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Nature’s Confetti Golden aspen leaves carpet the forest floor in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Marsha Hobert
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Oh, Beautiful, For Evergreens
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Anything that we do to change Estes should be done only if it maintains the character, quality, and beauty of this valley. To respect that rule, we need to consider what the character, quality, and beauty of the Estes Valley is. I’m sure there are a thousand different opinions of that! It’s OK to transform Estes. That will happen one way or the other. Humans change the valley; natural events change the valley; rockfall changes the valley. (We talk about geologic time in the movement of rocks, but, as famed climber Gerry Roach said, “Geologic time includes now.”) Transformations are inevitable with 11,000 people in the Valley, half of whom live in Town limits. In a recent column, I mentioned that change is perpetual. We want those changes to be respectful. Nomadic indigenous people changed this valley, though in passing ways that didn’t reshape rivers or install buildings, roads, and utilities. Joel Estes changed this valley. F.O. Stanley changed it. Business owners change it. Every Town Board since we’ve had a Town Board has changed it. Developers changed Estes to build your house. My first visit to Estes was in March of 1974. I came in a 1968 forest-green Ford Fairlane with a drummer friend and a French graduate student. We came in over Highway 36, and the trees were not as obstructive to the view as they are now. I thought the valley was incredible and stunningly beautiful. We moved here permanently on November 4, 2003, 23 years ago. When I drive in now, over 36, or 34, or 7, or into Estes from Grand Lake, I see the valley and think that it is incredible and stunningly beautiful. The most dominant aspect of the Estes Valley is the mountain landscape, which gives it the surrounding character. The trees and vegetation permeate the valley. The embedded parks and the colors of nature’s rooted bounty – pines, firs, aspens, mountain grasses, junipers, flowers in the summer – create a beautiful landscape that has a powerful and unique quality. I smell the scenery in town and in the forest. My totem plants are the sage and the pines. I’ll pick up a branch that
a squirrel has cut down, and I’ll carry it for miles, sniffing it deeply. I started out in east L.A. (Riverside), moved to Guam, and became enthralled by mountains, oceans, and forests. I lived in small, large, and huge communities. I was eight when my Air Force father moved us to the island of Newfoundland. That was when the pines became part of my being. There are human-made parts of Estes that need to be transformed, like our old stables at the fairgrounds. There are other parts that should be protected from major transformations, like the Land Trust’s acres. I wander around town a lot. I stop in shops and restaurants and lodges, but I also go to many spots to look over the town. From almost any vantage point, the majority of what I see is attractive, enchanting, breathtaking, or exquisite. Some of the parts of the valley radiate,
like the morning sun reflecting off Lake Estes. And yet it is a land of many humans. That’s OK, if we respect it, and if we live with and within this natural space. And we must ensure that our visitors approach it with the same respect. Transportation must evolve to be clean and to reduce the number of vehicles that come to Estes. Housing must respect the qualities that make Estes great. Wildlife is very good at adapting as long as we give them fair space. We live in an elegant and lovely valley. Beauty is not a thing of the past here. The character of Estes includes natural elements – and includes the humans and their creations. Smokey says that only you can prevent forest fires. I’ll add that only we together, and those that follow us, can keep Estes evergreen forever.
Join The Next Trustee Talk Oct. 22 Community members are invited to join Mayor Pro Tem Hazelton and Trustee Lancaster for a Trustee Talk Thursday, October 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Room, 170 MacGregor Ave. This is an opportunity for community members to discuss local issues with members of the board in an informal setting.
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Public Hearings On Proposed Water Rate Increases Oct. 27 & Nov. 10 Why rate changes are proposed Much of the Town’s aging water system—including treatment plants, storage tanks, and miles of pipe—needs repair or replacement to ensure safe, reliable drinking water and adequate supplies for firefighting. The Town’s 2026 Water Master Plan and subsequent Rate Study identified approximately $130 million in needed improvements. Because water rates are the system’s sole source of funding for operations, maintenance, and capital projects, the proposed increases are necessary to meet these costs. Rates would increase by 15 percent each year for the next three years. The first increase would take effect with January 2027 water usage, reflected on bills customers receive in February 2027. The changes would apply to all Town water customers, inside and outside of Estes Park town limits.
Join the conversation Customers are encouraged to learn more about their water system and weigh in on the proposed rate changes. • Online: estes.org/waterfuture • In print, during regular business hours: Estes Valley Library reference desk, 335 E. Elkhorn Ave. Town of Estes Park Utilities Department, 1180 Woodstock Dr. • Drop in to talk with our staff: October 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Utilities Building (1180 Woodstock Dr. • Town Board hearings take place October 27 and November 10, 2026. Meeting information and public comment form are available at estes.org/boardsandmeetings. Questions? Call the Utilities Department at 970-577-3588 or email us at waterfuture@estes.org.
Step Back In Time At The 2026 Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival Join us November 7 from 12 - 5 p.m. at the Estes Park Events Complex for an immersive speakeasy experience: a 1920s inspired celebration featuring 40+ craft distillers, Colorado breweries, family fun for everyone, local vendors, food, live music, & more The Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival returns for another unforgettable year with a Prohibition-era twist! The Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival celebrates Colorado’s vibrant distilling community by bringing together artisans, enthusiasts, and adventurers for a day of tasting, learning, and connection. Each year, the festival highlights the creativity, craftsmanship, and culture that make Colorado’s spirits scene so unique. This year, the festival welcomes everyone to embrace fall in the Rocky Mountains with an experience the whole family can enjoy. From craft spirits and live music to food, games, and family-friendly activities, there is something for everyone. Step into the speakeasy, embrace the season, and experience an afternoon of Colorado craft, vintage glamour, and Rocky Mountain merriment. New this year, the festival is familyfriendly and open to all ages, with ticket options for everyone. Bring the whole family for a day of fun, with bounce houses, face painting, food vendors, and activities for all ages, plus a chance to experience Colorado’s craft spirits scene.
Guests can enjoy: • 40+ Colorado distilleries, breweries, and vendors showcasing craft spirits and local flavors • Custom festival glasses sponsored by Broderick and Uncle Tim’s Cocktails Distillery — yours to keep • Live jazz and swing music by Deborah Stafford and Sound • Tin plate Western portraits by Dylan Burr Photography — capture your vintage alter ego • Educational tastings and speakeasy lounges featuring your favorite distillers and brewers, sponsored by Renewal by Andersen • Craft cocktails, music, and family fun all afternoon as we celebrate the end of Prohibition in style • Sponsored shuttle connecting the Events Center, downtown, and local stops — including The Velvet Lounge and Estes Perk, where you can keep the speakeasy experience going with live music and chocolate decadence • Kids Zone filled with bounce houses, face painting, and more Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026 Time: 12 – 5 p.m. Location: Estes Park Event Complex, Estes Park, Colorado Tickets: Available now at epspirits.com Raise your glass, dress the part, and get ready for a Prohibition-ending good time in the heart of the Rockies.
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Medicare Presentation Hosted By Good Samaritan Estes Park Village Monday, October 26 1901 Ptarmigan Trail 9:30am - 11:00am Join us as Judy Brannon of UCHealth Aspen Club shares updates & changes of Medicare plans in 2027 that may affect your healthcare, coverage, and rates. A Q&A will be available after the presentation.
Gather Your Flock & Gobble Up The Fun: Chamber Launches Brand-New Turkey Trot Nov. 27 By: Estes Chamber of Commerce
This year's turkey is running a little behind, and you're invited to chase it down. The inaugural Tardy Turkey Trot, a 4-mile run/walk around Lake Estes, steps off at 10 a.m. Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. The family- and stroller-friendly event is a fundraiser for the Estes Economic Development & Workforce Council (EDWC), which supports the economic health of the Estes Valley and helps sustain a high quality of life for residents and visitors. Gather your flock and make it a new holiday tradition. Participants will take in views of Lake Estes that are sure to leave you feeling extra thankful, and every registrant will receive a Tardy Turkey Trot beanie and a post-race breakfast burrito from Kissing Moose Cafe. Presented by Bank of Colorado, prizes include local area gift cards totaling $100 for the first place male and female. And for anyone who manages to catch the tardy turkey, there's a $100 cash prize.
Date/Time: Friday, November 27, 2026, 10 a.m. (rain or shine) Location: 4-mile loop around Lake Estes, starting at the Marina Pavilion, 1798 Big Thompson Ave Fee: Early bird "turkey" registration is $48.70 per person, deadline is October 21. Kids under 12 can register for $35 up until race day. Registration fees will increase closer to the race day. Register at runsignup.com/Race/CO/EstesPark/ TardyTurkeyTrot. Free parking is available at the Lake Estes Marina and the Estes Park Visitor Center.
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Trail Work At Glacier Gorge Trailhead Completed
Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Crew staff have completed trail work at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. The Glacier Gorge parking area and trailhead have reopened, and shuttle bus opera-
tions have resumed at this location. Thank you to all crew members for their hard work this week and for accomplishing this project ahead of schedule! Photo courtesy NPS Visitors interested in hiking to destinations like Alberta Falls, Mills Lake, and The Loch can start their hike from either Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake Trailheads.
Museum Gallery Tour With Spanish Interpretation Join the Estes Park Museum in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! On Tuesday, October 20 at 6:45 p.m. for a guided tour with Spanish interpretation of the permanent exhibit, Destination: Estes Park. Spanish translation and interpretation will be provided by Karina Saucedo Olvera. We hope to see you there! During this tour, the group will explore the permanent exhibit including the 1909 Stanley Steamer Runabout,
historic films, oral histories, artifacts dating throughout Estes Park’s history, and the exhibition process. The Estes Park Museum gallery strives to connect the beautiful natural setting to the stories of growth and development of this unique mountain community. The tour is free and open to all members of the public. For more information regarding Estes Park Museum programming, please visit: estes.org/museum/programs.
“Scrapbooking Your Estes Park Memories” Program Oct. 24 Join the Estes Park Museum in celebrating American Archives Month during Scrapbooking Your Estes Park Memories. This program will take place on Saturday, October 24 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Museum meeting room at 200 4th St., Estes Park, CO 80517. Participants will learn how history can be seen through scrapbooks and safe scrapbooking practices while making their own scrapbook page. All materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring copies of their own photographs that they would like to use in making their page. This program is free and open to the public and fun for the whole family. Anyone 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For more information regarding Estes Park Museum programming, please visit estes.org/museum/programs.
Banking built by relationships for Estes Park Being a community bank means strengthening the places you call home. For generations, our family-owned business has prioritized community above all else. We’re rooted in strong values of stability and integrity to provide a one-of-a-kind banking experience. EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE OF A LOCAL BANK
Page from scrapbook compiled by Margaret Kent, 1937-1941. 2022.024.001
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10th Annual Colorado Creative Tablesetting/ Scaping: Seeking Community Sponsors With the 10th annual Colorado Creative Tablesetting/Scaping event unveiling publicly November 14 and 15, the Colorado Creative Tablesetting/Scaping Committee is pleased to announce the following generous business support: $250 Major Sponsor: Bank of Colorado, $100 Sponsor: two private donors, and InKind Auction and Services Sponsors: Ember Restaurant at Estes Park Resort and A la Carte Kitchen Store. Interested in supporting this unique creative event? Businesses and individual donations are welcome to make this event a success! Checks can be made out to the Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation, Inc. (EPMFF) with “2026 CCT” in the memo and sent to EPMFF at 200 4th Street, Estes Park, CO 80517.
Interested in donating an auction item? Please contact Derek Fortini at dfortini@estes.org before October 30, 2026. All sponsors will be listed in future publicity and at the event, as well as receive complimentary admission tickets and an invitation to a special continental breakfast sneak preview of all the remarkable tables. A fundraiser for the Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation Inc. (EPMFF), participants or attendees should plan to experience this entirely unique event highlighting competitive and non-competitive creativity November 14 and 15 at Ember at Estes Park Resort. The 2026 theme commemorates America’s 250 anniversary with National Parks, Monuments, and Historic Sites: Then or Now.
On October 9 in the 500-block of Big Thompson Avenue, police cited a 21year-old male for drinking from/possessing an open alcoholic beverage and possession of drug paraphernalia. On October 9 at 1262 Graves Avenue, police booked and released a 29-yearold male for failure to appear.
On October 10, police served an arrest warrant to a 59-yearold male at 170 MacGregor Avenue. He was taken into custody and transported to Larimer County Detention Center. The charge(s) are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Community Invited To Meet The Superintendent The Estes Park School District invites community members, parents, and local residents to attend informal meet-and-greet sessions with Superintendent David Grubbs throughout the school year. Whether you have specific topics you would like to discuss regarding district operations and student success, or simply wish to stop by for a casual conversation, these sessions offer a welcoming, open forum to share thoughts and ask questions. The scheduled meet-andgreet sessions will take place on the following dates and times: • Wednesday, October 21, 1 – 2:30 p.m., District Administration Conference Room at 1605 Brodie Avenue, Estes Park, CO. Spanish translator will be present. • Monday, November 16, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Poppy’s Pizza and Grill • Wednesday, January 27. 2:30 – 4 p.m., District Administration Conference Room at 1605 Brodie Avenue, Estes Park, CO. Spanish translator will be present. • Tuesday, February 2, 12 – 1 p.m., Estes
Park Senior Citizens Center • Thursday, March 25, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Kind Coffee All members of the Estes Park School District community are encouraged to drop in during any of these scheduled times. No RSVP is required. For more information, please contact the Estes Park School District administration office at 970-586-2361.
