Estes Park News, February 10, 2023

This is a mated pair of Bald Eagles in the courtship tree. When they left this roost, they flew together, soaring on the thermals, towards Mt. Olympus.

Photo by Richard H. Hahn www.hahndigitalarts.com

Snowshoe Hare

Photo by Ruth Goetzel

5,700 copies were printed this week, and distributed FREE to hundreds of Estes Valley locations including Allenspark, Glen Haven & Lyons.

A National Online Audience

With Loyal Local Readership

Ph: (970) 586-5800 Fax: (970) 692-2611

Opinions of our columnists are not necessarily the opinions of this newspaper.

Owners/Publishers: Gary & Kris Hazelton

Editor: Kris Hazelton

Operations Manager: Andrew Donaldson ads@estesparknews.com

Office Manager: Tim Buck office@epnews.com

Press releases: kris@estesparknews.com

All editorial, photo content & graphic design is copyright of Estes Park News, Inc. & can not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of Estes Park News, Inc. ©2023

For subscription information contact us.

DEADLINES

Reserve space: Monday by 4:00 pm

Final submissions: Tuesday by Noon

Classifieds: Deadline Wed. by Noon

Winter Adventures In Rocky Mountain National Park

For many, winter is their favorite time of year to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. The park is less crowded, yet alive with the beauty of the season. Weekends are busier than weekdays. For those who are prepared, winter is an enchanting time to explore RMNP.

Snowshoeing is a fun, easy-to-learn activity and offers a new way to see nature in winter. RMNP offers ranger-led snowshoe walks on both the east side (Estes Park) and west side (Grand Lake) of the park. Snowshoe walks are offered through midMarch, depending on snow conditions. Participants must provide their own snowshoes. Don’t own your own gear? Rental opportunities are available in nearby communities outside of the park.

Become a Track Scene Investigator!

Have you ever been out hiking and wondered what animal made a track in the snow? If so, join our new east side (Estes Park) ranger-led program titled “Track Scene Investigator. ” This program will be offered on the following Sundays at 1:00 p.m. (February 5, February 19, March 5, and March 19). Participants will meet your park ranger guide at the West Alluvial Fan Parking Lot. This program is free and designed for visitors of all ages. No reservations are required. This program will be taking place outside, so be prepared for weather and winter conditions; snowshoes are recommended but not provided. To learn more, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/r anger_led_activities.htm.

https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/plan-your-winter-springtimevisit-to-rocky. htm.

Take a Winter Camping Trip

If prepared, winter camping can be a fun getaway. Approximately 70 campsites are available in Moraine Park Campground. Winter campsites are first come, first served and the fee is $30 per site, per night. For more details, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/camping.htm.

If interested in winter wilderness backpacking camping trips, contact the park’s Wilderness Office at 970-586-1242. Permits are required for all overnight camp-

Join a Ranger-led Snowshoe Walk

The ranger-led Beginner Snowshoe Walk is a two-hour exploration of the subalpine forest. No previous snowshoe experience is required, but the walk is considered moderately strenuous. Participants should have a baseline fitness level that allows them to snowshoe approximately one mile over hilly terrain at high elevations. Participants must be eight years or older and MUST wear waterproof boots. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/rangerled-snowshoe-walks. htm.

Reservations are required for all rangerled snowshoe programs. There is no additional fee beyond the regular park entrance fee to participate. On the east side of RMNP (near Estes Park), snowshoe walks are offered every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and reservations can be scheduled up to seven days in advance by calling 970586-1223. On the west side of RMNP (near Grand Lake), snowshoe walks are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.; reservations can be scheduled up to four days in advance by calling 970-6273471.

Are you a teacher interested in bringing your class to Rocky this winter? Rangerled educational snowshoe programs are offered to organized school groups. To learn more and to schedule a field trip on either the east or west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, visit the park’s webpage at www.nps.gov/romo/learn/education/rangerguided.htm.

A variety of winter and springtime programs are also offered through the park’s non-profit partner, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC). Some of these programs are free and some charge a fee to participate. To see their program schedule and to learn more, please visit the RMC website at https://rmconservancy.org/upcoming-events/.

ing in the park.

Winter Safety Tips

Your safety is your responsibility; know your limits and make sure that everyone in your group is prepared for the anticipated weather and conditions. Travel across and under steep slopes is not advised unless all members of your party have the education, safety equipment, and experience to make informed decisions about traveling in avalanche terrain. For the latest avalanche conditions, visit http://avalanche.state.co.us.

Go Sledding!

Sledding is another wintertime activity fun for all ages. The only place in RMNP where sledding is allowed is at the Hidden Valley Snowplay Area, located on the east side of the park approximately 7 miles from the Beaver Meadows and Fall River entrances. Facilities at Hidden Valley include a warming hut (open on weekends), and flush restrooms. For more information, visit

Trip planning in winter is critical! Parking lots at popular destinations like Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Hidden Valley often fill on weekends. Trail navigation in winter can present difficult challenges. Trails in the park are not marked for winter use, so route-finding skills are necessary. Signs and trails can be buried beneath snow and difficult to follow. Never follow other people’s tracks, they can easily lead you off-course. Cell phones, GPS devices, and other electronic devices are not reliable in cold conditions, as batteries can freeze. Pack a paper topographical map and know how to read it. Before heading out on your winter trip, always tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you will return.

And remember, roads can be icy and snow packed. Make sure your vehicle is ready for winter driving in the mountains.

For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, please call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/romo.

Water Division Proposes Replacement Of The Elkhorn Avenue Water Main

The Town of Estes Park Water Division will ask the Town Board to consider expediting significant water main upgrades on Elkhorn Avenue between Moraine and MacGregor Avenues at the Board’s Feb. 14 meeting. Construction is expected to begin in February and last into April. Detailed schedule information will be provided as it becomes available. The work will replace an old water main that is prone to breaking, resulting in disruption of water service and traffic in the Town’s busiest commercial areas. The work will require one-way westbound traffic between Riverside Drive and Moraine Avenue. Eastbound traffic will be routed to Rockwell Street. Sidewalk construction will be limited to the installation of new fire hydrants and new valves to the properties. Those valves will be located just beyond the road's edge, in the sidewalks. To the furthest extent possible, sidewalks will remain open for pedestrian traffic. The Water Division will contact properties along Elkhorn Avenue as more information becomes available.

The Town has experienced two significant Elkhorn Avenue water main breaks within the past three years, indicating more frequent breaks to come. In August

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 January 29, the Estes Valley Fire Protection District

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

On 2/01/2023 at 10:57 a.m. police contacted a 17 year old juvenile male in the 600 block of North Saint Vrain Avenue for a traffic violation. The male was found to be wanted on a warrant for a misdemeanor/traffic offense. The male was arrested and transported to the Estes

of 2019, shortly after Elkhorn Avenue received a new layer of asphalt, a water main break destroyed the asphalt from curb to curb near the Municipal Building. On Dec. 20, 2022, another water main break blocked holiday traffic and triggered a water service outage for all businesses on the 100-block of East Elkhorn Avenue

Town of Estes Park Utilities Director

Reuben Bergsten commented, “We understand this work is inconvenient; we are working to minimize the impacts to businesses and traffic through downtown. Completing this work in cooperation with the upcoming Downtown Estes Loop project will reduce the overall duration and negative impacts to our community.” Once completed, the new water main will minimize the risk of future water leaks in one of the busiest roads and highest-density commercial areas in Estes Park.

More public updates will follow as details become available. For more information, please contact Water Supervisor Jason Lang at 970-577-3622 or jlang@estes.org. Town Board meeting details are posted, as they become available, at www.estes.org/boardsandmeetings.

(EVFPD) responded to 6 calls for service. This included:

• Emergency medical (assist EPH): 1

• Motor Vehicle Crash: 1

• Smoke Investigation: 2

• Gas Leak: 2

Park PD, where he was later released on bond to a parent.

On 2/04/2023 at 1:47 a.m. police were called to the 100 block of Cleave Street on a report of a physical disturbance. On scene, police arrested a 41 year old male from Estes Park and charged him with domestic violence and third degree assault and transported him to the Larimer County Jail.

A Message From The Mayor: Sometimes The Due Process Of QuasiJudicial Matters Necessitates That Some Questions Not Be Answered

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, nearly 6,000 people comprise the full-time population of Estes Park. The town’s geography and size make it easy for us locals to recognize and get to know one another. And since we do, it’s not surprising when chance encounter at a restaurant, Safeway or elsewhere-about-town begins with a hello can end up being a fullblown conversation. Over the years, I’ve come to understand that these encounters happen more often in the winter than the summer. I think, during winter months, when the pace of life is slower, people have time to chat. Unlike the summer months when the pace is feverish, time is precious and familiar faces are difficult to see in crowded aisles.

As your mayor, although I enjoy chatting, I have to be careful about what topics are discussed during our encounters. You see, I, as well as the Trustees must comply with the rules and statutes that govern the Town. And some of the rules and statutes govern when, where and what they and I can and cannot talk about. So, although I enjoy the chats, during them, I must not communicate about certain topics. To understand why this is the case, read on.

Much of the work the Trustees and I do involves making decisions about the policies of the Town. We do this work in regularly scheduled meetings and sessions. The rules guiding this type of decision-making permit us to have public and private conversation –even chatsabout those matters. However, some work the Trustees and I do is quasi-judicial in nature. It consists of us considering, in a hearing format, decisions on items like development plan appeals, zoning decisions and liquor license applications. The Town Board acts like a judge in a court of law. A specific set of rules apply to the hearings, which dis-

cuss and apply pre-existing legal standards. We deliberate in public, during a Town Board public hearing using only information presented at the public hearing to make our decision. To have had any ex-parte conversation, even a chat, outside of the hearings would deny the due process to an applicant and opponent. And that’s why the Trustees and I must be careful about what we say. Should anyone have an ex-parte conversation, we inform the Town Attorney about it and possibly must recuse ourselves from the hearing on the topic. Might you want to know about what’s under consideration? Well, each week, the Community Development Department puts together an updated chart that contains information about landuse projects under consideration. The chart shows application type, project name, location of the project, decisionmaking body, proposed meeting dates and locations, and staff handling the application. For each item on the chart, there’s an indication whether ex-parte communication is okay. The chart can be found at estes.org/currentapplications by clicking on “Snapshot of current projects.”

I’m grateful you elected me to be your mayor. I take the responsibilities that come with the position very seriously and respond to all emails, texts, calls and requests for an in-person or remote meetings in a timely manner. Thank you for understanding that sometimes the best I, and the Trustees can do is provide “no response,” or “we cannot comment,” or that your written comment will be in the Town Packet. When we say or do those things, please know that even though we can’t say it, we greatly appreciate your respect for the process and patience for us following the rules. And that together, we are ensuring due process occurs.

Town of Estes Park Attorney Dan Kramer and Administrator Travis Machalek work closely with the Town’s trustees and mayor to ensure due process for quasi-judicial matters such as development plan appeals, zoning decisions and liquor license applications.

Update From EVFPD

By: Estes Valley Fire Protection District Board President Jonathan Hodde

The Estes Valley Fire Protection District recently sent a Community Update to our residents that provided important information about the District’s operations, current funding and the challenges presented to the department by population and visitor growth and wildfire risk. The update also included information about the District’s ongoing strategic planning process, looking at staffing, facilities and funding needs to meet the current and future needs of our community. If you have not yet reviewed this update, please visit the department’s web site at www.estesvalleyfire.org/survey.

The update included a survey asking our community members to provide feedback on the District’s priorities and funding options the Board and administration were considering to help implement the District’s Strategic Plan. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who provided feedback through this survey. The Board and administration have reviewed that feedback and are using it to help guide our next steps.

Based on this feedback—as well as conversations with community members, local business owners, town leaders, our staff and volunteers—we are focusing on the operational and prevention priorities detailed in the Strategic Plan. Those include:

• Decreasing wildfire risk by increasing the District’s capacity to assist homeowners and HOAs with fuel reduction, expand outreach and education, remove fuels through slash collection and chipping, and increase district-scale projects addressing wildfire risk.

• Improve operational readiness and emergency response by enhancing the volunteer program and providing a 24/7 presence in the fire station to ensure trained personnel are always available to aid in emergencies, to response times.

• Expanding fire-prevention programs

for businesses and homes by adding educators to support existing commercial structures and to keep up with new buildings.

We believe increasing our services within these three priorities will directly help reduce fire risk, prevent significant emergencies from happening, and when called upon, ensure that trained career and volunteer firefighters arrive on scene as quickly as possible.

To meet the strategic priorities of the District, the Board will place a propertytax question on the District’s May 2023 ballot. We will ask our voters to approve a 2.9 mill levy dedicated to Prevention and Operations. If approved, it would cost, on average, $153 per year or $12.78 per month for a $750,000 home in the District. This requested property tax increase coincides with our pursuit of additional sales tax funding through the Town of Estes Park, helping maintain the balance of funding between our local taxpayers and the visitors to our District. The District continues to work with town officials on this piece to ensure that visitors help fund the department’s needs.

The Board has also decided to postpone the proposal seeking a bond to construct new Fire Station 73. After reviewing the community’s feedback, we are prioritizing the operational and prevention components and will consider facilities and a bond proposal in the future.

Over the next month, the Board will finalize the funding proposal. We will be hosting one more Open House on Monday, February 13th, to share more about the District and the Strategic Plan. Please come buy the station to learn more, take a tour and ask questions. We want our community members to be a part of this decision. We hope you can learn more about the current state of the District and our strategic plan through our Annual Report, available on our website at www.estesvalleyfire.org/annual-reports.

Thank You

Estes Park Museum Launches New Oral History Webpage

Since the 1970s, the Estes Park Museum and the Estes Valley Library collected nearly two hundred oral history interviews with individuals from the community. Ranging from Charles Eagle Plume to Dr. Thomas Hornbein, from local businesses to the recent wildfires, Estes Park locals are sharing their story.

