This piece is part of Yellow Scene Magazine’s Opinion section. The views expressed here are those of the author, and do not represent a reported news position. At Yellow Scene, opinion pieces speak freely, challenge assumptions, and say the quiet parts out loud.

The entire Northern Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble, made entirely unlivable. After over 15 months of harrowing genocide in Gaza, Israel has reluctantly agreed to a ceasefire. Palestinians on the ground ignited in joyous celebration with the confirmation that the prolonged bloodshed was finally coming to an end. 

Beyond Gaza, the Palestinian American experience since October 7 has been a chaos of emotions. Many Palestinian Americans felt completely abandoned while dealing with the lingering effects of survivors’ guilt as well as the challenges facing them in the belly of the beast. Zionist organizations and institutions intend to destroy the livelihoods of any Palestinian American or ally that dares to speak out against Israel’s genocide. 

We’ve seen this play out through threats of deportation to individuals on student or work visas who are pro-Palestine or attend pro-Palestine protests. We have seen it through the vilification, blacklisting, and doxing of thousands of Palestinians and allies on hinky Zionist websites. Not to mention anti-BDS laws and genocidal and racist statements made by American politicians and senators. The list tirelessly goes on. 

I took the time to speak to a couple of Palestinian Americans in Colorado to get their reactions toward the recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and whether or not there is still hope for the future of Palestine.

Through engaging with dena harry saleh, a queer Palestinian artist and writer, saleh reflects on the inevitable fact that Israel will break the ceasefire but that the hope lies in the momentum that is shifting on Palestine.

“It’ll be broken, but what I am hopeful for is that because of the world’s knowledge now about what is happening and the settler colonial project that is Israel, especially related to the United States, we are starting to see a more widespread awareness of the violence of settler colonialism,” saleh says. 

Haythem, a Palestinian American engineer from Denver, says, “I think the thing about the ceasefire deal is that it’s nasty and meticulous in a way that still absolves Israel in their own eyes from continuing to murder innocent lives.” He expands, “It is a chance of relief and respite, but it’s not like Palestine is free. People get to go home, but the north is completely unrecognizable from what it was before.” 

Since Donald Trump’s win, he has gone out of his way to take credit for initiating the ceasefire deal and putting an end to the mass killing—something Biden endorsed and funded, and the Harris administration wholly ignored.

Even after countless interruptions and political demonstrations made against Harris, she refused to acknowledge the continued death sentence she and her constituents signed off on for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Saleh says, “We can’t just fall along the lines of this binary of Republican and Democrat because, ultimately, they are all capitalists. We need to understand that it’s really a class war on a global scale.”

Haythem says, “It doesn’t help when Trump says, it’s good land, it’s good real estate, I don’t think the new administration cares much for Palestinian people so much as they care about Palestinian land just as Israel does and that’s always been the thing about the American government if anything with this new administration I’m worried with the new risks.”

Donald Trump recently spoke at a press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, revealing that the actual death toll of Palestinians in Gaza could be 500,000. More so, he declared that America was going to purchase and take over Gaza, turning it into a hot hub for Americans, ethnically cleansing Palestinians from the strip entirely.

Trump still stands firm in his decision, as he told reporters on February 9 that he was still dedicated to purchasing Gaza, saying that Gazans would not have the right to return under his new plan. On the same day, Israel shot and murdered two young Palestinian women in the West Bank, 23-year-old Sondos Jamal Muhammad Shalabi and 21-year-old Rahaf Fouad Abdullah al-Ashqar, who was murdered by the Israeli Defense Forces in her home. Shalabi was 8 months pregnant. 

When asked what they feel about the recent increase in international support for Palestine, Saleh says, “The tide has turned, and people are now aware that it’s much more than a ceasefire that we need; we need an end to the state of Israel which did not need to be created in Palestine in the first place, and then an end to settler colonialism.”

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has reported that since the ceasefire deal, Israel has killed over 110 Palestinians. Launching airstrikes and attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as Palestinians returning to their destroyed homes in Northern Gaza. 

Israel refuses to abide by international law; in fact, Israel believes it is above the law; why wouldn’t it if it thinks it can get away with slaughtering over 17,000 Palestinian babies with no repercussions? Why does this foreign entity get a pass every time? The American people genuinely need to wake up and smell the coffee – Israel is America’s 51st state, profiting off you to continue committing its genocide against the Palestinian people. 

What we allow to happen in Gaza will happen everywhere. This is the holocaust of our time; act accordingly or live with the consequences forever.

The post Palestine is Still Not Free appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Erie continues to grow, passing 40K mark

Erie is rapidly growing, reaching a population of over 40,000. Perfectly nestled between Denver and Boulder, Erie has become a hot hub for many multi-family households to raise their children. Last year, the city saw a 9.1% increase in population, with over 3,000 new residents.

While Erie’s increase in residents is a promising sign for the city’s future development, its endless infrastructure and lack of affordable housing and accessible transportation have made things difficult for its residents. A prominent issue that has raised some concern amongst residents is the need for affordable housing units for these multi-family households, who are increasingly moving to Erie yearly. The Erie Board of Trustees made it the city’s goal to reach a 12% increase in affordable housing by 2035.

I spoke with a recent engineering graduate and resident of Erie about their opinion on the future of Erie’s development and population growth; they expressed concerns about Erie’s dedication to new construction projects that have overcrowded the city. 

They stated, “I have mixed feelings about Erie’s rapid growth. On the one hand, it has been nice to get more stores and city conveniences. It also allowed more housing opportunities; on the other hand, Erie has lost some of its small city charm due to the high number of new construction projects and has also caused more traffic and congestion.” 

Multiple infrastructure projects are taking place throughout the city. Prominent projects such as the Coal Creek Expansion Project and the County Line Corridor Project are just a few examples of the continuous cycle of congestion on Erie’s roads. This has manifested in road closures, detours, and extended construction phases.

When asked what significant challenges he sees in Erie’s increasing population growth, they said, “I think the main challenge facing this growth is the city’s ability to keep up with it. Infrastructure is beginning to be overcrowded because of how many people are here.” Infrastructure is the leading pioneer behind 90% of artificial greenhouse emissions. Weld County is one of the most drilled areas for oil and gas developments in the state of Colorado. 

The Mayor of Erie, Andrew Moore, claimed that local town municipalities can’t do much regarding climate change, perceiving it as a more widespread global issue in a retreat and while on the campaign trail. The most recent study session last Tuesday is a good insight into how Mayor Moore will lead. We reached out to get a comment on what his plans are for Erie’s continuous growth; Moore explained, “The current plan is to send a comprehensive survey to help understand the desire for the type of growth Erie collectively wants and the tradeoffs.” He used the term “urban/suburban” to describe the potential directions for growth, adding that this plan will proceed once the council sets its direction for development and housing. However, he noted that the details will change depending on the council’s decisions. More updates are expected in the Spring.

Concern over Massive ICE Raids in Colorado 

Since Donald Trump has taken office, fears amongst many Americans have arisen, as his promise to crack down on immigration has left many individuals worried for their friends and loved ones. Rumors of mass deportation orders and ICE raids happening throughout Colorado have been flooding social media, with warnings stating ICE agents have been spotted in cities like Denver, Aurora, and Longmont. 

The American Immigration Council claims these new executive orders will affect the lives of individuals who are “border-crossers seeking refuge, to children born next month, to parents who are in the U.S. on temporary visas.” Many of these raids happen in vulnerable areas with multi-family households, such as school communities. 

Vague reports were posted on social media platforms in the past few days on Facebook and Instagram, warning friends and families of undocumented individuals, claiming ICE agents were being spotted in their area. 

On January 26, the Colorado Rapid Response Network reported that from around 3 AM to 6 AM on 6600 N. Federal Blvd., enforcement officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs, Drug Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local law enforcement were spotted conducting a raid on a nightclub and arrested over 50 people, claiming it was part of a “drug and criminal network.” Of the 50 people who were arrested, reports claim that 41 were undocumented. 

This support network is run by the community and has been vigorously working to warn undocumented individuals in the state if ICE agents are in their area and where they are located. 

The Trump administration has stated it will enforce ICE raids in vulnerable areas such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship. On January 24, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said that the city of Denver would “sue the Trump administration” if they enforced ICE agents in schools. Just yesterday, according to the New York Post, a substitute teacher in Texas replied to ICE on X, tweeting, “Y’all should come to Fort Worth, TX to Northside High school, I have many students who don’t even speak English.” 

Em Dorman, a resident of Aurora who has many undocumented friends, expresses deep fear for their community, stating, “The unpredictability of the raids confirms that no one is safe and that immigrants will continue to be dehumanized.”

I asked Dorman if they had witnessed ICE agents or heard of specific areas where ICE might be prevalent. They said, “There was an ICE spotting off of 8th and Colorado in Denver on January 24, a few days ago, as well as other sightings that people on Instagram have been sharing.” 

While rumors about massive ICE raids have been unpredictable, Dorman urges individuals to educate themselves to be prepared if a situation like this were to occur: “You have constitutional rights. Do not answer any questions; do not sign anything without an attorney. There are resources specifically printed in Spanish and other languages if needed.”

More reports on this to come.

The city of Boulder and its Laundry list of Lawsuits

Feet Forward, et al. v. City of Boulder, et al.

“Blanket Ban” or “Camping Ban,” the city of Boulder was served with a lawsuit from the ACLU, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of Americans. The lawsuit challenged a city ordinance that prohibited homeless residents from doing something as basic as sleeping outside with a blanket. The ACLU argued that the camping ban unfairly penalized people participating in basic human activities. Although the city attempted to dismiss the case, the court allowed the litigation to proceed, ruling that penalizing individuals for such basic actions violated constitutional rights. 

Yellow Scene Magazine v. City of Boulder 

Our very own has been caught up in the turmoil with the City of Boulder and its history of police misconduct. The legal dispute began when Yellow Scene requested bodycam footage regarding a recent incident in December of 2023 that involved the fatal shooting of Jeannette Alatorrea. The city of Boulder demanded a fee for this request, which inherently violates Colorado’s 2020 Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act.

Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County v. Suncor

Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil, two of the largest refined oil companies, were sued by the city of Boulder for the impacts of climate change, which disproportionately burden American taxpayers.

City of Boulder v. FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration was sued by the city of Boulder for legal clarity regarding the closure of the Boulder Municipal Airport. The city of Boulder intended to keep the option of opening the airport until 2041, while the FAA claims the airport must remain open indefinitely due to federal grants requiring the airport to stay open. Many citizens raised concerns about the airport remaining open, as its closure could allow the land to be used for more affordable housing for residents.

Ash House Owners Sue City of Boulder 

The Ash House, a student apartment building at CU Boulder, filed a lawsuit against the city of Boulder for forcibly evacuating students last minute due to violations of building extra rooms in the building without the city’s say nor safety precautions taken place. The lawsuit was dismissed in October of 2024. 

Lisa Sweeney-Miran v. City of Boulder

Sweeney-Miran, the executive director of the homeless shelter in Boulder, filed a lawsuit against the city for violating her First Amendment rights, as she was kicked off of the Police Oversight Panel for unequivocally condemning police misconduct that has been plaguing the town for decades.

List of Boulder Police Misconduct 

• John Smyly is an officer who racially profiled a Black man, Zayd Atkinson, who was picking up trash outside of his home. The city of Boulder paid a $125,000 settlement after Atkinson threatened legal action. 
• Waylon Lolotai used excessive force against a Black man, Sammie Lawrence, which resulted in the city of Boulder paying a $95,000 settlement. 
• Dillon Garretson and Stephen Coon unlawfully arrested and handcuffed Seth Franco in retaliation to the court granting him a softer sentence. This led to a $3.4 million jury verdict against the city of Boulder
• Cassie Davick was responsible for the removal of children from the care of Joslynn Montoya, a deaf mother staying at a domestic violence shelter. The situation escalated due to the mother’s inability to effectively communicate her circumstances to the officers.
• Nicholas Frankenreiter, Jacob Vaporis, and Erin Starks – Three officers who shot Coleman Stewart after a cop chase regarding refusal to pay a five-dollar cab fare. The city of Boulder had to pay $1.3 million in settlement 8 years later. 
• Collin Keith and Nathaniel Taylor shot and killed Christopher Swanger in Boulder, Colorado, in May of 2023 as they were responding to a domestic violence call.
• Nathan Schultz and Jarrett Mastriona shot and killed Jeanette Alatorre in Boulder, Colorado, on December 17, 2023, due to her refusing questioning from officers and carrying an airsoft gun. 
• Hiring of Stephen Redfearn – The city of Boulder recently hired Stephen Redfearn as Boulder Police Chief. Redfearn is infamous for justifying and downplaying the actions taken place during the night of the murder of Elijah McClain 

The post Boiling Point: Erie Expands, ICE cracks down, and Boulder Still Getting Sued appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

According to NPR, “1 in four students missed 10% of the academic school year” due to struggles with mental health. Statistics have continuously proven that a student’s mental health and well-being drastically impact their school performance. As today’s younger generation has experienced some of the most chaotic of events in the past four years, from circumstances of COVID-19 to the endless harrowing fear of school shootings that still haunt our school hallways today, children’s mental health is at risk every day.

The city of Boulder and the North Metro area in general, is no stranger to mass shootings, as the senseless tragedy of the King Soopers shooting that occurred on March 22, 2021, claiming the lives of 10 people, still stands as a firm reminder of the need for stringent gun reform laws. The worry inevitably extends to schools and universities across the county, which are at risk daily. Parents and guardians sending their children to school carry endless concerns and fears for their children’s well-being and safety. Many parents wonder what the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts are doing to ensure that their students’ physical and emotional safety is their top concern. The bigger question is, how do these students feel when they attend their classes? The everyday reality of anticipating the worst outcome and being reminded of it through the use of gun safety drills can be emotionally draining to a lot of students.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, students must understand how to respond to an emergency, such as a school shooting. Using these precautions can ensure the protection and safety of many lives. These gun safety drills help students practice for real-life emergencies if a senseless tragedy occurs.

When it comes to school safety drills, the St. Vrain Valley School District follows a method called “SRP” which stands for Standard Response Protocol. This method involves four pivotal actions during an emergency. The first action is “lockout” when the danger is outside of the school, or “lockdown” which is used for when the threat is inside the school. “Evacuate,” which is to move the students from the school to another safer location and then “shelter” is moving the students to a safer main level room in the building. This is all being communicated between staff and law enforcement during the event.

Back in 2022, the Longmont Leader stated that the St. Vrain Valley School District voted unanimously to let law enforcement store guns and rifles in Lyons and Niwot High schools. This vote took place in October of 2022, without any input from the students or their families in the district. This raised concern in the city of Longmont, particularly from one student by the name of Carly Davis. Davis, a senior at Skyline High school at the time, stood in front of the court demanding that this new vote be terminated as it did not involve student input, “(We’re) tired of gun violence, tired of school shootings and tired of not being included in decisions that will affect us. I wanted to communicate that student input on this issue is vital, as well as teacher input,” Davis says. At the start of 2023, the city of Longmont released a statement stating that Boulder County and three other municipalities were being met with lawsuits pertaining to public safety and gun reform laws.

The Boulder Valley School District, on the other hand, has been working on partnering with law enforcement by offering their buildings for multi-jurisdictional exercises. This is intended to help law enforcement familiarize themselves with the different school districts as well as the design of their buildings and help them understand how to react to immediate situations across the campuses. These officers ensure that they practice the best safety methods for responding to an active shooter.

An article published in September by a student intern at the Communications department at the Boulder Valley School District detailed the active shooting scenario training at these buildings during the summer before the start of the fall sessions. She discusses the dedication that the BVSD has committed to ensuring that school shooting drills are taken seriously, training seasoned officers who would be prepared for an emergency like this, “As part of their training, emergency responders run into a school they knew had a threat inside and risk their own lives.” The student illuminates detail after detail of how the police reacted to a scenario, “There was an order for who would show up to the school first; in this scenario, it was a park ranger and two police officers. Following them were more police officers and firefighters and swat.”

There is an organized student and staff training that is also being administered through many classrooms which follows two protocols: secure and all clear. Students translate “secure” as a reaction to danger outside, which requires students and staff to stay inside classrooms and lock doors at all times. Students and staff remain in their classrooms until the “all clear” is announced by law enforcement, which would signify that the danger has been neutralized.

According to a Pew Research survey, 57% of students have expressed worry and fear about attending school due to the possibility of a school shooting. There has been lots of conversation and debate about how school safety drills should be administered and how traumatic they are to many students who don’t want to think about the possibility of enduring such a horrifying experience. While the urgent need for school shooting drills is dark, ensuring that law enforcement is on hand and thoroughly trained to respond to these scenarios is very calming for a lot of students who may struggle with those internal fears.

Anxiety and depression are constantly increasing throughout high school. The Mission of Harbor and Behavioral Health says that “By 18, up to 15%” of teens experience anxiety. Many of these cases are linked to environmental stressors, which can include an uncomfortable and intense environment for a student who may not feel comfortable when attending school. So what options can students take to navigate these fears and traumas that are inevitable at this point?

One prominent resource option for many students struggling with mental health in school facilities is the use of wellness centers. Monarch High School had the first wellness center established in the Boulder Valley School District in 2022.  There have now been an array of school districts like Monarch High School dedicated to providing spaces to ensure the health and wellness of students. These districts include, but are not limited to, Monarch High, Boulder High, Fairview High, Centaurus High, Nederland Middle-Senior, and New Vista High. The space is intended to be a calm and safe area for students to ease their stress, talk about their anxiety, relax, confide in a mental health professional or counselor, and a way for them to get involved with sensory activities. The use of sensory activities helps a student fall back into their awareness, easing their fears and worries. Many students report that these wellness centers have really helped them during many difficult periods throughout high school.

When going on the BVSD website, students rave about the results they’ve seen with the presence of the wellness centers in their schools. One mental health advocate says, “It feels special to me. They are torn between telling everyone how awesome it feels to relax in the room and wanting to keep it a secret.” It’s the perfect place for students to just have a moment for themselves.

Another important factor is for students to have access to mental health professionals who can provide them with a space for them to express their conflicting feelings and find solutions. These mental health professionals are intended to help students by providing them with social, behavioral, and mental growth, providing a safe space for them to navigate their experiences throughout their high school career. A great extended benefit is these mental health professionals are also intended to provide external resources for families to help them navigate and understand their child’s mental health.

The St. Vrain Valley School website states that mental and emotional health is heavily intertwined with your child’s learning development. Their vision states that the district intends to, “…cultivate a school experience that will inspire every student to effectively face the challenges of heart and mind so that they may become joyful, lifelong learners in a diverse world.” Through this vision, the SEL programs list key standards for emotional and learning capabilities for students from kindergarten through -high school. This program was created in order to help develop transparency and awareness for parents when it comes to your child’s growth and journey through social and emotional development.

Alpine Elementary School is an example of a school that has incorporated family and child counseling, as well as a student support team to ensure students are meeting school standards and are being open about their emotional and mental health. The school also provides a list of prominent mental health resources for parents and families pertaining to difficult matters. The intention is to provide parental guidance and navigation to further understand their children’s needs.

While mental health professionals focus on behavioral health, school counselors can also be of benefit, as they can help students with their individual growth as well as their learning capabilities in school. If a child is struggling with a class or with maintaining good grades in general, there are resources provided that can help them get back on track, and mental health is the place to start. These professionals also encourage them to join student groups as a way to immerse themselves more in school activities and find a community for themselves. 

Clinica Family Health & Wellness is a great mental health resource at BVSD, intended to provide crisis intervention as well as cooperation with families and parents by providing them with resources for their child’s needs. Health partners are a great resource for really difficult situations where short-term counseling can be provided to help the child get back on track.

LaunchEd Virtual Academy at SVVD provides a series of prominent online services especially during times of emergency. The district ensures that crisis services and hotlines are accessible to anyone in the virtual academy. The site provides a list of hospitals such as Centennial Peaks Hospital, career and youth centers, housing, food banks, programs for children struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, and other essential resources that also extend to psychiatric help.

BCH (Boulder Community Health) is a service provided by the Boulder Valley School District with a focus more on inpatient behavioral health as well as psychiatric evaluations and treatment. The service also offers a treatment facility by the name of Della Cava Family Medical Pavilion for students in need.

Drug use is also prevalent among many teenagers with depression and anxiety. NAMI Boulder County and is the perfect resource for students and teenagers who are battling with drug use. They provide drug-use programs, support groups, as well as resources for families and teens battling struggling with drug use.

Following the pandemic, students took a while to adjust to coming back to in-person classes. Getting used to staying home and doing remote work quickly became the norm, and students had to figure out a way to adjust to it just as quickly. COVID caused constant disruptions for many students’ learning, so in order to bring back students’ focus, many districts have turned to specific learning models, such as personalized learning models. This is a type of learning mechanism that focuses solely on individual needs. It is a dynamic technique that is able to focus on multiple individualistic learning techniques and styles that benefit students who may have had learning disruptions or may have an inability to stay focused. This has led to a lack of motivation to want to attend class to begin with.