First Peoples Festival Invites You To Listen, Learn, & Connect The First Peoples Festival, in partnership with Visit Estes Park, the Estes Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Estes Park, invite Estes Park volunteers, business owners, and community leaders to “We Are Still Here: Building a Welcoming Community for Native Americans.” The cultural training will take place on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Event Center, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park. The training is designed for local businesses, tourism stakeholders, local nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and anyone interested in building a welcoming community in anticipation of the upcoming First Peoples Festival in January 2027. Register for the training at tinyurl.com/2e6pcfx7. Steven LaPointe, representing the Sicangu Lakota Nation, and Erlidawn Roy, of Meskwaki, Anishinaabe, Laguna Pueblo, and Isleta Pueblo heritage will share history, personal experiences, family stories, and cultural perspectives. Participants will explore Native history and culture, tribal and treaty rights, contemporary Native experiences, and ways to build greater understanding and meaningful relationships. For more information or questions, contact Town of Estes Park Event Coordinator Becky Gruhl at bgruhl@estes.org. Learn more about the First Peoples Festival at Facebook.com/FirstPeoplesFestival.
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Dr. Bridget Dunn To Retire After 32 Years In Family Medicine After 18 years of caring for patients in Estes Park and 32 years as a family medicine physician, Dr. Bridget Dunn will be retiring from UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center (EVMC) at the end of this year. During her Estes Park tenure, Dunn cared for generations of local families, building lasting relationships with patients of all ages across the community. “Words can’t express the privilege it has been to care for you,” Dunn wrote in a letter to her patients. “You have let me into some of the most important moments of your lives. You called me at all hours and trusted me with your children, your parents and yourselves.” Vern Carda, president of EVMC, said Dunn's impact extends far beyond the patients she cared for. "Dr. Dunn truly loves this community, and I think her patients and colleagues have always felt that. She listens, she cares, and she takes the time to really know them and what matters to them. I know her impact will be felt here for a very long time." Dunn joined what was then called Estes Park Medical Center in 2008,
after establishing her medical career in Denver and raising two sons. From 2017 to 2022, she served as the clinic medical director at the hospital. In 2023 and 2024, she served as chief of staff, working with senior leadership and representing medical providers.
“I have loved practicing medicine here: the morning drives with elk along the road, the way our town shovels each other’s roads after a beautiful snowstorm, the small children who have given me drawings of their office visits, and our quaint clinic where everyone knows each other,” Dunn said. Dunn’s last day in the office will be December 30, but she won’t be going very far. She and her husband, Harry Kent, the founder of Kent Mountain Adventure Center, will remain in Estes Park. “If you see me on the trail or standing in line at Safeway, please say hello,” she added. EVMC is working closely with patients to ensure a smooth transition of care and continued access to primary care services. Several of Dunn's primary care provider colleagues in Estes Park are welcoming new patients. To schedule an appointment, patients can call the EVMC clinic at 970-536-2907, schedule online through My Health Connection by downloading the UCHealth app, or go to uchealth.org/myhealthconnection.
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Rocky Mountain Channel Launches Estes Park Film Society The new organization will present the Estes Park Film Festival in 2028 & host its inaugural Estes Park Filmmaker Meetup on Nov. 12, 2026 The Rocky Mountain Channel announces the launch of a new nonprofit organization, the Estes Park Film Society, which will bring back the Estes Park Film Festival in 2028. As enthusiasm around Colorado’s film industry has grown following the Sundance Film Festival’s move to Boulder, Estes Park has seen interest spike as well. The Rocky Mountain Channel is proud to lead the development of Estes Park's growing film community.
Rocky Mountain Channel President Claire Mollé and Emmy-winning Director of Production Sean Doherty will serve as co-directors of the new Estes Park Film Society. The Film Society will present the Estes Park Film Festival in November 2028, along with other programs and events for filmmakers in Estes Park and the surrounding region. “Since founding the original Estes Park Film Festival in 2005, I've always believed this was the perfect place to showcase independent film,” said CoDirector Sean Doherty. “I'm incredibly happy to see its return and to once again see this town host talented filmmakers from around the world.” Sean Doherty previously directed the Estes Park Film Festival from 2005– 2012. “It was the right event at the wrong time,” said Doherty. The Rocky Mountain Channel has partnered with accomplished entrepreneur, author, and climber Melissa Strong, who has been instrumental in bringing back the Estes Park Film Fes-
tival. Strong said the idea of bringing the Estes Park Film Festival back to life felt serendipitous given recent developments in Colorado’s film industry. “My hope is that through this festival, we can continue to build community connections, support local talent, create new opportunities, and, most importantly, give back to the community that makes Estes Park such a special place,” said Strong. Strong said she is especially excited about helping the existing Youth Film Festival grow, creating more opportunities, experiences, and scholarships for Estes Park and Eagle Rock high school students. The Estes Park Film Society’s first official event will be its inaugural Estes Park Filmmaker Meetup, held at the Rocky Mountain Channel’s studio at 142 E. Elkhorn Avenue in downtown Estes Park on November 12, 2026, from 6–9 p.m. The meetup will be open-house style, and all are welcome. There will be a bar generously hosted by Avant Garde Brewery. The meetups will bring independent filmmakers together to connect, share ideas, build relationships, and support one another in navigating the challenges of the film industry. “We have a couple of purposes for forming the film society,” said Co-Director Claire Mollé. “One is to ensure Estes Park has a prominent presence in this new landscape of film in Colorado. The other is to create a space where independent filmmakers can support and empower one another in an industry that often feels like a constant battle to get your art seen and recognized.” The Estes Park Film Society will also offer filmmaker labs, an annual environmental film festival in April, a 48hour film challenge, professional development opportunities, and more. More details about the Estes Park Film Festival and upcoming Estes Park Film Society events will be announced as plans take shape. Filmmaker meetups will occur every other month at various locations in Estes Park.
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Join us for
A Toast for Salud An unforgettable evening at Twin Owls Steakhouse featuring live music, dancing, silent & live auctions, and mountain जय 鎀铐वा य! cuisine, all in support of the Estes Park Salud Foundation.
Cheers! Saúde!
Буд
ьмо !
!
¡Salud
Prost!
Friday, October 30, 2026 5:30 - 9:00 PM
$100 per person or purchase a VIP table for up to 8 for $2,400 & treat your friends to a decadent night of indulgence.
Reserve your seat by scanning the QR code, or purchase tickets in person with cash or check at the Estes Park Visitor Center.
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 11
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Fine Arts Guild Sock Hop! Get ready to Rock and Roll! B-Rad & the Nifties, and the Maraschinos, will be at the Estes Park High School Auditorium on Friday, October 23. The fun starts at 7 p.m. and features B-Rad & the Nifties: Brad Fitch (guitar & vocals), John Berry (lead guitar), Jason Lenz (bass guitar & vocals), and Colby Birchfield (drums). And in good 50s fashion we have the Maraschinos: Michelle Allen, Ivy Anderson, Brianna Gress, and Bridget Rago, to provide backup vocals. Songs in the line-up include: “Bye-bye Love,” “Dream Lover,” “Peggy Sue,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Money,” “The Twist,” “Wake Up Little Suzie,” and
many others to transport you back to the “good old days” of sock hops, American Bandstand, and 45s in the juke box. Oh, the memories if you’re old enough to have been there! If not, come on down and hear what you missed! Wear 50s attire like poodle skirts and neck scarves, or whatever strikes your fancy, and dance the night away. Food and drink will be available for purchase from the Legion. Brought to you by the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies, tickets are available at Macdonald Book Shop, online at fineartsguild.org, and at the door. Adults are $20, Seniors are $18, ages 6-18 are $12, and kids 5 and under are free.
Photo Contest For 2027 Friendship Card For Local Discounts The Rotary Club of Estes Park is holding a photo contest for the 2027 Friendship Card for local discounts. There is no charge to enter, and the winner will receive photo credit on the card and two 2027 Friendship Cards. The deadline to submit photos is October 19, 2026. Please email your favorite Estes Valley/RMNP photo (landscape view) in high resolution, jpg format to epfriendshipcard@gmail.com. A panel of judges will select the winning photo. Cropping and slight color correction is allowed for photos, but photos with anything added or taken away through a photo editing program will be rejected. All decisions of the judges are final. The winner will be notified via email. The winning photo may also be used on other marketing materials for the Friendship Card. Owner of the photo will not receive any other compensation other than photo credit and two 2027 Friendship Cards. The Friendship Card debuted in 2019, replacing the long-time Rocky Card. The Rotary Club of Estes Park re-es-
tablished the card as a fundraiser for club projects and community grants. Since its debut, the Rotary Club has provided grants to Crossroads Ministries, the six area Fire Departments, Bright Christmas, Blue Santa, EVICS, Community Corner Café, Polio Plus, and a childhood enrichment program for underprivileged children in Albania. Rotary friendships and club activities, social events, and volunteer projects offer networking opportunities that build personal and professional connections. We encourage anyone interested in sharing ideas and taking action to create lasting change to visit Rotary. We especially invite anyone who has been a Rotarian to come back and renew your friendships and rediscover the joy of serving others by group action. Rotary Club of Estes Park's main objective is service— in the community, in the workplace, and around the globe. The 1.2 million Rotarians who make up more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in nearly every country in the world share a dedication to the ideal of “Service Above Self.”
Your Local Medicare & Health Insurance Agents Chris Grubb, James Delaney & Heidi Delaney 1200 Graves Avenue, Suite 105
Call us at 970-672-1092 Email: info@ncipsenioradvantage.com
We welcome walk-in customers! Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday 10am - 2pm
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Members Of Estes “14ers Club” Gathered On October 3
Members of the Estes Fourteeners Club who attended the most recent annual gathering on October 3: Jim Swaney, Derald DeYoung, Stan Peterson, Marlene Borneman, Gary Hall, Linda Adam-Hall, Nate Dick, Linda Mitchell, Walt Borneman, Karin Edwards, Steve Guthrie, Dan Turk, Howard Pomranka. Not pictured: Corine Knudsen
Many Estesians and visitors love to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding forests, and they want to see the mighty mountains of the Continental Divide and beyond. Estes Park attracts some world-class climbers. And we’re lucky to have the Colorado Mountain School and many outfitting and backpacking and tour groups to help folks get a taste of the mountains. Some want more than just a taste. Estes is home to several residents who have hiked and climbed all of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks — the fourteeners! In the autumn of each year, this esteemed group comes together to celebrate that accomplishment, to tell true tales of recent adventures, and to enjoy the camaraderie of life in Estes. Most of these athletes have done many other hikes. They’ve ascended summits around Colorado and around the world. Many are retired and perform volunteer work in town or in the forests, including clearing downed timber from trails to ease the challenge for other hikers. In the most recent gathering of the informal 14ers Club (which has no charter but does have that one obvious requirement for entry), 13 of the 23 known members were present, along with significant others. One couple climbed all the peaks together — Peak Partners! Many of the peaks are well-known — Longs, of course. The most photographed mountains in Colorado, the Maroon Bells near Aspen, are two of the hardest peaks of all, and are sometimes called the Deadly Bells. Even the easiest routes on these peaks are fraught with danger. Each step must be taken carefully on the loose, rock-littered ledges of the Bells and Pyramid Peak. Capitol Peak has the notorious “Knife Edge,” a long, pointed ridge with precipitous dropoffs on both sides. Fortunately, the rock is very solid, and all members of this club made it over and back safely. Many of the Collegiate Peaks near
Leadville and Buena Vista are 14ers — Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Oxford, Belford, Princeton. And to graduate, you had to climb them all. Some are considered easier than others. (None are easy!) Often, Mt. Bierstadt is said to be the easiest. But difficulty is in the eye, the hands, and the feet of the climber. And so, the club members have different favorites — Capitol, Pyramid, Longs, or others. Club member Walt Borneman wrote A Climbing Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners. Gerry Roach's famous book Colorado’s Fourteeners has also been one of the definitive guides. And there are some commonly accepted rules. Does Conundrum Peak count because it's so close to Castle Peak and the elevation separation is only a few hundred feet? The debate can be solved by climbing Conundrum. Does North Eolus count because it's so proximate to Eolus? The solution is to hop up North Eolus while you're there anyway. All the folks in the club have done them all, sometimes more than once. The known Estes 14er climbers are Linda Adam-Hall, Steve Andersen, Marlene Borneman, Walt Borneman, Connie Bowser, Mike Caldwell, Mike Daley, Derald DeYoung, Nate Dick, Charley Dickey, Karin Edwards, Paula Edwards, Steve Guthrie, Gary Hall, Stan Havlick, Corine Knudsen, Linda Mitchell, Carla Pederson, Stan Peterson, Howard Pomranka, Jim Swaney, Dan Turk, and Brian Youll. Congratulations for their accomplishment! Among the group, there are many stories of traveling around Colorado, of fierce storms, of slippery rock and class 4+ ledges, of the vast fields of wildflowers in American Basin, and of incredibly beautiful blue-sky days — which some call “Maroon Days,” because you could climb the Maroon peaks on such a day! If you live in the Estes Valley and have climbed all the fourteeners in Colorado, we'd love to hear from you. Feel free to send an email to garyhall2024@gmail.com.
