay Tschetter. I choose it because of its unusual medium (sculpted brick) and because its three panels so clearly represent important elements of the town’s heritage.

I also choose “Spirit of the Wind,” a “wind forest” by Lyman Whitaker, which is the kinetic piece on Colorado Boulevard (WCR 15) between Fifth Street and Colo. Highway 52 along the Legacy Trail bike and pedestrian path. It uses the wind, that near-constant element in this area, to spin the individual elements of the forest. I think it’s whimsical and charming, and I hope it makes people smile as they go by.

What is the most important thing the Frederick Arts Commission does? The arts commission works to raise the profile of art in the community. We do it in several ways. We seek out and install works of art in public places with town funding allocated for that purpose.

We coordinate an annual juried art show and sale each fall. We also coordinate a revolving art show and sale featuring three to four artists at a time, which changes on a monthly basis and includes a photography-only show, and a student show. (All of the art shows are held at Bella Rosa Golf Course Clubhouse, 5830 Weld County Road 20.)

What artist most inspires you? I coordinate visual art. I don’t do it myself. As someone who enjoys singing and playing my guitar, these days I am captivated by the music of Cheryl Wheeler, a singer/songwriter who paints vivid pictures with her words, voice and music.

For members of the public who would like to become involved in the local arts community, what would you suggest they do? Participate. Enter a show, take a class, go to an opening, buy a piece of artwork, drag out your old art materials and have another go at it, volunteer for a local arts group like ours, just stop and really look at a piece of art for three uninterrupted minutes and think about it. Find the art in your surroundings and engage.

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m3/28/2011yTCcfewell 10 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

That’s how she rolls Skates, helmet, pads, a confidence boost, and ‘no one can mess’ with Lexie Birren

Roller derby 101 Roller derby games (or bouts) last 60 minutes and are divided into two 30-minute periods. Within each period are “jams,” the individual races in which teams may score points.

The game is played on a flat, oval track.

Each team has five skaters on the track during a jam — four blockers and one “jammer,” who can score points.

To score, a jammer must pass through the pack of blockers, then lap the pack. On the second pass, the jammer scores a point for every opposing blocker she passes.

Each jam may last up to two minutes, or until the lead jammer calls for the jam to end. There is a 30-second break while each team prepares for the next jam.

Interested in roller derby? Visit rockymountain rollergirls.com.

T

he thermometer in the warehouse reads 43 degrees Fahrenheit.

Toto Destruction, Psyco Delic, Hannibal Lexter and the rest of the Rollerpunks are not distracted by the chill.

They are focused instead on their blocking drills. Shoulders and hips are OK. Hands and elbows are not.

Position is valuable in roller derby. It’s the difference between scoring and being scored upon. So is staying on your wheels.

This is Lexter’s favorite part of the Sunday afternoon practice. She can focus on one aspect of the sport. Roller derby is fast and furious, so it’s a relief to take it one skill at a time. But even this drill demands skills not necessary at the public rink. More than dishing it out, each learns to take a hip to the thigh or a well-placed shoulder to the side and remain upright and in-bounds, or to “fall small.”

Practice ends with a halfhour scrimmage, in which the girls showcase everything they’ve learned — speed, balance, agility, strength, teamwork, a knowledge of the rules and how to get back up.

Each is a building block in a girl’s self-confidence, and for Lexter’s mom, it’s good reason to make the 40-minute drive from Longmont to a north Denver warehouse for the every-other-Sunday practice, even on a snowy January afternoon.

Last April, Lexie Birren joined the Rocky Mountain Rollerpunks, the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls junior league.

The membership requirements? A helmet, mouth guard, elbow pads, wrist

Lexie Birren Age: 15 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 7 Occupation: Silver Creek High School freshman, roller derby competitor, volunteer with humane society and public library

guards, knee pads, quad speed skates (not the boot skates Lexie first showed up with), the ability to do seven laps in two minutes and a nickname.

Every roller girl who passes her skills test gets a nickname.

Hannibal Lexter?

“Daisy Mayhem was already taken,” says Lexie’s mom, Jaime.

Sitting at their kitchen table in their east Longmont home, Jaime and Lexie Birren talk about what led Lexie to the flat track.

“I’ve always enjoyed bumping into my friends,” says Lexie, an admitted roughhouser.

“I thought it would be fun.”

Although Lexie “used to ice skate and really enjoyed it,” gaining confidence on wheels meant practicing in her granddad’s basement and at her neighborhood roller-hockey rink at Dell Rothrock Park.

Lexie had tried other sports — volleyball, basketball and track. None seemed to fit the Silver Creek freshman, who turned 15 in February.

On the roller derby track, she has a singular focus.

“My mind goes blank,” she says. “I think, ‘Hold the line.’”

That’s when it’s her job to keep the other team’s “jammer” from cutting past her on

the inside line of the track.

But asked about her interests off the track, Lexie’s mind erupts.

She plays viola and enjoys painting and drawing “a great deal.”

Lexie doesn’t know how many generations it has been, but she is a descendant of Chicago artist Joseph P. Birren.

Faber Birren, another relative whose connection Lexie is not quite sure about, wrote the book on color theory. Literally.

“He’s the reason hospital walls are the colors they are,” she proudly says.

Another relative, Astronomer Peter Birren, wrote “Objects in the Heavens,” a field guide to constellations.

As if counting them off on her fingers, Lexie runs through her list of interests.

“Black holes fascinate me,” she says. “I want to be the first person to see a black hole in person.

“I’m taking a mix of geometry and algebra, (and) I’ll be doing trigonometry. ... It will look good on a college application.”

As a student in a class labeled “Integrated,” she’s studying World War I and “Romeo and Juliet.” The upcoming assignment: Reset the love story during the WWI era.

“I love earth science,” Lexie says. “I love it. It’s mostly what I want to go into.”

And “I love dinosaurs.”

At her mom’s suggestion, Lexie retrieves her sketchbook from her bedroom and brings it to the kitchen table.

She got it for Christmas, but

Story by John Vahlenkamp • Photo by Lewis Geyer • Longmont Times-Call

its pages quickly are filling with imagined characters, including GIR from the Nickelodeon cartoon series “Invader Zim.” It so happens, GIR is the character on Lexie’s black Tshirt the evening of the interview. It delivers the message “I HEART CUPCAKES,” something to do with the cartoon robot’s affinity for the treats.

If Lexie loves cupcakes, she’s not letting on. Roller girls are all about a strict regimen.

Three times a week, she must complete sets of potty squats, planks, hello dollies and rowers, all designed to make the legs and core muscles burn.

And this week in January, her coach has sent her several Facebook reminders: No pop.

“Roller derby is a big-time commitment,” mother Jaime says.

“Sometimes I have my moments, like ‘Ohmygod,’” Lexie says. “But I know it’s good for me.”

Among its benefits: “I know that no one can mess with me,” she says.

After the final whistle of Sunday’s two-hour workout, Lexie rolls slowly across the plastic tile floor toward her mom, who waits in a patio chair, near a shelf of trophies won by the women’s team that sponsors the Rollerpunks.

Lexie’s answer to “What’s your least favorite part of practice?” A slump, a breathless sigh and a hand outstretched for a water bottle.

Maybe the curious should stick to the benefits of roller derby.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Lexie Birren, 15, of Longmont started skating with the Rocky Mountain Rollerpunks last spring. Birren is a freshman at Silver Creek High School.

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13

Barbara Brunk

Joshua Buck

Age: 55 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 34 Occupation: Landscape architect; manager, Resource Conservation Partners LLC You say you have two jobs right now. They are? I love them both. One is at Resource Conservation Partners, a small womenowned business that provides landscape architecture, land Brunk planning and land-management services — land use, water rights, overall resources. We help people position their properties for their highest and best use.

I’m also a volunteer and on the board of Hover Community, an amazing place with extraordinary residents. There are kind, generous people there who have it in their hearts to provide a place where seniors can age with grace. Old people are really cool. They have great stories. They have wonderful wisdom.

Tell us about winding up in Longmont after going to college at the University of Connecticut. I am so fortunate. I love Longmont. There are people who are lucky enough to grow up here. I was lucky enough to meet and marry a hometown boy, John Cummons.

My undergraduate degree is in environmental horticulture. That’s my first love. I love gardens.

But I learned about plants in the context of the Northeast. To translate those skills into a high plains area was a learning curve.

When I came to Colorado, everybody went out of their way to welcome me, help get me settled. That, I think, is still the best part of our community — that people are kind.

What changes have you seen in your profession, and in Longmont, since moving here? When I got here, there were about 30,000 people living in Longmont. There are more people here now, and there’s some good things about that, and some gifts, and some challenges.

There are more artists, more diversity. One of the challenges is that there’s more traffic. You used to be able to get across town in five minutes.

In the big picture, our community has grown in a healthy way and been enriched by the people who have come here. Basically, it’s a kind, compassionate, considerate community.

Back then, xeriscape was rocks and yucca. But as water has become more scarce and more expensive, and more plant materials are available, people have more choices. There are water-conservative earth grasses you can install. Perennials have become a staple in landscape design. Perennial gardens are beautiful when you install them, and you don’t have to wait for shrubs to mature, for trees to mature.

Because there’s such a big palette now, there’s lots of choices.

Age: 31 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7 Occupation: My business card says “News Photographer,” and I consider myself a photojournalist.

Can you describe a photograph that sparked your interest in photography? William Albert Allard’s 1982 photograph of a Peruvian boy mourning his sheep, which were killed by a Buck hit-and-run taxi driver. The boy is looking at the camera, his dead sheep are the background and his eyes are full of tears.

It is a strong moment under beautiful light and evoked an emotion within me that sums up photojournalism for me.

After seven years at the T-C, there have to be events you’ve dutifully covered every year. Which annual events do you look forward to shooting? Football, from preps to pros, hands down. It’s fast and most times exciting, and I’ve seen kids in our community grow up on the field.

In your photojournalism career, what assignment stands out as the most emotionally difficult? This is tough. I’ve photographed some horrific and emotionally taxing events: the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, fatal accidents, local war hero funerals, house fires, etc. On the other hand, I’ve also felt the joys in the lives of our neighbors, from the moment of birth to prep athletes winning state championships. I can’t choose just one, because two stand out. Lee Miller was loading wedding gifts into his trunk when he was struck by a car in front of his in-laws’ home. When I learned Miller and his new wife, Katy Conway, had a daughter the same age as my own, the entire situation hit close to home. A year later, I finally met Katy Conway, gave her a hug, said I was sorry and told her not a day goes by that I don’t think of them.

The second was when local teacher Lance Melting lost his life on Vail Pass while driving his family to Disneyland. I covered the memorial service and witnessed his students and the community mourn. The following Christmas, I spent time with his wife, Jamie, and children Aaron, Andrew, Alex and Abby as they gathered around their tree sharing stories about Lance. He was a good father, husband and teacher, and while the assignment was difficult, it also was beautiful. I remember choking back tears as I made photos. I feel fortunate to witness and share private events like this, all the while connecting with people like the Lathrop-Melting family.

Do you like to have your own photo taken? Who could you trust to snap that shot? I don’t mind my photo taken. I mean, how are my kids going to make fun of my clothes and hair years on down the road without photos of me? My 6year-old daughter is getting pretty good at taking my portrait. My co-workers have captured some pretty funny photos, too.

If you weren’t a photographer, what would you do? I’d love to be an airplane pilot.

Dale Carr Age: 69 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 45 Occupation: Retired vice president of production, Lehman Communications Corp.

You started your printing career in 1961, joined the Estes Park Trail in 1965 and came to the Longmont Times-Call in 1966, Carr eventually overseeing completion of Lehman Communications’ new production facility in Berthoud before retiring. What do you see for the future of newspapers and other print publications? I look at it mainly from a commercial printing standpoint, which could be expanded more, and I’m sure that’s what the news media are headed toward. I think there are always going to be niche publications that people are going to read, including weekly and daily community newspapers, magazines, but also farm publications, alternative publications, items for seniors. But they have to do a good job of producing a good publication. I’m sure all these publications are online, but you still see them in racks all over the place.

For newspapers, consolidation will be a big factor, with the cross selling of advertising and the sharing of editorial content. As for

local newspapers, everybody wants to know what their neighbors are doing. A good indication of that is the popularity of the T-C Line. The question is, will people advertise? I think maybe when the auto industry regroups and the real estate market comes back, advertising will, too.

You retired on July 1, 2009. What’s it been like? I’ve been doing a lot of traveling. My wife, Carol, who works at the Longmont Public Library, and I have gone overseas and all over the world, actually — China, Russia. We’ve taken a Mediterranean cruise.

Recently, we spent two weeks in England, touring England and Scotland. Our next thought had been a possible trip to Egypt, but not now. We’re looking at doing at least one more overseas trip, up into the Netherlands and that area. I have a son who lives up in Windsor, and he has three boys who keep me hopping with their athletics. I have another son in Arkansas with two daughters.

Some of my best friends right now are retired IBMers, and we’ve been backpacking in Wyoming. The Senior Center has this weekly ski bus going up to Eldora. I’ve been doing that and ski crosscountry, although I gave up on downhill. I’ve been active in Sunrise Lions Club for 15 years. I’m heavily involved with them.

We’re getting ready for the Sunrise Stampede, our 26th year of sponsoring it.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell 14 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Larry Burkhardt, a longtime Longmont councilman and mayor nearly 25 years ago, is now head of Upstate Colorado, a Greeley-based firm that recruits companies to the area. A few of the companies he has helped bring to the area are UQM Technologies, which he is standing in front of; Abound Solar; and Vestas Wind Systems.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

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15

Renaissance man

Former Longmont mayor working hard for southwest Weld

L

arry Burkhardt has been a city councilman who faced and avoided a recall.

He’s been an unsuccessful sign company owner.

He’s been a laid-off hospital worker.

And now — don’t forget this part — he’s become a salesman for southwest Weld County. A pretty good one, too.

These days, the longtime Longmont councilman and mayor is the head of Upstate Colorado, a Greeleybased firm that recruits companies to the area. That has included the 400-job Vestas Wind Systems turbine factory in Windsor and an expansion of UQM Technologies near Frederick that allowed the company to quadruple its space and expand its work force.

And he’s not done yet.

“I’m still trying to figure out all of what I’m doing,” Burkhardt joked. “I’m still learning.”

Burkhardt first came to Longmont in 1973 on the advice of a friend. Driving in late one night from Boston in a ’68 Chevy, he encountered unseen territory — until the next morning, when he asked the clerk at the Lamplighter Motel, “Where’s the mountains?”

“Turn around.”

“So I turned around,” Burkhardt said. “I looked up at Meeker and Longs Peak, and I said, ‘My gosh, I’m not just on vacation. I’m going to live here.’”

For 13 years, that included working at Longmont United Hospital, initially in a tiny emergency room. “It was possibly 500 square feet at that point,” Burkhardt remembered, “and I think we

Larry Burkhardt Age: 62 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 23 Occupation: President and CEO of Upstate Colorado

had three gurneys for the whole thing.”

But then, Longmont itself was a different community in the early days. It was still about 32,000 people and still mostly agricultural, its expansion days yet ahead.

It was a growth no one saw coming, Burkhardt said.

“No. Not in your wildest dreams,” he said. “Route 66 was a barrier not to be crossed. The notion of having development as far west as Airport Road was absent.”

Well, almost no one saw it coming. Burkhardt does make an exception for the late developer Ken Pratt, considering him a tipping point in the city’s economic development.

“He was savvy enough to see the opportunity and started a business park with enough flexibility that he could adapt to the needs of companies coming out of Boulder,” Burkhardt said.

Burkhardt’s own tipping point — one of them, anyway — came in the late ’70s as his hospital work led him into greater public involvement. By 1979, he decided he was ready to run for the Longmont City Council.

He lost. Soundly.

“I didn’t have the slightest idea what I was doing,” Burkhardt admitted. “I figured, ‘I’m going to give it

one more shot in ’81, and if I don’t make it, it wasn’t meant to be.’”

In 1981, he was one of four candidates running for two at-large seats. When the dust cleared, he’d managed to grab the second one — by 11 votes.

Those 11 votes led to 11 years as a councilman and mayor between 1981 and 1994, a busy time for Longmont. The new Safety and Justice Center was built.

The Sister City program kicked off. The city got new parks, new amenities, improved infrastructure.

It also tore down the old public library. That led to just a bit of controversy.

All right, a major controversy.

An addition to the library had been included in a voter-approved $17 million Civic Center expansion project. But on review, designers decided the library couldn’t support an expansion or even much of itself.

The building was razed for a fresh start, catching many residents off guard and prompting a petition in 1992 to recall Burkhardt and fellow councilmen John Caldwell, Eric Doering and Dan Benavidez.

The recall effort failed after many of the petition’s signatures were ruled invalid. But it wasn’t an easy time, Burkhardt said.

“I remember looking over those petitions and seeing very familiar names, of people I thought were friends,” he said. “I thought ‘What motivated them to sign a petition?’ You get a lot of anger and self-doubt.”

These days, he considers the new library to be a city jewel.

“What we ended up with is

a beauty,” he said. “It serves the community well.

And every time I come there, it’s very well utilized.”

The path to becoming a jobs recruiter started when Burkhardt lost his own job at the hospital in the mid’80s. Unable to find work, he started a one-man sign company and calligraphy business out of his garage.

“I struggled at that for five years,” he said. “I kept losing money year after year. Thank goodness my wife had a good job.”

When a staff position came up at the Economic Development Association of Longmont, he tried for it — and didn’t get it.

“I wasn’t qualified, and I wasn’t hired,” Burkhardt said.

But the agency began cultivating him. He eventually came aboard as vice president and then rose to president in 1994, prompting his resignation from the City Council to avoid a conflict of interest.

His biggest education, he said, was in the importance of primary jobs — those that make things for use outside the local economy and bring new money in — and in how to build the partnerships that bring them in.

“Without primary employment, you don’t have a community or an economy,” Burkhardt said.

When his EDAL contract wasn’t renewed in 1996, he moved on to Nevada County, Calif., to become its first economic development director. He stayed there nine years, most of the time without the budget to do a lot — the funding went from $120,000 to $135,000 by the

Story by Scott Rochat • Photo by Joshua Buck • Longmont Times-Call

time he left in 2005.

“There was a lot of smoke and mirrors, because we didn’t have the money to do anything else,” Burkhardt said. “You couldn’t do economic development there.

The topography was too extreme — you couldn’t underground utilities — and the political will wasn’t there, because they’d never had an economic downturn.”

He and his wife started looking for chances to come back to Colorado, especially because her parents were living in Lakewood. And when the Upstate Colorado opportunity came, it proved to be golden.

It was a different approach than at EDAL, Burkhardt said, less centered around high-tech and more around energy and food processing. But with new arrivals such as Vestas, UQM, Abound Solar and LePrino Foods (in Greeley), the job growth keeps coming.

It probably will for a while, Burkhardt said, because the new companies have logistics and supply chains to build and expand — parts for the wind turbines, cattle for LePrino’s cheese plant.

It’s going to mean more growth of communities, he said, and more connections between them.

“I think the whole region is going to take on more of a singular identity,” he said.

Meanwhile, Burkhardt is working on infusing life to more than just economies.

Inspired in part by his hospital work, he’s been a blood donor since 1986.

“Friday, I hit 60 gallons,” he said.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Steve Carver Age: 50 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Going on nine years Occupation: President of the Longmont Theatre Company and a broadcast operations manager Acting and directing run deep in your blood, don’t they? I’m fourth generation in the arts, third generation in community theater. My grandmother ’s father toured the country on a train (in the late 1800s, early 1900s).

They traveled around the country, they had a front man, and they did a show called “Professor Blackaller and Spike, the World’s Most Intelligent Pig.” Carver You spent almost two decades in Hollywood and appeared in many television shows and films, including “Liar Liar,” in which you played the traffic cop who stops Jim Carrey’s character. From the performance end of your career in Hollywood, what stands out? It’s a very competitive business. For instance, in my role in “Liar, Liar,” even though it was relatively small, there were 5,000 people going for that role.

When I did “The Golden Palace” with Don Cheadle and Betty White, I was onscreen for 11 minutes, and my friends said, “What, that’s it?”

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

It was very hard work and not very creatively satisfying. ... I was raised in theater, and (in TV and movies) you certainly get away from rehearsal. That’s really the creative aspect of acting. That’s where the work is done.

Tell me about the company you started and later sold, Showfax Inc. OK, I’m an actor in L.A. You used to have to go and pick up scripts. If you’re going for a lot of parts, you could spend most of your day driving all over town.

I contacted all the casting directors in Hollywood and said, "We’ll take all your scripts and keep them on file, keep them updated (then send them to actors), and deliver them when needed.” The company started in 1992 as a faxing company. Business doubled every year after starting; it got to where about 80 percent of all the actors, agents and managers in Hollywood were our customers.

Between the Longmont Theatre Company, Jesters Dinner Theatre and California Actors Theatre, Longmont has three opportunities to see live theater.

That seems like a lot for a city of fewer than 90,000 people. I do think we’re fortunate because we live in a really nicely upscale type of community. ... It makes for an area where people want to go see more than just movies.

spotlights small businesses that don’t have the advertising budgets to compete Age: 59 with the big guys.

Years in St. Vrain Valley: 9 What do you like about being a talk Occupation: Radio talk show host; show host? I get to interview all these entrepreneur incredible people from all walks of life.

We cover 89 percent of the How did you get started in state of Colorado with the talk radio? I had to set myself business broadcasts, so I think apart from the crowd in I have a voice to make a network marketing. I figured if difference out there.

I could interview the legends of home-based businesses, I You describe yourself on your could stand on the shoulders website as “passionate.” of giants.

What does that mean, when it comes to your radio work What locally originated radio and other ventures in shows are you involved in Chenault Longmont? Knowing that one now? Three shows. First, man can make a difference. I Business for Breakfast, three can be a big fish in a small pond. hours during morning drive time every I’ve been sober 22 years. I feel like I’ve day, the flagship show of the Radio been living on borrowed time. I live every Colorado Network. day like it’s my last one.

Second, the Home Based Business Radio Show on Saturday mornings, the What prompted you to become active largest home-based business radio show in a number of local nonprofits and in the world. charitable organizations? I believe that The third, my pride and joy, is the all good things have happened to me Longmont Town Radio Show, every night only to let me be more of a voice for the between 7 and 8 p.m. We have the underdog. Programs targeting mayor on Monday nights. On homelessness, alcohol and drugs are Wednesdays it’s Longmont charities, the where I’m really, really involved. I’m on small charities that can’t get the the board of directors of Alternatives for attention of the big guys. On Tuesdays, Youth because I think we’re at risk of Thursdays and Fridays, the show losing our children.

