Grand Junction, CO June 2023

Favorite fishing spots across the valley!

Mentors, Friends, Men Who Inspire

With the arrival of summer, thoughts turn to all kinds of fun and much of the inspiration behind those fun times includes dads, grandpas, uncles and role-model men who always seem to find ways to make fun out of mentoring situations and lessons out of fun times.

Some of my earliest memories of men who were my mentors happened fishing and making music. My dad’s father taught me more lessons than I can count while fishing and making music together. Another mentor was my other grandpa. He had an amazing singing voice and told stories in a way that always drew the listener in and held them spellbound to the very end. I was very fortunate to have many great men who were friends and mentors in my early years and now that I'm a grandpa (it still seems strange to say it), I hope I do them proud as I try to fill some BIG shoes!

This month, our content is meant to pay tribute to a few of the ways the men in our community serve, teach, guide and inspire those around them in business and recreational pursuits. If you’ve been considering getting into fishing, returning to, or just going more often; we have a fishing feature that’s sure to be a treat, as well.

If you haven’t thanked the inspiring men in your life recently, this Father’s Day and throughout the month of June we suggest giving a long overdue hug, a big thank you, or best of all, spending some time together with the men who mean the most to you.

Sincerely,

June 2023

PUBLISHER

Scott Fairbanks | scott.fairbanks@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Garrett Gross | garrett.gross@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Faith Rodriguez, Cleo Olmstead, Vauna Gross, C. W. Morgan

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

C. W. Morgan, Jillian Gross

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

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Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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At the Energy & Environment Symposium, Chevron Rockies Business Unit VP Kim McHugh joined industry colleagues in a panel discussion about how innovation and collaboration is transforming oil and natural gas development in Colorado.

Golf

A lifelong sport

If you needed to summerize Ty Antonides in just one word, that word would be GOLF. Ty is a lifelong lover of the game and will tell you that golf is a great way to get outside. “Golf is great because you can play with family or friends, and it is a sport that you can enjoy your entire life.” Ty certainly has been involved in golf his entire life. Ty grew up playing golf at the Bookcliff Country Club and even worked there while he was in college. After serving in the military, he worked at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, which later led to him working as a Golf Rep, covering several western

states, for many years. Because of his extensive history with golf, it made sense to make the transition to buy GJ Golf when the opportunity arose.

GJ Golf is locally owned and family operated. Ty works alongside his wife, Melissa, and daughter, Brooke, as well as 2 golf pros. Ty and his wife purchased the shop a couple of years ago, opening in March 2021. He takes pride in working with his wife and daughter and is proud to be part of their efforts to get the women in western slope involved in golf, making sure they have the equipment and apparel to enjoy their day out on the courses.

GJ Golf is a full service golf shop. They carry all the clubs, gear, accessories that you might need out on the course as well as shoes and apparel. They even offer lessons and fittings. Lest you think a golf fitting only consists of getting the right length of club, you are in for a surprise. Their fittings are extremely thorough. They use a simulator (which is only used for fittings, not for play) to measure your swing speed, spin rates, launch angles, and smash factor. That is only the first stage of the fitting. After gathering and analyzing that data you get to try out all the major brands and select the ones that feel the best initially. At that point, with a narrowed selection of clubs, they are able to further analyze and fit the clubs just for you, by looking at things such as lie angle. Most fittings result in further distance and stronger consistency.

They offer a variety of lesson formats, with or without camera, and different time lengths so they can tailor lessons to individual needs.

They are passionate about golf and want to share that passion with others. When asked what he would tell someone who was hesitant to try the sport for fear of not being able to hit the ball far enough, Ty laughed and said, “That is why there are pars.” You never know what you can do until you get there to try. And you should. You may discover the same passion that Ty has for golf.

Ty and his family love to get out and play when they aren’t busy serving customers. He admits his favorite course is Cherry Hills, but that his local favorite is Tiara Rado. His favorite thing about Grand Junction is “The people. The people are awesome.” He also enjoys the pace of life we have here in the valley.

If you are a golf lover who wants to further improve your game, or a hesitant-to-start golf dreamer who wants to get into the game, go check out GJ Golf. They can get you set up with everything you need for a successful game of golf.

