XII-616 Since 2000 FREE Friday, September 14, 2012 Moose This great photo is by Dick Orleans See more on pages 24 & 25. www.raremoment.com

Page 2 Friday, September 14, 2012 www.estesparknews.com Sus Susan an J FFereday, ereday, AAgent gent 501 SSaint aint Vrain Lane Es Estes tes Park, CCO O 80517 Bus: 970-586-9547 susan.fereday.ggvw@statefarm.com Need health insurance? If you're between jobs, in sch o ool, or starting your own business, don't sweat it. I have plans fr o om Assurant Health designed wit h your needs in mind. To find o u ut more about short-term, student, or individual medical coverag e e, call me today. ® See a local State Farm agent for more details on coverage, costs, restrictions, , a nd renewability. Assurant Health products s a re underwritten and issued by Time Insur r ance Company, Milwaukee, WI, which is financially responsible for these products. No memb b er of the State Farm family of companies is fin n ancially responsible for these products. Assu u rant, Assurant Health and Time Insurance Com m pany are not affiliates of State Farm. P097300.1 State Farm Mutual Autom o obile Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL Estes Park NEWS,Inc. Your Hometown News 8,000 copies distributed FREE every Friday to hundreds of Estes' popular locations. FREE ON-LINE VIRTUAL PAPER! at www.estesparknews.com Ph: (970) 586-5800 Fax: (970) 692-2611 Opinions of our columnists are not necessarily the opinions of this newspaper. Publishers: Gary & Kris Hazelton Estes Park residents and owners. Editor: Kris Hazelton Ads & Website Design Specialist: Andrew Donaldson ads@estesparknews.com Classifieds/Reception Chloé Hazelton Press releases to: kris@estesparknews.com All editorial, photographic content and graphic design is copyright of Estes Park News and can not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of Estes Park News, Inc. ©2012 For subscription information contact us. EP NEWS Deadlines Monday: Space reservations today! Tuesday: Copy deadline by 4:00 p.m. Classifieds: Phoned in-12 p.m. Wed Submitted to website - Weds. 1 pm go to: www.estesparknews.com Our office/studio is located at: 1191 Woodstock Drive, Unit B Just down the road from B&B Food Opening On The EV Planning Commission Monday, September 24 is the deadline to apply for an opening on the Estes Valley Planning Commission. An application online is available at www.larimer.org/boards. Estes Valley Planning Commission - This is a joint planning commission between Larimer County and the Town of Estes Park and is made up of Estes Valley and Town of Estes Park residents. The Commission advises the Town Board and Board of County Commissioners on land use matters and applications for the area. The Town of Estes Park and Larimer County separately appoint citizens to the Commission. This appointment is a County appointment. All County appointees need to be eighteen years old and residents of the unincorporated portion of the Estes Planning Area for at least one year prior to their appointment. All members shall continue to be residents of their respective areas during their entire term. To make sure you live in the unincorporated portion of the Estes Valley Development Code area, please go to: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Tow nofEstesPark/CBON/1251608959903 and click on Estes Valley Development Code Area map. In addition to the online application, Larimer County's Boards and Commissions web site, www.larimer.org/boards, features video information, membership and more. For further information contact Diane Tokarz, Commissioners' Office, (970) 498-7015, dtokarz@larimer.org. Elk Viewing Is Best From A Safe Distance By: Kate Rusch Public Information Officer Each September and October, thousands of visitors are drawn to Estes Park to watch herds of elk gather in the valley for their mating season, or "rut." With this popular activity comes the responsibility for everyone to be safe and respect these majestic animals. During the rut, the male "bull" elk are irritable, aggressive and extremely dangerous to onlookers who get too close. "Every day our dispatch center receives numerous calls for police officers to respond to elk issues around Town, and the vast majority of issues are caused by people," commented Estes Park Police Chief Wes Kufeld. He explained that the most common reports to dispatch are people getting too close to the elk and "elk jams," caused when drivers park their vehicles in the way of traffic in order to watch the elk. Kufeld continued, "Safety should be first on the minds of elk-viewers, so they can have a great experience." The Police Department provides the following tips to visitors for safe elk viewing: * Elk are wild animals which must be observed from a safe distance to avoid injury or death. If an animal is carefully watching you and appears "jumpy" when you move, you are too close. * Keep pets secured on a leash and do not allow them to bark at, lunge at, or chase wildlife. * Never block traffic. Move your vehicle to a safe place completely off the roadway to watch elk. * Do not imitate an elk call, or bugle, when elk are irritable during the rut. This can endanger you and the elk. * Elk know no boundaries, but people do. Respect private property when viewing wildlife. The Estes Park Police Department does enforce wildlife laws including laws against feeding or harassing wildlife, or allowing one's pet to harass wildlife. For more information, please contact the Town of Estes Park Public Information Office at 970-577-3701. To receive Town news and/or agendas in your email inbox, please email townadmin@estes.org. Photos EP NEWS/ Kris & Gary Hazelton