Tom Chenault

CR-162449

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m3/28/2011yTCcfewell 18 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Kevin Clowers

Robert A. Dacey

Age: 59 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 30, more or less Occupation: Maintenance man You and your wife own Mr. & Mrs. Fixit, a property maintenance and repair business. Is there anything you can’t fix? Wow, that’s a good one! I suppose it depends on the budget and the amount of time I have for the job. I do work on lots of Clowers different things. A sweet little old lady once asked me to fix one of those old adding machines with a gazillion buttons and a big lever on the side. I couldn’t resist. She had run a business with her husband for 40 years or so. He ran the show, and she counted the beans! Another lady called and asked me if I could fix an “in-wall toaster.” I couldn’t resist that one, either. I just had to see it. I didn’t know they even made those. I don’t know how to fix the government! Guess there’s that!

You also do “entropy remediation.” What the heck is that? It’s a reference to thermodynamics, the second law, actually. Systems tend to move toward disorder.

Something has to intervene in the system to reverse the movement toward increasing disorder. We do that! I kinda dig physics!

As a former naval corpsman, you’ve marched in Longmont’s Veterans Day Parade. Do you think the parade should be held on Veterans Day or on a Saturday close to Veterans Day? I think picking a day for the parade that’s not a big pain in the tail for people to come out on works pretty well. It’s so wonderful to see all the families with the kids out. All those beautiful faces. It reminds me and many of my veteran pals what the heck we were doing! We have a whole new rotation of young people who have served in incredibly long, hard conditions. I’d like to let everyone know how much it means to see all those faces and how much it will mean in the future. It matters A LOT! The city’s planned firing range: boon or boondoggle? Definitely a boon! This is another “Don’t get me started” one! I am a competitive shooter and a firearms safety instructor. Many of my friends are police officers and some of my family. I think Longmont is building a first-rate training facility that will produce revenue for the city, enhance the professional skills of our police officers and provide recreational opportunities for our residents. We will have a top-quality venue for hunter safety classes, a place where residents can learn proper, safe firearms handling and storage. I want to see our law enforcement officers on the street with every skill and resource they need to continue the excellent job they do now.

Age: 77 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Moved to Boulder in 1959, to Longmont in 1994 Occupation: Retired marketing and advertising executive; artist Why did you choose the rural Boulder County settings and Dacey structures that you’ve featured in much of your art? This all goes back to when I escaped Cleveland in 1959 to get away from the high-density urban lifestyle. When we visited Boulder, we fell in love with the lifestyle. I was active on a lot of levels of the advertising and marketing world and the political world, and then I had heart surgery in 1976 and that changed the course for me.

But I still was captivated by what I call the open-space lifestyle. I’m still not an urban person. Even today, when I go between Longmont and Boulder, I take the rural back roads because they’re more interesting.

How did that play into what you’ve portrayed in your art? I started doing sketches and paintings of old mines back around 1960, 1961. I was just fascinated by the composition, the structures, the textures of the woods. These are the things the artist’s eye becomes captivated by.

I began drawing and painting these agricultural sites as a way of preserving the images of the past and the present — and to illustrate the value of giving the eyes a rest from the urban bombardment that’s going on all the time. I value the elbow room of open space...

What are your observations about the arts community in Boulder County and the St. Vrain Valley? When I talk about art and artists, I look for what the artist is seeing and thinking and mastering the medium. That is the nature and character of the arts. Post-modernism is a cultural thing, started before the turn of the 21st century, and it’s really blossomed. But what it says is that anything goes, that anybody can be an artist and that anything can be called art.

The Boulder County arts community has been evolving into a fiercely competitive scene, which is OK, but like everything else in the post-modern world, it’s accelerated.

Right now we’re seeing a lot of emphasis, especially among the young folks, on innovation and creativity.

Scott Cook Age: 34 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 14 total Occupation: Membership services and public policy director for the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce Your work with the chamber’s public policy committee often involves discussion of state or local political issues. Tell me Cook about your experience working in Washington, D.C. I did an internship. It was my first job out of school. I didn’t have any interest in policy or politics or anything like that. ... But I interned for a congressman. Then I worked full time for Sen. (John) Ashcroft.

After that, I went to Chicago and worked for a small business, a recycling business, but I realized I kind of missed the policy end of it.

You grew up here. What brought you back to Colorado after you had moved away? I came back to go to school for personal training/fitness. I wanted to do a couple of things: I wanted to go back to school (to be a fitness trainer), but I also wanted to get back to the policy end of (politics). The chamber was a perfect opportunity for me because of getting to work with businesses. I like the opportunity where that and policy intersect.

What kinds of hobbies do you have? Along with fitness, I do bodybuilding; of course, the mountains; I love the beach — I was born in California. And traveling: My dad was an airline pilot, so we traveled all the time. I’m a big reader.

Your co-workers told me you’re generally a pretty shy guy, but I understand you placed high in a statewide bodybuilding competition. That doesn’t sound like something a shy guy would enter. It was hard, but that’s why I did it. You have to face your fears, right? I’m also in Toastmasters, which helps get you out in front of people.

Any plans to run for office yourself someday? I think voters deserve a wellrounded, very experienced candidate. If I feel like I am that, someday, then I’ll run if the opportunity presents itself.

Zeb Dennis Age: 62 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 27 years; lived in Longmont since 1984 Occupation: Farrier (horse shoer), cowboy poet, producer of Colorado Cowboy Live (a cowboy poetry and music show) Have you always been a cowboy? No, I wasn’t born a Dennis cowboy, but I became one and will continue to celebrate the tradition of the Old West through the words of my poems.

Like a lot of cowboys, I came from back East. I’ve taught school and worked for IBM. After becoming a farrier, I “cowboyed” in ranches throughout the West. I write cowboy poetry to capture the times I’ve had living my cowboy dream, and produce Colorado Cowboy Live, a poetry and music show that has received tremendous support from the people of Longmont.

What do you suppose John Wayne thought of poetry? John Wayne’s screen persona, when asked if he would like to hear a cowboy poem, would have probably answered with a line from one of his movies, by saying: “Fill your hand, you son of a blank.” But in real life, John Wayne honored the spirit of the Old West through his acting roles, so I’d like to think he would say: “Sure, Zeb, spin me a tale.”

Would you compose a poem for us?

Capturing the Old West On a moonless night, Where the stars shine bright, And the top of the pine trees sway.

Looking up, you can almost see, Their horses running free, On the trail of the Milky Way. Up in the sky there is no rest, For the dream of the Old West, Where the stars and now, old cowboys roam.

But down here I tell their tale, To the rhythm of a coyote’s wail And the words of a cowboy poem.

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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Tapping into the city Bartender Goldberg knows his beer — and his customers

A

s the head bartender in the tasting room of Left Hand Brewing Co. in Longmont, Josh Goldberg is adept at surveying the bar and making decisions about how best to manage the action before him.

But his awareness extends beyond the bar to the tables, the patio and, in fact, the rest of Longmont, especially on the frequent occasions when elected officials and other civic leaders are the ones sitting on the stools right in front of him.

Goldberg has a reputation as a conscientious and intelligent bartender. He has a memory for customers and their favorite drinks. He is one of only 11 certified cicerones — beer experts in the mold of a sommelier — in Colorado.

He’s also known as a conversationalist — yet another great bartender quality. But it’s also a quality that comes in handy in another field that interests him: community leadership.

Goldberg, 31, is the chairman of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Committee.

He also sits on the board of the Longmont Area Visitors Association. He has expressed interest in running for Longmont City Council.

He sat down to an interview recently in the Left Hand tasting room. It was noon. He served beer (Fade to Black, a seasonal smoked Baltic porter). He has an affable and easy manner about him. He’s quick to

Josh Goldberg Age: 31 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 4 Occupation: Head bartender, Left Hand Brewing Co.

smile. He wears a neatly trimmed beard and mustache and has a tongue stud.

(He says the tongue stud will come out soon, partly based on his dentist’s advice, but also he seems to view it as no longer matching his character.)

Asked if he’s thinking of running for council this year, Goldberg said, “It’s too soon. ... I would have to have something to offer Longmont first, and part of that is experience.”

If he does run someday, he’ll have backing in high places.

“I would definitely encourage him and support him,” Longmont Councilman Alex Sammoury said.

Sammoury, as a Left Hand patron (he likes the Wake Up Dead stout), has seen Goldberg in action behind the bar.

“He remembers people’s names. He engages in conversations. He’s opinionated, but not in a negative way,” Sammoury said.

“He’s got charm, and he’s got charisma.”

Sammoury became acquainted with the civicminded side of Goldberg when they both participated

in Leadership Longmont, a $400, half-year chamber of commerce program meant to educate participants about local issues and institutions.

During his 2009 campaign, Sammoury recruited Goldberg as an adviser on connecting with young voters. He said Goldberg set up a Facebook page for him and offered feedback.

(Goldberg once suggested that when Sammoury had the microphone during, for example, a candidates’ forum, he should talk more, whether or not he had finished making his point.)

Rick Samson was instrumental to Goldberg joining Leadership Longmont.

Samson is chairman of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce. He’s also a Left Hand patron (he favors Sawtooth Ale).

Samson was impressed by Goldberg’s interest in local and state issues. He invited Goldberg to serve as an escort for state Sen. Brandon Shaffer at a chamber function.

“I watched how Josh worked the room,” Samson said. “Josh is not afraid to approach anybody.”

Samson recalled debating Goldberg once over the creation of a local committee that promoted civility in political campaigns. Samson said Goldberg’s and his political views are “so divergent” — Samson, the conservative, opposed the idea of such a committee; Goldberg liked it.

Goldberg’s arguments

were filled with “passion, but tempered with realism,” and they walked away friends, Samson said.

Goldberg grew up in San Diego, where his father served in the Navy. He was working as a veterinary technician at an animal hospital there when one day he was assigned to a patient alongside a female doctor just out of veterinary school named Wendy. During the procedure, her textbook knowledge clashed with his on-the-ground experience.

“She was feisty,” Goldberg said.

Soon they were dating.

They moved to Colorado, attracted by the lifestyle of great food, music, beer and outdoor recreation.

“I proposed to her in Aspen at an Allman Brothers show,” he said.

At one point he was working at P.E.T.S. of Northern Colorado, an animal emergency hospital near Greeley, studying political science at the University of Colorado at Boulder and living in Longmont. He became a regular at Left Hand, where he chatted with anyone who happened to be sitting next to him, he said.

One day Cinzia Wallace, wife of Left Hand founder Eric Wallace, was working the taps.

“She leans across the bar and goes, ‘Josh, you want to come work with us?’” Goldberg said.

The offer surprised him.

But, after consulting

Story by Quentin Young • Photo by Joshua Buck • Longmont Times-Call

Wendy, he changed careers.

Besides working the bar, Goldberg serves as Left Hand’s community liaison.

He’s forever thinking of ways to leverage the Left Hand brand and facility to support community projects. He has organized benefit events for victims of the Haiti earthquake and the Fourmile Canyon Fire. He organized a holiday toy drive for the OUR Center in Longmont.

“It makes him a very, very happy person to help others,” Cinzia Wallace said.

Goldberg proposed to the chamber of commerce that it team up with Left Hand to present a program called Pints and Politics, during which local voters can learn about the issues and candidates that will be on the ballot in November.

“There are resources available to me, and I’m going to use them for good,” Goldberg said.

He talked about wanting to gain experience in local government, perhaps by serving on the Longmont Planning and Zoning Commission. But for now, he wants to be the best bartender he can possibly be.

That role in no small way involves having friendly, informed discussions with the local movers and shakers he serves at his bar.

“I see them sitting down,” he said, “and I say, ‘What are you talking about? How are we going to make Longmont better today?’”

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Josh Goldberg, 31, the head bartender at Left Hand Brewing Co., is the chairman of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Committee. He also sits on the board of the Longmont Area Visitors Association.

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Kathleen Leiding was a longtime teacher and administrator at Lyons High School, where she currently is athletic director.

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

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Showing no quit Lyons athletic director still enjoying her dream career

K

athleen Leiding didn’t have a name for it then, but she now remembers her second and third years as the athletic director for Lyons Middle/Senior as the “fear years.”

After the initial year of relatively blissful ignorance, all the responsibilities of the position became evident.

“I always tell new athletic directors that they have a one-year honeymoon period,” Leiding said from her home in Lyons. “The first year, there is so much that you don’t even know you are missing that it’s great. The second and third years, you start figuring out that there is a lot of stuff that you need to know, and I call those the fear years.

“It’s during that time that you think, ‘Oh, my gosh. I didn’t even know that last year.’”

Leiding always considered her chosen career in education as more dream than job.

While technically she retired in May 2009, she continues her tireless work as

Kathleen Leiding Age: 54 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 31 Occupation: Athletic director, Lyons Middle/ Senior High School

athletic director at Lyons on a part-time basis, a role that seemed to appear from nowhere after spending years as a teacher.

The North Dakota native moved to Colorado in 1979 after graduating from college and landed a job at an insurance and real estate company in Niwot. Two years later, she began working as a substitute teacher for the St. Vrain Valley School District, a position she held for three years.

“I loved it. Subbing was a great way to venture into education,” she said. “I thought it really helped my career. I made so many connections, and that’s how I got my first job.”

Former Longmont High School assistant principal and math teacher June

Chapman helped Leiding land that first full-time position in 1984 with the Trojans.

Chapman saw a bit of herself in Leiding, as did a few students who would get the two confused in those early days, so it was only natural to try to help the substitute find a more stable job.

“We were both early in our careers, and I saw her as an enthusiastic teacher even when she was subbing.

The kids just loved her,” said Chapman, who also lives in Lyons. “I respect her so much for what she does for kids. She dedicates so much time and so many hours.”

Leiding took a position at Lyons in 1988, when the school was surrounded not by houses but by dirt fields and roads. The small size of the school offered opportunities not available in bigger cities, including teaching everything from business to less familiar topics such as physical education, philosophy and social studies.

“You’d laugh if I showed you my resume. I taught everything imaginable; that’s

what happens when you’re at a small school,” she said.

One day, while juggling her role as a teacher with the time-consuming task of helping students put together the yearbook, Leiding was approached by Mark Mills, Lyons’ principal at the time. What he would say not only stunned Leiding for a moment but also provided a remarkable opportunity.

Mills asked if she would consider becoming the school’s athletic director, an administrative position that had never crossed Leiding’s mind.

“I looked at him like, ‘Me? Why would you ask me?’” she said.

Mills told her that he had thought he needed to fill the position with a former athlete or current coach — a jock, as Leiding put it. Instead, the principal came to realize he wanted someone different.

“This is exactly what he said to me: ‘I’ve learned that I need three things: somebody who is organized, somebody who is detailed and somebody who is good with people.’”

Story by Brady Delander • Photo by Joshua Buck • Longmont Times-Call

After the first year in the mid-1990s, followed by the hectic “fear years,” Leiding settled into the position. In 1996, she was recognized as one of the district’s outstanding teachers. She was named the outstanding athletic administrator for Class 2A in 2003, and, with help from too many people to name, she saw Lyons receive the top sportsmanship award in Colorado.

Leiding and her husband, Scott, a longtime coach and teacher at Erie, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. Though hipreplacement surgery over the winter break has mostly prevented her from long hikes in the mountains, it hasn’t slowed her down on the job. She didn’t miss a single day of work because of the surgery.

“I’ll never run or jog. Oh, darn,” she joked. “Since I’ve been back to work, it’s amazing how kind people have been. It was easy to come back.

“I just have this attitude that if that’s my job, that’s my job.”

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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Jim Cochran Age: 66 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 36 Occupation: Management and quality consultant What kind of pets did you have growing up on a farm in Illinois? Many, but the baby skunk was memorable. Grandpa joked that I would wise up soon, but Grandma and others became hostages afraid to exit the house, so it had to go. Since I was the only one who could get near it, I had to dispatch it. However, the next day, it was back at the porch, risen from the grave. “No, you can’t keep it, and no, it’s not a miracle,” said the adults who took charge. It ended badly.

Cochran

How many animal heads are hanging on your wall, and how did you come by them? When off from engineer/test/soldier duties in Fort Greely, Alaska, we hunted and fished, providing the community scarce meat.

The Dall sheep and the caribou were taken from the north slopes of the Alaskan Range. The elk was one of two taken from Afognak Island. A cattle ranch ... was where I took the brown bear, along the north shore of Ugak Bay on Kodiak.

When and how did you get your first Jeep? I bought my first Jeep, 1946, from Major Schumeister after driving him to his nearby departure point just minutes before he left Fort Greely. Driving back it warmed up, the oil pressure dropped to zero and it knocked badly. It was a scrounged and cobbled mess. Some advised me to “just jack up the radiator cap and run a new vehicle under it.” After rebuild, it performed well at minus 55 degrees ... and the 30,000-Btu gasoline heater with a long flexible duct was great. Revenge was sweet when taunters needed a subzero warmup or a tow. I sold it in 1976 to a farmer, and bought my current 1971 CJ5.

What was your greatest achievement in your 25 years working for IBM? Although one achievement got recognized with two separate awards, the best project was to create a way to copy a stack of fan-fold computer printouts by feeding them across the document glass of a copier and restacking them. We were seven engineering personnel, known as the “A” team, who solved the problems of retrofitting such a feature into a production product and making it field installable.

What prompted you to volunteer for Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to UQM Technologies last year?

Mischievousness. My daughter, a former Times-Call reporter, excitedly informed me she was to cover an “exclusive” event featuring Vice President Biden and dignitaries. ... I volunteered to help, and the event organizer sent me to the best possible post: parking and traffic control. I directed and shook hands with the Secret Service, senators and dignitaries, but the greatest encounter was when my daughter pulled up. The surprised expression on her face — priceless. “Daaaddd, what are you doing here?” It helps to know that I’m a Republican.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

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Drew Depler Age: 39 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 26 Occupation: Lead pastor of LifeBridge Christian Church Tri-Towns Campus The Tri-Towns Campus of LifeBridge Christian Church meets at Frederick High School. Why does the congregation worship in a school? We chose to meet at Frederick High School because it allows for us to effectively connect with our community and easily reach new people.

Depler

Does this change the dynamic on a Sunday? Not really. The only change is that many people feel less threatened visiting a church service in this environment.

What do you think churches need to do to reach out to 20- and 30-somethings who consider themselves “spiritual” but reject organized religion? Churches as a whole are struggling to present the message of Jesus Christ in a relevant and engaging way that captures the hearts of this generation. A big part of the solution for churches is to build a team of effective leaders who represent this age group and have an intense passion to live out their faith.

Additionally, there is a strong desire today to truly know others and be known by others, to experience real community. The church must be continually looking for fresh opportunities to create authentic communities of Christ followers.

As a head of the Carbon Valley Network — a group of nonprofits, government entities and churches that share information about their human services — what do you think is the greatest issue facing the distribution of human services to Carbon Valley residents? The coordination of human services is one of the biggest issues I see in the Carbon Valley area. We have many great people and human service organizations throughout our community that have a real desire to see the needs of their neighbors met. However, it is often difficult for those in need to identify or access these services.

Describe your perfect Sunday. Sunday starts early, up at 6 a.m. and then a quick shower. After pulling on some jeans, a pearl-snap shirt and Chuck Taylors, it’s time for some prayer and a final review of my message notes. I’m out the door by 7 a.m. with a quick stop at Starbucks. A Toffee-Nut Americano with cream is a must! I’ll catch up on Facebook and Twitter while I’m waiting, and then it’s over to Frederick High School. Our worship band, audio/visual and setup/teardown teams are all there by 7:30 a.m. to get everything ready and rehearsed. Our incredible leaders and volunteer teams make all of this possible. At 9:30 a.m., everything starts. Our adult service kicks off with some awesome music followed by 25 minutes of relevant teaching. The kids’ and students’ activities are all hopping, and at 10:35 a.m., everything wraps up with a community connection over snacks and coffee.

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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

an asset. There can be a tremendous amount of paperwork generated in Age: 39 white-collar crimes. I frequently create Occupation: Longmont police detective spreadsheets and multiple three-ring binders to try to stay on top of it all.

Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 21 You seem awfully proud of your wife.

You were a Boulder County Sheriff’s Tell us why she is great. My wife is my Office Explorer. What is your best advice for kids who want to grow up to best friend. She keeps me honest and focused and is always trying to bring be cops? Getting your education is out the best in me. She is an angel from going to help you out no matter what God who keeps me on the career path you choose. We right spiritual path. She used received hundreds of to be a police officer but gave applications the last time we it all up because we wanted had a job opening. Many of her to be a stay-at-home the applicants had their mom. She might not have to degrees, and the ones that create spreadsheets at home, don’t have a much tougher but my job is much easier time trying to stand out. I than hers. I get paid to play would encourage anyone cops-and-robbers all day, and interested in becoming a Desmond she does all the work. She police officer to start with the has recently gone back to get Explorer program at Longmont PD (between the ages of 16- her master’s degree and is working with immigrants, helping them to learn 21). Many people quickly decide this English. will not be the job for them, and they can focus on other opportunities.

How do you unwind from the stresses of your job? I like to go on dates with You investigate financial crimes, which can be quite complicated. What my wife when we can manage it. I try to have as much fun and laugh as hard about it do you like? I really enjoy as possible. I also try to keep things in helping people in their difficult times. focus. Lt. Ed Torres at the jail once told Catching bank robbers and recovering me, “Our job is to enforce the law, not money for victims is very satisfying. I think I started out investigating financial to punish people.” I try to manage the crimes because my supervisors thought stress by simply doing my job and not passing judgment on people. that my organizational skills would be

Steve Desmond

Marvin L. Dyer Age: 78 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 44 Occupation: Real estate broker, founder of Dyer Realty Inc.; former banker From your real estate experiences, where are the future growth and development in the Longmont area most likely to occur? It almost has to be to the east of Longmont. I learned early on, when I first started in real estate, that the people most receptive and the easiest to work with were the Weld County Planning Department. The Weld Dyer County Planning Commission and everything else there is much more versatile than Boulder County.

You spent 33 years in banking, here and elsewhere, before retiring from Longmont National Bank. Has banking changed since you left it? Substantially.

I guess one of the main things was, when I was a bank examiner, we used to look strongly at the liquidity of the bank. Congress and the Clinton administration deregulated banking. ...

It’s turned out that that’s a big part of what made banking take the downturn it did...