The Boulder Valley School District and St Vrain Valley School Districts noticed the lack of attendance from many students post-COVID, as many were still accustomed to the “remote life-style” that COVID pushed us into.

Both districts took absenteeism very seriously and wanted to really dive into the root of the cause of why students were increasingly becoming absent from classes. A great worry amongst parents and families is the lack of attendance from their students, who may fear attending school due to environmental stressors, lack of motivation, early stages of anxiety or depression, or bullying.

Following increases in anxiety and depression, more students are lacking the motivation to attend school. Developing a strong relationship with an attendance advocate can help students have that resource when they feel they need a day to stay home and recharge or a moment to work on their mental health if they aren’t feeling like attending school that day. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of attending classes for an end result of success, as graduation is the ultimate goal for all of these students.

The St Vrain Valley and Boulder Valley School District have taken initiative with the use of attendance advocates who not only ensure that students are attending classes but also check in on their mental health and ensure that they have the right resources that are accessible to them. St Vrain Valley has two main attendance advocates, Lili Arroyo and Francisco Hernandez.

These resources are provided to elementary school students and middle school students as well. Mental health professionals and counselors are individually provided to help with each child’s needs. If you’re a parent in this district, the Boulder Valley and St Vrain School District’s website discusses many topics and themes that you or your child may experience. It helps provide the appropriate resources to help families navigate through difficult times. If you or your child is struggling with any of the listed things, ensure that you are reaching out to a mental health professional to better sustain your child’s needs.

Both the St. Vrain and Boulder Valley School Districts have proven how abundant its mental health options are throughout every district. As parents, the most important thing is to ensure that you are having these conversations with your children at home. Check in on them and see how they feel. Ensure that you are tuning into current events at their schools. Attend their events and ensure that you develop relationships with their educators and mental health professionals who can provide greater insight into their wants and needs, especially at home. It is essential to use these mental health options when necessary to ensure that the stability of your child’s mental health is maintained as much as it can be throughout their high school career.

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)
Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Mental Health Options in Education appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

photo by Janine Robinson

Erie Elections 2024

As the Unofficial Election results for Erie trickle in, the town’s ballot measures have shown candidates who appear to be leading and winning the election. 

However, per the Erie government website, Andrew Moore is set to win against Justin Brooks with 10,384 votes, while Justin Brooks has received 9,807 votes. This has placed Moore in the lead with 577 more votes. Council Members for District 1 have shown John Mortellaro leading with 2,652 votes, followed by Andrew Sawusch with 2,633 votes. 

One of the candidates running for District 2 has been met with heightened controversy. Dan Maloit, who the ballot measures have shown is placing third with 2,078 votes, has been served with a lawsuit for allegedly doxxing and posting nude photographs of an ex-partner online. 

The victim, who chose to stay unidentified, claims she had found out about the nude photos being posted online 2 years ago, back in 2022. Once she started doing a deeper search on the web, she realized that photos had actually been posted of her online dating back to 2016. 

Since these allegations have arisen, Maloit filed a countersuit in September and has denied any of them, claiming they are intended to sabotage his political career. In a Facebook post on November 4, 2024, Maloit states, “I believe the allegations are false and are made in addition to other private matters that exist between the plaintiff and myself.”

District 3 has shown Brian O’Connor leading with 2,626 votes, Travis Pinz with 1,612, and Emily Baer with 2,885. 

The city of Erie, with 11,566 votes, has voted yes for a 5% excise tax on the sale of Marijuana. This means that starting January 2025, a tax will be imposed on the sale of Marijuana both medicinally and recreationally. The big change is that Marijuana will be able to be sold and purchased in the city of Erie, something that hasn’t happened in the city since the legalization of Marijuana in Colorado back in 2012. 

962 yes votes have gone toward question 7B regarding RTD annexation. Over 90% of the city of Erie is already annexed into the RTD district. The RTD annexation vote would result in providing more unannexed areas in the city of Erie for public transportation systems such as the RTD. This voter approval will bring about multiple benefits for the people of Erie, including transportation services, access to rides, parking benefits, and free fares that would be eligible for residents and youth during the summers. 

What’s next? Election results for the city of Erie will be finalized on November 26, 2024. 

Stephen Redfearn

The City of Boulder responds to the NAACP

The NAACP has issued a press release expressing its concern about the recent hiring of Stephen Redfearn, a police officer with a dark reputation by the City of Boulder. 

Stephen Redfearn was recently hired last year into a permanent position as head police chief in the City of Boulder. On October 14 of this year, the NAACP released a press release condemning the hiring of Stephen Redfearn due to his history of covering up the murder of Elijah McClain.  

In the press release submitted to YS, the NAACP claims that Redfearn is not only “anti-black” but also lacks “cultural competence,” which should, by all rights, disqualify him for the position of head police chief of the City of Boulder. 

The press release also contained a transcript of a recorded confidential meeting that took place in July of this year between members of the City of Boulder and Stephen Redfearn.

According to the City of Boulder’s manager, Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, the meeting was secretly recorded without the members’ knowledge or consent, and members were asked to sign an agreement not to publish any details of the meeting anywhere online. According to Colorado law, Colorado is a one-party state, meaning that the NAACP did not need to inform the members of the City of Boulder that they were being recorded. 

The press release provided by the NAACP contains a transcript of the recording during the meeting. In this transcript, there were heated exchanges between Redfearn and Darren O’Connor, the chair of the NAACP Boulder County’s criminal justice committee. A “crude” comment was made toward Redfearn’s sexuality by O’Connor, which prompted Redfearn to express his being gay as a prominent reason why the NAACP condemned his hiring. Redfearn further claims that O’Connor smirked at him during the meeting anytime Redfearn spoke, resulting in questionable comments made by Redfearn that prompted O’Connor to state that such comments further prop up  “a system of racism.”

Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde recently came forward, issuing a statement accusing three members of the NAACP of blackmailing her with the recording. According to Rivera-Vandermyde, the members used the recording to pressure the City into not going through with the hiring of Redfearn. Rivera-Vandermyde claims that the NAACP’s actions have been “unethical and unacceptable.” Rivera-Vandermyde even goes as far as stating that Redfearn had nothing to do with Elijah’s murder, “Without repeating their misleading account of his involvement, I want to make clear again that there were no allegations against then-Aurora Police Captain Redfearn in connection with this case.”

What’s next? There have been no updates pertaining to the hiring of Stephen Redfearn. In an email sent to Boulder Weekly, Darren O’Connor said, “The lack of good faith begins and ends with her (Rivera-Vandermyde) and Redfearn,” he closes it by saying, “The truth is, she spent the City’s time and money creating a sham process in which Redfearn was always going to be chosen. An untold amount of money was spent hiring facilitators of the conversation, with the hope that the offering of a conversation would be sufficient to silence our critiques.”

graphic by Ray Manzari

2024 Elections and Blaming Minorities for Trump’s Victory 

As the old saying goes, if you scratch a liberal hard enough, a fascist bleeds.

As Donald Trump embraces his second Presidential election win, rather than focusing energy on the Democratic party and why Harris’ party did not succeed, strategists and even voters have succumbed to blaming minorities — many who make up only less than 1 percent of the American population — as being the main reason for Trump’s victory. 

Poll trackers show that 54% of the Latino population intended to vote for Harris and 33% for Trump. However, the final numbers came out as 55% of white and Hispanic males voted for Trump, while 53% of white women also did. Yet Muslims are often taking the blame for Harris’ loss. According to the Council of Islamic Relations, the Democrats had 22,000 fewer votes this year from Arab Americans and saw a 9,000 vote increase for Donald Trump. CAIR has listed that 53.2% of the Arab vote went to Jill Stein, while 21.4% of the Arab American vote went to Trump, and about 20.3% went to Harris. 

While many Democratic voters and strategists claim that a vote for the Green party is a vote for Trump, that isn’t entirely the case. Prior to the election, many Arab Americans, allies, and anti-genocide voters had expressed the importance of voting for the Green party as a message to the Biden and Harris administrations that genocide is a staunch red line for many American voters. Newsweek states, “Roughly 60 percent of us here in the United States now say the two-party system has failed.” 

Following the election, many Harris voters resorted to social media to express their outrage and fears with Trump’s newly announced presidency by scapegoating Arab Americans, Black men (who voted 78% for Harris, down 2% from 2020) as well as other minorities for the failure of Harris’ campaign. 

A series of tweets, TikTok, and social media posts by Democratic voters displaying racist and disturbing reactions toward Trump’s victory swarmed social media outlets. Many Democratic strategists blamed others, and even die-hard true-blue Democrats called for death and violence against Arabs and other minorities, as well as calling for the complete obliteration of Gaza, “When Gaza is Blown off the map, they’ll have Trump’s vote to thank.” one user tweets. “Good luck with new Trump settlements,” another user comments on Instagram. Another prominent Twitter user by the name of Derrick Daniello, whose account was recently suspended, tweets, “Don’t worry… they’re gonna die under Trump. I hope Netanyahu levels Gaza…America isn’t an Arab state. The craziness we see in Europe will never happen in America.”

Latino and Hispanic Americans have also been faced with the brunt of the Democratic reaction to Trump’s win, as many Democrats expressed their lack of care and support for the deportation of Latinos and Hispanics who voted for Trump. The American Journalist Ronald Martin told the Independent, ““If that dude’s [a Trump voter] mama gets deported, that’s on him, and I’m gonna play Scarface’s ‘No Tears,’” expressing no sympathy toward the deportation of Latinos and directing the blame on them for voting for a presidency that many claims is Anti-immigrant. 

While Arab Americans, specifically Palestinian and Lebanese Americans, have been witness to the relentless annihilation of their people and destruction of their homes, the Democratic party and its followers believe that Arab Americans should unequivocally stand by the party that is funding the murder of their families. 

According to the United Nations, the number of children killed by Israel in Gaza since October 7 is higher than four years of world conflict. Two days before the election, Al Jazeera stated that 70% of the Palestinians killed in Gaza have been women and children. 

What’s next? Are American voters seeking justice and reform today, or only when it pertains to them? While the next four years may seem rather bleak, one thing that we Americans can take the time to do is reflect and focus our energy inward toward the failure of the Democratic party that felt imperialism and genocide were more important than winning an election. 

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post A Nation in Flux: Local Elections, National Debates, and a Polarized Future appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The Boulder County commissioners, Claire Levy, Marta Loachamin, and Ashley Stolzmann, have voted on broad categories of affordable funding for county issue 1B funds without benefit from any public hearings at which the public was invited to discuss with the Commissioners what the money should be spent on, and what criteria should govern the funds distribution. . 

Boulder County’s previous election passed a measure to fund affordable housing. Prior to that, there was a measure to pass that required voters to pay for additional construction of the Alternative Sentencing Facility at the Boulder County Jail. Once the construction was completed, voters were asked for permission to extend that tax cut without raising their taxes. The funds were then repurposed for affordable housing, which is now about 18 million a year and is anticipated to last for the next 15 years. 

A variety of organizations showed up and supported this measure, including the NAACP, Labor Council, the faith community, and other prominent business groups. In supporting the measure these groups were promised a robust and transparent community engagement process to decide what the funding should be used for.  

The lack of an open public process which includes public input from all aspects of the community has frustrated many in Boulder County. Early on in the process interest groups urged the commissioners to adopt a robust community engagement model allowing for a broad section of community groups to participate.  This was done when the commissioners distributed federal ARPA funds, but not done as a part of the 1B process. There are still opportunities for the commissioners to engage the public on some of the details of the funding plan, and community groups recently wrote a letter to the commissioners asking for more community input. 

Commissioners have already made broad budget decisions but there should still be additional opportunity within those broad categories to meet with groups to get more definitive about how those dollars will be spent. . In a series of budget meetings the Commissioners, item by item outlined some of the uses of these funds, and made it clear that in some cases, these funds would be used to replace other funding.  The interest groups believe the voters intended for these funds to be new monies, not to replace existing funds and that they believe conversations with the community should have occurred before voting to replace existing funds with these funds. 

Ten prominent Community organizations have expressed their concern by emailing the Boulder County Commissioners as well as submitting a letter to the Press with specific demands regarding the allocation of the funds. The organizations include the Boulder Area Labor Council, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, the Boulder Housing Network, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, Launch Longmont, the Longmont Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP Boulder Chapter, Prosper Longmont, Thistle Community Housing, and Together Colorado. 

The email consisted of two demands directed at the commissioners: ensuring “a formal, robust community engagement process regarding the allocation of funds, including a community meeting before December 3, 2024,” and “Transparency” regarding the proposed use of the voter funds: 

Dear Boulder County Commissioners: (Copied to media outlets)

As community organizations, we are writing out of concern regarding the allocation of funds from the voter-approved County Issue 1B. We request that the commissioners:

• • Adopt a formal, robust community engagement process regarding the allocation of funds, including a community meeting before December 3, 2024

• • Share, with complete transparency, any proposed use of the voter-approved 1B funds to supplant existing program funds

On Monday, November 4th, the commissioners made preliminary decisions regarding the allocation of funds from County Issue 1B 2023. Before further decisions are made, we encourage the commissioners to adopt a formal, robust community engagement process, as was specified during the discussion of Issue 1B with voters. The meeting on the 4th did not permit public testimony, was not recorded, and we have been unable to determine if minutes were taken.  We understand that a public budget hearing was held on October 22.  The County Issue 1B housing funds were not included in the budget at that time, so those concerned with 1B funding would not have known to attend the hearing.

Our diverse organizations actively supported County Issue 1B with the understanding that there would be opportunities for public input.  These have not materialized. We therefore propose that a community meeting be held before December 3, before the budget is finalized, to allow for public input regarding the allocation of these funds. 

Earlier this year, county staff communicated their intention to organize a meeting with community groups and all three commissioners, which has not occurred. There was one Zoom meeting with Commissioner Loachamin, but it was specifically arranged by ECHO staff, included community organizations that they invited, and was not an open, public meeting. Other meetings have primarily involved the Regional Housing Partnership, which consists of staff and limited community organizations. We have no documentation that indicates whether the ideas discussed at the Regional Housing Partnership were presented to the Commissioners. In April, following a meeting with the county, Together Colorado sent a proposed outline for a community engagement program but received no response. 

We have also learned that there are budget recommendations for these funds to supplant existing funding.  Without a recorded meeting, we are unclear about the extent of this redistribution. The public approved these funds to provide additional resources, not to cut and replace existing funding. The lack of transparency leads us to question whether County Issue 1B is being implemented as voters expected. A strong community engagement process could alleviate these concerns and promote understanding between the Commissioners and the community. 

It is important for community members who supported County Issue 1B to have a chance to provide input on various matters, such as: 

• • The percentage of funds allocated for very low-income residents
  • The allocation for rental/mortgage assistance 
  • The potential use of funds for legal assistance 
  • Preferences for regional solutions 
  • Prioritization of green projects 
  • Identification of opportunities for homeownership 
  • Establishment of the requested advisory committee for recommendations, similar to the one for the emergency response fund and many other funds that are administered by the County.  

While a meeting about the broad budget categories may not be the best opportunity for discussion of these details, no outreach or community engagement has been shared that allows for such discourse. We are asking for a commitment on when this kind of engagement will occur.  We look forward to a remedy for these issues. 

We hope to hear from you promptly by next Thursday, November 21st. Please reply directly to this email. 

Signed by the 10 organizations listed below:

Boulder Area Labor Council, Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Housing Network, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, Launch Longmont, Longmont Chamber of Commerce, NAACP Boulder Chapter, Prosper Longmont, Thistle Community Housing, Together Colorado

Following this the commissioners have responded by stating that the previous public hearing on the budget, which occurred last month on October 22, was the time and place for individuals to express their concerns as to where the funds should go. However, 1B funds  were not included in the budget  on October 22, and the commissioners’ meeting in early November was when the 1B funds were added to the budget. Many claim that this process is not the robust community engagement process they feel was promised. One individual who chose to stay anonymous tells YS, “The business community is upset — the Boulder Chamber is really concerned with homelessness and also concerned about workforce housing, and so are other business groups, and they didn’t get spoken to.” 

Boulder County has listed a Town Hall for November 19th, 2024, 5:30-7:30PM at Lafayette Senior Center, Lafayette Senior Center, 103 Iowa Ave, Lafayette, CO.

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Ten Community Organizations Call for More Public Input on Boulder County Commissioners’ Affordable Housing Tax Decision appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

In the wake of the senseless murder of Elijah McClain, who was murdered during an unhinged encounter by police officer Randy Roedema and reckless paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, Colorado has found itself once again grappling with the ongoing issue of police immunity. The daunting presence of police brutality continues to shake the streets of Colorado as Americans have been witness to countless cases where police officers have taken advantage of their authority to practice violence.

2021 Denver Black Lives Matter Protest

We have witnessed innumerable instances in which police officers harm or even murder citizens across the state and country and are entirely acquitted or get off scot-free. This intimidation tactic has put a lot of American lives at risk who feel that fighting for justice against bad cops is almost impossible. 

Colorado is known as one of the top five states with the highest rate of police brutality, as the senseless murder of Elijah McClain still echoes the lingering status quo of law enforcement being protected by the state. 

Earlier this year, on April 28, in the city of Fredrick, a police officer named Trevor McCourt noticed a vehicle without a license plate refusing to come to a complete stop at an intersection. McCourt initiated a traffic stop, which the individual refused to abide by, resulting in a low-speed pursuit. Following the pursuit, the car eventually ran into a dead end, which resulted in the 35-year-old man running out of the vehicle.

Officers ended up finding the 35-year-old behind a trash can, and as they were trying to take him into custody, McCourt assaulted the man on the side of the head with the butt of his gun, resulting in a head injury. After the man was taken into custody, he was sent to the hospital to get treatment for his wound. Once his wound was treated, the individual was taken to Weld County jail. 

After this incident, officers reported McCourt’s actions, fearing he was using excessive force on the individual. The Fredrick police department placed McCourt on administrative leave and conducted an internal investigation. The Frederick Police Department announced that Trevor McCourt had been fired and that an internal investigation was initiated shortly after. 

Law enforcement has repeatedly shown the citizens they intend to protect that they are above the law and can commit whatever actions they can with impunity. This case proved otherwise. Officers like McCourt abuse their power. The charges against McCourt displayed by the Weld County Court are second-degree assault, first-degree misconduct, and reckless endangerment. 

The firing of Trevor McCourt may have given little hope to the state of Colorado, holding reckless law enforcement accountable. 

Mugshots of Trevor McCourt

However, a most recent gut-wrenching case, once again in the city of Aurora, has brought attention to the reality of child sex abuse by police officers. 

Michael Hawkins, an Aurora police chief, has been accused of sexually abusing his youngest biological daughter and his two adopted daughters. This case was brought to light back in June, which resulted in Hawkins running free with just an ankle monitor, even after confirmation from Child Protective Services that he had sexually abused his children. His wife, Colorado mother Rachel Pickrel-Hawkins, served seven weekends in jail back in June due to opposing court-ordered reunification therapy between her ex-husband and her two youngest sons, whom she has full custody over. Her reasoning was to protect her children from her husband.

Pickrel-Hawkins says the reunification therapy conducted by a licensed therapist, Christine Bassett, was extremely harmful and counterintuitive. Pickrel-Hawkins says Basset “has supported the efforts” for Michael Hawkins to gain sole custody of her two sons. This has put Pickrel-Hawkin’s sons, who are now young adults, in a state of imminent psychological torture.

She says, “The very last visit with her, I told her, ‘This man now has formal criminal charges for sex assault on children and child abuse, and you need to know this.'” 

Pickrel-Hawkins protests the reunification of her children and their abusive father.

It is important to understand that Hawkins kids are young adults who are recalling the abuse that they experienced as children. The Larimer County judge ruled that this abuse was most likely not taking place due to only hearing testimony from the children, despite the proof that CPS has provided. This can also be tied to the notion that the judge may believe that Pickrel-Hawkins is in her children’s ear, diverting them from wanting to live with their father, a classic tactic used in a lot of custody battles throughout the country. This has garnered controversy among Colorado lawmakers who believe that children’s testimonies should be prioritized during these custody cases. 

Although Child Protective Services have proven the child abuse, there have barely been any repercussions for Michael Hawkins. Pickrel-Hawkins was living in a domestic violence house at the time of the order, where the court also instructed her to pay $370 a week for her boys to attend these reunification therapy sessions with their father. These sessions intend to unite families together during a time of divorce, custody, and legal battles. 

The child abuse has been utterly proven and made very clear. Why is the state doing everything in its power to protect Michael Hawkins, another bad cop who has made harmful and unspeakable decisions, and punish the mother who is seeking justice for her children and doing everything she can to protect them? 

The DOJ recently created a database of law enforcement officers’ misconduct records. This database ensures that other police departments do not hire officers with a history of bad behavior. It is a step in the right direction to prevent bad cops from serving our communities, which can once again put Americans in harm’s way.

