6 Perspective
A new look, Favorite time of the year, Inside this issue
Healthy foods fuel families—Enjoy treats, snacks and meals together
Fall happenings—Harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, Halloween events
All things Halloween—Trick-or-treat bags, pumpkin carving kit, pumpkin leaf bags
14
Family Travels
Moab, UT—The adventure enthusiast’s paradise!
28
Community news
Opportunities to learn, help your community; New library, glass recycling
34
Calendar
Events and activities for parents, kids and families
36 Time out
Keeping an eye on teens’ risky behavior
22
Greeley-Evans D6
District 6 students win national recognition, Board of Education places MLO renewal on November ballot
24
Poudre
PSD’s Strategic Plan: Working Together to Help Students Succeed
26
Thompson
Visit with the Board, Join Thompson
Communication Advisory Committee, 2022 McGuffey Award Honoree
Help kids have a healthy online presence. The internet can be an unsafe place for kids, but with careful guidance and knowledge they can learn to use the internet in a positive way.
Enrichment and fun await you this Fall. Find activity and program options for your family in northern Colorado.
Cover kid Oliver loves giggling with his sister, the mid-century modern aesthetic, bare feet in the grass, tummy time, and developing his sitting skills.
Photo shot by Cheri Schonfeld, courtesy of Sky's Open Design. www.skysopendesign.com
YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED that the magazine you are reading has a new look. First, it has a new, clean and exciting design thanks to the vision and effort of Creative Director Emily Zaynard. We’ve also freshened up our regular departments with shorter, punchier blurbs and some new ideas. Our feature stories remain as before with in-depth, insightful treatment of current topics.
We have also switched over to a full glossy format, which we believe gives RM Parent a consistently attractive appearance throughout.
Thank you for reading!
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, FALL WAS the time that I would start to read (nerd alert) J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic. Sometimes I would start with the Hobbit and sometimes I would jump right into the Fellowship of the Ring. Something about the fall made me restless and that was when the hobbits headed off on their adventures, so I could head off with them.
I still love to be in the crisp air of autumn. It feels so refreshing after the heat of the summer. I even look forward to the shorter days and the relaxing longer evenings. Fall has a calm feeling. Maybe it’s the return of routine after a hectic summer. Maybe it’s cool evenings on the porch or deck.
I miss some of the activity of summer but by the end of August, I’m ready to putter around the house and in the yard. Life doesn’t seem balanced in the sense that everyday has a little of this and a little of that. For me, it’s more of a pendulum swing or teeter totter with very busy social and activity times followed by calmer more relaxed periods. Summer seems all live, all the time. Fall brings it down.
AUTUMN IS STILL A TIME OF activity, though, that fresh air and the returnto-school activities promote.
To help guide you and your family, Theresa Baer picks a host of Halloween events that you can attend in the Family Fun column on page 10. She also offers up a buffet of other activities on the monthly Calendar of Events on page 32. Check out my favorite things where Lea Hanson recommends some Halloween products.
Katie Harris shares another family road trip, this time to Moab, Utah. Follow their adventures and get some good tips for yours. Claire Sable offers some great ideas about healthful foods and the importance that meals play.
And Lynn Nichols provides a deep-dive feature about avoiding cyberbullying and helping kids have a healthy online presence. Also, don’t miss the school and community news pages.
Happy reading!
Scott
OCTOBER 2022 • Volume 26, Issue 5
Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com
Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com
Emily Zaynard
emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com
Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com
Susan Harting susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com
Cheri Schonfeld courtesy of Sky's Open Design
Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson, Katie Harris Kris Kodrich, Lynn U. Nichols, Claire L. Sable
PO Box 740
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Voice 221-9210 • Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com
Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publica tion of this paper does not consitute an endorse ment of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2022 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.
HALLOWEEN IS BELOVED AND CELEBRATED by small and big goblins alike, but historically, has given license to over-indulging in sugary treats, and that’s not good for even the hardiest of princesses and superheroes.
Fortunately, with a little creativity and a few quick internet searches, you and your kids can create some wholesome treats that are festive and fun, while still being nutritious.
For example, halved bananas can be transformed into little ghosts
BETWEEN PARENTS’ JOBS AND kids’ extra-curricular activities, getting everyone to the table for dinner can be challenging, but according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, it’s well worth the effort.
