For over a hundred years there has been no governmental agency in Colorado more beloved by the people it serves than the City and County of Denver’s Department of Parks and Recreation (Denver Parks). Over its history it has been headed up by extraordinary individuals from a multimillionaire who did not wish to be paid a salary to a husband and wife team who uniquely served as co-managers. Denver Parks today has an annual budget in excess of $46 million. The department oversees 30 recreation centers and 200 parks both within and outside of the City and County of Denver. The newest manager, Lauri Dannemiller, has a salary in excess of $130,000.

Entire legal entities have been set up by Denver citizens to assist Denver Parks in everything from fund raising to citizen input. Such entities include The Park People and FANS (Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park).

Denver citizens have always been somewhat leery of what some politicians might do to the city’s parkland if the citizens were not directly involved in decision making. Under Denver City Charter Section 2.4.5 any sale or lease of any City parkland requires the majority vote of citizens, although the Denver City Attorney’s office found ways around that provision under the administrations of Wellington Webb and John Hickenlooper.

Some of the longtime supporters of Denver Parks have come to believe that over the last 10 to 15 years the department’s close ties to the community have become increasingly frayed.

Advocacy groups wonder if Denver’s new mayor Michael Hancock and his recently appointed Manager of Denver Parks Lauri Dannemiller will be able to prevent Denver Parks from becoming simply another governmental bureaucracy that is no longer in tune with the wants and needs of the ordinary citizens it is supposed to serve.

Historical Backdrop

Denver’s love affair with parks started at the beginning of the 20th century when Mayor Robert Speer adopted the concepts of the “City Beautiful” movement which emphasized public parks and meeting spaces. Speer considered what he achieved in parks and beautifying Denver to be his greatest accomplishment.

In 1935 George Cranmer, a multimillionaire who sold his stock brokerage firm just prior to the 1929 Crash, became the manager of what was then called Parks and Improvements. He was the man behind Mayor Ben Stapleton’s successful political comeback and was given a free rein to do anything he wanted as long as he could find the necessary funds. Deemed a financial genius Cranmer used creative ways to bring millions into the department and built everything from Winter Park Ski Resort to Red Rocks Amphitheater. He made Cranmer Park one of the most beloved parks in the city by cutting down trees and creating an enormous open space adjoining where he lived.

In recent times the most notable Manager of Denver Parks was the husband and wife team of Carolyn and Don Etter who jointly became the co-managers of the department under Mayor Federico Pena from 1987 to 1991. Today they are viewed as almost legendary figures that brought Denver Parks to new heights.

Denver Parks Under

Webb And Hickenlooper

But a decade later Denver Parks has begun to lose its luster in the minds of many. Winter Park was sold in everything but name to IntraWest Resorts in 2001 by the Wellington Webb administration. In legal circles the ability of the lawyers for IntraWest to outthink and outnegotiate those representing the city in that transaction is legendary.

The administration of businessman John Hickenlooper is generally praised as one of the best in Denver history notwithstanding the disasters that befell Denver Parks. Mayor Hickenlooper appeared to view Denver Parks as something that could be used for political sloganeering but otherwise he saw it as a loss leader in the time of great financial need in the city. He did away with open space whenever possible for tax-producing developments and he sought ways to “monetize” the park system itself.

He also sought to take control of the parks from the Denver City Council to his executive branch in order to limit public input and protect against citizens being able to protest his actions. His high approval ratings and the refusal generally of The Denver Post to undertake stories critical of the Hickenlooper administration kept public outcry over what was happening to Denver Parks to a minimum.

To show his commitment to fighting global warming Hickenlooper introduced the “Mile High Million Tree Initiative” with the goal to plant a million trees by 2025. It is not clear how many trees were actually planted but Denver Parks began simply planting trees in parks without regard to the effect on the park or what people using the applicable park thought of the idea. For example trees were planted in the middle of City of Brest Park at Cherry Creek Drive South and Colorado Boulevard to the consternation of many people who used the park. “They destroyed the park for most uses,” declared Jason Cruze, “so they could meet some tree planting quota imposed by the mayor’s office. I love trees but a park devoid of any open space is one terrible idea.”

In 2003 with great fanfare Mayor Hickenlooper appointed Kim Bailey the manager of Denver Parks and Recreation. She was the former manager for the Chicago Park District and highly touted for the experience and diversity she brought to his cabinet.

But Bailey is today generally considered as one of if not the worst managers of Denver Parks in its distinguished history. It was uncovered by the press that she was taking over a week off every month she was in office to travel around the country and go to classes to complete a doctorate. She clearly saw her job as manager of Denver Parks as a stepping stone to a better job elsewhere in the country. As a result, the physical condition of the city’s parks began to badly deteriorate to the dismay of many. In order to cut costs she began to informally abandon parkland to adjoining private landowners by, inter alia, physically removing historical markers as outlined by the Chronicle in May 2007.

Who Needs Open Space

In perhaps the most brazen example of giving away open space, Denver Parks refused to take title to 80 acres of prime open space in Lowry Vista claiming it was too great a liability due to contamination and arranged for it to be sold to a developer for $10. With no remediation in fact needed, the developer had the property rezoned for a massive mall and mixed use development. Lowry Vista typified the Hickenlooper administration’s desire for potential tax revenues from a development over open space and parkland for the citizens as a whole.

After the scandal broke in the press concerning Bailey’s minimal work schedule, Hickenlooper had to get her to pledge not to attend classes during the work hours and limit travel outside of Colorado on city time. In April 2009 she resigned and took a job as vice president of Urban Centers for Outward Bound USA in Golden. Westword charitably described Bailey’s tenure as “lackluster and controversial.”

