The Rocky Mountain News died on Feb. 27, 2009. She was 149 years old.

By now, you know the history. The Rocky wasn’t just Colorado’s oldest paper—it was Colorado’s oldest operating business. But she didn’t die of natural causes; she could have lived another eon. Several, in fact.

Scripps Howard is a corporation. Corporations aren’t evil any more than sharks are. They are, by definition, designed to do one thing: make money for shareholders. For decades, big profit margins were the norm, and like the grasshopper of fable, no one was preparing for the long winter.

The Joint Operating Agreement E.W. Scripps and MediaNews Group entered into was the beginning of it all. It was playing “not to lose.” Instead of forking over $60 million to the Denver Post in the partnership deal, Scripps should have invested in the Rocky’s infrastructure. Without true competition to force both models into finding and developing true niches to fill, they became the same restaurant with two different cooks. When one cook failed, the other cook’s salary got cut.

Ad prices became fixed. Ad buyers were incensed and began to look elsewhere for their marketing needs. Craigslist.org came along and stole the biggest revenue-generating source either paper had: classifieds. From that point on, the only people paying for classified ads were those looking to appeal to a shrinking demographic too old to understand how to use a computer.

Shareholders freaked. The economy was tanking and Scripps had an albatross around its neck. It did what any responsible corporation would do; it panicked. If the officers hadn’t closed her down (the tax write-off on the loss would be far greater than any legitimate sale offer they received…and they did receive some), they would have been run out on a rail, tarred and feathered, and traded to Detroit for a seventh-round pick to be named later.

By the end of 2008, it was far too late. If the Rocky had been allowed to toss national coverage out the door and focus on nothing but local, local, local, she’d be here today. If the Rocky had been allowed to grow her Internet operations and shrink her print costs, she’d be here today.

For the last seven years, I filed my column every single week. The editorial departments ran leaner and leaner and still managed to put out a tremendous package. I got one raise in seven years, and I held on because I was writing for the greatest paper in the state and one of the best in this country.

This magazine you hold in your hand is doing it right. It’s privately held, for one thing. It’s increasing its Internet operations. It’s focused on covering what truly matters to its readership: the events, news and people in its community. The Rocky tried valiantly to do all the above, but in the end, corporations are blind and people are short sighted.

Now, who killed the Rocky Mountain News really doesn’t matter anymore. The simple fact is she’s gone.

I lost something tremendous on Feb. 27. But the loss isn’t my own. The loss is a blow to all of us, to our predecessors who built this state, to the pioneers and the gold miners and the oil companies and the tech sector. It’s a blow to everyone who ever lived here and was a part of the range of beautiful communities across this Rocky Mountain paradise we call Colorado.

We lost the one thing that told all of our stories. That connected all of them to all of us and would have connected all of us to those who were to come later.

We lost the News.

The convenience of staying close to home is the only real reason.

This most recent outing was at La Fondue, one of two major fondue restaurants in the metro area. The food itself wasn’t all that bad—some of the courses (notably the cheese starters and chocolate finishers were actually quite tasty).

But two major faux pas were enough to doom this evening, at least from a culinary standpoint. It was a birthday celebration, and we weren’t going to let a few mistakes ruin the evening.

Still, I’ll point them out in the hopes that this restaurant and others can learn from them. The first occurred before I could even get there. La Fondue has a policy of not seating a party until everyone shows up. Fair enough on a busy night or if half the party is M.I.A.

Slammed on deadline this week, I arrived nearly 30 minutes behind schedule. The other six were forced to wait in the bar—apparently 6 out of 7 isn’t enough to fill up a table, according to the ever-so-strict rules of La Fondue. When we were seated, there were a dozen empty tables next to the one reserved for us.

Would it have really hurt to bend the rules, just this once? Especially when the restaurant’s largest party of the night really wanted to have a seat will waiting for this always-to-busy editor?

Rules are understandable, but not bending them to appease a large party on a quiet evening set the night off on a sour note.

The rest of the night went off with little more than a few minor blips, until we were finishing off dessert. We were one of the last parties at the restaurant, but we were leaving within a reasonable time frame. Our credit cards were already on the table when the hostess turned out the light above our table.

