1
November 7, 2014 VOLU M E 1 3 | I SS UE 1
ParkerChronicle.net A publication of
D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Voucher case set for state’s top court Battle over school district program continues Dec. 10 By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Steve Skalkowski, owner of Astral Float Spa in Parker, stands next to one of the four sensory-deprivation chambers at the spa near South Parker Road and Plaza Drive. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
A little nothing to help relax Sensory deprivation takes away distractions By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com Any fan of “Seinfeld” knows that there is great significance in the idea of nothing. Steve Skalkowski believes in the concept so much that he left a successful 16-year career in the mortgage industry to start a business devoted to the pleasures of nothing. That is, sensory deprivation, a practice that completely removes daily distractions, if only for an hour or so. Skalkowski converted a 1,200-squarefoot space in the Plaza Center Office Suites formerly occupied by an auto leasing company into Astral Float Spa, the largest sensory-deprivation center in the Denver metro area. He opened his doors in July and has been growing the business ever since. Looking around at the spare walls,
Skalkowski readily admits he still needs to do some decorating; the lone art piece on the wall simply says, “Enjoy the Journey.” And he knows that’s the entire point, the reason why people come. Astral Float Spa’s four sensory-deprivation chambers — each in a private room — resemble futuristic escape pods, and to some they are a gateway to enlightenment and clarity. Freshly removed from a serious relationship and searching for answers, Skalkowski came across a podcast by insightful-butsometimes-vulgar stand-up comedian Joe Rogan, who extolled the benefits of sensory deprivation so much that Skalkowski was convinced to try it. “I had started meditating, but I wasn’t very good at it,” he said. “Every little thing would distract me.” His first experience in an isolation tank was transformative, and Skalkowski is fulfilled when he sees first-time customers have the same reaction. Some are attracted by the idea of utter relaxation, a brief departure from the daily runaround. Nearly
everyone is a candidate: hurried business executives, frazzled stay-at-home moms, overworked students and bruised and battered athletes. “In such a sensory-overloaded society, this sensory deprivation is that escape, because there is nothing in this tank except for you,” he said. “You’re alone with your thoughts and you’re floating, so your body doesn’t exist anymore.” The float tanks, as they are sometimes known, provide enough room to stretch out and are filled with 10 inches of water loaded with Epsom salt. The salt provides enough buoyancy for people to completely relax every muscle in their body and become suspended by the water, with no pressure points. Pitch-black surroundings and an absence of noise make users feel as if they are in space. Once the mind finishes reeling over the physics of it all, a soothing calmness takes over. Spa continues on Page 28
Incumbents retain council seats in Parker Holland, Martin notch convincing wins By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com There are two familiar faces and one new one on Parker Town Council, according to unofficial voting results from the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. Incumbents Amy Holland and Josh Martin appear to have retained their seats on town council, tallying 8,617 and 7,247 votes, respectively. Renee Williams, a newcomer to local politics, was in third place with 6,496. The next closest opponent was Mark Malsam with 3,522 votes. First-time candidates Mark Schmitt, Mark Lane, Al Bollwerk and Dustin Jensen each had 3,425 votes or less. Holland, Martin and Williams, the three candidates who advertised their runs for office together, gathered with supporters Nov. 4 at the new Vehicle Vault storage facility near Lincoln Avenue and Twenty Mile Road to await the results. Mayor Mike Waid quieted the crowd and read the numbers aloud. The results were greeted with raucous cheers and hugs for the victors.
Eight challengers mounted campaigns for three open seats on council, a six-member board that guides town decisions and approves the annual budget. Holland and Martin were fi rst elected in 2010 and have Holland been instrumental in many of the ongoing projects in Parker, including the new Parker Library, the expansion of the Parker Recreation Center and the redevelopment on King Soopers in Cottonwood. Martin says he is relieved Martin to have the chance to continue working on initiatives he has helped start. “You put so much time and effort into it. Some of these things we’ve been working on since we got elected four years ago,” he said. “A lot of times you don’t get to see the project all the Williams way through.” Williams said she is excited to learn the finer points of the job and maintaining the positive trajectory that the town is following. “It’s going to be a fabulous experience,”
The Douglas County School District’s choice scholarship program finally will be aired before the state’s highest court. Oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging the voucher program are set for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Colorado Supreme Court in downtown Denver. That date is more than three years after a Denver District Court judge halted the pilot program by declaring it unconstitutional in August 2011. The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed that decision in Larsen February 2012. “We’re certainly looking forward to entering this phase,” school board president Kevin Larsen said. “It’s our wish they would uphold the decision that stands at the moment.” Plaintiff Cindy Barnard shares Larsen’s sense of anticipation. “I’m confident that we will prevail in the Supreme Court,” said Barnard, a Highlands Ranch resident and president of the nonprofit Taxpayers for Public Education. “It’ll be a bad day for public education if we do not prevail.” Voucher continues on Page 9
GOP sweeps local races Staff report Voters in Douglas County helped decide four races for the state House and one race for the state Senate. Below is a look at the outcomes, with Republicans taking all five races in commanding fashion.
State Senate District 30
From left, Amy Holland, Josh Martin and Renee Williams celebrate their election to Parker Town Council during a party at Vehicle Vault Nov. 4. Photo by Chris Michlewicz she said. Williams, the owner of an in-home health care service, is eager to begin finding ways to bring more housing and adequate transportation for seniors and people with special needs. If the results are made official, the winners will be sworn in during a meeting at town hall in December.
Chris Holbert (R-Parker) held off challenges from Bette Davis (D-Lone Tree) and Eric Price (L-Highlands Ranch) as the trio of candidates vied to replace term-limited Republican Ted Harvey as the representative in this district. As of 1:30 a.m. results showed Holbert (62.6 percent) with 39,618 votes, Davis (33.7 percent) with Holbert 21,340 and Price (3.7 percent) with 2,328. Holbert has spent the last four years as the representative for HD-44.
State House District 39
Political newcomer James Huff (DParker) took a shot at unseating Polly Lawrence (R-Roxborough). With Teller County and Douglas County both reporting, Lawrence (71.2 percent) took the race Local continues on Page 14