by Mark Smiley | Oct 18, 2024 | Glendale City News
Popular Event: Over 1,710 guests came to enjoy the perfect day for Trunk or Treat complete with a bouncy castle, haunted house, and food trucks.
Dedicated Performer: Lynn Taylor, Experience Director for the Glendale Sports Center, performed as Taylor Swift for the entire two hours.
The annual Trunk or Treat hosted by the City of Glendale and Glendale Sports Center was held on the festival plaza of Infinity Park for the second time on Monday, October 14, 2024. Denver Public Schools and Cherry Creek Schools children were on Fall break so there was a record turnout for this event. Plus, the weather was perfect as attendees were able to wander the plaza in comfort. Over 1,710 kids came to trick or treat and acquire over 37,000 pieces of candy, bounced in the bouncy castle, and walked through the haunted house.
“Trunk or Treat was a gigantic success with a new record breaking number thanks to the hard work of City of Glendale staff, YMCA staff, volunteers, and vendors,” said Kelly Legler, Program Manager, Glendale Sports Center. “The successful event exceeded our expectations and we’re excited to offer more fun opportunities in the future.”
In years past, the event was held in the P1 parking lot of Infinity Park. Again this year, the City of Glendale offered the festival plaza and played the movie Halloween Town on the big screen inside the rugby stadium to add extra flare to the event. “The event was a huge success thanks to the partnership between the YMCA, City of Glendale, and community partners,” said Legler.
One of those community partners was the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce. Barret O’Brien and Mark Smiley from the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors volunteered for the event. “The turnout was outstanding,” said Barret O’Brien, Chamber Board Member. “It’s great to see the community get so involved. I have volunteered for this event the last seven years and this is the most interactive and lively one to date.”
Attendees voted for the best decorated trunk as they went through the lines. There were eleven to choose from and the winning trunk was decorated by Infinity Park Event Center Facilities department with a Cars theme. For more information on the Glendale Sports Center, visit www.sportscenterglendale.com.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 16, 2024 | Travel
Annual Beer & Brunch hosted by Boston Beer Company on October 11, 2024
By Mark Smiley, Jeff Stiglic, and Mike Turk
Boston Beer’s annual Great American Beer Festival Beer & Brunch event was held on Friday, October 11, 2024 at West of Surrender. The annual media brunch featured the introduction of Samuel Adams’ American Light as well as pouring familiar favorites such as Oktoberfest. Dogfish Head, a part of the Boston Beer portfolio also had their popular beers on hand including the 60-minute IPA.
Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams and Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Brewery addressed the capacity crowd on a beautiful Friday morning. They talked about the history of the Great American Beer Festival as well as talking about the future of the craft beer industry.
Samuel Adams, which is always looking for ways to innovate and provide what customers seek introduced the launch of Samuel Adams American Light. This light craft lager is a crisp, refreshing, great-tasting, easy-to-drink beer perfect for everyday drinking occasions. Koch likens it to a Miller Lite or Coors Light but with more flavor. 
The brewers behind Samuel Adams spent countless hours perfecting the American Light recipe. With an ABV of 4.2% and 115 calories, Samuel Adams American Light is made with all American ingredients and is designed to be an easy-drinking beer that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
“We know beer lovers are seeking lighter, easier-to-drink options that they can enjoy throughout the day – whether it’s at the beach, at a friend’s party, or at a happy hour,” says Lauren Price, head of brand at Samuel Adams. “For those times they want to ‘upgrade’ those occasions with a great-tasting light beer, American Light is the answer.”
Samuel Adams American Light will initially be available in 12 oz. can six-packs, 12-packs, with national distribution expected in March 2025.
Dogfish Head also had Covered in Nuggs, an IPA that was introduced back in 2018 and is now available on a national scale. With notes of pine and citrus, Covered in Nuggs is an IPA that is delicious, with a sturdy base of Golden Promise malt. They piled on the Citra, Simcoe, Amarillo and Centennial hops.
For more information about Samuel Adams American Light and where to find it, please visit samueladams.com or follow @SamuelAdamsBeer on social media. For more on Dogfish Head, visit www.dogfish.com.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 16, 2024 | General Featured
Photo Credit: Philip Macías
Photo Credit: Philip Macías
By Mark Smiley
Meghan Trainor toured for the first time in eight years and brought her Timeless Tour to Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 8, 2024. The 30-year-old singer toured with Natasha Bedingfield, Paul Russell, Chris Olsen, and her brother Ryan Trainor to warm up the crowd.
