Estes Park News, September 15, 2023

The Rut Is On

The size and shape of a bull elk’s antlers are very important to the rut. Perfectly matched and symmetrical antlers show off how healthy he is. Females typically want to mate with males who have the largest, most symmetrical antlers. If a bull’s antlers are crooked or misshapen, he may be sick or injured and the females don’t want to pass on those genes. During breeding season, the males also use their antlers to display dominance with the other bulls.

See page 33 for rut safety tips.

See Page 23

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Trail Ridge Road September 11, 2023, Longs Peak in clouds.

Trail Ridge Road morning of September 11, 2023.

Photos courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

Tis The Season! Check Road Conditions On Trail Ridge Road Before Traveling

Trail Ridge Road temporarily closed on Monday morning for approximately two hours due to snow, icy road conditions and low visibility. This is a reminder that conditions can change quickly this time of year at high elevations in Rocky Mountain

Wildlife

National Park.

The Trail Ridge Road recorded status line can be reached at (970)586-1222.

Photos courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

In High Altitude Snow!

Photos by Jim Ward

Football This Weekend

DENVER BRONCOS

Sun, Sep 17 vs Washington 2:25 PM CBS COLORADO BUFFS

Sat, Sep 16 vs Colorado State 8 PM ESPN

COLORADO STATE RAMS

Sat, Sep 16 at CU 8 PM ESPN

Birch Ruins Walkway To Be Completed With State Funding

Final improvements to the Birch Ruins, located behind Town Hall in Centennial Open Space at Knoll-Willows, will soon be completed. Following the 2020 preservation and interpretation of the site, an addition to the “floating” metal walkway will connect the existing walkway to the patio entrance. The work is expected to begin September 18 and should end by September 30, 2023. The Centennial Open Space at Knoll-Willows trail heads and trails will be accessible throughout construction while there will be no access to the Birch Ruins until completion of the installation. Parking at the East Wonderview Avenue trail head will be limited for the duration of the project. The work is funded through the State Historical Fund with a 25% match provided by the Town of Estes Park for a total expected cost of $25,991.

The Estes Park Museum will oversee this final phase. Museum Director Derek

The charge(s) are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

On 9/9/2023 at 5:06 a.m. police contacted the driver of a single vehicle rollover motor vehicle accident in the 800 block of MacGregor Avenue. On scene they contacted the driver, a 19 year old male from Perryton, TX and found he was driving under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with DUI, DUI per se, careless driving, underage consump-

EVFPD firefighters generally respond to medical calls in their personal vehicles, allowing for a faster response. On other incidents, firefighters respond to a fire station to respond in department apparatus with specialized equipment.

During the week of September 3rd, 2023, the Estes Valley Fire Protection

Fortini remarked about the plan, “it is great that this project can be completed – the visitor experience is greatly enhanced, much more safe, and the structure itself will be better preserved from human disturbance.”

The bungalow, which burned in 1907 leaving the ruins and prompting the building of the cabin below, was built by Denver journalist Al Birch. The Birch family owned the property and utilized the cabin through the 1980s before selling the property to the Town. Since then, the Museum has been responsible for the two structures and listed them on the State Register in 2001.

The Centennial Open Space at KnollWillows is open to the public from dawn to dusk with the trailhead and parking available off East Wonderview Avenue across from the Stanley Hotel and behind the Estes Park Town Hall parking lot at 170 Macgregor Avenue.

tion of alcohol, underage possession of marijuana and failure to provide evidence of insurance. He was arrested and transported to the Larimer County Jail.

On 9/9/2023 at 4:01 p.m. police contacted a 32 year old male from Estes Park in the 1200 block of Graves Avenue who was wanted on a warrant. The warrant was for a felony, (sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust). The male was arrested and transported to the Larimer County Jail.

District (EVFPD) responded to 15 calls for service. This included:

• Motor Vehicle Crash (MVC): 4

• Alarm Activation: 4

• Emergency Medical (assist EPH): 3

• Assist: 2

• Smoke Investigation: 2

Land Trust Welcomes Community Engagement Coordinator To Staff

The Estes Valley Land Trust welcomes Alicia Rochambeau as its newest staff member. In her role as Community Engagement Coordinator, Alicia will oversee the Conservation Easement Monitoring Program, recruit and train a large team of volunteers, organize the annual Student Film Festival, and conduct outreach efforts for the nonprofit. “I’m thrilled to work for such a dynamic organization. Preserving and protecting the Estes Valley’s open space is critical work and I am very impressed by the thoughtful approach taken by the Board of Directors, the volunteers and staff to further this mission.” Alicia remarked.

Alicia has several personal and professional ties to the community that she will harness in the new position. A Colorado native, she came to Estes Park in 2008 to work for the Rocky Mountain Nature Association (now Rocky Mountain Conservancy) facilitating interpretive hikes for students from the Front Range, many visiting the national park for their first time. Later she served as the Curator of Education and Collections at the Estes Park Museum where she developed programs and cared for artifacts that share the history of the

Estes Valley. Most recently, Alicia was licensed as a K-12 teacher and taught English Language Development at the Estes Park School District and worked with the community’s emerging bilinguals to support learning English alongside grade level content. A resident of Estes Park for 15 years, Alicia helped in the formation of the Estes Park Cycling Coalition and led the non-profit as its first Board President. Alicia enjoys an array of outdoor activities that she can do with her husband and young daughter. “I am so grateful that Alicia is joining our staff” said Jeffrey Boring, Executive Director of the Estes Valley Land Trust. “She has strong ties to the Estes Park community and will help the land trust continue to conserve land and better serve all our community members.”

About the Estes Valley Land TrustFounded in 1987 by Estes Park residents, the Estes Valley Land Trust is a nationally recognized land conservation organization that has preserved nearly 10,000 acres of land and some of the most iconic landscapes in the Estes Valley. Please consider becoming a member of the land trust at www.evlandtrust.org/donate.

Alicia Rochambeau

Remembering 9/11/2001 At Second Annual Stair Climb In Estes Park

On Monday, September 11, 2023, members of the Estes Valley Fire District, Estes Park Police Dept., First Responders and many community members attended the second annual 9/11 Stair Climb Fundraiser. This inspiring event honored the brave Firefighters and First Responders who lost their lives in the line of duty during the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, while raising funds to support the families and loved

ones they left behind. Participants walked a 5k, listened to a moving program from First Responders and Scott Manning, EVFPD firefighter who lost his brother on 9/11 and then climbed a symbolic 110 stories, representing the height of the World Trade Center towers. Each participant carried the name and photograph of a fallen firefighter, ensuring that their memory and legacy live on.

Electricity Generation For Estes Park

The Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters, Estes Park Power and Communications, and the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) will host a presentation on Estes Park's electricity generation. PRPA staff will discuss the ongoing process of developing an "Integrated Resource Plan" for our electricity as we prepare for the future. It is anticipated that

there will be ample time for questions from residents. The program will take place on Wednesday, September 27th, from 6-8 p.m. at the Hempel Auditorium located at 2515 Tunnel Road in the Estes Park YMCA of the Rockies.

There will be no charge for this informational session, and all are cordially invited.

Legislative Town Hall Meeting With Senator Marchman And Representative Amabile

Estes Valley Library - September 20 - 5:30 To 6:30 p.m.

Please join your Colorado legislators -- Senator Janice Marchman (SD 15) and Representative Judy Amabile (HD 49) -- at a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, September 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Hondius Room at the Estes Valley Library.

The 2023 legislative session included bills on many diverse topics, including property tax relief, gun safety, health care, education, age discrimination, consumer lending, assistance for care providers, and insurance.

Please come to hear your State Senator and State Representative address the 2023 legislation and plans for 2024, and to ask your questions.

This is an in-person meeting (and mask-friendly). Free and open to the public.

Remember that Library lot is paid parking from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with limited free parking for registered Town residents. (See estes-park.com/parking/)

Estes Park Health September Blood Drive Was A Huge Success!

More than 50 donors showed up for the blood drive by the UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center at Estes Park Health on Thursdays, Sept. 7th. Park Hospital District Board Member Steve Alper was one of those who showed up to help. Those who rolled up their sleeves were treated to snacks and give aways after their life-saving donations. Our next

blood drive on the EPH campus at 555 Prospect Ave. is on Thursday, Dec. 14th, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information will be coming soon about how you can sign up. As always, though, walk-ins are welcome. Thanks to everyone who showed up. Tell your friends! We are happy to be back hosting on-site blood drives after a long pause due to the COVID pandemic.

Senator Janice Marchman

Representative Judy Amabile

On Thursday, Sept. 7th,

members David

Estes Park Health Visits New Behavioral Health Facility

Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally invited representatives from Estes Park to tour the new facility slated to open on Dec. 2nd

When complete, this recently constructed facility will include inpatient care for psychiatric patients and substance abuse patients. The campus will also include a Behavioral Health Urgent Care available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Shadduck-McNally was instrumental in the project and invited EPH to come tour and learn about upcoming new resources for Larimer County.

Samples plans to work with the Medical Director of the Behavioral Health campus, Dr. Leslie Brooks, to coordinate a tour for EPH clinical workers like the emergency department physicians, hospitalists and social workers. EPH will have the capability to transfer behavioral health patients from the EPH Emergency Department to the new Behavioral Health facility when appropriate.

The spacious new voter-approved 55,000-square-foot facility is at 2100 W. Trilby Road, at the corner of Taft Hill and Trilby roads in southwest Fort Collins.

Art Center Gathering Local Pieces For EPH Infusion Center

Local artist Bo Cheatham has donated his piece called “Dancing Waters” to Estes Park Health for the walls of the Infusion Center. EPH is trying to create a calm and healing environment for our many patients who spend time in this

area. Cheatham’s piece is valued at $450. So far, three other artists have donated their work. When enough have been gathered, EPH will unveil the new gallery!

Park Hospital District Board

Batey, Drew Webb, Brigitte Foust and Steve Alper joined EPH CEO Vern Carda and EPH Chief Nursing Officer Pat Samples for a tour of the new Behavioral Health Services at Longview Campus.

Photo courtesy of the Art Center of Estes Park.

Help An EPHS Graduate. Buy A Raffle.

The Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club has awarded scholarships to promising EPHS graduates for many years now. The club does this by selling $100 raffles and drawing the winning raffles during the Autumn Gold Festival (September 23rd & 24th)

Since there are only 350 raffles to be sold, you have a 1 in 50 chance of winning a cash prize. The prizes include the $10,000 grand prize, the $2,500 second prize, and five $500 cash prizes. Additionally, each raffle offers 2 complimentary food vouchers and 2 complimentary beverage vouchers at the Autumn Gold

Kitchen and Beer/Wine Garden when you attend the family-friendly Autumn Gold Festival. Admission is free.

The deadline to make your purchase is at noon on Sunday, September 24th and the drawing will take place at 2:00 p.m. on that day. Because raffles are limited, buy yours today by going to www.estasparkautumgold.com and clicking on "Buy A Raffle."

Last year Sunrise Rotary awarded $18,000 in scholarships through our Raffle Fund.

Your purchase is a gift to our EPHS graduates who want to pursue second-

ary education.

For questions, please contact Leslie Glover at Les_glo@msn.com.

Thank you for your support.

Check out the AG Festival schedule below.

Saturday, September 23, 2023:

11:00-2:00 - Wendy Woo Band

2:15: Saturday’s Classic Car Show Trophy Presentation

3:00-6:00 - Last Men on Earth

Sunday, September 24, 2023:

11:00-1:30 – Sugar Mountain

1:45: Sunday’s Classic Car Show Trophy

Presentation

2:00: $10,000 Grand prize raffle drawing

3:00-5:00 - The Long Run, “Colorado’s Tribute to The Eagles”

For more information and to purchase a raffle ticket, visit our website: www.estesparkautumngold.com.

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/AutumnGoldEstesPark/

A Collection of Many Things

Ephraim Pottery

Motawi Tileworks

Firefly Jewelry

Holly Yashi

Sterling Silver • Glass

Copper • Wind Chimes

Moving Sand Art

239 W. Elkhorn Ave

Under the Clock Tower

Hippo Birdie Two Ewes!

The first time I saw this birthday card designed by Susan Boynton in 1975, with a cartoon hippopotamus, a bird, and two sheep all standing next to each other in a row, I was dumbfounded. It was brilliant! How did she come up with that clever play on words? It was ingenious!

In fact, it was the perfect birthday card— the card every one of us is hoping for when we head to the greeting card aisle. We stand there for way too long, reading one card, putting it back, picking up another card, putting it back, reading another, and another, and another and putting each one back on the rack. We sigh heavily, check around the corner in case there’s an end display we didn’t see, and then go back to where we were standing and start over. Read, reshelve, repeat.

That’s the way it was until Hippo Birdie came along. Hippo Birdie changed everything. Hippo Birdie proved that the perfect birthday card did exist. Hippo Birdie was clever, appropriate for any age, and was not three pages of sappy verse written in calligraphy on pebbly paper with a soft watercolor mountain scene in the background a la Susan Polis Schutz. There was nothing crass in the Hippo Birdie card, no hardy-har-hars about getting older, no cheap jokes about not getting a gift…just this card, no photos of animals dressed in tutus and sunglasses, no sepia photos of little girls in dresses and sun bonnets skipping through a field of wildflowers, no religious sentiment, and no black and white photos of proper old ladies from the ’50s whooping it up. Hippo Birdie was just a simple line drawing—black on white, with a short, sweet message delivered in a fun and witty way.

I haven’t found another card as good as that since. (The $8 Hallmark Signature cards from my affiliate Joe go in a file folder all their own. They are pieces of art, and are a separate category altogether from Hippo Birdie.)

Of course I’ve received many wonderful store-bought cards over the years and they’ve each meant something to me. Yet I can remember only one specifically. That was sent by my friend Chris F. when I was going through a very difficult

change in my life. The card was an abstract rendering of a moon in a dark blue night sky. “Barn’s burnt down— now I can see the moon,” it said.

When I found Hippo Birdie, I should have bought the card in bulk, but I had no idea at the time that it would still be the perfect card 45 years later. Plus, buying cards en masse requires some record keeping. Having multiples of the same card in my stash means I may end up sending the same card to the same person more than once. Ergo, I have to keep a flow chart of which cards have gone to whom so I don’t double up. If I can’t remember I doubt the recipient will. Nonetheless, it is a greeting card blunder I don’t want to make.

