n i r e m um
erthoud
2012
Š Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
May 24, 2012
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Summer in Berthoud 4 2012
From the desk of Berthoud Mayor David Gregg Welcome to Berthoud
... our hometown. Known as the Garden Spot of Colorado and surrounded by fertile farmland with westerly views of mountain ranges as far as the eye can see, Berthoud is centrally located near Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park and Carter Lake recreational area. We invite you to drive our tree-lined streets and stop to stroll our quaint main street, Mountain Avenue. Visit the array of diverse shops in town, enjoy a meal and refreshing beverage, and feel the stress roll away. Visit the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum for a step back in time to Berthoud’s roots. Stick around after sunset to visit the Little Thompson Observatory (www.starkids.org), offering no-charge public access to the wonders of the night. Artistic touches abound in our village — historical murals on century-old buildings, local artisans-crafted medallions at Mountain Avenue intersections, and sculptures adorning Fickel Park. Local experts share their talents in live theatre, art alliances, dance studios, and lifelong education opportunities while giving neighbors of all
ages the chance to learn and grow. Our small town knows how to throw big parties! Parades, festivals, concerts, quilt and art shows, bike and road races and cultural heritage events fill our calendar year round. Join us for Berthoud Day, our premier celebration, the first weekend of June. And, of course, a visit during Berthoud Day wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Boy Scouts in Railroad Park for their pancake breakfast. Berthoud’s parks have something for everyone. Fish in Robert’s Pond, walk the nature trails of Hillsdale, swim in Berthoud Town Park’s outdoor pool, or watch a baseball or soccer game in Bein Park. Soon year-round recreation will be enjoyed in Pioneer Park (to be developed this summer) complete with roller hockey, basketball, a fishing pond and a sledding hill. Future vision has been cast to unite citizens in a vote this fall to build a state-of-the art recreation center in north Weggener Park that will serve all ages. Berthoud is not only extrinsically beautiful, but its true beauty is found in the hearts and souls of the people who call it home. We are a community of neighbor helping neighbor, where no one is a stranger. Our churches, historical society, service organizations, public safety professions and citizen/government committees are powered by caring citizens who love to serve others and make a difference. For example, Berthoud Cares, a local non profit, lends promotional assistance to those Berthoud residents who might find themselves in need of support
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 due to accident, illness, or other tragic events; Christmas in Berthoud brings joy to neighbors in need; and the Berthoud Area Community Center is the hub for senior citizen activities, nutritional meals, and transportation via BATS — Berthoud Area Transportation System. Berthoud’s schools are staffed by dedicated professionals who raise the bar in creative academics. Parents work along side them, volunteering and fundraising for equipment and instructional resources to enhance educational opportunities through the Berthoud schools fund event, the Berthoud Bash. Berthoud High School recently received the Silver Award for being ranked 34th in the state based on the number of students taking the AP exams and the number of those that pass at least one AP exam. The Berthoud Community Library District also enhances our educational options, circulating almost 50,000 items per year. The Town of Berthoud has set up a facebook page in order to communicate with the residents on a regular basis. There are plans in the works to offer special promotions to residents. Be sure to go on facebook and “Like” Town of Berthoud. So welcome to Berthoud! We are truly glad you are here. Come linger and soak in all that we have to offer. See you around town. Sincerely,
Mayor David Gregg
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Index
Mayor’s Welcome........................................................ 2 Pancake Breakfast, Quilt Show, Farmer’s Market.... 5 Historic Home Tour & Vintage Car Show................. 6 Day Trips from Berthoud........................................... 8 Hiker Safety.............................................................. 10 Berthoud Community Library............................12-13 Summer Stargazing.................................................. 14 History Summer Camps .......................................... 15 Rocky Mountain National Park............................... 16 Rocky Mountain Old-Time Music Festival ............. 17 History Colorado ...................................................... 18 Summer Eye Care..................................................... 19 Berthoud Parks & Recreation.............................20-22 Swimming Pool Schedule......................................... 22 Paintball Fun............................................................ 23 Summer Pet Care...................................................... 24
Summer in Berthoud 2012© is published in Berthoud, Colorado by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor. The publishers reserve the right to edit, classify or reject any advertising or news copy. Liability for any newspaper error in an advertisement shall not exceed the cost of space occupied by error. The publishers assume no liability for any advertising which is not published for any cause. The publishers assume absolutely no obligation or responsibility for subject matter in copy placed by its advertisers or their agents. It is also understood that the advertiser and the agency placing such advertising jointly and severally agree to indemnify Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, LLC against all expense, loss or damage sustained by reason of printing such copy. Subscription rates are $32 per year to residents of the 80513 zip code and $40 per year to zip codes other than 80513.
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Troop 6 Pancake Breakfast
Berthoud Boy Scout Troop 6 is proud to announce that preparation is underway for the annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser during Berthoud Day. This annual fundraiser is the only one that Troop 6 conducts. It serves to provide the boys with funding for activities and troop equipment throughout the year. The breakfast tradition is probably best known for bringing the community together under one roof in the early morning hours. Billed as one of the best deals around, the breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and choice of beverage (coffee, milk or orange juice) — all this for $6 for adults and $4 for kids 12 and under. The breakfast will be at Railroad Park (across from Ace Hardware) on Saturday, June 2, from 6:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. We look forward to seeing you at the breakfast this year.
Berthoud Outdoor Quilt Show
Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Fickel Park — a celebration of quilt-making under huge shade trees in downtown Berthoud. Two hundred quilts will be on display and many for sale. Child Safe will raffle off — at $1 per ticket — a quilt valued from $7,000 to $10,000 to support their efforts in protecting children from child abuse.
Berthoud Farmers Market
Thursdays, June 14 - Aug. 30, 3 to 6:30 p.m. in Railroad Park. Local farm produce, honey, prepared foods, handmade soaps, artisan breads and African drums will be for sale, as well as other fun items.