A series of temporary managers succeeded Bailey at Denver Parks but the pressure to “monetize” the Denver park system continued unabated. Proposals were floated by the Hickenlooper administration to close various parks to the public and lease them to concert promoters such as Chuck Morris. The promoters would then charge admission to the public park. The outcry of citizens to the Denver City Council, which under the City Charter has control over the zoning and use of the parks, killed the proposals.

The Hickenlooper administration then sought to transfer control of use and zoning concerning Denver Parks from the Denver City Council to the executive branch. That would effectively block public input and appeal by citizens to the actions of the mayor. Such schemes by the Hickenlooper administration were too much for many who had dedicated portions of their lives to nurturing the well-being of the Denver Parks system.

Public Kickback

Former co-managers Carolyn and Don Etter wrote an open letter to Mayor Hickenlooper declaring under the proposed change Denver citizens “would no longer be able to take advantage of the constitutional due process procedures” and decrying his efforts to “reverse a long-standing system of checks and balances between the legislative safeguards of the zoning process, such as receiving notice, participating in public hearings and seeking judicial review of zoning decisions.”

Former Denver Councilwoman Cathy Donahue also spoke up declaring, “In all my years on council, I could never have considered handing over my power to oversee our parks.” The Denver City Council defeated Hickenlooper’s power grab over the park system.

The election of Hickenlooper to governor of Colorado in the middle of his second term as mayor cut off, at least temporarily, the efforts to monetize the parks and transfer control over to the Denver Parks system to the executive branch.

The question has arisen whether Mayor  Hancock views the Denver Parks system like Hickenlooper and Webb as an unnecessary drain on city finances or whether he views parks as a crown jewel of Denver government in line with mayors Pena, Stapleton and Speer.

Dannemiller Takes Charge

The appointment of Lauri Dannemiller by Hancock in October 2011 as the latest manager of Denver Parks has raised as many questions as it answered. She had spent the last six years as executive director of Denver City Council, a highly political position, and served various other political positions in the City of Englewood and Poncha Springs, Colorado. She has a background in recreation with one of various degrees being a Master’s of Science in recreation administration from Eastern Kentucky University and she was at one time a recreation coordinator for the City of Englewood. She has no background concerning parks or public open space.

Those working with Dannemiller directly in her role as manager of Denver Parks have a great deal of praise for her work. For example Brian Vogt, the CEO at Denver Botanic Gardens, noted that “she is a strong and thoughtful leader of Denver Parks and Recreation.” He went on to explain that in his opinion she has “a vibrant respect for the future of the parks of Denver and she does an excellent job of balancing the myriad demands on the resources and direction of the department.”

But the first and most public effort by Denver Parks concerning parkland has been a public relations disaster. Denver Parks announced in 2011 that it was going to improve the highly coveted Washington Park running trail and asserted that it was seeking public comment on what the changes and improvements should be. But citizens who became engaged in the process claimed it was a ruse and the bureaucrats in Denver Parks simply gave lip service to the concept of citizen input and did whatever they wanted to. Organizations like FANS offered withering critiques of Denver Parks’ performance. Efforts at public relations damage control by Denver Parks, without any substantive changes to the plan, assuaged no one. At one public meeting a man stood up after being recognized and asked why they were even having the meeting if they (Denver Parks) were going to go ahead with their plans regardless of citizen input. His remarks were met with cheers from the overflow crowd.

Kerry Morimoto stated, “I sensed a great deal of frustration and resignation from many citizens who felt they weren’t heard.”

Bob Liebhauser declared, “In my perspective, this was a one-sided, one directional initiative ramrodded by Parks and Recreation. They did have their ‘open to the public’ meetings, but I sincerely question whether anyone in Parks and Rec were really listening. As verified by the end result, I think not.”

The public outcry became so intense that Denver Parks announced in April the delay until 2013 of the implementation of the controversial portions of the new Washington Park running trail.

Denver Parks is an enormous bureaucracy that ultimately cannot be continually viewed as an institution antithetical to the citizens it in theory serves. Admirers of Lauri Dannemiller believe that notwithstanding the missteps concerning the Washington Park running trail she will eventually gain the trust and admiration of the public for the work she is able to accomplish as the manager of Denver Parks. They assert that by the end of her tenure she will be viewed much more of a steward of Denver Parks in the mold of Carolyn and Don Etter rather than Kim Bailey.

Everyone knows Steve Crecelius. He is a world-renowned Cherry Creek Valley photographer. Known as “the photographer to the stars,” he has worked with Garth Brooks, Bill Cosby and Harrison Ford. He is also the official photographer for the City of Glendale and Infinity Park.

But there is no longer a male named Steve Crecelius and in his place is a female called Stevie Crecelius. With the aid of modern medical science Steve has transformed himself into a female named Stevie.

Five years ago, a kidney stone ultrasound revealed something that Steve never thought he’d see. He saw an ultrasound that showed evidence that he was in part a female.

“I always knew there was something about him but I didn’t know what it was,” said Debbie, Steve’s wife of almost three decades.

When Debbie and Steve married all those years ago they had both been married before and brought six kids into the marriage — four from Debbie and two from Steve. They have no children together but do have 10 grandchildren.

According to Stevie, as she prefers to be called now, she knew she was a girl when she was young but felt that she couldn’t tell anyone.