The study found that family dinners increase feelings of connectedness and belonging in children. Those feelings of warmth, care and love children experience as a result were found to be protective against mental illness and supportive of psychological health and wellbeing, which helps children grow into better-adjusted, more resilient teenagers and adults.
In addition, children’s psychosocial development, which includes forming one’s identity, figuring out one’s place in the world, learning how to interact with others, and feeling competent and confident, are all positively influenced by the simple act of eating together as a family.
The study also reported that family dinners improve children’s overall level of nutrition and help kids develop healthy attitudes towards food.
by jaggedly cutting them in the middle and then using a dark jam or nut butter on the rounded end to make a face. And oranges can be carved into cute little jack-o’-lanterns. Remove all the pulp (save to use later), and then fill them with trail mix, organic gummy bears or other healthy snacks. Vegetables, too, can be carved and arranged into all kinds of Halloween-y treats, or use food dye to turn popcorn into spooky Halloween colors. The possibilities are endless so let your creativity run wild!
Our standard American diet, unironically abbreviated as ‘SAD,’ is full of processed foods that contain too much sugar, sodium, unhealthy fats and additives and preservatives most of us can’t pronounce. While they usually taste great, consumption of these foods has been linked to insulin resistance, obesity and reduced mental performance in children, which negatively affects their ability to learn and focus.
Instead, when the kids need something to nibble on, have some nutritious, wholefood snacks on hand that will not only fill them up, but will provide the nourishment their brains and bodies need.
For ideas and recipes, the internet is your gateway to a vast array of fun ideas. Try swapping out processed pizza pockets for healthy crackers with cheese and tomato slices on top, a.k.a. “mini pizzas.”
And instead of cookies, have your kids help you make some nutritious, no-bake oat and nut-butter balls, or dress up celery sticks with nut butter or cream cheese and then add a fun topping like raisins for Ants on a Log, nuts or fresh berries.
COOL WEATHER…colorful crunchy leaves… Halloween happenings… Look below for fall festivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and Halloween fun for all ages.
Oct. 20–23, evening hours
Hundreds of pumpkins arranged in artistic displays plus family activities. $10/adults and children 12+; $5/ children 5–11. The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. www.fcgov.com/gardens
Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29, hours vary
Guided by lantern light, discover unusual and often scandalous stories from the early Windsor pioneers buried in the cemetery. Ages 8+. $6. Registration required. Lakeview Cemetery, 32815 Highway 257, WS. www.recreationliveshere.com
Friday/Saturday/Sunday through Oct. 30, hours vary. Pumpkin patch, corn maze (haunted at night) and family attractions. Fritzler Farm, 20861 CR 33, LaSalle. www.fritzlerfarmpark.com
Sunday, Oct. 30, Noon–3pm. Free games, prizes, candy, dog costume and pumpkin decorating contest, giveaways. Promenade Shops at Centerra, LV. www.ThePromenadeShopsAtCenterra.com/events
HALLOWEEN IS THE FAVORITE SEASON for many Northern Colorado families. It might be the final break in the heat from the summer, a chance to decorate ourselves and our yards, and, of course the candy. Some of the best community events happen in the fall on the Front Range, too. This month, our favorite things include things that make Halloween parenting easier and more fun.
Buy Local: ACE Hardware
LEAVE YOUR MARK on the gourd of your choice with this carving kit. Inside is everything you need to create a funny, or scary, or cute jack-o'-lantern to light up your home on All-Hallow's Eve!
Buy Local: ACE Hardware in Greeley
A TRUE CLASSIC AND too-often overlooked Hallow een decoration staple. When did Jack-o-Lantern lawn bags get the backseat to the rest of the lawn décor? I say their time to shine is back. Put the family to work and reap the benefits of the best lawn décor on the street when the work is done.
Buy Local: Ace Hardware
IF YOU’RE THE TYPE OF PARENT who can keep track of the trick-or-treating pumpkin from year to year, you deserve a medal. The rest of us find ourselves buying new candy carriers each year. But, now that I discovered reflective bags, I’m no longer frustrated with this process. This durable bag provides visibility to drivers and bikers while trick-or-treating on dark or poorly-lit neighborhood streets. Plus, they are water resistant and carry up to five pounds of candy.