When we brought it to the attention of our waiter, he shrugged: “The light is on the same switch as the ‘Open’ sign,” he explained, matter of factly.

Still, when we were getting ready to charge a $420 dinner to our cards, it made us feel unwanted. When the ‘Open’ sign switch directly affects the lighting of our table (or anyone else’s for that matter), the staff needs to be made aware that it is unacceptable to toggle it off.

Let’s just say the tip for the staff shrank a little at that point and next time I want fondue, I’ll be heading to The Melting Pot in Louisville.

Okay, I’m done being a snob for now. I promise more positive dining notes in the near future.

Read about my Dining Pet Peeves Nos. 1 & 2

—Jacob Harkins

After hearing the verdict and punishment, they left the courtroom, hand in hand, smiling and saying they look forward to helping the community during those 28 hours each has to serve.

Yeah, it would have been a terrible thing for these two to be married. It would have really ruined the ideals of marriage.

I hope you realize those sentences drip with sarcasm.

One of these days, we’ll all realize that a gay couple getting married is really not a big deal. It’s just two people in love, wanting to cement it with legal documentation and get a few tax breaks along the way.

This shouldn’t be a party line political issue—it’s a basis civil rights problem. Gays are no different than straights, blacks, whites or Hispanics.

Some gay couples would in fact ruin the “sanctity of marriage,” just the same as straight couples. Good marriages are based on good people. Period.

So kudos to Kate and Sheila for standing up for their rights and accepting the small punishment they received for trespassing.

Overall
• CRITICS: Rioja, Larimer Square
Picking the best of Denver is really a state of mind. With so many great options offered by the Kevin Taylors and Frank Bonannos of the world, it can be darn right difficult to say with confidence that any of the elite restaurants are truly and consistently better than the others. That being said, more often than not, when hunger strikes us in a fancy mood, we pick Rioja. Part of its charm is being located in the historic Larimer Square district. The menu created by owner and executive chef Jennifer Jasinski always surprises. Examples include risotto stuffed calamari and Colorado classics such as a leg of lamb that always shines. The scene inside bustles and there are a bevy of entertainment options available just a short walk away following dinner. It’s all just amazing.

Breakfast
• CRITICS: Duo Denver, Highlands
This is a seasonal menu so don’t be disappointed if the following recommendation isn’t available on the brunch menu when you get to this Highlands gem—something else will shine just as much, trust us. The Cider Glazed Pork Benedict is not only delicious, but it is perhaps one of the most creative breakfast dishes you’ll every taste. Poached eggs are served with grilled sourdough and roasted cider glazed pork with a grain mustard sauce. It is absolutely divine. So is the rest of the menu—you really cannot go wrong.

Date Night
• CRITICS: Z Cuisine, Highlands; Cruise Room, Downtown
Z has received plenty of hype from virtually every publication that serves Denver—it’s all deserved. The tiny French sidewalk café seats about 20, tops (although with the recent opening of its wine bar next door, seats will be a little easeier). You’ll play footsie under the table (you have no choice since the intimate dining room is so small), munch on a blackboard menu that changes nightly and features the best French food outside of Paris, and sip on tasty a rosé to wash it all down. Once you’ve finished your leisurely dinner, head the two miles to downtown and check out the Cruise Room in the Oxford Hotel. Fashioned after, you guessed it, a cruise room, enjoy classic martinis in a chic environment that serves as the ultimate backdrop to end a date night.

Steakhouse
• CRITICS: Del Friscos, Denver Tech Center
The drive all the way down south to the Tech Center is worth it for that special occasion steak dinner, whether it be for a bachelor party, birthday or retirement. The steaks are the best of an incredibly good and crowded chophouse market in Denver. The service is absolutely impeccable—a fleet of waitstaff is there to do little more than refill water glasses while someone else pays close attention to the wine situation while yet another clears crumbs constantly while yet another ensures you get the perfect steak, which is the reason you are visiting after all. Stay for a few hours—you’ll need the extra time to digest and sip cognac.