“I put this away when I was 13,” Stevie explained. “I wasn’t ever going to tell anyone. It was the ‘60s and I couldn’t tell anyone. There were no support systems and no tolerance for people like me just like there was no tolerance for anyone who was gay, black or Jewish.”

He certainly didn’t want to tell his fellow police officers in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Gillette, Wyoming, where he was part of law enforcement for almost seven years. He was Police Officer of the Year in Rapid City and was in charge of the Crime Lab. After his years as a cop, Steve worked in television as a news photographer for close to eight years and won a news film Emmy. He also spent time working in the education department of a hospital where he produced videos for their closed circuit television.

When the nurse told Stevie the news about the ultrasound it validated that all the thoughts Stevie had as an adolescent were not just in her head. Those feelings were facts. At the time Steve was worried about what Debbie was going to say so he pretended like nothing happened. But after they went home and Debbie brought it up, they both acknowledged that Steve in his heart of hearts was more comfortable as a female and as Stevie.

Talking To The Family

After struggling with what to do with the information for four years, last December Debbie and Stevie decided it was time to tell their family. It was a very emotional conversation but their children took it well.

“I feel even closer to you now,” said their daughter-in-law.

“A trillion people on this planet would give anything to have the love in this family and you will always be the patriarch,” said their son-in-law.

Adding some humor, their son said, “We would be the perfect TLC reality show.”

While both Stevie and Debbie say that the family support has been amazing they also acknowledge that the journey has been tough. Debbie and Stevie are staying together and staying married.

“I had to mourn the loss of my husband,” Debbie said. “Initially I thought to myself, ‘I didn’t sign up for this’ but then I thought who signs up for anything? Alzheimer’s, cancer, a significant other becoming a paraplegic — none of it is planned. Stevie is still the most caring and talented person I’ve ever known and that has not changed.”

Added Stevie, “Once I found out that what I had been feeling my whole life was true and that my family was so accepting, the expression of who I was changed and the façade of the male persona I created started to fade.”

While Debbie has embraced Stevie she also does not want Stevie to forget who Steve was.

“Steve protected Stevie for 50 years and now Steve is allowing Stevie to come out and be a strong woman,” Debbie said. “Steve or Stevie would take a bullet for the family.”

“Now that I can be who I am I see my world in color — a world that used to be in black and white,” Stevie explained. “My whole world has opened up.”

Letting The Clients Know

Once the family was told the news Stevie and Debbie decided it was time to let their friends and clients know. They have been working as photographers together since 1994 and have an extensive client list including the City of Glendale and Infinity Park.

When Mayor Mike Dunafon heard the news his response was, “I’m delighted to know that Glendale is getting two photographers for the price of one — Steve and Stevie.”

Infinity Park General Manager Bobbi Reed sent Stevie the following message: “Stevie, you started out as an incredible person so however you present yourself to the world, that person is still inside guiding you.”

Debbie said that their clients have been accepting and supportive so far — something they both appreciate — but that they always let clients know ahead of time that Stevie’s appearance has changed.

Stevie chose last month’s Glendale City Council meeting as the place to present herself as a woman for the first time in public.

“I watched incredible acceptance that night,” said Debbie. “We are finding that our clients are way more concerned with the photographs we take than the way Stevie is dressed.”

Complicated But Liberating

While Stevie was dressed as a woman the night of the city council meeting, on the day of this interview she was dressed as more of a metrosexual guy but with makeup, nail polish and feminine jewelry. As Stevie is getting used to dressing as a woman she is taking testosterone-reducing medication along with estrogen hormones but will not be going through gender reassignment surgery. At 63-years-old Stevie says that it doesn’t make sense to spend that amount of money, be in that much pain and be unable to work for such a long time.

“The whole idea is to feminize my body as much as possible without surgery and to match who I am on the inside with the outside,” Stevie explained.

As a public figure Stevie says that the transformation has been both nerve-racking and liberating. She points out that she has to pay attention to which restroom to walk into because it depends on how she’s presenting that day and that if she gets pulled over while driving she has to keep in mind that the way she looks might be different than what it says on her driver’s license. If Stevie gets on an airplane she has to remember to dress more masculine.

“Unfortunately I can’t be who I am 100 percent of the time and overcoming the male physical features and logistics is complicated,” said Stevie. “A year from now things could be different. It’s only been a few months at this point so it’s a process.”

She continued, “The whole goal is to be accepted as who I am and to be an example for others. I don’t want anyone to be ashamed or bullied and I hope that there are people out there like me who don’t have to wait as long as I’ve had to wait.”

To help celebrate Stevie’s transformation, some of her friends are putting together a “rebirth” party and she is very much looking forward to the event.

If anyone has any questions Stevie would like for them to contact her directly at stevie@wonderworksstudios.com or contact one of the following support groups: The Gender Identity Center of Colorado can be reached at 303-202-6466 and is located at 1151 S. Huron Street. The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado can be reached by calling 303-733-7743 and is located at 1301 E. Colfax.

Constant Reinvention Has Led To Longevity And Success

by Laura Lieff

What started in a display case at BMH-BJ Congregation in Denver has become a Cherry Creek Valley landmark. A three-site institution, the Mizel Museum features exhibits, events and educational programs for people of all ages, backgrounds and diversities.

Founded by Rabbi Stanley Wagner and local philanthropists Carol and Larry A. Mizel, the Mizel Museum of Judaica has given people in the community the opportunity to learn about Jewish culture and explore Jewish life in Colorado.

