Blogs

So many of us move and live here because of the natural landscape. From the soaring Flatirons to the quiet beauty of our grasslands, Boulder County is enriched with natural splendor and biological diversity.

This year the Boulder County Audubon Society (BCAS) marks the role they have played for 40 years in making sure these treasures last for future generations.When people think of Audubon they think of birds. And certainly BCAS has played a strong role in educating the public on the importance of bird habitat conservation as well as leading the well-known Christmas Bird Count. Other programs you might not know about include 1) a Teen Naturalist Program, which offers middle and high school students the opportunity to explore many facets of the natural world and their interactions 2) working with the Boulder County Nature Association on a long-term program for monitoring local wild places.

On Saturday, August 23rd, this acclaimed organization is going to look back with Still Soaring at 40, an anniversary gala celebration taking place at Lone Hawk Farm in Longmont. This fun evening will be a trip down memory lane with a slide show featuring past and present local members who have made BCAS the strong voice for wildlife that it is. Attendees will also enjoy a buffet dinner, homemade desserts and a presentation by author and noted naturalist Scott Weidensaul (see above.) Tickets are available for this event, you can find out more by clicking here.

The Boulder County Audubon Society's mission is to participate in the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems that support the region's biological diversity, focusing on birds and other wildlife. Toward this end, the Society provides outreach programs such as field trips and educational and enriching activities, programs to encourage and enhance nature education in the schools, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations.

Fourteen Nepalese orphans in Mangalbare, Dharan may soon be living in a new dorm facility.  A University of Colorado graduate and Nepalese resident, Bikram Palikhey is leading the fundraising and a dormitory building project, as part of a campaign for social good. 

The dormitory will benefit the 14 orphans, ages 5-14, living in the home of Sita Dewan.  Sita Dewan took children, many with special needs into her home out of goodwill, without any sponsors.  As her orphanage is not registered as a non-profit in Nepal, she does not receive the benefit of having major sponsors.  She has cared for the children by farming and animal husbandry within her small home. 

The preliminary plans for the new dormitories have been designed by architect Bikash Palikhey, Bikram's brother.  The new dorm facility will allow separate rooms for boys and girls. It will also take the local landscape into consideration - the materials will be locally sourced, windows will take advantage of the area’s wind patterns for cross ventilation, the overhang will reduce moisture from building during the monsoon month, and the roof is designed to stay cool during the summer months with straw thatch over corrugated metal.

Bikram started his personal campaign for social good earlier this year, traveling across Nepal delivering random acts of kindness to the people he meet along the way, in the trip he called ‘The Great Nepalese Road Trip to Inspire Social Good’. The random acts of kindness were documented on a Facebook page he created for the trip, and ranged from school supplies for children to a doctor visit and medicine to treat an ailment.  Family, friends, and the Boulder Colorado Nepalese community helped financially back the random acts of kindness through donations, a silent auction, and a music event in February called “Almost Unplugged Concert for Nepal.”

Bikram was inspired to give back to his home country after returning to Nepal in 2011. After being away for fourteen years, during the start of the Maoist insurgency, he found the social landscape had changed drastically.  The Nepal from his childhood was a place where kindness came naturally. After the insurgency there was no trust among citizens.  Bikram explained that “I thought committing acts of kindness would send a positive message to all citizens; a message that will hopefully inspire people to reconnect with each other again.  Hence, I raised funds and started touring around Nepal doing just that.”

The dormitory build can only be completed if the $3000 of building costs can be covered by fundraising.  People who wish to make a contribution of any size can do so by visiting the youcaring.com fundraiser.  Funds must be raised by August 31^st, 2014 in order to move forward with the building plans.

Levy Restaurants has recently partnered with The University of Colorado at Boulder, as the university's premium food and beverage provider. As such, we would like to express our interest in partnering with Non-Profit Organizations in the Boulder area this Fall! Levy Restaurants has partnered with Non-Profit groups of all types to raise money for the community and worthy causes. I'd love the opportunity to speak with you and your group further about the volunteer opportunities we are offering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Ultimately, we hope we can help you raise money for a great cause and have fun doing it!

The dates for the football games this season are Saturday September 13, Saturday September 20, Saturday October 4, Saturday October 25, Saturday November 1, and Saturday November 29.

If you would like to join us, bring a friend!  Non-Profits are a wonderful, tight-knit community!  Knowing this, we have implemented a referral program, where your organization will be entered in a raffle for an additional $250.00 bonus for every additional Non-Profit Group or Student Organization reccommended, who participates in all six football games!