www.estesparknews.com By: Kris Hazelton It's fall and the elk rut is underway, which is a good time for a reminder to us all to slow down and really watch for wildlife on our roads, especially this time of year. During the rut, the animals are very distracted and not at all wary when crossing the roads. Their distractedness makes it more important than ever for drivers to stay alert to wildlife activity near roads-and to slow down. Already this week, at least two elk have been hit by cars, one resulting in death while at the same time, bonding a group of neighbors together in the quest to save his life. This is a sad story of a beautiful 6 x 6 bull who was hit on Highway 34 earlier this week. After he was hit, he ran into the Elk Meadows subdivision where he laid down in someone's yard to try to rest and recover from his injuries. Residents found the bull lying in between some trees and they felt very sorry for the bull and watched in agony as he tried to get up but could not. They rallied together and tried to help the bull by calling Jayne Zmijewski, local wildlife expert and volunteer who tried to assess his injuries and help the residents with suggestions and advice. They put out buckets of water for the bull who had no source of water nearby, hoping to help give him strength to heal. On the second morning he was there, their hopes were bouyed as they saw him standing, be it ever so briefly, to graze. However, that hope was short lived as that night, a rival bull elk moved into the area and saw the injured bull as a competitor and he gored him while he was down. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials were then called in to check him out and until they could get there with a CPW veterinarian to assess the situation, neighbors bonded together to camp out for the night, taking shifts to watch over the bull to prevent another rival attack. The residents did an all-nighter and thank goodness, it was an uneventful night, no wandering bull elk to create more problems. But they stated, "Boy, was it cold! At one point the temps dropped to 37 degrees!" These dedicated residents with big hearts held onto the hope that the bull would be able to make it. On Sunday however, CPW wildlife Manager Rick Spowart and a CPW veterinarian arrived on scene and after trying to get the bull up and moving, decided the bull could not be saved and needed to be put down. He could not defend himself or even fend for himself and if nothing were done, it would be a very painful death. This was a very sad ending to this beautiful bull that was struck by a car. Here are a few tips to help you avoid a situation where you might strike an animal on our roadways, causing injury or death to the animal and possibly to you or the occupants of your vehicle as well. * Be particularly alert when driving and Give Wildlife A "Brake" watch for wildlife in and near the road at dawn, dusk, and in the first few hours after darkness. * Drive with increased awareness when traveling in signed wildlife areas. Crossing signs are generally placed in known wildlife movement areas and wildlife-vehicle collision hot spots. * Pay attention to both sides of the road by scanning from side to side. If you have passengers, ask them to help you keep an eye out for animals. * Practice active driving. Distracted driving, such as driving while talking on your cell phone, text messaging (both of which no one should ever do!) or chatting with passengers is even more dangerous in wildlife areas. * As always, make sure you and your passengers wear seatbelts. * Keeping to a EP NEWS/ Kris Hazelton safe speed provides drivers a better chance of being able to safely avoid a collision with a wild animal. * Watch for young animals, as they know nothing of road dangers and often follow slowly behind mom. * Stay in control. If wildlife is crossing or standing on the road, brake firmly. Do not assume an animal will move out of the way. Also, never swerve suddenly as this could cause your vehicle to veer out of control or head into oncoming traffic. * If you see an animal crossing the road, slow down. Where there is one animal, there are probably others-young animals following their mother or male animals pursuing a female. * Use your high beams whenever possible. What to do if you injure an animal. * Do not put your own safety at risk. Use your hazard lights or emergency road flares to warn oncoming traffic of the injured animal. * Call someone with the proper training and equipment. When you need assistance, call the non-emergency number of the Estes Park Police Department at 586-4000 (program the phone number into your cell phone, if you have one) and describe the animal's location. Emphasize that the injured animal is a traffic hazard to help ensure that someone will come quickly. If possible, stay in the area until help arrives. Friday, September 14, 2012 Page 3

