Hometown Holidays 2023

Hometown

Holidays

Inside: • HOLIDAY HARVEST BOXES • CRAFTS AND GAMES • RECIPES • HISTORY, CULTURE AND A SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE!

ALANWARTESMEDIA

2 • HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023

Alan Wartes Media

EDITOR’S NOTE

ALANWARTESMEDIA Bonnie Gollhofer Specials Editor

I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to all things holly and jolly, my heart initially tends to shrink, Grinchlike, down a few sizes. The Halloween cobwebs are swept away far too soon for my taste, only to be replaced immediately by a technicolor blast of sparkling snowmen and Santas and the mandate that gifts must be purchased and plans must be made. At a time when daylight hours are limited and nature slows its processes in kind, we humans tend to speed things up — rushing about, making our lists, checking them infinitely.

While all of this may come across as a bit more Ebenezer Scrooge than Buddy the Elf, I am also reminded that the holiday hubbub we tend to experience now is a direct descendent of ancient traditions crafted to create quite literal light in the

Staff Publisher: Alan Wartes Editor: Bonnie Gollhofer Production: Stefan Scott Advertising: Steve Nunn Issa Forrest Editorial: Bonnie Gollhofer Bella Biondini Larry McDonald Enid Holden Laura Cardozo

darkness. Nearly every culture across the globe has incubated beautiful ways to support community and connection during the coldest and bleakest times of the year. In the pages that follow, you’ll find stories that reflect back a different sort of light than the kind that tends to emanate from handheld screens and big box displays, along with countless invitations in the form of recipes, crafts and activity pages to sit back and perhaps find a few sacred moments of peace and joy.

Local historian Larry

McDonald gives us a window into Christmas celebrations during the exceptional winter of 1883. Times Editor Bella Biondini reveals a tale of the hard-working folks who bring electric cheer to not only downtown Gunnison, but manyhomes and businesses valleywide. Laura Cardozo shares with us the flavors of Latin American holiday cuisine, and that’s just the beginning.

However, and with whomever, we choose to mark this Hometown Holiday season, may it be done with the warmth of a cozy cabin on a winter’s eve and may our Grinch-y hearts swell in the light of the kindness and compassion we can always choose to spread amongst neighbors and strangers alike.

(Bonnie Gollhofer can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bonnie@gunnisontimes.com.)

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HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 • 3

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A hometown Christmas — in 1883 Larry McDonald Special to the Times

The Christmas holidays in the Gunnison Country back in 1883 were celebrated with great enthusiasm, and our many area newspapers were filled with wonderful ads and notices for upcoming events. Holiday presents being offered by Gunnison retailer Eaton, Small and Company included fine, illustrated gift books and photograph albums, writing desks and work boxes, along with perfume sets, cuff and collar boxes, music folios and “unique and artistic” hand-painted Christmas cards. Hamlin and Webster’s ad stated that among their “elegant holiday goods” were 5,000 dolls, along with cloaks, dolmans and Russian circulars for the ladies, while the New England Bakery promoted having “the largest stock of candy and toys in the city.”

The Gunnison Grand Army of the Republic Post 17 planned a “Grand Fair and Ball” for Christmas Eve with the purpose of starting a relief fund that would include supper for the price of $3 per ticket, approximately $90 today, and local churches offered numerous events for the community.

The Christian Sunday school hosted a performance of “Santa Claus” at the Opera House on Boulevard Street on the evening of Dec. 25, with tickets for a quarter each, or 50 cents for a reserved seat.

Reverend Steen preached on the subject “Christ’s Birthday” at the Presbyterian Church at noon due to the Union Temperance meeting scheduled there later that night.

Pastor Hart’s topic was “The Historical Significance of the

Birth of Christ” at the Baptist Church, followed by a literary and musical program for their sabbath school with an appearance by Santa Claus and gifts for all the children. The Methodist Sunday school passed a resolution to thank the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company for their kindness in sending them such a nice Christmas tree and wished everyone a “Merry Christmas.”

The Christmas of 1883 saw a huge storm impact the area.

The papers reported that “the sleighing is getting better every day” and complained that no trains from the Denver and South Park line had made it into town for several days due to the heavy snow at the Alpine Tunnel. Expected holiday presents and turkeys on the Denver and South Park trains were delayed for a week by the storm, also closing the road between Crested Butte and Irwin for days and delaying mail delivery throughout the county.

O ne hundre d and for ty years ago, there were dozens of towns, rail stops and mining camps in the region, all preparing to celebrate the holidays, and it is editor George S. Irwin’s newspaper, The White Pine Cone, that gives us wonderful insights into those taking place during that era so long ago.

John MacDonell, a retailer from Tomichi, a “suburb” of White Pine, placed an ad blaring the headline “TOMICHI FACTS!” that concluded with “I never advertise anything but what I can prove.” The ad listed his line of fur and wool caps, mining boots, ladies Jersey waists and winter skirts, hose for men, women and children and overcoats “given away” for only $4. continued on page 4

One of many holiday ads that appeared in the predecessors of the Gunnison Country Times in Gunnison’s early days. (Courtesy Larry McDonald)

Residents of White Pine pose in front of the Turner and Macy store in 1884. (Amon Carter Museum)

4 • HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 continued from page 3 The Dec. 28 edition of the Cone featured a headline titled, “Our Christmas Story!,” describing the history of White Pine and the Tomichi mining district.