SW corner of Horsetooth & College, west of Safeway 970-225-1040
172 North College Avenue buttercreamcupcakery.com970-482-2505
Adventure awaits you in Moab, UT and surrounding areas. We recommend packing a tent for this trip, as the remoteness of certain destinations along with the general
theme of the voyage make camping the ideal form of lodging on this fall road trip. Plan for day temps in the mid-70s, 40s overnight, and a six-hour drive to your first destination.
RISE, SHINE AND HEAD to Arches National Park for the first leg of your adventure. Landscape Arch, the largest arch in the world, is an easy 1.5-mile hike, while Delicate Arch (the park’s most famous) is 3 miles round trip (www.nps.gov/arch/index. htm). Be sure to grab your reservations ahead of time for Moab Adventure Center’s 4x4 Sunset Hummer Tour. The three-hour tour will have you scaling redrock in the Hell’s Revenge area aboard one of the only modes of transportation it’s accessible from (www.moabadventurecenter.com).
THE SECOND DAY OF YOUR trip will have you floating along the Colorado River on a peaceful half-day rafting trip, with a BBQ picnic stop along the way (www. moabadventurecenter. com). This excursion requires reservations and is only offered through mid-October, so be sure to have a back-up plan if it doesn’t fit in to your itinerary (such as renting ATVs and exploring Moab on your own). Spend the rest of the day in Moab’s other nearby national park, Canyonlands. We recommend visiting the Island in the Sky region of this much larger park first, where you might hike to Mesa Arch (.5 miles) and Upheaval Dome (1 mile). Afterwards, take the scenic drive through the rest of the park, stopping at overlooks along the way (www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm).
DEPART MOAB IN THE WEE HOURS and head west to Little Wild Horse Canyon, where an incredible hike through narrow slot canyons, sometimes requiring a wade through ankle-deep water, awaits you (www.utah. com/destinations/regions/ the-holey-land/little-wildhorse-canyon/). Hike in as far as you like, then it’s back to the car for the short trip to Goblin Valley. The unique rock formations here are breathtaking any time of day, but especially at dusk as they cast shadows across the valley. Travelers of all ages will enjoy climbing the “goblins,” and the park is a perfect place to set up camp for the night (www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/).
YOUR FINAL DAY IN UTAH will take you to Capitol Reef National Park where you’ll have the opportunity to view a petroglyph panel, pick apples in a u-pick orchard, visit a one room schoolhouse, and eat fresh fruit pie at a historical farmhouse (www.nps. gov/care/index.htm) before hitting the road back to Colorado.
THE IDEA OF YOUR OLDER CHILD being victimized or bullied online probably makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It’s hard not to think of digital spaces as dark, online places that breed evil for your child. Yet technology is here to stay, so its best to accept that and instead consider how you can help your child avoid or deal with cyberbullying, and how they can have a positive relationship with the online world.
In a 2018 Healthy Kids Colorado survey, 23 percent of middle schoolers said that they had been bullied electronically. Cyberbullying—defined as using the Internet, mobile phones or another digital device to harm others with hurtful texts, compromising photos and put-downs on social media sites—is especially harmful because there is often limited chances it is witnessed by a caring friend or adult, and kids can suffer alone with it.
According to StopBullying. gov, cyberbullying tactics include posting mean or hurtful comments, rumors, pictures or videos, telling someone to kill themselves, pretending to be someone else online and posting false information, and so on.
“The idea that sticks and stones break bones but words can never hurt you simply is not true. Verbal bullying is significantly harder for kids to deal with than physical bullying. When it’s physical, it’s
obvious. There’s a bruise or a mark that proves something just happened to you. With words, there’s no validation that you were hurt,” says Andrea Holt, Behavioral Health Specialist with Poudre Valley Health System.
Being afraid as a parent, and ignoring your fears around cyberbullying, or banning your older kids from having a social media account won’t help. As a parent, talk to your kids about their online presence.
“While technology and social media have brought some wonderful opportunities, they’ve also opened doors to danger and hurt,” Holt says.
Encourage your kids to think before they post, and to consider kindness. Teach them to question things they read online. If they seem outlandish, like a story that claims that more teens were killed by shark attack than a car accident last year, ask them if they think it is true and walk them through the logic of it. Doing
There isn’t a handy formula for helping you determine how much technology time a child should have. Instead, ask yourself, “Is it opening up my child’s world or shutting it down?”
