HIDEAWAY BISTRO THE TOUGH PART IS FINDING IT PAGE 2

Pulling us out of the mainstream

BREAKING THE LAW

grandcountyuncensored.com

February 17, 2012 || Volume 2, Number 4 || Free

WILL THE DISTRICT GET AWAY WITH IT?

Opinion and Commentary By Reggie Paulk

In issue number three, I pointed out how the East Grand School District may not have legal standing to withhold transcripts, report cards or diplomas should parents not pay the $70 'technology/material' fee assessed to each student in the district over the last two school years. After doing some thorough digging, I'm more convinced than ever the school district may have opened themselves up to a potential lawsuit over their handling of all student fees. I'm not focused on the fee just because it creates a potential hardship for families who, although they may be able to pay it, are hard pressed to do so. I've focused on it because it's a perfect demonstration of how this school district, still obviously lead by an unelected bureucrat, has decided to handle the matter. My initial emails were purposely addressed to each of the six board of directors and the board secretary. I left out the superintendant on purpose to see how this issue, which clearly lies within the scope of their responsibility, would be handled. The response I received was the one I expectedalthough not the one I'd hoped for. In my search for the truth, I called the Colorado State Board of Education to see if they could guide me to the statute that allows a school district to withhold transcripts, report cards or diplomas. It took them a few days to get back to me, but they gave me a statute. Here's the email I then sent to the school district: "Hello Folks, If you'd please reference 2232110 (1) (JJ). Board of educationspecific powers: (jj) To require the replacement of damaged textbooks or library resources or the return of loaned textbooks or library resources by withholding the diploma, transcript, or grades of any student who fails to return or replace any such textbooks or library resources at the completion of any semester or school year. The school district shall make a reasonable effort to obtain payment for lost or damaged textbooks or library resources. If the school district determines that a student is unable to pay, the school district may obtain payment through other methods, including but not limited to payment plans or service within the school in which the student is enrolled. The school district may also refuse to allow any student who completes graduation or continuation requirements to participate in any graduation or continuation ceremony if the student has failed to return or replace any such textbooks or library resources prior to the date of the graduation or continuation ceremony. My discussion with the State Board of Education led to this statute. This provision covers loaned texts and library resources on an individual basis, but there is no language in the statute allowing a school board to withhold diplomas, transcripts or grades for unpaid fees. I have a call in to Mr. McGowen to provide the legal basis for the district's current policy, but have found nothing so far that legally supports said policy." Here's the response I received, again from the superintendant:

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"Reggie, With the withholding of the report card and graduation ceremony being a long standing practice in East Grand, as long as I can remember, this appears to be a good time to review process and procedure. I have contacted our attorney and CASB for their guidance on how to proceed with collection of fees. Thanks for guiding me toward a statute that may not be appropriately reflected in district policy and practice. EGSD relies on CASB for updating policy on an annual basis we will double check to see if we missed this particular statute on an annual update list at some point. I will let you know what I hear back." Forget the fact that our school district pays its superintendant $120,000 per year, plus benefits. Forget the fact that, nowhere in the statute, are powers designated to the superintendant or CASB. Forget the fact that, just last year, the school district was nearly a million dollars in the black AND closed a school. Its superintendant is running the district from memories of how things were done. Instead of relying on the actual BLACK LETTER OF THE LAW, our school district defers its legal matters to an organization I've brought up in the past as having a clear conflict of interest between serving their commercial interests and those of its member school districts. CASB the Colorado Association of School Boards, is not a regulatory body. It is a membership organization set up with the explicit mission of pairing commercial interests with school district (taxpayer) funds. Former East Grand Superintendant (and current commissioner candidate*!?) Rob Rankin vehemently defended CASB and the other alphabet soup organizations who've been collectively screwing both the taxpayer and students over the last few decades. I should also mention that Mr. Rankin was at the helm almost singlehandedly helping create the disaster that is the East Grand School District today. His protege and current superintendant is helping continue the legacy. To be fair, only two members of the current board were present when the student fees were intially assessed. This board has taken a few positive steps through bond refinancing and employee insurance, but they are now personally and legally accountable for all of the district's actions. And what are they doing about it? So far, all I know is that they plan to address the student fees at a future meeting, after hearing back from CASB. Bond refinancing and employee insurance are the lowhanging fruits. Their savings don't include any pain for either the district or the community at large. It creates a sugar high and makes the board look like they're really accomplishing something while avoiding the pitfalls of politically unsavory things like slashing the fat off schoollevel budgets, or addressing student fees directly. To the board: What kind of leadership example do you set when you constantly defer to outside interests or your superintendant in your decisionmaking? Why did you run for the position if not to bring real and effective leadership to a board that has consistently shown it lacks just those qualities? Anyone up for a classaction lawsuit?