The lengthy article declared that “The advent of Christmas 1883 finds men at work, night and

day, digging from the earth that which insures the good things of this world and makes life worth living.”

It went on to note the following business establishments in town: two grocery stores, one dry goods store, one stove and tinware store, three hotels, one boot and shoe shop, two livery

Alan Wartes Media stables, three saloons, one jewelry shop, one blacksmith shop, one news stand, a branch of Iron National Bank, one barber shop, the White Pine Cone, two surveyors, two notaries public, one physician and surgeon and one law firm.

The article concludes with, “Bring your wives and chil-

Santa Claus distributing presents to children. From the Gunnison Sun, Dec. 22, 1883. (Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection)

dren with you, build up a home among us, subscribe for the only CONE in the world, and each succeeding Christmas will find you growing happier, healthier and richer. With charity for all and malice toward none, the Cone sends greetings to its many readers and the world in general, sincerely

wishing one and all, individually and collectively, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

(Larry McDonald is a local historian who loves to share intriguing Gunnison country history.)

Headline story of the White Pine Cone, Dec. 28, 1883.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR Ongoing The Gunnison Arts Center holiday market runs from now-Jan. 14, excluding holidays. Find more information at gunnisonartscenter.org.

Dec. 7 Experience the premier musical drag tribute to The Golden Girls television show, all the way from New York City, with “The Golden Gays: Thank YULE for Being a Friend” on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts.

Ticket prices start at $25. Find more information at crestedbuttearts.org.

Dec. 8 Crested Butte Avalanche Center Christmas tree sale fundraiser at the Crested Butte Ace Hardware parking lot on Dec. 8-9 from 12-7 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 12 p.m. until the trees are gone.

Dec. 9 •Six Points Ugly Sweater Fun Run. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m at the Gunnison Rec Center.

The entry fee is $15 per person or $25 per family, with proceeds supporting adults with intellectual disabilities. The run begins at 10:30 a.m. and finishes at Six Points.

•Colorado Crafted is an ar tisanal market celebrating Colorado-based crafters and makers in the Lodge at Mountaineer Square in Mt. Crested Butte.

The event will run from 12-8

p.m. Find more information at cbchamber.com/coloradocrafted.

•Western Colorado University Music Depar tment’s Holiday Gala: An evening of free holiday music in Quigley Hall on the WCU campus. Food, fun and silent auction start at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

•St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Gunnison:Bilingual mass at 5 p.m.

Reception after mass at Parish Hall.

•Light Up the Night is Mt. Crested Butte’s holiday celebration from 4-7 p.m at the Lodge At Mountaineer Square. A free, family-friendly event featuring photos with the Snow Queen and Santa, arts and crafts, games, fire spinning, live music and more.

•Firebird Theatre Company presents “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” at the Majestic Theatre in Crested Butte from Dec. 9-10 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for kids and $10 for adults and may be purchased in advance at cbmajestic.org.

Dec. 10 Colorado Crafted is an artisanal market celebrating Coloradobased crafters and makers in the Lodge at Mountaineer Square in Mt. Crested Butte. The event will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Find more information at cbchamber.com/ coloradocrafted.

Dec. 11 St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Gunnison: “Serenta to Our Lady” from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. and midnight mass in Spanish at 12 a.m.

Dec. 12 St. Peter’s Catholic Church, G u n n i s o n : “A n o i n t i n g o f t h e Sick'' bilingual mass at 12 p.m. and bilingual rosary at 5 p.m.

“The Roses” bilingual mass at 6 p.m., followed by dinner in Parish Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 13 •Join the Gunnison Rotary Club for two hours of caroling around town. Meet at the Gunnison Rec Center at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome.

•Holiday Origami at the Gunnison Senior Center at 12:45 p.m. Space is limited. The cost is your senior center membership plus $5. An RSVP is required at 970.641.8272.

•Crested Butte community menorah lighting, 4 p.m. at 3rd Street and Elk Avenue in downtown CB. All are invited.

Dec. 15 •Senior meal with Christmas carol sing-along at the Gunnison Senior Center from 11:30 a.m.12 p.m. An RSVP is required at 970.641.8272.

•Gunnison Arts Center Annual Gala: 6-9 p.m. in the Rady Building

at Western Colorado University, featuring live music from Evelyn Roper and Opal Moon, appetizers, drinks, dancing, a live auction and more. Find tickets and more information at gunnisonartscenter.org.

braries.org. This event is free and open to the public.

Dec. 16 •Firebird Theatre Company presents “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” at the Majestic Theatre in Crested Butte from Dec. 16-17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for kids and $10 for adults and may be purchased in advance at cbmajestic.org.

Dec. 24 •Community Church, Gunnison: Christmas Eve service, 7 p.m.

•Santa night at the Crested Butte Museum: Visit with Santa, decorate cookies and make ornaments from 4–6 p.m. This is a free event.

•Winter Songwriter Shuffle Series with Emma Zink, Ava Davis and Marla Cannon-Goodman: 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Elevation Hotel in Mt. Crested Butte. Tickets and more information are available at gunnisontetwp.com.

•Enjoy live music with Easy Jim at the Almont Resort from 7:3010:30 p.m. Find tickets and more information at thealmontresort. com.

