2018 news from 80108
Don't let your sweet tooth get scary: a sugar-free October
C P C - Monday, October 01, 2018
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett
It's that time of year when I stock up on candy for little ghosts and goblins, where there is sugar in every nook and cranny of my life. It's one of my favorite times of year, except that my initial supply of goodies for the trick-or-treaters has never actually gone in anyone's treat bucket, ahem. I decided this year would be different though, and am embarking on a 30-day sugar fast. For 30 consecutive days, I won't be consuming any food with added sugar (so foods with naturally-occurring sugar like fruits and veggies are okay). During this month, which is sort of an ode to the glories of all things processed and sweet, I'll be abstaining, thank you very much.
I love sugar almost as much as I love oxygen, so this fast is a real challenge. I've done it before, however, so I have some idea of what I'm up against. If this go-round is anything like the sugar fasts I've done before, I expect the strongest cravings will hit during the first few days, and then again as I near the finish line, particularly as store displays feature tasty fun-sized goodies ever more prominently as the big day approaches. Some of my friends have questioned whether October is the best month to embark on such a quest, but to my way of thinking, it's actually an optimum time. By leaving sugar alone for several weeks, I'll really be able to enjoy something tasty at the end of my journey, and I'll be much more likely to keep my consumption in check if I don't have all month to indulge. It's also a great way to gear up for the coming holiday gauntlet of delicious, once-a-year treats, which will start to appear soon.
It's surprising how many foods contain added sugar. Almost anything that comes in a package or can has some of the stuff, and many recipes for savory foods (chili and spaghetti sauce, for instance) often call for sugar, so I not only have to think about what I buy at the store, but also what I use in the kitchen. While I don't want to simply replace packaged indulgences with natural ones, there are a few health-promoting substitutions I have found to help me kick my craving for all things sweet and sugary. Fresh fruit, particularly apples this time of year, is my first line of defense when what I really, really want is a Snickers bar. No sugar usually also means little or no bread (nearly every commercially-produced kind of bread has added sugar and the ones that don't tend to have the flavor of a kitchen sponge) so I think about adding a little brown rice to give my diet the starchy satisfaction I need. My favorite secret weapon in the fight against sugar is sweet potatoes. They taste rich and creamy, they have abundant natural sweetness, and they add an element of satisfaction to almost any dish. When I'm off sugar, I peel, cube, and roast a batch every week and then store them in the fridge to toss into salads or lettuce wraps. In a real emergency, I eat them straight, reveling in their tasty goodness, knowing I'm consuming a reasonable amount of calories along with lots of nutrients and a good bit of fiber.
Breakfast without cereal, toast, jam, pancakes or waffles can be a bit grim, but sweet potatoes are a lifesaver here too. If you roast the potatoes ahead of time, making what I call a "breakfast stack" takes just minutes, tastes great, and will give you a satisfying meal that will keep your tummy happy and comfortable until lunch time. Eat this dish regularly for the next 30 days, and you'll be ready for a fun, guilt-free splurge on the 31st of the month.
Roasted sweet potato breakfast stack
If you like, roast extra sweet potatoes for easy meal additions at any time of day
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1/4 pound breakfast sausage, regular or low-fat
4 eggs, cooked according to your preference
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes with the olive oil until well coated, then spread in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Roast until the potatoes are soft and tender. Cook breakfast sausage and drain, then set it aside, reserving a tablespoon or so of fat in the pan. Cook eggs (scrambled or fried) in the reserved sausage fat. Divide the sweet potatoes and sausage onto two plates and top each plate with two eggs. Serve hot.
Honoring the sacrifice of first responders
Pino's Italian Kitchen & Bar was overflowing with pride and patriotism as Castle Pines came out to support Pino's Eat for a Cause 9/11. The fundraiser was a heartwarming occasion which benefited the families of fallen first responders. Lives were remembered and celebrated, while an abundance of personal stories and of memories from September 11, 2001 we shared.
Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik
"Never forget" was the resounding sentiment at Pino's Kitchen & Bar on September 11. More than 400 people, including chiefs and officers from Franktown, South Metro and Arvada fire departments came out in support of Pino's Eat for a Cause 9/11 fundraiser. Gathered together in solidarity, attendees reflected on the 17th anniversary of 9/11 over fine Italian food and wine. Pino's owner, Joseph Sabia, spoke to the community about the ongoing health challenges for 9/11 first responders. A long standing tradition at firefighters' funerals, the Colorado Emerald Society Bagpipers paid tribute to those departed and all those suffering, with a hauntingly beautiful performance of "Amazing Grace."
