Blogs

Boulder Community Media (BCM) presents “The Arapaho Covered Wagon Redux” (Arapaho Redux), a documentary by Alan O’Hashi, which retells “The Covered Wagon,” an epic 1923 silent film.

The screening in the Boedecker Theater at the Dairy Center is free, but attendees must get a ticket for a headcount. Watch for the registration link.

A few weeks ago, our design-build company, Melton Design Build, was demoing at a job site in the Chautauqua neighborhood in Boulder. As the crew was excavating, we found a plaque buried on the property.

Rev. Albert Chittenden of Connecticut, died March 1878, aged 66 years.

Upon further research, a crew member found an image depicting a gravestone missing an insert shaped precisely like this plaque. The grave is located in the 9th street cemetery in Boulder. Our crew imagines it was removed as a prank many years ago. Our team was so interested in when and why this took place. We were hopeful that we could take the right steps to reunited the plaque to the grave.

A member of the Melton construction crew took an afternoon to look for this plot and see the site's current condition. He found the grave based on the backdrop of the mountains in the photo. He found the plot with a replacement board in place of the Reverand's name.

The Project Manager contacted a Boulder historian through the City to help reunite this plaque to its original home. The City is so excited to return the plaque to the Reverand's gravestone finally.

The Melton crew, along with the City of Boulder will be reuniting the Reverand's plaque to his grave on the 9th street cemetery in a few weeks. We were happy to be able to restore a small piece of Boulder history.

If you see someone wearing a Bonfils Blood Center T-shirt at the Louisville Rec Center, there’s a good chance it’s Virgil Olson doing his daily workout. At 83, Virgil has no plans to cut back on the frequency of his workouts or his blood donations. He became only the 9^th Bonfils blood donor to reach the 70-gallon mark Thursday, June 16 at Bonfils’ Boulder Community Donor Center.

Only one other Bonfils donor is expected to reach this milestone in 2016.

A platelet donor, Virgil is able to donate as often as 24 times per year compared to six times per year for a whole blood donor. Platelets are essential for blood clotting and are routinely needed to support cancer therapy, open-heart surgery, blood disorders and organ transplants.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and whether a donor is making their 560^th donation or their first, every donation of every blood type has the potential to help up to three patients in need.

Bonfils operates seven community donor centers and up to 10 blood drives daily all around Colorado. To make an appointment call the Bonfils Appointment Center at 303.363.2300 or 800.365.0006 option 2 or visit bonfils.org.

The goal of this book fair is to support local Boulder artists and art admirers.

BOULDER – The Barnes & Noble and Boulder Art Association Book Fair kicks off early on Saturday Nov. 22.  It’s the first time the BAA has participated in this event and hopes it will bring awareness to the plethora of local artists in various mediums that are part of the organization.

The free, open-to-the-public fair will be an all-day, family-centered event, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Barnes & Noble Boulder, 2999 Pearl St.

Conveniently timed just a week before Thanksgiving, the book fair will offer book-lovers, art-lovers, and cheesecake-lovers a chance to buy gifts and food items for the holidays, all benefiting a great cause.  There will be lots of activities to keep the whole family busy, including artist demos, kids’ crafts, art workshops, and art viewing.  BAA Artists will even be there to recommend their favorite products – and it’s easy to help benefit the BAA.  All attendees have to do is say the organization’s name at the book store or cafe register.

The BAA is also excited that the Barnes & Noble Café will sell whole Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes, the perfect Thanksgiving dessert, during the event.

For those who can’t attend the action-packed book fair at the store itself, Barnes & Noble will generously donate a portion of the profits of online sales for five days after the event, Nov. 23-28. For instructions on how to benefit the BAA through BarnesandNoble.com, please visit http://www.boulderartassociation.org/bookfair2014.html.

About the Boulder Art Association: The Boulder Art Association offers artists of any skill level the opportunity to join an open, friendly group committed to offering art opportunities throughout the Boulder Community. Consistent growth and a long history in Boulder enable us to offer more community outreach, support for local artists, county art shows, and a gathering place for artists and art lovers alike.