"Golf is great because you can play with family or friends, and it is a sport that you can enjoy your entire life."

Smokey BBQ Basics

Smoking Without a Smoker

Have you been wanting to learn how to smoke food but don’t want to go buy an actual smoker? Fear not! There are some great ways to smoke without forking out the dough to buy dedicated equipment. Let’s take a dive into the world of smoking food.

SMOKING BASICS

The whole idea of smoking is about getting a good smoky flavor without overcooking the food. To accomplish this, we need to cook the food in the temperature range of 225F to 300F for an extended period (usually using charcoal), over several hours. We then want to create a lot of smoke. To do that we need to soak wood chunks or chips in water until they are saturated. You can also soak fresh herbs or fruit peels as well. The combination of the coals with the soaked wood will allow

for the low temperature smoldering and smoking that we are looking for.

HOW TO SMOKE WITHOUT A SMOKER

Today we will focus on a simple charcoal grill (which can be found at Walmart for $15-$25) or a gas grill that you may already have. You will also want to decide what wood you will want to use for this adventure. Different woods will yield different flavors and complement foods in different ways. For example Mesquite will produce a sweet and earthy flavor. It is largely used in Texas-style brisket but goes great with other beef cuts, lamb, and venison. Hickory will produce a similar flavor to Mesquite. Pecan produces a sweet smoke flavor, but be careful because Pecan can become overpowering. Walnut and Oak burn slow and even, have mild flavors and are great all-around woods. Fruitwood of

any kind will be mild in flavor and pair well with most foods.

As a side note: never use wood that has been painted, stained or treated, and avoid soft woods such as pine. They do not make good smoking woods because they are sappy and contain terpenes, which creates an odd taste and can make some people feel ill.

CHARCOAL GRILL

First, start by getting your briquettes burning and hot in a pile in the grill. Then using long-handled tongs, arrange hot ash-covered coals around a foil pan that's filled with about 1 inch of hot water (this is to help keep the food from drying out). Then add the water soaked wood chips or chunks to coals. Check food, temperature, and water pan every 45 to 60 minutes and add briquettes as needed.

ARTICLE BY GJ LIFESTYLE STAFF

GAS GRILL

This technique takes less time than using briquettes and so we will not need to use water to keep the food moist.

Using the water soaked wood chips, place them in a foil pan. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and poke several holes in the foil cover. Place this over the burners that are in use and place the food on the half of the grill that does not have the burners lit. Check food, temperature, and water pan every 45 to 60 minutes. Do not replenish wood chips.

GENERAL TIPS

If using a charcoal grill, keep the water pan full to help maintain temperature and add moisture. Begin with the grill vents open and close them slightly if the temperature climbs too quickly. If the temperature drops, open the vents back up again. If that doesn’t help add more briquettes. Don’t Peek! Heat and smoke escape each time the grill is opened and it will take longer to eat your yummy food. Start with a small amount of wood and add more to your smoky flavor preference.

Usually we think of red meats, poultry, and seafood when we think of BBQ, but you can smoke cheese, veggies, chilies, rice, garlic, herbs, and spices. There are several recipes that can be used for any of these foods. We encourage you to find your favorite recipe and email it to us and we’ll share it in a future issue!

But if you you don’t want to go digging around the internet for your first recipe right now, here is a tried and true recipe that anyone can appreciate, especially the beginning pit master!

First, you’ll need to get ahold of a beef brisket. Brisket is one of the smoking bbq hallmarks. It comes from the lower chest of beef and is a little tough due to the connective tissue. But smoking it tenderizes this cut of meat and brings out the flavor.

You’ll need:

• 1  brisket (about 6 lbs)

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1/4 cup ketchup

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

The night before, you’ll want to combine the paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Apply the mixture all over the brisket and refrigerate overnight.

When you get started the next day, you will need to preheat your smoker to 275F. Then place brisket in the smoker and cook for 6 to 8 hours, adding smoker chips or chunks as necessary (hickory would be a great choice here).

Once the brisket reaches an internal temperature of 200F, it's ready to be removed and enjoyed!

Plan ahead for peace of mind.

When you plan ahead, you can design every detail of your own final tribute. When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help.