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Historic Home Tour adds vintage cars By Mark French The Surveyor Make plans now to spend the day in Berthoud on Saturday, June 16, for the 14th annual Berthoud Historic Home Tour. Again this year an added feature of the event will be a vintage car show that promises to please car buffs. And if that is not enough, for the second consecutive year the Berthoud Outdoor Quilt Show will also be held that day in Berthoud’s centrally located Fickel Park. You won’t want to miss any of these festivities that make Berthoud the place to be for a classic Colorado small town summer celebration. This year’s Berthoud Historic Home Tour includes the following sites: Vintage Car Show at Eighth Street and Turner Avenue: A free event that will entertain antique automobile enthusiasts while friends and family admire handcrafted quilts and tour historic homes, this vintage car show rounds out the day when Berthoud steps back in time to celebrate its rich heritage.
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 The McCarty House at 617 Sixth St. Constructed by local contractor John A. Bell for his personal residence, this stately Victorian home was purchased by Dr. D.W. McCarty and his new bride, Jennie Fagan, shortly after their marriage in 1906. Helen McCarty-Fickel, Berthoud’s noted historian, and her brothers Horace and Wilson were raised in this home that is one of the crown jewels of Berthoud’s historic Sixth Street neighborhood. The Fairbairn House at 616 Seventh St. One of several houses built in Berthoud for businessman Andy Fairbairn, this elegant brick home is located steps away from Fickel Park where Berthoud’s school was located from the 1880s to the 1960s. Also the home of the Fletcher family that published The Berthoud Bulletin in the 1950s and ‘60s, loving care for many decades has enabled the dwelling to retain its “early teens” charm. The Foursquare Church at 500 Fourth St. Originally built by Berthoud’s United Brethren congregation, this place of worship has been the home of the Foursquare Church for over a half-century. Built by John A. Bell who constructed the Fairbairn and McCarty homes that are also on the tour, the church
was recently nominated for inclusion on the list of “Colorado’s Most Endangered Places.” Newly roofed and still in use, the church is the cornerstone of Berthoud’s downtown district. The Zoller Shoe Shop at 315 Mountain Ave. Local lore has it that this modest frame structure was “wheeled up” from Berthoud’s original site on the Little Thompson river bottom to the town’s present-day location in the winter of 1883-84. Home to many businesses over the years — including Jake Zoller’s Shoe Shop for five decades — this little building that will soon become an antique store is representative of Berthoud’s commercial development in the early days.
WHAT TO KNOW:
Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets: • Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum, 224 Mountain Ave. • McCartyFickel Home house museum at 645 Seventh St. • Berthoud Historical Society ticket tent at southeast corner of Fickel Park. • The homes, church and business building featured on the tour. Admission: $10 BHS members — $12 non-members. All proceeds benefit the Berthoud Historical Society. Call the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum at 970-532-2147 for more information.
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DAY TRIPPIN’
Three easy summer afternoon trips from Berthoud By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor
It’s summertime, and that means road trips. But hitting the road doesn’t mean you have to spend days out on the hot pavement — and with gas prices, you might be looking for ways to stay closer to home. Whether it is an afternoon outing with the kids or an evening out with your sweetheart, you don’t have to look far for something fun and unique to do this summer. Benson Sculpture Garden, Loveland — If you have lived in Northern Colorado for any length of time, you’ve probably heard about this place, but have you ever visited? With over 130 sculptures on permanent display on acres of parkland north of Lake Loveland, Benson Sculpture Garden is one of Colorado’s hidden gems. You may have never considered taking the kids to a sculpture park, but you may want to think again. These larger-than-life, durable sculptures are an excellent way to introduce your children to art that they can literally touch. You can discuss the names of the sculptures with your child, ponder what the more abstract pieces look like, and your children can even ride on some of
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 the art, like Mr. Alligator who is already giving rides to several bronzed children. Adults can enjoy a romantic stroll through the gardens, and it’s also a great way to introduce visitors to the thriving artistic culture in Northern Colorado. Benson Sculpture Garden is located at 2908 Aspen Dr., in Loveland, Colo., and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Boardwalk Park, Windsor — History and fun converge at this lakeside park in downtown Windsor. As the newer area of Windsor, Colo., has built up around the freeway exit, many people overlook the historic town center. Boardwalk Park is just north of the downtown and includes a collection of historic buildings that have been relocated to the site as part of the Windsor History Museum. Families who visit the 12-acre park can tour the historic buildings and then enjoy a picnic beside Windsor Lake as the children play on the state-of-the-art playground equipment. The park includes a natural amphitheater and two shelters. It is located at 100 N. Fifth St., in Windsor, Colo. Old Town Square, Fort Collins — One of the most energetic places in Northern Colorado is Old Town Square in Fort Collins. During the summer there’s always something happening in the square, from Noontime Notes, a free concert series on Tuesdays, to large festivals like New West Fest in August and a car show in September. Even when there isn’t entertainment scheduled Old Town Square is a good place to stroll with the kiddos, let them play on the sculptures or the fountain, or sit on one of the many restaurant patios with a beer. There may be newer places you haven’t yet discovered in downtown Fort Collins, like Pinball Jones, a small pinball arcade located below the square at 107 Linden, or the Welsh Rabbit Cheese Shop at 216 Pine St., just a hop skip away from Old Town Square.