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Experience History In A New Light At The Stanley Home Museum & Education Center Candlelight Tours & a Special Presentation on Native Americans in the Estes Valley Highlight Fall Events The Stanley Home Museum and Education Center invites the community to experience history through two unique and engaging events this fall. From the warm glow of candlelight illuminating the historic home of F.O. and Flora Stanley to an exploration of the rich Native American heritage of the Estes Valley, these special programs offer opportunities to connect with the people, stories, and traditions that have shaped our region.
near Allenspark. A member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana, Strange Owl brings a lifetime of knowledge, experience, and personal connection to Native American history, culture, and art. For more than fifty years, she has collaborated with Indigenous artists and their creations as a bead worker, art appraiser, consultant, and gallery operator. She is the current owner of Eagle Plume; a historic trading post located at the base of Longs Peak. As a descendant of survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre, Strange Owl also
Step Back in Time with Candlelight Tours On October 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30, the Stanley Home Museum and Education Center will offer special Candlelight Tours, inviting guests to experience the historic 1904 home of F.O. and Flora Stanley in a whole new light. As the autumn evenings grow darker, visitors will step inside the beautifully preserved home and experience the warmth, charm, and elegance of a bygone era. Soft candlelight will create an intimate atmosphere as knowledgeable guides share stories of the Stanleys, their remarkable contributions to Estes Park, and the fascinating history of their beloved mountain home. These special evening tours, on October 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 at 6:30 p.m., offer a rare opportunity to see the Stanley Home after dark and imagine the conversations, hospitality, and gatherings that once filled its rooms. Whether you are a long-time Estes Park resident or visiting for the first time, the Candlelight Tours promise a memorable journey into the past. Each tour is limited to 12 people so purchase your tickets early. Discover the Native American Heritage of the Estes Valley with Nico Strange Owl On Sunday, November 22, at 1 p.m., the Stanley Home Museum and Education Center will welcome Nico Strange Owl for a special presentation, Native Americans in the Estes Valley, followed by a shuttle excursion to the historic Eagle Plume's trading post and gallery
brings a deeply personal perspective to the history of Indigenous peoples in Colorado. Her presentation will offer guests an opportunity to learn more about the Native American presence in the Estes Valley and the enduring cultural traditions and contributions of Indigenous communities. Following the presentation at the Stanley Home, participants will travel by shuttle to Eagle Plume's, where they will have the opportunity to view its remarkable collection of historical Native American artifacts and explore the gallery's selection of Native American art and handcrafted items available for purchase. This special program promises to be an enlightening afternoon of history, culture, and discovery, offering a meaningful connection to an important part of the Estes Valley's heritage. Seating is limited to 30 people so purchase your tickets early at stanleyhome.org. Celebrate History, Culture, & Community Both events reflect the Stanley Home Museum and Education Center's commitment to preserving history, inspiring curiosity, and bringing people together through meaningful educational and cultural experiences. The Stanley Home Museum and Education Center is located at 415 W. Wonderview Avenue in Estes Park. For additional information about these special events, reservations, and upcoming programs, visit stanleyhome.org.
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Peak Colors In Rocky Mountain National Park The display of autumn colors in Rocky Mountain National Park reached its peak in late September. This curvy aspen was just east of Sheep Lakes. Photo and caption courtesy of Alan Lipkin.
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Reflections On The Vietnam War By: Steve Irish, Commander Post 119, Estes Park
In March 1967, I enlisted in the Air Force, partly because I believed it might reduce my chances of being sent to Vietnam. I was wrong. On October 19th I’ll share about my experiences in Vietnam, along with Terry Rizzuti, a Marine Corps Veteran. But how and why did we get involved in the conflict in the first place? Unlike earlier American wars, Vietnam lacked broad public support. Supporters viewed the conflict through the Cold War and the Domino Theory, a view President Eisenhower and subsequent presidents held, fearing communist expansion across Southeast Asia. Economic factors underpinned the fear as oil and regional raw materials in other resource-rich nations could be swallowed up by the expansion. Critics argued that Ho Chi Minh, the President of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, was driven as much by Vietnamese nationalism and anti-colonialism as by communist ideology. Both interpretations contained some truth. Vietnam had endured decades of foreign rule, particularly from France. After Japan displaced France during World War II, France resumed its position as the colonial ruler. However, Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh fought the returning French until their defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The Geneva Accords divided Vietnam temporarily at the 17th parallel, recognized Laos and Cambodia as sovereign nations, and anticipated reunification elections. The latter never happened. U.S. Involvement American involvement grew gradually from financial backing of France to direct support for South Vietnam. By 1954, the United States was financing most of France’s war effort and opposed reunification elections it expected communist forces to win. Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy expanded economic aid and military advising, while under Kennedy and Johnson, the advisory presence grew
from roughly 600 to 16,000. The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) was established during that period. President Johnson accelerated the commitment as South Vietnam weakened. The 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized military force without a formal declaration of war, and by 1965 the United States had assumed the primary combat role. Withdrawal & Legacy When Richard Nixon was President, the Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973, ending direct U.S. military involvement and leading to the withdrawal of American forces. Combat responsibility was assigned to the South Vietnamese Army. However, the fighting did not stop and by early 1975, the morale shaken South Vietnamese army began retreating from a new offensive from North Vietnam. Before April 30th, 1975, the evacuation of Vietnamese citizens and American personnel was chaotic with helicopters shuttling back and forth from U.S. ships of the Seventh Fleet in the South China Sea. On that day, a tank assault on Saigon broke through to the Presidential Palace. The war was over. About 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam. More than 58,000 died, over 303,000 were wounded, and more than 1,200 remain missing. Those figures convey only part of the war’s lasting cost to U.S. service members, families, and the nation. 250-150 Program – Vietnam & the 60s On October 19th from 5-7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 119, both Terry Rizzuti and I will present our personal experiences during the period of 19661969. I was a reconnaissance photo interpreter at Tan Son Nhut Air Base while Terry was a combat Marine engaging enemy forces. The presentation is free to all Estes Park residents and visitors. Steve Irish, United States Air Force, served in Vietnam 1968-69 Terry Rizzuti, United States Marine Corps, served in Vietnam 1966-67
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Back Into The Cold: Navy Veteran David Phillips’ Life-Altering Experience On Everest By: Brian Buttray
It's a quiet morning at Camp 2 on Mount Everest, 21,000 feet above sea level. David wiggles out of the cocoon that is his minus-20-degree sleeping bag, sits up, and turns to me. “I need to show you something.” Twenty-four hours earlier, he had stood on the summit, the highest point on Earth. He pulls his legs from his bag and peels off his socks. His toes are swollen and purplish-gray, several of them blistered. Silence fills the tent. Neither of us says what we're both thinking. My camera sits within reach. David looks at it, then at me, and nods. I start rolling. We call for Pemchirri, our sirdar, the head Sherpa who has been leading our team on the mountain. He kneels at the tent door and pokes his head inside. “Good morning, David, sir. How are you?” “I have to show you something,” David says, pulling his socks off again. Pem looks down at David's feet. It's only a few seconds, but it feels as long as the six weeks we've spent on this mountain. “Frostbite.” Everest marked the halfway point of accomplishing a world first. Now he wouldn't be walking down the mountain. Within two hours, a helicopter
MONDAY OCTOBER 26 5 PM ESTES PARK
AN EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA APPROACHES AFTER MOUNT EVEREST FORCED THIS RETIRED NAVY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF TO DECIDE WHAT ACCOMPLISHING AN EPIC FIRST IS TRULY WORTH
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 850 N ST VRAIN AVE ESTESLEGION.ORG GRANDEXPLORERSCROWN.COM
BACK INTO THE COLD A NIGHT WITH DAVID PHILLIPS
would carry him off Everest to a hospital
in Kathmandu instead. Months of treatment couldn't save five of his toes. But what about his dream? Project 327: Three Trails. Two Poles. Seven Summits. Project 327 is David “Ghost” Phillips' attempt to become the first person to hike America's three great long-distance trails, the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide; reach both the North and South Poles; and stand on the highest summit of every continent. He calls it the Grand Explorer's Crown. That morning at Camp 2, he had finished six of 12 objectives. He's 48. Experienced, yes. But still a recreational athlete. He isn't the fastest on the trail or the strongest on the mountain. He just keeps moving. For him, it's about showing up and asking: “Why not me?” Even after Everest. Nineteen months later, we’re leaving for
Antarctica. David will climb Mount Vinson and ski to the South Pole in December. Back into the cold. Who Is David Phillips? Before he was Ghost, he was a sailor. For 25 years, David served in the Navy as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretive, the Navy's term for a linguist. He spoke in Dari (Persian Farsi) and Korean, supporting intelligence operations at posts in Hawaii, South Korea, Bahrain, and Afghanistan. He also spent three years deployed aboard ships across the Middle East and Africa. He retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer. At any given time, only about 1% of the Navy's enlisted sailors hold that rank. Along the way, he led teams of hundreds of service members, civilians and contractors. Then, he went walking. David hiked the Appalachian Trail end to end, nearly 2,200 miles. Somewhere along the way, a fellow hiker who went by Curious George noticed something about him. David was focused. Driven. He quietly kept moving up the trail without distraction. Curious George called him Ghost. The name stuck. So did his refusal to quit. A Send-Off Before he heads south, David is making the trip from San Antonio to train in Estes Park. On Monday, October 26, at 5 p.m., American Legion Post 119 hosts Back Into the Cold: An Evening with David “Ghost” Phillips. We’ll sit down with David for a conversation about service, Everest, and what it takes to keep coming back. We'll share clips from the documentary that no one has seen yet, then open the floor to your questions. The event is free and open to the public. Come send him off. The evening will be moderated by Brian Buttray, a filmmaker and Estes Park local. He has documented Project 327 since 2024 for his upcoming feature documentary, Ghost, from Happy Camp Media. Learn more at grandexplorerscrown.com or happycampmedia.com.
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I Miss Our Hummingbirds By: Brad Manard
By now, sadly, most of us have taken down the sweet nectar of our hummingbird feeders. Oh, the beautiful hummingbirds. Those tiny, energetic birds known for their shimmering, jewel-toned feathers and wings that beat like a fan on ultra-high. So much so they create a humming sound. My wife and I enjoy hummingbirds,
the way they flitter about with their microscopic feathers reflect light, creating brilliant, iridescent colors like emerald green, ruby red, or rich violet. To draw them in, every summer Carolyn puts out feeders of sugar-water to attract and feed the smallest of birds who range from three to four inches long, weighing less than a nickel. Plus, their unique shoulder joints let them rotate their wings nearly 180 degrees allowing them to stay completely still in mid-air. They are the only birds that can fly backward, upside down, and side-to-side, flapping their wings up to 80 times per second. So danged fast, they fly like a kite on a string during a windy fall day. So when I sit on our deck, the sun at my back and camera in hand, I try to capture pictures of them flittering about. But they create a photographer’s challenge. Not only are their wings fast, but they fly up to 30 mph, and when mating, their courtship dives can reach 60 mph. I challenge you to try photographing a four inch long hummingbird flying at 30 mph with its wings flapping 80 times per minute as it quickly moves in any direction.
With this extreme energy, their hearts can beat over 1,200 times per minute to achieve the physical demands of flight. That’s how my heart beats when I try to capture them with my camera. My fluttering heart reminds me of waiting for a “yes” the first time I asked Carolyn on a date. A hummingbird’s heart might outdo mine, but not by much. A common hummingbird summering in Colorado is the broad-tail hummingbird. The
colorful males have shimmering green backs and a striking rose-red or magenta throat. Earlier this summer, it was a male broad-tail that snuck into our house. Slipping through an open door, he hid among the tines of our moose antler chandelier. From there, he avoided every effort of the swishing broom I was shooing him with. The hummingbird turned me into a man of erratic, uncoordinated dance moves chasing a fast, flying pinball. Think of Pac-Man trying to eat dots that move like flies near a flame. I was getting burned by the competition. As a hummingbird hunter, I portrayed a comedy of errors. Once, when he landed on the broom bristles, I took three steps toward the door. Then at 30 mph, he was lightning fast and gone, back to perch on an antler tine. After much time and intellectual thought, I changed my tactics. I retrieved one of the hummingbird feeders from the deck. Holding it high, sugar-water splatting gooey stains over the hardwood floor, I waited until finally the broad-tail came to feed. As he fed, I walked as slowly as a
tourist driving over the top of Trail Ridge Road. Step-by-step, inch-byinch, I made it halfway to the door. Then either done feeding or sensing danger, the hummingbird’s rapid wings pulled him away. He hovered for a moment, their swish, he was back to the antler chandelier. Discouraged but patient, I stood unmoving, a Statue of Liberty holding a sticky hummingbird feeder, liquid sugar running down my arm. I was
going to outwit this miniature-sized creature. Hummingbirds are remarkably smart, possessing an oversized brain relative to their body size that functions like a high-speed ecological genius, and I was striving to outsmart this minuscule bird weighing 16,818 times less than me. It was only a moment or two until the desire for sugar brought him back to
the feeder. All the while I stood unmoving until, with its long, thin, needlelike bill and forked tongue, he was once again drinking sweet nectar. Slowly I moved, like Igor in Young Frankenstein, step-by-step, inch-by-inch until I reached the back door. Stopping, the hummingbird hovered inches away, but I did not move. Then he was back to the nectar, its long, skinny beak drawing nutrients from the feeder. Reaching the feeder outside, I slowly closed the door with only my arm stretching into the slight breeze. With that, the broad-tail was off flying to another feeder, and despite my sugar-water bath, I was proud of my success. Fly free my friend. So the hummingbirds have now left my antler chandelier, our deck sugar-water feeders, and the wildflowers of mountain life for their migration to their winter condos in the highlands and coastal regions of Mexico and South America. As for Carolyn and I, in January we’re migrating to Bucerias, Mexico for 80 degree weather where I’ll photograph wintering humpback whales and the rare blue-footed booby. And, of course, I will enjoy capturing images of broadtailed hummingbirds hovering around Carolyn’s sugar-water feeders from our tropical deck by the ocean.