According to Executive Director Ellen Premack, when the museum’s doors opened, it dedicated itself to the broad diversity of Jewish life through art, architecture, archaeology, ritual and customers through the Diaspora.

Premack estimates that the exhibits, educational programs and community events at the museum impacted several thousand people last year alone and museum staff have seen Jewish and non-Jewish visitors from Colorado, around the country and the world.

“People are hearing about us,” she said. “I’m almost to the point where I can feel comfortable calling us the pre-eminent Jewish destination in Denver.”

Museum History

Displaying Jewish art and artifacts from 1982 to 2002, the museum consisted of a single room at BMH. Then the need for space grew as the number and size of exhibitions and its reputation grew.

In 1994, the museum developed Bridges of Understanding, an exhibit that showcased Native American, Muslim, African American, Hispanic, Asian and Jewish cultures. The exhibit brought communities and students together, teaching tolerance, understanding, ancestry and the idea that people aren’t that different.

“It was viewed as a giant leap forward for a museum because it initiated and welcomed community involvement and inclusivity,” Premack explained. “The Mizel Museum of Judaica needed to grow into the community and into a facility that could reach everyone. The essence of community changed as it stepped into the future, reaching large multicultural audiences, and a fresh, new excitement permeated its exhibitions.”

In 2004 the word “Judaica” was dropped when it relocated to the original Rodef Shalom synagogue. The name change allowed the museum to proceed in new directions, while at the same time not sacrificing its Jewish character. Once again the museum took on a new existence in three forms: The Mizel Museum, The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (The CELL) and as a steward of Babi Yar Park.

The CELL is a nonpartisan center whose mission is to empower citizens to help combat the threat of terrorism located in the downtown cultural district. The CELL seeks to promote personal and community activism in order to help shape a better, safer world. Babi Yar Park is an open-air memorial to those lost in the Ukraine and elsewhere during the Holocaust.

Added Premack, “The missions of each site complement each other and give Mizel Museum the ability to ground itself in salient 21st century issues, including the Holocaust, immigration and multiculturalism.”

Celebrating A Milestone

The museum recently launched its first permanent exhibit which Premack says embodies the museum’s reinvention. 4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks opened in February 2012 and will remain the museum’s centerpiece for the next two years.

“The exhibit is a dynamic journey through art, artifacts and digital media that narrates and illuminates Jewish history and culture,” she explained. “Museum programs stem from the 17 subjects that are encompassed in Gathering Sparks and new and varied approaches to teaching the Holocaust, immigration, Jewish life and culture and global issues have been devised.”

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the museum is featuring special exhibitions, events, performances, camps, artist talks and community gatherings. This year the museum will also unveil its newest traveling exhibit, a collaborative effort called Stories Matter.

The CELL will soon reopen with a redesign built around the eight signs of terrorism and Babi Yar Park will add the September 11 Memorial to its landscape, incorporating steel from the former site of the World Trade Center.

“We look forward to many more years and perhaps a new home where we can create even more enriching and engaging experiences for the community and the world,” said Executive Director Ellen Premack.

“I derive a lot of personal satisfaction from seeing the museum grow the way it has over 30 years, but I can’t take credit,” said Mr. Mizel. “I believed there was a need to bring the Jewish and non-Jewish communities together, and the museum staff does exactly that. By using art they bring people of different faiths, beliefs and religions together and I’m just glad I can play a small part of it.”

On May 23 the museum will honor Glenn R. Jones with its 2012 Community Enrichment Award which will be presented to Jones at the 22nd Gala Dinner at 6 p.m. at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum located at 7711 E. Academy Blvd.

The Mizel Museum is located at 400 S. Kearney Street. For more information visit www.mizelmuseum.org or www.thecell .org or call 303-394-9993.獵

Albus Brooks And Fighting The Good Fight

As Denver Councilman Albus Brooks has discovered in politics, no good deed goes unpunished. The Councilman has been inundated with complaints from residents and businessmen about the hobo army that has encamped on the 16th Street Mall throughout the year. As a result Downtown Denver was increasing becoming a place to be avoided by families.

Individuals walking down the 16th Street Mall at night face a gauntlet with aggressive pan handlers who know the more unpleasant they are the more likely you are to give them money. Mayor Michael Hancock declared, “The moment we lose downtown as a place people want to go for entertainment, recreation or a place to live we lose the heart of downtown.” He did not mention that you also lose much of the income stream you have to help those homeless people who want to be helped.

Brooks was a safety for the University of Colorado Buffaloes and is the youngest member of the Denver City Council. Perhaps out of naiveté he decided, gee why don’t we just ban sleeping on city sidewalks and byways while at the same time increase the resources available to help those living on streets. Even progressive Boulder has banned sleeping on sidewalks so that its Pearl Street Mall did not die as a commercial venture.

But Brooks could not have imagined the onslaught to come because of his modest proposal. At one time perhaps the homeless in Denver were underdogs and the oppressed. Today they are at the top of the food chain. The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has a budget of over $50 million (over 80 percent of its funds are from state, local and federal governments) and employs over 500 people. Seven of its executives make in excess of $100,000 while its CEO John Parvensky earns a salary sufficient enough to be considered a millionaire/billionaire under President Obama’s latest tax proposal.

The Coalition and its allies pack city council meetings and scream insults at Brooks and loudly boo him. Fellow councilman Charlie Brown could have let him know what happens when you go up against the thugs from the Coalition. The last time Brown proposed an action at City Council that the Coalition didn’t like, he received death threats at home against himself and his family. They promised dismemberment. The Denver Police told him he better take the threats very seriously.