More than $7,500 was raised to help those in need through a charity wine pull, a silent auction of donated fire department-related items and 10 percent of Pino's dining proceeds that day. The funds collected will support the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. This nonprofit organization provides significant financial support in the form of trust accounts and mortgage payoffs to those survived by first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The connection to this foundation is heartfelt for Sabia.
Joseph Sabia was in his 16th year of his 30 years as a volunteer firemen for the Commack Fire Department on Long Island when the north tower fell on 9/11. He was one of the thousands of first responders who assisted the Fire Department of the City of New York with rescue operations. Sabia lost 343 of his fellow firefighters at Ground Zero that day. One of Joe's dear friends and fellow firefighters, Chris Raguso, recently lost his life in Iraq protecting our freedom. A firefighter and member of the Air National Guard, Chris had made it a life mission to prevent 9/11 from happening again. Tunnel to Towers has assisted his grieving family with financial and spiritual support so that his family has the chance of rebuilding.
September 11 will forever be a day of emotional remembrance for Americans. Sabia reminds us to "Never Forget" through his passionate efforts to support those who made the ultimate sacrifice surrounding the events of that tragic day. In only its second year, Pino's Eat For a Cause 9/11 was a shining example of Castle Pines at its best.
Amazed by the turnout, a humbled Sabia reflected, "There was an outpouring of generosity and caring from all parts of the community. I didn't ask anyone to do anything, but they just did. A husband and wife came in and strapped on an apron and washed dishes and pots just to help!"
For more information on the Tunnel to Towers Foundation visit tunnel2towers.org.
By Daniel Williams, photos courtesy of Jessica Lovitt
At a recent event held at Cherokee Ranch & Castle, professional and amateur astronomers alike gathered to stare into the vast night sky. Looking through high-powered telescopes, they were able to see the four moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn and pick out vivid details of the moon's craters.
Many of those in attendance are members of the fledgling Castle Pines Astronomy Club, an organization committed to exploring the planets and stars and to helping educate others about the dangers of light pollution.
Sky Glow
Light pollution is a real problem, not only for stargazers, but for regular folks as well, according to Ryan Parker, a Castle Pines resident and founder of the Castle Pines Astronomy Club. Both commercial areas and neighborhoods can be sources of light pollution and give off what Parker calls "that sky glow."
"Light pollution can rob the night sky of its natural beauty and disrupt sleep patterns," Parker said. "And it can even mess with the patterns of migrating birds, as excessive light can make them disoriented, causing them to crash into buildings."
Limiting light pollution begins with the ordinary light bulb, Parker said. "One incandescent light bulb left on each night for one year will consume almost 1,000 pounds of coal energy."
The Magic of Nature
As a fifth generation Coloradan who grew up on a farm, Parker said he values the things he grew up with – the natural beauty of Colorado is one of those things, the sky above is another. He said he can remember "even at a young age, going up into the high country and going hiking with my family and getting to see firsthand the magic of nature, how dangerous and wild and fascinating it can be."
That early love of the outdoors led Parker to join The Nature Conservancy, and later, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a nonprofit organization committed to stopping light pollution and protecting the night skies for present and future generations. Through his membership with IDA, Parker got to rub elbows with experts in the field of astronomy and there he got the idea to form the local astronomy club.
The club has partnered with Cherokee Ranch & Castle to host events such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Bar, where professional astronomers dazzle attendees with the sights through their expensive and sophisticated telescopes. As for Parker, he focuses on his love of storytelling, providing background and mythologies about "many of the 88 constellations, planets and events in the sky."
Moving forward, he said his plan is to make Castle Pines a designated dark sky community – one that "has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky" through the enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, light pollution education and citizen support.
Parker said he realizes it's a tall order for Castle Pines to achieve this designation, but it's one worth pursuing, and he's already been talking to neighbors, HOAs and anyone else who will listen. "It will take a village to make a difference," he said. "And it starts with one person and one light bulb at a time."
Glynis Albright, officially "America's Waffle Queen"
Glynis Albright featuring her first two retail products, Glynis' Waffle Mix and Glynis' Poultry Coating Mix. Coming soon will be a caramel spice syrup, French toast mix, seafood coating mix, sour cream biscuit mix, chicken batter, beignet mix ... and much more.