Bar
• CRITICS: Tavern Uptown, Uptown
There is now a Tavern Downtown, in Lowry and the Tech Center. None of them pass muster when measured against the original (that’s not a knock on the others as much as it is a testament to the Uptown location). Big leather couches surround a fireplace in the main room that make for the best seats on a cold winter night. But it’s summer now, so bypass that and head to the massive patio outside that has its own bar and grassy area. You can see the skyline in the background and are only steps from the mini bowling alley that eats dollars quicker than the Rockies can hit balls out of Coors Field just a mile away—and it’s soooo worth it.

Bloody Mary
• CRITICS: Gallop Café, Highlands
We never thought the best purveyors of the classic Sunday morning drink would be from Wisconsin. But the Midwestern touch added to their massive bloodies—a side of Pabst Blue Ribbon—pushes it over the edge. The funny thing is, it didn’t need a PBR kick with its spicy, housemade mix and forest of veggie accompaniments. This will no doubt cure any hangover or start a leisurely day on the right track.

Dive Bar
• CRITICS: Rock Bar, East Colfax Avenue
Somehow, the bar inside the seedy “All In Motel” has become a hip place to libate on the weekends. Everyone from hipsters to yuppies to old school Colfax bar flies come to enjoy ’80s dance music, Mad Dog on tap and a beer list that tops out at $2 or so a can. It’s great people watching, especially from the vinyl booths in the corner, and be sure not to miss the Ms. Pacman. Please don’t order the wings, regardless if the price tag or drunken hunger pangs tempt you.

Hobnob with a martini
• CRITICS: Peaks Lounge, Hyatt at the Convention Center, Downtown
Located near the top of one of Denver’s newest high-rises, take in stunning views of the foothills and western side of downtown while sipping on a Ketel One martini, straight up. You’ll likely be lounging in the contemporary bar with some of Denver’s prettiest people—that is if you can take your eyes off the view through the near floor to ceiling windows.

French Davis: How did the idea for your new tour germinate?
Margaret Cho: Well, the story is that I was on a radio interview and the DJ asked me what I would do if I woke up one morning and I was “beautiful.” And then he said, “You know, if you were blonde with blue eyes and 5’11”.” I said, “Well, I probably wouldn’t do anything, I’d be too weak to stand.” What a horrible thing to say. So I got to thinking about beauty and what it is and the show sprang from there. There’s a lot more material as well—I talk about politics and the world and Britney Spears and Larry Craig (the Idaho Senator busted for lewd conduct in the Twin Cities’ airport last year).

FD: Who is the most “beautiful” person you know?
MC: I think everyone is beautiful—I’m learning to appreciate different kinds of beauty. I really do think everyone has a different thing that makes them beautiful. I think so-called “models” tend to be a little less beautiful. Their beauty is so calculated. I like the free-stylers more.

FD: If you could change the Wikipedia entry on one famous person to anything you want, what would it be?
MC: I think I would like to change Mike Huckabee’s entry and make it all about his band. What are they called, oh yeah, the Capitol Offense? Like, the whole thing would just be a big band page and talk about all the music he does and his fans could go there and rock out. (Editor’s note: Wikipedia has a page dedicated to Capitol Offense already.)

FD: You once said England is where white people begin the whitening process. Where should they go to reverse it?
MC: They should probably come to L.A. or New York, but not the city… more to the suburbs, like Brooklyn or Inglewood, where it’s really fun and exciting.

FD: You get placed in charge of the TSA. What’s your first act?
MC: I would let people keep their shoes on… it’s just f**king stupid. The guy with the “shoe bomb” wasn’t even a terrorist. I understand there has to be a level of safety, but it’s overboard with the liquids and gels. It’s just those in control making sure they can control us.

FD: Have you thought about doing another sitcom (“All American Girl” had an 18-episode run in 1994 on ABC) or any other kind of television show—maybe something with a talk format?
MC: It’s possible. I’ve just been really busy. In the last couple years, I’ve been on the road and moving so much. I did the True Colors tour in the last year, and then the off-Broadway stuff before that, and this tour now. It’s always possible, but not right now.

FD: Which comedians does Margaret Cho enjoy?
MC: I love a lot of people, Mo’nique, Wanda Sykes, David Cross, Dave Chappelle.