Councilwoman Debbie Ortega, the Council’s leading race baiter and bigot, declared Brooks proposal to be inhumane and cruel and that Brooks was trying to criminalize being homeless. This was even too much for the normally mild mannered mayor who declared her remarks to be “insulting.”

The Occupy Denver movement, not wasting an opportunity to get some much needed publicity, declared that Brooks was trying to suppress their First Amendment rights to dissent as they were occupying and camping out on the sidewalk on Lincoln down from the Capitol. And of course the Coalition’s full-time and pro bono law firm, the ACLU, declared Brooks’ proposal to be unconstitutional and violates various and sundry state and federal laws. It promised to bring suit should the proposal be passed by the City Council.

Shockingly, Brooks hasn’t been shaken or intimidated. The proposal managed to get by the applicable City Council committee by a 4 to 3 vote when City Council President Chris Nevitt made a surprise visit to the committee and broke a 3 to 3 tie. It now goes before the full City Council and the threats and insults will undoubtedly rise to a crescendo.

Edmund Burke noted, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Make no mistake — the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and its allies, whatever they once were, are now filled with some highly vicious and at times evil individuals. Albus Brooks is a “good man” and he has refused “to do nothing.” At the end of the day whether his proposal passes or not he has stood up to be counted. It is unfortunate that there are not more people like him in elected office.

— Editorial Boardu

Attention evildoers everywhere. For Gawdsake, whatever you do, don’t do your crimes in Arapahoe County because as sure as Gawd made little green apples you’ll do hard times.

As Rod Sterling from the 1960s television show Twilight Zone always said, “Consider if you would: Sheriff Pat Sullivan and the hammer of justice falling on his head swung at by the Nordic God of Justice Thor, ‘They sure showed him.’”

Let me take you back in time. The office of the Attorney General Iron John “Move That Pot Store Because We Must Protect The Children” Suthers and his hard prosecution of “Pedophile Pat” the kiddes’ pal, one-time head of security for Cherry Creek Schools and longtime sheriff of Arapahoe County. They showed Pat. By the time you read this Pat will probably be on the beach somewhere in the Caribbean making up for all the bad things he did to people. Remember OJ Simpson was going to spend the rest of his life hunting for the true killers of Ron and Nicole Goldman. Pat is also going to make it right to everyone he harmed.

Sure, Pat. (Winky winky). Suthers took over the prosecution and investigation of Sullivan following a January 18, 2012, executive order from your Governor Silent John Hickenlooper and that crack crime fighter then went to work.

Consider if you would 22 full-time law enforcement officers — the Elite Investigative team that included officers from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Aurora Police Department, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Denver Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the South Metro Drug Task Force. All we needed to make this a full-time party would be those fun-seekers from the Secret Service and funding from those thrill-seeking GSA employees.

We’re told its 22 full-timers and as many other LEOs that they needed to investigate Pat and his fun-filled days and nights. I don’t know how many hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, manpower hours and effort went into that 30-day sentence that Pat received but I can guarantee you this: Put that many bloodhounds on anybody with unlimited resources and they could get Mother Teresa a double nickel.

Can you smell what John Suthers is cooking?

Now here comes the best part. Eyewitnesses talked about Suthers’ office being represented by another crime fighter Mike Dougherty and Pat’s legal team going into the chambers of Hanging Judge William Sylvester only to emerge some 20 minutes later — everyone smiling. The judge then said, “Remember Mr. Sullivan, you don’t have to take this deal.”

Not take this deal? That’s like saying to me, “Boyles, remember, you don’t have to cash in that Mega Million Dollar lottery ticket.”

At that point the former Sheriff of the Year and Head of Security at Cherry Creek Schools was taken away for his 30-day vacation into the jail facility that bears his name. Just as an aside — Tim Faase, who sold the meth to Pat the Rat, got three years at Canon City. And to further make your day, in two recent sentencings, the former VP of Quality Paving in Brighton got 13 years in the joint for a scandal for bilking tax payers for $1.7 million. The prosecutors on that case wanted 25 years for Dennis “The Menace” Cohen. And dateline Castle Rock — Richard Heeringa was sentenced to 576 years for sexually abusing a girl for three years starting when she was 12. As we used to say in undergrad written tests — compare and contrast those two sentences to how the legal system dealt with Pat Sullivan.

Pat’s final words in the courtroom were that he accepted the court’s decision followed by, “I just want to move forward with my life.” Can I get a big WTF?!

Now common sense tells you that some old creep like Pat could not have been doing everything he was doing, involved with everything he was involved with, without powerful people involved with him as well and getting him a sweetheart deal. I said on my award-winning radio show two days after Pat was apprehended that he would never take the stand. Arapahoe County’s J. Edgar Hoover, Pat Sullivan, I can guarantee you had files and stories on a lot of people.

As I said, by the time you read this, Pat will be sipping margaritas and watching kiddie porn on his handheld mobile device while talking television, movie and book deals. And the Batman and Robin of drug enforcement in Colorado, John Walsh and John Suthers, will be having the feds go after medical marijuana stores. Sullivan will suffer no charges for bringing drug dealers into a school system as security agents. A note to Suthers: What about the children?

Sullivan is a child-molesting, drug and power-abusing monster and he gets 30 days in jail? This is a joke. Remember all of these things when Election Day rolls around.

So have a nice day and thanks for playing.