In community-oriented banking, you knew your people really well and you

Jennifer M. Eisenlau

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Three generaatiions proudly serr viing Lon ngmont sin ncee 1958

Age: 46 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 11 Occupation: Professor at Front Range Community College You have worked at Front Range Community College since before it moved into its current digs at Pike Road and Miller Drive.

What keeps you there? I love literature. I love to travel.

FRCC allows me to do both and call it a career. At FRCC, I can teach students in a small class like Introduction to Shakespeare in the fall, and then lead them on a shortEisenlau term study-abroad program in Ireland the following May. I truly feel like I know my students; we develop an intellectual relationship that often deepens into friendship.

In your role as the study-abroad coordinator, where do you most love to take students? Ireland — absolutely.

Ireland is in love with its language, its literature. To quote one of the country’s novelists, Colm Toibin, “America may have Hollywood … the French may have

expected people to have their ups and downs, but at least you were dealing with honest people and you were all working toward the goal of making a comfortable living for everyone.

You’re a big fan of Will Rogers. What are some of his sayings that are still relevant today? I think he was the one who said, about real estate: “Buy land, because they aren’t making any more of it.” And “Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.”

Everything Will Rogers said about politicians in the 1920s and 1930s could be applied to any one of them today. But one of the great things he said was: “I’ve joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn’t like.”

You’re a pretty active local political observer, particularly on the Republican side. What draws you to those events and gatherings? I guess the main thing is, a lot of people don’t realize how the people we elect will affect everybody’s lives, businesses and everything we do. It’s kind of disappointing that people get behind a candidate but don’t research them enough. My take is, if I get behind a candidate, I certainly don’t think that person will vote or talk the way I think all the time.

their food … but the Irish have their writers!” To teach James Joyce’s “The Dead” in the writer’s native city, where the great novella is set — there can be no sweeter teachable moment for an English teacher or her students.

What is your “dream trip” that you haven’t taken yet? There are a few trips I want to make: I do want to spend a summer in India, New Year’s Eve in Reykjavik and a full year on Kangaroo Island, Australia. However, if I could only vacation, or staycation, forevermore in Colorado, I would be a happy traveler. Our state is truly a gem.

You are an author, and you teach writing. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing? Selling is the worst part of writing. I can write and write. But to find a publisher is tricky. I used to be able to write a good little hotel review and sell it to a travel magazine. Now, with blogs and Travelocity, everyone is a critic. It is more difficult every year to find a place for my writing. It can be discouraging.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW ideas and plan group activities. When I came here, there was nothing like that.

Age: 44 We started the studio tours about 10 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 13 years ago. We really wanted to make the Occupation: Artist. Local works include whole arts scene in Longmont gel. It’s two Longmont Art in Public Places starting to happen. Now, you’re starting installations: the Thompson Tempietto to see artists’ work tagged onto gazebo in Thompson Park and, in everything, like Rhythm on the River. collaboration with Susan Dailey, The There are a lot of great artists in this Unity Project mosaic tile mural in town, world-class artists.

Kensington Park.

Last September, the Longmont Studio Do you specialize in any Tour disseminated information particular art form? I kind of in both English and Spanish, go from medium to medium. I and you’ve encouraged its could work with a chain saw, organizers to remember that with murals, with anything in Longmont contains a large oils. I can carve in clay or segment of Latinos. Is that concrete. I call myself a public bearing fruit? There are more artist.

Latino artists who are getting What is a public artist, and involved in the community. what is public art? A gallery The main thrust for me is artist shows exclusively in Echevarria building the entire Longmont galleries. A public artwork is arts community. The Latino basically something that’s out in the community in general really resonates public, accessible to everybody. Public with the arts, culturally. One of the ideas artists often have to compete for behind the Kensington Park Unity Project commissions and have to respond to mural in 1998 was to involve the entire requests for qualifications, with three to community, which was enormously five artists in the running to get that successful bringing Latinos into the fold commission. and making them feel like they were part How has Longmont’s arts scene of the community. It was really amazing evolved during your time here? The Longmont arts community is very active. to see the turnout, with the children and There’s a group of artists who meet on a families there. It starts with kids, making them feel comfortable, making them feel regular basis at Martini’s Bistro, to have appreciated. lunch, talk about art, to network, share

Mario Miguel Echevarria

Bill Ellis Age: 69 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Eight Occupation: Writer What was the most valuable thing you learned from your 25-year career in government? Trust your gut. I was a problem solver. Political and career bureaucrats often didn’t like what I recommended. I was paid to tell them straight up, honestly. The answers always came from the people working under them. I listened to them and took their suggestions up to management. Always the outside “expert,” I learned that the workers had the answers. I Ellis gave them credit and respected the access I had to their bosses that they didn’t have.

You signed up with AmeriCorps in 2002, when you were 60. What prompted you to join? I wanted to contribute something, anything, after 9/11. One member was 69 and retired.

My good friend Ruth was 78 at the time and the oldest member in Colorado. I mentored at-risk teens in alternative schools and in the juvenile detention center.

In the eight years you’ve been in Longmont, you’ve been involved with the Longmont Writers Club, were writer-in-residence at Sunset Middle School, taught at Longmont Free University and published your second novel. Are you really retired? No. I’ll always be reading and writing and sharing my knowledge of writing.

Who was the inspiration for the “knockout single mom” featured in your first two novels? The first story was about two single parents who met coaching soccer. My wife, Joan, and I met coaching soccer. Joan was my inspiration. In the second book, the first woman president was inspired by my mentor and good friend Romayne, who is now about 91 and living in Seattle. She was always the smartest person in a room full of guys and very attractive. I saw her take over meetings time and again as the only woman there.

Any idea what your next adventure will be? I’m in it now. I’m writing my fifth novel, a thriller set in Heidelberg, Germany. This will be the first in a series that will take me to 80 and beyond.

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Tracy Evans Age: 46 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Two and a half Occupation: Pharmacist at Longmont United Hospital You were born in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved around different parts of Great Britain growing up.

You came to Colorado when your husband, Paul, accepted a transfer to IBM’s Boulder facility. Tell Evans me about the trip you took here in 2001. They offered him the job, but at that point, we hadn’t completely decided. When I first arrived, we drove through Commerce City to get to Boulder, and that was kind of interesting. ... But then when you came down over that hill into Boulder, it was just like coming into every other town, except you had the mountains there.

The biggest difference I noticed is we were staying at a hotel, and to get anywhere, you had to drive. You couldn’t walk anywhere.

Buzz Feldman Age: 65 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 25 Occupation: Safe Routes to School coordinator for St. Vrain Valley schools through March 2011 After 23 years in business, you closed High Gear Cyclery in May 2009. Would you ever open another bike shop in town? Not as a for-profit venture. Along with other volunteers from Bicycle Longmont, I am involved in an effort to create a not-for-profit community bike cooperative. We are currently searching for a permanent location. This Feldman will allow Bicycle Longmont to expand the Holiday Bike Program.

You organize the bike giveaway before Christmas each year and coordinate the Safe Routes to School for the St. Vrain Valley School District. At what age should a child learn to ride a bike? When they are ready. I have seen some learn at only 2 years, but that is unusual. Generally, it is at age 4 or 5 years. Others may begin when older. It can take as little as 20 minutes to teach a youngster to balance on a bike without training wheels.

As vice chairman of the city’s Transportation Advisory Board, what would you like to see happen in

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How is it different being a pharmacist in this country compared with the UK? I used to work for a hospital in the National Health Services in England, so the patient care is the same. In Britain, I was working for the National Health Services, which is controlled by the government. One thing about it is it is always underfunded — they could always use more funding.

But on the other hand, you have people in this country who don’t have insurance, who kind of fall through (the cracks). I can see some of the benefits of both. There are always pros and cons to anything.

You and your husband have an unusual hobby, at least for Coloradans: scuba diving. When we first came here, we had just started diving. We hooked up with the Scuba Shack in Frederick, and we kept on taking lessons through them. At this point now we’re rescue divers.

We just went on vacation, and I did my 100th dive in Mexico.

Longmont before your term expires in December 2013? There are many results that I would like to see. I would like to see a better partnership between RTD and the city in the decisions relating to bus service. I would like to see many more people walking and biking for their trips of 2 miles or less. I would like to see more traffic circles and roundabouts instead of stop signs and traffic lights in future road development and redesign. I would like to see a more connected network of multiuse trails so that it is easier for folks to walk and bike in town.

What do you remember about your first bicycle?

Everyone has a great first bike tale and hopefully great memories to go along with that. My first bike that wasn’t a hand-me-down was a metallic gold Schwinn threespeed “English racer” when I was 10 years old. It provided me the freedom to get around on my own, without having to rely on my parents to transport me to school, to the park or to friends’ houses. It also provided me with many hours of fun and exercise.

How often do you use a car? As infrequently as possible. When I am able to commute by bicycle, I arrive more energized and less stressed and enjoy getting to my destination more.

For my short trips, it is easier than in my car and often quicker.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Niwot resident Dick Lentz wrote a play called “It’s Not Too Late” after the Columbine tragedy, on which the play is loosely based.

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Christy Friesner

Jenny Friesner

Age: 23 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 12 Occupation: Manager at Ziggi’s Coffee House on Francis Street Are you nervous about taking on the responsibility of managing the new shop at such a young age? I do feel kind of nervous. It is a lot of responsibility, but I’ve been working there for three years and have dealt with lots of different things. And I know (owners) Brandon and Camrin (Knudsen) will be there to help. I know they would not ask me to do something C. Friesner like this if they didn’t think I would do well and help their business succeed.

How many customers’ coffee orders do you have memorized, and how do you memorize them? I have a lot of drinks memorized! I think I know at least 50 percent of the customers’ coffee orders that come in to the shop. I really try to make it a point to memorize people’s orders. I think what helps me memorize orders is repeating them back to customers and really trying to remember the drink order with the customer’s face.

I hear that you tap dance with members of your family. The holidays must be pretty noisy around your house. Yeah, they can get pretty interesting — especially since my aunt tap dances as well, so we like to show off what we know and try to learn things from Jenny as well. One year we tried to make up a dance, which we thought was awesome, but the rest of the family wasn’t really into it!

Do you ever find yourself dancing at work? Sometimes. It can be so busy that you don’t even have time to think! I do it more when I’m at home. Sometimes I’ll be standing around and just start tapping. It’s something that comes natural. Jenny and I like to tap dance around in the kitchen trying to mimic each other’s sounds.

Do you get sick of the smell of coffee? Not really. There are so many different smells when it comes to coffee, from the grinding to brewing to making a latte. You get lots of different aromas, which never gets old! It’s the getting-off-work part and smelling like a coffee bean that’s hard!

Age: 17 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 12 Occupation: Student at Silver Creek High School, captain of Starbound at Dance Dimensions and barista at Ziggi’s Coffee I understand you perform many types of dance, from tap to ballet.

What inspires you to perform such different variations of dance? The different music inspires me to move the way I do. Then it just depends on what style I’m feeling at the moment.

How do you juggle school, work and dance? Without sleep, I juggle it all nicely! But I’m not sure how I do J. Friesner it. Somehow I make it work.

What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to listen to music and hang out with family and friends like any other teenager.

Describe your worst day at work. My worst day at work was when I spilled a whole steaming pitcher of chocolate milk all over my light blue jeans. I had to work three solid hours with soaking chocolate milk jeans!

Reed Gattmann

Larry Green

Age: 18 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 13 Occupation: student, Lyons Middle/Senior High School Why did you become a Christian, and how has that affected your life? My acceptance of Christ marked an important milestone in my personal growth. It was my first experience of doing what I do for something I believe in, a Gattmann passion that has overflowed into all of my daily activities.

The pride grew not only from the act itself, but also from the acts that followed. Living life by a different set of standards and serving others instead of myself has opened opportunities for greater success in my everyday activities.

How did your faith help you through last year’s death of a friend and fellow pilot? On Feb. 6, 2010, I was going to fly solo for the first time in a sail plane. I was preflighting the aircraft when a commotion started at the Mile High Gliding building. I saw people standing on the deck, pointing toward the distant sky. I watched two streaks of fire slowly descend, leaving behind billowing clouds of smoke. One trail belonged to Alex Gilmer’s Piper Pawnee. I met Alex a few months earlier when I began my journey toward my hopeful future as a pilot.

We shared a similar outlook on the wonders of the world of aviation, but more importantly, he was a friend. This experience shook my passion for flight to its foundations and forced me to question whether I really wanted a career in this field. My faith in Christ as my savior helped me through this hardship. In all difficult times, it is my faith that sustains me.

Why did you earn certification as an emergency medical technician? What is the most challenging part of that job? I earned my EMT as a continuation of my service to others and a prerequisite for my duties on the National Ski Patrol. I believe that through my training, I can better help those around me and contribute to the community. The hardest part of a job in emergency services is probably staying focused on the task at hand rather than getting caught up in the moment. It is knowing the right thing to do, quickly and efficiently, while you are under great stress. This is something that I strive to perfect and develop through experience.

What do you want to do after high school and why? After high school, I plan to go into a university or service academy where I can pursue my interest in the field of aviation while serving others. I am still waiting to hear back from some of the schools that I have applied to, but I am hopeful for an appointment to either the United States Air Force Academy or the United States Naval Academy, where I can follow my dreams while serving my country and its citizens.

Age: 80 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 33 Occupation: Retired commercial real estate broker, Larry Green & Associates; former Longmont community development director; former president and chief executive officer, Economic Development Association of Longmont Before you retired from your own business about four years ago, your resume included chairing the Heart of Longmont Business Association, heading a city department and presiding over the forerunner to the present Longmont Area Economic Council. Do you miss economic development work?

I would have to say yes. I don’t feel I’m capable of going into it full time again. It was not all Green fun, but it was certainly a rewarding kind of existence.

You’ve lived in Mead the past seven years. What’s the current development potential of the St. Vrain Valley as it extends from Boulder County into Weld County? People are looking at the area more as a region, at the big picture.

There’s more attention now to southwest Weld. This new NASA thing they’re talking about (the possibility of landing the Aerospace Clean Energy Manufacturing and Innovation Center), it’s wonderful.

How have things changed in this area’s economic development efforts over the past 30 years? Certainly, the methods are the same. Economic development is really marketing. It’s just like marketing a

company, only the city’s the company.

Internally, we did a lot of planning. You make a deep analysis of what kinds of companies we should go after, and what kind of companies are likely to come to Longmont. You target those companies.

In the methodology of marketing, you first get a prospect, and then you work on that prospect, and hopefully he becomes a lead, and then you work on that lead, and then the next step is to sign him up.

When I was at EDAL, we formed what we called a Japanese initiative. We went after Asian prospects. We went to Japan, and we really did some marketing there. After a few years, $45 million in payrolls here were backed by Japanese money. Within the state of Colorado, we were leading the others in economic development.

Longmont bragged about the fact that we’re in an area of high-tech education, that taxes are low, that it’s a great place to live. At that time, we probably were one of the only ones going with a total approach like that.

Then and now, the prospects try to get as many incentives as they can. But it’s harder to get the political types to give them breaks. The atmosphere’s a little bit different.

It’s tougher today because everybody in the country has economic development outfits, and they all have similar stuff.

But it’s really like selling a product: You have to have something different. There’s a lot of people selling toothpaste. Some do well, and others don’t.

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Bob Goff

Will Gregorak

Age: 47 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 81/2 Occupation: Owner of Abbondanza Pizzeria In your opinion, what is the secret to a superb pizza?

Taking the time to do it right and always knowing you can improve. As Ray Kroc said: “When you are Goff green, you are growing.”

Do you have any advice for an entrepreneur trying to start up a business? It is not a 9-to-5 job. Go in with eyes wide open.

What’s the key to happiness in life?

Finding a balance. (Or when you find out, let me know. Joking.)

What about Longmont keeps you here? My customers.

Age: 20 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 12 Occupation: Alpine ski racer, U.S. Ski Team What has been your proudest moment, or your greatest accomplishment, as a member of the U.S. Ski Team? The World Cup circuit is the highest level of ski racing. Just below that is the Europa Cup circuit. While not as prestigious Gregorak as the World Cup circuit, the Europa Cup very often hosts the same skiers who race the World Cup, making them very competitive races. Earlier this season, I competed in a Europa Cup race in Obereggen, Italy, which hosted a field that contained 15 of the top 30 slalom skiers in the world, including the Olympic champion and bronze medalist. In this race, I started bib 72, and because snow conditions deteriorate as more skiers go, the course slows down considerably. Coming into this day, I did not feel I had much of a chance to accomplish anything besides gaining some experience racing the best skiers in the world. However, at the end of the day, I skied to second place, two-tenths of a second behind the Olympic bronze medalist. To date, this is by far my most successful race and garnered me a lot of respect in the European ski community.

What is your background, in terms of how you developed your talent in skiing? My dad taught me how to ski when I was 2 years old, and I believe I was 3 years old when I started telling everyone that I wanted to be a ski racer when I grew up. My family is originally from the state of Washington, so I first learned to ski nearby at Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho. When I was 5, my family moved to Telluride. Living next to the mountain there is when I first got the opportunity to ski every day and enroll in the race program. A few years later, we moved to Longmont, and I skied for Team Summit out of Copper Mountain. I then skied for Eldora Mountain Ski Club and finally Ski Club Vail. After my senior year in high school, I was invited to the U.S. Ski Team, and I have been solely focused on my career ever since.

How long is a typical career for a U.S. skier, and what would you like to do when your skiing career is over? A typical ski career is 10-15 years, with the oldest skiers on World Cup being in their late 30s. The only thing I have ever been sure of is being a skier, so at times I have entertained the thought of being a ski bum after my career is over. However, because skiing is not nearly in the same pay grade as the most popular U.S. sports, it is unlikely that I would make enough money to support that lifestyle. Beyond that, it would be ideal to stay in the sport somehow, possibly promoting it or covering it as a journalist. Hopefully, as the years go by, I will discover a passion for something else that I can pursue when the time is right.

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Age: 13 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth Occupation: Students What is the best thing about having a twin? What about the worst thing? Lacy: The best thing about having a twin is that we are best friends, because she looks like me, talks like me and acts like me, which is what best friends look for in each other. Also, we can study together and talk to each other about anything. Another great thing is that when I am at school and my friends ignore me or something, I always have my twin sister, who won’t ignore me and hang out with me. The worst thing about having a twin is the competition. I am taller and bigger than my sister, and Lyndie is faster and more quick than I am. We give each other a hard time about it sometimes, but sometimes we wish that there was no competition, but then again, we both can look past our differences and have fun and work

Lacy Haddock

Lyndie Haddock

together.

Lyndie: The best thing about having a twin is that I can always have a best friend wherever I am. The worst thing about having a twin is that people get us mixed up, and then I start answering to “Lacy,” and then everyone else gets confused.

What are your favorite sports to play and why? Lacy: My favorite sports are volleyball, basketball and soccer. These are my favorite sports because they are all in different seasons in high school, which means that I can do them all if I want to. I don’t like running track, unlike my mom, because I can run my hardest and fastest only when I am chasing after

Scott Hamlin

summer 2013).

Age: 56 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 23 Occupation: Artistic director of the Longmont Chorale; piano accompanist for Niwot High School choirs and musical theater What are the greatest challenges working with artists? What are the greatest rewards? As director of the Longmont Chorale, I am privileged to work with singers of varied ages, skill levels and experience. The greatest challenges in working with vocal artists, in my situation, Hamlin also yield the greatest rewards.

The Chorale is one of few nonauditioned community choirs in the Front Range. Our group is open to anyone who loves to sing, as long as they can match pitch.

Diversity in our group is seen in many ways. For example, singing next to each other are music teachers and those who have had little or no music education.

This creates a group of people who work together to rehearse and perform choral music for personal enjoyment for ourselves and our audiences.

So, the greatest challenge is also the greatest reward: to blend each of us into an excellent team as positive ambassadors of beautiful choral music in Longmont and beyond (a tour to the British Isles is being planned for early

What do you think of the Fox television show “Glee”? Watching “Glee,” I am struck with two things: the interesting personalities of its characters and the highly produced and “perfect” sound of its songs. Generally, I believe “Glee” shows positive aspects of being in a high school choir. Many older pop songs have been given a fresh new sound, and new hits are presented in creative ways. A choral music series also has been developed using some of the same song arrangements as heard on the show.

However, this is only one style of music, and any valuable educational experience must include a broader spectrum of choral literature. Niwot High School performs “Glee” arrangements, as well as choral classics from all the periods of music. I enjoy accompanying the choirs at Niwot and am constantly amazed at the talented and wonderful personalities of these students.

Do you recall when you discovered your musical talents? What was that like? I began playing the piano at the age of 7 and, thanks to a persevering and encouraging mother, realized in the seventh grade that I truly had a talent and love of music. My father was a choral director, and I always enjoyed accompanying his choirs, as well as singing.

a ball on the field, ball on the court, or to go get a volleyball that is in the corner.

Right now, my favorite sport would probably be basketball, because it is so competitive and hard-working and I love playing the game. My favorite position is forward, because it is just so exhilarating in drawing a foul or going up for the bucket.

Lyndie: My favorite sports to play are volleyball, basketball and soccer. I can’t decide which one is my favorite. But I love these sports because I really love anything with a ball.

How did you select the musical instruments you wanted to learn how to play? Lacy: I play flute, alto saxophone and piano. When I went to middle school, I chose to play flute for band, and I learned from my school band teacher and through practice. I play alto saxophone for my school jazz band, and I chose alto saxophone because my older brother, Steven, played it in middle school and we still had his alto saxophone. For piano, I have been taking lessons from various teachers since I was

in about second or third grade. I still take private lessons from a lady in my church.

Lyndie: My favorite instrument is the alto sax, but I also can play the clarinet, piano, a little violin and a little flute. I selected these instruments because I just wanted to try something new, and so I just picked these ones because they’re not too big to carry around.

What makes each of you unique from each other? Lacy: My sister and I are very similar, but we also are very different from each other. My best subjects are in math and science. Lyndie is into nature, while I like to work with computers and just electrical things. I also love to wear athletic clothes all the time, while Lyndie is more girly than I am.

Lyndie: Lacy is taller and bigger than I am, but we pretty much like the same things. In basketball, I don’t like to play post or forward because I’m not very big, but Lacy really likes to play post, so it works out. I like to play guard. We both are outgoing, but Lacy is more serious than me.

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Lacy and Lyndie Haddock

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Two years ago, Annie Moore served as the pastor of Zion’s Favor church in Longmont. Today, she lives in east Firestone and runs Three Generations Home Daycare in the house she shares with her daughter and granddaughter. She is photographed with 17-month-old Eric Brunsman.