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Boulder, CO: Today,  the Boulder Art Association announced that they will host Major Fredric Arnold, a 92-year-old Boulder-based sculptor and retired WWII P-38 Combat Fighter Pilot, as he reveals one of the life-size sculptures from his “Lest We Forget: The Mission” monument on Sept. 19, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. Of his original 14 P-38 Fighter Group, 12 were killed.  Major Fredric Arnold is one of the two survivors. The sculpted artwork is part of a monument to honor the 88,000 airmen who lost their lives in WWII. Maj. Arnold will speak about the first of the 12 sculptures and conduct a book signing of his autobiographical work, Doorknob Five Two, at the presentation. The event will take place at the Boulder Art Association, 4800 Baseline Road, Suite B-103, Boulder, CO 80303.

“We are extremely honored as a local arts organization to have the opportunity to highlight Major Arnold’s artistic and military achievements,” said Rod Swanstrom, President of the Boulder Art Association, “We invite the entire community to experience Major Arnold’s first casting of his epic project at one of its first public showings before all 12 pieces come together for their final installation.  When attendees view his amazing work, they’ll also get the chance to meet Fredric and purchase his book, a chronicle of his experiences as a WWII pilot.”

Arnold’s Lest We Forget: The Mission includes 12 life-size fighter pilots at a mission briefing; Seven of the figures are alive and participating, while five, lighter in color than the rest, are pictured in full flight gear, as they would have looked when they were killed in action, evoking a feeling of distance and loss of life.

Of his inspiration for the sculpture, Arnold said, “Following my five month tour of duty in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, I was one of two pilots who survived from our original group of fourteen P-38 fighter pilots…Today, I’m the last guy standing and I’m determined to fulfill my commitment to honor their memory and give thanks to the less fortunate members of my class.”

When visitors attend the event, they can also view the artwork from September’s member art show,   an eclectic showing of art works in various mediums showing the variety and diverse styles of the BAA members. Both shows will run until Sept. 28.  The BAA is open Friday-Sunday, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

About the Boulder Art Association: The Boulder Art Association offers artists of any skill level the opportunity to join an open, friendly group committed to offering art opportunities throughout the Boulder Community. Consistent growth and a long history in Boulder enable us to offer more community outreach, support for local artists, county art shows, and a gathering place for artists and art lovers alike. 

Phoenix Multisport (Phoenix), a local Colorado non-profit, announces a matching gift challenge totaling $200,000, giving donors an opportunity to double their contributions to help support Phoenix Multisport programming. The mission of Phoenix is to provide a sober, active community for people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

The 2014 Matching Gift Challenge will take place from May 15, 2014 through September 30, 2014. Thanks to a generous donor, the impact of gifts of any size will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $200,000. Gift matching is automatically activated when a contribution is made to Phoenix Multiport.

Since opening in 2007, more than 12,000 individuals have benefitted from Phoenix’s free programming in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver. Through pursuits such as climbing, hiking, running, CrossFit, strength training, yoga, road/mountain biking, Phoenix seeks to help members develop and maintain the emotional strength they need to stay sober. All programs are FREE to individuals with 48 hours of continuous sobriety.

To have your gift matched, simply make a donation between now and September 30, 2014. To make a donation visit www.phoenixmultisport.org. Gifts can also be mailed to Phoenix Multisport, 4735 Walnut St., Suite C, Boulder, CO  80301.

For more information contact Tamara Marks, Development Director, at 303-440-0547 or tamara@phoenixmultisport.org.

LUNAFEST®, the traveling fundraising film festival, is dedicated to promoting awareness about women's issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities. The Boulder, Colo. LUNAFEST will be on the big screen at the Boulder Theater on October 11, 2012. 

This year’s Boulder LUNAFEST is excited and proud to announce documentary film producer Olivia Ahnemann as the 2012 emcee. Ahnemann was the co-producer on The Cove, a documentary about the slaughter of dolphins in Japan. The Cove has won more than 70 awards globally from film festivals and critics, including Best Feature Documentary at the 2009 Academy Awards.

“As a female filmmaker, the idea of promoting women filmmakers and films about women and for women is very close to my heart,” shares Ahnemann. “Filmmakers put so much blood, sweat and tears into their work, they all deserve an audience, and LUNAFEST is a wonderful opportunity for these special stories to be shared.”

