by Mark Smiley | Dec 17, 2015 | General Featured
by Phil Kummer
2015 has been called the year of the “unmanned aerial vehicle” better known as “drones.” One of President Obama’s primary weapons in the Middle East to fight jihadists is a veritable army of military drones. Delivery firms and retailers like Federal Express and Amazon are going through final tests to use commercial drones to make deliveries. Moreover, this Christmas and holiday season drones are one of the most sought after toys/recreation devices on the market.
A top FAA official said as many as one million small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could be sold during the upcoming U.S. holiday season. “The talking point is that there will be a million drones under people’s Christmas trees this year,” FAA assistant administrator-policy, international affairs and 
environment Rich Swayze said, adding that he has heard the one-million figure “from several sources.”
The range of cost and sophistication of drones is amazing. For as little as $30 you can get a low-end drone, but don’t ask it to do much, or you can spend up to $3,000 or more for a top of the line recreational drone which will have an impressive array of capabilities.
One of the leading stores for recreational drones in metropolitan Denver is Colpar’s HobbyTown USA located at 1915 S. Havana St., Aurora, CO 80014, as well as 3355 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80227. The owner of Colpar’s, Fred Beardslee, recommends among the best of th
e beginner level drones is the Eothos QX130 which goes for about $100. It is fun to fly around and is a sturdy unit.
On the more sophisticated end Beardslee likes, among other units, the Blade Chroma which sells fully loaded for about $1,300. It will provide an HD quality camera platform and will even return to home base once it detects that its battery is low.
Accessories, which are purchased separately, include a winch, camera — both video and still, squirt gun, rocket and bubble machine — obviously an assortment that would keep both youngsters and oldsters busy for a long time.
Although drones have become more sophisticated and have much more capabilities than previously they are not just for the technoids or geeks any more. The vast majority of drones have very efficient electric motors and lightweight batteries, which make them very flight worthy.
They go further, higher, have more stability, use more technology such as GPS systems and can carry larger payloads than ever before. They have become much more durable than earlier versions but due to crashes and wear and tear chances are your drone will need either some parts replaced or be repaired over time. Having a store like Colpar’s HobbyTown to help out will be critical in keeping your drone flying.
Although drones can be flown both indoors and out, you might want to consider who is the pilot when indoors. They are restricted from some areas such as airports and high security areas. Just recently the FAA announced they now consider operators of drones weighing between .55 lbs and 55lbs to be aviators and therefore all drones that meet those specs need to be registered with the FAA starting December 21, 2015. Registration is mandatory for all aircraft. More information: www.faa.gov/uas.
As drones become more popular, both commercially and recreationally, it is inevitable that new regulations will play an important role in drone use. Colorado recently defeated a bill that would have restricted police use of drones because of privacy concerns. Privately owned drones equipped with advanced cameras could be a threat to everyone’s privacy if used by unscrupulous individuals or businesses. Privacy concerns will definitely be considered as drones are used more.
Safety is another concern that will cause regulations to proliferate as more drones take to the sky. Between June and November of 2015 air-traffic controllers and pilots reported at least 25 episodes in which drones interfered or came close to interfering with larger aircraft during takeoff and landings. If there is ever a major incident between a drone and a plane we can expect to have a thorough r
eview of drone use. If a drone were ever used in a terrorist attack and especially if that attack were successful, we could expect a lot more government rules and regulations as to how one can use a drone.
In the meantime, here are a few safety tips to follow: fly below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles like telephone lines and poles; keep your drone in sight at all times; stay well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations; don’t fly near people or stadiums and don’t be careless or reckless. Remember you can be fined for endangering people or other aircraft. By following some basic common sense rules of the road, as it were, you and your family can have hours of fun and entertainment.
Colpar’s HobbyTown USA is located at 1915 S. Havana St., 303-341-0414, and 3355 S. Wadsworth Blvd., 303-988-5157.
If you have any interesting, creepy, scary, exciting drone stories you can email the Chronicle website at newspaper@glendale cherrycreek.com.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 23, 2015 | General Featured
So You Think You Can Dance is on the road for the Season 12 tour
December 8 | 8 p.m.