On the new webpage, https://estespark.colorado.gov/departments/museum/oral-history-collection, the Museum is making a selection of interviews available. The oral histories are alphabetized by last name and includes a link to the oral history recording hosted on YouTube, Museum catalog entry, and/or transcript (if available). This

project is on-going and interviews will be added periodically.

Oral histories and individual memories are a valuable asset to any community. The views and opinions expressed in each interview are specific to that individual and does not reflect the views of the Town of Estes Park, the Estes Park Museum or the Estes Valley Library. Due to the nature of reminiscence, information in the recordings may be factually inaccurate. Additionally, recording techniques have changed over time and may affect the quality of the interviews. Some recordings may only contain audio while others are audio and video.

Valentines Specials

PLAN A SPECIAL NIGHT TO CELEBRATE YOUR VALENTINE!

Friday,Feb10th throughTuesday, Feb. 14th

CHOICE OF APPETIZERS – ARTICHOKE DIP OR BACON WRAPPED SCALLOPS

CHOICE OF ENTREES –CRAB STUFFED LOBSTER TAIL, HALF OF ROASTED CHICKEN, PASTA PRIMAVERA, OR PORTERHOUSE STEAK FOR TWO

AND FOR DESSERT –LONG STEMMED CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES FOR TWO INCLUDES A BOTTLE OF A SPECIAL VALENTINES WINE

$150 per couple reservationshighlyrecommended

Nonprofits’ Ability To Lobby Via EPNRC

By: Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center

EPNRC has filed a 501(h) form, which allows a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to participate in lobbying, whereas a 501c3 status alone does not. EPNRC will use this status to advocate for and support policy in favor of nonprofits without individual nonprofits trying to lobby

alone and threaten their own 501(c)(3) status. Once we receive IRS authorization of our form, the EPNRC can utilzie up to 20% of paid organiaiton time to provide public policy lobbying on behalf of local nonprofits. The EPNRC Board of Directors will be creating policies and an adhoc committee around this change.

Estes Chamber Announces “Women of Impact” Program Nominations Open Thru February 17th

Estes Park is a town full of entrepreneurial spirit and go-getters who make wonderful things happen. The Estes Chamber is launching its inaugural Women of Impact celebration to rec ognize 30 local women lead ers, which will culminate in a ladies’ night event at The Barrel on Interna tional Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8th

So, what exactly is a Woman of Impact? “We believe Women of Impact connect, en courage, engage, and enable positive change by inspiring actions that move our community forward, not only when they are actively engaged in a project or event, but also through living their lives with passion and purpose and embracing changes that innovate us for the future,” said Colleen DePasquale, Executive Director, Estes Chamber of Commerce.

As you think of women to nominate, consider this. Do they embody key attributes of optimism and persistence?

Do they have a strong and powerful voice? Do they display a strong sense of self and confidence that they also instill in others? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, then you know a Woman of Impact who should be nominated for the Estes Chamber’s 2023 Women of Impact recogni-

Nominations are simple, just log-on to the Estes Chamber website and click “Women of Impact” under the “Events & Programs” tab or at https://business.esteschamber.org/form/view/28646 and tell us about your Woman of Impact, and how they're making Estes Park a better place to live, work, and play, between now and February 17th

We’ll reveal our inaugural list of Estes Park’s 30 Women of Impact in March, with social media recognition, articles here in the Estes Park News, and celebrate their impact at our International Women’s Day celebration on March 8th (which will be open to the public).

Theme, Prizes Unveiled For 2023 Estes Park Duck Race

It may be snowy now, but the 2023 Estes Park Rotary Duck Race Festival is right around the bend and Fall River will be flowing. The Duck Race Festival Committee has just unveiled this year’s theme and major prizes. The list of participating organizations that the Race will benefit is complete, and major and associate sponsors are signing up to support the Race.

The 2023 event on Saturday, May 6, will capture the adventure of life in the Rockies. Once again, the ducks will drop at Nicky’s Resort and finish at George Hix Memorial Riverside Plaza. The Festival will offer a variety of activities at River side Plaza and Performance Park. The Duck Waddle 5K will be sponsored by the Estes Park Running Club. The Estes Park Rotary’s Friendship Card, a fundraising and discount program, will be offered for sale at Riverside Plaza on Race Day. (Contact epfriendshipcard@gmail.com for more information.) “Interactive activities for the kids, live music and other entertainment, merchandise sales, the Friendship Card, and thousands of small yellow rubber ducks floating toward the finish line will combine to make the Festival fun for all ages, ” said 2023 “Big Duck” Bill Solms, adding “This is the Rotary Club of Estes Park’s largest fundraising and ‘fun-raising' event of the year. Don’t miss it!”

The 2023 event will feature three major cash prizes and two three-night vacation stay packages with accommodations donated by Delaware North Parks and Resorts, parent company of The Ridgeline Hotel.

● Grand Prize $10,000 cash

● Second Prize: $6,000 cash

● Third Prize: $4,000 cash

● Vacation Stays:

* Three-night stay for two in a suite at the Tenaya Lodge plus a guided trip for two in Yosemite National Park.

* Three-night stay for two at Jim Bridger Cabins plus dinner for two at The Mine restaurant in Gardiner, MT and a snow coach or bus tour in Yellowstone National Park.

"Everyone loves to take a vacation, and

these are wonderful places to relax and enjoy some beautiful national parks, ” Solms said, adding "The vacation stay prizes will certainly add to the excitement for two lucky winners."

Why do we have a Duck Race? We have it to help the 64 participating Estes Valley charities and non-profit organizations. The complete list of beneficiary organizations will be available on epduckrace.org beginning February 24, the day duck adoption sales begin.

“I am very excited about the number and quality of the organizations we will be supporting this year,” said Larry Williams, Duck Race Festival Organizations Chair, who coordinated selection of the beneficiaries.

“We are welcoming some new charities and look forward to their participation.”

“The generosity of sponsors makes the race possible,” said Scott Thompson, who is leading the 2023 sponsorship effort. A Major Sponsor contributes $500 or more in cash or services to support race prizes. An Associate Sponsor kicks in between $100 - $499 in cash or services. Each year we have one Named Sponsor that contributes $5,000.

We are proud to announce that Claire’s Restaurant and Bar has stepped up for the second consecutive year to be Named Sponsor of the 2023 Duck Race. All sponsors will be the beneficiaries of promotional activities and social media posts produced by the Duck Race.

Posters promoting the 2023 Duck Race have been designed by local artist Tim Buck and will appear all over Estes Park in the weeks before the race.

“The goal for 2023 is to raise $175,000 or more in duck adoptions that will benefit the participating organizations that are selling them,” Solms said. For every $25 adoption sold, $22 goes to the beneficiary organization, with part of the balance going to online adoption platform fees, and the rest going to the Rotary Club of Estes Park to offset costs of the Duck Race. In the past 34 years, the Estes Park Duck Race has returned over $3 million to nonprofits and charities in the Estes Valley.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is Friday, February 17. It’s a day specifically designated for each of us to intentionally go out of our way to do unexpected, nice things for others—and for ourselves. Here is a column I wrote in 2017 about this delightful day (with some updates). I’m rerunning it a week in advance so we have time to prepare for the upcoming, action-packed day.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. When we were in grade school we said this little chant when someone bigger, older and mean called us names. We thought our retort made us look strong and unfazed but deep within, our spirit shriveled. Unkind words did hurt, and they still do.

Recently every tantrum we see or hear about brings a new arsenal of verbal bullets that assaults our country as a whole and each of us as global citizens. When we hear a vile vocabulary used by people of prominence, we perceive permission to speak the same. It is tempting to fire back at each insult-of-the-day we hear. But really, what good does it do?

When I was growing up my mother gave one piece of advice more than any other: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. She had to remind us often because, even if we were considerate with our friends, we were not so kind to our siblings. But we were children, pushing the boundaries, learning right from wrong. Thanks to our vigilant mother, we eventually came to understand that name-calling is not the way to solve conflicts.

In her book Small Wonder, Barbara Kingsolver said, “I can lay no claim to goodness until I can prove that mean people have not made me mean.” We don’t have to go along to get along. Let’s show each other that we want our planet to be a kinder, gentler home, that we respect the dignity of all, that complacency is not our agenda yet neither is division. We want to “claim goodness;” to show

family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and strangers alike that in our personal sphere of influence, mean is not begetting mean. Next Friday, February 17, we are encouraged to become RAKtivists during Random Acts of Kindness Day (as if we need a designated time for being benevolent). Let’s make our actions speak louder than words.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is a week away so start those wheels spinning. Daydream about ways to be kind, write your ideas down, add to the list, plan for ways to accomplish some of your ideas, and then next Friday, be ready to kick kindness into high gear (in a friendly way, of course). It’s easy (and it’s golden): Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Mail a letter, or at least leave a note on a windshield; bake your favorite cookies and give them away; check the air in a loved one’s tires and fill them if they need it. Buy a bagful (or three) of groceries and deliver it to a shelter; hold the door for the person behind you; make your sister’s/brother’s/roommate’s bed. While driving, leave plenty of room for the car next to you to merge into your lane—and smile while doing it; bring donuts to work. Too busy? It doesn’t take any time at all to tip the grocery sacker. Be generous.

We don’t have to wait until February 17 to start our RAKtivism. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” Hopefully we’ll discover that it’s so much fun, we won’t stop when the day has ended.

And it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

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

© 2023 Sarah Donohoe

LWV Zoom CoffeeSaturday, February 11

Join us Saturday, February 11 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. for a League of Women Voters of Estes Park's Zoom Coffee. Our “Behind the Scenes” speaker will be Laurie Dale Marshall, Executive Director of EVICS Family Resource Center. She promises to raise awareness of the needs

Laurie Dale Marshall

of local families and how EVICS has grown from a small nonprofit providing childcare scholarships to a robust Family Resource Center in service to the entire family. And she will share the services families require to thrive in our community and the exciting future of possibilities that exist for our mountain town.

Ready to learn more? Register at the League website for your Zoom invitation.

All are welcome. Or register at

When Winter Comes….

Raw, endless, driving winds swirl snow from Saskatoon down through the Rockies; slippery ice builds perilously in our frozen town; midwinter cold envelops the Estes Valley, hard, harsh, bleak, dreary, implacable.

The drafts are constant, if capricious: lazy zephyrs slowly sway tree tops, then morph into aggressive gusts sculpting drifts in backyards and by roadways. Snow banners periodically fly from high ridges, borne by wicked cold Winter winds.

Slick ice awaits unwary walkers under newly fallen snow; a simple saunter to the mailbox could impose the embarrassment of a sudden spill or worse, an Emergency Room visit.

Twenty-degree weather is commonplace in daytime and seems balmy in retrospect when evening temperatures dip below zero. Incessant wind and extreme cold seep mercilessly through fabric and feathers to chill bone marrow. Three fleece caps, extra thick mittens, two long-sleeve thermal shirts, two down vests and two down jackets are insufficient armor against the Arctic wind chill.

It began after Thanksgiving; snow fell more frequently and evenings got colder. The solstice and holidays came and went with no letup. January nights featured low cloud ceilings, intermittent snow, sluggish winds and white-coated Ponderosas. February nights are now slightly shorter, days a few seconds longer. The intrusive cold persists. How much longer will Winter continue?

On clear nights frigid winds curl slowly through the timber as Orion and the Pleiades soar above; Sirius commands the Eastern sky; Jupiter shines in the West over moonlit snow and the soft sound of distant wind chimes.

It goes on unyielding and unforgiving, eroding aspirations, sapping endurance, befuddling belief. Hope seems snowed under, overwhelmed, crushed.

And then one day in February, just like that, it happens: an unexpected mild morning brings whispers of warmth, a scintilla of Spring, harbingers of hope. The biting breeze briefly abates, the sun warms faces, smiles return and hearts fill with possibility as interminable Winter pauses its punishing agenda. For one fleeting moment we imagine life when Spring returns and the sun finally sets after six p.m. The operative word is “fleeting.” Wild Winter promptly crushes our quixotic self-delusion as low clouds obscure horizons and the short-lived vernal overture is unceremoniously ousted by a still obdurate Jack Frost,

clinging tenaciously to his nonstop diet of numbing cold and piercing gales.

Not yet a softening in the earth; not yet mud-luscious puddles; not yet the first brave gold-green ground shoots and opening tree buds. Not just yet.

But Spring is simply clearing her throat before making the Big Announcement. Almost unnoticed amid the continuing cold and callous snow, Winter’s back is broken, now reduced to vain holding actions as pent-up Spring prepares to push up the first Pasque flower, hinting at galloping greenery to come. Is that Bluebird now planning its route toward Rocky? Are hibernating bears stirring in their sleep and contemplating cubs? Are Elk looking longingly at the Continental Divide, awkwardly confused by vague memories of green tundra? Are Marmots dreaming of high meadow flowers and sun-warmed scree?

Are Canada Geese looking for nesting nooks to lay their eggs? Is there really hope for the flowers? Nature’s time-honored and inescapable answer: YES!

