by Mark Smiley | Apr 6, 2017 | Travel
By Mark Smiley
Disney on Ice presents Dream Big opens at the Denver Coliseum Thursday April 6th and runs until Sunday, April 9th. This particular show features nine different stories, all of which have Disney princesses. Tinkerbell will take audiences on a journey from the classics like Cinderella and Snow White to the story of Tangled and Frozen. Frozen, now four years old, was added to the show three years ago and is an immense hit with audiences. New movies such as Moana are being considered to be added.
Erika Craven, Disney ensemble performer in Disney On Ice presents Dream Big
The Chronicle caught up with one of the performers, Colorado native, Erika Craven. Craven, 25, is an ensemble performer and is in just about every number in the show. She started skating at the age of 4 and after graduating from college in 2014 from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York , she was not ready to hang up her skates. She has been with Disney for three years and is in the last year of her contract. Law school is next for Craven but in the meantime, she maintains a grueling schedule of nine shows per city.
It’s imperative with this kind of schedule, that the performers maintain a certain level of diet and exercise. To handle the rigor of the daily routine, the skaters need to be in top physical form. Craven does yoga four times per week and gets a workout in six to seven times. “I sometimes have to get creative with my work outs so I usually run/dance for cardio and do a mixture of workout videos and at-home workouts when the gyms don’t have very much equipment,” said Craven.
After the shows in Denver, the tour heads to Phoenix, Arizona. “I love performing, it’s always rewarding to see the audience reaction and I love seeing the kids and adults dancing along,” said Craven. I also love the travel and the athleticism that comes with this job. It’s the complete package for me.”
Snow White will be featured in this show
“This is such a great show and it’s been fun to play Colorado and I’m excited to play Denver,” said Craven. “I hope everyone can come out and enjoy it with me.” Tickets start at $15 and are still available by clicking Disney On Ice Tickets or by calling (800) 745-3000.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 24, 2017 | Travel
The INFLATABULL Rodeo Bull Ride On Float by Intex provides a “bull-riding” experience in the water and is around $50 at select retailers both in-store and online.
(BPT) – Visit any retailer’s pool aisle or website, and you’ll quickly realize a challenge your parents and grandparents never had to face – more pool inflatables to choose from than you could ever imagine. Whether you’re shopping for a larger-than-life float island or something to help keep your non-swimming little one safer in the pool, the sheer range of options can be overwhelming, but exciting!
“Shopping for pool inflatables is supposed to be fun, not overwhelming,” says Marvin Natareno, an inflatables expert with Intex Recreation Corp., the leading manufacturer of novelty pool inflatables. “Yet there are so many choices these days that comparison shopping for the best inflatable for your needs can be a challenge.”
Natareno offers some tips for choosing inflatables that will help keep your summer fun going swimmingly:
Grownup fun and relaxation
When shopping for an adult-sized novelty float, Natareno says, keep comfort, quality and originality in mind. Today’s floats can provide a unique, unexpected water experience. For example, Intex is the only manufacturer offering a rodeo bull-themed float. The INFLATABULL Rodeo Bull Ride On Float provides a “bull-riding” experience in the water and is around $50 at select retailers both in-store and online.
Quality counts
When investing in a large novelty float, quality certainly counts. The last thing you want is for it to fizzle flat during summer fun.
“If you’re investing in a large novelty float, you want to know it will last for many summers, not just one,” Natareno says. “Floats with quality PVC construction, well-sealed seams and colors that retain their vibrancy are ones to consider, especially for a more active group.”
Intex offers high-quality floats with everyone’s favorite themes, including the Mega Toucan and Mega Pegasus Island Floats, the Watermelon Island and Popsicle Float. All are available in-store or online through select retailers that can easily be found via a quick online search.
Cost doesn’t always equal quality
When shopping for a reasonably priced, quality inflatable, Natareno recommends looking at the construction and materials, and suggests looking for a brand name that you recognize and that has a long business history.
“Large-scale inflatables are very trendy right now thanks to social media and celebrity commentary,” Natareno says. “You don’t have to pay a premium price to get a quality inflatable that will provide hours of fun season after season.”