Paramount Theatre | 1621 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80202
The Season 12 tour lineup includes the show’s following Top 10 finalists: Team Street’s Megan “Megz” Alfonso, Eddie “Neptune” Eskridge, Virgil Gadson, Jessica “JJ” Rabone and Jana “Jaja” Vankova; and Team Stage’s Gaby Diaz (Season 12 winner), Edson Juarez, Jim Nowakowski, Hailee Payne and Derek Piquette.
The tour features some of this season’s most popular routines from both Team Stage and Team Street, along with original pieces created specifically for the tour.
Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased by clicking below:
http://www.altitudetickets.com/event/so-you-think-you-can-dance-4096/
For more information on the tour, click here
Gaby Diaz is America’s Favorite Dancer on the Season Finale of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
by Mark Smiley | Nov 22, 2015 | General Featured
Youth in Government is a longstanding, successful YMCA program and the Glendale Sports Center at Infinity Park is sending two Glendale teens enrolled in the program to this statewide YMCA program during the week of Thanksgiving. Siblings Kelly and Kevin Hernandez will represent the Glendale YMCA.
For three months every year, students learn about the state’s democratic system, and how laws and government shape people’s lives. They explore all major aspects of state government, filling roles as politicians, lobbyists, attorneys, and journalists.
Then they convene for a mock General Session at the State Capitol where they write bills, lobby, debate, and vote, all using the House floor, Senate chambers, and offices of the state capitol. This is the only program of its kind that offers this type of experience and access to Colorado’s legislative offices.
“I am so excited to participate this year in the Youth in Government program because it will help me see how our government system works firsthand, said Kelly Hernandez. “Since I want to be a lawyer when I grow up [focused on translating for Spanish speakers], this will give me a chance to see how the government workings and decisions apply to the field I want to go into.”
“I feel privileged to be inside the State Capitol building during Youth in Government,” said Kevin Hernandez. I have never been there, and am grateful for the chance to see how and where government officials work on a daily basis.”
For more information about the program, visit www.denverymca.org. For more information about the Glendale Sports Center at Infinity Park, visit www.sportscenterglendale.com or call 303-639-4711.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 2, 2015 | General Featured
If Santa Were An Urbanite This Is Where He’d Shop
For most of us, holiday shopping translates into snaking checkout lines, crowded clothing racks, scented candles and parking hassles. Not this year! We’ve found 10 of the best gift-gathering neighborhoods, streets and alleys in the Valley that make shopping a stress-free stroll down the street.
Bonnie Brae
With a flavor of its 1920s heritage, the Bonnie Brae shopping district features delightful retail shops along South University Blvd., many run by the same family for generations. It’s a nice change from the chain stores going in down the road in Cherry Creek. Adding to the neighborhood’s shopping charm the street has welcomed several new boutiques. The latest is Wish, a gift shop in the former Bank of the West space that’s bigger and delightfully decorated with easy parking. Another neighborhood favorite is Pink, offering cutting edge LA fashion for a casual Colorado lifestyle at affordable prices.
Broadway
Cruising South Broadway is one of the most stimulating ways to shop in the Valley. Along this 16-block strip — south of I-25 and north of DU at Evans — you’ll discover hundreds of eccentric stores, and one of the biggest areas in Colorado for antiques. Independent, quirky, vintage and trendy shops are sprouting up here each year. Antique Row — some 50 stores that line the 400-2000 blocks — sell everything imaginable including furnishings, collectibles, clothing and jewelry. Denver’s most magical toy store The Wizard’s Chest is expected to open this month at 451 Broadway albeit the Cherry Creek North store will remain open through the holidays. On North Broadway, make Paulino Gardens your holiday headquarters featuring unique holiday décor, poinsettias, evergreen wreaths, garland and boughs.
