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JANUARY 17, 2020
TREES LEAVE MULCH TO BE DESIRED Holiday icons are recycled at sites around metro area P14
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
NOW IN SESSION Top issues take shape at the state Capitol P4
STANDOUTS
Find out which athletes, feats Jim Benton has highlighted this week P21
Bill Gripman and Jean Martin chat over coffee and tea at the first 2020 meeting of the Parker Breakfast Club at Parker Adventist Hospital on Jan. 6. NICK PUCKETT
Group takes stock as it hits 50th anniversary Parker Breakfast Club unsure what future holds BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A BULL MARKET National Western Stock Show kicks off with parade P15
Spend a morning with the Parker Breakfast Club and learn about the town first-hand from the people who helped make it what it is today. On Jan. 6, the group met for its 50th year at its regular spot today, the Parker Adventist Hospital. In 1970, the group met for the first time at the Ruth Memorial Chapel.
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The group’s 50th year meeting comes with one sour note: It may be the club’s final year. At one end of the table is Jean Martin, the granddaughter of Charlie O’Brien, a revered contributor to the town who is the namesake for O’Brien Park downtown. One of the town’s original councilmembers, Martin is the last living member of the O’Brien family living in Parker and a regular of the club. “I have so much history with this town,” Martin said, “I can’t even remember it all sometimes.” The room boomed in laughter. Around
the table were Bill Gripman, whose late wife, Nancy, started the Parker Task Force; Pat Bygott, who founded the University of Parker (PU) Marching Band and works at the historic Herzog House in Parker; Brian O’Malley, a dedicated parks volunteer for the Douglas Land Conservancy; and other engaged members with strong ties to the town. The group began as an all-men’s group based out of the Ruth Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church SEE GROUP, P6
THE BOTTOM LINE
“Technology, access to information and the expectation around response times have created a greater sense of urgency than any time in history.” Michael Norton, columnist | Page 12 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 21
ParkerChronicle.net
VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 9