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BY DEBORAH SWEARINGEN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Additional funding on the horizon for Virginia Canyon Mountain Park e park, which is on land given to Idaho Springs by Clear Creek County in 1999, covers 400 acres and is located north of the city above Argo Mine and Mill. e project is a collaboration between Idaho Springs and the Colorado Mountain Bike Association, known as COMBA.

Additional funding to help with trail construction at Virginia Canyon Mountain Park could be on its way about a year after the rst portion of the trail opened for public use.

COMBA Director Gary Moore noted in an email that the organization would likely have news to share soon but could not comment until details regarding the potential funding has been nalized.

According to COMBA, approximately 12 miles of trail are planned, and it will ultimately o er a combination of multi-use trails as well as those speci cally designated for hikers or cyclists.

Idaho Springs received a $360,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant for trail and amenities construction in June 2022, after a soft opening for residents only, which occurred in May 2022.

Georgetown considering options for Town Hall

Georgetown is exploring possibilities to make its historic Town Hall building more accessible.

Town Administrator Rick Keuroglian con rmed there are several ideas the town has been evaluating. Potential ideas include moving the Town Hall meeting room to the bottom oor of an accessory building and turning the current building into town o ces. e town also could move the town hall to a separate building in Georgetown.

In May, the town’s Board of Se- lectmen authorized spending up to $4,200 to allow Tom Peterson of TJP Architect to do an accessory building pre-design. Selectmen said the pre-design would determine what size and type of structure could be built on the vacant property behind the Town Hall, according to meeting minutes.

Currently, the town o ces are in the historic Star, Hook and Ladder building on Sixth Street, and the Board of Trustees meeting room is on the second oor, which is not accessible by elevator. Town o cials have for years been considering potential solutions to upgrade the facility and ensure access for all.

Keuroglian con rmed it was a town priority when he was hired in spring 2022. Further, the town described some of its challenges in a 2017 History Colorado grant application.

“Preserving the Star, Hook, & Ladder Building so that it may remain open to the public provides Georgetown with a great avenue to draw attention to the bene ts of historic preservation,” town o cials wrote.

“As it is right on the main commercial thoroughfare, the restoration work of the building will attract attention from the community and heritage tourists.”

Blue Spruce Habitat gifted a truck

Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity has received a Frontier truck from Nissan as part of Nissan’s support for Habitat a liates across the United States.

“We are so grateful to Nissan for the donation of this beautiful truck,” said Kathleen O’Leary, executive director of Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity.

“ e truck will be indispensable for us as we build and repair homes in our community.”

Blue Spruce Habitat recently built eight homes in Empire and several homes in Kittredge, and it has a home-repair program.

Nissan has contributed more than $20 million to Habitat for Humanity nationally since 2005.

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.clearcreekcourant. com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email dbrobst@ coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the print version of the paper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.

Enduro Mountain Bike Event: Team Evergreen will host an Enduro Mountain Bike event on June 28 and July 5 at Floyd Hill Open Space. For more information, visit www. teamevergreen.org/ oyduro.

Community Child Care Town Hall: A community child care town hall will be at 6 p.m. ursday, June 29, at Carlson Elementary School in Idaho Springs. Residents will discuss the need for child care in the county, how issues can be solved, possible locations and more.

White Water Music Series: e White Water Music Series, sponsored by the Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District, will be four Fridays beginning June 30 at the Idaho Springs Sports & Events Center. Concerts will be from 5:30-8 p.m. e Matt Flaherty Band is performing June 30, Moonstone Quill on July 7, 2nd Time Around on July 14 and Tonewood Stringband on July 21. For more information, visit www. clearcreekrecreation.com.

Camp Comfort Weekend Camps: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice’s Camp Comfort for children 6-12 who have lost a loved one will be July 7-9 at the Rocky Mountain Village Easter Seals Camp, 2644 Alvarado Road, Empire. Cost is free for all children thanks to donors, but a $25 deposit is required per child to hold their spot. Visit campcomfort. org for more information and to register.

Days in Empire from 8-10 a.m. on Saturdays, July 15, Aug. 19 and Sept.

16. Meet at the Empire Visitors Center, and the group will clean up a half mile of Empire’s two-mile stretch along Highway 40.

Georgetown Plein Air Event: e sixth annual Georgetown Plein Air art event will be July 28-29 in downtown Georgetown. e event includes a Quick Draw in historic downtown. e exhibit and sale will run through Aug. 13. Artists can register at www.eventbrite.com/e/ plein-air-2023-artist-registrationtickets-466470875947.

Painted Ladies and Victorian Secrets Historic Home Tour: Georgetown’s historic home tour will be July 29 and includes a tour of eight private homes, historic museums and a private Victorian-style garden. Pick up tickets starting at 8 a.m. at Strousse Park, and homes open at 10 a.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/painted-ladies-andvictorian-secrets-home-tour-tickets.

Mount Evans Hill Climb: e Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb, sponsored by Team Evergreen, will be July 8. rough the proceeds of the Bob Cook Memorial Hill Climb, Team Evergreen has donated $3 million to local nonpro ts including Bicycle Colorado, Colorado Mountain Bike Association, Special Olympics, Boy Scouts and more. For more information and to register, visit www.bicyclerace.com.

Paddle & Brew: Cabin Creek Brewing is hosting Paddle & Brew from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, July 11, 25, Aug. 8 and 23 at Georgetown Lake. Registration fee is $15 an paddle board rentals are $10.

Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Days in Empire: Friends of Clear Creek will host Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup

Rapidgrass Bluegrass Festival: e Rapidgrass Bluegrass Festival will be Aug. 4-5 at the Shelly/Quinn ball elds in Idaho Springs. Friday night is free, though a limited number of tickets are available. Earlybird tickets for Saturday’s event are $25 until June 1. For more information, visit rapidgrassfestival.com.

Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half-Marathon: The 45th annual Georgetown to Idaho Springs HalfMarathon will be Aug. 12, hosted by the Clear Creek Booster Club that supports high school and middle school students. Register at www. gtishalf.com.

Devil on the Divide 2023: e Devil on the Divide 2023 50K and 22K will be Sept. 9, both reaching altitudes of 13,000 feet. Prior ultrarunning experience is required. For more information and to register, visit devilonthedivideultra.com/ sign-up.html.

Ongoing

Summer Fun at the Rock House: e Clear Creek Rock House is o ering Summer Fun at the Rock House for sixth through 12th graders from 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays. Dinner is provided. Some of the activities include paddle boarding, boating and use of our full activity court for

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