Cops like Hawkins and Roedema are just a few examples of law enforcement that should be held accountable just like any other citizen committing the same crimes. There seems to be a growing list of bad cops throughout Colorado who don’t face the necessary consequences. As these cases unfold, police brutality continues to rise; according to Statista, as of September, over 800 people have been shot by police, 181 of them being Black individuals. This further proves how essential it is to stay informed, vote for laws that push for police reform, know your rights as Americans, and continue fighting for justice wherever.

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Blue Immunity: Holding Law Enforcement Accountable appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The Highland City Club newsletter has been an open and comfortable space for its longtime founder, Sina Simantob, to express his views freely without backlash or reaction from the general public. The HCC website’s about page claims it is “a safe place for passionate and caring people to explore our differences, find our common ground, and make our world a better place while having fun.” 

An essay published on August 16 on the HCC website by Simantob, titled “A Modern Crusade,” has been claimed by a local activist group, Front Range Antifascists, to have contained “Islamophobic” rhetoric. The HCC is known as a social club for wealthy residents in Boulder, and this isn’t the first time that racist allegations have been made against the country club. 

Back in November of 2021, Boulder Weekly published an article titled, “The Highland City Club Has a Racism Problem,” where it was revealed that in an article published in 2019 on the HCC website titled “Racism,” Simantob reinforced racial stereotypes, claiming it is a natural reaction for people to stereotype minorities.

“Perhaps it simply means humans have a natural tendency to initially see each other in terms of stereotypes ….  I stopped doing business with Hasidic Jews in NY because time after time they proved to be better businessmen than me,” Simantob elaborates further, “And I stopped playing sports if there were more black players on the other team. So am I a smart survivalist or a bigoted racist?”  

In response to these allegations, the activist group FrontRange AntiFascists wrote a press release examining these claims against the HCC and its founder. According to CBS News, the Antifascist organization as a whole is nonviolent in its protests and dedicated to exposing racism and far-right extremists. The organization has been known to be a network of far-left revolutionaries, many of whom carry anarchist or communist views. 

Crow, a long-standing member of the Front-Range Antifascists, says, “As antifascists, our primary goal is to empower communities to defend themselves against oppressive forces who wish them harm. As such, we have warned Islamic community centers about the HCC and distributed flyers and posters to community members neighboring the HCC. These flyers are available to print on our website,” Crow told YS. 

The Front Range Antifascist’s values indicate they are dedicated to protecting and warning communities that may be harmed by “fascist” and “far-right activity,” as listed in their principles on their website, “An attack on one, is an attack on all!” 

In “A Modern Crusade” by Sina Simantob, which was published on the HCC website, Simantob says, “…all Muslims embrace Jihad as a way of life to spread Islam throughout the world by any means.” The article dives further into the Neo-Nazi riots taking place in Europe. Simantob compares Muslims to the Crusades and encourages the false idea that Europe must “fight back” against the legal immigration that Muslims are using as a way to conquer Europe in the future.

“The Islamic crusades, having failed to conquer Europe by force outright, are now pursued in the form of legal immigration by taking advantage of Europe’s low native birth rate and its need for cheap labor to power their industrial production.” 

Since October 7, Israel has butchered over 186,000 Palestinian citizens. This is a conservative estimate, as thousands are still under the rubble and missing. The destruction has left over 1.9 million Palestinians displaced, and countless human rights organizations and news outlets claim it’ll take decades to rebuild Gaza. In the past few months, footage has been circulating of Israeli soldiers kidnapping, rounding up, and stripping Palestinian men and boys 16 and older. 

Since the genocide began, the outpour of Islamophobia and anti-arab sentiment has been rampant throughout the country, increasing exponentially. It has resulted in a list of deadly incidents: the stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al Fayoume in the City of Chicago, as well as the shooting of three Palestinian students, 20-year-old Hisham Awartini, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ahmed, in the state of Vermont. Just a few weeks ago, a man slit the throat of a 7-year-old Muslim Yemeni American girl Saida Mashra, in Detroit, Michigan, one of the most prominent Arab American cities in America. 

Could there be a connection between the HCC’s legacy of anti-arab sentiment and the genocide in Gaza? 

A very recently published article by Simantob titled “War and Peace,” which was published on the HCC website on October 25, shows Simantob falsely attributing student protestors on college campuses to being “pro-Hamas,” rehashing allegations about October 7 that have been debunked, as well as claiming the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has been conducting the war (genocide) in Gaza pretty well, “Benjamin Netanyahu has weaknesses and shadow sides, but as Israel’s commander-in-chief, he is executing this war well on seven fronts.” 

In another article published earlier this month by Simantob on October 4, titled “War In The Middle East,” Simantob falsely claims the death toll in Gaza is a mix of Hamas and Palestinian civilians, “over 40,000 Hamas soldiers and Palestinian civilians in Gaza have been killed by Israel,” however, multiple sources including the United Nations have stated that the death toll in Gaza has explicitly been civilian casualties. Simantob continues by saying that he resents the idea that Netanyahu and Israel are to blame for the genocide in Gaza.

“In a blatant act of victim-shaming, many throughout the world blame Israel and its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, for the brutal execution of this war and for its refusal to “compromise” to reach a “peaceful solution” with Hamas and Hezbollah. I am not in this camp.”

The FrontRange AntiFascists revealed in a now-deleted post on the HCC website that the HCC recently hired Yovel Peretz, an IDF soldier returning from Gaza. The HCC hired Peretz in July as their new Chief Operations Officer. In a progress report posted to the HCC website, which has since been deleted. Simantob writes about Yovel’s experience in the IDF: “Yovel has registered more miles than years, as evidenced by the fact that he has secured a degree in business, recently completed his four-year service in the Israeli army, and has proven himself to be a natural leader.”

Following this allegation, The FrontRange AntiFascists recently rumored that the Boulder Highland City Club had hosted a private event for Boulder’s new deputy police Chief, Stephen Redfearn, on September 26. Redfearn, who was captain of the Aurora police department, is infamous for overlooking and covering for the murder of Elijah McClain, furthering the problematic force Boulder has earned a reputation for. 

“We don’t know what the [event] entailed as it was only available to paying members of the Highland City Club and their guests. The event was likely a way to build a relationship with Chief Redfearn and give the wealthy HCC members exclusive access to one of the most powerful people in the City.” Crow said.

The Highland City Club’s controversy has been an enormous topic in Boulder, and neither Simantob nor the HCC has spoken up about any of these allegations. YS reached out to the Highland City Club in Boulder for any commentary. They have not responded to our attempts to contact them.

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Beyond the Headlines: The Controversial Legacy of the Boulder Highland City Club appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

1.Eviction at the Ash House 

Your child could be evicted, too! Evicting college students on last-minute notice seems to be tolerated in Boulder County. 

The Ash House, a student apartment building on 12th Street in Boulder, housing 15 individuals, was shut down due to violations against students building extra rooms without safety inspections or approval from the city. These code violations forced the eviction of 15 individuals and 13 students attending CU Boulder. 

Brad Mueller, the director of the city’s Planning and Development Services, replied very condescendingly about the eviction of these students, stating that it was “an incredibly unfortunate situation.” The city claims the “conditions” discovered were high risk, which could cause potential health risk factors. This “unfortunate situation” has resulted in the city’s lack of attention to these health risks and violations and a disturbance in the lives of college students. 

What’s Next? The Ash House owners have now sued the City of Boulder for forcibly vacating tenants with just a few hour’s notice. City officials have said they are working to implement ways to remove these “life-threatening” factors at the Ash house. 

Regarding the individuals who have been evicted, the Boulder City County Judge has said that the students can stay at the University Hill building while the city addresses these violations. However, following the case against Boulder, on September 17, 2024, the Boulder County District Court Judge issued a temporary restraining order against the City of Boulder, preventing them from enforcing notices to tenants to vacate. Some tenants started moving back into the Ash House. 

On October 4, the city of Boulder announced that the Ash House removed the bedrooms that were not permitted by the city. Both the owners of the Ash House and the city of Boulder have resolved their legal dispute. A stipulation was filed in the Boulder County District Court, dismissing the lawsuit. 

The bigger question is, what is the city of Boulder doing to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again? What precautions is the city taking to ensure that these potential health risks and hazards do not reoccur and disturb the lives of paying college students? 

2. Penis Drawings as Senior Stamps

A Colorado teacher has been fired for “sexual harassment allegations” due to drawing penises on student forms in jest. Rebecca Roetto, a teacher at Fairview High School with a longtime standing career starting in 2003, doodled penis drawings alongside the forms and yearbooks of her graduating students as an end-of-the-year joke back in May. 

On the day that Roetto drew the penises on her student’s papers, the students returned to the school witnessing penises scribbled all across campus, which turned out to be a part of a more extensive senior prank.  Following that, students claimed Roetto didn’t have a stamp to stamp senior forms for graduating high school students, so one student recommended she draw penises on the side of the forms instead, and Roetto agreed. A security guard noticed one of the doodles on a student form and reported it immediately. 

Following an open investigation, Roetto was placed on paid leave on August 7th of this year. The District Court found that Roetto was engaging in “misconduct” and that the doodling of the penises on student forms constitutes sexual harassment. 

Even more interesting is that Colorado parents have passionately come out publicly in her defense. Many parents state that Roetto is an essential voice at Fairview High School and that the school shouldn’t throw away a 20-year-old teaching career over the mistake of doodling inappropriate drawings. Students have described Roetto as a strong voice criticizing the school’s culture and advocating for a healthier and safer school space for all students. Other students have pointed out the hypocrisy in her dismissal due to the school’s laundry list of sexual harassment allegations that have been swept under the rug. 

Roetto stands as a lioness amid the dark truth of Fairview High School. There have been countless allegations about victims of sexual harassment at Fairview High School that Roetto has publicly condemned and brought awareness to.

In 2019, three high school students pressed charges against Fairview’s star quarterback, Aidan Atkinson, who was then arrested for sexual assault and later acquitted in 2021. This is all tied to Fairview’s lack of protection of students and failure to take the necessary steps needed to prevent sexual misconduct in school. 

What’s next? There have not been any new updates about Roetto returning to Fairview High School. Sexual misconduct cases continued after the acquittal of Atkinson in 2021, even after a new principal and a claim that “changes” were happening around the school.

Fairview High School has yet to succeed in reshaping its culture and incorporating a safe and healthy environment for students and teachers. What has raised concern is the emphasis on firing a cherished teacher who was joking with her students tied to a school prank rather than focusing on genuine issues in the school that require focus and change. 

Apparently, penis drawings are more concerning to Fairview, not the continuous cases of sexual assault that have been pouring out of the school. 

3. Justin Brooks and Andrew Moore

It has been 20 years since Erie created affordable housing. Andrew Moore has sparked controversy with his claims of taking Erie back, lobbying several accusations against the current Board and Town staff that have not checked out. From the Capital Investment Fund to the budget, but it appears affordable housing is what Moore has an aversion to most. Is he borrowing a page from the Trump playbook: making wildly false statements and sorting out the bodies later?

Justin Brooks, who has served Erie, Colorado, for a few years, is committed to making housing affordable, primarily for families and seniors. This follows his support for providing relief for smaller businesses that could be affected by the minimum wage change.

On the other hand, Andrew Moore does not view affordable housing as a priority and opposes the minimum wage increase. However, there is much more to consider regarding Moore’s character. He recently allowed racist commentary against the current mayor, Justin Brooks, to remain on his Facebook profile for weeks from his supporters. Additionally, many residents have complained about the lack of responses to their questions for Mr. Moore, only to be met with radio silence.

Yellow Scene Magazine will publish our in-depth Election Guide in the next day or two. Brooks chose to be interviewed, while Moore did not return calls.

Supporters of Moore have labeled Brooks a “Marxist” and reinforced falsehoods about the sitting mayor. Is someone who has nothing to say in the face of hatred and racism truly the person who should be mayor?

What’s Next? Erieites, what kind of place do you want your town to be? Make your decision on November 5th, 2024.

The post Boiling Point: October 2024 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This piece is part of Yellow Scene Magazine’s Opinion section. The views expressed here are those of the author, and do not represent a reported news position. At Yellow Scene, opinion pieces speak freely, challenge assumptions, and say the quiet parts out loud.

I ventured into the sublime city of Boulder and made my way to the “Last Words from Palestine” exhibition at the CU Boulder campus. An array of watercolor images in the shape of kites unfolded before me. Each hung high and displayed over a coppered brick wall for passing students to gaze upon and take the time to read.

For a minute, I felt a moment of absolute silence as the wind whooshed through the water-colored kites. As they fluttered in motion, goosebumps trailed down my neck. I pictured these kites floating toward the sky, resembling the souls of every Palestinian martyr transcending into paradise—a memorial for every Palestinian who has lost their life to this prolonged, brutal ethnic cleansing campaign. 

Close up of paper kite. Photo credit: Mohammed Ahmad

Every kite revealed an image of a Palestinian murdered in Gaza or the West Bank, designed with water-colored designs of Palestinian symbols: blood-red poppies, Yaffa oranges, olive branches, old skeleton keys, and white doves, some with quotes of their last words before their martyrdom 

and quotes of their dreams and ambitions in life. Their names, ages, and occupations were also displayed, a staunch reminder of who these people were. 

This art exhibition was immensely compelling and a call to the outside world that this barbarity has existed for far too long. People who suffer from the viciousness of genocide are sometimes always forgotten. Invisible to the international world and succumbed to the insignificance of a statistic. By illuminating the visibility of these men, women, and children, SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine) is putting names and faces to the countless Palestinians viciously murdered by Israel every day. 

As I took the time to read each kite, it got me thinking about just how quickly those who suffer the horrors of genocide are erased from existence. The outside world may never know these individuals. Each of them is overwhelmingly beautiful and full of life, with dreams and immersed in so much love–many of them children. 

Israel has robbed Palestinians of basic human life, and with that, Palestinian lives have been reduced to just a number. The international world is only informed about Palestinian deaths through staggering statistics without knowing and learning about the faces and lives that Israel ruthlessly takes. 

As we witness this documented genocide unfold right before our eyes, it is immensely crucial to remember every one of our martyrs. Each loss of Palestinian life is unbearable. They all had dreams and goals, like you and me. They were all mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers alike who dreamt of incredible, beautiful things for themselves and their families. So much of

Palestinian livelihood has been demonized by the media, and the world frankly expects Palestinians to be killed silently. To take everything the colonizer gives them lying down. 

I spoke with an SJP member about the purpose of this art exhibition. She stated, “My goal with this, in addition to bringing life to these people, is to allow people to share in our humanity and to recognize that there are people just like us over there who are experiencing this suffering and pain.” It has been 326 days of genocide in Gaza. Israel has taken the lives of over 41,000 Palestinians, including over 14,000 children. These numbers are nauseating. 

Eileen Al-Khay was 7 years old. She was an artist, and she made drawings during Israel’s bombardment, which she sent to her uncle, who resided outside of Gaza. She, alongside her sister Celine, 5 years old, and her baby brother Mahmoud, who was 6 weeks old, were killed by an Israeli airstrike on their home on October 13, 2023. 

Ahmed and Asil Abu Asad were 12-year-old twins. Asil was a shy and sweet girl who wanted to become a fashion designer when she grew up. Ahmed, boisterous and full of life, wanted to become a soccer player. Two days before they were murdered, Ahmed went to the barbershop to get a haircut and told his barber, “Even if I die, I want to look neat and good.” Israel killed both Ahmed and Asil on October 21, 2023. 

Zain Al Bardasawi was aged 6 when he told his aunt, “Aunt Wafa, take me with you, hide me; I don’t want to die.” He was killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside his brother Amr and his mother Alaa. 

Sara Al-Haj, a 2-month-old baby, was killed by Israeli shelling on November 21, 2023, alongside her father, Majd, and her mother, Amani. 

Firas Al Ghaf was a baby, 1 year old. He was displaced with his family to Khan Younis due to Israeli bombardment and invasion of the Northern Gaza Strip. Firas asked his dad for a biscuit to eat. When his father left to get his son a biscuit, he returned to find him killed by an Israeli airstrike alongside 7 other Palestinians—all of whom were seeking refuge. Firas Al-Ghaf was killed on December 28, 2023. His father’s jarring words toward his son’s lifeless body, “Wake up baba, I brought you the biscuit,” as he places it in his martyred son’s hand. 

Paper kite with young Palestinian’s picture on it. Photo credit: Mohammed Ahmad

Many of the children that Israel has killed didn’t even have names yet. That’s how young they were. They were babies who hadn’t even touched the face of the earth yet. In their first breath, there is a call for their death.

This is the largest scale of mass slaughter that the world has ever witnessed. Gaza has unbearably become a graveyard for children. In a world stained in Palestinian blood, I urge you to remember every one of these martyrs’ faces. Let their names and last words be etched in your mind—I hope it haunts you forever.

The post Last Words From Palestine: A Memorial to Child Martyrs appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Israel’s violent oppression of Palestinians of all religious backgrounds has been thoroughly documented over the past 75 years. In 1948, during the creation of Israel, Zionist terrorist militias known as the Haganah, the Irgun, and the Stern gang violently uprooted and destroyed over 800 Palestinian villages and forcibly displaced and ethnically cleansed between 800,000 to 1,000,000 Palestinians from Palestine. Palestinians remark this event as the “Nakba,” which translates to “catastrophe.” Israel’s systematic ethnic cleansing campaign was planned thoroughly and ensured that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would cease to return to their homeland. Those same terrorist militias were absorbed into what is now the Israeli Defense Forces.

When you examine the propaganda machine that is the Western media, Israel is almost always portrayed as the only vibrant democracy in the Middle East. Zionist fabrication has posited Israel’s settler colonial campaign as a victim — a shining democracy amid an unstable region plagued with wars. Israel is perceived as a beacon of freedom, threatened by hostile entities who stand in the way of its colonial desires. It boasts itself as a place where Jews, Muslims, and Christians dare to coexist and live freely and happily together, side by side. 

While this perception sounds almost surreal, a magical place where the three Abrahamic religions can coexist harmoniously, Palestinians — alongside the international community — have proven Israel’s reality is quite the contrary. Israel claims to be a haven for Christians in the Middle East while simultaneously killing and ethnically cleansing Palestinian Christians.

Christmas in Bethlehem

Palestinian Christians are known to be descendants of the first followers of Christ. The West and Israel try to paint Israel’s colonization of Palestine as some sort of biblical manifest destiny while also disregarding the Palestinian Christians that Israel kills and displaces. There lies a staunch division between Western and Eastern Christianity, where the mass slaughter of certain Christian groups in the East is often ignored, tolerated, and heavily benefited Western nations. We’ve seen this play out through the genocide of Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the genocide of Assyrians.

Evangelical Christians, some of the most passionate Zionists in the world, are relentlessly pro-Israel and completely disregard the Palestinian Christians whom Israel oppresses. One of the most prominent pro-Israel groups in America is the “Christians United for Israel” organization.

This ardently Zionist group came into fruition in February of 2006 and was created and founded by John Hagee, an Evangelical pastor from Texas. Just last year, in October, the organization accumulated over $3 million in funds for Israel following October 7th.

There lies a twisted infatuation that Evangelicals have with Israel. Evangelicals believe that the Zionist colonization of Palestine is a biblical fulfillment, an ode for the return of Christ and the beginning of the rapture. Evangelicals perceive Israelis as “God’s chosen people” and Palestinians as flotsam, bait for an intended Armageddon, believed by Evangelicals as the last war between “good” and “evil” following the Day of Judgement. Today’s genocide in Gaza is perceived as a biblical prophecy.

Palestinian Christian gravesites destroyed by Israeli settlers

Gaza’s Christians are known to be the oldest Christians in the world. The Palestinian Christian community in Gaza has dwindled dramatically as Israel indiscriminately bombs the Gaza Strip. Reports say there are approximately around 800 Palestinian Christians left in Gaza. Israel’s relentless genocide puts Gaza’s Christians at risk of being entirely wiped out.

Since the genocide in Gaza began, churches, mosques, hospitals, and schools — once thought to be places of refuge and safety for Palestinians — have been explicitly targeted and destroyed by Israel.

Back in October, 2023 Israel bombed and heavily damaged Gaza’s oldest church, a Greek Orthodox church located in the Zaytoun Neighborhood. The church was being held as a place of shelter and safety for Palestinians escaping Israeli bombardment. Over 200 Palestinian men, women, children, and elderly sought refuge. 18 Palestinians were massacred, several being children.

A well-known flagrantly false notion constantly tossed around is that Palestinian Christians don’t exist. Israeli officials and diplomats will go as far as denying their existence. Just 4 months ago, the Jerusalem deputy mayor made a preposterous claim that there are no Christians nor churches in Gaza and that Hamas was the primary reason for driving them out. This is after Israel leveled churches, bombed Christian schools, and murdered thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. This is a typical case of Zionist projection.

The Holy Family Church in the Gaza Strip. Photo in public domain.

Today, only 3 churches remain in Gaza, and all of them have sustained immense damage. Palestinian Christians celebrated Easter recently in the remains of one of their last standing churches. Israel kills Christians, too. Regardless of whether you are a Palestinian Christian, Muslim, or Atheist, it is the existence of the original inhabitants of a colonized land that threatens the colonizer. 

