Editor’s note: Frank Day was just inducted into the Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame. Here is our interview from last year with the legendary man himself.

Day shares his restaurant industry wisdom… and some stories from Walt and Hanks.

Frank Day’s impact on dining in Boulder County and throughout Colorado has been notable. You’ve probably dined in at least one of his places. He’s owned everything from a Burger King franchise location to the iconic Old Chicago chain, Rock Bottom Restaurants, and the Denver and Boulder Chophouses.

We can’t name them all, but Day has been around long enough that he’s recently opened a new concept — Boulder Social. It’s at a location he operated as a Jose Muldoon’s, an iconic spot out of business years ago, and then left. After Jose Muldoon’s, a few other people have tried to reopen places at that location and for a number of reasons, they’ve all closed. But it’s more than likely that Day will make it work. In fact, when we drive by during operating hours, we see more cars there now than we’ve seen for a few years.

At 90 years old and still working, Day has developed quite a bit of restaurant industry wisdom. We recently talked with and, with his dogs vying for attention in the background, heard some wonderful stories.

“It’s a people business. It’s 110% all about how people operate. A successful restaurant is a successful team put together,” said Day as we started to talk. “If you keep them growing in one direction, it will keep going.”

Day described the kind of leadership that he’s felt worked well in his businesses. “Southwest Airlines summed it up. They hire people who they feel have the heart of a servant. You can approach a lot of people about this and they cringe, but in restaurants you need people who take pleasure in helping other people get things done. That’s who you need as an employee and as a leader. It’s fairly simple but difficult to execute.”

Photo credit: Deborah Cameron

While Day has run a lot of concepts through the years, we also asked about one of his earliest places, Walt and Hanks, which he bought just after opening The Walrus in Boulder. The question gave him a laugh. “Walt and Hanks. I bought that building at 11th and Pearl in Boulder, and it was a three-two bar with pool tables. We served Coors Banquet. We had jerky and beer nuts. I could talk all day about that place.”

He described the clientele including, in his words, “everyone from retired, alcoholic, hard-core miners who’d be there at 8 or 9 [a.m.] to lesbian pool players and a Native American clientele who showed up later in the day.” Bar incidents were frequent, and whoever was pouring beer often needed to jump over the bar to stop what was happening. Day recalled that bartenders sometimes had to defend themselves with sawed-off pool sticks while calling 911 to break things up. “One evening, I came in, and the green pool tables were no longer green. I said, ‘Enough of this.’” shared Day. Day then developed a new business idea, born just after the decision to close Walt and Hanks. He said, “We closed, but I knew some guys who wanted to have a pinball palace, and I missed Chicago-style pizza from my years there, so we opened Old Chicago.”

We wondered what his thoughts were on how the landscape in Colorado has changed. “There are many more people in Colorado than there used to be,” he said. “The current generation — they’re very conscious of environmental issues. They have very distinct ideas of what they’ll eat, where it comes from. That’s brought something new to the table for restaurant operations who attempt to please everybody.”

We wondered, with bars and really high-quality craft beer being woven through so many of his concepts including Boulder Social — how much of a craft beer fan Day is. We asked, but he said it was really about providing people with what they’re looking for and doing it well. “Whatever you’re selling, if you can make a good product with consistently decent service, you’ll succeed as a business. It’s all a matter of being able to do tomorrow what you did yesterday.”

The post Off Menu with Frank Day appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

In other words, Advertising. I know you hate it; I know why you hate it. 

Of course, it can be a big fat waste of money. But if done correctly – with strategy, it can help put your business ahead of your competition, who is, in fact, wanting to take your market share.

That’s how it works: who is getting market share and who isn’t. You might think your business is coming from Google, but by the time they have gotten to searching, they already made up their mind. Where advertising changes things is what they Google. If they are googling ‘ABC Karate’, your marketing is working. If they are googling ‘karate near me,’ you need more marketing.

However, sadly, it often is a big fat waste of money, but not for the reasons you may be thinking. People bounce from platform to platform, looking for the magical answer, which is one of the biggest reasons their marketing fails. There is no magic. Advertising is merely communication, and those who communicate in more than one channel seem to have a more solid presence. 

This little video is 7 minutes to save you grief:

I say that because I have been in this business a good minute. This is hard to believe because I am so youthful and all, but media was my first grown-up job at the age of 21. I fell in love with the ability to use my art and storytelling skills. I love helping small businesses because I think they are often far better for the economy, the environment, and their employees. But they also fight harder for their share of the pie. Unfortunately, local advertising designs and strategies are often extraordinarily bad. They convey no compelling reason to care about what you are saying, and there is often no strategic aim for what you want advertising to accomplish. No wonder you might hate advertising!

Through all my years of work and study (they go hand in hand, but studying trends is not the same as studying marketing), I latched onto this line, which came from one of my favorite books, The 33 Ruthless Rules of Advertising.

“The purpose of advertising is to establish a market equity position, to realize a growth objective.” 

Huh?

If we start with the understanding “they who own the mind, own the market,” it helps us understand our market equity position and how it impacts the bottom line. (The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing)

Name the top furniture store in Colorado.

When did you last talk about American Furniture Warehouse in idle conversation? When was the last time you randomly read furniture store websites? Probably when you were looking to buy something, right? So, was it the web that influenced you or the awareness you already had of their brand? Knowing that people buy from people they trust, how have I heard of AFW if I am not talking about them at happy hour?

Digital has thrown a monkey wrench in helping businesses dominate their own market because it makes people believe the sale is starting on the web. The sale started long before they got to the search. It starts in the mind first.

Digital advertising has only been around for about twenty years, and we are just starting to learn more about it. Undoubtedly, digital is part of our lives, but is digital advertising really doing all that we thought it was? Some of the research shows we might have given it credit in areas it does not actually influence.

I am hiring new sales and marketing interns to help us with all the new initiatives we are taking on at YS in 2024. One of the saddest things I am learning: they aren’t being taught marketing, they are being taught digital. Which isn’t a strategy – it is part of a strategy.  Until AI (or animals) start spending money, the marketplace is based on humans. The shopper you want is a human first; you need their trust to influence them when they are ready to search.

Some things we have learned after 20 years of digital marketing. Digital does not really help create a brand identity for businesses. It is the end of the purchase funnel, but it does not do as much to influence the human being on the other end to trust your brand. What about Influencers? Isn’t that being in the media? Yes, followers help, but on a local level, most of our local businesses aren’t gaining 100,000 followers or more. As a local media outlet, on average, we reach between 50-100,000 people monthly on our website, + print monthly 45,000 + socials, of course, IG/FB/LI, and not much x. While we are local media and not retail, we use more than one channel to talk to people. Print seems to do the most for building our Sustaining Supporters Program, tho. But let us not forget, media is one of the major influencers.

People trust what they see online 90% less than if they read it in print. It is absolutely necessary to be findable on the net, and if you are selling online, even more necessary to be findable, but the marketing you do before they get to the web will make them search for you. It’s not just how they find you that matters, it’s what they think of you that matters more. What are the keywords that brought people to your website, after all? Was it really a click-through? When eBay, Shutterstock, or Amazon pay to be at the top, is it really the paid post that brought them to their website, or were people already going to their website?

But what about the young people? What about them? Were they born with computer chips? They experience digital saturation as much as us older folks. In fact, studies show that 34% of them are leaving social media or reducing screen time dramatically. Recently, I had a 20-something young man say to me, “I grew up with the damn thing in my hand, and I am sick of it.” People still want human connection – no matter their age.

A long time ago, I had a shop owner who wanted to know the exact moment that led someone to be influenced to buy. All I could say was, “the sale starts in the mind long before they are ready to buy.” Back to “they who own the mind, own the market”.

Locally, you don’t need to do what Jake Jabs does. You don’t have eight giant-mega stores to market. But every business should do what Jake does: dominate your market’s minds. Which begs the question, how well do you know who your market is?

Branding – isn’t it just throwing money away? Only if you don’t care what people think about your brand. And I guarantee the odds of my neighbors chatting about business brands at happy hour regularly will be about as limited of a reach as social media offers. Social is great for reaching the people who already like you, not so great at reaching the masses.

The most successful businesses have strategies in all three stages of the Purchase Funnel and they know that they don’t advertise when they are busy, and they don’t advertise when they are slow, they advertise because their doors are open.

We celebrate 24 years in 2024, and I am proud we are doing the kind of journalism that matters. Not just because of democracy, justice, and all those important First Amendment reasons to have honest journalism, but because locals trust us and read us.

I can’t promise you will become a Billionaire with one ad campaign, but I do know that the local brands that have utilized strategic marketing plans in more than one platform are the most successful, and that should include YS locally. (We can’t do much if you are looking for a national audience; we are local.)

We won’t let you waste your money on bad advertising either. Our in-house award-winning design and marketing house is at your service for free, because a good ad has 7x the impact of a bad one. 

That’s a lot of information, Shavonne, I don’t have time for that. That’s okay our Marketing Guidebook and Growth Objective Calculator help you navigate all of this in a strategic manner and we provide all these tools for free.

Plus we are always happy to meet and help you with your strategy with a complimentary consultation.

Some articles to dive into:

DIGITAL

The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens

The new dot com bubble is here: it’s called online advertising

What Digital Advertising Gets Wrong

POV: Digital advertising is dead. Good riddance

Is Digital Advertising Dead?

Digital Ads Don’t Work and Everyone Knows It

Is the Golden Age of Digital Advertising Dead?

Study: 34% of Gen-Z Are Leaving Social Media

How Much Time Do Digital Signage Displays Really Have With Viewers?

BRANDING

Six Reasons Why Branding Is More Important Than Ever Before

Your Ultimate Guide To Brand Equity And How To Build It

Why A Brand Matters

How Do Customers See Your Brand?

Navigating the influencer landscape: The positive and negative effects of social media influencers on adolescents

PRINT & TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING

The Print is Dead Mantra Is Lazy Thinking

Has Print Marketing Risen From The Grave?

The Future of Digital Is Print

Why Marketers Are Returning to Traditional Advertising

Are Brands Returning To Traditional Marketing?

Is Print Advertising Still Effective? Unveiling the Power and Potential of Traditional Media

Get it Free at www.yellowscene.com/advertise

Yellow Scene Magazine is an award-winning, credentialed member of the press focusing on hyper-local stories and always authentic journalism. In 2023, we won at the Colorado Press Association Annual Convention /2022 work, Best General Excellence – Class 8 , as well as Best Design Agency.

The post Let’s talk Dirty appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Where charity, public relations, and wealth accumulation intersect

The Gilded Age was the era where the United States was rapidly industrializing, expanding railroads, and colonizing the western part of the country, roughly from the late 1870s to the early 1900s. It is this time that capitalists with names we still recognize — like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and J.P. Morgan — made their fortunes.

These men were simultaneously admired and reviled in their time depending on what point of view one held, much like today’s billionaires — Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Michael Bloomberg for example — are. The Gilded Age fortunes were built on exploiting labor systems of the time, creating monopolies to control prices, and using their wealth and power to influence the political system. Today, you can visit some of the lavish mansions and extravagant properties their families inherited to get a sense of the immense wealth they possessed.

They also contributed immensely as philanthropists and established charitable organizations, which still bear their names today. The deep irony is, if society were more equitable and did not allow for such immense wealth accumulation, there would not be as much of a need for charity as there is.

The United States lacks the social safety nets that comparable nations across the globe possess. Consequently, Americans commonly look to wealthy individuals, businesses, and religious institutions for their philanthropy to help those in need. This leads to a charitable culture and an expectation of giving but can also leave gaps in actually addressing need.

Relying on philanthropy removes democracy from the process of distributing resources in our society. The general public cannot vote on what a philanthropist decides to do. They certainly can “vote with their money” and decide what organizations to donate to, but if money equals a vote, the ultra wealthy wield more political power. The growing wealth gap, record corporate profits, high-profile strikes, and an increase in racial tensions all harken back to the Gilded Age, where America’s original billionaires amassed their fortunes. The ability for individuals to accumulate so much wealth while others live in abject poverty has striking moral implications, especially given that the wealthiest individuals also wield the most power in directing philanthropic efforts.

It can also lead to a disproportionate reliance on ultra-wealthy donors — whether they are individuals or businesses. This means those at the very highest echelon of society, Bernie Sander’s famous “Billionaire Class,” have the largest influence where money is spent trying to help the poorest and most dire of our citizens.

There is also the moral question of when it becomes obligatory to give back to your community and the ethical question of the existence of billionaires as a whole. It may be time to rethink this model of philanthropy — and how much we rely on it — and look to alternate ways of how a society can take care of its most vulnerable people.

Business and Charity, Here vs. Abroad

“I had the opportunity to work for an international company based in Europe, and it was very illuminating for me to experience the difference in attitudes around philanthropy in a European context versus the U.S.,” John Tayer, president of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce shared.

“The distinction between Europe and the United States is that in the United States, there is more of a community expectation of philanthropy by businesses and individuals,” Tayer explained. Europeans, especially Western Europeans, tend to rely more on government programs rather than philanthropic organizations. That is not to say charity does not exist, it just takes on a different role when society also expects and funds the government to provide help. Places like France, the U.K., and Germany rely on social support systems funded by higher taxes rather than generosity. Those societies have made the trade off of a higher tax rate for a more robust social support system, therefore reducing the need for private philanthropy.

John D. Rockefeller gave his fortune to his son to avoid taxes, one early example.

Shifting the burden of philanthropy from private businesses to the government also democratizes the process and reduces the influence of billionaires on where that money is spent. Tayer shared, “I am not so sure that’s the best thing for society, that businesses that are responsible for something that is so broad, socially. It’s potentially a question of morality and a question of, you know, applied civic duty for an individual to contribute their profits or their economic benefits to philanthropic causes. Is that necessarily the most efficient way to address broader community needs?”

Unfortunately, those in a position to do so have been known to hide their money, use loopholes to avoid taxes, and influence legislation that lowers their rates. According to OxFam, “Elon Musk, one of the world’s richest men, paid a ‘true tax rate’ of about 3 percent between 2014 and 2018.” This creates a burden on society and a great irony where the people taking the most are obligated to contribute the least. We then rely on their charity to fill the gaps.

Panama and Pandora

Raising taxes is not the only answer. Those with enough wealth often hide their money in untaxed offshore accounts — money that would have been taxed to help fund existing programs. Tax evasion schemes are nothing new. John D. Rockefeller gave his fortune to his son to avoid taxes, one early example, but the scope, amount of people, and international connectedness of recent revelations is stunning.

The Panama Papers were a collaborative investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and numerous other media organizations that exposed in 2016 a worldwide network of offshore bank accounts that the mega wealthy used to hide money from taxation. The same organization of journalists also uncovered a second vast network of offshore accounts in 2021 that the wealthy elite used to store over $11 trillion dollars offshore called the Pandora Papers.

the wealthy elite used to store over $11 trillion dollars offshore called the Pandora Papers revealed.

Not all of that is illegal, according to the ICIJ. “Because of the complexity and secrecy of the offshore system, it’s not possible to know how much of that wealth is tied to tax evasion and other crimes and how much of it involves funds that come from legitimate sources and have been reported to proper authorities.”

A massive portion of this money would have been taxed at various amounts which would have provided increased revenue for  governments. Talking with politicians and city employees, one of the main complaints for promoting new programs and increasing the efficiency of existing ones are budget constraints. One Colorado-specific example is the free preschool program which simply did not have the budget to meet the need. Money sitting in illegal accounts overseas would have helped fund additional early childhood education.

The ICIJ’s exposure has helped funnel over $1 billion back into legal banking systems across the globe.

The reverberations of these investigations were widespread. Politicians in a wide spectrum of nations including Iceland, Spain, Pakistan, Malta, and Peru resigned, were removed, or charged in the wake.

Journalism matters deeply. Daphne Caruana Galizia, a journalist in Malta, was killed by a car bomb in 2017, likely for using the Panama Papers as a source on corruption. The ICIJ’s exposure has helped funnel over $1 billion back into legal banking systems across the globe to be properly taxed and accounted for, but the problem is not solved as long as similar schemes exist for the very wealthy to exploit.

Wealth and Morality

One of the most disturbing moral implications of the Panama and Pandora Papers is that people who were already incredibly successful, like Emma Watson, Elton John, and Shakira were hoarding money offshore while also living lavish lives. What is the point of continuing to accumulate so much wealth past the point that you and the next generations could already live comfortably in financial peace? Certainly people should be able to attain vast wealth and never work a day again if they so choose, but there is a point when continuing to amass a fortune becomes immoral.

At some point, a moral obligation to return wealth to communities must exist. “We’ve just felt it was kind of an obligation. Our money comes from this community … we feel this definitely is a ‘what goes around comes around’ type of an attitude,” one of the major philanthropists in Boulder shared privately.

They touched on the idea of returning wealth to the communities that fostered their success in the first place. “We just feel it’s inherent, with the position we are in the community, and that our money comes from here, that we need to keep the whole circle going,” they said.

Herbert J. Solomon, a philanthropist in San Diego, CA, shared his philosophy with SDSU Magazine. “Good fortune has been bestowed upon me, and therefore, I want to assist others who are less fortunate than I am.” Solomon touched on the importance of funding historically marginalized communities. He is a donor to the Jewish studies programs and recently funded the new Black Resources Center at San Diego State University.

This type of community-based giving contrasts with performative philanthropy where an ultra-wealthy individual may donate to an organization but not be integrated within or in tune with community needs. However, in the end, “It’s all a positive benefit for society, and, you know, I don’t judge the motivations. I think of them all as positive for society,” Tayer explained. Even today, the organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation and Carnegie Foundation live on and fund important programs.

Charity as a PR Move

The motivation behind philanthropy is not always pure. True, giving away wealth is inherently a selfless act, but ulterior motives can still be motivating factors. Those external factors can lead to decisions that are ultimately not about what is best for the communities in need but what benefits the organization or individuals behind it.

“Even in Europe, there are folks and families that have seen significant wealth and make decisions about, you know, building an art museum. Well is that the greatest need in Europe? But it’s certainly not a bad thing,” Tayer explained.

“There’s nothing nefarious about, you know, the way businesses and individuals try to target their own generous giving

Tayer shared that he has seen the decision-making process firsthand. “I have seen this in action [decisions on giving] to build a positive image around the company. So it’s a form of marketing associated with their general generosity, seeking recognition for being a positive community contributor. They sometimes will couple that with a targeted form of philanthropy,” he elaborated.

Tayer also explained that he sees this as an inherent good — wealth is still being returned to a community, and positive effects still come from charitable decisions even when influenced by marketing and image analysis. “There’s nothing nefarious about, you know, the way businesses and individuals try to target their own generous giving,” he said.

Giving Gone Bad

Ray Holgado wrote that the online posts “stood in stark contrast to the reality of working at CZI, which had revealed itself to be an extractive and exploitative environment for me and numerous Black employees.” Instead of making any substantial changes, Black employees were reportedly ignored by leadership.

This also highlights the problem of inclusivity at the highest levels. Involving numerous voices in decision making at the highest level has still been lacking — most CEOs and board members are still white men. An article by Charter in partnership with TIME argued that we have not seen major change in leadership diversity since the BLM movement brought systemic racism to the forefront of discussion in 2020.

The importance of partnering with established, recognized charities and philanthropic organizations can also not be overstated. There are numerous examples of celebrities setting up their own charities and promising things that never materialize, like Madonna’s school in Malawi or misusing the funds, like The Trump Foundation. Famously, Wyclef Jean used funds from his charity for Haiti to pay concert expenses among other things. Making sure organizations are open about their expenses and focus on providing services is a start.

Some charities are also more about image and marketing with little support or follow up to the communities they purport to serve. One example is the Three Cups of Tea scandal where schools were physically built but many sat empty, providing no actual services. Engaging with the communities and understanding what they actually need rather than deciding ahead of time what the charity will provide is also a critical component of truly successful giving.

Democratizing Wealth

• If there weren’t so much wealth accumulated in the hands of so few, we wouldn’t have such a need for charity that we see today. Of course philanthropic giving is a good thing, but when certain individuals accumulate to the detriment of society, them donating back to help solve the problem is not the best solution. A more equitable distribution of resources is the answer. People absolutely should be able to attain a level of wealth that allows them to live lavishly and support their families for the next generation. Hard work and ingenuity should absolutely be rewarded. This is not a call for a utopia. However, no one ever earned a billion dollars through hard work. To put numbers in perspective, if you earned $5,000 a day for the last 500 years, you would still not have amassed a billion dollars.
• Relying on wealthy individuals to choose where to focus their philanthropy is not a democratic process. “Relying on it is that, you know, means businesses and individuals have their pet interests and in certain instances, that means that great community need isn’t addressed because it just doesn’t align with the particular philanthropic goals of an individual or business,” Tayer shared. “Personally, I believe that our society should collectively make decisions about the investments that we want to make and put less of a burden on businesses specifically to address those needs,” he said.
• “I am not going to pass judgment specifically on, you know, that outlier of the significant wealthy in our community and how much they should be taxed. I mean, that’s a broader community, society question. You know, in terms of being able to make sure that we are helping to lift all elements of our society and workforce in order for them to benefit from our broader economic vitality, that’s what’s important,” Tayer elaborated.
• Not every solution is government oriented. One philanthropist shared that sometimes the problem is there are many overlapping charities with similar goals, but with varying reach, budget, and internal structure. “I think there should be some type of a clearinghouse where you tell people what your nonprofit is doing, because I think there’s six or eight other people doing the same thing. They’re asking the same people for money to support exactly the same thing, and it’d be really nice to have a thorough analysis of ‘Here’s what we’re doing. Who can we partner up with?’”

Ultimately, democratizing charity by allowing citizens to vote on programs and platforms — and reducing the need for charity by fairly taxing the wealthiest citizens so programs can be funded — will help address some of the deepest issues we face today. Mental health programs are lacking. The need for solutions for the growing unhoused population is apparent. Colorado voters made it clear they support free early childhood education. None of this can be addressed without proper funding. That funding should mostly come from billionaires.

Charity Guide

Choosing the correct charity to support can be intimidating for those that want to give back money to the community. Luckily there are some telltale signs of what to look for and what to avoid when it comes to supporting those in need. Even if you aren’t a multi-millionaire there are still great ways to help. Here are some signs to ensure your dollar goes to those in need, not in someone else’s pocket.

Signs to support:

Established organizations

Charities that have been established for a longer time have a higher chance of being credible. Of course that is not a guarantee, make sure to research organizations on sites like CharityNavigator.org or other similar resources.

Specific Claims & Goals

Some charities may claim that there are a certain number of unhoused children, but how many of those children will the charity be able to reach? Specific claims, goals in line with community need, and financial transparency are all key components to a successful charity. Finances Charities should spend a large amount of their money on helping the populations they purport to serve. If the higher ups are receiving triple digit salaries, or if staffing and fundraising seem to be the priority, that could be a sign that your money will not go towards someone in need but in keeping the organization funded.

Signs to watch out for:

New celebrity charities

Plenty of celebrities have well run, well established charities… but many do not. It can be tempting to donate to your favorite celeb’s cause but be sure they are not going at it alone. The most successful celebrity efforts often partner with established organizations to address need rather than founding their own and slapping their name on it.

Pop-up charities

Emotion can play a huge role in determining where to give. Watching a disaster unfold and finding new links to donate on social media can be a way to feel involved, but may not be the best way to help those who need it most. Unfortunately, there are those who take advantage of moments like natural disasters to set up fake organizations and pocket the money.

Low Direct Aid

The purpose of a charity is to put help in the hands of those who need it. Evaluating a charity needs to include finding out what percent of money is sent directly to help those in need. Experts recommend more than 1/3 of an organization’s money should be sent to communities in need. There is a line between including a marketing perspective in decision making and engaging in performative philanthropy purely for increasing brand awareness and profit. Ray Holgado shared his experience with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in an article detailing Mark Zuckerberg’s and Priscilla Chan’s performative public posts regarding Black Lives Matter while simultaneously upholding systemic inequality within the organization.

The post Billionaires and Philanthropy: The New Gilded Age appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Expansion may not be the right path for every small business.

Growth. It’s what our economic system is built on. It’s why the stock market functions the way it does. For so many, growth means success while stagnation means death.

Our entire way of economic thinking requires constant generation of wealth to sustain itself. Capitalism always seeks out new markets and constant growth. For large corporations with shareholders, profits are a must.

Whether it’s a new location or a new group of consumers, the narrative is that businesses must expand to generate wealth, to attract investors, and to continue their success. 

That line of thinking leads to pressure on smaller businesses to also expand, even if the timing may not be right. What’s not as often talked about is when growth is not the right path for a company, and what other versions of success look like.

“There was nobody out there and I had no competition.” – Shavonne Blades, pictured with YS’s early staff, from left: Tracy Warner, Brian Ball, Shavonne Blades, Erik Maulbetsch, Debbie Wilmot

When expanding works

Shavonne Blades, publisher of Yellow Scene, opened up about finding a market in the early days of this magazine. She saw the market changing with the opportunity for a hyper-local magazine. “I’m like there’s 300,000 people moving to East County, and people in Boulder were not paying attention. So I had the perfect opportunity to do what I did. There was nobody out here and I had no competitors.”

She touched on the slow but sustainable growth they were experiencing. “As we made money, I invested it back in the company, that is how we grew the first decade. It’s a very romantic story, someday when there’s a book written about me all that… but at first I never put myself into debt. If we didn’t have the money, we didn’t buy it. It’s really hard to start a business that way. But we did.”

Small local businesses mostly focus on staying afloat, finding success in those first years, and building a customer base. Once early successes are established, new opportunities can arise. Growing along with East County, YS eventually expanded into Boulder County, taking a financial risk.

“That was a great move. My competitors were down, the economy just crashed. It was 2009, they weren’t expecting me to do that,” Blades explained. “I do wish I had stopped there.”

Peter Marcus, Vice President of Communication at Terrapin Care Station, also spoke about their expansion plans. Terrapin had established itself as a local success and was looking to grow. “We were already in Colorado and Pennsylvania, and our expansion plans included Michigan. We were very excited about the market,” Marcus stated.

New opportunities in other states emerged as laws changed. The opportunity to take a successful cannabis brand to a state where marijuana was newly legal meant brand new markets were popping up virtually overnight. The pressure to expand rapidly was immense, yet Terrapin remained true to its roots. 

“We have to be one of the very few remaining original cannabis companies that opened in multiple states that stayed privately owned. Almost every company that went to multiple states either went public or sold. So, you know, we’re kind of a unicorn,” Marcus said.

Remaining privately owned has its challenges, of course, but it also offers flexibility that other models do not. Privately owned companies do not need to be as profit and expansion driven as public corporations are.

“Our growth has largely been organic, and when we felt we were getting too big, we held back, whereas with publicly traded massive cannabis companies, once those plans get going, you have shareholders to deal with, boards to answer to,” Marcus explained.

Buck Dutton, Vice President of Marketing at Native Roots Cannabis Company, previously talked about expansion with YS. “I think you have to trust your gut. The numbers are going to tell you everything that you need to know, but you’ve got to have the gut and the intuition to say ‘yes, this is the right time’ or ‘no it is not.’ “

“This is tricky. Very tricky. It can seem like a no-brainer to open another spot when the chips are up, but controlling the quality and process is tough. The people who work tirelessly to create, produce, and provide service are what drive the success, and replicating that same magic in a second spot can be incredibly challenging,” Jamie Lachel owner of Button Rock Bakery shared.

“I think you have to trust your gut. The numbers are going to tell you everything that you need to know, but you’ve got to have the gut and the intuition to say ‘yes, this is the right time’ or ‘no it is not.’”

When expanding doesn’t work

Blades’ success growing alongside East County and moving into Boulder with YS had sparked visions of a second magazine. “I was worried because I realized we only had one revenue stream. If something happened to that revenue stream, I would be through. Most publishing houses have more than one title.” 

Opening a second location, or a second magazine in this case, is often a very attractive idea. Diversifying revenue and expanding into a new market is typically seen as a positive path forward. However there is more risk involved than may initially appear.

“I remember as I was sitting there making the decision … I felt like we could absorb and service that kind of debt, but this little small feeling inside of me said ‘you’re not ready,’ “ Blades recalled.

The second magazine was not a financial success. The new staff brought increased payroll. Costs mounted. “Part of me was desperate because I’d already invested a lot in it, I’m also losing money on top of it,” Blades shared.

“The biggest challenges, for me, is maintaining quality while also respecting the workers. So much is asked of us, and yet the time frame remains the same. It’s valuable to remind people that we can only do what we can do in the time allotted, and what we do is enough. Rising costs of ingredients, resources, materials, labor, taxes, fees, etc… make it incredibly difficult to match the perceived value,” Lachel replied.

“The biggest challenges, for me, is maintaining quality while also respecting the workers.”

“For a company like Terrapin, we learned some very hard lessons over the last couple of years,” Marcus opened up. Too many cannabis growers and huge numbers of new dispensaries opening up had forced the price of cannabis to fall. Profit margins for expansion didn’t make sense anymore. Plans to expand into states such as New Jersey and New York were canceled, and locations in Michigan shut down.

“As far as overexpansion, it is really easy to get ahead of your skis, to use some Colorado lingo, and expand too rapidly,” Dutton explained. “I think over-expanding is probably worse than not expanding, not probably, it definitely is worse because it can take your business.”

Sometimes closing down is the right move. “You can’t spend your way to profit. You can’t cut your way to profit either,” Blades shared. She eventually decided to shutter the second magazine and devote to just one title, YS.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

Pressure to expand

Societal pressure from the constant bombardment of success stories — real or not — and the near cult-like status that wealthy celebrities gain influences how people think about their businesses. Flashes of dollar signs, franchises, and massive expansion can dance through the head of any small business person that is starting to see some success.

“The thing that happens for franchises is corporate often doesn’t care if they make it, they have these one-size-fits-all templates for these franchises but every market is different,” Blades explained how the franchise model is not always the best one. 

Less often talked about are businesses that have seen decades of steady success and decided to stick to what works. Sure expansion is still an option, but things like investing in your employees, raising wages, increasing the quality of what you can offer, and donating to the community are also important factors not as often mentioned on the so-called rise to the top.

One example is our local garden centers. YS recently interviewed owners of Loveland Garden Center and The Flower Bin for an online story who are both finding success in their niches despite “big box” corporations like Walmart also carrying plants.

“The thing that happens for franchises is corporate often doesn’t care if they make it, they have these one-size-fits-all templates for these franchises but every market is different.”

YS found that: “Everything is “all good.” Garden centers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, because caring for plants isn’t something chain stores excel at. And those of us who love our gardens won’t settle for yellowed leaves and malnourished plants when picking out our newest additions”

Finding steady success rather than looking for exponential growth may be a wise path forward for small business owners. Our capitalist system isn’t going to change anytime soon. Continuous expansion will still be the goal for every company listed on the stock market, but that mindset doesn’t have to pervade every decision, especially on a local level.

Success, redefined

Reassessing priorities, and what you define as success, can help lead to a different mindset. “It took me a while and a lot of work, but I realized I never want what’s in my bank account to identify me and value who I am again. Once I kind of grasped that idea I was able to start letting go of a lot of the shame,” Blades shared. 

Redefining business success as contributing to the community, providing a service that locals appreciate, and building connections with other business owners and neighbors, can ease the pressure that our profit-driven, Billionaire-worshiping, capitalist society places on us.

Many think the US economy is more productive per person than other developed nations such as France, Germany, or the United Kingdom, yet data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development disputes this by some metrics. As a TIME Magazine article on the subject stated, ”the French have honored a truth long recognized by economists: working longer hours doesn’t necessarily result in increased productivity.”

The focus on productivity and profit comes with a downside not reflected in stock market analysis. Stress, anxiety, and mental health issues are rampant, there is a lack of healthy food, and corporations play a massive role in politics compared to our European colleagues.

“It took me a while and a lot of work, but I realized I never want what’s in my bank account to identify me and value who I am again.”

The mindset of constant expansion is not as prevalent in day-to-day society of places like Western Europe. Increasingly, 30 hour work weeks are becoming more common. Europeans already outnumber us with vacation days at absurd ratios. The French will riot at the drop of a hat if social services are threatened. 

Maybe there’s another vision for how to define success. Is success growth or is success sustainability? Does a successful local business only generate profit or does it also add some sort of unseen, uncounted value to the community as well?

“I believe success to be the ability to maintain the business side, while earning the opportunity to participate in the special occasions of the customer. This trust means success. Being selected over other options to provide a service is the best feeling in the world.” Lachel said.

Perhaps it is time to redefine success as quality time with those people you care about, ability to indulge in hobbies and passions, and access to local, sustainable, quality food. Profit should not be the main driving factor. 

Expansion is the right move for many businesses, but it is not the only move for all businesses. Setbacks in business do not mean you failed as a person.

The post Redefining Business Success appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Despite acceptance at the state level, federal tax code 280E is holding the industry back.

Boom and bust?

“We are coming off of some record-breaking years,” Buck Dutton of Native Roots told YS. Despite many businesses struggling during the past few years, the cannabis industry actually saw a boom in sales. “The pandemic was so good for the cannabis industry, [but] there were so many industries that were really hard hit.”

The sudden influx of people staying at home during the pandemic led to a huge increase in the sale of cannabis across the state. Whether it was to help calm the anxiety that world-changing events brought about or simply to occupy the wide-open window of free time many of us faced, people increasingly turned to marijuana.

“People stayed at home, and anytime you’ve looked at the Great Depression, wars, when the country has been through different things, the reliance on drugs, alcohol becomes huge,” Wanda James from Simply Pure explained.

Times of stress generally see an increase in substance use. Covid was no different. The National Library of Medicine generally agrees although the exact correlation may be more complicated. A 2018 study found that “Most of the participants of the survey (58.3%) reported an increase in drug use during the crisis, compared with only 25.6% of the sample who reported a decrease in drug use.” Fortunately for citizens in Colorado, legal alternatives to harder drugs and alcohol were available during COVID-19.

“What I am thrilled about this time was we went through a pandemic, and we had choices for something better than alcohol, right? Better than heroin,” James expanded.

Like any booming industry, the marijuana game saw an influx of interested parties looking to make money. New dispensaries opened up, grow operations expanded, and the misleading appeal of high profits had people who have never smoked a joint in their lives suddenly looking at cannabis as a potential investment.

However, what follows a boom cycle is usually a bust period. Currently, the cannabis industry is facing its most difficult challenge since legalization. Businesses that reported millions in sales just months earlier are now facing a harsh new reality.

As employees have returned to work and free time shrunk back, marijuana sales slipped. Profit margins, already significantly hampered by federal tax code 280E, became razor thin.

I’m a business, man

For many the cannabis business is just that, a business. With sales at all-time highs, more and more people jumped into the cannabis game hoping to turn a fast profit on a booming market. New dispensaries and grow operations sprang up to satisfy the seemingly insatiable demand. Now the market is quite literally oversaturated. The price per ounce of marijuana has dropped significantly. You may have noticed groceries, rent, and gas prices are all affected by inflation, or at least corporate greed, but not marijuana.

Interestingly enough, consumer prices of cannabis have not been noticeably impacted by inflation. Businesses that YS spoke to mostly said that they are eating the costs of higher transportation, packaging, and labor instead of raising the price of marijuana.

