Click here for our 2009 list, with 283 Denver doctors in 83 medical specialties. It's our biggest, most comprehensive Top Docs feature yet.
NEWSLETTERS
Sign up for 5280's weekly e-newsletters. Want the latest restaurant scoop? The latest happenings around town? Access to exclusive events and deals just for 5280 readers? Sign up today for our great 5280 email newsletters and you'll be in the know all week long.
Fort Collins philanthropist Pat Stryker has enjoyed a small financial rebound in the past year—billionaire-small that is. Her fortune increased from $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion last year, according to Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s richest people.
“The past year has been a pretty good year to be a billionaire,” Coloradoan editor Bob Moore points out on his blog.
Despite the jump in her net worth, Stryker is only the 655th wealthiest person in the world this year, down from 601st a year ago.
Other familiar names hit the list, too, including number 148, Charlie Ergen of satellite-TV companies Dish Network and EchoStar ($5.2 billion); number 374, James Leprino of cheesemaker Leprino Foods ($2.5 billion); number 400, John Malone of Liberty Media ($2.4 billion); number 880, Gary Magness, TCI heir ($1.1 billion); and number 937, Pat Bowlen and family, Denver Broncos owner ($1 billion). (more…)
Earlier this month, James Dobson, the man who founded the conservative Focus on the Family ministry in Colorado Springs, left his most coveted pulpit—Focus’ radio show—to start an independent radio program with his son, Ryan.
Now Ken Hutcherson, who leads Antioch Bible church in Washington and is a loyal friend of Dobson’s, wonders in a WorldNetDaily column whether Dobson was ousted by Focus’ board of directors as the organization attempts to forge a less divisive path (such as the Tim Tebow Super Bowl commercial, which was so soft on the anti-abortion theme that many viewers seemed to have missed the point).
“Taking him off the air effective this month was not Dr. Dobson’s decision but a board decision,” Hutcherson writes. “Why was that decision made? What prayerful consideration did the board engage in that ended with their choice to remove Dr. Dobson from the air? Evidently, he didn’t want to stop his voice from being heard over the airways after turning over leadership to the new team. The new radio program he is launching tells me that.”
Talking Points Memo received a statement from Focus about Hutcherson’s column: “We admire Reverend Hutcherson and the good work he has done for the cause of Christ and in support of families. He is, of course, entitled to his own opinion about the work we do, whether we agree with that opinion or not.”
Jim Daly, a longtime Focus leader, who has replaced Dobson at the helm of the ministry, is clearly doing things differently than the highly political Dobson, known for his conservative crusades. For instance, Daly has praised President Barack Obama for his devotion to family and last summer attended a White House event. Hutcherson says of Obama: “The man believes in partial birth abortion. [Attending a White House event is] something that never would have happened if Dr. Dobson were there.”
Michael Collins Pipes and Drums St. Patty’s Day Brewery Tour, Multiple Locations
Through Wednesday, March 17 | Details | Read more
Named after the father of the Irish Republic and founded in 1996, the strapping local band is paying homage with an all-out spirits tour starting today at Katie Mullen’s, Breckenridge Brewery, and Scruffy Murphy’s. You’re bound to run into them at various pubs, breweries, and bars through St. Patty’s Day.
As Frontier Airlines emerges from bankruptcy under the leadership of its new owner, Republic Airways Holdings Incorporated, business seems solid. For instance, Frontier just added a nonstop Kansas-City-to-Cancun route, according to the Kansas City Star.
But if it’s up to the Teamsters union, any flights that would whisk mechanics out of Denver and transfer them to Wisconsin as part of corporate reorganization will be grounded.
The union is suing Indianapolis-based Republic, which last year purchased Frontier, alleging the owner is refusing to pay union wages and benefits to Frontier employees who agreed to transfer from Denver to a Midwest Airlines maintenance facility owned by Republic in Milwaukee, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. As many as 40 Frontier mechanics agreed to be transferred but later discovered they would lose union status because Midwest mechanics don’t have a union.
