[‘A Whole New You’ Makeover Contest]

Offering a free physical, mental, external and nutritional makeover drew dozens of responses. Below are some of the compelling, heartwarming appeals, but in the end, we wanted to give Morgan Ralph and her fiancée, Stefan, a postive start on their new life. Follow them over the next six months as they journey to nuptial bliss on our blog at yellowscene.com.

And the Winner is…

(more…)

February 2009

Too Late For My Mail-In Ballot
I watch for your issue prior to major elections to get a gauge on where you stand on state and local issues as well as the candidates running for office. While I don’t necessarily agree with you right down the line, I think you present a fair opinion, which I seem to be relatively aligned with. I was disappointed when I didn’t get the full coverage of endorsements in the October issue and assumed that you weren’t providing it this year, only to discover it in November’s issue, which I received yesterday. We voted by mail last weekend.
—Jeanne Lounsbury, Superior

It’s hard keeping up with elections, which is why we published our endorsements online, two-plus weeks ahead of the November issue. —ed

Too Much Opinion
Your editor claims to be “serving Boulder liberals, Weld conservatives, and rural libertarians” (“The Super Bowl for Journalists,” November) but the magazine only promotes liberal views, going so far as to suggest how I should vote (“Endorsements ’08,” November). …If the magazine ever becomes interested in actually serving the people in its area, it may want to look for another author for the last page (“Get a Brain, Get in the Game,” October). Anyone who thinks viewers should get their news from comedy shows or that elitism is a good thing needs to seek another career.
—Mark Ramsell, Longmont

Omissions:
In our annual nonprofit directory (“Giving Guide,” Gift Guide issue), we failed to add one of the region’s most important nonprofits, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children. Serving Adams and Broomfield counties, CASA represents the best interests of child victims of abuse and neglect. For information about CASA, call 303.654.3378. In an August ad for Grey Bee, Kelsey Bigelow was not credited for the photographs.

December 2008

Missing the Joke
I just received a copy of the Yellow Scene, and I am outraged by the cover (“Scary Good Costumes,” October). We have a candidate for the office of vice president inciting crowds to chant kill him and you have the nerve to publish a cover like this. It is so wrong.
—Diana Williams via email

Sense of humor, please. —ed

You Inspired My Costume
Your costume suggestions are priceless. Thank you for answering my dilemma as I am now going as a Palin, hockey mom (“Scary Good Costume Ideas,” October).
—Mele Telitz via email

We encourage those who dresses as any of our ideas to email photos; we’ll print them —ed

Can’t Find a Use for Your Mag—Even in This Economy
Thank you for sending Yellow Scene to our home, free of charge for the past few months. With all that is going on in the world, I was having a difficult time picking up toilet paper at the store. However, I recently acquired some top quality Charmin and will no longer need the services of your magazine. After repeated political rants, I can no longer give YS the benefit of the doubt. I have no use for this liberal garbage. It isn’t worth free. That’s right, shake your head and tell yourself I’m just some conservative nutcase. Hypocrisy at its finest.
—Brian Morrow, Lafayette

Last month we were called too conservative, this month, too liberal. Not sure we’ll ever win this battle. —ed

Short Memory
I must take exception to certain aspects of your review of the El Paso Cantina (“Adding Spice to Briggs,” September).  I have no doubt that this restaurant is very nice, and I wish them every success.  But in your article you say that the El Paso Cantina “has filled an ethnic niche that was sorely lacking before its arrival this summer.”  How could you, an Erie-based magazine, have forgotten that the Mexican restaurant Paraiso Azteca (known to the locals simply as “Mina’s”) occupied that very building for years up until a few months ago?  Even worse, on the table of contents page the tag line for this article is “another Briggs Street restaurant transformed from mediocrity.”  If that is an oblique reference to Mina’s then I must point out that Mina’s was not too mediocre to receive rave reviews in the Boulder Weekly as well as frequently placing highly in your own reader’s choice polls (as I recall). Mina’s is gone now, and I look forward to trying the food at El Paso Cantina.  But while it’s appropriate to concentrate on what exists here and now, one should not forget what has gone before.  I know that my family, and many of Mina’s past patrons, will remember that restaurant fondly.
—Michael Beda, Erie

We ate at Mina’s often and stand by our claims. It was often closed and the food quality varied from decent to just plain bad. —ed

October 2008

Never Called This Before
Dear Editor,
You guys are showing your bias (“A Republican in Boulder,” September)! How about “A Democrat fighting for respect in RED Colorado Springs!” I threw your magazine away.
—Bill Gerlach, via email