Trainor kicked off the show by appearing atop a hydraulic lift high above the main stage to sing a remixed version of her 2023 single “Mother.” She performed 22 songs in an over 90 minute set. She performed her biggest hits such as Lips Are Movin, Better When I’m Dancin’, Dear Future Husband, and her debut single and number one smash, All About That Bass.
Trainor, who has been writing songs since she was 11 years old last performed in Denver at the Paramount Theater in Denver eight years ago. She repeatedly mentioned how it was nice to perform in Colorado again and especially at Red Rocks which she indicated was a bucket list item for her.
She delivered her songs with a smile on her face, and energetically dancing with her six back up dancers during nearly every song. The show was upbeat and kept the crowd which was a mix of teenage girls, younger kids, and parents toe tapping and singing along.
All in all, people left the amphitheatre happy and satisfied with all of the performers throughout the evening. The Timeless Tour concludes on October 19 in Inglewood, California. For more, visit www.meghan-trainor.com.
by Editorial Board | Sep 26, 2024 | Editorials
Editorial —
Kent Thiry — A pretty face can hide an evil mind.
It is said that money is the mother’s milk of politica. But what if we could make it not only just the most important thing in politics but the “only thing.” Kent Thiry, the former CEO of DaVita, a dialysis provider, who somehow managed to escape two federal charges for labor market collusion, is back with another ballot measure to finally destroy elections in Colorado.
Thiry is well known for pouring millions of dollars into highly effective and unopposed television commercials that push changes to the Colorado electoral system that would benefit “practical politicians” like himself, but what he means is multi-millionaires like himself.
He hates political parties where everyday citizens can have a say and not just the millionaires who fund the parties. His latest scam is Proposition 131 which will abolish partisan primaries and impose rank choice voting for the four top vote getters that go on to the general election.
In Alaska where the system was imposed in 2020 there were over 40 candidates running in the nonpartisan open primary. Four candidates made it to the general election where voters listed their preferences from one to four. As no one got a majority of the number one votes, they dropped off the candidate who got the least number one votes of the four, and saw who those voters’ second choice was and counted them as number one votes. This went on until one candidate received a majority.
This is the system that Thiry wants Colorado voters to adopt under Prop 131. In the nonpartisan primary to make the final four for the general election name recognition is the name of the game. In Alaska one person who named himself “Santa Claus” came in sixth.
To get name recognition, normally candidates must run countless television ads which cost a great deal of money. Either you’re rich or are the candidate of one or more wealthy donors.
Average citizens who participate in politics normally become party precinct committee persons and work their way up the chain. Under Prop 131 all that would become void; only the very rich, like Kent Thiry, will determine who is elected to public office. In back rooms they will also manipulate the final four candidates to see who finally becomes elected to the public office.
Thiry is running endless ads saying that if 131 passes it will get parties out of politics (true) and comically that Prop 131 will even get wealthy donors out of the political process. If he was an honest person (which he is not) Thiry would have said that under Prop 131 only the very rich will have any say in elections.
Alaska was so disgusted by Thiry’s system that voters have placed a proposition to get rid of nonpartisan jungle primaries and rank choice voting on the ballot this year. It is hoped that the latest fool’s gold proposition by Kent Thiry is decisively voted down by the Colorado voters. If not, it may be one of the last votes by Colorado voters that matters.
— Editorial Board
by Mark Smiley | Aug 23, 2024 | Glendale City News
by Mark Smiley
Glendale Mayor Mike Dunafon (left), and Central Street Capital President Isiah Salazar proudly display the shovel that officially broke ground on the Four Mile District. Photo courtesy of Iris Miceli Photography
On July 25, 2024, Glendale officials and Central Street Capital break ground on Glendale’s new Four Mile District. Photo courtesy of Iris Miceli Photography
The much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the Four Mile District was held on July 25, 2024, for a 10-acre entertainment district in Glendale. With a few stops and starts and obstacles over the last decade, forward progress is happening, and the $150 million project is underway.
In 2020, it appeared that Lincoln Property Company, a Dallas based international real estate firm, would develop the district and plans seemed to be moving forward on what was then known as Glendale 180.