Dec. 21 •“Crafternoon” at the Gunnison Library. Make marbled ornaments from 5-6:30 p.m. All supplies and basic instructions are provided.

RSVP to ellen@gunnisoncountyli-

Dec. 23 St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Gunnison: Mass at 5 p.m.

•St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Gunnison: Bilingual mass at 11 a.m, Christmas play at 5:30 p.m. and bilingual mass at 6 p.m.

•St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Lake City: Communion services at 10 a.m.

•Queen of All Saints Catholic Church, Crested Butte: Mass at 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 25 •Queen of All Saints Catholic Church, Crested Butte: Mass at 8:30 a.m.

•St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Lake City: Communion services at 10 a.m.

•St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Gunnison: Bilingual mass at 11 a.m.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 • 5

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Holiday Harvest boxes bring warmth and nourishment to the Gunnison Valley Bonnie Gollhofer Times Specials Editor

Individuals in need will gather ‘round their tables this holiday season for fantastic feasts, courtesy of Mountain Roots Food Project’s Holiday Harvest Box program. The local nonprofit, focused on cultivating access to sustainablysourced nourishment throughout Gunnison County, created this service in recent years as a response to the growing necessity for access to healthy food within the community.

The program is an extension of Mountain Roots’ existing Backyard Har vest Box program, a progression of the organization’s food security initiative that began in 2013 with a small group of local farmers and gardeners making donations of their edible goods. It has since expanded into a yearround hunger relief service that delivers 150 free, weekly boxes of fresh, locally and regionally-grown sustenance to those experiencing hardship. That effort expands significantly during the months of November and December as more families seek assistance, with approximately 200 supplementar y Holiday Harvest boxes reaching the community during Thanksgiving week and another 200 arriving over the week prior to Christmas.

“They’re about double the size [of the regular boxes] with more fresh produce, some sea-

sonal items, like a bag of cranberries or a winter squash, for example, and a whole chicken,” said Rachel Alter Branham, who has been the development director of Mountain Roots for three years. She got her start with the organization while Gunnison County was under pandemic restrictions, crafting hearty soups in a repurposed restaurant kitchen that was otherwise rendered out of commission during that time.

Some community members are referred to the program through other nonprofits in the valley, such as Project Hope and the Gunnison Country Food Pantry. Living Journeys also receives a number of boxes for their cancer patients. Most, however, apply for assistance directly through a short questionnaire available in English and Spanish on Mountain Roots’ website.

Though the boxes themselves are free of charge to those who receive them, they come with a price tag of about $50 per box, which includes the cost of sourcing contents, packaging and distribution around the Gunnison Valley. That cost is offset in part by financial support from generous community members.

“We’re really trying to make food that not only nourishes our bodies, but supports the health of the environment and supports the health of our economy by putting money in local producers', farmers’ and back-

yard chicken ranchers’ pockets,” Alter Branham said. “The money that is donated continues to circulate in the Gunnison Valley economy because we are paying Gunnison Valley producers for the food that is distributed.”

M o u n t a i n R o o t s’ F o o d S e c u r i t y D i re c t o r P e y t o n Foley plays a multifaceted role in the box distribution process, from working to secure grants for additional funding as the program grows to mentoring Americorps members within the organization to packing and hand-delivering the boxes alongside a contingent of co-workers and community volunteers.

“Going out and delivering boxes and talking to people who are super grateful — it’s very rewarding,” Foley said.

He also relayed the story of one anonymous individual in the community who initially didn’t believe the program was for her, despite losing mobility due to a health condition.

“She would always greet me at the door [of her apartment complex] and was always so friendly. I got to know her pretty well and got her signed up for a box. To this day, she makes my week,” he said.

While a little extra help getting nourishing food to the table is on the hearts and minds of many during the holiday sea-

son, community members experiencing food insecurity need support year-round.

Mountain Roots is continually seeking volunteers who are passionate about helping their neighbors by providing kind words, warm hearts and full bellies. Interested parties can connect with volunteer opportunities, donate to the organization's efforts or request assistance in the form of harvest boxes at mountainrootsfoodproject.org/backyard-harvest.

(Bonnie Gollhofer can be contacted at 970.641.1414. or bonnie@gunnisontimes.com)

Mountain Roots’ employees and volunteers pack harvest boxes for distribution. (Courtesy Mountain Roots)

A sampling of the diverse and delicious items that applicants receive in a typical box.

6 • HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023

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Add a fanciful touch to your holiday decor with homemade candles Enid Holden Special to the Times

Making candles is a perfect, fun activity for snowy days with the holidays upon us. They are easy to do and make great personalized gifts or festive accents for the table and even the tree over Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s.

The tradition of lighting candles on Christmas Eve is from the Middle Ages, where a large candle was used to represent the star of Bethlehem. The baby Jesus was considered the “light of the world” by some, which may have started the custom of Advent candles. Tiny candles were also originally used to decorate the Yule tree, until safer and less messy electric lights were substituted. Candles were used during ancient winter solstice celebrations as a way of remembering that spring would return.

Candles are also used during Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light, which is also celebrated during winter. During each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, a candle is lit in a menorah, a special candelabrum that is considered sacred in Jewish tradition.