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A season for Colorado Former pastor considers helping neighbors to be her ministry

“For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1, American Standard Version

T

o Annie Moore, those words are more than just the lyrics to a once-popular Byrds song.

They are the mantra of her life.

Just two years ago, Moore lived in the Ute Creek area of Longmont and served as the pastor of Zion’s Favor church at Sixth Avenue and Sherman Street.

Now, she lives in east Firestone and runs Three Generations Home Daycare in the home she shares with her daughter, Rhonda McKoy, 37, and her 15-year-old granddaughter Jamia Kenen.

“This season now is for the children,” Moore said.

“That season then was for the adults.”

Moore and her family moved to Firestone in 2009, three years after they moved from North Carolina so McKoy could work at Amgen.

Zion’s Favor originated as a Bible study and prayer group in Moore’s home but quickly outgrew the space

Annie Moore Age: 57 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 5 Occupation: Owns and operates in-home day care; former pastor

she had, she said.

“When they heard me preach, they wanted me to keep preaching,” she said.

The congregation rented the white church building for about seven months, but Moore had to dissolve the church when she and the landlord could not agree on a lease, she said.

“No matter how long we was in there, that’s how long we was supposed to be there,” Moore drawled in her thick Southern accent.

Even as a child in Durham, N.C., Moore knew she wanted to care for children when she grew up. But it wasn’t until she was an adult that she became a Christian.

A co-worker named Betty “lived the life of a Christian,” and, when she was 19 or 20, Moore began going to church, praying and reading the Bible. She even

joined a church choir.

Betty later was murdered, but Moore didn’t forget her.

“The life she lived inspired me to be a Christian,” Moore said. “Her life made me want to live right.”

She committed her life to Christ after an epiphany one day when McKoy was little. Several friends were visiting Moore and her thenhusband, and everyone was drinking, Moore said.

“I heard him,” she said, referring to Jesus. “He said, ‘Annie, I don’t care what you do, but choose this day.’

“I got saved that day,” Moore said.

She went on to study ministry at the United Christian College in North Carolina and has been ordained in two denominations, she said.

Moore told God, “When you call me, let me be where I’m supposed to be,” she said.

At about the same time Moore was ordained, her granddaughter was born.

“Jamia has been with her (grandmother) ever since she was born, from Day One,” McKoy said. “She’s an at-home grandma.”

So when McKoy was offered a position at Amgen in 2006, Moore was quick to follow her daughter and granddaughter to Longmont.

“I came here because of Rhonda,” Moore said. “I only have one child.”

McKoy considers herself blessed to have her mother’s support in raising her daughter.

“If there’s something I need, she’s there,” McKoy said.

The family feels at home in Firestone, the women said.

“We like Firestone because ... the people embraced us,” McKoy said, with Moore adding that such a feeling is especially important because they are African-American.

“We have excellent neighbors,” Moore said.

The neighbors worry if Moore hasn’t been around to see them every few days, McKoy said. And the door is always open for them to talk to Moore, she said.

“A lot of times when people come through that door, they’re looking for a mama.

They’re looking for my mama, and they don’t realize it,” McKoy said. “It’s the

Story by Victoria A.F. Camron • Photo by Joshua Buck • Longmont Times-Call

light they’re drawn to inside her.”

Although she is not the pastor of any church right now, Moore considers helping her neighbors to be her ministry, she said.

“If we had a tornado, what would we do? We got to help each other,” Moore said.

To make sure that her neighbors know each other, Moore hosted Thanksgiving dinner for all the families on her block.

“How she pulled this off, I don’t know,” McKoy said.

More than 24 adults and children filled long tables for the holiday.

“I have good neighbors,” Moore said. “They’re good people.”

Moore forced her neighbors to converse with each other by assigning seats, based on what she knew they had in common.

“Mom talks to everybody,” McKoy said. “When they left, everybody was talking to everybody.”

By sharing tables, shoveling snow and just talking, Moore’s neighborhood is becoming a family.

“It’s a good thing,” Moore said. “I really believe we was supposed to be here.”

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Betty Heath Age: 73 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Since 1987 — 24 Occupation: Retired; writer of the “As I See It” column for the Times-Call You’re an Arkansas native, but you spent about a dozen years working at the University of Houston. I understand that while there you got to know an astronaut. The Challenger, that exploded — Dick Scobee, he was a friend of mine. He was the commander.

His wife, June, was the adjunct Heath professor (at my college). That’s where I became acquainted with them and found out they were my neighbors.

How did it come about that you’re a columnist for the Times-Call? I answered a request (from then-Carbon Valley editor Mike Hagan), who was looking for people in the area to write about the Carbon Valley.

I sent three articles in that I sat down and wrote, and I didn’t hear anything. About six weeks went by, and one morning (my husband) George came in and said, “You’re on the front page of the

Gillian Hyde Age: 15 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 13 Occupation: Student, Niwot High School Why did you decide to start Longmont Gives — a nonprofit organization that helps would-be givers find ways to donate or help local charities — instead of simply giving to charities on your own?

I thought it would be more useful if the community knew about giving opportunities and it would make a bigger difference than if I just gave back to the community myself. When I started this, I found out that not a lot of Hyde people in the community, including myself, knew about all of the human service organizations in the St. Vrain Valley area.

My goal was to increase awareness of local giving opportunities.

What is the most challenging aspect of being the founder and executive director of Longmont Gives? It is difficult bringing everyone on my

Carbon Valley Edition.”

Writing has always been a part of my life. It’s something I’ve had a knack for and that I’ve always enjoyed.

What do you try to do with your writing? I like to connect what’s happening today to what’s happened in the past. It’s kind of like what goes around comes around. ... I like to show how different it is since I was a girl. Everybody says those were the good old days, and maybe they were, but kids today have so many more opportunities than I ever had.

What’s your take on social media, and do you think things such as texting help or hurt kids’ learning? I finally got on Facebook because I’m hoping to someday find my long-lost grandson. I was dragged kicking and screaming on to it, and I don’t socialize on Facebook. ...

I’m bothered that teachers don’t teach kids to write cursive anymore, and I think there should be more emphasis on typing. ... What’s going to happen to the English language? As beautiful as our language is, I still enjoy getting handwritten notes.

board together, as we are all involved in numerous activities. When we meet, we have great ideas on how to make this program better, but it is hard having to learn how to run an organization and communicate in an adult world with limited business experience. This past year, I have had to learn how to write proposals, run and advertise a fundraiser, and resolve a trademark dispute.

How do you balance your work with Longmont Gives, being in the challenging International Baccalaureate program and your other activities? I have to budget my time and balance my work with socializing and relaxation. My mom and I schedule time every week that is dedicated to Longmont Gives.

What do you plan to do after high school? I plan to go to college, and I would like to study in a business-related field. I will always be involved in community service, and I know that my work in Longmont Gives has given me a great foundation for my career.

Rawlins

Age: 46 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 32 Occupation: Executive director of the Longmont Community Foundation You’ve lived in or near Longmont since the 1970s. What is the biggest change you have seen in the community? I think Hozempa the greatest change has occurred on Main Street. I have fond memories of places like the Trojan Theater, Dainty Pastry, Traylor Hardware, Howell’s, Schey’s Clothing and the Pinball Palace. I tell my kids all the time that prior to PlayStation and Xbox home game systems, my friends and I used to actually go downtown to play video games. When I was in college, many of the stores I grew up with closed and Main Street “reinvented” itself. It’s been great to see Main Street’s resurgence over the past few years.

You have more than 20 years of nonprofit experience with groups like Dental Aid, Eco-Cycle, Metro Volunteers, Rocky Mountain PBS and now the Longmont Community Foundation. Why have you worked primarily with charitable organizations? From the day-to-day perspective, I enjoy the many “hats” you wear when working for a nonprofit. One minute, you might be talking to a donor; the next minute, you might be making a presentation. I’ve always appreciated the diversity of duties and always enjoy working with people.

From a bigger perspective, I always had a desire to help people, and working in the nonprofit sector has provided me that opportunity. I’m blessed with the best job in the world: to help improve Longmont and the St. Vrain Valley for future generations.

You sit on the city’s historic preservation committee. What is your favorite Longmont landmark and why? While it isn’t officially designated as a landmark, I have a fondness for the area of Longmont defined as north of Ninth to 11th and west of Main to Bowen. This area was once a separate community (North Longmont). Apparently, little is known about this chapter in Longmont’s history, but North Longmont became its own independent community in the early 1900s. The reason for the split was that North Longmont allowed alcohol when Longmont was “dry.” The “rabble-rousers” of North Longmont decided to disband the town about seven years after its creation.

As an avid gardener, what is one of your best-kept secrets for growing a successful garden in Colorado? Colorado soils tend to be composed mainly of clay. In order to grow things successfully, gardeners should strive to make their garden soil “fluffy.” Air circulation in the soil will help your plants thrive.

To achieve a “fluffy” soil, you should amend your garden plot with organic matter such as compost, bark, peat moss — anything that will break up the compact clay soil.

Troy Terry Area Representative www.globalinsights.org CR-163523

N AT I O N A L B A N K MEMBER FDIC

Community Minded Just Like You.

“Opening the World Through Youth Exchange” Troy Terry

Realtor®, GRI, CNE

Cell: 303-956-6793

CR-163669

2001 Main St • P.O. Box 6646 • Longmont, CO 80501

Phone: 303-772-2296 • Fax: 303-772-2487 www.rnbonline.com

Eric Hozempa

“Thank Your For Your Business & Referrals”

Troy Terry Board of Directors www.stvrainhfh.org 303-682-2485

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

re-uses for discarded materials and could be considered a recycle and re-use artist and Age: 68 years young in April photographer. Theatrically, I aim to make at least 10 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 30-plus people laugh every day to lighten the world.

Occupation: Mountain man, historian, Eerie Coach You offer haunted tours of Erie. What is the Tours, events and marketing director of A.C.E., Arts spookiest spot in town? I have interviewed many Coalition of Erie native Erie seniors to get the information for my Eerie What about A.C.E. is it most important for people Coach Tour and upcoming book, “Erie’s Eerie to know? The Arts Coalition of Erie is about History.” Each senior is a wealth of bringing the arts and humanities to life in knowledge, and when they pass on, a Historic Old Town Erie to enhance our library of information and history passes community and revitalize our Historic Old with them. You ask for the spookiest spot Town. It’s about providing the opportunity in Erie. It’s hard to choose but: the Legend for artists to work together and within our of the 13 Witches and their hidden graves own community and encourage kids of all or the many chilling historic details ages to explore their own creativity by revealed during a visit to Erie’s Cemetery offering a wide variety of art experiences “Boot Hill” that are surrounded in suspense under one roof through painting, sculpting, and still unanswered secrets shrouded in Johnson photography, theater, music or poetry. darkness.

A.C.E. invites everyone to enjoy our free Have you ever seen a ghost? I use the monthly presentation, participate in our monthly word “spirit” and have personally been in that realm photo contest, submit their poetry or step up to the a few times myself: when I was 5 and hit by a car, microphone. on an operating table, and most recently in a Are you an artist yourself? I believe everyone is an recovery room following a traumatic surgery. In all artist if they find their passion. I am colorblind but these instances, I remember looking at the frantic draw and design in black and white. All my life, I people scurrying about to bring me back while I have been fascinated by history and have an affinity enjoyed a complete and peaceful silence and calm. I toward Native American history and art, which believe I developed a sense to spirits around me and symbolizes their struggle to save their past for the am often touched by or aware of them. Some appear future, just as I work to revitalize Historic Old Town in mirrors, some as solid as life, while others appear Erie. Like our native ancestors, I always aim to find as shadowy wisps.

Dave Johnson

Brad Jolly Age: 49 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 25 (all in Longmont) Occupation: Learning products engineer You are known as an outspoken critic of public schools. So tell us, what do you like about public schools? I like the principle of public schools. I like the idea that everyone throws money into a common pot so that all children have the opportunity to get an education, even if their parents don’t have the money to pay Jolly for that education. I would hate to see a society where only the rich can get an education.

Why don’t you run for school board? It’s twofold. No. 1, I would be unelectable. No. 2, it turns out that it doesn’t seem to really matter much who’s on the school board as long as there’s not accountability in the system.

Over the years, we’ve seen some excellent people on the St. Vrain school board and some lesstalented people on the board.

But the results stay the same: mediocre.

What kind of student were you?

I was always interested in school, and school generally came easy for me. I was probably a bit disruptive in middle school but never got into any serious trouble. I always took school very seriously and got good grades. But it was only well after college that I truly began to enjoy learning for its own sake.

What mistake did you make growing up that you want to make sure your children do not make? Too many to list. But here are two: One, I never took my relationship with God very seriously. And two, I didn’t think enough about how to think about what I should be doing. That is, not enough metacognition.

You are a polarizing figure.

What would your supporters and detractors be surprised to learn about you? I think the biggest thing is how many friends I have who are employees or officials in the St. Vrain Valley School District and how many of the things I’ve worked on over the years are currently being used in the St. Vrain Valley School District.

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Julie Kocjancic Age: 32 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 25 Occupation: Store owner, Madifine Mercantile, and executive director, ArtWalk Longmont What is the strangest item you sell in your store? Gumballs that Kocjancic taste like a day at the ballpark (hot dog, beer and peanuts) What is the best-selling item in your store? We sell the funniest greeting cards in town!

What has been your most rewarding experience as executive director of ArtWalk? The most rewarding experience I’ve had as the executive director of ArtWalk has been the amazing engagement and encouragement I have seen from the artists, businesses and community. I consider myself lucky to work with an enthusiastic board of directors, talented local artists and friendly and committed local merchants, and to receive support from organizations committed to helping nonprofits. It is these relationships that make ArtWalk fun.

What does downtown Longmont have that no other city has? Downtown Longmont has an amazing sense of history. I like to think that the shop owners my family did business with in the 1920s would be proud to know that the legacy of community commitment, friendly service and neighborhood kinship is alive and well.

Lucia Salomone Kaczeus Age: My age is just a number. In my mind, a person has no age. Life is like a continuous learning process.

Years in the St. Vrain Valley: I came to Longmont three years ago from San Jose, Calif.

Occupation: My occupation now is a mixed bag of tricks, you might say. I love to cook and wrote a memoir/cookbook. I am a storyteller; a grandmother who loves to cook for her grandson, family and friends; a businesswoman who monitors her book sales and screenplay funding; a reader; an exerciser at the YMCA; but above all else, a spiritual being. I was trained as a teacher in Rome; that was my original occupation. Music, languages and traveling around the world are my passions.

Kaczeus You are a World War II survivor.

Tell us about your experiences from those years. I was 8 years old and living in Rome when World War II broke out.

Everything seemed so uncertain to me at that age — even whether we’d eat or not that day.

Misery and sickness were everywhere. I almost died from diphtheria. My father worked as a warden for a prison and put us all in danger by hiding Jews in it for a time.

This is the subject of a screenplay I helped put together. It has been optioned by a filmmaker in Los Angeles.

How and why did you come to the United States? I came to the United States for a better life, leaving war-torn Europe, coming to

New York in the ’50s. I’ll never forget the first time I saw the Statue of Liberty; it brought tears to my eyes. I had just gotten married to a Hungarian political refugee from the 1956 Hungarian revolution against the Russians.

We were married at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. We moved to Danbury, Conn., where my son Stephen was born and where my husband and I proudly became American citizens.

You have written a screenplay about your life. You’ve also written a cookbook. Tell us about your writing projects. I wrote a memoir/cookbook with stories from my childhood and Italian recipes, many of which went back generations. The core of the stories is my relationship with my dear mom, who taught me how to cook but, more importantly, how to live.

My good friend Ed Knapp edited my stories, keeping true to the storylines but making the words much smoother. He also wrote and edited a screenplay, a fictionalized account of my father hiding Jews in an Italian prison. My role was to review the story thoroughly, to make sure it all rang true. It’s called “Blind Man’s Vision.”

What advice do you have for living a long, healthy, vibrant life? Stay optimistic. Wake up with a smile and a prayer of thanks. Eliminate the junk food. The Mediterranean Diet works: olive oil, basil, pasta, tomato sauce, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. An occasional glass of red wine. Be good to others; understand them, love them. Slow down.

Seek peace of mind and wisdom.

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particular issues are being addressed in your novel or play.

Age: 52 Who or what inspired you to Years in St. Vrain Valley: 7 create Verity Sauveur, the main Occupation: Pre-IB English character in the Legacy Stone teacher at Niwot High School series? Verity is a snarky female since 2004 version of Huckleberry Finn ... if As an English teacher, what is Huck had a shape-shifting talking the most common grammar or sword and poop monsters spelling mistake you chasing him. The first see? Run-on sentences book, “Brimstone and all linked together with Lily,” is a tongue-in“and then.” I have cheek homage to received entire threeTwain’s work, with page papers that were generous allusions to a single sentence other authors, such as (sigh). Proofreading is Dickens and Melville. abysmal in general, which is why I require Book 2, “Jasper ’s Foul in-class peer-editing of Tongue,” refers to Kroenung rough drafts before Twain again while also accepting major writing making fun use of assignments.

“The Odyssey” and “King Lear.”

As a participant in Civil War re- Her appearance is a combination enactments, why did you choose of Huck himself, Scout in “To Kill to portray a Confederate? Chiefly A Mockingbird” and my redbecause I was living in Virginia at haired granddaughter, Freya the time as an Army enlisted (that’s her on the cover). soldier, and the Rebs won most What are you working on now? of the popularly re-enacted Book 3, “Jasper ’s Magick battles and had more variety of uniforms and personality. Since I Corset,” which will take Verity to Napoleonic France and was a real soldier already, the Elizabethan England, where she idea of dressing up as a Union will come face to face with the automaton in my copious free sorcerers who have been making time held little appeal. her life so miserable. Expect Most of your published works more poop monsters, flying feature swordfighting. Why? I horses, talking trees, combat was exposed to it in drama pelicans, pirate battles and puns. school via Shakespeare and

Terry Kroenung

discovered that I had a knack for it. Swordplay is one of the most elemental displays of character conflict and personality a writer can employ. It serves as a metaphor for not only life in general but for whatever

Nearly finished is a Steampunk novel called “Paragon of the Eccentric,” a Victorian sciencefiction adventure full of airships, sword canes, genetically manipulated monsters and tentacled temptresses.

Genaro Laynes

oncologist and surgeon in Peru.

How has your father influenced your decision to go into medicine? There is always a bit of pressure knowing that my father accomplished such a rigorous career, but he always told me to follow a career that I’m passionate about, because I would not work a day in my life.

Age: 18 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 9 Occupation: Student at the University of Colorado at Denver You were born in Peru and moved here at age 9. What was the most difficult part of the transition for you? I believe the language barrier was the most difficult Laynes challenge to overcome, because communication is such an important part of learning.

Why do you want to study medicine? I find the medical field intriguing and believe that it is filled with opportunities.

Your dad was a gynecological

What is your favorite Peruvian food? My favorite Peruvian food would have to be lomo saltado, which consists of beef, cut tomatoes, onions and variety of seasonings on top of fries, with a side of rice. I feel hungry just thinking about it.

William ‘Chichi’ Ledesma Age: 64 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 12 Occupation: Working at Longmont Senior Center Explain, please, what the Don Quixote Bohemian Atelier series of gatherings you founded is all about. It is an active nonprofit multicultural dance gathering held in local art galleries in a friendly atmosphere, with free wine tasting, CD music (oldies, reggae, disco, cha-chas, salsa, etc.) and international appetizers; participants Ledesma from the wide range of human diversity and cultures that shape Longmont can dance and mingle, breaking cultural boundaries; through dance and friendship, locals and diverse residents can network with anybody who appreciates cultural affairs and travels, like artists, performers, business owners, etc.

In the break, some people show dance performances of Argentine tango, salsa, etc.

All these events are free and open to the public, but donations and sponsors are welcome.

We have people from the United States, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Spain, Greece, Philippines, Italy, Ghana and Vietnam.

What so far was the most memorable moment for you from the atelier events? The inaugural event that was opened at The Old Firehouse Art Center, about 150 people enjoyed a good time; and the two grants: in 2009 from the city of Longmont and Neighborhood Resources, and in 2010 from Longmont Council for the Arts.

Describe your hometown. And when did you come to the United States? I was born in Peru, where I got a criminal psychology degree, but now I am an American citizen and veteran from U.S. Air Force.

I come to U.S.A. in 1978, living in Long Beach, Calif.

For a while I have been in Europe (Barcelona, Paris and Rome), where I got the ideas for the ateliers.

Given 10 minutes to do anything you want, anything at all, what would you do? Dance, dance and dance (and play my congas).

Sarah Levison

would get less than an “A” on the test.

Age: 54 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 13 Occupation: Longmont City Council member You’ve had a long involvement with the Historic Eastside Neighborhood Association.

How much does Longmont appreciate its own history, and what more can it do? Most people appreciate the history and heritage of Longmont. What more needs to be done? Those specific projects and initiatives will be shaped by what people in our community find intriguing. History can show us some stark contrasts. It can spark some interesting conversations, too.

Longmont’s Chicago Colony was built on the tenets of the temperance movement. How is it, then, in 2011, we have become known for our microbreweries and small-batch distilled spirits manufacturing, along with a beer can transformed from a silo as a landmark at our western Levison gateway?

You have a reputation as an indefatigable reader. How long does it take to get through a council packet, typically? Short answer is “it depends“. At times, it takes as little as four hours or as much as 15. Weekly council packets can be as little as 75 pages or as much as 500. I also do a lot of independent research reading as background on council items. I also take time to ask staff questions about items I feel I don’t understand well enough. I compare the reading requirements of a council packet to being handed Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” on Friday afternoon, to prepare for the class discussion and test by Tuesday at 7 p.m. The public expectation is that you never

What’s the biggest issue facing Colorado cities in general? The struggling economy and slow job growth. In a recent Colorado Municipal League policy meeting, a council member remarked, “There is no new money.” The new reality is that the state and federal governments will be doing what they will to make their budgets suit their short-term needs. Truth is, they have to balance their budgets and reduce deficit spending. I understand that. While cities try to educate them about crucial programs, it is more difficult to get them to not cut programs and funding cities depend on.

Lately, civility in politics has been in the spotlight. How do you find the balance between “Speak your mind” and “Talk nice”? In the current atmosphere, where acrimony rules, it is difficult to say where the balance is when the scales are tipped toward only the most outrageous speakers being heard. Each person individually knows where that line is.

For me, it helps to take a deep breath and imagine my parents are in the room.