Soon we will see these and additional signs of Spring, right down to the first housefly. Restaurants will create new menus and hire first-time staff; visitors will reserve motel rooms; families will set reunions at the YMCA; wedding planners will fine-tune plans for sites selected months ago; merchants will restock shelves; the planting crew will decorate Elkhorn in living colors; event coordinators will array volunteers; townsfolk will stash winter gear and trot out shorts, sandals, tees and widebrimmed hats; walkers around Lake Estes will proliferate; summer softball will return; trekkers will hit the trails; anglers will gear up; climbers will study the Shark’s Tooth; backyard grills will get cleaned; remodeling and new construction will pick up; homeowners will rake pine needles; Saturday yard sales will return; the reasons we live in the Estes Valley will reappear, bolstered by sunny days, Spring rain and hikes on high. Like Charles Darnay we will be “returned to life,” unconcerned about that late-May snowstorm, the early-August dusting on Longs, or next November’s icy blasts; they can wait. It takes steady endurance, abiding patience, resolute hardihood and hogsheads of hope to persevere through Winter’s travail; the dreariness has retreated just long enough to remind us of Shelley’s sublime question: “The trumpet of a prophesy! O wind, if winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”

Reader response welcome: ftm7522@gmail.com

Estes Park Archives Field Trip February 18

Join the Estes Park Archives for a special field trip to Drake in the Big Thompson Canyon next Saturday, February 18, as we share the history of the Drake post office, the Forks Inn, and the surrounding Drake business district from 1905 forward.

The image accompanying this article is of the short-lived Hayden Store in Drake, which was across HIghway 34 from the Forks Inn (the current River Forks Inn). The message on the back is particularly helpful, as it gives the exact date of the visit, Sunday, October 8, 1933, and mentions the manager of the Forks Inn at the time, which, somewhat surprisingly, was not Frank Alderdyce, who had been in the area and in charge of both the post office and hotel operation off and on since 1906. We will use the negative that created this

photo-postcard to line up exactly where the Hayden Store was in 1933, and how it is now part of the riverbed of the Big Thompson River, expanded by the 1976 flood.

Back inside at the River Forks Inn, we will share old photographs and postcards of Drake businesses, including cottage camps, around one of their big wooden dining tables. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks are free, but a variety of appetizers and menu items are available for purchase.

The field trip starts at the River Forks Inn parking lot at 5:00 p.m. If you want to carpool, please make arrangements by calling 586-4889 prior to Saturday. All are invited, and long-time residents of Drake, Storm Mountain, and the Big Thompson Canyon are particularly invited.

Remaining Fly-Tyers Meetings Canceled

Estes Fly Tyers is canceling the last three meetings of the year. Our access to the church in the evenings is uncertain with Father Seth on sabbatical. We hope we will resume next year and will keep you updated. We apologize to those who

showed up this week and could not get in the church.

See you on the river.

Susan Underwood and Frank Drummond

The Hayden Store on Highway 34 in Drake also served as the Drake post office for a short time in the 1930s Photo courtesy Estes Park Archives

Happy

By: Joanne Baldwin. Munson Baldwin. Born

February 12, 1928

Born on Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin's birthdays.

He will be 95 years old!

Munson is a graduate of Yale University. A veteran of both the occupation in Japan and the Koran War. He is the father of four children, and six grand children.

He has owned three businesses in his lifetime, and has written a book on ballooning. One business, he successfully drilled the water supply for what is now the Denver Bronco's Stadium in Denver. He had a tile business called "Tile with a Smile!" And, a nonprofit called "Sojourners International," which helped International students at a Master's Degree school in Denver.

Then, there is the "Bird Man of Estes Park" aspect, where Munson has created a neighborhood for bluebirds and swallows - with 40 bird nesting boxes! Such a joy.

Munson has made a lot of furniture and several cabinets in our home, including an eight foot cabinet patterned after one in the artist Monet's dining room. He is a very talented man!

Unlike some people his age, Munson embraces life, reads three books per week, walks everyday, and is busy now

with research on different subjects. (He should have been a doctor! Though at 15 years old, in his area in Connecticut, his MD decided he could take people's blood, as a phlebotomist would today!)

Munson is a very positive personeven this time of year, waiting expectantly any day for Spring! Crazy huh? Quite a few years ago, Munson became a Christian, after God convinced him, that life with the Spirit of God through Jesus Christ is the only way to receive eternal life. The greatest thing of all is being able to share our faith together. I am so glad I have been married to him for the past 30 years, and have known him for 57 years! And, that is another story...

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

In honor of my husband’s 95th birthday, I thought I would write a little bit about his amazing life!

Prresesererve ve Esste te s Paark rk

A Co Concercerned ned Ci Cititizezens s Grououp

I Invites ites you to hear

G Guest st Speaker ker

E EVFD D Fire e Chief f David Wolf, f, PhD, , CFO, O, CTO, O, FM

T Thursdrsday, ay, Februauary ry 16, 2023

6 – 7:30 0 PM

The Amerirican can Legion

850 N. St. Vrain Ave Estes Park, CO 80517

David Wolf, PhD, CFO, CTO, FM

Fire Chief

Chief Wolf joined the fire service in 2001, starting as a volunteer in Pennsylvania while completing his B.S. at Allegheny College. He then earned his M.S. from Washington State University and Ph.D. from Cornell University, all in Geology. In 2010, he moved to Houston, Texas to work for an international oil & gas company as a research scientist and exploration geologist. In Texas he served the 600 member Cy-Fair Fire Department as a station officer, board member, and ultimately managed the department’s fire training program for 350 volunteers.

Chief Wolf serves as the Chair for the Volunteer & Combination Section of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs. He also serves on the technical panel for the UL FSRI Study of Fire Service Residential Home Size-Up and Search & Rescue Operations. He presents on topics such as leadership and instruction, especially as they apply to volunteer organizations.

Chief Wolf joined Estes Valley in June 2016. He lives in Estes Park with his wife, Danielle, and two sons.

www.PreserveEstes.org

See What Our Clients Are Saying ~ 5 Star Review!

Bret helped my wife and I find the house of our dreams in Estes Park, CO We had him show us 2 properties that we were interested in and quickly realized that we needed to keep looking. Bret sensed our disappointment and offered to take us to his office (on a weekend) to see if he could find any other properties that might be meet our requirements. After about 30 minutes we saw our house, which was just listed 2 days earlier. We walked through the front door about 30 minutes later and loved it immediately! We made an offer that evening and closed the deal about 30 days later.

3 weeks later our daughter and son-in-law were married in our back yard with the sunset over the Rocky Mountain National Park providing the perfect backdrop!

None of this would have happened without Bret's experience and guidance. I highly recommend Bret to anyone looking for an experienced and friendly realtor in the Estes Valley and surrounding area! ~ Jeffrey Cooke

I just got my Xcel bill for the month of January. What is going on? December’s bill was $397 and this one was $337. I was gone for two weeks in January and have taken to keeping the thermostat at 67 degrees. I know I have a rather large house, but I have four thermostats and regulate all of them. I wear a good thick sweater and long pants but still the bill is outrageous. Are y’all also wondering when this inflation is going to ease off. Gas used to be the cheapest source of energy! I think Xcel should be investigated; it seems they turned a pretty good profit in the last few months. One more reason to look forward to spring and summer…but then we have the grass cutting and the gardening costs. Thank goodness I do not need air conditioning. Enough of the “oh woe is me!”

On the happy side, Marie and family, including yours truly, have gotten into a tradition of Sunday night supper and card games. We usually meet at her house but occasionally I play hostess as well. It has become a wonderful ritual and I look forward to it from Monday on. The other night Marie made the best hors d’oeuvre. It was so different and we gobbled it up, not a piece left, in fact I spoiled my appetite eating it.

Yummy Mushrooms with Corn Chips

3-6 servings, depending on the eaters.

1 handful of fresh cilantro finely chopped.

2 jalapeños, seeds removed and diced fine.

10 oz. finely chopped fresh white mushrooms.

1 finely chopped white onion.

½-3/4 fresh lime juice. Try ½ first. 1 tsp. salt, or more to taste.

1 Tbs. olive oil.

Mix all together. Let marinate for about 15 minutes. Serve with corn chips.

I have so many comments about my catfish that I caught. Yes, I really did catch it myself right off the dock at my son’s home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

I did not tell y’all that before Christmas I fell and knocked out my two front teeth. Why? I did not want to hear the song… “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.” The permanent repair work is now being done but that was a traumatic accident. My dentist here glued my real teeth in place so I would not look like a vampire for my trip. You should have seen me, crawling around the basement floor looking for those teeth, and my dog, Sunshine trying to help. I was afraid she would eat them before I found them!

My email: esther.cenac@gmail.com

Bon Appétit

Dr. DiLauro Is Estes Park Health’s Newest Clinic Physician

The newest doctor in the Estes Park Health Physician Clinic is Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Cynthia DiLauro. She began seeing patients in November 2022 after she took the place of the retired Dr. Amanda Luchsinger.

“I feel like here at Estes Park Health, I’m practicing medicine the right way,” Dr. DiLauro said. “I’m able to spend time with my patients. We offer comprehensive medical care with specialty physicians available if needed. If someone needs a lab or an x-ray, I’m able to order that and have the results back the same day. It’s such a beautiful way to practice medicine.”

DiLauro moved to Estes Park from Ohio where she practiced internal medicine at a large clinic. Her wealth of experience included a 13-year stint at the Cleveland Clinic in hospice and palliative care.

Internal medicine physicians treat patients 12 and up for all kinds of issues, big and small, episodic or chronic.

“I can treat the typical bronchitis and diabetes and heart disease,” Dr. DiLauro explained. “If there are more extensive treatments or tests that need to be done, then I refer patients to specialists like cardiologists or endocrinologists.”

For Dr. DiLauro, the job in Estes Park was a perfect fit for her after a career that includes decades of experience.

“When I came to interview for this job, I felt so welcomed,” she noted. “I couldn’t say no. I took this job because Estes Park has always been such a beautiful, peaceful place for me,” she said. “My favorite part about living here is looking up at the mountains every day. And the way they change, you know? I love that. I love the fact that you know they are there even when you can’t see them.”

In 2001, Dr. DiLauro added some cosmetics to her practice. She hopes to bring some of her considerable skills to patients in the Estes Valley.

“I do have a lot of experience and a lot of training,” she stated. “I not only operated many types of lasers through the years, but also delivered Botox, hyaluronic acid fillers, and procedures like micro-needling and Thermage skin tightening and wavelength treatments. Here at Estes Park Health, I think it

would be nice just to offer the opportunity for patients to maybe get Botox or an assessment of their skin. Also, I plan to offer medical strength products for skin rejuvenation. And perhaps some treatments like IPL (intense pulsed light) and resurfacing techniques possibly that would combine micro-needling with radio frequency which really improves not only your skin texture, but it stimulates collagen.”

Noting that many patients interested in these kinds of services would not have to go down the hill to receive them, Dr. DiLauro added, “These are all noninvasive techniques. That’s what is nice.”

Director of the Physician Clinic Lesta Johnson, RN, said Dr. DiLauro fits in beautifully with EPH’s philosophy of taking care of patients and really getting to know them.

“Dr. DiLauro has brought to us another layer of the high-quality care that we offer,” Johnson commented. “I’m thrilled with the way she has jumped in and built relationships with the patients. Estes Park has the oldest median age of any community in Colorado (62.1 years). Internal medicine is extremely important up here.”

One of the patients trusting Dr. DiLauro with her medical care is 96-yearold Joy Gimar of Estes Park. She first visited Estes Park when she was five years old. She and her husband retired here in 1985 and she has been using the physicians and services of Estes Park Health for more than three decades.

“I’m still around, so I’d say the level of care here must be pretty good,” Joy said while smiling ear to ear. “I’ve been a well person, obviously. I did stay overnight in the emergency room once because I was dehydrated. I think it’s wonderful to have this health facility in Estes Park so I don’t have to travel for the medical care I need.”

Dr. DiLauro is accepting new patients. For more information or to make an appointment, call the EPH Physician Clinic at (970) 586-2200.

“I love practicing medicine and I’m not anywhere near wanting to stop doing that,” DiLauro said. “Working at Estes Park Health is a really great fit for me.”

Dr. Cynthia DiLauro is the newest clinic physician at Estes Park Health.

Photo by Wendy Rigby

February 6-10 Is PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit is what is known to most of us as the recovery room. Estes Park Health is celebrating its awesome PACU nurses with a cake and some complimentary meal vouchers. Our PACU team consists of Kelly Igel, RN, John Green, RN, Amber Maylor, RN, Katie Porter, RN, Rebecca Belmont, RN and Kathy Dworak, RN. Nurses working in preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, ambulatory surgery and pain management are dedicated to

caring for patients and their families.

In his proclamation designating this week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis noted, “We recognize that as the American population ages, advances in medicine raise life expectancies, and home healthcare services expand, the demand for perianesthesia nurses will only increase, and that the value of the services and care they provide will remain an integral part of the American healthcare system.”

Nonprofit Events

February 11 - Opera, Chocolate and Love Songs at Fine Arts Guild 65th Anniv. Fundraiser. fineartsguild.org

February 22 - Restorative Justice Living Room Conversation on Aging and Ageism. estesvalleylibrary.org

March 2 - Elevate Partners Fundraising Dinner at Mama Roses to support mentoring. Poweredbypartners.org

Did You Know?

Learning Place seeks tutors with experience with dyslexia

EVICS Family Resource Center offers a monthly night for mom’s to talk about parenting at Mom’s Cafe (includes childcare).

Estes Park School District now has a roughly 30% Latino student population – opportunities for engagement are growing. Reach out to Jose Almeida

1700 surveys mailed to residents aboutwildfire experiences. Feedback informs future programs. Partnership between EV Watershed Coalition, Fire Protection Dist., and Wildfire Research Ctr.

Volunteers of America’s Caring Companion Program provides free support for family caregivers for elders with health issues. The caregiver gets a break and the elder gets a visitor! dcohn@voacolorado.org

@Estes Volunteers

Post Volunteer Opportunities or offer your services

@EstesVolunteers on Facebook

Estes Park Health Observes National Patient Recognition Week

are sick or when you are not feeling well or when you’ve had a surgery.”