Cherry Creek
Once boasting boutiques and galleries, Cherry Creek North now offers 16 blocks with more construction cranes than s
hopping contentment. The Cherry Creek Shopping Center’s new section, however, is creating holiday excitement. The mall’s transformation has been worth the wait, featuring RH Denver, the region’s first four-level Restoration Hardware store. Newly opened luxury brand stores include Tory Burch, David Yardman and NightRider Jewelry. Several stores including Free People are relocating into the redeveloped space. It will be the second largest store of its kind in the country. Do consider shopping Cherry Creek North’s tree-lined streets at tranquil Ten Thousand Villages, Robert Anderson Gallery and Oster Jewelers. The stretch along 3rd Ave. is still the Holy Grail for women’s designer clothing with shops such as Adornments, Mariel and Harriet’s.
Colorado Boulevard
Discover well-kept shopping secrets by driving along South Colorado Boulevard’s inconspicuous strip malls. Tucked along this strip is Dardano’s shoe store located at 1550 S. Colorado Blvd. Having tripled in size
in the last year, it offers the largest and finest selections of footwear for men and women in the Valley. Socks, gloves, wallets, totes, plus travel and laptop bags make great gift and stocking stuffers. Other stores along here with great gift ideas include Guiry’s, Nordstrom Rack and Michaels.
Downtown Streets
Downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods offer an abundance of retail experiences. For dedicated shoppers the sprawling 16th Street Mall is a cornucopia of shopping options, including Denver Pavilions (500 16th St.) expansive brand name stores and quaint gift shops. Top of the list for a trip downtown is William Crow Jewelers in the University Building (910 16th St. #320). With more than 90 years of continuous operation, it carries a large selection of loose diamonds, gemstones, gold jewelry pearls and watches. If you’re in the mood for a weekend-long spending spree add Molly’s of Denver and Rosey’s in the Pavilions to your shopping list.
Glendale
This Arapahoe County enclave surrounded by the City and County of Denver is a shopping extravaganza featuring major retailers such as Super Target, Sports Authority and PetSmart. Located less tha
n one mile from the Cherry Creek Shopping District, Glendale also has several strip malls with popular shops. Moreover, Glendale was named the seventh cheapest overall small city for millennials in the U.S. by Digital Brands, Inc. The Bookies located off Colorado Blvd. and Mississippi is a fairy tale place with gifts for all ages. Price conscious shoppers can also veer into World Market for furniture, home décor and unique gifts.
Golden Triangle
This quirky, artsy, eclectic neighborhood is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Speer Blvd., Colfax Ave. and Lincoln St. and home to eight of Denver’s museums, including the Denver Art Museum. With more than 50 galleries, fine-art studios and specialty stores, the neighborhood is a great place to find art and unusual gifts. Fend off a shopping slump in the Denver Art Museum Stores offering art-inspired fashions, jewelry and accessories.
Havana Street
Check out the 4.3-mile stretch 
of Havana Street that goes from Dartmouth to 6th Ave. in Aurora. You will discover many specialty shops plus the Gardens on Havana, a thriving new shopping area located at the old Buckingham Mall site on Mississippi and Havana. Havana Street is also the place to go for all things automotive, with 25 dealerships as well as auto parts stores and service centers.
Larimer Square
Larimer Square was America’s first revitalization of a historic neighborhood, opening in 1969. Complete with glittering lights strung over the entire block, it is at once charming and elegant. The 18 shops and boutiques carry more than 200 fashion lines. Two of those fashionable shops are contemporary furniture store Element and Moda selling styled attire for men.
Old South Gaylord
One of Denver’s oldest shopping districts, the awning-covered storefronts here capture the feeling of a time when life was simpler. There are 60 shops and eateries to tempt your taste buds and sense of style in turn-of-the-century houses that have been converted into shops selling contemporary fashions, sporting goods, bicycles, and art. If “Fashionista” is your middle name shop Barbara & Company and W for feminine clothing. Other all the rage stores include The Tended Thicket, Hanna by Design and Arts at Denver.
by Mark Smiley | Sep 25, 2015 | General Featured
by Casey Bloyer
For a craft beer fan like myself autumn is a wonderful time of year to celebrate with delicious fall beer and what else, Oktoberfest! The average American has attended or knows about the fall festival that has become a pilgrimage for most beer lovers, but do they know what it is really about? Oktoberfest is about a marriage that happened in 1810 in, yes you guessed, Germany!
