Colorado Springs Independent

Police chief: Looking at helicopters and drones

Pam Zubeck — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:51:00 -0600

Last week, Police Chief Pete Carey said he was looking at reactivating the Police Department's helicopter unit, as well as unmanned aircraft — drones, in other words.

His comments came during Mayor Steve Bach's town hall meeting at Broadmoor Elementary, after a citizen asked what can be done to get aviation assets to respond to wildland fires quicker and whether drones are viable for early detection of fires.…

Local chef expands into crazy pop-up dinners

Bryce Crawford — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:46:00 -0600

Now that chef Brother Luck is back in town, having run the kitchen at the Craftwood Inn for the last seven months, or so, he's breaking out into one-off dinners through a new company called crEATe719 Kitchen.

"We will be hosting a series of *underground pop up dinners*," Luck writes in an e-mail to the Indy.…

Album release show marathon begins tonight

Bill Forman — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:44:25 -0600

The weekend is upon us, and with it three worthy CD release shows from local artists.

Tonight, local hip-hop collective Bullhead*ded is celebrating the release of its long-awaited debut album, 4Play, at the Black Sheep.…

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Homeless population growing, survey shows

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:28:00 -0600

There are at least 1,171 homeless people in El Paso County, a one-day headcount revealed, up from 1,127 in 2012.

Performed as a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the headcount shows how many people were accessing services for the homeless on Jan. 29, 2013.…
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NRA is gunning for Morse

Pam Zubeck — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:52:47 -0600

This just in from Christy Le Lait, who's working to keep Sen. John Morse from being recalled:

A mass mailing funded by the NRA and coordinated with Basic Freedom Defense Fund has gone out to voters throughout Senate District 11 supporting the recall effort of Senate President John Morse and urging voters to join up with BFDF to remove Sen. Morse from office.

“Basic Freedom Defense Fund has released numerous statements to the media and on their website claiming to be a grassroots organization,” stated Christy Le Lait, representative for A Whole Lot of People for John Morse, the issue committee fighting the recall attempt.…
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Bill Elder wastes no time announcing run for sheriff

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:46:00 -0600

Remember when there were breaks between election seasons? Take a moment to reminisce, because that's certainly not the case anymore.…
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Bach plays paperboy for Gazette

Pam Zubeck — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:14:22 -0600

Mayor Steve Bach sure has an interesting relationship with the daily newspaper.

Take, for example, what happened when Gazette reporters wrote a perfectly serviceable story about the city's Waldo Canyon Fire After Action Report, released April 3.…
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Federal government fails third-grade punctuation

Bryce Crawford — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:21:00 -0600

I kid you not: The lack of apostrophes in the names of landmarks — Zebulon Pike's peak, for instance — is on purpose. This heinous bit of punctuation slaughter is actually condoned and encouraged by the federal government, comes the word from today's Wall Street Journal.…
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Joey Diamond lives the dream

Bill Forman — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:05:46 -0600

Good news: Joey Diamond is coming to Colorado Springs!

Now if that sentence didn't trigger an endorphin rush, it may well be that you don’t belong to a certain demographic, the same one that’s hormonally predisposed to worship Justin Bieber.…
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Coming soon to Ivywild: ModboCo School of Art

Edie Adelstein — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:50:00 -0600

Today, Brett and Lauren Andrus announced they are starting an art school in the Ivywild School.

The co-owners of the Modbo and S.P.Q.R. galleries will offer classes for adults (which Brett already teaches in S.P.Q.R., one of which I attended), as well as teens and elementary-age children.…
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Guthrie, Helm and Croce set for local summer shows

Bill Forman — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:57:18 -0600

Granted, Colorado Springs doesn’t always get the best-known musicians coming through, but we’ll soon be getting a lot of their offspring. In a genuinely odd coincidence, at least three of them have been booked so far to perform here this summer.…
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Pot-shop limit is an option in Manitou Springs

Bryce Crawford — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:58:00 -0600

Yesterday, Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach called recreational marijuana a "public safety issue," and indicated that he's likely to advocate for a ban on pot shops in his city. Bach added that he'd had discussions with Manitou Springs Mayor Marc Snyder regarding a possible ban in the more liberal tourist town.…
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Funding ban renewed for Pinon Canyon

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:48:00 -0600

For the sixth year running, a ban on funding to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site is making its way into law.