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Hiker safety John Schulz, public information officer Larimer County Sheriff’s Office The rescue of two California hikers from the Crags area of Twin Sisters in late April was the third incident to which emergency officials have responded to find lost hikers. Tens of thousands of people annually visit the back country in Larimer County and some of them get into situations which require the Emergency Services Unit of the Larimer County Sheriff’s office and the Larimer County Search and Rescue Team to assist with a search, rescue or carry-out. Many of these missions could have been avoided had hikers used some common sense and a little preparation. Consider the following suggestions: • Tell someone where you’re going, your general route and when you intend to return. Stick to your time frame or you may find yourself the object of a search the next day, and don’t separate from your hiking companions unless you have an emergency. If you change your plans at the last minute, leave a note in your car on the driver’s side dashboard with the new plans. • Carry matches, first aid kit, a flashlight with fresh batteries, and clothes warm enough to wear if you have to spend the night. Be sure to have a whistle or other
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noisemaking device you could use to help rescuers locate you if needed. • Have rain gear with you on every hike. Colorado weather can change quickly. When your clothes are soaking wet, hypothermia is a danger even in the summer, and rain parkas can provide extra warmth. The same goes for ponchos, which can also provide rudimentary shelter. Carry an extra jacket and gear. Dress appropriately. The weather where you are hiking to may be radically different from where you start. Clothing made from cotton will actually make you colder if it gets wet. Wool or fleece insulates even when wet. Bright clothing also helps searchers and aircraft see you better and at greater distances. • Carry a map and compass and don’t be lulled into a sense of security by merely carrying them as a magic talisman. You also need to know how to use them. If you’re unsure, get a book on the subject of “orienteering.” If you have a GPS unit, practice its proper use and bring it with you. Recognize that there may be times when the GPS, like the cell phone, will not work on our mountain trails. • Don’t depend on a cell phone to send a plea for assistance if you get into trouble — another reason to avoid going solo. Make sure your phone is fully charged if you take it. Many cell/smart phone mapping programs don’t work if you don’t have cell service.
• “Short cuts” can easily end up costing you time and energy to find your trail again and serve to create erosion on switch-backed mountain trails. Please avoid them. • Don’t trust the water. Even our clear mountain streams can and do contain giardia, causing diarrhea, cramps and nausea. Use a filter pump (available from most outdoor shops), boil your water for at least five minutes, or have fresh chemical tablets for killing the bugs. • “Take only pictures — leave only footprints.” Take out what you brought in and do the land and all of us a favor by taking out other people’s trash too. Every little bit helps. • What to do if you are lost — stop walking. Find a tree to hug. Draw attention to yourself any safe way possible. Put on your brightest clothing. Yell or whistle if you hear your name called or another whistle. Keep calm. Build a fire if necessary, and wait. If you have a cell phone, and can find a cell signal, call 911. Do not waste batteries calling friends and family. The search and rescue team has additional safety information, including a printable brochure, on their website at www.larimercountysar.org/safety.htm. The Search and Rescue Team also offers wilderness safety education programs. More information is available at their website at www.larimercountysar.org/psar.htm.
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Berthoud Community Library 2012 free summer fun for kids and adults Night time is the right time for reading this summer in Berthoud. Berthoud Community Library District strives to provide a literacy bridge between school years with the summer reading program for young people. Academic studies prove that kids read more when they’re having fun, when they see others reading and when they can choose their own reading material. The Berthoud Community Library offers programs for children, teens and adults, so the whole family can participate. Summer reading fun starts June 1, 2012, and continues until Aug. 31, 2012. Register online, www.berthoudcommunitylibrary.org, or at the library starting June 1 and start earning prizes! There are three reading programs designed for different age groups: • “Dream Big, Read!” for listeners and early readers; • “Own the Night” for teens; • “Between the Covers” for adults and high school students. The popular bingo card returns!
Calendar of Events Check the library’s website or call for times and locations. June 5 Build a book Gail Lindley will talk about the history of book binding and then she will guide participants in binding their very own book. Materials provided. Space is limited so please sign up. June 6 Shooting Stars Understand the celestial bodies that you can see at night with the naked eye. Make craters, just like on the Moon. See what a comet is made of and how the tail forms. June 12 Rocket Works The Denver Museum of Nature and Science will bring highflying fun with this program. In this class participants will learn to build and fly rockets. Materials provided. We will meet at the Berthoud High School gym at 2 p.m. (for 2nd-5th graders). The first class is for younger elementary and the second class starting at 3:15 p.m. will be for the middle school kids and teens. June 13 Lullaby Elizabeth and her Sleepy Time Singers Present: A Dream medley Lullaby Elizabeth, Tony Siesta, Resting Rachel and Josh Snoozer will perform a lullaby concert. June 19 One small step… See a national treasure at the Berthoud Community Library. Join us for this program and see a real moon rock! We will use
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 a moon calculator to discover your moon sign. Be sure to bring the exact time and place of your birth as well as the date. Enjoy speaker, Barb Sande, Space Solar Ambassador for a presentation about the Apollo mission. June 20 I dreamed I was a genie Performer Ann Lincoln will bring juggling, magic, comedy and live animals. She has been a big hit in the past and we look forward to a new show themed for the Summer Reading Program, “Dream big! Read!” June 26 Little Thompson Observatory Meet at the high school track at 8 p.m. to enjoy a tour of the LTO! June 27 Hearts and Horses Carrie Coyne will tell participants about how Hearts & Horses provides a variety of therapeutic and educational programs utilizing an incredible herd of four-legged therapists. At the end of the program meet Jemini who is a special ambassador of the program! July 3 Space to write: a writer’s workshop Diana Tillman will teach teens some basic writing skills and they will practice with writing prompts.
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 July 10 Book to film club: Soul Surfer We will be handing out copies of “Soul Surfer” to be read before July 10. On the 10th we will discuss the book, watch the movie and compare the two. July 11 Sky Lore and Star Stories from Around the World Storyteller Kay Negash will present participatory stories for children of all ages. July 17 and 18 Night blooming flowers Learn what flowers bloom at night and why. Participants will plant their own night-blooming container garden to take home. July 24 and 25 Explore your inner space: yoga with Liz Liz will lead two yoga programs, one designed for kids and the second for teens. August 1 Surprise program Our teen volunteers will create and run a surprise program.