Petera

Peter Boyles is a nationally acclaimed radio host who can be heard Monday through Friday on 630 KHOW 5 to 9 a.m. He has a monthly column in the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. Visit Peter’s blog and comment on his column, or let him know anything else that’s on your mind, by going to the Chronicle Web site at www.glendalecherrycreek.com.

by Glen Richardson

With no more candidates than offices to be filled, Glendale has elected a new Mayor and added two new faces to the City Council. In the past two election cycles, the Mayor and City Council have run unopposed.

Mike Dunafon, previously the Mayor Pro Tem, is the city’s new Mayor replacing Larry Harte who was term limited. He has been a major player in initiating and shepherding the 14-year transformation of Glendale into an entertainment hub and internationally known city. In addition to serving as Mayor Pro Tem of Glendale Dunafon has chaired the Planning Commission for the city the past 10 years. Dunafon is also the city’s alternate representative to the Denver Regional Council of Governments. He sits on several boards including Cherry Creek Transportation Solutions, the Glendale YMCA and the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce. Under his direction, Glendale became the first city in the United States to adopt rugby as the official sport of a city.

Dunafon has a BA from the University of Northern Colorado where he lettered in football for four years and was part of the All-Conference team. He signed contracts to play with the Denver Broncos in 1976 and 1977. His rugby career began in 1978 with the British Virgin Islands Rugby Football Club and continued until 1992. He has a USA Rugby Level 3 Coaching Certification.

Appointed by Mayor Dunafon, Mayor Pro Tem Paula Bovo, who prior to her position on City Council served on the Glendale Planning Commission from 2007 through 2010, will once again serve on the Planning Commission as an appointed member of Council. She also represents Glendale as a Board member for the Denver Regional Council of Governments and as the Glendale representative for the Colorado Municipal League.

Bovo has represented Glendale annually at the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute Conference at the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, from where she received her Juris Doctor. She is also currently the Chair of the Technology and Communications Committee for City Council. Drawing upon the knowledge she gained as a graduate of the Transit Alliance Citizens’ Academy, she has also served as the Glendale representative to the Regional Transportation District.

Scott Franssen and Mary Logan are the two new City Council members. They join Dunafon and Bovo along with Jeff Allen, Pat Opper and R. Wayne King on the City Council. Franssen is Vice President of Advancement for the National Sports Center for the Disabled. He is also a member of the Glendale Planning Commission and active in the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce. Logan is a Planning Commissioner for the City of Glendale and now represents the city as the alternate for the Denver Regional Council of Governments and the Transportation Solutions Board. She has a degree in finance and a minor in economics from DU’s Daniels College of Business.

Previously located downtown in the Golden Triangle for more than a decade, one of Colorado’s top firms, Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP (FGMC) recently moved offices to East Cherry Creek. Occupying the entire sixth floor, the firm’s new building is located at 360 South Garfield which is adjacent to Andre’s Restaurant, right off Colorado Boulevard and Alameda Avenue.

“This was a fantastic move for our firm as we were anxious to find a long-term home for our practice,” said David Foster, one of the firm’s partners. “We wanted to be more accessible to our clients and Cherry Creek was the only location that fit all of our requirements.”

An entity called Cherry Creek Real Estate Holdings, LLC, which is comprised of several of the firm’s partners, purchased the 37,579 square-foot building in October 2011 for $1.95 million. The previous primary tenant at 360 South Garfield, The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, moved out of the property leaving the building almost empty and on the market for over a year.

Added David Foster, “While being located downtown has its advantages, our new location in Cherry Creek has been a tremendous upgrade so far. It has been a pleasure avoiding the traffic snarls that come with a rush-hour commute to and from downtown and many of our lawyers and staff live within a few miles of the new office. The building has plenty of parking as well which is uncommon for Cherry Creek office buildings.”

Gary Lozow, chair of the firm’s criminal defense group who has represented clients in some of the biggest cases in Colorado said, “Having practiced for over 30 years in downtown Denver, I see only advantages to the firm relocating in Cherry Creek. It is easier and closer for many of my clients.”

What Sets Them Apart

Comprised of over 20 attorneys with a wide range of expertise, firm partner Danny Foster explained that FGMC offers clients one place that can handle most of their business and individual needs.

“We have a distinct business side to our firm which includes transactional, real estate, litigation, liquor licensing, lobbying and government affairs, zoning and tax work, while we also have a very consumer based practice which focuses on personal injury, criminal defense, family law, bankruptcy and estate planning,” said Danny Foster. “It truly is a one-stop shop.”

The firm is also made up of mostly Colorado natives, bringing a local feel and sense of community. Four of the five principal partners all graduated from Denver Public Schools and live within minutes of the office.

Danny Foster describes FGMC as “a young, dynamic firm which embraces technology to assist our clients.”

The firm has had numerous high-profile victories over the years including Lozow’s successful acquittal of Jeffrey Campos, former chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, who faced numerous criminal charges in Denver County Court. FGMC also represents police and sheriffs’ deputies. A few months ago Danny Foster successfully litigated the reinstatement of Denver sheriff deputy Matthew Carothers who had been terminated for excessive force.

“We have excellent trial attorneys who spend a great deal of time fighting on their clients’ behalf in court,” Danny Foster explained. “We have obtained millions of dollars for our clients who have been injured in auto accidents and as a result of slips and falls and other negligent conduct.”

He continued, “Aside from the individual clients we represent, we are also proud to represent many state and national companies including Lehman Brothers, Pueblo Bank & Trust, Liberty Savings Bank, State Farm, P.F. Chang’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Colorado Contractors Association, to name a few.”