By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Glynis Albright
When 13-year Castle Pines Village resident Glynis Albright was diagnosed with blood cancer in 1993, she knew she had to focus on getting healthy and taking the best care of herself so she could be there for her family. She became known as one of the country's gurus for creating reduced sugar, low fat, and low sodium (but still delicious) desserts. She appeared on covers of several health magazines and spoke publicly about the importance of nutrition as it relates to healing. Albright made it one of her missions to share her life experiences and journey to wellness with the public.
Born in New Orleans and having moved to Southern California at the age of 10, Albright's talents and love of cooking began when she was in grade school and continued as a survival mechanism through college and the early years of her marriage to her junior high school sweetheart – now husband of 36 years – Gerald Albright. "As a young married couple and due to a tight budget, we ate waffles with chicken, fish and shrimp as our dinner meal, as well as for breakfast. It was then that I started sharing my cooking with friends who visited us," stated Albright.
Albright was a student at UCLA during the peak of her illness, switching gears from wanting to be a surgeon to graduating with a Ph.D. in natural medicine. "I wanted to create food for people with health challenges like me," stated Albright. And so was born her first company, Just Sweet Enough and then later her second company Cookie Dots, both of which were geared toward a healthier, yet delicious alternative to high fat, high sugar baked goods.
Today, Albright is getting back to her Louisiana roots and focusing her business acumen on her new company, Albright Cuisine, launching her waffle and poultry coating mixes. Unlike 'Aunt Jemima' or 'Mrs. Butterworth' who are fictional characters, Glynis is a real person with her likeness featured on every product, and the products are distributed by a company she owns. These characteristics have set her apart from the other brands.
Unlike Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth, Glynis Albright is a real person and her likeness is featured on all of her products.
A simple Google search reveals Glynis Albright officially (and trademarked) as "America's Waffle Queen." Having created a logo, patented her products, and sealed a manufacturing deal for her waffle and poultry coating mixes, Albright and her new branding "Glynis' Kitchen" will be visiting all major cities in the U.S. She is looking forward to having her own television show "Inside Glynis' Kitchen" and releasing her autobiography/cookbook, which she hopes will be on the best seller list.
Albright also started M.A.N.E. (Making Advancements toward Nutritional Empowerment) – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to provide charitable services through volunteer programs and community service projects. M.A.N.E. assists women and men in rebuilding their self-esteem and physical appearance following hair loss due to serious illness, while at the same time educating those affected by health challenges on the importance of nutrition in attaining and maintaining good health. "Through my own experience as a leukemia survivor, I realized that hair, skin, teeth, nails, and weight were the five characteristics affected and uncontrolled due to the disease," stated Albright. "Unfortunately, these elements are most judged by society. I made it my goal to assist others suffering from any health challenge by supplying free services in these areas."
Glynis Albright has proven her resilience and is here to celebrate the good times in her life with her husband and their two adult children, daughter Selina and son Brandon. "I see myself continuing to do the things I usually do, but on a larger scale … and helping others through M.A.N.E.," she proudly stated.
Glynis Albright feeling at home while filming in her kitchen in The Village at Castle Pines.
Rezoning request for Daniels Park Road approved
County commissioners, community planners and the public have discussed the future of this parcel of land (pictured in orange), located west of Castle Pines, just off Daniels Park Road, and have approved it for rezoning.
By Elise Brassell; map courtesy of Douglas County
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners (Board) is keeping busy evaluating proposals to continue growth within our county. In late September alone, the Board considered project plans for Sterling Ranch, Dransfeldt Road, The Pinery, Devil's Head Metropolitan District, Rock Canyon, The Village at Castle Pines and a 55-acre parcel of land that some may recognize as the Pretty Woman Ranch area or Castle Cliff Farms.
The Board received a request to rezone the 55-acre parcel of land from Agricultural-One to Rural Residential, a change that allows for 11 home sites, open space and equestrian facilities. The proposed rezoning includes the preservation of an existing residence, equestrian facilities and historic structures, including the Pretty Woman Ranch which is a historic Douglas County landmark. The Ranch was named for one of its owners, Elizabeth Richardson, who was known as a woman of great beauty. In the 1860s, the Ranch served as a stagecoach stop along the Plum Creek/Divide Wagon Road.
The land in question is located at 7007 Daniels Park Road and is about two miles north of the Daniels Park Road and North US Highway 85 intersection, west of the City of Castle Pines.
It takes a majority vote of the Board, two commissioners out of three, to approve the rezoning. As part of the approval process, commissioners consider several factors, including Planning Commission recommendations, whether the rezoning is in compliance with the Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan and is compatible with surrounding land uses, impacts to roadways and water supply, and comments from the public.