In a news release, Not 1 More Acre!, an advocacy group fighting to keep the Army from claiming more land in southeast Colorado for maneuvers, announced the military construction budget that was marked up in the Military Construction Subcommittee of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee today will continue the funding ban on "any action that relates to or promotes the expansion of the boundaries or size of the U.S. Army's Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site."

Here's the entire news release from Jean Aguerre, president of Not 1 More Acre!

Keeping the funding ban in the law has been a top priority for N1MA!…
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Downtown's Curbside Cuisine now rolling

Matthew Schniper — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:56:00 -0600

As properly prognosticated in my Side Dish column in late April, Curbside Cuisine arrived on the scene today. My colleague posted this pic of curry chicken lunch from the High Grade Catering and Food Truck.…
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Hick signs 'Breakfast After the Bell'

J. Adrian Stanley — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:36:00 -0600

Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed the bill known as "Breakfast After the Bell" into law.

The law means that schools with higher levels of impoverished children will be required — with some exceptions — to serve a free breakfast to all students after the start of the school day.…
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UPDATE: School Districts 2 and 11 want to feed the kids this summer

J. Adrian Stanley — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:21:53 -0600

Colorado Springs School District 11's extensive summer feeding program will continue this year.

Anyone ages 1 to 18 is invited to eat free at one of many locations — both in neighborhoods and schools.…
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Want to support John Morse?

Kirk Woundy — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:51:00 -0600

As the effort to recall John Morse continues — and attracts big money on both sides — the El Paso County Democratic Party is holding an event where supporters of the Senate president can thank him and fellow local Democratic lawmakers for their "hard work and bravery."

Here are the details:

Morse, of course, has been a target since shepherding through a spate of gun-control measures during the 2013 legislative session. Signature-gatherers have until June 3 to collect 7,000-plus signatures in their effort to get a recall election OK'd.…
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$3.2 million building for sheriff, dean nominee at AFA, Rockey paintings on the move, more

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
Noted by Pam Zubeck, Kirk Woundy, Edie Adelstein and J. Adrian Stanley County's $3.2 million deal On Tuesday, El Paso County commissioners were expected to approve a deal to buy warehouse facilities located at 3755, 3815, 3825 and 3845 N. Mark Dabling Blvd., for use as the El Paso County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management.…
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Colorado's home to award-winning barbecue sauce

Bryce Crawford — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
Get good, get Grumpy by Bryce Crawford Jeff Greenberg's excited about the 2013 Scovie Awards his barbecue sauce took home in March — second-place honors in the American Style Mild, Diet Friendly and Specialty Chile categories — but not that excited. After all, he'd already taken a pair of firsts in 2012; a second and third in 2011; a third in 2010.…
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Major concerts in Colorado