Big Improvements

After purchasing the 360 South Garfield building, the partners decided to give it “a much needed face lift,” and have invested over $1 million into building improvements.

“The University of Colorado had previously used the building as medical offices and there hadn’t been any cosmetic updates since the 1980s,” stated Bob Graham, another one of the firm’s partners. “Needless to say, our designers and architects had lots of work to do.”

Semple-Brown designed the space and Saunders Construction has handled all of the construction.

According to Dan Calisher, co-chair of the firm’s litigation practice, the partners at FGMC are looking forward to more neighbors moving in.

“We already have a wonderful tenant, Exempla, leasing approximately 5,000 feet, and we are looking for future tenants that will complement our law practice,” Calisher said. “We have great space for other lawyers, accountants, doctors and businesses.”

Full Circle

FGMC was founded in 1999 by Danny Foster and Bob Graham. The firm’s first office was located at 155 South Madison Street and the firm relocated as it continued to grow.

“We are thrilled to be returning to our roots here in Cherry Creek,” said Graham. “We see our return to Cherry Creek as the right move. Nowhere else can you be so close to such a vast array of businesses and residences all in the Denver metro area.”

Jennifer Feingold, a partner and head of the firm’s domestic law practice, agrees.

“The sense of community in Cherry Creek is extremely vibrant,” Feingold pointed out. “It has been a pleasure for many of us to begin working with the very active Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce. You don’t get the same sense of community working downtown or in the Tech Center.”

As thrilled as the lawyers and staff are about their new home, their clients are still the top priority for the firm.

“As excited as we are about the move, our primary concern and dedication remains with our clients,” partner Michael Milstein added. “The firm is in Cherry Creek for the long haul and we will continue to dedicate ourselves to doing great work for our clients.”

For more information visit www.foster graham.com or call 303-333-9810.

Now that you got a load of that little beauty, let me give you some background on this text message. I named this texter “Crazy” because she really did display to me that she was working with a short deck early in the game (which I actually kind of appreciated because I was able to see right out of the chute that she wasn’t the one for me). I met Crazy on Match.com (someone crazy on Match, I know, it’s hard to believe) and we exchanged a couple of emails before trading phone numbers with each other. Shortly after getting her number I gave her a call to break the ice and to feel out whether we had enough chemistry to meet in person. The conversation was ok, but nothing great; it was hard to tell from that one conversation if it warranted a meeting. I left having another phone conversation open, or even exchanging a few text messages if she wanted. She elected to text (the conversation you just read). I guess you can’t really call it a conversation because only Crazy did the texting.

I laid down for an afternoon nap and then checked my phone to see if there were any missed messages only to find that Crazy left me a series of texts that showed she went on a mood swinging rollercoaster all by her lonesome over a two hour span. That was enough to earn her the nickname Crazy and needless to say I never returned the texts.

Now, let’s go over the top five texting faux pas to prevent your name from getting filed as Crazy in her phone contacts:

1. Easy boy…One text at a time! Don’t be like the crazy chick we just discussed. Do NOT send more than one text at a time. Wait until you hear back from her before you send another text. Multiple texts without response shows desperation. It also demonstrates a lack of confidence by showing that you don’t think she will get back to you and that you don’t have a problem blowing up her phone for any reason, any time. No bueno.

2. No drunken texting. I know this seems innocent enough, and I’m sure it’s ok to do with your friends, but that’s it. Drunken texting can and will get sloppy and you know it. How many times have you scrolled through your texts the next morning only to find messages you had no idea you sent? Better yet, the texts you sent were so embarrassing that you had to call the victims to make an excuse or apologize? I’m willing to bet plenty of you have. Do yourself a favor and keep your phone in your pocket when you have too much to drink. Doing so could keep you looking cherry to someone you really like!

3. Don’t use texting to ask for a date or set up plans. I cannot stress this enough fellas! There is a whole group of women that I know who won’t go out with a guy if he can’t sack up and ask her to go out in person or over the phone. Texting a date request makes you A) seem like you’re putting no effort into your proposal and B) makes you look like you are not strong enough to risk intimate rejection.

4. Don’t ask to have them send you pictures of themselves. Guys, asking a woman to send you photos of herself through the phone will instantly put you in the creeper category. Believe me when I tell you if a woman would like to text you a picture of herself she will either just send it or she will ask if you want one. Don’t dig a hole by coming across as a perv even if you had innocent intentions.

5. Don’t text dirty or send risqué pictures! Seriously, don’t. Guys, let me have a second of one-on-one time right now with you. This is serious. When you are dating or are in a new relationship women do not want you to send them sexually laden texts or a snapshot of your little pal. They just don’t. Those texts end up on her Facebook wall so other people can berate you publicly with 700 of her closest friends. Save that kind of stuff for in person, after you know and like each other.

Look me up on Twitter @Sheikofcc and use #stoptextingme to join the conversation! Example: “Please #stoptextingme. Just because you got my number a few years ago doesn’t mean I want to talk to you now. @sheikofcc #goaway”. Don’t forget you can always comment anonymously on this article and all my other musings at www.denverdaters.com. Ready, set, date!

As the the young men of the ’60s and ’70s came to realize, Southeast Asia was a series of wars that we were never going to win. Yet another generation of fine young men were sucked into a different military conflict, this time in Afghanistan, which rivals the Vietnam war as the longest in U.S. history.