83-year-old David Adams is one of the patient who has chosen Estes Park Health as his medical provider for decades. He has lived in Estes Park for more than forty years. He spoke from his hospital bed at EPH where he was recovering from knee replacement surgery.

Patient feedback is vitally important so that Estes Park Health can keep improving and providing the services our patients need.

“The last place you want to be is the hospital,” Karlye noted. “Our goal is to help you get better.”

Each year from Feb. 1-7, the medical community across the country observes National Patient Recognition Week. Initiated in 1995, this week is a time when healthcare professionals recommit to human-centered care.

At Estes Park Health, Senior Director of Hospital Services Karlye Pope emphasized that EPH patients are treated with respect and provided with safe,

high-quality care.

“We have the good fortune to not be inundated with more patients than we have staff,” Karlye said. “We can see what you need and partner with and your family or friends to come up with a plan of care that makes sense to you and that you can then follow when you go home. That allows us to give you the care that you deserve to have when you

“I am so pleased and honored to be able to tell others what a wonderful hospital we have here in Estes Park,” commented the former middle school science teacher and summer ranger naturalist in Rocky Mountain National Park. “My experiences here over the years have been absolutely wonderful.”

David went on to comment that at Estes Park Health, he feels like a person and not just a number.

“I’m so pleased I don’t have to go to the valley,” he added. “I’m so impressed with a hospital and clinic of this quality considering Estes Park is a fairly small community. We are so fortunate to have these services here.”

Patient feedback is vitally important so that Estes Park Health can keep improving and providing the services patients

83-year-old David Adams is one of the patients who has chosen Estes Park Health as his medical provider for decades. Photos by Wendy Rigby

A Concert Of Contemporary Music

Special Valentine’s Day Concert Of Love Songs

With Roy Dearen, Noon At Senior Center

The Peak to Peak Concert Series continues its tradition of presenting concerts highlighting classical musicians in the Estes Park area with a performance on Saturday, February 18th at 2 p.m. at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church. The concert will feature pianist Cynthia Hunt and mezzo-soprano Denise Stookesberry, who will offer music for piano and voice written by contemporary composers Lee Hoiby, William Bolcom, Astor Piazzolla, Gwyneth Walker, Michael Chiang, and Ricky Ian Gordon among others.

Cynthia Hunt is a graduate of the University of Kansas and furthered her private piano studies in New York City with Jeaneane Dowis. While living in NYC, Cynthia performed in various capacities while maintaining a class of 50 private students. A resident of North Carolina for many years, she was staff pianist in several institutions and was owner/director of The Music Workshop, a private music teaching studio. Additionally, Cynthia worked as a Spanish/English interpreter, primarily in the justice system. Since moving to Colorado, she has worked at the University of Northern Colorado as a collaborative pianist and continues to perform in this capacity in other venues.

Denise Stookesberry is an active

The public is cordially invited to a presentation on “Indigenous Struggles to Protect the Earth.” This event will be hosted by the Estes Valley Sierra Club and will take place in the Estes Valley Library’s Hondius Room from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 12. The formal part of the program will end by 4:00, and the last half hour will involve open discussion. Masks are optional. The speaker will be Gordon MacAlpine, who has been involved with on-going efforts of the Lakota Tribes of the Sioux Nation in South and North Dakota, as they work to preserve their lands, their water, their culture, their children, their vote, and this planet which belongs to all of us.

singer, choral director, and voice teacher in Estes. She is originally from St. Louis, where she was on the voice faculty at Washington University, was the music department chair at John Burroughs School, and was a section leader and alto soloist with the St. Louis Symphony for many years. Her career on the opera stage included roles with Opera Theater of St. Louis, Pensacola Opera, Opera Unlimited, Ohio Light Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Young Audiences Inc., Washington University, and St. Louis’s MUNY opera.

Denise was a semi-finalist in the International Opera Singers Competition in New York and was recently awarded the Joan Frey Boytim Award for Independent Teachers through the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She has directed and performed in dozens of community musical theater productions, most recently with the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies. She is currently the conductor of the Estes Park Chorale and maintains a private voice studio.

Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church is located at 2000 Ptarmigan Trail Drive. The Peak-to-Peak Concert Series is sponsored by the Oratorio Society of Estes Park. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

Everyone is invited to a free Valentine’s Day concert with Roy Dearen, aka Faded with Minor Rust, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14 at the Estes Park Senior Center (EPSCC), 1760 Olympian Lane. You are welcome to bring your own lunch or order from the EPSCC the day before (see below). Light snacks are provided.

Enjoy classic songs from the Beatles, Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Eagles, Elton John, and so many others. Roy sings vocals while playing keyboards. Not only does he recreate the fabulous songs of the 60s and 70s, but the use of advanced technology allows him to reproduce the wonderful harmonies of these songs live and in real time.

Roy began singing and playing the piano at the age of six. He first played professionally in his early 20s in Austin, TX, performing rock songs from the 60s and 70s when these masterpieces were still new! His emphasis today is in recreating the experience of this unprecedented era in popular music. Roy has a repertoire of over 170 tunes, each one for which he claims to have a special affection. You may recognize Roy from attending one of his special tribute shows presented each year in the fall, such as his concert of only Beatles songs.

Roy has performed locally at Performance Park, the American Legion, Snowy Peaks Winery, Cousin Pats, and many times at the EPSCC. He has recently joined up with other local musicians to form a new band called “Blue Sky.” Watch for them performing this summer at Elk Meadow Lodge and other loca-

Sierra Club Event This Sunday

Treaties with Native Tribes or Nations have been broken, and applicable federal laws are still routinely ignored. Native children have been taken from their families by the thousands in the past, they’re still being taken by the hundreds, and they’re still being abused. There is currently a worrisome challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act, which is being considered by the US Supreme Court. This Act is supposed to protect Native children, but the legal challenge is being advanced by oil and gas interests as part of their continuing efforts to take more control over valued ecosystems managed and preserved by Indigenous People.

tions. If you are interested in having Roy perform at your venue or upcoming event, private or public, contact Roy Dearen on Facebook or email to roykdear@yahoo.com.

Attendees are welcome to eat lunch while attending the presentation. Bring your own lunch, or pre-purchase a hot lunch by ordering the day before. The meal on Tuesday is Carne Asada (marinated skirt steak) with tortillas, rice, and refried beans. The cost of a meal is $7 for EPSCC members and $10 for nonmembers. You must order your meal before 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13. For more information about the EPSCC or to order a meal for the concert, please call the Coordinator, Tonya Martin, at (970) 581-2195.

This community presentation is organized and sponsored by Renee Hodgden of RE/MAX Mountain Brokers. Renee is certified as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist by the National Association of Realtors and can be reached at rhodgden@remax.net.

Denise Stookesberry

Cynthia Hunt

WINTER HOURS

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

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

Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Special Hours

Thursday, February 16, 1-8 p.m.

ALL AGES

Sign up at estesvalleylibrary.org

Young Chautauqua Club

Tuesdays through April 4, 3:45-5:30 p.m., Hondius Room

Research the life, words, and manner-

What’s Happening At The Estes Valley Library

easy-to-assemble wooden kit.

Meet a Neighbor with Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Wednesday, February 22, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Hondius Room

Watch a few episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, socialize with your neighbors, and enjoy popcorn. Kids, teens, adults are all welcome!

ADULTS

Sign up at estesvalleylibrary.org

AARP Tax-Aide

Appointments available February 2April 14, Wasson Room

Volunteers will provide free tax return services at the Estes Valley Library. Schedule your appointment at estesvalleylibrary.org or by calling 970-5868116.

Aging & Ageism: A Living Room Conversation

Wednesday, February 22, 6-7:30 p.m., Hondius Room

Explore our relationship to the aging process, and the relationship of our communities to our growing aging population. Presented in collaboration with the Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership.

Film Screening: Won’t You Be My Neighbor

isms of a historical character, culminating in a live, costumed performance. All ages welcome.

Make a Welcome Sign

Saturday, February 11, 2:30-4 p.m., Makerspace

Use stencils and paint on a rustic wooden sign to decorate your door, porch, deck, or patio.

Build a Birdhouse

Monday, February 13, 5:30-7 p.m., Makerspace

Repeated Saturday, February 18, 2:30-4 p.m., Makerspace

Repeated Wednesday, February 22, 4:30-6 p.m., Makerspace

Repeated Saturday, February 25, 2:30-4 p.m., Makerspace

Welcome a new neighbor this spring! Craft and paint a birdhouse from an

Friday, February 24, 2-3:30 p.m., Hondius Room

Enjoy a free showing of Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a documentary examining the life and legacy of Fred Rogers.

Love Your Local Authors Festival

Saturday, February 25, 1-3 p.m., Fireside Theater

The Love Your Local Authors Festival is back for its sixth year! Interact with local authors as they showcase their work.

TEENS & KIDS

Sign up at estesvalleylibrary.org

Makerspace Crafternoon: Laser Etch Heart Lock

Tuesday, February 14, 5-6 p.m., Makerspace

Learn how to use tools and equipment

in the Makerspace. This month, laser etch a heart lock – perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Artwork Wednesday: Pop-up Valentines

Wednesday, February 15, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Makerspace

Experiment with different art mediums and styles while creating Valentine’s Day cards for your family and friends.

Robotics & Tech: Build a Lego Neighborhood

Saturday, February 18, 3-4 p.m., Wasson Room

Repeated Tuesday, February 28, 5-6 p.m., Wasson Room

Get creative and stretch your architecture skills: use Legos to create an entire neighborhood.

Book vs. Movie Club: A Dog’s Purpose

Saturday, February 25, 12:30-2:45 p.m., Hondius Room

Book or movie—which did you like best? We’ll discuss the book, then watch the movie adaptation. Pizza and drinks provided!

KIDS & FAMILIES

Library Storytimes

Baby Storytime: Thurs., Fri., & Sat. at 10 a.m.

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

Storybook Explorers: Sat., February 11 at 11:15 a.m.

Pajama Storytime with Nancy Bell: Wed., February 15 at 6 p.m.

Read to Therapy Dog “Bo”: Tues., February 21 at 10 a.m. & Wed., February 22 at 6 p.m.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Sign up at estesvalleylibrary.org

Tastes Like War: Author Talk with

Grace M. Cho

Thursday, February 16, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., online

You’re invited to an insightful chat with award-winning author Grace M. Cho as she discusses her memoir, Tastes Like War. Presented with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Yellow Wife: Author Talk with Sadeqa Johnson

Tuesday, February 28, 2-3 p.m., online Hear from highly acclaimed author Sadeqa Johnson about her new novel, The House of Eve. Presented with the Library Speakers Consortium.

MAKERSPACE

Sign up at estesvalleylibrary.org

Learn the 3D Printer

Saturday, February 11, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

For ages 15 and up.

Learn the Laser Cutter

Saturday, February 18, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

For ages 15 and up.

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 4 p.m..

Book Your Free Tax Service Appointment Today

Through April 14 and on most days each week, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will be in the second-floor Wasson Room at the Estes Valley Library, ready to assist you with Federal and Colorado returns.

Albert Einstein once said, “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Unluckily for Albert, he didn’t have access to AARP Tax-Aide volunteers at the Estes Valley Library. Luckily for you, you can now book your appointment for free tax return service!

More great news: membership in AARP is not required, and there are no age or income limitations in order to be eligible for this service. In other words, AARP Tax-Aide service is available to anyone! Most forms of income (including self-employment), itemized deductions (if advantageous), and nearly all adjustments and credits can be completed and electronically filed.

The exceptions: per IRS/AARP agreements, Tax-Aide is not permitted to assist with residential rental income, property depreciation, self-employment net losses, solar energy credits, estate or trust returns, or out-of-state returns. Unfortunately, volunteers also cannot assist with a return if you own or transact virtual currency.

Prior to your appointment, we’ll provide an intake packet with a list of information and documents that you should bring. Note that for joint returns, both spouses must be present to sign electronic submission documents.

Scheduling is easy: sign up online at es-

tesvalleylibrary.org, call the library at 970-586-8116, or stop by the downtown branch. Please make an appointment only when you know you will have received all necessary documents; an intake form (available at the library) must be completed prior to your appointment. Using the free AARP Tax-Aide service is an easy way to make sure you are filing accurate returns with the most advantageous outcome. This program is made possible by a great team of volunteers, dedicated to serving our Estes Valley. Visit estesvalleylibrary.org to learn more and schedule your appointment. See you at the library this tax season!

Next week millions the world over will celebrate Valentine’s Day. Perhaps it would interest us to learn a little more about the origin of this day that many celebrate every year on February 14. We send Valentine’s cards, give heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, or give our loved one even more expensive gifts on that special day. But why? Where did it all begin?

Legends tell us that there were two different priests named Valentine who suffered because they promoted the ideal of love among people of their time. The one most likely responsible for our special day lost his life because he continued to perform wedding ceremonies for soldiers, despite the Roman Emperor Claudius’s command to stop… hoping to have greater loyalty from his soldiers if they were unmarried. His farewell note to his jailer’s daughter before he died was signed, “From your Valentine”. Later he was dubbed a ‘Saint’, which explains ‘St. Valentine’s Day’. According to tradition he used to cut ‘hearts’ from parchment and give them to his followers to remind them of their vows and love. He also supposedly wore a ring with a purple amethyst stone with an image of Cupid on it, which soldiers would recognize, prompting them to ask him to perform their wedding ceremony.

As I read these, to me, new things about this special day, I wanted to share some practical things in this week’s article from them. Obviously the idea of telling people we love…and showing them in special gifts…how much we love and appreciate them, is badly needed at all times in history. We have the precedent…”God so loved that He gave!” And we will too. However, there are some things we can remind ourselves of that can help us do a better job of this showing of our love. Let’s think about some of them.