A resident of Boulder, Colo., Ahnemann has been producing and directing documentaries since 1998. She has profiled Winston Blackmore’s polygamist clan in British Columbia for National Geographic and Europe’s royal families for A&E; followed BASE jumpers in Chamonix, France and big wave surfers in South Africa, Hawaii, Mexico and Tahiti for Warren Miller Entertainment; and filmed men and women building the new Bay Bridge in Oakland for Discovery.

Following the film program, Ahnemann will be available for a Q&A to answer questions about filmmaking, producing and her unique experiences.

The Boulder LUNAFEST will be at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14^th Street, on October 11, 2012. The program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17.50, $12.50 for students. Purchase tickets at the box office or online at http://www.bouldertheater.com/event/lunafest-short-films-by-for-about-women. 

For more about LUNAFEST, visit www.lunafest.org. 

Arvada, CO – Beau Jo’s Management Co. announces that its Arvada Beau Jo’s “Colorado Style Pizza” restaurant has moved from 7805 Wadsworth to its spacious new location at 7525 West 53^rd Avenue, a few blocks east of historic Olde Town Arvada.

Allen Roberts, general manager of the Arvada Beau Jo’s states, “We were busting at the seams at the other location and when the longtime owners of Alamos Verdes put their restaurant up for sale,  we jumped at the opportunity to expand.”

Renowned for its legendary, robust Mountain Pies made with thick, hand-rolled white or whole wheat crust piled high with fresh ingredients and ordered by the pound, Beau Jo’s also offers Prairie Pies on a thinner crust with lighter amounts of ingredients.  Leftover crust is served with golden Colorado honey so it can be enjoyed as a dessert.  Though most folks come for the pies, they can also order pastas, sandwiches, and create-your-own calzones. 

Beau Jo’s menu also includes a variety of healthy options for those with dietary challenges such as gluten intolerance, and provides a Nutritional and Allergen Guide for both kids and adults. Along with a full menu, Beau Jo’s also offers daily specials, a lunch buffet featuring unlimited pizza, soup and salad bar, and Kids Meals. Phone: 303-420-8376. 

The renovated 6,000 square-foot Arvada Beau Jo’s features indoor seating for 180 in two dining rooms separated by a double-sided fireplace framed with layered sandstone.  Numerous skylights and expansive windows let in an abundant amount of natural light. The updated open kitchen allows cooks to interact with customers.  And for groups wanting privacy, the affectionately coined “Godfather Table” sits in an alcove beneath a massive wrought iron chandelier, facing a cathedral-like window.

An indoor-outdoor bar features 20 Colorado beers on tap and three big-screen TVs.  A glass garage door opens from the bar onto a large L-shaped outdoor patio with cozy couch groupings that can accommodate 100 diners.

Randy Wheelock, owner of Wheelock Construction in Idaho Springs and general contractor on the Arvada Beau Jo’s project says “The goal with this location was to add a fresher, more elegant and urban ambience, yet maintain the rustic mystique of the original”.

The salad bar is still served from antique claw foot tubs, and rustic antique toy trucks and horse-drawn ore wagons lend decorative historic touches.  However, the dark barn wood typical of earlier Beau Jo’s has been replaced by a palette of rich earth-tone painted walls, blue-stain beetle kill pine paneling artistically crafted to resemble stands of aspen, and vibrant landscape and wildlife photos taken by founder/owner/environmentalist Chip Bair.

“For decades, Beau Jo’s has made a major effort to reduce its carbon footprint”, says Beau Jo’s

Chief Operations Officer, John Grapell.  He continues, “ This restaurant features energy-saving LED lighting and on-demand instant hot water heaters; solar panels like those used in our Idaho Springs and Boulder stores; geothermal heating and cooling; cardboard recycling and biodegradable to-go containers;  and electricity generated by wind power.” Beau Jo’s strives to buy the freshest, highest-quality products locally, reducing the environmental costs of transportation, along with supporting Colorado vendors.