The other day my Thursday morning Happy Hoofers group talked about the difficulties of card shopping. Ann K. said she stands in the card aisle and scans the selection but really she’s keeping an eye on the person at the other end of the aisle. When that shopper laughs out loud at a card, Ann discretely looks sideways to see which card it is. When the other shopper leaves, she homes in on the area where he was just standing and hopes she can locate the exact card that made him laugh. Often, she said, she’ll scope the entire section and not find a single card that causes her to laugh aloud like the other shopper did.

My strategy is a little different. First I consider making a card at home but that takes time and often I don’t have that kind of time. So I scurry myself off to the greeting card aisle where I look at every possible sentiment. The entire time I scan cards I think, I could be at home making a card right now. I step back and observe the hundreds of cards I have to choose from and then I go home and make a card. I’m no artist, my homemade card is no Hippo Birdie, nor is it going to cause anyone to LOL. But as with any card, it’s a vehicle to show someone I care and that’s what that really matters.

You may let The Thunker know what you think at her e-mail address, donoholdt@gmail.com.

© 2023 Sarah Donohoe

Merry Marthas Meeting On September 22

Do you sew, knit, weave, or crochet and enjoy visiting with other ladies with similar interests? You’re invited to attend the next meeting of the Merry Marthas on Friday, September 22 at 9:30 AM at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies at 1700

Brodie Avenue. This group meets monthly to share what we have made, and then we donate our finished projects to local charities. New members are always welcome. For more information, please call the church office at 970-586-4404.

Support Wildlife Research in Rocky

New Look For Front Of The Post Office

From the Estes Park Garden Club

Have you been to the Post Office lately?

If so, you've probably noticed big changes in front of the building. The large planting bed has been transformed from a tumbled mass of weeds to a garden filled with colorful blooms. This transformation was achieved through the efforts of a hard-working team of volunteers from the Estes Park Garden Club. Together they have logged in over 100 hours of work since early May. The idea for this community project was proposed by a member during the club’s January meeting and was enthusiastically approved by the club. The Post Office was equally enthusiastic when approached with the idea.

After spending many hours removing

weeds, rocks were brought in from a local quarry, the existing crab tree and lilacs were pruned and new plants were selected to withstand our unique weather and wildlife. Let’s hope the deer and elk are reading this too! The team dealt with weeks of rain and hail, an ongoing construction site and numerous other delays. When the Post Office discovered their water spigot was broken, the team even brought in water from their own homes to care for the new plantings.

The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Whenever club members are working there, Estes Park residents stop and thank them for their efforts and compliment them on the newly planted garden.

The Club wants to thank those people who have helped make this new garden possible. Candace Waddell led the process; other volunteers included Celeste Fraser, Linda Remigio, Wanda Curry, Karan McCreery, and Sharron Moran. The ever patient and cheerful Michael Moloney, a Post Office employee, served as liaison and was instrumental in getting water flowing again after the garden was planted. Discussions with Eli Ertl, plant specialist, Town of Estes Park Parks Department, and Joan Saap, a local landscaper, provided valuable advice. In addition, Gulley Nursery in Fort Collins subsidized the plant cost.

The members of the Garden Club hope that this new garden brings some pleasure to your day each time you visit the post office. It has been our pleasure to give this garden to the community.

970-586-0108 RMConservancy.org/donate

Fine Arts Guild Of The Rockies Arts & Crafts Show This Weekend

Baubles aplenty. Inspired paintings and photography. Hand-loomed fiber designs to wear. Walnut and oak lusciously

ater. Those who attend Guild concerts might hear Broadway tunes, opera or country rock. Introducing young people to the arts is one of the Fine Arts Guild’s missions, sponsoring educational programming for Estes Park School District students during the school year and the annual summer theater camp for budding actors and those interested in learning the technical end of theater including scenery, lighting, props and costuming.

carved into functional objects. Cozy fun duds. All that, and more will be on display this weekend in Bond Park.

It’s the annual Arts & Crafts Festival, an event from the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies that the organization has produced for more than 40 years. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17.

More than 100 artisans who have been invited to showcase their work through a jury process will gather under their tents that surround the park for Estes Park’s final outdoor craft show of the year. Among the goods found this year will be hand-made luxury soaps, whimsical wire sculpture, ceramics for company dinner parties or for display, and paintings in a variety of genres.

This year marks the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies 65th anniversary. The non-profit organization produces theater and musical the-

The organization has a full schedule of events planned for the coming months to round out its blue sapphire year. The final offering of four Performance Park concerts will be on Sept. 23; an improvisation workshop and show is set for Oct. 14; two New York City sopranos will perform on Oct. 21; the adventures of Isabella Bird in Estes Park 150 years ago are the subject of an original play the first weekend in November, and December brings holiday music to the community.

For more information about the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies visit www.FineArtsGuild.org.

Lyons resident Barbara Marcus-McKenna will display printmaking during the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies Arts & Crafts Festival.

The woodwork of Robert Hicks of Evans will be on display in Bond Park this weekend.

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By: Laurie Dale Marshall

This month marks ten years of being a permanent resident of Colorado and Estes Park. I joke that I came in with the flood, but the truth is I arrived here years earlier by way of summer camp. Growing up in the midwest of Missouri and Kansas, I didn’t travel to the mountains until I was an adult, driving through the Flint Hills, in awe from the first glimpse of peaks in Limon. Picture a loaded minivan holding three kids, two parents that had driven through the night, and virtually everything we owned bouncing down our first, narrow mountain road to the place that would inspire us to eventually make Estes Park our home. That summer of 2001 was the first of fifteen spent connecting with and in the mountains, raising our children summer by summer in this amazing place.

Now that I’m a “local,” I meet up weekly with camp friends who met while working there and are now married, living in Estes Park. This weekend I’ll attend the wedding of friends we met at summer camp back in those first few years. My own nephew and niece met and married at camp. Everyday I work alongside a colleague I know through camp. My children’s best friends are those they met at summer camp and are now attending each other’s weddings and baby showers. And on September 22, I am so excited to bring EVICS Family Resource Center to summer camp and the magic of connecting in the mountains. I hope you plan to join us as we Giddy Up at the Grove at Cheley Colorado Camps to raise funds for essential family services in Estes Park, the place we all call home.

Cheley Colorado Camps has been connecting youth to the magic of the mountains for over 100 years. I’ve seen my own children raised in this setting and grow into who they’re meant to be. The camp experience of being with others in nature literally formed them and so many others. You might not realize your server, the lead singer of your favorite local band, your co-member of Rotary, your colleague from the nonprofit board on which you serve, your massage therapist, your nurse, or climbing guide might all have a connection to Cheley! A few years ago a dear friend and I

made a visit to a camp unit and she shared what it was like to work and be at camp in the 1950s and 1960s. Although hiking equipment and transportation to trailheads may look different, the energy and spirit of the camp experience remains. The value of growing, living, and learning in the mountains happens everyday in our community, at Cheley, and throughout our village. EVICS Family Resource Center provides the services and programs that children and families need to thrive, the natural setting as our constant partner.

EVICS stays connected to local families by building authentic relationships that guide our understanding of what local families need. EVICS is proud to work alongside families to support them in growing their existing strengths and annually delivers services to over 1000 individuals. Although EVICS works hard to connect families to affordable childcare, that is only one support we offer and the only service that can be funded by the 6E monies generated by the recently approved lodging tax extension. In fact, over 50% of the funding recently received from the Town to support childcare tuition assistance was expended to families already. EVICS has grown in our capacity to be able to respond to growing needs of local families, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, and we need your support to continue delivering the most vital elements that ensure success for local families.

I’m reminded of meeting with local Cheley friends at the Fish Creek Ranch during the Cameron Peak fire to sing unit songs as we hoped a beloved piece of camp would be spared. It was, proving that camp spirit is nonburnable and I believe, present throughout our community.

I hope you’ll put on your bolo tie and get ready to Giddy Up at the Grove in support of local children and families. You’ll enjoy WesTex BBQ dinner; local brews; a live auction to include trips, exclusive local themed parties, local art, custom art benches, and Chef dinners; an art market with don’t-miss vintage, art, and jewelry; interactive art fun and games to bring out your inner child; and photo sessions with the most gorgeous backdrop! Line dance into the evening after a sunset toast to inspire a lot of raised paddles AND spirits! VIP tickets and sponsorship packages are still available. EVICS is grateful for Cheley Camps as our premier event sponsor offering the chance for YOU to enjoy a night of magic in the mountains. Get your tickets and join EVICS Family Resource Center in making sure all children and families can grow, learn and thrive. Visit evics.org or email director@evics.org for more information.

Special Olympics Tuesday Bowling

Estes Park Special Olympics organizers are hosting bowling fun at the Bull Pin, 555 S. St. Vrain Ave. on Tuesdays from 3:30-5 p.m. All ages are welcome to participate.

For more information, contact Audri Smith at 970-451-3762 or email epspecialolympics@yahoo.com.

$9,000 An Hour!

It was a happy occasion when representatives of 100 Women Who Care – Estes Park presented checks totaling $9,000 to the Board Members of the Estes Park Senior Citizens Center. The Senior Citizens Center hosts daily lunches and welcomes people to enjoy entertainment and musical presentations, to partake of Yoga, TriFit classes, card games, mahjong, and --most especially --- to socialize.

100 Women Who Care, a philanthropic organization begun in 2021 in Estes Park, hosts three meetings each year. During each one-hour meeting three members are chosen to offer a brief talk concerning a local nonprofit organization about which they are passionate. Thereafter the members cast ballots to determine which of the three organizations the membership will donate monies to from that meeting. Each member is committed to a $100 donation.

At their most recent meeting, Renee Hodgen presented an impassioned talk informing the members of the needs and contributions of the Senior Citizens Center and, in due course, the Center was selected by ballot to receive the evening’s proceeds of $9,000 to benefit their dynamic program in serving the senior community of Estes Park.

The next 100 Women Who Care meeting will be Thursday, September 21, at Seven Keys on Highway 7 (formerly the Baldpate Inn). All women of the Estes Park community are invited to participate. Socializing will precede the meeting beginning at 4:30. The meeting itself is from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to stay for dinner at the conclusion of the meeting. For further information please contact Janet Collison at janet.collison@gmail.com.

Elizabeth Guild Raises Money For EPH

donations are accepted behind the store from 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until the storage units are full. Please phone Joe Payne, the Guild manager, to make sure storage is available, at (970) 586-7205.

All proceeds benefit Estes Park Health. One of the administration's goals is to buy a new ambulance, which costs $250,000. The Guild is happy to help.

With autumn holidays looming, The Elizabeth Guild Thrift Shop in Estes Park at 427 W. Elkhorn Ave., has many items to help you get ready for school days, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.

Volunteers are needed but beware -once the thrifting bug bites you, you may never quit. Volunteers receive a 50 percent discount on the days they work, which adds up to substantial savings on top of great prices.

The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- still summer hours until later this fall - and

"The store is doing really well and this year gave $90,000 to support Estes Park Health," said Payne. "That's a big chunk of change for the new ambulance."

Payne said he receives compliments about the store on a daily basis.

"If you haven't been in lately, be sure to drop by. Many customers say it is the nicest thrift store they've ever been in, in terms of cleanliness, layout and prices. Plus we always seem to have a great selection of name-brand clothing donated. And check out the overhaul of Lizzie's Boutique.

Mary Liz Adair (right) and Lisa Zahn (left), Steering Committee members of 100 Women Who Care flank the Board Members of the Senior Citizens Center in presenting $9,000 from the most-recent meeting of the 100 Women Who Care charitable organization.

Joe Payne

Join In The Fun At Rocky Mountain Facelift Sept. 22-24

The 2nd annual Rocky Mountain Facelift will be hosted in Estes Park, CO on September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy in partnership with the Yosemite Climbing Association's Facelift mission will empower volunteerism in both litter pick-up and special trail projects on Saturday, September 23rd and 24th

Join many local nonprofits, businesses, and scores of volunteers for this second hosting of this weekendlong stewardship and conservation event.

There will be a celebratory kick-off on Friday evening 9/22 with special screenings of various adventure films at Lumpy Ridge Brewing. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program is from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

On Saturday 9/23 meet up at 7:30 a.m. at the Estes Park Mountain Shop for coffee and burritos, provided by the Estes Park Mountain Shop, and plan your place to clean and get involved, as well as claim your raffle ticket for your chance to win a prize for participation. Clean-up runs from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Please sign up ahead of time here: rmconservancy.org/volunteer/facelift 2023.

On Saturday evening, YMCA of the Rockies will host a free event featuring local legend Tommy Caldwell, who will share stories and lessons from his recent journey bicycling

2,300 miles to Alaska from Estes Park this past summer and climbing along the way. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. There will be a raffle, and the food and beverage will be provided by the Bank of Colorado, Patagonia, and the Yosemite Climbing Association, with our friends at Ed's Cantina and Rockcut Brewery.

On Sunday, (9/24) there will be a free coffee talk from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. at the Bird's Nest, Estes Park's local gourmand cafe. A conservation panel discussion will take place with the Access Fund Interim Director Erik Murdock and Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s Executive Director Estee Rivera Murdock, followed by a presentation by Rocky Mountain National Park's bird expert Valerie Griffin.

Following the discussion and presentation, there will be an “intro to climbing” clinic and an “intro to traditional anchor building” clinic provided by the Kent Mountain Adventure Center (KMAC) and the Colorado Mountain School (CMS) respectively.

Final Monitored Weed Drop-Off

This Saturday

Please read, heed, and weed responsibly!