It’s interesting how we sometimes ‘package’ our honoring of special people into one-day celebrations. Many honor the ‘birthday’ of Jesus on the 25th of December and celebrate His resurrection on Easter Sunday in the Spring. However, the thoughts and devotion of many of those same people about Christ are often quite rare during the rest of the year. I’m sure He desires to be loved and honored during the entirety of the year.

The same thing can sometimes be witnessed in the honoring of our loved spouse or boyfriend / girlfriend. Valentine’s Day sees the greatest outpouring (145 million) of greeting cards sent, and no one has dared to estimate the chocolates, jewelry, and flower gifts given at that time of the year to loved ones. This is highly commendable, however, it loses some of its meaning unless it reflects the loving spirit that is manifested every day of the year in that special relationship. What can help us do that better? Think about this.

One of the challenges our society wrestles with is that the word ‘LOVE’ is used in many different ways. (ie. “I love ice cream!” “We make love!” etc.) The Bible uses several different words to talk about those ‘loves’ that should be a part of any good spousal relationship. One word, ‘Phileo’, speaks to the ‘friendship’ aspect of our relationship. In Don Williams’ song he shares about his wife: “Most of all she’s my best friend!” In wedding ceremonies I always stress the ‘Companionship’ aspect of a good marital relationship. A second word for ‘love’, ‘Eros”, refers to the God-blessed intimacy that goes on in a good husbandwife relationship. The failure of this in a marriage often causes bad feelings, alienation and worse. The third word, translated ‘love’ is ‘Agape’. This speaks to the level of love that shows itself in our willingness to sacrifice ourselves in our service to our mate and children. This love in our family will make us accept the challenge of all the other types and make a strong partnership. The last kind of ‘love’ spoken of in the Bible is ‘storge’ love. This is love of family, both immediate and extended. We don’t just marry one person. We inherit a new family ‘network’ and a good marriage relationship will strive to build strong ties with those in that ‘network’, as well as our spouse and children. Can you imagine the joy of Valentine’s Day when all these other aspects of love are shown throughout the year? Let’s do our best to do it!

Bob Lewis

Get Virtual Facetime With Bestselling Authors

Via The Estes Valley Library (And The Library Speakers Consortium)

Many of us are enjoying the opportunity to return to in-person author visits, such as Craig Childs’ presentation, which was held this past Monday. In order to bring even more authors to our mountain village, enter: the Library Speakers Consortium!

The Library Speakers Consortium grants our library, other member libraries, and their patrons, access to acclaimed authors via virtual visits. Past presenters have included Fredrik Backman, Bonnie Garmus, Simon Winchester, Kate Quinn, and many others. All events are streamed live, free to attend, and include audience participation through an interactive Q&A session.

This February, check out the Library Speakers Consortium and enjoy conversations with authors Grace M. Cho and Sadeqa Johnson.

On Thursday, February 16 at 11 a.m., hop online for a chat with Grace M. Cho as she discusses her bestselling memoir, Tastes Like War

Part food memoir, part sociological investigation, Tastes Like War is a hybrid text about a daughter's search through intimate and global history for the roots of her mother’s schizophrenia diagnosis. In her mom’s final years, Cho learned to cook dishes from her mother’s child-

hood in order to invite the past into the present, and to hold space for her mother at the table. Through careful listening over these shared meals, Cho discovered not only the things that broke the brilliant, complicated woman who raised her – but also the things that kept her alive.

On Thursday, February 28 at 2 p.m., hear from Sadeqa Johnson, highly acclaimed author of The Yellow Wife Johnson will discuss her brand new novel, The House of Eve

Fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to become the first in her family to attend college, despite having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising her daughter.

Eleanor Quarles arrived in Washington D. C. with ambition and secrets, but learns that having a baby and fitting in with her husband’s elite and wealthy family is easier said than done. The lives of these two women collide in the most unexpected way as they both face life-altering decisions. The House of Eve is a fast-paced, harrowing story that hinges on what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.

To register for these author talks, view past recordings, and learn more about the Library Speakers Consortium, visit libraryc.org/estesvalleylibrary.

Grace M. Cho

Sadeqa Johnson

Don’t Let Fear Drive Investment Decisions

In the past year, we’ve seen some big swings in the financial markets. This volatility may make you feel as if you have little control over your investment success. But the truth is, you do have more control than you might think — as long as you don’t let fear guide your decisions.

Investment-related fear can manifest itself in a few different ways:

• Fear of loss – Some investors may emphasize avoiding losses more than achieving gains. Consequently, they might build portfolios they consider very low in risk, possibly containing a high percentage of certificates of deposit (CDs) and U. S. Treasury securities. Yet, a highly conservative approach carries its own risk — the risk of not achieving enough growth to stay ahead of inflation, much less meet long-term goals such as a comfortable retirement. To reach these goals, you’ll want to construct a diversified portfolio containing different types of assets and investments — each of which may perform differently at different times. Your objective shouldn’t be to avoid all risk — which is impossible — but to create an investment strategy that accommodates your personal risk tolerance and time horizon.

• Fear of missing out – You’re probably familiar with the term “herd mentality” — the idea that people will follow the lead of others for fear of missing out on something. This behavior is responsible for fads or the sudden emergence of “hot” products, and it’s also relevant to investing. In fact, herd mentality may contribute to sharp jumps in the financial markets as investors drive up prices by buying stocks to avoid being left behind. And the same may be true in reverse — when the market starts dropping, skittish investors may accelerate the decline by selling stocks so they, too, can get out before it’s too late. Buying or

selling investments should be considered as needed to help advance your long-term financial strategy — not in response to what others are doing.

• Fear of the unknown – Some investors fall victim to “familiarity bias” — the tendency to invest only in what they know, such as local or domestic companies. But this behavior can lead to under-diversified portfolios. If your portfolio is dominated by just a few investments, and these investments are fairly similar to each other, you could experience some losses when the inevitable market downturn occurs. To help reduce the impact of market volatility, it’s a good idea to spread your investment dollars across large and small companies in a range of industries and geographical regions. And that’s just on the equities side — it’s also wise to consider further diversifying your portfolio by owning bonds and government securities. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses.)

• Fear of admitting failure – Some individuals don’t like to admit when they’ve been wrong about something, and they may continue the same failed activities, hoping for eventual success. This behavior can be costly in the investment arena. Sometimes, a particular investment, or even an investment strategy, just doesn’t work out, but an investor is determined to stick with it — even if it ultimately means considerable financial loss. Don’t let his happen to you — if it becomes apparent you need to change your investment approach, move on to something better.

Fear can hold us back in many walks of life — but don’t let it keep you from making appropriate investment moves.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by our local Edward Jones Financial Advisors. Edward Jones, Member SIPC.

Estes Park Senior Citizens Center Menu

Feb 13 – 17

Monday, Feb 13 Chicken Quesadilla & soup of the day

Tuesday, Feb 14 Carne Asada (skirt steak, marinated & grilled) w/ Corn Tortillas, Rice, Refried Beans, guacamole & sour cream

Wed., Feb 15 Meatloaf w/ Mashed Potatoes, gravy & vegetables

Thursday, Feb 16 Chicken Parmesan Sandwich (topped w/ mozzarella cheese & marinara sauce) & cottage cheese

Friday, Feb 17 Signature Salad w/ (8 grilled) Shrimp (greens topped w/ tomatoes, corn, cheese, craisins, pecans & croutons) w/ ranch dressing

Feb 20 – 24

Monday, Feb 20 Chicken Cordon Bleu w/ Roasted Potatoes & vegetables

Tuesday, Feb 21 BBQ Pork Ribs (4) w/ Baked Beans & coleslaw

Wed., Feb 22 Fried Chicken (3 pc) w/ Mashed Potatoes, gravy & vegetables

Thursday, Feb 23 Meatball Sub Sandwich (topped w/ mozzarella cheese & marinara sauce) w/ Pasta Salad

Friday, Feb 24 Fish & Homemade Chips w/ soup of the day

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, Feb 13th, you need to call before 1:00 PM on Friday, Feb 10th. 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 (MWF 10:30-11:15); Yoga (TT 10:15-11:15); Mahjong (Tuesdays 10 – 2)

Live Music TBA (1st, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ noon); Presentation (3rd Tuesday @ noon)

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

Gus Levario And Jay Johnston Named Coaches Of The Year

The Estes Valley Recreation and Park District would like to congratulate our 2022 Coaches of the Year, Gus Levario and Jay Johnston.

Gus Levario has volunteered to coach his daughter’s team since she started playing EVRPD Rec sports. He always has a great attitude that is very encour-

aging and motivating!

Jay Johnston has coached multiple teams for his daughters and has received many compliments from team parents based on his knowledge about various sports as well as his inspirational attitude!

Oliver Tapia Villegas 11th Grade

Congratulations to Oliver Tapia Villegas, the Estes Park High School Student of the Week for February 10, 2023.

Oliver is the son of Maria Villegas and Antonio Tapia.

At EPHS, Oliver is involved with Youth in Action, is the Secretary for the Student Council, Class President, a member of the National Honor Society, marching band, soccer and basketball teams. He has earned his varsity letter three times for soccer, academics and band and he maintains a 3.933 GPA.

Outside of school he enjoys playing spikeball and skiing. He loves hiking in the beautiful scenery including mountains and lakes and has a dog named Brandy who he says is the best dog he could ever ask for! He has two siblings, Jackie and Alex and he works at Burgers and Gyros and Village Pizza, which his family owns.

When asked a place he’d love to travel, he said, “I’d love to go to Europe, because there is so much history there. I would love to see and learn about the many different cultures and architec-

ture.”

When asked his favorite quote, he said it’s, “Disfruta donde estas ahora, el tiempo no regresa” (Enjoy where you are now, time does not return) by Santana. He said, “I like this quote because it makes you enjoy what you have right now and to not take anything for granted and to live in the moment and do everything to the fullest.”

The best piece of advice he’s received is to always try your best and to not care about what others might think while doing what you enjoy.

After graduation he plans on getting his real estate license and going to college to get a business degree.

EPMS Honor Roll Students

The EPMS computer mixed up and did not include some students that earned their place in the honor roll list from January 27.

Principal's Honor Roll (4.0 GPA)

8th Grade

Delaney Ash, Olivia Boynton, Eva Carosello, Haven Gaustad, Marlen Rojas Martinez and Amy Schwartz.

7th Grade

Cora Cousineau, Caleb Estanol, Bailee Figueroa, McKenna Henderson, Clara Hocker, Jed Kim, Carrie Leivestad, Kylle McCown and Zia Velani.

6th Grade

Vittoria Case, Isla Pontius, Amelia Watry and Natalie Workman.

Bobcat Honor Roll (3.31-3.99)

8th Grade

Benjamin Bryant, Aidan Jonikas, Isaac Kinley, Eliana Kostadinov, Matthew Lopez, Colby O'Brien, Santiago Rojo and Estella Smith.

7th Grade

Jaelyn Arnold, Aaron Arroyo Gutierrez, Hailey Downey, Matvii Ivakhnin and Chayse Ordner.

6th Grade

Dalton Andrews, Lily Beers, Ella Brink, Adrianna Hernandez Munoz, Evelyn McGillicuddy, Casey Miezala, Harrison Oberg, Carlos Rodriguez Carrasco, Ciaran Runyan, Jickme Sherpa, Delaney Smith and Carsyn Zehr.

Jay Johnston

Gus Levario

THE GOMEZ TEAM

Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show Opens Jury Call

Labor Day Arts

Crafts Show.

Etsy isn’t the only place where visual artists’ is noticed and purchased. The Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show is a perfect example.

A description and photos of the work proposed for exhibit will be juried by a committee. Artists who submit their application prior to Feb. 28, 2023 will be considered first as the first jury round is

650 Lakewood Court

$2,100,000

1481 Bluebell Drive

• 3 bedrooms / 1 bath

• Nicely remodeled cabin

• Stunning mountain views

• RMNP is just up the road

Make Rocky Mountain National Park your nearby neighbor! $565k

New Price

That’s why original artisan works currently are being considered for inclusion in the show scheduled for Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival, Sept. 2, 3, and 4.

The Estes Park event is the anchor for final summer events in the community that features a full range of activities and features nearly 100 artisans who display sculpture, paintings, jewelry, wood, photography and fiber art and more created in their own studios. One of the premier arts and crafts festivals in the state, the Estes Park event typically receives more than 150 applications.

scheduled for March 2nd. Submissions after February 28 will be judged at later dates based on availability of art mediums. Final Application deadline is June 16.

For more information about the show, see estesartscrafts.com. Applications and artisan details are available at www.zapplication.org/event-info. php? ID=10854.

Special Notice About Library Hours

Thursday, February 16

Due to all staff training, the Estes Valley Library will be open 1-8 p.m. on Thursday, February 16. Please note that we will not be hosting Thursday morning Storytimes; instead, join us on Friday

and/or Saturday morning for Baby Storytime at 10 a.m. and Children's Storytime at 10:30 a.m.

Library hours, collection, & programs can be viewed at estesvalleylibrary.org.

Bronze table-top sculptures are one category of visual art accepted for display at the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary’s annual Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show.

With so many talented artists in the mountain region, it’s a sure bet to find oils, acrylics, watercolors and pen & ink famed art during the annual Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary’s

&

Keller Williams Realty Northern ColoradoEstes Park Announces Move To New Location, Home To Top Agent Teams

Keller Williams Realty Northern Colorado is proud to announce that the company officially opened its new location at 320 E. Elkhorn Ave in Estes Park on January 1st, 2023. The move allowed the company to consolidate from our two previous locations in Estes Park and bring all our agents and resources under one roof. The new location is home to top-performing agent teams Signature Home Team, which consists of Jeff Abel, Julie Abel, Rebecca Fishkin, Rod Fishkin, and Savanna Campbell, and The Thompson Group, which includes Scott Thompson, Chris Davis, and Dan Derman. Individual agent Andrew Limmiatis also works out of this office.