The Community Food Bank

Helping with Food Security

Father’s Day is a day celebrated by many with a family barbeque. It sounds simple enough, however, for many of Mesa County residents putting food on the table is extremely difficult. In fact, 1 in 10 (10.35%) Coloradoans struggle with hunger, not always having enough money to buy food. The Mesa County Blueprint to End Hunger states 14% of Mesa County residents are food insecure. Among the children in Mesa County School District 51, 52% qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The Community Food Bank is a local non-profit that is helping feed our community. The Community Food Bank began operations in 1978 in the basement of a church. Throughout the last 40+ years, the core mission of the Community Food Bank has remained the same: to provide a short-term supply of nutritious food and access to available hunger relief resources to any Mesa County community member experiencing need.

The Community Food Bank transitioned to a client choice pantry program in June 2021. The pantry is like a guided grocery store with volunteer greeters and shopping assistants. They are a USDA MyPlate choice pantry - with shelves organized by macronutrients with suggested allocations based on household size. Their goal is to make nutritious whole foods the most convenient, attractive and normal option. This approach is proven to combat social stigma through offering a client centric and dignified model. It also helps prevent food waste and high costs on items that may not work for all individuals and families needs. A participant of the client choice pantry program stated “I got to pick

what I eat. Healthy, fresh with loving hearts and the sweetest folks there. Thank you for your help”.

The Community Food Bank is more than an in-person choice pantry. They also provide a home delivery program, community outreach and partner support, nutrition exploration, bilingual resource navigation and SNAP application assistance, as well as daily food rescue operations. On a monthly basis the Community Food Bank serves 6,000 individuals, 1,600 households, 40+ tons of food, and 60,000 meals.

As you can imagine “It takes a valley to nourish our neighbors”. The Community Food Bank has 200 active volunteers. “My weekly shift at the Community Food Bank is my favorite day of the week” a Community Food Bank volunteer stated. The volunteers who are at the Food Bank stocking food, or who are out in the community delivering groceries, build relationships with the clients of the Food Bank.

The Community Food Bank is an asset to our community in many ways. Not only are they providing nourishing food to those who are experiencing food insecurity, they are providing vital resources and a place for normalcy and independence when shopping for food. More importantly, they are providing a place to be treated with dignity and respect. This Father’s Day, when you sit down for a meal, take a minute to reflect on the fact that steadily available food is not a given for everyone in our community and how wonderful it is to have dedicated non-profits like The Community Food Bank in Grand Junction to help provide support.

"The Community Food Bank is a local non-profit that is helping feed our community. The Community Food Bank began operations in 1978 in the basement of a church. Throughout the last 40+ years, the core mission of the Community Food Bank has remained the same."

Building People

WHILE REBUILDING CARS

Are you interested in Hot Rods and car restoration? Do you have a project car that you want to pass off to the professionals? Have you checked out Acme Chop Shop? If you haven’t, you are in for a treat. The owner, Jack Weaver, welcomes the public to visit and prides himself on his clean, well-lit and welcoming shop.

Jack, who was born and raised here, has been interested in cars since he was little. He learned from his Dad how to fix up old cars. As an adult he worked in the oil field then later in a construction trucking company before he decided to open up shop. He has had a lot of success, but is very humble about it and claims it has all come the old-fashioned way: a lot of trial and error and a lot of hard work.

It is obvious that he is passionate about his work, and about doing very good work. He and his team strive for repeat business and they make a point to be consistent both in their work timelines and in their communication. Their shop is unique in that they welcome car owners to stop by and see the progress of their cars. Jack says the shop runs to pay the bills, and he is happy with the work, but what he really loves is the training program he has created.

He noticed about 15 years ago people started asking him a lot of how-to questions. Then about 5 years ago, as he was having trouble finding the trained help that he needed in his shop, he decided to create his own training program for fresh students and the Kustom Built Cars Educational Workshop was born.

The Kustom Build Cars Educational Workshop is a start-to-finish restoration training program for young adults. In the past, students have been from all across the country. This year’s class, who will be starting in June, are all students from here in Grand Junction. The training program is 5 months long and starts with stripping a car down to the bare bones. Then the students assess what needs to be done and they build it back up. The students do it all: rust removal, fabrication, body work, paint, electrical, engine work, everything except upholstery, which they order, and glass, which is installed by a glass shop.