FD: You know, I always thought Dave Chappelle was brilliant. He really picked up where Robert Townsend left off. Cutting-edge stuff. Hated to see him stop.
MC: I understand completely where he was coming from. I totally get it, when you’re doing work that touches on serious issues like race, your work can be appropriated in a way that doesn’t fit what you intended. And when you’re talking about being a minority, people are really questioning where you are and what you want to be.

FD: What’s on your iPod right now?
MC: A lot of Broken Social Scene. Some Ryan Adams. A lot of Cat Power. A bunch of different kinds of things.

FD: What was the point in your career where you looked around and thought, “I’ve made it?”
MC: I haven’t even gotten there—I don’t think I’ve made it at all. I’m doing OK, but I’ve never felt satisfied…my career achievements may be a little different (than other people’s). Can I make this work, make it funny—can I sing a song, those are the landmarks. One day I will play Imelda Marcos in the historical biopic. It would be genius. Alan Parker or Oliver Stone would direct. Marcos was remarkable. I kinda look like her, and the shoes, she’s really loved and hated in that country—very infamous.

FD: Who plays you in the Margaret Cho biopic?
MC: I hope it would be Sandra Oh.

FD: What are your favorite shows on TV right now?
MC: I love “The Shield.” That’s my hood in L.A. Glendale area. Love “Gray’s Anatomy.” “Flavor of Love”—cannot get enough of that. “Celebrity Rehab” is so awesome. I think Dr. Drew’s really helping these people.

FD: What about “Intervention?”
MC: I don’t like “Intervention” because it’s too painful, too focused on one person. With so many different people on “Celebrity Rehab,” the pain is so diffused. “Intervention” is so voyeuristic. I feel guilty, and I want to help them and I don’t think watching them is helping. With celebrities it’s not as heart wrenching, I guess.

FD: What does Margaret Cho’s heaven look like?
MC: All dogs. All dogs. A whole bunch of dogs all over the place.

FD: What about her hell?
MC: No dogs allowed.

Margaret Cho, 8 p.m., May 3 at Paramount Theatre, Denver.

It’s Their Year, Now
I’ve said it here before, and, to be honest, I’m surprised my words haven’t proven to be more prophetic, but I remain optimistic. I’m speaking to my previous lauding of the Hot IQs, which I’m still pretty sure will be the next band to break out of Colorado. From their lush guitarscapes and clever hookery to their pop song craft and thoughtfully sardonic dissection of social mores (“You’re looking tough in your retro ’70s muff/it’s not as dumb the second time around”) this band has everything in place to be big time. Maybe ’08 is the year. 9:30 p.m., Dec. 22, Bluebird Theater, Denver. $10. 303.322.2308.

Trashy Way To Celebrate
The beer cans litter the ground a few feet from the aluminum door on the side of the trailer. A lonely plastic flamingo lolls haphazardly to its side, threatening to topple over from the next stiff breeze. The sickly pungent smell of spam and beans wafts on the crisp night air as the TV blares a holiday rerun of “Hee Haw.” It’s a White Trash Xmas, and Blister 66, Eight Bucks Experiment, Dead Guys Watch and Snapstick Dynamite are gonna rock your face off until you forget that your entire retirement plan is to smoke yourself into an early grave and have the good sense to die young of lung cancer. Bah humbug indeed. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 22, Gothic Theatre, Englewood. $5. 303.788.0984.

A Worthwhile Hangover
New Year’s Eve is always a thorn in your side because no matter what you do, you end up nursing an anticlimactic hangover and wondering how the hell you ended up in Rifle. Or maybe that’s just me. Play it safe with a guaranteed home run: Slim Cessna’s Auto Club’s  annual show at the Bluebird. For years, its blend of fiery preacher and southern-flavored Americana rock has been the best thing about New Year’s in the Mile High, except for that one year when everyone thought the world was going to end and cashed in all their stocks and bonds for a basement full of canned food. 9 p.m. Dec. 31, Boulder Theater, Boulder. $22.50. 303.322.2308.

Ding, ding, ding.

Surprise, surprise, a fight is brewing on Capitol Hill as members of both political parties are returning to Denver after a seven-month hiatus from the legislature.