While you’ve been in the political whirlwind, your husband’s been quietly attracting some acclaim of his own. Feel like bragging on him a bit? As a planetary scientist, Hal does what I call “big science.” People watching the National Geographic and Discovery channels may catch a glimpse of him talking about planetary dynamics. In a recent issue of Discover magazine, his work was noted as 23rd on the list of 100 most significant contributions of 2010. Yes, he is a rocket scientist, and in his opinion, Pluto is not a planet.

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Age: 40 Occupation: Teacher and coach at Frederick High School Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 13 What do you feel is your top accomplishment as a teacher or coach during your years at Frederick? Every time a former student comes back to visit and takes the time to stop by and tell Lear you what they are doing. That always reminds me what it is about, working with kids and trying to help them in their lives. At the end of every day, I feel blessed to have chosen the career I have. The kids are what it is all about. As a coach, this year after we won the league title (in football), it was awesome to see former players from the first couple of seasons I was here outside the locker room on our way in. The moment was awesome for the current players and coaches, as well as for those who were here at the start.

Where did you develop your passion for coaching and teaching? My father was a teacher, and he and my mother were always involved in high school activities. My brother and I were always there with them. I have been on a high school field or at a game for the better part of my life. To see the difference my father made in the lives of students was very powerful, and I have simply followed in his footsteps.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school and coaching? Spending time with my wife, Lisa, and our children, Kendrick and Kassidy. We love to travel as a family, and we try to spend as much time as we can together. We always seem to be going or doing something with Lisa’s dad or my parents. Between our work lives and the ever-increasing busy lives of a 7-year-old and 4-year-old, family is truly where I feel most comfortable and happy.

How much longer do you want to coach? And what goals do you have for the near future? As long as I can still enjoy the kids, I will want to be involved in coaching, and I don’t see any end in sight, because that is what it is and always has been about for me. Coaching goals are to continue to see the attitude at FHS evolve.

We want the terms “classy,” “hard work” and “championship” to become synonymous with our programs. Professionally, I want to try to improve as a teacher and to find ways to make a positive impact on students, the school and the community. Finally, as we move to the new Frederick High School facility, I want to be around to help ensure that FHS becomes all that it can be, for our current students as well as for my own children and others in the future.

Morgan Lu Age: 14 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 11 Occupation: Mead High School freshman You started out high school at a new school. What traditions are you and your classmates creating in Mead? We started a powder-puff football game. The junior girls played sophomore girls. Also, they have special nights for when we go to basketball Lu games or wrestling matches. They have themes. Last time it was crazy socks.

You were the new Mead High School’s first state cross country runner. What was the most difficult thing about running cross country this year? The hardest thing was going to practice every day, working hard at practice after school. It paid off in the end. I finished 36th, and my time was 21:37.

You and your family volunteered to help at the OUR Center on Christmas Day. What did you learn that day? I learned that a lot of people don’t have a place to go on Christmas Day, because there were a lot of people there. It was a good thing to do, to help out the people in the community.

You still are a freshman, but are you already thinking about what you will do once you are out of school? I kind of want to become a missionary to help out other countries. I’m thinking Africa.

Have you gone on a missions trip? No, but this summer, a group from our school is taking a humanitarian trip to Costa Rica to help out with the orphanages and cook food for the homeless.

I

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t’s

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m3/28/2011yTCcfewell 42 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Erik Mason Age: 39 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 Occupation: Curator for the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center since 1996 An anthropology major at Colorado College, you said you’d known you’d end up working somewhere in the history/anthropology field, but you credit a visiting professor Mason from the Smithsonian for inspiring your fascination with museums. What’s so cool about old things? I think one of the things that is the most interesting is you get to get back in touch with the people. I was just looking at a photograph of a man and his horse. It was probably taken around 1910. ... Look at him — he’s probably been dead 80 years, and he had no idea at the time of the picture that somebody would be looking at that picture 80 years later. He had no idea how much things would have changed by then.

What can the past teach us? In some ways, it teaches us that things have not changed the way we think they have. We like to think of an idealized past, but they had their problems back then. Some of these problems we don’t have today, but some of them are still around today. ... There’s always been conflicts, but there’s always been people who rise above it.

What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve come across? It was at the Empson Cannery (now the Cannery Apartments). They had a silver kettle that they used to make currant jelly. John Empson was a master at public relations, and the story went that he had melted down 3,000 silver dollars to make that kettle. No one knew where it was.

We were over touring the Cannery, and in the middle of a hallway, there was this big black kettle just sitting there. It wasn’t black because it was cast-iron — it was black because it was tarnished silver. It had just been sitting there!

Thistle Community Housing (owners of the Cannery) donated it to the museum.

And the kettle was silver-plated — not melted silver dollars. That kind of goes back to the marketing thing. He was a genius marketer.

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Scott Mayfield Age: 74 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Lived here for 13 years while growing up before graduating Longmont High in 1954 and entering the Navy. Returned to Longmont on Sept. 10, 2010.

Occupation: Retired pastor and 24-year Navy veteran So how did a kid from a landlocked state wind up in the Navy?

Mayfield We were living on a farm south of town, and I was going to the Beasley School, which is no more. I remember hearing about the Battle of Midway and telling my folks in the kitchen of our farmhouse that “someday, I’m going to join the Navy.” The rest of my time, it was all geared to “Go Navy, go Navy, go Navy.”

What brought you out of the Navy and into the pastorate? I was going to church at the First Southern Baptist Church in Coalinga, Calif., and God just drove a reverend’s service into my heart. I told the reverend afterward that God had called me to the pastorate, and he said he would help me. So I got out of the Navy, three years, four months and 21 days before I could get my retirement. I was up for warrant officer — I was going to be a shoo-in — but I turned it down because I had to go preach.

How did you happen to come back to Colorado? We are back because my wife has MS. The heat in Texas was too much for her, and the doctors told her she had to go to a cooler climate. We’d been in Texas 25 years.

What’s changed most in town since 1954? The numbers of people. One time I was coming through, my little brother still lived here. I had his address, and I couldn’t find his house. I couldn’t even find the street! I drove back where there was a gas station, Sid’s City Service. I put a dime in the phone and said, “Hey, if you want to see me, you’ve got to come to Denver!”

Is anything gone that you wish you had back? Yeah. Fewer people. Send all the Yankees back to New England! (Laughs.) There used to be an old radio program, “One Foot In Heaven.” To a Texan, this is one foot in heaven. But I miss the small town. Longmont was referred to as “the friendly city.”

Men’d lift their hats at the ladies, smile and say hello; ladies would smile and say hello back. It was a very, very friendly town, and big doesn’t make for friendly — not like that.

Is anything here now that you wish you’d had then? The church I go to, Rocky Mountain Bible Baptist Church.

I am so lucky to have a strong family support system! I know wherever I go, my husband, Age: 40 sisters, brothers and parents are just a phone call Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 years in Lyons or text message away. During the recent Fourmile Occupation: Public information officer, Boulder Canyon Fire, I heard from my family daily. It helps Incident Management Team keep me grounded. However, during one of the We understand you are huge Saints fan. Tell us media briefings, my phone began buzzing. I a little about your day when they won the Super completed the briefing and checked messages afterward only to find that the message that Bowl. Thanks to my dad for being a huge sports seemed of great importance that came fan — I became a Saints fan in the in during my media briefing was my early ’80s. Super Bowl Sunday of mom. She wanted me to know that 2010 was awesome! I was in travel she had seen me on the news and status for business that weekend, and appreciated me speaking slow and my colleagues promised that the Super clear so that they could get all of the Bowl would be a priority. information, then finished the message For me, it wasn’t just a Super Bowl with an “I love you dearly” and “Stand win for my team but a symbolic up straight!” achievement to a city, team and group of individuals who had survived years How did you get into firefighting, and McConnell of losses — not just in sports but also what kept you in it? I was teaching the devastating loss from the fourth grade when I got married to my hurricanes. This was a team that truly came from husband. We had dated for a number of years nothing — no stadium, no city — yet came and decided to make our home in Lyons, where together as a team and community to travel the he grew up. He had been a volunteer firefighter, road as far as it would take them. So glad they and I decided to help where I could. During one went all the way! I am a proud Saints fan — incident, media came to get an interview and I Laissez les bon temps rouler! was the one chosen to speak with them. After that, I pursued the training and education You are a public information officer, and that lands you in the newspapers and television with necessary to be a stronger resource for that big fire calls. What does your mom think of that? agency and community.

Laura McConnell

Sue Mesch Age: 51 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 11 Occupation: Senior manager, site facilities for Xilinx You graduated from the University of Colorado College of Environmental Design and began your professional career at an Mesch architectural firm, but then went to work for Synergen, Adaptec and Xilinx. I didn’t realize companies like that had architects on-staff. No, it’s not uncommon, especially companies of this size. I’m kind of a gobetween between the company and the professional architects. I’m their point person.

I don’t think I’ve known many female architects or facility site managers. Would you say it is generally a maledominated field? I do find myself the only female in a room of 20 or 30 men sometimes, but you know what? I’ve been doing it for so long it doesn’t bother me at all.

I grew up on a farm in Iowa, and the way we grew up, everybody was expected to work the same way, whether you were male or female. You were expected to get the job done.

You are a founding board member of A Woman’s Work and a member of Faith Community Lutheran Church, and you volunteer your time serving on the board of the Longmont Area Economic Council. What do you like to do for fun? I really like Colorado. I like Colorado history and the mountains.

That’s what moved me out here 30 years ago. I still really love it. Jeeping and camping — just all the outdoor activities. The whole family really enjoys it.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Joaquin Melendez Age: 81 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 37 Occupation: Retired U.S. Army and retired physician assistant You and your wife, Lola, have been married for 56 years. What is your secret for a happy and healthy marriage? There are several factors to consider in our happy marriage. Our love, affection and trust have remained equally strong after all these years. The respect and understanding for each other ’s ideas, thoughts and feelings have allowed us to share them freely without inhibitions or fears of criticism. We are willing to make sacrifices in search of our happiness. But Lola has made many more. She had to abandon several

Mark Mills Age: 58 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 25 Occupation: Assistant superintendent for the feeder systems for Longmont, Niwot, Silver Creek and Erie high schools Who was your favorite teacher when you were a child, and why? My favorite teacher was my mother, who was my kindergarten teacher. She made sure I called her Mrs. Mills in the classroom until one day I got frustrated making butter and yelled out for the entire class to hear, “Mom, can you help me?” I remember my mother sharing this story as she got several calls from parents laughing about this incident.

Why did you become an educator? My family is filled with educators first of all, with my mother and two aunts all being teachers. I also have a second cousin in Norway who is a principal of a high school in that country. Secondly, I thought I would enjoy it when I was in college and still believe after 36 years in

Isabella Musser Age: 13 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 12 Occupation: Teenager: singer/songwriter, soccer player, eighth-grade student You won first place in the 2010 Longmont Idol competition, which came with a $1,000 prize. What did you do with the money? I plan to take songwriting Musser classes and other music clinics after soccer lets up a bit.

What’s the first memory you have of performing in front of people? I sang “Mr. Sun” from Barney at my elementary school talent show when I was in kindergarten.

Who is your biggest musical inspiration and why? It’s a three-way tie between

excellent accounting jobs during our life in the Army because of the many required transfers.

You have translated for several agencies in Longmont. Why do you do this? For the police department, I did primarily written translations of documents about graffiti eradication, vandalism prevention, etc. I narrated the Emergency Warning System then in use.

Narrated the contents of City Source also. With HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, I translated all of its literature pertaining to Hospice. I organized a Latino Advisory Board to serve as liaison with the community.

Translated and narrated a video about HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties that is available in other cities and the national organization. Why did I

education that working with and helping students is the most rewarding profession in the world.

What was your worst summer job Mills and why? I worked on a uranium exploration rig in Wyoming in the 1970s. We were attacked daily by bees that were attracted to the grease on the rig during the entire month of July.

What’s your favorite activity outside of school and why? Traveling with my family on summer vacations has and continues to be my most favorite activity.

My wife, Mary, my daughter, Anna, and my son, Alexander, all look forward to being together traveling the country or world, and the laughter that we all experience during these times adds years to each of our lives.

Avril Lavigne, because her music has been my lifesaver since I was 7, and she knows who she is and what her dreams are; P!nk, because her life story is amazing and she has been through so much, and now she is a music icon; and Erin McCarley, because her music has so much meaning and is uplifting, and I saw her at Lilith Fair. I was singing in the audience, and I found out the couple standing next to me were her parents! Erin’s mom introduced me to her when I went to get her autograph.

What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? Ten years from now, I see myself having released a few albums, completed college, and knowing what I want to do and who I am.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011 do this? Payback for help received while in the Army, when my English was poor at best.

Have you ever translated for a case that particularly tugged at your heart? It happened when a lady for whose husband I had served as an interpreter in another department called and asked me to help her prevent her husband from being deported to Mexico. He was illegal and in trouble with the law. He would be leaving behind a wife and two children — all of them legal citizens. It hurt me to know that she and the children were being abandoned. But I couldn’t help her.

You have participated in all 25 Sunrise

43

Stampedes in Longmont. What is your fitness regimen to stay in shape? In the early years of the Stampede, I would run 3 miles every night and 6 or more on weekends. When Melendez my doctor recommended that I quit running because of damaged knee cartilage, I took up walking. I walk up to 3 miles each time I do so. Also, I exercise at the hospital twice weekly, doing the treadmill for 23 minutes and several machine exercises.

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m3/28/2011yTCcfewell 44 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Ron Morrow Age: 62 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 33 Occupation: Owner and operator of 16 Grease Monkey locations What ignited your love of cars, back in the day? I grew up in the ’50s and ’60s. How could you not love cars?

Automobiles get more complicated all the time. How do you keep ahead of the curve? As a franchisee of Grease Monkey, my franchisor has certified employees and a research Morrow department that keeps us informed. Our major vendors keep us informed on any oil and filter changes that the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) make. We have computer systems that keep us informed daily on changes and problems with different vehicles.

You’ve been recognized over and over for customer service. What’s the key to keeping a customer happy, especially in a business where problems can be difficult to track down? I tell all my employees, “We are in the customer service business; we just happen to change oil.” We continue to train and educate our employees on customer service.

Michael Murphy Age: 38 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Longer than 30 years Occupation: Bartender, Dickens Tavern Is it true that people tell their troubles to bartenders? Please share a memory about a customer’s weird tale. People tend to confuse bartenders with therapists. After a couple cocktails, it’s amazing what patrons Murphy are willing to share.

Fortunately for them, much like a Catholic priest in a confessional booth, I do not share their admissions with others. Most of the time, people want relationship advice. Advising women (about men) is much less difficult. Men are simple; we don’t need or expect much. Women, on the other hand, I have no clue. They seem to be more complex than a NASA space station. Since I do not have a Ph.D. in psychiatry, I can’t prescribe Prozac; I can merely slide them a shot of their

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW The most important factor is to listen to our customer and help them with whatever problem they are having, regardless of the cause.

What’s changed the most since you opened the shop in 1987?

Business was less complicated in 1987. The OEMs are constantly making changes with special filters and fluids; it’s real important for us to stay educated and up-todate on all changes.

What’s your dream car, and why? I don’t have any one in mind. I grew up in the time of muscle cars, and two of my favorites were a 1964 Chevy SS and a 1969 Plymouth GTX. I owned both of these at one time in my younger days; I would say these are my favorites.

What special challenges does a Colorado car owner face that the rest of the country might not think about? It’s below zero this morning. Colorado drivers need to be aware that we don’t have normal driving conditions; we drive in stop-and-go traffic, in the cold, in the heat, in the mountains; we tow trailers, etc.

None of this is normal, according to the manufacturer. favorite whiskey and be empathetic.

What is the best question your 5-year-old son has asked you, and what was your answer? My son once asked if he could give the cat a haircut. I told him no because cats lose their hair by shedding. He responded, “You lose your hair, Dad, but you still get haircuts.” I Googled “hair loss solutions” the next day.

What was your favorite thing to do as a teenager in Longmont?

Please recall one of those times. I was a relatively tame teenager. Playing late-night basketball at Pratt Park with a group of friends was the norm.

Have you invented any drinks? I have thrown things together from time to time, but I’ve never penned a recipe for a specific cocktail. Ninety-eight percent of my concoctions fail the drinkability test. Once in a while, I will hit on something worth drinking. I believe I’m a better therapist than a drink inventor.

Bill Nelson Age: 56 Years in St. Vrain Valley: I was raised in Longmont and graduated from Longmont High in 1972.

Occupation: Real estate broker and owner of Nelson Real Estate. Also Hygiene Fire Protection District fire chief.

How did you get involved with the Hygiene Fire Protection District?

Nelson What is your favorite part of being part of the organization? In 1992, we built our home in Hygiene, and as I became more familiar with the area, I decided to join the Hygiene Fire Department and did so in March 1994. I guess my favorite part of being on the department would have to be all the people I have had the opportunity to meet and work with. The people who dedicate their lives to helping others are truly a special group.

Some of your crews helped fight the Fourmile Canyon Fire last summer. What was it like to be part of such a large operation? We did have seven firefighters who worked on the Fourmile Canyon fire. I guess the best way to describe a fire that size is controlled chaos, the kind of chaos I would just as soon never see again. In all honesty, though, there was great cooperation from all the agencies involved, from the local fire districts to the feds.

I understand you enjoy hunting with your bird dogs. What are the dogs’ names? Do you have any favorite hunting spots you can tell us about without giving too much away? One of my favorite pastimes is hunting, primarily upland game birds and elk hunting.

I like taking my dogs, Sadie and Babe, to South Dakota and Nebraska for the pheasant and quail hunting. Most of my elk hunting experience has been close to home just west of Lyons.

I have hunted elk in Wyoming with good success, too.

Joe Pelle Age: 52 Years in St. Vrain Valley: I grew up in Boulder. Stephanie and I moved to Niwot in 1980 and then bought our current place northwest of Longmont in 1986.

Occupation: County sheriff for eight years.

I’ve been in policing in Boulder County for 31 years.

What do you consider your top accomplishment in law enforcement? Easy, being elected and serving as sheriff. I get a chance to lead a department of about 400 wonderful employees. I am able to define the mission and vision of our agency and implement policies to get that done. I love my job. I wake up every day (well, almost) and look forward to going to work.

The sheriff’s office generally has a Pelle very good reputation in the community, and I’m proud to be part of that. I believe I’ve provided good leadership in good and tough times, and the Fourmile Canyon Fire this past year was one of the toughest in my career.

You own some property and horses. Is riding a good way to work off the stresses of the day? What is your favorite place to ride and why? Stephanie and I do own horses.

We come from rural ranch/farm families, and it’s a long tradition, particularly on her side.

Our kids were in 4-H and Little Britches when they were home, but now we are empty nesters and just enjoy trail rides. We

have a small acreage, and I just love taking care of the place (mowing, fixing fences, hauling hay, even cleaning up manure!). We ride quite a bit on local Parks and Open Space trails (Heil, Hall, Rabbit Mountain, etc.) and love going up to the national park (Lions Gulch, Wild Basin areas). Throw in a beaver pond or stream to fly-fish in for a while when you get there, and you’ve got a perfect day!

You’re at the beginning of your final term as sheriff. Have you thought about what’s next?

I have just been elected to a third term, the current limit. I am too young to retire (and will be in four years) and feel like I’m just starting to fully understand the complexities of this job. If term limits remain the way they are, I will obviously be looking for a job in four years, but I do not yet know what that might be. I’ve thought about teaching or perhaps looking for another leadership position in a public safety agency. (I do know that my wife has absolutely no interest in moving, so I’m not likely to be looking too far from here!)

Recently, this has been weighing on my mind, but I’ve certainly made no decisions. I will have to be open to the opportunities that may present themselves and hope for a meaningful way to continue to be involved in an occupation that I enjoy and find very challenging.

What is your next goal? I want to be the greatest grandpa that ever lived.

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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Paying it forward OUR Center director drawn to social work after accident

E

dwina Salazar credits a car crash and a caring Denver General Hospital social worker with influencing her career choices.

In 1966, she was seriously injured when the car in which she was riding hydroplaned on the wet pavement of Denver’s Valley Highway, hit a median and rolled over.

Salazar suffered a broken neck and a crushed elbow, but she said one of her chief concerns while she was being treated for those and other injuries was about not being able to complete her senior year at Denver’s Cathedral High School.

But a sympathetic social worker helped arrange for Salazar’s schoolbooks and homework assignments to be brought to the hospital, as well as a special reading stand that allowed Salazar to prop up her books and turn the pages.

The social worker’s assistance allowed the girl — whose mother, Marie, had died when Salazar was 14 —to keep up with her schoolwork before she could physically return to the classes for her second and final high school senior semester in 1967.

“I thought, ‘I like that profession. That’s what I want to be able to do,’” Salazar recalled recently.

“I chose social work because I was helped at a point in my own life,” she said.

Today, Salazar is executive director of the Outreach United Resource Center, the nonprofit agency that’s often the starting point for needy St. Vrain Valley residents seeking food, shelter, clothing and other basic ser-

recent years.

Salazar later worked in the mental health field, inAge: 62 cluding having a private Years in St. Vrain Valley: health care consulting prac18 years tice where she provided soOccupation: Executive cial services to clients with director, OUR Center mental and physical health problems, as well as advising caregivers about their vices. patients’ other needs.

Salazar, whose family has Salazar attended graduroots in southern Colorado’s ate school — again, in social San Luis Valley, was born in work — at the University of Denver and grew up in Denver. She completed an Thornton, commuting to the internship at the Denver Catholic high school in Den- Health System before getver where, she said, “I got a ting her master’s degree. really good education.”

She said she spent about Salazar continued that ed- 20 years working in ucation — and her decision Wyoming, including a stint to pursue the profession as executive director of that she’d chosen while hospital- state’s chapter of the Naized — by enrolling at Coltional Association of Social orado State University.

Workers.

By then, she’d moved to “I was interested in poverCheyenne, Wyo., and comty issues,” she said, and her muted to classes in Fort NASW responsibilities inCollins. She said she was cluded lobbying the Wyoone of the first students to ming Legislature on behalf get a bachelor’s degree of that state’s needy and the from CSU’s new social-work social workers charged with studies program. assisting them.

Salazar said one of her “That’s also where I first jobs in Cheyenne was learned about partnerships” teaching English as a secand how it’s crucial for nonond language. Most of her profit agencies to collabostudents were the Southeast rate in addressing their Asian wives of service mem- clients’ problems. She said bers who’d married them she has applied that lesson while stationed overseas. to the positions she’s held “They were trying to since coming back to Collearn English as fast as they orado. could,” said Salazar, part of Salazar said she settled in whose job was to help those Longmont 18 years ago bewomen feel comfortable in cause she wanted to be clostheir new country and culer to family, including her ture. father, Rudy, who’s now 90 “I developed an interest in and living at the Boulder international relations and Manor nursing home, and a immigration” from that sister who lived in Longmont teaching experience, and now lives in Berthoud.