The students get a broad overview while learning foundational skills, both car skills and real world work experience. The program really strives to teach students that there are so many options for jobs and they can go in any direction they want.

Jack wants these students to know that if they put in the work, never stop learning and keep problem solving that they will have success in whatever they choose to do.

At the end of the program the car is auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas, and the proceeds go towards funding the program for the following year. This year they are excited that they will have a dedicated booth at the show, rather than just a parking spot. This year the project car is a ‘72 Ford Bronco. To learn more and see builds from previous years you can visit their website kustombuiltcars.org.

For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact us today.

AT WESTERN SLOPE MEMORY CARE, THE IDEA THAT THE PERSON COMES FIRST INFLUENCES EVERYTHING WE DO AND CREATE.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Refinishing Countertops and Bathroom Finishings

Did you know that the Mesa County Landfill receives approximately 170,000 tons of waste each year? To break that down into a more manageable number, you could say it this way: the landfill receives 7 lbs of trash per day for each resident of Mesa County. Seven pounds per day! That is a lot of waste to be handled! While we think they do a great job and are proud of their work to dispose of our garbage in a safe and appropriate manner, we greatly value the residents and businesses working hard to minimize the waste that ends up in the landfill.

One such business is Miracle Method of Western Colorado. Miracle Method is a surface refinishing company that can do everything from minor repair work on bathtubs to large jobs like refinishing an entire pool, or even commercial jobs such as doing all the bathrooms at the airport. They have been serving customers across the Western Slope for more than 20 years.

Did you know that countertops can be refinished? Did you know that bathroom fixtures such as bathtubs and sinks can be refinished to look like new again? Have you thought about refinishing your countertops or existing fixtures? Refinishing can save time and money, and keep a lot of building waste out of the landfill. Miracle Method can give new life to your countertops and fixtures.

Robert Klein is the owner and operator of Miracle Method of Western Colorado. He is a Western Slope native. Robert and his family love camping and hiking and otherwise generally exploring our beautiful area. He and his wife used to play a lot of volleyball, especially during their dating years, but with young kids volleyball has taken a side seat for the time being. Robert takes the time to stay healthy by utilizing local gyms and with his family enjoys local road bike rides, especially along the Riverfront Trail system. They have enjoyed camping up in Glade Park in recent years, but also enjoy exploring further away such as in Ouray or Moab.

Robert was born and raised in Glenwood Springs. When he learned about the ability to refinish bathtubs and change their color, he began researching the technique, and ended up finding Miracle Method, which is a franchise. He continued learning and was impressed with the company and the product, and decided to get to work and bring this to the Western Slope. He actually started his business in Glenwood Springs, but moved to Grand Junction in 2007 after he began taking more and more jobs in the valley. Since then, the business has moved to various locations around town as the business grew.

Robert is passionate about his work and takes pride in being able to take something that is run down and damaged, and making it like new. It is amazing the transformations that can take place. Because finishing work isn’t common, Robert invests the time to train all of his technicians in an extensive training program over a period of several months before they begin taking jobs on their own.

One very happy customer reported, “Back in August of ‘22 We bought a house that needed quite a bit of work before it was ready to be lived in. Among the areas needing the most attention was the kitchen. The counters were a dark maple burl Formica. That surface had more visible wear and tear than we had ever seen on a laminate top and the previous owners had attempted unsuccessfully to refinish the counters with peel and stick marble shelf paper and a disgusting yellow countertop paint. After stripping the Formica to the original finish, we had Miracle Method redo the counters with a white multicolor flecking called Birch Bark. It’s beautiful, tough and functional. We are so pleased, we have recommended Miracle Method to many friends and neighbors!”

If you have surfaces that you would like to refinish, you should check out Miracle Method of Western Colorado. They have great reviews and emphasize that customer satisfaction is a high priority.

We hand chop our vegetables throughout the day, roast our meats in the wood-fired oven, make our own sauces in-house and, of course, make our own dough.

We’re so fresh, we don’t even have freezers in our restaurants.

