Issue 148

The school year is tough for all parents, but it can be extremely difficult for stay at home moms who bare most all of the weight of getting kids to and from school and activities. There are schedules to manage, lunches to make, carpools and playdates to organize, and keeping the kids up with their schoolwork. On top of it all, there is the stress of maintaining the image of the Stapleton mom. The stress of the 160 day school year is too much for many stay at home moms, so most forget about a school event, double book an after-school activity, forget to pack a lunch, and others even skip a yoga class or two. For the ones who stick with the program and keep everything together, the race can be grueling. “This is my fourth time doing the school year as a stay at home mom,” said Stapleton mom Dana Klein. “I take a little time off in the summer, but then it is right back into training. Some people think I am crazy for doing it for four years now, but there is a sense of accomplishment when you cross the finish line.” Tracy Wolf agrees. “Moms like us are just wired different,” says Wolf. “If we are not competing to do our absolute best, we are lost without a purpose. The ‘school year challenge’ is what makes us get up every morning. It’s what drives us.”

[Read more…] about Stapleton Mom Collapses from Exhaustion on Final Day of School

The Stevens family was looking for a small playhouse for their two year old and were thrilled when they found one on swap for just $20. “I came across it and was really excited about it,” said mother Rebecca. “It was exactly what we were looking for, and was only $20. I knew it was a good find when several people asked to be second on the list. We were overjoyed, and were certain our daughter would have a few really happy years in this house.” That elation, however, turned to anger after husband Garrett had the house undergo a routine inspection. “We paid to have the house inspected, just to make sure everything was in good standing,” said Garrett. “Turns out, the house is in pretty good order, unless you count the asbestos the previous owners never had removed.” When the Stevens found out about the asbestos, they were furious. “It’s terribly deceitful and irresponsible to be selling playhouses where the asbestos has not been removed,” said Rebecca. “We asked for the money back, but the sellers, the Clossons, refused, saying all sales were final on swap. It really puts us in a tough position.”

[Read more…] about Stapleton Family Sells Playhouse on Swap Without Removing Asbestos

Stapleton was originally planned to have six or more two-way streets connect Aurora and Stapleton in Eastbridge. But with fears of “others” easily making their way into Stapleton, scared Stapeltonians lobbied to reduce that number to just one: Fulton Street. Now, Forest City, always willing to embrace the latest trend from 10 years ago, has approved Fulton Street as a dual-use residential street and drag strip. “Bandimere Speedway is just too far away,” said Jake Bruns, “so it’s great that our sons and daughters – I’m all for equal rights and Title IX – can learn to race right here in the neighborhood.” Residents that don’t live on Fulton love it’s direct access to Stanley, MLK, Anschutz, Montview, and the speed associated with that direct access. “Some putz was doing 25 on Fulton Street going towards MLK last week,” Jamey Licata told us recently. “The light was green at MLK and I was, like, ‘bro, pedal on the right, let’s go. But did he go? No. So I blazed past him on the left, made the light, and was at work at Subway in Quebec Square on time. Dude, it says 25, but that really means at least 35.”

[Read more…] about Fast and the Furious on Fulton Street: Stapleton Approves Drag Racing

With the Eastbridge Soopers expected to open at the end of the month, the Quebec Soopers is preparing for what undoubtedly will be the end of the store. “For the last several years, we have known the time would come when another grocer entered the market,” said Quebec Soopers manager Gary Stevens. “We tried to make improvements which would keep us in the market longer, but projections do not look good for us to remain in the Stapleton market. In essence, King Soopers will be put out of business by King Soopers.” Research, in fact, shows that Stevens is correct and 84% of current Quebec Soopers shoppers no longer plan to go there once the Eastbridge store is open. “I am very much looking forward to the opening of the Eastbridge store,” said resident Paul Larson. “I have no idea if it will be better or worse, but it will be different. And that’s all I am really looking for right now. It’s like I am going through a divorce from the Quebec Soopers and the Eastbridge Soopers is my rebound.” Lee Jepsen is also at the end of his rope with the Quebec Soopers.

[Read more…] about Quebec Soopers Preparing for End of Days; Urges Customers to ‘Remember the Good Times’

No one is looking forward to the opening of the new King Soopers more than the residents of Eastbridge. Area residents anticipate not having to be in the Quebec Soopers anymore, but more than anything, they are excited for the convenience of a close grocery store. “I am so sick of coming home and realizing I forgot one item,” said Eastbridge resident Greg Buchan. “Of course, it ends up being a key item, and I need to get back in my car, park at Soopers and so on. Such a waste of 20 to 30 minutes.” Other residents look forward to not having as much wasted food. “Instead of worrying about shopping for a week or a month, I just need to worry about a couple of days,” said Lisa Wilson. “Food won’t be wasted, and I won’t have to worry if I got everything. Way less of a pain.”

[Read more…] about Eastbridge Residents Personalizing Shopping Carts in Anticipation of Soopers Opening

Summer is here, and that means Stapleton kids get off schedule pretty fast. After the final week of school, parents are excited to not stress about getting kids to bed so they can get them up for school in the morning. So, they let them stay up later, causing the kids to sleep in a little longer. This is most true for teens, as they are more likely to be allowed to stay out later, have overnights, or stay up late playing with one of their 15 different electronic devices. Stapleton teen Ethan Kimball adapted to his summer schedule more quickly than most. “He has been sleeping in until about noon every day,” said Ethan’s mom, Hope. “It’s absolutely ridiculous. We are trying to figure out what to do about it. He is not necessarily missing anything, it’s more that we think it’s pathetic, and a complete waste of a day.”

[Read more…] about Stapleton Teen Already Sleeping Past Noon

Home prices in Stapleton continue to soar, making it difficult for new buyers to come in to the Stapleton market. Homes purchased for under $500,000 ten years ago are now selling for over $700,000. For most of these homeowners, that extra equity doesn’t do them any good. “If we sell our house, where are we going to move?” asked long-time Stapleton homeowner Keith Wallace. “We love living in Stapleton and in Denver, and if we sold our house, we would have to pay more to buy. We don’t want to move to Highlands Ranch or Brighton.” Other residents have the same thoughts. “I guess it’s fun to talk about,” said Lauren Davis. “But, it doesn’t do us any good. Maybe we pay more property taxes, but that’s about it.” Resident Nick White became frustrated by having all of that useless equity, and decided to do something about it. “We already have a finished basement, and didn’t have anything else outside we were hoping to do,” said White. “So, we wanted to make a financial investment that may be a little risky, but could pay off. Ultimately, we decided to purchase a lot of land in western Nebraska. Essentially, about one-quarter of the state.” White says he and has family have no plans to ever live in Nebraska, but the investment could possibly pay off. “With the United States pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, who knows, weather could change in the next ten years, and that portion of the country could be appealing. Plus, some people do like living in Nebraska, like other Nebraskans, so I can lease land to Nebraskans who continue to want to live there just so they can easily get to Lincoln to watch their irrelevant football team.” White says Nebraska wasn’t the only place he considered purchasing land. “We looked at Kansas and Oklahoma, two of the other bottom five states, but ultimately settled on Nebraska. Nebraskans continue to want to live in Nebraska, so I figured I would have more potential buyers.” White’s total investment was just over $300,000, and he believes he can conservatively expect a 15% return in ten years. “In the end, my money will be doing something, instead of just sitting there,” said White. “Sure, it is sitting in Nebraska, but at least it will be doing something for me.”