End of Summer Pool Party for ALL Ages! Saturday, August 4, 4-6 p.m. Berthoud Town Pool and Park
Berthoud Weekly Surveyor Page 13 Free Summer Events for Adults June 14 – August 30 Thursday Movie Matinee If it happened at night, we have a movie about it. Check the library website, www.berthoudcommunitylibrary.org, or call for specific movie titles and times. June 6, 7pm “You are the Difference” – A conversation with Tony Bottagaro Tony speaks from the heart and from his experiences on issues such as justice, love and peace. Moderated by Sara Wright, library director. June 14 & 15, 11:30-1:00 Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics Delve into the inner workings of the art world, explore behind the scenes in the marketplace, and journey into the complicated, kaleidoscopic world of quilts. In conjunction with the Berthoud Quilt Show on 6/15, the library will be showing several episodes of this documentary created by the Kentucky Quilt Project. Episodes will include “Quilts 101” and “Gee’s Bend: The Most Famous Quilts in America?” Saturday, August 4, 4-6 p.m. End of Summer Pool Party This year adults who participate in the Summer Reading Program are invited to attend the summer’s end party at the pool.
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Summer stargazing
By Mike Hotka The Surveyor
Whether you’re staying local or going on vacation, there are many opportunities to do some family stargazing this summer. If your vacation takes you to the more remote regions of our country, make sure to get away from the resort lights and just look up at the amazing night sky. You will see so many more stars than you can back home. With a pair of binoculars you can tour the summer sky for hidden celestial treasures. For those who are staying closer to home, the Little Thompson Observatory is a wonderful place for you to visit. The third Friday of each month the observatory has an open house event, where there is an astronomical talk followed by telescope viewing. If you want a private tour of the night sky, you can reserve the observatory for an evening. A volunteer will guide you by moving the telescope to the showcase summer celestial objects. To make a reservation, visit the observatory’s website at www.starkids.org and fill out the online form. On the afternoon of June 5, Venus will pass between the Earth and the Sun. This is called a transit. Venus does this twice, eight years apart, every 105 to 122 years. The first transit was eight
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 years ago, so this is your final chance to see the tiny silhouette of Venus against the huge disk of our Sun. The 2012 Transit of Venus starts at 6:10 p.m., when Venus first touches the edge of the Sun. By the time the Sun sets this day, Venus will have progressed more than half way across the disk of the Sun. The astronomical community does not approve the use of welding goggles/helmets for safe viewing of the Sun. The Little Thompson Observatory will host a special Transit of Venus event from 5 - 9 p.m. on the 5th. Special telescopes will be available for you to safely see Venus and the Sun, as well as experts available to answer any astronomical question you may have. Rocky Mountain Nation Park (RMNP) is having its Astronomy in the Park program throughout the summer. On Friday, June 15 and 29, July 13 and 27, and Aug. 10 and 17, park visitors will be treated to an astronomy program at the Upper Beaver Meadows Trail head. A short talk starts at dusk and is followed by an evening of telescope observing. Park admission is required. The planet Saturn will be high in the evening sky all summer. Saturn is best known for its beautiful rings around the disk of the planet, which are best seen through a telescope. The Little Thompson Observatory as well as the RMNP’s astronomy program will have telescopes available for you to see Saturn, close up. On the evenings of Aug. 12-13, the annual Perseid Meteor Shower will peak. With no Moon in the sky until early morning, you will be able to see at least 60 meteors per hour streak across the sky all night. It is best to get away from city lights to view this event. A lawn chair that reclines, as well as an unobstructed view of the sky will maximize your meteor-viewing enjoyment. Face your chair to the northeast, cast your gaze overhead and enjoy the celestial fireworks.
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Kids get elbow deep in history at summer day camps Do you know a youngster who would love to spend a week taking on the role of a young child who lived in Colorado 100 years ago? If you do, see that they get enrolled in one of three summer history day camps that the Berthoud Historical Society will be hosting this summer at the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum at 224 Mountain Ave. and the McCarty-Fickel Home at 645 Seventh St. in Berthoud.
Camps to be held this summer include: Meadow Hollow School | June 4-8 This camp will be held at the Meadow Hollow Scholl at the Pioneer Museum where campers will get “elbow-deep” in reciting lessons, stenciling, doll-making and rug-braiding, playing oldfashioned games, abiding by country school rules and discipline, writing with pen and ink and on slates, making homemade journals, lemonade, butter and ice cream. Elocution and Etiquette Camp | July 9-13 Held at the elegant McCarty-Fickel Home house museum, this camp will give children a chance to learn what rules were expected of young ladies and gentlemen in the early 1900s. Campers will have the opportunity to refine their manners by taking part in a formal tea and trying their hands at music, poetry, sewing, doll-making oral reading and more.
Homestead Cabin Academy | Aug. 6-10 The newest addition to the Pioneer Museum — the Meining Homestead Cabin — will be the setting of this rustic camp where campers will learn what it was like to grow up on a local homestead in the 1870s. There will be ample time to explore the art of whittling and learn about the plants, animals and early peoples of the Little Thompson Valley. Each camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Parents are responsible for prompt drop-off and pick-up. Boys and girls entering first through sixth grades are eligible. The cost of each camp is $40 per child for members of the Berthoud Historical Society and $45 for non-members. Pre-registration by calling the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum at 970-532-2147 is required.