Page 4 Friday, September 14, 2012 www.estesparknews.com In response to the citizen concerns voiced recently at the public meeting hosted by Town Administrator Frank Lancaster and to the increasing number of bear - human confrontations being reported in the Estes Valley and throughout the State this summer, the Association for Responsible Development (ARD) has compiled a list of easy, common sense actions we all can take immediately to help keep the bears and citizens in our community safe, healthy and out of danger. As we all know, the most significant attraction, and the biggest problem, for our bears is unsecured foodstuffs, garbage/trash, and open windows. To help alleviate dangerous encounters, please: 1. Keep trash and garbage locked safely away, out of bears reach and smell. 2. Do not set out trash the night before pick up, put it at curbside the morning of pick up. 3. Do not leave lower level windows and doors open and unsecured at night. Note: It has been reported that spraying a trash bag or container with an ammonia solution helps deter bears and raccoons. Several businesses in Town use a chain or other device to lock large dumpsters closed at night. This approach has proven effective and costs little to implement. Estes Park Citizens And Town Administrators Need To Work Together To Protect Bears From Open Garbage If you notice trash and garbage left lying about or dumpsters overflowing there are a few simple steps you can take to help rectify the situation and keep temptation away from our bears and other wildlife. 1. Explain to your neighbors the dire consequences for our bears when they become habituated to feeding in bags and garbage receptacles. 2. Overflowing dumpsters which often contribute to bear issues can be reported to Waste Management, 970-586- 5740. The number for a container from Atlas is 970-214- 4892. You only need to provide the street address where the dumpster is located. They have been very cooperative and responsive in quickly resolving these problems. 3. If the problem exists at a vacation or rental property, the property management company needs to be notified. The Town Clerk, 970-577-4771 or 970-577- 4772, can provide the name and phone number of the management company. All you need to do is provide the address. Baby Black Bear Shot And Killed Distraught Mama Bear calling for her cub Photo by Shirley Barrow Rick Spowart, Wildlife Manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking any information on a little 20 pound black bear cub who was shot as she ran with her mother in the vicinity of 1750 Fish Creek Road on August 11. The cub was reported as being injured and wildlife officials sent to help thought the baby had possibly been hit by a car. After the baby bear crossed Fish Creek Road the injured cub tumbled into the creek and Spowart quickly scooped her out of the water, saving her from drowning yet sadly, the cub later died. A necropsy was performed and it was discovered the baby bear had died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The mother of the cub stayed in the area calling to her missing baby for two weeks after the shooting. Information on this case is being sought and a $500 reward will be given for any information which leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the death of this baby bear. Call Rick Spowart at the Estes Park Police Dept. at 970-586-4000 or Operation Game Thief, toll-free within Colorado at 1-877-COLO-OGT with any tips on this case. Additional Reward Money Raised Bears Are Us and others were shocked and saddened by the gruesome killing of a little 20 pound female black bear by a heartless poacher's bullet. Lab reports indicate the bullet ruptured her stomach and so it was not a quick death. As Colorado Parks and Wildlife tried to save the cub, witnesses said that the mother was calling for her baby while her cub was dying on Fish Creek Road. The cub struggled to answer her calls. After the cub's body was removed, the mother bear stayed in the area to search for her cub. A reward of $500 has been posted by Operation Game Thief for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the poacher. Many caring individuals have contacted Bears Are Us and have donated a total of $800 in just three days! We are hoping other individuals will donate to help increase the reward to convict this dangerous poacher. Bears Are Us can be reached at 303-747- 2911 or wildlands@allenspark.com. 4. If you think the trash presents a health or safety problem, the address should be reported to the police, 970- 577-4000. The Estes Park Municipal Code, Chapter 08.04.040 (b) authorizes the Chief of Police to "immediately abate the nuisance in order to protect health, safety and welfare." Remember, unsecured garbage also attracts flies and rodents that can spread serious disease. This is not just a problem involving bears. ARD applauds the initiative taken by our Town Administrator in helping to alleviate the danger to our people and bear population and looks forward to future public meetings announcing the positive actions that will be taken by our Town. The Association for Responsible Development Volunteers Needed To Help With Elk Rut EP NEWS/ Hazelton Volunteers are needed to help out the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District around the 9 Hole Golf Course and Lake Estes Trail during the elk rut. Help is needed at various times throughout the week to assist with crowd control and keeping people a safe distance away from the animals during the rut season. Call Jaynie at 586-9427 by Saturday, September 22 to sign up if you are interested in helping out.