Salazar said, although she Also, “I wanted to finish noted that at the time, imraising my daughter” — Namigration “wasn’t the huge talie Salazar Waldrip, now issue” that it has become in 31 — in a different commu-

Edwina Salazar

nity.”

“I think Longmont is a more diverse community than Cheyenne,” Salazar said.

When Salazar first moved to Longmont, she worked for Big Sisters of Colorado, followed by about five years on the city’s neighborhood resources staff.

“I got to know a lot of people in the city, and that’s really helped me in this job” at the OUR Center, she said.

She’s been the center’s director since September 1999, a position for which she applied because “I really wanted to use my social work skills to address poverty issues.”

Many of the people who seek assistance from the OUR Center’s 36-person paid staff and its hundreds of volunteers are experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, Salazar said, and “I think my clinical background has helped here.”

She said the OUR Center, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in August, attempts to provide “a continuum of care” that goes beyond basic emergency services to move people in the St. Vrain Valley toward selfsufficiency.

She said she’s “so encouraged by the numbers of people who come back and tell us exactly how we helped, and what it meant to them.

We are involved in the transformation of lives.”

Salazar’s own community involvement isn’t limited to her job at the center. She’s a past president of Longmont Rotary and a current member of the Longmont United Hospital board.

Salazar said she may re-

Story by John Fryar • Photo by Lewis Geyer • Longmont Times-Call

tire in about eight years but that she then may join the community’s ranks of volunteers. She said that could take the form of working with people on their literacy skills.

Salazar said one of her private passions is reading, “a lifelong activity for me.”

“I was one of those kids who would sneak a flashlight under the blanket to read after I’d gone to bed,” she said.

Salazar now prefers nonfiction, she said. Her current favorites include books

by Malcolm Gladwell, the New York City-based essayist who wrote “Blink,” “The Tipping Point” and “What the Dog Saw.” Unfortunately, she said she’s seen too many OUR Center clients “who aren’t able to read or write” at all.

She said young people need literacy skills to be successful, and that illiteracy is keeping too many adults from being able to raise themselves above poverty.

Whatever she winds up doing upon retirement, Salazar emphasized her satisfaction at having made the decision to move to Longmont.

“There really is a community spirit here,” she said.

“When a problem is identified, there either are groups there already to address those needs or a group coalesces to meet them.”

Salazar said that after having observed other communities and living in metropolitan Denver and Wyoming before coming here, she’s concluded that “comparatively, Longmont is just outstanding in the way it pulls together to address issues — even if they don’t all get resolved.”

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

49

Edwina Salazar, executive director of the OUR Center, crashed her car as a high school senior and worried she wouldn’t be able to complete her schoolwork. A social worker helped arrange for Salazar’s schoolbooks and homework assignments to be brought to the hospital, as well as a special reading stand that allowed Salazar to prop up her books and turn the pages. The assistance helped Salazar keep up with her studies. “I thought, ‘I like that profession. That’s what I want to be able to do,’” Salazar recalled recently.

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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Carol GanSho O’Dowd

to share with joy.

Age: 58 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Active in Longmont community in ministerial capacity since 2003 Occupation: Minister and counselor, sensei of the Longmont Buddhist Temple What does the “GanSho” in your name mean? It is a complex name. A close English interpretation would be: attaining the “primal vow” or connecting fully with the flowing force of infinite light and life. For me, that O’Dowd translates as someone bumbling on the path.

I do the best I can as GanSho and share the teachings in America as Carol. You put the names together with Carol, meaning a song of joy, and you have “A Singing Vow of Wisdom-Compassion.” I do try

Why did you leave your previous career as a city manager for Morrison, Snowmass and Aspen? Losses of loved ones and job during a short span of time while simultaneously my son asking me to be home more caused me to reassess my priorities. That led to the start of a spiritual journey, which I am still traveling.

How do you find stillness or a moment of Zen in your life? Not being a Zen Buddhist, I cannot answer your question well. So here is a Shin answer: I attempt to experience a moment fully, by being present with gratitude. I find the simple teaching of stop, look and listen very powerful. When I notice myself being dragged away by emotions, thoughts or feelings in a situation, I try to stop, to look and to listen with an

open heart-mind. When frustrated or rushing or being pulled by emotions in a difficult situation, I try to take 30 to 60 seconds and notice what is happening around me. I try to notice the efforts that others are doing and all the things and people in life that are supporting me in that moment. Then I breathe in and breathe out gratitude for the moment as it is.

Are there any misconceptions about Buddhism that you would like to address? Buddhism does not teach martyrdom. The Buddha died peacefully, and his life was a model for how to live and die in peace. The commitment to sharing loving-kindness includes you and me. You cannot share happiness with others unless you too are willing to embrace happiness.

Happiness is a talent — not a thing. It is what the Buddha taught, and in Shin Buddhism, we tap it with gratitude.

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Payton Peterson Age: 16 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 12 Occupation: Student at Silver Creek High School You were the winner of Longmont’s Google video contest. How long did it take you to create your nearly three-minute video? It took me 12 hours of combined shooting and editing to produce the Google Fiber video. This was mostly due to the fact that we had to drive all over Longmont to get the shots we needed. When I edited it, I wanted it to be the best possible, so I spent much Peterson time looking at every detail.

After all, it was a contest for an iPad, so it had to be great!

You founded your own company, PC Pro Video, in 2005 at age 10. How does a student run his own company? It has been a challenge to manage school, friends and business, but after a couple of years, I got used to the workflow and have since become more efficient. It was a challenge trying to get places and shoot things because of my age; but as I like to say, “Skill set and maturity matter more than age.” Since the start of PC Pro Video, I have been involved with The Longmont Channel, Colorado’s Most Wanted (Fox31), 9News, RPMasson Productions, Rocky Mountain Christian Church, RidgeviewTel, Red Pine Studios and Tiffen, as well as charity work for the OUR Center and other local charities. I have also filmed private clients’ weddings, promos, and school and sporting events. All in all, I have filmed, photographed, run sound, video or lighting for more than 150 productions.

Tell us about the work you did

documenting the Reservoir Road Fire west of Loveland last year. Right after the Fourmile (Canyon) Fire, I promised myself that the next time there was breaking news in or around Longmont, I would go document it, mostly because I was tired of “re-tweeting” people’s info and media on Twitter and wanted to go get images and info that I could “tweet” to the world. So, on a Sunday, as I was driving back from mixing video at my church, I saw the Loveland fire on the horizon and immediately booked it home and grabbed my gear. I figured that by the time I got there, the news stations would be all set up and live; they were not. I ran up to a lake and set up my gear and did a few time-lapses. Then I went and filmed in places that they closed off right after I left — like 10 feet from the lake and 30 feet from the powerful helicopters (I got soaked!).

While my video camera recorded video, I took pictures as well, which ended up in the Denver Post. After I got enough shots, I drove home and imported the video and photos to my Mac and whipped up an edit in about 10 minutes. Within 30 minutes, the video was on YouTube for the world to see and for me to “tweet” about — right as the news stations got their live footage up.

What are your career ambitions? At this point in life, I have not narrowed myself down to just one field but left my options open. I really just enjoy live video events and am considering becoming a video director, cameraman, crane operator or Steadicam operator. Right now, I am just going where my business takes me, whether that be into the video field or not.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Olivia Phillips Age: 15 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Almost five years in America Occupation: Student at Berthoud High School You came to the United States from India in 2006 when your parents adopted you and your two siblings. How was your expectation of what America would be like different than what it’s actually like? When I first knew that I was coming to America, I was scared and worried that it might be worse than the orphanage I was in. I had a hard time trying to imagine what America would even be like. Then I got to know my new parents and found out that they loved me and my sister and brother. Now I love it and I’m not scared anymore.

You have lived in a house of six children. What’s that like?

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011 How do you make it work? I love living with six kids at my house! Some people might think it would be crazy, but it’s really not. It’s so much fun. You never get bored around my family. There is always something to laugh about, and always having a sister or brother around you is fun!

What do you like to do in your free time?

During my free time, I like to hang out with my friends.

51

Longmont’s Community Realtor

Phillips

Wendy Conder

What is the most interesting thing that’s happened to you in the past three months? Right now, the most interesting thing that has happened to me lately is I got my driver’s permit!

51-2300 • 303-775-0108 303-651-2300 Age: 89 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 59 Occupation: Former owner of Empire Linoleum & Rug in Longmont for 32 years; just retired as co-chair of the Boulder County Fair Parade You first participated in the Boulder County Fair Parade in 1954, two years after moving to Longmont, and were soon appointed parade chairman. Describe some of the changes you’ve seen in the parade. When I came to Longmont, it was 7,800 people. First of all, we got a new fairgrounds. It was (previously) at Roosevelt Park, under the grandstand. The rodeo was held in front of the grandstand. The parade started at Third and Coffman and went east to Main Street and then up Main Street to Roosevelt Park. (Later) we lined up the parade at the old athletic fields (at 10th Avenue and Kimbark Street).

Usually, there were between 75 and 100 floats about every year. And up until a few years ago, it was that way (but the number has gone down).

Potter Your hometown is Montezuma, Kan., and you served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, stationed in Cardiff, Wales. Tell us about your World War II experience. We loaded ships for D-Day. We had 15 ships in the English Channel that day.

After the war, I typed court-martial cases in Frankfurt, Germany. We waved good morning to (Gen. Dwight D.) Eisenhower every morning. Our office was across from his. While I was in Cardiff, I became very close to a family I called my home away from home. We kept in touch — they’ve come here twice, and I’ve been there once. I still get, every once in a while, an e-mail or a telephone call.

What makes a good county fair parade? Floats, entries.

And don’t put this in, but no campaigning (laughs)!

Floats used to be decorated more, but it’s expensive to do that sort of thing now, and I think that’s why you don’t see that much anymore.

That’s one thing I’ll say about our parade: We do have a lot of entries, a lot of good entries and a lot of enthusiasm.

Years ago, you were on the original board that founded the Longmont Symphony; you’ve been in Kiwanis for decades; you’ve been active in your church — all great things, but I think a lot of people really appreciate the mark you left on the Boulder County Fair Parade. Well, the Pride City Marching Band from Pueblo has been in our parade for at least 20 years. They quoted to me that they would rather be in (our) parade than the Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Age: 35 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 61/2 Occupation: Gang preventionist and interventionist for youth A few years ago, you made the jump from newspapers to youth work. What’s been the biggest adjustment? With reporting, my responsibility was to get it first, get it right and tell the story in a way that kept readers interested. As long as I remained objective, I felt comfortable letting the community respond to my stories however it wanted to. But as a youth worker — especially when working with kids from abusive backgrounds — it’s hard not to hold myself responsible for their failures. I want them to succeed so bad, and there’s nothing objective about it! Though the lows are hard to shake off, the highs fill me right back up: the graduations, the emotional breakthroughs, completing probation, the healthy decisionmaking that will right their courses toward adulthood. Witnessing these achievements in youth makes this the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had.

What’s the best-kept secret about Longmont’s youth? They’re more hopeful, less jaded versions of us old people. Shhhh.

There’s been a lot of focus on stopping gangs before they start. How do you get Ready kids steered the right way early on, or pick up the ones who are starting to stumble? I try to do two things with every kid I work with: For starters, shine a big glaring light on gangs and all the destructive consequences that come with them. But kids, like most adults, don’t believe horrible things can happen to them until they do.

So the biggest key to getting a kid out of a gang or keeping him/her from getting into one is believing in that kid. Listen to them. Care about them. Find out what their dreams are, and help them reach those dreams. Ninety-nine percent of your violent thugs are people who’ve given up on their nobler dreams and their aspirations to become the “best them.” My job is to never let kids abandon their dreams.

Who got you steered the right way as a kid and how? I won the lotto being born into my family. My mom loved me up, my dad held me to the highest expectations, and both of them respected the person I decided to become. Plus, I idolized my brothers, who — though very different from one another — each modeled virtues I still aspire to today.

What was the tipping point for you — the point where you knew “Yes, I really am making a difference”? Every week, I can point to a professional success and failure. With social work and youth work, it’s really hard to know how much of a client’s successes or failures can be attributed to anything you’ve done. But when police reported that Longmont’s active gang population was cut in half between 2006 and 2010, I felt pretty proud to be if only a tiny part of the community who helped make that happen.

wendy@wendyconder.com

CR-162985

Ben Ready

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m3/28/2011yTCcfewell 52 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

A brush with destiny Woman finds a home among the artists of Lyons

L

YONS — Jul Swann swims in artistic circles, and that’s just the way she likes it.

The owner of ohm salon + gallery and chairwoman of the Lyons Arts and Humanities Council has a soft spot for artists — those willing to take risks, to follow their heart.

“Those are people I want to be around,” said Swann, who was born in Chicago and grew up in the Cleveland area.

In college, Swann trained to be a wildlife animal specialist, but shortly after leaving school, her marriage broke up and she found herself a single mom with kids to feed. She said it didn’t take long before realizing “feeding 2-day-old baby flying squirrels wasn’t going to pay my bills.”

At a friend’s suggestion, she went to school to learn how to do hair. Not long after that, she headed west to Boulder.

“I (had come) here in January with a boyfriend, to visit his friends, and it was 68 degrees and sunny,” she remembers. “I went back to Cleveland and decided, ‘This is not where my feet need to be on this earth.’”

And when she moved out here, she adds, “I didn’t bring the boyfriend with me.”

After arriving in Colorado in 1988, Swann started her hair-styling career working for others, then managed to open her own spa with her

Jul Swann Age: 54 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 23 Occupation: Owner of ohm salon + gallery and chairwoman of the Lyons Arts and Humanities Council

then-husband and business partner. She started hanging artists’ work in her salon.

Both the marriage and the business partnership dissolved and, after going back to work for others again, she began to learn about what she said are the dangers in chemicals in hair color and she decided she needed to be on her own.

In the meantime, Planet Bluegrass was instrumental in introducing her to this little burg at the foot of the Rockies, where the South and North forks of the St. Vrain Creek merge.

“We would come to the Folks Festival, and I just looked around and said, ‘God, I just love this little town,’” Swann said recently, sitting in her salon and gallery surrounded by work from various artists.

In 2006, Swann decided to close up her south Boulder hair salon and relocate to Lyons, shocking some of her regular customers.

But the move just felt right, she said. She had found a little space above

the St. Vrain Pharmacy and, once it was open, again invited artists to display their work.

The salon business was fine at first, but she wasn’t getting a lot of foot traffic into her upstairs studio.

“I had very successful art openings, but others, tourists, wouldn’t go upstairs,” Swann said.

Swann’s life changed in 2009, when controversy roiled this small community and she found herself in the middle of it.

It seems that three members of the Lyons Town Council had declared one local artist’s work hanging in town hall unfit for display in such an august setting. The painting’s crime? Uncovered female breasts.

“Being the irreverent troublemaker that I am, I wasn’t going to let that pass,” Swann said, adding that the art was removed before the artist was even notified.

The event gave Swann the inspiration for a celebration of art she and a friend called Naked in Lyons. The event drew 53 artists and 66 pieces of art to her 375square-foot space.

Following the controversy over the town hall painting and the successful Naked in Lyons event, Swann and others went before the Lyons town board and had it written into city codes that art couldn’t be censored or removed from town hall.

Shortly after, a formal arts

policy was written into the bylaws of the Lyons Arts and Humanities Council.

Swann became chairwoman of the LAHC this past spring.

At about the same time, Swann got word of an 850square-foot, ground-floor space available across the street at 441 Main St., and she contacted the landlord, the owner of several Main Street buildings. When he visited her second-floor shop to learn more about her gallery, he was impressed, she said.

“He walked in and said, ‘Wow, if you have the likes of (local artist) Christine Smock, you can rent my space,’” Swann said. “And I rented it on the spot.”

What better to do when more than doubling the size of her studio than to celebrate?

“So (in August 2010) I opened my business with the second annual Naked in Lyons,” she said. “I had over 300 people in here. It was just awesome.”

Those who haven’t been to Lyons in a while will notice quite a few new public pieces on display around town. The Lyons Community Foundation has been instrumental in helping fund all of those pieces through grants, Swann said.

She’s also quick to credit town administrator Victoria Simonsen, Mayor Julie VanDomelen and others for their roles in supporting art in Lyons, and said she and

Story by Tony Kindelspire • Photo by Lewis Geyer • Longmont Times-Call

other merchants are considering forming some sort of downtown business association — a plan still in its infant stages.

“It’s always been apparent to me that you can get so much more done if you have community,” Swann said.

So it’s not just Swann who’s helping move the arts forward in Lyons, but she’s happy for whatever role she can play.

“Any artist that comes to me and says, ‘Can I use the space?’ I’m open to it,” she said. “I think it’s everybody’s space — artists’ space.”

Swann is an artist herself, although she rarely shows her work in public. She works in fiber art — and was kind enough to show a visitor a collection of photos of the beautiful multi-colored quilts she has made.

“I am quick to say to somebody else, ‘You’re an artist,’” Swann said. “But I have a hard time saying that about myself.”

But she’ll keep following her heart, she said, whether it’s creating artwork of her own or following her goal of turning the ohm salon + gallery into the equivalent of a community center for Lyons’ artists.

“There are so many creative artists in this town,” Swann said. “And this is a place where people can come to me and say, ‘I have this crazy idea ...’

“And to me, it can’t be crazy enough.”

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Regina Renaldi Age: 59 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 21/2 Occupation: Executive director of priority programs with the St. Vrain Valley School District You’re a California native who’s taught both there and in Oregon.

What brought you to the St. Vrain Valley? We were following our kids.

Renaldi They came to Colorado to go to school at (Colorado State University).

They came here from Oregon — both of them together — and neither wanted to return to Oregon. We decided to come out because we didn’t have family in Oregon — it was all in Southern California.

They were not thrilled, let me just put it that way. They were not thrilled. But they’re OK now.

Is this a good time to be in education? It is a good time to be in education. There are challenges in every profession; there are challenges with financing in education. But we’re on the verge in St. Vrain of doing some amazing things with kids. ... And we know so much more about what good, strong instruction looks like in order to educate kids properly.

The teaching (now) is much more relevant and much more rigorous. And I think we expect every student to make it. I don’t know that I had that expectation when I started (almost) 40 years ago.

You moved here from Oregon, known for being an outdoorsy-type state, and we’re certainly that way in Colorado. That’s an important part of your life away from the office, isn’t it? We do love it. We’re not fitness freaks or anything like that, but we love the outdoors. I think we’re much more interested in nature than the average couple. ... I loved Oregon, but it’s much more limiting as to what you can do because of the weather.

Colorado’s great.

Age: 58 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 11 years Occupation: Owner of Solar Yoga, and sales manager, Latin America, for Thule Organization Solutions

Richter

What is the most difficult pose for you to hold? Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolving Triangle Pose) What mantra do you like to focus on in your own practice? Om Namah Shivaya, which means something like: Om and salutations to that which I am capable of becoming.

Have you ever had a student faint in one of your heated classes? No one has fainted in any of my classes. We emphasize to our students that they should tune in and listen to the signs from their bodies; we encourage students to take care of themselves and not let their egos lead their yoga practice, but be led by their heart and their inner wisdom.

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Years in St. Vrain Valley: I moved to Lyons in 1948 and lived my early years with my grandmother.

Occupation: Times-Call receptionist You must deal with dozens of people every day. Do you ever get the sense that you know everyone in town? I have come to know many people through my job as a receptionist at the Times-Call. There are many who are regulars who come in to do business over the years who I enjoy seeing and visiting with. Many who call after that I love to hear from and past friends that call that I don’t get to talk to very often. I’m sure I have talked to all our subscribers at one time or another. I would like to say I know everyone in town and have them as friends.

I understand you have a book of interesting things people say when they call the Times-Call. What is the funniest thing someone has asked you? I do Reynolds have a book that I started writing funny things in. I wish I had been more faithful at keeping at it over the years. I’d have to think of one. There have been a lot of them. One comes to mind: A caller asked me if this was Mrs. Call. I’ve been asked if I am the lady of the house. A few years back, a lady called and asked to talk to circumcision. She meant to say circulation.

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What is your favorite memory of growing up in Lyons? A couple of favorite things about growing up in Lyons, you knew so many people in town, and I enjoyed being able to run into someone you knew wherever I went and stopped and visited or just said hi. People were friendly and fun and interested in you. The other, we didn’t have a car, and we walked everywhere. I walked to school and back home for lunch then back to school. Then my grandmother would send me to the store or post office for her. We walked to church, to Meadow Park. I’ve always enjoyed walking, still do as a result. I just need to step it up again.

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What is the strangest encounter you have had with someone in the Times-Call lobby? A few years back, during an election year, a political activist came in and handed me a package and asked if I’d see if one of our editors got it, and she hurried out. It wasn’t long before it was obvious it was a bag of feces. She was wanting to make a statement about a farm or agriculture issue. There have been a lot more encounters than just that one. It’s been interesting.

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Why did you want to become a yoga studio owner? My love for yoga and the community it serves is why I was inspired to open a yoga studio and to become a yoga instructor.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Gabe Santos

Carol Salter Age: Are you kidding me? A woman who will tell her age will tell anything.

Years in St. Vrain Valley: 15 years (not consecutive) Occupation: I am employed by Banner Health at McKee Medical Center in Loveland. I have been there 15 years and wear several different hats. I am the contracts coordinator for the facility, the scholarship director, the legislative liaison, notary coordinator for the system and other duties as assigned by our CEO, Marilyn Schock.

I am married to Rod Salter, artist, for almost 23 years, and we have one daughter, Gabrielle, age 17.

In addition to your work at the hospital, you’re a notary. What does that entail? There’s obviously more to it than just stamping a piece of paper.

I have been a notary for 13 Salter years. A notary is one who is commissioned by the state of Colorado to act on the state’s behalf. Notaries do not legalize or authenticate documents. They are identity verifiers and administer oaths or affirmations. The primary responsibility, however, is to detect and deter fraud. In 2005, I was honored to receive the National Notary Association’s Notary of the Year award.