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Rocky Mountain National Park — A giant playground in Berthoud’s backyard
By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor Majestic mountains, bugling elk, and over 300 miles of trails are only a few of the attractions that bring visitors from all over the world every year to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Luckily for Berthoud residents this magnificent park is literally in our backyard and most activities can range from day trips to longer stays. Take time this summer to enjoy some of the many activities RMNP has to offer. Trail Ridge Road is one of the more famous roads through RMNP. Construction on Trail Ridge began in 1929 and was completed in 1932. Taking this scenic drive provides breath-taking overlooks and sightings of unique animals, such as marmots, deer and elk. My personal favorite day trip is taking Trail Ridge Road over to Grand Lake where moose sightings are common. Grand Lake provides shops and a variety of restaurants as well as lodging for anyone wanting to make this an overnight trip. Hiking and backpacking are another source of family summer fun in the park. RMNP has a variety of trails that range from advanced to leisurely strolls. The visitor centers provide maps and current information. Rangers are happy to answer questions and recommend
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trails. Families who want to camp need to make a reservation or, if you are backcountry camping, you need to decide where to camp and take appropriate safety precautions. Rangers recommend checking in with them to make sure the area you want to hike and camp in is safe. Plan for a variety of weather depending on the altitude you are hiking to, and make sure everyone in your group is capable of making the hike. My personal favorite activity at RMNP is photography — especially at sunrise. When the alarm clock goes off early in the morning it is hard to make myself get out of bed, but the end result is worth it. Sunrise photography is not only spectacular, but you feel like you have the park to yourself. The Rocky Mountain Nature Association (RMNA) offers seminars for photographers throughout the summer into fall. They cover everything from wildlife to landscape to wildflower photography and include courses for children. The RMNA is a non-profit founded in 1931 that currently supports the research and educational programs in RMNP. Besides photography, the RMNA also has seminars for the whole family, including hikes with naturalists, educational programs about wildlife, art classes and nature hunts. For a schedule, list of classes and great books about RMNP, visit the RMNA website at www.rmna.org. Before school starts in the fall, consider taking a family trip to the BioBlitz Aug. 24 and 25. It’s a weekend of biodiversity where volunteers lead expeditions to discover as many different species as possible in the park. Areas explored include lakes, meadows, mountains, streams and forests. The biodiversity festival will be held the same weekend at the Estes Park Fairgrounds. The festival will feature educational booths, speakers, and activities for the whole family. Best of all it is free. These are only a few of the things available to Berthoud residents in the giant playground of RMNP. For more information and to customize your visit, go to the park website at: www.nps.gov/romo/ index.htm.
Sunrise photo at RMNP courtesy of Kathleen Donnelly
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Fiddle your way to some Rocky Mountain fun By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor
Looking for a foot-stomping good time? Look no further than the third annual Rocky Mountain Old-Time Music Festival. The event will be held at Parrish Ranch on the first weekend in June, and the ranch will be alive with the sounds of fiddle, banjo, guitar, washboards and more. “We expect jamming all day and all night,” said Ellen Rosenberg, festival committee member, musician and square dancer. In 2010 a group of Fort Collins musicians decided to put together an event to celebrate the music they love, and the Rocky Mountain Old-Time Music Festival was born. Parrish Ranch is the ideal setting for the event, with its dance hall built in 1959, specifically to host square dances, and its campfriendly property. Located just west of Berthoud, it’s also centrally located for musicians and fans who travel to the festival. The three-day event is full of music, dance, food and community. All ages and all abilities are welcome, and on Saturday there is a full lineup of workshops for beginners through advanced musicians. On Friday evening, a potluck will be held at 6 p.m. and everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share. This will be an opportunity for everyone to get to know one another. On Saturday there will be food vendors on the property from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Parrish Ranch will also sell sodas, ice
Photo by Lori Nitzel
Steve Hall jams with his mother, Vesta Johnson.
cream and cookies. Guests may bring their own alcohol. A pie contest will be held on Saturday and, once the winners are determined, the pies will be sold piece by delicious piece. On Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m. the Ranch will provide breakfast for $9. Old-time music has been gaining popularity in Colorado, and while it isn’t performance-focused or commercial, it has been featured prominently in movies, on YouTube, and at national festivals. “We who love, play and dance to old-time music are growing in numbers,” said Rosenberg. “Inspired by what they hear, younger players and dance callers are now addicted to old-time and are bringing a new energy to the national scene.” Missouri fiddler Vesta Johnson will be headlining this year’s festival. In her ‘80s, Johnson is a true inspiration to younger musicians. She has been playing the fiddle since she was just nine years old, and despite taking time off to raise her children, Johnson took up the instrument again in the 1960s, and has been fiddling every since. Other featured artists include Steve Hall, New Bad Habits, New Mexico’s East Mountain Serenaders, square dance callers Larry Edelman and Chris Kermiet, and the Central Rockies’ finest old-time bands: Firing Line, Forty Degrees North, Still on the Hill and Stolen Thyme. Rocky Mountain Old-Time Music Festival is excited to be at Parrish Ranch for the first time. “We were looking for a permanent home where folks could camp and play all weekend, with a wooden dance floor and in a natural setting. We are hopeful this will be a long-term match for the festival,” said Rosenberg. Parrish Ranch has sites available for tent camping and 40 sites with hookups for RVs and campers. Admission to the festival ranges from $15 to $60, depending on length of stay and/or camping situation. Children 16 and under are free. Rocky Mountain Old-Time Music Festival runs June 1-3, 2012. Tickets are available through the Central Rockies OldTime Music Association website at www.thecroma.org. You can also join the organization on Facebook and keep up with all their events, jams and dances.
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History Colorado
By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor
History Colorado opened to the public in April and the new museum is getting rave reviews now, but this wasn’t always the case. Five or so years ago, after conversations and polling, the History Colorado Center staff discovered that the only two groups visiting the museum on a regular basis were school children and tourists. The facility was not attracting the average Coloradoan. How could this demographic be encouraged and enticed to come learn about the state’s rich history? A state-of-the-art facility was the answer. The new museum, with 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, is technologically advanced, eco-friendly and, above all, a dynamic space where storytelling is on the main stage each and every day. This museum is a place where today’s technology is used to tell the story of Colorado’s past — from the Time Machines in the atrium, to the “tour guides” in the Kiowa exhibit, who come “alive” when they sense your presence in the room. Only a third of the museum is currently open. Phase I opened on April 28 with Grand Atrium Programs, Destination Colorado and Colorado Stories. The final Phase I exhibit, Denver A-Z, will open this fall. Several temporary exhibits are planned for the first year, as well. Phase II will open in 2013 with Living West, and Phase III is slated for 2014 with the exhibit Dreams & Visions (a working title), as well as a traveling exhibit in the 10,000 square foot traveling exhibition space. The museum’s architect, David Tryba of Tryba Architects, used building materials from Colorado wherever possible. For example, the museum’s flooring includes bits of recycled beer bottles and the ceilings are constructed using beetle-kill pine. The building is also
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LEED Gold certified. For researchers, the Stephen H. Hart Library and Research Center at History Colorado is a comfortable library with natural light coming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Scholars will be pleasantly surprised to find themselves out of the basement — the typical location of museum research libraries. The storyteller theme is found throughout the museum. This human approach to history education has the result of vividly demonstrating that we aren’t very different from those in the past, and we still struggle with many of the same problems. This is most evident in the Kiowa exhibit, a recreation of this Colorado town from the early 1900s. The new History Colorado also has a state-of-the-art conference area and wedding and event facilities that include a balcony with breathtaking views of downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains. History Colorado has been a labor of love for those who have been involved, from the architect to the volunteers. The 200,000 square foot building at 1200 Broadway is part of what is being called the Denver Cultural Arc, an area that includes the Denver Art Museum, Denver library and more. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are free. Admission is always free to History Colorado members. To learn more about History Colorado and what it has to offer, go to HistoryColorado.org.