Every single Palestinian is a reminder of the past — a reminder to Israel of what was there before them and what refuses to leave. 

Palestinian Christian Villages Remembered 

Al-Dalhamiyya was one of many Palestinian Christian villages wholly uprooted during the Nakba. It was a flourishing village in Tiberias, in the Galilee district. Known for its boosting economic life enriched with the cultivation of an array of fruits and vegetables — the village had a population of 410 Palestinian Christians.

Al-Dalhamiyya had ancient churches where Palestinians would observe Christmas and Easter. During the Nakba, Israel obliterated the village in its entirety, and its inhabitants were either killed or forcibly displaced. Today, three Israeli settlements now surround the abandoned remains of the village.

Iqrit was another ancient Palestinian Christian village perched on the Lebanese border in the Galilee district. The village had bountiful lands surrounding it; villagers were known for planting fig and olive trees, and the land surged with wheat, barley, figs, olives, and grapes. Oak and pine trees filled its midst. Iqrit was also known for a private elementary school built and run by the village’s Greek Catholic Archdiocese. Just like Al-Dalhamiyya, the village was destroyed and ethnically cleansed of its Palestinian Christian population.

Today, the Israeli settlements “Shomera,” which was founded in 1949, a year after the creation of Israel, “Even Menachem,” “Goren,” and “Gornot Ha-Galil” border and stand on top of this once beautiful village.

Kafr Biram was a Palestinian Maronite Christian village located in the sub-district of Safad in Northern Palestine. Kafr Biram stood a little over 7 miles away from the Lebanese border. During the Palestinian Nakba of 1948, Israeli terrorist militias incessantly bombed Kafr Biram. Palestinians were alarmed by the sound of bombs and immediately began fleeing their village for safety. Israel intended to uproot the village entirely, relentlessly bombing Kafr Biram as Palestinians watched overhead. One Nakba survivor from Kafr Biram said, “We climbed up the hill, overlooking the village, it was a dark hour…it was a black hour…They demolished our homes; they deprived us of any hope of returning.” 

Palestinian men, women and children must carry their possessions after being forcibly removed from their ancestoral lands, Bettman archives

Iqrit, Al-Dalhamiyya, and Kafr Biram are just a couple of hundreds of Palestinian Christian villages that were utterly destroyed to make way for the settler state. The wickedness of Israeli occupation against Palestinian Christians is no different than Israel’s cruelty against their Muslim counterparts. From the bombing of churches, the desecration of holy Christian sites and Christian graves, preventing Palestinian Christians from accessing their sacred sites during holidays, and the same apartheid system that all Palestinians are subjugated to, Israel is in no way, shape, or form a beacon of democracy nor a haven for Christians.

The post Israel Kills Christians, Too appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Palestinians never seem to be able to evade the shackles of Zionism.

The unyielding attacks on Palestinians in America have left many in a vulnerable position. The exposure of an individual’s personal information online can lead to legal consequences, yet countless Zionist organizations have been able to get away with their malicious intentions under the guise of free speech.

The lingering effects of doxing have left thousands of Palestinians and their allies constantly being libeled to the detriment of their physical and public safety. As Palestinians all across the diaspora have dedicated their lives to exposing Israel’s war crimes and fighting for the liberation of their people, Zionist animus has resorted to slander.

Doxing is a well-known, insidious strategy used by many to intimidate the most vulnerable and vocal in the Palestine movement. The organization Canary Mission culminated sometime around 2014. During that summer, Gaza experienced vicious bombardment, where Israel committed a mass slaughter, killing over 2,251 Palestinians, over 500 of them children.

During this horrific period, Palestinians all over the diaspora and allies took to the streets. They used every platform they could to expose Israel’s war crimes and express their outrage at what was happening. To counteract the ugly truth, wealthy Zionist American donors decided to fund an anonymous organization, dedicating itself to creating an anti-Israel blacklist to intimidate Palestinians.

What’s been challenging is understanding who is behind this website. Adam Milstein, an Israeli American and convicted felon, is rumored to be one of the leading donors investing millions. Although he has denied these claims, his history of de-legitimizing boycott, divestment, and sanctions; attacks on free speech; and vilifying Palestinians and people of color mirror everything that the dubious website stands for.

Many pro-Palestine organizations on college campuses have been primary targets of these doxing campaigns. National Students for Justice in Palestine is constantly vilified for its organizing of events and protests connected to the Palestine movement. Columbia University and George Washington University recently suspended Students for Justice in Palestine last November due to claims of anti-Semitism. Brandeis University has become the first private university to ban SJP from its campus, making erroneous assertions perpetuated by Zionists that the organization is a danger to Jewish individuals and supports Hamas.

These claims are intended to eliminate any support for Palestine on college campuses. Universities should be a welcoming and open-minded environment where students can feel safe to share and express their ideas. Holding protests and organizing demonstrations is a substantial part of campus life. It is concerning that students’ freedom of speech on college campuses is at stake here.

Omar, an activist and organizer originally from Gaza, elaborated on Canary Mission’s intentions: “Their goal is to silence Palestinians and allies and really anyone who speaks out against Israel. They will take the most minuscule criticisms of Israel and list them as a reason why you’re a ‘bad person.'”

One example of the villainization constantly uttered by the Zionist movement was the claim these protests on college campuses were shouting genocidal slogans against Jewish people. Zionists began spreading videos wrapped up in lies, claiming that pro-Palestine protests at UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania were calling for Jewish genocide.

The footage contained muffled chants by pro-Palestine protestors where Zionists say they were chanting, “We want Jewish genocide.” When in reality, the slogan that was being chanted at these Palestine protests was, “We charge YOU with genocide.”

This dangerous accusation has put many pro-Palestine organizations and individuals at risk of threats and violence. Omar said, “I think in a lot of ways the Zionist ideology is institutionalized in America. We’re seeing a lot of university governing bodies that are really showing themselves as being very Zionist, even if they have no ties to Israel.”

Individuals associated with pro-Palestine organizations such as SJP or BDS are almost always doxed and listed on Canary Mission as a “terrorist” and a “hateful antisemite.” This rhetoric that Canary Mission and other Zionist organizations such as StopAntisemitism constantly exude is not only dangerous but flat-out cartoonish. Omar explained how doxing has made him feel: “It’s very upsetting to have your whole life be reduced to a set of tweets, not that I don’t stand by everything I said, but it’s upsetting to be reduced to this profile that is slandering you at every possible turn, calling me an anti-Semite and a terrorist sympathizer.”

Meanwhile, many Israeli protests are filled with actual calls for genocide and hate speech. We’ve seen Israeli politicians and American ones, too, calling on Israel to flatten Gaza, claiming every Gazan is not innocent, perpetuating this demonizing image of Palestinians, and encouraging the mass slaughter of Palestinian children.

Many employers who are unaware of the site’s racist intentions may blindly find it concerning to see an employee or interviewee listed on a site like Canary Mission. Omar expressed how it is essential not to let them get to you: “Losing my job is not enough of a threat for me to stop advocating for relatives who are being butchered day in and day out in Palestine.”

Silence and intimidation come with a hidden agenda. These organizations are not genuinely concerned when it comes to anti-Semitism but are more so concerned with attacking those who speak out against Israel and condemning its laundry list of war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian people.

Not only has doxing given rise to endless online harassment, but Palestinians are constantly having to explain themselves amid the chains of hatred imposed by the Zionist movement.

There is nothing complex about this. We have a nuclear colonial state, funded by the U.S., armed to the teeth, oppressing the indigenous population. Palestinians in the diaspora are also faced with the insidiousness of Zionism: “They handpick these very specific tweets that they can use to kinda spin to paint me in a certain way,” Omar said.

This experience causes real-world harm. Doxing is known to leave long-term psychological effects. Being villainized on this site places someone in a state of constant fear for their reputation and physical safety. Nowadays, it is not hard for people to find someone’s address. Canary Mission’s disturbing cyberstalking tactics have put Palestinian lives at risk and have given power to Zionists to harass people with rarely any repercussions.

Omar said, “Every post they make about me, the comments are filled with deranged racist comments. It’s also hilarious that these apparently are not the racist comments that go against the guidelines of websites like X and Instagram, but apparently ‘from the river to the sea’ is a very racist comment and should be deleted, which is absolutely absurd.”

Wanting the destruction of Zionism is not wanting the destruction of the Jewish people, and to even have to say that shows how deeply rooted the demonization of Palestinians is. When there is a call for Palestinian freedom, it is met with the question of Israeli safety. The projection is loud and clear, as Zionists fear that once Palestinians are free, they will do what Israel has done to them.

Despite Zionists trying to make this a “Jews vs. Palestinians” situation, some of the most prominent voices in the Palestinian movement are Jewish voices.

This tired rhetoric that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism is a talking point Palestinians have had to push back on and explain themselves ad nauseum for decades. Omar said, “No one [doxxed on] Canary Mission is actually saying racist things. You know, you look through people’s Canary Mission profiles, and yeah, they’re angry about Israel, but like, what’s a Palestinian supposed to do? Am I supposed to be like, ‘Oh yeah, I love Israel?’ Yeah, I hate them, and the sky is blue.”

Palestinians are being killed, losing their homes, and being forcibly exiled from their land. According to these doxing organizations, it is anti-Semitic to resist or express any outrage towards that. Any human being on this planet would pick up arms and defend their land when faced with the horrors of colonialism. Are Palestinians supposed to greenlight their own genocide? Is it that much of a surprise that Palestinians want to see the downfall of the Zionist regime that has uprooted and occupied them for over 75 years?

No one gets to determine how Palestinians should act amid oppression. Furthermore, no one gets to define what Zionism is but Palestinians themselves because they are the direct victims of it.

Canary Mission masquerades itself as a site that intends to expose anti-Semites across the country, but in the same breath, slanders anti-Zionist Jews who also align themselves with the Palestinian cause. Ironically, the site claims to be exposing Jewish hatred while also doxing and attacking Jews who believe Palestinians should be free. It’s almost like this isn’t about anti-Semitism but more about silencing any criticism of Israel.

We urge professionals and employers to wholly understand the horrid truth behind these doxing campaigns that detriment the lives of thousands. Anti-Palestinian sentiment is profoundly ingrained to the point of acceptance. The genocide of Palestine directly affects Palestinians all over the world, and they have every right to express pain and anger toward the annihilation of their people.

The post Kill the Canary appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Simply existing as a Palestinian is challenging

I receive hate mail every day.
My friend just got fired from her job.
A man in Texas was just stabbed.
The only thing we have in common is we are Palestinian.

Since October 7, the surge of hate crimes against Palestinian Americans and American Muslims has escalated exponentially. Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian American child, was stabbed to death 26 times on October 14 by a landlord who screamed the words, “You Muslims must die.” His mother was also attacked but survived her stab wounds. On November 23, three young Palestinian men were shot for speaking Arabic and wearing the traditional Palestinian Keffiyeh.

These unsettling events echo the Anti-Arab and Islamophobic sentiments that took place post 9/11.

What is even more nauseating is the constant threats and intimidation of Palestinian livelihood. Palestinians in the diaspora risk their jobs, their positions in school, as well as their physical safety just to speak out against genocide. Anytime Palestinians in America express their support for Palestine or are vocal against Israel’s war crimes, they are met with a series of consequences.

Palestinians are in a position of constantly having to defend themselves amid genocide, settler colonialism, and the utter destruction of their homeland. While bombs are raining on Gaza, I have to take the time to explain to Jennifer why my people deserve to exist. This is due to over seven decades of dehumanization and historical ignorance toward Palestinian existence. Due to Western bigotry, Palestinians are subjected to a culmination of racist notions.

Islamophobia is rampant, the infamous image of the “barbaric Arab” perceived by the West and heavily portrayed throughout media and entertainment, is a common trope.

Then layered on top of that is this twisted belief that Palestinians are “terrorists” and “Jew haters” whose entire existence is based on the detriment of the Jewish people.

Apparently, resisting genocide is Anti-Semitic.

Palestinians are expected to be the perfect victims and accept the theft of their homeland and the denial of their existence.

Israel came to us; we did not come to Israel.

Throughout the past 4 months, we have seen Zionist celebrities and politicians deliberately calling for genocide and using genocidal language. “Turn Gaza into a parking lot,” “We are fighting with human animals,” “This is a war against the children of darkness,” “Flatten them, Flatten Gaza.” These are just a few of the disturbing genocidal statements that are said without any repercussions.

Something that genuinely needs to be examined is why Arab and Muslim hatred is so normalized in American culture. Why is it okay to demonize an entire group of people and call for their death and destruction without any outrage or backlash? Over 30,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered by Israel, and we are still debating semantics and whether or not Palestinians have a right to their land, let alone deserve to exist.

Western ideology has posited the Middle East as this region that only knows chaos, death, and destruction. This is where dehumanization comes into play and it is very prevalent when it comes to Palestine.

We have seen Palestinians being compared to Nazis, to Amalek — an ancient Semitic tribe from biblical times that endured genocide at the hands of the Israelites.

Every Israeli accusation is a confession.

Israel constantly uses this method of labeling any criticism of its belligerent war crimes as “Anti-Semitic” to end all conversations and complicate the prolonged suffering of Palestinians. Zionism has become so institutionalized in America that any criticism of the settler state is falsely labeled as “anti-semitic” and “racist.” It completely distracts from what is happening on the ground and what has been happening to Palestinians for 75 years and counting.

There are literal anti-BDS — Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions — laws throughout the country intended to silence and prevent Palestinians and allies from their unequivocal right to boycott Israeli products. Why is America pushing so hard to attack the freedom of its citizens? It should be concerning that our First Amendment right is being attacked for the sake of a foreign country that has a firm chokehold on our government.

America gives 3.8 billion dollars to Israel with the flick of a wrist to provide free healthcare, education, homes, and weapons to a settler colonial nuclear power that continues to commit genocide with impunity. Meanwhile, in America we are dealing with a homeless crisis, student loan debt, no free healthcare, and our education system is a total mess.

Through my time on this earth I have learned that there is a charge for being Palestinian. There is a very big charge that can result in the loss of your career or even the risk of losing your life.

The Palestinian experience is a lonely one, one that can result in being ousted from society and constantly faced with the denial of your existence. The truth is people are so afraid of being labeled as Anti-Semitic but are not afraid to be Anti-Arab or Islamophobic.   

The post Community Corner: Embraced Hatred appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Restaurants

24 Carrot, Erie CO

Overall EC

24 Carrot Bistro: Replicating last year’s contest nearly to a T, 24 Carrot eeks out the top spot for consecutive years. Erie’s burgeoning dining scene is attracting more and more attention, with 24 Carrot offering a new take on something that is a deep Colorado tradition if you think about it: Farm-to-Table dining.

RUNNER UP – Piripi

The Cork, Boulder CO

Overall & Best Steak Boulder

Boulder Cork: Cork’s legacy is already cemented in Boulder’s history as a beloved, but morphable institution. Since 1969 Boulder Cork has provided fine dining via a focus on locally sourced ingredients and prestigious chefs. One more first-place Best of the West is yet another feather in their cap.

RUNNER UP –  OAK at Fourteenth

Sugarbeet, Longmont CO

Contemporary EC

Sugarbeet: We told you last year in Sugarbeet’s first-place review, make reservations ahead of time! Even their website suggests so, right at the top. This is East County’s top spot for cutting-edge cuisine, there is a reason tables are so in demand.

RUNNER UP – Community

Oak on 14th, Boulder CO

Contemporary Boulder

OAK at Fourteenth: Focusing on the “multitude of cultures that have lived in Colorado, OAK at Fourteenth’s ever-changing menu reflects the season and inspirations that make dining here an experience not just a night out. An exceptional spirits list is another reason readers love coming here.

RUNNER UP – Spruce Farm & Fish

Stacy’s Kitchen, Erie CO

Newcomer EC

Stacy’s Kitchen: East County welcomed Stacy’s Kitchen by awarding them their first-ever Best of the West award this year. Whether it is sweets or sandwiches, Stacy’s has you covered. Affordable and tasty, we see why they’ve earned a spot on the list already.

RUNNER UP – Rumbo 52

Newcomer Boulder

Gemini: Spanish-influenced Gemini again takes home the Newcomer award. This just reinforces the fact that if you haven’t been, you need to go. With tapas of patatas bravas, cheeses, and olives paired with a glass of red, close your eyes and you’ll be in Barcelona.

RUNNER UP – Postino Wine Cafe

Ruby Ru’s, Boulder CO

Cheap Eats EC

Ruby Ru’s: Deciding to open a food truck is a huge step in any chef’s culinary journey. Finding enough success to take that food truck and turn it into a brick-and-mortar location is astounding. Enter Ruby Ru’s in Lafayette. Now serving affordable food from a fixed location.

RUNNER UP – Eats & Sweets

Cheap Eats & Hot Dog Boulder

Mustard’s Last Stand: Mustard’s Last Stand has been winning Best of the West awards in various categories for over a decade now. Iconic, classic, institution, whatever word you want to use to describe these Chicago-style dogs works. Gluten-free and veggie options ensure everyone can have a taste.

RUNNER UP – Illegal Pete’s

Andy Clark RIP, Moxie Bread, Louisville CO

Bread EC & Boulder

Moxie: If you want the best bread there’s only one place to get it. Boulder and East County readers both voted for Moxie in an absolute landslide. The love that Andy, rest in peace, baked into this place is still being felt in every warm loaf.

RUNNER UP (EC) – Babette’s

RUNNER UP (B) – Great Harvest

Button Rock, Lafayette CO

Bakery EC

Button Rock Bakery & Kenny Lou’s Deli: The Swiss-army knife of restaurants, Button Rock & Kenny Lou’s Deli can do it all. In this case, they’re taking home the gold for best bakery but don’t think for a second they’re just limited to baked goods! Deli, sushi, gluten-free options, if you can’t decide, just get it all.

RUNNER UP – Cherry’s Cheesecakes & Delights

Lucky’s Bakehouse, Boulder CO

Bakery Boulder

Lucky’s Bakehouse: Gluten-free, paleo, blue-corn cookies, and croissants that take two days to make, Lucky’s puts time and care into every product to ensure each customer — who pastry chef Jennifer often knows by name — can find something satisfying for their tastes. 

RUNNER UP – Shamane’s Bakery

Moe’s Broadway Bagels, Multiple Locations

Bagel EC & Boulder

Moe’s Broadway Bagels: We’re not sure if anyone will ever dethrone Moe’s from their top bagel spot. Every year it’s not even close, Moe’s wins in a blowout. We can wax poetic about the dough, flavor, and care, but just try one yourself (as if you haven’t already).

RUNNER UP – Big Daddy Bagels

Georgia Boys, Longmont and Frederick CO

BBQ EC

Georgia Boys: BBQ is personal. Each person has their taste, their perfect bite, their ideal tenderness. For what it’s worth, Georgie Boys nails it all. Check out the Smokehouse, the Shack, and the Greeley location — celebrating 10 years — or take it to-go, either way, they have you covered with great service and even re-heating instructions for ideal taste.

RUNNER UP – Lulu’s BBQ

KT’s BBQ, Boulder CO

BBQ Boulder

KT’s: Ask a real BBQ enthusiast about their favorite style and you’ll likely launch them into a diatribe about regional differences, traditional rules, and absolute no-no’s of this varied and proud American tradition. If you’re seeking Memphis style, that slow-cooked dry-rubbed pork, you’re looking for KT’s.

RUNNER UP – C’s BBQ Catering

Tangerine, Boulder, Lafayette and Longmont CO

Breakfast EC & Boulder

Tangerine (landslide): Why let eggs, pancakes, toast, and bacon be limited to morning time? Tangerine lets you satisfy your breakfast craving any time of day in either of their three locations. With quality olive oil, attention to gluten sensitivity, and a Buddhist-influenced name, Tangerine is not your average diner.

RUNNER UP – Lucile’s: Boulder, Erie & Longmont

Breakfast Burrito EC & Boulder

Santiago’s, Mulitple Locations

Santiago’s (landslide): The art of the breakfast burrito. Perfectly wrapped yet stuffed full, balancing hot, cold, spicy, and savory in a delicate concert. Readers have spoken yet again, the only place to find the perfect breakfast burrito across Boulder and East County is Santiago’s.

RUNNER UP (EC) – Taco Wagon

RUNNER UP (B) – Santo

24 Carrot, Erie CO

Brunch EC

24 Carrot: Grabbing yet another first place, 24 Carrot offers quality food for any time of day. With enough Best of the West awards to fill a novel, 24 Carrot is again shown love by readers across the area.

RUNNER UP – Morning Glory

Greenbriar Inn, Boulder CO

Brunch Boulder

Greenbriar: Oysters for brunch? Yes, please. Greenbriar’s brunch is a must-have Boulder delicacy, with fresh farm-to-table herbs and produce, and elevated American cuisine. There’s a reason why it’s topped the charts for years.