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Peak To Peak Concert Series Presents Gossamer Winds On October 24th
The Peak to Peak concert series is pleased to present the woodwind quintet, Gossamer Winds. The concert will be held Saturday, October 24th at 2 p.m. at the Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, 2000 Ptarmigan Trail. A reception to meet the performers will follow. The program theme is “Exploring the Heavens.” The space-themed performance will include Robert Howard’s “Mosaics” and may include works by Strauss, Sinatra, Holst, Brubeck, Shostakovich, Mancini, Van Morrison, Lennon-McCartney, John Williams, Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Gershwin, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. Gossamer Winds was founded in 2005 with the intention of supporting area nonprofits with quintet music spanning multiple genres. Since then, they have performed over 150 times, in venues as diverse as the Southridge Recreation Center, the Lone Tree Arts
Center, Dazzle, My Brother's Bar, Cherokee Ranch and Castle, the Denver Zoo, and the Cleo Parker Robinson Theater. Nonprofits supported include Denver Bach Society, Mary's Hope, Colorado Symphony Guild, Denver Public Schools, The Rise School, Colorado Public Radio, the Denver Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Polarpalooza, CU Medical, HeART of Brighton, Colorado Railroad Museum, GlobalDownSyndrome, Denver Art Museum, Ballet Ariel, Augustana Arts, VFW, Friends of Chamber Music, and Children's Hospital. The Peak to Peak Concert Series is sponsored by the Oratorio Society of Estes Park and spotlights local and regional musicians. Concerts are free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated. More information about the series and the current schedule can be found at osep.info/peak-to-peak.
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group To Meet Tuesday, October 20 The next meeting of the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group will be held Tuesday, October 20 in the conference room of Vert Coworking located at 1230 E. Big Thompson Avenue from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monthly meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month. All affected by this progressive neurological disease are welcome to attend to bring their own experiences, strength, and hope, and come together for the good of the group.
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What’s Happening At The Estes Valley Library HOURS Mondays - Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sundays, 1 - 5 p.m. Limited access to the building & collections due to renovation. Learn more at estesvalleylibrary.org/renovation. Registration is required for most programs! Visit calendar.estesvalleylibrary.org to secure your spot. BOOKS & AUTHORS Monthly Writing Group Monday, October 19, 10:15 - 11:45 a.m., Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies Calling all writers, aspiring writers, & anyone interested in writing! Share your writing, enjoy others’ work, receive & provide feedback. All genres & forms are welcome. Connect With the Classics: The Haunting of Hill House Thursday, October 29, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Wasson Board Room Join us to explore Shirley Jackson’s widely acclaimed novel, considered the pinnacle of haunted house tales, in which four seekers arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile where inexplicable phenomena target them. ALL AGES Halloween Trick-or-Treat
Saturday, October 31, 5 - 8 p.m., Lobby Make the Library one of your first stops when trick-or-treating downtown on Halloween. We’ll be handing out sweet treats & spooky toys. ADULTS Elevated Thoughts Philosophy Group: What Does Global Poverty Demand of Us? Thursday, October 22, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Online Tackle tough questions like what makes life meaningful & how meaning in life relates to happiness & mortality in this series, in partnership with CU Boulder. In this session, we’ll explore Peter Singer’s famous essay, Famine, Affluence, & Mortality. TEENS & TWEENS Teen Maker Mornings: Carve a Pumpkin Saturday, October 17, 10:30 11:30 a.m., Creativity Cabin In this week’s edition, we are heading off-site to carve pumpkins in celebration of Halloween. Teen Books & Boba: Falling for Books Sunday, October 18, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Alteatude Get ready to fall for new books featuring Halloween, spooky settings, & autumn vibes. Bring your recommendations & come thirsty. Your beverage is on us. Teen Dungeons & Dragons Sunday, October 18, 12:30 - 4 p.m., Raven’s Roast Repeated Sunday, October 25, 12:30 4 p.m., Raven’s Roast Interested in learning to play Dungeons & Dragons? Make new friends while exploring your imagination, building cooperation, & strengthening problem-solving skills. Snacks & re-
freshments provided. Teen & Tween Cooking & Culture: Canadian Bannock Bread Wednesday, October 21, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Estes Valley Community Center Teens & tweens are invited to travel the world through food by learning to prepare a dish from a different country while exploring the traditions, history, & cultural significance behind the cuisine. In this session, we’ll explore Canada & prepare a traditional bannock bread breakfast. Homeschool Hangout: Paint a Ceramic Pumpkin Thursday, October 22, 10:30 11:30 a.m., Creativity Cabin Repeated Saturday, October 24, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Creativity Cabin Tweens & teens are invited to explore a variety of handson activities & equipment in this weekly series. In this session, we’ll be painting ceramic pumpkins in celebration of Halloween. Tween & Teen Advisory Council Sunday, October 25, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Raven’s Roast Monthly meeting for tweens & teens to recommend ideas & help make the Library a place for youth to develop community around books, movies, programming, & more. Teen Maker Mornings: Paint a Ceramic Pumpkin Saturday, October 31, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Creativity Cabin Teens are invited to explore a variety of hands-on activities & equipment in this weekly series. In this session, we’ll be painting ceramic pumpkins in celebration of Halloween. KIDS & FAMILIES Baby Storytime Repeated Thursdays, 10 - 10:30 a.m., & Saturdays, 10:45 - 11:15 a.m., Estes Valley Community Center - Cubz Den Join us for rhymes, songs, bounces, wiggles, stretches, & play designed specifically for babies, toddlers, & their caregivers.
Storytime Repeated Thursdays, 10:30 - 11 a.m., & Saturdays, 11:15 - 11:45 a.m., Estes Valley Community Center - Cubz Den Join us for songs, movement activities, puppets, & stories that encourage a love of language & books designed specifically for children ages six & younger, along with their caregivers. Boba, Books & Wyrms: The Dragonet Prophecy Saturday, October 17, 1 - 2 p.m., Alteatude Calling all young fantasy lovers! You’re invited to a fun & relaxed book club where we’ll explore exciting stories, share our thoughts, & enjoy a delicious boba drink. Friday Kids Club: Pumpkin Carving Craft Friday, October 23, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., YMCA of the Rockies Get into the Halloween spirit by carving a pumpkin with us at the Mootz Family Craft & Design Center. We’ll provide the pumpkins & carving supplies. You bring the creativity to design the pumpkin of your dreams. Saturday Kids Club: Pumpkin Carving Craft Saturday, October 24, 12 - 1:30 p.m., YMCA of the Rockies Get into the Halloween spirit by carving a pumpkin with us at the Mootz Family Craft & Design Center. We’ll provide the pumpkins & carving supplies. You bring the creativity to design the pumpkin of your dreams. Tiny Tots Crafts: Ghostly Puffy Painting Wednesday, October 28, 10 - 11 a.m., YMCA of the Rockies Toddlers & their caregivers are invited to join us at the Mootz Family Craft & Design Center to paint & create friendly ghosts using simple art supplies. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Regular Session Monday, October 26, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Wasson Room Learn about the Board of Trustees and meeting topics at estesvalleylibrary.org/board. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION Cliffhanger Used Books Operated by the Friends of the Library Foundation, offering gently used books, movies, & music at discount prices. Open daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
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Autumn, Art, & Inspiration With Whimsadoodle There’s something about fall in Estes Park that makes creativity feel especially inspiring. Golden aspens, crisp mountain air, cooler evenings, and the changing colors remind us to slow down, notice the beauty around us, and make time for the things that bring us joy. October is full of ways to gather, create, and enjoy the season. At Bear & Bee, you’ll find pottery, stained glass, and plenty of spooky Halloween projects. Wonderful Things Coffee Shop is serving up cozy seasonal drinks, and the Historic Park Theatre is getting into the Halloween spirit with ghost hunts, psychic readings, and spooky films.
We’re also celebrating the final weekends of the season at Cleave Street Commons, ending with a fun Halloween party for the whole family. However you like to enjoy fall, we hope you’ll make a little time for crea-
tivity, community, and a bit of Halloween fun this October. Fall into creativity at Bear & Bee Halloween has arrived at both Bear & Bee locations, and our studios are filled with fun fall projects for all ages! At the Bear & Bee Pottery Studio, get your hands in the clay and sculpt your own pumpkin or create a delightful Halloween monster mug. Whether you’re new to clay or already love working with ceramics, these seasonal projects are a fun way to make something completely your own. Over at the Bear & Bee Makers’ Studio, capture a little Colorado fall color by creating a beautiful aspen leaf stained glass suncatcher, or embrace the Halloween
making their very own monster game. Come create something handmade, try a new medium, and make a few memories along the way. Celebrate the final weekends at the Commons What an incredible first season it has been at Cleave Street Commons! As we head into our final weekends of the season, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has spent time with us, our artists, musicians, makers, vendors, food partners, families, visitors, and community members who helped bring this space to life. We are especially grateful to our sponsors, Kinley Built, FNBO, and Lockton, whose support helped make this season possible. Community spaces thrive because of people and or-
spirit with one of our spooky stained
ganizations who believe in bringing people together, and we are so thankful to have their support. And we couldn’t possibly end the season without a Halloween Party at the Commons: Saturday, October 31, from 2-5 p.m. Put on your costume and join us at Cleave Street Commons for an after-
glass designs. And we haven’t forgotten our younger makers! The Makers’ Studio has a variety of Halloween projects just for kids, from decorations and creative crafts to
noon of Halloween fun! We’ll have music, face painting, crafts, games, yummy treats, and plenty of Halloween surprises for the whole family. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween and help us wrap up a fantastic season at the Commons. We hope to see you there! Enjoy the season at the Historic Park Theatre Looking for a little Halloween fun with a mysterious twist? The Historic Park Theatre is getting into the spirit of the season with spooky experiences and eerie entertainment, perfect for October. Explore the theatre after dark during one of our Ghost Hunts, discover what the future may hold with a psychic reading, or settle in for a night of seasonal films inside one of Estes Park’s most historic and wonderfully atmospheric landmarks. Whether you love a good ghost story, enjoy a little mystery, or simply want the perfect Halloween movie night, there are plenty of reasons to visit the Historic Park Theatre this October. Come for the chills, stay for the fun, and celebrate the season with us! Learn more about Whimsadoodle at whimsadoodle.org.
Early Bird Booking Returns In January For March 2027 Use The Estes Valley Library has reached the midpoint of its nine-month renovation. Since our wall-breaking ceremony on May 28, 2026, the contractor crew remains ahead of schedule, transforming the Library into a more accessible public space with improved safety and functionality in response to your feedback from the Library’s 2022 Community Needs Assessment. While the Library’s doors have remained open, collections have been shifted, shuffled, and moved, and most programs held offsite, but meeting rooms have been unavailable. Good news: With the renovation on track for completion in early 2027, the Library encourages community members and organization leaders to start planning now for their return to the new, improved, and expanded meeting spaces. All rooms will be available for use on March 1, 2027. Early Bird Booking submissions will be
open from January 5 -19, 2027. Mark your calendars today! What is Early Bird Booking? Early Bird Booking lets patrons schedule their preferred one-time or recurring dates in the Library’s meeting rooms at the earliest point in the annual reservation process. All meeting room requests submitted during Early Bird Booking receive equal consideration to accommodate as many patrons as possible. By January 31, 2027, patrons will be notified of their full meeting room dates and times for the year. We look forward to welcoming the community back to the Library’s free and improved meeting rooms in a few short months. To learn more about submitting Early Bird Booking requests for 2027 and the new meeting spaces, features, and capacities, please visit estesvalleylibrary.org/earlybird.
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One Night Only: “A Haunting In Blue Hill” At The Historic Park Theatre On Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m., join the ultimate paranormal event at the haunted Historic Park Theater in Estes Park: "A Haunting in Blue Hill: A Paranormal Mystery" — a screening of the award-winning paranormal documentary, with the filmmakers inperson. The evening includes a presentation on haunted dolls and objects by paranormal investigator Kari Bergen, a live haunted-doll demonstration, the film's actual haunted items on display, tarot readings by Rebekah Blackburn, vendors, and a cast-andcrew Q&A — followed by an optional late-night ghost hunt of the haunted theater itself (10 p.m.–midnight).
Amongst the farm fields of rural America lies a 130-year-old house with a dark secret. In Blue Hill, Nebraska a paranormal mystery is uncovered, and strange objects are found. This documentary follows a team of paranormal investigators who make contact with the spirits within as their journey takes many unexpected twists and turns. Tickets are $20 per adult, $18 for seniors, and $16 for local students and kids. Ghost Hunting from 10 p.m. midnight is an additional $39 per person. Tickets can be purchased and more information can be found at historicparktheatre.com/movie/a-haunting-in-bluehill--a-paranormal-mystery.