www.estesparknews.com Next Drug Collection Event Scheduled For September 29 Police encourage safe disposal of unwanted prescription and over-thecounter drugs On Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the Town of Estes Park Police Department will offer Estes Park's fifth Drug Take Back Day to collect unused, unwanted and expired prescription and over- the-counter drugs for safe disposal - no questions asked. This free service will be held at Rocky Mountain Pharmacy, located at 453 East Wonderview Ave. in Upper Stanley Village. Police officers will collect the drugs, which will remain in the custody of law enforcement officers until they can be incinerated. Estes Park's Drug Take Back Day is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration'snational campaign to provide a safe way for people to empty their medicine cabinets of unwanted and potentially harmful prescription drugs. Police Chief Wes Kufeld commented on the success of the collection last April, saying, "We collected 72 pounds of pills which is the most to date." Kufeld continued, "This is a very simple way to protect your family and loved ones." To find participating collection sites in other communities, visit www.dea.gov. Misused and abused prescription drugs containing controlled substances can lead to cases of accidental poisoning, overdose and addiction. The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that prescription medicines are the most abused drugs by Americans, next to marijuana. Seven of the 10 drugs most commonly abused by teenagers are prescription medicines and three- quarters of teen prescription drug abusers obtain the drugs from family and friends - often from a home medicine cabinet. Ridding homes of these substances greatly reduces the potential for abuse and accidental poisoning. Items which cannot be accepted at the Drug Take Back Day collection sites are needles and sharps, mercury thermometers, oxygen containers, chemotherapy/radioactive substances, pressurized canisters and illicit drugs. For more information, please contact the Town of Estes Park Public Information Office at 970-577-3701. To receive Town news in your email inbox, please email townadmin@estes.org. Assistance Available For Residents Affected By High Park And Woodland Heights Fires, Flooding Long-Term Recovery Group of Northern Colorado Mobilizes Community Resources The Long-Term Recovery Group of Northern Colorado (LTRG-NoCo), made up of more than 50 nonprofit agencies, government organizations, faith-based groups and concerned citizens, is mobilizing community resources to assist residents affected by the High Park and Woodland Heights (Estes Park) fires and subsequent flooding in Larimer County. To be eligible for assistance, residents must have suffered losses in the fires and/or flooding. Residents must meet with LTRG-NoCo case managers, who will assess situations, identify resources, and refer residents to possible sources of assistance, including funds available from the LTRG-NoCo. A limited amount of funds have been raised to date for survivors who have not been compensated from insurance or other sources. Eligible uses of the funds include the following: * Health-related issues * Repair or replacement of primary homes * Repair or replacement of personal property * Loss of livelihood * Temporary housing needs * Other compelling needs To prioritize funding distribution, the LTRG-NoCo will consider factors such as financial need, documented disability or health need, single parent, older adult, immediate need for safe housing, and other compelling factors. Documentation, as appropriate and available, may be required by case managers to verify need. Beginning Monday, September 10, residents can make an appointment with a case manager by calling 970-646-8879 or visiting the LTRG-NoCo office at 215 East Foothills Parkway, Suite 1EB, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (in strip mall north of Macy's), Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. An appointment is necessary to meet with a case manager. Those wishing to contribute to the LTRG-NoCo Fund can do so through the United Way of Larimer County, which is serving as the fiscal agent for the group. Visit www.unitedwayoflarimercounty.org or call 970-407- 7000 for more information. Friday, September 14, 2012 Page 5

Page 6 Friday, September 14, 2012 www.estesparknews.com Firefighters To Be Honored At Special Rocky Mountain Opry Show By: Fran Grooters On Friday, September 21 st , during the Barleen's Rocky Mountain Opry Variety Show, tributes will be made to local firefighters, especially in thanks for their outstanding work during the Woodland Heights Fire in June. The musicians and staff of the Opry have created a poignant video and special song presentation which they have performed this entire summer in honor of the firefighters. When local area businesses which were evacuated during the fire learned about this, they raised funds for the firefighters to attend the show. Upon receiving the invitation for the firefighters, Fire Chief Scott Dorman said, "This will be a fun and entertaining way to recognize these dedicated firefighters in our community." Locals and visitors who attend the show will have a perfect opportunity to personally thank the firefighters for their ongoing training and their vital role in protecting the Estes Park area and its citizens. Generously, the Barleens, who call Estes Park "home" have committed to donate the money raised to the Fire District. They have also invited the firefighters to bring their families to the show. The Barleen's Rocky Mountain Opry continues to be a community-focused business and is always finding ways to give back to the community. EP NEWS/ Kris & Gary Hazelton, September 4, 2012 Hay Thefts Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith is warning rural residents to take proper precautions to protect their hay. Reports of stolen hay are starting to come into the Larimer County Sheriff 's Office. Hay theft has been an issue nationwide this summer due to the drought and significant increase in the cost of hay. Recently, the Larimer County Sheriff 's Office received a report from a farmer located on East County Road 76 that someone had stolen $5,000 worth of hay as well as damaged another $800 worth. The hay, both round and square bales, was stolen directly from the field. Investigators recommend hay be stored out of sight and in a secure location if possible. Smaller bales should be stored near your home as well as insuring fences are in good condition and gates are locked. Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is asked to call the Larimer County Sheriff 's Office at 970-416-1985 or Crime Stoppers at 970- 221-6868 where you will remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward.