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
Big Gigs Imagine Dragons, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, May 16 • Junior Brown, Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, May 18 • Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, May 18 • Limp Bizkit, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, May 18 • Three Legged Fox, Black Sheep, May 18 • Capital Cities, Gold Fields, Black Sheep, May 21 • Rehab, Black Sheep, May 24 • MeadowGrass Music Festival, feat. Blitzen Trapper, Dawes, Todd Snider, La Foret Conference & Retreat Center, May 24-26 • Logic, Black Sheep, May 25 • Trapt, Black Sheep, May 26 • Escape the Fate, Black Sheep, May 27 • Ivan & Alyosha, Black Sheep, May 28 • Dropkick Murphys, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, May 29 • Beware of Darkness, Black Sheep, May 30 • Scale the Summit, Black Sheep, May 31 • Buddy Whittington, with the Atomic Fireballs, Crystola Roadhouse, Woodland Park, May 31 • Bassnectar, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, May 31-June 1 • Atlas Genius, Black Sheep, June 1 • Fleetwood Mac, Pepsi Center, Denver, June 1 • Gina Sicilia, Venue 515, Manitou Springs, June 1 • Taylor Swift, Pepsi Center, Denver, June 2 • The Mowgli's, Black Sheep, June 3 • The xx, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, June 3 • Sting, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 5 • Darius Rucker, with Rodney Atkins, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 6 • Umphrey's McGee, Dr. Dog, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 7 • Celtic Woman, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 9 • Logic, with Skizzy Mars, Summit Music Hall, Denver, June 11 • Pitbull, Ke$ha, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, June 11 • DeVotchKa, with the Colorado Symphony, Amanda Palmer, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 14 • Fitz & the Tantrums, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, June 14 • Datsik, Ogden Theatre, Denver, June 14-15 • Tim McGraw, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, June 15 • Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, June 17 • Tony Bennett, with Antonia Bennett, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, June 18-19 • The Ultimate Thriller — The Michael Jackson Tribute, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 21 • TROOP, Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, June 27 • Josh Turner, Pikes Peak Center, June 27 • Drums Along the Rockies, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, July 6 • Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Mastodon, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, July 7 • David Byrne & St. Vincent, Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, Denver, July 13 • Brandi Carlile, Blind Pilot, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 13 • Arlo Guthrie, with the Trishas, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, July 14 • Matchbox Twenty/Goo Goo Dolls, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, July 15 • Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, July 18 • Michael Jackson HIStory II Show, Pikes Peak Center, July 18 • Global Dance Festival, with Beats Antique, EOTO, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 19-21 • Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, Denver, July 20 • Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, July 21 • Wiz Khalifa, A$ap Rocky, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, July 23 • Elephant Revival and Carolina Chocolate Drops, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, July 24 • Hollywood Undead, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, July 26 • Rodrigo y Gabriela, with the Colorado Symphony, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 28 • 311, Cypress Hill, G Love & Special Sauce, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 29 • Americanarama Festival of Music, with Bob Dylan and His Band, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Bingham, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, July 31 • Knife Party, Diplo, Disclosure, Flosstradamus, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 1 • Brad Paisley, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, Aug. 1 • Brit Floyd — The World's Greatest Pink Floyd Show, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 2 • Rush, Pepsi Center, Denver, Aug. 2 • Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Uncle Kracker, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, Aug. 3 • Thievery Corporation, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 3 • Indigo Girls, with Von Grey, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, Aug. 4 • Gipsy Kings, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, Aug. 5 • Bruce Cockburn and Suzanne Vega, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, Aug. 6 • Grizzly Bear, Ogden Theatre, Denver, Aug. 6 • Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers, Pikes Peak Center, Aug. 6 • Asleep at the Wheel, Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, Aug. 7 • Jake Shimabukuro, Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, Aug. 9 • Ben Taylor, Pikes Peak Center, Aug. 11
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City Council looks to lawyer up

John Hazlehurst — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
At a retreat last week, all of city council spoke in favor of having an independent source of legal advice, directly hired by Council, unconstrained by loyalty to Bach or Melcher. by John Hazlehurst Living in Miami in the late 1970s, I got into an interesting conversation with my neighbor Lonnie. "Have you ever been arrested?" he began.…
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Summer film preview: superhero sequels, dystopian Earth and questionable efforts

Jonathan Kiefer — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
Regression analysis by Jonathan Kiefer Maybe it's me getting older, or maybe it's the global warming of Hollywood megacapitalism, but summer movie season seems to come sooner every year. As you've no doubt discovered, this year's already is well underway, especially considering Iron Man 3's release on May 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness (see here) this week.…
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Star Trek Into Darkness is a brutally brilliant film for our times

MaryAnn Johanson — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
They have ingeniously crafted a Star Trek movie that works equally well for neophytes and devotees by MaryAnn Johanson There's a thing that makes me very sad about Star Trek Into Darkness. It's not the perfect geek storm of an opening gambit that evokes not only the old-school, boldly-going adventures of the crew of the starship Enterprise, but also, hilariously, Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's not how Zachary Quinto somehow manages to make Spock more plausibly divided in his half-human, half-Vulcan skin than Leonard Nimoy ever did.…
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Cat foils the burglar, and more

Roland Sweet — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
All the weird news that's fit to print. by Roland Sweet Curses, foiled again Marius Ionescue, 31, was burglarizing a home in Benesti, Romania, when he heard a noise.…
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Opeth's art of metal

L. Kent Wolgamott — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600
Swedish heavyweights say goodbye to genre conventions by L. Kent Wolgamott It's been well over a year and a half since Opeth released its last album, Heritage, during which Sweden's best-loved progressive death-metal band has been touring more or less non-stop throughout North America, Europe, South America, Japan, Turkey and India. Now the group is finally ready to go back in the studio — but not before one more U.S. tour.…
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