Keller Williams Realty Northern Colorado is a leading real estate agency known for its innovative approach to real estate services and commitment to providing clients with the best possible experience. The company has a team of experienced agents dedicated to helping clients find their dream homes or sell their properties.

The new location, in the heart of Estes Park, allows us to better serve our clients in the convenience of the downtown area. The building has been the home of

Workforce Condo at Wildfire Homes

a real estate office since 1986, and we are excited to continue its legacy as a hub for real estate activities in the community.

Keller Williams Realty Northern Colorado - Estes Park is holding a grand opening celebration on February 28th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to mark the move. The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce at 3 p.m. The event will be an excellent opportunity for the community to come out and see the new office and meet the teams.

"We are excited to officially open our new office and look forward to welcoming clients and agents to our new location," said Jeff Abel, Team Leader of the Signature Home Team. Scott Thompson added, "This move is an important step in our growth. We are committed to providing the best possible service to our clients and agents."

For more information about Keller Williams Realty Northern ColoradoEstes Park and the new office, don't hesitate to contact the Signature Home Team at 970-586-8500 or The Thompson Group at 970-480-7820.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

The Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies will host a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 21 at the church located at 1700 Brodie Ave. Pancakes, ham, blueberries, and traditional King Cakes will be served from 4:30 until 6:00. There will

be festive piano music to accompany the supper. This event is free, but it is a fundraiser for Crossroads Ministry, so your contributions are welcomed. Community members are welcome to join in the fun and fellowship as we anticipate the arrival of Lent.

Dream Team

Spring Session Standings

Court

Grant Applications Available From The Village Thrift Shop

Grant applications for 2023 from the Village Thrift Shop (VTS) are available beginning February 15th for charitable organizations providing services to the Estes Valley community. Non-profits determined by the Internal Revenue Service to operate as a 501(c) (3) and registered in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State are encouraged to complete and submit a request for funding. VTS will start accepting applications beginning February 15th and stop taking them at 3:00 p.m. on March 31st. After review by the VTS Board of Directors, funding will be distributed in early May.

Grant applications and guidelines are available for download at the VTS website, www.epvillagethrift.org/grant-application. Alternatively, copies will be available for pickup Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Village Thrift Shop located at 1138 Man-

ford Avenue in Estes Park. The completed application package should be returned via mail, e-mail, or hand delivered by 3 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023.

The Village Thrift Shop is a non-profit corporation that generates revenue through the resale of donated goods. Generous donors, considerate business partners, a dedicated all-volunteer staff, and loyal patrons support VTS profit sharing. Over the past four years, $850,000 has been distributed to nonprofits providing critical services in the Estes Valley.

In 2022, staff freely gave over 5,500 hours of their time in order to process a bounty of donated, sellable goods subsequently purchased by customers from near and far. It is now time for another round of payoff and payout to the Estes community.

Construction Team Or Demolition Crew?

By: Larry Strong

“Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. ”

This classic cowboy song, sometimes called the “unof ficial anthem” of the American West was penned by Brewster Higley around 1872. Oh, how we long for fewer dis couraging words!

“So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual build ing up (edification and de velopment) of one another. ” Romans 14:19. This verse from God’s Word tells us what to “aim” for and “eagerly pursue.” Are you part of the construction team or demolition crew?

The guys at Men on Fire are not confused about which team or crew we are supposed to be on. We’re committed to doing our level best with God’s help, to build each other up not tear others

down. Whether its politics, the education system, our current “woke” culture or the biased media bombarding all of us, we don’t see a lot of “constructive edification” going on. Unfortunately, the “wrecking balls” of demolition seem to be in full swing. It’s not good, right, healthy or acceptable—at least There’s a lot of people shouting, “Sit down, shut up, be quiet!” Men on Fire will not “sit down, shut up or be quiet.” As long as we have a voice we will speak affirming words, strive to take positive action and lead with love. This position is not an easy one. Doing the right thing is often not the easy thing. But the great thing about doing the right thing is--it’s always the right thing!

Men on Fire meets Saturday’s at the American Legion here in town. “Breakfast with a Purpose” starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. It’s an awesome time of good food, strong faith and fellowship. We’re lookin’ for more men to be part of our construction crew. Horrible pay. Great

Sage, Cowboy, Maverick & Dani & Are Looking For Loving New Homes

Sage is about 1-2 years old. She does well with cats, but doesn't like dogs. She is talkative, cuddly and playful. She just finished raising her baby and would love a family of her own.

Three new dogs just arrived for adoption from uncertain outcomes. The two males came from death row and one sweet little girl was living in a crate on someone’s deck in the cold. They are all good with other dogs and are extremely great at the vets office.

Cowboy is a handsome three year old shepherd mix who weighs 64 pounds.

Maverick is also a shepherd mix who is bouncy at one year old and weighs 46 pounds.

Dani is a cute seven month old mix who needs a little work with her confidence but is very sweet and loving.

Please call (970) 286-1652 if you’d like to meet any of these special pets.

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 taxdeductible donation to the Pet Association by sending your check to P.O. Box 4342, Estes Park, CO 80517.

Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate Squatchy Donuts

The Estes Chamber joined owners Jack and Jill Skinner in celebrating the grand opening of Squatchy Donuts, with a red ribbon cutting on February 8th. The ceremony was held at the new brick and mortar location at 430 W. Elkhorn Avenue.

Squatchy Donuts opened for business on December 17, 2022. They proudly serve made-to-order mini donuts and hot coffee beverages, in addition to a free Sasquatch gallery consisting of pieces from artists all across the country alongside a wide-ranging variety of Sasquatch gifts.

“Squatchy Donuts offers a unique donut experience for the community by offering made-to-order mini donuts. The donuts are always fresh and are available in thirty different flavors. And

with the Sasquatch gallery, we hope to not only educate the public about Sasquatch but also to inspire people to look into the mystery of Sasquatch for themselves,” says owners Jack and Jill Skinner. Check out Squatchy Donuts for yourself!

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!

Fabulous established floral business in Estes Park in operation for 15 years. Custom wedding and funeral arrangements, fresh cut bouquets, and the most adorable live plants around! The Fairy Gardens are so special and unique. Located in one of the most desirable wedding and travel destinations in Colorado, this bright, cheery and creative shop can be yours. A wonderful book of business, rental supplies, and history in the community that would be a wonderful investment for you. Only 200k, plus inventory. Great location and a calendar full of events already! Showings by appointment only. Call listing office for details. Looking For A Change?

We currently have openings for residential, commercial and investment brokers. Competitive commission splits in a relaxed office environment. Contact us today!

Sage

You Are Invited To Elevate Partners Fundraising Dinner on March 2, 2023!

Join us for our 2023 Elevate Partners Fundraising Dinner (formerly Red Envelope Dinner) to support our mentoring programs in Estes Park. Enjoy an evening with great community, inspiring speakers, and a complimentary dinner, generously provided by Mama Rose's.

All donations help us continue making an impact on youth in our community! We suggest a minimum $30 donation per guest. Because of the incredible sup-

port of Rob and Julie Pieper, guests' entire donation is used to provide our mentoring programming to local youth. As always, our top priority is to offer high-quality services and support to the youth, families, and volunteers in our program.

Learn more and register here: https://poweredbypartners.org/elevate/ by 2/28/2023.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day At Cornerstone Church

Ladies! Valentine's Day is not only about couples or children. It's about love—true love.

Come join us at Cornerstone Church of Estes Valley to celebrate God's gift of love. We promise to shower you with an evening of fun, including dinner, games, laughter and love. Dress comfortably, but with a Valentine's flair, and get your shopping skills ready, as you might be a contestant on The Price is Right!

If you’re alone or have lost your interest in Valentine’s Day, don’t be discouraged! God places great value on you, and so does the Cornerstone Church family.

Who: Cornerstone Church of Estes Valley

What: Valentine's Celebration

When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at 6 p.m.

Where: 2200 Mall Road

Cost: Free

EVICS Family Resource Center Is Starting 2023 Off With A Bang!

We have had an amazing January with programs in partnership with the YMCA of the Rockies, swim days at the pool in partnership with Estes Valley Community Center, our ongoing programs such as ESL and Spanish for Kids have started back up and not to mention Mujeres in Conexion and Hispanic Business Alliance. Our regular schedules of playtime at the EVICS playroom and Wednesdays at Mountain View Bible Fellowship have allowed families to get that important social interaction and playtime indoors when the weather is colder. The next several months will bring more great programming, family development and support, and some incredibly fun events. Stay tuned!

Also, in February we will be hosting our Child Development Screening at our office on Monday the 20th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a time to bring your child in and work with an EVICS team member to complete an ASQ (Ages & Stages Questionnaire) about your child and their growth. This developmental screening, for children 0-5, is designed to take a snapshot of your child and identify strengths and help recognize any potential delays. Our knowledgeable team can also recommend activities, services, and events that will support the growth and development of your child in all ways. The outcomes are designed to fit with early childhood routines and engage parents and family members. No appointment is necessary for our monthly open house style screenings, but if you cannot make Monday, February 20th, you can always call the EVICS Family Resource Center and schedule a time to meet with one of our staff.

We field many questions and calls on this program about how it works, and what to expect in a developmental screening. The best way I can tell you is to share my very own personal experience with the Child Development Screening about 12 years ago. My family one-year-old and had just left a community and career that I thought was my forever. I was a city girl, and it was a huge life change, but the most notable change was that suddenly, I was a stayat-home mom. We had no idea what to do. It was summertime in EP, and I was trying to meet people with kids and it seemed impossible. I even chased down someone who was pushing a stroller around the lake to find out that it contained their elderly dog rather than a child! I was desperate to make connection, and help my little boy get some socialization.

I ended up stumbling upon a flyer for EVICS at the library while trolling for other moms to become friends with.

(Thank goodness for the library – truly the “pick up bar” for meeting families in Estes Park!) The flyer invited families to participate in a Developmental Screening through play, activities, and most importantly – snacks. It seemed like a wonderful place to get some guidance on my new role and meet people with kids.

It was a great experience! I was greeted, there were families there, and lots of play for the kids. A staff member took me through the questionnaire, and we talked about my son. As we went through and talked about different ages and stages it was determined that my son could use a little help in some areas. This clueless, new stay-at-home mom immediately fell apart. All the things went through my head and mom guilt set in! ‘How had I not noticed?’ ‘Am I a bad mom?’ ‘Where did I mess up?’ The amazing team at EVICS stepped right in with compassion, education, and support. Through my tears I explained how I was in unfamiliar territory and completely overwhelmed. The EVICS team member sat with me and let me emote, talk and was so supportive. She came with options and answers. EVICS invited me and my family to several programs where we could meet other local families. I also was able to get connected with a Family Development program and created a plan where I set goals for my son and myself, gaining knowledge through play, learning, speech development, physical development, and so much practical information. We were paired with a Family Advocate that became a trusted confidant that supported and followed up with our plans and goals. My son (and I) began to thrive. Our transition to Estes Park was a big one, and we now had the tools and knowledge to focus on for success and happiness. My son is now almost 13 years old, and is a bright, social, kind human.

From that day that I walked into EVICS I knew I had found a haven, a place of no judgment, but of support and care. This is just my testimony for EVICS; so many others have their own because of the significant effort and hard work our staff has put in for many years. I have since attended, volunteered, served on the board of directors, and most recently became an employee of EVICS – all with so much gratitude. I sit at school pick up and see so many kids and families that have shared time with me in one way or another at this organization and it makes me so proud to know the positive impacts made on this community and its families.

The Childhood Development Screening is one of those staple programs that EVICS has offered regularly, that is so important to our mission of strengthening and supporting all families in their early years of life. Our team would love to have you join us and participate. We are here to support our community’s families and help them thrive!

In gratitude - Garrett

Faillaci

Former EVICS program recipient, former volunteer, former Board of Directors Member, current Program Coordinator for EVICS Family Resource Center

¡EVICS Centro de recursos Familiares esta comenzando el ano 2023 con una explosion de programas! Hemos tenido un Enero increible con programas en

asociacion con YMCA of the Rockies, dias de natacion en la piscina en asociacion con Estes Valley Community Center, nuestros programas en curso como ESL y Espanol para Ninos han comenzado de nuevo y sin mencionar Mujeres en Conexion y Alianza Empresarial Hispana. Nuestros horarios regulares de tiempo de juego en la sala de juegos de EVICS y los miercoles en Mountain View Bible Fellowship han permitido a las familias tener esa importante interaccion social y tiempo de juego en el interior cuando el clima es mas frio. Los proximos meses traeran mas programacion excelente, desarrollo y apoyo familiar, y algunos eventos increiblemente divertidos. ¡Mantenganse al tanto!

Ademas, en febrero tendremos nuestra evaluacion de desarrollo infantil en nuestra oficina el lunes 20 de 9 am a 5 pm. Este es un momento para traer a su hijo y trabajar con un miembro del equipo de EVICS para completar un ASQ (Cuestionario de edades y etapas) sobre su hijo y su crecimiento. Esta evaluacion del desarrollo, para ninos de 0 a 5 anos, esta disenada para tomar una instantanea de su hijo e identificar fortalezas y ayudar a reconocer posibles retrasos. Nuestro equipo experto tambien puede recomendar actividades, servicios y eventos que apoyaran el crecimiento y desarrollo de su hijo en todos los sentidos. Los resultados estan disenados para adaptarse a las rutinas de la primera infancia e involucrar a los padres y miembros de la familia. No es necesario hacer una cita para nuestras evaluaciones mensuales de estilo de casa abierta, pero si no puede asistir el lunes 20 de febrero, siempre puede llamar a EVICS Centro de Recursos Familiares y programar una cita para reunirse con uno de nuestro personal.

