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November 26, 2014 VOLU M E 53 | I S S UE 47 | 7 5 ¢
PikesPeakCourier.net T E L L E R C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Lights of Love is a celebration of life By Pat Hill
phill@colorado communitymedia.com The names, hundreds of names read aloud in hushed voices, provide the solemn ambience for the annual Lights of Love event sponsored by Prospect Home Care & Hospice. A gathering of survivors who honor their loved ones with candles lit in unison, Lights of Love is a peaceful interlude. “We pause once a year to get together in a social environment,” said Mary Barrowman, Prospect’s president and chief executive officer. A place to grieve in the company of others yet a time to reflect in solitude, Lights of Love draws people, despite the cold evenings, to the Ute Pass Cultural Center. “But the reason people come is to hear the names of their loved ones. And that takes a lot of strength,” Barrowman said. “Some of them can’t come every year and some need to come every year and, even though there are tears in the room, it’s a chance to appreciate love.” Above all, Lights of Love is a
celebration. “It’s a time to think about how lucky we are to love and be loved, to embrace those minutes, to try and use it to live a better life,” Barrowman said. “It takes two hours out of our crazy busy holiday winter time to just think about your parents, your friends, sons and daughters who have passed before you. And having it together as a community just makes you feel good.” After the names are read and the music played, the people gather outside for the tree-lighting ceremony, returning inside for hot cider and snacks. “Prospect feels privileged to do this service,” Barrowman said. “We’re a tiny little organization devoted solely to the Teller County/Ute Pass area.” Lights of Love is a fundraiser for Prospect, which extends its services to people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. “But we are serving a small population in the mountains so we still have a gap in 25 percent of our clients,” Barrowman said. “Some of that is charity care - we take people with no funding, no resources or insurance; we need a little extra just to continue to
The Woodland Park High School Madrigal Singers are a vital part of the annual Lights of Love celebration. Courtesy photo
serve. It’s a model that is amazing, has worked for more than 30 years.” For the nonprofit organization, the annual occasion is a gift
to the community. ”When I’m in the Lights of Love event, I just know that Prospect couldn’t survive without people contributing, using our services, caring for us
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OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24 Woodland Park, CO 80863 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Teller County, Colorado, the Pikes Peak Courier is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
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“It’s a special relationship.” Lights of Love is at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.
Members of the Gold Camp Victorian Society turned out in character at dedication ceremony for Bennett Avenue improvements. Photos by Rob Carrigan
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and with us,” Barrowman said.
Cripple Creek dedicates Bennett Avenue improvements $4.3 Million project completion officially marked with ribbon cutting By Rob Carrigan
rcarrigan@coloradocommunitymedia.com The sometimes problematic summer construction of Bennett Avenue in Cripple Creek was completed and capped off great fanfare and an official ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 19. The $4.3 million project officially began with a groundbreaking on June 5. Road construction on Bennett Ave., the city’s main thoroughfare, was completed earlier this month.
According to Public Works Director Jim Blasing, for all intents and purposes construction and paving was completed in late October. And although the downtown construction has caused inconveniences for businesses, residents and visitors throughout this past summer, the final product from all of the growing pains will leave the city with attractive, navigable streets and sidewalks that are pedestrian and business friendly. Cripple Creek Mayor Bruce Brown, and other officials, cut the ribbon at an afternoon ceremony held on Bennett Avenue and witnessed by dozens of well-wishers, dignataries and project participants. A performance by The Butte Theatre actors, complementary freshly-based cookies and
Butte Theatre actors help to dedicate Bennett Avenue improvements in Cripple Creek. hot cider, and attendance by Gold Camp Victorian Society members in character were also part of the festivities.
“We are so excited to show off all the improvements we have made to our main street in Cripple Creek.” Brown said.