Was it intimidating to help the state Legislature draft legislation? Why did you get involved in the bill? I have been a member of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance for 13 years as well. This board is an extension of the Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley chambers of commerce. This board looks at business issues and lobbies on behalf of business. Being a part of this board has given me years of exposure

to the legislative process and how it works. In 2009, the Colorado notary public bill (SB09-111) was set to sunset. This allowed the secretary of state’s Notary Public Office the ability to make changes to the law. I was able to provide testimony to several committees and was able to request that two new provisions be added to the law. One was that it would be mandatory that a journal be kept for every notary act, not just electronic notarizations. The other provision gave the secretary of state’s office the ability to require education for all new notaries. Notary education is a passion of mine, and it was extremely fulfilling when the bill was signed into law. I believe every notary has an obligation to be welleducated, act in an ethical and impartial manner, and represent the office of a notary public well.

You’re also a runner. Do you run for fitness or does it help you relax or both?

What are some of your favorite places to run? Let me start by saying I am not a great runner. I started running as a catharsis and just kept it up because I felt so much better afterward. I have always been involved in sports, playing softball and volleyball. But running is a fairly new thing for me. I have a running partner, Rose Hashberger, who started out with me just running short distances. We completed our first 5K and decided we would train for a 10K. We ran in the Sunrise Stampede last year. We meet once a month to run together. My favorite place to run is around McIntosh Lake. It is quiet and allows time for reflection, prayer and fellowship with my friend. I also love running in my neighborhood. I see a lot of wildlife early in the morning, like foxes, coyotes and snakes.

Age: 40 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 10 Occupation: Accountant What drew you into politics? Was it a student council in elementary school? I was surrounded by politics growing up. My grandfather was very politically active in Houston, Texas, and ran for Houston City Council in 1979, but lost. From him, I learned that you give back to the community you live in, whether it is by charitable work or public service. It was commonplace to Santos be introduced to U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland, U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan, George H.W. Bush, state representatives or local elected officials.

My mother worked for the city of Friendswood, Texas, and she, along with my aunt, also worked for U.S. Sen. John Tower in the 1980s. I never ran for student council during my time in grade school. I worked four years in the U.S.

Jeff Satur Age: 51 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 36 Occupation: Detective commander, public information officer, Longmont Police Department Residents always want to know what the police are up to. What is your approach as the department’s spokesman? Safety-related stories get the highest priority. I also try to highlight the interesting stories and the stories where information from the community can help us identify suspects. I also like to highlight the good work our police officers are doing.

Satur Tell us about being bitten by a rattlesnake. We were on vacation and hiking at the Stations of the Cross in San Luis, Colo., about 45 miles southeast of Alamosa. I was bitten on the hike. We walked out, and I drove to the hospital in Alamosa. It was an interesting experience, because most of the doctors had never treated a snakebite. They flew me to Denver on a medical airplane, I had a couple of rides to and from the airport in an ambulance, and I stayed a couple of days at St. Anthony Central Hospital hooked up to an EKG because snake venom can affect your heart. The hospital made the best breakfast burritos.

We affectionately call it the Snakebite Vacation. When I came back to work, my office was decorated with snakes. I still keep some on my desk.

What is the most PG-rated comical situation you have had to deal with as a police officer? Two of my favorite deal with horses. On my first experience, I was

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House of Representatives in various positions, and I was a legislative aide in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2003. I’ve always been fascinated with U.S. history and government.

What did you do with your weekends when you were a teenager? Like most teenagers, I enjoyed being with my friends. During high school, I was very involved with swim meets and drama performances. Living near Galveston, we spent many days at the beach.

What is your favorite piece of public art in Longmont? I enjoy all 50 pieces of permanent sculptures in the city. My children’s favorite would be the Art on the Move at St. Stephen’s Plaza, because it is interactive for them.

What is your favorite book? When did you first read it? I first read “The Lorax”

by Dr. Seuss in second or third grade. It is a reminder to everyone to be thoughtful of your surroundings and the environment.

working graveyards on patrol and was tracking a person who was caught breaking into some cars. We were following the tracks in some snow across a field. There were several horses in the field. Every time I would stop to scan the ground with my flashlight, the horses would crowd around me and reach their heads out over my shoulder to see what I was doing.

The other horse incident involved a SWAT/sniper training day. Our snipers had (tried to) hide in a field to cover the house for a hostage-rescue scenario. They were hidden extremely well, but those nosy horses gave them away. When I looked out the window to see if I could see them, I saw four horses in a semicircle with their necks stretched toward the ground trying to figure out what was lying in their field.

Ever have any run-ins with the cops when you were a kid? I didn’t have a lot of run-ins with the police as a kid. Once, in high school, my car was stopped because it matched the description in a bank robbery. They did a full felony car stop and took me and my friends out at gunpoint. This was a little scary, but we cooperated, followed the orders and were released in 10 to 15 minutes.

Did you always want to be a police officer? I didn’t have any childhood idea of being a police officer. I didn’t give it much thought until I graduated from college.

Once I finished college, I was thinking of joining the military. While I was testing with the different units of the military, a friend suggested a career in police work.

I’ve loved the work ever since.

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theater friends have become patients, and my staff loves to see all of us Age: 58 onstage. The most well-known Years in St. Vrain Valley: 28 years in crossover with dentistry and theater is Longmont the play “Little Shop of Horrors.” I do love the song “Be a Dentist!” but he’s a Occupation: General dentist terrible person!

How did you get involved in local Do you have a dream role you would theater? When our kids were younger, like to tackle one day? I’ve been so they did Jesters Theatre. I ended up lucky to have played some helping backstage and great ladies: Miss Hannagan onstage, and before I knew (in “Annie”); Noah’s wife (in it, I was hooked! The fun at “Two by Two”); Mrs. Higgins rehearsals, the excitement of (in “My Fair Lady”); Mrs. opening night, the Potts (in “Beauty and the friendships backstage and Beast”); and a crazy the thrill of bringing Brewster sister (in “Arsenic characters to life. For the last and Old Lace”). A dream role dozen years, I’ve worked at Scheidies might be the narrator in Jesters, Longmont Theatre “Joseph and the Amazing and California Actors Theatre. Now (husband) Mark and I try Technicolor Dreamcoat,” especially since it’s my husband’s favorite play. to find plays we can do together.

Some of my favorite roles are ones that Our exchange student, Sven, and our I knew little about and could make my three kids put up with our antics and own, like Alice in the new play attend all our shows.

“Suspenders” or the off-balance Is there any crossover between mother, Evelyn, in “37 Postcards.” dentistry and theater? I’ve made wolf In a movie about your life, which teeth, beaver teeth, buck teeth and actress would you like to play you? My beast teeth for various plays. Once a Shakespeare actor broke his tooth on a husband, Mark, says Charlize Theron, as long as he can play himself! I’m chalice, and I did an emergency repair so the show could go on! But normally, thinking more along the lines of Sally Field, or Kathy Bates, especially if theater and dentistry are two separate Mark’s playing himself! worlds for me. Of course, many of my

Jennifer Marcy Scheidies

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They had opened up a couple of other nursing centers along the Front Range. Dr. E. B. Dicky was the first administrator.

In the early 1980’s the name was changed to Applewood Living Center, due to the fact that there was an apple tree planted in the center courtyard. ARA Living Centers was the owner. Later the “ARA” was dropped and the company became known as Living Centers of America.

After several mergers & buyouts, Applewood Living Center is now affiliated with Sava Senior Care out of Atlanta, GA. wth wt h Applewood Living Center has seen a lot of growth in the past few years with 2 additions, enclosing the “apple courtyard” to make room for a larger activity room for the residents; expanding the therapy area and sub-acute medicare/rehab wing; g g; re and adding an on-site intergenerational child care program complete with a dining room and playground for the children.

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a consideration, I would have stayed home with my three children and either Age: 53 fostered or adopted other children.

Years in St. Vrain Valley: 23 What’s the best part of living in Occupation: Chief financial officer, St. Hygiene? Colorado is a great place to Vrain Valley School District live, and Hygiene shows off some of its best features. We have beautiful views of What drew you to work in school the Twin Peaks, lovely district administration? I have reservoirs and wildlife. It a passion for public education always makes my day when I and believe it is an essential see a bald eagle or fox during component of our democratic my short commute. We have society. But I don’t think great schools, and the people anyone plans to be a school who live in Hygiene are business official. I was a friendly and helpful. And the supervisor at Boulder best thing is we get to have Community Hospital with an chickens without worrying infant daughter when I applied Schueler about permits. for my first administration job with a school district. I How do you spend your free actually thought I would get summers time? What’s your favorite hobby? I love off. I was disappointed to discover it was playing games with family and friends. a 12-month job, but it was worth the Some of my favorite games are Apples to pay cut I took to get both Thanksgiving Apples, Rummikub, Speed Scrabble and and Christmas off every year.

The Game of Things. I also love to read but have trouble finding the time. To If money were no object, what career would you choose? I would choose to be ensure I read at least a book per month, I joined a women’s book club over 25 a full-time mother and wife. I am the years ago. It has been a great support fourth of eight children, and my mother personally ensured each of us had a safe group for me, and we have read many and stimulating youth. If money were not wonderful books together.

Terry Schueler

Bonnie Sims Age: 24 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 4 Occupation: Professional musician; lead singer, Bonnie & the Clydes Tell me about South Plains College in Texas, where you attended school and even met your husband. It’s actually the sister school to (Texas) Tech. It has this incredible music department led by ... this guy that is now in the (Nebraska) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — John Hartin. I got my college degree in mandolin — I’m serious — with a minor in yodeling.

It was actually kind of fun. I enjoyed Levelland (Texas), though it is just kind of a flat, boring town with a Walmart.

Sims ... Geographically, Colorado wins out, that’s for sure.

You trained in bluegrass, but you and the Clydes are a country band. Tell me how that came about and what you like listening to. I grew up in bluegrass and I love bluegrass, but my band is a full-on country band. I like being loud. I like the drums.

The way I came across my gold mine of a record collection is in the song (I wrote), “Used to Play.” It’s about a Texas radio station that was trashing its entire vinyl collection. My husband (Taylor Sims, guitarist for the bluegrass band

Spring Creek) and I have 700 records that we saved out of the trash.

I grew up listening to old music. I never listened to popular music. ... I did love the ’90s — Reba (McIntyre), Garth (Brooks) — I still think that stuff is great.

But I have pretty unusual tastes — When people ask me what’s on my iPod, I tell them bluegrass, Broadway and Bob Dylan.

You take the responsibility of keeping the authentic style of country music alive and fresh for the 21st century pretty seriously, don’t you? I tell people I’m yodeling for youth.

We do, but we’re not the only ones out there. Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams (out of Denver), I love them.

There’s some people on the radio I really do like. There’s Miranda Lambert — she writes her own stuff. ... Country music is about singing about what’s close to your heart, and she’s doing that. Sunny Sweeney, she’s getting some play on (Country Music Television).

This final question does have a right or wrong answer: Who did the best version of “Stand By Your Man” — Tammy Wynette, Lyle Lovett or the Blues Brothers? This answer might get me in trouble, but I’ve got to go with Lyle.

That is correct.

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Brandon Shaffer Age: 39 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 10 Occupation: President, Colorado State Senate; lawyer You are a Colorado native, but you attended Stanford University and, in the U.S. Navy, served in Japan. If you could live anywhere, where would you live? If I could live anywhere in the world, I would live in one of the houses on McIntosh Lake here in Longmont. I live in the Longmont Estates neighborhood and enjoy walking to the lake every chance I get. I take my Shaffer family there to go fishing, canoeing, biking, etc. Of all the places I’ve lived and all the things I’ve seen, I can’t think of anything more beautiful than the view of Longs Peak from the lake. There’s no place I’d rather live.

Why did you become a lawyer? My dad was an attorney, and I always thought that someday I’d go to law school. I’ve always thought it was a noble profession. Attorneys take an oath to protect and defend the constitutions of the United States and the state of Colorado. That’s a responsibility I take very seriously.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

In considering your time in the Colorado Senate, what are you most proud of? There are several things I’ve worked on over the years that I’m proud of. I’ve worked to expand access to early childhood education, including full-day kindergarten and high quality preschool. I’ve passed several bills to help veterans and their families. I’ve worked to help senior citizens receive affordable prescription drugs. I carried legislation to provide health insurance coverage for autistic children. And I sponsored legislation allowing construction of the Ralph Carr Justice Center and the new Colorado History Museum.

What’s the oddest request you’ve ever received from a constituent? In 2007, I was asked to be the honorary guest at one of the “swooping contests” at Vance Band airport. Of course, they asked me to make my entrance by jumping out of an airplane. When they called to extend the invitation, I wasn’t home, and they got my wife. She gave them a very enthusiastic response, saying that I’d love to participate, and I jumped out of an airplane. I’ll never do that again.

Mike Shea Age: 58 Years in St. Vrain Valley: More than 30 Occupation: Owner, Mike O’Shay’s Restaurant and Ale House O’Shay’s is now the oldest locally owned restaurant in town. How do you pull that off in a business where restaurants can come and go in less than a year? I feel we appeal to a large and diverse customer base. We have customers who have been coming here for 30 years. We strive to be consistent with our food and service every day, and we’re always adapting the menu as food trends and tastes change. Also, I’ve Shea always tried to keep good help, good management especially. ...

What’s been the “hall of fame” item, the menu entry that people keep gravitating to year after year? The one thing that comes to mind is the fish and chips.

How has keeping a place like this changed in 30 years? I never sit back and let it stay exactly the same year after year. The most dramatic was the renovation we did this spring and summer. ... We’re Mike O’Shay’s Restaurant and Ale House, not “Mike

57

O’Shay’s Pub.” That doesn’t restrict us to doing just Irish food — we’ve done pasta, seafood, downhome American, you name it.

What needs to be done to strengthen Main Street in general? As with my own business over the years, you need to remain attractive and keep it vibrant. ... I will say that parking in 1981 was an issue then as it is still today. It’s essential to many of us downtown. I’ve gone to meetings about parking structures, parking lots and various other solutions, but we haven’t gotten very far.

Have you ever tried an experiment at O’Shay’s that had you wondering, “Why did I do that?” When we first opened, fresh french fries.

French fries work quite well when they’re frozen; when they hit the hot oil, that’s how they get so crisp. When you do fresh french fries, you have to cut, blanch, prepare them carefully. We stuck them in water, and water is the worst thing you can do for oil. It breaks down their staying power.

You run one of the great places to unwind in Longmont. Where do you go to relax when you’re off duty? If I was to go out to dinner, I’d go to Sugarbeet.

They do a good job, and they patronize me. The other things — I fly-fish. I like to travel with my wife and our kids.

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59

Game Master

Eugene Waara is the heart of the local gaming community

L

ONGMONT — A group of teenagers — two girls and two boys — walked into Stonebridge Games on Main Street on a recent weekday afternoon.

They were dressed formally, the boys with ties and the girls in conservative dresses. Name tags were pinned to their chests. They were unmistakably members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they were on a mission.

“Do you have that one game ‘7 Wonders’?” hazarded a tall blond boy, clearly on a different mission.

One of the girls craned her head back to look up at him.

“What’s ‘7 Wonders’?” I am not that cool,” she said.

Store owner Eugene Waara couldn’t help him out because he didn’t have the game, and the Mormon missionaries left the store.

Waara’s clientele clearly runs the gamut. He has a stock of Faygo soda, the signature drink of followers of the rap group Insane Clown Posse, so he often has customers adorned in the black and white clown makeup, baggy black jeans, and ICP T-shirts that are nearly the uniform of the band’s fans.

It may seem incongruous to attract the likes of the missionaries and the ICP, but Waara doesn’t bat an eye and says that many others explore his store.

Waara loves all of the people who have made his Main Street shop more than a game retailer. It is a refuge for many in a community where some find activities for kids lacking.

Tabletop game lovers have found in Waara’s store

depict wizards and magic powers.

Waara grew up in MichiAge: 52 gan, where he graduated Years in the St. Vrain from high school and spent Valley: 9 a couple of years bouncing from job to job, playing Occupation: Owner/operator, drums in a rock band and Stonebridge Games ultimately enlisting in the Army for a four-year stint, which ended in 1982. He had a place to lose themselves in hoped to be a musician in the worlds of wizards, magi- the Army, but the auditions cians, fantastical creatures, were months away from the and alternate worlds, time he enlisted, so he opted through games like the clas- for electronics. It paved the sic role-player Dungeons & way for his post-military Dragons, or the collectible work in high-tech sales and card games Magic and Yuconsulting.

Gi-Oh! He landed in Colorado afAside from selling the ter pursuing a career in games, Waara accommohigh-tech sales that started dates groups who meticuin Michigan and led him lously paint tiny figurines of from job to job to places inwarriors and mythical crea- cluding Nebraska, Texas tures in a studio tucked in and Minnesota as he folthe back of his store for latlowed opportunities. er use in epic battles, or who He and his family were spend hours in card tourna- drawn to Colorado because ments trying to best their they had relatives here and randomly selected oppoalready visited for vacanents. The community tions. He said he offered to crosses some of the stanmove closer to his wife’s dard cliques and reaches family in Colorado because from neophyte Magic playshe had long agreed to live ers who are out on a school where his jobs took them. night indulging in their hobIt was during his travels by to adult men who have a for work that the games inlittle more financial dustry caught Waara’s eye. prowess to build their colHe visited a store in Dallas lections. that specialized in games Waara does not play the where he saw some cusgames he sells. He knows tomers disappear behind a how to play them, so he can curtain, later learning they answer questions about were there to play games. them, but he has kept himHe also attended a gaming self from the obsession that convention in Minnesota, fuels his business. where he was floored to find “Magic is the big dog,” he 30,000 attendees ravenous said, casually explaining about their hobby. the bulk of his business.

“I’ve kind of been inMagic the Gathering is a volved in the hobby for collectible card game in years, and I saw the value it which players engage in had,” he said, but he was contests based on cards that still working in high-tech

Eugene Waara

sales. While he worked in high-tech sales, he did play two collectible card games based on Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings. He would volunteer for the manufacturers and go to different hobby and game stores to demonstrate the games, and of course he would attend conventions in Wisconsin and play all sorts of role playing and card games. All the while, he hoped to one day open a store, but it was on the back burner as he worked in his career.

Waara opened Stonebridge Games seven years ago in Longmont after he and his family settled into Longmont. For the first few years, he continued working for high-tech businesses, either in sales or consulting, and managed the store from the road, working with his staff by phone.

In May 2007, he gave up a consulting job and decided to work primarily at Stonebrige Games, ordering popular card games, working with parents and playing host to game tournaments to keep the business rolling.

Business is slow during the day, when most of his customers are at work or school, but business perks up in the evenings and weekends, when the store hosts tournaments. He has a couple of part-timers who help out.

Waara has an adult daughter in Minnesota, an 18-year-old son in high school in Longmont and a 13-year-old daughter in Longmont. He said his son and younger daughter used to avoid the store, but seem to be warming to it lately.

He holds court behind the

Story by Pierrette J. Shields • Photo by Joshua Buck • Longmont Times-Call

register during tournaments once he gets the games going. He knows the kids and adults, their habits, their personalities.

“Austin,” he calls out.

“What’s up,” replies a voice among 14 gathered for a Magic tournament.

“You get to play,” Waara pauses, “your buddy!”

Waara deals in Faygo and in food from neighboring restaurants and, of course, the candy that fuels hours of figurine painting or games.

He said the store routinely closes at 9 p.m., but he had one tournament drag on until 4 a.m. once. Sometimes he allows friends to stay in the store after it closes to paint their figurines for mini battles, and just lets them close up.

“I feel like a bartender,” he said, moments after doling out some candy and pestering a kid about his haircut.

He also keeps an eye out for his clients, keeps his ear to the ground about potential trouble, and makes sure the store is brightly lighted and that parents who walk by can see inside. He considers his store a bit of a community center.

“They become good friends, all of these guys,” he said.

“Guys” appears to be a key word. Waara swears that a few girls are among his cadre of gamers, but none appeared for the Magic tournaments.

He also keeps busy working to promote Longmont’s downtown through the Longmont Small Business Association, a group he represents on the Longmont Area Visitors Association.

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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Paul Sorensen Age: 56 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 8 Occupation: Aerospace manufacturing contractor/ programmer; Firestone trustee and historical commissioner.

So what exactly is a historical commissioner? My role as (Firestone) historical commissioner is to continue efforts to preserve and research the town’s history. I have collected records that date back to the early 1870s that help document the early development of the land use before we became a town — census records and deeds of pioneer families that homesteaded and worked the land. In 2010, I coordinated efforts to video the stories of longtime residents to be edited for a history DVD. I spearheaded our centennial clock/time capsule/memorial brick campaign for our centennial celebration in 2008.

What surprises have you found as you’ve Sorensen dug into the history of the Carbon Valley?

Fort Junction and the Lower Boulder and St. Vrain Home Guard is one of my favorite projects. The McKissick Mine in Firestone was the first commercial coal mine in the Carbon Valley. The McKissick Mine was owned by the McKissick brothers, who, according to a deed I found, put the coal mine and land it occupied up as collateral for a $75,000 loan in 1872.

This predates the USGS’s earliest recorded coal mine in the Carbon Valley by eight years.

What’s stayed the same through the decades?

Historical Firestone still has the same small-town appeal to it with locally owned businesses and great people who have lived here for generations. Coal mining was very demanding work, and the pride I sense from the

Connie Syferd Age: 47 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 24 Occupation: Assistant superintendent for student achievement for the St. Vrain Valley School District Who was your favorite teacher when you were a child, and why? My favorite teacher was my third-grade teacher, Ms. Jane Gilmore at Eisenhower Elementary in Ottumwa, Iowa. What I remember about her the most was her ability to motivate me to learn. She set high expectations but was supportive of

relatives and the surviving miners from our past is my fuel to capture their stories for generations to come. If not for the coal miners’ spirit and drive, we wouldn’t have our beautiful community today.

How does the awareness of that history affect your role as a Firestone trustee? I know my appreciation for the spirit of Firestone is rooted in our history. I know previous boards made pivotal decisions that allowed the town to grow to where we are today. Having one of the lowest tax rates on property and sales taxes, very little debt and great quality of life is a prime example.

Repeating history can keep you on the right track.

You also have something of a passion for space. How did that start? Growing up in the late 1950s to early 1960s, I remember watching reruns of Flash Gordon on our old B&W TV, then reports of Sputnik I on the nightly news followed by our response of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions to the moon. That probably did it for me. I kept every newspaper article from the first Mercury mission through the Apollo missions.

What would you like to see NASA’s next step be? Put a tech center in Firestone followed by continuing to send unmanned exploration stations to our moon, Mars and other promising planets and their moons. Gathering intelligence on our region of space is important. Manned missions today are too costly and risky. A permanent station on the moon would be phenomenal.