If things don’t work out for the mechanics, and they decide to stay in Colorado to look for new jobs, at least Fort Collins-Loveland area employers are anticipating hiring at a “bullish” pace in the second quarter of 2010, according to a survey cited by the Northern Colorado Business Report.
State senators Josh Penry (left) and Kevin Lundberg (right) are calling for a “full-blown” independent investigation into the 2008 death of an infant in Fort Collins, a move blasted by Evan Dreyer, Governor Bill Ritter’s spokesman, as “the worst, most shameful form of politics.”
The two Republicans want the governor, a Democrat, and Attorney General John Suthers, a Republican, to launch the probe into the death of Chad Munoz, who was 20 days old when he suffered fatal head injuries. Munoz is one of more than 30 children who have died during the past three years while under some level of supervision by the state’s Department of Human Services.
In Munoz’s case, the state began a child fatality review, which is required, but it was not completed at the time. Dreyer says an external review is unlikely but assures that Ritter is also committed to reforms within DHS.
“We have implemented a number of changes already to the system, including just a couple months ago, the state’s first child welfare training academy for new social workers,” Dreyer adds, calling the changes “first steps.”
Senate Bill 171, which would reform DHS, advanced yesterday after Maryann Hartmann testified that she reported to DHS the abuse and neglect of Alize Vick, a two-year-old girl who died in El Paso County, to no avail.
The Department of Homeland Security rushed out to a U.S. Census Bureau office in Grand Junction as police investigated what turned out to be a large marijuana-growing operation in a suite in the same building.
Agents were tipped off by a census worker who noticed a strange odor emanating from the suite, which serves as a grow site for a medical marijuana dispensary, reports News8 in Grand Junction. Armed with a search warrant, authorities seized some 300 photocopies of patients’ marijuana registry cards and doctors’ recommendations, according to the Grand Junction Sentinel.
“Task Force officers are looking to go through the records present to determine if they have adequate current medical marijuana card holders present to support the presence of over 1,000 marijuana plants,” reads the search warrant affidavit.
Under Colorado’s Amendment 20, registered patients can possess up to six marijuana plants at a time, “with three or fewer being mature, flowering plants that are capable of producing a usable form of marijuana.” (more…)
Sara Cotner did something that seems impossible: She put on a summer wedding—on a Saturday night, no less—for $2,000. (And she did it in seven months.)
Cotner, an education consultant and schoolteacher, planned her wedding the same way she approaches her lesson plans: by thinking of the outcome first. With her groom, she lined out nine goals for their wedding, including a family-reunion vibe, a pledge to not spend too much money on the affair, and a commitment that all decisions would be made solely by the two of them.
Staying under $2,000 meant making some different decisions. Cotner bought her wedding dress for $15 on Target’s Web site and spruced it up with some of her own embroidery.
She and her fiancé bought more than 60 avocados at Sam’s Club and made guacamole (with the help of friends) on their wedding day. They also asked friends and family to donate old gold, which was melted down and made into wedding rings. (Which ended up costing just $109.)
Since her wedding, Cotner has been fielding questions from other budgeting brides in need of advice via her Web site (linked above), where you’ll find an honest discussion for those of us who are nervously watching the numbers add up. Best of all, unlike many newlyweds, Cotner and her husband get to start their lives without any debt.
Former Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle stayed classy after getting canned early last season, making way for bench coach Jim Tracy to take over as manager and lead the Rockies to the playoffs in one of the best team turnarounds in baseball history.
But Hurdle exacted a bit of revenge yesterday—well, as much as he could during a semi-meaningless spring training game. Hurdle, the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers, watched as his team destroyed the Rockies 16-5, reminding everyone why Ubaldo Jimenez is the Rockies’ new ace, not Aaron Cook.