Inflatables for kids
Beach balls and classic rings might have been the first inflatable toys for kids, but today there are many more options, from inflatable arm bands meant to help stabilize little ones in the water to whale and plane-shaped ride ons. Manufacturers like Intex make a wide variety of inflatable toys for kids and offer some of the bestselling and most popular tubes and lounges that can be used from pools to rivers and lakes, like the River Rat and River Run tubes.
“Take a quick poll of your kids and see which style of float would be of interest for this pool season. Consider adding new ones each month as the season evolves for more creative fun,” adds Natareno.
Long live your inflatables
Inspect inflatables every time you use them, looking for any tears or sign of wear that can be repaired before they jeopardize the structural integrity of the toy or float. Although chlorinated pool water does a good job of keeping inflatables clean, using them at the beach or lake could mean some dirt. If inflatables become dirty, clean them with a soft brush and liquid soap and water.
Safety First
Large-scale inflatables like the Intex Mega Toucan Island are very trendy right now thanks to social media and celebrity commentary.
Most importantly, follow strict safety practices around pools. When it comes to floats, practicing good safety habits, setting and following rules, carefully reading instruction manuals and vigilant supervision can greatly reduce the likelihood of injury as well as reduce injury severity. Take time to review all safety information to assist in keeping you and your family safe this summer: www.intexcorp.com/safety-information-pools.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 1, 2017 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Eleanore Smiley on the patio of a preferred club guest room overlooking the ocean
An aerial view of Now Sapphire resort in Puerto Morelos, Mexico
My wife and I decided that we needed a family vacation and began to plan a trip to Mexico to have some fun in the sun and relaxation. When researching the different options of where to stay, there are a myriad choices. We decided to focus on resorts in Cancun that were family-friendly. The three websites we relied on most were Trip Advisor, Oyster, and Family Vacation Critic. These sites gave us a good idea, after sifting through hundreds of reviews, which resorts would suit our needs.
After careful consideration, we decided on Now Sapphire, a resort in Puerto Morelos, which is 15 minutes from the Cancun airport. Now Sapphire is part of AMResorts which also owns Dreams and Secrets resorts. Puerto Morelos is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world.
After booking roundtrip airfare on Southwest Airlines, we checked these two purchases and we quickly realized we should carefully select airport transfers, excursions, and anything else we wanted to do or the vacation could quickly escalate in price. Cancun Adventure Tours was the company we used for round trip airport transfers and an excursion to Xel-Ha Aquatic Park.
Upon arrival at the Now Sapphire resort, the staff was friendly and accommodating. We decided to pay the extra fee for Preferred Club and were not disappointed. This Club includes a private check-in and check-out ex
The Now Sapphire pool at sunrise
perience, free WiFi throughout the resort, an oceanfront room, the ability to reserve private bali beds near the pool, and more.
Now Sapphire, a former Paradisus hotel, was completely remodeled in 2010. The grounds are well maintained and the food in the seven restaurants was surprisingly good for an all-inclusive resort. The all-inclusive experience included all food, drinks, pool and beach wait service, 24-hour room service, and more.
The white sandy beach is private but does collect quite a bit of seaweed. The staff works by hand to try to clean it up each day but it does accumulate rapidly. Many reviews online mention this but we found it to be a beautiful beach with warm salt water and a tiki bar steps away to quench our thirst.
The oceanfront of now Sapphire Resort
Now Sapphire is also famed for hosting weddings. Beth Russell from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a guest at the resort for her son’s wedding. “The wedding was wonderful, the staff sure cares about the way things are put together, for a wedding,” said Russell. “Everything was spot on and we all had a good time.”
Excursions in Cancun are plentiful. Families must choose what fits their needs and decide how much of
Eleanore Smiley swimming with the dolphins through a company called Dolphin Discovery
their vacation they want to fill with excursions. We chose a dolphin experience with a company called Dolphin Discovery. Dolphin Discovery has multiple locations throughout Mexico. We chose to go to Dreams Puerto Aventuras which was approximately a one-hour ride from the resort. The 45-minute dolphin swim was an educational and a fun experience. The company added a manatee and sea lion experience at no additional cost. The guide and trainer were knowledgeable and friendly and the excursion included a lunch buffet.
