by Valley Gadfly | Mar 23, 2018 | Valley Gadfly
Listen, can you hear it? The music of spring’s sweet cantata: The song of buds swelling on the vine as if on a recital tour performing works ranging from Schubert and Schumann to Copland and Porter. As William Shakespeare often explained it: “Well-apparel’d April on the heel of limping winter treads.” April brings all the seven wonders!
In spring they say there’s always something new that’s come to stay. “Another bud, a new bird, another blade.” Drop off mind and body, they’re weeding new cuttings.
Here are our fresh, damp, sweet and cool choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to bring you longer, brighter and warmer temps with accompanying joy:
3 For a cat-and-mouse drama about art, politics, sex and truth make plans to see Cherry Creek Theatre’s two-character stage production of A Picasso playing at the JCC’s Mizel Center April 5-29. Information: 303-800-6578.
3 Help hilarious Karen Mills raise funds for Firefly Autism treatment at DCPA’s Seawell Ballroom April 12, 5 p.m. Information: 303-759-1192.
3 For great musical entertainment catch the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band playing at Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall April 13, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1003.
3 Hear John Hopkins’ Dr. Christina Bethell speak at CASA’s Light of Hope Breakfast at downtown Sheraton, 7-8:30 a.m. Information:303-832-4592.
3 Spruce up for spring with shades and drapes from Cherry Creek Shade & Drapery marking 50 years as a family-owned business. Also custom made drapes, window coverings and upholstery. Information: 303-355-4223.
3 Race into the season at the 8th Annual Kentucky Derby Party Leukemia fundraiser at The Bar Car on Colorado Blvd. May 5, 12-7 p.m. Food, live bands, mint juleps, hat contest and prizes. Information: 720-524-8099.
3 Celebrate the 25th Colorado Symphony Ball with pianist Natasha Paremsky at the Fillmore April 26, 6 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
3 See the Pulitzer Prize winning Diary of Anne Frank playing at Lowry’s John Hand Theater through April 28. Information: 720-530-4596.
3 Don’t miss the very first professional rugby game ever played at Glendale’s Infinity Park Stadium April 21, 3 p.m. The heavyweight tilt is between the Glendale Raptors and the Austin Elite. It is also the kick off to professional rugby on the CBS TV Network. Other teams playing this year are the Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves and Utah Warriors. Information: glendaleraptors.com.
Historically you can tell it’s April by the sound of falling rain. That mystic, mournful music as it trickles down the drain. This month we experience essentially constant cloud cover with the sky overcast to mostly cloudy about 46% throughout the month. More: The chance of a wet day begins the month at 18% and increases to 25% by month’s end.
The good news: The chance of a day with mixed snow-rain decreases from 5% to 1%. More: The chance of a day with only snow remains constant at 1% throughout.
April marks a great time of year with beautiful weather that yields blossoming gardens and springtime bliss. It’s the time of year for change and new beginnings. Meadows of wildflowers dance in the wind. Sunrises paint the sky like a canvas. This is the time when wonderful things happen. Don’t let the charm of spring slip away.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Peter Boyles | Mar 23, 2018 | Blasting with Boyles
The best example that I can show anyone for my beliefs that Denver, Colorado, has been run by a cabal of bankers and developers, media elites, law firms and power brokers, is best illustrated by the story being covered by this newspaper, my colleagues Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden, Steffan Tubbs, Westword’s Michael Roberts, Craig Silverman and, of course, Channel 7’s Tony Kovaleski. The aforementioned cabal is a long list that includes bankers, newsmen, corporate leaders, political spokesmen, religious leaders who have all been as I call it “in the hat” and “on the take.” They are actually controlling the narrative itself since the arrival of Mayor Federico Peña and Governor Roy Romer.
Because I am, as I have long been, accused of being a pseudo intellectual, I harken back to one of the all time important books about this called The Critical Path, written by Buckminster Fuller. What the Buckster is saying is we have long been controlled by invisible power behind the thrones of kings, prime ministers, czars, presidents and other official “head men.” As well as the underlying causes of control, whether it’s a nation, state, a city, or a corporation. Bingo Buckey. While seemingly the rest of the media plays a cover up game, the above mentioned wave the bloody shirt.
I guess I would call my true idol, when it comes to understanding the media, is the father of us all, Thomas Jefferson. (TJ the DJ — disc jockey to the world.) Jefferson talked about a notion that only when truth can compete in a free market of ideas, truth will prevail. There is no marketplace in Denver. So let’s create one.
What has happened, what have we all witnessed in this eight years of Michael Hancock? An explosion of developers, fat cat bankers, butt boys and water cops. I ask you the Watergate-esque question, what did the power brokers know and when did they know it? I was told by my secret friend, “Peter you broke the code.”