The Estes Land Stewardship Association (ELSA) has been serving the Estes Valley for over 16 years in promoting good land stewardship, weed identification and education, and free educational materials including the most popular Twenty Ob-Noxious Weeds in the Estes Valley Identification and Management Guide. Now is the time to remove mature noxious weeds that contain seeds that will be next year’s -- and many more years -- weeds. The next Monitored Weed Drop-off will be held this Saturday, September 16 from 9:00 a.m. to noon located north of the Waste Management transfer station at 666 Elm Road. No early birds or illegal drop-offs; the gate will be closed until the 9:00 a.m. start. Do not block the driveway entrance shared with recycling. The line will form up-the-hill/north of the entrance on the east-side of Elm Road. Estes Land Stewardship Association (ELSA) volunteers will be on hand to answer weed questions at-a-distance and direct traffic flow. You will unload your paper yard bags into the dumpster or truck. We have limited dumpster capacity, so a maximum ten paper yard bag limit will be imposed – no plastic bags. When we are at full capacity, the dropoff will end. Noxious weeds only, not native plants! No slash, pine needles, pine cones, trash, yard waste or dirt! Please remove/shake off dirt from plant roots. Excessive weight of wet weeds and dirt is a safety hazard for our volunteers. Bag flowers and seed heads rather than entire plants. Read our weekly Estes Valley’s Weed Alert articles (published April through September) to help identify invasive plants and manage seed producing plant parts for disposal. Unauthorized drop-offs at this location (w/video surveillance) are considered theft of

services. No bags of non-noxious weed materials and general yard waste will be accepted at this event. Paper yard bags are available for purchase at local hardware stores.

If you want ELSA to continue to sponsor these events, please adhere to the guidelines. Owning property in the Estes Valley can be challenging and different! Bagging mature weeds this time of year is not ideal weed management and not how you want to spend your time. Be proactive – learn your native plants and manage the invasive plants in a timely manner with a weed management specialist if you don’t have the time, energy or expertise to manage your property. A list of weed management specialists who can help is available at larimer.org/naturalresources/weeds/applicators Also refer to the information and Helpful Documents at estes.org/weeds

These events are being made possible with the support from Estes Land Stewardship Association, Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, and donations. Depending on participant adherence to regulations and funding sources, other Monitor Weed Drop-offs and the Weed Roundup will be held next year. Free Twenty Ob-Noxious Weeds in the Estes Valley Identification and Management Guide weed booklets are available yearround at the Estes Valley Library, Ace Hardware, and Town Hall Public Works and Police offices. Electronic versions are posted on the Town of Estes Park website: www.estes.org/weeds ELSA meets the first Thursday of the month (February, March, April & November) at 9:30 a.m. in the George Hix Room at US Bank. For more information about ELSA contact: elsa.weeds@gmail.com

Thanks for being good stewards of your property and surrounding areas!

Photo Contest For 2024 Rotary Friendship Card

receive photo credit on the card and two 2024 Friendship Cards. The deadline to submit photos is September 29.

Please email your favorite Estes Valley/RMNP photo (landscape view) in high resolution, jpg format to epfriendshipcard@gmail.com. A panel of judges will select the winning photo. Cropping and slight color correction is allowed for photos, but photos with anything added or taken away through a photo editing program will be rejected. Only one photo is allowed per person.

Friendship Card. Owner of the photo will not receive any other compensation other than photo credit and two 2024 Friendship Cards.

The Rotary Club of Estes Park is holding a photo contest for the 2024 Friendship Card for local discounts. There is no charge to enter, and the winner will

All decisions of the judges are final. The winner will be notified via email.

The winning photo may also be used on other marketing materials for the

The Friendship Card debuted in 2019, replacing the long-time Rocky Card. The Rotary Club of Estes Park re-established the card as a fundraiser for club projects and community grants. Since its debut, the Rotary Club has provided grants to Crossroads Ministries, the six area Fire Departments, Bright Christmas, Blue Santa, EVICS, Community Corner Café, Polio Plus, and a childhood enrichment program for underprivileged children in Albania.

“Our local merchants never cease to amaze me with the continuous support they provide to the community. There were more than 75 local businesses that participated this year, and Rotary is very grateful for each one of them” stated Karen Thompson, Chairman of the Friendship Card project. “I would especially like to thank the Estes Park News for their continuous advertising throughout the year.”

It’s not too late to buy a 2023 Friendship Card and use it for your Christmas shopping in Estes Park! The Friendship Card costs $10, is valid until December 31, 2023, and is currently available for sale at Cabintique, Quality Inn, Rocky Mountain Gateway, Estes Park Visitor Center, Country Market, The Mad Moose, Safeway Guest Services, Macdonald Book Shop and Wynbrier Home. Rotary friendships and club activities, social events, and volunteer projects offer networking opportunities that build personal and professional connections. We encourage anyone interested in sharing ideas and taking action to create lasting change to visit Rotary. We especially invite anyone who has been a Rotarian to come back and renew your friendships and rediscover the joy of serving others by group action.

Rotary Club of Estes Park's main objective is service— in the community, in the workplace, and around the globe. The 1.2 million Rotarians who make up more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in nearly every country in the world share a dedication to the ideal of “Service Above Self.”

Knowledge, experience, skills to assist and educate individuals with and about wildlife encounters/situations. Specialty is elk, deer, bears, mountain lions. Part of Rocky Mtn. Cat Conservancy Research. If you see a kill site, call asap, or if you want more information or help with a wildlife situation, call Jayne the “Bear Lady” at 970-685-8756.

Allenspark Hilltop Guild Hosts Fall Festival September 23

The Hilltop Guild in Allenspark will hold its annual Fall Festival at the Kelley House on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come on over to enjoy homemade chili (several delicious varieties) and homemade desserts.

The historic Kelley House is located at 18720 Highway 7 south of Allenspark. The event is free and there is plenty of parking. Several local vendors also will be on hand. Items for sale include weavings, wooden ornaments and jewelry.

"The money raised at both the Bazaar, which took place the first Saturday in August, and at the Fall Festival, goes to support academic scholarships for high school students in Lyons, Estes Park and Allenspark," said Jen Bell, past president. Bunce School also will be open for visitors. The historic one-room school is located within easy walking distance of the Kelley House.

Celebrate the first day of Autumn with a ride to the mountains!

ESTES PARK

SUNDAY SUMMER JAZZ SERIES

Free Concert at Performance Park

2:00pm - 4:00pm

Sunday, September 17

Lionel Young Band

High energy electric violin, smooth vocals with a bent for the blues, jazz, funk, and soul

Sign Up For Rut Run 5K Elk Fest Weekend

restaurants along Elkhorn Ave. or food trucks at Elk Fest in Bond Park. All runners receive a complimentary beer token for the Elk Fest festivities!

Race Start: 8:30 a.m.

New Start Location:

The Fall River Trail across from the Estes Park United Methodist Church on Fish Hatchery Road.

New Finish Location: Performance Park

With the fall season, Estes Park shines in colors and wilderness experiences! Herds of elk begin to roam the meadows and open fields; while sounds of bugling Bull Elk call out their territory. Join us as we acknowledge this unique season at the Rut Run 5K as part of Elk Fest. Kick starting the weekend of events, the 5K (3.1 miles) race offers a short and scenic tour of fall colors, river views, and possible elk encounters (from a safe distance). In 2023, we are introducing a new fabulously scenic, downhill course that starts from Fish Hatchery Road on the Fall River Trail and finishes at downtown’s Performance Park. Runners, joggers, walkers, and strollers will be transported from the Estes Park Visitor Center by the “Hiker Shuttle” to the Start area on Fish Hatchery Road. Following the winding and scenic path, you will enjoy the radiant golden Aspen colors, hear Fall River and pass by the historic Elkhorn Lodge. This run will quickly ignite your senses and appreciation for nature and its splendor. After the run, participants can purchase various delicious foods from nearby restaurant Big Horn Cafe, several

** Transportation: Participants will be transported by a Shuttle departing from the Estes Park Visitor Center at 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. only. All participants are asked to use the Shuttle as parking is low at the start area.

Race Day Registration & Packet Pickup:

6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. at the east side of the Estes Park Visitor Center.

Route: First mile is gentle rolling and miles 2 & 3 are downhill! Start at Fall River Trail to David Drive, to Fall River Drive, to Blue Spruce Court, to Fall River Court, to 100 yards of single track path along Fall River Road (CO Hwy. 34), to Fall River Multi-use Trail, to the west River Walk, to Performance Park. All abilities welcome- racers, runners, joggers, walkers, strollers, and friendly dogs!

Awards announced:

9:15 a.m. at Performance Park Register at estesparkrunning.org/ourraces/rut-run-5k/

learn about Elk Fest, go to visitestespark.com/events-calendar/fall-events/elk-fest

Milo, Luigi, Nixie, Cherry, Huckleberry, Finn & Pistol Seeking New, Loving Families Or Foster Homes

Milo is an eight year old orange tabby. He is a fun and playful cat that enjoys kitty friends.

Luigi is such a good boy! (we call him Louie for short). If anyone meets him, they love him! He is 1-2 years old, and weighs 50 pounds. He rides in the car and sleeps in his crate well, he plays nice and has good manners. He really likes being with someone or another pup and really doesn’t like being left alone much. He also has really fun hair!

Nixie is a gentle giant who loves toys although she’s still figuring out how to play with them. Nixie likes other dogs and is crate trained. Also she has been at the shelter since last November, that’s too long for this sweet girl. She is about three years old and weighs 77 lbs. She would not be good in a home with cats.

Cherry is a fun, sweet and adorable girl (and is apparently a Broncos fan!). She is one year old and weighs about 35 lbs. She would love to live with an-

other doggy friend.

Huckleberry is 2-3 years old and approximately 40 lbs. He is very playful and gets along with other dogs and cats.

Finn is also around 35 pounds and 23 years old. He is super friendly and is good with cats.

Pistol is about three years old and weighs 58 pounds. This sweet boy is a happy and very friendly guy. He seems pretty good with most dogs.

Please call (970) 286-1652 if you’d like to meet or foster any of these special pets. Don’t shop, please adopt!

All pets are offered through the Pet Association of Estes Park, a non-profit organization that is your local humane society. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Pet Association by sending your check to P.O. Box 4342, Estes Park, CO 80517.

For more information about the Pet Association, please visit petassociationestespark.com

Pistol

Milo Luigi

Nixie

Cherry

Huckleberry

Finn

Author Robert N. Ruesch To Speak At The Maude Jellison Library

tener an hour of what Estes Park was like in the 1950s to the 1970s.

Robert has written two books about the YMCA of the Rockies, and a book for advent. He is currently working on his fourth book, which is due out in 2024. He will share some of the content of this book at the author event and book signing.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Since 1907, the YMCA of the Rockies has been hosting families, conferences, and summer staff experiences. Robert’s exploits and experiences will entertain you and bring into focus the history of the YMCA and Estes Park.

Dallas Moore Performs Two Shows in Estes Park In Support Of Acclaimed New Album “No God In Juarez”

Multi published author will answer the question. What would your life be like if you grew up in Estes Park, and the Rocky Mountain National Park was your backyard playground? Your summer friends were college students from across the USA and even foreign counties?

Robert will talk about his childhood in Estes Park Center YMCA, from his book, In The Warmth of the Shadow. He will speak at 3:00 on Friday September 22nd at The Maude Jellison Library, Estes Park Center. Robert’s recollection of “growing up in paradise” gives the lis-

Kenneth Cromer 12th Grade

Congratulations to the Estes Park High School Student of the Week, Kenneth Cromer.

Kenneth is the son of George Cromer and Tara Sonnenberg. At EPHS, Kenneth is the Team Captain of the football team, Superintendent Council Member, is taking two Front Range Community College Classes and three AP classes. He has been a varsity athlete for three years, and attended Colorado Boys State. He’s proud that he maintains a good enough GPA and SAT score to make it to college.

Outside of school he has been busy rebuilding a 1965 Impala using funds he’s acquired by apprenticing as an HVAC tech during the summer months. He loves classic cars, and owns the 1965 Impala and a 1992 Camaro. Physical fitness is very important to him, thus he plays football and lift weights.

A place Kenneth would like to visit is Australia. He said, “There is so much culture there while having a

good amount of similarities to the United States. That, and the car culture there is very unique.”

Kenneth’s favorite quote is “Show a man he can do the impossible, and he’ll never doubt himself again.” He said, “This quote is very important to me as it represents the notion that despite all of the tribulations of being in the modern world, you can still persevere.”

The best piece of advice he’s ever been given is that to be able to find comfort within discomfort, is the greatest strength you can acquire.

After high school, he plans to go to college, hopefully somewhere in the south, majoring in Political Science in order to develop a good baseline for Law School.

Multi award winning singer/ songwriter/ entertainer, Dallas Moore, has earned a reputation as “the hardest working man in honky tonk.” A modern day hardcore troubadour, Moore takes his raucous and rowdy live show on the road over 300 dates a year. His acclaimed new album “No God In Juarez” has received high praise and recom mendation from out lets like Saving Coun try Music and Country Music People Magazine. Dallas Moore will perform two shows in Estes park, Colorado at the Seven Keys Lodge on Friday, September 29th and Saturday, September 30th Show time is 8:00

“No God In Juarez” was released on June 2, 2023, and features 10 songs of Moore’s original Honky Tonk Hero Billie Gant. The album hit the Top 40 on the Americana Music Album Chart, the Top 10 on the Alternative Country Album Chart, and spent 14 weeks on the Roots Music Report Top 50 Country Album Chart. The list of radio stations nationwide that are currently playing songs off this critically acclaimed album spans the length of a life-long professional rap sheet and to this day Dallas remains one of the most heavily played artists on Sirius/XM’s “Outlaw Country” channel.