About Beau Jo’s:   A Colorado Legend                                                                                                                                               

A writer for Colorado Biz once said, “Beau Jo’s is as much a Colorado experience as a run down Vail Mountain”. Legendary among outdoor enthusiasts traveling the I-70 corridor, the original Beau Jo's Pizza in Idaho Springs was founded by Chip Bair in 1973.  Lured from Minnesota by the white gold of Colorado’s world-class ski slopes, Chip purchased Beau Jo’s from a couple named Beau and Jo Ann.  Housed in the town’s Victorian-age Mining Exchange Building, the original pizzeria was a mere 560 square feet, with seating for 15. 

Chip created Mountain Pies “like you’re making it for friends”… thick, hand-rolled crusts heaped high with fresh ingredients; then added Prairie Pies, built with thinner crusts and lighter ingredients for “flatlander” appetites.  From the beginning, Chip used Colorado honey as a natural sweetener rather than sugar for his pizza dough and sauce.  He also originated the custom of serving pizzas with honey so the crusts can be enjoyed as dessert.

During the early years, Chip did everything himself—from preparing the pizza to waiting tables. At the crack of dawn, he’d distribute flyers at local ski areas.  Skiers spread the word, and Beau Jo’s popularity grew.  Today, Beau Jo’s counts seven in its Colorado restaurant family, with locations in Arvada, Boulder, Denver, Evergreen, Ft. Collins, Idaho Springs and Steamboat Springs. Headquartered in Lakewood, Beau Jo’s Management Co. employs 265.

A key ingredient in Beau’s recipe for success is community involvement. All Beau Jo’s restaurants raise thousands of dollars annually for such charitable causes as Bandimere’s Race to Read literacy program, The Jefferson Foundation (supporting Jeffco Schools), Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Autism Society of Colorado.  www.beaujos.com

Define Defense will be doing a Parent's Night Out on Wednesday April 18th from 4.30-7pm. 

You can leave your children (5-15 years old) with us and we'll do some techniques and drills, board games and watch a movie on a big screen. This event will be completely free so register or contact us asap to reserve your spots! 

There will be 3 adults present to make sure everything runs smooth, your child has a great time and most importantly, is safe. 

Every child needs to have a waiver (contact us) signed by at least one parent. What to bring: comfortable workout clothes!

You can register here or send us a message! Deadline: April 11th.

Join us on our Spring Kickoff party on April 27th from 5-7pm with raffle prizes, snacks, drinks and much more! If you are new to our studio, come check out our studio and see what we're about! For our current clients and prospects, this will be a great time to socialize and have fun together. Invite your friends and family to join you!

During the party, we will be offering one time discounts on memberships, classes, workshops and all our retail products.

Our raffle prizes:
- A free month membership for any program
- A Define Defense sling pack (3x)
- A Title MMA body shield
- Several other prizes from our partners

Starting at 5pm at our studio location: 1805 11th Street Suite B, Boulder CO 80302

www.DefineDefense.com
(720) 340 6254

When is the best time for weight training and how much should you train? It's a question that probably has been asked millions of times. It is a great question though. After all, if you put the time and effort in, you want to make sure that you reap the maximum benefits of it.

The answer is very difficult though. It depends on your physiological state, how much you have been working out, what your goals are etc. it is more important to understand the basics so you are more aware of what you're doing yourself.

I know there are many articles out there about the best time of the day to work out and when you burn the most, have the most energy etc. Fact is, for most people, the best time to work out is when it fits in your schedule! Better to have a great training when you have the time than rushing through a workout when you only have 20 minutes...

As to how often you workout. If you look at professional martial artists and other athletes, they put a lot of hours in the gym but they do split workouts for their strength, then they add cardio and at another time of the day, they will work on techniques. This is not realistic for most people either so a good guideline for someone that wants to add strength and size is to train 3 times/week full body. Work mostly on the large muscle groups and spend less time on the small ones (arms, shoulders). This way, you challenge all muscle groups multiple times a week. Downside is however, you can't spend as much time on each individual muscle group.

Another option is to do split workouts. For example you can do chest and triceps on Monday; legs, shoulders and abs on Wednesday; back and biceps on Friday.

There are many variations and it is up to your trainer to figure out what will work best for you, depending on your goals, level, limitations etc. The thing you want to accomplish is working your muscles hard and frequent enough to stimulate an increase in size and strength without overtraining and making sure it fits in the time you have available.