1,196 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001. Remember we were told that there were so many early successes — well it took 2,520 days for the war to take 500 American lives. It just took 627 days to take the next 500. And if you can believe this or not, in October 2010, National Security Advisor Jim Jones estimated that there were only 100 Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. This past June then CIA Director Leon Panetta estimated there could be as few as 50 Al Qaeda left standing in Af-ghanistan.

Remember what Aretha Franklin said: “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” In the last couple of terrible months for some perceived Sharia offenses, dozens of fine American men and women have been killed by people they believed were their allies and counterparts. How about a WTF?

The Karzai regime is so loaded with corruption that Afghanistan has been ranked the second most corrupt nation in the world. I’m starting to believe that the first should be our country. But I don’t want to start that fight. A recent study by the UN found that corruption accounts for nearly 25 percent of Afghanistan GNP.

Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign argued that Afghanistan was the right war and went for a push of escalation of 21,000 and another 30,000 troops in Afghanistan. Announcing his second surge of troops in December 2009, Obama joined Nixon in saying, “Now, we’re going to begin withdrawal.”

The Middle East, from Libya all the way to Pakistan, is almost totally in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood. These men are all sworn enemies of the little Satan, Israel, and the great Satan, guess who?

Most modern political thinkers realize that none of this would have happened if Saddam Hussein remained in power. What’s wrong with our foreign policy? Why do these people at the State Department, the Department of Defense and the Oval Office, regardless of who’s behind the desk, think that they can do what Genghis Khan could not do — hang on and change the face of Afghanistan.

The U.S. has followed a long line of empires into Afghanistan. The Medes, the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Mongols, the British, the Russians and Soviets all met their end in Afghanistan. Remember the Soviets fought in Afghanistan for 10 years and withdrew having exhausted all the available alternatives to bring the Afghans under their control.

There are two unwritten rules in history: Never fight ugly people because they have nothing to lose. And when the well-known substance hits the electrical convenience, don’t be standing in front of the fan.

Like Nixon, unable to get out of Southeast Asia, Obama will wait until after the November election, more kids will die and the conclusions will be the same. But have faith because Mitten Romney (five sons of military age, not one in the military — come on Mitt get some skin in the game) promises he’ll destroy the seven or eight al Qaeda still left in Afghanistan.

Wake up. Smell the coffee. And realize that George Bush is headed to the dustbin of history, along with Nixon and Johnson, a place he justly deserves.

Peter

Dear #Curiouscougar, let me break down this tasty little dating dilemma for you.

So far you sound like a classic cougar. Although the woman cougar is a modern concept, this phenomenon is growing faster than the divorce rate in America. Without my knowing anything about you here is what I surmise from what you wrote:

You have been divorced for some time now and you were able to find some sort of peace in the notion that you are past middle age and single. You claim that you don’t want to get married again, but my suspicion is you will after you get through your cougar phase. I understand, man or woman, people need to feel sexually valid when they reach a certain age, especially if a breakup is involved. When you say you work out and look good, I believe you. Having a vibrant, sexy, youthful appearance is a paramount component to successful “cougaring.”

Now let me be honest with you and answer the questions that you asked me.

“How do men really feel

about older women?”

Okay let’s see… How do I put this? Older women are safe — but not in a bad way. Don’t get me wrong, safe is good sometimes. A guy that is playing it safe knows cougars don’t require much effort and they’re easy on the heart. Older women get it, remember? Cougars take it easy and “have fun.” Young, successful guys in their early 30s understand and appreciate the comfort and the luxury of a practicing cougar. The financial and emotional drain it requires to date young, attractive, “biologically ticking” ladies is just too consuming for the young, independent, business-minded guy out there. Cougars are the perfect remedy for that problem and you’ll probably even get the occasional dinner or weekend getaway paid for. Bonus!

“How perfect do our bodies need to be?”

Great question! I’m glad you asked this. I would be lying to you if I told you a decent looking body isn’t important. I don’t think cougars are expected to have the body of a 20-year-old, but I do think you should do what you can to look good. Let me be more precise for you. As a cougar you are expected to look visually appealing in a sexual way. The expectation is that you wear makeup, smell good, and have a current hair style. You are also expected to strive to be fit and have a reasonable weight allowing you to fit into current fashions and form fitting clothes. And for heaven’s sake, no granny panties!

“Can a relationship like this work?”

The short answer is no, but I guess that would depend on your definition of something working. Again, Mr. Entrepreneur regards you as easy, safe and comforting, much like a man cave or an adult womb. He does not see a future with you so it is very easy for him to keep you at arm’s length. If you’re truly comfortable with playing the role of a cougar and you don’t push him toward a conventional relationship, you may be able to extend your time with him if that is your wish. But that’s all it will be — buying time. Buying time until he decides he is ready to be challenged or he deems you to be too old for him.

Lastly, as a side note, I have some advice for you. I really think you should channel your late-founded cougar hotness in a different way. Challenge men around your age to get up off their butts and work at dating you. There is no reason a mature, sexy, powerful woman like you shouldn’t be chased and courted in a proper way. Remember, once you put on the cougar suit it’s hard to take it off.

The e-mail from #curiouscougar is one of many I have received from women trying to navigate this brave new world where the desired age of one’s mate is not as etched in stone as it once was. I have tried to give honest answers and not politically correct fluff.

Guys, use hashtag #curiouscougar on twitter if you would like to add your two cents. Ladies I encourage you to comment as well, but I know you will. If you want to read my prior musings or if you want to comment directly, feel free to link up with me on www.denverdaters.com. Until then, remember, it’s a cougar or be “cougared” world out there.