Over 20 years in the making, Moore describes this album as “A Labor of Love” as he has had the concept of doing an entire album of songs written by

p.m. www.dallasmoore.com

With a career spanning over 25 years with 17 albums, 300 dates a year, 600k Spotify listeners, and over 6 million streams, this iconic artist has garnered the reverence of multiple generations who consider him to be the torchbearer for the outlaw country flame. Dallas' live performance is the gold standard. In fact, his first ever performance recently at the coveted Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN sold out in 10 minutes. Having toured with most all of the original architects of the outlaw country and southern rock movements including Willie Nelson, The Allman Brothers Band, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, George Jones, David Allan Coe, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels, Moe Bandy, Kinky Friedman, and Dale Watson, Dallas Moore is the real deal turning their influence into inspiration and bridging the gap between the founding fathers of the genre and creating music for a new generation of honky tonk heroes.

telling his story to the world through his songs since the early 2000’s. According to Moore, Billie Gant was the first artist to become a hero, champion, friend and lifelong influence and inspiration to him when he was in the very beginning stages of his career. “No God In Juarez” is filled with cinematic characters and the album turns the page on a new chapter in the story of Dallas Moore as “No God in Juarez” is the first offering to showcase the new lineup of The Dallas Moore Band which is somewhat of a super group of veteran musicians including “Saint” Nick Giese (David Allen Coe) on guitar, Mike Bernal (Dale Watson, Gary P. Nunn) on drums, Paul Priest (Jericho Woods, Bluegrass Veteran) on bass and longtime DMB member Mike Owens on harmonica. World renowned boogie-woogie piano man Ricky Nye (who played in an early version of Billie Gant and The Vigilante’s) rounds out the band in raucous roadhouse fashion on keys. Not for the faint of heart, No God in Juarez takes the listener on a journey through the highest highs and lowest lows confronting nefarious characters along the way as The Dallas Moore Band paints the pictures penned by Billie Gant. www.facebook.com/

thedallasmooreband

www.twitter.com/dallasmoore

www.instagram.com/dallasmooreband

Report On The Flood Annniversary From Estes Valley Watershed Coalition

It’s hard to believe that a decade has passed since the infamous flood of 2013 that devastated huge swaths of the Front Range and forever altered both our landscape and our lives. An entire year’s worth of rain fell in just a few days, and when the raging water finally began to recede, the damage assessments were staggering: 9 lives lost, over $4 billion worth of infrastructure, homes, and businesses destroyed, and countless miles of sensitive riparian habitat severely eroded and degraded. In the immediate wake of such an apocalyptic event, it seemed like we’d never be able to put all the pieces back together again. Fourteen counties, including Larimer, had declared a state of emergency by September 12th, and as federal and state funding began to pour in over the coming weeks and months, the need for local coordination of these massive relief efforts soon became apparent. Rebuilding roads and bridges was a fairly straightforward process, but rebuilding our waterways–on which over one million Coloradoans downstream depend–would require expert guidance and careful planning over the course of many years to come. The Estes Valley Watershed Coalition was formed in early 2015 by a group of volunteer residents as a direct response to these emerging needs, and has been working toward restoring and improving our water, forests, and wildlife habitats ever since.

EVWC board member Frank Lancaster was Estes Park’s Town Administrator at that time, and he recalls that, “The newly-formed coalition played an integral lead role in coordinating all aspects

of watershed restoration efforts, which were not only crucial to our community’s overall recovery, but which also took a great deal of pressure off the town’s emergency response efforts, freeing up valuable resources for other pressing tasks.”

Over the past decade, EVWC has secured and distributed more than $4 million in federal and state funding toward this goal, operating with minimal overhead due to the countless hours donated by its all-volunteer board of directors. Thanks to their tireless efforts, thousands of feet of riverbanks have been restored and replanted with native willows, helping to regulate water temperature and sediment load; dozens of acres of wetlands have been renourished by slowing down the flows in deeply-channelized areas and allowing water to soak back into the surrounding valleys; and hundreds of acres of forest have been fortified against the ravages of wildfire, which can lead to suffocating quantities of ash and debris in our lakes and rivers.

And yet, in spite of all these accomplishments, there is still much work remaining to be done. The flood may have only lasted a few days, but the damage it wrought continues to impact our community even after all this time has passed. Fortunately for us, and for the millions of people who visit the Estes Valley each year, our community has proven its resilience and steadfast dedication to environmental stewardship, even in the face of a once-in-a-thousand-years catastrophe.

Aerial photo showing the scale of destruction as swollen rivers cut new channels through anything in their path.

Streamside vegetation was stripped away from the banks, destabilizing soil and loading the rivers with excess sediment.

Volunteers install an artifical beaver dam on Fish Creek, which helps to slow water down so that it can re-hydrate the surrounding wetland.

Local student volunteers stand ready to plant willows and remove invasive plant species along lower Fish Creek.

Before (left) and after (right) photo of the Ore Cart Rock Shop, showing riverbank fortifications coordinated and funded by EVWC.

A severely eroded bank is re-shaped by an excavator (left) before the soil can be stablized by new vegetation and sediment barriers (right).

Art Galleries Host Peak To Peak Studio Tour Sept. 22-24

and pastels), Leslie S. Emmerson (Jewelry, mixed media), George Epp (woodturning), Lyn E. Ferguson (photography), Malena Hirschfeld (oil paintings), Sue Jasen (acrylics, oils and watercolors), Robin Jasper (wildlife photographer), Heather Kegel (ceramics), Susan Krauth (acrylics), Sheila Marie (oils), Rachel Mitchell (jew-

and oils) and Dawn Wilson (photography).

“The Peak to Peak Byway is known for its gorgeous fall colors which inspires so many artists. The galleries and artists are excited about this collaborative effort and the opportunity to share the beauty of autumn in Colorado with visitors and area residents,” said The Old Gallery Artists Chair Sally Van Der Kamp.

Other Peak to Peak galleries participating include: The Glass TIPI at 55 Utica St. in Ward, Art at the Center at 750 Highway 72 in Nederland, Laurence Delauney/Lolo’s Atelier at 25 E. 1st St. in Nederland, Brent Bishop’s Home Studio

Are you planning on taking a drive to admire the beautiful Fall colors this year? You’re in luck! This year there will be even more “colors” to enjoy, thanks to the Peak to Peak 747-Studio Tour on Friday, September 22, Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24. The Studio Art Tour includes 14 different art galleries and home studios between Allenspark and Central City, each presenting artist demonstrations, Meet the Artist opportunities and more.

The Old Gallery in Allenspark is the first stop on the tour and it’s a favorite destination for residents and tourists visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. Located at 14863 Highway 7, it will be

meet artist David Duey (woodworking) that morning and Holly Daley (pastel painting) that afternoon.

On Saturday, ceramic artist Julie Neri will provide a demonstration from 9:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. and photographer

Dawn Wilson will do a book signing from 1-4:30 p.m. You can also meet artist Malena Hirschfeld (oil and acrylic) from 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Sunday’s demonstrations include artist Cheryl Pennington (hand colored photography) from 9:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. Members of the Hilltop Guild in Allenspark will also be on hand that

open from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22 and 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on that Saturday and Sunday. It’s only 20 minutes from Estes Park and Lyons.

Artists To Demonstrate Talent and Techniques

Friday’s demonstrations include Heather Kegel (ceramics) from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and Linda Toukan (jewelry making) from 1-4 p.m. You can also

afternoon to demonstrate weaving. You can meet Andrew Treaster (photographer) from 9:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. and Rachel Mitchell (silver jewelry) from 1-4:30 p.m.

The Old Gallery in Allenspark is home to 27 talented regional artists, including Darlene Bushue (photography), Holly Daley (pastels in high density), David Duey (woodworks), Patty Dwyer (oils

elry), Mary Morse (fiber art), Julie Neri (ceramics), Jennifer Nicholson (painting on wood), Cheryl Pennington (photography and hand tinting), Lois Rentz (fused glass), Eli Roehl (jewelry), MaryLynn Schumacher (clay tiles), Debra Stanger (acrylics, oils and pastels), Linda Toukan (jewelry), Andrew Treaster, Sally Van Der Kamp (stained glass, fused glass, jewelry), Merrie Wicks (watercolor

at 158 E. 1st St. in Nederland, Covered Bridge Art at 45 W. 1st St. in Nederland, Spinning Silica at 20 Lakeview Dr. #208 in Nederland, Kaleidoscope Fine Art Gallery at 20 Lakeview Dr. #210, Nederland, Gabrielle Gewirtz’ Home Studio at 106 Patricia Rd. in Rollinsville, Martina Pernicano’s Home Studio at 11193 Circle Dr. in Coal Creek Canyon/Golden, Julie Ikler’s Home Studio at 805 Mountain Meadows Dr. in Black Hawk, Jen Molochnick’s Home Studio at 125 Aspen Rd. in Black Hawk, Litwood & Artisan Friends at 221 Gregory St., Unit D in Black Hawk, Gilpin County Arts at 117 Eureka Street in Central City and Brian

O’Donnell’s Ghost Town Gallery at 190 Russell Gulch Rd in Russell Gulch.

The Old Gallery is a nonprofit that provides art, education, entertainment and social services to Allenspark area residents and visitors, including the Community Cupboard Food Bank, Community Closet, yoga classes, concerts, art exhibitions and more.

Hanging above my desk in my home office is a small plaque that is entitled ‘Possibility Thinkers Creed’. I’ve glanced at it numerous times without really giving it the thought that I should have. It says simply: “When faced with a mountain, I will not quit. I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath, or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine with God’s help” Robert Schuller, who has inspired many through his writings, penned the ‘Creed’, and personally did just that in many areas of his life in southern California.

But what is ‘Possibility Thinking’ and how can we determine if we are such a ‘thinker’? Another word for ‘possibility thinking’ is ‘vision’. Which most of us would acknowledge is quite a rare thing in our day and time, which is why it is so blessing and exciting when we note it in our present age. ‘Vision’, according to a well-known expert in business, John Maxwell, requires three things: “The ability to see (Awareness) coupled with the ability to believe (Attitude), plus the ability to do (Action).”

A dear friend of ours began a trip this week to California. One place he and his wife are determined to visit is Disneyland, an outstanding example of vision. When Walt Disney bought the land and laid out the plans for what is touted to be ‘the happiest place on earth’, he was, sadly, not able to see it completed, dying before that time. Someone mused, when the park finally opened, “Too bad Walt wasn’t here to see this!” A friend said, “Walt DID see it, that’s why it is here!” That’s what vision is all about.

Estes Park has its own examples of ‘vision’ that have resulted in life-blessing things to our community. It is my pleasure to write an article for the EPNews. As I thumb through the 40plus pages of each issue, I marvel at the ‘vision’ that resulted in this widely-read nation-wide, publication that does such a good job of serving our community. Our Rocky Mountain National Park attraction resulted from the ‘vision’ of Woodrow Wilson and others in 1915, to designate this area as a well-visited…four million per year…national park. Our Stanley Hotel resulted from the vision of Freeland Oscar and Flora Stanley who ‘saw’ a vision of an East Coast-quality hotel, in the ‘wilderness’ they had come to love. How many millions of people have been blessed as a result of these ‘visionaries’ that had the ability to ‘see’, had the ‘attitude’ of determination, and then ‘acted’. That’s what ‘vision’ is all about. You probably can think of many other attractions that were, in the words of Steven Covey, ‘created in the mind first…then, in reality’. (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People). I have the privilege of observing, in my minor role as a ‘ticket-puncher’, the results of the ‘vision’ that resulted in the Alpine Coaster, as hundreds of adults and children each day, ‘build memories’, as they view Estes Park from the mountain top, and enjoy the ride down.

However, we fully recognize that all are not ‘possibility-thinkers’. A man by the name of Lord Kelvin once made the statement: “Flying machines that are heavier than air will never fly.” When the first ever steamship was launched, in the Hudson River, the prophecy of one ‘naysayer’, “They’ll never get it going!” When it started to move: “They’ll never get it stopped!” We shake our heads at such as them as we fly or cruise the ocean.

Charles Schulz captured this ‘impossibility’ attitude in his cartoon. Charlie Brown is looking at his hands and says to Lucy: “Look at these hands. Think of the potential in these hands. Someday they may heal the sick, they may build mighty bridges, they may change the destiny of mankind.” ‘Impossibility-thinking’ Lucy, responds, “Charlie, your hands have jelly on them.

Many people we know are like Lucy. Every ‘visionary’ has had to deal with them. Thomas Edison said, “Show me a man who is perfectly satisfied, and I’ll show you a failure.” Helen Keller once said: “Worse than being blind would be to see, but have no vision.” When you see the actions of such ‘impossibility-thinkers’…’naysayers’, feel sorry for them. One student of human behavior says: “Such are succumbing to dream- killers: “I’m ‘too old’, ‘too young’, ‘too much of a failure’, ‘too tired’, ‘too insignificant’, ‘too encumbered by problems’, ‘too hurt by others’, ‘not where I thought I’d be’.

I’ll close with the words of the great Paul Harvey: “A blind man is bound by the limits of his touch, the ignorant by the limits of his knowledge, a great man by the limits of his vision.” Are we ‘possibility’ or ‘impossibility’ thinkers? We…and others…know.

Bob Lewis

World Class Music Comes To The Old Gallery In Allenspark In September

September 15 - September 21

One of the world’s premier string quartets will be performing in the little neighboring town of Allenspark, a short 20-minute drive from Estes Park. On Saturday, September 16 the famed Takács String Quartet will be performing at The Old Gallery in Allenspark. The concert takes place from 5-7 p.m. The quartet has been the recipient of three Gramophone Awards, a Grammy Award, three Japanese Record Academy Awards, Disc of the Year at the inaugural BBC Music Magazine Awards and Ensemble Album of the Year at the Classical Brits. In 2021 the Takács won a Presto Music Recording of the Year Award for their recordings of string quartets by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, and a Gramophone Award with pianist Garrick Ohlsson for piano quintets by Amy Beach and Elgar.

“This is the seventh appearance of the Takács Quartet and we’ve sold out in advance for every appearance,” said The Old Gallery Board President Darlene Bushue. “Proceeds help fund our nonprofit efforts in our mountain community, including the Community Cupboard Food Bank, Community Closet, health and wellness programs, activities and events.”

The quartet consists of Edward Dusinberre, violin; Harumi Rhodes, violin; Richard O’Neill, viola and András Fejér, cello. Members of the Takács Quartet are Christoffersen Fellows and Artists in Residence at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where they have helped develop a string program with a special emphasis on chamber music. The quartet is known to play with a unique blend of drama, warmth and humor, that combines four distinct musical personalities and brings fresh insights to the string quartet repertoire.

The Quartet performs regularly in venues like the Aspen Music Festival, but they have grown to love performing for audiences along the Peak-to-Peak Highway.

Tickets are $60 and are available at The Old Gallery and theoldgallery.org. There are a limited number of tickets available for this event and it’s usually a sell-out.

The Old Gallery is located at 14863 Colorado Highway 7, next to the Allenspark Fire Station. Carpooling to the event is encouraged as parking is limited at The Old Gallery. Fortunately, overflow parking is available east of the Gallery on the Highway 7 right of way and in the parking lot just on the other side of the Fire Station.

Estes Park Senior Center Presentation by Andrea Robbins Of Caring Transitions

Andrea has spent most of her professional life in human resources, most recently in a vice president role for a global company leading a large team. As a senior manager within the company, Robbins’ role focused heavily on business strategy, customer care, continuous improvement, process development, project management and leadership –all skills she has happily transferred over to Caring Transitions over the past three years.