Photo by Frank Ooms, courtesy of History Colorado
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012
Protect the peepers By Kristine Smith The Surveyor Summer in Colorado means more time spent outdoors and more exposure to the sun’s blistering rays. While most people are proficient at lathering on the sun block, proper eye care can often fall by the wayside. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are just as likely, if not more so, to damage your eyes and affect your vision permanently. Too much sun exposure can be dangerous, whether it occurs indirectly or directly. Those with the lightercolored eyes are at a higher risk in the same way that those who are fairer skinned are at a higher risk for skin damage. Short-term effects include something called photokeratitis, which feels like a sand or grit in the eye and can be quite painful. It happens when the eyes are exposed to direct sunlight for long periods, and is similar to getting a sun burn on the cornea. It typically gets better on its own with some lubrication, like eye drops. Photoconjunctivitis is another painful condition, which is a sun burn on the inside of the eyelid and eye socket. You should never look directly at the sun — that can cause retinal damage. It’s the long-term effects, the cumulative exposure to UV light, which causes more of the harmful diseases to the eye. Another shorter-term problem
is snow blindness, which is an extreme form of photokeratitis. Snow reflects about 80 percent of UV rays, greatly adding to UV exposure, and with this exposure comes damage to the outer cells of the eye. Temporary blindness can result but normally returns in 12-48 hours. Cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygia and the related pingueculae are three long-term eye diseases caused by sunlight. Ptyergia and pingueculae are growths on top of the eye that grow into the cornea. Ophthalmologists see them often in people who work outdoors or live in states with higher amounts of sunshine, such as Colorado. Cataracts, the most well-known of these diseases, are described as a clouding of the lens of the eye. They are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 20 percent of cataracts are caused by over exposure to the sun, and therefore are completely avoidable. They are treated by removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. Macular degeneration is the breakdown of the macula, the center of the retina. Prolonged exposure to sunlight breaks down macular cells and can cause both wet and dry macular degeneration. People with light-colored eyes seem to be more likely to experience sun damage of the macula. Finally, pingueculae is a small raised area
Berthoud Weekly Surveyor Page 19 on the eye and can turn into pterygium. Pterygium can grow over the cornea and create vision problems. Both feel like a foreign object in the eye all the time and can interfere with proper lubrication of the eye. They can be surgically removed, but more than half will grow back. While it’s impossible to avoid UVA and UVB rays completely, wear sunglasses with 99 or 100 percent UV protection and that screen out 75-90 percent of visible light. They should always be worn outside during the day, even on a cloudy day and even in seemingly shaded areas. Be aware that sunglasses can still allow harmful rays to reach your eyes through the sides and from the top and below. A hat with a three-inch brim can provide further protection. People who must be outside for extended periods of time should wear wrap-around sunglasses. Glacier glasses have a vented piece of leather around the outside of each lens which prevents light from creeping in around the glasses from any direction. Polarizing lenses are more useful for driving and boating as these lenses cut down on light reflection. If you’re not sure if your sunglasses provide sufficient protection, your eye doctor can test your lenses or recommend glasses that will. Take the time to wear proper eye protection and don’t believe that all sunglasses have been created equal.
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Berthoud Parks & Recreation Department Important registration policies and procedures
Age cutoff is May 1 or by current grade level. Proof of age and grade level may be requested at anytime. Deadlines will be strictly enforced to ensure safety and quality of programs. Before the season starts, all players attend a player evaluation/ coaches draft night, in which the players participate in a series of drills to be placed on appropriate teams. The recreation department cannot guarantee a program will run until registration is complete and participants per age group or grade level have been established. In the event of low registration numbers, participants may not be able to participate in the program in which they are registered. Space is limited. Not everyone is guaranteed a spot in the program, so register early. After a registration deadline a waiting list will be kept, the first person on the waiting list will be called if a spot on a roster opens. After the registration period, a late fee will be added to all late registries. After teams are selected, coaches will call players to let them know of their team and practice time. No team or friend requests will be taken. There will be two weeks of practices before first week of games. Registration will only be refunded up to the first week of practice. Once the first week of practice is complete there will be no refunds.
British Soccer Camp
Ages: 3-16 years old Camp Date: July 16 - 20 Days: Monday - Friday Times: Ages 3 First Kicks 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Ages 4-5 Mini Soccer 9 - 10:30 a.m. Ages 4-5 Mini Soccer 1 - 2:30 p.m. Ages 6-9 Half Day 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Ages 6-16 Half Day 1 - 4 p.m. Location: Bein Park Soccer Field. Registration: Sign up online at www.challengersports.com Limited scholarships offered through House of Neighborly Services for qualifying participants. For details call 532-0161.
