February 12, 2015 VOLU M E 1 49 | I S S UE 1 0 | 5 0 ¢
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Friendly feet on the street Foothills running club builds community By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Saturday morning runs with the Foothills Running and Cycling Club in Golden look similar to the reunion of long lost friends. After joyful greetings are exchanged, club members pair-off with their running buddy as they begin the nearly four mile run up and down the Clear Creek path before reuniting for breakfast at Café 13. “This is the friendliest club,” said Simon Maybury, one of the club’s newest members. Started by Dan Dwyer, a recipient of the Mayors Award for Excellence for his achievements in improving health fitness in Golden, the club offers many running and fitness opportunities for both beginners and the advanced. “This is a great place for beginners,” said Joan Osborne, who holds a seat on the board of directors for the Foothills Running and Cycling Club. “Walkers are more than welcome.”
Since its inception, the club welcomes approximately 80 members each year from all age groups and fitness levels. “I’m the oldest guy in the club,” said Joe Petitti, 72. “I think it’s a good healthy lifestyle and the endorphins from running phenomenal. Nobody believes it until they do it.” Track workouts held by the club at Golden High School is a great resource for beginners who are in need of building endurance, Osborne said. But the club does more than provide group runs and exercise programs, it also promotes community engagement and the element of friendship. When club member Betsy Brooks first joined the group, she confessed didn’t know anyone. Now, as she decides to walk the Clear Creek path while recovering from a running injury, other runners in the group jog up to her to engage in friendly chat. “I love them all,” Brooks said. “I live for Saturday mornings.” Comradery is seen all over the Clear Creek path in fact. Joan Osborne ran with a new club member who was attempting her first four mile run. Back at the “finish line,” members exchange friendly jokes with City Manager, Mike Bestor, at his early presence since he
Runners from the Foothills Running and Cycling Club in Golden begin their trek along the Clear Creek Path on Saturday, Feb. 7. From left to right; Michelle, Joan Osborne, Mike Bestor. Photo by Amy Woodward usually gets there last. In all seriousness, however, the club encourages the journey not the destination. “I would guess that half of these people come to run so they can come to breakfast or so they can finish the story they heard talked about last week,” Osborne said, sitting at a table in Café 13 surrounded by chatting club members. “There is such an
amazing amount of variety in the club by professions, ages, interests — and what brings us all together is the running.” For more information about the Foothills Running and Cycling Club including ways to apply and fitness schedules, visit www.frcclub.com. A membership party will be held on Friday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. at the Capital Grill at 1122 Washington Ave.
Funding request for Armory Council debates whether to fund nonprofit By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com
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GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
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Calvary Episcopal Church is looking to transfer ownership of the Armory Building to the Golden Community Commons Board (GCC), a local nonprofit that was created to oversee the use of the Armory building. But significant funding is required to pay off the purchasing debt for the building, and GCC is looking to the city to assist with loan pay-backs from the Golden Civic Foundation that would
come with the Armory’s ownership transfer from Calvary to GCC. On Thursday, Feb. 5 Calvary Pastor John Wengrovius asked council members during a city study session for a $50,000 grant, with consideration of an annual donation of $50,000 for the next four years, totaling $250,000. Council will hear the request presented in a formal resolution in future meetings at an unspecified date. Councilors Pamela Gould and Laura Weinberg expressed concern over the request because of Calvary’s present ownership of the Armory, and the lack of authority on the project by the city. Under the U.S. and Colorado Constitutions, governments cannot provide money to churches
unless the governmental body is contracting with the church to provide services, such as running a local soup kitchen or food bank. While the GCC was created to help shift financial responsibility and provide oversight, most of the board’s members are affiliated with Calvary. “I’m not saying they are not trying to do wonderful things in the community but I don’t want us to tip toe around the idea of what we are actually doing,” Pamela Gould said. “I think if we are giving money to an organization that is made up of almost entirely of members of a particular church--the board members are almost entirely made up of that particular church — and the church owns the building, we are giving money to a church.”
Councilors expressed unanimous support for the Armory project’s mission to create “a common space for the common good,” but avenues for city funding will have to be explored thoroughly, as well as any discussions on a possible city claim on portions of the property. Councilor Laura Weinberg advised council to consider if funding nonprofits is a responsibility the city wants to take on. “This is going to be used as a private building, not a public city building,” Laura Weinberg said. “The request for money to help pay for the building doesn’t really feel what the city should be deciding to do with our taxpayers money.”
able to function cognitively...,” she said. “We just faced these challenges head on because neither one of us knew how to do it any differently. We committed to doing whatever it took to get through each day … we tried not to overly worry about tomorrow.” Advice from couples overcoming challenges from diseases easily transcends into sound guidance for couples who are facing other types of challenges in their personal relationships, Jeanne Lassard said. “I learned something from every
single one of the couples that we interviewed,” Lassard said. Lessons learned include finding different ways to communicate, finding better ways to deal with things as well as having a good sense of humor. “Hopefully everybody that reads it will be able to identify with one or more of the couples,” she said. “This book is not just for people with MS, any relationship, any couple can benefit from hearing these stories.” “A Dose of Devotion” is currently available on Amazon and Kindle.
In sickness and in health Golden couple’s medical struggle part of new book By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Love is not easy. But for couples who are faced with adversity, only those who face the tribulation together discover true love ways. In “A Dose of Devotion, How Couples Living with Multiple Sclerosis Keep Their Love Strong” by Rhonda Giangreco and Jeanne Lassard, tales of love tested are explored through a compilation of stories shared by couples from across the nation who are working together to love better with multiple sclerosis. “Almost every marriage at some point is going to face a serious illness or a really difficult challenge,” said Giangreco. Co-authored by Jeanne Lassard, Giangreco spent nine months putting the book together conducting interviews with 24 couples who
were at different stages of multiple sclerosis. Giangreco and Lassard, who both have MS, were eager to put the book together after learning that 70 percent of relationships dissolve after an MS diagnosis. Twelve couples were ultimately selected for the book resulting in 12 inspiring stories. “… The wisdom and the insight that these twelve couples provide really is something that every young couple should read, this is really what love looks like,” Rhonda Giangreco said. Richard and Suzanne Pershall of Golden were one of the couples selected for the book. The Pershall’s have been married for 22 years. When Suzanne was diagnosed in 1996 at the age of 38, she and Richard were forced into a precarious situation just four years into their marriage. “We were both uncertain about what the future would hold for us and for our family,” Suzanne Pershall said. “Would I be able to work, would I be able to walk, would I be