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“Betwixt n Between” Returns To Senior Center For Lively Afternoon Of Music
Oct 19 – 23 Monday, Oct 19
Denver Omelette (ham, mushrooms, onions & green peppers), Hashbrowns & fruit
Tuesday, Oct 20
Roasted Herb (1/2) Chicken w/ Roasted Potatoes & vegetables
Wednesday, Oct 21 Meat Lasagna w/ garlic bread & side salad Thursday, Oct 22
Crispy Chicken BLT Sandwich w/ Tomato Salad
Friday, Oct 23
Salmon (6 oz) w/ Rice Pilaf & soup of the day
Monday, Oct 26
Country Fried Steak w/ gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Hashbrowns & Biscuit
Tuesday, Oct 27
BBQ Pork Ribs (4) w/ Mac ‘n Cheese & Baked Beans
Oct 26 – 30
Wednesday, Oct 28 Turkey, Bacon & Swiss Cheese Croissant w/ Potato Salad Thursday, Oct 29
Chicken Parmesan w/ Pasta, garlic bread & side salad
Friday, Oct 30
Trout (4 oz) w/ Baked Potato & soup of the day
Starting March 1, Individual Meals are $12 for current 2026 EP Senior Citizens Center members and are by reservation only. (Non-members $14; reservation only). 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, Oct 19th, you need to call before 1:00 PM on Friday, Oct 16th. 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 Estes Park Senior Citizens Center (EPSCC) welcomes back Betwixt n Between for an afternoon of lively music, rich harmonies, and toe-tapping rhythms on Tuesday, October 20, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. The free concert will take place at the EPSCC, located at 1760 Olympian Lane. Everyone is welcome to attend, and no membership is required. With a musical style that crosses genres, Betwixt n Between brings together an entertaining blend of folk, pop, Celtic, and Gospel influences, all with a foundation in bluegrass. Their performances feature strong vocal harmonies, creative arrangements, and an engaging mix of lesser-known cover songs and original compositions. As their name suggests, the band is right at home somewhere "betwixt and between" musical traditions, creating a sound that is uniquely their own. The group got its start in 2002, when three musicians came together for a festival songwriting competition. Since then, Betwixt n Between has grown and evolved into an intergenerational band whose shared love of music shines through in every performance.
Their combination of musical talent, warmth, and playful energy makes for an enjoyable afternoon of listening, whether you're a longtime fan or hearing them for the first time. The band features Vicki Brawner on stand-up bass and vocals, joined by her daughters, Lauren Appelhans on guitar and vocals and Adriana Appelhans on mandolin and vocals. Ray Metzler rounds out the group on guitar and vocals. Together, they weave their instruments and voices into a full, layered sound that invites audiences to relax, listen, and perhaps tap a foot or two. Guests are welcome to bring their own lunch or pre-order a hot meal to enjoy during the concert. The Senior Center will be serving roasted herb chicken with roasted potatoes and vegetables. Meal orders must be placed by 1 p.m. on Monday, October 19. The cost is $12 for EPSCC members and $14 for non-members. Annual EPSCC membership is just $35 and provides meal discounts along with access to many programs and activities. For more information or to reserve a meal, call the Estes Park Senior Citizens Center at 970-581-2195.
Merry Marthas To Meet On October 23 Do you sew, knit, crochet, or weave and enjoy visiting with other women with similar interests? You’re invited to attend the next meeting of the Merry Marthas on Friday, October 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies at 1700 Brodie Ave. This group meets monthly to share what we have made, and then we donate our finished projects to local charities. New members are always welcome whether you’re a beginner or an expert.
For more information please call the church office at 970-586-4404.
The Center is OPEN Monday thru Friday 10- 1PM TriFit M-W 9:30-10:15 & M-W-F 10:30-11:15 AM Tai Ji Class Tuesday & Thursday 10:15 – 11:15 AM Mahjong Tuesday 10 – 2 Live Music & Presentations Tuesday @ 12:00 – 1:30 (TBA) Aspen Club Blood Pressure Check 4th Wednesday 10:00 – 1:00 Aspen Club Presentations 2nd Wednesday 12:00 – 1:30 Bridge Group Every Thursday 12:30 – 4:30 PM with lessons in the morning Canasta, Euchre & Pinochle 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday 1:00 – 4:30
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
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24 » Friday, October 16, 2026
Storm Mountain Holiday Bazaar Thank you to all our Business Sponsors of the 2026 EVCA Souper Fundraiser!
Summit Sponsors
Major and In-Kind Sponsors
Spotlight Sponsors
the INSPIRED LIVING group
Event Supporters Animal Medical Center of Estes Park Big Horn Restaurant Casa Grande Restaurant Cheley Camp The Country Market Darling Enterprise
Derek Vinge, Edward Jones Estes Park Housing Authority Estes Valley Collision First Colorado Realty - Mary Murphy Hunter’s Chop House State Farm Insurance
Our Annual Storm Mountain Holiday Bazaar is rapidly approaching! We have a number of local artisans displaying beautiful handmade items that would make wonderful holiday gifts. Faces have changed over the years; we’re starting to add the next generation of crafters! The quality and variety of crafts stays the same. Most items are hand crafted and you
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have the fun of talking to the crafters and learning about the process of creating the items. The wide variety of products available includes quilted, knit, and crocheted items, jewelry candles, blown glass, cards, decorations, baskets, gourds, wood carvings, cutting boards, signs, wood spoon sets and more treasures! Look for many fall and winter items as well as holiday items for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Dates this year are Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are located in the Big Thompson Canyon Association Building, a fun historic log structure, at 1479 US Hwy 34, one mile east of Drake. We hope to see lots of familiar faces stopping in; some people make this an annual event. Fundraising efforts will again support the Big Thompson Canyon Association (BTCA) whose building has been our home for many years. The building has been in use since 1948 and is showing its age. Funds will go to help with new windows or other maintenance items. We’ll have lots of bake sale goodies to take home! This is a fun community event, not just a shopping event: free hot cider and cookies, crafts, people happy to share information, fun historic log building – and hopefully good weather! If you have any questions, please contact Deb Green at facebook.com/peacefulridge or deb@peacefulridge.com. Updates will be posted to the Facebook page as we get closer. Please support our artisans and shop local!
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 25
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Conserve, Recycle, Innovate: Join VividBlue In Climate Change Efforts By: Christopher Jensen
In July I got motivated to try and add my voice to all the others drawing attention to water insecurity, food insecurity, climate change, and all the issues that encompasses. I try to not just talk about it but to give ideas big and small we can do to make our voices heard and to make a difference. If you’re interested in raising awareness and making change around these topics, please join me on Saturday, October 17 in Bond Park during the No Kings Rally. Look for us behind the crowd, wearing vividblue.org shirts
the event! That way we can add you as a guest during our live streaming. You can also visit our website at vividblue.org or check out youtube.com/@vividbluedotorg. This is a passion project that I work on evenings and weekends. For a little more context, I am a supporter of doing better and safer versions of desalination to share water with the west and a massive proponent of regenerative farming and landscaping here in Colorado, across the nation and the globe. I am a believer it can do a lot to help with cooling the planet and heal-
and hoodies, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. We’ll be handing out free water for participants (while supplies last) and talking water issues with anyone interested. After, we intend to walk from Bond Park down the sidewalk on the edge of Lake Estes, past the Marina and then walk up Big Thompson Avenue back towards Estes, through downtown and as far as we can get safely to the Beaver Meadows entrance to RMNP. This is significant to me because of the headwaters of the Colorado River. We will be live streaming this — as long as cellular connection is good enough — on the Vivid Blue TikTok. All social media can be found by searching @vividbluedotorg — follow us on TikTok before
ing soil, helping with threats to water, etc. If you are not necessarily up on that subject, there are three documentaries on Amazon Prime that illustrate this solution incredibly well: Kiss the Ground, Common Ground and Groundswell. They are all impactful and profound and show what is possible we can do if we keep making it a bigger and bigger practice. Looking for other great tools? Check out the Climate Action Now app. While vividblue.org is not associated with Climate Action Now, it’s a resource that I’ve found helpful in my research and efforts. For more information, or to contact me for future partnerships, please email chris@vividblue.org or call 303-
Invest In Public Safety To the Editor: Emergency response in Estes Park presents challenges that many Front Range communities never face. Estes Valley firefighters must navigate steep grades, narrow roads, heavy visitor traffic, and long travel distances — sometimes from town all the way into remote areas of Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park. Reliable apparatus and communications systems are essential for that kind of response. The Estes Valley Fire District maintains a fleet of specialized engines, trucks and firefighting equipment that are not easily replaced and is very expensive. The District currently cannot adequately fund a capital reserve to replace equipment as it reaches the end of its service life. Fire engines, tenders, and rescue units are not luxuries here — they are lifelines. When a structure fire breaks out in a neighborhood like
Carriage Hills or the Stanley area, or when a rescue call comes from a trailhead miles up the highway, firefighters must have dependable vehicles ready to go. Equally important are the communication systems that alert and coordinate volunteer firefighters across the valley. Estes Park’s geography — with ridges, canyons, and dead zones — makes reliable communication even more critical. Increased and dedicated funding would help maintain the systems that support volunteer response times. In a community where response time can mean the difference between a contained fire and a catastrophic one, investing in apparatus and communications is investing in public safety. Estes Park deserves equipment that matches the complexity of the environment our firefighters serve in every day. Stephen O’Connor Retired Fire Chief
Enjoy Chili & Support The Cedar Springs Reservoir On Saturday, Oct. 17
Ever heard of the Cedar Springs Reservoir? You should — this local water source has been instrumental in fighting both the Cameron Peak fire (specifically for the Glen Haven area) and the Alexander Mountain fire in the Cedar Park and Cedar Springs areas in Drake. Two hundred helicopter loads of water were drawn from the lake per day to fight these fires! Six families that live by the reservoir have formed a nonprofit organization to search for grant money and donations to preserve this asset for the community and surrounding area. They are currently raising money to help with much needed repairs to our dam for Cedar Springs Reservoir. The state dam inspector has been cooperating with the group to formulate plans for repair of the dam. If repairs can't be made and the dam becomes unsafe, then the lake will be drained until any repairs can be made. On Saturday, October 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Big Thompson Canyon Association building, the Estes Valley (and beyond!) is invited to partake in community, chili, and activities to raise funds to repair and maintain
Cedar Springs Reservoir. Attendees can choose from three varieties of chili: Texas chili (red), green chili soup, and white chicken chili soup — with all the toppings, of course! Tickets are $10 and include a bowl of chili, cornbread, and a cookie. Homemade cinnamon rolls will be available for $2, hot apple cider will be available for $1, and pumpkins will be available for $10. Tickets are available at the door or by following the QR code provided. Donations can also be made at the site. Dean Grieve, one of the nonprofit members, stayed during the fire and saw firsthand how this lake was used to protect area properties. He was overwhelmed by the firefighters and especially the Chinook helicopter pilot who stuck his arm out the window with a "thumbs up" every time he went over his house to get more water from the lake. Head down to 1479 Hwy 34 in Drake next Saturday, October 17 and enjoy some chili while supporting an important fundraiser. Let's make a difference that echoes beyond this event.
Dementia Caregiver Support Group The Estes Park Dementia Caregiver Support Group, a Colorado Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, is a safe place for caregivers of someone living with any form of dementia to talk, share, and learn from each other. The group meets on the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Good Samaritan, 1901 Ptarmigan Trail in Estes Park. Please meet in the Assisted-Living multi-purpose room. For more information contact: maryruthdancer@gmail.com.
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26 » Friday, October 16, 2026
National Walk & Roll To School Day A Great Success! Wednesday, October 7, marked National Walk & Roll to School Day, and we were thrilled to see such a wonderful turnout! With beautiful fall weather, students, families, and staff came together for a fun and active start to the school day.
Bobcats Sweep Belleview Christian, Climb In 2A Rankings By: Nolan Oberg, Athletic Director
The varsity Bobcats earned a 3-0 sweep last night against Mile High League opponent Belleview Christian of Westminster. Estes Park played consistently throughout the match, winning each set 25-18, 25-16 and 25-23. With the victory, the Bobcats improve to 8-10 overall and 3-4 in the Mile High League, placing them seventh out of 12 teams in the league. Junior Kylle McCown continues to lead the Bobcats in overall play and is currently ranked ninth in the league in serving aces and 21st in digs. Senior Geneva Thomas and sophomore
Carsyn Zehr are ranked 12th and 13th, respectively, in the league in assists. Senior Abi Watry ranks 16th in the league in blocks. Other key contributors for the Bobcats include junior Bailey Hodde and sophomore Maya Brandewie. The Bobcats have also moved up five spots in this week’s 2A rankings and are now ranked No. 50 out of 85 teams statewide. With five matches remaining in the regular season, Estes Park will return home Tuesday, October 20, to host Dayspring Christian. All three levels will compete that evening.
A heartfelt thank you to the many volunteers and community partners who helped make this event a success, including EVICS, the Town of Estes Park, the Estes Park Police Department, Estes Park Police Auxiliary, and the Estes Valley Fire Protection District. A special thank you to the Safe Kids of Northern Colorado for their generous donation of helmets, helping promote safety among our young walkers and riders. We are grateful for the continued support of our community and everyone who helped make this a memorable event for our students!