T-Ball/Coach Pitch
$83 $98 $98 $124 $124
Ages: T-Ball 4-5 years old Coach Pitch 6-8 years old Cost: $45 (Resident) $55 (Non-Resident) Important Dates: Season begins June 4 through July 21 Slip N Slid Day – M/W, June 25, T/TH, June 26 Big League Day – M/W, July 20, T/TH, July 21 Sessions: M/W or T/TH at, 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Continued on following page
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 Program Details: T-Ball and Coach Pitch practices are held twice a week in the mornings. Monday/Wednesday session or Tuesday/Thursday session. Session times; 9 and 10 a.m. time slots; T-Ball and Coach Pitch will consist of two weeks of practice and four weeks practice/games. Kids will enjoy fun activities like slip/slide and Big League Day. T-ball and Coach Pitch is one of our most esteemed programs. Players will need a glove. Rubber soled cleats and baseball pants are recommended but not required. Note: The time slot you choose will be your designated time slot throughout the whole season. Big league day is a night game with a possibility of a second night game. After Registration: After you register all you need to do is bring your child on the first day of the time you have chosen. All events are held at Bein North and Bein South baseball fields. Game schedules will be handed out at your first practice.
Youth Baseball
Ages: 8-13, 9 & Under, 11 & Under, 13 & Under Cost: $45 (Resident) $55 (Non-Resident) Program Season: June 4 - July 28 Selection Day/Rockies Skills Challenge: May 30 at Bein Park 9 U at 5 p.m., 11U at 5:30 p.m., 13 U at 6 p.m. Coach Draft: May 31 at Recreation Office (100 10th St.) 9U at 5 p.m., 11U at 5:45 p.m., 13U at 6 p.m. Practice begins: Week of June 4 (times and days depend on coach) Games begin: June 18, Mon/Wed evenings Program Details: Youth baseball plays with a minimum of nine players on each team. Teams will practice twice a week. Games will be played on Monday or Wednesday evenings. Other than cleats, pants and gloves, Berthoud Recreation will provide all equipment. After Registration: After you register you will need to show up on selection day. After selection day is held, your coach will call you with days and times of your practices. Volunteer coaches needed! Call Mark for details at 532-1600.
CARA Tennis Team
Ages: 8 years and Up. Program seasons: May 31 - July 27 Cost: $75 (Resident) $85 (Non-Resident) Days: Tuesday/Thursday/Friday Times: 8 - 11 a.m. (practices will be split into three one-hour slots bases on skill level of participant) Location: Berthoud High School tennis courts Program details: Berthoud Recreation will participate in the CARA tennis program. The team will practice twice a week and play matches on Friday. The matches will be played around the Northern Colorado area on Fridays. Participants will have to provide their own racket. Sign up for private adult and youth tennis lessons. If interested call the Recreation Office at 532-1600.
Kids N Play
Details: Kids N Play is a 45-minute session filled with activities such as: arts and crafts, singing, story-telling and freeplay time. Ages: 3 - 5 years (must be 3-years-old to start program) Fee: $30 Resident / $40 Non-Resident Location: Town Park (South Pavilion) Time Slots: 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. *When registering please note any food allergies* Session: June 11- June 27 Monday and Wednesday
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Swim Lessons
Berthoud Swimming Lessons is a Red Cross swimming lessons program which will be offered in two week sessions. The session will be Monday through Thursday at the scheduled times. Registration: Must register in office at 100 10th St. Times: 9:45 - 12:55 a.m. Cost: Resident $30 Non-Resident $40 Session dates: 1st Session - June 6 - June 17 2nd Session - June 20 - July 4 3rd Session - July 5 - July 15 4th Session - July 18 - July 29 5th Session – Aug. 1 - Aug. 12 Levels offered: Parent Tot, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 For more information about specific class times, go to our website at http://www.berthoud.org./parks_rec/park_rec_home.php
Water Aerobics Class
Instructor Liz Hartman will feature an aerobic segment to improve cardiovascular fitness as well as toning and stretching segments to improve strength and flexibility. Classes are one hour. Multi-level fitness class: all ages and fitness levels are welcome. Time: Tuesday/Thursday: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Cost: Resident $55, Non resident $65 Drop in $3.50 Length: Twice a week. June 1 - Aug. 13 Note: Bring your own water noodle. Must register in Recreation office.
CARA Swim Team
Season: June 4 – Aug. 1 Cost: $75 residents $85 Non residents (Space limited so register early) Practice: Monday/Wednesday/Friday Times: 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. (Ages 11-18) 8:45 - 9:30 a.m. (Ages 6-10) Meets: June 16: at Loveland June 30: at Carbon Valley July 14: Home meet July 21: Fun meet Parent meeting/team pool party: Thursday, June 7, 7 - 8 p.m. Requirement: To participate, swimmers must be able to complete without stopping - 25 yards of each the front crawl stroke and the backstroke. Details: Berthoud Swim Team participates in the CARA swim program. The program introduces young swimmers to competitive swimming. Emphasis is placed on fun, development and sportsmanship. Ribbons are given to each child finishing their respective events at meets. CARA is not swim lessons. Continued on following page
Page 22 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor Cont’d. from page 21 Team workouts are structured to the swimmer’s conditioning level. Optimal team swimsuits will be available for purchase at the beginning of the season. Parent volunteers are necessary for our home meet and overall operation of the team.
Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball
When: Sunday evenings 4 p.m. start Games start: June 17 at Bein Park softball fields Teams: Rosters can have 9-16 players (Teams must field an equal amount of women) Special details: Men must use wooden bats, while women are allowed to use aluminum bats. This is being implemented for the safety or our co-ed softball players. Games will be played with a 12-inch softball. Ages: 18 and older Cost: $300 team fee. No individual fees. Season: Weekly play plus a single-elimination tournament
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 Town Park (North/South Pavilions) Fickel Park Roberts Lake Collins Park Railroad Skate Park Bein Park To book a park call the Parks and Recreation department at 970-532-1600.