There are resorts closer to the attractions so if you plan to do more than one or two, consider these venues as three hours in a van each day will eat into your vacation time.
The Smiley Family at Xel-Ha, a natural aquatic park
For our purposes, we did not want to fill each day with activities. We enjoyed swimming in the large pool complete with a swim up bar, relaxing on a bali bed, eating hamburgers and hot dogs at the Barefoot Grill by the pool, taking in a hydrotherapy treatment which is included with a Preferred Club upgrade.
The Hibachi meal at Lemongrass is very popular
Restaurants do not require reservations with the exception of Lemongrass Asian Cuisine’s hibachi meal. Most restaurants open for dinner at 6 p.m. but 24-hour room service is available. In addition, the Coco Café is open 24 hours featuring snacks and specialty coffees. This was especially helpful since tours departed from the resort at 7 a.m. which only allowed time for a coffee and muffin to go.
The combination of Southwest Airlines, Cancun Adventures, Dolphin Discovery, and Now Sapphire in Puerto Morelos provided an affordable and family friendly vacation. If considering this trip, temperat
The private white sandy beach at Now Sapphire
ures in Cancun tend to be best in the winter and spring. Summer temperatures soar into the 90s by August. Temperatures for this reporter’s trip remained in the mid-80s with very little rainfall.
by Mark Smiley | Jan 30, 2017 | Travel
by Megan Carthel
The Glendale Sports Center has a new director. Monica Henrichs started the position in mid-November, something she has been working toward.
“I want to say I’ve been preparing for this for a while because mentally I always knew this is where I wanted to be,” Henrichs said.
Henrichs is from Wisconsin and went to the University of Wisconsin where she studied Kinesiology and met her husband, Eric. The couple moved to Denver after being married for three weeks. Prior to the move to Denver, Henrichs was a trainer, 
fitness instructor and health coach at a gym in Wisconsin, where she was working toward the director position.
“I’ve always felt like I wanted to be in a director role where I can still talk to people and work with people but have more of a say in how programs run and be a little more creative on that side,” Henrichs said.
Henrichs isn’t afraid to get creative when it comes to running the Glendale Sports Center. In the works for 2017 is a variety of classes and challenges to form more of a community within the gym.
“I’d like to introduce some new formats of classes, offering a lot more variety I think is huge for our members because then they stay a little more excited,” Henrichs said. “My big, big goal for 2017 is to create a community between the fitness center and group fitness.”
Henrichs said she is compiling a list of new classes the current instructors would like to teach and that the classes should be available around April. Henrichs has more up her sleeve than just new classes
“We’re going to do a lot of fun challenges coming up that are fitness center based but also include group fitness and so people who are just fitness center people are getting a little bit of group fitness and vice-versa. That makes it more interesting I think,” Henrichs said.
In March, Henrichs and the Sports Center are planning a “fitness Bingo” challenge that is designed to incorporate both fitness center and group fitness aspects. The current 2017 class schedule has one minor adjustment added to it. Henrichs is teaching a bootcamp class on Thursday evenings. The class is a head-to-toe workout based on strength and includes cardio and speed drills. Each week is a little different, but Henrichs can guarantee one thing.
“Lots of fun sweating time,” Henrichs said.
Outside of the gym, Henrichs likes to watch sports and is an avid Green Bay Packers fan, owning a fair share of team emblazoned coffee mugs and a cheese head. She said she is excited for rugby to start up, a sport she has watched since she was a kid.
Henrichs and her husband have embraced the Colorado lifestyle, already hiking a fourteener and enjoying breweries around town.
by Mark Smiley | Dec 22, 2016 | Travel
by Ruthy Wexler
In a corner of the Goodwill Thrift Store in Glendale, employee Nancy Thurman plucks a pink sweatshirt from a shopping cart piled with clothing. First she tests the zipper. Then she bends to scrutinize the material. “I am looking to see if there’s a big tear,” she explains. “Or if it has a button missing. Or if it’s dirty.”
