Apparently Boulder is not only skinny, but it’s happy city, too.

Coming off a recent study that Boulder is the least-obese city in America, the People’s Republic of Boulder is ranked second among America’s happiest cities, according to Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index and as reported by Westword.

The Gallup-Healthways report said: “Boulder is famous for its colorful Western history, being a choice destination for hippies in the late 1960s, and as home of the main campus of the University of Colorado, the state’s largest university. Furthermore, the city of Boulder frequently acquires top rankings in health, well-being, quality of life, education, and art.”

Fort Collins was ranked third in the study, which said the home of Colorado State University “is known as one of the towns that inspired the design of Main Street, U.S.A. inside the main entrance of the many ‘Disneyland’-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world.”

The Provo-Orem, Utah earned the moniker as the happiest city in America in the poll?

Really?

Help a friend.

My pal, Andrew Hudson, made this plea on Facebook to help his friend, Clare Church:

“I’ve been lucky to perform with Clare Church, and she and her husband, Pete Lewis, are two of the most talented musicians I’ve ever known.

“Clare has a rare condition called dystonia which has affected her embouchure. She presently cannot play her saxophones and woodwinds. Up to 18 months ago, Clare was touring with Doc Severinsen, playing with the Colorado Symphony, performing with Art Lande, playing shows, etc.

“On Sunday, May 4 a benefit is being held to assist Clare in raising funds that will allow her to see a medical specialist in Spain. This jazz jam is from 4-7 p.m. at the Elks Club in Louisville (525 Main St, Louisville, 303-666-8600).

Find more information at www.kuvo.org/post/clare-church-fundraiser.

You also can give donations at www.gofundme.com/8ao9kc.

Colorado again fared well in a study of tippers.

In an analysis of customers of the GrubHub delivery service, for the year from March 28, 2013, to March 27, 2014, Colorado (15.7 percent) finished third among the states, behind South Carolina (16.1) and New Hampshire (16).

And the most generous cities in the survey were all from Colorado. Boulder tipped 16.2 percent on average, followed by Denver at 15.7 percent and Fort Collins at 15.4 percent.

It’s unclear why the Centennial State cities are so nice to the delivery person.

“We have no idea why that is, but a hat tip to Colorado diners for their generosity,” company spokeswoman Allie Mack said.

See more at www.cnbc.com/id/101549522?__source=xfinity|mod&par=xfinity.

Spanking new “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon took a “pot” shot at our own Gov. John Hickenlooper Tuesday night by making jest of Colorado’s legal retail marijuana law.

“Colorado expects to make $100 million from taxing legalized marijuana,” the comedian said. “Governor John Hickenlooper (big audience laugh at the name) says he will use a lot of that money to build new schools.

Suggested names? “U. Holden Academy, Hot Pocket Prep and St. Mary Jane’s.”

New ‘Tonight Show’ host Jimmy Fallon took a shot at Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. (NBC photo)

Four of Denver’s top tourism leaders have been named to the new class of inductees into the 15th Annual Denver & Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame.

They are: Denver catering king and philanthropist Larry DiPasquale, Denver March Powwow executive director Grace Gillette, Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort and director of the Greenway Foundation Jeff Shoemaker with a posthumous award to his father, Joe Shoemaker, founder of the Greenway Foundation.

These city and state supporters will be honored during the Tourism Industry Hall of Fame dinner March 20 at the Seawell Ballroom.

The Tourism Hall of Fame serves as the highest award for Denver’s travel industry, which logged its best year ever in 2012 with 13.6 million overnight visitors generating more than $3.6 billion in spending. The industry supports 50,000 jobs in the metro area.

The gala is a fund-raising event for the Visit Denver Foundation, which has given out more than $545,000 in scholarships to 214 Colorado students pursuing higher education in the fields of tourism and hospitality.

For ticket information, contact Joni Watkins at jwatkins@visitdenver.com or call 303-571-9481.

Denver and Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame honorees, Dick Monfort (above); Grace Gillette (below); Jeff Shoemaker and Larry DiPsiquale (bottom).

Even though our own Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Washington state guv Jay Inslee refused to make a Super Bowl wager, Denver’s Punch Bowl Social founder Robert Thompson and Washington’s Garage Billiards owner Alex Rosenast have pledged to donate $1,000 to their winning team’s charity of choice.

“I volunteer to send Alex a case of Orange Crush soda, win or lose,” Thompson said.

“Win or lose, I’m trying to get a dinner set up for Robert and (Seahawks cornerback) Richard Sherman,” Rosenast said.

After Sunday’s 43-8 Broncos loss to the Seagawks, a charity will be selected by the winner and the $1,000 donation will follow.

At least, Colorado was well represented in another bowl on Sunday: Puppy Bowl X on Animal Planet.

Two Brittany Spaniel mixes were featured in Super Bowl Sunday dog fest on the cable network during Super Bowl Sunday.