When the 2007 session broke in May, it was largely considered a cordial gathering behind an all-Democrat leadership for the first time since the ’60s. Let’s go out on a limb here, the civility between the majority Dems and minority Republicans is about to end with one injection—the mere mention of healthcare reform, and gasp, Universal Healthcare.

“I can tell you, I’m going on 14 years down here, and healthcare has been the Gordian knot that no legislature has been able to untie,” Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, says just a few weeks prior to the early January opening of the 2008 Legislative session.

But with Gov. Bill Ritter labeling reform a priority, the 100 members of both houses of congress will press the issue pondering at least five potential solutions that range from a mild tweaking to a complete overhaul—and potentially universal healthcare

Sometime in the next month or so, a 24-member commission appointed by elected officials will present a year’s worth of work, research and head-butting. The group, named the 208 Commission, was given the task of finding a solution that increases health coverage while reducing cost in a state that has an estimated 792,000 uninsured.

“This really is the big gorilla for the state to deal with,” says Edi Sonn, a 208 Commission staffer with 20 years experience in the field. “The thing that makes providing health service so difficult is it’s so bloody expensive.”

The group culled 31 proposals submitted by the public (everyone from insurance companies to doctors to regular citizens).

Commission members picked four and added one option of their own. They’ve presented the five options in brief form at numerous public meetings. The proposals range from minor tweaks to systems already in place (adding subsidies to help the poor pay for private insurance) to ones that require residents to have insurance to the single-payer option, which is expected to shave healthcare spending in Colorado $1.3 billion annually but be funded entirely by tax-payer dollars.

“The question I’m going to be struggling with is do you want to make wholesale changes that will fix it all, or do you piecemeal it, address minor things here and there,” Tupa ponders.

If it’s up to his constituents in Boulder County, and perhaps even more so in the liberal-leaning North Metro region in general, the single payer, or option No. 4, is the way to go.

Single payer, by the way, is code for universal healthcare, the term that forces politicians to run for their respective party lines.

“We’ve done 24 community meetings; at every single one we hear from many (that) single payer is the only way to go,” Sonn admits, noting that six of the 31 proposals that the 208 group received revolved around the single payer notion. Sonn says that despite the public’s call for single payer, it would be difficult to implement on a state-level basis as there are some significant federal issues to consider.

Under this proposal, healthcare would fall under the purview of government, it would cover everyone, and services would be free at the time of the visit. It would, of course, be funded entirely by taxpayer dollars, thus requiring the legislature to pass it on to the voters to approve the additional $15 billion annually that the state would need to pony up. The program would cost about $28 billion annually—currently, when adding private and public dollars, more than $30 billion is spent each year on healthcare in Colorado.

It’s the most controversial of the offerings, but that may not keep it from becoming the popular pick among Democrats. Tupa, who admittedly hasn’t fully studied up on the options as of yet, confirms he is open to the idea of single payer. He attended one of 208’s regional meetings where he heard from Boulder County residents who want it.

“I’m hearing the most support for single payer,” he says.

Rep. Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, has heard the same message at her town-hall style meetings. If the Dems push this option, it’s going to lead to raucous discussions and political fighting. Think about last year’s squabbling over a resolution to oppose President Bush’s Iraq war, on crack.

Universal healthcare is a party-line issue, plain and simple.

Democrats, whether on the local or national level (see Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, etc.), tend to favor government programs that take the profit out of healthcare.

Republicans argue that Big Government has no place in healthcare. The Colorado GOP sees the solution in a much more simple manner—reduce regulations, allow more medical entities to compete for business and let the free market lower prices.

The differences between the ideologies could doom major overhaul.

“They’re not great because there really is a difference of opinion here,” says Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, referencing the odds that the two sides will reach consensus. “Republicans say the free market is blocked…healthcare is all screwed up with regulations from government interference.”

Mitchell plans on pitching a proposal that will make it easier for residents to buy medication over state lines, making care more affordable with added competition—without government intervention. He says all of the 208 Commission recommendations require too much government spending to win the approval of voters.

But if the Dems feel there’s enough in-party support, it may be tough for Republicans to build a speed bump big enough to slow the majority. Universal plans face stiff objections from interests in big-business healthcare, however, and, of course, the hurdle of winning voter fervor.