The shirt passes muster. “I’m zipping it up so it won’t fall off the hanger,” Nancy states, brown eyes proud of knowledge gained from experience. Then she goes to get another item from the overflowing cart.
Nancy is 70-years-old. This past July, she celebrated her 50th anniversary with Goodwill. You might jump to the conclusion that she never again wants to see one more pink sweatshirt. But from all accounts, working at Goodwill is the happy center of Nancy’s life.
The youngest of three sisters, Nancy was born in an era when families did not talk about having a “special child.” Nancy’s oldest sibling Lynne reflects on Nancy’s luck at being born to their particular parents. “My mother’s philosophy was: ‘We created a beautiful little bird and we will let it fly.’”
There was no mainstreaming back then; her parents enrolled Nancy in the Developmental classes at Wyman Elementary and East High School. “Growing up,” Lynne recalls, “we got involved with people in Nancy’s various classes. We saw how they were not allowed to be open to possibilities. My parents could have kept her in a safe little bubble. But instead they said, ‘Let her live.’”
Nancy began with love and acceptance. Still, research has shown that happiness comes from finding purpose in life. “Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue,” goes the famous quote from Victor Frankl. So in Nancy’s senior year, when she interned for Goodwill, then got a job there upon graduation — it seemed an extremely lucky break.
Except … for Goodwill, this was business as usual.
“It is our mission, it’s what we do, help people who face what we call ‘barriers to employment’,” says Vanessa Clark, Senior Director of Marketing at Goodwill Industries of Denver. “We have lots of folks just like Nancy. In lots of ways, her story is not unique.”
Goodwill Industries of Denver separates people who encounter “barriers to employment” into three groups — at risk students, struggling adults and families, individuals with disabilities — and provides programs to serve them. “All the programs are work force development in nature,” Clark explains. “It is all about helping people take care of themselves.”
Goodwill provides a variety of services for both intellectual and developmental disabilities; e.g., workshops in American Sign Language, training individuals to fix donated bicycles and electronics, facility based day programs.
So the clothing and coffee pots we see are just a tip of the iceberg?
“Yes,” smiles Clark. “This is our funding model: get donations, sell those donations through retail stores, and through the proceeds, fund our programs. All that clothing is processed by donation attendants, who are simultaneously learning organizational and other life skills.”
When Teshe Shimeles worked as a donation attendant, the life skill he learned was fluent English. As an ambitious 26-year-old in Ethiopia, Teshe won his DV (Diversity Visa) through a lottery; upon arriving in Denver in 2001, he was guided by his sponsor to Goodwill. Fourteen years later, he is manager (and has been for over a decade) of the Glendale Goodwill, supervising 44 employees, including Nancy Thurman.
“Seriously … Nancy is the best worker,” Teshe says. “Never late. Never forgets anything. We call her the Governor of Shoes.”
The story goes that, a few years back, when Nancy’s job was organizing the store’s shoes, she confounded everyone by finding a mate for every single shoe. “At the end of the day,” Teshe recalls, “she knew exactly how many white pairs, 
how many brown …”
As a child, Nancy was presented with a confusing array of cognitive limitations and physical difficulties. For a while, the family thought her diagnosis might be Savant (think Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman). “She’s always the scorekeeper when we play Yahtzee,” Lynne says, laughing. “My sister and I are college graduates but even before we begin adding up the numbers, Nancy’s done. And she’s always right.”
Despite her arithmetic facility, Nancy needs her family’s help to live independently. She sees them often, plays hide and seek with the little ones at family gatherings. “Everyone loves Aunt Nancy,” Lynn says. “She’s a character.”
But she’s something else, too: an important person at work. Co-workers appreciate Nancy’s willingness to help out wherever needed. They kid her affectionately about her love for the Broncos. When she was younger, Nancy was part of a circle of friends from Goodwill who went out together. “But those people were older and they’ve died,” Lynne relates. “Now, she feels so good about coming into work. She feels she has friends here.”
Does she ever get tired of working?
“No, I don’t get tired. Am I not the Governor of Shoes?” Nancy answers. She says proudly, “Teshe tells me, ‘I don’t know what we’ll do when you’re gone.’”