Respondemos muchas preguntas y llamadas en este programa sobre como funciona y que esperar en una evaluacion del desarrollo. La mejor forma en que puedo decirselo es compartir mi propia experiencia personal con la Evaluacion de Desarrollo Infantil hace unos 12 anos. Mi familia vino a Estes Park en 2011; Tenia un hijo de 1 ano y acababa de dejar una comunidad y una carrera que pense que era para siempre. Era una chica de ciudad, y fue un gran cambio de vida, pero el cambio mas notable fue que, de repente, me converti en una ama de casa. Nosotros no teniamos idea de que hacer. Era verano en Estes Park y estaba tratando de conocer gente con ninos y parecia imposible. ¡Incluso persegui a alguien que estaba empujando una carriola alrededor del lago para descubrir que llevaba a su perro anciano en lugar de a un nino! Estaba desesperada por establecer una conexion y ayudar a mi hijo pequeno a socializar un poco.

Termine tropezando con un folleto de EVICS en la biblioteca mientras buscaba a otras mamas para hacerme amiga. (¡Gracias a Dios por la biblioteca, verdaderamente es el "bar de recogida" para conocer familias en Estes Park!) El volante invitaba a las familias a participar en una evaluacion del desarrollo a traves de juegos, actividades y, lo que es mas importante, refrigerios. Parecia un lugar maravilloso para obtener orienta-

cion sobre mi nuevo rol y conocer gente con ninos.

¡Fue una gran experiencia! Me saludaron, habia familias alli y mucho juego para los ninos. Un miembro del personal me llevo a traves del cuestionario y hablamos sobre mi hijo. A medida que avanzamos y hablamos sobre las diferentes edades y etapas, se determino que a mi hijo le vendria bien un poco de ayuda en algunas areas. Esta nueva y despistada ama de casa se vino abajo inmediatamente. ¡Todas las cosas pasaron por mi cabeza y la culpa de mama se instalo en mi! '¿Como no me di cuenta?'

'¿Soy una mala madre?' '¿En que me equivoque?' El increible equipo de EVICS intervino con compasion, educacion y apoyo. A traves de mis lagrimas, explique como estaba en un territorio desconocido y completamente abrumado. El miembro del equipo de EVICS se sento conmigo y me permitio emocionarme, hablar y me apoyo mucho. Llego con opciones y respuestas. EVICS nos invito a mi y a mi familia a varios programas donde pudimos conocer a otras familias locales. Tambien pude conectarme con un programa de Desarrollo Familiar y cree un plan en el que estableci metas para mi hijo y para mi, adquiriendo conocimientos a traves del juego, el aprendizaje, el desarrollo del habla, el desarrollo fisico y mucha informacion practica. Nos emparejaron con un Defensor de la familia que se convirtio en un confidente de confianza que apoyo y dio seguimiento a nuestros planes y metas. Mi hijo (y yo) comenzamos a prosperar. Nuestra transicion a Estes Park fue grande, y ahora teniamos las herramientas y el conocimiento para enfocarnos en el exito y la felicidad. Mi hijo ahora tiene casi 13 anos y es un ser humano brillante, social y amable. Desde ese dia que entre en EVICS, supe que habia encontrado un refugio, un lugar sin juicio, pero de apoyo y cuidado. Este es solo mi testimonio para EVICS; tantos otros tienen los suyos debido al esfuerzo significativo y al arduo trabajo que nuestro personal ha realizado durante muchos anos. Desde entonces, asisti, fui voluntaria, forme parte de la junta directiva y, mas recientemente, me converti en empleada de EVICS, todo con mucha gratitud. Me siento en la recogida de la escuela y veo a tantos ninos y familias que han compartido tiempo conmigo de una forma u otra en esta organizacion y me enorgullece mucho saber los impactos positivos que se han tenido en esta comunidad y sus familias.

El desarrollo Infantil es uno de esos programas basicos que EVICS ha ofrecido regularmente, que es tan importante para nuestra mision de fortalecer y apoyar a todas las familias en sus primeros anos de vida. A nuestro equipo le encantaria que se una a nosotros y participe. ¡Estamos aqui para apoyar a las familias de nuestra comunidad y ayudarlas a prosperar!

En agradecimiento - Garrett Faillaci Ex beneficiaria del programa EVICS, ex voluntaria, ex miembro de la junta directiva, y actual coordinadora de programa para EVICS Centro de Recursos Familiares.

Love Is Spoken Here

By: Brian Schaffer

This is a month when people seem to focus more on a crazy little thing called love. But really, what’s love got to do with it? Is it more than a feeling? Why do people go Gaga over stupid love? I know some can’t help falling in love with you where others have been known to give love a bad name. However, one singer believes all you need is love, so if you’re wondering what you can do this month for that someone special here’s a good a line: “I just called to say, I love you.” While on the phone you can definitely express all the reasons why and even do something to tangibly demonstrate your love for them. I’m sure there will be many roses ordered, dinner reservations made and lovely gifts given out this month, and this is a wonderful thing. I hope in the midst of it all that people everywhere will experience love in the many shapes and sizes that it comes in each day. The agape love that is unconditional with no strings attached is a way for each of us to participate in loving people on a daily basis. Loving our Neighbors as well as we love ourselves is a great way to accomplish this in the month of February, and throughout the year. The challenge before us is to be attentive to the opportunities presented to us as we journey through life. Be generous with the love you’ve been given and pour it out on someone who may least expect it. Love has a way of transforming a community. Let’s do our part to make sure the people who come in contact with us feel loved and appreciated!

I was thinking of a song by Sandi Patty entitled “Love in Any Language. ” It’s a great reminder of how we should love people. Just last week at Crossroads we had opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people from Mexico, Colombia, China, Ukraine, Louisiana and various other states across our nation. I’ve heard it on multiple occasions from people who come to Crossroads that the way they’re treated makes them feel--Special. Our secret sauce is the love that is expressed through our staff and volunteers! You can receive assistance from someone that’s not very loving, but that’s not how we roll at Crossroads. Everything we do is wrapped in love with a bow of compassion tied on top. We feel like we’ve got something good to offer the neighborhood, so help us get the word out. In fact, this month we’d like to

Virginia Rolston Webb

give a little extra love out through the many services we provide. You can help us do this with a special love offering. You can give online at www.CrossroadsEP.org or send us a check to PO Box 3616, Estes Park, CO 80517.

Love in Any Language

Sandi Patty

Je t'aime

Te amo

Ya ti-bya lyu blyu

Ani o hev ot cha

I love you

The sounds are all as different

As the lands from which they came

And though the words are all unique

Our hearts are still the same

Love in any language

Straight from the heart

Pulls us all together

Never apart

And once we learn to speak it

All the world will hear

Love in any language

Fluently spoken here

We teach the young our differences

Yet look how we're the same

We love to laugh, to dream our dreams

We know the sting of pain

From Leningrad to Lexington

The farmer loves his land

And daddies all get misty-eyed

To give their daughter's hand

Oh maybe when we realize

How much there is to share

We'll find too much in common

To pretend it isn't there

Love in any language

Straight from the heart

Pulls us all together

Never apart

And once we learn to speak it

All the world will hear

Love in any language

Fluently spoken here

Virginia Rolston Webb passed peacefully in her sleep in Estes Park, Colorado at Good Samaritan Assisted Living on January 26, 2023. A memorial Service will be held 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado, officiated by the Rev. Chris Davis, Pastor.

Virginia was born in Waterloo, Iowa on August 8, 1916, to George Rolston and Guyda (Larsen) Rolston. Her father moved the family to Denver when she was seven years old. Her only sister, Janette Rolston, was born three years after they moved. Virginia attended East Denver High School and graduated in 1932 at the age of sixteen. She met her husband, Richard Webb, while in high school when he almost hit her with his car. Her first thought was how tall and handsome he was.

After high school both Virginia and “Dick” attended Denver University where she graduated in 1936 with a degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts. She always wanted to be an actress and singer when she was growing up. She sang at the Brown Palace in Denver on several occasions. Dick and Virginia courted for many years, and she fondly recalled taking frequent walks with him in Elitch Gardens. While Dick was attending Purdue University, they married in 1941 over his Spring Break at Virginia’s parent’s home. They had one child, Jim, who currently lives with his wife, Deborah, in Estes Park, CO.

For many years Virginia worked at and handled financial responsibilities in Dick’s electronic companies. While in Colorado they along with their son, Jim, started several companies in Broomfield and Boulder. Virginia was also a “Reader” in the 6th Church of Christian Science in Denver.

Virginia and Dick retired to Estes Park in 1985. She was active in the Estes Park Women’s Club and the AV PEO. Together they generously sup-

ported Estes Park with donations to the Art Center, Town of Estes 4th of July Fireworks, Women’s Club, AV PEO and other organizations. In 2005 they moved from their home into a townhome at Good Sam. After Dick’s passing in 2009, Virginia moved into the Good Sam independent living apartment building. Over the years, Virginia was the “first friend” to many new Good Sam residents. She loved meeting new people and “showing them the ropes.” She also enjoyed helping staff set up the dining room for meals and special events. She loved playing Bingo and enjoyed winning even more. Virginia was seen daily riding the stationary bike and doing chair yoga.

Virginia’s words of wisdom;

“The secret to a happy marriage is to try to be agreeable,” and “the secret to a long life is to be happy.”

“Love every day and record only the sunny hours and let all the rest disappear and you’ll have a long life.”

The best invention of her lifetime was Color Television because her husband, Dick, worked on the RCA team that invented the color television.

Virginia is survived by her only child, Jim and his wife Deborah (Bow) Webb of Estes Park; her five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; Kristofor and Caisey (Moore) Webb (Amelia, Evan, and Genevieve) of Erie, CO; Victoria Webb of Estes Park, CO; Brittany (Webb) Wild (Zane and Ziggy Wild) of Estes Park, CO; Richard and Sarena (Liu) Webb (Aurora, Orion, and Jupiter) of Auburn, WA; and Robert and Tara (Roth) Webb of Burlingame, CA. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.allnuttestespark.com for the Webb family.

A memorial service for Virginia will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517.

Amy Miller

a teller and five years at Rustic Mountain Charm. She then worked for 17 years at the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Beaver Meadows entrance station putting to good use her lifelong knowledge of Rocky Mountain National Park.

She was an active member of the Daughters of the King Altar Guild at Christ Church Episcopal in Rolla, MO and St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church in Estes Park.

Amy Jean (Kipp) Miller of Bethesda Gardens, Loveland, CO passed away on January 26, 2023. She was born May 22, 1935 in Lincoln, NE to Harold Lyman Kipp and Constance Ida Almy. One of six siblings, she grew up in Lubbock,TX; Fairborn, OH; and Lawrence, KS. She spent her childhood summers in the homestead that her grandparents, John and Amy Bruner Almy had built near Allenspark, CO. She studied French and Education before graduating from University of Kansas where her father was a professor of Mechanical Engineering. It was there she met geology student Don Miller. They were married at Allenspark Community Church in Colorado and soon started a family.

She touched many young lives as a teacher, first in Topeka then in Lawrence, KS; Dolores, CO; Newburg, MO; and finally Rolla, MO where she taught from 1970 until she retired. She spent summers working for Phelps County Head Start and at Boys Town in St. James, MO.

After retiring to her beloved Rocky Mountains, she worked for five years at First National Bank of Estes Park as

She was a long standing member of PEO chapter HF and a member of the educational sorority Kappa Kappa Iota. She loved to hike in the mountains and often walked several miles a day. She knew most of the mountain wildflowers and particularly loved columbines. Her “pet” hummingbirds and chipmunks were pampered. She and her husband enjoyed the square dancing circuit, often traveling the country for dances.

She is survived by husband Don E., brother William Kipp (Phyllis Tucker), sisters Martha Kipp and Marilyn Myers, son Gregg E. Miller (Margi) of Loveland, CO, daughters Conni K. St. Pierre (Edward) of Bethel, ME, and Cynthia A. Miller of St. Paul, MN, grandchildren Krisanne Miller (Phil Giebel) of Fraser, CO, Matthew Miller (Claire), of John’s Island, SC.

She is predeceased by daughter Judith Lynn Miller and brothers John Kipp of Manhattan, KS, and Robert Kipp of Kansas City, MO.

Jolie Luo and Henry Worang were “adopted” by Amy and Don after they had been caregivers of daughter Judy before she passed away in 2012.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Rocky Mountain Conservancy or St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Estes Park, CO.

Hugo was born in Belleville, IL on October 9, 1945 to Bernice and King Ehret. He passed away on Jan. 26, 2023 at a hospice in Tucson, Arizona. He traveled there from Estes Park in late November, 2022, for lower altitude respiratory help. His daughter, Suzanne, and her husband, Rob Klotz live there, as well as some long time close friends.

Hugo was named for his grandfather, Hugo Henry Ehret who bought the family cabin off of Estes Park's Devils Gulch Rd in 1925. Hugo's family spent vacations every summer, (except for the WWII years), at the cabin. The main activities were hiking, picnicking and traveling around Estes Park to other picturesque spots. In those earlier years there was more snow to cross on the trails, fewer people, many flowers, and drinking directly from snow-melt streams. When he was a boy, Hugo and a friend had a run-in with Muriel MacGregor when they fished in the Black Canyon River on her property.

In 1969 Hugo married Wanda Marie Thompson who had a three year old son, Peter, from a previous marriage, whom Hugo adopted. Their daughter, Suzanne was born in 1980. In 1984 the family moved to Estes Park. Hugo winterized the family cabin where they lived before purchasing a home in the Thompson Canyon. After winterization, the cabin was used for many Christmas get-togethers as well as summer vacations. Wanda passed away in January, 2007.