Being called a conservative rag—now that’s a first! —ed

We Knew These Were Coming…
Dear Editor,
Shame on you for your ignorant glorification of so-called designer dogs. I see from your editorial (“Puppy Paradox,” August) that many people (probably the true reputable breeders you mention pet seekers should patronize) tried to discourage you from proceeding with your feature. This is one of the first examples of prior restraint I can wholeheartedly endorse. Reputable breeders do not produce designer dogs. …Rather than try to impress us all with how you’re a big-boy journalist now that you got some hate mail, do your homework. Your half-baked tips on choosing a pet don’t compensate for a poorly conceived concept.
—Caroline Price, via email

Dear Editor,
My son was hoping the Yellow Scene annual pet giveaway meant that he might finally have a chance at getting that hamster he wants! Seriously, I know you are not giving away pets and my Labradoodle Dante could surely use something to cheer him up after that nasty editorial comment from Lesley Nelin (“Letters,” September). My “mutt” did not come from a puppy mill or backyard breeder. His parents were fully-tested as were the grandparents.
—Heather Juenemann, Firestone

Dear Editor,
I was saddened to see this issue and your response to the criticisms (“Puppy Paradox,” August). I am neither a PETA person who equates dog breeding with destroying the world, nor am I a backyard breeder, a casual breeder, or someone who will ever breed. I think what you missed in your chats with folks was reflected in your comment, “As with any industry, there are those who do good and those who do bad.” This is not a garden variety business or even hobby. This is the deliberate creation of life; life that some respected researchers at Tufts and Davis Veterinary Schools are arguing shows significant signs of awareness and consciousness. The process of breeding needs to be approached with respect …To put two breeds together because, in your words, the puppy will be “freakin cute” is reckless and inhumane. …Next time you do a Dog Issue, devote it to real issues—neglect, abuse, need for training and socialization, increased rates of auto immune diseases like cancer and allergies…
—James Thurber, Lafayette

For the record, we received an equal number of hate and love letters regarding our pet issue. The nasty ones make for better reading. —ed

That Was a Good One
Dear Editor,
Dude, in your “DOH! Corrections”…man, “mistoke?”  I hate it when I miss a toke, dude.  That is, like, totally bummer. I think you meant “‘mistook,” bro, like the past tense of “‘mistake,” dude.
—James Johnson, Broomfield

Doh! Corrections:
On an advertisment for Jasper Animal Hospital, we printed the incorrect address. It’s at 1369 Forest Park Circle, #101, Lafayette. Call 303.665.4002 for information.

October 2008

A Heartfelt Thank You
Dear Editor,
I just finished crying my way through your “Heart Case” (“Heart Case,” May) article. My nephew was born a year and a half ago with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. To enable his half-a-heart to pump his blood to his entire body, he will have three open-heart surgeries in the first two years of his life. I can only imagine what my sister and her husband go through every day, praying that their little boy will grow up. Thanks for letting us know about Camp Odayin and people like Tim Case who help fund such a wonderful place for heart patient kids.
—Julie Huffaker, Boulder

A Long Pet Peeve
Dear Editor,
I really enjoyed your column in the Yellow Scene Magazine (“One Long Challenge,” May). I also enjoyed the additional pages about 14ers and nearby amenities. I will add this copy to the many piles of papers cluttering my house—meaning, I’m going to keep this issue because of its content! Clutter be darned.
It’s apparent from reading your column, Mr. Harkins, that you know the difference between Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak. But looking from Denver, Boulder, Broomfield, Louisville and elsewhere in these parts, many people mistake that large, currently snow-covered mountain looming over Boulder as Longs Peak. It’s Meeker that we see from around Superior and Broomfield; Longs is standing behind it. Certainly from Longmont you can see the Twin Peaks side-by-side. It is a huge pet peeve of mine when people look north and west from the Boulder area to the mountain with the spiny-ridge and call it Longs Peak.
—Bette Erickson, Broomfield

Love it When a Soccer Mom Magazine Talks Trailers
Dear Editor,
Living on Briggs Street in Old Town Erie I read with interest your story about Old Town (“Out With the Old, In With the New,” April). Buzzers started ringing when I read reference to “double wides” on the street. Anytime a soccer mom magazine starts talking about trailer people, I know things are off to a rocky start. It might be splitting hairs, but double wide mobile homes usually have a trailer hitch and can still be moved, just like the single wides at the south end of the street. I think what you are referring to is manufactured housing.
—Robb Cadwell, Erie
P. S. Maybe you are mixing things up with the width of your jeans.

Editor’s Note: Just got finished with a 20-mile bike ride and slipped into a 34-inch waist pair of jeans. A couple of soccer moms whistled at me while out on the road.

June 2008