RUNNER UP – Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro

The Waterloo, Louisville CO

Burger EC

Waterloo: Named after Waterloo Records, the restaurant has a motto of “God Bless Johnny Cash,” and all of the flair and tunes to draw in 90’s music lovers. 

RUNNER UP – Rusty Melon

The Sink, Boulder CO

Burger Boulder

The Sink: Boulder’s oldest restaurant has drawn visitors like the Obamas, Guy Fieri, and Anthony Bourdain to its doors. A historical business in the region, it’s been open for more than 100 years and it features a funky, fun, and artistic aesthetic. 

RUNNER UP – Mountain Sun / Southern Sun 

Colorado Wok, Lafayette CO

Chinese EC

Colorado Wok: Colorado Wok is a stand-out restaurant for two reasons: flavor and portion size. Established in 2005, the cuisine is consistent, delicious, and fresh. The restaurant vibe is relaxed, casual, and friendly. 

RUNNER UP – Fan’s Chinese

Mason’s Dumpling House, Boulder CO and CA

Chinese Boulder

Mason’s Dumpling Shop: The first Mason’s Dumpling Shop was opened in 2001 in California when Alan Lam and Grace Li brought traditional Shenyang dumplings to the table. Today, the Boulder location embeds the same traditions into the food while featuring homemade dumplings with locally sourced produce and meat. 

RUNNER UP – Zoe MaMa

Meco’s Coffee Collective, Longmont and Lafayette CO

Coffee House EC

Meco Coffee Collective: The Meco Coffee Collective opened its doors to artists, entrepreneurs, and coffee enthusiasts in 2021 to build community. A quaint, intimate setting, the collective showcases local art while brewing one of the best cups of coffee in town. 

RUNNER UP – FOX•DOG Coffee

Coffee House Boulder

(tie) – Boxcar Coffee Roasters: Boxcar Coffee Roasters provide an experience as much as a caffeine fix. With ample interior seating and shared space with Cured sandwiches, visitors are quick to love the laid-back environment while sipping unique concoctions like a Shot in the Dark. 

(tie) – Ozo Coffee Company: A quiet but popular study space, Ozo Coffee offers one of the best single-origin espresso roasts in the area, as well as an excessive variety of non-dairy milk options. With both indoor and outdoor seating, this space is usually bustling because of its moderate prices and mellow vibe. 

Morning Glory, Lafayette CO

Gluten-Free EC

Morning Glory Cafe: Rabbit, boar, and antelope, Oh my! Morning Glory emphasizes fresh, organic, and sustainable ingredients that accommodate those with dietary restrictions, all while providing a unique upmarket menu. 

RUNNER UP – Button Rock Bakery & Kenny Lou’s Deli

Zeal – Food for Enthusiasts, Boulder CO

Gluten-Free Boulder

Zeal: Going gluten-free often means that you have to forfeit tasty food items like rolls, burgers, and bread, but not at Zeal! This restaurant offers a majority gluten-free menu with items like gyros, and mac ‘n cheese topping the list of favorites. 

RUNNER UP –  Vitality Bowls

Dessert EC

Button Rock Bakery & Kenny Lou’s Deli: This is the place to be if you’re looking for variety. From pork rolls to burrito bowls and sushi, Kenny Lou’s carves a name for itself for its in-house concoctions while Button Rock provides the most decadent, allergy-friendly cakes in town.

RUNNER UP – Cherry’s Cheesecakes & Delights

Boulder Baked, Boulder CO

Dessert Boulder

Boulder Baked: You know you’re in the right place when a wall of the bakery is dedicated to the awards that the business has received over the years. A cozy bakery in downtown Boulder, Boulder Baked makes your pastries to order, offering a variety of gluten-free options, and a coffee-shop-like aesthetic.

RUNNER UP – Lucky’s Bakehouse

Snarf Sandwiches, Multiple Locations

Colorado-Based Chain

Snarfs: Eating at Snarfs is something like a Colorado right-of-passage, with its grungy vibe and cartoon-like interior. A local chain that’s best known for its Italian Sandwich, Jimmy Seidel opened its first location in Boulder in 1996 after deciding to make the best sandwich in the world. Now, people from everywhere come to the neon-colored environment for an epic experience. 

RUNNER UP – Cosmos

Santiagos, Multiple Locations, CO

Green Chile EC

Santiagos : Santiagos is your best bet when you’re looking for no-frills Mexican food. The one ingredient that makes this place stand apart from others is its legendary green chile. It’s so good that they bottle it and sell it at local grocery stores. 

RUNNER UP – Rumbo 52

Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant, Boulder CO

Green Chile Boulder

Efrains Boulder: Efrains used to be known as the greatest hole in the wall ever, and in their spiffy new digs, they are packed all the time — just like always. It’s carved a name for itself in Boulder for its spicy green chili, which comes with chunks of pork and can be practically eaten as a bowl of soup.

RUNNER UP – Santo

Taj Mahal 3, Louisville CO

Indian EC

Taj Mahal 3: Elevated Indian food doesn’t get much more memorable than it does at Taj Mahal 3. Located in Louisville, this restaurant has been bringing rich flavors to the table for more than 20 years. The interior decor sets the vibe with traditional-style drapery and comfortable, round booths while providing a variety of northern Indian dishes. 

RUNNER UP – Flavor of India

The Taj, Boulder CO

Indian Boulder

The Taj: Chai lovers rejoice! The Taj offers the best cup in town as well as one of the most generous and fresh buffets in Boulder. Dine in comfort while feasting your eyes on a beautiful view of the Flat Irons. 

RUNNER UP – Tiffin’s India Cafe 

Parma Trattoria, Louisville CO

Italian EC

Parma Trattoria: There are few places that offer the same level of coziness as Parma Trattoria. While the restaurant is deceiving from the outside, the interior features a fireplace, trendy decor,  intimate lighting, and under which you can eat your fill of pizza and pasta. 

RUNNER UP – Gondolier

Carrelli’s of Boulder

Italian Boulder

Carellis: Garnished with an open fireplace, mosaic tiles, and warm lighting, some consider it to be an “essential fixture” in town. Plus, it has a gluten-free menu, essential for anyone with an allergy looking to indulge in classic Italian. With all its elegance, it’s hard to believe it started as a sandwich shop so many years ago. 

RUNNER UP – Pasta Jay’s

TeoCalli, Lafayette and Arvada CO

Mexican  & Taco EC

TeoCalli: Typically a very busy restaurant, TeoCalli blends traditional cuisine with contemporary flair. Readers voted them both Best Mexican and Best Taco, so you know what to order! The atmosphere is lighthearted but slightly elevated. It’s full of food classics like tacos and delicacies like bone marrow. 

RUNNER UP – Rumbo 52

Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant, Boulder CO

Mexican Boulder

Efrains Boulder: Efrains was established in 1998, bringing classic Chihuahuan cuisine to Boulder. The restaurant is colorful and bright, like the food, and the people. It’s even taken home the title of Boulder County People’s Choice award for Best Mexican Food 12 times. They have won YS’s BOW year after year since we added Boulder in 2009.

RUNNER UP – Santo

Pump House Brewery, Longmont CO

Patio EC

Pumphouse: Pumphouse was a pioneer, one of the first to open on Main Street with an eye on the future. That vision has proven to be a good one, since 1996 the Pumphouse is usually packed. Daily deals on things like Bloody Marys, hard teas, and margaritas keep locals coming back throughout the week. The atmosphere is also another appeal, with decor harkening back to mythical firehouse days (it was never a fire station) the building itself is well over 100 years old.

RUNNER UP – Birdhouse

West End Tavern, Boulder CO

Patio Boulder

West End Tavern: Incredible BBQ platters, numerous local awards, acceptance of everyone, and incredible views of the nearby peaks all draw readers to West End Tavern. Known for their wings, in fact, over 100 people have completed their “Winginator Challenge,” the sides are nothing to scoff at either

RUNNER UP – Rosetta Hall

Piripi, Erie CO

Lunch EC

Piripi: Piripi brings European, specifically Spanish, influences to Colorado. Sometimes overshadowed by other nearby cuisines — French and Italian — Spanish food and international influences have made their mark on Erie, and our readers, yet again. The children’s playroom is a unique idea for parents who want a night (or lunch) out, and still enjoy the elegance Piripi offers. 

RUNNER UP – Jeannot’s Patisserie & Bistro

SALT, Boulder CO

Lunch Boulder

SALT the Bistro: Farm to table lunch? Planning a baby shower? Beignets, bolognese, and brunch? There’s one answer to all these questions, and it’s SALT the Bistro. From private events to sustainable lunches and gluten-free choices, SALT does everything well, which is so incredibly rare.

RUNNER UP – Raglin Market

Snarf’s Sandwiches, Multiple Locations

Sandwich EC & Boulder

Snarfs: Snarf’s reigns Sandwich Supreme, once again taking this category in a landslide. People love sandwiches, and there were so many good contenders in this race, it’s just people really love Snarf’s toasted sandwiches, which are called Snarfies. 

RUNNER UP (EC) – Stacy’s Kitchen

RUNNER UP (B) – Organic Sandwich Co

Reelfish Fish & Chips, Lafayette CO

Seafood EC

Reelfish Fish & Chips: You might love Reelfish now, but wait until you see the changes owner Dimas Asevedo and Chef Justin Richardson have in store for you. Chef Justin says he just loves to prepare foods that satisfy the community. Watch for his ever-growing menu additions!

RUNNER UP – Piripi

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar

Seafood Boulder

JAX Seafood: There was this time our publisher went on a date at Jax Seafood and she ate three dozen oysters. Poor fella. If it swims in the ocean Jax will give you the satisfaction you crave, even if its all oysters. 

RUNNER UP – Spruce Farm & Fish

Urban Field Pizza, Longmont and Boulder CO

Pizza EC

Urban Field: A newcomer to the community, winning YS Best of the West is not their first award. These folks have taken the town by storm already racking up local and national awards, including placing 7th in the 2023 International Pizza Competition in Las Vegas. But it’s not just their pizza that will take satisfy you. Their chef-driven menu takes a unique interpretation of their favorite dishes. And while your there be sure to check out their pantry.

RUNNER UP – Westbound & Down

The Sink, Boulder CO

Pizza Boulder

The Sink: You do not make it to 100 years as a restaurant and bar without becoming an absolutely beloved institution. From celebrity visits to raucous college nights and incredible pizza, The Sink represents the best of “Old Boulder.” They are a perennial winner and again take home first place in a landslide.

RUNNER UP – Cosmos

740 Front St, Boulder CO

Steak EC

740 Front St: 740 Front is one of Colorado’s two oldest bars, the oldest ongoing tavern license in the state, and to the community, a priceless treasure steeped in memory and local lore. 740 Front is the last remaining saloon of the original thirteen that lined the 3-block strip of Front Street.” That bit of history is from the website. But the steaks and seafood reign supreme here as well, which might be why they have a 4.3 score by visitors. 

RUNNER UP – Law’s Chophouse

Boulder Cork, Boulder CO

Steak Boulder

The Cork: Quite simply, The Cork is the quintessential perfect restaurant. Their steaks and prime rib are their signature dishes, and naturally, they are perfect, too.

RUNNER UP – 316 Steakhouse

Sakura Japanese Restaurant, Longmont CO

Sushi/Japanese EC

Sakura: Kho and Mindy opened Sakura the year before YS started. Our publisher first discovered Sakura while out on yet another date. She has been a loyal customer since. Truly authentic Japanese cuisine and in her words, the best sushi you can find. Check out Kho’s special creations, they will delight. She likes them so much she just tells Kho to make her whatever he wants.

RUNNER UP – Kenny Lou’s at Button Rock

Hapa Sushi, Multiple Locations

Sushi/Japanese Boulder

Hapa: Fun, funky and everyone’s favorite. Hapa takes a unique twist with their Hawaiian style sushi and Japanese cuisine but the ambiance and service will blow you away as much as the specialties. 

RUNNER UP – Japango

Busaba Thai Restaurant, Louisville, Boulder and Erie CO (Longmont coming soon)

Thai EC

Busaba: Everyone loves Busaba. If you have ever been to Thailand, you will see why. Truly authentic Thai recipes made Thai style, not American. The Louisville location has a line every weekend, and their success has led to opening Boulder and Erie locations, with Longmont coming this year. 

RUNNER UP – Thai Kitchen

Aloy Thai, Boulder CO

Thai Boulder

Aloy Thai: Mom and daughters as chefs, real spice and flavor, there’s even a write-up on the Food Network website! Loy Thai is where it’s at for the real deal, bringing Bangkok to Boulder

RUNNER UP – Busaba

Pho Cafe, Lafayette CO

Vietnamese EC

Pho Cafe: Large portions, vegan options, and great online reviews all point towards why readers love Pho Cafe. Come warm your soul with a bowl of Pho and taste the crisp crunch of their eggrolls.

RUNNER UP – Jennie’s Kitchen

Chez Thuy, Boulder CO

Vietnamese Boulder

Chez Thuy: Thuy has been running Chez Thuy since 1993. In their custom style, they thank the community for the good fortune they have been given to serve. John Lehndorff has called it “most successful, least-known restaurateur in the city’s dining history.” What we know is the Vietnamese cuisine is 100% authentically Thuy. 

RUNNER UP – Boulder Pho

Marco’s Hot Dog’s & Tacos, Longmont CO

Hot Dog EC

Marcos: Hotdogs might be the ultimate American street food. There are endless combinations and simple classics that always hit the spot. The sizzling hot grill is always a good sign. Want the ultimate Mexican street food? You can get delicious hotdogs and incredible tacos all in one spot. Readers love the taste and choices.

RUNNER UP – The Dugout Grill & Bar

Mustard’s Last Stand, Boulder and Denver CO

Hot Dog Boulder

Mustards Last Stand: Mustard’s Last Stand has been an icon in Denver and Boulder since 1978. If you want a true Chicago-style Hot Dog the only place you will find one as good as Mustard’s is in Chicago.

RUNNER UP – Freddie’s Hot Dog Stand

Teocalli, Lafayette and Arvada CO

Taco EC

TeoCalli: They call them street tacos, but everything TeoCalli does is modern, innovative, and fresh. Find both traditional and some really unique spins on the taco here.

RUNNER UP – Dugout

McDevitt’s Taco Supply, Boulder and Denver CO

Taco Boulder

McDevitts Taco Supply: Can tacos be soul food? At McDevitt Taco Supply they can. Readers love the authenticity, the love, and the passion tasted in every ingredient. With multiple locations, catering, and food trucks, there are numerous ways to snag a bite.

RUNNER UP – T/ACO

Morning Glory, Lafayette CO

Healthy Meal – EC

Morning Glory: It is with special honor that we write this year’s Best of the West for Morning Glory, learning that founder and chef Julie Lieb left us in 2023, daughter Lili is continuing on the legacy of melt in your mouth dishes. 

RUNNER UP(s) – Roots Restaurant & Dickens Opera House

Healthy Meal – Boulder

Thrive, Boulder CO

Thrive: Whether you are a carnivore or a plant eater, Thrive proves that you can have amazing taste, be all organic, and forego the meat for a meal. Their smoothie concoctions and soups are their signature. 

RUNNER UP – Wonderpress

Chef Hugo, Piripi, Erie CO

Chef EC

Hugo Meyer of Piripi: Chef Hugo came to Erie via Argentina with stops all over Europe and even the Caribbean, no one knew what was coming to town when Piripi opened in Erie. Now three years later, they have become well-established as a Boulder County 4-star restaurant with a 4-star chef at the helm, and very much worth the drive to Erie. 

RUNNER UP – Kevin Kidd of 24 Carrot

Chef Bradford Heap, Salt the Bistro, Boulder CO

Chef Boulder

Bradford Heap of SALT: There is not one thing Bradford does that he doesn’t do with full passion. While classically trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, there is nothing archetypical about Bradoford’s cuisine. Throughout his time in Boulder Bradford’s passion for what we put in our bodies and how it tastes is embodied in all that he serves. 

RUNNER UP – Eric Skokan of Bramble & Hare/Black Cat

Chocolaterie Stam, Lafayette CO

Chocolatier EC

Chocolaterie Stam: Although Valentine’s just passed, there’s no reason not to stock up on chocolate still! Stam’s offers fast delivery, multiple adorable boxes to choose from, and B2B options as well. 

RUNNER UP – Robin’s Chocolates

Chocolatier Boulder

Piece Love & Chocolate: Ever wanted to make your own chocolate? Come to a class at Piece Love & Chocolate and dive into the world of crafting your own sweets! Offering cakes, truffles, and delivery options as well, it’s hard to go wrong exploring, eating, and creating here.

RUNNER UP – Moshka

DRINKS

Erie Social Club, Erie CO

Overall Bar EC

Erie Social Club: Erie Social Club’s owners are a couple of Hawaiian-shirt-wearing, Disney-loving cozies who welcome all to their cocktail roost of warmth with everything from “barkcuteries” for the “fluffies” to “bookclub for the bibliophiles”. Peppered with fun, relevant events, you’ll find a multitude of excuses to roll in for a delicious bev. Our publisher certainly does. 

RUNNER UP – William Oliver’s

The Corner Bar, Boulder CO

Overall Bar Boulder

Corner Bar: Around since the 70’s and located in the historic Boulderado Hotel, Corner Bar provides the mob boss ambiance only a pre-2000’s establishment of worn, polished wood can. With live jazz every Friday night and a killer happy hour, this classy joint serves nostalgia with every tasty dish and pour. 

RUNNER UP – Rosetta Hall

Liquid Mechanics, Lafayette CO

Brewery EC

Liquid Mechanics: Liquid Mechanics is frequented for its personable staff and standout beer selection – brew reviews abound with “delicious” and “unique.” With different food trucks every day, a cheerful patio, pub games, and a quiet place to set up your laptop in the barrel room, this brewery is a go-to for a chill hang.

RUNNER UP – Odd 13

Mountain Sun, Southern Sun, Boulder CO

Brewery Boulder

Mountain Sun: A local classic, Mountain Sun is a freshly authentic Colorado spot for a quality bite and brew (without plastering the Colorado flag all over the walls). With an accommodating atmosphere and menu, you can bring your loudest, pickiest family members and leave feeling full, sunny, and a little crunchy.

RUNNER UP – Avery Brewing Co

Lucile’s, Multiple Locations

Bloody Mary EC

Lucile’s: Lucile’s generous Bloody Mary rendition refreshes and satiates with cajun spice and lush garnishes. Okra and a juicy, little shrimp accompany the classic olive-celery combo to check the essential Bloody Mary boxes of nuanced goodness. Added bonus: seriously delectable breakfast food to knock it down.

RUNNER UP – The Dugout Grill & Bar

Buff Restaurant, Boulder CO

Bloody Mary Boulder

The Buff: The Buff’s Tatanka (pronounced Ta-Tank-Ya) Bloody Mary should be called the Bang-for-Your-Buck Bloody Mary. This delicious doozy is served in a giant mason jar, garnished with veggies and BACON, and when ordered with an entree, the price drops from $9 to…drum roll please…$0.99. See you there for brunch, obviously.

RUNNER UP – West End Tavern

Erie Social Club, Erie CO

Happy Hour EC

Erie Social Club: Pop into this local watering hole for a happy hour of $7 cocktails — the classics ala Old Fashioned and Palomas, done right — and $5 snacks and beers. Come for the deals, stay for the friendly atmosphere. It’s the perfect stop on your way home from one of those lucky, got-off-early days!

RUNNER UP – 95a Bistro & Co

The Corner Bar, Boulderado, Boulder CO

Happy Hour Boulder

Corner Bar: With a diverse selection of appetizers and cocktails, Corner Bar’s happy hour menu offers vittles off the aperitif beaten path for easy prices. Stop in on a snowy day for a cup of veggie chili and a glass of Pinot Noir in the sanctuary of one of Boulder’s oldest-standing buildings.

RUNNER UP – Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro

West Side Tavern, Longmont CO

Margarita EC

West Side Tavern: It’s no surprise that this posh spin on a classic is the brainchild of powerhouse couple Debra Heiser and Westley Isbutt, owners of West Side Tavern and creatives harkening from Vegas. Swapping lime juice for lemon and garnished with burnt sage soaked in Green Chartreuse, this margarita brings the glitz to full deliciousness.

RUNNER UP – North Side Tavern

Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant, Boulder CO

Margarita Boulder

Efrain’s: Efrain’s, a bright, charming establishment, with a pretty patio for sunny days, boasts THIRTEEN different varieties of margaritas and a lifetime of awards. They offer spicy or skinny, silver or gold, smoky or tropical – basically a marg for every palette. Anchor your buzz with a scrumptious entree and satisfaction is complete.

RUNNER UP – Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Spirit Hound, Lyons CO

Distillery EC

Spirit Hound: Lyon’s canine-themed distillery Spirit Hound, offers cocktails in three categories: Purebred, Off-Leash, and Dog Bowl. Visit the motorcycle repair shop turned distillery and tasting room to sample liquors distilled in their pristine all-copper pot still. Locally sourced ingredients, tours, and cocktail classes consummate Spirit Hound as a must-visit.