Estes Park Senior Citizens Center Menu

Sept 18 – Sept 22

Monday, Sept 18 Breakfast Croissant (eggs & cheese topped w/ sausage patty) w/ Hashbrowns & fruit

Tuesday, Sept 19 Chicken Parmesan w/ Spaghetti, garlic bread & side salad

Wednesday, Sept 20 Country Fried Steak w/ Mashed Potatoes, gravy & vegetables

Thursday, Sept 21 BBQ Chicken Breast w/ Corn Bread, Grits & vegetable

Friday, Sept 22 Fish & Homemade Chips w/ soup of the day

Sept 25 – Sept 29

Monday, Sept 25 Breakfast Burrito (eggs, cheese, refried beans & potatoes in floured tortilla) w/ green chili on the side

Tuesday, Sept 26 BBQ Pork Ribs (4) w/ Baked Beans & coleslaw

Transitions – whether you are declut tering, downsizing, or moving – can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone or depend only on your family to pick up the pieces. Caring Transitions is a company uniquely positioned to take that stress off your shoulders with their premier level of customer care.

Caring Transi tions, founded in 2006, is the most trusted and experienced national franchise specializing in senior relocation and transition services, with more than 290 locations throughout the United States.

All are invited to attend a free presentation from 12:00-1:00 on Tuesday, September 19 at the Estes Park Senior Citizens Center (EPSCC), 1760 Olympian Ln. Andrea Robbins, owner of Caring Transitions of North Denver, Longmont, and Boulder, will be our guest speaker. Andrea will be presenting What's It Worth?, a look at how personal property is defined, how the market’s supply & demand impacts what buyers are looking for, and an interactive discussion on the value of a handful of items. Feel free to bring a treasure or a favorite oddity of yours for us to talk about! Andrea’s presentation will also cover what Caring Transitions can provide to individuals and families who need assistance in their residence transitions.

Andrea’s team at Caring Transitions handles decluttering, organizing, packing, moving, resettling, in-home estate sales and online auctions, home cleanouts, estate clearing, and preparing homes for market. Services are a lacarte. She offers a free no-obligation home visit and is here to help you when needed. Most importantly, she offers a streamlined support system to facilitate a stress-free process.

For additional information about Caring Transitions’ services in the Estes Park area, call 720-254-6623, email ARobbins@CaringTransitions.com, or visit caringtransitionsndlb.com.

For the presentation, you are welcome to bring your own lunch or pre-purchase a meal by ordering the day before. Place your order before 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 18. For this event, the Senior Center will be serving chicken parmesan with spaghetti, garlic bread, and side salad. The cost of the meal is $7 for EPSCC members and $10 for non-members. If you become an EPSCC member for just $30 per year, you will not only enjoy meal discounts but also gain access to all the amazing activities. For more information about the EPSCC or to order a meal for the presentation, please call the Senior Center at (970) 581-2195.

Wednesday, Sept 27 Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich (topped w/ avocado, swiss cheese & bacon) w/ 3-Bean Salad

Thursday, Sept 28 Meatloaf w/ Mashed Potatoes, gravy & vegetables

Friday, Sept 29 Signature Salad w/ Grilled Salmon (4 oz) (greens topped w/ tomatoes, corn, cheese, craisins, pecans & croutons w/ ranch dressing

Meals are $7 for current 2023 EP Senior Citizens Center members and are by reservation only. (Or 3 meals for $20; use pre-paid meal tickets.) Exact cash or check payment required. Reservations must be made by 1:00 PM at least one business day in advance. Note, if you want to reserve a meal for Monday, Sept 18th, you need to call before 1:00 PM on Friday, Sept 15th. For reservations call 970-581-2195 and leave a detailed message. Pre-paid meal tickets and membership forms are available at the Estes Park Senior Citizens Center located at 1760 Olympian Lane.

The Center is OPEN (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10-1; Tuesday 10-2) TriFit M-W-F 10:30-11:15; Yoga T-T 10:15-11:15; Circuit Balance Class Mondays 1-1:45 PM

Mahjong Tuesdays 10 – 2

Live Music & Presentations Tuesday @ 12:00 – 1:30 (TBA)

Two Bridge Groups: 1st, 3rd, & 5th Wed. of the month & Every Thursday 12:30 - 4 PM

Reserved Meals-to-Go delivered to your vehicle or EAT at the Senior Citizens Center Check out our website: estesparkseniors.org or call for the latest information

FALL HOURS

Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sundays, 1-5 p.m.

What’s Happening At The Estes Valley Library

be accepted from participants under age 18.

Paracord Survival Bracelets Ⓡ

Tuesday, September 19, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Makerspace

KEY

Ⓡ: Registration required. Visit estesvalleylibrary.org to sign up.

ALL AGES

CPR & Stop the Bleed Training Ⓡ

Saturday, September 16, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Hondius Room

Bystander CPR triples the likelihood of survival, and being able to “stop the bleed” can prevent the most common type of preventable death during medical trauma. Learn how to do both during this free course with Cindy Holmes of Red Cross Northern Colorado.

Open Craft: Float Design Competition

Monday, September 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Makerspace

repeated Wednesday, September 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Makerspace

repeated Monday, September 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Makerspace

repeated Wednesday, September 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Makerspace

Design a Catch the Glow float for an opportunity to see it transformed into a full-scale masterpiece! Miniature float trucks and crafting supplies will be available for self-serve crafting. All are welcome to build, but submissions will only

repeated Thursday, September 28, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Makerspace

Weave a paracord survival bracelet with a whistle/fire-starter/compass clasp. Choose from a variety of fun patterns! Recommended for adults and teens.

Game Night! Ⓡ

Thursday, September 21, 5-6:30 p.m., Hondius Room

Play board games from our own collection as well as ones generously provided by Frames, Games, and Things

Unnamed. All ages welcome – bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Snacks and refreshments provided.

Pill Bottle Survival Kits Ⓡ

Thursday, September 21, 5:30-7 p.m., Makerspace

repeated Tuesday, September 26, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Makerspace

Build a pill bottle survival kit, filled with 15 different items, and learn how each can be used to stay alive in the wilderness. Recommended for adults and teens.

Amateur Radio Emergency Services: When All Else Fails Ⓡ

Friday, September 22, 1-3 p.m., Hondius Room

Join the Estes Valley Amateur Radio Club, the Red Cross, and the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management to learn about how amateur radio emergency services can support first responders and the public when disasters occur. Recommended for adults and teens.

The History of Botanical Art Ⓡ

Monday, September 25, 6:307:45 p.m., Hondius Room

Learn about and view examples of botanical art, which combines object and subject, art and science, and history with horticulture. Recommended for adults and teens.

Zombie Virtual Reality Ⓡ

Wednesday, September 27, 5-6 p.m., Hondius Room

Let’s have fun with

virtual reality during National Preparedness Month! Try our Oculus and mobile device headsets and see how you’d fare in a zombie apocalypse. Recommended for ages 9 and up.

ADULTS

Voter Registration Drive

Tuesday, September 19, 5-7 p.m., Library lobby

repeated Tuesday, September 26, 5-7 p.m., Library lobby

The League of Women Voters of Estes Park will be on hand to help with voter registration, important election dates, and other information about voting in Estes Park and Colorado.

Resilience Amid Uncertainty: A Living Room Conversation Ⓡ

Tuesday, September 19, 5:30-7 p.m., Wasson Room & online Resilience – the ability to withstand and adapt to challenges, shocks, and disruptions – plays a critical role in navigating these uncertain times. Discuss how you’re living with uncertainty and finding resilience in this Living Room Conversation. Presented with the Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership.

Building Community Resilience with Larimer County Ⓡ

Thursday, September 28, 5-7 p.m., Hondius Room

Connect with the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management and provide your feedback on the county’s community resilience assessment. ASL and Spanish interpretation will be available upon request.

TEENS & KIDS

CD Scratch Art Ⓡ

Wednesday, September 20, 5-6 p.m., Makerspace Tap into your creativity while making unique scratch art on old CDs. All art skill levels welcome.

KIDS & FAMILIES

Library Storytimes

Babies: Thurs., Fri., & Sat. at 10 a.m.

Preschoolers: Thurs., Fri., & Sat. at 10:30 a.m.

Storybook Explorers: Sat., September 16 at 11:15 a.m.

Making Music with Nancy Bell: Wed., September 20 at 4:30 p.m.

Read to Therapy Dog Annie: Wed., September 27 at 4:30 p.m.

Kids Book Adventures: Pirate Chicken Ⓡ

Tuesday, September 19, 4-5 p.m.,

Hondius Room

Let’s go on a book adventure! We’ll read Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck, then craft pirate ships. Recommended for ages 6-10.

Prepare with Pedro: Red Cross Storytime Ⓡ

Saturday, September 23, 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m., Hondius Room

Join Pedro the Penguin as he learns how to be prepared for and take action during a home fire and other emergency situations. Attendees will receive a free copy of the book. Recommended for ages 4-7.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Anatomy of a Breakthrough: Author Talk with Adam Alter Ⓡ

Wednesday, September 20, 12-1 p.m., online

Almost everyone feels stuck in some way or at some point in our lives. Join us as we talk with bestselling author Adam Alter about escaping inertia and flourishing in the face of friction. Presented with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Emotional Agility: Book Discussion Ⓡ

Tuesday, September 26, 5:30-7 p.m., Wasson Room

What separates those who master unexpected detours and those who get derailed? The answer is emotional agility. Learn about Susan David’s science-based approach to navigating life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind.

On Writing Three International Bestsellers: Author Talk with Amor Towles Ⓡ

Wednesday, September 27, 6-7 p.m., online

Enjoy a virtual chat with well known and bestselling author Amor Towles as he discusses his body of work, including Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Lincoln Highway. Presented with the Library Speakers Consortium.

MAKERSPACE CLASSES

Learn the Embroidery Machine Ⓡ Friday, September 15, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

repeated Friday, September 29, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

For ages 10 and up (participants under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult).

Learn the Laser Cutter Ⓡ Friday, September 22, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

For ages 10 and up (participants under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult).

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION

Cliffhanger Used Books

Cliffhanger Used Books, located next to the Post Office, is operated by the Friends of the Library Foundation, offering gently-used books, movies, and music at discount prices. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

KEY

Ⓡ: Registration required. Visit estesvalleylibrary.org to sign up.

Bestselling Author Amor Towles To Speak On September 27

Design A Float To Be Featured In This Year’s Catch The Glow Parade

Calling all artists, creatives, designers, engineers, and holiday enthusiasts: The Estes Valley Library and Michael Young, Creative Director for the Catch the Glow Parade, are excited to announce a float design competition for this November’s event.

Design can be completed at home or at the Makerspace during Float Design Open Crafting on Mondays and Wednesdays in September, 11 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. Open Crafting will include decorative supplies, so stop by!

His books have sold more than six million copies worldwide and have been heralded as “irresistible,” “marvelous,” and “gorgeously crafted.” Tune in on Wednesday, September 27 at 6 p.m. as we chat online with bestselling author Amor Towles about his incredible body of work.

Towles’ first novel, Rules of Civility, was published in 2011 and was named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the year’s best books. Set in New York City in post-Depression 1938, it is a “sharply stylish” (Boston Globe) story of a young woman who suddenly finds herself thrust into high society.

A Gentleman in Moscow, Towles’ second publication, was named one of the best books of 2016 by the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, NPR, and more. The transporting novel immerses us in the tale of Count Alexander Rostov, who is ordered to spend the rest of his life confined in a luxury hotel.

Most recently, in 2021, The Lincoln Highway debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of Bill Gates’ “5 Great Books for the Summer.”

The novel tails four boys, including three 18-year-olds who met in a juvenile reformatory and a brainy 8-year-old, as they set out from Nebraska in a 1954 Studebaker in pursuit of a better future.

This author talk is presented in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium, which grants the Estes Valley Library and their patrons access to acclaimed authors via virtual visits. All events are streamed live, free to attend, and include audience participation through an interactive Q&A session.

Unable to attend the live presentations? Past recordings are easily accessible and available to watch anytime.

Check out recent talks with Bonnie Garmus, Geraldine Brooks, Fredrik Backman, and more.

Towles’ entire catalog of books is available in the Library’s collection, supporting our objective to make notable authors and beautiful stories accessible to you, our community of readers. Browse the full list and register for an upcoming Library Speakers Consortium talk at libraryc.org/estesvalleylibrary.

This unique opportunity will allow one lucky designer to see their miniature creation come to life as a full-scale masterpiece. While patrons of all ages are invited to craft their own float, contest submissions will only be accepted from designers under the age of 18.

“I’ve had this idea in my head for a few years,” said Young. “I knew that capturing a child’s imagination would say so much more about the season than I could imagine.”

Interested parties can visit the Makerspace at the Library to pick up their miniature float trucks and instructions.

Tech Arts Librarian Seph Reed shared his excitement for young creatives to use the Makerspace: "The first step of any great project is your prototype. The second is when you learn that if you can make it small, you can make it big."

Submissions are due by September 30 and can be turned in at the Makerspace. Young will then select the winner based on feasibility of the build as well as how the design inspires his creativity.

“If I were a kid again, seeing my creation as a full-sized float would have been a huge thrill,” commented Young. “That’s why I’m hoping the winner would be willing to ride on it the night of the Parade!”

Michael Young

Ghost Town Legends: The Lost Mines

By: Ethan Knightchilde Abandoned diggings, lost mines, buried treasure.

Show me a person whose interest isn’t piqued by such tales, and I’ll show you someone who likely has lost touch with the sense of wonder and soaring imagination of their youth.

There are likely as many stories about lost mines and hidden caches as outrageous (but still en tertaining) tales of discovery. Some are deceptively simple--like the case of a solitary miner who buried gold dust in tin cans near his cabin.

When he died in a sudden and untimely fashion, the question of the hidden wealth drove some to search for years.

Other tales seem straight out of a classic Greek tragedy. Take, for instance, one of Colorado’s early lost mine legends, which begins with a group of ‘49ers on their way to the California gold fields when they found color in a streambed eight days’ journey from Pike’s Peak. Six of the original party stayed and dug for weeks, eventually striking high-grade ore. They had cached an estimated $100,000 of gold in a drift when provisions ran low and a snowstorm closed in. One of their number set out for supplies, but additional storms delayed his return. When he finally made his way back to the camp, he found the landscape radically transformed.