Candles also occur in the modern winter festival of Kwanzaa, where a special candle holder called a kinara is used.

Whatever your leaning, making candles is fun and fabulous.

Here are some easy steps: You will need grated candle wax (which you can order online), old candles or a mixture of both. You will also need

holders, stirring sticks, candle wicks and glue, along with something to heat up the wax on a stove, plus something to add color to the candles, as well as essential oils for perfume (optional) and receptacles.

There are some basic kits available online, but it can be cheaper to order the wax and wicks separately.

W h e n y o u h av e e v e r y thing ready, here are the basic instructions: • Place the shredded candle wax, used candles or both, in a heat-proof vessel in a pan of water on the stove and bring the water to boil until the wax is melted.

• As the wax melts, add coloring. This comes in many kits or you can even use food coloring. You can do one color at a time or have several pitchers of wax going in the pan simultaneously. The color is lighter once it sets, so make the color super intense if you want strong colors or you’ll get pastel shades. Old coffee maker pitchers are good to use to melt wax because they resist heat. You can also use metal jugs. You will get a layer of wax residue on the bottom, so save your good cooking pots for cooking, not wax melting.

• Glue the wicks onto the bottom of your containers using glue pads, hot glue or even a smidgeon of the hot wax. This is a fun task for the kids to do while the wax melts. They should be secured and upright.

Make sure that the wicks are longer and stick out of the top of your containers so they can be

Get creative and source vessels from your favorite thrift shop. (Photo by Enid Holden)

straightened while the wax sets.

Sometimes two wicks are better for an even burn down the road in wider containers. The wicks are finally trimmed after everything is done.

• When the wax is fully liquid, carefully remove the vessel with hot wax from the stove and add essential oils if you’re going for scented candles. The heat reduces the perfume, so you’ll want to use a good amount and add it just before pouring. You can substitute vanilla or lemon oil from the cooking closet too.

Stir the wax with a stick. If you

are using old candles, remove the used wicks, which will be floating around in the vessel.

• Pour the hot wax into your receptacles. Some online kits come with tin holders, but it’s fun to go to Six Points in Gunnison, or your local secondhand shop, and buy unique glasses or small crystal vases for a fancier touch. If you have glass containers, you can layer the colors for a special blend or add fake petals or other items. Some candle makers use vintage tea cups or metal tubes.

• Once the wax is poured,

straighten the wicks with craft sticks or metal rails provided in the kits. Do not move the candles after the wax is poured until they are completely set or the candle wax will wrinkle.

• Once the candles are set hard, about an hour after pouring depending on the size, trim the wicks down. Add glitter to the top if the wax forms wrinkle or you want a more glamorous touch.

(Enid Holden is a Gunnison writer, artist and foodie.)

How to create a durable gingerbread house Gingerbread cookies and houses are one of the many symbols of the holiday season, alongside Christmas trees and twinkling lights. In fact, few confections symbolize the holidays more so than gingerbread.

Many a child (or child at heart) has spent hours carefully trying to create decorative gingerbread houses. Although gingerbread recipes span various cultures, gingerbread houses originated in 16th century Germany. The fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” helped solidify the popularity of gingerbread, which became part of holiday traditions.

Even though gingerbread houses can be fun to make, there’s no denying it can be exacting work — especially for those who strive for perfection.

Prepackaged kits attempt to take some of the guesswork out of the equation, but those who are crafting from scratch can employ these tips as they build their gingerbread houses.

Go for form and not flavor.

Few gingerbread houses ever get eaten, so focus on finding a dough that will bake up rock

(Metro Creative)

hard as opposed to one that tastes good.

Get the right icing texture.

Pastry artist Catherine Beddall says royal icing is the preferred “glue” to adhere gingerbread

pieces. Beddall says the icing should be thick like peanut butter and not runny.

Mind the dough. Do not roll out the gingerbread dough too thin or it may become brittle

after being cooked. Always cut out shapes before the gingerbread is baked. Let the baked pieces sit overnight to cool completely before using them to build.

Patience is key. Allow the icing to dry for at least a couple of hours after adhering each piece and before moving and handling the house, said Beddall. Work in stages so that individual items can be decorated and allowed to dry. Then the walls can be put together, followed by the roof pieces.

Kids will likely need help.

Kids may not have the patience or steadiness to handle complete gingerbread construction. Let them decorate separate pieces of the house while the components are laying flat, which is easier for kids. Adults can do the main assembly later on.

Utilize a template. Freehanding may not be easy. Cut out templates using cardboard or poster board for various gingerbread pieces.

One of the most important tips is to have fun. Don’t take gingerbread house making too seriously as a novice. Enjoy the experience and the centuriesold tradition.

(Source: Metro Creative)

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 • 7

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SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE Find something for everyone on your list at Abracadabra! Books, toys, puzzles, calendars, candles, cards, jewelry, journals, games, lotions, soaps, stocking stuffers and much more. 211 N. Main Street in downtown Gunnison.

The PACT Lite Kit is an all-in-one backcountry bathroom kit for digging a hole and burying your business. Lightweight and great for all activities that take you to places without facilities. Purchase locally at All Sports Replay, Ace Hardware or Chopwood Mercantile.

All Sports Replay sells quality new and gently-used outdoor gear, plus great gifts for everyone on your list: Darn Tough socks, sunglasses, sports nutrition and more! 200 W. Tomichi Avenue in Gunnison.