A few other training splits:

- Four days a week: you will work out half your body one day, the other half the other. After these 2 training days, you will take 2 days off. This way, you get 4 training days per week in and you can spend more time (sets) on the different muscle groups.

- Six day split routine: you will divide your training into 3 different workouts. You train for 3 consecutive days and then take a day off. Then repeat.

- One muscle per day: exactly what is sounds like. Disadvantage is that you can't work out the same muscle more than once a week.

The last question to answer is how long to work out. If your goal is to gain size and lift heavy weights, 30 to 45 minutes is ideal (depending if you work out one or two muscle groups - or more). If you go for high volume training, more sets and more reps for muscle endurance, then a typical workout will be 60 to 90 minutes. If you add cardio for weight loss or to lean out, it can go up to 120 minutes.

Please note that these are only some examples and there are many different options in training. Training planning depends on many different factors and needs to be put together per individual. After all, no two people are the same so the same workout routine will not have the same effects.


By Sander Vanacker, Define Defense’s certified personal trainer and head martial arts instructor, based in Boulder, Colorado. Take a look at www.DefineDefense.com, www.TrainerVanacker.com or check out our videos onYouTube.com/DefineDefense !

What defines being in shape? Is it something universal we all test ourselves up against or is it subjective? Will the same person be considered in shape if he/she goes to Portugal vs. China, Colorado vs. Connecticut? I don’t think so. The opinions are very subjective and in different places, you will be assessed differently. 

It will also depend what sport or workouts you specialize in. Are you a lifter or an avid runner and who do you compare yourself against?

If you look up ‘shape’ in the dictionary, it will tell you (one of the meanings): the contour of a person’s body, the figure. Obviously this is not what we have in mind when we discuss the physical athletic condition of an individual. For example, some people who may seem heavier may have incredible cardio and ripped weight lifters may barely be able to run 100 yards.

On the other hand, you have athletes who excel in their sport and are in great shape. Let’s say a person who goes running 5 times/week wants to go kayaking. Will the runner who is in great sport specific shape be able to go any faster than the average person? The answer will be no. Neither will the runner be any less prone to upper body injuries.

For myself, there is a great difference between being in sport specific shape and being in overall great shape. I have experienced first hand the difficulties of long distance running while I raced with the road bike. Even though you use the same muscles, they do not function properly and are not used to the new movements. This does not take anything away from the fact that cyclists are incredible athletes; it simply shows that their performance is very specific to the sport they compete in. 

These were just a few examples to make you think. In my opinion, cross training has become extremely important and will continue to become more important in health, athleticism and performance. Cross training classes (sometimes called circuit training, strength & conditioning etc.) will challenge and condition different muscle groups, increase your cardio levels and help the muscles support each other. If you build strong quads, you will need to have strong hamstrings and a strong lower back to support them. If you develop these with cross training, your risk of injury will decrease drastically.

At Define Defense, we encourage everyone to do a good amount of cross training. We start off with a cross training warmup and include our strength & conditioning classes in our membership (without extra cost). We thoroughly believe that our cross training sessions help build better martial artists. Our clients become leaner, stronger, get better muscle endurance and balance out their body. These classes are also a lot of fun because they offer something different every time to keep it interesting. We mix traditional training methods and equipment with the latest tools in the fitness world. You get a full body workout with top notch equipment and will see the results quickly!

We now offer monthly membership for our strength & conditioning (cross training) classes. You can attend unlimited classes and we are pleased to offer these for a lower rate than other cross training workout studios. Our clients are trained by a certified personal trainer at our facility.

Our Strength & Conditioning classes:
Monday 6.15-7.15pm
Wednesday 11-12pm
Wednesday 5.15-6.15pm
Thursday 5.15-6.15pm
Friday 11-12pm
Saturday 1-2pm




By Sander Vanacker, Define Defense’s certified personal trainer and head martial arts instructor. Take a look atwww.DefineDefense.com or check out our videos on YouTube.com/DefineDefense !