On October 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The wedding took place in Munich, and all the citizens were invited to come celebrate the nuptials on the fields at the city gates. The fields are now named Theresinwiese in honor of the Princess, and today Oktoberfest is still held there.
The locals refer to the event just as “Wies’n” and more than six million people now attend “Wies’n” every year! The celebration in Germany has evolved into one big carnival party with something that everyone can enjoy and, of course, beer takes center stage.
You can find many more Oktoberfests across the world. Locall
y you can find several different festivals in each city in Colorado spanning from early September to the beginning of October. Also, there is that little festival at the end of September in Denver called The Great American Beer Festival.
Summer beer festivals focus on the beer but Oktoberfest is more of a celebration that usually is more family friendly than regular beer festivals. This is just one reason that as a beer lover, Fall is my favorite beer season. The air grows crisp and the colors start to change and the beer grows more hearty and rich with deep flavors!
Since we are in Colorado, one of the big four craft beer states (California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington) we are very lucky to have so many choices for outstanding beer. I can’t wait for this time of year and for seasonal beers to be released with one exception…PUMPKIN BEER!
Never has a beer been more argued than this type of beer. If you have listened to Brewski-Reviewski.podbean.com you know that I absolutely hate these beers! I have yet to try one that I like, or that I think is good. So just know you won’t get any recommendations from this writer on pumpkin beer. I will, however, let you know about my five favorite fall beers.
These are the type of beers I like to have on a cool afternoon in th
e Rockies or by a fireside at night. Here they are from 5-1:
5: Left Hand Brewing — “Oktoberfest Marzen Lager” — The maltiness of this beer is off the charts and is one beer that you can have a couple of and not feel like you just ate a full meal! This is a crisp fun lager!
4: Prost — “Marzen Oktoberfest” — If you are looking for German beer and a great fall beer for that special festival this is the beer for you! This is a more traditional Marzen with a nice orange color to it. I don’t mind having 1… or 6 of these if I’m not driving anywhere.
3: Oskar Blues Brewery — “Ten Fidy” — Get ready for a beer that will knock your socks off! This 10.5% ABV is packed with a punch of chocolate, caramel and coffee! Make sure you don’t have these on an empty stomach!
2: Black Shirt Brewing — Any beer they do! They call their beers “The Red Ale Pro
ject” and all the beers they do tie into music! I have ye
t to have a beer at BSB that is anything less than great! I recommend the Red Porter for this time of year.
1: Avery Brewing Company — The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest — This is the beer to end all fall beers! I am not surprised this is what Avery does with all their beers. The malt combined with the spiced hoppiness is fantastic. If an Oktoberfest is not serving this in Colorado then it is not the right festival.
Honorable Mention:
Bull & Bush Brewery — Hail Brau Hefeweizen — This unfiltered wheat beer is a classic Hefeweizen and great beer for any Oktoberfest festival. But make sure you swing by their brewery for any of their beers and the food as well!
Comrade Brewing — Bierstadt Lagerhaus Hefeweizen — Great beer for this time of year and a lot lighter than any other beers coming up on this list. I love the banana notes that come from this beer. Make sure you try the superpower IPA as it well may well be the best IPA in Colorado.
Fall is a wonderful time in Colorado to be able to enjoy the outdoors, and a great beer is a plus. We are just lucky to have the best of both worlds here, so get out there and try a new beer. I hope to see you at one of the many festivals this fall and please tell me if I am wrong about any of these beers. I love hearing about new beers to try, but do not bring up those evil forsaken pumpkin beers! Enjoy the outdoors, have a beer and until the next time . . . raise your glass!