Purple Row points out that the Rangers belted 23 hits against the Rockies, showing Hurdle may be doing something right down there in Texas. Cook gave up nine runs, and reliever Franklin Morales did his best to convince Rockies coaches that he needs more seasoning in the minor leagues by remaining consistently behind in yesterday’s pitch count against the Rangers.
It wasn’t all bad news, though, with outfielder Brad Hawpe going 2-for-3 in his spring debut and scoring two runs (via MLB.com). (more…)
When it comes to nachos, I’m hopelessly addicted. I’ve got favorite spots all over the state, the best of which was (sniff) the late Iguana’s at the base of Aspen Highlands. But in town, the nod goes to the Pioneer, near DU.
The secret to this stacked platter of corn tortilla chips, black beans, melted asadero cheese, grilled chicken, fresh jalapeños, green onions, pico de gallo, guacamole, and Mexican crema is the stratum of toppings. With most nachos, ingredients mix and mingle only on the top layer. At the Pioneer, however, a surplus of toppings are evenly distributed throughout the dish so there’s nary a chip without cheese or goodies.
Bonus: Hit happy hour (3 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight daily) for half-price drafts, house margs, and well drinks, and $1 off house wine.
The Ski Blog is predictably elated to hear that I-70 has re-opened in both directions after being closed following the massive rockslide on Monday that left a hole in a bridge, damaged guardrails, and scattered boulders the size of trucks on the highway.
The re-opening at Glenwood Canyon in western Colorado comes “just in time for weekend skiing,” notes the blog, but before you get too excited, keep in mind that driving through the area is expected to be slow. The speed limit through the canyon has been dropped from 55 mph to 40 mph, and there’s just one lane open in each direction, according to The Denver Post.
But at least travelers, including truckers, won’t have to take detours of 200 miles, to traverse Colorado’s major east-west artery.
Extensive repairs are still needed, and the Colorado Department of Transportation doesn’t know how long it will be before the four-lane road will be back to normal. But even a partial opening of the highway is a relief. Some news outlets this week reported it could have taken weeks before the roadway opened.
If funk pioneer James Brown screamed “Maceo!” during the heat of a song, that meant his main sax man, Maceo Parker, was set to blow a raucous solo over the groove. But Parker, who has also backed acts like Parliament-Funkadelic and Prince, is far more than a sideman. He’s explored an enticing combination of soul, jazz, and funk during his decades-long solo career, while maintaining the fun-loving spirit of the genre he helped define more than 40 years ago with songs like “I Got You (I Feel Good).”
It’s been more than three years since former Denver Broncos defensive back Darrent Williams was fatally shot following a fight at a local nightclub. Yesterday, alleged gang member Willie Clark was finally convicted on 21 counts related to the murder and will likely be sentenced to life in prison next month, reports The Denver Post.
The jury deliberated over the course of three days before coming to the final verdict.
“My family didn’t win,” says Williams’ mother, Rosalind. “The Clark family didn’t win. I lost my son, my only son, and his children lost their father. This doesn’t bring him back.”
Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen issued a statement commending the Denver Police Department and the Denver District Attorney’s Office for their members’ hard work, and thanks the community for supporting the Williams family and the Denver Broncos “during this unimaginable tragedy” (via Pro Football Talk).
More than a few people are walking away from the trial with a bitter feeling, considering that evidence at the crime scene points to at least two shooters gunning at the limousine Williams was riding in when he died. One of the jurors who was dismissed during the case says he believes Daniel “Ponytail” Harris was the second shooter, but Harris struck a deal with prosecutors to testify against Clark in exchange for immunity. (more…)
In Colorado Springs, where many streetlights have been turned off and trash cans removed from parks because of budget cuts, the highly conservative city council appears willing to entertain just about any offer for help, even from the controversial PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The animal-rights group wants to purchase trash cans for city parks that would feature an anti-meat slogan—”Meat trashes the planet. Go vegan.”—with a smiling blond wearing a bikini made of lettuce.