“Goodwill has given Nancy a sense of purpose,” Lynne observes. Then more quietly, “She has been molded by my parents … and by Goodwill.”
by Mark Smiley | Nov 21, 2016 | Travel
For Heady Holiday Shopping This Local Bookstore Is A Rare Find Bursting With Fresh Ideas
Sure, shopping can be a drag during the holidays. That’s why Glendale’s 40-year-old independently owned bookstore, The Bookies, is a rare work of non-fiction. “It’s a cultural benchmark, a byword even for cozy, exhilarating shopping during the holidays or any season,” customers say in explaining the store’s long-time popularity to the Chronicle.
“Unquestionably a breakthrough, a place where you run into friends and neighbors. Moreover, the kids love the place,” customers note in detailin
g the store’s reputation. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore, each of them unique, with a character and feel all their own. “You just fall in love with the place,” they declare.
As the holiday crowds peak this month and the stress of finding the right gift for loved ones surges, shoppers have a craving for a calm, relaxing place devoid of big pushy crowds. They would rather be run over by a reindeer than face crowded stores with befuddled customers who can’t find help and aren’t sure where to look.
Gifts, Staff Shine
Throughout the year but especially during this sea
son shoppers want to be greeted and feel a sense of community. At The Bookies families actually seem to enjoy spending hours perusing the aisles. Kids can wander and play and the staff is receptive to the kids, adults and pretty much anyone who walks in the door. In addition, the shelves of the store more often than not hold the perfect gift for those on the customer’s holiday gift list no matter their interests or hobbies.
Seeking a tranquil, helpful approach to holiday shopping customers particularly appreciate The Bookies’ hands-on approach. It is a neighborhood gem with employees enthusiastic about the store’s inventory, as well as sharing their favorites and making recommendations based on needs, mood or taste. “Rare that you find a store where the staff is so into what they do and they are happy to be doing it. That’s w
hat makes this place so fantastic,” explains one yelper. Plus there are floor to ceiling titles, educational toys and creative gifts for the kids, fun craft materials plus books and gifts for adults, too.
When it comes to recommending gifts, the staff seems to always shine and dazzle. They love to sell their favorites as well as reaching outside the box to pick the perfect something for everyone, thriving on the challenge. The store has hundreds of entertaining, educational and seasonal choices for all ages. Customers can compliment book purchases with a toy, bookmark, or game. Further they can add a personal touch by selecting from a wide variety of unique, creatively designed, funny and decorative items. Best of all, gift-wrapping is complimentary not just during the holidays but every day. So don’t get stressed out, let the pros deal with the cutting, folding and taping.
To get an idea of The Bookies’ selection
the Chronicle strolled through the store with the staff to find a few gift giving ideas for readers:
Kids & Family Games
Rubik’s Race: A fast paced game for two players to get their brain and fingers racing. A player shakes the scrambler and goes head to head with the opponent to shift and slide the tiles hoping to be the first to make t
he 3×3 center match the pattern. It sounds easy, but it is a real game of skill, speed and dexterity. Youngsters can challenge their friends and family to a race.
Slapzi: This game is all about speed. The first player to match all five of the right picture cards to the right clue cards is the winner. Everyone will be laughing as they think fast and react quickly to figure out the
clue. Slapzi is simple to learn and fast to play. Designed for ages eight 
years to adult with two to 10 players, the game develops dexterity, quick thinking and interaction.
Möbi: A fun and fast-paced number tile game for one to six players. The goal is to make simple math equations as quickly as possible — a great way for kids or grown-ups to apply math skills. Plus, it comes in a cute blue whale. Players draw blue number tiles, and then use them to create simple equations (like 2+3 = 5) by including white math tiles (plus signs, minus signs, multiplication signs, etc.).
Happy Salmon: Great as an icebreaker or at parties it is a simple, fast-paced card game packed to the gills with high-fivin’, fin-flappin’ fun. Actions including the classic “High 5,” the unifying “Pound It,” the frantic “Switcheroo,” and the delightful “Happy Salmon” will leave players doubled over in laughter. For ages six and older, three to six can play.