It’s wise to keep an eye on your kids social media use. If your child has a social media site, monitor it. If you see something that raises your eyebrows, explore it with your child. Keep the computer in a public place. Discuss what sites your child can and cannot visit. Consider
accounts are not open to all but just to friends.
Explain why it’s wise to limit the sharing of per sonal information. If your child has received a hurtful text or post, help her block that person’s texts or elim inate access to her social media site. Finally, talk about what’s appropriate. Make a rule against bad language, name calling, and snarky responses.
“Explain that if you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, you shouldn’t say it online or via a text,” advises Holt.
If you set rules around media use, discuss consequences if the rules are not followed, e.g. loss of the device. Also, talk about how postings live on and on and that inappropriate photos can get kids into real trouble with the law.
child’s behavior toward their phone or tablet changes, like spending way more or way less time on it, that’s a sign that they may be involved in cyberbullying. Another is extreme emotional responses while online, hiding their screen as you walk by, avoiding social situations, and becoming withdrawn or depressed. If you see these signs, start a conversation with something like, “It seems you are not as into your phone these days, how come?” Kids might describe bullying as just messing around or “playing with” someone or being messed with themselves.
so helps preteens and teens become savvy online users.
As a parent, you might wonder how many hours on a device is best for your child. The answer is whatever you are comfortable with and whatever you think is best.
adding parental controls.
If your child plays games online, make sure it’s limited to friends and not a public setting, where adults can pose as kids and “talk” with them as a game character. Discuss privacy settings and encourage their
Technology moves so quickly. Today, some teens have virtual personas that exist in a virtual world. For them, their virtual self is real. Have an open conversation with your preteen or teen about what digital apps and games are popular, today. Ask open-ended questions and do your best to not pass judgment. Ask your kids if they feel like it is healthy for them to use the app or social media platform. You might be surprised by their honesty.
Watch for tipping points and warning signs of cyberbullying. If your
Finally, let your child know that you are there for them if they need to talk about anything, and that you won’t get angry or judge. It’s awful to find out that your child is being bullied. If yours is, offer support. While it’s not good it happened, see it as a golden moment to teach coping skills.
“Empathize with your child. Say that you would feel the same way, that it must’ve been a really hard day, and invite him or her to come up with solutions,” suggests Holt.
By getting a glimpse into their online world, you will be better prepared to help them identify cyberbullying and use social media and digital platforms for good.
Over100 years old, E. Nesbit’s family classic centers on the lives of three children whose comfortable, middle-class existence ends when their father has to go away unexpectedly. Roberta, Peter and Phyllis leave their London home and move with their mother to a small cottage in the country where life is very different. With their mother now busy writing to earn money, the railway becomes a source of fascination and solace to the children.
They make friends with Perks, the station master, the “Old Gentleman” and the proud villagers of their new rural community. Like the people it
carries from place to place, the train represents their connection with one another: people coming in and going, the hope for something exciting just around the corner, and the tempo and rhythm of life. These developing relationships all come together –at the station. However, mystery remains – where is their father?
This charming story deals sensitively with living in changing circumstances, justice, the kindness of strangers and the importance of family.
The Railway Children is brought to the stage as it roars into the Magnolia Theatre station October 7-22. All aboard!
Friday Evenings: Oct 7, 14 and 21
Saturday Evenings: Oct 8, 15 and 22
Sunday Matinee: Oct 9
Saturday Matinees: Oct 15 and 22
Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre
417 West Magnolia, Fort Collins CO
$10 per ticket, on sale Sept 6, 2022
Lincoln Center Box Office 970.221.6730 • www.lctix.com
Appropriate for all ages. Show runs 2 hours in length.
Artistic Director Lee Osterhout-Kaplan, Debut Theatre Company 827 Riverside Avenue, Fort Collins CO www.debuttheatre.org
FOR
Greg at 970-689-6832
Susan at 970-301-3320
corner of Horsetooth & College, west of Safeway 970-225-1040
North College Avenue
for District 6. Based on property values, this MLO provides about $20 million in funding annually. Here are just a few of the items funded through the MLO since 2017:
• New curriculum, including text books and digital content in ALL content areas K-12
• Chromebooks for every student in District 6
• Security cameras at middle and high schools
• New school buses and work vehicles
• Salary increases for hourly employees
• Roof replacements and repairs
FIVE STUDENTS FROM Greeley Central High School and one student from Early College Academy, have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.