RUNNER UP – Abbot & Wallace

DV8, Boulder CO

Distillery Boulder

DV8 (Deviant Spirits): DV8, a self-proclaimed island of misfits, is a celebratory, queer-owned oasis of lust for life. With drag nights, DJ competitions, and stirring cocktails like A Hot Night in Bangkok (with chili-infused vodka and red curry!), DV8 provides a space for our freaky selves to let down and commune with boast-worthy booze.

RUNNER UP – Vapor

Bartender/Mixologist EC

Erie Social Club: Erie Social Club’s mixologists have a reputation for being friendly and well-versed in their trade. Patrons call out individual bartenders in their reviews – a quick scroll mentions Steven, Talon, and Jose. If you’re looking for a thoughtful drink recommendation and a welcoming atmosphere, this 3-time 2024 Bests winner is it.

RUNNER UP(s) – 24 Carrot & Piripi

Bartender/Mixologist Boulder 

Corner Bar: Racking up a third win in 2024’s Bests, Corner Bar is being celebrated for its service this time around. With local reviews that span from “made my night” to “prompt and friendly”, the kind and attentive bartenders give us yet another reason to stop in at this local classic.

RUNNER UP – The Bitter Bar

Liquor Store EC

Superior Liquor: It’s a really big store, that’s for sure.

RUNNER UP – Country Line Wine & Spirits

Hazel’s Beverage World, Boulder CO

Liquor Store Boulder

Hazel’s: For a ninth year in a row, Hazel’s wins by a landslide. With an epic selection, you can score rare, high-end items at competitive prices, plus your usual faves. Their amiable staff is accommodating to everything from large orders for parties to personalized recommendations. Hazel’s is a one-stop shop for libations.

RUNNER UP – North Boulder Liquor

Atlas Valley Purveyors, Lafayette CO

Wine Shop EC

Atlas Valley Purveyors: Atlas Valley Purveyors is more than a wine shop. Hard-to-find bottles and specialty gifts make it ideal for buying for the hosts in your life. Next time you’re planning a party, hit up the in-house grocery and butcher sections for an exceptional charcuterie. It’ll be a guaranteed hit!

RUNNER UP – Kuper Wine Bar

Boulder Wine Merchant, Boulder CO

Wine Shop Boulder

Boulder Wine Merchant: Run by master sommelier Brett Zimmerman, Boulder Wine Merchant boasts a cult following of locals. Its meticulous reputation, due to its tasteful selection and Brett’s personal relationships with wine-makers in the field, holds true. Check the website for free tasting events and featured picks that cover a generous price range.

RUNNER UP – Hazel’s

BookCliff Vineyards, Boulder and Palisade CO

Winery

BookCliff Winery: BookCliff Winery, a family enterprise, began with a former peach orchard in Palisade in 1995, and converted into a sustainable vineyard with fourteen grape varieties. The Boulder tasting room offers candle-lit dinners, classes, and a beautiful venue for parties. Visit for a relaxing wine-shopping experience or a chat with their experienced staff.

RUNNER UP – Silver Vines Winery

Entertainment

The Collective, Lafayette CO

Art Gallery EC

The Collective: Sometimes being in an art museum or gallery can be a stuffy experience. The Collective, however, fosters community and encourages everyone from students to senior memory care patient groups to visit. Referred to by one reviewer as the “gem of the community,” it’s easy to see how the gallery inspires guests with its diverse exhibits. 

RUNNER UP – Firehouse Art Gallery

Dairy Arts Center, Boulder CO

Art Gallery Boulder

Dairy Arts Center: The Dairy Arts Center has been a community staple since 1992. Guests can enjoy several free galleries that display photography, paintings, and other visual mediums by local, national, and international artists alike. Frequent visitors note that along with the exhibits, the Center’s beautiful, inviting space keeps them coming back. 

RUNNER UP – BMOCA

Nissi’s, Lafayette CO

Stage & Live Music Venue EC

Nissi’s: Come for the music, stay for the food. Seriously, one of the aspects of Nissi’s that keeps people coming back is its dishes like the Southern fried chicken strips, hummus plate, Rocky Mountain trout piccata, and more. Plus the venue’s extensive beer, wine, and cocktail list make it the perfect date night spot. 

RUNNER UP – Steinbaugh Pavillion

Stage Boulder

Glen Huntington Bandshell “Boulder Bandshell”: Not many venues can boast that they’ve brought the community music for nearly 100 years–unless it’s Boulder’s Bandshell. First built in 1938 by the Lion’s Club, concertgoers continue to flock back to this outdoor stage. Many visitors note its beautiful lights, open-sky concerts under the stars, and a rotating group of musical acts make it the perfect hangout spot. 

RUNNER UP – Daily Art’s Center

Boulder Theater, Boulder CO

Live Music Venue Boulder

Boulder Theater: The Boulder Theater is hard to miss with its large, bright art-deco sign beckoning passersby to come in. The venue has been showcasing comedians, jazz, rock, disco, movie festivals, and more for nearly 100 years. Take a step back in time, and see why concertgoers enjoy this small intimate venue with big performance energy. 

RUNNER UP –  Fox Theater

Quarters Var & Arcade, Longmont CO

Arcade EC

Quarters Bar + Arcade: Husband-and-wife duo Luke and Emily Kunselman always wanted to start an arcade bar in their hometown of Longmont. And in 2019 they opened Quarters and it has become a community staple. Customers appreciate the small but thoughtful curation of arcade games as well as the pour-your-own tap system.

RUNNER UP – Tilt!

Press Play, Boulder CO

Arcade Boulder

Press Play: Throughout the day, families can enjoy a number of kid-friendly games at Boulder’s Press Play, like Giant Jenga and Donkey Kong. However, in the evening, the venue transforms into an adult hangout. Frequent customers (and those who wished they lived closer so they could be) note that along with the games, there’s a dance floor and a full bar. 

RUNNER UP – Gateway Fun Park

Pumpkin Patch

Cottonwood Farm: Whether you have kids or not, going to a pumpkin patch and picking that all-important fall decoration is a must. Cottonwood goers note how this small, uncrowded farm offers its charm. Not to mention, parents appreciate that its entrance fees are quite reasonable. 

RUNNER UP – Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch

FACE Vocal Band, Colorado

Local Celebrity EC

FACE Vocal Band: FACE formed well over a decade ago. And while some members have come and gone the group remained. Today, you can find them touring around the world and performing 100 shows a year. But of course, this Boulder group makes time to perform for the fans at home, captivating audiences with their sophisticated yet fun beats.

RUNNER UP – Chef Hugo

Celebrity Boulder

Deion Sanders “Coach Prime”: Already a legend in the sports world, Coach Prime shocked many by choosing to come to CU Boulder. His multiple Superbowl rings and reputation as a playmaker and showboater earned him admiration and derision alike in his playing days (depending if he was on your team or not!) but everyone loves him now.

RUNNER UP – Ralphie 

Longmont Museum, Longmont CO

Museum EC

Longmont Museum: The museum started as a humble display in a carriage house back in 1940. But it has since grown to encompass an 11,000-square-foot facility with plans to expand. While it offers several art displays, the history section is not to be missed. In it, you’ll find 17,000 artifacts, 10,000 historical photos, and a greater understanding of the Centennial State.

RUNNER UP – Lafayette History Museum

Museum of Boulder, Boulder CO

Museum Boulder

Museum of Boulder: Museumgoers note that this is the perfect spot for locals and travelers alike to get to know Boulder better. In 1944, the Boulder Historical Society committed to preserving the area’s artifacts and stories. It grew from occupying the second floor of a schoolhouse into a downtown facility with an annual $1 million budget. 

RUNNER UP – University of Colorado, Boulder Museum of Natural History

Longmont Theatre, Longmont CO

Theater  EC

Longmont Theater Co.: Theater can be hit or miss. But attendees continuously note the Longmont Theater Co. consistently puts on fantastic plays with high-quality production value that keeps them coming back. Not to mention, many note the ticket prices are quite reasonable. 

RUNNER UP –  Arts Hub

Theater Boulder

Dairy Arts Center: If you’re a fan of ballet, plays, contemporary dance, and other performing arts, then Dairy Arts Center is a must-visit. Along with thought-provoking performances, guests also note that the theater has excellent acoustics, comfortable seats (which is not always a guarantee), and delicious snacks.

RUNNER UP –  Local Theater Company

Lafayette Music Fest, Multiple Locations throughout Lafayette CO

Festival EC

Lafayette Music Fest: There’s no shortage of musical artists in the Centennial State. And in 2022, the nonprofit Rock for the People decided to gather them all in one place at the Lafayette Music Fest. Two years later, concertgoers can enjoy multiple stages across different venues. Not to mention tickets have clocked in at past events for under $40. 

RUNNER UP –  Erie Pride & Juneteenth by Being Better Neighbors

Boulder Creek Festival, Boulder CO, www.bouldercreekfest.com

Festival Boulder

Boulder Creek Festival: It seems prices everywhere continue to creep (or skyrocket) up and up. But Boulder Creek Festival offers 30-plus local bands across three stages completely free of charge. Not to mention, it’s also jam-packed with kid-friendly concerts and games. But of course, if you want to escape from the family for a bit, purchase tickets to the beer festival.

RUNNER UP –  Bluebird Music Festival

Health & Beauty

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness, Longmont CO

Day Spa EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness: Blue Skies has built up a regular clientele, which is due in large part to their staff taking the time to help customers find the best treatment option. Additionally, many spagoers note that they feel taken care of from the moment they arrive until they leave. 

RUNNER UP –  Body Bar

St. Julien Hotel & Spa, Boulder CO

Day Spa Boulder

St. Julien Hotel & Spa: Sometimes, a 30-minute massage just isn’t enough. Thankfully, St. Julien is the perfect weekend getaway. A community staple for nearly two decades, guests praise the highly attentive and friendly staff as well as the amenities offered like the sauna, steam room, and more. Of course, if you can’t make a weekend out of it, you can pop in for a quick massage or facial. 

RUNNER UP –  Dragontree

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness, Longmont CO

Facial EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness: Guests note that staff takes the time to get to know your skin type to recommend the best treatment. Additionally, Blue Skies also offers full facials specifically geared towards men and teenagers, meaning anyone can enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation. 

RUNNER UP –  Smooth Intentions 

Dragontree Holistic Day Spa, Boulder CO

Facial Boulder

Facial B (tie) – St. Julien Hotel & Spa

Dragontree: Guests note that the serene and tranquil vibe makes relaxing easy while taking advantage of their facials, which range from classic to ayurvedic options. Those who have gone to treat themselves at Dragontree also note that the staff is willing to help without pressuring you into treatments, which is very much appreciated.

St. Julien Hotel & Spa: St. Julien’s location and quiet campus allow one to truly step outside the hustle and bustle for a bit. Additionally, their facial options run the gamut in terms of treatment type, price, and time, so there’s something for everyone. 

RUNNER UP –  Alchemy Face Bar

Maven Hair Studio, Lafayette CO

Salon EC

Maven Hair Studio: One of the first upscale salons to open in East County Maven’s owner Laura, has been creating hair creations for 25 years. This particular review captured our attention; I LOVE this place! Laura is an amazing colorist and hair stylist…She set my hair free!

RUNNER UP –  95th St. Salon

Voodoo Hair Lounge: Voodoo is an artistic, community-oriented salon that’s known for its precision and talented stylists. In addition to providing unforgettable styles, this business diverts 93% of its waste through composting and recycling. Voodoo aren’t just good stewards of the environment, they are community partners.

RUNNER UP –  Twig Salon

Woodward Barbers, Erie CO

Barber EC

Woodward Barbers: An old-time classic in a new-time kind of town. Woodward Barbers is a classic barbershop that operates with finesse and attention to detail. Clients love this location because of its laid-back, comfortable atmosphere and endless supply of snacks.

RUNNER UP – Thunderbird Barbers

Hennepin Barber, Boulder CO

Barber Boulder

Hennepin Barbers: Head to South Boulder to snag an appointment with one of Hennepin’s top-notch barbers. An artistic shop with luxurious vibes and great background music, clients can expect a leisurely experience due to the appointment-based structure. However, shop owner Ben still runs his barber shop with a small-town feel.

RUNNER UP –  The Boulder Barbers

Siam Sensation, Longmont and Boulder CO

Massage EC

Siam Sensation: Not the first win for Siam Sensation, this multi-time winner provides a great massage that takes walk-in appointments and delivers the finest Thai massage in the county. But they offer both traditional Thai massages and mixed massages that prioritize opening the body to provide long-term relief. If you want to feel better this is a great place to book an appointment

RUNNER UP –  Blooming Massage

Moving Mountains Massage, Boulder CO

Massage Boulder

Moving Mountains Massage: Moving Mountains specializes in injury healing and stress relief through the medium of massage. But it’s Jesse’s skilled hands that make the difference. The fifth time that it’s topped the Best of the West charts, while it’s another feather in the cap for their business, it’s a win for your sore body. 

RUNNER UP –  Siam Sensation

95th St Salon, Lafayette CO

Manicure/Pedicure EC

95th Street Salon: When 95th St Salon opened it was not much more than a place to get a haircut. But the last twenty years have changed in our County and 95th has changed with it. Today it’s a full-service Aveda salon and spa that also does great nails.

RUNNER UP –  She Nails, Erie

J Lounge, Boulder CO

Manicure/Pedicure Boulder

J Lounge: Walking into J Lounge feels like you’ve entered into a contemporary, slightly elevated spa. The personable staff members make it many clients’ go-to location for manicures and pedicures in Boulder. 

RUNNER UP –  Contempo Nails

Valar-Aesthetics, Erie CO

Medi Spa (Medical Treatments) EC

Valar Aesthetics: A knowledgeable industry-leading staff goes a long way in the medical treatment industry, and that’s a quality that Valar Aesthetics provides. This team is beloved by the community for its sensitivity and personal charm. Unlike some businesses, Valar isn’t trying to sell a product. Instead, it focuses on client care and the relationships created.

Rinnova Skin & Body, Boulder CO

Medi Spa (Medical Treatments) EC

Rinnova Skin & Body: What’s better than temporary skin treatments? Treatments that are designed to provide lasting results for clients. Rinnova emphasizes renewal, safety, and natural healing that meets the client where they are. This quality team of specialists is sensitive to your needs while emphasizing quality educational support. 

Chiropractic Center of Erie & Longmont, CO

Chiropractor EC

Chiropractic Center of Erie & Longmont: Years ago we wrote that Dr Dave has the best hands in town. With over 25 years of tending to his patients’ needs, Dr Dave has consistently won because he is a master at helping you resolve pain. They take a full-body approach that includes soft tissue and muscle work with each adjustment. They also offer cupping and dry-needling. 

RUNNER UP –  Wurth Chiro

Chiro Now!, Boulder CO

Chiropractor Boulder

Chiro Now: Located in a strip mall in Boulder, Chiro Now doesn’t exactly toot its own horn. However, locals are quick to become loyal to this team of practitioners due to their accumulative level of expertise and patient care. These chiropractors take extra steps to get to know the patient and their ailments prior to making adjustments. 

RUNNER UP –  Swan Lake Chiropractic 

Jasper Animal Hospital, Lafayette CO

Veterinarian EC

Jasper Animal Hospital

It’s usually pretty easy to determine who owns a pet and who doesn’t. So, walking into Jasper Animal Hospital is quite an experience. The hospital’s team provides full-service care while making both you and your pet feel like family. 

RUNNER UP –  Erie Animal Hospital

Arapahoe Animal Hospital, Boulder CO

Veterinarian Boulder

Arapahoe Animal Hospital: Founded in Boulder in 1954, Arapahoe Animal Hospital has been a staple business within the city for more than 75 years. In addition to treating common pets like dogs and cats, this hospital supports the treatment of exotic animals, and every creature is treated with sensitivity. This is also the place to go to acquire a hard-to-get diagnosis for your pets. 

RUNNER UP –  Rise Vet

Boulder Community Health, Multiple locations

Medical Center EC

Boulder Community Hospital Erie/Lafayette: Boulder Community Hospital is best known for its expertise in the treatment of strokes, heart conditions, and neural conditions. While many hospital visits come with long wait times, BCH is quick, and efficient, making it easier to receive the care you need. 

RUNNER UP –   Strive Direct Health

Boulder Medical Center, Boulder CO

Medical Center Boulder

Boulder Medical Center: Boulder Medical Center makes patient care simple by accepting most insurance networks and simplifying the onboarding process. The center’s staff are friendly, and kind. And the facility, itself, is a multi-practice location which makes it easy to address all of your needs at once. 

RUNNER UP – Kaiser Permanente Baseline Medical Offices

Hospital EC

Good Samaritan Hospital: Lafayette’s Good Samaritan Hospital provides comprehensive care, but its pediatric center goes above and beyond the call of duty to support mothers and children. The facility contains a “Nook” or an area where new moms can go to get comfortable and bond with their baby. 

RUNNER UP – Longmont United Hospital

Hospital Boulder

Boulder Community Hospital: With more than 400 physicians practicing within the Boulder Community Hospital network, it’s no wonder why so many patients find the care they need. And the Boulder location is known for its outpatient care, which makes clients feel comfortable and supported on their medical journey.  BCH has been caring for people in Boulder since 1922, and for East County since the early 2000’s, but their practical approach to medical care has made them one of the best. 

Dentist EC

Dr. Greg Keene, Keene Smiles, Lafayette CO

Keene Smiles: This office has a loyal client base for a reason. First, it’s one of the last locally owned and operated dental offices. Dr. Keene approaches dentistry with sensitivity and kindness. In addition to providing world-class care, he also offers a membership option to those who don’t have health insurance, demonstrating his support of the Lafayette community. 

RUNNER UP – Brian Cope of Cope Family Dental

Dr. Colleen Kimball Bullard, Folsom Family Dental, Boulder CO

Dentist Boulder

Folsom Family Dentistry: While many dentistry businesses prioritize symptom management, Folsom Family Dentistry emphasizes preventative care for the whole family. What also throws this office into the spotlight is the laid-back, relaxed atmosphere. 

RUNNER UP – Gunbarrel Family Dentistry

Doctor EC

Dr. Brown – Strive Direct Health: Dr. Brown commands respect as soon as he walks into the room – and it’s not just because of his 6”7 stature. His knowledge, personality, and dedication to the person he treats make him a giant fixture in the Erie community. Booking appointments and getting in to see Dr. Brown makes it easy to prioritize your own health. 

RUNNER UP – Dr Bauer – Valar Family Medicine

Doctor Boulder

Dr. Carl Moritz – Crossroads Medical Center: Dr. Carl Moritz founded Crossroads Medical Center more than 25 years ago, and quickly established himself as an independent, personal physician in the region. Today, his business is one of the few that remains small enough to provide wholesome, ground-up care. 

RUNNER UP – Dr. Christa Ambrose – Clinica

Shopping

Brown’s Shoe Store, Longmont CO

Shoe Store EC

Browns: Brown’s Shoes in Longmont is what is called a Legacy business. After all, they have been serving locals since 1949. They have stayed in step with time and you will always find the latest in footwear in stock.

RUNNER UP – Jax Ranch and Home

Two Sole Sisters, Boulder CO

Shoe Store Boulder

Two Sole Sisters: Need some sass and beauty in your life? Try the beautiful, sassy styles at Two Sole Sisters. Embrace every season’s beauty from comfy sandals to waterproof boots–your feet won’t just do the walking; they will do the talking, too.

RUNNER UP – Pedestrian

Carbon Valley Eyecare, Frederick CO

Eyewear EC

Carbon Valley Eye Care: When Carbon Valley Eye Care opened the largest optometrist practice in the North Metro area, we kind of thought they were nuts for building out East. But their incredible selection and earned reputation for specialty eye care have made them a BOW winner year after year since opening.

RUNNER UP – Eyecare Center for Northern Colorado

Envision, Boulder CO

Eyewear Boulder

Envision: Since 1966 Envision Eyewear has been helping Boulderites see up the mountain and down the road. Their reviews tell you why they have been a local favorite all these years.  

RUNNER UP – Tom’s Sportique Eyewear

Eric Olson, Louisville CO

Jewelry EC

Eric Olson: One of two Master Jewelers in Colorado, Eric Olson is a true craftsman. He is so old school, he didn’t even have a computer to check you until a couple of years ago. That is because he is focused on the art of how to adorn us.

RUNNER UP –  Thalken

Hurdles Jewelry, Boulder CO

Jewelry Boulder

Hurdles Jewelry: The oldest store on Pearl Street and known to be a downtown treasure, Hurdles Jewelry is a first-generation, family-owned business that opened in 1947. They win year after year because year after year, they are true to their community with the highest quality and personalized service. 

RUNNER UP – Walters & Hogsett 

Ivy Rose, Longmont CO

Fashion Boutique for Women EC

Ivy Rose: For a long time East County folks had to drive to Boulder or Denver to go shopping. Not anymore. Main St. Longmont has become a destination for local shopping, and Ivy Rose is one of the reasons why. Always stylish clothes to adorn our bodies with but what makes the experience shopping here unique is their stylist on staff who can help you find the perfect outfit, all while keeping the prices within reach. 