Bugs In The Kitchen: A fun-to-play family game suitable for 2-4 players age six years and up. The object is to catch the pesky little bug in the kitchen. By turning knives, forks and spoons players can direct the bug into a trap. Players throw the die to discover which utensils they can turn. By catching the bug in the trap players earn a token — the first player to collect five tokens wins the game.
Toys & Puzzles
Twister Tracks Sports Car Series: Youngsters from three to adult will have high-flying fun with this neon glow-in-the-dark twister car set with two vehicles. The flexible, detachable tracks allow kids to easily change the direction and shape of the raceway, their minds racing with all the possible combinations. They’ll flip for the 360-degree, anti-gravity stunt loop that takes the cars for a ride upside down. By turning out the lights players will see how the colorful tracks glow in the dark when illuminated by the vehicles.
Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty: This popular putty comes with new holiday colors and effects. Kit includes five tins of clear putty, three concentrated color putties, three special effect putties, and an instructional mat — everything kids need to make cool Thinking Putty colors that are all your own. Plus the putty will never dry out so they can play with this new toy forever.
I Love Colorado Puzzle: Here’s a holiday gift the entire family (age 12+) will get pleasure from trying to piece together. Anyone will enjoy pulling up a chair to work on this 1,000-piece puzzle with iconic Colorado scenes from the past.
Books For Kids
The Christmas Story: Master pop-up artist Robert Sabuda brings the age-old, awe-inspiring story of the birth of Jesus to life in this book. It is a visual feast featuring six gorgeously imagined scenes, culminating in a 3-D manger sheltering humans and beasts, guarded by an angel above. Glinting with touches of gold and pearlescent foil, it is a holiday treasure for the whole family to share.
What We Found In The Sofa & How It Saved The World: This humorous supernatural adventure is somewhat of a “tween” book. When kids discover a mysterious sofa sitting at their bus stop, their search for loose change produces a rare zucchini-colored crayon. This clever comic adventure from debut author Henry Clark is a truly original and utterly wacky story highlighting the importance of intelligence and curiosity in a complacent world.
Batneezer: Author Obert Skye doesn’t let his fans down in this hilarious sixth and final installment in the Creature From My Closet book series. While enduring visits by the ghosts of books past, present and future, Rob Burnside learns a battle is brewing and his school needs a hero.
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas: With the gentle rhythm and signature illustration style that made Little Blue Truck a household name, Blue’s newest adventure is full of holiday warmth. Sturdy cardstock pages, a compact and child-friendly text, and flashing colored Christmas lights on the final page come together in a novelty gift book that will be a favorite with kids.
Adult Books
A Gentleman in Moscow: With his debut novel, Rules of Civility, Amor Towles established himself as a master of absorbing, sophisticated fiction. In this latest book he immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.
Cooking For Jeffrey: This is the most personal cookbook yet by bestselling author Ina Gartner. It is filled with the recipes she has made for her husband of 48-years. There are traditional dishes that she’s updated, such as Brisket with Onions and Leeks, and Tsimmes, a vegetable stew with carrots, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and prunes. Some of her new favorites are Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken and Roasted 
Salmon Tacos. For the first time, she has also included a chapter devoted to bread and cheese, with recipes and tips for creating the perfect cheese course.
A History Of American Sports In 100 Objects: This entertaining book explores sports history through objects from a wide range of sporting experience from balls, articles of clothing, to various ephemera. In chapters of a single page to no more than a handful of pages it shows how the objects of sports and games take on historical significance based on their larger context. Written in a conversational, witty fashion it makes wry observations without losing touch with the larger historical, social, and political significance of the events and athletes that give the objects significance.
100 Things Broncos Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die: A revised and updated version by sportswriter Brian Howell. This book covers the franchise’s greatest moments, from its early days as an AFL charter team through the dominating Orange Crush all the way up to a new era led by Peyton Manning including the 2016 Super Bowl victory.
Located just two blocks east of Colorado Blvd. on Mississippi, The Bookies is just the place to pick up the gifts you need this holiday but it’s also a place where people go for the experience of simply coming here. Information: 303-759-1117.