In fact, the opposite is happening, prices are dropping, especially in large markets like Denver and Boulder. “It is a race to the bottom that has to bottom out. You can’t just be giving it away. Profit margins are getting really tight, and I think that the smaller operators are really struggling with that,” Dutton explained.

Capitalism pressures businesses to expand. The allure of more profit, new markets, and illusions of grandeur too often lure small businesses into overexpansion. Expenses can grow and are not always in line with new revenues. Expanding at the wrong time is worse than not expanding at all. Sadly, many small cannabis business owners are currently staring at this looming problem head on.

When asked how smaller operations can survive this shifting environment, James replied resoundingly, “They don’t. They don’t.”

These days even high-end flower is not that difficult to grow. Legalization removed many of the risk factors that growing cannabis used to come with. Growers in legal states do not face the same threat of police raids, black markets, and lengthy jail sentences that all contributed to driving the price up.

“So all of these growers went out there, expanded their grows, or people came in and they added all these growers, so we flooded the market with way too much cannabis. They can’t sell it now. And so that’s also just driving the prices lower,” James shared.

Additionally, compared to years ago when cannabis was still illegal in Colorado, prices have naturally fallen as risks of legal jeopardy fell. “The reason why cannabis was expensive, you know, was because if you got caught growing it or making it or selling it, you went to jail. You were taking your life in your own hands,” James shared.

The systemic effects of these harmful policies still reverberate loudly today, but much of the legal risk factor for growing marijuana — at least at the state level — has been removed. That translates into a lower price per ounce and much more flower being grown overall, further lowering its value.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

The feds

The limbo in between full legalization at the state level and the Schedule I Classification of marijuana at the federal level has led to crippling tax penalties.

U.S. Code 280E states: “No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of Schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by Federal law or the law of any State in which such trade or business is conducted.”

This means there are limited federal tax deductions for any business expenses in the marijuana industry.

“No other businesses are like that. If I own a restaurant, if I make $100 a day, and I pay my staff $50, I’m taxed on the remaining $50. Not true in cannabis. We’re taxed on money that we don’t even have,” said James, sharing the frustrations businesses have with the current tax code.

Different operations face different challenges in the business world, but nearly everyone agrees that 280E is the most crippling law for the industry. “The tax regulation 280E has been a massive handicap on the cannabis industry from the beginning. Cannabis is a legal industry in Colorado, but we’re not treated as such. The cannabis industry functions with an effective tax rate of roughly 70%,” Dutton wrote.

280E was originally intended to strip illicit drug dealers of potential revenue. It is a punitive tax meant to drive illegal drug dealers out of business — and it’s working.Rescheduling cannabis on the national level would provide numerous benefits. “If 280E is removed, licensed cannabis companies can invest that capital back into the business and community. This would strengthen our efforts in community engagement, research, expansion, product development, staff compensation, and marketing. Those efforts would increase sales and in turn, drive the state tax revenue that has decreased in recent years,” Dutton expanded.

The IRS provides information on how to navigate these challenges, and they do allow one specific tax benefit. “Marijuana business owners can deduct their cost of goods sold, which is basically the cost of their inventory. What isn’t deductible are the normal overhead expenses, such as advertising expenses, wages and salaries, and travel expenses, to name a few,” wrote De Lon Harris, commissioner of the IRS Small Business/Self Employed (SB/SE) Examination.

Not being legal on the federal level also impacts what payment methods are available. MasterCard recently announced it will not be allowing purchases of marijuana, even on debit cards. This limits ways customers can pay and adds more hurdles for already struggling businesses to overcome.

James is leading the fight against these harmful penalties that no longer reflect the reality of the cannabis industry. “I am the only elected official that owns a dispensary in Colorado. So that’s the other reason why I really want to fight the government right now because I am the government,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Cannabis tourism

Colorado once shone as the lone beacon of marijuana freedom in the United States. For years the legal cannabis industry in the state attracted tourists. Even if the factor that brought them here is weed, tourists, directly and indirectly, contribute to the local economy.

“Even if you came here for cannabis tourism, you still went to a restaurant, you brought a Rockies t-shirt,” James, also a former member of the Colorado Tourism Board, explained.

Fortunately for the consumers, but unfortunately for Colorado tourism, other states followed the light and legalized marijuana. From Alaska to Washington, people now have a choice of places to take a vacation if they want to participate in marijuana tourism.

“What we saw last year and after COVID is we have lost cannabis tourism to about 70%. Now that people can go to Las Vegas, they can go to New York, they can go to California, they can go to Oregon, and people still come here to Colorado because it’s a wonderful place to come, but it’s not the singular place to come,” James expanded.

To the benefit of everyone except Colorado’s tourism, access to marijuana continues to expand nationwide. The political climate is one of acceptance or at least tolerance. This is all to say that marijuana sales have also declined because of fewer people traveling to Colorado to obtain it.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

The path forward

Rescheduling marijuana on the federal level would immediately bring relief to small businesses across the nation. Once 280E no longer applies, cannabis business owners can start operating much more like any other business — with tax deductions and write-offs — to help improve their bottom line and reinvest in their company and community.

However, the tax code is not the only challenge facing would-be dispensary owners. “My question to most dispensary owners right now is how many liquor stores in your neighborhood can you actually name? Yeah, there’s a liquor store on the corner. What’s the name of it?” James elaborated on the importance of branding.

James’ advice to would-be newcomers is that “if you’re getting into the cannabis game, and this is really important for people to know, what’s your niche? Why do people know you? Why do you go to Starbucks and not Dunkin’ Donuts? Or why do you use Nescafé at home and don’t go to any of them?” 

Fortunately, Simply Pure’s brand is a strong one. “We’re well known because we’re Black-owned women-owned, and we’re the very first dispensary owned by African Americans in the United States. And we do so much for social justice and for politics, and we call ourselves the most political dispensary in America,” James proudly shared.

James sees the wine industry as a potential model for the future of the cannabis industry. There could be tours of the fields, examining the flower as it grows, tastings, and food pairings as a way to elevate the experience. However, overly harsh regulations stifle this creativity.

“I can’t even take a bud out of my grow facility. So if I go in there and see a great bud, I’m not allowed to walk out of my facility with it. So the ridiculousness of regulation prevents, I guess, what I would call ‘fun marketing,’ you know, things that consumers would love to do,” James shared.

There is a bill currently working its way through the California legislature that would allow public marijuana consumption at places like cafés that would also serve food and drinks. This could usher in an entirely new smoking experience involving more socialization and de-stigmatization centered around a “coffee house” culture. As many know from Amsterdam’s reputation, this model can draw tourists by the millions and could be a way to make certain states stand out again in the tourism realm.

Boutique experiences, tastings and pairings, and coffee house-style settings would all still run afoul of the many laws surrounding this still relatively new industry. Legalization at the national level would not mean every state follows suit — cannabis would likely remain illegal in some areas, but it would remove much of the burden on business owners in states that have legalized it.

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The post Colorado’s cannabis industry faces its biggest challenge since legalization appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

[LOCAL]

• Lauren Boebert was kicked out of a theater during ”Beetlejuice” performance, her embarrassing antics caught on video.
• Boulder will not increase the city’s minimum wage in 2024 after a 5-4 vote, affirming 2025 as the year wages will increase.
• Colorado GOP proposes banning gender-affirming care in another performative act that has no chance of passing.
• Local 17-year-old USA cyclist Magnus White was struck and killed by an SUV on Colorado Highway 119. The DA is looking into potential charges for the driver.
• CU Buffs are off to a hot start under coach Sanders, upsetting TCU and defeating longtime rival Nebraska to start the season.

[NATIONAL]

• Five police officers that beat Tyre Nichols to death have been indicted on federal charges.
• Mitt Romney is not running for reelection for his Senate seat, opening a chance for a more extreme conservative to fill the seat.
• However, Nancy Pelosi will be running again despite her decreasing relevance to national politics.
• Hunter Biden indicted on gun charges and not a single Democrat is up in arms protesting the justice system, because why would they be?
• United Auto Workers strike in efforts for more job security as the auto industry shifts towards more electric vehicles, echoing the Hollywood writer’s strike over AI generated scripts.

[INTERNATIONAL]

• Earthquake ravages Morocco, with hundreds of deaths and major structural damage in multiple cities including Meerakeesh
• Massive rains in Libya flood and overflow dams, destroying a coastal city with tens of thousands feared dead
• Elon Musk disabled his Starlink satellites to thwart communication during an Ukrainian naval offensive in the Black Sea further raising ethical questions of how much power one individual should wield.

Small Talk

“Providing convenient travel choices to our community is one of our priorities and it is through collaborative funding partnerships like this that we’ll be able to continue to expand options throughout our community. This award provides the funds to make this new and improved service to Gunbarrel possible.” – Natalie Stiffler, City of Boulder Transportation and Mobility Director 

“There have been no substantial allegations that the government violated the 4th, 5th, or 6th Amendments in prosecuting January 6 defendants. It is irresponsible to allege, without evidence, as your letter does, that Americans are being systematically denied their most basic Constitutional rights based on their political beliefs.” – Republican Representative Ken Buck, CO

“The Center of the American West is currently fading, and while it may yet be resuscitated, there will be lasting loss and damage to CU Boulder and the fields of Western history, applied history, and countless others.” – Letter from academics across the West regarding CU Boulder’s sudden firing of Patty Limerick

“It is a step toward housing accessibility in our city, without building anything, without tearing anything down.” – Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett on raising housing occupancy limits

By the Numbers

$826 million – Proposed to expand Colorado broadband access across the state
$52 million – Denver mayor Mike Johnson lays out new initiatives to address the homeless crisis
171 – Unhoused individuals counted by Boulder city staff for “July Point in Time Count Results,” of which 25% said they were experiencing homelessness for the first time
12.4% – Poverty rate in the US, up from 7.8%, the largest single year increase on record 

The post Month in Review | September 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Thrifting: The environmentally-conscious choice

The negative impact of fashion consumption and mass-produced goods from stores like SHEIN, Zara, and H&M can’t be overstated. The most recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency reports that 11.3 million tons of textile waste — mainly discarded clothing — ended up in landfills in 2018.

Crucially, buying goods from fast fashion retailers is supporting unethical labor. The fast fashion industry employs approximately 75 million workers worldwide, according to FashionUnited. Less than 2% of these workers earn a living wage, as reported by The Lowest Wage Challenge.

“Thrifting cuts down on current consumption and fast fashion, which is a growing problem — the statistics are mind-blowing,” said Victoria Sofias, owner of Heck Yes Vintage. “If I can go to the thrift store a few times a week and bring home two big bags full of stuff, that’s contributing significantly to that problem.”

Courtesy: Victoria Sofias

Recognizing the value of thrift shopping over supporting Big Box retailers by default can lead to a mindset shift, thrifting enthusiast Sarah Howlett said. Rather than viewing thrifting as an alternative, it’s a go-to for her and many other shoppers in the area.

“[Thrifting] has become something I see more as a first option than a last option,” Howlett said. “If you do it enough, your brain starts to shift, and you start thinking, ‘Oh, I need a new colander, I’ll just go to the Tru Hospice Thrift Shop and see if I can find one there.’”

Over the past several years, thrift shopping has experienced a surge in popularity, emerging as a sustainable and prudent choice for consumers. According to OfferUp’s 2022 Recommerce Report, 82% (272 million) of Americans now buy or sell secondhand items. The report also predicts that the secondhand market will grow five times faster than the overall retail market by 2027.

Shoppers in the Boulder County and North Metro region are no exception to the growing thrifting trend, with thrift shopping appealing to locals in the area for a variety of reasons — environmental, ethical, and financial.

“I try to devote my time to [thrifting] because the prices are so much lower, especially with things people tend to overbuy, like clothes. It’s become a passion of mine to keep them out of a landfill and give them a second, third, even fourth life,” Howlett said. “It’s important for me to teach these values to my kids and, hopefully, influence others to see how many perfectly good items are already out there.”

Courtesy: Sarah Howlett

Supporting charities and those in need

Many of Boulder and the North Metro region’s best thrifting spots have the added appeal of supporting worthy causes. HOPE’s Storehouse in Longmont is a perfect example.

Owned by HELP International, HOPE’s Storehouse is a non-profit thrift store with everything you could want or need — clothes, antiques, kitchenware, furniture, toys. Proceeds from the store fund two schools in Uganda as well as provide aid for countries like Haiti and Ukraine.

HOPE’s Storehouse does plenty to help the local community as well. The thrift store has a no-questions-asked food pantry full of essentials for anyone in need.

“We wake up every day and know we’re going to help someone or make them smile, whether it’s getting them a pair of shoes for their feet or a free cup of coffee at the thrift store,” said CeCe Winbigler, manager at HOPE’s Storehouse. “That’s just what we’re out to do — we’re out to spread love.”

Winbigler said the thrift store has experienced a rise in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, showing no signs of slowing down. Her clientele includes people from virtually every walk of life whose appreciation of thrift stores brings them together.

“I have people who resell stuff, single moms shopping for their kids, people with no money at all who need shoes on their feet, people from women’s shelters who are trying to get out of a tough situation, and I have people who come from Windsor wearing diamonds bigger than my head — it’s so across the board,” Winbigler said. “I think everybody just loves a good deal.”

Courtesy: CeCe Winbigler

Celebrating the timeless appeal of vintage

Sofias said she’s noticed a resurgence of vintage fashion, furniture, and decor, especially from eras like the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s. Some of her favorite thrifted finds are a pair of wide-leg, mod-print bellbottoms from the 1960s and a vintage magenta silk jumpsuit.

“A lot of what’s popular right now are things that were really trendy in the past,” Sofias said.

Much of the appeal of thrifted vintage clothing is their craftsmanship and durability. The quality of vintage goods is especially alluring to younger generations who grew up during the rise of fast fashion, Sofias said.

“I love seeing how garments were constructed, not only in terms of their style but in the quality of the materials that were used — 60 and even 20 years ago, everything was made to last versus now if you buy something trendy, you have to replace it within a year,” Sofias said. “It’s really cool to find those staple closet pieces someone had 30 years ago that still have another 30 years of life in it.”

Furniture and decor were created with more artistry and care in generations past, compared to items from big-box retailers today, said Jeannine Erlhoff, owner of Noble Treasures Antiques in Lafayette.

“People studied furniture making back in the day, and they made things to last, not to fall apart,” Erlhoff said. “They put much more time and skill into making things.”

Courtesy: CeCe Winbigler

Adding a touch of uniqueness

Something many thrifters cherish is the ability to wear garments that feel unique and special, Sofias said.

“I think a big part of it is being able to say, ‘Oh, thanks for the compliment, it’s vintage!’” Sofias said. “No one else can just go out and get the exact same thing.”

Vintage and thrifted goods enhance individuality not just in fashion but in home decor as well, Howlett said. She sources plenty of home decor and furniture both for herself and her friends from thrift stores all over Boulder.

“When you incorporate secondhand and vintage stuff, your home ends up looking unique and not like a page from a catalog,” Howlett said. “They make an interior space look eclectic, intentional, and more interesting.”

People looking to renovate or remodel should consider browsing places like Resource Central in Boulder before purchasing expensive materials, Howlett said.

“Sometimes they’ll have entire kitchen cabinet sets, coffee tables, electrical components, even pieces of tile they resell for very cheap, diverted from landfills,” Howlett said.

Courtesy: Sarah Howlett

Exploring new interests

Thrift shopping serves as a gateway to affordable exploration of different brands and hobbies, Winbigler said.

“When you visit a thrift store, you can usually find brands that you wouldn’t normally be able to afford, which is a huge plus,” Winbigler said.

Secondhand art supply stores like Art Parts Creative Reuse Center in Boulder encourage creativity and personal growth by lowering the barrier to trying new things, said executive director Megan Moriarty.

The store is full of donated creative materials like paints and paint brushes, fabric and sewing machines, woodworking tools, and crayons and markers for kids. The wide range of inventory at low price points make it easy for someone to start a new art project or hobby, Moriarty said.

“There are some hobbies that are super expensive to try, like weaving,” Moriarty said. “We get looms and yarn all the time that are completely affordable, so folks can get started and try it out. Before making a huge purchase or investing in really expensive supplies, you can stick your toe in and see if it’s the right fit.”

Courtesy: Megan Moriarty

Thrifting in Boulder

There are a few reasons why Boulder is one of the best places to thrift in Colorado, Howlett said. The city has a strong commitment to sustainability, meaning more people donate and buy thrifted items. Furthermore, many people in Boulder have the resources to purchase high-quality items and donate them later on, which contributes to the excellent inventory in many shops all over town.

“A lot of people here spend their money on nice items — like clothes and gear from Patagonia — that can last and last and last and be repaired and reused,” Howlett said. “When those nice, high-quality items trickle down into secondhand shops, there’s still tons of life left in them.”

Some of Howlett’s favorite shops to frequent in Boulder are Pig + Pearl Secondhand, Tru Hospice Thrift Shop, Salvation Army, Rags Consignments, and Greenwood Wildlife Thrift Shop and Consignment Gallery. She’s also an advocate for Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and estate sales.

Courtesy: Megan Moriarty

Getting into thrifting

For those new to the thrifting game, Sofias recommends prioritizing closet staples.

“Start with basics — there’s such a good amount of high-quality, secondhand, and vintage pieces like simple black cardigans, jeans, and t-shirts that were made to last,” Sofias said. “Start simple, then find those fun statement pieces that really jump out to you on the rack.”

Thrift shopping — especially at stores with massive inventory — can be intimidating. Howlett suggests maintaining an open mind throughout the hunt.

“You can take a list of things you’re looking for or just go with an open, creative mind,” Howlett said. “Look on the lower shelves, behind rows of things like picture frames — you never know what you might find by going a little bit deeper.”

Howlett urges thrifters not to be discouraged if an item found at a thrift store isn’t in mint condition. Many items Howlett has thrifted — bikes, toys for her kids, winter coats — just need a little TLC before they’re good to go.

“I love seeing the potential in things that just need a stitch, a stain removed, or a scrub down. Things don’t need to be discarded just because they’re not perfect.”

The post Good as New: Embracing Boulder’s Thrifting Culture appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By David Flomberg

Content is value.

Sadly, it’s evident that the people responsible for distributing content have long forgotten that fact. From the streaming model — e.g. Spotify, Apple Music, etc. — that cratered the financial value of recording artists’ music to the SAG/AFTRA strike now stretching into its second month, it’s apparent that the list of entities who want a piece of the value of art created by other people has grown exponentially greater than what the movie houses and record labels of yesteryear chiseled out.

And while SAG/AFTRA has some measure of leverage in this battle, for musicians it’s a David and Goliath story where Goliath wins, whether it’s in the local scene or when it’s on a national stage. In this case, it’s the “Pay-to-Play” model, where musicians literally pay a promoter or the venue to perform on the stage. And while it’s not a new concept by any measure, it is creeping into new areas of Colorado’s music and arts scene.

On The Big Stages

When The Weeknd performed for the Super Bowl halftime performance in 2021, he didn’t make a dime. 

In fact, he spent more than $7 million on the production, according to Billboard magazine (“Super Bowl Halftime Shows Cost Millions. Who’s Paying?” Billboard.com, Feb. 5, 2021) — the most expensive “pay-to-play” event a musician will ever encounter.

While the NFL covers most of the production costs of the annual event, the value to the artist is access to the largest captive audience in the world — Super Bowl LVII was viewed by 115.1 million people. After their Super Bowl performances in previous years, “Shakira‘s Spotify tracks increased by 230% compared to the previous week, and Jennifer Lopez’s music went up by 335%,” Billboard reported. Rihanna’s digital album sales skyrocketed 301% after her halftime performance in this year’s Super Bowl, according to Forbes.

In Los Angeles, iconic venue Whiskey a Go Go has long been a “pay-to-play” venue. Audiences often include record label executives and talent scouts. For bands looking to get signed, the cost to play there is viewed as a necessary marketing spend. Given the history of musical acts that launched careers there — ranging from Otis Redding to Guns N’ Roses — it’s a reasonable investment. 

But in Colorado, that practice has never taken hold — certainly not at the myriad small-to-midsized venues dotting the Front Range. Occasionally, major touring acts allow local acts to “sign on” to their tour as an opener at a large venue for a fee — but again, that’s for access to a major act’s sizable audience and it can be worth the cost for that kind of quantifiable exposure. However, that’s the exception. Not the rule. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly pay for a professional musician is $36.01. That’s for the performance — not rehearsal/practice time, composition, arranging, or any of the other effort that goes into the job. It’s important to note: this information is based on trackable data. The vast majority of musicians’ income is still untrackable. When John Smith plays a gig at Frank’s Tavern and gets paid with a check written to “John Smith” — there’s nothing telling the BLS that payment was for a music performance — even if it’s still reported as “income” to the IRS. Since the BLS data comes from musicians successful enough to have a recognizable, steady income as such, it’s reasonable to assume the actual average pay for a musician is far lower. In Colorado, anecdotally at least, it appears most professional musicians average between $50-$100 per gig.

Trumpter Steve Illich and David Flomberg playing with Reptiles and Samurai at the Oriental Theater. Credit: Deb Flomberg-Rollins

Pay to Play on the Local Stages

Bridging The Music Promotions LLC, founded locally by Jonah Lipsky, now headquartered in New York, doesn’t operate according to the Centennial State’s established norms. The consensus among both proponents and detractors of BTM call it the same thing: “Pay-to-play.”

BTM books an artist for a specific event where BTM has secured a venue. That artist is responsible for selling an agreed-upon number of tickets for that event. BTM gets 100% of that revenue. For the next cohort of tickets sold above that number, the artist keeps 100%. For every ticket after that, there’s a split between the artist and BTM. If the artist doesn’t meet the number of ticket sales agreed upon in the first cohort, they are still responsible to cover the difference to BTM.

On June 21, BTM emailed me unsolicited (I founded and manage an Oingo Boingo tribute band called Reptiles and Samurai) to see about performing their “miniFEST”:

“Hi Reptiles and Samurai… I just wanted to see if you’re possibly available to perform on September 23rd at Denver miniFEST at Herman’s Hideaway? I have a really good lineup for this show already, but I am looking to fill a few more slots. If you are available please let me know and we can discuss. Also please note, we offer all performers a free HD video of the event, you will play in front of a new audience and we also pay very fairly based on your attendance. In general it’s such a good event for networking, expanding and growing your fanbase. Feel free to email me here or we can jump on a call.”

The timing was serendipitous. I had literally just spoken with local musician and Colorado Musicians Union co-founder Sarah Mount (profiled in YS: “Spotlight on Sarah Mount,” June 12, 2021) a week before about BTM’s business model because of a Facebook post she published decrying this model. Her post on the topic — where multiple local musicians weighed in referring to BTM as a “scam” —  was responded to with a cease-and-desist letter from BTM’s attorney, Mateo Perez, esq. We’ll revisit that in a moment.

Sarah Mount

I scheduled a call via that email and ended up on the phone with Lipsky.

(Disclosure: On that first call, I did not reveal that I was a journalist — I wanted to hear his full pitch from the perspective of an actual client.)

“We use a ‘business partnership’ kind of situation,” Lipsky said. “Everyone we book must sell at least 35 tickets and the next set of tickets is profit. So if you sell 70 tickets at the base price of $22, you make $770 at that point so there is a lot of money on the back end of things where you can do really well on ticket sales. We also live stream the event… We pay you $5 to $7 on each live stream order, separate from the ticket requirement, so you start making money for those right away. We give you a clear HD video of the entire event. We give you a free group video on stage on our Instagram page, and if you want an edit, it’s only $100. Based on that do you have any questions?”

“How do you handle your marketing on your end?” I asked. 

“We have digital posters with all the artists on them, online calendars, we also make collages with all the people involved. Most importantly we keep everyone motivated, organizing as leaders so as to get a really good night, and with everyone selling tickets it makes it beneficial — when you don’t have that you are playing to a small audience.” Additionally, Lipsky said he sets aside some money for paid social media promotion. “Typically a couple of hundred dollars.” Lipsky said he had 12 acts lined up, each with a 30-minute slot to perform. But whether or not it actually happens at Herman’s Hideaway may be in question. 

“That date in specific is a little up in the air right now,” said Joe Hoffman, talent buyer at Herman’s Hideaway, where BTM is producing the show Lipsky wanted to book my band to play. I spoke with Hoffman over the phone after I chatted with Lipsky. “That (event) was apparently booked before we took over.”

Herman’s Hideaway changed ownership in March, 2023, and the deal with BTM pre-dates Hoffman’s employment with the venue. “Bridging The Music — the way they approach things doesn’t necessarily align with the way we want to approach things. I haven’t seen a contract yet. I don’t really wanna discuss this too much, honestly, but there’s an existing contract that is probably gonna have to be honored.” 

Herman’s model has been consistent for decades: Bands got paid based on attendance for their shows. It’s not pay-to-play, but acts often would be lucky to make enough to cover the cost of gas getting to the venue. Under new ownership, Herman’s is changing that model by providing a guarantee to bands, which has been lauded by performers who’ve played there since.

“The place is looking great,” said Troy Thill, a saxophonist who performed there recently with Denver-based reggae band Iron Roots. “We played on a week night and still got paid a guarantee, the sound system’s way better, they cleaned up the green room — it was a better experience all around than it was in the past.”

So, why would someone pay to perform on Herman’s Hideaway’s stage? According to Hoffman, Herman’s capacity is 500. Based on the contract I received, if 12 acts are on the bill for this BTM event, and each act actually sells 35 tickets, that adds up to 420 sales just for all of the bands to break even. This leaves a total of 80 potential “profit-making” tickets to be sold. At $22 per ticket, that’s a pot of $1,760 to be split among 12 bands, or $146 total, per band. 

The most important takeaway from the contract Lipsky offered: The band would be on the hook for $770 to perform at this event. Additionally, “streaming tickets,” as well as any tickets sold at the door, do not qualify against the 35 tickets the band is contractually responsible for. And about that contract: Lipsky made me pay a $20 “registration fee” through his online system just to get a copy of the contract. As a professional musician with 30 years of experience, I’ve never been charged a fee just to get a contract.

All of this is to say: This is the very definition of a pay-to-play model.

ABOVE: This is the contract provided by Jonah Lipsky to Reptiles and Samurai.

I paid the $20 and got the contract, which I later shared with attorney Max Hass, a partner at Holon Law Partners who specializes in entertainment law, among other areas. 

“This is music vulturism at its worst,” Hass said.

“If a client handed me this contract,” he continued, “I’d tell them either don’t sign it, or we’d have to basically re-write the whole thing…There isn’t a single obligation on the side of the promoter other than this line, ‘promoter will provide the Artist a performance slot at the event.’ There’s a basic concept in contract law that there is an equitable exchange of obligations on a contract. Everything here is about the artists’ obligations, nothing here about what the promoter is obligated for. Nothing even about promotions or marketing. It’s dangerously close to being unenforceable in Colorado.”

Not all that surprising, considering Lipsky’s attorney’s legal tactics (assuming he drafted the contract), starting with the questionable cease-and-desist notice he sent to Sarah Mount:

As I tried to contact Perez for comment on this article, I discovered an attorney named Mateo Perez received an official admonishment by the New Jersey State Supreme Court in 2013 for practicing law in the State of New York without a license for a case he tried there in 2011.

(Full pdf available for download HERE.)

A search of Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel returned no results, suggesting Perez does not appear to be licensed to practice in the State of Colorado.

A search of the New York Unified Court System revealed no records as well, suggesting that Perez is not currently licensed to practice law there either.

Even more curious is the language in the cease-and-desist letter Mount received. Perez wrote: “If you do not comply with this cease-and-desist then a lawsuit may be filed in the proper jurisdiction seeking monetary damages and legal fees, as well as pursuing all available legal and criminal remedies for your harassment.” 

According to attorney Michael Gates, a partner at Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP law firm in Denver, that tactic is not allowed: “Threatening criminal prosecution or administrative action to gain an advantage in a civil lawsuit negotiation is a violation of Rule 4.5 of ABA model rules adopted in most states, including Colorado,” he said.

Multiple attempts to contact Perez via email and phone have gone unanswered.

Later, I found that Lipsky had also dissolved the LLC in Colorado back in 2019. No LLC operating under that name is registered with the State of New York where Lipsky now resides, or the State of New Jersey where his attorney is located, (according to his letterhead). Between the contract, the dissolution of Lipsky’s LLC in Colorado, and the legal tactics employed by his attorney (and the fact I couldn’t reach him at all), it was time for another chat with Lipsky. 

The View From Backstage

First up: the contract itself and concerns Hass raised such as the lack of obligations like promotions or marketing on BTM’s part. 

“That has nothing to do with the contract at all,” Lipsky said. “This is a ticket agreement… We do supply a lot of other things, but that has nothing to do with the deal.”

“Your cancellation clause mentions plenty of obligations around the artist’s side for cancellation, but zero obligations on your side for cancellation,” I said.

“It says if anything got canceled, we’d move to a different date and time,” Lipsky said. “It also says all dates and venues are subject to change.”

“Yes. It does,” I replied. “But it also doesn’t specify any framework of time whatsoever to get rebooked. That could be what, three months, 10 years? How many bands implode after a year or two?” 

I inquired about his dissolution of the LLC in Colorado in 2021. Lipsky didn’t like the line of questioning. “Why does that have anything to do with our contract?” he asked. I replied that it called into question the credibility of the business he was asking me to enter into a “partnership” with, as per our first call. Lipsky said BTM is registered as an LLC, but would not share which state it was registered in.

I revealed my identity as a reporter at this point, along with the information I uncovered about his attorney. I asked if his attorney drafted the contract. Lipsky refused to answer. I asked what other bands were on the bill, and he also refused to answer. That’s another sticking point — according to the contract he sent me, the band was on the hook to sell tickets and pay him money long before the event itself was scheduled. Trying to sell a $22 ticket to someone and telling them, “Well, my band is playing for 30 minutes and there are also 11 other bands on the bill, but I can’t tell you who those bands are,” seems like a pretty tough uphill battle. 

Lipsky did clarify that the deal he offered me was not the same deal for everyone. “Let’s say like you’re a solo act and you’re like, ‘Hey, I can only sell like, like 15, 20 tickets.’ …We’re not gonna contract somebody on a 35-ticket deal that can only sell like, you know, a handful of tickets. That’s not our style at all. We have a lot of artists that have, like 10-ticket deals, 15, 20.”

Throughout our call one thing became clear – Lipsky believes in what he does and finally acknowledged that the value BTM brings to the artists it books has less to do with money and more to do about “exposure” and “networking” despite the focus of the contract. And there are other artists who agree.

The View From The Stage

KeithM McClinton is an R&B/Pop artist in Chicago who also works as an extra on TV shows that have included Empire and Shameless. McClinton first performed at a BTM event in Chicago last October and has since played BTM events in Minneapolis and Atlanta (find out more about him at linktr.ee/4keithm).

“I knew it was pay-to-play,” McClinton said via a phone call. “To me, it was like I was booking the actual venue. You gotta pay the deposit, get a certain amount of tickets. And then you’ll get a back end of the ticket sales.” For McClinton, it wasn’t about the money.

“Even after the 25-ticket sales … There’s still not a profit, he said, laughing. “You’re not gonna get that back unless you are at least bringing in 100 people…It’s like gambling to me. But I met people; that was a success for me. I got friends in Minneapolis now because of what I did with Bridging the Music. The value is about expanding your reach, networking, and having the opportunity to grow your fan base,” McClinton said. 

Ian Svagdis, drummer for the band Mojocat based in Boston, echoed the sentiment. “It was about exposure and networking,” he said. “It was great to meet a lot of the other bands — people in the scene I hadn’t met yet. We had a great experience playing, but also just backstage meeting new people.” (Find out more about Mojocat at facebook.com/mojocatband).

Between McClinton and Svagdis’ experiences, a picture started to form that clarified things: The BTM model isn’t for professional, established musicians. It’s aimed at those just getting started. But even for novices, the Colorado Musicians Union is vehemently against the pay-to-play model.

“The Pay-to-play model…is a predatory model which ultimately serves the employers of said musicians by extracting value generated by the performers into their own pockets, while also ensuring that any losses or underselling of tickets would be at the loss of the musicians and not the employer,” said Frederick Pagnani, one of the founders of the Colorado Musicians Union. “Can we think of another job where this is the case? Are grocery baggers, clothing store cashiers, etc. expected to provide customers for the business or to pay the business when sales are short one day?”

Pay-to-play aside, even the “networking” aspect of the BTM model leaves much to be desired by Mount’s estimation. “It’s a situation where all these newcomers are getting together with each other, and what appears to be missing is leadership from the music scene,” Mount said. “There are open jams every night of the week all over the city, and they’re attended and hosted by players at every level — like the guys from Lettuce, for example. There’s so much more value for newcomers in a situation like that, as opposed to one where you’re paying to play on a stage with a bunch of other artists who are also just starting out and learning the scene.”

Ultimately, regardless of where the value lies for novice musicians, the million-dollar question remains: How does the pay-to-play business model impact the profession in general? 

Ask most professional musicians in Colorado, and they’ll tell you the answer: Poorly. 

Learn more about the Colorado Musicians Union at www.comusiciansunion.com.

The post Spotlight on Pay to Play appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center students produce downtown feature videos.

Longmont, CO – With the help of the St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center, the Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) is showcasing its thriving local business community, highlighting that “Downtown Longmont is Everyone’s Neighborhood.” No matter where you live, you’re welcome and will find something you love Downtown.

Earlier this year, students enrolled in programs at the St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center produced 30 feature videos to highlight downtown Longmont. Those videos will be posted on the LDDA social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) over the coming weeks, and will also be uploaded to the Downtown Longmont YouTube Channel.

“One of our main goals here at the Innovation Center is to give students real world work experience and that is exactly what this collaboration with the LDDA does,” said Ginger Sheehy Tatic, Studio Tech Teacher at The Innovation Center.  “Our students earn a wage as they develop client relationship skills and learn how to plan, film, edit and deliver a professional video product.”

Zoe Ebert, senior at Silver Creek HS, said, “It was really fun and educational to learn about all the different businesses in Downtown Longmont.”

Alexia Deba, a Mead HS sophomore, said, “Making these videos has not only been a great opportunity for me, but also has been so much more fun than I expected!  Not only have I gotten to enjoy the production process, but I have learned so much about the town I’ve grown up in and the people living and working here.”

The videos help bring to life the Downtown Longmont neighborhood. It features what makes downtown welcoming – the people – the small business owners, employees, customers, neighbors and friends that make it feel like home. Even as the community grows, downtown Longmont retains that small-town feel. There’s something for everyone – whether it’s a product, service, or experience. The videos help give a glimpse of the merchandise, people, and community spirit behind the historic building facades.

“The talent and professionalism of the Innovation Center students was amazing,” said McKee. We are excited to reveal them to the community and are looking forward to extending the project with more videos set to be produced this coming school year.”

ABOUT LDDA: The Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) is committed to the redevelopment and revitalization of Downtown Longmont. In 1982, the Longmont City Council and the Longmont electorate created the Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) with a mandate to revitalize the City’s Downtown commercial core. The LDDA encompasses 242 acres, spanning 1st Avenue to Longs Peak and Martin Street to Terry Street.