The Boulder Emergency Squad has elected Andrew M. Amalfitano as the new President and Chief for a two-year term. Boulder Emergency provides volunteer search and rescue services for the past 47 years within and around Boulder County. Early in his volunteer rescue career, Amalfitano served in the same role from 1985-1995.

(Boulder, Colorado). September 12, 2011 -- The Boulder Emergency Squad-(B.E.S.) has been providing high quality, professional volunteer rescue services to Boulder County for over 46 years.  Every two years, the members of the organization elect a President to lead them.  The President also serves as the Chief of the Squad and works with the member-elected Board of Directors to provide executive leadership for the team.

This year, the members have elected Andrew (Andy) M. Amalfitano as their new President/Chief with past Chief Andrew Moschetti taking on the role of Deputy Chief Operations Planning. Chief Amalfitano brings a wealth of executive leadership to the team. Amalfitano also has extensive experience as a participating member on a number of search and rescue, fire department, and ambulance agencies.

Joe Pelle, Sheriff Boulder County, was thrilled to learn of Andy returning to the helm at B.E.S. "BES has always been counted on to provided a well-trained group of dedicated, volunteer rescuers who deliver a number of emergency services and I know that Andy will bring his broad leadership experience in guiding the next evolution of these services", said Pelle.

Amalfitano served in leadership roles for high-tech firms and is currently, the Vice President of Product Development and Global Operations at iCarnegie, a division of Carnegie Mellon University, where he is responsible for the strategic direction of program sourcing and development and delivery of iCarnegie’s learning portfolio. Amalfitano earned a Master of Science degree in Business Continuity Management from Norwich University and a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Fairfield University. Amalfitano has been a member of BES for 31 years and has seen the group evolve with the changing times in emergency services.

Amalfitano says he is excited about the new challenge and appreciates the accomplishments of outgoing president Andrew Moschetti. "I want to thank Chief Moschetti for continuing the proud tradition of BES in the County. The squad has grown under his leadership and he will remain as a valuable contributing member of our team.  BES and volunteerism has always been part of who I am.  I have grown personally and professionally as a result of my participation in the organization and I am humbled and honored that the membership has elected me to lead them, said Amalfitano."

Chief Amalfitano will be assuming leadership of the squad on September 26th and will begin meeting with Fire Departments, Rescue Groups and Police Departments to personally introduce himself in the coming months.

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About Boulder Emergency Squad:  B.E.S. is an all volunteer, non-profit 501c.3 technical rescue team serving the County of Boulder, Colorado. BES provides a number of technical rescue services at no charge including underwater dive rescue, swift water creek rescue, vehicle extrication, low-angle evacuations, animal rescue, wildland fire fighting, structural fire support, and is a trained staffing resource for the Boulder County Sheriff's Department. B.E.S.incorporated since 1964.

Contact:       Andrew Moschetti

                    Deputy Chief Operations Planning

                    Boulder Emergency Squad
                    303-443-4081  http://www.bes-rescue.org###

We invite you to the Middle School Experience at Boulder Country Day School

Thursday, December 7 beginning at 5 pm.

Middle School is a critical passage. We make it a journey of exploration. Our International Baccalaureate Middle Years curriculum, experienced faculty, and small class size allow Boulder Country Day School students to find their passion in the classroom and in the world.

Situated on a picturesque, safe and private 5.5 acre campus, Boulder Country Day School is a small, independent pre-K through 8th grade school.

We welcome prospective families to tour our campus and meet our faculty, students, parents, and administrators.

Boulder Country Day School is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), is a member of the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), and is an Approved Middle Years International Baccalaureate School.

Discover the difference at Boulder Country Day School.

RSVP with Patti Lemlein at 303.527.4931 x248

Please preview our Viewbook and visit our Website!

The tragic wildland fire that ripped through Fourmile Canyon this week has taken peoples' homes and possessions. Some of those affected are the very firefighters who protected the community and saved many structures, but sadly lost their homes. Boulder Emergency Squad provided temporary housing for a few of those firefighters affected and continues to support the community relief effort with their volunteer rescuers.

Beyond emergency rescue, B.E.S. volunteers assisted with community relief efforts. Mike Chard, Manager for the Boulder [City and County] Office of Emergency Management was keen on having B.E.S. on board to manage community relief and support activities. "B.E.S. was instrumental in getting the infrastructure in place that was essential at a time when we needed it most", said Chard. "Without B.E.S. and their organizational skills, our advanced community support system would have been delayed."