If this sounds like a great fit for your organization, get in touch with us today! 

Quinn Plummer, Non-Profit Coordinator

qplummer@levyrestaurants.com

"Labs Evolve to Advance Patient Care"

Banner Health is taking a new regional approach to how its medical testing labs work, and work together, to better serve northern Colorado.

See page 32 at http://issuu.com/lydiasstyle/docs/2014-07_medical-web to read the whole story.

The 8th Annual Incredible, Edible Gluten-Free Food Fair will be held at the Denver Mart on Sunday August 17th  from 10am - 4pm.   Come sample gluten-free baked goods, flours, breads, beers, desserts and much much more.  There will be over 100 gluten free vendors from around the nation so don't miss out on finding some new gluten-free favorites!!  See our website for more info: www.denverceliacs.org or call 303-819-5531

The Colorado Angels Pageant is a pageant specifically for individuals with special needs, both male and female, ages birth to 30.  The 2^nd annual pageant will be held Saturday, August 2, 2014.  Anyone with a medically diagnosed physical or intellectual impairment is invited to participate.  Registration is free.  Hair, makeup, wardrobe, and professional photography will also be provided free of charge. 

This is not your typical pageant, it is a non-competitive pageant.  Everyone is a winner.  All participants will receive a crown, sash, t-shirt, and gift bag.  This pageant is about making everyone who participates feel beautiful both inside and out.  The pageant is being coordinated by Richelle Lanphear and Vanessa Schwartz.  The pageant is of personal interest to both ladies as they each have daughters with special needs. Richelle says: “The goal of this pageant is to give special needs children and adults a place to be treated like royalty. We want them to feel like the stars of the show, and for the audience to see their unique beauty shining through.” She adds: “People that are ‘differently abled’ have a lot to teach the world. This is one opportunity for them to do that, and for their families and friends to celebrate them.”

This event is free to the public, and everyone is invited. There is no charge to participate. The registration deadline is July 1^st, but late registrations will be accepted as space allows. To learn more about the pageant --  register, sponsor/donate, or volunteer, please visit www.coloradoangelspageant.org or call Richelle at 970-396-9445 or email at coloradoangels@edgeofcrazy.com

Event details:

Colorado Angels Pageant

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Mountain View High School, Loveland, Colorado

While my wife is viewing wildlife in Africa (literally!), I've been observing some wildlife in my neighborhood - a Cooper's Hawk nest with three super-duper cute Hawklets - more pictures and info at that link.

Over 100 employees from B Corporations around the Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins areas are volunteering in their communities June 17 - 20, tangibly showing how they are using business as a force for good by “B-ing the Change” in Colorado. Throughout the entire week, Certified B Corps around the United States and the world are coming together to give back to their local communities as part of a global “Be the Change in our Communities” effort.

On June 17 and 19, smaller groups of B Corporations will work on the roof with GRID Alternatives, installing a solar array on a home in a low-income community to help reduce a family’s energy bills while contributing to a renewable grid.  On June 18, a larger group will gather in Lyons to continue with the city’s flood recovery efforts; B Corp employees will be focusing on trail restoration, debris removal, and tree planting, as well as attending to any other needs of the city.  The week will wrap up at the Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, where volunteers will assemble meals for low-income families and individuals. Other B the Change service days around the world include projects with Habitat for Humanity, a Great Lakes cleanup in Chicago, mural painting, highway cleanups, and home repair projects in low income communities. Full details for each Colorado project and lists of participating companies are below. 

“Businesses and the people behind them have the power to spread awareness, create good and ignite worldwide change. We like to think of this movement simply as community in action,” said Kim Coupounas, GoLite Co-Founder and director of B Lab Colorado. “These service projects help showcase the good that can happen when purpose-driven businesses walk the talk. I’m so proud to be able to roll up my sleeves to ‘B the Change’ in my community with fellow business leaders this week.”

“Giving back to our community in tangible ways is important to Rally Software’s employees, not only because of the positive impact they are making but because it lets them share our strengths with organizations who really need it,” says Ryan Martens, co-founder and chief technology officer of Rally Software, a Certified B Corp. “As a Rally employee, it allows them to collaborate with employees across the company while engaging at deeper level with our social mission of creating Citizen Engineers.”

Colorado has an especially strong B Corp community with more than 40 local companies certified including New Belgium Brewing, Rally Software, Moye White, GoLite, Namasté Solar, Door to Door Organics, and the Gary Community Investment Company.