About the St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center: The Innovation Center is the next step in public education, providing opportunities to experiment with extraordinary ideas and technologies to solve real-world problems. We are a catalyst, incubator, and bridge between education, industry, and our community. Student learning at the Innovation Center transcends the traditional classroom and provides experiential opportunities that are developing today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

The post Longmont Downtown Development Authority partners with St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center on neighborhood marketing campaign. appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Moxie, a new farmers market vendor. Photo by Deborah Cameron

Here are the new vendors to look out for at area farmers markets.

Our community is blessed with multiple farmers markets, but each new season sees some vendor turnover. For many of these vendors, participation represents an expansion of their business, a better opportunity to interact directly with the public, or a new revenue opportunity that spurs growth. This year’s smaller stall could grow into a larger player in our dining landscape. When you meet with them at the market, you get to know these businesses up close, and perhaps years from now, you’ll be able to say, “I knew them when…”

We’ve got the info on new vendors as you work through the stalls. Look for them when you’re there, but be aware that not everyone is available every week. Check the market website to find out when specific vendors will be present.

Boulder Farmers Market
Location: Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings on 13th Street between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue.

Dry Storage bakery and café will have its flour mill and specialty fermentations ready to serve Saturday market-goers after participating in the winter farmers market this past year. On Wednesdays, Off Beet Farm will be bringing plant starts, Golden Hollow Farm is offering Colorado-bred meat and poultry, while Grama Grass & Livestock is offering grass-fed beef on Saturdays. Rang Tang Craft Barbecue will be available on both market days.

Other food additions include Colorado Farmhouse Cheese Company, which will be present on both market days. Illegal Oats will serve customers on Saturdays, Arepas Caribbean food will have a stall on Wednesdays, and Boulder Valley Honey will be in a stall on Saturdays. Boulder Juicery and Haykin Family Cider will also be present, filling glasses both days.

Longmont Farmers Market
Location: Saturday mornings at the Boulder County Fairgrounds

Black Cat Farm can be seen at Longmont for the first time this year. There will also be several new vendors with multiple decadent and tempting products including Challah Ma’afia & Kitchen, Colorado Farmhouse Cheese, Corey’s Chocolate, Bread and Baklava, Pebbledash Bake Shoppe, and Rich Brownies.

Savory and non-prepared food providers who are new to Longmont this year include Off Beet Farm, Smoothie Bites, and The Happy Pickle Company.

Photo by Deborah Cameron

Erie Farmers Market
Location: Thursday nights on Briggs Street in Old Town

Expect to see quite a few new vendors at Erie’s Farmers Market this year. The first one we noticed were donuts from Sexy Donut Co, followed by another sweet treatery (our word, not theirs) called Mo Sweets, selling an assortment of homemade marshmallows. There was also Stacy’s Kitchen, NOCO chocolates, SugarBee Cookie Company, Moxie Bread Co., and Doughology.

New savory food and drink vendors are present in Erie this season. The 5280 Mermaid is going to be there with craft cocktail infusion kits made with dehydrated fruits, sugars, and spices. Options can be alcohol laden, or you take advantage of mocktail infusions, which double as a base for tea. There’s also Out Yonder Jerky, Denver Bone Broth, and Yummy Lotus vegan and gluten-free jams. Other options include Purple Fence Farm & Apothecary, Pastamoré Gourmet Food’s fresh pasta, and Eat 100 Foods’ home-delivered meals. Lastly, dog owners will also have a new vendor to choose from with Oat Paws, a canine-focused ice cream maker, that is going to be in Erie for the first time.

Louisville Farmers Market
Location: Saturday mornings on Front Street in Old Town

Managers at Louisville Farmers Market told us that nearly 25% of their vendors are new this year. Debut vendors include Doughology, the same bakery that’s trying out the Erie market. Other vendors include Roxy’s Remixes, Plante which has a brick-and-mortar houseplant-store on McCaslin Boulevard, and Spicy Garden, dedicated to helping people grow potted edible plants.

The post Debuting at Local Farmers Markets | Foodie appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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City seeks to elevate voices of already energy burdened community members with opposition

This week, the city announced its opposition to a settlement agreement Xcel Energy reached with other parties in their electric rate case. In November 2022, Xcel Energy submitted an application to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proposing to increase total revenues collected from customers by $262.3 million. If approved, this would have resulted in an 8.2% bill increase for residential customers, a 7.77% increase for small commercial customers and a 5% to 7% increase for large commercial and industrial customers.

Though the application included items the city strongly supports, such as investment in wildfire mitigation, it also proposed a 10% increase in equity return for shareholders and rate increases that would further burden residents and businesses already struggling with rising utility costs.

While the parties made progress in scaling back Xcel’s request to raise rates to a potential range of 1.7% to 4.4%, the city decided to oppose the settlement agreement, continue to challenge the proposed rate increases, and request the PUC consider whether the proposed equity return is necessary or appropriate. The City of Boulder is represented by staff from the City Attorney’s Office and the Climate Initiatives Department.

This decision was influenced by extensive concerns shared by Boulder community members in written public comment to the Public Utilities Commission, along with feedback gathered through community engagement. Many Boulder community members are struggling with the impacts of utility costs. The city believes it’s important for the PUC to take Boulder’s concerns into account as they consider whether to accept the settlement.

“We appreciate the parties to this case, including the Commission staff and Office of Utility Consumer Advocates for their hard work to reach this settlement. However, we must end the practice of rate increases that don’t fully consider the impact to community members, particularly those who have a high energy burden,” said City of Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett. “We also need to make sure that if customers are asked to pay more, those investments prioritize safety, reliability and a clean energy future.”

“Energy affordability is at the heart of the city’s position in this case,” said Jonathan Koehn, director of climate initiatives for the city. “This case has seen a record number of letters from people struggling with rising energy costs – many from Boulder community members. City staff take representing our community very seriously. As such, we couldn’t join a settlement that will still raise costs, especially considering the drivers of the increase in this case.”

The city filed both answer testimony and cross answer testimony in this proceeding. Hearings on this issue are currently set to begin July 10. The PUC will decide whether to accept, modify or reject the settlement after the hearing concludes. They also have time to further review evidence that was presented. More information and opportunities to submit public comment are available on their website. City of Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett’s letter to the Commission is also available on the city’s website.

The post City of Boulder says no to Xcel Energy rate case settlement appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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Boulder, CO – Mentorship led to the friendly acquisition of the famous gluten-free Kim and Jake’s Cakes. The two 20-something sisters worked for Kim and Jake Rosenbarger for five years until they were able to buy out the outpost location in South Boulder.

“We take pride in making everything we offer from scratch in-house so you can enjoy it in yours.”
— Sydney Klinkerman, Founder and CEO

BOULDER, COLORADO, UNITED STATES, April 14, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — Sweet Sisters Bake Shop, the South Boulder-based bakery, has announced its grand opening in the location formerly known as Kim and Jake’s Cakes. Sweet Sisters Bake Shop is owned and operated by sisters Sydney and Jordan Klinkerman, who were privy to extensive mentoring from Kim and Jake Rosenbarger while working at their cake shop and subsequently bought the South Boulder cake shop in a friendly acquisition thus allowing Kim and Jake to focus on their packaged goods brand: Kim and Jake’s Gluten-Free.

The Klinkerman sisters worked for Kim and Jake’s Cakes for five years and developed a close relationship with the owners and their son August. Hard work and dedication to their craft allowed them to be able to buy out the South Boulder location and transform it into their own bakery, Sweet Sisters Bake Shop. The sisters are proud to offer all their entirely gluten-free products made from scratch in-house, using only the freshest ingredients and recipes identical to those used at Kim and Jake’s Cakes. This unique harmonic relationship affords patrons the pleasure of all of their iconic favorites, and also the excitement of ongoing new items to be offered such as seasonal pies.

“Baking has been our passion for as long as we can remember,” said Sydney Klinkerman, founder and CEO of Sweet Sisters Bake Shop. “We were always trying new recipes and destroying our parents’ kitchen in the process. Once I found the TV show Cake Boss I watched almost every episode, I knew I wanted to own my own cake shop and thanks to Kim and Jake, that dream has become a reality.”

Sisters Sydney and Jordan Klinkerman are just 24 and 26 and were able to obtain a “perfect” business loan to fund the venture.

Sweet Sisters Bake Shop offers a wide variety of celiac-approved gluten-free baked goods, including cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more. Their specialties are their daily gluten-free baguettes (often sold out by mid-day,) luscious carrot cake, and signature Herbs de Provence cake, a twist on a honey cake: a savory lavender cake with apricot honey filling and goat cheese icing which continues to grow in popularity during the last couple of years. They also carry sandwich bread and pizza dough.

Like the former Kim and Jake’s Cakes, the bakery is committed to using high-quality ingredients and ensuring that each customer who walks in feels like family.

“We take pride in making everything we offer from scratch in-house so you can enjoy it in yours,” said Jordan Klinkerman, co-founder of Sweet Sisters Bake Shop.

Well-loved national brand Kim and Jake’s Gluten-Free was founded in 2010 and will continue to focus on its packaged baked goods line of rustic bread, buns, and cookies.

Jake Rosenbarger stated, “We are so fortunate to have Jordan and Sydney take over the cake shop, they are fantastic people who share our values, we couldn’t have asked for better custodians to carry the torch.”

Sweet Sisters Bake Shop also accommodates most allergies and offers nut-free, vegan, corn-free, and soy-free cakes. “Everyone has been so excited and supportive of our shop and we are extremely grateful to have the privilege of serving this community,” says the founder and CEO of Sweet Sisters, Sydney Klinkerman.

For more information on Sweet Sisters Bake Shop, visit their website or contact them via email at cakes@sweetsistersboulder.com.

The post Female-Founded Sweet Sisters Bake Shop Opens in South Boulder appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Scenic vistas attract filmmakers, but steep tax incentives also drive away some out-of-state productions.

With its scenic vistas, Colorado has been a destination for filmmakers since the earliest days of cinema. Through the 20th century and beyond, the state has played a part in films of all sizes, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent films.

Even before the emergence of movies as entertainment in the early 1900s, documentary shorts were being filmed in the state. A new art form was being created, and these flickering images captured the culture of the area and the beauty of Colorado.

The practice of having Colorado stand in for other locations would go on for countless films through the 20th century. Many of them were Westerns, with filmmakers flocking to the state to portray the world of cowboys, gunfighters, and Native Americans.

Photo by Austin Clinkenbeard

Colorado: The star

The 1898 short “Procession of Mounted Indians and Cowboys” displayed Native Americans and cowboys alongside decorated wagons making their way through Denver. Now registered in the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center within the Library of Congress, the short film, directed by former gramophone salesman James H. White, was one of many he filmed in Colorado for Thomas Edison’s production company.

It wasn’t long before Colorado became the filming location of choice for Western movies. Actor and filmmaker Gilbert M. “Broncho Billy” Anderson would shoot many of his productions in the state. Anderson appeared in one of the very first Westerns, “The Great Train Robbery.” Anderson would recreate himself as a cowboy star and is credited with helping develop the genre as we know it, including movies like “The Bandit King” (1907) and “The Heart of a Cowboy” (1909), both shot in Colorado.

Even as the Western began to wane in popularity, the genre continued to be filmed in Colorado. John Wayne shot the classic “True Grit” in the state. Wayne’s role as cantankerous lawman Rooster Cogburn would earn the iconic actor his only Academy Award.

It’s common knowledge how much Robert Redford loves Colorado. The classic film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” shot in several locations including Durango, Silverton, and Telluride. In an act of art imitating life, the real Butch Cassidy’s first bank robbery actually occurred in Telluride in 1889. The film would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

In the 2000s  filmmakers returned to the state with productions such as Disney’s “The Lone Ranger.” However, the film was a box office disaster, by some accounts losing Disney almost $200 million, and mired in controversy, not the least of which was Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the Native American character Tonto.

Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” turned a respectable profit and earned positive reviews on its way to three Academy Award nominations and winning for Best Original Score for Ennio Morricone, who had created music for several iconic Westerns before his work on “The Hateful Eight.”

Photo from Unsplash

Colorado: The stand in

Charles Chaplin filmed parts of one of his classic “The Gold Rush” in Colorado. This was one of many films that would start a trend of the state standing in for other locations, in this case, Alaska. Set during the Klondike Gold Rush, Chaplin filmed the movie’s opening shot at Mount Lincoln, showing hundreds of the miners portrayed in the film hiking through the snow on toward their hope of golden riches. According to accounts at the time, Chaplin hired hundreds of extras to portray the prospectors.

As the industry grew, blockbusters would discover the state. In the iconic opening scene of Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” we learn how a young Indiana Jones portrayed by River Phoenix not only received his scar but decided to don his iconic fedora. The movie used Colorado as a stand-in for Utah.

Yet the rugged peaks and valleys of Colorado have been stand-ins for locations around the world. Whether or not you are a fan of the long-running “Fast and Furious” series, it’s difficult to deny that the driving sequences and stunts are some of the most thrilling and exciting ever put on film. However, when “Furious 7” needed to shoot a chase sequence set in the Caucasus Mountains of Azerbaijan, once again Hollywood would turn to Colorado as a stand-in.

The state has also lent a military presence to several films. The military has been working with the entertainment industry for almost 100 years, using the opportunity to recruit in exchange for providing studios with equipment and consulting.

The sci-fi alien invasion movie “Independence Day” filmed at the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. Iconic Cheyenne Mountain, former home to NORAD, has been featured in movies such as “Wargames,” “Interstellar,“ and “Independence Day: Resurgence.” Also, while not featured in the original film, the location was instrumental in the “Stargate” television series and spin offs as the home for the Command Center that housed the titular device that allowed the characters to travel through the universe.

In a reversal of the state’s status as a cinematic stand-in, the Sylvester Stallone film “Cliffhanger” was set in Colorado but shot the majority of its mountain scenes in Italy. A few smaller scenes were filmed in Durango, but director Renny Harlin didn’t like the look of the Rockies, saying they were too old and rounded for his vision. He spent a great deal of time and money to get the look he wanted by filming on the other side of the world. While it did receive some critical drubbings for some of its unrealistic action, “Cliffhanger” was a box office hit and was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Countless movies have been shot in Colorado with the location being part of the plot in obvious ways. Nearly the entire plot of “Dumb and Dumber” revolves around the fact that the two main characters are traveling to Aspen to return a briefcase. Other films have been set in Colorado with the location playing a minimal part in the plot, sometimes just for throwaway bits or quick references to the area.

Photo by Austin Clinkenbeard

It all comes down to money

However, when the location isn’t integral to the story, often the decision whether to film in a state comes down to the tax incentives that state offers. In addition to different tax incentives, some states also offer assistance with scouting locations and even broker deals with certain locations. This not only helps the productions keep budgets down but often gives them access to unique locations they might not have even known about. By enticing productions to shoot in their state, it brings revenue to not only the local film industry but also other local economies such as the lodging and service industries.

Colorado offers a 20% tax rebate credit for productions filmed in the state with a few stipulations. Out-of-state production companies must reach a budget of $1 million to qualify, and 50% of the staff must be Colorado residents.

Will more movies come to Colorado in the future? It’s most likely that Hollywood’s desire to film in Colorado and use its scenic settings won’t stop anytime soon.

However, the future of lower budget movies coming to the state is up in the air because just like so many other things, it all comes down to money. Colorado’s steep spend requirement for out-of-state projects can cause independent films to not consider the state. For many larger budget films, this is an easily achievable goal, but smaller studios may find it difficult to make the numbers work.

In comparison, Virginia has a minimum spend of $250,000 and Alabama $500,000. When creating their budget for a film and where to shoot, productions will need to have serious discussions if having a snow-capped mountain in the background or the uniqueness of a Colorado town is essential to their production or another state might work just as well.

Will Colorado fade into the background like an aging actor or remain a stalwart for the industry like a classic film?

The post Colorado Isn’t a Novice When It Comes To Making Movies appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

As long as they have been creating music, musicians have found ways to make a living doing it. To help the artists’ dreams come true, an entire recording industry and promotional companies, agents, and lawyers evolved, making themselves rich along the way.

In the later half of the 20th century, the music industry expanded and became gatekeepers of what the public listened to. Musicians were swept along in the process, at the whim of corporations, while trying to find ways to get their music to the masses.

As the business grew into a worldwide industry, artists signed multi-million-dollar contracts that looked like golden opportunities. However, these contracts weren’t what they appeared.

A recording company would provide or pay for studios, promotional duties, and even lodging or cash advances. However the fine print of the contracts was usually a lien against album sales. If the records didn’t sell, artists were still legally responsible for the advances or payouts and had to pay them back. Unless the band was The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, these contracts were basically no-interest loans.

The 360 Deals

With the rise of the internet and the streaming of music in the late 1990s, music companies began to offer what became known as “360 deals.”

These contracts encompassed the majority of an artist’s earnings. In exchange for more potential earnings, a company now had a hand in everything an artist did including merchandising and publishing.

These were called “multi-rights deals,” and it wouldn’t be long before musicians such as Madonna and Jay-Z put their signatures on the dotted line to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

For all intents and purposes, if a musician’s name was on the venture, the company got a piece of it. Some of these contracts were even in perpetuity, meaning that if the artist quit music and went into some other field, the record company could claim a share of those earnings. While bigger artists might have been able to negotiate a different deal, often smaller artists just took what they were offered.

Photo by Oleg Ivanov (Unsplash)

Getting people to listen

In the early days it wasn’t uncommon for artists to sell CDs out of the trunk of their car. This was especially common for hip-hop artists. Even without the promotional muscle of a large record label or even on-air radio play of his music, hip-hop artist Too Short claims to have sold 50,000 albums.

In addition to selling albums, artists would beg DJs to play their songs on the radio. In the 1950s, the “payola” scandal emerged from this hustle, with radio stations and other DJs being accused of taking money to play the music of certain artists. While DJs were publicly punished for this, some in the industry claim the practice just went underground.

With the rise of digital technology, musicians had a new tool to get people to listen to their songs in a way that could directly lead to sales. In 2005, Tower Records “Scan and Listen” allowed customers to scan the barcode on a CD and listen to clips from the album to decide if they wanted to buy it. This was a boon to the trend of short, catchy clips dominating the airwaves as opposed to longer songs.

Trumpeter Steve Illich and Dave Flomberg playing with Reptiles and Samurai at the Oriental Theater (Credit: Deb Flomberg-Rollins)

Rise of the Streamers

The newest frontier for exposure of musicians are short-form entertainment platforms such as TikTok. According to an MRC Data study, 67% of TikTok users say they are more likely to seek out songs they heard on the platform. Artists of every level are expected to create short-form entertainment for these platforms.

Musician Halsey shared their thoughts on TikTok: “Everything is marketing. And they are doing this to every artist these days. I just want to release music, man. And I deserve better tbh. I’m tired.” (Halsey uses she/they pronouns.)

Dave Flomberg is a Colorado musician whose career goes back decades. Performing with numerous bands over the years, he has seen the shift of not only musical tastes but the way music has been presented to the masses including the move to social media.

“I think like any other seismic change in music, there’s people who embrace it and people who pillory it,” Flomberg said. “If you embrace it, if you jump in, there’s a market there. You can be successful at if you’re really good at it.”

Arguably the largest platform for getting music to the public is Spotify. Since its launch in 2006, it has grown to nearly 500 million monthly users. The service offers over 100 million songs as well as about 5 million podcasts. While not the only streaming platform, it has a different model than Apple Music or Amazon Music, which offer only pay services versus Spotify’s free use and subscription plans.

Spotify pays artists $.003-.005 per stream on average, but the system for payment is a bit more complicated. The company pays based on “streamshare” and takes into consideration the total number of streams of all music offered on the platform as well as various payout contracts. Every country is going to be different as to rules and approaches, so it’s not as simple as one play equals this much money.

According to an MRC data study, 67% of TikTok users say they are more likely to seek out songs they heard on the platform.

This does work out to about a 70-30 split with the majority going to the artist, however publishers, copyright holders, and others may have their hand in that payout. By comparison, Apple Music claims to pay artists between $0.007 and $0.01 per stream, but that is for a full pay service versus Spotify’s free and pay streams.

According to Spotify, more than 28% of artists who earned over $10,000 from Spotify in 2020-21 were self-distributed. With the rise of home studios and recording abilities, almost anyone can record their own songs without the need for an expensive recording studio. What does this do to the musical landscape?

“It’s a double-edged sword. It’s more democratic now than it’s ever been. All you need is a TikTok account and a means to lay down a few tracks and a halfway decent microphone,” Flomberg says. “So you can produce the music for nothing, and then it becomes about how do you market it. Are you good at marketing? Cream still rises to the top eventually if you’re working hard enough to get it out there, and shitty music will go away.”

However Flomberg admits that there is a learning curve for musicians if they want to be successful in this new reality of music.

“If you’re smart and know how the system works, you can be successful. You can’t change the rules of the game. It’s too big and powerful. You adapt to the rules of what the algorithms will proffer. You figure out, ‘I have to pay to play,’” he says. “I’ve got to get my music out there, and I have to have x number of dollars budgeted for getting my music into the algorithm to get it to other people to hear it.”

Dave Flomberg, Gabriel Otto, Hugh Ragin and Serafin Sanchez in the studio laying down tracks for the Flobots 2017 release NoEnemies.

The festivals

There was a time that joining a festival was the way to fame. Going back to the rock and roll festivals of the 1950s and 1960s, bands would play anywhere they could, hoping to gain new fans and grab the attention of record producers.

In the 1990s, these festivals grew exponentially with the rise of Lollapalooza, Coachella, and others. Promoters even tried another Woodstock, but it became a legendary failure that led to fires, injuries, and even horrific tales of sexual assaults.

“If you were able to get in front of an opener, you basically sacrifice a month of other possible gigs just to play that show to a 500-seat theater,” Flomberg explains.

It really comes down to musicians having to be far more than just artists. With the new landscape of streamers and self-publishing of music, they need to find ways to get people to listen to their songs. They become self-promoters in a way that has never really been seen before.

“You tour and you find ways to get people in the audience to discover you and while they’re captive, if they’re into what you’re doing, getting them to follow you on the spot. Having everyone pull out their phones and hit this QR code,” Flomberg says.

“The artist is no longer just an artist and, whereas you don’t have to be beholden to the label to do the work of marketing you anymore because you don’t really need a label anymore, that does mean that all that work is going to fall on your shoulders. And you’re going to have to become a marketer and a business person.”

The post The New Frontier of Music appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I got a call Monday that has bothered me since. A woman I’d bought some books from called and angrily said, “I sold you some first editions. You gave me $3 apiece, and I want to know what you sold them for.” I told her if I paid her $3, I would price the book at $9 or $10.

“Do you remember the titles?” I asked. She didn’t “I’d give you the books back if you tell me the titles.” No dice. “You know that a lot of first editions aren’t valuable, right?” I asked.

And she said, “I want you to know I’m on to you.”

“What do you want me to do?” I asked.

“I just want you to know that I know what you did. Goodbye.”

I looked up when I’d bought her books. It was 10 months ago. Ten months she stewed about this, finally reaching some kind of point where she had to call. Ten months is a long time to carry around pent-up anger. I wondered what finally made her call.

Today was another house call. A woman was selling her parents’ books. I asked her what she wanted, she didn’t know, so I made her an offer, and after some back and forth, we made a deal. When I got home, a $20 bill fell out of the first book I opened. I called her, told her about that, and suggested she check for cash in all the remaining books. If you hide money in one book, my experience is you will hide it in another. I put the $20 in the mail.

It would be weird if she waited 10 months, then called to thank me.

– Dan Danbom
Printed Page Bookshop
printedpagebookshop.com | facebook.com/PrintedPageBookshop

The post 10 Months | A Bookseller’s Diary appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

[NATIONAL]

• Ex-president Donald Trump is indicted for payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in an attempt to squash news of his affair, which occurred just 4 months after Trump’s wife Melania gave birth. He previously announced the day of his arrest, which, like most of his statements, turned out to be false. He pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges.
• Nashville school shooting leaves 6 dead, including 3 nine-year olds in the latest string of gun related tragedies plaguing the nation, making this over 130 mass shootings in 2023 so far.
• Lori Lighfoot (D) comes in third place, losing her Chicago mayoral reelection bid which historically has seen the incumbent remain in power for decades.

[INTERNATIONAL]

• Mass protests spread in Paris following the proposed raising of the retirement age. While France is looking at raising it from 62 to 64, we could learn a thing or two about solidarity in the face of stripped benefits.
• UBS takes over one of its largest competitors, Credit Suisse, in a buyout following news of the bank’s fragility.
• Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovic is detained by Russia who accuses him of spying.
• Fire in a detention center for migrants that have been sent back from the U.S. to Mexico kills at least 38 people trapped in the facility.
• Archaeologists have found evidence of horseback riding that pushes the domestication date of these animals back to about 5,000 years ago.

[LOCAL]

• North Boulder was placed under a shelter in place order for several hours after a standoff with armed suspect near 17th and Yarmouth.
• Prop 125 took effect this month allowing sellers of beer to also stock wine on their shelves. Expect more and more faux wine snobs to come out of the woodwork.
• Jenna Ellis, one of Trump’s numerous former lawyers, has been rightly censured in Colorado over fabricated statements regarding the 2020 elections.
• Lauren Boebert announces her underage son will soon be a father, having impregnated an even younger girl. Boebert will be a grandmother at age 36. 
• CU Boulder signed a football player to their program that is under investigation by the El Paso County sherriffs dept for rape, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation of a minor. A petition to expel him is currently circulating but the administration has made no decision by the date this was published.
• Denver East high school experiences a shooting with two injuries and the death of the shooter. Students staged a protest at the State capitol in a plea for lawmakers to do something.

Small Talk

“I have looked into the terrified eyes of many children after they’ve been shot and tried to comfort them… I tell them they’re in a safe place now, but in my heart, I don’t know if they are.” – Dr. Halden Scott on treating child survivors of mass shootings. 

“Aurora Civil Service Commission quietly approved a package of changes to entry-level hiring rules for police and firefighters, giving the commission… the ability to hire candidates whose backgrounds include caveats that would have previously gotten their applications thrown out.” – according to the Colorado Sentinel‘s In The Blue project.

“To all the trans youth who may be affected by this legislation: we stand by you, and we will not stop fighting. You are cherished. You are loved. You belong,” – Kentucky ACLU on the State passing a bill that, among other restrictions, bans all gender-affirming medical care for those under 18.

“The police department is destroyed. City Hall is destroyed. The county courthouse is damaged. The fire department is devastated. There’s no grocery store that’s operable in the community.” – US Rep. Bennie Thompson on the tornado that devastated Rolling Fork, Mississippi.

“What you’re telling me is, you don’t mind  infringing free speech to protest children [from drag show readings] but when it comes to children that have died, you don’t give a flying f*ck to stop that because ‘that shall not be infringed.’ That is hypocrisy at its highest order.” – Jon Stewart to Oklahoma State Senator Nathan Dahm during their conversation on drag shows and gun rights.

By the Numbers 

11 – Candidates still in the Denver mayoral race as voting comes to a close, with Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough now facing each other in a top-two runoff.

19% – American children deaths are from gun violence, now the leading cause of death for those under 18.

48% – Superior residents are renters according to 2020 census data reviewed by Mayor Mark Lacis.

311,000 – Jobs added last month in an already strong labor market 

47% – Of all building and permit fees for the Town of Superior have been issued as rebates to residents wishing to rebuild.

The post Month in Review | April 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Small Planet eBikes in Downtown Longmont has new ownership. New owner Amy Wilkins of Longmont purchased the business from the store’s founder, Tom Wilson. Tom started the shop in 2009 and has been actively managing the store up until his recent retirement.

The Longmont Chamber of Commerce will be conducting a ceremonial ribbon for Small Planet eBike’s new owners on Thursday, May 11, from 5pm to 6pm. There will also be a “launch party” on Saturday, May 13 from 10am to 4pm. The launch party will be at the Small Planet eBike store and include food and drink, prize giveaways, and free bike test rides. Small Planet staff will be on hand to answer any questions about eBikes. Both events are open to the public.

“Amy and I met when she was vetting a different eBike store,” said Wilson. “The timing was perfect as I was looking to retire. We worked it out and I’m confident the store is in good hands, he said.”

Small Planet eBikes sells a wide variety of eBikes including various types and brands. Electric bike brands they carry include Aventon, Magnum, Bluejay, Stromer, Batch, Bulls, an others. A variety of eBike styles are available that are designed for recreation, commuting, trail riding, or carrying cargo. The store also has a full service bike repair and service center located on site.

New Owner Wilkins said she plans to continue the precedent that Tomhas created for Small Planet. “Tom has had success for a reason.” said Wilkins. “Unlike big box stores, Small Planet focuses on a customer first approach and inventory that includes a wide variety of brands and models suited for any type of rider.

eBike popularity has exploded in recent years. They are ridden year round and are extremely versatile. They can be used on many types of terrains, including streets, bike paths, trails, and sidewalks. In addition to their versatility, they produce zero emissions and are a healthy form of year-round transportation. Another benefit is avoiding gridlock during commutes.

There are three classes of eBikes – Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. The classes refer to the differences between the types of bikes and their features, including their and motor abilities (pedal-assist and/or stand alone throttle). Class 1 and 2 eBikes can reach a speed of 20 mph and Class 3 bikes have a top speed of 28 mph.

ABOUT SMALL PLANET EBIKES

Small Planet eBikes is located at 724 Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501, and offers a friendly and knowledgeable staff. The offer many eBike types and a variety of bike accessories. The store also includes a full-service maintenance and repair shop. For more information visit www.smallplanetebikes.com.

The post SMALL PLANET eBIKES NEW OWNERSHIP: Ribbon Cutting and Store Launch Party Planned for May appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Insurance companies have resisted changes to the industry that would benefit survivors of natural disasters, making it more difficult for homeowners facing this dire situation.

The second moment of trauma

There is another looming moment not often talked about that comes in the wake of disaster — that sinking feeling when hope fades and reality of an uphill battle sets in. There is no going back. Unfortunately many families had to experience this feeling of helplessness and loss yet another time following the Marshall Fire when insurance didn’t adequately cover the damages wrought by Mother Nature. Surviving a natural disaster is traumatic enough. Discovering your insurance won’t fully cover the costs of the damage is a whole new hurdle, but it can evoke the same feelings of loss, helplessness, and insurmountable odds.

The danger of living in a place with such stunning natural beauty is understanding that nature cannot be tamed, controlled, or even predicted at times. We value our open spaces, our mountain views, and the forests of trees that can bring such tranquility to everyday life in Colorado, but existing this close to nature has its occasional drawback when fires or storms have other plans.

951 total loss of homes reported

Buying insurance is almost no one’s idea of a fun time. Going over specifics and details to be worked into a contract with your agent can be time consuming and tedious. It is so much easier to simply enter some basic information about your home and let a computer program run the numbers. It is so much more tempting to go with the easiest or cheapest insurance option, forgoing coverage that may never be needed for the sake of efficiency. Getting into the weeds of every item in the home that has value, double checking calculations, and obtaining multiple quotes from adjusters take time and resources not readily available to everyone.

Unfortunately so many residents found out — in the hardest way possible — their insurance did not cover the total loss of property in the Marshall Fire. Even homeowners who had the extra time to spend on their insurance when first moving into their house may have at one point rejected a coverage increase. Some of our rural residents have added to their homes or built additional structures to better suit their needs. Additionally, building codes may have changed since the home insurance was first purchased which may affect payout if new codes were not addressed. Not everyone is aware of the exact coverage needed for their specific situations. Any of these events would have resulted in insufficient coverage.

The non-profit organization United Policyholders’ website explains, “If you refused to follow recommendations from your agent or insurer to increase your limits, or if you have made major improvements to your home without notifying your agent or insurer, it is unlikely your insurer will agree to pay above the amounts stated in your policy contract.”

United Policyholders goes on to define what underinsurance means: “When you’re underinsured there is a gap between the actual cost of replacing your destroyed home or business and the available insurance benefits in the policy that was in force at the time of loss.”

That’s when despair can strike again. It is daunting beyond belief to have lost your home and possessions. It becomes dehumanizing to also be informed that your insurance will not cover the total loss. Homeowners facing this situation are looking for empathy, support, and assistance but are instead faced with the cold hard facts that money rules the day. Insurance agencies exist, like so many of our institutions, to make a profit. It is not profitable to cover the complete loss of numerous homes, and the agencies bank on this unlikely event never happening when they issue insurance. That all means when disaster does strike, homeowners need to be prepared to fight another battle once the initial dust clears. It also means that as the climate shifts to become more unpredictable and more devastating, total loss events are more likely to occur.

The good news is that underinsurance can be rectified — under the right circumstances. Even though your insurance policy is a legally binding document, some things can still be amended or adjusted after the fact for those who are persistent enough and have some support from advocate groups, lawyers, and the time to spend fighting.

Contracts and contractors

Insurance agencies present themselves as experts when a home or business owner works with them to establish a policy. The cruel irony is that in the event of loss, the property owner must now become the expert in finding ways to advocate for themselves and understanding the full nuances of their coverage. Knowing what avenues to pursue and who to turn to can be half the battle.

Reading insurance policies often brings about that glazed-over look, pages on pages of minutiae and details nearly incomprehensible to the average person. “Legalese” is a term colloquially used to describe the detailed and specific language that contracts use. Simply interpreting what a policy fully entails can require someone with specialized skills.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Attorneys often get a bad rap, but this is a time when you will need someone in your corner fighting for you. Finding the right lawyer for your needs can help immeasurably. In some ways, it can be like dealing with the police. Do not have your insurance company take a statement or interview you without consulting with a lawyer. You can accidentally limit your coverage by saying the wrong thing to the right person. Insurance companies know how to protect themselves and as a homeowner or business owner facing a total loss, you do not want to limit your coverage by misunderstanding or simply misstating a basic fact. It is difficult to comprehend and communicate in legalese, so having an expert on your side when attempting to negotiate with a corporation can be immensely helpful.

You wouldn’t fight the fire on your own, you don’t need to fight insurance companies on your own either. Lawyers don’t have nearly the reputation that firefighters do, but in this case they are crucial to navigating the complex system. It may seem like an uphill battle — because it is — but insurance companies often count on homeowners becoming frustrated and giving up hope instead of pursuing a fight for fair coverage. This can seem cruel, forcing disaster survivors to fend for themselves, but it is the nature of the business in many cases.

Another separate but related stress to deal with is contractors who inflate quotes post-disaster in order to take advantage of those in desperate need. Unfortunately, there is no statewide database for licensed and bonded contractors in Colorado. Each municipality must independently verify a contractor’s information is up to date. Fortunately, this has not been as widespread of a problem as it could be according to our conversation with Garry Sanafaçon, recovery manager for Boulder County.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Always make sure your contractor is licensed and registered in Boulder County. It may be cheaper to go another route, but you as a homeowner would be left with huge costs and liability you had no idea existed. Licensed contractors have liability insurance that covers any injuries or post-construction failures that could possibly occur. Certain contractors may advise homeowners into signing as owner-builder so as to remove this liability, claiming that it will save money. In the short term, they are correct. It can save you money, but in the long run it can leave you with liability and debt if work is performed incorrectly.