On Friday the team created and set up the donation reception centers and today the team setup the traffic control pattern to allow evacuees to safely and efficiently obtain the credentials necessary to begin returning to their homes. B.E.S. members were also involved in spearheading efforts to raise money for firefighters who lost their homes and fire departments who lost stations.

In addition, B.E.S. received requests for JointFire to provide practice wildland shelters to help train utility workers returning to the burn zone for repairs. "We are here for the community whether that be for performing emergency rescue or for critical community support activities as we did this weekend", said Chief Andrew Moschetti - "Those affected are people many of us know personally and departments that we train and work with, so this hit us hard. I could not be more proud of the over 30 members we had that unselfishly stepped up to help our community in need."

Our thoughts go out to our neighbors who suffered loss this week.

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serving the County of Boulder, Colorado. BES provides a number of technical rescue services at no charge including underwater dive rescue, swift water creek rescue, vehicle extrication, low-angle evacuations, animal rescue, wildland fire fighting, structural fire support, and is a trained staffing resource for the Boulder County Sheriff's Department. B.E.S. is incorporated since 1964.

Contact: Andrew M. Amalfitano

303-443-4081 http://www.bes-rescue.org

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BOULDER – G. Anthony Harrigan and Ken Finkel, principals of Impact Wealth Advisors, Ltd. in Boulder (www.ImpactWealth.com), were awarded the FIVE STAR Wealth Manager title for 2010 by 5280 Magazine and ColoradoBiz Magazine in Denver.

The 2010 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager award is granted to an elite group, representing less than 4 percent of Denver area wealth managers. The award is based on how clients and financial services industry professionals evaluate their experience in working the individual wealth managers and not on the company’s sales volume.

Harrigan, a resident of Broomfield, and Finkel, who lives in Boulder, started their Boulder wealth management business in 2008 to offer holistic financial planning that focuses on a client’s life goals and aspirations, not just their investments.

As a local Boulder business, Impact Wealth Advisors is a strong believer in community partnering, and presents its own Impact Award to an area nonprofit each quarter.

A national research company under the direction of Crescendo Business Services conducted research for the FIVE STAR Wealth Manager list, published in the November issues of 5280 and
ColoradoBiz.

To be selected for the FIVE STAR award, survey recipients are asked to select wealth managers whom they knew through personal experience, and to evaluate them on nine criteria: customer service, integrity,
knowledge/expertise, communication, value for fee charged, meeting of financial objectives, post-sale-service, quality of recommendations and overall satisfaction.

About Impact Wealth Advisors Ltd.

Impact Wealth Advisors in Boulder, Colo. provides holistic wealth management planning that focuses first on clients’ life goals and aspirations to improve the chances of achieving the future they
envision. Impact Wealth offers objective and independent investment counsel on retirement, education, estate planning, insurance analysis, tax minimization, charitable giving, real estate, family legacy and wealth succession. Visit online at www.ImpactWealth.com.

International au pairs support American military families

Celebrating Military Appreciation Month

Erie, Colorado May 2, 2011 -- The tradition of honoring our military on Memorial Day is a great example of American culture for au pairs who are experiencing life in the U.S. for the first time. These young people from overseas will attend parades, wave flags, listen to tributes and taps, and kick off summer with their host families. However, for some au pairs, supporting our military goes far beyond Memorial Day.  

Simone Staudenmann from Switzerland is an au pair for the Liebold family which consists of mom Marian, infant twins, and LCDR Wayne Liebold, a deployed career Naval officer. Simone takes photos of developmental milestones of the children and posts them online so LCDR Liebold can see the twins sitting up, crawling, standing and walking. She also regularly shows them pictures of their father and helps them connect via Skype. “This way we can talk for a few minutes, even though I’m on the other side of the world. I can see them clapping, and playing and I know that they are happy and also that they haven’t forgotten me,” says Liebold.