RUNNER UP – Charmed 33

Apocolypse, Boulder CO

Fashion Boutique for Women Boulder

Apocalypse: Nostalgic for that vintage style? Mom jeans, oversized shirts that’ll make you smile? Apocalypse can deck you out like the Goodfellas, the 60’s hippie, or just really funky. Everything is unique here. 

RUNNER UP – Jacque Michelle

Acme Fine Goods, Louisville CO

Men’s Clothing EC

Acme Fine Goods: For the longest time, East County had very few options for men’s clothing aside from department stores at the mall. Mall no more! Acme Fine Goods has everything men want to wear. 

RUNNER UP – Jax Home & Ranch

Canoe Club, Boulder CO

Men’s Clothing Boulder

Canoe Club: With regal high-end streetwear, get pulled into a world of immaculate clothing options like nothing you’ve seen before. With polished floors and old jazzy tunes playing overhead, you will leave Canoe Club feeling like you’re in your own movie scene.

RUNNER UP – Heady Bauer

Found Underground Consignments, Louisville CO

Consignment Clothing EC

Found Underground: Funky, fun, and filled with Love, Found Underground has an eclectic mix of what to wear, all while actively supporting the LGBTQ community. 

RUNNER UP – Fabulous Finds

Rag’s Consignment, Boulder CO

Consignment Clothing Boulder

Rags Consignments: Rags is the Queen. In our 24 years, they have consistently won Best of the West just about every year. While it’s consignment shopping at Rags is like shopping new in a hip, chic environment.

RUNNER UP – Apocalypse

Downtown Longmont, CO

Shopping District EC

Downtown Longmont: Longmont is cool these days. Longmont is what Boulder was 30 years ago, a vast array of locally owned shops run by community members. And man has it changed from a sleepy farm town to a desirable downtown. All they need now is dancing at night!

RUNNER UP – Downtown Lafayette

Pearl St, Boulder CO

Shopping District Boulder

Pearl St.: A street whispering tales of old eras, known for its long history of surviving years of attempts at modernization, Pearl Street has seen it all! Immerse yourself in its timeless beauty, you’ll find yourself always coming back.

RUNNER UP – 29th St. Mall

Bookstore EC

The Read Queen: Who says print is dead? The Read Queen is proving people want books. Good books, unique books, printed reading material of all types. In addition to the cafe and bookstore they also now have a gathering space to sit and enjoy all that wonderful print (which is good for the brain too).

RUNNER UP – Barbedwire Books

Boulder Bookstore, Boulder CO

Bookstore Boulder

Boulder Bookstore: In 1977 Pearl St became a walking mall, the same year Boulder Bookstore opened. Other Pearl St Mall businesses have come and come, but Boulder Bookstore has remained a bastion of democracy and a vast resource of knowledge since where you will find over 20,000 sq ft with over 10,000 titles. 

RUNNER UP – Barnes & Noble

Florist EC

Lafayette Florist: Back in 1949 East County didn’t have a whole lot except old mining towns that were starting to shut down the mines. Lafayette Florist opened that same year as a garden haven for East County residents. A lot has changed in East County since, and Lafayette Florist has changed with it. Today you will find them at Arapahoe Rd and Hwy 287 still arranging the freshest floral bouquets you can find. 

RUNNER UP – Longmont Florist

Florist Boulder

Fiori: Fiori, meaning flower in Italian, Fiori is also fluent in the language of flowers. You will be reminded of the essence of the Italian riverside, as you celebrate joy and life-changing moments through the remnants of nature’s beauty. 

RUNNER UP – Sturtz & Copeland

Longmont Museum gift shop, Longmont CO

Kid’s Store EC

Longmont Museum: In 2023 YS covered the People’s History of BOCO & the North Metro. March 2023 was Longmont’s feature. But if you want to learn even more about this area head to Longmont Museum. However, Longmont Museum is so much more than history, you will find interactive exhibits, events, and performances all year. Longmont Museum is a central hub for Longmont culture. 

RUNNER UP – Adorn

Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe, Multiple Locations, CO

Kid’s Store Boulder

Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe: Since 1977 Grandrabbbits has been a magical and whimsy wonderland, Dive into a fantasy world of Cheshire cats and white rabbits, educational toys, and more. You will want to play as much as your kid will. 

RUNNER UP – Childish Things

Vintrey Honest Goods, Lafayette CO

Gift Shop EC

Vintrey Honest Goods: Vintrey is a family-owned, ethical shopping destination that provides gift options for everyone on your list. Toting their own brand of handmade items from India (jewelry, leather goods, and textiles), as well as sustainable brands and small-batch goods, their products are defined by an elegant simplicity. Feel-good shopping, for sure.

RUNNER UP – Timbalier

Cedar & Hyde, Boulder CO

Gift Shop Boulder

Cedar & Hyde Mercantile: The minimalist beauty of Cedar & Hyde manifests in chic clothing, elegant jewelry, and artful home goods. The owners were inspired by their own parents’ retail operation as children, and assured that “all are welcome to enter and linger.” And their loyal customers do, finding the mercantile to be a shopping sanctuary.

RUNNER UP – Bliss

Natural Goods EC

Natural Grocer / Vitamin Cottage: With a sweet, helpful staff (who will even hold your baby for you while you load up your groceries), Natural Grocers has a warm, community feel and high standards for their products. The knowledgeable employees keep the store clean and well-stocked, creating a peaceful place to shop for high-quality items.

RUNNER UP – Sprouts

Natural Goods Boulder

Sprouts: Sprouts’ friendly staff will go beyond to help you find what you need. From their beautiful produce to their affordable prices on natural brands, you can check off an entire week’s shopping list in one stop. And pop by the sandwich counter for a righteous lunch deal while you’re there! 

RUNNER UP – Nude Foods

Grocer EC

Natural Grocer / Vitamin Cottage: With a second win in Best’s 2024 lineup, Natural Grocers’ organic produce is top-notch, alongside a unique array of snacks and shelved products. They’re also the best prices on vitamins around! So stop in on your way home and let a thoughtful employee help you find what you’re looking for. 

RUNNER UP – Sprouts

Grocer Boulder

Whole Foods: Not all Whole Foods are created equal. But frequent fliers at the Boulder location note that the staff is incredibly helpful, even when it comes to hunting down the most esoteric of ingredients. Additionally, along with the huge selection of grocery staples, shoppers love browsing this location’s extensive specialty section. 

RUNNER UP – Lucky’s Market

Pet Supply EC

The Happy Beast : If you’ve ever been served an ad for the newest, healthiest dog food and immediately felt like an awful person for what you’re serving your canine, you’re not alone. But the truth is finding the best option for your dog is difficult—not to mention costly. Thankfully there’s Happy Beast. Shoppers note that the store’s friendly and knowledgeable staff help guide them to the health food that’s best for their dog and wallet. 

RUNNER UP – Dee-O-Gee

Pet Supply Boulder

PC’s Pantry: Along with offering a wide array of pet supplies at reasonable prices, PC’s also has an extensive pet bakery with dozens of special cookie options, ranging from Dawgoritos to Pup-kin cookies. Because treat culture isn’t just for the girlies. It’s easy to see why one shopper called PC’s the best pet supply store in the world. 

RUNNER UP – Only Natural Pet

Furn Consignment, Broomfield CO

Consignment and Re-Used Furniture EC

Furn Consignment: Skip IKEA cookie-cutter furniture and decorate your home with pieces that reflect your taste. Furn shoppers note that the furniture is beautiful, well-made, and (perhaps most importantly) reasonably priced. The owners are committed to uplifting local artists. And whatever doesn’t sell is donated to charities like the local African Community Center. 

RUNNER UP – Fabulous Find

The Amazing Garage Sale, Boulder CO

Consignment and Reused Furniture Boulder

The Amazing Garage Sale: This isn’t your neighbor’s garage sale. Customers keep coming back to this Boulder staple to browse its wide array of photographs, eclectic jewelry, furniture, sculptures, and more. There’s always something new to find and the prices are quite reasonable. 

RUNNER UP – Glenwood Wildlife Thrift Store

Quilter’s Corner, Erie CO

Quilting EC

Quilter’s Corner: One customer notes she walked into Quilter’s Corner looking for buttons and left with the supplies to start a whole new hobby. Indeed, shoppers note that Quilter’s friendly staff, classes, and open sewing spaces keep them inspired and coming back. 

RUNNER UP – The Presser Foot

Elfriede’s Fine Fabrics & Quilting, Boulder CO

Quilting Boulder

Elfriede’s Fine Fabrics & Quilting: One shopper called Elfriede’s a 40-carat diamond. Indeed, this quilting hotspot has been a community staple for 50 years. Customers note that its huge selection of fabrics, wool, garments, and other clothes is unmatched. 

RUNNER UP – Art Parts

Little Horse Vintage, Louisville CO

Record Store EC

Little Horse Vintage: Books and music in one place? Hell yeah. Customers say walking into Little Horse is like walking into a time machine. A community staple since 2001, this spot offers an eclectic collection of vintage books, records, and other trinkets. Not sure about the record? You can try it before you buy it by listening to it in the shop’s decked-out music closet. 

RUNNER UP – Absolute Vinyl

Paradise Found Records & Music, Boulder CO

Record Store Boulder

Paradise Found Records & Music: Paradise has existed in a few different forms and under a few different owners for years. But the shop’s current owner, Will Paradise, had been a longtime customer before buying it in 2016. Customers love the eclectic mix of old, new, and used records for reasonable prices. 

RUNNER UP – Beat Bookshop

Monkton Guitars, Broomfield CO

Musical Instruments EC

Monkton Guitars: Most shops start as a brick-and-mortar and then transition into an online shop. But Monkton began as an online store in 1989 and eventually opened its physical location in 2019. Shoppers love the Monkton’s fair prices and knowledgeable staff who are ready to answer questions without being overbearing. But what locals love is just coming in and jamming with the owner. 

RUNNER UP – Guitar Hut

HB Woodsong’s, Boulder CO

Musical Instruments Boulder

HB Woodsongs: HB Woodsongs is not just a big part of the music community, they are a Boulder icon. Along with an exceptionally helpful staff, the shop’s classes and open jam sessions help students of all levels hone their skills and connect with fellow musicians since 1971. 

RUNNER UP – Boulder Drum Shop

Cannabis EC

Complete Releaf: Customers note how Herbal Wellness has a thoughtfully selected but wide array of products to choose from. Staff are friendly and eager to answer questions. Plus, they have a large selection of artisan glassware. 

RUNNER UP – Terrapin Care Station

Cannabis Boulder

Native Roots: Go just about anywhere in Colorado, throw a rock, and you’ll probably hit a Native Roots dispensary. Seriously, they are everywhere (but please don’t actually do that). One can guess that’s due in part to the chain’s friendly and knowledgeable staff who meet you where you’re at with your cannabis knowledge without being condescending. 

RUNNER UP – Elements Boulder

Tattoo Shop EC

Main Street Tattoo: Sometimes, dealing with artists and staff at a tattoo shop can be a rushed and stressful experience. Definitely, not what you want when you’re about to permanently draw on your body. However, customers appreciate Main Street’s conscientious staff who will sit down with you, talk out your ideas, and come up with a design you’re happy with. 

RUNNER UP – Inksmith

Tattoo Shop Boulder

Bolder Ink: Walk into the oldest tattoo shop in Boulder and you’ll instantly feel the laid-back, friendly vibe. In other words, the perfect atmosphere for a tattoo. Customers have written they make special trips from outside of the state to Boulder Ink for a new tattoo.

RUNNER UP – Rising Tide Tattoo

HOME & HOOD SERVICES

Downtown Lafayette, CO

Old Town EC

Downtown Lafayette: Lafayette may be a small suburb, but it’s making a name for itself with the pioneering affordable housing initiatives most of us need in this economy.  Downtown Lafayette not only appeals to residents enjoying a quieter life but also for college students and millennials looking for a good restaurant for studying or brunch. 

RUNNER UP – Downtown Erie

Old Town Boulder

Mapleton Hill Historic District: Often considered one of Boulder’s poshest neighborhoods, it’s a treat for those who love to see elaborate and historic homes. The neighborhood is home to The Squires-Tourtellot house, constructed in 1865, which is believed to be the oldest house in Boulder. 

RUNNER UP – Pearl St

Callahan House, Old Town Longmont CO

Neighborhood EC

Downtown Longmont: Downtown Longmont has the downtown charm but with enough restaurant and shop options that fill every need. Aside from business establishments, downtown Longmont also hosts plenty of music and social events on the downtown streets. 

RUNNER UP – Indian Peaks

NOBO, Boulder CO

Neighborhood Boulder

NOBO Art District: Reigning champ from last year’s BOW, NoBo art district continues to be a fan favorite with the art enrichment opportunities it offers to the art lovers and artists in Boulder. Hosting art events like art exhibits, NoBo is a community-focused, grassroots organization.

RUNNER UP – Mapleton Hill

Furniture EC

Living Spaces Denver: Grab a soft pretzel from the Living Spaces Cafe and shop for quality furniture pieces at the Thornton store location. Want to shop from home? Customize your furniture pieces online. 

RUNNER UP – Woodley’s

Furniture Boulder

Boulder Furniture and Mattress: Started in 1999 by a CU business grad, feel cozy not only about your high-quality furniture purchase but that you’re supporting a local family business. Owner Cary Schram advertises that love and his relationship with customers as the most important approach to business. 

RUNNER UP – Arhaus 

Lottie Lane, Erie CO

Home Furnishing EC

Lottie Lane Erie: Taking the title again, Lottie Lane in Erie offers customers unique home decor pieces that you won’t find in many other homes while supporting a local realtor turned business owner. 

RUNNER UP – Due South

Proud House Studio, Boulder CO

Home Furnishing Boulder

Proud House Studio: Owner Megan doesn’t stop at the design drawing board. With an understanding in the construction process, she will oversee the plan to completion. A solo world traveler, Megan seeks creative inspiration from traveling the globe. 

RUNNER UP – Boulder Furniture Arts

Budget Home Supply, Longmont CO

Home Improvement EC

Budget Home Supply: Budget Home Supply has supported local non-profits like Habitat for Humanity and The Our Center since the beginning. They’ve even worked with hundreds of Boy and Eagle Scouts assisting them with supplies to complete their projects. Locally owned since 1984.

RUNNER UP – Ace Hardware

McGuckin Hardware, Boulder CO

Home Improvement Boulder

McGuckin Hardware: What’s more Colorado than allowing dogs at your establishment? At fan favorite McGuckin Hardware Boulder loves dogs so they let dogs in on the experience. With wholesome community touches like Nancy the harpist who plays during the holidays, it’s not surprising they often win this category.

RUNNER UP – Table Mesa Hardware

Outdoor Craftsman, Erie CO

Landscaper EC

Outdoor Craftsmen: Outdoor Craftsmen delivers clean modern twists on your English garden design with a sensitivity to the ecologically tricky nature of landscaping in Colorado. With modern eastern design inspiration, Outdoor Craftsmen can help create a real-life Rockies zen garden.

RUNNER UP – Wild Heritage Garden & Design

One Earth Landscape, Boulder CO

Landscaper Boulder

One Earth Landscapes: One Earth Landscape isn’t just any old landscape service. Founder and owner Jim Zarka not only boasts over three decades of experience, but he also holds a degree in landscape architecture, plus a strong resume of wide-ranging experience from academia, the Glasshouse of Boulder,  to Parks and Rec departments, which is why Boulder readers trust One Earth above all others.

RUNNER UP – Matrix Gardens

The Fowler Group, Boulder County CO

Realtor EC

Brie Fowler at the Fowler Group: Clients describe Brie Fowler the way one describes a trusted friend. She eases anxiety in the home-buying process, always has time for her clients, and is patient and accommodating to their particularities. A breadth of knowledge, handed down through Colorado generations, only adds a job done well to her just-plain-nice-to-be-around-ness. 

RUNNER UP – Paul Dart

Realtor Boulder

Arn Rasker-Sotheby’s: Arn is a Renaissance man, fluent in three languages, with a background in design and engineering. Often involved in unique properties, his varied and valuable credentials shine through in his work. Described as trustworthy, knowledgeable, and a great listener, his clients are in capable (and interesting!) hands.

RUNNER UP – Dena Schlutz- Estate Professionals

Plumber EC

Colorado Green Plumbing: Pulling this category by a landslide, Colorado Green Plumbing has a reputation for being fair, honest, and showing up promptly for same-day calls. When you add reasonable pricing and good work to that list (plus some free maintenance advice), well then you’ve just defined “perfect plumber.”

RUNNER UP – Around The Clog

Plumber Boulder

Mesa Plumbing: The folks at Mesa Plumbing are patient, and timely, and communicate clearly while providing quality service. They even tend to check in later to make sure everything’s still going well. It’s like your supportive dad came over to take care of it for you, but you insisted on paying him. 

RUNNER UP – Colorado Green Plumbing

Contractor EC

Silver Contracting, Boulder County CO

Silver Contracting: Drawing repeat customers due to quick work producing gorgeous results, Silver Contracting puts up interesting, freshly-designed builds. Customers describe the process as smooth, even “fun” – the rarest of contractor descriptors. Whether it’s a meticulous reno on a historical home or an out-of-the-box new build, they got you.

RUNNER UP – BC Home Services

Cottonwood Home Builders, Boulder County CO

Contractor Boulder

Cottonwood Custom Home Builders: Cottonwood’s creative, custom homes are stunners. Their impressive work spans from modern builds to green remodels. Customers praise their timeliness, attention to detail, and a tendency to land on budget – or under! Advocating for their clients and adapting to new technologies, these guys nail the journey and the destination. 

RUNNER UP – Melton

Reinholt Tree Care, Boulder County CO

Reinholt: Reinholt handles it. Prompt, affordable, and tidy, they’re honest and won’t recommend unneeded work. The pruning they provide is thoughtfully done – even artful! And they’re not just aesthetically accommodating; they’ll leave wood chips behind if you want to skip the haul to the garden center for mulch this spring.

RUNNER UP – St Vrain Arbor Care

Berkelhammer Tree Experts, Boulder County CO

Tree Service Boulder

Berkelhammer: This team of conscientious trimmers has a decades-long reputation for thoroughness – considering environmental impact (the bees!), safety, cleanliness, and friendliness. Their loyal customers come back for Berkelhammer’s accommodating attitude and expertise in pruning – for tree health and beauty. With good prices and an honest team, you’re all set.

RUNNER UP – Blue River Forestry

Stan’s Automotive, Lafayette CO

Auto Repair EC

Stan’s Automotive: Stan’s is the elusive auto shop that is steadfastly honest and communicates clearly. They even have short videos on their site to help you understand service choices, like replacing an air filter or brake fluid. Amenable to customers’ schedules and budgets, this family operation has had a faithful following since 1973. 

RUNNER UP – Grease Diva Garage

Pellman’s Automotive, Boulder CO

Auto Repair Boulder

Pellman’s Automotive: Pellman’s is all about customer care. Clients’ stories report exceptional service: they don’t always charge for small, surprise issues, they follow up, and they even leave space in their schedule for emergencies. From the pup in the front office to the affordable prices on your way out, they’re your honest, hometown automotive.

RUNNER UP – Hoshi Motors

Attorney EC

 Gstalder Louisville Law Firm: With three decades of experience in non-profit, dispute, and business law (to name a few), John Gstalder and the Louisville Law Group braid their knowledge and efficiency with a compassion that brings real understanding to the table. Clients appreciate their willingness to help in a crisis and their affordable rates.

RUNNER UP – Bagley Law Firm

Attorney Boulder

Frascona Joiner Goodman & Greenstein PC: Responsive and prepared to work under a time crunch, FG&G PC prioritizes their client’s needs in a real way. Keeping humanity at the forefront, they’re good listeners who are willing to dive into complex cases, making sure that nothing slips through the cracks. With efficiency and care, they ease clients’ anxiety.

RUNNER UP – The Moorhead Law Group

Glass

Slade Glass: Slade Glass is prepared to work with tricky fixes that others won’t. Their quick turn-around and clear communication work to create a stress-free project or repair. Prepared to fit emergencies into a busy schedule, they can tackle your glass needs from storefront windows to shower doors. Just give em a call!

RUNNER UP – Hillcrest Glass

Elevations Credit Union, Multiple Locations

Bank/Credit Union

Elevations: Elevations is known for going out of their way to help clients in a pinch. Diane Sawyer, in particular, who helps guide clients through loan decisions, is heralded as one of the best bankers in the area. Personable and professional, she’s there to walk you through otherwise tough and complicated decisions.

RUNNER UP – Premier Members CU

Fisher Honda-Acura, Boulder CO

Car Dealership 

Fisher Honda-Acura: Quoted as offering “the most pleasant car-buying experience”, Fisher Honda Acura has a speedy response time and can work patiently with any budget or schedule. They understand that a reliable car is often a pressing need, and they’re here to make that process seamless for their customers.