Your recourse for poorly completed work, unfinished jobs, or disappearing contractors vastly increases when you hire a licensed contractor. You can report them to the municipality where they operate, which may cause them to lose their license if their violations are egregious enough. This is a much more effective way of holding them liable than simply leaving a bad Yelp or Facebook review.

Taking the human out of the equation

The way insurance works, it is in the best interest of agents to get you to sign up. These tactics can make them offer you less insurance coverage for a lower cost if that’s what it means to get you to use their services over competitors. Reducing your entire life’s possessions to numbers can seem dehumanizing — because it literally is. Computer software is most likely responsible for what insurance policy you have for your home.

Insurance companies use software programs to issue insurance claims. They input data provided by the homeowner, and the computer tells both parties what insurance is needed. Homeowners need to be as detailed as possible in order to get the right coverage. This is the time to be meticulous, dive into details, and possibly save yourself a huge hassle on the backend if, God forbid, anything should ever happen.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Sanafaçon told us that “the insurance companies use software to estimate, and just like anything, it’s only as good as the data you put in.” The more detailed and specific you can be when signing up or renewing your policy, the better the outcome will be when disaster strikes.

Many agencies do not want the general public to know that it is possible to fix underinsurance after the fact in certain circumstances. If underinsurance was no fault of your own, for example you believed you were fully insured when in fact you were not, there is still a path forward.

Insurance agencies often have homeowners sign agreements not to discuss the amounts above their policy that were successfully negotiated, which stifles word of this process getting out. Instead, stories of homeowners not being able to fight their insurance companies dominate the news and can create a feeling of helplessness for others in the same situation.

Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, told YS that unfortunately, “disclosures don’t solve the problem.” Bach stated that your best bet is to “find a good agent, spend time with them explaining the features of your home, and when they generate a quote — which they will do using a replacement cost estimating software provided to them by an insurer — get a second opinion, the software chronically skews low.”

“Don’t trust your insurance company is going to take care of you when you get a renewal,” Sanafaçon warned. He also advised to “ask your insurer to put in writing that you are adequately covered, which they’ll never do, and the other is to actually do your own calculations.” To begin, he shared, “talk to construction experts or general contractors in your area who know what kind of house you have and what it costs to rebuild.”

“Don’t trust your insurance company is going to take care of you when you get a renewal.”

Rectifying underinsurance

One suggestion when facing underinsurance is to band together with other home and business owners who have policies from the same company. Strength in numbers allows victims in similar circumstances to find what strategies work best, consistently move up the chain of command, and offer comfort and support knowing that you are not alone after facing such a loss.

United Policyholders provides a comprehensive step-by-step plan on how to start dealing with underinsurance after disaster strikes. The first and most obvious is to identify any errors in the policy itself. This does not happen often, but finding a mistake like incorrect square footage can get your foot in the door and open up more avenues for collecting the money you will need, as long as the error is not on your end.

Another crucial step can be to have an “independent scope of loss from a qualified professional on the total cost of replacing your home with one of like kind and quality, to current building codes,” UP’s website states. There is a cost associated with hiring a professional to do this, usually a few thousand dollars, but the benefits can be immeasurable, not just for covering your monetary losses but for the peace of mind that you have adequate coverage.

Strength in numbers allows victims in similar circumstances to find what strategies work best, consistently move up the chain of command, and offer comfort and support knowing that you are not alone after facing such a loss.

Finally, another route that should be considered after a major natural disaster is to name and shame insurance companies that are not living up to your expectations and making things more difficult for you and other survivors. The media or your local government representatives can be avenues to publicly express your frustration and disappointment of the company’s customer disservice. Bad press and media coverage of difficult insurance companies can cause higher-ups at said company to reconsider their approach if it may affect their bottom line. Unfortunately our society runs on dollar signs. There is also the option of applying for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program, which can help cover the gap between what you need and what insurance will provide.

There are remedies for overcoming the second-time trauma hits, but they are not quick or easy. On a state level one remedy could be “legally requiring insurers to calculate RCV (replacement cost value) accurately before they issue a policy and holding them responsible for retroactively increasing the policy limits if they turn out to have projected low is the key, but insurers resist having the law state that,” Bach explained.

Reaching out for resources, connecting with other survivors, and pursuing all available options for help can be exhausting. Ultimately, similar to working on personal trauma, success may depend on resources available to each individual and the persistence to put forth the effort. Sadly, we are unlikely to see any state-wide initiatives that deal with the underlying problem. “I’ve presented before state regulators on underinsurance many times over the years, but I don’t know of a current initiative on point, other than the constant attempt to mandate disclosures,” Bach revealed. It might be time to put pressure on lawmakers to better regulate insurance agencies so that the unexpected — and unthinkable — do not have to occur twice for disaster survivors.

The post Dehumanizing and Traumatic: Underinsurance Following a Major Disaster Can Be a Daunting Hill to Climb Alone appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By Shay Castle
Boulder Beat (AP Storyshare)

The first time Charlie Bigsby was offered a kidney, things looked promising. The potential donor, a long-time friend, made it through the initial health screen and subsequent testing. But then the news came down: He was pre-diabetic, and therefore ineligible to donate.

The next friend to offer drove all the way from Kansas City, only to be told he might have heart problems down the road. Another person was in perfect health, but the wrong blood type. A fourth was screened out for unknown reasons, though a long-past history of drug use may have played a role.

Charlie would be offered a kidney three more times. None of them panned out, leaving the 56-year-old Longmont resident and Boulder business owner chained to a dialysis machine for 10 hours a day to do the job two healthy organs used to perform.

Charlie is in late-stage kidney failure, one of 1,130 Coloradans who last year were on the waitlist for a kidney.

The number of organs available is higher than ever, but it’s still not enough for the thousands of people across the country in need of a transplant. They will wait, on average, three to five years for someone — living or dead — to give them a chance at health, all the while watching the ticking clock of their own declining kidney function.

“This whole thing,” Charlie said, “it’s been a whole lot of hurry up and wait.”

One of the good guys

Charlie is a man of few words. In his business, you don’t need them.

Charlie is the owner of Charley’s Garage, a Toyota-only repair shop in north Boulder where he’s worked for 30 years. He’s actually the second Charlie to own the business — hence the spelling discrepancy — taking over as manager from Charles Miller years ago. He finally purchased the garage in spring 2021.

It was love of the job that led Charlie to choose peritoneal dialysis, a treatment thankfully open to him because of his relative good health. Each night at 7, in his Longmont home, he hooks up to a machine that filters his blood by depositing and then draining a cleansing fluid into his abdomen. There he stays until 5 a.m. — reading, relaxing, watching TV, and finally falling asleep.

The other option is hemodialysis, which would require him to visit a medical center or hospital two to three times a week, three to four hours at a time.

Being hooked up to the at-home machine every night allows him to be at the shop all day, loyal heeler in tow. The rescue dogs — there have been several over the years — have become as much a part of the customer experience as the expectation of good work for a fair price.

I have “gratitude for a local business that is fair, competent, reliable, easy to work with, and has friendly dogs that greet you with a wagging tail at the door,” said Jenny Askey, a Boulder resident whose family “has been taking our Toyotas to Charlie for nearly 20 years.”

Askey appreciates the times Charlie has accommodated emergency repairs, despite typically being booked out for several weeks. She knows Charlie will never recommend unnecessary repairs, and that he’ll charge fairly for his services.

“He kept several of our Toyotas rolling for over 300,000 miles each,” Askey said. “We have not been sorry. Ever.”

When the power steering “puked out” on Michael Sacks’ 1990 Toyota pickup, Charlie bought a $25 piece of plumbing hardware instead of the $700 part it called for. The truck ran until late last year, when Charlie and Sacks together decided the cost of repairs was no longer worth it.

“It’s like when the vet tells me you have to let your dog go,” Sacks said.

Keeping high-mileage Toyotas on the road has become something of a specialty for Charlie, who is known up and down the Front Range for his professional and personal love of and care for cars.

“Anybody in the car world knows who Charlie is,” said Allan Wyatt, who met Charlie through a group of English motoring enthusiasts that gather in Arvada. Wyatt worked for Boulder’s Barnsley Tire before recently moving to a motorcycle shop in Fort Collins.

“They’ve heard of Charlie’s Garage,” Wyatt said of his new co-workers. “Half of them drive Toyotas.”

The car community in Colorado is small, Wyatt explained. “Everybody knows everybody else. They know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.”

Charlie, he said, is one of the good guys.

“You’re never going to hear a bad thing about Charlie. He’s not one to toot his own horn, but he’s a very giving, very caring person. He’s quiet; he can almost seem standoffish, but he’s not. He’d give you the shirt off his back.”

“If anybody deserves” a kidney, Wyatt said, “it’s Charlie.”

Charlie Bigsby eyes the dialysis machine he uses for 10 hours each night at his Longmont home Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (B Goodell / Unboxed Photography)

Transplants increasing

Local shops like Barnsley helped spread the word about Charlie’s condition, posting flyers on their counters: “Local Car Guy Needs a Kidney.” A friend printed and passed out yard signs.

It was difficult for Charlie to ask for help, he said. But it’s a critical part of the transplant process, according to Christine Opp, living donor coordinator at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver.

“Not everybody is comfortable with that, putting that out there, but it’s hugely successful,” Opp said. “People do news articles, they put things on a billboard, they get shirts made, bumper stickers, car magnets, yard signs, social media.”

St. Luke’s teaches a class to recipients and their loved ones, instructing them to find a “champion” or advocate to lead awareness campaigns. On average, recipients get three offers from living donors. There are outliers: Opp recalls one patient who garnered 20 interested parties, and another, 99.

Sixty percent of patients “do not ask one person to donate to them,” Opp said, but instead wait — and hope.

Someone waiting for a kidney is more likely to receive an organ from a deceased donor than a living one. In 2022, 76% of the 25,799 kidney transplants were deceased donors.

Last year was a record one for kidney transplants, said Dr. Peter Kennealey, surgical director of kidney and pancreas transplantation at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora — part of a 12-year trend.

That’s due to a few things: better treatment for Hepatitis C, allowing infected organs to be transplanted and easily cured with medication; and advancements in technology to preserve kidneys after cardiac death. The opioid crisis has also helped, Kennealey said, a macabre silver lining to a devastating epidemic.

“There’s more people dying that are viable donors. They OD, they have a brain injury, but they have good kidneys. So we can take these really good kidneys from, in many instances, very young donors.”

Even with the number of deceased donors increasing, it’s still not enough for the tens of thousands of people who need a kidney. As of March 16, 88,813 people in the United States were waiting for a transplant, according to UNOS, the United Network for Organ Sharing. More than 20,000 people are added to the list each year; kidneys account for 85% of all organ transplants.

Sixty-eight percent of Coloradans have signaled their intent to become organ donors. Yet because so few deaths result in viable organs — about three in 1,000, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration — having a bigger pool of potential donors is critical.

“There’s really not a downside to doing it,” Kennealey said. “You can’t take your organs with you.”

—> Become an organ donor: Sign up when you receive or renew your driver’s license, or anytime through Donate Life Colorado

Marcie Bigsby embraces her husband, Charlie, in the garage at their Longmont home Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Both are car enthusiasts and collectors. (B Goodell / Unboxed Photography)

‘We would never put them at risk’

Living donors are preferred because their kidneys have a longer lifespan: 15-20 years, on average, versus eight to 12 years for a kidney from a deceased donor.

It’s also a much quicker process. Living donors can be approved within a month after initial contact, provided they pass the health tests.

About 40% of would-be donors are screened out, Opp said. Weight is the biggest factor, because of its contribution to diabetes and high blood pressure — the two leading causes of kidney disease. Potential donors are assessed not only for their current health, but their potential to develop conditions in the future.

“They have to be in amazing health,” Opp said, “because this is an elective procedure. We would never put them at risk.”

—> Interested in becoming a living donor? You can direct your kidney to Charlie Bigsby, or do a non-directed donation. Call Presbyterian/St. Luke’s at 720.754.2155 option 3 or email LivingDonorsPSL@HealthONEcares.com. Visit PSLMC.com/KidneyCenter for more information and/or to fill out an initial health questionnaire

The comprehensive screening includes an initial online health questionnaire, the signing of consent forms, then a phone call with an advocate to assess donors’ grasp of the process and ensure they have an adequate support system. That is followed by two days of testing at the hospital, after which surgery is scheduled.

The surgery is done laparoscopically, with four small incisions in the stomach that are sealed with glue. Living donor surgeries are performed on Mondays; by Wednesday, they’re going home — provided they can take food and liquids by mouth, and pass gas by rear.

Donor’s stomachs are inflated with CO2 during the procedure, to give the surgeon’s room to work. The biggest complaint from patients, according to Opp, is pain in the shoulder or chest caused by the gas, known as referred pain.

Charlie Bigsby works on one of the cars in his private collection at his Longmont home Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (B Goodell / Unboxed Photography)

‘Unfavorable combination’

The entire process is confidential for living donors, one reason why Charlie doesn’t know why none of the seven offers resulted in a transplant.

There was one person cleared to donate: his wife, Marcie. She’s not the right blood type, but is hoping for a paired exchange, in which another potential donor has Charlie’s blood type, and that potential donor’s designated recipient has Marcie’s.

Last year, paired donation accounted for more than one-fifth of all living donor kidney transplants in the U.S. In 2008, that number was practically zero in 2008, according to Dr. Kennealey.

“With the utilization of modern technology, GPS tracking and better partnerships with commercial airlines,” he said, “we can facilitate transplants from Hawaii to Boston.”

With Charlie and Marcie, there’s one catch: While he is the most in-demand blood type, O, she is the rarest, AB, severely limiting the pool of potential donor-recipient pairs.

Said Opp, “That’s the most unfavorable combination you can have.”

Charlie Bigsby eyes the dialysis machine he uses for 10 hours each night at his Longmont home Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (B Goodell / Unboxed Photography)

‘This will be what kills me’

While there are many factors that go into prioritizing someone for a kidney, compatibility is a major consideration. Someone who has been waiting less time than Charlie could receive a kidney first, if it’s a better fit for them.

Without a living donor directing their kidney to Charlie, he will remain on dialysis.

Dialysis shortens a person’s lifespan, even as it keeps them alive.

“The life expectancy on dialysis is poor,” Kennealey said. “It depends on your disease, your age, your co-morbidities.  A 25-year-old can survive for decades on dialysis, but if you’re 65 and you’ve had two heart attacks and you’re on oxygen, your life expectancy is poor.”

“They can live forever on dialysis,” Opp clarified, “but their life expectancy is decreasing the longer they’re on it.”

The median number of months on dialysis is 39 months, Kennealey said. “Half the people fail before 39 months, half are after.”

Failure means moving to hemodialysis for some people already receiving peritoneal treatment — or death. Last year in Colorado, 36 people died waiting for a transplant, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

Charlie has been on dialysis for 35 months, since April 9, 2020.

He and Marcie know the facts; they’ve done the research. But “I don’t want to think about the number,” Marcie said. “It’s easier to remain positive as a person if you’re not dwelling on what some statistic is.”

Charlie also prefers to not give much thought to his predicament. He goes about his business at the shop, manages his dialysis and diet and endless doctor appointments, and takes care of his cars and dogs.

But in a quiet moment, he admits to being scared sometimes. It’s an odd thought, he said, dealing with your probable and impending death.

“More than likely,” Charlie said, “this will be what kills me.”

Even with a transplant, his health saga will continue. There’s the lifelong medication regime, the constant check-ups, increased risk of skin cancer and, even if all goes perfectly, another transplant in the future.

“It’s not a cure,” Opp said. “It’s a treatment option.”

There are checkups: at six months, one year and two years. All costs of the surgery are covered, as are any related costs incurred within a year after donation. And, if a donor ever needs a kidney in the future, they are given the highest priority for a transplant.

Donors will need to take good care of their remaining kidney for the rest of their lives, drinking two to four liters of water per day and maintaining a healthy weight. Regular physical activity can continue, so long as it doesn’t involve getting hit regularly and repeatedly in the lower back.

“We have skiers, hikers, cyclists, people who go to the gym daily,“ Opp said. “They don’t even know they have one less organ.”

The post Beloved Front Range mechanic in need of kidney transplant appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

[WORLD]

• Earthquake strikes Turkey killing over 20,000 people. President Erdogan has been heavily criticized for his response to the disaster and has arrested over 100 contractors despite himself being caught on camera bragging about relaxing building codes.
• February 24th marks the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine. Slava Ukraini!
• President Biden makes a surprise visit to war-torn Kyiv in a demonstration of support to the Ukrainian resistance.

[NATIONAL]

• The U.S. military shot down multiple objects attempting to enter North American airspace in wake of a high-profile Chinese balloon making its way across the continent. It probably wasn’t aliens.
• Train that likely should have been labeled as Highly Hazardous derails in East Palestine, Ohio leaking toxic chemicals into the environment killing wildlife and farm animals – with deep concerns for human health as well.
• SNAP benefits to help provide food for those in need during the COVID pandemic have ended on February 28th, many food banks are anticipating increased demand.
• Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 16 years in prison for his sex crimes.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for a “national divorce” to separate the Red and Blue states, essentially calling for the dissolution of the United States.

[LOCAL]

• Multiple local schools across the state, including Boulder High, were evacuated after an elaborate fake gun threat.
• Members of Dacono City Council oust long term City Manager A.J. Euckert in a surprise vote during the February 13th meeting. 
• Black farmers in Aurora County have been stalked and harassed by their neighbors in what is believed to be a racially motivated community effort to drive them off their land.
• Pueblo County Sheriff’s sued for the wrongful death of Richard Ward, who was killed while he was with family picking up his little brother from middle school.
• Boulder County law enforcement used money from opioid settlements to purchase controversial surveillance equipment.
• CBS News report reveals a New York-based hedge fund has been buying Colorado River water rights over the last five years, sparking debate over who should have access to limited river resources.
• Adam Frisch announces he will run to unseat Lauren Boebert, Colorado’s national embarrassment, in 2024.

Small Talk

“The time is now for Democrats to take the lead when it comes to fulfilling our promise to create safer communities and pass real solutions that will cut down on gun violence in our communities today.” – Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) affirmed while introducing four new gun safety bills

“The physics of the air in our buildings and the climate in which we live affect things that can make us sick and how long they persist. Now we have conservative indications of how long coronaviruses like the one that causes COVID-19 can stick around in the air and be an infectious disease threat.” – Professor of Engineering Mark Hernandez said about CU Boulder’s research on airborne diseases

“The commissioners’ decision to approve these new positions is a first step in building the capacity required to advance our wildfire mitigation efforts.” – Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy on adding twelve new wildfire mitigation staff positions

“[We need] more flexible zoning to allow more housing, streamlined regulations that cut through red tape, expedited approval processes for projects like modular housing, sustainable development, and more building in transit-oriented communities.” – Governor Polis on Colorado’s efforts to create more walkable cities

By the Numbers:

The post Month in Review | March 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

There is a certain macabre joy that comes from discovering a hidden treasure among a dead person’s items. For whatever reason there is also some romanticism associated with those that do so in a “respectful” way. Archaeologists are viewed with both the swagger of Indiana Jones and the childhood wonder of discovering unknown cities, palaces and riches. Booksellers too hold a unique and attractive role to those of us who often get lost in a good story.

Of course there is the sketchy side. The modern day grave-robbers who only have dollar signs in their eyes during the reading of the will, the ones scrambling for priceless finds, the bitter feuds and family fights that ensue from divvying up the property of the deceased.

Within this same vein, yet another breed entirely, are the booksellers. They don’t roam the deserts of Egypt or pry open caskets for valuables, but they do sell the stories that inspire the same fantasies of eye-opening wonder and dark tales of mystery. No graves are robbed in a literal sense but the rush for the once prized possessions, or, more often than not, the forgotten gems, at estate sales feel reminiscent of those contested readings of a last will and testament.

The bookseller’s Holy Grail varies from person to person. Like anyone else on the hunt for a treasured item it can be a lifetime of unfulfilled quests, tales of the “one that got away”, or the silently recalled joy of finding that once in a life discovery.

“It has almost an element of grave robbing,” Dan Danbom, author and bookseller at Printed Page Bookshop opens the conversation, “honestly, that’s the real thrill of finding these kinds of things. I get calls from people saying ’my father in law died and he had a huge library. Will you come out and look at it?’ and my imagination runs wild. They’re all great until I get there.”

YS: That’s part of the romanticism that people think of when they think of running a bookstore – finding that treasure trove.

DD: Yeah I used to refer to it as urban fishing. There’s an element of luck with fishing but there’s also a very complicated understanding of the significance of books. I’ve been doing it off and on for 40 years, and I’m still learning every day.

YS: What’s your great book find story?

DD: It was a first edition of Catcher in the Rye at an estate sale. The person  running it wasn’t a novice, they knew about it. On the dustjacket, the flap on the inside of the book, it said ‘Selection of the Book of the Month Club.’ Those are not as collectible as publishers editions, the first printing. The person running the estate sale took that to mean that it was a Book of the Month club book – well it wasn’t. It was a beautiful copy and it’s a valuable book. I sold my copy for  $10,000. And that was several years ago if I had it today I’d price it at $25,000.

YS: And the ones that got away?

DD: You remember the ones that got away. I just walked up to a garage sale once and said do you have any books? ‘Yeah, I got some back here.’ They’re in his garage, and he’s taking sacks of fertilizer and cans of paint on top of them. He opens it up and it’s cobwebby and there’s a bunch of cheap James Patterson books – and then there’s a signed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. So I take the stack of books and ask what do you want for these. He goes ‘I think one of these is signed’ and finds To Kill a Mockingbird and says ‘I’m gonna keep this one.’ I thought – excuse my language – in you’re fucking garage? In a box? I thought, I need to confiscate this, as a self-deputized guardian of Western civilization.”

YS: Are there any books you’ve refused to sell?

DD: Anything damaged. Reader’s Digest. We don’t sell textbooks, very little self help books, or tour guides – unless they’re vintage things. We don’t sell porn. There are booksellers who get very hesitant about selling Mein Kamphf. I don’t feel that way. There are no books that I would refuse to carry just because I disagree with their intent. Other than books that I regard as better use for insulation.

YS: What do you do when you find something personal when buying something from the deceased?

DD: You find personal things. I try to return that kind of material to people. I bought a bunch of books from an estate and there was a box of personal items from this guy’s brother. It was cool stuff. I was able to return it to his brother.

Dan ended the interview reminding me of the support he receives, “I want to make it clear that what I do isn’t in a vacuum. My partner is indispensable. I don’t want to give the impression this is me who’s doing all this stuff. It’s a lot of people who all have the same passion and love of books.”

Booksellers will continue to hold that romantic sway as long as the dream of finding that white whale exists. Reality may be one of numbers and taxes, cleaning toilets and interacting with customers, but the dream of perusing stacks of old manuscripts, of recommending books to the devotees, and searching high and low for that pristine text will continue to call to the imagination of those of us who bury ourselves in the written word.

The post Conversation with a Bookseller: The romance and reality around peddling print with Dan Danbom appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By Eric Galatas, Public News Service (AP Storyshare)

As Coloradans continue to experience sticker shock each time they open their utility bill, the volume of calls to Energy Outreach Colorado’s helpline has been off the charts, topping 1,600 calls per week.

Michel Infante, energy assistance project manager for Energy Outreach Colorado, said they are processing more than 700 new applications each week. The good news is, help is available, even for people who have had to tap the program’s funds in the past.

“At EOC, we just want to bring awareness to the folks that are having a hard time right now that we have resources to help them,” Infante explained. “And it doesn’t necessarily have to be folks that have never asked for this kind of help.”

Xcel Energy blames rising natural gas prices for high utility bills, yet its gross profits in 2022 came in at more than $8.3 billion, an increase of more than 10% from the previous year.

Last year, more than 71,000 Colorado customers received more than $87 million in utility-bill assistance. Those who need help paying an energy bill, know someone who does, or are at risk of being disconnected can call the helpline at 866-432-8435.

While high- and middle-income households may not like the big bump in their energy bills, most can write a check without having to cut back on the basics such as housing, food and medicine. Infante pointed out families bringing home significantly smaller paychecks are facing difficult decisions, and many do not have emergency savings.

“If you have a lower-income family who is already struggling, then you increase their utility bill, they are going to have to sacrifice one thing or another to be able to stay warm in the winter,” Infante added.

Xcel said investments in wind and solar, which generate electricity without the need to purchase fossil fuels, have blunted $700 million in energy costs, which otherwise would have been passed along to customers.

Infante noted the money being made available to help struggling families keep the heat on in winter comes from former and current customers, in the form of a small fee on their utility bill.

“And that fee goes to support programs such as this one,” Infante stressed. “No one should feel bad about asking for help, because we’re all kind of putting it in the pot, and we can grab from that pot when we need some help.”

The post Help Available for Higher-than-Usual Utility Bills appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Bodega and Marketplace closed at the end of January 2023.

Dear Fresh Thymes Family,

Ending the restaurant chapter of my life and my family’s for the last decade has been the most heartbreaking decision and experience of my life. I was completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support, as well as sadness and loss that we collectively experienced. The positive energy of the community has been so sustaining for me and kept this beautiful business alive since its inception, especially since the pandemic. I could never have imagined the loyalty of the community when writing my business plan, which truly grew alongside Fresh Thymes, organically and naturally, with customers being neighbors, friends and family. A true lifetime dream realized for which I will be forever grateful.

It’s hard when you know something amazing is ending and there is no force nor amount of money that can change the tide. When I decided to keep our Bodega and Marketplace open, it felt very possible. I still crave being a part of the community and I love every aspect of what the Bodega and Marketplace is all about. I love quirky healthy food products, freshly made aioli and yogurt. I love pantry helpers in my fridge when I want to throw together a pot of noodles and a salad. I love sourdough. I love teaching, educating and inspiring. But, in the end as with Fresh Thymes, my love and passion is not enough to allow the Bodega and Marketplace to stay open. As such, with gut wrenching sadness, I will officially close all of the businesses at the end of January and move to the next chapter of my personal and professional devotion to education, local ingredients, authentic health, and damn tasty food.

Please read on if you would like an in depth understanding, hard truth, and what’s on the horizon.

There was certainly a confluence of events and circumstances that built up slowly over the last few years that led to this closure. Actually, by opening the Bodega, I was hoping to out-run the trajectory of many food businesses as a result of how restaurants were managed via public health during and after the pandemic and all that has resulted (cost of food, cost of labor, scant qualified applicants). Many of the changes have seemingly become permanent since the pandemic in such a way as to strongly inhibit small businesses everywhere, especially in Boulder. These real obstacles certainly should be understood by the Boulder community at large along with city officials and the Planning Department specifically. These permanent changes have altered the trajectory of many well laid and well funded plans with no consideration of the people and livelihoods behind the business. Frankly, I find this outrageous. Especially in a community that takes pride in “local small business”. I think the Boulder community values small business, but there is a gulf of disconnect between what the community values and what Boulder government values. There is nothing in the Planning Department or local government that incentivizes small businesses. I waited one year from signing my lease to opening the Bodega. I know of large businesses that received their permit before I did, even though I applied before them. I wondered what the incentive was for the Planning Dept. to prioritize large projects over humble small business? I’m sure we can all draw our own conclusions there.

I was being held up in the permitting process for a simple tenant improvement, resorting to hiring a consultant to help jam through the permitting process, 6 months after I submitted my application. I sent email after email over a year ago to the city and planning dept. telling them in no uncertain terms, their delay would cost the city a flourishing business, as well as all the tangential businesses a restaurant supports from local farmers, florists, and food producers among many others. They were literally threatening the livelihood of a multitude of people, in addition to leaving business owners with undue debt. Due to Covid, you can no longer enter the planning building to speak to a planner. Remember when you could do that? And actually, you cannot call either. And actually you cannot find the contact information for anyone at the planning department to reach out to. If you submit a plan, there is no contact during the process unless you dig really hard and drive just about everyone mad in the process of trying to find a human to talk to. Maybe that has changed, but that was the reality in 2021.

As I was waiting, I was also pledged to hire and purchase equipment. I knew of the delays in shipping, I saw the photos of endless cargo ships bobbing in the ocean, waiting for a port. I also knew how difficult hiring was, especially for kitchen help, of which I would need more. And on it goes spending money to hedge against the future while also waiting for the permit that would allow me to increase my revenue. Did I have enough time? Increasingly, it did not look that way. Wood prices doubled. Wait times for everything doubled. I get that this is the real risk that I took on, but I was assured many times by many parties that the wait time for a simple tenant finish would not be a hindrance.

That proved to be wrong, as I told my landlord in December of 2021 that Fresh Thymes was going to struggle to be viable.

Meanwhile, in my personal life, I was experiencing another evolution in my health, awareness and mission. So many chapters in my healing journey and I started to see how much I immersed myself in my business to exert all my energy toward success and growth, excited to continue to surpass my ambition for fresh churned butter and house cultured coconut milk yogurt. I was feeling very pushed to my max overseeing every detail of creating a new brand, while also trying to build culture with what had over the pandemic become an almost entirely new crew of employees, from the highest levels of Management to the Line and Front of House employees, as well as new employees at the Marketplace and Bodega. Phew….. It took me a long time to realize that I was stressed and unhappy when I was busy convincing myself I would be overjoyed as soon as…… as soon as….. as soon as.

I started to feel so distant from all I was trying to create. It was harder to interact with the community as well as my favorite customers. It was more challenging to force creativity.  I spent all my time teaching how to master a profit and loss statement, how to create spreadsheets and what are the 5 things in your toolbelt to affect food cost and labor cost? Increasingly supporting the mental health of everyone and all their struggles, which had increased as well since the pandemic. I started to feel defeated, until some wise business coach told me I needed a vacation. A long vacation. Alone. Somewhere I could be fed and nourished, instead of nourishing others. Where I could find inspiration and REST. I actually confess to not really understanding the meaning of that word. Like, a nap? Rest.. you mean take naps? Like on Saturdays? I literally pondered the meaning of the word in the context of my professional responsibilities and laughed. Everyone knows I don’t nap. That’s silly. Unless I have a margarita in hand on a beach in some sun soaked land. Then I’ll nap. The beginning of my travel plans started to form.

I did take that advice. I did something I had not done since I was a young college graduate.  I spent a month solo traveling to Ikaria, Greece and northern Spain.  In that time, I was able to see food and health and wellness in a new way, a way that was infinitely more exciting, more fulfilling, and hopefully more viable. I began to see how the many layers of complexity needed to run a restaurant were exhausting and possibly not necessary for me personally to connect with others on our shared passions of food and wellness.

The goal for me was that I would feel refreshed and ready to dive back into the minutiae of the business and all the demands that were mounting while I was away. I would have a fresh perspective and be excited about the challenges that awaited. I would continue to build the business to new heights, etc, etc. Then, I returned. And actually, I knew the moment I came back into the restaurant that I yearned for so very much. I experienced such pride in what I had created. I truly had accomplished so much, especially in light of the fact that nearly everyone told me I would fail in 2012 when I was beginning the process of opening Fresh Thymes. I was really able to take that in and realize how truly proud I was, of my humble little restaurant, of the Bodega, of my Marketplace kitchen and how hard generations of employees over a decade had worked to make it a special place.

I was also painfully aware, Fresh Thymes would need more than I could possibly give it to overcome the obstacles that face many independent restaurants in this time, post-pandemic.

I also knew that my current crop of employees and the majority of my management team were sadly not professionally or personally capable of surmounting the odds. The thing that every single restaurant owner dreads had creeped in. That one bad apple. That one manager with a bad attitude that affects all the others and brings the energy and culture down. I was not willing to let the reputation of Fresh Thymes, that I had painstakingly built over the years, to be less than due to the never ending challenges of hiring and training and instilling culture. I was also sadly aware that I personally was not able to overcome all that alone. It was more than I could handle. I was completely empty of reserves to affect deep change and deep changes in my staffing and management team. To say nothing of the affordability of that. The pay structure for restaurant staff that has emerged since the pandemic is entirely unsustainable for restaurants, no matter what you believe about fair wages and the achievability of living in Boulder. Unless you have deep pockets and more cash reserves to throw at it – of which I had neither.

Rene Redzepi, of the world acclaimed restaurant, Noma, summed it up best when announcing the closure of the world’s best restaurant: “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how fragile our dreams can be, how incredibly grueling and difficult this industry can be. It’s unsustainable,” he said. “Financially and emotionally, as an employer and as a human being, it just doesn’t work.”

I know it is time to pivot my professional career to the inspiring ways I had experienced food and wellness in my travels.  I now face the difficult realities of ending multiple beautiful businesses, the consequences of that, and beginning a new path.

I will continue to send email updates of what the realities are both professionally within the industry and personally as I embrace a new path forward. I hope you’ll continue to follow the journey and be a part of a new beginning for myself, authentic health, community, education and of course, always, damn tasty food.

Thank you for your continued support.

In good health,
Christine

The post Bodega and Marketplace Closing | Community Corner appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Moxie Moms is excited to move forward in a post-pandemic world with renewed energy and opportunities for social connection, local savings and community engagement.

Moxie Moms is proud to announce new partnerships with Ozo Coffee, Conscious Cleanse, Zeal, Yoga Pod, Chautauqua, Motherlove, Finkel and Garf, The Spot and many more.

Moxie Moms Memberships are half off through the end of January 2023.

After more than two years of paused events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Moxie Moms is moving forward with renewed energy and excitement. As a social and savings network for women in Boulder County, Moxie Mom’s Mission is to create opportunities for connection, community building, to help support the local economy, and to make a difference in the community by supporting non-profits.

Moxie Moms was created by Susan Lavelle and has been serving the Boulder County community for over 20 years. Moxie Moms currently has over 60 business partners
(moxiemoms.com/partners) and over 25 nonprofit partners (moxiemoms.com/nonprofits) who all offer exclusive discounts to Moxie Moms Members.

Since the fall of 2022, Moxie Moms has added many exciting new partners, including Ozo Coffee, Conscious Cleanse, Zeal, Yoga Pod, Chautauqua, Motherlove, Ride Colorado, Finkel and Garf, Avec la Vie, The Hearth, The Body Bar, Massage Like Butterfly, Amy Brophy Coaching, and The Spot.

The cost of membership is only $65 per year, about the cost of one latté per month! After the first year, annual renewals are $45 per year. Moxie Moms Memberships are 50% off now through the end of January 2023. Memberships can be purchased here: moxiemoms.com/product/moxie-moms-annual-membership. To receive 50% off, use code 50OFF.

In addition to the Membership Discounts, Moxie Moms Members are invited to Moxie Mom events that are designed to create opportunities for Boulder County Moms to socialize and network. These events are also geared towards supporting local Boulder County businesses and non-profits. This past fall, Moxie Moms hosted several events for members and non-members, including group hikes, group paddleboarding, and happy hours benefiting local non-profits, and offering raffle prizes form Moxie Moms Parters to attendees. Events for the first quarter of 2023 will be announced on Moxie Moms social channels and at www.moxiemoms.com.