Mayor Lionel Rivera says he’d be open to the idea if PETA also pays for trash removal.
“If you allow PETA to advertise on trash cans, then you would also have to allow the Colorado Beef Council equal time,” Rivera jokes to the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Councilman Tom Gallagher, a fan of hamburgers, has no problems partnering with PETA, even if some carnivores in the city would be offended. (more…)
Scott McInnis, the GOP’s frontrunner for governor, learned earlier this week that he was polling ahead of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the likely Democratic nominee for governor, by six points.
The news in a Rasmussen Reports poll was particularly welcomed by McInnis (pictured left): Just a month prior, he had been trailing Hickenlooper by four points (via Fox 31).
But now, a new poll by Public Policy Polling has added more confusion. In that poll, Hickenlooper enjoys a strong 11-point advantage over McInnis, notes the Denver Business Journal.
Fully 50 percent of likely voters support Hickenlooper, and former Congressman McInnis garners 39 percent (11 percent are undecided).
“John Hickenlooper’s entry into this race has turned it from one where Democrats were favored to lose to one where they will be favored to win,” says Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling (via 2KWGN).
“McInnis’ leads last year were much less about his strength than [current Governor Bill] Ritter’s weakness. With a stronger Democratic candidate in the picture, this is now a completely different race.”
Two more mishaps have emerged in the nation’s efforts to ensure the safety of travelers, and both emanate from Colorado.
Officials at Denver International Airport concede that hundreds of bags were loaded onto jetliners in late December without being run through security scanners (via The Associated Press). The breach has spawned a U.S. Transportation Security Administration investigation into what appears to be unintentional human error.
In the second incident, Douglas Duchak, who worked at the TSA operations center in Colorado Springs for five years updating its computers with data from the Terrorist Screening Database and the U.S. Marshal’s Service Warrant Information Network, is facing charges for attempting to sabotage the data, according to Reuters. He’s facing 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 for attempted intentional damage to a protected computer.
“We pleaded not guilty and look forward to putting our side of the story in front of a jury,” says Duchak’s lawyer, M. David Lindsey (via the Colorado Springs Gazette).
Duchak was on the brink of being fired in late 2009. Documents say he wanted to damage the system that vets people who have access to sensitive information and secure areas within the nation’s transportation network.
A lot of things went right for the Colorado Rockies last season, and one thing that went very right was the play of young pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. The 26-year-old Dominican was clearly the Rockies’ most dominant pitcher, and this year, he’s being rewarded for it.
The team has announced that Jimenez will be the opening-day starter when the Rockies begin the 2010 campaign April 5 in Milwaukee (via The Associated Press). Jimenez went 15-12 last year with a franchise-history low 3.47 earned-run average.
The Denver Post writes that Jimenez had heard rumors he might get the starting spot, but he wasn’t sure until he was called into manager Jim Tracy’s office yesterday. Inside, he found Tracy sitting with 2007 and 2009 opening-day starter Aaron Cook, who wanted to be present when Tracy told Jimenez about his first opening-day starting opportunity.
Backup catcher Miguel Olivo thinks Jimenez has all the makings of an ace and “could win 20 games easily.” MLB.com reports that Cook anticipated Tracy’s decision and supports it 100 percent. The announcement comes two days after Jimenez led the Rockies to a 12-0 beatdown of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a sign of good things to come (via the AP).
But it’s not as if the Rockies—like every other team in the majors—don’t have questions circling over them. Bleacher Report highlights a few of them, with perhaps the most important being whether 2008 opening-day starter Jeff Francis can give the Rockies between 10 and 15 wins this year after missing all of 2009 with a shoulder injury. Francis was shelled by the San Francisco Giants recently, giving up four runs on four hits and walking two batters.
Ever since World War II, Millicent Young, 87, one of the war’s Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, has recalled the day she landed a plane at a New Mexico airfield, surprising a man in the ground crew.