In your opinion, what’s the greatest science fiction film ever? My favorite film would be “The Last Starfighter,” 1984, because it takes an average teen video junkie and puts him in a place in space to save the universe.

Age: 47 Years in St. Vrain Valley: Four years in Lyons, 20 years in Boulder Occupation: Physical therapist, bike fitter, director of concert series You’ve been a competitive cyclist, and you’re a musician. What similarities are there between performing on stage and performing on a pair of wheels? Passion and being fully in the moment — in both of these, ya gotta go for it!

What instrument would you most like to learn to play that you don’t already? I’d love to learn to play the cello and the clawhammer banjo.

As head of the High Street Concerts series, you’ve surely seen plenty of great Sirotniak musicians. Who’s been your favorite? I have to give you a top five of some of my favorite shows: Matt Flinner Trio with Cahalen Morrison and Eli West, Three Ring Circle with Rob Ickes, Casey Driessen, Infamous Stringdusters and Uncle Earl. But really, we’ve had so many great shows, and each year things just get better and better.

When someone visits you in Lyons, where do you like to take them? Breakfast at the Stone Cup, then hiking on Picture Rock Trail or riding mountain bikes on Antelope Trail, and dinner at Oskar Blues for Dale’s Pale Ale and a Satchmo Burger with sweet potato fries!

our basement. There were two old desks and a chalkboard, and I used my stuffed animals and Mrs. Beasley (a doll) as students. That stuck with me forever. In addition, my parents were always very supportive of me becoming an educator.

students reaching the bar established.

She was always positive and believed that you could be successful.

She made learning fun.

Why did you become an educator? Because of Ms. Gilmore. I always remember thinking, “I want to be just like her.” She was tall, beautiful (what teacher isn’t when you are in third grade?) and such a wonderful teacher. Beginning in third grade, my parents created a tiny “classroom” in

Annie Sirotniak

Syferd

What was your worst summer job and why? I detassled corn for a large seed corn company for a few summers as a teenager. The days were long, it was very

hot and humid, and the rows and fields seemed to go on forever. I really worked hard but enjoyed the money I had earned.

What’s your favorite activity outside of school and why? I enjoy reading and playing golf (when I have time), and I especially enjoy spending time with my family — my husband, Kevin; my sister and her husband; and especially my niece, Mattie. We do lots of fun things together: take hikes, visit interesting places like the aquarium, and do lots of reading and painting.

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Bridget Sutton

Age: 43 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 14 Occupation: Community volunteer; smallbusiness owner Why did you get involved with the St. Vrain Valley School District’s parent group, Leadership St. Vrain? It is my responsibility Storz to educate myself and participate in supporting our schools. All youths deserve access to an excellent education. I feel strongly about how essential our public education system is to our quality of life and community well-being.

I have always been involved in the educational process of my four wonderful children. Because of the opportunity to participate on LSV, I have expanded my personal perspective on the vital need for quality education for all members of our community.

LSV provides the forum in which to learn and ask questions. It is a privilege to develop relationships and engage in such constructive, stimulating dialogue. It is inspiring to have the opportunity to work and learn with such talented and passionate professionals and parents.

What has been the most surprising thing you’ve learned about the school district? The biggest awareness relates to increased knowledge of school funding at the state level. I have been dismayed to learn how long our state has been on a downward trend related to school funding.

I have been reminded of how important it is to explore deeper to make sense of what we hear with regard to the reality of what’s happening in our schools. I am shocked at how frequently statistics are misunderstood and misused. This diminishes the true value of our education system. The courage to question what we hear is an important part of public involvement and can be quite rewarding.

I am amazed at how many volunteer hours our board members dedicate to our community. I appreciate staff dedication and how efficiently they put our tax dollars to work.

Which of your own teachers had the greatest effect on your life? How? Brent Holl was my music teacher. He was a Mennonite man who taught in a public school. He found joy in his work and believed in me when I was unsure. He had a steady faith despite being misunderstood. This made an impression on a middle schooler.

Doc Miller was my Advanced Placement chemistry teacher. He squirted my hair with distilled water if I answered incorrectly. He helped me learn how to be prepared, think on my feet and understand the importance of taking my learning opportunities seriously, but not my hair or myself.

What is your favorite book and why? My favorite book is usually the last book I read. I have a close relationship with my brilliant mother and wise friends who are always giving me reading suggestions.

Age: 17 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 8 Occupation: Senior, Erie High School You participate in both track and cross country.

Sutton What attracts you to these sports? I think it’s the selfreliance. You really have to be able to depend on your own body and trust that your drive and tenacity will pull you to your best times. That being said, though, the sport wouldn’t be the same without my team. We come from all different walks of high school “culture,” but we have a common identity in running.

What is your favorite extracurricular activity, other than sports, and why? I’m doing something new this spring that I’ve had no experience with before: I’m stage managing for my high school’s musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.” It’s going to be an amazing production, and working with the rest of the cast and crew has been a great experience. I’ve had roles in school plays before but never have dealt with the overarching production aspects.

You have lived in Erie for eight years. What do you enjoy about living in a small town? It’s a great way to make connections. I serve as co-president of Erie’s National Honor Society, and just from that position I can say that the community feeling Erie boasts has been a great asset. We’ve been able to work through the chamber of commerce, work with our local food bank and with a few other local nonprofits. We’ve gone to talk to the middle school’s Junior Honor Society and can really tell they look up to us. Erie is a small town with some pretty exciting potential.

What do you hope to accomplish after you graduate high school? I intend to become a field-based archaeologist. I would LOVE to work internationally, maybe in southern Asia or northeast Africa. I am fascinated by different cultures and traditions, so I feel that archaeology or anthropology would really draw on my passions. It seems like the perfect mix of subjects that interest me — history, physical science, sociology — anything that draws on analytical skills. International archaeology would really be a dream job.

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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

Dr. Jane Wolford — who works at Third Avenue Eyecare, 800 Third Ave. — moved to Longmont in the 1980s and opened her practice in 1987.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

63

Eyes on the world Longmont optometrist hosts exchange students from more than a dozen countries LONGMONT — Shortly after “Jackass: The Movie” came out, Jane Wolford returned home to find her youngest son attempting to do aerial tricks on the backyard trampoline with his feet duct-taped into a snowboard.

Egging him on was a Swiss exchange student staying at her home.

Upon closer inspection, Wolford noticed the boys had padded a stairwell with couch cushions for a stunt that pitted a sled against Newton’s three laws of motion. It might have scared off some, but Wolford took it in stride and laughs about the incident.

Hosting exchange students — teenagers, no less — isn’t for the faint of heart.

Wolford, a Longmont optometrist, has hosted nearly 20 exchange students from more than a dozen countries over the past 15 years.

“I’m happiest when there are kids here,” said Wolford, who — along with her husband, Dan Wolford, the city of Longmont’s manager of parks, open space and forestry — has raised three of her own children.

Right now, they are hosting two exchange students: 18-year-old Victor Borgstrom from Malmö,

Jane Wolford Age: 52 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 27 years in Boulder County Occupation: Optometrist at Third Avenue Eyecare in Longmont; chairwoman of Rotary Club of Longmont’s Rotary Youth Exchange Committee; president of Longmont High School’s Education Foundation

Sweden, and 17-year-old Arthur Braga from João Pessoa, Brazil, who splits his time between the Wolfords and another family.

Both are scheduled to graduate from Longmont High this spring, along with Wolford’s middle son, John, 18.

“I get to go to graduation with a Swedish flag, a Brazilian flag and an American flag,” she chuckled.

Her youngest son, 16year-old Adam, is spending the school year in Karlskrona, Sweden, before returning to Longmont High. Liz, 22, will attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins this fall.

Wolford’s own interest in travel began with a culture

shock.

“My life changed in high school when I went to Mexico,” she said of a spring break trip outside Mexico City in the mid-1970s. “I was a white girl from the suburbs, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is like National Geographic.’”

Three years after opening her Longmont practice, she spent a month in Nepal administering health services to the country’s impoverished residents.

Since then, host students from Sweden, Thailand, Brazil, China, Croatia, Denmark, Romania, Turkey, Japan, Peru, Belarus, Germany, Switzerland and the Republic of Georgia have stayed at her home.

Wolford said she stays in touch with most former exchange students through Facebook and by e-mail.

A Chinese student who stayed with the family sent her a Mother’s Day card.

Wolford also recalled one girl from Japan who was painfully shy during her stint in Longmont. When that girl, now a woman in her late 20s, visited her former host family a few years ago, she shared that the experience made her a stronger person, Wolford remembered.

Aside from experiencing other cultures, the students have opened her eyes to the educational difference between American teenagers and their foreign-born peers, Wolford said. That’s part of why she is president of Longmont High School’s Education Foundation, a group that raises funds for teacher grants. Wolford said she’d like to see Farsi and Mandarin classes at Longmont High.

Although her mother was a homemaker and her father worked for the Columbus, Ohio, telephone company, Wolford said her parents, Pat and Bill Weidinger, raised all five of their children to be independentminded entrepreneurs. Her four siblings also are selfemployed as a goldsmith, an industrial designer, an accountant and a contractor.

“We did not get that box checked on our report cards that says ‘plays wells with others,’” she joked.

When Wolford graduated from Ohio State University in 1983, she remembers only three practicing female optometrists in the state. Her class added another eight — including Wolford — into the mix.

Soon after graduation, the

Columbus native moved to Boulder to join a large group practice.

In 1986, she opened Third Avenue Eyecare on Main Street. By 1994, she’d moved the business to the northwest corner of Terry Street and Third Avenue, choosing the location in part because it was within walking distance of Central Elementary, the school all three of her children attended.

Over the past decade, she’s sold off her shares of the practice to fellow optometrist and business partner Audrey Brodie. Wolford now is technically an employee of the practice she founded — something she opted to do to keep the business afloat after she retires.

Not that Wolford has plans to slow down anytime soon.

“I am hyperactive,” she laughed. “I get up at 5, and by 10 o’clock, I have made a list of 1,000 things. And I feel really good if I can check off 999 of them.”

But when she does retire, Wolford said, she’d like to visit the extended family she’s welcomed into her life and her home over the years.

“I’m cashing in my pension and buying an openended ticket,” she said.

Story by Magdalena Wegrzyn • Photo by Richard M. Hackett • Longmont Times-Call

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW

John (Jaytee) Tanguma Age: Really? I’m too old to answer that question!

Occupation: Owner and deejay of Jaytee Productions, a mobile music company Years in county? Five years in Adams County; the company is in its 24th year and its fourth year in Erie.

What attracted you to the business? The ability to play music and help people create the party, memories and event they always wanted. I am a drummer also. God blessed me with music in my soul.

What are your favorite types of events in Erie? Any of them, as long as people are there. Maybe the (Erie High School) Homecoming Parade and the Harvest Fest.

How do you incorporate light shows in your events? Lights are Tanguma an important part of any event if they are needed. Energy, fun, atmosphere and dimension are what lights bring to the table.

What kind of music are you involved with outside of Jaytee Productions?

I sing a little and played drums professionally for a while, and I put out two CDs. I currently play with my church band.

What is one of the most popular songs you play at your events? It depends on the event. (Black Eyed Peas’) “Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night” at a wedding, (Bob Seger’s) “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll” at a reunion or (Kool and the Gang’s) “Celebration” at any party.

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65

Can you do the electric slide? Absolutely! The ’80s version and the new version. I teach it, too. Watch ... to the right, to the left, go back, now y’all lean forward, lean back.

Have you ever been asked to leave a venue for any reason? At a wedding back in the mid-’90s, a groom thought I instructed the best man to remove the garter from the bride’s leg during the garter toss, and because the best man actually did that, the groom came unglued — he was big, too — and asked me to “step outside” into the hallway.

I did, and he asked me to not go back into the room for the remainder of the night. I knew I had done nothing wrong, and at the time, I didn’t even know why he was mad.

You see, while I was in the middle of the room gathering all the “bachelors,” behind my back, the best man reached under the bride’s dress and retrieved the garter without my knowledge or the groom’s knowledge, and by the time the groom realized what happened, he was mad at me. I never even saw what happened.

Anyway, I had my wife, who happened to be with me, play tunes the rest of the night, and after the groom spoke to my dad, who came at the end of the reception to help me tear down, and he realized I had nothing to do with the debacle, he ended up apologizing to me.

It all turned out fine, but what an experience.

Troy Terry

Dave Wagner

Age: 48 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: I am a native. I attended Mead schools for kindergarten through ninth grade and graduated from Skyline High School in 1981. I am looking forward to this year’s 30th reunion.

Occupation: Realtor with ERA Tradewind Real Estate; area representative with Global Insights Inc. Terry What do you remember about the first house you ever sold? It was for a young man buying his first home, and we must have looked at 30 homes in Longmont! We ended up finding him a great home within his budget. Since then, he has totally renovated the home inside and out, and he is so proud of it. I look forward to, one day, assisting him in selling his first home and moving up to his second.

What is your favorite room in a house? The kitchen, of course! It is, after all, the heart of the home. It is where everyone always gathers. This is why kitchens and bathrooms help sell the home.

Why are you a board member for Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley? My husband and I have always believed in giving back to our communities. I have been volunteering for HFH for the past five years. They provide affordable housing for families in our community that would otherwise not be able to buy their own home. I like the idea of giving people the assistance they need to help them move forward. In addition, Habitat provides families with the education they need to break the cycle of poverty, which gives them the tools they need to become successful homeowners.

When they approached me and asked me to be a board member, I was extremely honored.

In addition, HFH has a special place in my heart because my sister was able to buy a Habitat home. Her home was far away from here, and I was not able to help her; therefore, I like to help people here, because I know how much it meant to her to have a home she could call her own.

You’ve hosted several exchange students through Global Insights. What are some of the most unusual customs or traditions you have encountered? Our family has been hosting for the past 10 years, and I actually became an area representative with Global Insights in 2006. Now I find families to host, as well as host myself.

One thing that always amazes me is what great table manners all the students have.

Unfortunately, this fact hasn’t helped my son at all with his manners! I have a great photo of our Danish boy eating a taco with a knife and fork!

I believe it has been a huge benefit to my own kids as well, because they have been provided with so many opportunities to learn about other people and their cultures, and have even visited some of our students after they returned home.

Age: 53 Occupation: Real estate professional (Realtor) Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 14 Last fall, you were installed as president of the Longmont Association of Realtors. What are your goals for the organization for the coming year? Aside from instilling confidence in our turnaround in the real estate market, I Wagner would hope to convey how important Realtors are in helping support policy that influences how an individual can own, use and transfer real property, and support issues and incentives that promote the small-business enterprise. Realtors serve behind the scenes in many more ways than people know, and are respected for helping people with one of the largest investment decisions of their lifetime. I believe they also can influence their sphere to encourage people to vote in a manner that supports candidates with high morals, ethics and support for business development for a stronger, better future. I am not referring to overregulated or highly mandated government, but support candidates that will find a way to help entrepreneurs and companies that want to invest in our town, to put their chin up and know that the jobs they provide are appreciated more than any entitlement will ever mean — candidates who say “How can we support your path to success?” and not candidates who say “How can we change so much about you and your ideas or stand in your way long enough that you just want to go away?”

As a Realtor, part of your success depends on your ability to “sell” Longmont.

What do you see as the city’s strengths? Longmont is rich in resources, such as electricity, fiber optics and water. It is strong at planning for the future and has a strong base of higher-educated residents. It continues to plan ways for the community to enjoy where we live through recreation, walking paths, lakes, trees, parks, a symphony orchestra and entertainment. I think we have a good resource of people who want to make a difference through service in our community.

I understand you have coached teams in the local Upward Basketball league.

How important is it to you to be involved in your kids’ lives and the lives of other kids? As an Eagle Scout and past college decathlete, I see early exposure to team sports, organizations and involvement in music as strong contributors to both leadership skills and bringing up a generation that can learn at least as much from rich experiences as it now learns sitting alone in front of a computer.

I am most proud that my own daughters have now coached youth basketball and cheerleading teams and helped instill confidence in those who follow. It will help my children to be better nurturers in their own families and leaders in their jobs.

m3/28/2011yTCcfewell 66 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011

Pam Ware Age: 57 Years in Weld County: Almost five; opened Front Range Hospice in June 2006 in Old Downtown Erie Occupation: Founder and CEO of Front Range Hospice. I have been in end-of-life care for 30 years and hospice for eight of those years. I am now the owner and administrator of Front Range Hospice, one of the very few Joint Commission-accredited hospices in the state.

Have you always been interested in community service and helping those in need? I started volunteering in my church (helped my mom set up for

LONGMONT TIMES-CALL COMMUNITY REVIEW dinners) before I was school age. That community involvement continues to today: I volunteer at my church, First Christian United Church of Christ in Longmont, and the Erie Chamber of Commerce. Front Range Hospice participates in Ware community events in Erie, and we are beginning to support the Fort Collins Chamber.

What have you learned about people when spending time with them in their final days? When our patients are alert

and aware for their final days, it is a true blessing. Most of them reach an incredible peace. They are able to reassure their families that all will be well, they love them and will always love them. The families are able to respond likewise. When our patients are not alert, the incredible care offered by the hospice staff puts the families at ease as they wait for their loved one to transition.

Who was one of your most memorable patients? The most memorable patient I have worked with was a young father who had a 3-year-old son. As he moved into the acceptance stage of his dying process, he wanted to make sure his son never doubted the love of his father. He created letters to his son for key times,

like his first day of school, first date, high school and college graduation, marriage and birth of his first child. He also arranged for one of his friends to be the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus as long as the son held these magical beliefs.

What does your family think of the work you do? The work I do is life changing and can be stressful. I am blessed to have a partner and friends who support me, stand by me and at times work hard to be a wonderful escape. They, too, have been changed by this journey that I am on, as they are not able to deny their own mortality and work hard to get the most out of every day.

Amy Weed

Jeff Wilkes

Serena Williams

Age: 49 Years in the St. Vrain Valley: 2 Occupation: Assistant superintendent, St. Vrain Valley School District Who was your favorite Weed teacher when you were a child, and why? My favorite teacher when I was a child was Ms. King, my second-grade teacher. She cared deeply about every one of her students. She had high expectations for all of us, and we knew it. When we struggled with the learning, Ms. King made sure to reteach the skills and strategies so that we did understand it. Ms. King made learning fun and interesting. She loved reading, and as a result, so did all of her students.

Why did you become an educator? I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a very young age. I grew up in Philadelphia in a large family with six brothers, and I used to make my brothers play school. I pretended to be the teacher, and my brothers were the students. They were such obedient brothers. I feel fortunate that I have spent my entire career as an educator. I have been a high school teacher and an elementary school teacher. I have been an assistant principal and an elementary school principal. I have been a director of student achievement, supporting elementary and secondary principals and now in SVVSD as an assistant superintendent. I strongly believe that educators have one of the most important and influential jobs in the world.

What was your worst summer job and why? I was a waitress in a restaurant called “Po Folks.” I lasted only two hours on the job.

From that experience, I learned that I wasn’t cut out to be a waitress. I now have a lot of respect for waiters and waitresses in restaurants and tip them generously.

What’s your favorite activity outside of school and why? My favorite activity outside of school is exercising and working out. I love to run, lift weights, bike, hike, snowboard, play softball and so much more. Keeping healthy is an important value in my life.

Age: 67 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 11 (all in Erie) Occupation: Retired electrical engineer/computer scientist — entire career in space; Erie Rotary Club member Wilkes When was Winterfest introduced in Erie, and what role has it played in the community? My first experience was when (my wife) Pat and I attended Light Up Briggs Street on Dec. 4, 2003. At that time, Light Up Briggs was sponsored by the now-defunct Erie Uptown Business Association.

I understand that the event goes back to the 19th century, when the town policeman would dress up and stand in the middle of dirt Briggs Street at Cheesman to give out hard candy to town children. Townsfolk holding candles would gather around and sing a few carols. Different groups have organized Light Up Briggs Street irregularly over the years.

In 2008, Erie Rotary added a parade to Light Up Briggs to bring Santa to town, and worked with Erie Elementary and Erie preschools to arrange for the children to make and hang decorations on the town before the lighting ceremony. We also started a tradition of providing a live tree, which was planted in an Erie park the following spring.

In 2009, I formed an Erie Winterfest Committee with the intent of expanding Light Up Briggs Street and involving as many other town organizations as possible. I hope it will continue to grow and involve more community groups. I’d like to see every Erie school, church, business and civic organization have a part in Erie Winterfest.

What is the main objective of the Erie Rotary Club? 1.

The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service. 2. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society. 3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and community life. 4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the idea of service. I can’t prioritize them; they are equally important to Rotarians.

Exactly how cold was the 2011 Erie Polar Bear Bike Ride? I am told by Erie Police Chief John Hall, who designed the route and led a group of riders from his own bike, that it was a bright, beautiful 17-degree morning — a lot warmer than jumping into Boulder Reservoir.

Age: 36 Years in St. Vrain Valley: 8 Occupation: Service manager for King Auto Group What drew you to the automotive business? Back in Kansas, when I was growing up, you could start to Williams drive at age 14. So at a younger age, I started to drive the mostly worn-out family hand-me-down vehicles. Somewhat out of necessity to keep the vehicles going, then turning into enjoyable maintenance, I learned the basics. Later on, when a notion that I would become an engineer didn’t pan out, I questioned myself on what I found joy in doing, and, as they say, “the rest is history.”

What questions should someone be prepared to answer before they show up with their car? It is best to be able to describe the problem without any predetermined notion of what may be wrong. Someone may come in and describe what they think may be a transmission concern, and it ends up being a driveability issue. Pay close attention to what is happening when the issue occurs. If it happens only first thing in the morning when just first engaging the vehicle into drive, we need to know that.

Do people you know outside of work ask you for car advice? Yes, of course, friends and family know to call for help, no problem. There is one thing I am fairly strict with, though. My technicians are very skilled professionals who, like any other experts, deserve to be compensated for this knowledge. When a person either calls or comes in for “free diagnostics,” I really try to discourage this. I simply tell them it is best to appropriately diagnose it by a technician to save time and money. If they persist on attempting to fix it themselves, I recommend an All-Data.com subscription.

What’s the oddest description of a problem that you’ve heard? It is always humorous to listen to people describe and make noises that imitate their vehicles. I cannot think of any one particular instance that sticks out as far as that is concerned. I can share one of the most bizarre items we have found in a vehicle — a dead beaver in the trunk.

Do you play tennis? Do folks ever bring up the tennis star when they meet you? Sure: “Serena Williams, do you play tennis?” I tell them I did in high school but obviously was not talented enough. That’s why I am fixing your vehicle. There has been some added benefit, though: Most people do not forget my name.