Input is also received from several referral agencies, such as water, health and power-related organizations, that are asked to respond to the impact of the proposed rezoning. Of the referral agencies in the 80108 ZIP code, the City of Castle Pines and the Castle Pines Homes Association had the opportunity to comment, along with agencies from the surrounding areas (a complete list of referral agencies can be found at the link at the end of this article).
"Once the Board has considered these factors, as well as feedback from public hearings, it can elect to approve, approve with conditions, continue, table for further study, remand to the Planning Commission, or deny the rezoning request," said Judy Hammer, principal planner in the department of community development, Douglas County.
On September 25, The Board held a public hearing and considered next steps for the proposed rezoning and decided to approve the request. To stay up to date on next steps for this rezoning project, visit apps.douglas.co.us/planning/projects and search for Project ZR2018-010.
Making sense of the fence
Once weathered, buck and rail fencing blends nicely with its natural surroundings.
Article and photos by Barbara Neff
After more than two decades of planning, community input and phased improvement projects, it is the latest renovation to Daniels Park – the fencing – that seems to have residents talking the most.
While some are relieved to have additional safety measures in place along the newly-installed soft surface trail, others are focusing on the visual impact that the three miles of buck and rail fencing along Daniels Park Road is having.
Wendy Manitta Holmes, director of public affairs for Douglas County, offered important insight about the fencing, which was installed by Douglas County in August as part of the Daniels Park Road redesign project. Holmes explained that, although Daniels Park has belonged to Denver's Mountain Parks since 1937, an 18-year-old inter-governmental agreement leaves Douglas County responsible for the road and its maintenance and, in this phase, preservation of the resource as a whole.
Holmes agreed that the three miles of buck and rail fencing might seem to some to have been excessive, but given that only one third of the fencing was to be permanent and the fact that Daniels Park was becoming more and more tattered and torn due to foot and vehicular traffic (including four-wheeler driving and other unauthorized uses), this seemed like the most effective choice.
"Several other alternatives for the fencing were considered – from bright orange or black plastic construction fencing – to split-rail fence, but all other alternatives were not sturdy enough to provide the necessary safety precautions, while also ensuring that permanent fencing would stay permanent and temporary fencing would stay in place until it was time for it to be removed," said Holmes. "The buck and rail fencing is solid, yet able to be removed and relocated once the temporary fencing does its job. The one mile of remaining fence matches what is already at the base of the park and it will fade and blend into the natural surroundings over time."
As of press time, some portions of the temporary fencing had already been removed. According to Holmes, the permanent one-mile portion of the fencing, combined with the strategic placement of very large boulders, functions as a safety barrier, separating the motorists traveling on the road from the pedestrians, equestrians and cyclists on new trail, which runs parallel with the road.
Holmes emphasized that Douglas County government is sensitive to the opinions of citizens about the fencing and encouraged those interested in learning more about the fencing to visit arcg.is/0fn8S9 for a map of Daniels Park Road and an illustration of fencing along the road and trail, with indications of what is permanent and what is temporary. To remain informed of future Daniels Park improvements, visit https://www.douglas.co.us/ and sign up to receive email updates.
"The intent at the end of the day is to have a more beautiful and safe, rural mountain-like park experience," said Holmes. The buck and rail fencing is just one part of a work in progress, designed to protect and improve beautiful Daniels Park, which is enjoyed by many thousands of visitors each year.
Drilling off Monarch? ... it's water
When a drilling site appeared on Monarch Boulevard just south of Rocky Heights Middle School, there was concern it might be an oil well. However, a project engineer confirmed it is a water well being drilled to connect to the Arapahoe Aquifer.
Article and photo by Daniel Williams
Our neighborhood celebrated its annual block party in September. While enjoying great talk with neighbors and great food catered by Cranelli's Italian Restaurant, a few different neighbors had a question for me.
"What's with that oil well on Monarch Boulevard?" My response was a natural one: "What oil well on Monarch?"
"The one just below Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS). You should find out what's going on there and write an article for The Connection. It's right near the school. What if they're fracking?"
My first thought was that my neighbors were having a laugh and were sending me on a wild goose chase. After all, I drove my daughter to school along Monarch almost every weekday and I had yet to see an oil well dotting the landscape. But my neighbors were adamant that a well had popped up recently, so I told them I would check it out. Sure enough, on my drive to school the following Monday, there was a well, drilling away, about a half mile south of the school.
