How America’s strongest mother-daughter partnership navigates the vertical world By Chris Weidner Robyn Erbesfield was one of my heroes back in 1988, when I began climbing. I seemed to read about her competition and sport-climbing success in every magazine. Today, she climbs harder than ever and has raised her children—Shawn, 16, and Brooke, 13—to follow
Is it true that no two are identical? By Thomas W. Schlatter The next time it snows, catch some of the falling snow on a patch of black velvet and examine it with a good magnifying glass. You may see pristine ice crystals, fragments of crystals, and larger flakes made up of multiple crystals—sometimes up
From wealthy business owners to budtenders and window washers, people who earn money from the marijuana industry can’t put it in the bank. By Kay Turnbaugh Editor’s Note: For their protection, the marijuana workers quoted in this article are not named. Running a marijuana business is a lot like jumping back in time to when
NARF’s victories correct historic injustices By Tanya Ishikawa 2015 marks the 45th anniversary of the Boulder office of the Native American Rights Fund—the power center that has waged historic court battles to recognize and protect the tribal peoples of the United States. The nonprofit, NARF for short, fights modern-day battles for the human and treaty
In the last few years, coworking spaces have been popping up around Boulder County, and a quick tour of the facilities proves they’ve become very popular.
Geologist works with Sherpas to study polluted mountain snow By Jane Palmer Photos courtesy Ulyana Horodyskyj (above: Ulyana Horodyskyj is the passenger in an open-cockpit ultralight plane.) When Ulyana Horodyskyj traveled to Nepal for a year, she planned to return with an armful of scientific data and some good memories. She came back with both, but
Hanna Kroeger’s colorful history runs deep in Boulder’s health-food scene By Charmaine Ortega Getz New Age Foods was the name of Hanna Kroeger’s Boulder store before “New Age” was a national catchphrase. Talk to almost anyone who’s been a longtime resident of Boulder and there’s another story to hear: Hanna, who established
Deaf comedian Greg Bland too often is treated ‘as if I’m a kid or stupid.’ But hearing people’s rude behavior also gives him his best material.
What happens when foster children ‘age out’ of the system? By Christine Mahoney When times are hard and the foundation of a carefully planned life starts to crumble, you can sometimes look back and identify the breaking point—an illness, a job loss, a change in living situation, a death in the family. For April Anders,
Getting your fill of pumpkins, spooks and turkeys By Ainslee Kellogg Mac Naughton If fall could mean inviting a gentle, bling-loving turkey to sit in your lap instead of another trip to the same pumpkin patch, wouldn’t you want to try it? Not only does Boulder County have loads of fall activities perfect for wearing out
Moose were rarely seen in Colorado until they were “reintroduced” in 1978 and 1979, but the program to bring them to the state is “a real success story,” according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Not everyone agrees that bringing moose to Colorado was a good idea.
Boulder scientist calls teaching kids ‘the best thing I do’ By Shannon Burgert When David Nesbitt landed his first teaching job in 1975, he used his $100 teacher’s budget to buy washers, ropes, string and bricks from the hardware store to teach high school physics. Today, his budget has increased over 5,000-fold, funding six labs
Alive and Well in Boulder County Where to get in on the fun By Lisa Truesdale Despite its morbid-sounding name, Día de los Muertos—Day of the Dead—is actually a very happy celebration The holiday’s roots reach back thousands of years into Mesoamerican culture, and it was moved from summer to autumn after the Spanish conquest of Mexico
Latina activist rises from a turbulent early life By Tanya Ishikawa Irene Vilar seems driven to connect people, events and ideas as a way of finding peace and meaning in her life. In recent years, her drive has evolved a broader focus—to bring together America’s multicultural communities as a sustainable extended family. A Boulder resident
Hip surgeon understands the call of ‘the endless playground’ By Jane Palmer It takes a special kind of doctor to treat Boulder County’s fitness- and adventure-obsessed sporting community—one who understands athletes’ minds as well as their bodies, one who truly grasps the drive to push physical boundaries. No one knows this better than Omer Mei-Dan.
Actor and director excels at finding a play’s ‘human core’ By Mark Collins Theater Photos by Michael Ensminger Rebecca Remaly lets out a laugh when she remembers back to 2006, the year she and her husband, Stephen Weitz, started Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company. She then compares the venture to getting a dog when you’re in
Style consultant helps women look their best By Lisa Truesdale Patricia Belanger runs a service company—but she’s quick to point out that it’s much more “service” than it is “company.” After years of honing her stylist skills as a television producer and host in Toronto, Canada, Belanger now helps women dress for confidence and success.
Angler Evolution By Peter Bronski Photos by Phil Mumford After three decades, a Boulder institution embraces its next phase After the rains stopped, the waters receded and the sunshine returned in the wake of the devastating flooding that hit Boulder County in September, it was time for the difficult work of recovery. The community pulled
Interview with U.S. Senator Mark Udall By Tanya Ishikawa Mark Udall has been Colorado’s Senator since 2008, and previously served five terms as the U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District and one term in the Colorado State Legislature for the 13th District that included Longmont and parts of southern Boulder County. Udall serves on
Rocking Around The World For Charity By Chris WeidnerPhotos by Jon Glassberg I go crazy if all I’m doing is climbing,” 22-year-old Paige Claassen said last June, sipping coffee outside the Basemar Brewing Market. It was a funny thing to hear from someone about to embark on a 10-month world rock-climbing tour to exotic places