“‘You shouldn’t be flying the airplane. I should be flying the airplane; I’m the man,’” Young recounts to The Denver Post. “I said, ‘Honey, if you’d been in here, I would have noticed.’”
The good-humored Young, who wore her uniform tunic in Washington, D.C., yesterday, is among a group of female pilots who gathered to receive a long-overdue honor: the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can give. Hundreds of WASPs, each one an aviation pioneer who broke the gender barrier—including 10 from Colorado—received the medal for volunteering to participate in some six million miles of noncombat missions during the war; 38 died in those years.
U.S. Senator Mark Udall helped sponsor the legislation: “Not only did their service help us win the war, it paved the way for all of the women military and civilian pilots who followed in their footsteps—including my mother, a pilot who loved the freedom of the skies just like these women did,” he says in a news release.
I should probably just be up front about this: I had never tried sake until now. It’s not because I haven’t had the opportunity. I enjoy sushi as much as the next guy or gal and have found myself at a variety of Denver’s raw-fish joints. But I’m a textbook beer lover. So on a recent late-night happy hour trip, I decided to make the jump and try the traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage. Sushi Sasa turned out to be the perfect place to do it.
My friend and I—another first-time sake sipper—showed up a little after 10:30 p.m. to catch the late-night happy hour. The downstairs lounge was just closing, so we opted for a seat at the sushi bar in the rear of the restaurant. A few people were still scattered around the dining room, which looks like someone used a protractor to arrange. Still, being late on a Tuesday, the place was fairly quiet.
As we surveyed the drink menu, we quickly realized we couldn’t pronounce 90 percent of the sake list and didn’t know what to order. Thankfully, our waiter came to the rescue. After listening to his sake spiel—he explained flavors and the varying quality of the beverages—we split a small bottle of Hakushika Junmai Ginjo, the waiter’s recommendation—not too sweet, not too dry, and very smooth. The best part? The $20 bottle was $10. As our waiter put it, “anything with booze in it” is half off during Sushi Sasa’s happy hour.
Late-night happy hour runs Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. The happy-hour special applies to the entire drink list—which, in addition to sake, includes domestic and Japanese beer, wine, and cocktails. The dinner menu is also available late-night, but everything remains full price.
The U.S. House of Representatives debated for three hours yesterday before overwhelmingly voting against a resolution that called for the hasty removal of troops from Afghanistan. The measure, by Representative Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, was defeated 356 to 65 (60 Democrats and five Republicans), reports The Washington Post.
U.S. Representative Jared Polis was among the more ardent backers of the measure, and the Boulder Democrat joined supporting lawmakers in an effort to voice their constituents’ opposition to the war and President Barack Obama’s recent decision to commit 30,000 troops to battle the Taliban.
“I supported the initial action to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan, and that succeeded,” Polis said on the House floor (via the Daily Camera). “The challenge we face now [is] a stateless menace.”
While hawks were prone to criticize the measure, Polis “is no dove,” writes The Colorado Independent, pointing out that he would still support limited attacks to root out terrorism in Afghanistan.
When I was a kid, I loved chicken pot pies. Then I grew up, and the heavy crust and limp, overcooked vegetables became a turn-off.
But last week, Black Pearl’s executive chef Kate Horton’s upscale take on the humble pie drew me back in. Horton serves her version in a miniature copper pot filled with plump poached chicken, savory roasted-butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and celery root. The robust ingredients are folded into a light and velvety chicken-and-thyme velouté. (A vegetarian version is also available.)
Instead of encasing the pie in an overwhelming crust, Horton keeps it simple by topping hers with a single disc of flaky pie crust. The result is a fresh, grown-up version of the comfort food.
Tip: Black Pearl’s chicken pot pie is only served during lunch, and it comes with a green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette.
Sign up for 5280's weekly e-newsletters. Want the latest restaurant scoop? The latest happenings around town? Access to exclusive events and deals just for 5280 readers? 