Visit ASRGunnison.com or call 970.641.1893.

Sprk Jewelry offers permanent jewelry as well as ready-to-wear pieces and accessories. This holiday season, get 10% off your total with the purchase of a gift certificate. Follow @sprkjewelry on Instagram for pop-up event information or to book a private party.

Angel’s Magic Touch is offering 10% off sales over $20 on a variety of personalized gifts and products through Jan. 10, 2024.

Call 970.641.6865, or message angelsmagictouch76@gmail.com or facebook.com/angelsmagictouch.

We sell beautifully hand-crafted, stone-beaded driftwood hangers and recycled copper-wrapped, Brazilian banded agate sun catchers for $10 a stone. Buy three and receive a hanger. Contact us at reddrifter39@gmail.com.

Come check out our new wine releases at Buckel Family Wine! They are sure to light up your holidays!

1018 Highway 135.

Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski.

Beautiful jewelry available at affordable prices. Get more with our sale. Spend $100 and receive any item at 50% off. Visit touchstonecrystal.com/cori or call Cori at 719.209.8158.

Crested Butte Land Trust’s annual calendar features stunning photos from local photographers.

Purchase them at Mountain Earth, Townie Books, Pfisters, the CB Chamber of Commerce, in-office at 308 3rd Street in CB or at cblandtrust.org/shop.

Earn 50% off any of our many sale items at Treads N’ Threads. See store for complete details on how to save.

Lil’ Bit of Crazy Ranch creates jewelry of silver, mixed metals, turquoise, beadwork, custom elk ivories, claws and more, plus goat milk soap from our lovely herd and awesome beard butter.

Call Kari Morris and Eric Karr at 970.901.3609.

Wonderland Clayworks: Whimsically one-of-a-kind gifts, local art, workshops and classes for kids.

Explore imagination through clay.

Find us at 133 E. Tomichi Avenue or visit wonderlandclayworks.com.

Janniebird Farm has beautiful, locally-grown amaryllis, paperwhites and custom wreaths ready to bring joy to your holiday home!

Visit janniebirdfarm.com or email annie@janniebirdfarm.com.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE Local FOR THE HOLIDAYS

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Tired of paying fees for your business and personal checking accounts?

Here is your “mooove it” kit: • Write a check from your existing bank account to yourself and/or your business.* • Bring the check(s) with a valid ID and your SSN to our friendly new account folks.** • Make sure to close out your old account so you don’t pay any more than you already have.

You have to MOOOVE it to IMPROVE it.

• Take a deep breath. You are in good hands. *

If the bank you are moving from requires a cashier’s check or wire to close your account, GB&T will reimburse you for their fee. ** If you are moving your business account, touch base with a GB&T new accounts person for additional information.

We look forward to protecting your hard-earned money and reinvesting it into our community.

232 W Tomichi Ave. • Gunnison 970.641.0320 gunnisonbank.com

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 • 9

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Decorate CB shares light during darkest days of the year Bella Biondini Times Editor

Careful not to stand too close to the edge of the roofline, Tim Covington guided a string of multi-colored lights into the canopy of the tree with a pronged pole. The tree trunk had already been wrapped like a candy cane, ready to be illuminated with just a flip of a switch.

“It’s all about the angle of the dangle,” Covington said, before descending the ladder back to the sidewalk on Main Street.

Just a short week later, the trees lit up the entirety of downtown,

the community Christmas tree still hidden in the dark until Santa arrived for the Night of Lights.

Covington is a crew member with Decorate CB, a group of locals (sometimes referred to as “elves” by business owner Darcie Perkins) that shares light with the Gunnison Valley community around the holidays. When Perkins started the seasonal business in 2020, she wasn’t sure if it was a service residents wanted. But since then, Decorate CB has grown out of the North Valley and into something much bigger than just hanging Christmas lights.

By the winter of 2023, she had amassed over 80 clients scattered across the county, with a mixture of interior and exterior decorating projects. Although residents may have not heard of Perkins and her team, they’ve surely encountered their lights.

Some of Decorate CB’s clients are the City of Gunnison (for the first time this year), the Crested Butte 4-Way Stop and the Mountain Express’ annual Christmas bus.

As the business grew, the work stretched further into the year, with installations starting as early as mid-September. With the tagline, “We decorate, you

play,” the work is fast-paced, and full of complex logistics Perkins loves to face head on.

No two projects are alike and each home she decorates is customized and never cookie cutter.

“It never really occurred to me how important lighting the darkest days of the year is for … people who might have a hard time getting through the holidays. So many of my clients do it for others, and not for themselves.”

Darcie Perkins Decorate CB

Decorate CB illuminated downtown Gunnison for the first time this year. (Photos by Bella Biondini)

Decorate CB installs roofline and landscape lighting, which includes evergreens and deciduous trees, as well as garlands and wreaths — either fresh or artificial, depending on the homeowner’s preference. Not all of her projects involve glitzing the average Christmas tree by the fireplace. One year she installed massive “twinkly pro” trees. Their lights were mapped on a smartphone, allowing them to be programmable to thousands of different colors, stripes or even swirls, something Perkins described as “quite magnificent.”

