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By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

In this time of uncertainty and stress, the mental health of the residents of Estes Park is of paramount importance. Frontline therapy warriors have been relying on technology to help them continue important sessions with clients.

“Connection, I believe, is one of the keys to helping people overcome mental health challenges,” said Ray Nypaver, MA, LPCC, owner of Wanderlust Counseling in Estes Park. “Connection is extremely important at this time. We just have to be mindful of the way that we do it.”

Nypaver has been conducting her therapy sessions via Zoom, although she admits, the set-up is less than ideal.

“We do rely on facial expressions and the energy we have

Ray Nypaver / Courtesy photo Ray Nypaver owns Wanderlust Counseling in Estes Park.

during in-person sessions,” she noted, “but our work continues.”

Nypaver started her practice in Estes Park in October of 2019. She has a degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in mental health counseling with a concentration in nature therapy.

“Mother nature offers a lot of wisdom,” she said. “There is science behind it. Sitting under a tree, taking a walk, looking at the mountains activates a part of the brain that helps us remain calm.”

Nypaver is one of about a half dozen therapists in Town. No psychiatrists practice here, so people who need more acute mental health care are referred to psychiatrists in other cities in Larimer County.

However, the half dozen or so therapists in Town offer a variety of approaches to mental wellness, from animal therapy to EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy.

To help people who might not be able to afford therapy right now, in April, Nypaver offered one free session to anyone whose income has been compromised but who still need someone to talk to in order to help them through the crisis.

“I can’t fix anything as far as their life challenges go, but I think sometimes people need a nonjudgmental place to talk and to work out the emotions that See MENTAL, pg. 28

Thank You, Estes Park

From our family to yours... We take pride in serving each and every one of you.

Bob, Amy, Pat, Todd & Frankie Luther Local Owner/Operators, Estes Park McDonald's 501 Big Thompson Ave. • (970) 586-3434

We gave hundreds of free Thank You Meals to first responders and health care workers from our Estes Park restaurant in March/April. Thank you to ALL workers on the front lines helping others during this difficult time.

YOU ARE OUR HEROES!

Mountain Home Cafe / Courtesy photo Many of the meals included at least one donated mask for each family member.

Crossroads and Mountain Home Cafe feed hungry

By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

Crossroads and Mountain Home Café partnered together to serve hundreds of meals to people in need during the COVID-19 crisis. Many of the meals also included at least one donated mask for each family member, since Coloradans are being encouraged to wear masks whenever in public.

Mountain Home asked for donations to go toward feeding local families during the stay-athome order. They are distributing free meals every Wednesday through the end of May.

McDonald’s serves first reponders free

By Daniel Sewell Trail-Gazette

As a thank you to Estes Park’s men and women who continue to work on the front lines, day in and day out, to maintain safety, security, and peace, McDonald’s gave away free Extra Value Meals through the month of April to support our committed first responders to say “Thanks” for taking care of all the people in Estes Park.

The restaurant offered a free Extra Value Meal, of their choice, each day, to medical personnel and first responders.

McDonald’s is on the Northeast corner of Hwy 34 and Hwy 36, is the perfect place for a pit-stop.

McDonald’s continued taking drive-thru orders, take-out and mobile app orders for quick and convenient service.

Ziggi’s serves free drinks to nurses, doctors and first responders

By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

Ziggi’s Coffee, at www.ZiggisCoffee.com, supported nurses and doctors, along with first responders by offering one free drink per day at any currently operating Ziggi’s Coffee location throughout Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arizona. The offer included any menu drink in any size.

Ziggi’s Coffee continues to serve the community from its drive-thru locations, in an effort to protect the safety and well-being of its customers.

The offer was one free drink per physician, nurse or first responder per day. Valid only for physicians, nurses,

Wendy Rigby / Estes Park Trail-Gazette Ziggi’s in Estes Park is located at 519 S. St. Vrain Ave.

firefighters, paramedics and police officers.

DESIGN FURNITURE ACCESSORIES CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION (970)586-5655 356 EAST ELKHORN AVENUEW UNIT 12A www.niche-designhouse.com

By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

While a crisis of pandemic proportions grips the world, people still need to eat. The biggest grocery store in Estes Park, Safeway at 451 E. Wonderview Ave., has been open for business and even recruiting extra manpower to meet the high demand of a population hungry for food, medicine and supplies.

“The first to go was toilet paper, hand sanitizer and wipes,” said Store Director Dion Steffonich.

The rush for goods began in mid-March after orders from the Colorado governor and President Trump for non-essential workers to stay home and for everyone to practice social distancing.

“There was a lot more foot traffic,” Steffonich said. “A lot more people came into the store. It was less like a routine shopping trip. It was more like a stocking-up kind of buying.”

The necessity to refill emptying shelves and meet the consumer demand meant long hours for Steffonich and his staff.

Dion Steffonich is the store director of the Safeway in Estes Park.“When this all started, I worked nearly three weeks straight,” Steffonich commented.

He is not alone.

Deli Manager Bill Reorda just got a day off after working 20 days in a row.