Loren and Laney represented Colorado Animal Welfare League, the no-kill foster-based animal rescue in Castle Rock. Loren came away with the MVP (Most Valuable Pup) and also had the “Drive of the Day.”

The two dogs were among the 60-plus puppies taking the field for “Puppy Bowl X.” Laney, adopted last year by Kelly McElvain, 28, a Larimer County Sheriff’s Office jail deputy, was 13 weeks old when the TV show was filmed. Laney even earned a special interview. Loren was adopted by a family in Golden.

The show features puppies from animal rescues nationwide playing on the field at Animal Planet Stadium and was filmed before the dogs found their forever homes.

“I got (Laney and Loren) last summer from a backyard breeder who lost control of what she was doing,” Lisa Petri, Colorado Animal Welfare League president and volunteer, told the Fort Collins Coloradoan. “I live in Franktown, Colorado, and we have one stoplight and it’s 5 miles away. Taking them to Manhattan was a little different. They’d never seen taxis or stop lights or strollers.”

For more on the puppies, visit http://noconow.co/1k1amet

Loren, a Brittany Spaniel mix from the Colorado Animal Welfare League, won the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy and ‘Drive of the Day’ awards at Sunday’s ‘Puppy Bowl X’ on Animal Planet. Below, Loren’s CAWL litter mate, also participated in the Puppy Bowl X.  (Animal Planet photo/CAWL photo)

The inaugural Aurora Sports Festival will be held this weekend, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, in conjunction with the USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships. Participants of all ages will gather for this U.S. Olympic Committee-sanctioned competition at the Crowne Plaza, Denver International Airport Convention Center.  Several Colorado youth athletes will be competing for the Junior Champion title, including:

• Erin Amos – Colorado Springs, (16-17 age group, 48 kilograms);
• Paige Holman – Pueblo West, (14-15 age group, 48kg);
• Ellen Kercher – Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, (junior age group, 53kg – Junior American Record holder at 48kg);
• Ruby Haman – Colorado Springs, (16-17 age group, 58kg) – trains in Denver;
• Rosa Jad – Denver, (junior age group, 63kg);
• Darren Barnes – Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, (junior age group, 56kg – Junior & Senior American Record holder at 56kg);
• Dalton McGregor – Colorado Springs, (junior age group, 77kg – trained by 1992 Olympian Paul Fleschler).

Additionally, Olympic coaches Jim Schmitz and Dennis Snethen will attend the Aurora Sports Festival along with Robin Goad, the last American to set a world record at the Olympic Games in 2000, and Michael Cohen who competed in the 1980 Games. Goad’s daughter, Sydney, will compete in the 48kg class, and Cohen’s sons Michael and William will compete in men’s categories.

In addition to the 2014 USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships, the Aurora Sports Festival also will feature:

• Colorado State High School Powerlifting Championships (Saturday);
• North American Powerlifting Federation Pro Invitational Benchpress Championships (Saturday);
• Rocky Mountain Lifting Club Powerlifting Championships – sanctioned by USA Powerlifting (Sunday);
• “Survival of the Fittest” CrossFit Competition, hosted by Devil Dogg CrossFit (Friday – Sunday).

“USA Weightlifting is thrilled to hold our 2014 National Junior Championships in Aurora this year,” said USAW CEO Michael Massik. “These young athletes work so hard and are truly an inspiration to all athletes and aspiring Olympic qualifiers.”

Admission for the Aurora Sports Festival is $8 daily for adults, or $20 for a three-day admission ticket. Kids ages 12 and under are free.

For more information on Aurora, upcoming events or meeting facilities, visit www.VisitAurora.com or call 303-326-8698.

Fort Collins has earned the dubious distinction of being named the fourth drunkest city in America, according to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bustle.com took the 2011 CDC data and created the top 10 rankings based on the drinking habits of residents in metropolitan areas based on their binge and heavy drinking rates.

According to the CDC findings, “At least 38 million adults in the United States drink too much.” But the good news is, “most are not alcoholics.”

What city took the top spot on the drunkest cities list? Fargo, N.D. Have you been to Fargo? If so, you’ll totally understand this ranking because – especially in the winter when temperatures plunge to negative numbers that should never be seen by human beings – there’s nothing else to do.

A heavy drinker is defined as a man who has more than two drinks a day and a woman who has more than one. Binge drinkers are defined as men who consume five or more drinks and women who guzzle more than four or more drinks on one occasion. Here’s the complete list:

10 Drunkest American Cities

1. Fargo, N.D.

2. Columbus, Neb.

3. Missoula, Mont.

4. Fort Collins, Colo.

5. Brookings, S.D.

6. Milwaukee, Wis.

7. Lawrence, Kan.

8. Tallahassee, Fla.

9. Bozeman, Mont.

10. Lincoln, Neb.
Read more: http://www.bustle.com/articles/12130-38-million-americans-have-a-problem-with-alcohol-the-10-drunkest-american-cities

A college town — home to Colorado State University — Fort Collins has a reputation as a beer-drinker’s paradise.