Backed by a master’s degree in landscape design, Perkins uses her skillset to make her clients’ Christmas wish lists come true, no matter how complicated. The job requires her to understand electrical loads (especially for large estates and properties), how to run large lifts and balance on ladders, with safety always at the forefront.

For Perkins, the “devil is always in the details.” On-site troubleshooting has included figuring out how to run electricity from home to tree, even if it requires extension cords to run through culverts, having a herd of elk undo wires and installing lights that can withstand heavy snow shed from the roof above.

Ma n y w h o re q u e s t t h e expertise of Decorate CB during the holiday season do it to spread cheer to their neighbors, Perkins said. Some are second homeowners who don’t live in the valley full-time and may not even come for Christmas. They light their homes anyway, refusing to leave the neighborhood in the dark.

What Perkins learned about why people put up Christmas lights was unexpected, she said.

It’s something that motivates her to continue the work even when the hours turn into overtime and the weather becomes bitter and cold. “ There's just Chr istmas lights,” Perkins said. “I put up Christmas lights every year at my house, and I do it for our family. And we have fun. But it never really occurred to me how important lighting the darkest days of the year is for our community and people who might have a hard time getting through the holidays. So many of my clients do it for others, and not for themselves.”

The City of Gunnison is an example of that, she said.

Lighting downtown is not only about attracting visitors to local businesses during the holidays, but lifting spirits during some of the darkest months of the year.

While the lights may be taken down right after New Year's Day in other places, that’s not true in mountain towns. Many, including Gunnison, stay lit until the light and warmth return in the springtime.

“We need the lights to sustain such a long winter,” Perkins said.

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or editor@gunnisontimes.com.)

Taylor Earnest and Stephanie Whaley hang lights on Main Street last month.

10 • HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023

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Thanksgiving coloring contest winners

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Making a blue turkey is a bold decision. Nice shading on that apple!

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In third place: Briella, seven years old. Gold and silver bring balance to this turkey’s tail feathers while bright yellows and blues keep them whimsical.

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HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 • 11

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Christmas Coloring Coloring Contest!

Contest!

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Winners will be announced 12/22 12/21 in the Gunnison Country Times.

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12 • HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023

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HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 • 13

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Comidas típicas de los países de Latinoamérica en navidad Laura Cardozo Especial para los Times

Las festividades de fin de año es una de las fechas más importantes para la comunidad latina, es tiempo de compartir en familia y anhelar un mejor futuro para el siguiente año.

Entre calles llenas de luces, un árbol de navidad repleto de regalos y villancicos cada familia prepara su celebración de nochebuena. Si bien, cada

país de Latinoamérica tiene sus propias costumbres, un factor común es la abundancia de comida de tradición que no puede faltar en esta época.

Entonces, como es de esperar todos los miembros de la familia participan en la preparación de estos deliciosos platos que han sido heredados de generación en generación.

Así pues, que con seguridad son las abuelas quienes tienen el liderazgo en la preparación de

la cena navideña.

A medida que la preparación de la comida avanza, toda la casa se llena de los olores exquisitos que salen de la cocina, un buen augurio que significa que todo va a quedar delicioso.

Si te estás preguntando cuáles son esos platos tan únicos de cada país, aquí te tenemos una lista muy variada.

Hablamos con personas de diferentes países que hacen

presencia en Gunnison y esto fue lo que encontramos: Según Elizabeth Orellana, de El Salvador, conocida en el valle por sus pupusas, una de las comidas más populares en su país son los panes rellenos de pollo asado, siendo este el que le da ese toque de sabor único.

“Para la noche de navidad debe haber suficiente pan relleno para toda la familia,” comentó Elizabeth.

Para complacerte con un a nt o j i t o m e x i ca n o, Ma r í a Cabrera puede ofrecerte sopes, enchiladas, tacos y posole verde. De acuerdo con María, “De posada en posada puedes ir disfrutando de la mejor comida de México.” En algunos lugares de México se acostumbra a comer barbacoa de pollo y ponche en navidad.

También conversamos con Ana Ruíz, quien nos dijo que en su natal Perú la navidad tiene sabor a panetón acompañado con chocolate caliente. El panetón, es un pan dulce con una masa esponjosa a la que se agrega frutas, pasas, nueces y vainilla. Según Ana, “El panetón sabe mejor cuando estás en familia.”

Desque que llegó a Gu n n i s o n , l a c o l o mb i a na

Yeimy Velazco creó su negocio, Pepita en la USA, a través del cual ofrece a la comunidad almuerzos típicos de Colombia.

Yeimy dice que los colombianos esperan la llegada de las festividades de diciembre para comer buñuelos, natilla y tamales. “En navidad se olvidan los malos momentos, es una época para estar alegres, en familia y con mucha música,” agregó Yeimi.

Con esta variedad de comida tradicional completamos una deliciosa cena con sabor latino.

La comida está servida en la mesa representando la riqueza culinaria de tantas culturas.

Buen provecho y feliz navidad.

(Laura Cardozo puede ser contactada al 970.641.1414.)

Panetón is a traditional Peruvian holiday delicacy. (Metro Creative)

Typical foods from Latin America at Christmastime Laura Cardozo Special to the Times

(Editor's note: This story was translated from Spanish by Yazmin Molina.)