To be eligible for this recognition, students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, have excelled on the PSAT/ NMSQT or PSAT 10 tests, earned a score of 3 or high er on two or more Advanced Placement exams, and are African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/or have at tend school in a rural area or small town. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications
and connect students with universities across the coun try, helping them meaning fully connect to colleges and stand out during the admis sions process.
The students who re ceived the National Hispanic Recognition Award are:
• Aven McCall—Greeley Central High School
• Ayden Mascarenas— Greeley Central High School
• Daniel Hildalgo— Greeley Central High School
• Jessika Guerrero— Greeley Central High School
• Ricardo Garcia Naranjo—Greeley Central High School
• Sofia Gonzalez—Early College Academy
On Monday, August 22, the District 6 Board of Education voted 5-2 to approve ballot language for this November that would renew the 2017 Mill Levy Override, scheduled to sunset in 2023. The issue will ask voters in District 6 to renew the 10 mills the district is currently collecting on residential and commercial properties and collect that tax until 2033. Board members Rob Norwood and Taylor Sullivan cast the dissenting votes.
This is NOT a tax increase but a continuation of the existing tax. The Mill Levy Override approved in 2017 is an important local funding source
• Concurrent enrollment for more than 1,000 students annually at Aims Community College and UNC
• Student fees for IB and AP exams
• Industry certificates for students
• After school and summer school programs
• AVID in elementary and K-8 schools
• Technology for classrooms
If approved in November, the MLO will continue to pay for many of these items, as well as continue funding for additional counselors, social workers and atten dance advocates currently funded through federal COVID relief dollars, which expire next year.
At Arts and Imagination we believe in a thoughtfull development of art, academics, and peace education.
Arts and Imagination is a fresh approach to early childhood education. We view children as capable, strong, resilient and overflowing with knowledge, curiosity and potential. We value their thought journey and foster learning through our unique program.
• 6:30pm, Thursday, Oct. 27, Boltz Middle School, 720 Boltz Drive, Fort Collins
Those who attend can expect to learn about data and why the priority areas were selected.
IN POUDRE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, we are creating a strategic plan to guide our work that will enhance the experiences, opportunities and outcomes for all students. The strategic plan, which will be developed in partnership with the entire PSD community, will be our roadmap for the next several years and focuses on four priorities: literacy, graduating with options, mental health and belonging, and school safety.
Our data shows there are great things happening in PSD but that there are not yet great outcomes for all students. With a strategic plan to help guide us, we believe we can best support learning for all by better aligning practices across our school district.
We invite our community to guide the development of Poudre School District’s Strategic Plan at a series of upcoming engagement sessions. You can weigh in at any of the following sessions:
• 6:30pm, Thursday, Oct. 6, Preston Middle School, 4901 Corbett Drive, Fort Collins
• 6:30pm, Thursday, Oct. 20, Lincoln Middle
Facilitators will also share a draft of the Strategic Plan framework and ask participants for their feedback. Other teams of staff will use input to build upon the framework; a second iteration of the plan will be shared later this fall, and everyone will have another opportunity to share thoughts through a survey. We are currently planning to release the final Strategic Plan sometime in the first quarter of 2023.
We are excited to work with you on this plan this year. Together, we can support and guide our
THE THOMPSON SCHOOL
DISTRICT Board of Edu cation is hosting a series of public engagement sessions which will allow the community to meet the board members, learn more about district initia tives, ask questions and provide feedback.
Please see the schedule below:
• Thursday, October 6, 5-6:30pm, TSD Admin Building, 800 S. Taft Ave., Loveland
• Saturday, November 12,
9-10:30am, Ferguson High School/Thompson Career Campus, 1811 W. 15th St., Loveland
• Thursday, February 9, 7:30-9am, TSD Admin Building, 800 S. Taft Ave., Loveland
• Wednesday, April 26, 6-7:30pm, Turner Middle School, 950 Massachusetts Ave., Berthoud
Thompson Communication Advisory Committee
Thompson School District is forming a
Communication Advisory Committee that will serve the district by assisting in the analysis of current communication and marketing practices, and by providing advice for enhancing efforts to better serve our district community. The committee will meet approximately four times throughout the school year. Meetings will be tentatively held in October, December, February and April. Interested in joining
the committee? Please call 970-613-5000 for more information.