15th Annual Lafayette Peach Festival
August 16th, 2014
9:00am-4:00pm
Old Town Lafayette on Public Road
Presenting Sponsor:
Elevations Credit Union

15^th Annual Peach Festival centers around world famous all natural Palisade, Colorado peaches. Enjoy peach pies, peach cobbler and peach smoothies.  Food vendors, crafters, antique dealers along with some of the finest artists from the Front Range and Western States will be showcased.  Children’s activities, live entertainment and music throughout the day. 

• Farmer's Market

• Bonfils Bloodmobile on site

• Over 30,000 pounds of Certified Organic Peaches from Morton’s Orchard’s in Palisade, CO. will be available in 4 locations along Public Rd. 

• Peach Truck Locations:

           Public Road and Cleveland
           Public Road and East Chester
           Public Road and Kimbark
           North of Post Office 

• 500 fresh peach pies, 100 9 x 12 pans of peach cobbler and individual servings of peach cobbler while supplies last, are available for sale at Festival Plaza and in front of the Main Stage near Lafayette Florist.  New this year - Cobbler and Pies provided by The Huckleberry’s.

• Over 2,500 servings of Peach Smoothies are available only at Festival Plaza while supplies last

• Free face painting by Face Fiesta & balloon sculpting all day, 9:00am-4:00pm!

• Bonfils Bloodmobile will be holding a Blood Drive from 9:30am - 3:30pm.  Look for the Bonfils Bus on S. Public road near Kimbark Street.

Visit www.lafayettecolorado.com for more details.

Friday, July 4^th, 2014
Waneka Lake Park
1600 Caria Dr., Lafayette
4:00pm-10:00pm

From 4:00pm-8:00pm

• Food Concessions, Beer & Wine garden, Bounce House, Pony Rides, Kid's Activities and more (additional fees may apply)
• Free Face Painting & Balloon Sculpting
• Free Concert by Deja Blu Dance Band

4:00pm-10:30pm

• Free Shuttle service from Flatirons Community Church to East park entrance (Emma/Caria)

• Limited Handicap parking available at West Park entrance on Caria

FIREWORKS SHOW AT DUSK !

We are accepting donations.  All donations that have been received will be put toward our 2014 Fireworks Show.

 
We need VOLUNTEERS!
If you are an individual or know a school, organization or company that will donate their time, please contact The Lafayette Chamber @ events@lafayettecolorado.com/303-666-9555

Event Restrictions:    The following items are not allowed on the event site...
Alcohol, Glass bottles or containers, Grills of any kind, illegal personal fireworks and open fires

Visit our website at www.lafayettecolorado for more details.

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.

Albert Einstein once said, “The greatest scientists are always artists as well.” His observation was a good one. However, there is also a certain kind of visual artist—the scientific illustrator—who serves science by making the insights of scientists more accessible to others—by giving the creative artistry of scientists both form and beauty. Many of science’s top visual interpreters will be meeting in Boulder this July. If you love capturing nature on paper or with pixels, you may want to join them.

Established in 1968 at the Smithsonian, The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) is a nonprofit organization that encourages high standards of competence and professionalism among its members and offers aspiring artists the opportunities and skills needed to succeed in their careers. GNSI helps connect artists with those scientists and organizations that need to teach students and to inform and inspire the general public.

GNSI’s annual conference provides a banquet of information and experience. Keynote speakers this year include Dr. Alexander E. MacDonald (from Boulder’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and scientist and science communicator Dr. Scott D. Sampson (Chief Curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science). Dr. MacDonald, creator of Science On a Sphere, a bold technique for showing Earth’s dynamic biological, climatological, and geological systems “in the round”, will show how complex systems become much clearer when viewed from the right perspective. Dr. Sampson will outline his case for reconnecting humanity and nature in the 21^st century.

The Conference is filled with presentations and workshops designed to inspire the visually inclined. Some concentrate on technique, with experts in drawing, painting, scratchboard, block printing, Photoshop, Illustrator, and digital devices sharing their expertise. Others focus on the gritty details of making a living in this challenging, but exciting career. Workshops and Mini-workshops allow participants to customize their learning experience under the inspirational setting of Boulder’s Flatirons and modern CU campus.

For artists and illustrators with a passion for nature, this conference provides an excellent forum for meeting creative people with similar interests, improving your skill set, and learning new techniques. Check out all the details at https://www.conf.gnsi.org/.

For art lovers, the Guild’s juried show at CU’s Natural History Museum provides a rich venue for seeing beautiful illustrations and some of the objects in the natural world that inspires these amazing artists. The public can view the show from May 1 through September 25. Plan a museum visit at http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/ and make your summer memorable.