End of the year festivities are one of the most important times for the Latin American community. It is a time to share with family and look forward to a better future for the following year.

Among streets full of lights, a Christmas tree full of gifts and Christmas carols, every family prepares their Christmas Eve celebration. Although each Latin American country has its own customs, a common factor

is the abundance of traditional food that cannot be missed at this time of the year.

As expected, all family members participate in the preparation of delicious dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation, so it is certainly the grandmothers who take the lead in the preparation of the Christmas dinner.

As the preparation of the meal progresses, the whole house is filled with exquisite smells coming out of the kitchen, a good omen that means that everything is going to be delicious.

If you're wondering which dishes are so unique to each country, here's a varied list.

We talked to people from dif-

ferent countries that are present in Gunnison and this is what we found: According to Elizabeth Orellana from El Salvador, known in the valley for her pupusas, one of the most popular foods in her country are breads stuffed with roasted chicken, which gives them that unique touch of flavor. "By Christmas Eve, there should be enough stuffed bread for the whole family," Elizabeth said.

To please you with a Mexican craving, Maria Cabrera can offer you sopes, enchiladas, tacos and green posole. According to Maria, "from posada to posada, you can enjoy the best food in Mexico. In some parts of Mexico, it is customary to eat

chicken barbacoa and punch at Christmas.”

We also talked to Ana Ruíz, who told us that in her native Peru, Christmas has the flavor of panetón accompanied with hot chocolate. Panetón is a sweet bread with a spongy dough to which fruits, raisins, nuts and vanilla are added.

According to Ana, "Panetón tastes better when you are with your family."

Since arriving in Gunnison, Colombian Yeimy Velazco created her business, Pepita en la USA, through which she offers typical Colombian lunches to the community. Yeimy says Colombians look forward to the December holidays to eat

Su agente local de bienes raíces les desea una muy Feliz Navidad y un próspero año nuevo!

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buñuelos, natilla and tamales. "At Christmas, you forget the bad times, it's a time to be joyful with family and with lots of music," Yeimi said.

With this variety of traditional food we complete a delicious dinner with Latin flavor. The food is served on the table representing the culinary richness of so many cultures. Enjoy your meal and Merry Christmas.

(Laura Cardozo can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)

14 • HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023

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HOMETOWN HOLIDAY RECIPES Nutella-Swirled Pumpkin Muffins You may have noticed and even sampled these tasty treats on display at Cake Me Away in downtown Gunnison, fresh from the kitchen of owner Alyssa Atzenbeck. Try your hand at recreating them over the holidays with family and friends. Cake Me Away won Best New Business in the 2023 People’s Choice Awards.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp. allspice 1/2 tsp. nutmeg A pinch of salt 2 eggs

Medieval Gingerbread Gingerbread is a popular sweet that often finds its way onto holiday dessert tables.

Some people bake and construct lavish gingerbread houses, while others make cut-outs of gingerbread people to turn into cookies.

Legend suggests that gingerbread originally landed in Europe in the year 992 with an Armenian monk named Gregory of Nicopolis, who brought a honey-and-spice cake to other monks in France, where it quickly became a favorite and was considered a “food from heaven.” Historians are not really sure if the original gingerbread had any ginger in it at all. In fact, typical medieval recipes for gingerbread include no ginger and the French would later refer to it as “pain d’epices,” or spiced bread.

Gingerbread once was a treat only for the elite, but as the masses discovered it, recipes evolved to include soft cakes to hard biscuits and everything in between. The following recipe for medieval gingerbread produces a chewy, almost candy-

Puerto Rican Eggnog From minced pies in England to kutia in Ukraine to spiced hot chocolate in Peru, many different foods and beverages are savored this time of year around the world. Individuals of Puerto Rican descent might enjoy whipping up batches of coquito around the holidays. Coquito, which means “small coconut,” is made in batches with recipes passed down through families.

It is similar to traditional eggnog, but Puerto Ricans will tell you it’s even better.

The b e verag e is s er ve d throughout Navidad, or starting after Thanksgiving and ending in mid-January with the celebration of Fiestas de la Calle San

1 cup pumpkin puree 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed) 1/4 cup canola oil 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract About 1/3 cup Nutella, for swirling Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners. In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients except sugars. In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients and sugars. Pour the wet ingredient mixture over the dry ingredients and gently mix until combined. Pour the mixture into muffin tins until each tin is about 3/4 full.

Soften Nutella in the microwave a bit and then add one tsp. of Nutella to the top of each muffin. Use a toothpick to swirl like texture with potent ginger flavor. Try it for holiday gatherings, courtesy of “Tasting History” (Simon Element) by Max Miller. This recipe makes 20-25 1 inch pieces.

Ingredients: 12-14 slices stale white bread (for breadcrumbs) 1 cup honey 1 Tbsp. ground ginger 3⁄4 tsp. ground long pepper (a spice similar to black pepper but with more heat) 1⁄2 tsp. sandalwood powder, if desired, for color (one drop of red food dye can be used instead) 1⁄2 cup or less sugar (enough for sprinkling) 20-5 whole cloves Gold leaf Either with a food processor or by hand, grind the bread into coarse bread crumbs.

Commercially-bought bread crumbs will work as well, though the texture from homemade bread crumbs is preferable.

