Issue 104

According to a recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the Stapleton Swap Facebook group is as addictive as taking the street drug methamphetamine, or meth. “What we found in our study was that very similar parts of the brain were impacted by both,” said Dr. Greg Artz. “They essentially act as euphoriants, causing great highs, but when people come down it can be severe. This is what gives both their addictive traits. Once you come down, you again are looking for that high, so you keep coming back. In these cases, either to crystal meth or Stapleton Swap.” Artz says the physical and psychological side effects of Swap and meth are very similar. “On the physical front, both can cause loss of appetite, increased sweating, blurred vision, and a pale appearance,” said Artz. “Luckily, for Swap users, teeth go completed unaffected, unlike meth which can have devastating effects on teeth.” Artz continues to mention the psychological effects of both. “Increased concentration, insomnia, wakefulness, anxiety, and repetitive and obsessive behaviors are all behaviors observed in both Swap and Meth users.” Artz says meth should never be done recreationally, but Swap can be a positive experience if you are being monitored by a support group. “You need to have family and friends around, and maybe even a doctor, to let you know when your “swapping” is becoming a problem,” said Artz. “If you are alone and asking yourself if your “swapping” is a problem, you’re already too late.” The culture of Swap is also very similar to the drug culture. There are all sorts of different kinds of users. There are those who are mostly buyers, and those who are mostly sellers (pushers). There are also swap wars, the same as there are drug wars. Some swappers even believe they have rights to certain territories, or neighborhoods within Stapleton. “It’s pretty messed up,” says former swapper Kristi Clark. “I was lucky enough to get out of it when I did. I know for some of my old friends, they are way into the culture now, and I don’t know if I will ever get them back. It’s just so sad.” Artz says that the best way to not become an addict is to “not get involved in the first place. Once you are hooked, they have you. Whether it’s meth or Swap. You just need to say no.” ]]>

For years now, the West Crescent Flats water fountain “art” piece in the 29th St. Town Center has served as a play area for kids on hot summer days. Kids run around the moat of water and climb the water mountain. The problem with this is that the structure isn’t meant for climbing. “We never thought having an unprotected, easy to access fountain in the middle of a crowded area would end up being a place for people to walk on,” said Forest City Spokesperson Janelle Ayers. “I don’t think anyone would have thought that, right? So, we put a sign up, which we had hoped would discourage kids from playing in the fountain area.” [Read more…] about Forest City Doesn’t Fully Appreciate “Attractive Nuisance” Doctrine

May 4, 2015: Once again, the Stapleton King Soopers is out of everything. Sure, there are some random items remaining, but the stuff people actually come for and need, are completely gone. “How is it that on a Monday, shelves are empty and they are fighting to restock things,” says Stapleton resident and disgruntled Soopers shopper Heidi Lima. “Not that we all need another reason to hate King Soopers or not want another one in our neighborhood, but who is running the real time inventory management system? That guy needs to be fired.” [Read more…] about Update: Stapleton Soopers out of Everything

Last week, William (Bill) Roberts Elementary became the first Denver Public School to decide to stop teaching kids cursive. Principal Atkins, along with input from teachers and other administrators, decided they would remove cursive from the curriculum. Atkins said that many factors came into play when it came to the decision. “As we move to a more electronic world, cursive simply isn’t as applicable,” said Atkins. “Kids need to be learning to use the tools they will need to be successful, such as iPads, laptops, Microsoft Office programs, etc. We need to take time to work on that stuff instead of a dead writing style. But, in the end, the biggest reason we decided to stop teaching it is because it’s just stupid.” [Read more…] about Roberts to Become First Stapleton School to Ditch Cursive

Stapleton property values continue to rise, as do the property values all across Denver. The continued rise of these property values has triggered America’s wealthy to begin buying up Stapleton homes, according to analyst Tom Baltus. “The United States’ most wealthy people are very acute at understanding the importance of real estate,” says Baltus. “When they see property values go up, especially in the United States, they pay attention. And in many cases, they jump on the train, worrying they will be left behind.” [Read more…] about America’s Wealthy Elite Buying Stapleton “Summer Homes”

Stapleton residents have created tens of web sites aimed at helping those in the community. Stapleton sites help people find babysitters, good local businesses, places to eat, buy and sell items, among many other helpful areas. Most of these concepts spawned off the now defunct Stapleton Mom’s Yahoo! group. The scope was so broad, the site was getting overwhelmed with questions and answers, but didn’t have a specific focus. Much like chat rooms, residents have created topics and sub-topics aimed at getting people to the right area so they can get the best information quickly and accurately. “I really like all the different sites,” says resident Heidi Crum. “If I need help from a business, I go to Bizz Buzz, if I want to buy or sell things, I go to Stapleton Swap, and if I have a lost dog, I go to to Next Door. It just makes everything so easy.” [Read more…] about “Stapleton Counsel” Facebook Site Fills ‘Advice’ Void in Stapleton

With the pool opening in about three weeks, families are getting eager to bring their families to the pool. Stapleton pools serve many purposes in the summer including burning your kids out so they are not up until the sun goes down after nine, and a place for parents and nannies to bring kids so they don’t actually have to interact with them. For some parents, the pool can also be a challenging experience. [Read more…] about Stapleton Family Already Packing for Pool