In the beginning, this had nothing to do with a young African-American councilman going to visit the escorts. This had to do with the invisible czars seeing the ladies of the evening, i.e. Misty Dawn, Kitty, Amber, Daphne, Bailey and Autumn. For you guys reading this right now you all remember them. This is a case of the power brokers covering for themselves and owning a replacement mayor. They knew. My secret friend told me that in locker rooms and toney country clubs, athletic clubs, boardrooms and law firms, “Peter they’re all talking about you guys.”
As we go to press, I really can’t tell you what will happen next. Former Police Chief Gerry Whitman must come forward and explain to the public, did he hand over to the Brownstein law firm requested information pertaining to the surveillance of Scotty Ewing brothels, at that time owned by Brenda Stewart? What did Whitman know and when did he know it? Audiotapes that we secured from Scottie Ewing (he taped everybody when they talked to him, including me) allude to the fact that a couple of powerful members of the Denver media had more than a running access to the truth of what was taking place. Much like Nixon’s 18-1/2 minutes of missing tape all of that evidence is missing. We are led to believe it never made it to the police property room. And if you wanted to speak to the mayor-elect the Brownstein law firm was acting as his press secretary and apparently a lot of people breathed a sigh of relief when, in essence, a press shield was thrown up.
This could be a turning point in how the city operates or it could be another bag over the head, punch in the stomach and the Mayor stays on the job.
Stay tuned to KNUS. Keep an eye on Mike Roberts at Westword and hope Tony Kovaleski throws another knockout punch.
Believe me when I tell you, God doesn’t roll the dice.
The Critical Path author Buckminster Fuller
by Mark Smiley | Mar 1, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth and his coaching resume is a handsome one.
Last December nearly 200 athletes, all of them High School All-Americans, traveled to Arizona for USA Rugby’s 2017 Boys High School All-Americans Camp. Joining them was Glendale’s Under-23 team head coach, and professional Glendale Raptors strength and conditioning coach Dave Synnott. Attending in an administrative and coaching capacity, Synnott spent the five-day camp at Casa Grande Sports World interacting with the next generation of rugby talent.
Head Coach Salty Thompson oversees the USA Rugby 15s and 7s High School All-Americans teams and orchestrated the December camp. Athletes invited to the camp must first be named All-Americans, meaning they were likely scouted while playing in one or more of five annual tournaments, known as Regional Cup Tournaments. The largest and most attended Regional Cup Tournament, known as the Rocky Mountain Cup Challenge, takes place in Denver each June. Selection by the All-American scouting network is not the exclusive path to an invite, however, with some participants selected through the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA), and others scouted while playing in high-performance rugby events.
All-Americans teams are comprised of players from across the United States, and field both 15s and 7s squads. The December gathering of the best young rugby talent from across the country was the largest in some time, with 184 athletes in attendance alongside more than 30 coaches, trainers, and staff. Players are grouped according to their ages, with the camp fielding Junior Varsity (Under 17) and Varsity (Under 19) teams. Synnott noted that he acted largely as a coach during the camp, and that he worked primarily with the U17 and U18 players.
The focus of the five-day gathering is on individual skill development, involving not only physical training and scrimmaging, but also strength and conditioning work, classroom sessions, and cognitive training. Camp days are full: participants wake before 7 a.m., followed by stretches, breakfast, a classroom session, and then two hours on the training paddock. A coaches’ evaluation precedes lunch, then it’s back to the classrooms for another session before more training or a scrimmage. Following an evening meal, players review the day before a final coaches’ evaluation and more stretching. The lights are out at 10 p.m.
The Boys High School All-Americans sing the national anthem before one of their matches with Canada during the 2017 USA Rugby High School All-American Rugby Camp in Arizona.
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth, representing the East Midlands in Academy level competition. His coaching resume is a handsome one, having worked extensively at the high school level, and winning two U.S. national titles as an assistant coach for a women’s college team. He describes this period of extended success as the time when he fell in love with coaching. Synnott moved to Colorado in April 2017, and endeavored to join the Raptors immediately, “I reached out to Raptors coach Dave Williams and said I’d love to get involved. I started with the men’s D2 team, then Dave let me run some drills with the elite guys, and since then I’ve been doing the skills part for them. They made me head coach of the U23 team in June.” Synnott’s role in Glendale and at the All-Americans camp is significant: he is helping to shape the future of rugby talent in the United States.
Embracing the excitement of international competition, the December camp included matches against two of Canada’s Under 18 teams. Synnott describes the action: “The Canadian teams trained all week, and then we scrimmaged them on the second day and the last day. It’s a way for the boys to get an international taste of the game, and also to get the Americans and the Canadians an extra couple of games in the winter.” The presence of the Canadian competition brought an additional level of excitement for the players, as well as furthered development. Synnott noted that the level of play at the camp was exceptional, “There were definitely some future Eagles at this camp and some future MLR talent as well.” With Glendale’s U23 team poised to act as a true feeder team for the professional Raptors squad, this is high praise.
The Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy Elite Development Program offers a pathway to professional-level competition for players under 23 years of age. Synnott explains the Academy’s strategy moving forward, “We are recruiting the top talent in the country out of high school. We have a good relationship with EIRA (Eagle Impact Rugby Academy), which is run by Salty Thompson, and he will send players our way if they’re not going to college or if he thinks they’ve got a professional prospect. It’s definitely a program that’s building for the future and it could be very handy for the MLR Raptors team.” Although scouting was not permitted at the All-Americans camp, it is clear that Synnott, and Glendale, have their proverbial finger on the pulse of young rugby talent in the country. Building on a history of distinction, it’s clear Raptors programming will continue to be among the strongest in the nation.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 1, 2018 | General Featured
by Ed Mate, Executive Director
Colorado Golf Association
For most golf fans the return of Tiger Woods is a long overdue and welcoming sight. It is well documented that Tiger’s influence on Nielsen ratings is as direct and powerful as low interest rates on the stock market. What amazes me are those who believe that the sport either a) doesn’t really need him or even, b) is better off without him. For those it goes something like, “We have all of the young guns, like Rory, Rickie, Jordan and Dustin.” Pardon me, but that sounds more like roll call at an after school daycare than the lineup of a world class sports franchise like the PGA Tour. Let’s be honest folks, the PGA Tour needs Tiger — no, not to survive, but if the sport hopes to enjoy anything remotely close to its previous notoriety, cache and basic “cool factor” it is going to need more than Chez Reavie and Ryan “I’m no Arnold” Palmer slugging it out on the back-nine on Sunday.
Personally, the reason I am excited about Tiger’s return is only partly due to his amazing talent and golf charisma. Yes, I will enjoy watching him attempt to regain his previous form, but I am more interested in seeing how he can use his “rebirth” (if indeed that is what we are witnessing) to influence a sport that has evolved significantly since his last major championship win in 2008. Over the past 10 years the game has rolled out more innovative and forward-thinking growth of the game initiatives than it did in the previous 100 years. Drive-Chip-Putt, PGA Junior League, LPGA/ USGA Girls Golf, and Youth on Course are four of the keystone programs that have been embraced by the golf community on the local, state and national level. These programs are all designed, in different ways, to attract a wider and more diverse audience to the sport. Time will tell if they will be successful, but early evidence is extremely encouraging.
What does all this have to do with the Colorado Golf Association, or for that matter, what does it have to do with the Denver and Cherry Creek corridor who receives this publication? Quite a lot actually. The Colorado Golf Association just so happens to own and operate CommonGround Golf Course, the former Lowry Air Force Base course that went through a complete metamorphosis in 2008 — the same year Tiger took down Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open — the last of his 14 major golf championships. CommonGround, as its name suggests, was designed to be “a place for all and all the game teaches.” CommonGround is the Colorado Golf Association’s vehicle to introduce golf to those who previously had no access to the game.
The CommonGround campus includes an 18-hole championship golf course designed by world-renowned architect, Tom Doak. But it also includes a practice facility that is regarded as one of the best in the state, a nine-hole Junior Par 3 course that is absolutely free to kids under the age of 18 and an expansive community putting green that is free to everyone with a putter and some time on their hands. But more important than the campus itself, it is the programs that are hosted at CommonGround that make it such a community asset. Among these programs is the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy that was featured in this publication last year — a program that introduces 30 to 35 young adults (mostly 8th and 9th graders) to a summer job, leadership training, and community service. The CGA uses CommonGround to create partnerships with organizations such as Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Special Olympics and a dozen neighborhood schools to bring the game to those who would never otherwise experience it. CommonGround hosts over 200 outside groups every year who make use of the facility to raise money for charity, provide after work recreation to their employees, or simply provide a gathering place for old friends.
CommonGround most certainly is living up to its name, but I can’t help but wonder how much more we could do with a champion like Tiger Woods serving an ambassadorial role. The community surrounding CommonGround is one of the most diverse of its size anywhere in the country. When you drive the Havana corridor you will see every ethnic restaurant you can imagine. Wouldn’t it be cool if Tiger used his notoriety and global brand to encourage those living in this community to identify more strongly with the sport of golf? Tiger has described himself as a “Cablinasian” speaking to his Caucasian, Black American, American Indian and Asian heritage. What could be more perfect to promote CommonGround and all it represents than Tiger Woods’ return to the world stage of golf?
With Tiger’s return it is my hope that he will do more than simply hoist trophies once again. It is my hope that instead of slamming clubs and dropping expletives, the new and improved Tiger will speak more openly about his diverse ethnic background and encourage those who look more like him to consider taking up the sport. Ultimately, Tiger Woods can do so much more than move the needle with sponsors and televisions viewers. He truly can help change the face of the game and those who play it for generations to come. In 2008 the game of golf wasn’t ready and neither was Tiger. Today the game has done its part as evidenced by what is happening right here at CommonGround.
Come on, Tiger, it’s your turn!
Tiger’s Back: Tiger Woods competed in his first back-to-back tournaments since April 2017 when he teed off at the Honda Classic on February 22, 2018, at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