Moxie Moms has over 80 business and non-profit partners where members can save on goods and services. Long-time partners include Colorado Athletic Club, Pharmaca/Medley, Lucky Pie, Jeff and Paige, j Lounge, Bliss Gifts and Decor, Pedestrian Shops, Rocky Mountain Paddleboard, Gateway Park Fun Center, Luke’s Circle, Sister Carmen Community Center, Thorne Nature Experience, School Food Project, Boulder Opera, Downtown Partnership and many more. A full list of partners can be found at www.moxiemoms.com.

There is no cost to Boulder County Businesses or non-profits to become part of the Moxie Moms network. Contact Susan at susan@moxiemoms.com to become a business or non-profit partner.

For questions about events or marketing, contact Amy at amy@moxiemoms.com.

The post Moxie Moms – We’re Back! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Who doesn’t love to bring new energy into your home space?

I was on a mission to work with the stuff I’d already amassed at my house to bring new energy in. First, I got some inspiration from Boulder County upcycling royalty.

Pau Martin was ready to accept an internship in Spain when a friend helped Martin sew a pair of overalls??—loud yellow overalls to be exact. Martin was in love with them and wore them to a party. Friends, and eventually people Martin didn’t even know, were soon in Martin’s room waiting to be measured for a pair of their own. Martin decided to stay in the States, found a studio on Facebook marketplace, and began making partnerships with local businesses to obtain fabric. Atrévete, which means to dare yourself, was born.

Pau Martin bought a used sewing machine after learning to make overalls from a friend. Photo by Andrew Labreck.

Martin uses fabric scraps obtained through partnering with businesses including Melanzana and Town Showroom Interior Design and thrifting to make clothing.

“I like the uniqueness of everything being one of one, that it can’t be replicated, and you have to be very resourceful with what you have,” Martin said. “Now I have a system where I know a big piece of fabric has to be pants because we need so much fabric for the legs of the overalls. Super small samples are great for hats.”

The size of the fabric along with its durability determines what piece of clothing Martin will create.

“It’s almost like it evaporates.We’re never going to have it again,” Martin points to the many collected fabrics. “It just makes it a new experience every time. It’s not like we make the same thing over and over and I know what fabric is coming.”

For Martin, upcycling is both an acknowledgment of how unique and finite resources can be while also allowing the individual to express themselves.

“I would say there’s this expressiveness in the overalls and the pieces that’s really hard to find in other brands,” Martin said. “There’s something about it that’s so small, it’s kind of like finding a blues bar in a really touristy city that’s underground and nobody knows about it. Nobody is going to have the same pair that you have.”

Although I can’t come close to the ingenuity of Atrévete overalls, I decided to try several projects that upcycled items I already had in my home.

Photo: Zoe Jennings

Photo by Zoe Jennings

Photo by Zoe Jennings

Photo by Zoe Jennings

Photo by Zoe Jennings

Photo by Zoe Jennings

Lafayette Flea sells a variety of items from kitchenware to furniture. Photo courtesy of John Smidt.

John Smidt is the new owner of Lafayette Flea. Before becoming the owner, Smidt ran a property management business for 20 years. Through handling items that renters left at his properties, Smidt developed an eye for salvaging and reselling.

“I like to refurbish stuff, I don’t like things going in the landfill,” Smidt said. “It’s been really fun seeing all the stuff being repurposed and refurbished. Our parents always say it, and I always say it, that the old stuff is usually made better than the new.”

The 160 vendors selling items at Lafayette Flea bring unique pieces from the community. Some upcycle pieces from thrift stores and estate sales by performing upgrades like sanding and painting old furniture.

A selection of antique glass containers sold at the Lafayette Flea. Photo courtesy of John Smidt.

Why buy used?

“It’s better to spend a little bit more on something that will last ten years as opposed to the Ikea concept, which is buy it and use it one time and when you’re done with it throw it away,” Smidt said. “It’s been a pleasure to work with all our vendors and see what they do.”

Some customers spend five to six hours looking around the shop or hanging out with the shop’s mouser, Bo.

Smidt points to the way his mother’s generation lives. Things were made better back then. Smidt sees thrifting used pieces as a way to get quality items that will last longer.

“It would be nice to see that concept come back into play,” Smidt said. “There’s just so much waste in our society, it’s disappointing. Maybe we can change that a little bit.”

Whether it’s supporting a local business that’s dedicated to using upcycled goods, or finding items that already exist in your home or in the community, with upcycling comes a sense of individualism and adventure.

Bo the shop cat hangs out at the Lafayette Flea, located near downtown Lafayette. Photo courtesy of John Smidt.

The post Upcycling: How to spruce up your home without ‘Made in China’ tags appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

As ageism in the workplace persists, major demographic shifts will force employers to rethink the value of an older workforce that isn’t ready to hang it up, or able to.

Pulitzer and Nobel prize winning author Pearl S. Buck once said that “to find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.” Another great writer by the name of Mark Twain is credited with saying that “age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

The latter half of our lives is said to be a time of getting things right. We spend our youth figuring out how to live so that we can spend our seasoned years enjoying life. And many people believe that a big part of enjoying life is finding purpose and knowing that you’re doing something valuable.

Purpose later in life, of course, looks different for everyone. But that’s the blessing of aging. By the time we are nearing a traditional retirement age, many of us are fully discovering what is truly important to us and what brings us joy and fulfillment. With a little luck we find ourselves in a position to pursue these things, perhaps even as a second career.

For many older people, that pursuit of purpose involves some form of employment. Retirement isn’t what it used to be. Many people are staying healthier for longer. When we are in our 60s and still going strong, there’s no reason to stop chasing dreams and finding a purpose for decades to come.

This also might be the perfect time for a new chapter. The kids are grown up and on their own, financial options are often more accessible, and we’ve had the time to think about what we really want to do with the rest of our lives. For many older Americans, the thought of spending the golden years in a rocking chair just doesn’t cut it. We still want to be in the arena, not watching from the booth.

Lisa Jensen, program manager at Workforce Boulder County, confirms this. “Older adults want to be engaged in the world in a meaningful way,” she says. “And a lot of older people are very enthusiastic about it.”

However, getting back into the job market at 65+ can be intimidating. Things have changed dramatically in the internet age, and older job seekers can feel overwhelmed by this. It can seem easier for someone of the younger generations to navigate today’s job seeking landscape because they have come of age in the current technological environment. For someone who may not have submitted a resume in 20 or 30 years, it can seem like a whole new world out there. Add to that the reality that age discrimination is real. At 65 or older, how does one convince an employer that they are right for a job that might typically go to someone in their 20s or 30s at half the salary?

Workforce Boulder County is there to help with this. Jensen advises that the situation is a two-way street. While employers should consider the unique benefits and value that an older employee can bring to the table, older job seekers should also go about it with the right mindset.

Many older job seekers can legitimately claim a wealth of knowledge and skill. While it is important to highlight that, Jensen advises that older job seekers and employees should also be willing and eager to learn with an open mind from their younger colleagues. If you are an older job applicant, chances are that the person interviewing you for a job will be younger, possibly significantly so. A good approach to ease any age concerns is to subtly convey an eagerness to learn from others while offering the balance of more experienced insight. Jensen believes this can be a killer strategy.

Updating hard skills is also a great idea, and this is easier to do now than ever once we know where to look. To help with that, Workforce Boulder offers extensive skills training options funded by ten grants for retraining programs. Their offices also offer free on-site access to LinkedIn training courses. Many of these courses come with valuable credentials that can be displayed on LinkedIn profiles and resumes. These don’t have to be time-consuming undertakings as many LinkedIn courses and other similar options are surprisingly efficient.

When it comes time to apply for a position, as we all know, we must have that polished resume in hand. Workforce Boulder can help here as well. Jensen recommends that older job hunters put some thought into how to target their resume for the desired position. A laundry list of all the jobs you’ve had in 35 years is probably less effective than a one- to two-page narrative that tells your unique story and highlights why you are perfect for the job.

On the other side of the two-way street is the employer. Age discrimination in the workplace has been recognized for decades, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 put workers aged 40 and over in a protected discrimination class. But workplace age discrimination and ageism are difficult to prove, and the law alone is not enough to counter the more subtle cultural biases ingrained in our workplaces.

Janine Vanderburg is the director of Changing the Narrative Colorado, an anti-ageism advocacy and awareness organization. Her team digs deep into the issue of ageism in America, and Vanderburg has personally led 42 workshops on this subject across the state since 2018. Vanderburg and her team are convinced that many employers are missing a major opportunity by undervaluing older workers and applicants.

“We need to educate employers on what they are missing out on,” said Vanderburg. To that end, her team created a presentation called “A Business Case for Older Employees.” The idea is to focus less on the legal issues and more on the business opportunity. Vanderburg said this is an easy sell once she is in the door. “When we educate employers about the business case, most of them get it.” Nevertheless, the preference for “younger” talent persists. “In the workplace there is a belief that younger is better,” said Vanderburg.

These biases permeate through our working culture in more ways than one. Ageism in the workplace can be overt, but more often it is subtle. Vanderburg explained to me three categories of ageism: institutional, interpersonal, and internalized.

The institutional aspect involves specific policies or actions that result in ageist decision making. One example is the practice of expecting job applicants to state the date of college graduation which circumvents laws that prohibit employers from asking for a birth date. Changing the Narrative Colorado is lobbying to update the law to prohibit requiring a graduation date.

Interpersonal ageism is more subtle and could be found in the exclusion of older employees from meetings or comments that allude to someone approaching retirement regardless of whether said employee wants to retire. These put-downs are often unintentional but damaging nevertheless.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

The third category, internalized, is found in self-deprecating discussion about one’s own age. It seems older employees sometimes feel the need to play along with subtle allusions to their age in a no-harm-done kind of water cooler banter. This should sound familiar to most people who work in an office environment where it is common to hear older employees making light of their own advanced age. These comments may seem disarming, but they can contribute to reinforcing the institutional and interpersonal ageism that can result in real discriminatory consequences.

These nuances are part of the education that Vanderburg and her team at Changing the Narrative Colorado seek to convey during their presentations. But Vanderburg also believes that the younger-is-better mindset is not sustainable in our current and future economy because of demographic changes. Birth rates are low, and people are living healthier for longer than ever before. At the same time the Baby Boom generation is now reaching peak retirement age. This is all contributing to a labor shortage that is likely to persist and intensify.

In 1960 the United States had a young population with a large cohort entering the labor market and a much smaller number of people over 65 drawing pensions and social security. The predicted demographic curve a century later, in 2060, is dramatically different. Our current wave of retiring baby boomers will not be replaced with equivalent numbers by the smaller generations following their footsteps. As a result we are heading into an era where the elders make up a large part of the population.

This has substantial implications for our society. Under current traditions where people generally retire between their mid-50s and mid-60s this demographic shift would put enormous pressure on the economy and social safety net. Essentially, fewer wage-earning and tax-paying workers would have to provide the revenue base to meet the growing needs of an enormous retired class. These demographics alone force us to re-think what it means to retire. As Vanderburg told me, “America is aging, and no one will be able to fill a talent pipeline with only younger workers.”

Despite this looming challenge that is already beginning to impact our economy, ageism in the workplace is still prevalent. A 2018 ProPublica and Urban Institute study found that half of older American workers are pushed into retirement before they are ready. This includes people who got laid off as well as those who report being nudged out the door in other ways. When these not-ready-to-retire workers then try to get back into the labor market, they are often surprised by the difficulty in finding comparable employment. These people are often at the pinnacle of a career with more skills and experience than their younger competitors. But the study showed that only one in 10 of them are able to return to their prior earning level.

A 2020 AARP study indicated that 78% of older employees say they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. Dishearteningly, this is the highest percentage since AARP began tracking this metric in 2003. When Resume Builder surveyed 800 hiring managers, four in 10 admitted to age bias when reviewing applicants.

This must change. Our economy will be unable to tolerate the continuation of age discrimination in the workplace. We will go from pushing older workers out the door to begging them to come back. The time to change the narrative and find ways to embrace older workers is now. It is a huge opportunity all around for the economy, employers, and especially for older Americans who want to stay in the arena as we live longer, healthier lives.

The post Hired at 65! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

• January 6th Select Committee refers former President Donald Trump to the Justice Dept. for felony charges. The Committee’s charges include insurrection, obstruction of the proceeding, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Four Trump allies, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Scott Perry, and Andy Biggs, all Republicans, were also referred to the House Ethics Committee for a failure to comply.
• Brittney Griner is released from a Russian labor camp. The WNBA star was released in an exchange between the United States and Russia. Convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout was swapped for Griner, who was accused and convicted of possessing marijuana. Welcome home Brittney!
• UN Member Nations Oust Iran from Women’s Rights Panel. This obvious move was the latest effort by the international community to condemn the Iranian government’s crackdown on widespread protest and unrest. The women’s movement to remove the requirement to wear a hijab had been met with violence.
• President Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act. The newly signed bill recognizes a national right to a same-sex marriage, and mitigates the potential impact of a conservative Superme Court overturning the currently established law. Governor Polis was a strong advocate for this bill during his time in Congress.
• Kyrsten Sinema switches party affiliation from Democrat to Independent. Just as her relevance as a swing vote was fading, Sinema once again captures a news cycle by announcing she is leaving the Democratic party. Sinema consistently voted against progressive policies as a Democrat, leading many to doubt that her party affiliation will change the landscape of Congress.
• FTX’s co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried is arrested in the Bahamas and extradited to the U.S. in connection to the collapse of the crypto-exchange company he founded. He was released on a $250 million bond and is now on house arrest.
• Argentina defeats France to win the World Cup. Lionell Messi helps lead his team to victory in what many are calling the best final match ever, despite the numerous off-field scandals involving FIFA and the host nation, Qatar.
• 25 People arrested in Germany for an attempted plot to overthrow the democratic government. Raids were conducted across the country in a coordinated infiltration of an extremist group plotting a coup against the democratically elected government.
• December 30th marks the one year anniversary of the Marshall Fire that swept through Superior, Louisville and parts of Boulder County forever changing the landscape of these treasured towns.
• 2 Killed in Shooting at Jehovah’s Witness Church in Thornton. The Christmas Day shooting happened when no services were occuring. Authorities say a man shot his wife before taking his own life. There was no threat of wider violence to the public.
• University of Colorado Football program hires Deion Sanders as Head Coach. The former NFL superstar coached Jackson State for their recent winning seasons but prompted controversy by leaving for CU Boulder. Jackson State is a historically black college and critics say Sanders left early after promising the college he would remain at the helm.
• The District Attorney filed hundreds of hate crime and murder charges against the Club Q shooter. Attorney for the 4th District Michael Allen filed the charges as a clear message to the community as well as the shooter that the DA will take a strong stand. Bias-motivated charges have also been filed under a new Colorado Law that allows additional prosecution for crimes committed against specific groups of people.

Small Talk

“The testing stems from a recent spike in reports of individuals smoking in public restrooms over the past four weeks. On two occasions, city employees were evaluated and cleared of ongoing health concerns after experiencing symptoms consistent with a potential exposure to meth residue or fumes.”

– Boulder City Staff regarding the closure of Arapaho Ave. Library due to presence of methamphetamine in the air conditioning system.

“A key contributor during the winningest four-year period in franchise history, Ronnie was part of two Super Bowl teams and led the Broncos in rushing during our Super Bowl 50 championship season.”

– Denver Broncos statement on the passing of Ronnie Hillman, age 31.

“We will celebrate Christmas. Maybe candlelit. Not because it’s more romantic, no, but because there will be no electricity. Millions won’t have neither heating nor running water. All of these will be the result of Russian missile and drone attacks on our energy infrastructure.”

– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his December 21st address to Congress.

“I am ready for my next chapter outside of this golden dome as I plan to continue to work for the people of Colorado… With my fellow Latino legislators, we have grown our caucus to 14 members, the largest in Colorado history. I am proud of our work to engage Latinos across our state and ensure the needs and concerns of our Latino communities are addressed. This outreach and advocacy will continue under their watchful eyes, and I look forward to seeing their continued impact.”

– Colorado State Representative Adrienne Benavidez said in her resignation letter.

“It’s happening all over the place, and it’s very alarming for publishers and the larger book world.”

– Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times writer on banned books.

“It’s a great tragedy that for 1,500 fish there was no chance of survival. The focus in the afternoon was clearly on saving the fish in the remaining tanks.”

– Almut Neumann, Berlin City Official on the AquaDom Aquarium collapse.

By The Numbers

The post Month in Review | January 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

For the 2022 event, the Greeley Stampede hired the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA) to conduct an economic impact study which was completed by JS&A Economic Development Consulting. This is the first official study completed in over 20 years to determine the impact the Greeley Stampede has on the economy of Greeley. Overall, the study found the Greeley Stampede’s economic impact to our community totals over $23 million which includes revenue generated at the event and in the City of Greeley.

Overall, the study found the Greeley Stampede’s economic impact to our community totals over $23 million.

“The Greeley Stampede is an event to celebrate our independence and preserve our western heritage. The Stampede has one more part to our mission, to strengthen our community,” commented Julie Jensen, Greeley Stampede General Chairman. “Seeing the result of the economic impact study and knowing how we give back, solidifies that we are on the right track to fulfill that part of our mission.”

Of the 253,000 guests that came out to celebrate the 100^th Greeley Stampede in 2022, the study found that guests spend an average of $61 at the event and an additional $32 within the City of Greeley on activities like dining, shopping and entertainment. Over 25% of the attendees live outside of Weld County with a majority coming from Colorado.

In support of the Stampede’s mission to strengthen our community, the event donated back over $230,000 to organizations including $94,235 paid to volunteer groups that came out to work various areas in 2022. “We simply can’t have the Stampede without our volunteers,” added Jesse Leos, Volunteers Chairman. “This is a community celebration supported by the community. Our donations back to organizations that volunteer is our way of thanking them and supporting their own missions financially.” Other donations from the Stampede include $26,000 with the support of the Ranack Cares Foundation for breast cancer awareness, $8,500 to High Plains Honor Flight from the Military Appreciation Night rodeo, and $101,765 to the Stampede Foundation scholarship fund with assistance from the JBS Home Town Strong initiative.

The Stampede is also dedicated to improving their home, Island Grove Park. Since 1992, the Stampede has invested more than $11 million into city owned park capital improvements. “The capital improvements not only benefit the Stampede, but all of Greeley as the park continues to become a premier event destination in part to the improvements made,” said Justin Watada, Greeley Stampede CEO. For the 100^th celebration in 2022, the Stampede capital improvement projects included building the new permanent JBS Stage and updating the skyboxes in the arena, a $3.6 million investment into the park. “Once we complete these improvements,” continued Watada, “they become city owned property making them available to anyone that would like to use the facilities.”

To read more about the Greeley Stampede’s economic impact study, donations, and capital improvements, visit greeleystampede.org/p/community-report.

Now the Stampede team is working their magic to prepare for the 2023 event June 22^nd through July 4^th and continue working to strengthen our community. You can become part of the celebration by volunteering at the event. Learn more about volunteering by e-mailing volunteers@greeleystampede.org.

ABOUT THE GREELEY STAMPEDE: The Greeley Stampede, a 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation, is the Colorado’s premiere summer western celebration. The 2023 Greeley Stampede is scheduled for June 22-July 4. This longstanding event has grown in diversity and popularity since its inception and has provided music and rodeo entertainment to hundreds of thousands of people every summer. The Stampede has been inducted in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and received many awards including PRCA Mountain States Large Rodeo of the Year, RMCMA Event of the Year and listed in the US Today Top 10 rodeos.. For more information about the Greeley Stampede visit www.greeleystampede.org.

The post The Greeley Stampede’s $23 Million Economic Impact appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

(All photos by Zoe Jennings unless stated otherwise.)

’Tis the season for frantically buying your loved ones Amazon gifts. But what if your hard-earned money went back into the community and not toward a wealthy CEO’s second yacht? We’ve curated a shopping guide for the perfect holiday gifts from our favorite local brands. Our guide features gift ideas found on the shelves of locally owned shops in Boulder County or on the websites of local businesses. We hope you enjoy what the many makers of Colorado have to offer, but the real joy will be in purchasing a gift that you know will positively impact the community around you. From sustainability to LGBTQIA+ rights to bringing joy, each business in our guide has their own noble reasons for putting their craft out into the community. Each store owner had a wonderful story to share and was proud to point out their locally sourced merchandise.

Angie of Angie Star Jewelry poses in her Pearl Street store next to her jewelry.

Cozmo the bird hangs out in Angie Star Jewelry.

Angie Star Jewelry was just one of many stops I made to local stores, with Cozmo the bird, Penny the dog, and Angie the human greeting me as I walked in. Angie Star Jewelry, nestled within the many shops on Pearl Street in Boulder, sells silver handmade jewelry made with ethically sourced materials. Both sturdy and beautiful, the jewelry is displayed alongside delightful decorations like sand dollars, sea shells, and wonderful brass display vessels. Angie has a welcoming energy and told me that she’s lucky that she and her mom, a retired nurse, are so close. Together they run the Pearl Street store and an additional store in Fort Collins. Angie is glad that her mom can work with her and slow down from her busy days as a nurse.

Housegoods

Mugs from Longs Peak Ceramics, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Made by hand in Longmont, these unique mugs and bowls from Longs Peak Ceramics are microwave and dishwasher safe. Longs Peak Ceramics is honest about the fact that their pieces are not flawless but are all one of a kind and not mass produced.

Grizzly Bear Mercantile cozy blanket. Photo courtesy of Lynn Starkman.

Grizzly Bear Mercantile adult and baby blankets can take tough love and are made with soft, minky fabric and attention to detail. Blankets come in various sizes, with premade options.

A bird feeder from Beyond Nature Co. Photo courtesy of Kayla Eggemeyer.

Personal Care Products

Rooted with Ali 3-in-1 spray, dry shampoo, magnesium butter, magnesium spray, sugar scrubs, lotion bars, and lip balms sold at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Rooted with Ali is a women-owned business in Loveland creating conscious skincare products. Products are made with natural, organic, and wildcrafted ingredients and packaged sustainably. These products are safe for those with skin conditions, with therapeutic-grade essential oils and scents derived from wildcrafted herbs.

Bars of soap from Muddy Mint Soap Co., sold at Maker General in Longmont.

Soaps from Muddy Mint are handmade in Longmont using palm oil-free, all-natural ingredients.

Colorado Aromatics soap, lip balm, and face & body mist, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop.

Derived from ingredients grown on a Longmont farm, Colorado Aromatics skincare products are made to serve the skincare needs of people living in the Colorado climate. With antioxidant-rich herbs, these products help heal the damaging effects from the sun.

Bee-Och Organics body oil, body butter, sugar scrub, sun sticks, and deodorant, sold at Local Goods Colorado.

Headquartered in Fort Lupton, Bee-Och Organics is a woman-owned business specializing in small batch-crafted, cruelty-free, gluten-free, vegan products. There are zero-waste and refillable options for products at their main store.

Yarrow Field and Farm bars of soap, sold at Local Goods Colorado.

Yarrow Field and Farm encourages a soft lifestyle with small batch, natural, botanical skincare products, crafts, and vintage finds.

Magic Fairy Candles bath bombs. Photo taken at Canova Home in Boulder.

With their main store in Longmont, Magic Fairy Candles has a fun, witchy vibe. Selling all-natural soy candles and body products, they sell small batch goods crafted with the intention of unifying love for the journey of every human experience.

Candles

Candelaria candles at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

These handmade candles are crafted in the Santa Fe District of Denver. Candelaria’s owner has worked in the candle industry for 15 years and shares that knowledge through educational experiences offered at their store.

Fleetwood Candle Co. candles at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Fleetwood Candle Co. of Denver is a relatively new business started by a former special education teacher who used art as an outlet when teaching went remote during the pandemic. The candles are bright, fun, and inspired by nature.

Spruced Hen candles, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Spruced Hen Candle Co. draws inspiration from the owner’s Longmont farm. The hand-poured candles and melts are 100 percent soy wax, additive-free, phthalate-free fragrances, and have cotton wicks.

Light Provisions candles, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Inspired by a deep appreciation of cocktails and earthy scents, Light Provisions specializes in artisanal candles to set a peaceful tone in your house. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, the candles are hand poured into reusable vessels.

Clothing

Moore shirts, sweat shirts, and bags, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Inspired by the Colorado landscape, Moore is a family-owned business selling high-quality clothing with hand-drawn designs.

Topo Designs beanies, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Topo Designs began in a Fort Collins basement and has grown into a well-known company creating well-made gear for outdoor adventures.

Food and Drinks

Backyard Bev Co cocktail syrups, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods.

Backyard Bev Co offers a natural, handcrafted option for your cocktails. With Colorado-sourced, full-spectrum CBD, this mixer may actually help you feel refreshed the next day.

Conscious Coffees whole coffee beans, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods.

Based in Boulder, Conscious Coffees lives up to its name by paying above fair trade prices to support farmer cooperatives.

Fatworks premium cooking oil, ghee clarified butter, and chicken fat organic cooking oil, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Out of Longmont, Fatworks is tackling the narrative that fat is bad for you. Made from pasture-raised, non-GMO animals without antibiotics or hormones, Fatworks’ cooking fats are designed to help create a healthy, balanced diet.

Yummy Lotus blackberry serrano lime jam, strawberry grapefruit jam, kiwi poblano jam, strawberry ghost pepper jam, mango habanero jam, and blueberry reaper jam, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Headquartered in Denver, Yummy Lotus offers locally crafted vegan and gluten-free jams made with fresh ingredients in small batches.

Green Belly Foods yellow, red, and green hot sauces, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Inspired by his mom’s traditional Guatemalan hot sauces, Green Belly Foods’ Juan Ignacio Stewart went from selling hot sauces from a tent at the local market to a larger-scale operation.

Whole bean coffees from Traction Coffee Roasters, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

The founders of Traction Coffee Roasters thought up the idea for their coffee roasting company after a mountain bike ride. Their main goal is to make real, authentic coffee.

Venus Spice Co. za’atar premium spice blend, hawaij warming spice blend, shawarma seasoning and rub, sold by Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Noga, the name of the planet Venus in Hebrew, and partner, Kyle, created Venus Spice Co., a Boulder-based spice company specializing in the Middle Eastern flavors of Noga’s family’s recipes and traditions.

Bee Grateful Farm salted honey caramels and lavender honey caramels, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Bee Grateful Farm caramels are handcrafted at a natural vegetable farm in Steamboat Springs.

Stores selling local goods

Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Vintrey Honest Goods is inspired by travel and socially conscious consumerism. Through strategic partnership, they aim to abolish human trafficking and uplift oppressed people. The store sells consciously curated household, fashion, and jewelry options. They sell several Colorado brands.

Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Owned by best friends, Wolf & Wren Press combines the traditional art of letterpressing to meet your modern design and printing needs. A portion of their profits goes toward supporting organizations that are creating positive change for the environment.

Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Shop over 100 Colorado brands at Bricks Local Gift Shop for gifts, souvenirs, food, home goods, and more.

Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Local Goods Colorado sells all local merchandise and aims to build relationships with all makers while also promoting community with customers.

Canova Home in Boulder.

Working with local artists and international fair trade groups to bring unique pieces, Canova Home brings unique home, art, jewelry, and more to Pearl Street.

Lula Faye Fiber in Boulder.

Fighting against the fast-moving cycle of fast fashion, Lula Faye Fiber offers handmade textiles that makers can use and then will be returned back to the earth. The store sells locally produced textiles.

Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Created in 1993, Two Hands Paperie is a family-owned business selling journals, paper, notebooks, books, cards, art supplies, decorations, and more. The store makes products in house and sells local brands.

Maker General in Longmont.

Maker General is intended to be a “general store” for creatives and makers who work with textiles and fibers. They sell gifts and supplies and offer a variety of maker workshops and classes meant to encourage the creative spirit in the community.

Art

Daniele Gold of Mountainside Acrylics holding one of her psychedelic watercolor paintings. Photo courtesy of Daniele Gold.

Daniele Gold of Denver-based Mountainside Acrylics is an acrylic and graphic artist specializing in feminine, psychedelic, and traveling-inspired art. Selling prints, paintings, and custom designs, each piece combines abstract concepts with the beauty of nature.

Uptripping art, sold at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Located in Winter Park, Uptripping reflects the global and adventurous lifestyle of its creators.

Chalkboard painting by Grey Grimm, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Specializing in oil, charcoal, watercolor chalkboard design, digital illustration, and murals, Grey Grimm sells art and is available for commissions.

Stickers and prints from Geranium Studio Shop, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop.

Created by two friends hoping to bring joy to others, Geranium Studio Shop sells watercolor art inspired by Colorado landscapes.

Engraved decorative sign by Vicki Riedel, who has three businesses: Green Hen Designs, Rock N Creations, and Riedel Enterprises. Photo courtesy of Vicki Riedel.

Green Hen Designs, Rock-N-Creations, and Riedel Enterprises, operating out of Erie, provide engraving needs for both commercial and personal purposes.

Nisha Fine Art painting. Photo courtesy of Nisha Ghela.

Landscape paintings, both small and large, along with little printed notecards from Nisha Fine Art turn Colorado’s natural beauty into art, perfect for gift giving.

Bird house made by Peter Buwalda of Buwalda Fine Art Studio. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Buwalda.

Art Supplies

Art supplies sold at the Art Parts Creative Reuse Center in Boulder.

The Art Parts Creative Reuse Center in Boulder was founded to help reduce waste. Art Parts has helped keep over 188,000 pounds of creative materials out of landfills. With any art supplies you might need, you can make a local gift at a cheap price without adding more waste to the world.

Paper Cuts Press pencils, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Upcycling and repurposing is the motto at Papercuts Press, which makes fun gifts out of repurposed material.

Coy Ink Studio water coloring and postcards kits, sold at Maker General in Longmont.

Longmont artist Amanda Maldonado of Coy Ink Studio is not only passionate about community and accessibility to art but sells handcrafted pen, ink, and watercolor art.

Wools from High Country Wool, sold at Lula Faye Fiber in Boulder.

Dedicated to connecting people to the land, High Country Wool dyes and handles the wool in a way that makes the wool light, airy, and full of life.

Nanci Hill Feeney Roll-up Caddy, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Nanci Hill Feeney’s roll-up caddies hold pencils, pens, and brushes in fun roll-up containers. For online orders, email nancihillfeeney@gmail.com. Nanci doesn’t have a dedicated website, but can receive order requests through email.

Handmade paper sold and made at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Two Hands Paperie makes paper from recycled t-shirts for your stationery needs.

Cards and Stickers

Sweet & Snarky Greetings cards, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Want a sweet card, a snarky card, or maybe both? Longmont-based, eco-friendly greeting card company has you covered. Sweet & Snarky Greetings creates the fun content and art on their cards.

New parents and gender confirmation cards from Ladyfingers Letterpress, sold at Maker General on Longmont.

Lady Fingers Letterpress is a queer, trans-owned and operated business selling stationery, cards, and gifts out of Colorado Springs. Award winning, Lady Fingers uses their platform to support and create cards promoting women’s, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and immigrant rights.

Customizable cards at Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Wolf & Wren Press designs holiday cards in house at their Longmont shop.

Stickers made and sold by Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Shop the many fun and colorful stickers made by Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont. The stickers are designed in the shop.

Holiday cards made and sold by Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Holiday cards sold and made at Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Decorations

arubymoon wood block print prayer flags, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Inspired by Tibetan prayer flags, arubymoon makes gratitude and grief flags, cards, and prints with the intention to inspire people to connect, create, and honor life.

Decorative banners, made and sold at Two Hands Paperie.

Made from upcycled saris, tassel banners sold and made at Two Hands Paperie can be strung up, worn, and adored.

Plants

Plants sold at Green Pony Houseplants & Vintage in Louisville.

Furniture

Custom-made table and chairs built in Dancing Grains Woodworks in Boulder.

Dancing Grains Woodworks handcrafts custom-made products out of high-quality wood. The store features already made products and slabs of wood that can be chosen for custom pieces.

Vanier Contour chair. Photo courtesy of Blake Vanier.

A locally run startup, Vanier Contour chairs are handbuilt. The floating slat provides a perfectly contouring sitting experience no matter what position.

Jewelry

Fleetwood Candle Co. earrings, sold at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Born out of the dark times of Covid, Fleetwood Candle Co. makes fun and colorful earrings too.

Turquoise and silver jewelry sold at Angie Star Jewelry in Boulder.

Jewelry at Angie Star Jewelry includes both silver jewelry and beaded jewelry and malas.

Earrings from Ammonite Swirls, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop.

The husband and wife duo of Ammonite Swirls sell their handmade jewelry to pay for rent, car payments, and food for their cats. They run their ecologically friendly business in addition to their jobs working as a musician and conservationist.

Rubarb Jewelry earrings, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Friends Ruth and Barb became friends and quickly started making jewelry together. Rubarb Jewelry handmakes simple but elegant jewelry.

Pets

Winnie Lou the Canine Co. Berry Boost Bones and Carrot Doggie Treat, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Winnie Lou started as a food truck and now brings dog products made from Colorado farms to fur families all over the state. Only real, whole foods are used in their products.

Suzie’s CBD Treats Original, Apple, and Pumpkin Bites, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Does your dog deserve to chill out? Suzie’s CBD Treats offers many yummy products for your animals containing CBD grown on their Fort Collins farm.

Local Shops Online

Holiday Markets & Fundraisers

Memberships to Makerspaces

The artists and makers in your life may appreciate memberships to local makerspaces as gifts.

Tools and warehouse space are available to members of The Gizmo Dojo makerspace in Northglenn.

The Gizmo Dojo: A makerspace located in Northglenn. Memberships start at hobbyist level at $50 a month for those looking to do personal projects enthusiast level at $100 for those who will be more involved at the dojo, and small business level for $250 for those wanting to sell products out of the dojo. All levels include 24/7 access to the building.

TinkerMill warehouse for makers is open 24/7 to members.

TinkerMill: Located in Longmont, members get full access to the workshop space, discounted classes, 24/7 access, voting rights, and reservations. Memberships available for $30 dollars a month for people with limited income, $60 for individuals, $90 for a bundle good for five people, and $120 for a corporate bundle of five employees.

Small businesses donate 250 percent more than large business counterparts to community causes. Over $9.3 billion would be returned to our economy if every U.S. family spent just $10 a month at a local business. Maybe this year our holiday season can mean more than convenience. Purchases from local businesses can pay for the lives of those around you and go toward causes that make our community better.

The post Community over CEOs: Local Retail Guide 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By Eric Galatas, Public News Service (via AP Storyshare)

The post Coloradans Launch ‘Fracking Fuels the Flames’ Campaign appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By Laurine Lassalle
Aspen Journalism (via AP Storyshare)

In the race to represent Colorado’s Western Slope in Congress, contributions from outside the sprawling, mostly rural 3rd Congressional District, have powered incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, while challenger Adam Frisch has relied heavily on his hometown of Aspen, as well as his personal wealth, to fund his campaign. But an acceleration in donations for the Democrat in the third quarter showed that he too can raise significant sums from outside the district.

Boebert, a Silt Republican seeking her second term, has established herself as a prolific fundraiser, bringing in $6.2 million since last year in her race to be reelected, putting her among the two dozen highest-funded members of Congress seeking reelection, according to a ranking maintained by the website opensecrets.org.