ALL GRAND COUNTY VOTERS ELECT ALL THREE COMMISSIONERS

Many people in Grand County are unaware that everyone in the county chooses all three commissioners, regardless of district. You in Kremmling have just as much say in district 2 as those of you in Granby. The reason Commissioner James Newberry has continued to get reelected decade after decade is because many people from Kremmling to Granby to Grand Lake don't even check the box in the other districts. If it's on your ballot, you can vote on it! Newberry has been a commissioner for 16 years. He was a commissioner when they pushed to eliminate the eightyear term limits that use to be in place. There is no reason for a commissioner to be in office for two decadesNONE! Not even George Washington himself thought he should be in office more than eight years, even though there was no limitation on a President's term at the time. During Newberry's time in office, their has been only one county manager. There has also been only one county attorney, who also happens to have a private practice across the street. Newberry asked for, and received, a permanent extension to a temporary county sales tax. This has allowed the size of county government to balloon to over twice its original size now consuming nearly $30,000,000 per year in taxpayer revenue. He says there's important work to finish. I certainly hope the voters of Grand County choose to let someone else carry that torch for a while just look at the dysfunction in Congress, with their decades long "service," and you can clearly see the problems of allowing people to make a career in politics. Nancy Stewart is a sweet lady. She's kind and fair, for the most part. But she's been in office for eight years, and her record is also not unblemished. There are rumors of some favoritism given to the owner of a gravel pit in Granby, and she, too, has been supportive of the same county manager and county attorney who've long since overstayed their welcomes. There has been no effort on her part to reign in the size of county government, and it's time for someone new to take her place. But not Rob Rankin. Rob Rankin served as the superintendant of the East Grand School District. Under his leadership, the district took on nearly $30,000,000 in debt and has very little to show for it except a bunch of massive, Neenanbuilt, mostly empty buildings in Granby, a closed school in Grand Lake, and a lifetime retirement of 80 percent of his final pay. That's a superb chunk of change for anyone who lives in a county with fewer than 13,000 residents. So why not elect him to the Board of County Commissioners, where you'll add another $58,000 to his yearly salary? Those are crickets you hear chirping. Maybe he'll come up with the great idea of a bond issuance to build a sprawling county facility in the sleepy town of Parshall or maybe he'll close the Granby and Kremmling airports and build a larger facility on the boarder of Summit County. Whatever he manages to do, it will end up costing YOU money. And for those of you who rely on the county for financial or other assistance, don't fool yourselves into thinking the three commissioners we now have will continue to support you. When faced with the choice of downsizing their employee base or the services they provide to citizens, which do you think the first cuts will be? A large county government sucks up a lot of resources. The bigger it is, the less actual services it can provide its citizens especially those in need. A vote to retain our current commissioners is a vote to reduce your quality of life. There are two new people who've thrown their hats into the ring, and I look forward to asking them some tough questions in the weeks ahead so you may make an informed decision. No matter what, putting the same people back in office will only get you more of the disappointment you've come to expect from elected officials. And we only have ourselves to blame for that. Grand County Uncensored thrives on your generosity. Your non taxdeductible donations may be sent to: Uncensored Media, LLC P.O. Box 1738 Fraser, CO 80442
By Reggie Paulk

HIDEWAY BISTRO OUT OF SIGHT BUT NOT OUT OF MIND

was something that had never happened to me. When I thought of chicken pot pie, I use to envision a small, icy brick of a pie tin with what resembles pie dough on the top. A changed the meaning of chicken pot pie in my mind. recent visit to The Hideway Bistro at the Silverado II condominiums has permanently Karl and Gabriella Vogelbacher opened The Hideway Bistro at the end of When's the last time you had a craving for chicken pot pie? Until recently, that By Reggie Paulk

November 2011. I've known about it because our kids go to school together, but I hadn't had a chance to go. A few weeks ago, Gabriella gave me a gift certificate with a free finally got a chance to go. If you're not familiar with the back streets of Winter Park, treat. meal for a family of four. That's the kind of offer you just don't pass up! Last week, we finding the Bistro will be your most challenging taskonce there though, you're in for a If you're driving from Fraser, just turn right at the Pub across from Hernando's.

