Presentation & Book Signing With

Local Author Elena Burnham Willets

Local author Elena Willets will be speaking about her recently published memoirs, Stars in My Eyes, at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15 at the Estes Park Senior Citizens Center, 1760 Olympian Lane. All are invited to attend this special presentation.

Elena will not only speak about her life among Hollywood stars, but she will also tell stories about the many people she and her husband met when they moved to Estes Park in 1983.

Elena will address how she went about authoring this book and will offer helpful encouragement to get you started on your own memoirs.

A book signing will follow her presentation.

Elena’s book will be on sale for just $10 by cash or check.

Elena wants to share what is written on the back cover of her book, which summarizes it all:

“Like many kids growing up in Sherman Oaks during the golden age of Hollywood, it wasn't unusual for Elena Burnham Willets to catch glimpses of TV and movie stars. But Elena's celebrity sightings were far more frequent than average because her father, Weldon S. Burnham, made his living as a portrait photographer of the stars. Among his long list of clients were Douglas MacArthur, Vidal Sassoon, Esther Williams, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Red Skelton, and Art Linkletter. Weldon also took the iconic portrait of Roy Rogers sitting on his rearing horse, Trigger, which was used on posters and other promotional materials worldwide. In Stars in My Eyes, Elena recounts her many serendipitous meetings with famous personalities. As a child, she chases Gordon MacRae's son through the hallways at her school only to wind up crashing into Gordon MacRae himself. As a teenager, she dates Rob Reiner. In her early twenties, she goes to a private party with Elvis and his friends. Later, her connections as a hairstylist provide many more opportunities to make friends with those working in Hollywoodboth the wellknown and the unknown. When she gets married, the band that will become Toto plays at her wedding.”

For the presentation, you are welcome to bring your own lunch or pre-purchase a hot meal by ordering the day before. Place your order before 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 14. For this event, they will be serving a delicious Mexican Variety Platter and refried beans. The cost of the meal is $7 for Estes Park Senior Citizens Center (EPSCC) members and $10 for non-members. If you become an EPSCC member for just $30 per year, you will not only enjoy meal discounts but also gain access to all the amazing activities. For more information about the EPSCC or to order a meal for the presentation, please call the Senior Center at (970) 581-2195.

This community presentation is presented 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.