MAKE AN IMPACT FOR DAD

What do you buy for the man who has everything? Perhaps an experience oriented around what dads value most – time together – is just what he needs. Fathers and father figures are invaluable in our lives. They help shape and mold us. They’re there for us and support us. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Dad feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your dad, husband, brother or father figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Memorable Ways to Celebrate The Father Figure in Your Life

LEARN ABOUT HIS FAMILY TREE

Family heritage websites can offer insight into dad’s past and be an interesting way to study the history of your family. Present Dad with a report on his ancestors or dig in together!

PLAN A STAYCATION

You don’t need to go very far to have a great time with Dad! Explore a new neck of your own woods with a family staycation. You can go out on the town, stay at a fancy hotel and maybe even enjoy some room service!

GO BIRD WATCHING

Lay out a blanket in your backyard and grab your binoculars for a peaceful, naturefilled day. Make a list of how many different kinds of birds you see and guess if you can identify them.

GO BOWLING

Bowling is a timeless classic Dad is sure to enjoy. Bonus if the bowling alley has an arcade, chicken wings and Dad’s favorite beverage of choice.

PLAY FRISBEE GOLF AS A FAMILY

Find a local frisbee golf course and grab a slot for the family to play. This activity is fun for both young and old and helps you take advantage of being in the beautiful outdoors together.

ACCESSIBLE FISHING IN THE GRAND VALLEY

What Kind, Where, Fee or Free?

Who loves to fish?

Our valley is filled with opportunities galore!

Are you a fair weather fisherman/woman? Do you like to fish from a boat or from shore?

Do you fish with bait, with artificial lures or is fly fishing your style?

What about the species? Well, Mesa County has a wide variety to pursue;

The Colorado River holds one of the most diverse fish populations in the West. From channel cat and bull head to several species of trout, game fishing

is just a start. Though most wouldn't pursue carp on purpose the river holds some huge ones along with other native species such as the rare and recovering razor-back sucker, bony tail and humpback chub and the colossal - when fully grown - Colorado pikeminnow (Formerly known as the Colorado River squawfish this species can reach adult lengths topping 5 feet). These four protected species exist nowhere else on earth, but the upper Colorado River and a few of it's larger tributaries.

Beginning on the west side of the Grand Valley, there are many opportunities and one that used to be legendary that's now gone. In Mack near the UT border there used to be a lake called 6 & 50 reservoir. It was known to have some sunfish that could be called "tanks" along with a few other warm-water species. The lake is dry now.

While State Parks require a day pass, annual pass or Keeping Colorado Wild License plates, there are a number of fee free areas in the valley to explore too.

In Loma at Highline State Park, Highline and Mack Mesa lakes offer largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and trout - primarily trout at Mack Mesa.

Fruita has a small bass lake off the south side of I-70 in a fee free State Wildlife Area. Additionally, Friuta also has Red Rocks Lake at the James M. Robb State Park and Snook's Bottom which is maintained by the City of Fruita for free public access.

Many of these little lakes have accessibility piers and make nice places to take small children and seniors who have mobility challenges. One such place just upgraded to having a pier in recent weeks - West Lake next to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office on Independent Avenue. This is also a free access location.

Connected Lakes State Park is a frequent hot spot for those pursuing the warm water species such as catfish, bass, sunfish and crappie. There are a bunch of private lakes and old gravel pits that also hold nice bass. Just be sure you have permission to enter. Trespassing carries stiff penalties.

Millsite State Park at 30 1/2 and D Rds. is an old uranium processing location that holds a range of warm water species including a few pikeminows placed there to reach maturity before restoring them to the Colorado River. Keep in mind that any of the protected species caught must be returned to the water unharmed immediately.

Other Places to try: Clifton Nature Park (free), Corn Lake State Park, Riverbend City Park in Palisade (also free) and Island Acres State Park Just east of the Cameo Exit in the mouth of Debeque canyon.

The photos you see are some local catches from a single evening. That night over 60 rainbow trout were reeled in and released at Island Acres. Those days are few and far between but a "boatload" of fun even when fishing from shore. Now you know. When ya gonna go?

The Colorado River holds one of the most diverse fish populations in the West. From channel cat and bull head to several species of trout, game fishing is just a start.