That'll put you on Kings Crossing Road. Stay on Kings Crossing Road and cross over your left. As you pass by the park, you'll see Silverado II, also on your left. Park in the restaurant is down the hall on your left. It's pretty much all on your left!

the railroad tracks, bearing left. Travel about one quarter mile, passing by Wolf Park on garage near the front entrance and follow the signage into the building. Once inside, the When we arrived, Karl suggested a traditional Swedish dish named raclette as an

appetizer. Raclette is a pungent cheese made from cow's milk and gets its name from the French to a heat source, with the melting cheese being scraped from the wheel. The cheese is melted

word racler, which means, "to scrape." The cheese comes in big wheels, and is traditionally held over sliced potatoes, and the dish is served with pickled onions and small pickels. Judging by the fact that hardly anything was left on the plate, I'd say it tasted quite good. Karl provides other about any taste. appetizers, from crispy calamari to smoked salmon tartare. There's something there to suit just For soup or salad, choose between old world French onion soup or butternut bisque. I

didn't get a chance to taste the soups, but I intend to do so in the future. Karl's bistro and spinach and gorgonzola cheese.

florentine salads cover the gamut from grilled romaine hearts and ovenroasted tomatoes to baby You may choose between three pasta dishesall freshly prepared nightly. The seafood

mac & cheese comes with shrimp and scallops on pasta in a creamy homemade cheese sauce. My wife chose the baked gnocchi bolognese. Karl's gnocchi are handmade potato dumplings with meat ragout sauce. If you like your gnocchi, you have to try this stuff! Rounding off the

pasta dishes is the farfalle con salmone. With that, you get bowtie pasta, smoked salmon and a another visit.

creamy vodka tomato sauce. I didn't get a chance to sample the whole menu, but there's always There are eight main entrees to choose from, and it was a difficult choice to make.

There are a couple of exotic dishes like cod saltimbocca with proscuitto and sage on a potato

zucchini cake. Paella is a Spanish dish of saffron flavored rice with shellfish, pork, chicken and "bistro style" chicken pot pie. I decided to see how Karl could possibly make a chicken pot pie worthy of an entree. He did not disappoint. I was expecting a pot, and I got neither the pot nor the pie in the traditional

chorizo sausage. There are traditional dishes too, like meat loaf, ovenroasted half chicken and a

sense. Karl's creation is a chicken stew with mushrooms, drizzled between delectable home made puffy pastry shells. The creamy stew contains wonderful large chunks of chicken breast, carrots and petite mushrooms. It would taste good all by itself, but the the large amount of butter they contain. Combined with an already rich stew, this

pastries make the whole thing really pop in your mouth. Pastries get their fluffiness from chicken pot pie is definitely something to write home about! It's so good, you actually

crave it a couple days laterwhich is why I went there again last night, on my own dime. review. I decided to go for the ovenroasted half chicken instead. I don't usually like dark meat or the skin, but I ended up eating both. The chicken was cooked to perfection the skin an ideal crispy brown. To finish off our meal, a dessert was in order. There are four desserts listed on Of course, I couldn't get the same dish again, since I wanted to write a good

the menu, plus a dessert of the day. You may choose from a pear tartlet, creme brulee,

Italian lemon sorbet or dark chocolate mousse. My wife chose the mousse while I chose the apple strudel as the dessert of the day. The chocolate mousse is intensely rich, and douses your palate in a creamy, chocolaty heaven. It's served with whipped sour cream, mode. The flavor of the home made pastry is complemented by the cinnamon notes in the apple and the sweetness of the raisins. Coupled with a bit of ice cream, it's quite a complement to a good meal. If you take your kids, for six bucks you get a drink, a meal and a dessert.

and it's definitely worth a taste. The apple strudel is made with raisins, and is served a la

There's pizza and mac & cheese with home made cheese sauce. And while you're waiting for your meal, the kids can entertain themselves in the nearby gameroom. The Hideway Bistro is located at 490 Kings Crossing Road in Winter Park.

They are open seven days a week from 5PM to 9PM. Contact Karl at (970)5317170. If you do go, be sure to tell them Reggie sent you, and enjoy!

Contact the editor: reggie.paulk@gmail.com (303)5527963