An avalanche and earth slide had torn their way down into the valley, taking with them the cabins and the men and

burying beneath massive heaps of rubble the drift in which the gold had been stored. Broken by the tragedy, he did not speak of it again until 1881, when he relayed the tale just before passing away.

Ten years later, a prospector confided in a potential partner that he possessed the notebook of that ill-fated party’s sole survivor, as well as the precise location of the cache and diggings. The partner was skeptical until he saw samples of the ore. But two weeks later, the prospector was killed in a saloon brawl, and all knowledge of the mine was lost again. There are many tales like these, and sometimes it seems that their sheer number should give good odds of walking out your back door and tripping over a lost mine. In the final act of Best Documentary Award-winning Ghosts of the West: The End of the Bonanza Trail, several such stories are told. I invite you to come to a show at the movie house where it began its journey: the Historic Park Theatre, built when the film’s events were still in living memory. Catch a screening at 2 p.m. on September 21. As the film’s writer-director, I will be present to answer questions about the entire ghost town project after the program. Visit www.HistoricParkTheatre.com for information and tickets.

Visit KnightSkyPictures.com, the production company’s official website, to view the film’s trailer, gallery, and production info. [Portions of this article originally appeared in the screenplay for Ghosts of the West: The End of the Bonanza Trail and the companion book Ghosts of the West: Tales and Legends from the Bonanza Trail by E. S. Knightchilde.]

The Turtle’s Back Workshops An After School Program At The Estes Park Learning Place

“The Animals Can Speak”

The Art of Puppetry - Grades 3 to 5

Giving Our Planet’s Animal Wildlife a Voice

A meaningful learning experience will be shared by all in this project-oriented workshop that takes place within a small group setting. Each child will gather infor mation about the uniqueness of one of our planet’s animals and write a puppet play. Reading, writing, art, music and movement will provide an integrated learning program that will continue for approxi mately 10 weeks. First they will each receive a writing note book including colored pencils, glue and scissors, etc. to personalize the cover by creating a collage with pictures and words from nature maga zines. Each child will then choose a puppet from a collection of animals that share our local town, RMNP and state of Colorado, including a bald eagle, coyote, moose, red fox, river otter, great horned owl, and timber wolf, to name a few. The animal research will begin by gathering information from a variety of resources. Upon organizing all their research, the writing of the play will take place as either individual or partner work. Throughout this time they will be able to practice using their puppet with its appropriate movements and gestures. Musical instruments will be introduced to enhance the final performance with the creation of forest sounds such as crickets, frogs, birds, etc. Finally, family members will be invited to enjoy their child’s creation at The Turtle’s Back Celebration.

“Loops

and Other Groups”

The Art of Cursive HandwritingGrades 3 and Up

A Kinesthetic Writing System

Students attending this workshop will soon come to realize the advantages of learning how to write in cursive. This unique method provides easy to remember motor and memory cues. A cursive handwriting teacher experienced with the Benbow Kinesthetic Writing System will work with students within a small group setting. Groups of letters that share common movement patterns will be introduced.

Lower case letters include the Clock Climbers, Kite Strings, Loops and Hills and Valleys. Upper case letters are also named and illustrated with specific lead-in strokes.

Many believe that cursive handwriting helps in a child’s neural development. While writing through the continuous movement of fingers, functioning of the right and left hemispheres of the brain improves. Children writing in cursive are also able to understand the position of the pencil while writing on paper and how much pressure they need to put while gripping a pencil or pen. Each child will experience the ease of writing and the increased speed that cursive handwriting provides. This method of handwriting also helps the child remember written content easily. Studies show that handwritten notes are easier to retain than typed notes.

These Two Workshops Are Scheduled to Begin in October Come Visit The Turtle’s Back Mondays and Tuesdays Between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. At The Estes Park Learning Place 600 S. St. Vrain Avenue (Hwy. 7) and Graves Ave, Suite 2 For more information contact Shirl Lawrence at (914)486-9816 or Sue Yowell at The Estes Park Learning Place (970-577-0020).

Rails in the Rockies Celebrates 26th Anniversary

All aboard! Here come the trains! Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24 the annual Rails in the Rockies Model Railroad Show will be in Estes Park. This event is provided by the Estes Valley Model Railroaders. The show will be at the Estes Park Event Center with ample free parking plus free shuttle to the Visitor Center and Autumn Gold provided by the Town of Estes Park. The cost of the show is $10 for adults, children 12 and under free with a $20 maximum for families. Cash is preferred.

The hobby of model railroading has many facets and this show highlights nearly all of them.

There will be running train yards,

switching puzzles, wooden trains, HO and N and Z and T scales, Lionel and American Flyer along with the popular LEGO layout. There will be photography, fabulous scenic landscapes, scratch built buildings, trestles, mines wagons and train cars, art work and painting, woodworking and sculpture. There will even be a display of all hand built model circus wagons. We have children built layouts and layouts made especially for little children.

The history of railroading is fascinating, especially in Colorado. This year we have The Colorado Model Railroad Museum and Circus Model Builders. Come enjoy our 26th Anniversary the show! All Aboard!

RARE OPPORTUNITY…

To find a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo that has been meticulously remodeled, literally from top to bottom. New wood floors throughout the home with wood ceilings and recessed lighting that give a feeling of comfort and warmth. All new cabinetry, countertops, backsplash and appliances in the spacious kitchen which is adjacent to the open living and dining room areas that boast a gas log stone fireplace. Sliding door access to the deck as well as the large picture windows exhibit views and allow morning sun and natural light. The lower level has a guest bedroom and primary suite with his and her closets, an updated bath with high counters, double sinks and walk-in shower plus access to a private deck. The abundance of closet space is a bonus as well as an attached single car garage. Must see this unit to appreciate the care, quality and warmth. Call Trisha for an appointment to view 1861 Ave. F3 - offered for $595,000.

1201 Rambling Drive, Estes Park

22 Corner Ct., Glen Haven

763 and 767 Deer Meadow Dr., Loveland

Watch And Enjoy Elk Rut In Safety

wildlife. Elk view your dog as a predator.

By: Kris Hazelton

The annual elk rut has begun and the bull elk are already busy bugling, gathering their harems of females and challenging one another for breeding rights. The elk are amazing and wonderous animals that are fun to watch but remember, these are wild animals competing for dominance and the bulls are especially “pumped-up” at this time of year.

Avoid potential accident, injury or death by always viewing from a safe distance. If an animal is carefully watching you and appears “jumpy,” you are way too close. Avoid eye contact and back away. Raise your arms to make yourself look larger. For photographers, a good rule of thumb is “give them room, use your zoom.”

Keep you dog leashed and quiet. Do not allow them to bark, lunge at or chase

Never block traffic. “Elk jams” are a danger to everyone – blocking traffic on single lane roads creates all kinds of potentially dangerous situations. Be sure to pull completely off the roadway, out of the way of through traffic.

Never, ever imitate an elk call or bugle during the rut. This can endanger you and the elk.

Please respect private property. Elk know no boundaries and are found all around town. If they are in a private homeowners yard, please watch the animals from a public area.

Never get between two bull elk. Situations can change very rapidly during the rut and you never want to be caught in between two rival animals.

Don’t ignore the cows, they can still be dangerous, any time of year, not just during calving season.

Remember – elk are wild animals. Be aware and be respectful. View quietly from a safe distance. Never attempt to touch or feed wildlife, it’s dangerous and illegal. Keep dogs leashed and quiet and when photographing, use your zoom, give them room.

Food For Life: Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Cooking Course Starts October 4

Estes Park–Salud Family Health Center and The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a national nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, particularly good nutrition, and supports higher standards in research, are offering a cooking course designed to help local residents prevent and survive breast cancer through proper diet and nutrition.

“The single easiest and best thing most of us can do to prevent cancer or its recurrence is to eat right,” says Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., the director of nutrition education for PCRM. “Approximately a third of all cancer deaths in this country are due to poor diet.”

The Rx for better health? It’s a low-fat vegetarian diet. Load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, Levin says; they’re naturally low in fat, chock-full of fiber, and filled with cancer-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals. Cut down on fatty foods and added fats and oils, particularly saturated fats, which have been linked to an increased risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Likewise, look for healthy substitutes for dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, which have been implicated in the occurrence of breast and colorectal cancers.

The challenge, Levin acknowledges, is not only to teach people which foods are good for them, but also to show them how to make the foods taste good. Each class centers on important cancer-nutrition topics as local cooking instructor Chazz Glaze guides students through the preparation of tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes.

The class details are as follow:

October 4, 1–3 p.m., Introduction to How Foods Fight Cancer

October 11, 1–3 p.m., Fueling Up on Low-Fat, High-Fiber Foods

October 18, 1–3 p.m., Discovering Dairy & Meat Alternatives

October 25, 1–3 p.m., Cancer-Fighting Compounds and Healthy Weight Control

November 1, 1–3 p.m., Foods and Breast Cancer Survival

All classes are held at Salud Family Health Center, 1950 Redtail Hawk Drive, Estes Park, and are FREE for anyone in the community, regardless of whether they are a Salud patient.

For more information about Food for Life: Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Cooking Classes, email Chazz at chazz@higherelevationscoaching.com.

New Window Cleaning Business In Estes: Alpine Panes Window Cleaning, A New View

specializes in providing topnotch interior and exterior window cleaning services that will leave your windows streak-free and immaculate. They are equipped with the latest technology and ecofriendly solutions to ensure a thorough and environmentally conscious clean. Say goodbye to dirt, grime, and smudges, and hello to a pristine view that enhances the beauty of your space. Experience the transformative difference of Alpine Panes – where clarity meets excellence.

Let Alpine Panes come to the rescue, utilizing their revolutionary spot-free technology to restore brilliance and shine to your windows. This simple act can greatly improve your home life. Don't underestimate the impact of dirty windows and dirty screens on air quality, affecting both you and your family, including your pets.

Why Choose Alpine Panes?

Local business owner, Reily Crone, born and raised in the Estes Valley.

Local Estes Valley resident, born and raised, Reily Crone, is excited about his new business, Alpine Panes Window Cleaning. He is here to transform your living space through professional, quality window cleaning services. Alpine Panes specializes in delivering top-notch residential and commercial window cleaning services that will leave your windows sparkling and your views crystal clear. Alpine Panes delivers pristine cleaning services including windows, screens, solar panels, siding, large signage, glass structures and RV’s.

Alpine Panes Window Cleaning utilizes Pure Water Systems using deionized and reverse osmosis water, which is free from chemicals and detergents. This makes it an environmentally friendly option, as it doesn't introduce harmful substances into the ecosystem or harm aquatic life. Pure Water Systems is the highest-quality purification system built for cleaning windows. Alpine Panes also utilize a high-tech system of water-fed poles which are less disruptive to the environment while cleaning windows.

Elevate the appeal of your home or business with crystal-clear windows that sparkle in the sunlight! Alpine Panes

Meticulous attention to detail: We believe that every window deserves the utmost care, ensuring spotless and streakfree results.

Reliable and trustworthy: As a local company, we value trust and reliability. Count on us to arrive on time and treat your property with respect.

Exceptional service: Our goal is to exceed your expectations and provide an exceptional window cleaning experience from start to finish.

Environmentally safe: Free from chemicals or detergents, doesn't introduce harmful substances into the ecosystem or harm aquatic life.

Convenience: We offer flexible scheduling options to fit your busy lifestyle, ensuring a hassle-free experience for you.

Be prepared to be amazed by the incredible transformation in the stunning work Alpine Panes does with your windows. Witness the remarkable Alpine Panes difference as they work their magic on your beautiful home or business.

Discover the Alpine Panes difference! See contact information below.

Chamber Music in The Mountains

Estes Park’s own Emerald Lake Chamber Players will present a colorful and varied program to kick off the Peak to Peak Concert series at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 23rd at the Shepherd of the Mountain Lutheran Church.

The ensemble for this concert consists of violinist, Ann Mills, flutist, Robert Howard, violist, Clara Logue, cellist, Rich Woessner, pianist, John Wolf and bassist, Steve Tice

The first half of the program will feature quartets for flute, violin, viola and cello beginning with a recently rediscovered masterpiece by Austrian composer Friedrich Hartman Graf that is filled with attractive melodies and rich instrumental colors. Ukrainian composer, Myoslav Skoryk’s haunting and passionate Melodiya will follow.

Next we will premiere a new work by the ensemble’s flutist, Robert Howard called, Small Blue Planet inspired by a painting of the same name by Alaskan artist, Shannon Cartwright. Small Blue Planet consists of four movements entitled, Our Island Home, Children Everywhere, A Future for Everyone and All Creatures Bright and Beautiful.

The nature theme continues as we feature pianist, John Wolf in a performance of Franz Schubert’s iconic “Trout” Quintet. This spirited five-movement work derives its name from its concluding set of variations on Schubert’s art song, Die Forelle. Steve Tice will join the ensemble on string bass for this work. The concert is free but donations are appreciated.

Make A Difference In The Life Of A Youth

You can make a difference in the life of a youth by volunteering with Partners! Youth are waiting for a positive adult to spend time with. Consider volunteering as a Community-Based Mentor, SchoolBased Mentor, or an Activity Volunteer.

Find out more about each volunteer position at poweredbypartners.org and send your inquiry online. Or call 970577-9349 or email kwhitacre@poweredbypartners.org

Join us for a free admission arts and crafts show in Estes Park on Oct. 28. Vendor spots still available!

The event is called Treasure Tables and features free parking and more than 50 vendors welcoming the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Event Center at the fairgrounds, 1125 Rooftop Way.

Food trucks will be available and a special bake sale also will take place.

Treasure Tables is an annual eclectic arts and crafts fair sponsored by a local Philanthropic Educational Organization, Estes Park Chapter IY, with IY proceeds

going to benefit women of all ages in furthering their college education through P.E.O. International.

Founded in 1869 by seven young college women, P.E.O. International has grown and has helped more than 116,000 women by giving nearly $400 million in scholarships and financial aid. In addition, Chapter IY Foundation has annually given scholarships to local Estes Park High School graduates.

In addition to home-baked items from IY, the vendors offer an array of unique and hand-crafted items for sale. Local authors will be selling their books, artisans will be selling pottery, local photographers will be selling their images. If you want to get a jump on holiday shopping, make a day of it in Estes Park at the fairgrounds. There's plenty of parking, lots of food will be available to eat onsite or save for dinner, and you're sure to find one-of-a-kind items.