According to campaign-finance filings with the Federal Elections Commission, Boebert’s campaign has raised $2.7 million from itemized individual contributions, where the donor’s name and address are disclosed, and another $2.9 million from non-itemized donations, which are contributions of $200 or less where campaigns are not required to disclose a donor’s name and address.

Of Boebert’s itemized contributions, 77% were from outside of the district, according to an Aspen Journalism analysis of the FEC data.

“There’s a lot of support from Colorado and across the nation because people want someone who’s going to stand up for them,” Boebert told Aspen Journalism this month. “People in other states, they recognize they can’t vote for me, but they can support me, and when I’m in D.C. I vote for them, and so we’re all part of the same mission.”

Democrat Adam Frisch, a former Aspen City Council member who in February announced his candidacy, narrowed the fundraising gap with Boebert with $1.7 million in third-quarter contributions — $1.032 million in itemized and $639,000 in non-itemized contributions. Of those itemized third-quarter donations, 66% were from out-of-district sources. Through the end of the third quarter, roughly 60% of Frisch’s itemized donations to date are from outside the 3rd Congressional District.

“We’re going to focus on the local issues that affect the district the most, but we know that there’s national interest in this race,” Frisch said. “We have a name-brand Republican that is not liked across the country. … Money really [started] kicking in as more and more people found out.”

The third-quarter filing, made public this month, shifted Frisch’s fundraising narrative, as it topped Boebert’s third-quarter haul of $900,000. Through the second quarter, Frisch had raised a total of $395,000 in donations. He had also funded his campaign with a series of five personal loans between February and June totaling $2.2 million, although he paid back a $1.5 million March loan a few weeks later.

Frisch attributed the third-quarter jump to increased national attention in the 3rd District race after his narrow victory in the June 28 Democratic primary.

Kenneth Bickers, a professor of political science at the University of Colorado Boulder, noted that, including the personal loans, Frisch raised more than any other Democratic candidate — incumbent or challenger — in Colorado in the third quarter for the U.S. House races.

“He’s done a terrific job at raising money, but Boebert has also raised far more [in total] than any other candidate,” Bickers said.

Experts at Campaign Legal Center, a government watchdog group based in Washington, D.C., said Boebert has made more of a national name for herself than most candidates, which boosts her fundraising capabilities.

“That’s really pretty typical when there’s an incumbent that believes himself to be vulnerable,” Bickers said. “They’re usually raising the vast majority of money from outside their district or even outside their state. For the challenger, it’s usually more common to raise a much larger percentage from within their district or within their state.”

Bickers added that across the country there are mainly two categories of incumbents who raise large amounts of money: incumbents who believe their reelection is going to be challenging, and incumbents who are raising money for future advancement, such as running for governor or a Senate seat.

By the end of the third quarter this year, Boebert had about $1.9 million in cash on hand, while Frisch had about $761,000, according to the FEC.

Frisch’s connections have anchored fundraising

This map depicts itemized contributions to Adam Frisch’s campaign by state, with darker colors indicating higher total contributions. About 40% of Frisch’s itemized donations are from the 3rd Congressional District. Map by Laurine Lassalle/Aspen Journalism, using FEC data.

Frisch, who served on the Aspen City Council from 2011 to 2019, has received strong support from Aspen residents, who donated a total of $315,000, or 23% of his itemized contributions. His total take from Pitkin County in the campaign is $349,000 in itemized contributions.

Donors from New York state also loom large for Frisch, who lived in New York City in the 1990s while working in the finance industry. State residents have donated a total of $220,500 to Frisch since the beginning of the campaign, with $150,000 of that coming from New York City.

Donors from inside Colorado, but outside the 3rd District, account for $218,600 in Frisch’s itemized contributions. Most of that came from Denver.

The Democratic candidate said living in Aspen for 20 years has helped him meet people, including visitors or second-home owners from New York City or other big cities, who are wealthier than the average person and don’t like Boebert.

“He knows people that can write checks with lots of zeros, and it’s always good to know people that can write checks with lots of zeros, and those people know people that can write checks with lots of zeros,” Bickers said. “I think that if you’re going to be a challenger, being a challenger who’s an officeholder in one of the wealthiest communities in the world is probably an advantage.”

Pitkin County residents — perhaps unsurprisingly, given the area’s liberal leanings — have given far less to Boebert ($75,000) than to Frisch.

Boebert has significant financial support from outside her district

This map depicts itemized contributions to Lauren Boebert’s campaign by state, with darker colors indicating higher total contributions. About 23% of Boebert’s itemized donations are from the 3rd Congressional District. Map by Laurine Lassalle/Aspen Journalism, using FEC data.

Boebert has raised $622,500, or 23% of her funds, within the 3rd District — mostly from Pueblo and Mesa counties, the district’s two counties with the most residents. Boebert raised about $96,000 in itemized contributions from Pueblo County, compared with Frisch’s $17,300. Mesa County residents have given Boebert $82,600, compared with $25,400 for Frisch.

Garfield County residents donated $48,000 to Boebert and $39,500 to Frisch.

Twenty-seven percent of Boebert’s itemized donations, or $738,000, came from other Colorado districts, with just $94,000 of that from Denver residents.

Of the $2.086 million in itemized contributions from outside the 3rd District, $265,000 came from Texas, $194,000 from Florida and $155,000 from California — the three largest sources of out-of-district fundraising. Boebert has received donations from all 50 states, while 38 states are represented among Frisch’s itemized donations.

Boebert, who ran a gun-themed restaurant in Rifle before beating incumbent Rep. Scott Tipton in the 2020 GOP primary, said Frisch is trying to tap into her nationwide notoriety.

“So he trolls my Twitter all day long trying to ride my coattails and, you know, trying to get that attention,” she said. “He can’t put up a post without mentioning me because that’s all he has to run on — that and lies about being a moderate, about being a conservative.”

Boebert added: “I have earned the support of voters. I’ve been out on the road for three years now as a candidate, as a congresswoman, and meeting with constituents, meeting with people, hearing from them, providing solutions in Washington, D.C.”

Older people contribute the most to political campaigns

Both candidates have received strong financial support from retirees. For Boebert, about $1.26 million came from older individuals. This represents about 47% of her itemized donations. For Frisch, retired people contributed a total of $258,000, or approximately 20% of his campaign’s itemized donations.

This strong involvement of the retirees in political campaigns is neither new nor unique to the 3rd District. According to the Pew Research Center, older Americans are more likely to contribute than younger Americans. “The average donation rate for those ages 18-29 is 9%, compared with 12% for those ages 30-49, 14% for those ages 50-64 and 32% for those ages 65 and older.”

Bickers said retirees often have more disposable income than others because they don’t have children at home and/or often have already paid off their mortgages. “They reached a point in life where they can put money into causes that they care about as opposed to saving for college expenses for the kids or saving up for a wedding or something like that.”

Bickers pointed out that once in office, people tend to be more attentive to the issues and needs of those who have donated to their campaigns.

About 8% of the donations to Boebert’s campaign were from people who didn’t list any occupation. Owners, homemakers each sent about $90,000 to $100,000 to her campaign and CEOs donated nearly $60,000 to her campaign.

For Frisch, about 24% of all the itemized individual donations came from people who listed their occupation as “not employed.” Attorneys, executives and investors each gave about $50,000 to the Democratic campaign.

About 71% of Pitkin County individuals who contributed to Boebert’s campaign are retired, compared with 18% of those who sent money to Frisch.

Retired residents of Pitkin County sent $56,000 to Boebert and $71,500 to Frisch. Residents who work in real estate gave $12,500 to Boebert and $22,000 to Frisch. Local investors contributed $29,000 to Frisch’s campaign.

The power of PACs

Another major contrast between the two candidates is how much money they have been receiving from political action committees, or PACs.

Boebert’s primary and general campaigns received about $148,000, including $93,167 in the third quarter, from PACs. Frisch didn’t receive any money from PACs in the first two quarters, but he got $12,500 in PAC money in the third quarter.

Bickers said the majority of PACs are trade association PACs, business PACs, corporate PACs and union PACs. Most of those, he said, give the vast majority of their money to incumbents since they’re more likely to win the elections.“They’re investing in future access,” he said.

Boebert received $82,000 from the Rifle-based Team Boebert Joint Fundraising Committee, $12,000 (including $5,000 raised in the third quarter) from House Freedom Fund, $10,000 from the Project West Political Action Committee, which is affiliated with Colorado’s former U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, and $5,000 from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s Huck PAC, among 21 others.

The House Freedom Fund, a PAC that supports conservative candidates, raised about $10 million in 2021-2022.

For the general election, Boebert received about $72,000 from PACs, including $51,500 from the Joint Fundraising Committee, $7,000 from House Freedom Fund, $5,000 from Huck PAC and another $5,000 from Save America, a leadership PAC affiliated with former President Donald Trump that raised more than $100 million in 2021-22. Bickers explained that leadership PACs create loyalty between the person affiliated with the PAC and the person receiving the money.

“What you’re seeing in this race is really really super typical,” he said. Vulnerable incumbents are going to go back to Washington and ask for financial help, Bickers added, and PACs will write checks to support them. “Challengers have trouble making that same kind of appeal precisely because they’re challengers,” he said.

Airlines also seem to support Boebert. United, Delta, American and Alaska Air each contributed to Boebert’s primary and general campaigns, up to more than $6,000 from American and United each.

Bickers said challengers almost never raise a lot of money from PACs. (Ideological PACs, which are PACs pushing a cause, are an exception, he said.)

Frisch got $5,000 from Communications Workers of America, which supports unions, and $2,500 from the National Organization for Women.

“We have PAC money from organizations that are focused on issues that are important to us, important to me as a person,” Frisch said.

Frisch received another $5,000 from Giddy Up, a leadership PAC affiliated with U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a former governor of Colorado. Through the third quarter, Frisch hadn’t received money directly from the Democratic party.

Frisch said the Democratic Party holds a “Red to Blue” list, which contains 36 Democrat candidates across the country who, the party thinks, have a chance to win a seat currently held by a Republican.

“I have made the case to the Democratic party in D.C. that of all the extremists on the right, this is the only one that has a chance to lose,” Frisch said, but so far, he hasn’t received any money from the party.

“[The political parties] are kind of brutal,” Bickers said. “They’re in the business of winning as many seats as they can. … And that means that they put his chances lower than other seats that they’re hoping to either hold or maybe to be able to gain a few seats against the Republicans.”

Outside spending, which is money spent by outside groups to oppose or support a candidate, is also relatively low for the 3rd District race, with about $624,000 spent for and against Boebert, and none spent for or against Frisch. In comparison, outside groups — typically known as super PACs, which are able to raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate with the candidates they are supporting — have poured more than $10 million into Colorado’s newly created 8th Congressional District. This is a measure of how close super PACs think the races are, according to Bickers, because they would spend more money if they believed they had a chance to swing election results.

Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit, investigative news organization. For more, visit www.aspenjournalism.org.

The post Out-of-district fundraising a key source for Boebert, as Frisch gains ground in third quarter appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

Local independent businesses help define the soul of our communities as they face off against big money and power from giant corporations and private equity firms. How do they make it work?

Back in the late ‘90s in the waning days of Seattle’s grunge rock era, I once walked by the storefront of a little coffee shop on Seattle’s First Hill. Out front was a chalk sign board with a note: “Every corporate cup poured makes baby Jesus cry.” I remember feeling a twinge of annoyance or guilt upon reading that sign, possibly fueled by the fact that I may have had a venti vanilla latte from Starbucks in my hand. Damn it!

By that time, Starbucks was blowing up as a corporate brand competing with mom and pop coffee joints all over the planet. But the original Starbucks store was once itself an independent small business, opening its doors in 1971 to sell Peet’s gourmet coffee beans across the street from Seattle’s Pike Place Market. 

Starbucks is a story of extraordinary corporate success. But has it been a human success?

The same year Starbucks opened, another coffee house called Village Coffee Shop opened its doors in Boulder. Entering Village Coffee Shop is like being teleported into an old Georgia diner. There’s a basic open-view kitchen, a customer counter with a row of red vinyl upholstered stools, and a tiny dining area of small booths. It is intimate, divey, and charming. And the French toast is the best I’ve ever had.

Village Coffee is owned by Shanna Henkel. Hers is the classic story of the long-time waitress who buys the joint. Chuck Taylor opened Village Coffee in 1971 and ran it for 31 years before finally selling it to Shanna, his favorite waitress, over 20 years ago.

Shanna describes Village Coffee as “890 square feet of reality surrounded by Boulder.” I can’t think of a better description. Shanna said she and her husband Ryan have made only two changes: They switched from canned to fresh mushrooms and added Cholula Hot Sauce. That’s it. Other than that, Shanna says the place is exactly as it’s always been, a neighborhood fixture for more than 50 years running. Shanna and Ryan run the restaurant seven days a week, week-in and week-out, and never get burnt out.

“I love my job,” she said. “I have so much fun going to work every day.”

The secret to Shanna’s work happiness is that she doesn’t go to work every day to wait tables, make great food, or even run a business. Those are the responsibilities of the job. Shanna goes to work each day to build relationships. Many of her customers are long-time regulars.

Shanna is passionate about maintaining the soul of Village Coffee Shop. Over the last couple decades, she has witnessed Boulder lose many of its other dive joints as they have been bought out and converted into “fancy pants” restaurants.

That won’t happen any time soon with Village Coffee. When I asked her about expansion, the answer came before I finished the question.

“Absolutely no expansion, never,“ she said. “Because I can’t be in two places at once.”

It’s harder to build those relationships when you can’t be present. Village Coffee competes successfully with corporate and chain restaurants by simply staying true to those community values it has always had. Its authentic character can never be matched from a distant corporate office. That’s the secret sauce.

Speaking of the importance of the soul of a business, Hap (short for Happy) Cameron, owner of Happy Cones, New Zealand style ice cream, is a very interesting guy. When Hap was in his early 20s, he embarked on an audacious life goal — to live and work on every continent. Over nine years, Hap worked an amazing variety of jobs all over the world. He taught English in South Korea, climbed on oil rigs in Northern Canada, and started up a bike shop in the Namib Desert. And that’s just a sample. You can read all about Hap’s odyssey in his book, “Hap Working the World.”

During his travels Hap met a Colorado girl in Mexico and fell in love, eventually bringing him and his new family to our community. Like Shanna at Village Coffee, Hap loves making people happy through service. Serendipity happened when he learned his old neighbor back in New Zealand had invented an ice cream-making contraption. It’s a table-top machine that mixes frozen fruit with sweet cream into a delightfully refreshing blend.

Hap brought that machine to Colorado and launched Happy Cones with a single food service truck in 2015. He still runs the truck, which you might just see on a warm summer day in and around Broomfield, Westminster, or Thornton. He now also has two fixed locations: one in Edgewater near Sloan’s Lake and the other in Golden. He recently considered a third location in Westminster but decided to slow it down for now, focusing on “getting better, not bigger.”

Aside from the joy of making people happy through service, Hap values the freedom of choice that running a small business affords him.

“I get to breathe my own personality into it,” he said. “I’m free to take the risks I want to take. There are no corporate roadblocks preventing this.” 

Hap often leverages his business for social causes he believes in. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe, Hap got together with some of his employees and concocted a limited-time specialty ice cream. All proceeds of the new flavor went to Planned Parenthood.

Hap also values the opportunity his business affords him to help his employees in their own life journeys. “I think of Happy Cones as a vehicle to help people self actualize.”

It’s not all serious business. During a snowstorm last year, Hap ran an impromptu social media promotion: First person to show up and do a shirtless snow angel in front of the store would get four free pints of ice cream. A hollering shirtless guy soon emerged from the neighborhood and rolled around bare-chested in the snow, his prize personally handed to him by Hap Cameron.

I picked up on similar themes when I spoke with Rosemary Girard Bieker, owner of Longmont’s Ivy Rose, a women’s boutique clothing store offering on-trend clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Rosemary was just wrapping up her promotional work for her business’s five-year anniversary, a major milestone.

Rosemary opened Ivy Rose after visiting a similar business in Grand Junction and noticing a dearth of independent small retailers in Longmont at the time. Having been a personal shopper for fifteen years, her experience lined up with the timing and circumstances, so she took the plunge into business ownership.

Ivy Rose’s value system is about “helping people look their best,” and she tells her staff every day that “no task is ever more important than the person walking through the door.”

Rosemary views her competition in the area not so much as competitors but as participants in an ecosystem, each having their place in serving their customers’ needs. This is part of the secret to her success. She’s filling a niche in the community, not forcing her business to be anything that she doesn’t want it to be. Like with Village Coffee Shop and Happy Cones, customers appreciate that natural authenticity.

After speaking with all of these amazing  small business owners, I realized that none of them discussed their success in financial terms. Financial success for them is a by-product of the professional fulfillment they get out of becoming a part of the local business community.

Small business owners like Shanna, Hap, and Rosemary have the freedom to run their shops the way they want without the bureaucratic labyrinth of a corporate structure. That ownership freedom can give small businesses a competitive edge as customers and the community sense the difference. It can pay off financially for the business, emotionally for the business owner and their employees, and beneficially for the communities they serve. Expand that to a macro level, and it’s clear how important small businesses are to the well-being of the nation as a whole.

Any advanced economy requires large enterprises to bring the economies of scale that are needed to drive innovation and solve big problems. But small independent businesses have an equally important role in our society — it’s important to ensure that they have a leg to stand on in the face of big corporate money and power.

Contrary to a small independent business, a large corporation’s shareholders are the owners of the company, and they expect financial performance above all else. This creates pressure on the corporation’s leadership to deliver short-term, quarter-to-quarter financial results. This can often be at odds with desirable longer-term business development ideas and values that work to serve the needs of a community.

Too much emphasis on short-term profits can sometimes have disturbing consequences, especially in certain industries like health services. A recent New Yorker article titled, “When Private Equity Takes Over a Nursing Home,” by Yasmin Rafiei, revealed a horror story of neglect at the altar of a singular focus on profit making. As reported in the article, a once-beloved elder care facility run as a non-profit by a group of nuns was acquired by a private equity firm. The firm increased the patient load while decreasing staff levels creating a cascading collapse in the quality of care. Perhaps the balance sheet looked good, but the human results were tragic.

I was introduced to that heartbreaking article by Dr. Michael Koditek of Carbon Valley Eye Care, an independent optometry practice in Frederick. Dr. Koditek and his business partner Dr. Jeff Berger described the recent trend of private equity firms buying up local independent optometry practices.

“These private equity-owned firms try to squeeze every last penny that they can out of them,” said Dr. Berger. “They know that they can put any mediocre eye doctor in and, as long as the machine works, they can get by.”

Dr. Berger is no mediocre eye doctor. He successfully diagnosed and then corrected, through vision therapy, my daughter’s eye tracking problem. Around age six she had perfect 20/20 vision, but her eyes weren’t in sync. This can result in learning challenges. Imagine trying to read a book when the letters are dancing around on the pages. A few weeks of fun, game-based vision therapy corrected the issue, and I’m proud to say that my daughter is now a prolific reader and scores high in reading comprehension. I’m convinced this would not have been possible without the vision therapy she received as a first grader.

“I’m not aware of any other optometry practice in the area that offers vision therapy,” said Dr. Berger. 

As more optometrists are absorbed into corporate or private equity-ownership structures, their incentives become increasingly profit-driven first, service and quality-driven second. Important services like vision therapy are on the chopping block when private equity firms focus on improving “business efficiencies” for their investors.

Dr. Berger explained that private equity firms make above-appraisal offers on acquisition bids. With this unfair buying power advantage, the neighbor down the street who wants to buy a business gets priced out. And it’s hard for the seller nearing retirement to pass up those big dollars.

The doctors are onto something. Last year private equity investment activity smashed records. According to the latest Bain Private Equity Report, global buyout activity reached $1.1 trillion in 2021, beating the previous record (2006) by an astounding 40%. “PE firms raised bigger funds, made larger deals and came to market more frequently.”

This trend seems to be caused by an increasing wealth disparity in America, short-term capital infusions related to pandemic stimulus, and the demographic shift caused by retiring baby boomers looking to sell their businesses. According to Bloomberg News, as of October, 2021, the richest 1% of Americans, for the first time, held more wealth than the entire middle class combined. 

Wealthy people look for places to put their money, and private equity investment is a rich person’s game, off limits to 99% of us. To invest in a private equity firm, one must be an “accredited” investor who can plunk down between $250,000 and $25 million. These firms then use those wealthy investor dollars to acquire non-corporate-owned business entities. Once acquired, they focus on improving “business efficiencies,” jargon for cost cutting to increase profit margins. Under these priorities the doctor can’t spend as much time in consultation with the patient, or take the time and expense to gain additional training, or invest in better equipment. Profit margins increase, but quality suffers. The wealthy investor wins, but the local community loses.

On top of the growing wealth gap, global monetary stimulus injections during COVID-19 provided an accelerant that is driving strong volumes of business buyout transactions. And this is all happening right as the baby boom generation reaches peak retirement numbers. Retirement-age optometrists are looking for an exit, and now is the perfect time to sell if you’re riding off into the sunset.

The negative by-products of this trend are that local communities lose the character and quality of their small businesses, local services are at risk of being gutted in the interest of margins, and your neighbor down the street who has some savings and wants to buy a local business gets priced out of the market by big money firms.

The following graphic from Lionpoint Group illustrates the substantial increase in private equity activity in 2021:

During the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, a rapidly industrializing America witnessed the ruthlessness with which unchecked corporate interests can steamroll the well-being of workers, their families, and their communities. It became apparent that, if left unchecked, this could lead to a tyranny where economic power would be concentrated into the hands of the very few at the expense of the freedom and dignity of the many. Legislation ensued, such as the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and the creation of the Federal Trade Commission to even the playing field, keep competition alive, and begin to establish and protect the rights of working citizens.

Could too much economic power in the hands of private equity firms have a similar, if less visible, impact on our communities?

Dr. Koditek is cautiously hopeful that, in the long run, the pendulum will swing back in the other direction. Consumers who experience declining quality of service will gravitate back towards the remaining independent businesses. Supporting this theory is the fact that private equity investors typically look for a 4–7-year investment cycle. That relatively short-term focus can give encouragement to independent practices with long-term values. 

A greater awareness of this trend in our community can encourage us to patronize independent businesses. And this brings us full circle to Boulder, Colorado where, in 1998, the nation’s first so-called Independent Business Alliance was formed. The alliance was born out of a concern about the growth of business chains at the expense of independent, locally owned businesses. Their model was adopted all across the country and has since become the national American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA).

AMIBA’s website (amiba.net) offers a wealth of information on how to identify and support independently owned local businesses. They also have a business search function. I tested it out by entering “optometrists,” selecting Frederick for the city. The search returned one result: Dr. Michael Koditek of Carbon Valley Eye Care.

The post Goliath Versus You appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

By Amanda Horvath and Alexis Kikoen, Rocky Mountain PBS (via AP Storyshare)

DENVER — “I mean we’ve probably submitted 50 to 60 applications, somewhere in there and that’s like, that’s ballpark,” said Chris Byard, a Colorado resident of 12 years. He and his girlfriend, Steph Slaughter, decided to find a place together this summer. Slaughter was reaching the end of her lease in August, so the couple decided to get more serious about their home search at the beginning of the summer.

“I’ve moved, what? Maybe two to three times in the past five to six years, and it usually takes me about a month,” said Byard. “Whenever I found a place that I did like and submit an application, I got it.”

That was not the case this time around.

“It’s the most stressful thing I’ve gone through in the past six months,” Byard said.

He and Slaughter spent about two or three months  — including any spare moment they had — concerned with finding a place to rent. With a $2,600 to $2,800 budget, they were looking for a two bedroom, one bath house with a backyard since they both have dogs. Byard has steady income and Slaughter is a nursing student who has saved up as much money as possible for living expenses. Their issues didn’t start with their initial searches.

“There’s actually quite a bit out there. It’s just a matter of actually getting it,” Slaughter said.

When you ask the couple about the stories they’ve accumulated over this journey, they look at each other and laugh.

“So the emotions, I guess, rollercoaster,” said Byard with a laugh.

Steph Slaughter and Chris Byard spent countless hours and money applying for dozens of rental properties in Denver this summer as the rental market tightened. Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Public Media

One of their more infamous stories was at a property in the Lower Highlands neighborhood, in Denver’s Northside. The first shocking part to them was when Byard said they saw the property originally listed online for $2,600 and within the time for a short debate; it was taken down. The next day he said it was listed again for $100 more per month.

Still, it was within their budget so Byard and Slaughter applied again and viewed the property in the quickest way possible — virtually. They liked the property and submitted an application. Within a few days, the landlord responded saying they were among the top candidates and asked for them to provide their best offer including “rent, term, etc.”

“I think we both started laughing because it just seemed so outrageous to hear something like that,” said Byard.

They realized they were essentially in a bidding war for a rental, something they’ve heard about in New York but never here in Denver. They didn’t want to get involved in that for just a rental property, as opposed to now-common bidding wars for owning homes in the area.

“And I just explained, ‘As renters we have nothing to gain by offering you more money for what you listed as.’ And I was like, ‘But what we can offer you is the peace of mind of responsible tenants ‘cause that’s priceless.’ And needless to say we did … not move forward with that.

“I think it sets a bad standard as a renter to go in there,” said Slaughter. “It makes you feel from the get-go that you don’t really have as many rights as a renter that you would normally have. And I think it just sets a bad precedent.”

For Slaughter, the more frustrating part of their 2022 summer search was never really knowing why they weren’t picked for a rental property. She compares it to what it can be like to date these days.

“It seemed like you both really liked each other, and then they just ghost you or, like, they finally get back to you and they say, ‘Oh, we went with someone else.’ And you’re like, ‘But why? What was wrong with us?’” she explained.

That is exactly why one of the most anxiety-inducing application and denial moments for her was when she decided not to let a rental agency ghost her. Slaughter said they were one of the first ones to view and apply when this property became available. Then they didn’t hear back for three or four days and finally received an email saying the property went with a stronger candidate.

“And so I got the guy on the phone and basically started crying at that point, which I’m not proud of, but it just happened,” she told Rocky Mountain PBS with a laugh.

“And I was asking why. And he said, ‘Because we didn’t have three months times the monthly rent in pay stubs that they went with a stronger applicant. Even though I have savings, I’m in nursing school, a second degree student, very responsible in my 30s … great credit scores, all the things. And because we didn’t have those pay stubs, they went with someone who had more money.”

At the same time, Slaughter and Byard battled against other renters, Slaughter’s lease ended and she was forced to pay month-to-month, increasing her rent by about $700. Slaughter thinks the price increase with a month-to-month lease is another unfair practice in the rental market.

“It’s fairly tight,” said Ron Throupe, speaking about the current Denver-area rental market. As an associate professor at University of Denver, he contributes to a quarterly report about the current rental market. Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Public Media

The current rental market, by the numbers

“It’s fairly tight,” said Ron Throupe, speaking about the current Denver-area rental market. As an associate professor at University of Denver, he contributes to a quarterly report about the current rental market.

The second quarter’s report published at the beginning of the month shows rents are continuing to increase to an average of $1,859.51. That is an increase of nearly $94 from just the previous quarter.

“That’s a big increase, but seasonally, that’s not unexpected to have,” said Throupe. “We tend to have our rent increases and then we sort of fade out in the fall/winter, and then we recycle again the following year.”

The report also showed the vacancy rate — the percentage of all available units in the city — is currently about 4.7%, a slight increase from the first quarter and a one percentage point increase from 2021. Still, that number is lower than the national vacancy rate of 5.6%, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Part of why Denver is experiencing a “tight” rental market, according to Throupe, is the continuing popularity of the city.

“Denver has become a … let’s call it a ‘found city’ in the last five years and is very attracted to move here for people,” said Throupe. “I tell people Denver’s no longer the cow town.”

Another element to consider is the recent increases to mortgage rates, which are predicted to continue to rise. As mortgage rates go up (and, therefore, monthly prices), those who were close to being able to buy a home may decide to stay in a rental for a while longer, therefore keeping the market tight.

The rental report also showed that in the second quarter, just more than 4,000 apartment units were added to the city’s inventory. Overall, Throupe didn’t express concern over the rental market in Denver and again pointed to the reality of the growing city.

“Do I worry about prices going up too fast? Well, you put it in perspective: those who have been here a long time think it’s incredible, right? But for those that have been other places, especially the coasts, they don’t think so,” explained Throupe.

The latest quarterly Denver-area rental market report shows rents are continuing to increase to an average of $1,859.51. That is an increase of nearly $94 from just the previous quarter. Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Public Media

Renter’s rights

“To me [it] almost seems illegal, like it just seems discriminatory,” Slaughter said with exhaustion after she heard they weren’t picked for a rental because of lack of pay stubs.

Colorado, like the entire country, has fair housing laws that have been updated and revised since they were first instituted decades ago. Colorado was the first in the nation to pass anti-discrimination laws governing private property in 1959, before the signing of the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968.

Despite being the first to pass such laws, housing in Denver was restricted as realtors and bankers worked together to segregate Black homeowners in the Five Points and Capitol Hill neighborhoods. In the meantime, white homeowners used their privilege of mobility to create distance.

Colorado’s current fair housing laws do not allow for discrimination against protected classes with now include race, creed, color, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, national original, source of income and others. The laws also define a number of unfair practices like refusal to rent or sell or applying unequal terms.

[Related: Denver Tenant Rights & Resources]

If someone does feel unfairly treated or believes something illegal has occurred, they can file a complaint with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD). However, the burden mostly rests on the individual to file a complaint. The Denver Metro Fair Housing Center is a nonprofit focused on eliminating housing discrimination by educating Denver-area residents and conducting investigations.

Still, rental agencies and private owners have a lot of leeway to increase prices fairly when the market is as it is.

“Every lease is a negotiation,” said Throupe. “They can negotiate any number they want … if they sense the market is tight or they only have one unit left and they’re in a prime area — yeah, they’re gonna move the rent.”

Steph Slaughter and Chris Byard were outraged at the countless hours and money they spent applying for dozens of rental properties in Denver this summer as the rental market tightened. Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Public Media

Finding a place

After experiencing the most stressful search for a place to rent in Denver Steph Slaughter and Chris Byard had ever gone through, they took to social media.

Byard helps cohost a local podcast, Stoned Appetit, and shared his bidding war woes with their Instagram followers. Hundreds of people empathized with Byard and Slaughter and dozens responded with similar stories or comments on the rental market. The posting also finally ended Slaughter and Byard’s search for a place.

“It’s through a friend who actually saw the posting about it on Instagram, and she has a rental property that they bought like 10 years ago here in Denver. And now they’ve moved out to the suburbs, and it just happened to be available,” said Slaughter. “It was really the luck of the draw.”

Now set on their place within their price range, the couple plans to move into the property soon and still feel sorry for the many others out there still trying to find a place, especially those who may have other barriers to face.

“I can’t imagine people that have gone into debt with the pandemic and now try to rent because they can no longer afford the apartment they’re in then their credit scores lower,” said Slaughter. “I can only imagine those hurdles.”

For Byard, he is most worried about continuing gentrification and the pricing out of people from the neighborhoods they’ve come to settle in and truly make a home.

[Related: Mapping Displacement and Gentrification in Denver]

“I don’t think people should have to make that big of a sacrifice that they’ve lived here for so long, and now they’re just saying, like, ‘Oh my gosh, I really can’t afford this,’” said Byard. “That displaces you from the community you’ve been involved with.”

For this couple, their advice for people in search of a rental is ultimately to turn to their community.

“Talk to your network. Like, talk to your friends, talk to your workers at work,” Byard said. “Somebody knows somebody.”

Steph Slaughter packs her belongings to prepare for a move after months of searching. Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Public Media

The post Bidding wars and price hikes: Are New York renting realities coming to Denver? appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo credit: Alexander Mils via Unsplash

By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado (via AP Storyshare)

In a long-awaited announcement, President Joe Biden on Wednesday said his administration will cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for borrowers who make less than $125,000 a year, or $250,000 for taxpayers who file jointly. In addition, Biden said many students from low-income backgrounds will receive an additional $10,000 in relief.

The unprecedented maneuver by Biden should reach over 43 million borrowers and even wipe out loan repayments for some. But it likely won’t fix some of the larger issues surrounding student debt — namely the cost of college and the large amounts borrowed by some to foot the cost of college. Nationally, student debt has ballooned to over $1.7 trillion.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a news release Wednesday that student loan debt has hindered many Americans’ ability to achieve their dreams — including buying a home, starting a business, or providing for a family. The department also announced other changes to make repaying loans easier.

“Getting an education should set us free; not strap us down,” Cardona said. “We’re delivering targeted relief that will help ensure borrowers are not placed in a worse position financially because of the pandemic, and restore trust in a system that should be creating opportunity, not a debt trap.”

Biden ran on canceling at least $10,000 in student loan debt and faced pressure from advocates to cancel much more. He repeatedly delayed a decision amid intense debates about whether debt cancellation would advance economic justice or disproportionately benefit higher-earning Americans during a time when the working class is struggling.

The plan provides more help to the students who started with the least. About 27 million Pell Grant recipients should be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness. Pell Grants cover a portion of college costs for students from low-income families, with the large majority of eligible students coming from households that earn less than $60,000 a year.

Kyle Southern, The Institute for College Access and Success associate vice president of higher education quality, said there’s two sides to the announcement. It’s life changing, especially for borrowers from low-income backgrounds. But a larger conversation about student debt needs to happen, especially when it comes to which students leave college with debt.

The cap on how much debt will be forgiven means white borrowers will have a larger share of their debt relieved than Black and Latino borrowers from low-income backgrounds, who on average owe more than white students do upon leaving college.

The announcement should fuel further conversations about how to invest in the Pell Grant program and support for institutions that serve a high number of students of color.

“We’re very conscious that we haven’t yet broken the cycle that feeds those kinds of debt-based approaches to higher education,” Southern said.

In a recent CNN opinion article, Derrick Johnson, NAACP national president and CEO, said “$10,000 in relief is like pouring a bucket of water on a forest fire” for Black Americans who owe almost double the student debt that white Americans do — almost $53,000 on average for Black college goers.

Shanique Broom, 31, who lives in Denver, sees the Biden plan as a drop in the bucket. She owes more than $300,000 after attending Central Michigan University for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and the University of Denver for her doctorate.

She’s happy for the relief, but wishes students from low-income backgrounds were eligible for more debt relief.

“I was wanting something more equitable,” said Broom, who works in education policy. “But realistically, with how this government, this administration, just like our country has operated, I didn’t even expect this.”

She said students whose families have fewer resources have to borrow more just to cover living expenses while they’re in college.

“It’s like you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t,” Broom said. “I spent my whole life trying to live this American Dream of obtaining my degree, but put myself into debt. My future is clouded.”

Biden and his administration also received praise for the debt cancellation plan. Felipe Vieyra, who graduated from the University of Denver in 2012 with over $60,000 in student loan debt, said he already texted friends about his excitement. The 32-year-old said the $10,000 the government will forgive should bring down his student loan debt to $20,000. He has spent years chipping away at the debt on his own.

At one point he lived out of a storage room for $200 a month because he couldn’t afford other rent. He said the $20,000 he will still owe feels more surmountable.