The project is now being developed by Central Street Capital, a family office founded by health care entrepreneur Rob Salazar. Central Street Capital has been investing in projects for 25 years including the Assembly Student Living on the Auraria Campus.
The Four Mile District is a nod to the Four Mile Historic Park, which is home to one of Colorado’s oldest standing structures, the Four Mile House Museum. The development site is along Glendale’s popular Virginia Avenue which many know it as home to the nation’s busiest Target and the popular gentleman’s club, Shotgun Willie’s.
In order to make room for the 10-acre entertainment district, the wastewater treatment facility, was decommissioned and demolished in 2006. The land and office building formerly occupied by Gamma Construction was purchased by the City of Glendale and also demolished.
One confirmed tenant, Alamo Drafthouse, a movie theatre, will have nine screens and consume approximately 40,000 square feet. A groundbreaking is scheduled for next year with an anticipated grand opening
of late 2026 or early 2027.
The rest of the space will be occupied by retail, restaurants, parking garages, and outdoor plazas. There are also plans for a hotel but it is unclear how that will co-exist with Staybridge Suites which is already next to the yet to be built district.
This district will be classified as a common consumption area, allowing visitors to walk around with alcoholic beverages, and bars to serve until 4 a.m. The City of Glendale owns the land where the entertainment district will be built. However, a 2021 development agreement that Central Street and the city reached allows Central Street to purchase it for $1 when a certain amount of progress is completed.
Mayor Mike Dunafon called Glendale “the Vatica
n of liberty and Luxemburg of freedom,” and said Glendale “had the No. 1 entertainment district in Colorado before LoDo” while addressing the attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony. Dunafon indicated it was undone by state regulation, but Four Mile District will hopefully return Glendale to the entertainment hub it once was.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the city was home to a variety of now well-known establishments that attracted visitors from across metro Denver. Colorado Mine Company (home of the “Fool’s Gold” which was Elvis’ favorite sandwich), Cork ’N Cleaver, Celebrity Sports Center (owned by Disney), Cooper Theater, The Riviera (The Riv), Soda Straw, Sportspage, The Lift, and Tommy Wong’s Island are long gone but fondly remembered. Additionally, Andy’s Smorgasbord became Shotgun Willie’s Country Western Bar which is now Shotgun Willie’s Show Club and, almost five decades later, Bull & Bush Brewery is still a favorite.
The start of the construction will be the not so glamourous improvements to 7-acres of the property. It will include the creation of a private road, and stormwater and power infrastructure. The parking garage will be the next item to construct and work on that will begin November 2024.
With a fence surrounding the former Creekside Park and markers placed all over the property, it appears the project is moving full steam ahead. More updates in this publication will be forthcoming.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 23, 2024 | General Featured
by Mark Smiley
Megan McNeil, who reported for the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle before moving to Arizona, has written her first book.
The beautifully written and illustrated “The Silver Lining” is available at Amazon.
Megan McNeil is a former reporter for this publication and since leaving the newspaper, moved to Tucson, Arizona, and became a television reporter for Channel 13 News in Tucson. She left the station in 2022 to pursue her dream of writing books. McNeil graduated with a BA in Electronic Media and a Political Science minor from San Marcos Texas State and shortly thereafter, began her career with the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. She has fond memories of the start to her career at this publication.
McNeil joined the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle staff in October 2015 and wrote articles until her 2017 departure including a piece on Tiny Houses in Denver which in 2015, were just starting to become prevalent. “I used to write these horrible stories as a child, but I that’s where my passion for writing started,” said McNeil. “In college it developed into journalistic writing as I became more aware of the world around me.”
McNeil has now written a children’s book for ages 5-10 which came out in May 2024. This 34-page paperback book is beautifully illustrated by Venus Angelica and tells the story about a little cloud with a big decision to make. Which cloud will it be? The cloud sets out on a fun-filled journey across the skies, meeting cloudy characters along the way. Get to know what makes each cloud unique and how to spot them in the sky. Will the little cloud find out what it is meant to be? And what lesson will it learn along the way?
In this “whatever you are be a good one” story, colorful illustrations, and a heartwarming tale make learning fun. This scientific children’s book about clouds is great for kids 5-10 and guided reading for younger children. A pronunciation guide helps young readers with cloud names.
The Silver Lining retails for $12 on Amazon and can be purchased at https://a.co/d/07xuWjIT.
