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If you have a daughter and live in Stapleton, you have no doubt been to a Frozen party provided by Wands and Wishes in the last year. At the party you will most certainly have seen a Frozen cake along with balloons and other party favors. But the stars of the party will unquestionably be the characters that show up to wish the special someone a happy birthday. The character who seems to be getting far more than her share of work these days is Elsa. “My daughter loves Frozen,” said Stapleton parent Christine McDonald. “And, you know, the story is really about Elsa, so my daughter likes her the most. Plus she has special powers.” Stapleton parents are especially compelled to grant their kids’ wishes. “Whatever it takes to make my beautiful girl happy,” said Stapleton dad Bob Marion. “And if hiring a princess makes my princess happy, then that’s what I will do.” [Read more…] about Elsa Heads Back to Arendelle for Much Needed Break

Despairing Eastbridge residents, increasingly convinced that Forest City will never actually build their long-promised park at 26th Ave., have taken to “viral” fundraising in an effort to collect the money to build the park themselves. Inspired by the ALS Foundation’s “Ice Bucket Challenge,” the newly formed Where’s Our F***ing Park Foundation has begun promoting the “Box Wine Challenge,” in which participants are encouraged to drain a box of wine into a bucket, dump it on their heads, and then “nominate” three of their neighbors to do the same. [Read more…] about "Box Wine Challenge" Raises Funds for Eastbridge Park

After what seemed like a decade, but could more easily be measured in weeks, PBR was off of the tap at the Berkshire in Stapleton. “It was really hard,” said resident Kevin Vogel. “It is a great, local place to eat and drink, and losing a top notch, award winning beer definitely stung me a little bit.” Many residents counted on their late afternoon or evening PBRs at the Berk. “It’s just so American to enjoy a PBR with bacon,” said resident and frequent Berkshire customer Rob Hodges. “So, when PBR was gone, I felt like so was a little bit of America.” [Read more…] about Don’t Call it a Comeback: PBR Back at Berkshire!

With the high school getting ready to open in 2015, one thing is going to become very obvious: Stapleton will have a lot of teenage drivers. “It really worries me,” says Stapleton parent Amelia Saar. “We still have lots of young kids in Stapleton and kids playing in alleys. It’s just kind of scary to think of having a sudden influx of rookie drivers.” Other residents are concerned about where all of these cars are going to be parked. “It won’t be in 2015 or ’16, but by 2020 or so, our neighborhood will be overrun with cars,” said resident Mike Shannon. “People already just park one car outside and use their garage as storage. Pretty soon, they will have two kids driving, and now they have three Audi A-4’s parked out front. It’s going to look pretty bad.” Resident Luke Schmadeke agrees. “I guess Forest City wanted Stapleton to be urban,” said Schmadeke. “There is nothing more urban than having to drive around for 30 minutes trying to find a parking spot.” The problem seems inevitable, unless families move away from Stapleton once their kids are old enough to drive. However, Forest City believes they may have a solution. “We know residents are concerned with the potential parking quagmire,” said Forest City Spokesperson Janelle Ayers. “We have looked at a number of solutions, and we have decided that for the time being, we will make a parking lot out of the area by the control tower.” Ayers went on to say that the area was perfect for a parking lot, since “it used to be one.” In the plan, kids will be able to park bikes at the lot or have parents drop them off, then get their cars and head to school or wherever it is they are going. “It’s actually not a terrible idea,” said resident Kim Hansen. “It makes an effort to keep the kids off of the residential streets, and just on MLK, which they will be using to ‘cruise’ eventually anyway.” More residents feel it is a fine concept. “They were going to use that area to make out in anyway,” says Brian Helman. “This is just making it a little easier for that I guess, but at least they won’t be backing out of garages, or speeding down alleys.” Some residents are frustrated that more effort isn’t going into doing something with the control tower. “They just spent all that time tearing down a parking garage,” said Tracy Closson. “Now they are going to rebuild a lot? Not the Stapleton I envisioned.” Forest City feels that this is simply a good short term solution, making the space at the control tower functional, and solving a potential parking issue with teenage drivers. “We are not saying this is going to be like this forever,” said Ayers. “But, let’s be honest, we probably weren’t going to do something with the control tower for 15 to 20 more years anyway. ]]>

Residents who are members are at the Central Park Recreation Center were frustrated when they realized that the Center would be closed for a full week last week. “I pay a monthly membership fee so that I can exercise there and stay hot,” said resident Brenda Miller. “Plus, we take the kids there to swim. I think a week seems like a long time to close down the whole place.” Many other members agree with Miller. “I doubt they are going to take a week off of my costs, are they?” asks member Joe Tracy. “It is ridiculous. What were they doing where the entire place needed to be shut down for a week?” When members found out what they actually were doing they became more frustrated. [Read more…] about Central Park Rec Center Plans to Close for Full Quarter in 2015

The second annual StapletOM Yoga Festival is rapidly approaching, and attendees, potential attendees, and residents are curious as to what they should expect. “The StapletOM event will be fun for those new to Yoga, experienced Yogis as well as those who just want to come have some drinks and listen to great music,” said event Co-Organizer Jeannene Levinson. The event, which will be held on the Green on Friday and Saturday September 18th and 19th, will feature an array of teachers from different styles of yoga, as well as live music, food trucks, and of course alcohol. “It should be a great time,” said Levinson. “We want people to not worry about expectations of a Yoga festival, and simply come and have a great time.” [Read more…] about StapletOM Yoga Festival: An Attendees' Guide

The Stanley Marketplace is moving along nicely and is one of the bright spots for Stapleton-area development in 2014. “This is such an exciting project,” said resident Robin Hodges. “From what I have heard, there is going to be many great options regarding stores, food, recreation, etc. Just going to be really neat.” When the development team first thought of the idea, they thought big. “We thought we could get some restaurants, a small market, and even a beer garden into the area,” said lead consultant Sean Asbee. “But, when we toured the facility, we realized we had to think bigger.” [Read more…] about Stanley Marketplace: Size Matters

Stapleton residents have never been afraid to get political and let their voices be heard. During a Presidential election year, every other house will have a political sign. But, in non-election years, yard signs decrease dramatically. However, recent happenings in the last three months have created a perfect storm, and signs now adorn 80% of Stapleton homes. [Read more…] about Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs—Stapleton Boasts Most Signs Since 2012