This could be why the non-partisan 208 Commission isn’t recommending the single payer option out of the five. The group will be suggesting the fifth option, the one they came up with after pouring through research, proposals and much discussion.

Their program would mandate residents carry health insurance, and include programs and subsidies to ensure the poor can afford it. It would require about $1.1 billion in additional state spending, meaning finding cash for the program would likely require voter approval, too.

They’ll pitch it nonetheless.

And when they do, a many liberals will agree, and other Dems will fight for the single payer model. Most Republicans will take Mitchell’s stance and look for solutions that keep medicine in theprivate sector.

“To those who want a single payer system, be careful what you wish for,” Mitchell says. “For all its flaws, the American healthcare system produces the best results than any system in the world.”

He’s not the only Republican who will be pumping that message. Meanwhile Democrats will be trumpeting rhetoric along the lines of Michael Moore’s “Sicko.” It’ll be interesting to see how much the minority voice is heard and what Colorado’s healthcare system looks like after all the bickering, name-calling and squabbling ends in May. Pull up a seat, the bell’s about to ring. It’ll certainly be entertaining, even if that Gordian knot remains firmly tied in five months.

The Democratic National Convention is still more than eight months from taking over Denver yet every hotel room within light-rail service of the Pepsi Center is booked. That means a secondary housing market has popped up. Locals (conservatives?) are offering their homes, apartments and condos for ridiculous prices.

A two-bedroom, one-bath Victorian within walking distance of downtown is going for $2,000 a week. A four-bed, four-bath north Denver abode is yours for $6,000 a week. These obnoxious prices aren’t limited to downtown: A home near Southlands (E-470 and Smoky Hill Road in Aurora) is being offered for $5,000 a week.

This is just a sampling of Craiglist offerings following Thanksgiving weekend. And as it gets closer to the late-August convention, we’re guessing those prices will sky rocket.

Ok, we admit that this strong showing of capitalism likely has little to do with conservatives sticking it to liberals. It’s just a handful of Denver homeowners (from both sides of the political spectrum) looking for someone else to fund their weeklong Costa Rican getaway. And you can’t really blame them, especially if someone really cool like Barack or Hillary decided to rent the house.

Conscious Alliance
2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite E4-182, Boulder, 720.406.7871

Community Food Share
6363 Horizon Lane, Longmont, 303.652.3663
Improves the lives of the hungry by delivering nutritionally balanced meals each.

Emergency Family Assistance Organization
900 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303.442.3042
Provides community safety net for families who can’t meet their basic needs.

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity
2540 Frontier Ave., Boulder, 303.447.3787

Longmont Meals on Wheels
910 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont, 303.772.0540
Provides hot, nutritious meals for seniors and for individuals unable to prepare meals.

Louisville United Methodist Food Baskets
741 Jefferson St., Louisville, 303.666.8812
Delivers food baskets to low-income residents of Louisville and Lafayette.

Boulder County Meals on Wheels
1255 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette, 303.665.0566
Provides home-delivered meals to the needy.

Outreach United Research Center
303 Atwood St., Longmont, 303.772.5529
Unifies resources to help people with short-term hardships meet basic needs.

Sister Carmen Community Center
701 W. Baseline Road, Lafayette, 303.665.4342
Offers non-discriminatory emergency assistance to area residents.

Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center
11968 Mineral Road, Longmont, 303.652.9131
Serves those with special needs through therapeutic riding and equine activities.

Health
Boulder County AIDS Project
2118 14th St., Boulder, 303.444.6121
Provides support, advocacy and education to those infected with or affected by HIV.

Clinica Campesina Family Health Services
1345 Plaza Court, Lafayette, 303.665.3036 x236
Serves as a medical and dental care provider for low-income families.

HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield
2594 Trailridge Drive, Suite A, Lafayette, 303.449.7740
Provides compassionate end-of-life care and education to our community.

Longmont Emergency Unit Inc
1010 Alta St., Longmont, 303.776.6180
Responds to emergencies 24 hours a day, including first aid, extrication and water rescue.

Sense of Security
P.O. Box 6098, Broomfield, 303.480.3558
Provides financial help and enhances quality of life for breast cancer patients.