Simone’s efforts are a tremendous help for a busy working mom and a priceless benefit for a deployed father. LCDR Leibold says, “Because of our au pair, I am able to do my job better. I know my family does not just have great childcare, but a family member who willingly has taken on the challenges of joining a military family with intuition, grace and an understanding of our needs and the needs of our children.” 

For military families, childcare is especially critical to their stability at home and their ability to focus and have peace of mind on the job. Unfortunately, according to a recent study by The Pew Center titled “On the Home Front”, military families struggle with childcare due to relocation, deployment, and non-traditional work hours. They are also affected by wait lists at military Child Development Centers (CDCs) or do not live on or near official installations that provide childcare.

The au pair option is an attractive alternative for military families for many reasons.  Kimberly Mowat, a local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair who works with families in the Erie, Colorado area, shares how the program benefits parents in the armed services.

10 Ways an Au Pair Childcare Can Help Military Families

Quality childcare

All au pairs are carefully screened and trained and families receive attentive year-round support from local childcare coordinators. Cultural Care Au Pair goes above and beyond the strict guidelines that regulate the au pair program set by the U.S. Department of State.

Extra pair of hands

An au pair can provide extra help in the home in addition to childcare. Assistance with light household duties, homework help, and driving to children’s activities is particularly helpful following a spouse’s deployment.

Flexible scheduling

The flexibility of the au pair program allows families with unpredictable work schedules and non-traditional hours to set a schedule that works for them.

Assistance with moving 

Having an extra set of hands gives parents additional time, energy and freedom for packing, organizing and all the logistics involved in getting ready for a move.

Help settling in

When everything else is changing – home, school, friends, job – having consistent childcare can make the transition to a new place smoother for everyone.

Staying connected

An au pair can help children stay connected with deployed parents through daily activities such as letter or email writing, craft projects, and video conferencing.

Peace of mind

Knowing that their children are being cared for at home by a trained, experienced au pair allows military personnel to concentrate at work and focus on the job at hand.

No waiting list

Like many day care centers, military Child Development Centers (CDCs) often have long waiting lists. Families can apply for an au pair and welcome a child care provider into their home in eight weeks and sometimes even sooner.

Network with other military families

Cultural Care Au Pair is proud to serve more military families than any other au pair program. Interested parents can be connected with other military families who have welcomed an au pair into their home.

Military discount

In honor of Military Appreciation Month and in celebration of Memorial Day, military families who apply in May are eligible for a $75 application fee and a $650 program fee discount. To learn more about au pair childcare and other seasonal discounts especially for families of those serving in the military, visit www.culturalcare.com/military.

Families interested in learning more about au pair childcare can call Kimberly Mowat at 303-396-7328 or visit www.kmowat.aupairnews.com for additional information on the Cultural Care Au Pair program.

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About Cultural Care Au Pair

Cultural Care Au Pair is the leading provider of intercultural childcare in the United States. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 85,000 au pairs in welcoming American homes. A U.S. Department of State regulated program, Cultural Care Au Pair is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with their own extensive network of recruitment, screening and orientation offices worldwide and more than 600 local coordinators across the U.S. For more information about hosting an au pair, visit www.culturalcare.com or call 800-333-6056.

Allstate Brings Mobile Claims Center to Colorado

Boulder, Colo. – Allstate (NYSE: ALL) has set up a Mobile Claims Center in Boulder, Colo. to help policyholders affected by the Fourmile Canyon Fire. The self-contained mobile claims offices are equipped with generators, satellite technology and high-speed internet connectivity allowing Allstate’s National Catastrophe Team the ability to provide customer claim support in areas hardest hit by a wildfire

By visiting a Mobile Claims Center, Allstate customers will be able to start the claims process and ask questions about their claim.

The current Allstate Mobile Claims Center location as of September 11, 2010 is listed below. The locations of these units are subject to change. For an updated list of locations visit www.allstate.com/catastrophe/Mobile-Response-Units.aspx

Allstate Mobile Claims Center

3482 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80304
(behind Red Cross)

Hours of operation for all the Mobile Claims Centers are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Allstate policyholders whose homes or automobiles have been damaged or destroyed by the recent storm can contact Allstate by calling 1-800-54-STORM, visiting a Mobile Claims Center, or logging onto Allstate.com.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.