Casey Bloyer is the Executive Producer of The Peter Boyles Show and The Dan Caplis Show. He is the co-host of Brewski-Reviewski with Connor Shreve who is the Sports Director at 710KNUS. Brewski-Reviewski is a bi-monthly podcast talking about all things craft beer in Colorado. Twitter @Breviewski; Facebook www. facebook.com/craftbeerradio; email brcraftbeer @gmail.com.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 31, 2015 | General Featured
by Brent New
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
This fall the reigning champions of the Women’s Premier League will play inside the multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art Infinity Park stadium. Looking to defend the title, the Glendale Raptors Women will play all four of their home games inside the stadium, on soft, luscious grass. Home games against the San Diego Surfers (September 12), the Oregon Rugby Sports Union (October 10), Berkeley All Blues (October 24) and Beantown RFC (November 7) will begin at 3 p.m, and will include full stadium production and will be webcast on the RugbyTown USA website.
“The team is very excited to play in the stadium,” said Taryn Brennan, the team’s co-captain. “We always enjoy having the opportunity to use the facilities at Glendale. It gives us a chance to get the community excited about women’s rugby and fill seats in the stadium.”
Where the Raptors play, however, should be only part of their increased popularity this fall — winning should be a reason too.
If you haven’t been tuned in, the Raptors’ WPL team haven’t lost a match in more than 10 months, a streak that could be extended this fall.
“I don’t know how much we focus on it, but it has been a good ride,” Rachel Ryan said. “We are proud of what we’ve accomplished but not satisfied.”
When Ryan, Brennan and their teammates look back on this accomplishment, a win streak that started with a WPL championship, and continued through an undefeated developmental season in the spring, it’s impossible to forget how it started: A controversial 13-7 semifinals loss to the Atlanta Harlequins.
A defeat that would never hold up.
In reality, the Raptors didn’t play well enough to win that day, yet the Harlequins were forced to forfeit for using an ineligible player and the Raptors moved on anyway.
Then-coach Michael Fealey said he didn’t know how to feel about it at the time.
“It feels strange,” he said.
Either way, it had the Raptors, perhaps the biggest beneficiaries in recent WPL history, moving on and winning the championship over the Twin Cities Amazons a day later.
There, of course, is still controversy surrounding it to this day.
“It’s something that fuels us. We didn’t choose for it to happen like that but we want to prove ourselves,” Ryan said.
Years from now, when looking back on the loss that never was, some of the critics will fade and some will not.
What’s undeniable, though, is that the second chance also served as the springboard moment to maybe the best year in Glendale women’s rugby history.
“Some people said we didn’t deserve it. It was frustrating. There were people hiding behind computers, telling us we didn’t deserve it,” Raptors veteran Jeanna Beard said. “We know we deserved it. We know the fight it took, we know we’re champions.”
New women’s coach Mark Bullock, meanwhile, says it is time to move on.
When asked about it in the offseason, the rugby expert downplayed the importance of the streak and said it was not what his team was focused on going forward.
“Every team is different,” Bullock said. “We’re different than the team that won last year. And we’re different than the team from the spring. From our standpoint, there is no pressure to repeat or be undefeated, or whatever. We want to get better and play at our highest potential.”
He’s right, in that the 2015 team will look far different than the team that won in 2014.
Fealey, for one, has since been replaced by Bullock, who took over after Fealey resigned last January. Jenna Anderson, Jen Montoya and Jamie Burke have since retired. And Mary Pezzulo has been moved off the active roster after she injured her ACL on the first day of fall practice.
“A lot of veterans will not be on this squad,” Bullock said. “We’ll need some players to step up in leadership roles and some already have.”
The Raptors do return Ryan, Joanna Kitlinski, Laura Miller and Sarah Chobot — who were named to the USA Eagles roster over the summer, as well as Hannah Stolba who returns to the team after she missed the spring season hiking the Appalachian Trail.
And from the spring season, they bring back breakout stars Denali Graham and Fatima Chavez, who should help the team’s overall speed in Bullock’s up-tempo pace.
“I’m super excited for the players we have,” Bullock said. “We have high expectations of how we perform.”
When asked for goal-oriented expectations, Bullock went just short of mentioning another championship.
“I guess the goal would be to get to the semifinals,” he said. “If you do that, you have a chance.”
The Raptors should know that better than anyone.