Pam Howard was honored as a 2022 McGuffey Award Honoree. The Colorado Association of School Board’s McGuffey Award honors board members who bring committed and passionate service to their board work. Honorees are recognized at the association’s Fall Regional Meetings, on its website and through social media.
Ms. Howard was appointed to the Thompson School District Board of Education Director District D seat in October 2013 and was subsequently elected in 2015 and 2019. She is a 30-year resident of Loveland and all three of her children have attended district schools.
“I’ve greatly enjoyed my time serving the amazing students, families, staff and community members here in Thompson School District,” Ms. Howard says. “As a Board, we have accomplished so many great things for our district and in particular, I am most proud of helping to lead the successful 2018 bond and mill levy override measures which have assisted every student, family and staff member throughout TSD.”
O-I GLASS4GOOD program, community members drop off glass for recycling and O-I will form it into new glass and provide a charitable donation to the United Way of Weld County based on the weight of collected glass. The recycling program raised and donated $1,300 to United Way of Weld County this summer.
Residents can drop off glass for recycling at with Andersen’s Sales & Salvage during business hours at 1490 E. 8th Street in Greeley, or during daylight hours at Crabtree Brewing Company at 2961 29th Street in Greeley.
A new Library and Inno vation Center (LINC) is set to open in May of 2023 in the former Greeley Tribune building at 501 8th Avenue in Greeley. The High Plains Library District intends the facility to tie the arts in to skills-based development.
Throughout the building there will be maker spaces and innovation centers with laser cutters, 3D printers, woodshops and wet and dry workshops. It will also feature sound proof recording studios for audio and video, art installations and hands-on exhibits created in collab oration with the Denver Children’s Museum.
At their September 7th meeting, the Thompson School District Board of Education voted 4-2 to allow existing district security staff, who undergo training, to carry concealed firearms on campus during work hours. The resolution, which does not pertain to teachers, took effect immediately so armed school security officers could be seen sometime this school year. To learn more, view the meeting minutes online at https:// go.boarddocs.com/co/ thompson/Board.nsf/Public.
Earlier this year, City of Greeley
officials partnered with Owens-Illinois (O-I), Crabtree Brewing Company, and Andersen’s Sale & Salvage to offer free drop-off glass recycling at two Greeley locations. As part of
Look for the blue recycling containers, and deposit beer/wine/spirits/nonalcoholic glass bottles; food glass jars; and drinking glasses that have been rinsed and labels and nonglass parts removed. Learn more at www.greeleygov. com/recycling.
Amy Kilber and Lisa Wentz-Kinnison,
BioBlitz
Community science event plus crafts/activities. Treasure Island Demonstration Garden, WS. www.recreationliveshere.com
OCTOBER 1 & 2
Estes Park Elk Fest
Bond Park, EP. www.visitestespark.com/ events-calendar/fall-events/ elk-fest
Life/fire safety activities/ vendors, The Ranch, LV. www.larimer.gov/events
Trek the Thompson with Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
Festival with easy 3-mile trek on paved trail. Fairgrounds Park, LV. www.lovgov. org/Home/Components/ Calendar/Event/100283
Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Fall Jamboree
Fort Collins Nursery, FC. www.FortCollinsNursery.com
Bond Park, EP. www.visitestespark.com/ events-calendar/fall-events/ pumpkins-and-pilsners-festival
Hear Gitanjali Rao, America’s Top Young Scientist plus activities, tours. Forge Campus, LV. www.liveloveland.org/60years-celebrating-seeds-ofinnovation