Hugo graduated from Southern Illinois University, and served in the Air Force Reserves during Viet Nam at

Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Before moving to Colorado, he worked as a comptroller at Sealtest in St. Louis, then at Wonder Bread in Richardson, TX and later at a bakery in Cedar Falls, IA. In Colorado he worked at the Nature Association and at Hewlett Packard when it had Loveland offices. Later, Hugo drove a van for Rapid Transit Rafting in Estes Park.

Hugo was active in the Shining Mountains Group started by Madeline Framson, of Estes Park. He was a member of the Estes Park Computer Club and the Estes Valley Model Railroaders. He attended both the Episcopal Church and the Church of Jesus Christ in Estes Park and was close friends with both ministers. He enjoyed boating and fishing, harkening back to his early days on his father's boat on the Mississippi River.

Hugo's friends and family knew him for his dry sense of humor. An example of which, while working at Hewlett Packard for call-in help on computers, a gentleman from the Mid East called, remarking, "This computer is a piece of camel ----." Before helping him, Hugo asked on what floor he was located, and when he learned the gentleman was on a higher floor, he suggested he take the computer to the nearest window and give it a toss. The gentleman said he would, but the computer was not his.

Hugo was preceded in death by his older brother, Tom, his parents, and his wife, Wanda. He is survived by his son, Peter, of Newark, OH, his daughter, Suzanne, of Tucson, AZ and his sister, Anne, of Estes Park, CO.

Hugo Henry Ehret

Arlene Muriel Johnson

Our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Arlene Muriel Johnson, was born on January 23, 1932. She went to meet her Lord and Savior on February 5, 2023 at the age of 91.

She was born to Thomas and Zelma Linn of Chicago, Illinois. She had one brother, Russell, and one sister Betty Lou. Both preceded her in death.

In the late 1940s, she met Gilbert E. Johnson, Jr. and they married on August 18, 1951.

Gilbert and Arlene were married for 62 happy years. Gil preceded her in death on April 23, 2013.

Arlene is survived by her five children-Linn Van Loo (Dave), Betty Stewart (Mark), Gilbert Johnson III (Pam), Randy Johnson (Shelley), and Darrin Johnson (Amy). She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren: Andrew, Corey, Derek, Jennifer, Seth, Joel, Megan, Gil IV, Jason, Ashley, Christopher, Caylee, Jacob and Eliana. She also leaves precious memories to 31 great grandchildren and numerous family and friends.

Arlene loved her family and spent her life as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, in addition to faithfully serving her Lord in

her church and community. She will be missed by all.

A Memorial Service will be held for Arlene on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Bent Tree Church in Loveland, Colorado, followed by a Gathering of Family & Friends at 3:00 p.m. Per her wishes, Arlene will be laid to rest in an Intimate Family Graveside Service at Estes Valley Memorial Gardens in Estes Park, Colorado. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.allnuttestespark.com for the Johnson family.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

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

Full-time

Civil Engineer I - II (term limited)

Code Enforcement Officer

Emergency Services Dispatcher I - III

Events Maintenance Worker I

Leade Events Maintenance Worker

Mechanic I - III

Police Officer I – III

Utility Field Specialist

Visitor Information Assistant I (part-time)

Water Superintendent

The status of applications will be communicated via e-mail. By choice, the Town of Estes Park is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3 SUPERINTENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The District seeks an experienced administrative assistant to work as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Secretary to the Board of Education. The FLSA exempt 12-month position includes benefits and a salary commensurate with experience, range is $48,024 – $54,335.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested applicants must apply online at www.applitrack.com/estesschools/onlineapp/. Only online applications are accepted. See full posting at www.estesschools.org/Employment. The position is open until filled and immediate review of applications will occur. Interviews may be scheduled as soon as enough suitable applicants have applied.

The Estes Park School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs or activities.

yMCa OF THe rOCKieS

2515 Tunn e l ro a d est e s P ar k, Colo ra do, 80511

De l ivery Ma n ager

Responsible for all catering and refreshment deliveries at YMCA of the Rockies – Estes Park Center. This includes customer service, training, and supervising relevant staff. $15.84 - $18.81/hour with full benefits, childcare assistance, and employee perks.

www.wo r k i nth er ock ie s.o rg

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT BUS DRIVER

Estes Park School District R-3 is accepting applications for 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 Dave Coleson at 970-577-0211 ext. 3401

Apply online at www.applitrack.com/estesschools/onlineapp Only online applications accepted. Position open until filled.

The Estes Park School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs or activities.

We are looking for

Line cooks, servers, dishwasher.

Weekends and Holidays availability. Flexible hours. Call 970-502-8761

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Member & Donor Services Associate

Seeking an experienced team player to assist the Conservancy’s philanthropy team in database opera on and gi processing.

 Year-round, full- me, 32-40 hours with benefits  $19 – $21/hour with poten al for promo on

 Strong oral/wri en communica on skills

 Experience with Raiser’s Edge, data entry systems and customer service preferred See full posi on descrip on on our website before applying Email cover le er and resumé, and any ques ons to:

Opportunity@RMConservancy.org

RMConservancy.org

ESTES PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT R-3

CUSTODIAN-MAINTENANCE

Estes Park School District R-3 is accepting applications for a full-time, year-round custodial/maintenance position. The salary range is $16.23 to $18.38 per hour, 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 Dave Coleson with questions: 970-577-0211, ext 3401.

The Estes Park School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs or activities.

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Photo by Michael Barringer

Solitude Cabins and Lodge is now hiring for: Full time Property Caretakers

Position Requirements:

• Experience in Hospitality 2 years preferred

• Supervise Daily Operations of property

• Background in Light Maintenance

• Computer Skills required

• Excellent phone skills

• Background in Rezstream Software or similar PMS

• Must have good written and verbal skills

• Knowledge of surrounding area helpful

• Will require some on-call time during off hours

Please send Resumes to: Solitude Cabins and Lodge, 1885 Sketch Box Ln #7, Estes Park, CO 80517 or send resumes to steve@solitudecabins.com

Position may include housing. Housing can be discussed during the interview process.

Please submit a current resume with complete work history. Solitude Cabins and Lodge will contact applicants via phone or email to schedule interview.

Co n fere n Ce Set u p & ServiCeS Ma n ager

Will manage and train staff in day to day operations. In addition, will assist in training full time, seasonal, and volunteer crew members on how to properly clean and setup meeting spaces and storage areas. $17.17$19.75/hour with full benefits, discounted childcare, employee perks, and more!

www.w or k i n t h ero ck ie s. org

Help

UCHealth is hiring for an EMT, LPN, and MA position in Estes Park, CO! There is a 3k sign-on bonus for all roles. Learn more and apply online at careers.uchealth.org.

Attention Musicians

Shepherd of the Mountains

Lutheran Church is looking for a musician (organ and/or piano) to provide musical leadership to the congregation during Sunday morning worship. For more information, email us at ron.bockhaus@smlcestes.org.

Silver Saddle Inn

Now hiring: Front Desk Clerk

Evenings required, Full time $17/hr - $20/hr DOE, Benefits Must be non-smoker.

Maintenance

Full time

Apply in person: 1260 Big Thompson Ave. or email resume: info@estesresort.com

Smokin’ Dave’s is looking for an energetic and driven individual to join our management team. Previous experience preferred but not necessary. Competitive pay and benefits. If your interested in being a part of a fast pace environment and a very successful restaurant please fill out an application at www.smokindavesbbq.com

Now hiring

Shuttle Drivers

Part-time/Full-time year round employment. Clean Valid Colorado Driver license (no special license needed). $17-20 an hour Apply within at: Estes Park Shuttle 551 South Saint Vrain Ave

Parks and Trails Supervisor, full-time benefitted position

Do you enjoy working outdoors and have supervisory experience or are looking for an opportunity to step into a supervisory role? This position performs a variety of supervisory and skilled maintenance tasks to maintain several trails managed by the Recreation District. This position also maintains the Stanley Park athletic fields and picnic/playground areas. The pay range is $17.82-$27.72 depending on experience.

Full-time year-round benefited

Custodian/Maintenance Apprentice

Interested in learning about building maintenance at a state-of-the-art facility? We are looking for someone that will help us keep the Recreation Center clean and maintained while having the opportunity to learn about building maintenance.

To learn more about these positions and apply on-line go to evrpd.com.

Estes Valley Recreation and Park District is an equal opportunity employer.

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.

Other Employment Opportunities

Are you looking for something that is a calling rather than a job? Good Samaritan offers many opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. If you want more out of your work than just a paycheck…check out our employment opportunities at www.good-sam.com. All training provided, QMAP qualification paid for, great benefits!

VOLUNTEERS

More than 40 percent of seniors report regularly experiencing loneliness. Good Samaritan Estes Park Village senior living community offer socialization, meal programs and wellness/activity programs to combat loneliness, gently supporting our residents that nurture their body, mind and soul. One of the ways we want to enhance this is through our volunteer program. We will pair seniors with friends in the community who can share their interests and offer companionship.

If you are looking to make a different in the lives of others, contact the Good Samaritan Estes Park Village. (970) 577-7700 ext 200 and ask for Irene.

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Finance/Accounting Associate

Seeking a responsible person with accoun ng and finance experience to assist with bookkeeping, cost accoun ng, accounts receivable/payable, audi ng and budge ng, taxes, credit card machines, financial reports and financially-related errands.

 Full- me with benefits (32 - 40 hours)

 $23 – $26/hour plus benefits

 Requires broad knowledge of general accoun ng, cost accoun ng, bookkeeping, general ledger, journal entry, finance, payroll, audi ng, and budge ng

Requires competency with accoun ng so ware; Financial Edge knowledge preferred

 Supremely detail-oriented, professional, with excellent wri en and oral skills required

 Independent, mo vated, a problem-solver and adaptable are a plus

See full posi on descrip on on our website before applying Email cover le er and resumé, and any ques ons to: Opportunity@RMConservancy.org

RMConservancy.org

Seeking experienced instructors!

Dance and gymnastics instructors wanted for busy Estes Park dance studio. We are currently looking for instructors for multiple disciplines: (lyrical, tap, jazz, hip hop, musical theater, acro, tumbling, gymnastics, cheer, ballroom, etc.) to teach any level of beginner-intermediateadvanced classes. Always looking for hidden talent in Estes Park! Part-time, yearround, after-school/evenings. Call or text (970)714-0755 or visit our website www.centerstagedance estespark.com

Responsible for providing care from children 6 weeks to 1.5 years old. Must meet State of Colorado qualifications for a group leader of a child care center. $21$23/hour with full benefits and employee perks.

Apply

Condos

For Rent: two bedroom condo, one bath, one car attached garage, washer/dryer, annual lease, no smoking, no pets, new paint & carpet, $2,150/month Available now Call 970-699-6727

Apartments

Furnished studio apartment. 600 sq ft, with garage, shared washer/dryer. Available until June. No pets & no smokers. Monthly rent is $850, includes all utilities, cable tv, internet. For details call 970- 631-4823.

1BR Downtown. Single Occ. NS/NP. $1,200/mo 1-Yr Lease. (970) 480-5458

Duplexes

2 BD 2BA Duplex. $2200/mo. includes utilities. NP NS. Parking & Garage available. Year lease. Call Bill at 949-646-2557

TRANSPORTATION

Trailers/Campers

Piano Tuning

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

HOUSEHOLD

Furniture

27’ Interstate Trailer. $6,900.00 OBO Randy 970-215-7198 SERVICES

Sewing/Alterations

Handcrafted Aspen Log Bunk Beds complete with new mattresses, mattress covers and bedding. Purchased new at over $3000. Very little use, $600. 970-370-3449.

REAL ESTATE Commercial Commercial Spaces for sale and lease. Call Eric. Anderson Realty. 586-2950

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

Estate Sale

Feb. 11-1:00-5:00PM, Feb. 18- 8:00AM12:00PM 2310 Spruce Ave Estes Park

Antique furniture, collectibles, books, kitchenware, garage cabinets, tools and much more.

Estate Sales

Estate Sale!

Glen Haven, Feb. 18, Saturday, 9:00 am until all is sold.

Location: 39 Memory Lane (off of Hummingbird Hill Road)

Items include: Various antiques, tools, furniture, misc. garage items, books, misc. art supplies, purses, toys, children’s chairs & chalkboard desk, teddy bears, huge variety of baskets. Vintage women’s clothes, most never worn, & hats (lots of hats!).

Items from Red Hats

Women’s group. LP & 45 records from 1960’s to 1970’s. Very reasonable pricing on all items.

Public Notices

Neighborhood Meeting for 5 Lot SubdivisionLot 2A, Ward Minor Subdivision, TBD Raven Ave. - A neighborhood meeting will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 5:30 pm in the Hondius Room at the Estes Valley Library to provide information about the development proposal from Property Owners, Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley.

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS BUILDER

ATTORNEYS

CARPET CLEANING

COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY

TAKE A HIKE!!

Yeah, that’s right! If you team up with Dad’s Laundry you may be able to leave your property and enjoy Estes for a while!

Dad's Laundry

970-586-2025

Family Owned - Estes Proud

COMPUTER SERVICES

CAMERAS

CHIMNEY SWEEP

CLEANING SERVICES

EYECARE/GLASSES

WENDYS OPTICAL

MOVED TO UNIT 7 (NEXT DOOR)

343 So. St Vrain Peak to Peak Plaza 970-310-8344

Wendy, Amy, Markus

Dr. Amber Busche

970-586-4418

www.aspen-eyecare.com

600 S Saint Vrain Ave - Suite 5

•equipped to evaluate macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts •same day appointments for eye pain and emergencies

•referral access to specialized surgeons & advocacy for the best care •full service optical for specialized eyewear

Comprehensive Eyecare Right Here in Estes Park!

FLOORING