Join the Guild in Boulder this July. Be educated. Be inspired. Be amazed.

April 8, 2014 (Boulder, CO) – Local game developer, DreamQuest Games, will be donating $1,000 to an area school’s technology department in conjunction with their STEM-focused Videogame Design Summer Camp.  Christopher Williamson, DreamQuest Games owner and lead instructor, explains that he was inspired by President Obama’s State of the Union call-to-action in getting boys and girls excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM):  “I felt I could really do my part to make a difference by getting kids excited about technology through building their own video game app. Our team can also help a specific area school by donating $1,000 to their technology department.” Christopher thought a way to get both students and schools excited was to offer a contest. The school with the highest student participation at the 2014 summer camps will win the donation, and students save $100 on registration with a school-specific coupon code. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Interested kids build their own unique video game at our camp, a school gets much needed money to support further STEM lessons, and I am able to support the President’s focus on STEM education,” Williamson says.

DreamQuest Camps is the only video game design camp in Colorado where each instructor has experience in the video game industry, and this year the camps will include cutting-edge game technology including Virtual Reality (VR).  “This year I am super-excited to be the first tech camp to offer kids the opportunity to develop games using the new OculusVR prototype,” Williams says. “Campers don’t realize or even care that we are teaching a STEM curriculum, but parents and teachers see the importance of offering skills that are fun and valuable.”  One camper, Chris (age 12), took his game from the camp and continued working on it, even publishing it on an indie game Web site.

About DreamQuest Camps

DreamQuest Camps offers a fun 2-week camp experience to kids and teens ages 10-16, with each camp session limited to just 15 students. Under the guidance of our industry-experienced instructors, campers design and build their own unique video game using Unity3D. We incorporate a STEM curriculum into our camp syllabus, and campers make friends while joining up in teams to create a video game. Camps available at: Boulder, Louisville/Lafayette, Longmont, Westminster, Cherry Creek, Denver Tech Center, Fort Collins, and Grand Junction. Students can choose from four session dates per location in 2014: June 2-13, June 16-27, July 7-18, and July 21-August 1.

Contact Information

DreamQuest Camps c/o DreamQuest Games

Christopher Williamson

PO Box 18, Lafayette, CO 80026

303-953-4456 fun@dreamquestcamps.com

http://dreamquestcamps.com http://dreamquestgames.com

Press Release: http://dreamquestcamps.com/press

Media attached http://dqshared.com/camp/Photos/Friends-Photo-With-Logo.png

The public is invited to join St. Vrain Valley students and teachers at this year’s Tech Fair to be held on April 19 at Skyline High School, 600 E. Mountain View Avenue in Longmont. Projects from all subject areas will be on display from 11:00 AM – noon. A visit to the Fair will provide a great opportunity to see what students are learning in school and how they are applying technology to their day-to-day activities and special projects.

At noon Zometool founder Paul Hildebrandt will speak to those in attendance and invite them to have some fun with his geodesic shapes that are “loved by kids and used by Nobel Prize winners”. His presentation will be followed by a recognition ceremony for the students participating in this year’s Fair.

For more information about this year’s Tech Fair go to http://www.efsvv.org/programs/tech-fair or call 720-652-8208.

Celebrating National Volunteer Week, CenturyLink announced today that its employees and retirees in Colorado volunteered more than 100,000 hours at Colorado non-profits in 2013. By reaching the six-figure total again in 2013, CenturyLink fulfilled its “100,000 Hour Colorado Community Pledge” for the second consecutive year – an initiative the company launched in late 2011.

“CenturyLink is committed to improving lives in the communities we serve, and this is one way we encourage our employees to get involved locally,” said Scott Russell, vice president and general manager of CenturyLink in Denver and Northern Colorado. “We are so proud to support volunteerism and the role it plays in strengthening the communities where our employees live and work. It’s truly a testament to our employees’ generosity and commitment to community that our team in Colorado completed more than 100,000 hours of community service last year.”

In addition to completing the “100,000 Hour Colorado Community Pledge,” CenturyLink also announced today the 2013 grant recipients of CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation’s Matching Time Grant program. Through this program, CenturyLink employees have the opportunity to earn up to two grants of $500 per year for organizations such as 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with the IRS, and public and nonprofit schools. Employees receiving the grants have volunteered 40 hours or more to their grant recipient during a designated grant cycle.