The Ranch Events Complex, LV. www.treventscomplex. com/events/event-calendar
Teen Self Care Fair Learn coping skills. Adult sessions included. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, FC. https:// allianceforsuicideprevention. org/training-and-eventscalendar
OCTOBER 13 THROUGH 15
CSU Homecoming & Family Weekend Festival, fireworks, football, music, more. CSU Campus, FC. https://homecoming. colostate.edu
Linden Street Revival
All-ages music event and food drive. Linden Street between Walnut & Jefferson Streets, FC. www.fcgov. com/specialevents/calendar
OCTOBER 29 & 30
Morning Fresh Dairy Halloween Tours Morning Fresh Dairy, Bellvue. www.morningfreshdairy.com/ tours-and-events/halloweentours.html
ENTERTAINMENT
THROUGH NOVEMBER 6
The Scarlet Pimpernel Swashbuckling action/ adventure musical. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Johnstown. www.coloradocandlelight.com
OCTOBER 1 & 27, NOVEMBER 5
Fort Collins Symphony Escape Concerts Lincoln Center Performance Hall, FC. www.lctix.com
OCTOBER 3 THROUGH 5
The Long Run: Colorado’s Tribute To The Eagles Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Johnstown. www. coloradocandlelight.com
OCTOBER 7 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19
Día de los Muertos Exhibit showcases altars created by school/ community groups. Global Village Museum, FC. globalvillagemuseum.org
Go Now! The Music of the Moody Blues Rialto Theater, LV. www.rialtotheatercenter.org
Family Movie Event: The Bad Guys
Windsor-Severance Library, WS. https://clearview.libnet. info/event/7047515
Touring bilingual/bicultural musical. Monfort Concert Hall, GR. https://ucstars. showare.com
Herederos: Mariachi Herencia de México Concert celebration of mariachi music. Monfort Concert Hall, GR. https://ucstars.showare.com
Spooky Cool Kids Club Family Event Theater/music/dance shows, crafts, etc. Lyric Cinema, FC. https://lyriccinema.com/ movie/6042
Ozomatli Concert Monfort Concert Hall, GR. https://ucstars.showare.com
Martha Redbone
Native & African-American vocalist/songwriter/ composer/educator. Rialto Theater, LV. www.rialtotheatercenter.org
Kids Nite Out Loveland & Windsor Safe active fun. Chilson Recreation Center, LV or Windsor Community Rec Center, WS. www.kidsniteout.org
Long View Marathon & Half Marathon
EPIC & Fossil Creek Park, FC to Fairgrounds Park, LV. www.longviewmarathon.com
Positive intro to running world. Kruse Elementary, FC. https://bit.ly/3BT3pdl
LambFam Fall 5K
Elementary students +. Fort Collins High School, FC. https://lambfamfall5k.wixsite. com/website
New Belgium Half Marathon & 5k Fun Run Out/back course along Poudre Trail. New Belgium Brewing, FC. https:// breweryrunningseries22. com/colorado
Raise awareness/ funds to help end NoCo homelessness. Samaritan House/Catholic Charities, FC. www.homewardalliance.org
42nd Annual CSU
Homecoming 5K
All ages and abilities. CSU Oval, FC. https:// homecoming.colostate.edu
Dive in and swim to find the perfect pumpkin to decorate. Community Recreation Center, WS. www. recreationliveshere.com
Run Fur Fun 5K
Spooktacular
5K run to benefit Animal Friends Alliance. New Belgium Brewing, FC. https://bit.ly/3BSB2f8
Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Fall Jamboree
Saturday, Oct. 8, 10am–3pm www.FortCollinsNursery.com
Pumpkins & Pilsners Festival
Saturday, Oct. 8, 11am–6pm Bond Park, EP. https://bit. ly/3DFB5fB
Loveland Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, Oct. 22, Noon–5pm, Foundry Plaza, Downtown LV. www.downtown loveland.org/ pumpkinfestival
Anderson Patchwork Pumpkins
Daily 10am–7pm. 15415 Hwy 14, Ault. 970-227-4661
Bartels Pumpkin Patch Through Nov. 1, 10am–6pm. 3424 E. Douglas Rd., FC. www.thebartelspumpkin patch.com
Thursday–Sunday through Oct. 31, hours vary. 7710 Weld Co Rd 62, WS. www.hometownharvest pumpkinpatch.com
Northern Colorado Corn Maze
Friday–Sunday through Oct 31, 11am-6pm. Northern Colorado Corn Maze, 2318 S CR 5, FC.