Dental Aid Inc.
877 South Boulder Road, Louisville, 303.665.8828
Provides affordable oral care for low-income residents of Boulder and Broomfield counties.

Social Issues
Attention Homes
3080 Broadway Suite C, Boulder, 303.447.1206
Provides residential treatment and counseling to at-risk youth in a home-like environment.

El Comite de Longmont
455 Kimbark St., Longmont, 303.651.6125
Acts as a negotiating body for concerns brought forth by the Boulder County Latino community.

Empowerment International
2339 Santa Fe Drive, Longmont, 303.823.6495
Breaks the cycle of poverty and creates lasting change throughout Central America.

First Nations Development Institute
703 Third Ave., Suite B, Longmont, 303.774.7836
Works to restore native control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own.

Intercambio de Comunidades
2885 Aurora Ave. #36, Boulder, 303.996.0275
Builds bridges of understanding across cultures and creates a more integrated community.

Native American Rights Fund
1506 Broadway, Boulder, 303.447.8760
Defends the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.

Safehouse Progressive Alliance
835 North St., Boulder, 303.449.8623, 24-hour Crisis Line: 303.444.2424
Provides safety to victims of domestic violence and strives to end violence against women.

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley
P.O. Box 231, Longmont, 303.772.0432
Provides safety and support to women and children who are affected by domestic violence.

The Inn Between of Longmont Inc.
250 Kimbark St., Longmont, 303.684.0810
Offers transitional housing and services for the homeless to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

Education
Alternatives for Youth Inc.
24 9th Ave., Longmont, 303.776.8184
Provides services that promote social and academic success for youth and their families.

Boulder County Partners
1430 Nelson Road, Suite 206, Longmont, 303.772.1411
Helps in the lives of at-risk youth by building a positive self-image through mentoring.

Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center
6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, 720.974.1864
Fosters an appreciation of butterflies while educating the public about conservation.

Center for Safe Schools and Communities
450 Tynan Court, Erie, 800.221.4125 x04
Helps disturbed students achieve academic and behavioral success.

Jared Polis Foundation
1725 Walnut St., Boulder, 303.442.1130
Encourages the community to be proactive by supporting education and technology.

Rocky Mountain Equi-Rhythm
7156 Johnson Circle, Niwot, 303.919.3946
Uses the healing power of the horse-human relationship to assist at-risk populations.

St.Vrain Valley Parenting Center
803 E. 3rd Ave., Longmont, 303.776.5348
Provides the building blocks for healthy families through education and support services.

WOW! Children’s Museum
110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette, 303.604.2424
Engages families in learning.

Project YES
104 West Baseline Road, Lafayette, 303.926.0306
Provides leadership opportunities for young people through the arts and service learning.

Animals
Birds of Prey Foundation
2290 South 104th St., Broomfield, 303.460.0674
Treats injured and orphaned wildlife, primarily raptors, such as eagles, hawks and owls.

Colorado Horse Rescue
10386 N. 65th St., Longmont, 720.494.1414
Provides emergency relief and care services for abused and neglected horses.

Creative Acres
P.O. Box 1143, Brighton, 303.659.4792
Offers a no-kill free-roam animal sanctuary and training center.

Humane Society of Boulder Valley
2323 55th St., Boulder, 303.442.4030 x655
Protects the lives of companion animals by promoting relationships between pets and people.

Knick O’ Time Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation
9993 N 65th St., Longmont, 303.359.2273
Rescues and finds new homes for abused and slaughter-bound horses and other equines.

Longmont Humane Society
9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, 303.772.1232
Prevents cruelty to animals, and strives to instill empathy and appreciation for animals.

Wild Animal Sanctuary
1946 WCR 53, Keenesburg, 303.536.0118
Rescues exotic wildlife and endangered species such as lions, tigers, bears and wolves.

Environment
Center for ReSource Conservation
1702 Walnut St., Boulder, 303.441.3278
Leads Colorado residents, businesses and governments towards a sustainable future.

The WILD Foundation
3025 47th St., Boulder, 303.442.8811
Works to protect wild places because wilderness areas provide essential benefits.

Western Resource Advocates
2260 Baseline Road, Boulder, 303.444.1188
Protects the West’s land, air and water.