Pour the honey into a large saucepan set over medium heat and heat to a rolling boil. The honey will become like syrup.

Sebastián. Try this traditional Coquito recipe, courtesy of Discover Puerto Rico.

Ingredients: 1 can of condensed milk 1 can of evaporated milk 1 can of cream of coconut (most Puerto Ricans prefer Coco López) 1⁄2 cup white rum (preferably Don Q or Bacardí) 1⁄2 tsp. of vanilla extract 1 tsp. of ground cinnamon (add more to taste) In a blender, add evaporated milk, cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, rum, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Blend on high until the mixture is well combined, 1-2

the Nutella into the tops of the muffin. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the muffin tops are puffed and a toothpick comes out clean.

Visit Cake Me Away online!

(Courtesy Cake Me Away)

Note that it will boil up quite a bit, so do not use a small saucepan. Slowly add the breadcrumbs to the honey while stirring. The mixture should come together and begin to pull away from the sides of the saucepan.

Continue to mix until fully combined. Remove the pan from the heat and quickly stir in the ginger, long pepper and sandalwood, if desired. Turn the mixture out onto a sheet of parchment and spread with a spatula. Then, place another sheet of parchment and, with a rolling pin, roll the gingerbread out to about 1⁄2-inch thick.

Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until stiff, about two hours.

Once the gingerbread is cool, sprinkle sugar on top and cut into 1 inch squares or whatever shape you like. Keep in mind that each piece should be bite size, as they are very strong.

They will also be quite sticky, so handle them as little as possible. Insert a whole clove into each piece of gingerbread and fleck with gold leaf. Leave the clove in until serving, then remove it just before eating.

(Metro Creative)

minutes. Transfer the mixture into glass bottles and chill in the refrigerator until cold. To serve, pour coquito into small serving glasses and garnish with ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.

Note: This is traditional Coquito. Experiment with different flavors like chocolate, guava or even mango coquito if you so desire.

(Metro Creative)

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS 2023 • 15

Alan Wartes Media Roasted Christmas goose with stuffing and Cumberland sauce The holiday season is a sentimental time of year. Nostalgia for past holiday seasons and excitement about what’s to come make this a particularly special time of year for millions of people across the globe.

It’s not uncommon for those who celebrate the holidays to include a little history in their decorations and celebrations each year.

This year, holiday hosts can create some nostalgia around the dinner table by serving this recipe for “Roasted Christmas Goose.” This recipe yields 6-8 servings.

Easiest, creamiest mashed potatoes Some food historians say that the original recipe for mashed potatoes dates back to 1771, when a Frenchman named Antoine Parmentier hosted a competition on ways to prepare potatoes. Others say that mashed potatoes were surely born in Great Britain in the 1600s. Regardless, mashed potatoes remain the perfect compliment to any holiday feast.

Ingredients: 6 medium-sized russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 3-4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 cup whole milk, cream or half-and-half Salt and freshly-ground white pepper to taste

Ingredients: 1 14-16 lb. goose 1⁄4 cup sea salt 1 lemon, halved 1 apple, cut into chunks 1 potato, cut into chunks 1 orange, sliced 1 cup chopped celery Basting syrup: 1⁄3 cup corn syrup 1⁄3 cup cane syrup 1⁄3 cup melted butter 1⁄4 cup light brown sugar 2 Tbsp. brandy Stuffing: 3 cups whole chestnuts, roasted and peeled 1 14 oz. bag stuffing mix 1 cup raisins 1⁄2 cup chopped celery 1⁄4 cup diced apple 1⁄4 cup diced onion 3⁄4 tsp. salt

1⁄8 tsp. pepper 3 cups chicken stock 3⁄4 cup melted butter 1⁄4 cup heavy cream Cumberland Sauce: 1 1⁄2 cups beef stock 3⁄4 cup port wine 3⁄4 cup red wine vinegar 3 shallots, peeled and chopped 1 Tbsp. crushed black peppercorns 3 oranges, juiced Goose prep: Place the goose in a large pot.

Add water to cover and stir in the sea salt. Refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove goose from water and drain well. Remove all innards and trim excess fat

from the tail. Rub the inside cavity with lemon juice. Place apple, potato, orange and celery inside the body cavity. Truss the bird like a turkey. Place the goose in the preheated oven.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Cook 20-25 minutes per pound. Baste the goose every half hour with basting syrup (recipe below).

Carve the goose and serve with stuffing and Cumberland sauce (recipes below).

Basting syrup: Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.

a large bowl. Add the stuffing mix, raisins, celery, apple, onion and salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Pour in the chicken stock, butter and cream and mix until evenly moistened.

Transfer to a baking dish and bake until the top is browned and crisp, about 1 hour.

Cumberland Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the stock, port, vinegar, shallots, peppercorns and orange juice.

Bring to a boil and cook until reduced by 2⁄3, about 25 minutes. Strain and refrigerate.

Serve cold over roast goose.

Stuffing: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coarsely chop the chestnuts and put them in

Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with salted cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a small pot, warm the butter and milk over medium-low heat. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and mash them with a potato masher, adding a little of the warm milk-and-butter mixture as you go.

Continue to mash until the lumps are gone. Add just enough of the milk mixture to get a creamy consistency, then whip the potatoes with a fork and season with salt and pepper to taste.

(Metro Creative)

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