Park Reservations
Reserve any park in Berthoud. Half Day: $25 Full Day: $50 (Prices may vary due to size, type of event and residency) File photo
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012
Shoot ‘em up By Eli Hopkins The Surveyor
Summer is almost here. I’ve already dug out my gear, cleaned it off and prepared to use it over the next several months. Nope, not golf … paintball. When I was an early teen, around the late 1980s, I remember being introduced to some of the first paintball guns I’d seen by friends whose family could afford such luxuries. The basic models were pump action, single shot. Similar to a shot gun, you had to pump the gun to engage a ball and then pull the trigger to fire and repeat the process for each shot. They operated on compressed C02, which was the force behind the ejection of the balls. The paintball, a marble-sized thin plastic ball filled with “paint” would then eject at a high rate of speed and hopefully hit where you aimed. The point of the paint is to be an obvious mark, signifying that you’ve “hit” your opponent. Opposing teams or players hide, try and find, and then “shoot” each other until one was hit or “out.” Various versions of games like “capture the flag” could be worked in. Fast forward to now. As with cell phones, electronics, cars and everything, paintball guns (now given the politically correct title of “markers”) have advanced as well as the game itself. Many “markers” now come with electronic gizmos and gadgets, are semi or fully auto (no need to pump, just pull the trigger) and are accurate up to a decent distance. Contemporary players typically come in two versions,
Berthoud Weekly Surveyor Page 23 tournament and recreational. Tournament players, mostly young men 16-30 years of age, play semi-pro or professionally in official events and usually have team or individual sponsors — businesses who pay and often have their logos on the players’ uniforms, similar to NASCAR logos. Tournament players play on flat grass or turf fields with large inflatable barriers scattered throughout the playing area both inside and out. Often the object is complete elimination of the opposing team. These games are fast-paced and often end in a matter of minutes. They start with a buzzer or whistle and are followed by a scattering of teams and a barrage of paint balls in one seamless motion. The yelling of instructions ensues and, before you blink, the game is over with one team out entirely. These guys are very good and their “markers” are very accurate. They easily spend over $1000 on their equipment and it shows. When I’ve played in large groups of people I don’t know, it’s easy to tell who the tournament players are and who are not, specifically by the degree of pain when they hit you — the better the gun, the more it hurts. Those unfamiliar with paintball should know that most markers allow you to control the velocity of the ball, and there are limits on most playing fields. They “chronograph” your gun in order to know the speed at which the ball is leaving the barrel. Even so, expensive guns feel different — even turned down, their hurt is special. Now onto the recreational players like me: We are as diverse as they come. Sometimes a curious group of college students (male and female); a bunch of high school freshmen who think they are cool, wanna-be military; or 30 to 40-year-old dads who just want an adrenaline rush and a chance to see a florescent green splat on an enemies face mask. We are a hodge-podge, rag-tag group who just like the fun of it. Our markers are good and made to take a beating. They run $150-$400 and usually don’t have all the bells and whistles of tournament guns. Recreational players sometimes have their own groups who play on private (or public) property and make up their own rules or, preferably, head to play on fields that are businesses. These “paintball field” businesses are scattered throughout Denver, Fort Collins or at my preferred location southeast of Longmont. These businesses sometimes have both inside and outside playing areas. These businesses charge for admission. They usually rent you the equipment; consisting of a marker, mask, and compressed air tank (now the preferred propellant) and sell the paintballs. The passionate recreational player often owns his/her equipment but will pay the admission fee and buy paint. For the admission you get the use of a specially designed “scenario” field with forts, trenches, bunkers, and assorted barricades and buildings. You also get the guidance of a “ref” who divides the teams, sets the rules and chooses and oversees the game or scenario to be played out. Sometimes there are time limits, sometimes not. Sometimes you get a good team, sometimes you don’t. But a rush of fun you will almost always get. I’m not sure when I’ll tire of running around, hiding, squatting behinds barrels, hearing the whiz of passing balls, sneaking up on an unsuspecting victim and seeing them react to the sting of a splattering ball of paint. Hopefully it won’t be anytime soon.
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Summer planning for pets By the Longmont Humane Society Special to the Surveyor
With the first really hot days comes the realization that summer is finally here. Whether your pets will be traveling with you, staying home with you, or going to a boarding facility or sitter, a bit of advance preparation can mean more fun and less stress for everyone. 1. Protect your pet with extra ID. Temporary tags with caretakers’ phone numbers, out-of-town contacts and “medicalerts” can be lifesavers — even if he’s also micro-chipped or tattooed. 2. Have a check-up at the vet. Get a current health certificate to take with you or leave with his caretaker. Find out about health hazards where you’re going and take preventive measures. Make certain vaccinations are current. 3. Plan how you can avoid leaving him in a hot car if you’re traveling. Even with windows cracked, the temperature in a parked car can reach a deadly level in almost no time. This applies to quick jaunts around town too. 4. List the supplies you will need for routine care and make up a kit for your canine or feline “road warrior.” Include items for comfort: sponging him with cool water or putting a wet towel in his crate can help him stay cool. 5. Find out what rules will apply to him at your destination: many parks, campgrounds, motels and other places don’t allow dogs, or have restrictions. A useful resource on the Internet is www.petswelcome.com, which gives extensive listings of hotels, resorts, B&Bs, campgrounds and beaches that accept pets.
Summer in Berthoud 4 2012 6. If you’re leaving him behind, check out the boarding facility or pet sitter thoroughly and make reservations as far in advance as possible. 7. Leave the pet’s caretaker with written instructions for his care and contact information for you, the animal’s vet, and a responsible friend or family member who could act for you in an emergency. Have at least one contingency plan in case something goes wrong. 8. Read about common household dangers for pets, including cocoa mulch which contains ingredients that can be deadly to pets if ingested. The mulch, sold in garden supply stores, has a chocolate scent that is appetizing to some animals. Metal lawn edging can cut paws, causing extensive damage to pads, ligaments and tendons. This can be very painful for the animal, expensive to treat, and can cause permanent damage. To avoid this possibility, use plastic edging with smooth edges or purchase plastic edging cover material for your lawn edging. Chemicals used on lawns and gardens, such as fertilizer and plant food, can be accessible and fatal to a pet. Staying home for your holiday can be relaxing, too. To avoid seasonal problems, inspect your pet’s environment often during the season. Animals spending time outdoors need shade, unspillable water bowls, and shelter from wind, rain and hail. If your dog is afraid of thunder storms, fireworks and other loud noises, make sure he can’t escape when those things occur. For more information, visit www.longmonthumane.org.