Last year, Swedish dishcloths were a big

seller.

If you would like to be a vendor, there's still time to buy your table, which will be seen by up to 500 people on the big day. Tables cost $110 or $120 depending on the location in the event center. Last year, more than 60 vendors turned the event center into a lively pre-holiday marketplace. For more information or to rent a table contact: peotreasuretables@gmail.com.

You will find fanciful soaps, lotions and essential oils, keepsakes and ornaments, art work, woolen personal wear, candles, stained glass art, books, pottery and food products.

Additionally, you can feel good about supporting P.E.O’s mission to help women reach their goals through education.

Crossroads Benefit Concert And Open House A Huge Success!

Our benefit concert with Cowboy Brad and Mark Rashid was a grand success with over 360 people in attendance. Af-

I was reading the newspaper last week and was reminded of how the community came together in a big way to help

ter all the donations were counted, we ended up with a little over $9,000 to go towards meeting the needs of our neighbors. Thank you so much for giving!

Chaplain Greg Bunton is a great ministry partner and we are grateful to him for hosting this event. And, of course, Brad and Mark donated their time and

people recover after the 2013 flood. We are Still Mountain Strong! When I first arrived at Crossroads, I looked through numerous files and read hundreds of documents to learn as much about the history of Crossroads as I could. I was quite impressed with the flood relief work that Crossroads was involved with for many months after the flood. Emergency relief funds were channeled

talents for this, so we are doubly blessed from all sides. Just a few days later we had our Open House and Dedication Ceremony where more than 100 people came to check out our building and participate in the dedication of our new parking lot. We have a bronze plaque mounted on a boulder in the corner of our parking lot if you’d like to know who paved the way for this project. It’s been a fun week of many activities coupled with serving our neighbors in their time of need. As I wrapping up the day on Friday, there was a realtor in our town serving one of our clients as a Job Coach. They were sitting around a table discussing employment experience from past jobs and how this could transfer into the new job our client was hoping to obtain. And just the way it worked out, both of them shared military experience that created an instant bond as they ironed out the details of the path forward that involves a good paying job to make ends meet and will ultimately bring fulfilment through the work she will be doing each day. It’s exciting to see these divine appointments taking place in our building.

through Crossroads to ensure the greatest needs were being met among the people of the Estes Valley. Two additional staff members were hired during this time to assist the current staff in assessing needs, qualifying individuals and families and getting the funds to them as quickly as possible. It was a valiant effort for an organization like Crossroads to step up and be the centralized location where resources were collected and distributed. I still run into people who were impacted by the flood and comment to me how grateful they were for the help they received through Crossroads. No doubt, the coordinated relief effort put a strain on the support structure of our community, but when it was all said and done, everyone discovered we truly are Mountain Strong. I’m thankful to be a small part of this support structure that gives me opportunities to work hand-in-hand with incredibly gifted people in our community. Crossroads exists to serve and fulfill our mission that ensures basic human services are being provided in a loving manner to Estes Valley residents in need.

That’s who we are and what we do!

Thanks for partnering with us in this worthy endeavor!

Estes Park Men’s Golf Association Results For September 11, 2023

Congratulations to all winners

Net Scores:

1. Tandy Brown 68

2. Don Bryson 69

3. Bill Reed 70

T4. Frank Bartholomew 71

T4. Tom McNeil 71

T4. Mike Riley 71

T4. Dick Smith 71

T8. Mike Johnston 72

T8. Brain Kelly 72

T8. Robert Waddell 72

T11. Paul Besson 73

T11. Paul Edens 73

T11. Pete Smith 73

T14. Dennis Bryan 74

T14. Greg Shipman 74

T14. Paul Tracy 74

T14. Walt Coleman 74

T18. Roger Galloway 75

T18. Stan Osborne 75

T18. Dave Van Wert 75

T18. Henry Glover 75

22. Al Wagner 76

T23. Dwight Stanford 77

T23. Jeff Lindberg 77

T23. Matt Quinn 77

United Methodist Church Bishop Preaches In Estes Park

Sunday, Sept. 17th at EPUMC

Bishop Karen P. Oliveto of the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church is preaching at the 9:45 a.m. service at Estes Park United Methodist Church, 1509 Fish Hatchery Road, this Sunday, Sept. 17th. Everyone is welcome.

Estes Park Women’s Golf Association Results Of Play – Tues., Sept. 12, 2023

In a game of Mutt & Jeff the ladies enjoyed a beautiful day on the course.

Winners are:

1st place-Cindy Minier

2nd place-Marianne Casey

Tied for 3rd -Jennifer Gergen and Dot

Dorman

5th place-Bonnie Rumsey

Tied for 6th-Diane Butler and Pam Vendegna

Tied for 8th -Judi Cunningham, Carla Spreng-Webb and Linda Bowie, Claudia Irwin and Kimberly Ames and Kathy Bryson.

Our Lady of the Mountains 3rd Annual Golf Tournament

On Friday, September 22nd , Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church will host their 3rd annual golf tournament at the 18-hole golf course. The golf tournament is a fundraiser for youth programs, and last year provided funds for twelve young parishioners to attend a retreat. The attendees all were very grateful for

the opportunity.

The public is invited to golf, sponsor a hole, provide prizes or make a donation to the youth activities of the Parish. The format will be a four person scramble, with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Church office at 970-586-8111.

“It is a very distinct honor to have Bishop Oliveto here at the Estes Park United Methodist Church,” said Ann Lantz, pastor of EPUMC. “She has been a visionary leader for the Mountain Sky Conference and the UMC worldwide. She is a dynamic preacher, teacher, and visionary who brings her humor, warmth, and compassion everywhere she goes."

Oliveto is visiting EPUMC to thank three church members for their significant donations to the Mountain Sky Conference “A Table for All” fund. That fund is helping a number some churches recover from the recent disaffiliations of congregations in the UMC.

Oliveto is the first openly lesbian bishop elected in the United Methodist Church. She was elected bishop on July 15, 2016, by the Western Jurisdiction of the UMC.

Originally from New York, she had her call to ministry at the age of 11. She preached her first sermon at 16 and began working as a student pastor when she was 18.

Oliveto has served parish and campus

ministries in rural and urban settings in both New York and California.

She has served as the associate dean of academic affairs at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, where she also taught United Methodist history, doctrine, polity, and evangelism as an adjunct professor for 12 years.

She was the senior pastor of the 12,000member Glide Memorial UMC for eight years, becoming the first woman to lead one of the UMC's 100 largest membership churches.

Oliveto is planning to retire in 2024.

Also, on Sept. 17, the EPUMC will be celebrating seven years as a Reconciling Congregation in the UMC. In 2016, the church committed to intersectional justice across and beyond the United Methodist connection, working for the full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the Church.

About Estes Park United Methodist Church-Estes Park United Methodist Church is a vibrant faith community in Estes Park, Colorado. We are located at 1509 Fish Hatchery Road, off of US-34 (which is the north entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park), northwest of town. We welcome and affirm all persons regardless of faith, age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical limitations, or economic status. All means all.

Time To Return To Romania

Karen P. Oliveto is Bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Norbi, the hardworking J-1, is finally going back to Romania! Norrbi said, “See you next year. Thank you Estes Park! Thank you very much!”

Photo by Jim Ward

What Happens To All That Recycling?

Well, we are halfway through writing our “personal fire mitigation plan,” so the article I planned to write must wait a week until we have more information. Meanwhile, I decided to do some research on the end-result of recycling plastic water bottles.

Water bottles are relatively consistent, manufacturer to manufacturer, and every recycling company that I know of, world-wide, recycles them. Of course, our water is so good that my household does not need to purchase water in plastic bottles when we are here in the Estes Valley. However, many metropolitan areas are not so lucky and when we travel, we occasionally purchase water.

Water bottles and soda bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is flexible, strong, stable, light weight, moldable, shatter resistant, and inexpensive. PET is used primarily, but not solely, for packaging in the food and beverage industry. It is intended for single-use and it is ideal for recycling, over and over. Because visitors do not always trust the water everywhere they go, any tourist location sees a lot of single use water bottles over the course of a “season.”

Using old bottles, whether plastic or glass, reduces the need for virgin (brand new) material devoted to making these bottles. According to the International Bottled Water Assn (INBA), PET bottle manufacturers now use as much as 50% Recycled plastic (RPET) in their products. In addition, bottles today are 51% lighter in weight, taking an 18 gram bottle down to 9-1/4 gram, and thereby reducing the amount of plastic required per bottle. About four months ago, on a trip to Nebraska, I did purchase a bottle and I can attest that the bottles have gotten flimsier over the last three years, Still, although twice what was the measurement 10 years ago, only 1/3 of PET is recycled. That is not sufficient, but it is not the fault of the PET manufacturers. The recycling rate is dependent upon two factors: the public’s willingness to make the effort and the limitations (size, color, and shape) set by the collectors. Germany has a true circular economy in this respect. They recycle 98% of PET produced. Of the 33% we collect, 55% is water bottles and 15% is soft drink bottles. The other 30% consists of other bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, clamshell packaging, microwave meal trays, and other things made from PET.

A plastic water bottle that ends up in the landfill can last for 450 years. (Actually, plastic has not yet been in common use long enough to have final proof on this estimate.) Even plastic that “disintegrates” ends up as invisible micro-plastic

particles in our air, water, and land –and has been found in the internal organs of animals and humans. PET plastic has a relatively low liquification temperature. Recycled plastic must be shredded, then often heated to its liquid form and cooled to return to a solid. Usually sold as flakes or in pellet form, it is then reheated, cooled again, and molded to become new bottles for water, soft drinks, juice, or liquor; cooking oil , aspirin, mouthwash, or salad dressing; peanut butter jars; frozen food trays; cosmetic containers; polyester fibers for clothing, textiles, or carpet; fiberfill for coats, sofas and chairs, quilts, or sleeping bags; strapping for industrial uses; various forms of plastic film; thermoformed packaging (clamshells, egg cartons, “takeout” boxes, and blister packs); and sometimes automobile or electronic parts. This list is far from complete, but should provide some concept of the scope of PET plastic in our lives.

Most plastic collection yards have found the identification of resins to be too difficult for the general public and concentrate instead on the shapes, sizes, and colors that the single-stream equipment can sort. This results in the acceptance of some non-recyclable plastic but increases the overall collection. The material collected is then sorted and the recyclable is recycled. However, a knowledgeable public can avoid buying nonrecyclable material. I check the resin as I shop.

The little number in a triangle on each piece of plastic gives a clue to the resin used in manufacture. PET plastic is marked with a #1. If there is no number surrounded by a triangle (not a circle or a square), the plastic is considered nonrecyclable and generally ends up in the landfill. #3 (polyvinyl chloride) and #6 (polystyrene) are difficult and expensive to recycle due to insufficient markets for reusable plastic. Those entities who accept #3 or #6 generally lose money doing so. Both Larimer County (Waste Management, Superior, and Timberline) and Boulder County (Eco-cycle) are successfully recycling #1, #2, #4, and #5. The scientific community is creating new plastic resins every day. This was the intent of the #7 classification. It is a catch-all for the unidentified and experimental. Some of these, particularly PLA are compostable by industrial composting entities. Most are not recyclable. I cannot say that we ban all plastics at our house (I have great respect for those that do.) but my husband and I avoid purchasing #3, #6, or #7 plastics, and of course, we do our best to negate the use of unmarked plastics altogether. Agree? Disagree? Comments?

St. Francis Of Assisi Church Celebrates Founding Of The Parish

Back in the 1200s, a man named Francis was walking through the hills around Assisi, Italy. He passed by an abandoned Chapel of San Damiano, which was in great disrepair. Francis went in to pray. As he knelt in front of a Crucifix of Jesus Christ, he had a vision and heard Christ’s voice, saying, “Francis, rebuild My Church, for it is falling into ruin.”

Day of the Stigmata of St. Francis, members of what would soon be a Parish, gathered at the outdoor Altar. Sitting on folding chairs, with Prayer Books and Hymnals, they celebrated Holy Communion, as Bishop James O. Mote (who had traveled here from Denver) Consecrated the Altar. Walls, Stained Glass Windows, a Bell Tower, Outdoor Sta-

This is very reminiscent of the story of the founding of St. Francis Anglican Church, here in Estes Park. Father Bill Wells and his wife Doris had moved from Glen Haven and purchased a tract of land up Little Valley Road. One day, Father Bill was walking around the property and, as he told it, he stopped and had a vision that this was the place where God was asking him to “Build a Church.”

However, Father Bill didn’t see a Chapel falling into ruin, but an outpost of Faith nestled between granite boulders. He gathered the Faithful, and together, they began to clear and level the ground. A beautiful stone Altar was built.

And, on September 17th, 1980, the Feast

tions of the Cross, essentials like Water and Electricity…Those would all come later!

The members of today’s growing Parish will welcome you if you wish to join them on Sunday, September 17th, for this special 43rd Anniversary. The Holy Communion service will begin at 9:30 a.m. as we give thanks to Almighty God for all that He has given us, through His Son Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church 3480 St. Francis Way Estes Park, CO80517-6708 (970) 577-0601

www.stfrancisestespark.com

EP News/ Kris Hazelton

DUI At MOF!

By: Larry Strong

Just to be clear, none of the guys at Men on Fire have recently been arrested for driving under the influence—at least that I’m aware of. The acronym DUI, in this case, stands for Diversity Under The Influence. Let me explain.

Apparently, the extremely diverse nature of the guys who gather at Men on Fire is becoming known in the community. It is true on any given Saturday numerous denominational and non-de nominational affiliations are represented at Men on Fire including pastors from churches both here in Estes Park as well as the Front Range. In addition to guys who have been believers for many years, we’re blessed to have guys who are in the early stages of navigating their faith journey. Some are just con sidering knocking on that door. By God’s grace He has fostered a culture, through us, that is con ducive to men feeling wel come, safe, heard and encour aged regardless of where they’re at in their relationship with God. But finding and protecting unity in such diversity has to be intentional and inspired by the right influence.

I was recently asked how in the world Men on Fire functions with the wide ranging scope of perspectives on doctrine, theology, scripture, politics, and cultural issues. Honestly, what I was asked was, “How do you guys keep from getting into bickering and arguments?” DUI is the answer.

