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August 20, 2014 VOLU M E 53 | I S S UE 33 | 7 5 ¢
PikesPeakCourier.net T E L L E R C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Levy named mayor of Woodland Park By Pat Hill
phill@coloradocommunitymedia.com What may have been the best show in town was in council chambers Aug. 12 when Neil Levy was named Mayor of Woodland Park, the result of winning the draw over runner-up Phil Mella. Of five candidates hoping to replace Mayor Dave Turley, who resigned in June, the two beat out the opposition by capturing three votes apiece from six councilors, including Mayor Pro Tem Carrol Harvey. The council voted by secret ballot. The city’s charter approves the unconventional method of choosing a mayoral replacement when there seems to be no end to the tie vote. The candidates, Levy, Mella, Gretchen Bundy-Ladowicz, Mike Maddux and current city councilor Gary Brovetto, were questioned by the council on issues ranging from business, education, housing and marijuana, the latter from John Schafer. Of the five, Levy, Mella and Brovetto had Neil Levy assumes his post as Woodland Park’s new mayor Aug. 12. Photo by Pat Hill more local connections, as each has and he was arrested on suspicion of sexual as- Wagon Boss for 2013. continues to contribute to the vibrancy of sault on a minor by a person of trust. “My strength is in building relationthe community. Brovetto, for instance, is “We clearly have some issues, to revive, ships; I look around the room today and instrumental in the city’s two initiatives, if you will, the office of the mayor. I think I can honestly say that, not only do I know the Main Street Program and the applica- can be that person,” he said. “For the last most people but I’ve worked with most of tion for designation as a Creative Arts Dis- 15 years I have done as much as anybody them,” he said. “I think I’ve gained their trict. in this community in terms of contribut- trust and respect in the things I’ve done, And even though Bundy-Ladowicz and ing. Business welfare, school and our chil- not only for them but maybe for their Maddux offered stellar credentials and a dren are my passions and areas I’d like to church, their school and certainly for our keen interest in the city, the two, along with see represented on this council.” community. From what I’ve done over the Brovetto, were unable to capture a vote Eight-year member of the board of di- years, it seems like an obvious transition to from the council. rectors for the Greater Woodland Park me, to be part of this wonderful council.” In his presentation, Levy spoke of the Chamber of Commerce, including a year as If selected, Levy promised to be a teamturmoil caused by Turley’s resignation after chairman, Levy was named the chamber’s builder and consensus-maker while high-
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Racing fans will get to see many of the world’s top riders dsummers@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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Levy continues on Page 5
USA Pro Challenge loaded with riders from Tour de France By Danny Summers
PIKES PEAK COURIER
lighting his managerial skills as the owner of the Swiss Chalet in Woodland Park and the Peppertree restaurants in Colorado Springs. “My managerial style is simple; I let people take ownership because they love to do that,” he said. “Most of the staff at the Swiss Chalet has been with me between 10 and 16 years. That’s unheard of in our business.” To a question about how to build the future for Woodland Park, Levy named the aquatic project along with generating a stronger business climate and increasing affordable housing. “You can’t pay teachers $30,000 a year and expect them to live here,” he said. Brovetto, from his seat on the council, asked how Levy would get the public involved in the political process. “If I was mayor and as a result of the people I know and have created relationships with, I think I could help build excitement and encourage people to step up a little bit more and follow my lead, because I’ve been that person,” he said. As the father of three boys, Levy is a perennial volunteer in the RE-2 School District, service he encourages others to follow. Asked about his interest in education, Levy emphasized his role in developing the alternative education program while being on the community task force to review the district’s curriculum. “In terms of athletics I’ve coached baseball for the last 40 years, the last 15 in
Racing teams and provisional rosters have been announced for the 2014 USA Pro Cycling Challenge and on Aug 22, many of the best riders in the world will ascent upon Woodland Park. Headlining the impressive group of riders is 2013 USA Pro Challenge champion — and fifthplace finisher in last month’s Tour de France — Tejay van Garderen. Van Garderen, who makes his home in Aspen, will be joined by 2014 Tour de France KOM Jersey winner Rafał Majka, as well as teammate and Tour de France stage winner Michael Rogers. The USA Pro Challenge takes place Aug. 18-24 and will travel through 10 official host cities on a scenic tour of the Colorado Rockies. Colorado Springs will host Stage 4 of the event on Aug. 21. Woodland Park will be the starting point for Stage 5 on Aug. 22. Many of the riders recently competed in the Tour de France. Three riders competing in the 2014 Pro Challenge finished in the top-12 places at this year’s Tour de France, including van Garderen, Leopold König (seventh) and Frank Schleck (12th). Majka also won two stages. Additionally, the race also will feature two riders that finished on the podium in previous years of the Tour de France — Ivan Basso,
who also is a two-time Giro d’Italia winner, and Schleck — and multiple riders who captured a stage win — Jens Voigt, Basso, Schleck, Rogers and Majka. “The best of the best in professional cycling will charge the streets of Colorado,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “The competition this year will be tough and it’s going to be a great show for fans around the world.” Emphasizing the competitive level of the field, the current and former USPRO National Champions in road race will line up in Colorado (Eric Marcotte (2014) and Fred Rodriguez (2013). In addition to Marcotte, the race will include three other current national champions - Schleck (LUX), Hayden Roulsten (NZL) and Riccardo Zoidl (AUT). Other international stars competing in the this year’s Pro Challenge include current junior world champion Matej Mohori , Tour of Slovania winner Tiago Machado, Columbian climbing sensation Janier Acevedo, and Michael Markov and Matthew Lloyd, who both won stages in the Giro d’Italia. The 2014 USA Pro Challenge will include five of the top-six finishers from last year, including van Garderen, Gregory Brenes, Tom Danielson, Janier Acevedo and Lachlan Morton. Almost all of the jersey winners from 2013 will be back to defend their titles The elite professional roster of teams, which includes 128 riders from 30 countries, is comprised of six teams that competed in the Challenge continues on Page 5
Many of the world’s bicycle racers will be in Woodland Park on Aug. 22 for the start of Stage 5 of the USA pro Cycle Challenge. Courtesy photo
Kids celebrated at Pro Challenge By Pat Hill
phill@colorado communitymedia.com When more than 100 cyclists begin Stage 5 of the 2014 Pro Challenge in Woodland Park the morning of Aug. 22, the event has spawned an all-day celebration. “We want to create a festival so that we keep people in town,” said Karen Casey-Svetich, director of education for the Pro Challenge in Woodland Park. Coordinator for North Teller Build a Generation, Casey-Svetich is clued in to what attracts adolescents and teenagers. “We do prevention work, so decided to do
a pro-social event for our kids the day of the race,” she said. A BMX demonstration by Stunt Masters leads the Youth Expo kickoff at 2 p.m. on the green at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. As well, the Stunt Master will do a charactereducation presentation. While some kids might not believe nutrition is important, the expo includes the Flying Carrot bus, a collaboration of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Community Foundation. “Inside the bus there are bicycles set up and they create smoothies — kids can
Kids continues on Page 5