“This gives me more control,” he said.

He added that he’s not sure whether the announcement helps students of color see college as more attractive. The percentage of students enrolling straight from high school into college has been dropping. Many of those choosing jobs instead cite aversion to debt and higher pay for entry-level jobs.

A recent report from The Institute for College Access and Success showed half of all Colorado students graduating college in 2020 held debt, on average $26,424. In 19 other states, average debt for college graduates was more than $30,000, while in six states it averaged more than $35,000.

“It’s still expensive to go to college,” Vieyra said. “And that needs to be addressed one way or another.”

Colorado Department of Higher Education Commissioner Angie Paccione said debt relief is especially helpful for students who went to college but didn’t complete a degree. Paccione said in Colorado there are 700,000 people who attended a higher education institution but didn’t graduate, “which means they have probably at least half the debt that they accrued, but they don’t have a credential that helps to maximize their earning potential.”

She said she expects unintended and yet-unknown consequences and political backlash, especially from those who already paid off their loans. But this generation, she said, “is suffering disproportionately more than what it cost me to pay.”

“What I’m fearful of is that there will be people who see it as a handout instead of a helping hand up,” she said.

The administration expects to release more details on the student loan forgiveness plan, specifically on how to apply for loan forgiveness.

Southern said he hopes the administration will clearly communicate how students can take advantage of the debt forgiveness and that federal officials “automate as much as possible.”

We have to be really vigilant in making sure that this program is widely known and easy for people to access the benefits that they’re entitled to,” he said.

The Biden administration announcement also included several other actions related to student loan repayments.

It will extend the pause on repayment, interest and collections until Dec. 31 for borrowers who will still owe payments beyond the cancellations.The pause extends the delay put in place at the start of the pandemic.

The department also is proposing to reduce monthly payments for low- and middle-income borrowers.

The proposal would cut in half — from 10% to 5% of discretionary income — the amount that borrowers have to pay each month on their undergraduate loans. The rule would also forgive loan balances after 10 years of payments — instead of 20 years — for borrowers with original loan balances of $12,000 or less. And it would cut interest as long as borrowers make payments on time.

Borrowers like Broom with high student loan debt will likely get the most relief not from the $20,000, but from the income repayment changes. Nonetheless, she expects her payments will still be thousands of dollars a month, akin to paying a second mortgage, she said.

The administration also plans changes that will make it easier for borrowers working in nonprofit jobs or the military to use the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. And the administration said it’s taking steps to hold private schools accountable for high debt and will publish an annual watch list of programs that contribute to high student debt.

The list will name programs with the highest debt levels in the country. The department will request improvement plans from those colleges and that will outline how the college intends to bring down debt levels.

Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.

The post Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan promises ‘targeted relief.’ Are you eligible? appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Public News Service and was shared via AP StoryShare. It was written by Eric Galatas, a writer for Public News Service. 

by Eric Galatas, Public News Service

A new analysis shows big oil companies are much more reluctant to lower gasoline prices when crude prices drop than they are to raise prices when crude costs rise.

In one example documented by the group Accountable.US, when crude prices dropped by just over 1% in April, oil companies raised gas prices by nearly 2%.

Jordan Schreiber, energy and environment director for the group, said consumers might expect prices at the pump to go down as the cost of crude oil drops, but gas prices remain stubbornly high.

“We would hope that the American people who have been really having a tough time paying for gasoline over the last few months would see some price drops,” Schreiber noted. “But unfortunately, this is just another example of big oil really gouging folks at the pump.”

After crude prices dropped by nearly 2% in May, companies raised gas prices by nearly 4%. In June, after crude dropped by more than 7%, it took days for prices to drop by just 2%. Industry groups have deflected criticism linking pricing to record profits, and have called on the Biden administration to open up more public lands for drilling to help ease prices.

Schreiber countered oil and gas companies left parcels of public lands they had specifically requested on the table at a recent drilling auction, and noted the industry already is sitting on thousands of untapped leases.

Schreiber believes the primary cause of high prices can be found in company ledger books. Last year, the top 25 oil and gas companies saw a record $237 billion in profits.

“We’re looking at Quarter Two earnings calls this week, and we anticipate those to be record-breaking for 2022 as well,” Schreiber pointed out. “The oil and gas companies have little to no incentive to actually bring this down. And so they can point fingers all they want to, but the reality is they’re just gouging American consumers.”

Schreiber added she hopes the analysis will serve as a wake-up call for Congress to take action, and she called on voters to urge their representatives to pass a windfall tax to hold big oil accountable.

She contended it is not reasonable or sustainable for the American people to continue footing the bill for companies’ record profits.

“Rather than turning those profits back around to boost production or invest in clean energy, they’re just sending it all back to shareholders and stock buybacks,” Schreiber stressed. “Truly record-setting amounts of money going back to shareholder and buybacks this year and last year.”

Analysis: https://bit.ly/3PWdZnP

The post Big Oil Keeping Prices High as Crude Prices Drop appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

As of January 2022, Motus Theater reached 10 years of programming. 10 YEARS! Happy—amazing, hardworking, transformative—anniversary.

The entire Motus team and I are so grateful for your support: the individuals and institutions investing in Motus’ vision; the advisors refining our skills and expanding our impact; the monologists telling stories that uplift the humanity of those on the frontlines of inhumane policies; and our powerful musicians, artists, staff, co-readers, and board members.

Over the last year, I found myself spontaneously weeping with gratitude that Motus made it to today. There were years I spent my personal savings to keep Motus afloat; years we reached out to media collaborators and were turned down; years we applied for grants and were declined. But so many of you kept putting your resources, networks, and support behind Motus, allowing us to build a solid foundation and achieve the profound local and national impact that we have today.

After years of challenging and strategic work, Motus’ reputation grew, and the invitations are now flowing. In the last four months, the UndocuAmerica monologues were recorded and streamed by Rocky Mountain PBS, broadcast six times on National Public Radio, retweeted by the Obama Foundation—and pinned to their page! Monologists, who were formerly incarcerated, from our JustUs project were invited by strategic funders in criminal legal reform to tour District Attorneys’ offices nationally. And with your support, Motus employs full-time, passionate, skilled staff leaders including Producing Director Rita Valente-Quinn, Partnerships and Program Manager Armando Peniche, and Development and Administrative Manager Caroline Grinnell, as well as strategic advisors, a powerful healing coach, and amazing monologists and musicians.

I hope you enjoy reading about the power of your investment in our 2021 Annual Report. With your support in our next decade, I am imagining what we can do together—what we must do together—to create the healing justice needed for this time. Please consider an impactful investment in Motus over the next three years. Email us at info@motustheater.org to meet and discuss your investment or donate today at coloradogives.org/motustheater. You are the momentum behind Motus, and our communities and our country need our shared strength.

On behalf of the entire Motus team—thank you.

Kirsten Wilson
Motus Artistic Director and Founder

P.S. Save the Date for our 10th-anniversary party! Sat. Dec 10, 7 – 9 pm at the Dairy Arts Center.

Help us continue to make these performances and community collaborations possible! If you haven’t yet contributed to Motus – please do so today! If you already have contributed – we are grateful because YOU are the momentum in MotUS!

[DONATE NOW]

The post Happy Anniversary! Motus Theater’s 2021 Annual Report appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

September ceremony will honor awardees’ contributions to the community

BOULDER, Colo. – The Boulder Chamber is pleased to announce the honorees for its 27th Annual Women Who Light the Community Awards. This event honors five extraordinary women and a young community leader who have made significant and innovative contributions to our community by addressing meaningful business, nonprofit, education, arts, and community needs. Each honoree was nominated by people within the community who admire their skills and have witnessed their dedication and hard work. In the Emerging Youth category, the honoree will receive a $1,500 grant from Alpine Bank.

The 2022 Women Who Light the Community honorees are:

Allison Billings, Executive Director, Impact on Education

• Allison has evolved the work of IOE, building their reputation as an agile and resourceful organization making significant and lasting contributions to equity in
Boulder Valley schools.
• She worked tirelessly during the pandemic with her team to ensure students and their families had internet access, healthy meals on the table, emergency childcare, and later, focused on funding supplemental instruction to help students catch up.
• She has helped meet the critical needs of more than 1,000 students displaced by the Marshall Fire and raised more than $1.6 million through the Critical Needs Fund.

Bhavna Chhabra, Senior Director of Software Engineering, Google

• Bhavna has become an executive sponsor for Women@Google Boulder, a network committed to empowering all women at Google by connecting, developing, and
retaining female talent, and through the YWCA Boulder County’s STEM E3 program, which creates opportunities for girls of color to explore science and technology.
• Bhava is also invested in community through the Google.org Fellowship helping underserved Boulder neighborhoods and residents gain easier access to city services and programs online, including recreation center discounts, scholarships, affordable housing, and other assistance.
• She also is dedicated to healthy and inclusive workspaces by enacting a Friday all-hands meeting every week at Google, expanding pedestrian and bike-friendly commuting, and initiating powerful conversations about the future of technology.

Diana Garcia, Emerging Youth award winner, Skyline High School

• Diana has been featured as the student of the month this past Spring and was the speaker for the FRCC Graduation as a high school student who received her Associates in CIS.
• Diana organized and led the Latino Family Night at the Innovation Center in February and was the Business Operations Lead for the IC Studio Team and Entrepreneurial Team.
• She was the lead for a Cafecito at the Innovation Center and Diana is and has been a mentor to younger girls within Skyline high school and the P-TECH program.
• She has helped and lead a team to evaluate the Latino Chamber website, worked the Latino Chamber booth at the Cinco De Mayo festival, has coordinated translations to help parents for her school, and works outside in the community creating solutions for others.

Deborah Malden, Co-Founder, Create Boulder

• Deborah has been involved in the Boulder community for more than 20 years and has helped uplift the culture of the area through activism, volunteering and founding Create Boulder to advocate for funding of local arts initiatives.
• Deborah served as Boulder’s representative on the funding committee for the Denver Foundation and Bonfils-Stanton Covid-19 Arts & Culture Relief Fund, resulting in over $288,000 in Covid-19 relief funding to Boulder-based non-profits. In total, her efforts with Create Boulder resulted in over $500,000 of funding to Boulder’s arts and cultural non-profits, in their time of greatest need.
• She is an advocate for accessible dance education through the 3rd Law dance studio where she has created programs for people living with chronic illnesses who want to enjoy movement and the benefits of the arts. This includes the creation of online programs, bilingual courses, and sustainable methodologies.

Adriana Paola Palacios, Founder, Luna Cultura

• Anna’s bilingual/bicultural company, Luna Cultura: Art, Science and Culture for Thriving Communities, LLC is dedicated to reducing the gaps in art, science and
maker education caused by gender, class, race, age or sexuality.
• She is a trusted facilitator and teacher for the City of Boulder where she reduces gaps and advances equity in many important ways as a Community-Connector-in-
Residence for local government and its staff.
• She was instrumental in creating BLDG 61, a free community workshop housed at the Boulder Public Library dedicated to hands-on learning and the cultivation of purposeful experiences through making that provides support and connection in English and Spanish.

Nancy Whiteman, CEO & Co-Founder, Wana Brands

• Nancy has been the guiding force in the development of Wana Brands’ Corporate Social Responsibility program, with the mission to “Enhance Your World.” The mission guides its corporate culture and practices for employees, customers, and partners.
• Nancy has spearheaded the development of Wana Brands’ CannabisForJustice.com, designed as a resource for cannabis businesses seeking ways to address bias and develop more inclusive practices.
• Nancy spearheaded the company’s annual #4ward20 campaign to give more than $140,000 to critical organizations around the United States that bring healthy, nourishing food to those in need.

This year’s awards ceremony, co-presented by Premier Members Credit Union and Corden Pharma will be presented on September 29 at Lionsgate Event Center in Lafayette. This event features a pre-networking reception, followed by the presentation of awards and a celebration of the accomplishments of our honorees during dinner. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/WWLTC2022.

About the Boulder Chamber

The nonprofit Boulder Chamber is the region’s flagship business advocacy and support organization. With more than 110 years of dedicated service to our members and the Boulder community, the Boulder Chamber’s innovative programs help local businesses succeed while sustaining an economy that preserves Boulder’s high quality of life, including its environmental and cultural assets. Together with its member businesses, the Boulder Chamber is building a smarter, more vibrant economy – sustaining Boulder’s position as a global capital of innovation and a thriving center of economic vitality. For more information, visit www.boulderchamber.com.

The post Boulder Chamber Announces 2022 Women Who Light the Community Honorees appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Oskar Blues CANarchy offices. Photo: Deborah Cameron

Last month, news broke that Monster Beverage, the energy drink company whose largest shareholder is Coca-Cola (they own more than 16% of Monster) announced a $330 million cash deal for CANarchy, owner of Oskar Blues.

It’s a stunning culmination to a journey that started in Lyons back in 1997. As Oskar Blues grew, it ignited a resurgence in canning and then was core in establishing the CANarchy collective backed with funding from Fireman’s Fund, a Private Equity firm. In addition to Oskar Blues, CANarchy included beloved craft beer brands such as Cigar City Brewing, Wasatch Brewery, and Perrin Brewing Company. At the time of purchase it had been distributing beer throughout the U.S. and in 20 countries while employing 900 workers.

The sale made international business news. While other beverage companies have paired up with beermakers (Pepsi and Sam Adams made a Mountain Dew brew, for example) this is the first time an energy drink company has combined with brewers. Now loyal fans are considering the possibilities of a TenFidy, a notoriously high ABV Russian Imperial Stout, with an energy drink, anticipating a true Monster stout. 

The energy drink maker agrees. Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer Hilton Schlosberg called the purchase “a springboard into the alcoholic beverage sector” and commented on how it will provide the beverage maker with a fully in place infrastructure, including people, distribution, licenses, and alcoholic beverage development expertise.

What do other beverage makers in the region say? Many of them have been watching the growth of Oskar Blues and have been drinking the products since the brewer’s infancy. The sale has given two of them, who knew Oskar Blues Founder Dale Katechis, a lot to consider.

“Dale is a great guy, a tough fighter when needed, but a solid business man overall,” said Aaron Uhl of Boulder-based Uhl’s brewery. “I raced mountain bikes against Dale back in the early 2000’s when Super D was a downhill sport. I won’t attest to who beat who, but I’ll attest to the camaraderie he brought.”

Oskar Blues entry sign. Photo: Deborah Cameron

Uhl continued, “He’s been making moves in the craft brewing industry for years… if Oskar Blues [sic CANarchy] wanted to expand their horizons with Monster, that’s their decision and theirs alone. The eventuality of a brand, that runs for more than 20 years, to sell to someone else and then to watch what you created prosper from afar rather than from within.”

Craig Englehorn, distiller and owner of Spirit Hound Distillery, was one of Oskar Blues’ first brewers in Lyons and, like Uhl, knew Dale. “When we started brewing at Oskar Blues in ‘98, it was a tiny little brewery in a tiny town,” Englehorn said. “If you asked me when we brewed that test beer, the one that turned into Dale’s Pale, whether I thought it would be a national brand, not to mention part of an international energy drink company, I wouldn’t have seen it.” 

Englehorn said he wasn’t surprised by the sale. “They’ve worked with Fireman’s Capital long enough. I’m certain the end goal was to grow CANarchy, sell it, and raise money. The sale to Monster was a surprise. It’s very interesting to me. I’m curious what that looks like in 2 or 3 years. Will Oskar fans get The Monster blues?” 

As he talks about the sale, Englehorn’s realism shows.

“I don’t get upset when someone sells. I totally understand it. Clearly those in the soft drink world want to get into alcohol. They’re doing it, and we’re watching them.”

It’s probably safe to say that we’re all watching this story too. Some of us may be missing the days when Oskar Blues was smaller and hosted loud bands late at night on a small stage.

At the same time, it might be exciting to keep an eye out for that next great brewery, one that’s barely making it in a taproom located in a fun out of the way Colorado town, and that could someday grow to become a behemoth.

It would be another proof point that sometimes, under the right leadership, what starts in Boulder County can reach the world.

The post Two beverage makers who knew Oskar Blues in the ‘90s reflect on the CANarchy purchase | In The Cups appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Telecommuting, coworking, and live-work spaces are changing the dynamics of the traditional office space.

The image that comes to mind when the word “office” is uttered: lines of grey cubicles, thin tiled carpet with a muted geometric pattern, air conditioning humming and drying out your skin, and fluorescent lighting flickering above your head. It’s almost a dirty word: “office,” much like the dreaded “w” word: “work.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average employed American spends over 1,600 hours a year working and commuting to their job. Without even trying to comprehend that number, we know that collectively we spend a lot of time driving to and working in an office and employees are finally demanding more than drab and dreary.

We can almost hear our parents/grandparents getting on our case, “Work is work. It’s not supposed to be enjoyable.” As long as employers have been trying to maximize efficiency, employees have attempted to make work more bearable.

Recent research has indicated that managers who cut corners on employee satisfaction to maximize profits may actually be hurting their bottom line. In fact, unhappy employees cost the U.S. economy $450 to $500 billion a year in lost productivity, according to the University of Southern California. That’s why companies and independent contractors are saying goodbye to the monotonous cubicle or office buildings all-together. Through co-working, creative technomad innovations, and updated live-work spaces, working has never looked better.

Rather than jumping through the hoops of creating a Google equivalent environment (we’re talking mountain views, in-house massages, basketball courts, and cozy egg-shaped work pods), more businesses are allowing all or some of their employees to work from home. This change of pace not only increases employee productivity by allowing them to work in a comfortable space, it also decreases overhead costs for the company. The same is true for independent contractors, freelancers, and other self-employed individuals. Nationwide, telecommuting has increased 115% in the last ten years, according to the State of Telecommuting Report.

Researchers from Stanford University studied the effectiveness of remote working by splitting the workers of a Shanghai company in half. For two years they examined the workers’ performances while half worked from home and half remained in the office. The remote workers had, on average, a 13% improvement in performance over the traditional workers.

Remote working isn’t perfect, however. It simply does not work for all personality types or corporate dynamics. Many major companies (IBM, Yahoo, Best Buy) have reverted their work from home policies in the last few years as productivity has become stale. Instead, they are taking a page from Google and Apple and making their corporate offices more creative and relaxing. Perhaps, it is just a change in pace that people crave to get them motivated.

Currently, Boulder is leading the United States in the remote working charge, with 8.5% of the total workforce telecommuting. Denver is not far behind with 5.1% of their workforce telecommuting. Some have called Boulder the Athens of the west; a new, exciting Mecca for today’s thought-leaders. It could be that the types of people attracted to BOCO also have the demeanor to work successfully under less supervision.

The exciting element of remote work is the possibility of where you could be if you’re not in a corporate office. Technomads—a term originally coined by Steven K. Roberts, author of Computing Across America—are people who are able to travel nationally and internationally while still fully connected to their jobs and the rest of the world.

Experienced technomads are sharing their stories and creating resources to get the rest of America on a plane or in a car, working and living. The Mobile Internet Handbook was written by Cherie Ve Ard and Chris Dunphy who have spent ten years traveling and working in various rigs (including cars, RVs, and boats). Now the duo has a whole team who help them test new mobile internet gadgets and hookups to help their audiences stay connected while on the move. They’ve even tested their connection in the most remote parts of Colorado, so it is possible to keep working while exploring your own backyard.

The “Workationing” podcast (convenient to listen to while traveling) is another resource that delves into the details of transitioning your life to working on the road. The hosts, Kari DePhillips and Kelly Chase, also give helpful advice about other on-the-road hiccups unrelated to work, such as staying healthy and maintaining relationships while traveling. The point is to foster a healthy work-life balance.

If you’re looking for a less mobile workspace that is a bit more predictable but more catered than a home office, coworking could be for you. Coworking spaces are popping up all over the Boulder County area to serve that need. The spaces charge a membership or drop-in fee to use their luxury office spaces. Many of them come with other perks—unlimited free coffee, a free bus pass, peer mentorship, book exchanges, printing and office supplies, etc. Most also have scholarship programs for individuals just getting started in their business or craft and need a bit of help.

Todd Eichorn, the steward of Experience Longmont, designed his coworking facility with three crucial questions in mind, “How do I support their business? How do I support their personal life? How do I support the community?” Just like all these changes being made to the workplace, creating a holistic work-life balance is key.

The beautiful buildings are designed to increase productivity in members utilizing the space. Boulder’s Niche is a repurposed horse equipment foundry that now boosts spirits with its ample natural sunlight, exposed brick walls, vintage rafters, and polished concrete. Another example is Highland City Club, a BOCO social club that offers a business membership and coworking space, and has more of an elegant, Victorian feel.

I asked all the coworking spaces that I spoke with why people should cowork, rather than utilize a home office. Their answers rang similar: “People cowork because they want to be around other people, first and foremost. It makes such a big difference if you go into a workplace—especially if you’re working by yourself—and just be around other people,” said Jesse Day, Community Manager at Niche. “We’re here to build community,” said Sina Simantob, the founder of Highland City Club. “We’re not solitary creatures. We really need to be around people to feel the energy. Collaboration and ideas and inspiration are all going to be difficult to get in your house,” said Eichorn.

You might be surprised by the types of jobs utilizing coworking. Real estate agents, graphic designers, consultants, accountants, lawyers, life coaches, marketing analysts, investment lenders, a man who designs board games and escape rooms, another who creates horoscopes, were among the members that the three aforementioned businesses support.

Other coworking offices make traveling easy, so you could combine the nomadic lifestyle if you wanted. Impact Hub has over 100 locations worldwide that their members can utilize. Locations include Boulder, Dubai, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Singapore, London, and more.

Live-work spaces are yet another option for today’s stir-crazy workers. The concept of living above the very office where you work is not new. It was actually fairly common up until the industrial revolution. There was a resurgence of the concept in the 1970s, but after push back from city planners, the trend slowly died down again.

The modern era of this trend, however, is dubbed “live-work-play” as all aspects of our lives converge in one location. These creative communities are popping up everywhere. S’PARK, a new sustainable community, was designed with the motivation of bringing back live-work spaces to the Boulder area. As their website says, “It’s all built on the notion that retail, office, and residential spaces work best when they can coexist and collaborate.” The concept has very similar benefits to a home office—no commuting, autonomy over space, proximity to your living space—but is still separate enough from the home that distractions are fewer. Live-work homes are also easier to prove as deductions on taxes than a home office.

If you think you are stuck at the same gray desk you’ve been sitting at, in the same daily traffic, ending the day emotionally drained, you are not. Thinking creatively about how we make money is dramatically changing lives in BOCO and beyond. Change is good for the soul.

We are now living in a society where workers have choices. Gone are the days where you are bound to a cubicle and a 40-hour week. Employees are demanding a better work-life balance and employers are recognizing that they receive a higher quality of work in return. And if employers won’t wiggle on creating a better work environment, they run the risk of losing valuable employees to the expanding world of employee-centered choices.

The post Professionals: Business as Usual is Redefined appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Most entrepreneurs are risk takers by nature. BOCO, with our abundance of high-risk adventure sports and startup friendly climate, has beckoned those wanting a little more out of life and business. That’s why so many businesses that start here go on to be behemoths. Which businesses and entrepreneurs have become synonymous with BOCO? And why?

Over the last 50 years, the economic landscape of Boulder County has shifted. While employment was largely driven by agriculture, petroleum, and mining before, it is now dominated by high-tech industries like bio-science, aerospace, IT, and natural foods production. One thing that’s always been consistent though, has been the region’s desire for local businesses.

It’s been around since Boulder started, the unique landscape often drawing personalities with a mind for high-risk adventure.

Justin Gold was one such individual. Gold came out to Colorado, enticed by the mountains and a proclivity for an active lifestyle.

“As an active vegetarian, I became obsessed with nut butters and was curious why there were only two flavors of peanut butter – smooth or crunchy . . . With only a food processor and probably a little too much free time I started experimenting by making my own nut butters with peanuts, almonds, bananas, honey, maple syrup, you name it!  After a few roommates starting eating my ‘experiments’ I had to put my name on the jar.”

Justin’s Nut Butters was born.

“It’s such a rich environment,” Said Sarabeth Berk of CU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. “We have a strong research university and many labs in the area including federal labs. I think we have the highest concentration of labs in the region. We have strong industry and all of that helps the startup community.”

Colorado, as a whole, has been one of the startup leaders nationwide, which has contributed to the state’s economic prosperity. Formation of new businesses is important to economic growth and gains in employment, according to the 2018 Colorado Economic Impact Study. Startups are critical to Boulder County’s economy. Although large businesses employ more people, younger businesses typically add more jobs year-over-year compared with their older counterparts. Newer companies tend to have an inclination toward innovation, which generates greater productivity gains as they continue to grow quickly, which leads to more economic development, the study said.

“I call it the Boulder trifecta.  1) Boulder has a high concentration of successful natural food companies like Celestial Seasonings, White Wave (SILK), Horizon Organic Dairy, Rudi’s Organic Bread, IZZE, Boulder Chips, Wild Oats (at the time), etc, with most importantly, a collaborative community of business leaders willing to share their experiences.  2) A community of residents whom support not only natural and organic products but local entrepreneurs.  3) A vibrant angel investment network that believes in, understands, and invests in natural product companies.”

Unlike other startup cities, the Boulder market is amicable, and willing to help, which really fosters this environment of creativity and generates support for businesses just starting out, Berk said. Justin’s was bolstered up by the Boulder community and given opportunities he said he wouldn’t have necessarily had elsewhere. When he started producing for more than just his family and friends, he used a salsa making facility in Denver to package his nut butters while waiting tables.

“I received help almost every step along the way.  I reached out to many local natural product leaders and created a network of mentors and advisors, utilized Colorado University’s Business School library to learn how to write a business plan, received guidance from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Boulder Innovation Center (BIC) and was a founding member of Naturally Boulder,” Gold said. “The Boulder Farmers market was a launch pad for our organization, along with the support of the local (and non-local) retailers like Great Harvest Bread, Lucky’s, Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats.  I don’t think I would have had the courage to continue without the support of this community.”

The guy who invented that circular suction almost all of us have on our phones, began with a Kickstarter campaign and ran his company out of his Boulder garage – a familiar startup tale. The community weighed in and helped. David Barnett, the founder of PopSockets, found he too had a lot of support from his community. He now employs between 50 and 200 people between the Boulder and San Francisco offices. What began as a way to wrap headphones around a phone has become an international company making millions, many of it feeding into our local economy.

“It’s an ecosystem,” Berk said.

There are incubator programs, accelerator programs, crowd-sourcing, and loans available to BOCO entrepreneurs serious about taking their idea to market.

Justin’s received the first Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan in the Rocky Mountain Region to expand production and take the company to the next level. And now he gives back to others. He recently spoke at the CU Entrepreneurship initiative to share his experiences and give young people advice. They are the future of BOCO business after all. 

He also co-created and became the founding member of Whole Planet Foundation’s Microloan-a-Month Fund. Each month, Justin’s gives a microloan through Whole Planet Foundation to an entrepreneur in the developing world, according to his website.

And while some may look at Boulder’s entrepreneurs as a bunch of longhaired granola crunchers (which many proudly are), BOCO is also home to some of the biggest names in tech – places like Zayo and Ball Aerospace – and ranks second only to Silicon Valley with the amount of tech talent.

One of the Ball Aerospace founders was CU graduate R.C. (“Merc”) Mercure. Ball Aerospace is a subsidiary of the Ball Corporation – the same company that makes your favorite mason jars, as well as other products. Ball Aerospace was one of the first private companies in the country to have contracts with NASA. This was after the government had ordered sophisticated rocket pointing controls from researchers at CU, in which Mecure was one.

The University plays a role in entrepreneurship, but hasn’t tapped into it until recently, Berk said.

“We have $5 million in research funding and have a lot of partnerships with labs, companies and contractors.”

The university connection played a role in the beginnings of Ball Aerospace, which began in the 1950s, just at the beginning of the space age. It produces space systems engineering products, telecommunications technology, and electro-optics and cryogenics materials for government and commercial customers. Mercure and other researchers began engineering revolutionary space equipment at the university labs.

As many entrepreneurs do, Mercure then got involved with helping others create new businesses and new inventions and went on to found Colorado Venture Management Inc., a company that managed several venture capital funds as well as developing and managing several electric co-generation plants in Colorado.

After returning to CU for a while, the entrepreneurial bug caught Mercure again and in 1996 he and a few other partners founded CDM Optics, Inc., which was sold to OmniVision Technologies, Inc. almost ten years later. That’s just the spirit of Boulder, of entrepreneurship. And it’s something the county has always recognized, putting practices and legislation into place that would pave the way for local businesses.

Economic development initiatives in Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, and Erie work to provide businesses with connections and economic support as well as bring new businesses into the region. The Boulder Small Business Development Center Network holds informational training sessions and have consultants for  small or starting businesses to help  them manage marketing, business plans and more. Businesses like Ku Cha House of Tea, Altitude Spirits, and Boulder Best Organics have all benefited from the support of the SBDC. 

However, some business owners say that Boulder County, and the city of Boulder specifically, have imposed some regulations which make it harder for businesses. Regulations on energy efficiency, zoning, and land-use can often drive up costs for first time and small business owners. Those regulations are often meant to discourage development, which many think has gotten out of control on the Front Range due to the influx of transplants.

Because of its booming economy, creative atmosphere, and beautiful landscape, Colorado has seen an influx of highly educated young people, especially in Boulder County which is home to both a large university and community college campuses. It has contributed to Colorado having one of the highest educated populaces, second only to Massachusetts, which means there is plenty of talent to choose from. And while that may seem like a good thing, it has lead to some slowing of wage growth, mostly affecting young workers, millennials between the ages of 22 and 35.

Boulder County has recognized its unique position in the country, and local government’s willingness to take a long-term view has played an important role in the entrepreneurial environment that exists today. 

Brad Feld, co-founder of the Foundry Group and TechStart has said it’s been the community’s ‘give first’ approach that has created an organic hub for new business by “putting time and energy into a system without defining the transaction up front.”

“The idea is that if you get a bunch of people together who are all participating and putting their energy into the system, then lots of good things will start to happen,” he wrote.

And because of that philosophy, Boulder County has thrived. It’s the active community that continues to generate new opportunities for entrepreneurs starting at the university level. The CU recognized a few years ago by creating the CU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative.

“We want to engage and expose people to all opportunities that will lead them to more opportunities, provide seed funding and interdisciplinary supports. We have this amazing start-up environment and we want to lead our students to connect and break down barriers,” Berk said.

The school has funding from private and public donors to help young entrepreneurs get off the ground without as much risk behind it. Although the percentage of entrepreneurs who follow through is actually quite small.

“Of a campus of 100,000 maybe 10 percent are interested in being an entrepreneur and a fraction of those actually follow through,” Berk said. “I think more people have awareness but those who are doing it are the minority. It’s frickin’ hard.”

But being surrounded by other creative people feeds the system. Boulder has one of the highest ratios of patents applied for per capita in the country between 2007 and 2011, according to the Brookings Institute.

“Boulder has a lot of great things going for it that brings out the best in people.  The mix of freedom and beauty in the outdoors inspire creativity, the university setting promotes intellectual discourse, the active lifestyle promotes risk taking, while the 300+ days of sunshine inspire positivity,” Gold said. 

And many think it’s just the beginning for Boulder, as bigger companies, known for their innovation and hip work environments are drawn to what the community has to offer.

“We are on the front side of this wave, we have yet to peak,” Berk said. “I think the momentum we are building is going to grow…Amazon is coming in and Google is coming in I think we are going forward. Some of the giants are at the tail, Silicon Valley is losing people, and things are not like what they used to be. We are part of that new wave of startup hubs and getting better and bigger. It’s going be fun for all of us if we just hang out and watch.”

What entrepreneurs like Mercure and Gold and many many others have built is an ecosystem of entrepreneurship with many support resources ranging from programs like the ones at CU, to venture capital and angel investor networks and accelerators, incubators, and coworking spaces.

And our local governments are in on the ecosystem too, because they recognize that entrepreneurs create strong, diverse economies and so provide networks for local small businesses to thrive. Our economic strength is in large part due to our ability to attract and encourage new businesses, which has been a driving force of growth for our communities.

The post Professionals: Entrepreneur is synonymous with BoCo appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photos by Victoria Edstedt

For us foodies, nothing is more exciting than finding new producers who offer authentic homemade-quality goods. Little do we know about what it takes for entrepreneurs to make a transition from a home kitchen to a commercial space and bring our favorite items to the table. It’s an expensive and tiresome gamble, so many choose the new (and safer) route of collaborative kitchens, which become a common and successful practice in BoCo.

Brenda Lehenbauer and Stacey Courtney at Othermama’s bakery opened up their doors in November 2017. As any small business at the beginning, they barely made enough money for themselves. Everything was being reinvested back into the equipment, inventory, advertising, taxes – the list goes on and on. “At first, I didn’t really know about shared space, “ Courtney said. “Our leaseholder, the man who owns this building, had told me about it.” Courtney and Lehenbauer thought it’s a great idea for utilizing extra space in the bakery and decided to give the shared kitchen model a try. Afterall, it helps to pay bills at the end of the month. 

Now, Othermama’s has three different food companies working out of their kitchen when the bakery is closed. “There is a lot of meats prepared, so we didn’t want that during our hours,” Courtney said. “We are a little bit picky and choosy of who we have in, because we like to keep a very clean, tidy place.” Despite certain limitations, everyone seems to be happy and more people call with inquiries. Courtney said that in order to thrive as a small businesses it’s important to stick together. “We are always looking for other individuals,” she said. “It’s a growing thing.”

Matthew Arnold and Nikki Dugas of Salad Ground Kitchens intuitively picked up on the trend about five years ago, when they bought their first production space to do recipe testings for their side project. Arnold and Dugas noticed the need, among other entrepreneurs, for more flexible shared kitchens where people could work at their convenience. “We saw that a lot of the small food companies weren’t capable of opening up their own facility to start food production,” Arnold said. He and Dugas figured: if they install the right equipment and manage the facility, then all these people can finally launch their businesses on a bigger scale at a lower start-up cost. 

Supporting entrepreneurs, through the creation of affordable commercial kitchens, ended up being their primary focus ever since. “We have about 50 different food companies that work out of our three shared kitchens here in Boulder,” Arnold said. He mentioned that most commercial kitchens are run by people who have their own food company and it’s not always the best option. Salad Ground can accommodate three members at a time, while each of them have sufficient space to run the production and access to the highest customer service. “This is the only thing we do – we manage the facility, the schedule, we serve our kitchen members so they have the easiest time possible,” he said.

Property management in the food industry is not easy, but can be rewarding. “When you are working with any start-up community there is a lot of turnover,” Arnold said. “There are a lot of food companies that don’t make it or they decide to go do something else and shut down.” The inspiring part for Arnold is to see his members outgrowing shared spaces. “It’s bittersweet in a way. We are sad to see them go, but we are also incredibly proud.”

There are all kinds of people working hand-in-hand at Salad Ground: food wholesalers, farmers’ market vendors, caterers, food trucks and more. Arnold said that as operators, they are trying hard to cultivate a community feel in all three facilities and “there is a lot to do to keep the lights on.” So far it has been great. Kitchen members bring their own smallwares to share, organize networking events and even go on purchasing runs for each other.