With the Lord at the center of everything we’re about, the cornerstone of the MOF foundation is our unwavering commitment to the relentless pursuit of unity among men. We’re holding fast to unconditional love combined with accountability. We’re willing to risk speaking truth in love and aren’t afraid to navigate through conflict. We believe successfully navigating through conflict is a faith principal which translates to a healthier, stronger and more unified

Flatirons Church Invites All

group. To me, there are few things more toxic or dysfunctional than unresolved conflict, be it in the home, a business, our government institutions or the church. Shooting our own wounded isn’t a sound strategy to demonstrate what we believe and in Whom. We’re still a long way from where we’re striving to be as better husbands, dads, brothers, employers, and leaders but one thing is clear. We’re unified in our commitment to protect the unity of our little Band of Brothers called Men on

So that’s the influence behind the diversity (DUI) of Men on Fire. We wish we could say a relentless commitment to unity was a novel idea but of course, it isn’t. Ephesians 4:15-16 says, “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ”

We’re under no illusion our relentless pursuit of unity requires relentless faith. And from relentless faith grows relentless courage. Yes, courage is required to love, without condition, others who’s view of life or faith is through a very different lens. But this is a certainty—we’re stronger together—and we’re livin’ in a world that standing shoulder to shoulder is a good thing. We will not sit down, shut up or be quiet. Going quietly into the night is not an option. We will stand for what is true and right finding unity in the midst of our diversity. We call it DUI.

Men on Fire meets Saturday’s at the American Legion, 850 N. St. Vrain at 8:00 a.m. for “Breakfast with a Purpose!

” Breakfast burritos, hot coffee, great conversation and a ton of encouragement is a pretty awesome way to start your weekend. We hope you’ll join us!

By: David Allen

There are so many technologies out in the world today. In fact, the myriad of advancements to enhance and even prolong human life is incredible. With this in mind, what would you think about a device that could erase memories of all the bad things you’ve ever done or better yet the bad things that have been done to you? Would you be willing to utilize this device to get rid of bad memories as a way of not taking revenge, carrying shame and guilt, or holding on to unforgiveness? As long as you carry these memories with you, then you will be tempted to hold people hostage, because you’ve never truly forgiven them. If you would choose to go under this device, then you would no longer have any ammunition for fights in the future or hold someone hostage for the things they owe you due to a traumatic episode in the past. You would no longer look at people differently because you would have no memory of the hurts that they’ve brought into your life. In Psalm 103 it says that God has purposefully chosen not to remember your sins. He says your sins are as far as the East is from the West. He has the power to remember everything but he has chosen to put on blinders to the past and not remember things that He has granted you forgiveness for. Is it possible that our forgiveness can reflect the forgiveness of God? The Bible says it is for a person who has been transformed

through the power of Christ. Forgiveness is vital to our spiritual well-being. The Bible tells us that if we’re at the altar preparing to pray and are reminded that we have not forgiven someone, then we need to go at once and forgive them, because if we can’t forgive others of their sins, then our Heavenly Father will not forgive us of our sins. It’s a condition of God’s forgiveness. Romans 12:2 gives us a promise that our minds can be renewed, so we need to pursue this as we follow the ways of Christ. The Holy Spirit of God will work inside of you to renew your mind. He will also reshape you, reform you, recondition, revive and refresh you to be more like Jesus Christ in all areas of your life. It might not happen overnight, but God wants to begin a super natural work in each of us. We don’t have to carry the hurts and bad memories any longer, so let them go today. Don’t allow the things done to you to become a stumbling block, but better yet a building block to start anew in life’s journey. This will require you to throw off everything that is holding you back and then focusing your full attention on Christ so that you can run the race marked out for you. If you’d like to learn more about this and meet others on the journey, then join us on Sunday at 11 a.m. We meet at the Reel Mountain theater to worship together, hear a message from the Bible and help each other live fully into the purpose we

“Happy Mexican Independence Day! - September 16th!”

- Tony

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

AA of Glen Haven

Every Monday night at the Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Also Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Glen Haven Town Hall.

Early Worms

Monday thru Saturday at 7:00 a.m. (Tues., Thurs. & Saturday hybrid meetings with Zoom #796 839 839 PW:Worms20) at St. Bartholomew Church, 880 MacGregor Ave.

Early Worms Women's Meeting

12 p.m. Mondays

St. Bartholomew, 880 MacGregor Ave.

Mixed Nuts Group

We meet Friday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at St. Bartholomew Church. The meeting is hybrid with Zoom #285 426 3644 PW: serenity.

Alcoholics Anonymous Fall River Group, 453 West Elkhorn, Estes Park.

Current Schedule as of 8/13/2023

Monday 12 p.m. In Person at 453 West Elkhorn O, D

Monday 7 p.m. Hybrid (In Person and Online) Zoom 654 598 884 O, BB

Tuesday 12 p.m. Online Zoom 999 829 166 O, D

Wednesday 12 p.m. Hybrid (In Person and Online) Zoom 999 829 166 O, D

Wednesday 7 p.m. Hybrid (In Person

and Online) Zoom 999 829 166 O, D

Thursday 12 p.m. Online Zoom 999 829 166 O, D

Friday 12 p.m. Online Zoom 999 829 166 O, D

Saturday 12 p.m. Hybrid (In Person and Online) Zoom 999 829 166 O, D

Sunday 12 p.m. Online Zoom 999 829 166 O, D

*Contribute via VENMO @SamuelCherman

Other 12 Step Meetings Held at Fall River Group

Thursday 7 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous “New Horizons” Group O, D Hybrid (In Person and Online) Zoom 705 555 830

**O=open to all

D=discussion

BB=Big Book

Zoom Meetings-Everyday at noon Zoom #999 829 166 (no password needed).

Monday Zoom Big Book study at 7 p.m. #654 598 884 (no password needed).

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Zoom #999 829 166

Online AA and NA Meetings at www.intherooms.com

There are 70 AA Meetings and 30 NA Meetings a week.

JOIN OUR TEAM! Full details on employment opportunities and the application can be found at estes.org/jobs.

Historic Crags Lodge

Apply online at https://careers.hgv.com/ Stop by and see us or call us at 970-586-6066

300 Riverside Drive Estes Park, CO 80517

YMCa of the RoCKies

2515 tunn e l R oa d

e stes P a rk, C o l o r a d o , 80511

CooK

$1500 si gn- o n b o nu s ! Training provided, minimum experience necessary. $18$20.15/hour with health benefits, discounted childcare, generous paid time off and vacation, and more great employee perks. www.w o rk i n the r o ck ies o rg

YMCa of the RoCKies 2515 tunn e l R oa d e stes P a rk, C o l o r a d o , 80511

G u est ReGistRatio n / n iGht a ud it Re l ief

Ma n aGeR

This position is primarily responsible for covering the days/nights when the regular Night Auditor and any of the Guest Registration Managers are off (including extended time off for vacation, holiday, sick time, etc.). Must be able to work independently and remain alert between 11:00 PM –7:00 AM. Must have basic computer skills and willingness to learn the software. $18.00$21.30/hour with full benefits, employee perks, generous PTO/vacation, and more.

www.w o rk i n the r o ck ies . o rg

Join

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL

BOOKKEEPER/SECRETARY TO THE PRINCIPAL

Estes Park, Colorado is a special place to live. Estes Park Middle School is a special place to work and seeks a highly qualified and ambitious individual to serve middle school students and staff.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate will possess

• Excellent organizational skills

• Ability to prioritize, work unsupervised and under pressure

• Working knowledge of all types of office equipment

• Attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality

• Ability to work well with staff, students, parents and community

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or GED required

• Accounting degree or bookkeeping experience preferred

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Quicken, and financial software operations

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Apply online at www.applitrack.com/estesschools/onlineapp.

Only online applications accepted. Salary range is $19.16 to $21.68 with single benefits. Up to five years of similar work experience from may be granted. See full job description at: https://www.applitrack.com/estesschools/ onlineapp/admin/admin.aspx#Report

Position is open until filled.

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3 IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Teller

Full or part-time

Ideal candidates will have prior cash handling and customer service experience. Additional requirements include attention to detail, strong computer and problem solving skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced team oriented environment. Year round position with excellent benefits including medical, dental, 401(K) and paid time off. $19-$21/hour.

WE

Events Coordinator

The Old Gallery is seeking an Event Coordinator to manage community events and private rentals. The event coordinator position is a part time position 15-20 hours during the winter and 24-30 hours during the summer. The ability to multitask, while maintaining complex schedules is essential in this position. The ideal candidate for this job is resourceful, a good problem solver, organized, with excellent communication skills and is a self-motivated and directed individual. The coordinator will report directly to the operations manager and indirectly to all the BOD (Board of Directors) members as well as the event steering committee.

$18-$20 / hour.

The Old Gallery is a non-profit center for the community, arts, visitors and events. Please contact Laurie at laurie@theoldgallery.org if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.

Member FDIC

Please apply at : www.bankofcolorado.com

Silver Saddle Inn

Now hiring: Front Desk Clerk Evenings required, Full time $17/hr - $22/hr DOE, Benefits Must be non-smoker. Apply in person: 1260 Big Thompson Ave. or email resume: info@estesresort.com

Service Tech and Helper

Call or come by for an application.

970-586-4626 • 850 Dunraven St.

Help WantedFront Desk at Small Resort

Full or part time.

Ask for Joan 970-586-3184

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

CUSTODIANS

Estes Park School District R-3 is accepting applications for one full-time, year-round head custodian, and one full-time, year-round custodian. Salary range is $17.09 to $21.68 per hour depending on experience, with single benefits. The successful candidate must be able to pass a drug test, background check, and physical demands/lift test. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, eligible to work in the U.S., and possess a high school diploma or GED.

Apply online at www.applitrack.com/estesschools/onlineapp

Only online applications accepted. Position open until filled.

Contact Eric Adams with questions: 970-586-5321 ext. 3468.

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3 IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

YMcA oF THe rockies

2515 Tunn e l r o ad

e s t es pa rk , c o l or ad o , 80511

Ho u sekeepi n g & Foo d service

Add i t io nal $125/w eek n o w th ro u g h o c t o b er 13, 2023!

Spend your fall in the mountains!

Join the Housekeeping or Food Service Department at YMCA of the Rockies now through October 13, 2023 and earn an additional $125 per week now through October 13, 2023.

Housekeeping Staff are responsible for having assigned cabins and lodge rooms cleaned by check-in time and to meet the expectations of the supervisors and guests, while Food Service Staff are responsible for providing guests with a positive dining experience at our on-grounds café, grill, and dining halls. No experience required. On-the-job training provided. May live on or off-grounds and be eligible for the bonus.

www.w orki nth erockies . org

We’re hiring for the following positions starting at $21.01/hr.:

• Drive-up & Go Service Helpers

• Checker

• Courtesy Clerk

• Day-Stocker

• Overnight Stocker

• Bakery Clerk

• Deli Clerk

• Produce Clerk

• Seafood Clerk

• Cake Decorator

• Meat Cutter

Get your application at: www.albertsoncompanies.com

After your application has been completed, please call our hiring manager Ann at 970.586.4447.

Tire Technician

Perform tire related and light automotive services. $15 - $20/hr depending on experience. Flexible time off options, at cost vehicle repairs. Valid drivers license required. Apply in person at 1633 Raven Ave or call (970) 586-8085 or email office@estestireandauto.com.

You've just found it! Fun family business

Outdoor World retail clothing and equipment year round stores needs you. Starting at $17.0030.00 per hour. Retail, managing, selling, merchandising and cleaning. You must be cheerful and like people. Choose your hours. Ages 15 to 80. Call Ernie 24 hours a day any day. 970 232 8290.

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT BUS DRIVERS

Estes Park School District R-3 is accepting applications for SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS and SUBSTITUTE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

Salary range $17.21 - $19.46 with single benefits. Class B with SP2 endorsement preferred. Training will be provided.

Questions, please call Isaac Marcantonio at 970-577-0211 ext. 3401

Apply online at www.applitrack.com/estesschools/onlineapp

Only online applications accepted. Position open until filled.

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3 IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

HOUSEHOLD TRANSPORTATION RENTALS SALES INSTRUCTION MISCELLANEOUS

Homes

Estes Park one bedroom long term small rental home available immediately.

Full kitchen with dining space, living room with wood burning fireplace, cozy bathroom (shower only, no tub), office, large porch. Off street parking in quiet older neighborhood, walk to downtown. No smoking, no pets. Two tenants max. $1750 per month plus utilities.

970.480.7089

Duplexes

Wonderful Apartment! $2000/mo, Utilities not included. Close to town. Quiet property with views. 1 bedroom with loaf. Wood burning fireplace. Recently remodeled with new paint, flooring, and fixtures with reserved parking. Must see to appreciate.

303-720-1211

Misc.

WANTED TO BUY: Small pickup truck. Call Dennis at 970-599-2818

SERVICES

Sewing/Alterations

Remixed Custom Sewing Services. NEW LOCATION! RV Cushions, outdoor furniture, benches, leather and Industrial Repair. Call for appointment 970-492-5446

Piano Tuning

Susan Novy, local piano tuner. Call for appt. 577-1755 www.estesparkpiano tuner.com

Furniture

Real Bargain Mahogony Headboard King Size with frame, box springs & mattress. Excellent condition: $150 919-740-5292

Bunk beds - wooden frame, excellent condition$ 100; kid’s table w/ 2 chairs $ 20, wood frame with plastic toy bins $20. $ 125 for all three. 970-586-8652.

Misc.

I have thirty chairs, I am looking for thirty souls to fill those chairs. Myself and my family are willing to open up our home and our hearts to help you see the comfort and hope in knowing the way of the Lord our God. I am driven by the urgency to spread his word for his coming is soon. Contact Jorge and Andrea Fernandez 970-825-4044

REAL ESTATE

Call Eric. Anderson Realty. 586-2950

Misc.

Private math tutor, Estes Park. MS in Math & taught calculus 6 yrs. Call/text for rates/scheduling. 360-710-4152.

Garage Sales

Come rain or shine! Everything is “IN” the garage! Tons of “stuff” including tools, clothes, household items and much more! THIS Friday, September 15 from 8am2pm. Address is 2101 Ridge Road off of Dry Gulch. Cash only! Reasonable offers considered!

Estate Sales ESTATE/MOVING SALE

Need to have one, but seems overwhelming. We do the work, you make the $. Local, Affordable, References. CALL JUDI 970-215-5548

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS BUILDER