EPHS Marching Band Takes First Place At Regionals
Congratulations to the Estes Park High School Marching Band who took first place in their region on Monday!
Their score was nine points higher than their previous competition score, which is amazing and unprecedented!
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 27
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Bobcat Boys Win Mile High League Cross Country Title
By: Nolan Oberg, Athletic Director
The Estes Park varsity cross country teams had an outstanding day Friday at the Mile High League Championship at Thunder Valley Park in Morrison. The boys captured the 2026 Mile High League Championship, finishing just one point ahead of Lyons in a thrilling team race. The girls also turned in an impressive performance, finishing second behind Heritage Christian. The challenging course featured some of the most difficult terrain the Bobcats have encountered this season. However, Estes Park’s daily training on mountain terrain appeared to pay dividends as both teams delivered excellent performances against their league competition. Overall Results Boys Team: 3rd Place – Isaiah Franklin – 19:52.53 6th Place – Caleb Estanol – 20:18.43 7th Place – Gabe Sanchez – 20:19.29
By: Nolan Oberg, Athletic Director
12th Place – Jack Borries – 20:52.82 13th Place – Cash Bucci – 20:56.31 15th Place – Elijah Westley – 21:07.43 30th Place – Ziggy Wild – 24:07.09 Girls Team: 2nd Place – Linnea Schmitt – 22:59.70 4th Place – Amelia Watry – 24:28.09 14th Place – Estelle Lange – 28:19.41 29th Place – Grace Bergman – 35:32.50 34th Place – Bristol Betts – NT With the league championship behind them, the Bobcats will turn their attention to the postseason. Estes Park will compete at the regional meet on Thursday, October 22, at Lyons High School, followed by the state championships on Saturday, October 31, at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. Congratulations to both teams on an excellent league championship performance!
EPHS Bobcats Roll Past South Park, Set Up League Showdown
Photo by Beautyseeker Photography By: Nolan Oberg, Athletic Director
The varsity football team opened fall break with a convincing 60-6 victory over South Park of Fairplay last Thursday. The stadium was packed with Bobcat fans, who were treated to a special halftime performance by participants in the Junior Bobcats Cheer Clinic. The high school marching band followed with a wonderful performance that would earn first place at Regionals on Monday, October 12, at Centaurus High School. The game was the second matchup of the season between Estes Park and South Park and counted toward the Central League standings. The teams’ earlier meeting was scheduled as a non-conference game after both schools lost a mutual opponent, Belle-
Bobcats Close Soccer Season With Exciting Win At Denver Academy
view Christian, which had to cancel its season. Senior Easton Gbeyetin led the Bobcats offensively, scoring multiple touchdowns on the ground. Senior Hadlee Rasmussen also found the end zone after recovering a blocked punt. Gabe Oberg added a touchdown reception from freshman Jaydin Bauer, who completed 11 of 17 passes on the night while also scoring a rushing touchdown. Defensively, the Bobcats were led by Leo Balduzzi and Hadlee Rasmussen as Estes Park limited South Park to just six points. The 4-2 Bobcats will travel to face the Front Range Christian Falcons in Littleton on Friday for an unusual 3 p.m. kickoff. The No. 17 Falcons and No. 20 Bobcats are currently tied for first place in the Central League, making Friday’s matchup a potentially decisive game in the league championship race.
The varsity boys soccer team wrapped up its season Tuesday night with an exciting 2-1 victory over the Denver Academy Mustangs. The win marked the Bobcats’ second victory this season over their Mile High League opponent. Junior Alex Perez and freshman Jonathan Rangel each scored a goal for the Bobcats. Perez’s goal was assisted by sophomore Joseph Cushner, while Rangel’s goal proved to be the gamewinner when he found the back of the net with 10 minutes remaining. The Bobcats were led by team captains Joseph Cushner and Axel Hernandez Zamarron, who provided steady play in the midfield throughout the game. Senior goalkeeper Graham Stafford also finished his season on a high note, making six saves in the victory.
The coaching staff named sophomore EJ Phillips the “Man of the Match” for his outstanding defensive play at right back. While the team’s win-loss record may not tell the entire story, the Bobcats made significant strides throughout the season in both their overall play and team culture. Head Coach Trent Abbott will debrief the season with his staff and players over the next few days before beginning to make plans for offseason training. The Bobcats will look to build on the progress made this season as they turn their attention toward the 2027 season and a goal of making the playoffs. Thank you to Head Coach Trent Abbott and Assistant Coach Alysa Mattingly for their commitment and dedication to the team throughout the season!
EPMS Bobcats Finish Season 4-4 After Thrilling Comeback Falls Just Short By: Nolan Oberg, Athletic Director
The middle school football team wrapped up its season last weekend with a hard-fought 2420 loss to the Merino Rams. The Bobcats finished the season with a respectable 4-4 record after going winless the previous season, marking a significant turnaround for the program. The Bobcats faced a 24-6 deficit at halftime but battled back with a strong second-half effort. Jack Banker and Theodore Romig led the Bobcats through the air, while Thomas Cousineau and Jonathan Elkinton provided a strong rushing attack. Estes Park nearly completed the comeback with a game-winning drive in the final minute. A trick play from Banker to Romig came just inches from finding Boone Oberg, who was unable to make the catch off his fingertips. The Bobcats were understandably disappointed after fighting so hard to battle their way back into the game. The season marked an important step forward for the program, with the Bobcats establishing a new standard and building a strong foundation for the future. A special thank-you goes to the team’s 8th graders, who helped set that new standard: Thomas Cousineau, Jonathan
Photo by Beautyseeker Photography
Elkinton, Sam Layton, Izaiah Nagl, Elijah Nelson, Henry Newhouse, Boone Oberg, Will O’Brien, Theodore Romig, and David Rubio. The program also extends its appreciation to head coach Nathan Harger and assistant coaches Nathan Davis, Austin Cummins, Tom Cousineau and Thomas Doherty for their commitment throughout the season. Sabrina Davis served as the team coordinator and was instrumental in keeping everything together, while David Thomas was the team’s hydration hero, helping keep the Bobcats going strong throughout the season. Coach Harger reflected on the season, saying, “We did not get all of the wins we wanted, but we sure fought hard every bit of the way. At no time did we ever give up. What a great group of athletes, coaches and parents!” The 2026 middle school football season may have ended with a tough loss, but the Bobcats finished with a 4-4 record, a renewed sense of pride and a program that is heading in a positive direction.
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28 » Friday, October 16, 2026
2026 Festival Of Trees Is Coming! Mark your calendars for Estes Park Quota Club’s Festival of Trees kick-off event on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 from 5-7 p.m. Come for photo ops with Santa and view our spectacular display of holiday trees adorning the lobby of the Estes Park Resort. We expect to have close to 50 trees all decorated in a variety of themes by individuals and businesses in the Estes
sought for this year’s fundraiser. Our sponsors are integral to making this event a success. For more information and to learn more about sponsorships please contact EstesParkQuota@gmail.com or visit our website at estesparkquota.com. This highly anticipated holiday fundraiser supports Estes Park Quota, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization ded-
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Valley. You can purchase tree chances for $1 per ticket, 6 for $5, or 13 for $10. Six special trees will be given away on the night of the kick-off. Enjoy complimentary cookies and hot cocoa to feed your holiday spirit. The tree display will be on view through Sunday, December 13, 2026. The drawing begins at 3 p.m. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public! The holiday trees are ready to be distributed to individuals and businesses that are ready to decorate them in whatever theme they choose. Guidelines are available on our website, estesparkquota.com. The trees are due on Friday, November 6, 2026. Please contact Lori at 970-232-5511 or Karen at 602321-9154 with any questions. Business sponsorships are being
icated to serving the local community with philanthropic gifts and services. Quota members share the values of serving and encouraging others and developing lifelong friendships. We meet from 12-1 p.m. twice per month from September through May. We hold two major fundraisers throughout the year, including Taste of Estes in April and the Festival of Trees in December. Our emphasis is on community support for our medical supply “Loan Closet,” loaning durable medical equipment for a donation to locals and visitors in need of walkers, crutches, knee-scooters, and more. Quota looks for ways to support community programs in the following categories-hearing and speech, disadvantaged women and children, service to seniors, and providing scholarships to adult women seeking educational opportunities.
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 29
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YOUR HOME HAS BEEN ON THE MARKET SO LONG, EVEN THE GHOSTS MOVED OUT! Before another scary price reduction, get a FREE, no‐obligation Second Opinion. Call RE/MAX Mountain Brokers. Let's bring your listing back to life!
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30 » Friday, October 16, 2026
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Riley, Atlas, Sherlock, Boulder, & Belly Need Loving, Forever Families Incoming! Four puppies are making their arrival at Buddy’s House on November 1 and they all need homes. Perhaps Christmas will come early this year?! There are two females and two males, all are four months old and thought to be Lab/Border Collie mixes. The females, Riley and Atlas, are around 14 pounds, and the males, Sherlock and Boulder, are 18 pounds. If you’re in search of an adventure partner, a snuggle buddy, and/or just a happy personality to bring joy to your home, make sure to check out these sweet puppies! More of a cat person? Belly is looking for her home as well. She’s famous for two things: her most amazing cuddle skills, and her deep love for catnip. She comes from a close-knit family — she was saved with her mom and her sister — and she will bring that warmth and love to her new home! Belly is a social butterfly, so whether you have a full house or if it’s just you,
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Belly will fit right in. Come meet Belly if you’re in search of a chatty and affectionate buddy to narrate your day and follow at your heels! Speaking of the holidays... Save the date for “Pictures with Santa!” on November 14 in Estes, and November 15 in Loveland at Buddy’s. Stay tuned for more information but for now, mark your calendars and tell your fur babies to be good for Santa! If you think you could be any of these sweet animals’ forever people, adoptable pets are offered through the Pet Association of Estes Park, a nonprofit organization that is the Estes Valley’s only humane society. To donate or learn more, visit their website at petassociationestespark.com, or you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Pet Association by sending your check to PO Box 4342, Estes Park, CO 80517.
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 31
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Ghost Towns & The End Of The Old West By: Ethan Knightchilde
“You will find it hard to believe that there stood at one time a fiercely-flourishing little city, of two thousand or three thousand souls with...all the appointments and appurtenances of a thriving and prosperous and promising young city—and now nothing is left of it all but a lifeless, homeless solitude. The men are gone, the houses have vanished, even the name of the place is forgotten.” — Mark Twain, “Roughing It” Fabulous mineral strikes and gold rushes still lay in the future when Twain’s semi-autobiographical book was published in 1872. Yet even then— just 24 years after James W. Marshall found color in the tailrace at Sutter’s mill— the Old West was vanishing before the eyes of those who lived there. The abandoned towns and mining camps of that era captivated me as a child and became my obsession as an adult. But after decades of travel and shooting thousands of feet of motion picture film and photographs, a burning question persists: precisely what is it about these places that has fascinated every generation since the frontier faded away? Perhaps it is the way they play upon the imagination—the way the ghosts of the past feel so close that, if you squint your eyes just right when the light is low, you can almost see the town and its long-ago inhabitants at the uttermost limit of vision. And there are times when it seems as if the sites are not wholly forsaken but are yet haunted by those who suffered through unimaginable trials and hardships and who brought with them into the wilderness their hopes, dreams, fears, and failings.
Far more than a century has passed since the disappearance of the Old West—"the West of Owen Wister’s stories and Frederic Remington’s drawings, the West of the Indian and the buffalo hunter, the soldier and the cowpuncher,” as Theodore Roosevelt described it—and its last vestiges are fast succumbing to the elements and its heedless, attention-seeking, like-chasing, selfie-loving inheritors. But the westward road beckons us still, and the echoes from the past continue to fascinate, intrigue, and even haunt us. Discover the ghost town phenomenon for yourself. Come see the final screening of Best Documentary Award-winning “Ghosts of the West: The End of the Bonanza Trail” at the movie house where it began its journey: the Historic Park Theatre, built when the film’s events were still in living memory. The last show of the year begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. The title is not available from any digital library or on any streaming platform, so take this final opportunity to see it on the big screen of a truly memorable theatre. As the film’s writer-director, I plan to be on hand to introduce the film and answer questions about the entire ghost town research project. Visit HistoricParkTheatre.com for information and tickets. Visit KnightSkyPictures.com, the production company’s official website, to view the film’s trailer, gallery, production info, and online store. Portions of this article originally appeared in opening night programs for and the screenplay of “Ghosts of the West: The End of the Bonanza Trail” and the book “Ghosts of the West: Tales and Legends from the Bonanza Trail” by E. S. Knightchilde.