RUNNER UP – Boulder Toyota

Sister Carmen, Lafayette CO

Nonprofit EC

Sister Carmen: Sister Carmen Community Center’s roots harken to the 70’s in the humanitarian work of a nun with a heart for the community. A non-religious nonprofit, they provide access to health resources, housing connections, support groups, and advocacy for those struggling economically. Where there is a need, there is Sister Carmen.

RUNNER UP – Longmont Humane Society

EFAA (Emergency Family Assistance Association), Boulder CO

Nonprofit Boulder

EFAA: The Emergency Family Assistance Association steps in when situations are dire, keeping struggling families in the community from drowning in hardship. Among other invaluable resources, they offer a food bank, financial assistance, housing, and after-school kids’ programs, making a felt difference daily.

RUNNER UP – Growing Up Boulder

Congressman Joe Neguse, Boulder County CO

Politician

Joe Neguse: Congressman Joe Neguse made history in 2018 when he became the first Black member of Congress in Colorado. He was ranked among the top ten most effective lawmakers in Congress and has been recognized for his bipartisanship. The son of Eritrean immigrants, Joe works to expand opportunities for ALL Americans.

RUNNER UP – Mayor Justin Brooks

Barry Snyder, Fruitsticker Artist, Erie CO

Artist EC

Barry Wildman: Barry “Wildman” Snyder is known locally and internationally for his food sticker mosaic art. Upcycling the most forgettable trash into compelling, highly-elevated works of art, he creates unforgettable pieces that allow us to dream of a more vivid, sustainable world.

Angie Nordstrum, Boulder CO

Artist Boulder

Angie Nordstrom: Angie Nordstrum is a vibrant, inspiring muralist with a heart for the homeless. Through her generous spirit (not to mention, her killer smile) and art that feels quintessentially Coloradan, she brings a bright light to the streets of Boulder and beyond.

Kids & Education

Place to Play with the Kids EC

Lafayette Splash Pad: There’s nothing better than a free spot that can also entertain your kids for hours. The outdoor splash pad located in the festival plaza runs from Memorial to Labor Day weekends. 

RUNNER UP – Wow! Museum

Place to Play with the Kids Boulder

Valmont Skate Park, Boulder CO

Valmont Skate Park: Resembling the surface of the moon, a kidney, or a mitochondria cell, Valmont Skatepark is a free, 11,000-square-foot concrete skatepark with features to polish up your skate skills. 

RUNNER UP – ABC Kids Climbing

Dawson School, Lafayette CO

Private School EC

Dawson School: Lafayette’s Dawson School boasts a 100 percent college acceptance rate and more than six million dollars in merit scholarships among its alumni. With well-rounded offerings, multiple sports teams have qualified for CHSAA State Playoffs among music and academic accolades. 

RUNNER UP – Aspen Ridge Prepatory School

Private School Boulder

Boulder Valley Waldorf School, Niwot CO

Boulder Valley Waldorf School: What’s more Boulder than a Waldorf school? The 38-acre Niwot campus supports the growth of students, parents, and teachers while fostering a reverence for nature and environmental stewardship through the dreamy natural setting of the school. 

RUNNER UP – Friends School Boulder

Centaurus High School, Lafayette CO

Public School EC

Centaurus: Centaurus High School is a small town school offering big school programs like a unique pre-engineering program and I.B. and A.P. courses. The school is ranked #55 among Colorado high schools.

RUNNER UP – Erie High School

Boulder High School, Boulder CO

Public School Boulder

Boulder High School: Historically Boulder High School has been known as the funky, free-spirited school with a reputation for political activism. Located in a fun downtown location for students looking to be plugged into the city, Boulder High School was the first high school in Colorado. 

RUNNER UP – Horizons K-8

Square State Skate, Boulder County CO

Summer Camp EC

Square State Skate: Want to start early on getting your child on track to becoming a skateboarding star? Square State Skate School provides skateboard education and guidance for children of all ages while emphasizing the kids, not the tricks. Fun fact, founder Brian Ball, worked at YS in the early days!

RUNNER UP – School of Rock

Renaissance Adventures, Boulder CO and beyond

Summer Camp Boulder

Renaissance Adventures: There are worse characters for your child role-play than the chivalrous knight. Renaissance Adventures offers live-action role-playing programs throughout the year teaching lessons beyond just sword fighting and becoming heroes of a mythic quest. 

RUNNER UP – Avid 4 Adventure

School of Rock mural, Broomfield CO

Music School EC

School of Rock Broomfield: From James Brown, White Stripes and Green Day students of School of Rock Broomfield are covering the heavy hitters. Plugging in young and adult musicians into live music settings, the School of Rock teaches individual lessons and offers group band practices. 

RUNNER UP – Center for Musical Arts

Harmony House Music, Boulder CO

Music School Boulder

Harmony Music House: Get a private music lesson or get plugged into the bluegrass, teen rock, or jazz scenes by joining an ensemble. Harmony also can set up, repair, or restore your beloved instrument.

RUNNER UP – HB Woodsongs Teaching Studios 

Sports

Louisville Cyclery, Louisville CO

Bike shop EC

Louisville Cyclery: For another year running, readers have voted for the Louisville Cyclery The shop is also one of the oldest in the county, serving the community since 1980, and is staffed by bike-loving professionals who assemble the bikes custom on-site.

RUNNER UP – CycleErie

Full Cycle, Boulder CO

Bike shop Boulder

Full Cycle: Full Cycle, voted by readers as the best bike shop in Boulder, holds to its mission to serve road cyclists and triathletes in the area. Full Cycle is a great place to purchase a new bike or get a current bike worked on while enjoying a coffee at their on-site shop.

RUNNER UP – Community Cycles

Ski shop EC

Angels Sports: Located in Longmont, Angels Sports supplies gear, rentals, and tuning for every ski or rider, whether headed up to a resort or exploring the backcountry.

RUNNER UP – Snow Hut

Crystal’s Ski Shop, Boulder CO

Ski shop Boulder

Crystal Ski Shop: Serving skiers and riders since 1976, Crystal has been dazzling clients with their expert service. They are beloved in this community not just because of Justin and the staff’s expertise and knowledge, but the truly local vibe that comes with this Boulder institution. 

RUNNER UP – Boulder Sports Recycler

Jax Outdoor Gear, Lafayette CO/Multiple Locations

Outdoor Retailer EC

Jax Outdoor: Jax has a large range of outdoor gear for everyone from the experienced backcountry athlete to the nature novice. Jax is also dedicated to the earth, donating proceeds to several environmental organizations and prioritizing sustainable distributors.

RUNNER UP – Angles Sports

Neptune Mountaineering, Boulder CO

Outdoor Retailer Boulder

Neptune Mountaineering: With gear, guidebooks, a coffee shop, and professional service for any level of mountain athlete, Neptune is a pillar of the outdoor scene and has served the community since 1976. Patrons love the knowledgeable staff and on-site museum.

RUNNER UP – REI

Indian Peaks Golf Course, City of Lafayette, CO

Golf Course EC

Indian Peaks Golf Course: With eighteen holes with mountain vistas, Indian Peaks, located in Lafayette, it’s easy to see why readers voted it as the golf course in the county. With a course designed by a hall of fame player, an academy for all levels, and a bar and grill, there is something for everyone.

RUNNER UP – Colorado National Golf Course

Golf Course Boulder

Flatirons Golf Course: A par-70 course with views of the flatiron formations, Flatirons offers easy-to-book online tee times, classes, and ADA-approved features. Run by the city of Boulder, it is an inclusive and welcoming space.

RUNNER UP – Lake Valley

Gym EC

Louisville Rec Center: With options ranging from free weights, circuit training, workout rooms, and machines, Louisville Rec Center is the best gym in the county. Whether you want to lift alone, join a class, or hire a personal trainer, there is an option for all.

RUNNER UP – Fitness 1440

Gym Boulder

North Boulder Rec Center: Spacious with south-facing windows, the North Boulder Rec Center…. With a cardio and weight room and several drop-in or scheduled classes, there are options for all ability levels.

RUNNER UP – Movement

Rec Center EC

Bob Burger Rec Center: Fun for all ages, the Bob Burger Rec Center Has youth afterschool and recreation programs, a spacious gym, and a great pool. Classes are offered throughout the day for adults and children who want to get in shape or try a new activity.

RUNNER UP – Erie Community Center

Rec Center Boulder

North Boulder Rec Center: Not only was North Boulder voted the best gym, but the best all-around rec center in Boulder. With a full gymnastics and aquatics center, pickleball and basketball courts, plus a pool and standard gym, kids and adults alike will find something fun to do.

RUNNER UP – East Boulder Rec Center

Eldora Mountain, Nederland CO

Ski Resort – Day Trip

Eldora: Just over thirty minutes from Boulder, Eldora is our reader’s favorite day-trip ski area. The resort hosts both a downhill mountain and a Nordic center. The whole family will have fun with everything from a magic carpet for the littlest beginners to several double black diamonds for the expert clientele.

RUNNER UP – Loveland

Ski Resort – Overnight

Steamboat: Located in the historic town of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Resort boasts some of the highest snowfalls in Colorado, serviced by 23 chairlifts and 181 runs ranging from extreme to beginner. Steamboat also offers a variety of apres for a post-ski celebration.

RUNNER UP – Winter Park

Chroma Jiu Jitsu, Lafayette CO

Martial Arts EC

Chroma Jiu Jitsu: New to Lafayette, Chroma Jiu Jitsu has already won Best of the West! The academy offers programs for both adults and children, which an inclusive and accepting atmosphere, making it clear that all are welcome.

RUNNER UP – Bennett’s Karate

Martial Arts Boulder

Easton: Easton was voted the best Martial Arts Center in Boulder, specializing in Jiu Jitsu and Mui Thai. With programs for adults and children led by professional coaches, any skill level can grow in the sport. With a dedication to health, Easton focuses on hygiene and sanitation, ensuring their space is pristine and a safe environment.

RUNNER UP – Boulder Karate

Soul Tree Yoga, Lafayette CO

Yoga EC

Soul Tree Yoga: A part of the community since 2009, Soul Tree Yoga, located in Lafayette, with 40+ classes offered a week, both in person and online, in English and Spanish, and for all ability levels, is an inclusive and welcoming place.

RUNNER UP – Louisville Community Yoga

Yoga Pearl, Boulder CO

Yoga Boulder

Yoga Pearl: With classes ranging from gentle restorative to faster flow; the studio focuses on building inner and outer strength for their clientele. Their several workshops, on top of classes, there are plenty of opportunities to grow a yoga practice in the studio.

RUNNER UP – Little Yoga Studio

Pilates for Life, Longmont CO

Pilates EC

Pilates for Life: Focused on the success of each individual, each client will start their journey at Pilates 4 Life with three private sessions before having the option to move to the group setting. Claudia Miller, the owner, places comfort and confidence as the main priorities in her business.

RUNNER UP – Rocky Mountains Pilates

The Pilates Center, Boulder CO

Pilates Boulder

The Pilates Center: Opened by The Talyor Sisters in 1990, the Pilates Center was voted the best Pilates Studio in Boulder. With both in-person and online classes, the studio focuses on providing classes to all ability levels. As a franchised chain, the Pilates Center offers some of the best services in the county, and a membership can be used in other cities or states.

RUNNER UP – Boulder Pilates

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

The post Best of the West 2024: Readers Choice appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Exploring the human impacts of Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh

(Cover Photo: Russian and Azerbaijan soldiers)

“What’s gonna happen to our family? What’s gonna happen to our house and the home that we built there?” said Anahit, an Artsakh Armenian from the village of Martuni, whose worry and uncertainty reflect hundreds of thousands of Artsakhcis today.

Artsakh is an appendage to the Armenian nation. There are traces of ancient history mottled throughout Artsakh, standing as a powerful symbol affirming their long-standing ties to the land. The region encompasses an array of captivating untold stories unfolding into a daunting past and present.

The Gandzasar Cathedral, which translates to “mountain of treasures,” is one of the most prominent churches in Artsakh’s history and was built in the 13th century. Artsakh is also home to the Amaras Monastery, which is known to be the first Armenian school. When asked about the deliberate targeting of Armenian holy and ethnic sites, Anahit revealed some of the severe damage, “You can see pictures of the cathedral today, and the top of the dome is completely detached, and it’s on the floor.”

Damage to cathedrals hit by Azerbaijani military. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

February 2024 marks six months since the brutal land theft of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its indigenous Armenian population. Al Jazeera stated, “Armenia says more than 100,000 people fled Nagorno-Karabakh,” which has now made the region nearly devoid of its indigenous Armenian population for the first time in thousands of years. This was followed by a ruthless 9-month blockade, which resulted in the starvation and endangerment of hundreds of thousands of Armenian lives. With the allegiance of corrupt superpowers and the utter silence of the international world layered with the lack of care from local communities, this ethnic cleansing has intentionally been silenced and wholly disregarded.

Lamentably, tragedy is nothing new to Armenians. Following the Armenian genocide of 1915 that involved the systemized mass slaughter of over 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, what is now Turkey, Armenians faced a series of pogroms and massacres, including the Sumgait, Baku, and Maragha pogroms, as well as the Shushi massacre. Genocide still boldly reveals itself today.

Azerbaijan continues its relentless mission to erase Armenia from the map as Artsakhcis endure the blight of their genocidal war crimes unveiled through invasions, blockades, desecration of Armenian sites, land theft, torture, and mass slaughter.

As the United States and Europe continue coddling Azerbaijan by making gas and oil deals, Armenia and Artsakh have been completely abandoned, suffocating between the trenches of Turkish and Azeri war crimes. Since September 2023, over one hundred thousand Armenians have been forced into refugee status once again.

Language of hate

Aside from all of Azerbaijan’s histrionics, which is a classic case of colonial projection, the most critical aspect to comprehend is the constant genocidal language that the international community ignores. Turkish and Azeri media constantly spew genocidal rhetoric. The most popular is the continuous denial of the Armenian genocide and yet threatening to do it again.

Azeri officials, and even the Azeri president Ilham Aliyev, constantly spew racist and [CONTENT WARNING FOR FOLLOWING LINK] dehumanizing language, calling Armenians “animals,” “terrorists,” and “beasts.”

To understand the region, one must look beyond the relentless propaganda that Turkey and Azerbaijan have spent millions on to victimize themselves. We’ve seen these warped Azeri claims on replay over and over again. Azerbaijan grasps at straws using any talking point they can think of to argue that Armenians have no ties or relation to Artsakh. This propaganda represents an insidious tactic used to demonize Armenians and to blind the world into thinking this is a “complex conflict,” masking the twisted truth: genocide, ethnic cleansing, and Pan-Turkism, a supremacist and fascist ideology that would see an Imperialistic Turkic nation and the total annihilation of the Armenian people.

Victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turkish forces. Photo by Henry Morgenthau

One of the most disturbing and psychologically distressing tactics of Azerbaijan’s ethnic genocide is the systematic desecration of Armenian graveyards. Anahit knows far too well of this psychological torture. A video had just been released the day before in the city of Stepanakert, revealing footage of a decimated Armenian graveyard. The image of this should disturb anyone, but for Artsakhcis like Anahit, the footage is not only far too jarring but too close to home, “My own grandfather’s grave is in Stepanakert,” the fear and profound numbness of the unpredictability of generational genocide have left Artsakhcis in a state of constant stress. Anahit then began to share her grandfather’s legacy and the beauty of the Artsakhci personality, one that is enamored with nature and an undying love for their homeland,

“He was an Artsakh Armenian through and through. I think a lot of Armenians can agree that Artsakh Armenians have this personality that you can see from a mile away; my grandfather was definitely like that.”

Why doesn’t the US even bat an eye when it comes to this barbaric genocide? Just a couple of years ago, in 2021, the US recognized the Armenian genocide, 106 years after its execution, seemingly used as a tactic to further anger Turkey. It is pretty apparent to many Armenians that Biden’s decision to recognize the genocide was disguised as false support and instead represented a calculated move to ruffle the feathers of their NATO ally.

Anahit says, “It’s always been a conversation in our community that whenever we go on the march to commemorate the genocide every April 24th, there are hundreds of thousands of Armenians, but maybe like 2 percent of the crowd will be non-Armenian,” she further elaborated on Turkey’s mission of institutionalizing their propaganda, “I’m sure it is a combination of things including the culture and legacy of genocide denial that Turkey has perpetuated, they’ve spent millions and millions on propaganda and pressuring foreign governments and education.”

Blind eye towards Justice

She then brought attention to America’s collaboration, “As for America, I think it’s a nation that greatly benefits from stoking conflicts, wars, genocide, I mean, that is a complete given; there were many reports on the U.S. army using the region for classroom training scenarios, and that’s not even mentioning all the economic and other ties America has with Turkey and Azerbaijan.” Armenians are expected to be killed silently. America’s complicity in wars and genocides across the world shouldn’t be a surprise, judging from its history.

“Since 1915, the world has betrayed us,” Anahit’s words should awaken anyone, “I know that it’s something that I and probably every Armenian around the world has asked themselves hundreds of times, since 2020 and even before then.” In 2020, Azerbaijan launched a 44-day genocidal campaign against Artsakh, which resulted in the mass slaughter of over 5,000 Armenians.

Israeli arms suppliers, Turkish allegiance, Syrian mercenaries from the FSA, and American silence propped up this campaign. Anna, an Armenian who received her master’s degree in Russian studies at CU Boulder, highlighted the need for more cooperation from the international community. When asked about the lack of US support, Anna illuminated what most Armenians feel: confusion and helplessness, “You know, it’s a really tough question to answer.” With the lack of US support and Russia playing both sides, the Armenian people are on their own to fight for their freedom and their rights and to change the narrative that Azerbaijan has worked so hard to distort.

Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Russia plays both sides. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Aram, an Armenian student of International relations at the University of Denver, said, “In the end, this came down to the fact that the community decided that perceived energy security from Azerbaijan outweighed that of Armenian lives; they understood that Azerbaijani oil … going to Europe is more important than Armenian lives.” It is an ugly truth. Armenians have been put on the back burner and ignored for selfish political interests.

Russia is known for its shady history of helping both Armenia and Azerbaijan while also posing as the mediator in the region through the use of Russian peacemakers. But since the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, Russia has abandoned Armenia. I asked Anna her thoughts regarding Russia’s lack of interference, “In February 2024, it will be 2 years since Russia and Ukraine are at war; it is a really good time for Azerbaijan to start again as they did in 2020,” Anna said, “Our peacekeepers are really busy helping out with the war in Ukraine.”

When will it end?

I asked Aram the same question; Aram said, “Russian firms have their own stakes in Azerbaijani gas companies and their oil operations,” which would make sense as to why Russia continues to play both sides and may choose to sit this one out, casually allowing a genocidal regime to lay claim to indigenous Armenian land.

Azerbaijan relies on bizarre conspiracy theories designed to morph narratives that Armenians not only lack roots in Artsakh but that their ancient sites aren’t theirs to begin with. This is a classic colonial talking point. Azerbaijan has gone as far as claiming that Armenians rub vinegar, yes vinegar, over their graveyards and ancient sites as a deceiving action of making them “look older” or “more ancient.”

We’ve heard these twisted narratives before, used to undermine indigenous people who are being eradicated. The Armenian genocide was executed swiftly, involving multiple complicit nations. The world let it happen then and has let it continue with Artsakh. Aram said, “In terms of fighting, nobody wants to go to war except the Azerbaijanis. We Armenians, you know, we were preparing for peace for these past 30 years. We were open to free and fair negotiations. Still, the question is that the Azerbaijanis knew that if there were a peace process if there were free and fair elections for self-determination, it would obviously end up in the Armenian favor because Nagorno-Gharabagh or Artsakh, has been inhabited by majority Armenians for 3,500 years.”

Armenian cultural sites dot the landscape, yet some are being erased entirely. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

While I spoke with Anna and Aram, what was buzzing in my head was this hope of return for Artsakhcis. Asked if there was any chance to get their land back, “I don’t think it’s possible,” Anna said.

“Unfortunately, we can’t change the past; it happened already, and it’s not safe to go back. And even if there were a possibility, no one would like to go back because there is no point; you can get attacked any minute,” these words are devastating and illuminate the international world’s complicity when it comes to the theft of Artsakh.

Although Anahit’s grandfather is greatly missed, she said the devastation that has erupted would have significantly impacted him, “I think of my grandfather all the time, and I always think, I wonder what he would say if he was alive right now, I wonder what he would think, and I miss him so much but I also think to myself I am glad he is not alive to witness all this because it would have absolutely destroyed him.” 

Since September of 2023, Artsakhcis have continued to mourn the loss of their homeland. The traumatic effects of genocide remain, and an aching hope for return now lingers. Artsakh will continue to live on throughout the hearts of Armenians worldwide. I feel the biggest shame is how we have failed the Armenian people entirely once again. Like clockwork, the world moves on, completely overlooking an over-century-old documented genocide of one of the most ancient people ever to exist.

The post Silent Suffering: Fears of Renewed Armenian Genocide appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.