Shared kitchens turned into something more than just cost-effective platform for launching a food business. It’s a safe ground to develop lifelong connections, find necessary support and make your dreams come true. “We are extremely grateful to be in Boulder, because they are so appreciative of innovative food and gourmet food,” Arnold said. “We really believe in the value of collaborative spaces as a way to create a community, share wisdom and best practices, and to ultimately grow your company.”     

The post Foodie Collaboration: What Shared Kitchens Mean To Entrepreneurs appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo courtesy of Arcadea Architecture

In 2013, an alarming piece of released governmental data revealed how Colorado had become a central target in contributing to the threat of climate change.

Between the years of 2000 and 2010, the state was recorded having one of the largest decade increases in carbon emissions in the country, according to federal Energy Information Data. A big culprit was Colorado’s residential sector, where emissions rose nearly 15 percent. This posed a grim outlook for the future and sustainability of continued home construction in the state. Buildings in the U.S. alone are responsible for more CO2 emissions per year than those of any other country except China, according to the United States Green Building Council. In combination with the country’s commercial sector, they total for 39 percent of CO2 emissions in the nation annually, surpassing industry and transportation. This means that the green building market in Colorado remains a powerful and influential avenue for fighting global warming and promoting smart land use. In the current wake of anticipation for Trump’s administration to reverse Obama’s proposed Clean Power Plan, these measures in green building practices now play a vital role amidst an unpredictable political landscape.

There are several cities and counties in Colorado that have begun taking drastic strides in shaping the industry towards more environmentally sustainable architectural practices. However, there is arguably no other area playing more of a pivotal position in pioneering these efforts than in Boulder County. Historically, Boulder has had a longstanding reputation for its eco-friendly customs that are mirrored in a large portion of the county’s businesses as well as its orientation in infrastructure. For example, the county has one of the most stringent building codes in the country. The city of Boulder became the first to establish green building standards known as “Green Points,” for all new residential structures and renovations that were constructed larger than 500 square feet. Several builders became motivated to incorporate even stricter standards in their projects. This created a demand for the building of more energy efficient residential development and a harder drive to apply retrofitting within housing renovations.

Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) is one of many ways to quantify green building efforts and achievements. “Green buildings are defined as those that reduce energy consumption, conserve resources (like water, land or trees), and protect indoor and outdoor environmental quality (minimizing toxicity). The USGBC’s popular LEED green building certification program defines green buildings in 5 key classifications. These categories include energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource efficiency, responsible site management and improved air quality. The City and County of Boulder uses an energy measurement called the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) as a mandatory aspect of the building code. Most recently, in May of this year, the City of Boulder adopted new, stricter standards, and dropped the Green Points system. The revised energy code outlined goals for reducing emissions in several areas. These included planned reductions in community and city organization carbon emissions, as well as an outline for 100 percent clean electricity by 2030. Boulder County’s green housing market is at the heart of making these targets a reality. With no room for negotiation regarding compliancy in the county under these new regulations, Boulder is demonstrating its progressive objectives on how to tackle climate change in a remarkable way.

The industry has its eyes on the horizon as certain projections estimate the population in Boulder Valley to reach around 118,000 people by 2020. Last year, around 100,000 people moved to the Front Range with approximately 1,000 of those making their way to Boulder. The gradual increase in occupancy within the progressively green residential and commercial sectors may create an influence for other districts to adopt these strategies in sustainable building. Founding principal of Rodwin Architecture, Scott Rodwin, AIA, is a pivotal player in the green architectural movement in Colorado and has been a leader in sustainable design for nearly two decades. Rodwin is familiar with how Boulder’s dynamic strides in the industry have potentially projected a direction other areas in Colorado may be headed.

“Boulder’s green building codes are pointing to where many other municipalities will be heading in the very near future,” Rodwin said.

As restrictions revise and redevelop for green building in the state, there are challenges that present themselves in various forms. Other topics of concern float to the surface, as the economic framing that rely upon these contemporary applications in design are put to the test. Do modern technologies have the power to maintain structural coherence in existing buildings? What will this mean for historic structures that have a significant cultural value threaded within Colorado’s heritage? Will awareness and demand for green homes and sustainable housing in the state be practical in the long run? Solutions and predictions vary with these tenets in mind for many industry leaders in Boulder County. The scope of what’s been achieved thus far has laid the groundwork for a massive change of perception and the better possibility for a cleaner climate down the road.

Boulder’s green building codes are pointing to where many other municipalities will be heading in the very near future.” – Scott Rodwin

The value in reclaimed building

There are few eyesores tougher to ignore and more tragic to behold than that of the sprawling American landfill. The United States has over 3,000 active landfills. The methane emissions generated from these are 25 times more destructive as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Waste from construction projects account for more than 30 percent of all U.S. landfill waste. This puts residential and commercial demolition ruin as a primary contributor to global warming. For many years, Boulder has taken action at relieving this ongoing problem. In the city and county of Boulder, for instance, it is a requirement to deconstruct a residential building rather than demolish it. In most cases, the materials left in previously occupied buildings can be reused and recycled, ultimately bypassing the harmful environmental impact resulting from them being thrown away. The specifications regarding this rule are outlined with only residential properties in Boulder and are enacted once more than 50 percent of the exterior walls of the property are taken down. Boulder County enforces workers to show that 65 percent of the structural weight of that project is diverted from the landfill. Once the project is successfully deconstructed, builders have the option to either reuse the materials on site, donate them to another contractor or send them to a
reuse outlet. The latter option is perhaps the most ecologically beneficial route for people to take.

The Center for ReSource Conservation is a longstanding organization in the Boulder area that heads sustainable efforts in recycling and reusing architectural materials. The company recently celebrated its 40 year anniversary and has made an outstanding impact in its cleanup practices in the surrounding community since its inception. Brandon Hill is the program director for ReSource and understands firsthand how viable the company has been for leading major change in architectural conservation
in Boulder.

Photo courtesy of Arcadea Architecture

“We’ve seen greater demand here and more donations every year we’ve gone along. It’s just continuously gone up. Last year, here at this facility, four million pounds of material came through and we are looking to probably beat that this year,” Hill said.

A major component of the business model revolves around providing a financial incentive for customers to donate the leftover materials in exchange for a tax donation certificate. This assists in offsetting some of the increased cost that comes with deconstructing a project rather than demolishing it.

“We make it a no brainer to conserve. Why would you pay someone to go to the landfill and pay the landfill to throw away a perfectly good item, when you can come here and donate it for free. It’s a tax deductible donation. You’re giving the material a second life. When you combine conservation with a smart economical decision, that really gets more people involved,” Hill explained.

The cost of demolition for a house tends to range around $5,000 to $10,000 versus the $25,000 to $50,000 expense that comes with deconstructing a residence. The framing around ReSource’s donation services serves as a profitable and economically relevant solution for clients to choose.

“It’s certainly cheaper to come in with a bulldozer and just knock the place down. But what we’ve found here is that with many projects in Boulder, you do have that higher upfront to deconstruct, but there’s enough ways around here to donate materials if you have an appraiser come in and get the value of those items. A lot of times that is offset by the tax deductibility of the donations that you’re doing,” Hill added.

The other major asset for customers choosing ReSource is directed in the company’s retail department. People who purchase from the selection of discounted goods reduce the force of greenhouse gases in another capacity by using virgin materials. Shopping in this format theoretically accounts for one less resource to be milled, extracted or assembled at another commercial home improvement supplier.

Industry professionals who have taken part in these institutions have seen how they serve as a way to make architectural green building and remodeling a realistic endeavour. Scott Rodwin explained how this has factored into his own design and building firm and what it represents as a practical operation.

“That really helps to make the finances of this deconstruction process work. Because one of the things we’ve seen throughout my 20 plus years in the green building industry, is that systems have to be in place – legal, financial and regulatory to enable us to make green building the attractive choice or at the very least a neutral choice so we have a level playing field,” Rodwin said.

The essentiality of green retrofits

Composing a thorough and up to code, sustainable design plan from ground zero for any new green building in Boulder is a challenge. It requires an exceptional amount of planning for the proper use of energy efficient design, systems and technologies, that will ensure the longevity of the structure. For remodels, it poses an even greater difficulty in combination with Boulder’s strict green building requirements. Working to retrofit existing homes, however, is a necessary hurdle to jump if we are going to reach the carbon neutrality goals that are required in preventing further damage from climate change. The 2030 Challenge upheld by The American Institute of Architects, the USGBC and many other organizations, issued a statement in 2006. The groups requested a renovation of existing building stock, equal in square footage to that of newly constructed buildings to accomplish a 50 percent reduction in fossil fuel use. Meeting this goal with residential buildings would depend on advanced, deep energy retrofits on about 1.5 million existing homes per year according to Green Building.

From a renovational standpoint, this is where home retrofitting plays a very integral part in environmentally sustainable design. As it’s defined by the USGBC, retrofitting can improve energy and environmental performance, reduce water use, and improve the comfort and quality of the space while financially benefiting the homeowner. Retrofitting includes the steps residents can take to purchasing afflicted properties and then working to make them certifiably green. These resolutions range from plugging air leaks to switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED light bulbs, which can aid in dramatically improving the sustainability of occupied buildings.

Identifying where and how to begin making retrofits can seem daunting for homeowners planning to remodel an older house. Energy audits provide an advantage for residents who are assessing the proper approach in taking these steps. One viable route Boulder homeowners can pursue is through an organization called Energy Smart. The business does the work for the owners and determines what they can do to make their home more energy efficient at an affordable price. One vital element that is observed in this part of the process is the state of weatherization. For instance, sealing air leaks can improve the energy efficiency in a building from 25 to 40 percent. What may seem like small fixes and upgrades, can be vital in improving energy efficiency and managing a sufficient home budget to a large degree. Principal architect of Arcadea Architecture, David Biek, has spent over 30 years as an industry veteran in the field. He has a considerable amount of experience in rehabilitating historic and existing structures. Incorporating high end retrofits within the company’s remodeling projects in the Boulder area comprises a bulk of his work today. Biek understands the cost effective methods behind retrofits and their capabilities.

“Certainly, there are things that you can do that don’t cost a lot like passive heating and cooling, of course. Even adding thermal mass to a building can be relatively inexpensive, and it’s a good technique here in Colorado because we have such big temperature shifts between nighttime and daytime. So, the more mass you have to absorb that, the more it evens out those fluctuations so you’re more comfortable at a lower cost,” Biek said.

New progressions within the dynamics in retrofitting technologies along with advances in how they’re being applied, show a promising outlook on the different possibilities for saving energy in the years to come. These contemporary changes, nonetheless, have only very recently been explored in the industry. Biek noted how these newer trends have been explored only in the last few years.

“Interestingly, back in the late 1970’s when I started studying sustainable building, basic approaches to saving energy have not fundamentally changed much in that period of time, believe it or not. But, I would say maybe in the last five years, there’s been more development. So, that’s also encouraging and it’s a bit of a moving target now where things are changing more quickly,” Biek noted.

As the levels for green energy standards raise each year amongst certain local industry competitors, the push for smarter and higher caliber retrofitting will more than likely be something to expect soon.

Photo courtesy of Arcadea Architecture

A balance with energy efficiency and preservation

One invaluable principal highlighted in the ruling of deconstruction in Boulder County ties into the topic of historical preservation. The Historic Preservation Advisory board works to protect and preserve the historical and cultural value of Boulder’s landmarks by reviewing demolition and alteration requests to any commercial or historical building that is 50 years or older. The complication with these structures is that they rarely meet compliance with Boulder’s green energy codes. Historic buildings and houses are also often considerably difficult to renovate. Boulder County’s Historic Preservation Advisory Board regularly addresses common design concerns through tips referenced under five categories. These include scale, patterns, windows, roofing materials and siding. Suggestions such as adding space without overwhelming the structure too much, replacing or repairing windows with wooden frames and adding less flammable products for roofing help clients looking to change historic homes.

Larger historic landmarks can sometimes be a bit of a tougher challenge when also considering contemporary retrofitting. This creates an obstacle for architects in the green building industry working to remodel to meet those requirements. Historical landmarks and dwellings dated from the post World War 2 period, usually ranging from the 1950’s and older, are almost impossible to come up to code. This forges an issue for architects looking to remodel and prepare ways to implement energy efficiency in these buildings. Older framework in a historical structure, such as lack of passive solar design or no insulation or proper mechanical elements make compliance achievable sometimes only through stripping it down to framing. Getting historic landmarks to become sustainable is not impractical. The cultural aspect that is taken into consideration by the county helps in protecting these landmarks. The architects who are exercising methods to make them certifiably green is aiding in ways to find some sensible balance with preservation and sustainability. Kirstin Snobeck is a senior designer and associate at Rodwin Architecture. She has knowledge on this subject in the Boulder area.

“The historic downtown was threatened back in the 70’s, they were going to tear it down. That’s when they knocked down the oldest school in Colorado which is where a burgundy, brick 1980’s building is currently standing. That’s when the town said, ‘Wait a minute. Our buildings are not being protected,’’ Snobeck said. “We wouldn’t have this beautiful downtown if it weren’t protected, but there is a way to make them more sustainable.”

Photo courtesy of Rodwin Architecture

Snobeck understands that the logistics behind achieving green and historically secure and remarkable architecture in Boulder is a trial that can be won through serious diligence and collaboration.

“You can take it pretty far. They’ve made these historic buildings into LEED Gold, LEED Platinum buildings and it’s possible. Taking a historic building and making it something that’s truly sustainable and then also still historic and beautiful takes a lot of brainpower, and it takes a huge team effort and a lot of people don’t want to take that on, but it’s totally worth it in the end,” Snobeck said.

Snobeck described how the energy performance after restoration within a bulk of the historic infrastructure in older architecture usually yields the same high quality as newer applications in a building. Not only can the energy performance match desired levels once retrofits are applied to certain conventions in the building, but they can also continuously be taken apart and assembled back together. This assists at eventually securing a longer life cycle for the building and making sustainable preservation a manageable feat.

“There are people all over the country that want to do the right thing when it comes to houses.” – Scott Rodwin

A green future

Boulder is setting the stage for proving how much promise there is for green building in the industry. As green industry procedures and commodities become embraced by the market over time, prices will begin to lower, as recent trends have shown.

“There are people all over the country that want to do the right thing when it comes to houses. Of course we don’t want to have high energy bills. Of course we don’t want to cut down forests and build a new house. But it costs more to build green, it really does,” Rodwin explained. “There are techniques that don’t cost more – passive solar design does not necessarily cost more than the house designed without passive solar, but almost everything else costs more, because the performance is higher.”

Rodwin concluded how many of these green products are already dropping in price because of their drive and momentum in the market.

“The price of solar panels have been dropping like a rock. When LED’s first showed up in Home Depot they were $100 a bulb and now you can get them for $3 a bulb. So, the price has been dropping off a cliff which is great because as it gets adopted by the market and as larger manufacturers enter the market with things like solar panels, the price becomes completely competitive with conventional materials. But, when they start they always cost more, just like any new thing out there,” Rodwin said

However, recent studies reveal that green and LEED construction in Colorado is beginning to show promise as an economic stimulus. For example, according to USGBC’s Green Building Economic Impact Study, the economic impact on GDP for green construction beginning in 2015, is projected to reach $23.92 billion by 2018. This includes a total of 281,000 jobs and a total of $16.03 billion in labor earnings. For LEED construction, data shows $9.05 billion in total GDP, 103,000 jobs and $6.06 billion in labor earnings.

The total number of projects accounted for LEED and green construction the last few years in Colorado affirm that the state is a top player. Last year, Colorado ranked second in the USGBC for top 10 states for LEED with an approximate total of 15,921,457 total certified gross square footage. As a variety of green building programs transition into becoming mandated by city code in municipalities nationally, the reality of a thoroughly sustainable and environmentally conscious industry becomes tangible. Brian Hludzinski is a LEED AP Green Builder and member of Colorado’s Green Building Guild who specializes in building net zero energy custom homes. Hludzinski elaborated how the forward thinking endeavours by industry leaders in the private sector are making this change possible.

Photo courtesy of Rodwin Architecture

“Eventually it’s all going to get there anyway. Look at California, they’ve done a statewide mandate. It’ll get there eventually. It’s hard now because as it becomes code, it’s becoming like status quo. It’s going to be harder and harder to separate out ‘this is green building and this is code.’ We’re essentially taking the whole industry and getting that to a better performing product where everything is completely green building,” Hludzinski said. “But there is still a long way to go, don’t get me wrong. I think it’s great, especially with this current administration, to see how they’re wanting to be more reliant on fossil fuels. It’s good to see the private sector stepping up and say ‘no, we are going to keep doing it this way, even though we don’t have to’.”

“I think it’s great where green building is going, but we really need to make everybody within a whole system of building a home educated and thinking outside their scope.” – Brian Hludzinski

As Boulder County continues to advance the industry in ways it hasn’t been steered before, a big determining factor for the viability of its success in the market will result from public perception. Research proves that the green housing sector can reduce the state’s carbon footprint while simultaneously serving as an economic asset, but educational outreach is the catalyst for making awareness attainable. Once people in charge of selling, building and fixing a home realize comfort, sustainability and financial congruency can all be reached as a win-win for all parties, then a domino effect has room to take hold for the movement.

Photo courtesy of Rodwin Architecture

“I think it’s great where green building is going, but we really need to make everybody within a whole system of building a home educated and thinking outside their scope,” Hludzinski said.

Becoming informed is a logical next step. A generational reevaluation of what comfortable home living and sustainable housing stands for is what is presently being reflected in Boulder’s green housing market today. Aiming toward a greener planet begins with the enlightenment on how we shelter ourselves on a daily basis and the amount of energy that we can save doing it.

The post Reclaiming Sustainability appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Blue Aspen Plastic Surgery raises breast cancer awareness through sales of breast cancer T-shirts and knit hats (made and designed by Dr. Debora Ma) to assist women with breast cancer. The office recycles paper into scratch pads, using paper that would otherwise be thrown into a landfill.
2668 Northpark Dr., Lafayette, 303.666.6336, blueaspenplastics.com

Hearing Health Care
We work with non-profits who send patients in need of hearing aids who cannot afford them and volunteer our time as needed. We strive to serve our patients by restoring their hearing to the best possible outcome which allows them to thrive in their lives again. We believe losing one’s hearing separates them from people and limits their ability to partake in and contribute to society.
1515 Main St. St.15., Longmont, 303.776.8748, hearinghealthcarecenters.com

Boulder Medical Center, P.C. engages patients in high quality, compassionate health care. We promote a healthy lifestyle through education, prevention and episodic care for optimum health….. Its concept of providing comprehensive, collaborative, integrated multi-specialty care has proven a successful strategy for achieving this goal. We welcome new patients and contract with most major insurances.
BMC- Broadway: 2750 Broadway, Boulder, 303.440.3000
BMC- Avista: 80 Health park Dr., Suite 100, Louisville, 303-673-0448
BMC- Foothills: 4745 Arapahoe Road, Suite 200, Boulder 303-938-4700
bouldermedicalcenter.com

Hartney Law, LLC supports the work of the Family Garden in Longmont, a nonprofit serving families with young children. We sponsor their annual fundraising event and support their work through social media and networking. We help families take care of the baseline necessities for legal planning so they can stop worrying and start living. As Obama put it, we don’t climb the ladder, then turn around and kick it away. We help others up.
3775 Iris Avenue, Suite 4, Boulder, 303.747.3909, hartneylaw.com

Longmont United Hospital is a not-for-profit organization. Our primary goal is to foster a healthy community through education, and caring for the health of our patients through preventative care and disease management. We provide significant financial and in-kind contributions to numerous community organizations. We also incorporate green principles into our design, construction and operational strategies to minimize the environmental impact throughout the total facility life-cycle.
1950 Mountain View Ave, Longmont, 303.651.5111, luhcares.org

Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology performs a number of free skin cancer screenings and community education events a year. They recently moved to a paperless system, and they donate money and services to the Boulder Women’s Group, There with Care, the Chamber of Commerse, the Lafayette Police Dept., and the Platte Valley Medical Canter Foundation. They say that, “We believe that involvement in our community is of the highest importance and that making a positive impact daily is our goal.”
1140 W. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette, 303.604.1444, bvderm.com

Blue Financial Credit Union rewards its members with a robust loyalty program called Relationship Rewards. Members can earn Benefits, Bonuses, and Discounts based on how invested they are in the cooperative. This program is no gimmick. Since 2008 Blue FCU has returned $1.8 million to members with its annual Member Bonus. At Community Financial Credit Union each member is an owner working toward a common goal. By providing superior economic value and sound financial advice, Blue FCU creates a better member experience and stronger financial stability for the Credit Union. The Credit Union is successful, when you are financially successful.
6850 W 119th Ave., Broomfield, 303.469.5366, bluefcu.com

B&M Roofing of Colorado supports high school programs and nonprofits, volunteers and hires locally. The company recycles its paper, and uses special oil in order to go 25,000 miles on one oil change, improving gas mileage.
3768 Eureka Way, Frederick, 303.443.5843, bmroofing.com

Aesthetic Solutions Drs. Steve Zakany and Shawn Otteman and our professional staff at Aesthetic Solutions are dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain beautiful, healthy, younger looking skin, and maximize your health and well-being. We utilize leading laser and non-laser procedures, offer anti-aging and bio-identical hormone therapy treatments, medical grade skin care products and provide unmatched personalized service. Our philosophy is making positive things happen by helping people look good and feel good about themselves.
2770 Dagny Way #109, Lafayette, 303.666.1199, aestheticsolutionsinc.com

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John Hickenlooper – Governor

John Hickenlooper has served as Governor of Colorado since 2011, and in that time has seen his state rise from 40th to fourth in job creation, something that he’s understandably proud of. “Forbes Magazine ranked us as having the number one workforce in America,” he says. “Business Insider ranked us as having the number one fastest growing economy. We came in and our real focus was, you can talk all you want about social issues and this and that, but quality of life starts with a good job, and we’ve worked hard to get entrepreneurs to come here and have Colorado be the place where they want to not just build a business but build a life.”J

When asked what work is still to be done, Hickenlooper offers two answers. “With the economy, we’ve got to continue the momentum,” he says. “We started out with a billion dollar deficit with the state budget, and now we’ve got $600 million rainy day fund. We’re also, in terms of certain issues like the long-term unemployed, we’re doing better than other states but we’re not doing good enough. Young people coming right out of high school or college, the recession in 2010-2011 was as bad a it has been in 30 years. We’ve made progress, but there are people with huge student loan. We have to figure out a way to find more resources in higher ed, and just make it more cost effective. I’d love to get to the point where we can say that nobody graduating from high education should have more that a $10,000 or $20,000 total debt. I met a guy last week who is 26 years old, a school teacher, and he has $125,000 of college debt. The other thing I would say is that we are the thinnest state, but we’re not the healthiest. We took that on as our challenge. We reduced teenage pregnancy by 40 percent, and reduced the number of abortions between 15-25 year olds by 35 percent. We have reduced prescription drug abuse by 20 percent. We have a very clear goal that we want to be the healthiest state, and that folds back into, if we can clearly say that we are the healthiest state in America, that will help attract more entrepreneurs and small businesses. It becomes a positive feedback loop.”

Yellow Scene was in Denver recently to hear Hickenlooper and his opponent Bob Beauprez speak at the Gubernational forum, and it was impressive to hear the Governor speak about the dangers of keeping mentally ill prisoners in solitary confinement until their release. That is admirable, but what is a realistic alternative? “It’s challenging but I think we’ve got a good plan.,” Hickenlooper says. “I think our effort is to take a facility that’s more like a hospital and make sure it has the security infrastructure. You can have mentally ill and potentially dangerous patients there as well. We have five inmates who are in prison who really haven’t committed a crime – they’re just so dangerous and so violent, and clearly have severe mental illness, that they’re families committed them. I don’t think that individuals such as them belong in a prison. I think they belong in a hospital. Again, it’s got to be a very secure hospital.”

We ask the Governor if he thinks the issue of the homeless people in Colorado gets dismissed and ignored because it’s not perhaps a overt as it is in other cities. “Part of the reason it’s not so in-your- face here is because we worked on it for so long” he says. “Especially the chronically homeless, what was amazing to me is how much money society already spends in maintaining the lives of suffering. People sleeping under a bridge, on average we spend $42,000 per person per year, maintaining a life of misery. These people have diseases like diabetes and they get to the hospital, their arm is already turning blue – the average cost per visit to the hospital is $28,000 for the chronically homeless. We can get them into a home, a small, one bedroom home, but into housing and total wrap-around services. If they have mental illnesses, we can get them the appropriate doctor supervision, we can make sure if they’ve got addictions we can get them counseling, and most importantly we can get them job training. Even if it only pays $8 an hour, we get them into a job. Many of the chronically homeless are emotionally fragile. That structure that a job provides is invaluable. But anyway, we can get them into housing with total wrap-around services for about $15,000-$16,000 a year. Nb the present circumstances, we paying over $40,000 a year. So it makes financial sense, and it gets these folks a second chance at a life. We don’t succeed with every individual, but it’s amazing, we succeed with a great number. Instead of giving them a hand- out, we’re giving them a hand-up. The opportunities to control their destinies and create a life that they’d imagined.”

Many people were outraged recently when learning that the police in Lafayette were armed with 42 M-16s, and Lafayette isn’t an isolated incident. Hickenlooper is also perplexed by that program. “This whole program of taking surplus military hardware and then distributing it to communities all over the country, a) in many case those communities don’t need as much firepower as they’re getting and b) it really does send out the wrong message,” he says. “It implies that there’s something to be fearful of, that the government is fearful of being attacked. I don’t think that’s the case anywhere – not in Lafayette, not anywhere. I think that program is going to be reevaluated now, and we’ll see if it doesn’t get reconfigured in a more constructive way. You look at some of the gigantic vehicles that these small communities have – it’s hard to imagine them ever needing a vehicle like that.”

Finally, and again at the Gubernational forum, Bob Beauprez said that Hickenlooper made a good Mayor in Denver, but has been a disappointing Governor. Hickenlooper’s response is typically witty.

“He would have to say that, wouldn’t he? If he’s running, trying to convince people that he would be a better Governor, he’s got to say that I was disappointing, he says. “The key issue here is that all of the things that he says, like he wants to reduce regulation – we already eliminated 1,500 regulations and significantly made simpler another 5,500 regulations. He said he wants to attract businesses here, and a I said we’re the number one destination for start-ups in the country with the number one workforce. He said he wants to fuel the economy by making it grow faster – we’re already the number one fastest growing economy in America, so I keep asking him, if these are the primary things you’re planning on doing, we’re already doing them so maybe I can count on your vote.”

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It’s telling that, as we were driving between Lafayette and Boulder for our interview with Stephen Tebo, Boulder’s property development giant, it seemed like we passed sign after sign proclaiming a building to be under the control of Tebo. We couldn’t seem to escape his name, and that’s indicative of the man’s success. Tebo has gone from owning and running a coin store (Tebo Coin) to seemingly owning half of Boulder (not really, but you get the idea).

On Starting Off:

“My first business in terms of putting myself through college… was the coin business. It was a hobby that wound up turning into a profitable situation.”

The late 1960s and early ‘70s were a very different time, and Boulder real estate is now booming. Still, Tebo says that it is a limited market. “Boulder’s always been limiting with what you’re able to build,” he says. “I would buy a building and get it up and running on its own, and have it generate enough income with my tenants that I could then borrow against that particular building and then use that money to go and buy another building. So basically it was a stepping stone situation where I just one at a time and very carefully would buy a building, renovate it, change the tenants, whatever I needed to do to get it up with an income stream, and then buy another one. It was, as much as anything, a learning process. I was at school every day dealing with the tenants. Now, basically, we know the market so well that it’s very, very easy for us to do stuff.”

Stephen Tebo’s Secrets to Success

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In much the same way that Mo Siegel put Boulder on the tea drinking map when he launched Celestial Seasonings 45 years ago, Brook Eddy is on course to take her wildly popular Bhakti Chai brand on an equally expansive, if not greater, business trajectory.

To find out more information about Bhakti Chai head over to their website www.bhaktichai.com.

At the heart of Eddy’s success is a product born of innovation, hard work, mindful social benefit and lots of trial and error. And while Siegel certainly worked hard collecting fresh herbs for his teas in the meadows at the foot of the Flatirons, Eddy spent hundreds of hours fine-tuning her craft brew of black tea, fresh ginger, pepper, clove, cardamom and other intense, aromatic spices with zing. She was craving the unique masala chai flavors endemic to northern India where she had spent months on a spiritual retreat in 2002. When she finally hit upon a concoction that resonated with her, its superior flavor proved to be a hit with her friends, too.

Eddy’s initial nano-production — brewing Bhakti Chai at home on her stove and packaging it in jars with handmade labels in 2006 — was quickly overrun by demand from the cafes and coffee shops to whom she would hand deliver her jars of spicy deliciousness.

An angel investor provided cash in 2008 that allowed her to quit her job, hire full- and part-time brewers, buy a ginger press and kick her sales and marketing into high gear. Two years later she moved to a production facility in Longmont, allowing Eddy to add new products and expand nationally.

“It was important, from the beginning, to show that we could be a company devoted to sustainable practices and that makes donations to groups that empower women and girls,” Eddy said. “And that’s still our goal and what motivates us: having a large charitable donations budget, maintaining the integrity of our ingredients [using Fair Trade, organic, non-GMO throughout], having a zero waste operation and being a B Corp.”

It’s that last bit — being a Certified Benefit Corporation — that is a special source of pride for Eddy (and her twin daughter and son) and enabled her to persevere when the going was tough. Designation as a B Corp means the company meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency; think Patagonia.

Persistent networking, tireless searching for advice and guidance and seeking out other successful entrepreneurs enabled Eddy to cobble together a group of trusted advisors who have helped her scale the initial learning “cliff.” As she embarks on the next phase of success – managing the growing national (and international) demand for Bhakti Chai and its variations – Eddy has had to abandon her practice of managing and hiring by gut instinct.

“As we become more mature, we don’t have time to wait and see who comes along our path,” she says of her old way of finding friends and family members to work at her company that has seen double- (and triple-) digit growth since its inception.

In addition to the growing demand, Eddy is also enjoying some hard-earned kudos. She is one of five finalists of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the winner of which will be named in November.

Brook Eddy’s Secrets to Success

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Way, way back in 1995, shopping for second hand clothes in Boulder was a little different for Margaret Miner and her friends. “There was no Craigslist, there was no eBay,” she says. “There were vintage and retro (consignment stores)… but I could not find anything my friends and I were purchasing. And I thought somebody should be selling things like Ann Taylor, J. Crew, Banana Republic, things that we’re all familiar with that are not 30 years old.”

With no formal business training, three young children at home, and only $6,500, the CU alum thought, “Oh I think I can do this,” and she did. She now owns three Rags Consignment stores and the innovative Ten20 Nail & Waxing Spa on Pearl Street, known for its friendly atmosphere and Ellen reruns on all the TVs. She takes time out from dashing between shops to share some of her well earned startup advice.

Margaret Miner’s Secrets to Success

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On the surface, a Johnny Cash-themed bar in Louisville sounds like a very strange thing. Cash was born in Arkansas and died in Nashville, and so the country legend’s connections to Colorado are very tenuous indeed. Somehow, however, this very cool bar has managed to make it work.

“When I was building this place and didn’t know what to call it, I thought it would be cool to name it after his first main thing he did,” Karp say. “I stole the name from him, and the logo which he had obviously taken from the London Underground symbol. He always focussed on providing high customer service, all original music, and I tried to take the same idea here – high customer service and quality of ingredients. I’ve been here since 2000, and Waterloo just turned seven on September 1.”

Karp’s parents moved to Colorado in the late 1990s, his father having taken a job with Whole Foods. At the age of 20, Karp came to visit his folks and never left. 14 years later, Waterloo is one of the coolest music, booze and indeed food joints in East Boulder County.

On Waterloo:

“I thought this town needed a local hangout, a Cheers, a neighborhood bar. I’ve been in construction for 15 years, and I was looking for a change. I decided to give it a try, open up and see what happens.”

“I think that the weather here is some of the best around – that’s what kept me,” he says. “I miss the southern hospitality, I miss the water, but I do not miss the heat and humidity. I miss the people, the food, and the live music. Austin’s known for music, and we grew up there so it’s been a big part of my life. That, and my dad owning a record store and promoting shows. I was always going to shows growing up.”

So finally, how did the Johnny Cash thing come about? “It wasn’t intentional,” Karp says. “I’ve always been a big fan growing up, and when I moved here a friend sent me these bumper stickers that said “God bless Johnny Cash.” I put a couple on my truck, and I had one left and I think it’s on the ice machine over there. People started asking for them, so we made a bunch and gave them away with the checks. Who doesn’t like Johnny Cash? It wasn’t the goal, but what a great thing to accidentally happen. That’s the genre of music I listen to and the style we play in here. You don’t here any new singer-songwriter Americana in here – you’ll here the greats like Cash, Willy, Hank Williams, all those guys. Now I feel like I have to uphold that Johnny Cash bar.”

Josh Karp’s Secrets to Success

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Despite the presence of many more established national chains in the Boulder County area, Snarf’s has become synonymous with tasty, quality sub sandwiches thanks to the diligence, perseverance and attention to detail of founder Jim Seidel.

To find out more information about Snarf’s head over to their website www.eatsnarfs.com.

Snarf’s was Seidel’s first business after having worked at a local Subway for a few months. The first Snarf’s store was little more than a shack located on Pearl Street and 21st in Boulder. “I worked for Subway for four or five months while I looked for a location and put my whole business plan together,” he says.

The name Snarf’s, as it turns out, stems from Seidel’s old college nickname and not, a some of us were wondering, a character from the cartoon Thundercats. “One of my old girlfriends thought that I was a bit of a snarfer,” he says. “I make a lot of noise when I eat because I’m having a good time when I’m eating. When I like something, I make a lot of noise. I eat greedily. [Thundercats] stole the name from me. We’re in a long drawn out battle over who Snarf is. I believe it’s going to the Supreme Court.”

On Customer Service:

“I think being [really] generous with the food we give, and really caring about the product and customer is what’s important.”

Nowadays, there are 23 Snarf’s locations around the country – mainly here in Colorado but with a few in St. Louis, Austin and Chicago. “In 1999, I was able to get my second location open in St. Louis, which was a very bad move, having one store in Colorado and one in St. Louis, but my parents were there and I thought it was a good idea so I split my time between Boulder and St. Louis,” Seidel says.

He concedes that managing a franchise is a whole different ball game than managing one store, but he also believes that quality customer service and product is still key. “I think just being very generous with the food we give, and really caring about the product and the customer is what’s important,” Seidel says.

Jim Seidel’s Secrets to Success

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It’s 7:30 on a Thursday night and Dale Katechis is in the far corner of 60,000 square feet of naked, cavernous warehouse space that his Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont has just added to its existing 40,000 square feet that last year cranked out 119,000 barrels of beer and is headed north of 155,000 barrels this year. He’s scooping raw coffee beans from one of four, 50-pound burlap bags into a small roaster that’s perched on an assemblage of pallets he’s built for his new obsession.

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