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(970) 449-2645
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32 » Friday, October 16, 2026
Breeyan Edwards FirstColoradoRealty.com 970-646-6555 523 Saint Vrain Lane, Estes Park
511 Whispering Pines Drive h $1,100,000
Vote No On 1A & 6D To the Editor: There are two significant local tax increases on the ballot: County ballot issue 1A and EP ballot issue 6D. There are serious problems with these ballot issues. The first is that our taxes are already way too high! These two ballot issues would raise the local sales tax by .8%. That’s a lot. We need to stop constantly raising taxes for everything. The second is that neither of these ballot issues are fully defined. They are basically blank checks since there are few specific plans for all this extra money. Reading the ballot issues, both only give generalities for what the
higher taxes will be used for. For example, 6D states that the money “will be used for any lawful purpose including, BUT NOT LIMITED TO” firefighting. Means that the money can be spent on almost anything. There is no real plan for this money, only high level, generic statements about what it gets spent on. Ballot issue 1A is even less defined and the higher taxes from it could be spent on almost anything. Don’t raise taxes without real plans. Vote NO on both local tax increases; NO on 1A and 6D. Ron Wilcocks Proud American, Estes Park, USA
Support For 6D 653 Fox Creek h $139,000
350 WHISPERING PINES DRIVE
2,700 sq. ft D 6 bedrooms, 4 baths D $769,000
To the Editor: I support Proposition 6D, a 0.5% sales tax that will provide dedicated and much needed funding to the Estes Valley Fire Protection District. It is cheap insurance for our community, and about 80% will be paid for by tourists. Living in Estes Park, we all understand that wildfire is and ever-present threat. In recent years, we’ve watched fires like East Troublesome and Cameron Peak burn closer and faster than anyone expected. Those events make it clear that our community must be prepared. The Estes Valley Fire District has limited permanent funding sources and it cannot maintain the required capital reserve to replace aging wildland apparatus. That is a serious vulnerability for a community in one of Colorado’s highest risk wildland urban interface zones. Our firefighters deserve the best
equipment, training and support that we can give them. In a place where a single wind driven spark can threaten hundreds of homes, these capabilities are essential. EVFPD runs a highly lean operation by using largely volunteer firefighters. The new initiative is estimated to provide a budget of about $5M per year. By comparison, the fire department budgets in other small tourist towns are much higher (Telluride ~$12 M, Glenwood Springs ~$7M). Our community depends on firefighters who can respond quickly throughout the valley. Strengthening wildland readiness is not optional for Estes Park — it is a responsibility we owe to our residents, our visitors, and the landscape we all cherish. James Bowie Resident, Estes Park
Vote Yes For 6D 1637 BLACK SQUIRREL DRIVE
1.7 Acres D 2 bedrooms, 2 baths D $725,000
636 STEAMER DRIVE
2,251 sq. ft D 2 bedrooms, 2 baths D $749,900
To the Editor: I urge Estes Valley voters to vote Yes on 6D to support our Estes Valley Fire Protection District and the protection of our homes, businesses, and community. First, our fire protection costs are remarkably low compared with neighboring communities. EVFPD’s property tax rate is just 2.069 mills, compared with an average of 9.94 mills among nearby agencies, including Lyons, Grand Lake, Allenspark, Pinewood Springs, and Loveland Rural. Our district covers approximately 70 square miles, while the Town of Estes Park encompasses only about seven square miles. We are protecting a vast area at a comparatively modest cost. Second, consider the value we are
protecting. Property within EVFPD has an assessed valuation exceeding $5.2 billion. The fire district’s current budget is approximately $3.1 million, with about $1.1 million coming from property taxes. Including Town of Estes Park funding, the total investment in fire protection represents approximately 0.06% of district property valuation. That is less than one-tenth of one percent to help protect our homes, businesses, and investments. Reliable fire protection is essential in our mountain community. Please join me in voting Yes on 6D to support the firefighters and emergency services we depend on. Bill Bishop, Jr. A Concerned Estes Valley Resident
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 33
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LISTED BY TOM THOMAS
Where Does The Money Go? By: Brian Schaffer
It’s a question worth asking. When you shop at Good Neighbor Thrift, where does your money go? It goes much further than the cash register. Good Neighbor Thrift is operated by Crossroads Assistance Ministry, and the proceeds from the store help Crossroads provide practical assistance to Estes Valley neighbors who are going through a challenging season of life. Your purchase can help put food on a table, keep the lights on, provide rent assistance, purchase needed medications, fill a gas tank, provide school supplies, or help someone obtain the basic necessities they need to get through a difficult time. But it goes beyond meeting an immediate need. Crossroads also invests in programs that help people move toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. Because sometimes the best as-
sistance isn't simply helping someone get through today—it's helping them build a better tomorrow. Our greatest impact is accomplished by working closely with our extensive network of collaborative partners. And there’s something beautiful about the way this works. Someone donates an item. Someone else finds a treasure. And somewhere along the way, a neighbor receives a helping hand. That’s the Good Neighbor Thrift story. So the next time you shop, donate, or simply tell someone about Good Neighbor Thrift, remember: you are helping turn gently used things into meaningful opportunities for people in our community. Your purchase makes a difference. Your donation makes a difference. Your generosity makes a difference. Shop. Donate. Give. And help Crossroads continue being there when our neighbors need us most.
271 Steamer $850,000
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677 Cedar Ridge $675,000
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1490 Hummingbird $1,475,000
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THE G OM E Z T E A M
Estes Park Men's Golf Association Results For October 12, 2026 Congratulations to Paul Edens for coming out on top today with an impressive Net 69! Of the 57 entrants, we awarded winnings to the top 20 players. Congrats to all these winners! One week left in the EPMGA season and the weather has certainly been on our side this year. Pos. Player Total Gross To Par Net Total Net 1 Paul Edens 77 -3 68 T2 Henry Glover 86 -2 69 T2 Peter Juhl 85 -2 69 T2 Brandon Hale 80 -2 69 T5 Brian Kelly 86 E 71 T5 Michael Geist 96 E 71 T7 Rodney Unruh 88 1 72 T7 Brad Doggett 74 1 72 T7 Jim Dolan 94 1 72 T10 Jeff Lindberg 88 2 73 T10 Roger Galloway 95 2 73 12 Guy Tritico 84 3 74 T13 Nelson Burke 91 4 75 T13 Adam Strong 87 4 75 T13 Jerry Ballinghoff 91 4 75 T16 Al Wagner 86 5 76 T16 John Krueger 94 5 76 T16 Jim Bangs 88 5 76 T16 Mark Moraczewski 103 5 76 T16 Jim Toresdahl 95 5 76
Javier Gomez Broker 970 213-8692
estesparkproperties@gmail.com
Maria Gomez Broker
970 213-9479
maria@estesparkproperties.realestate
Mountain Brokers
1200 Graves Avenue, Estes Park
OPEN HOUSE Oct. 17 10-12pm
GREAT VALUE
PRICE REDUCED
1635 Brook Court
1155 S Saint Vrain Ave. 2-8
1002 Streamside Dr. Glen Haven
$900,000 MLS# 1065602
$245,000 MLS# 1067459
$485,000 MLS# 1058806
PRICE REDUCED
SOLD
MOTIVATED SELLER
1250 S Saint Vrain Ave Unit 14
2222 Highway 66 Unit 12
131 Willowstone Ct.
PRICE REDUCED
PRICE REDUCED
NEW LISTING
189 Fisherman's Lane
84 Copper Hill Rd
0 Streamside
$625,000 MLS# 1069559
$215,000 MLS# 1045985
$90,000 MLS# 1066603
$235,000 MLS# 1063422
$799,000 MLS# 1057032
$815,000 MLS# 1018202
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34 » Friday, October 16, 2026
“Outlaws & Outliers” Men On Fire Turns Five! By: Larry Strong
In every generation, there are men who refuse to fit the mold. Some become outlaws, living outside the rules and challenging authority. Others become outliers, standing apart from the crowd because they see the world differently. In the eyes of society, both may be misunderstood, rejected, or labeled as troublemakers. But from our perspective at MOF, the question is not whether a man fits in. The question is what and Whom he stands for. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly called men who stood apart from their culture. Moses challenged Pharaoh. David faced Goliath when others were afraid. Gideon questioned his own ability, yet God called him a mighty warrior. These men were not perfect, polished, or always understood by those around them. They were ordinary men called to extraordinary obedience. Today's culture often pressures men to conform, compromise, or remain silent. Yet God calls men to something deeper than fitting in. He calls us to integrity when dishonesty is easier, courage when silence feels safer, humility when pride demands control, and faithfulness when the world offers shortcuts. A worthy destination offers no quick route. There is, however, an important distinction between being different for the sake of rebellion and standing firm for the sake of righteousness. An outlaw may reject every boundary simply because he resents authority. A godly man learns which boundaries protect what matters and which cultural expectations must be challenged. Biblical masculinity is not about being the loudest man in the room or proving that no one can tell us what to do. It’s about submitting our strength to God's authority and using that strength to serve
others. MOF is a place where outliers find brotherhood, where wounded men find restoration, and where outlaws who have wandered discover a path home. We need men who are willing to ask hard questions, confront injustice, admit their failures, and encourage one another to become more like Christ. We need brothers who understand that accountability is not weakness and vulnerability is not defeat. We need men willing to call out the lies culture is telling us about who we’re supposed to be. As men, we can be a lot of things but confused is not a good option. Perhaps the man who stands apart is not the problem. Perhaps he simply needs a community that helps him direct his convictions toward a greater purpose. MOF us such a community. Outlaws and outliers may never fit neatly into the world's expectations. But when their courage is shaped by faith, their strength tempered by humility, and their independence surrendered to God's purpose, they can become the kind of men who change families, strengthen churches, serve communities, and leave a legacy worth following. MOF meets Saturdays, 8 a.m. at the American Legion for “Breakfast with a Purpose!” To celebrate our 5th anniversary, breakfast is FREE to all men who attend this Saturday! Along with other outlaws and outliers, if you’re a maverick, renegade, pioneer, rebel, warrior, trailblazer, lone wolf, nonconformist, statesman or quiet gentleman, you’ll be in good company. Regardless of where you’ve been in your life or faith journey, you’ll be welcomed and accepted. See ya Saturday.
Estes Park Church To Host Exclusive Advance Screening Of The Chosen Season 6 Premiere Free community screening will give local viewers an early look at the highly anticipated new season Summit Church will host an exclusive advance screening of Season 6, Episode 1 of the hit television series The Chosen on Sunday, October 18, at 6:01 p.m. The free event will take place at Summit Church, located at 156 1st St. in Estes Park. The special screening offers the Estes Park community an opportunity to see the highly anticipated new season before its official premiere. Admission is free, and popcorn and drinks will be provided. The Chosen, created by Dallas Jenkins, is a historical drama based on the life of Jesus Christ. The series tells the story of Jesus through the perspectives of the people who encountered him, offering a character-driven look at his ministry, his disciples, and the lives transformed by their experiences with him. Since its debut, The Chosen has become a worldwide phenomenon, reaching audiences across the globe. The series is particularly known for bringing familiar biblical stories to life while exploring the personalities, rela-
tionships, questions, struggles, and faith of the people surrounding Jesus. Season 6 marks a pivotal point in the story, focusing on the final day of Jesus' life and the events leading to His crucifixion. The new season explores these historic events through the perspectives of those closest to Jesus as well as those who opposed Him. “We’re excited to offer our community this unique opportunity to experience the Season 6 premiere together, before it is available to the general public,” said Tim Smith, pastor of Summit Church. “The Chosen has connected with people because it brings the story of Jesus to life in a very personal and relatable way. We hope people from throughout the Estes Valley will join us for this special evening.” The screening will begin at 6:01 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, at: Summit Church, 156 1st Street, Estes Park. Admission is free. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Whether viewers have followed The Chosen from the beginning or have never seen an episode, everyone is welcome to attend this special advance screening.
St. Bart’s Autumn Market: This Saturday, October 17 Members of St. Bart’s Episcopal Church are finalizing preparations for their annual Autumn Market which will be Saturday, October 17 at the church, 880 MacGregor, from 9 a.m. to closing. Pasties, the little meat pies that have been featured at St. Bart's events for 40 years, are still available for order or for purchase the day of the market. They are $28 for a package of six or $30 for gluten free. To order go online at stbartsepiscopalchurch.org, call 936-7665637, or pick up a bag or two with the accompanying chutney while shopping that day. Frozen soups, casseroles, Baldpate Inn recipe muffins, and other baked goods are also highlighted and for the first Warm pumpkin doughnuts will begin the day for time, church members will offer shoppers at St. Bart’s Episcopal Church Autumn classes in new experiences, Market, October 17 at the church starting at 9 based on their expertise. Marya.m. The Market features St. Bart’s famous Ann Martin is offering a class pasties, frozen soups, casseroles and baked on tie-dyeing t-shirts. Particigoods. A soup and muffin lunch will be offered as pants can sign up and get dewell as sign ups for Experiences in Expertise with tails at the Market for classes in church members. November. Also, Pat Karspeck will offer her years of experiA lunch of Welcome Home cheese ence in classes on cutting hair. soup and Baldpate Inn muffins will provide a chance to sit down and refuel Crafts, chokecherry jelly, and homefor further shopping. made dog biscuits for furry family members and friends round out the list All proceeds from the market go to of things for sale. charities support by St. Bart's.
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PCCR Presents The “King of Instruments,” An Afternoon With Larry & Friends For all those who love organ music, this will be a rare opportunity to hear some of the best organists in Colorado. They are all coming together to celebrate the sounds of Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies’ “new” organ with Larry Gillum, PCCR’s organist. Larry will be joined by Jill Hunt, PCCR’s Substitute Organist; Joe McConathy, First Presbyterian in Fort Collins; Dr. Joel Bacon, Organ Professor at Colorado State University; Dennis Fromholzer, Our Lady of the Mountains, Estes Park; and Don Shelley, formerly at Allenspark Community Church. This will be the second in PCCR’s Organ Concert Series and one to remember. The concert will be given at Saturday, October 17th at 2 p.m. in
the sanctuary of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies; 1700 Brodie Ave, Estes Park, Colorado. This concert is free, but contributions to the church’s organ fund would be greatly appreciated.