“I’ve been stocking everywhere,” Reorda stated. “I’ve been back and forth doing everything. The biggest challenge is just keeping everything clean, as clean as we possibly can keep it.”

Reorda noted that store customers are very appreciative of the staff’s service. “The people do appreciate it. They really do,” he said. “They come up

Jan Rigby / Courtesy photo Grocery Cashier Graham Nelson, has worked at the Estes Park Safeway for 10 years.

and thank us all the time. It’s kind of cool.”

New signage at Safeway encourages social distancing.Grocery Cashier Graham Nelson, who has worked at the Estes Park Safeway for 10 years, said he has not been nervous having to work at a job that exposes him to the general public during a pandemic.

“I feel like this situation is a time when I can create a calmness and a peace and a prospect of hope for people to talk to,” Nelson said.

“This crisis has empowered me to help out the community. And to be friendly and kind and family-first.” See SHOP, pg. 11

By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette

The Estes Park School District was one of the only ones that started food services the first day the students were out of school. The program started off slowly until organizers realized some people were having some transportation issues getting to the pick-up site. In heroic fashion, they organized bus drivers to help with that and have gone all the way our to Allenspark and other surrounding communities.

Organizers are quick to make sure the lunch rooms where the food is prepared are all clean and sterile, keeping staff healthy to provide the much needed meals.

“We have been getting more meals out. The first week we were averaging about 120 meals a day, that has steadily increased to around 390-400 a day as of the last week and a half,” said District Business Manager, Brian Lund.

Pick-up sites around town made the free food convenient for people to access.

SHOP from page 10

jobs can have them,” Steffonich emphasized. “So we’ve continuously been hiring.”

Many changes have been implemented at Safeway over the past several weeks. Plexiglass shields separate cashiers and customers to lessen the change of the spread of COVID-19. Aisles are now one way. Shoppers stay behind lines when waiting with their carts at the check-out stands to

No Safeway employees have been laid off due to the crisis. In fact, the grocery store has added staff to keep up with the increased demand, hiring Estes Park residents who had been laid off at places like the YMCA of the Rockies, restaurants and hotels.

Aisles at Safeway are now one way.“If we’re allowed to be open, I can do what I can to make sure that people who are needing

make sure everyone is six feet apart. Customers are limited on the amounts of certain items they can buy at one time. Employees are wearing masks and gloves.

Safeway has also implemented special hours for seniors to shop, since older people are believed to be more vulnerable to coronavirus. Only people over 65 are allowed to shop between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“We are a grocery store, but we are also compassionate,” Steffonich said.

While he said he cannot compare grocery store staff to first responders or healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic, Steffonich said he is proud his store continues to provide an essential service in these difficult times.

We are here for you during this time!

(970) 586-9230

By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

Ahot meal means a lot for people who are struggling after being laid off or having their work hours cut due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

A hot meal means a lot for people who are struggling after being laid off or having their work hours cut due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Acknowledging these recent struggles, the Estes Valley Nonprofit Resource Center (EVNRC) has extended the Food Support Network in Estes Park.

“Community members who find themselves out of work, underemployed, or working harder than ever are all welcome,” said Laurie Dale Marshall, director of the EVNRC.

With funds from the Town’s Community Relief Fund, the American Legion Post is a new site for food access for anyone in need.

Shepherd’s pie, vegetables and peach cobbler were on the menu one Friday night during a huge drive-through meal give-away at the American Legion Post 119 in Estes Park.

One of those in need is 27- year-old Matthew Kinnett who recently lost his job as a bartender at Bird and Jim when the restaurant temporarily closed due to the pandemic.

Kinnett has filed for unemployment, but the checks have not started arriving yet. While he is relying on some of this donated food, he is also donating his time to serve the meals to others.

“It did not feel right to take food without helping,” Kinnett said. “It seems like a pretty nice cause. It’s just nice to be able to contribute.”

Dozens of volunteers are working behind the scenes preparing the meals and on the front line serving up the food.

All guidelines for safe and no-contact meal pick up are being followed.

The meals are available Tuesday and Friday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.The goal is to get food to people who may not be eligible for to receive it any other way.

Meals are designed to feed two people, with the Friday meal including a weekend pack of goodies to last a couple of days.

“This is awesome. It’s incredible what they’ve got going on,” Kinnett said. “This town’s has a lot of service people. It’s nice for everybody to have an option. You know, rent was due a couple of days ago. Everybody’s got bills coming up. So it’s nice to be able to help.”

Donations are always accepted to support this program and can be made on-site, directly to the American Legion, or to the EPNRC Nonprofit Relief Fund.

The meals are available Tuesday and Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.

The drive-through is at the American Legion Post 119, 850 S. St. Vrain Ave. Enter off 1st Ave. Jan Rigby / Courtesy photo A hot meal means a lot for people who are struggling after being laid off or having their work hours cut due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you for trusting Bank of Colorado with your financial needs. In these uncertain times, you can be sure we’ll continue to be here for you and the community. 49 BRANCHES STATEWIDE ESTES PARK 533 Big Thompson Ave., 970.586.8185 Visit us at bankofcolorado.com

HERE FOR ESTES PARK. HERE FOR YOU.