In 2013 alone, the CenturyLink Foundation awarded 235 grants to nonprofit organizations on behalf of CenturyLink employees in Colorado who volunteered 40 hours or more to their grant recipient during a designated grant cycle, resulting in $117,500 worth of donations to Colorado nonprofits. In fact, nearly 200 CenturyLink employees in Colorado reported more than 100 volunteer hours in 2013.

Across the country, the Foundation distributed 979 matching time grants representing approximately 76,000 volunteer hours in 2013. These grants, totaling $489,500, help support 556 nonprofit organizations across the country.

6th annual event will be held the second and third weekends of October

Loveland, Colorado – The 6th Annual Loveland Art Studio Tour (LAST) has issued a call for artists for its 2014 event. Applications are available here via CallForEntry

When: Applications accepted through May 10. Artists notified May 20.

Event Dates: October 11 & 12 and October 18 & 19, 2014, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

LAST seeks passionate, unique, interesting artists who have an individual style. Because one of the event’s goals is to educate the community about art, artists who incorporate learning opportunities into their work will have an edge in the application process.

“The Tour helped me connect with people I would not otherwise have met. A number of people who were curious about the large sculpture at the entrance to my property were able to visit me and learn more about what I do,” said local sculptor Bobbie Carlyle.

Past Loveland Art Studio Tours have provided artists and their patrons with learning and networking experiences. Tour attendees have come to Loveland from over 50 different zip codes in past years.

Loveland painter George Coll said, “I really like welcoming people into my home and studio. It is a really special place for me, and I think most artists feel the same way. For me, it is a time to put my work on the walls, and really reflect on all that I’ve done. To then share this space where I create is very special.”

A change to the tour this year is that sub-sections of the overall tour will be grouped by geographic regions in Loveland. For example, studios on the far west side of town will be the “Foothills Loop.” A suggested route for each loop will be featured on the map found in the Loveland Art Studio Tour brochure highlighting the studios open for tours, other points of interest on the route, and supporting food, drink, and lodging locations.

Meet the Artists Preview Show:

The Loveland Art Studio Tour will host an opening reception at the Loveland Museum/Gallery during Loveland’s Night on the Town, Friday, September 13.  Many of the artists featured on the tour will be there to discuss their artwork.

A Month of LOVEland ARTists:

Participating artists will present educational and instructional programming over the following month leading up to the tour. Demonstrations, presentations, and workshops will be offered at the Loveland Museum & Gallery.

Kick Off Party:

The Loveland Museum/Gallery will host a gala Kick-Off party during Loveland’s Night on the Town, Friday, October 10.

Loveland Art Studio Tour:

Event dates are Saturday, October 11, 2014 and Sunday, October 12, 2014; and Saturday, October 18, 2014 and Sunday, October 19, 2014. For additional information please visit www.lovelandartstudiotour.com.

Who should apply:

Participation is limited to artists who have a Loveland mailing address; but temporary galleries will be allowed for interested artists who do not have a studio to tour or for artists from outside of Loveland who wish to find space to work and exhibit during the tour.  Galleries in the business of selling art are also welcome.

How to apply:

Entry into this show is juried, so space is limited. To apply, please visit: https://www.callforentry.org/.

About the Loveland Art Studio Tour

Major sponsors include the Thompson Valley Art League, Steven Held Design, Full Circle Marketing, Shannon Marketing Communications, and Diane McInturff. Learn more at http://www.lovelandartstudiotour.com/, or www.facebook.com/lovelandartstudiotour.

Don't miss your chance to see this remarkable documentary at the Boedecker Theater on Sunday, March 30.  Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago has already sold-out it's first 2 screenings through word-of-mouth from the preview screening at IFS last week!

A story of six travelers on the Camino de Santiago--their struggles and triumphs--touching told.  Gorgeous vistas of the Spanish countryside in a well-crafted film that you won't soon forget.

Trailer

There's a wonderful documentary screening this weekend at the Boedecker Theater in Boulder and as it's being self-distributed by the filmmakers, this is one of your only chances to see it on a big screen!  Lydia Smith, the director of Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago has been traveling with her film to promote it--go see it March 30!  Purchase advance tickets here:

Boedecker Film schedule

The first two screenings have already sold out!!  It's also screening at the Chez Artiste in Denver.

Here's my review of the film:

Film Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJDxD_UE4ZQ

   There will be an open house for Functional Physical Therapy on March 18th from 4-7pm. FPT specializes in 

   functional manual therapy. The cause is identified versus just looking at the area of pain. Come see what FPT 

   is all about. 

   Functional Physical Therapy is located at 693 S. Broadway, Suite E. It is on the east side of Mountain Edge fitness.