AA & Al-Anon Meetings AA of Allenspark: The Great Clean Wind Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Allenspark Community Church Fellowship Hall, enter on North side of building. Open discussion AA of Glen Haven Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall Early Worms Monday through Saturday at 7 a.m. (hybrid meetings with Zoom #796 839 839 PW:Worms20) at St. Bartholomew Church, 880 MacGregor Ave. Mixed Nuts Al-Anon Group Fridays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. (hybrid meetings with Zoom #285 426 3644 PW:serenity) at St. Bartholomew Church One Day At A Time AA Meetings Tuesdays at noon: Open discussion Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.: Open discussion Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. Location: Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. Meetings are in the lounge on the main floor by the front entrance to the church. Park upstairs by the main entrance of the church. Alcoholics Anonymous Fall River Group Current Schedule as of 6/17/2025 Zoom ID 999 829166 for AA Meetings Mondays at 12 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, D Mondays at 7 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, BB Women’s Meeting, Tuesdays at 12 p.m. — O, D
Wednesdays at 12 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, D Wednesdays at 7 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, D Thursdays at 12 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, D Fridays at 12 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, D Saturdays at 12 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, D Sundays at 12 p.m., in person and Zoom — O, ABSI Last Monday of each month is birthday night; potluck at 6 p.m., speaker at 7 p.m. Location: 453 West Elkhorn Ave. ***Contribute via Venmo, @FallRiverGroupAA Other 12 Step Meetings Held at Fall River Group Narcotics Anonymous “New Horizons” Group, Thursdays at 7 p.m., in person and Zoom (705 555 930) — O, D **O=Open to all D=Discussion BB=Big Book Zoom Meetings Every day at noon, Zoom #999 829 166 (no password needed) Zoom Big Book Study, Mondays at 7 p.m. #654 598 884 (no password needed). Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Zoom #999 829 166 Online AA and NA Meetings at intherooms.com. There are 70 AA meetings and 30 NA meetings a week.
Roger Willard Fjeld July 13, 1933 – October 12, 2026 Editor’s note: Roger Fjeld’s full obituary is available at epnews.com. Roger Fjeld was born on July 13, 1933 in Primghar, located in northwest Iowa. He was the eldest son of Oscar and Alice (Berntson) Fjeld. He attended school in Primghar and worked on the family farm. Music was important in the household and Roger learned piano, and went on to play trombone in high school. He was baptized at Siloam Lutheran in Paullina and confirmed at Grace Lutheran in Primghar, where he played organ, which he taught himself, and was otherwise active in the church. He graduated as the valedictorian of his class. He attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City where he initially intended to study Pharmacy, and ultimately graduated with a BA in General Science in 1955. At the university, he was active with Lutheran Campus Ministries, which ultimately changed his life. It was through Lutheran Campus Ministries that he became interested in studying theology and equally as important, he met his future wife, Marilyn Burrack. Roger and Marlyn were married in April 1955. Roger continued his education at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1959. They spent the first year of their marriage coordinating between Iowa City, where Marilyn was finishing her nursing degree, before reuniting in Dubuque in 1956. They traveled to San Francisco in 1957 for Roger’s internship year, and returned to Dubuque where he completed seminary and was ordained in May 1959. Roger’s first call was to a mission congregation, Christ Lutheran Church in Sedalia, Missouri, where he served from 1959 to 1965. During that time Roger and Marilyn adopted two children, Stuart Alan and Karen Kay. His second call was also to a mission congregation, Atonement Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado, from 1965 to 1969. Douglas Dean, their youngest, was adopted during this time. During this time in Denver, he attended the University of Colorado Boulder where he completed a Master of Reformation and Renaissance History and a Ph.D. in American Intellectual History in 1971 with the thesis, “Human Nature in Question: Protestant Responses to Selected Political and Social Issues.” Roger and Marilyn moved to Estes Park, Colorado in 1999. They said someone had to retire into the
mountains, so why not them? They had already fallen in love with the town during many trips to Rocky Mountain National Park when they lived in Denver. Travel was another Fjeld family value, which continued into retirement when Roger and Marilyn enjoyed numerous trips together – often cruising with friends and family to various ports all over the world. Once the opportunity arose to move into the newly established Good Samaritan retirement community, they jumped at the chance! They moved in while most of the community was still under construction, and lived there for over 20 years. Roger was also instrumental in helping establish another new mission congregation: Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, this time with fundraising. His memory will be cherished by his sister Beverly, his daughter Karen and granddaughter Jenesis from Alexandria, VA, his son Doug and partner Michelle from Bernard, IA, and grandchildren Cassidy, Hunter, Rosalie, and great-granddaughter Coraline of the Denver Metro Area, Colorado. He goes on to join his beloved wife Marilyn, his son Stuart, his parents, and his brother Charles. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church in Estes Park, Colorado on Friday, October 23, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. It will be livestreamed at smlcestes.org/online-services. In lieu of flowers, please honor Roger by sending a memorial gift to Wartburg Seminary, Attn: Development Department, 333 Wartburg Pl., Dubuque, IA 52003, or online: Wartburg Seminary Giving. Please designate the Fjeld Family Endowment. Or, to Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church: Please send a check to 2000 Ptarmigan Trail, Estes Park, CO 80517. Please visit allnuttestespark.com to leave messages for the family.
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Outdoor World and Rocky Mountain Connection year-round retail stores for clothing and gear are hiring. $18/hour. Stocking shelves, engaging customers. Bring your upbeat vibe and people skills. Flexible shifts on your terms. Ages 15 to 80 welcome. Reach Ernie anytime, day or night, every day of the week. 970 232 8290.
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice Concerning Proposed Budget of Upper Thompson Sanitation District Notice Is Hereby Given at a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of Upper Thompson Sanitation District for the ensuing year of 2027; that a copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the District at 2196 Mall Road, Estes Park, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that such proposed budget will be considered at a public hearing which will be held during the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the District, at 2196 Mall Road, Estes Park, Colorado, on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget, inspect the budget and file or register any objections thereto. Individuals who wish to address the Board via public participation may do so “in-person”, via telephone, or virtually through online participation, facilitated by the Zoom platform. Members of the public wishing to join the meeting via online or telephone participation, may email a request for the meeting link or telephone number to Ms. Gina Moore, Secretary to the Board, at gina@utsdco.gov by 2:00 p.m. on November 17, 2026. UPPER THOMPSON SANITATION DISTRICT By: Gina Moore, Financial Officer/Budget Officer UThe District prohibits unlawful discrimination against customers, employees, or applicants for employment, or in any program or activity conducted by the District on the basis of age 40 and over, race, (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and length, protective hairstyles), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, religion, national origin, disability, military or marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. The District will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities. If any person has a disability and requires a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in District business communications or events, please contact the District Manager, Ms. Suzanne Jurgens, (three days before an event) via email at suzanne@utsdco.gov, or telephone at 970-586-4544 or dial 711 to connect with Relay Colorado. Additional information may be found at https://utsd.colorado.gov.
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF BUDGET Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Estes Valley Public Library District Board for the ensuing year 2027. A copy of the proposed budget has been filed on the Library’s website under “About > Budget, Finance, & Annual Audit Reports”, where the same is open for public inspection. A public budget hearing will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026, in the Library’s Wasson Board Room at 6:30 p.m. Any interested elector within the Estes Valley Public Library District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objection thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget. That the proposed budget will be considered for final adoption at the meeting of the Library Board to be held in the Wasson Board Room at the Library on Monday, November 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Estes Valley Public Library District
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 37
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RENTALS
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RIVERFRONT OFFICE BUILDING FOR RENT Reception Area, 2 Executive Offices with Fireplaces, 6 Private Offices, Conference Room, 3 Restrooms, Full Kitchen, Upper Kitchenette, Furnished, Oversized Garage, Private Parking, Central A/C, Security System. Call 970-215-2494 for details.
1,220 sf office space, 1191 Woodstock, $1,850/month 402-730-4080
Susan Novy Local Piano Tuner. Call for appointment. 970-577-1755
Oak TV Entertainment stand on wheels, CD rack, cabinet doors under receiver shelf. Nice! $65. 970-290-0710
Office/Service Unit, off street parking, 750 sf, handicap restroom, $985/mo., w/trash removal. Call 970-679-7938, 303-747-2591
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Commercial Spaces for sale and lease. Call Eric. INTEMPUS Realty, 970-586-2950
Storm Mtn Holiday Bazaar: 11/7 10-4 & 11/8 10-3. Big Thompson Canyon Assoc (BTCA), 1479 US Hwy 34 E of Drake. Locally handcrafted items; great gifts! Bake sale -fundraiser: take home treats! Historic log bldg, free cider; shop local. Details at www.facebook.com/ peacefulridge
Great 900 square foot commercial/office space that has been completely remodeled. Good parking and convenient location. 154 South Saint Vrain in Village Square. Flexible lease starting at $1,000 per month. Call InTempus Realty and ask for Eric at 970-215-2625 or Abbey at 970-599-0688.
Short Term SHORT-TERM RENTAL – ESTES PARK, COLORADO Fully Furnished 1Bedroom Cabin or Lodge room. $1,300/month – All Utilities Included! 970-779-7455
ABJ COMPUTERS Local tech help since 1983 WEBSITES AI FOR BUSINESS COMPUTER REPAIRS WI-FI & NETWORKS Homes & businesses On-site or remote Call or text 970-231-6276 abjcomputers.com
Storage Units Storage Rental available Fits 2 cars, 10 ft, door. 970-825-6635 Manford Plaza storage unit for rent. 970-586-3828
TRANSPORTATION Charming Private Office in Historic Downtown Estes Park 166 Virginia, Suite 7, Looking for a professional office in the heart of Estes Park? This beautifully renovated one person office is located in a historic building right downtown, just steps from Bond Park, local banks, and the business district. Features & Amenities: • Prime downtown location with signage on Virginia Drive • All utilities included (except internet) • Wired for Fiber Optics & High-Speed Internet via Trailblazer • Access to a separate conference room with a large TV for Zoom meetings • Shared kitchen with coffee setup • Copy machine available for your business needs Ideal for remote professionals, entrepreneurs, or anyone seeking a quiet, professional workspace in a vibrant setting. $600 per month Call Thom at 970-586-2448 to schedule a tour!
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38 » Friday, October 16, 2026
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HAIR CARE
MAINTENANCE/REPAIR SERVICES
GENERAL CONTRACTOR Developing Dreams Custom Home Building, Commercial Construction, Renovations and Additions
Get in touch for a FREE estimate 970-586-5796 www.aldrichbuilders.com
HEARING & TINNITUS CARE Cory D. Workman, Au.D. Phone: 970-586-5255 • Hearing Aids / New & Repair • Hearing Evaluations • Hearing Protection • Ear Care / Wax Removal • Dizziness / Balance
1186 Graves Ave., Ste. B Estes Park, CO 80517 Fax: 970-577-7260 drcory@estesparkaudiology.com www.estesparkaudiology.com
R.M. IMPROVEMENT LLC Home Repairs & Upgrades New Construction & Remodeling Specializing in Decks, Windows, Siding, Kitchen/Bath Remodels, and Exterior Painting Long time local serving the Estes area. 970-581-2670 • cornellhico@gmail.com cornellhomeimprovement.com
• Ext./Int. Painting & Staining • Concrete • Fencing • Hauling • Power Washing • Gutter Cleaning Deck Repair • Dirtwork • Demo • Landscaping • Much More!
Insured - Licensed - Local References Randy Miller • 970-888-4947
Friday, October 16, 2026 « 39
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PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS BUILDER PAINTING
PLUMBING
TREE SERVICE
PEST CONTROL WINDOW CLEANING
PROPANE
SECURITY HOME WATCH
Professional Window Cleaning Elevate your views! We do full service window cleaning: interior, exterior and screen cleaning. Specializing in traditional window cleaning for luxury homes. Cleaning windows in the Estes Park area for 10 years. Insured.
STORAGE
(970) 713-0222 call or text ZacBunch@elevatedwindowcleaninginc.com
NOW ! ABLE AVAIL
• Unit Sizes: 800-1600 sq. ft. • Boat & RV Storage • Fire Suppression System • Utilities Available
970.481.9807 Colexcav@gmail.com
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40 » Friday, October 16, 2026
494 Alpine Dr
NE W
$1,100,000
NE W
PR ICE
$850,000
2010 Marys Lake Road
PR ICE
$2,600,000
PR ICE
$675,000
1817 Ranch Cir
$599,000
Timeshares
$615,000
1431 S Saint Vrain Ave B
$2,600
$200,000
534 S Saint Vrain Ave
CO MM ER CI AL
NE W
NE W
1045 Palisade Mountain Dr
LA ND
677 Cedar Ridge Cir
$1,400,000
511 Whispering Pines Dr
NE W
271 Steamer Ct
626 Riverside Dr
$719,000
2251 Arapaho Rd
$1,450,000
Call us to use our FREE Moving Truck.
$1,150,000