www.nococornmaze.com
Osborn Farm Pumpkin Patch
Through Oct. 30, 10am–6pm. Osborn Farm, 1230 S Boise Ave., LV. www.osbornfarm.com
River Ranch Pumpkin Farm 1220 Langston Ln., LV. www.riverranchfarms.com
Through Oct. 31, Monday–Saturday 9am–6pm, Sunday 10am–6pm. 8020 S. Timberline Rd., FC. www. somethingfromthefarm.com
Tigges Farm Pumpkin Patch Thursday–Sunday through Oct. 30, 10am–6pm. Tigges Farm, 12404 WCR 64 ½, GR. www.tiggesfarmllc.com
Harrington’s HAAunted House Weekends, Oct. 14–31, 6–11pm; Kid-friendly day Oct. 30, 11am–3pm Promenade Shops at Centerra, 5971 Sky Pond Dr., LV. www. LovelandHauntedHouse.com
Howl-O-Ween Trick or Treat Oct. 22-23, 2–6pm $4/person, ages 3+. Centennial Village Museum, 1475 A St., GR. https://bit.ly/3RXID1x
Candy Crawl at Fort Collins Marketplace Sunday, Oct. 23, Noon–2pm https://bit.ly/3qNasOc
Trick or Treat Street Friday, Oct. 28, 4–6pm Downtown GR. https://bit.ly/3xXt42b
Friday–Sunday, Oct. 2830, hours vary, Farm at Lee Martinez Park, 600 N. Sherwood St., FC. www.fcgov.com/treatsylvania
Halloween Carnival
Saturday, Oct. 29, 1–4pm Windsor History Museum, 100 N 5th St., WS. www. recreationliveshere.com
WHEN IN ROME, YOU HAVE TO eat pasta, right? So, on our first night, we found a nice Italian (what else?) café with cheerful people buzzing about, raising their voices, making animated hand gestures, and drinking lots of wine.
So, it seemed only natural to lean over to my then-almost-17-year-old daughter Bianka and state, confidante-like, that it would be OK if she drank a glass of Chianti with dinner. “We’re in Europe, where the traditional rules of back home need not apply.” And she eagerly accepted the offer, and she reached over and filled her glass with the red mildly alcoholic liquid.
I didn’t realize what I had unleashed.
Later, in Greece, Portugal, Spain and nearly a dozen other Mediterranean and European countries, Bianka convinced me to let her try some local brew. Even some weird hemp concoction at a sketchy hippie commune In Denmark. Thankfully, in most countries, she stuck with the local beer.
Throughout our fourmonth-long journey earlier this year, I tacitly supported Bianka’s sampling of one beer in each country. Was it just me, or did it seem like the steins were getting bigger and bigger along the way?
Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t encouraging Bianka
to drink. I allowed an occasional beer because I strongly believe that it’s better for parents to introduce drinking in moderation rather than her friends introducing her to drinking in excess. When I was a kid in Wisconsin, parents legally were allowed to let their accompanying underage offspring drink a beer or wine at a supper club, lake resort, or even a tavern. And I remember as a youngster trying beer and wine with my parents. “Yuck,” and “gross” is what I recall of the taste. Then, I snuck beer to a Friday night fish fry at our Catholic church and school to drink in the bathroom with a few of my fellow sixth-graders. We all agreed it was “cool” and “tastes great.”
Many Europeans would agree with my perspective that it’s more sensible and safe for teens to have an occasional adult beverage with their family rather than drinking out on the street with their friends. Our family European adventure – I was teaching on Semester at Sea – was indeed intended as a learning experience. On the ship, our two daughters (Bianka turned 17 and Kalia turned 21 during our travels) took college courses. Off the ship, we immersed ourselves in each country for several days, reveling in all the new cultures.
My thinking is I would
rather be there when my kids are doing risky stuff –anything from learning to ski in the Rocky Mountains to playing with firecrackers on the Fourth of July. I know I can’t control everything in my kids’ lives. Believe me, we know the hospital emergency room routine. (Skateboards!!!) But as a parent, I like to think I can at least mitigate the risk when I’m around.
I think back to my own experiences with my dad. I loved when he let me blow off firecrackers out on a farm. I loved when he drove out onto frozen lakes in Wisconsin and spun donuts on the ice with his sporty Pontiac LeMans. (Putting yourself in two tons of metal atop a frozen lake is definitely not advisable nowadays in an age of climate change and
global warming.)
These were good memories. And we all survived. (A few trips to emergency rooms for assorted mishaps on family adventures, notwithstanding.)
I’m sure some folks might not like these family shenanigans and they certainly aren’t for everyone. But when I think back on memories like laughing and telling stories with my teenage daughter over a delightful pasta dinner and a glass of Chianti in a fun Roman café, I’m not going to regret that we were out living life.
Kris Kodrich is a journalism professor at Colorado State University. He taught several courses earlier this year on Semester at Sea.