Wildcat Mountain Trail System
Just south of the parking lot at RHMS begins a beautiful stretch of the Wildcat Mountain Trail System. I love to take my fearless chihuahuas along that winding, hilly path that offers gorgeous views of the front range. It's a well-traveled trail, one of our favorites, and we often have to step aside for cyclists on their fat tire bikes or the cross country team on one of their long distance runs. In July, we encountered a father and son on the trail who were pointing to the pasture to our west.
"Look!" the father told me. "Look out there! Do you see them?"
I did – a herd of elk, what looked like a hundred of them, thundering along, filling the landscape with grace and strength.
After dropping my daughter off at school, I returned to the drilling site, wondering what would happen to the elk, and for that matter, what would happen to the school's drinking water, if there was an oil well down the road, if there was fracking taking place.
The Arapahoe Aquifer
At the site, I found activity buzzing. Men in hardhats climbing on the drilling structure, the machinery itself, humming along with rhythmic precision. I also found a sign with two numbers to call. The first connected me to East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation, but no one returned my calls. The second connected me with Scott Mefford, president of Hydrokinetics, the engineering firm on the project.
"I'm calling about the well on Monarch," I said. "Some neighbors think it's an oil well. They're worried about fracking."
"There is no fracking," Mefford assured me. "This is a water supply well. It's a completely different kind of operation."
Mefford told me there's been a well in the area since the 1970s but the well had caved in and there was a need to replenish the water supply. "We have a couple more weeks of initial work," Mefford said. "Then a smaller rig will be brought in to pump water into the existing Arapahoe Aquifer."
According to the Douglas County website, the aquifer "encompasses approximately 4,700-square miles and has a maximum depth of approximately 1,700 feet. The Arapahoe Aquifer contains more than 1,000 high-capacity wells and is widely used as a source for municipal water."
Before we ended our call, I asked Mefford what else people should know about the project.
"It's not an invasive procedure," he said, sounding a lot like my dentist before giving me a filling. "It's short and sweet. After a couple more weeks, you probably won't even know we were there."
Scams –don't be in the dark
Information provided by IREA
Businesses served by the Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) have recently been the target of scammers. Many of these recent scam attempts ask business owners to pay up front for new meters as part of an upcoming advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project. Owners and customers can avoid falling victim by remembering a few important things:
• IREA does not call customers to demand immediate payment.
• IREA does not request payment via pre-paid credit card. Any request for this type of payment is a scam.
• IREA does not ask for bank account or credit card info in order to issue refunds.
• IREA employees who visit a business or residence on a service call always carry identification badges, wear uniforms clearly identifying them as IREA employees and typically drive the signature yellow work trucks with the IREA logo.
• Ask for ID; scammers will often quickly depart if you inform them you are calling to confirm their identity.
• Scammers often target a large number of businesses in a short period of time. Immediately contacting IREA when you suspect a scam helps us alert other customers.
Do not hesitate to call IREA directly at 800-332-9540 if you doubt the legitimacy of any phone call, in-person visit, text message, email or other communication from someone claiming to work for IREA.
Business owners and other IREA customers can look to IREA's social media channels – @IREAColorado on Twitter and IntermountainREA on Facebook, or visit www.IREA.coop for additional information on potential scams.
Article and photo by Patte Smith
South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) personnel – including firefighters, administrative staff and family members – collected a whopping $100,154 (not counting the change) for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Fill the Boot campaign over Labor Day weekend. Pictured above, they are gathered in front of the Castle Pines King Soopers collecting donations.
Donations go toward funding new treatments, supporting MDA centers and ensuring that 3,800 children get to experience a life-changing summer camp each year at no charge. For more than 60 years, Fill the Boot has been a strong firefighter tradition, helping to give individuals and families with muscular dystrophy hope for a cure.
For more information, visit https://firefighters.mda.org/ and https://www.mda.org/.
Wish you had known about this or other events before they happened?
Check out The Connection's COMMUNITY Events tab on the home page of our website, www.castlepinesconnection.com, for a complete listing of upcoming events in and around the community. To request an event be added to the events page, email webmaster@castlepinesconnection.com.
Additionally, each month's E Guide insert includes a full pull-out calendar in the center. Check it out every month for a sampling of the great events, and you'll always be in the know!
Christmas cool with cozy cocoa cookies
Whole Foods coming to Castle Rock
Election Results Official
Delivering holiday cheer via the mail
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) available for individuals and families
Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce welcomes Tina Hansen
Time for reflection
Navigating resources on THE CONNECTION website
A special Thank you to our 2018 business partners
New board members join Douglas County Community Foundation
The Travel Monocle
The Travel Monocle (1)