www.estesparknews.com WEEKLY POLICE REPORT From the Estes Park Police Dept. The charge(s) are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. On August 26 at 9:00 p.m. police arrested a 55 year old female from Denver, CO for theft of a purse at 110 W. Elkhorn Ave. She was charged and later released on a PR bond. On August 28 at 7:44 p.m. police were called to 339 Virginia Ave. on a report of a verbal disturbance. Upon arrival, three people were arrested, a 40 year old male from Estes Park, a 23 year old male from Estes Park and a 37 year old male from Estes Park. The 40 year old male and 23 year old male were both charged with third degree assault and released on a summons. The 37 year old male was charged with third degree assault and a violation of a restraining order and was later transported to the Larimer County Detention Center. On August 30 at 1:55 a.m. police stopped the driver of a vehicle at Big Thompson Ave. and Olympus Lane for speeding. The driver, a 29 year old male from IL was found to have a BRAC of .10 and was charged with DUI, DUI per se, a speed limit violation and open container and the 28 year old female passenger, also from IL was charged with an open container of alcohol. On August 31 at 12:39 a.m. police were called about a suspicious vehicle on S. St. Vrain Ave. Upon investigating, police charged a 63 year old male from New Jersey with possession and use of marijuana. He was later released on a PR bond. On Sept. 2 at 4:11 a.m. police dispatch received twenty 9-1-1 calls reporting shots fired in the 500 block of Heinz Parkway. Upon investigation, police cited a 49 year old Estes Park male for discharging weapons in the area. He was issued a sum- mons and later released. On September 2 a backpack was found and turned into the Estes Park Police Dept. at 170 MacGregor Ave. The backpack was found to contain a container of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Later that day, the owner of the backpack came to retrieve it and a 24 year old male from Estes Park was given the backpack and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. On Sept. 3 police stopped the driver of a vehicle in the 1700 block of Big Thompson Ave. for speeding. The driver was found to be under the influence of alcohol and opted for a blood draw to determine BRAC. He was charged with speeding and DUI and later released to a sober adult. On Sept. 8 at 1:16 a.m. police contacted a 23 year old male driver from Estes Park at 570 Grand Estates Dr. for speeding. The male was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and was charged with DUI, DUI per se, speeding, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and an open container. He was later released on a PR bond to a sober party. On Sept. 8 police contacted a suspicious male at 1:56 a.m. at 130 Moraine Ave. The male party was throwing patio furniture into the river and tried to set a traffic cone on fire. He was issued a municipal summons and released. On Sept. 8 at 5:54 p.m. police stopped the driver of a vehicle in the 500 block of Big Thompson Ave. for careless driving. The driver was a 34 year old female from Estes Park was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and she refused any chemical test. She was charged with DUI, DUI per se, failure to signal, and careless driving and later released to a sober adult. "Historical Predators Of Estes Park" Program At The Estes Park Museum This Saturday, September 15, Nicole Sedgeley, a guest educational ranger from Rocky Mountain National Park, will discuss how wolves, grizzly bears and wolverines once roamed the northern Rocky Mountains. A demonstration with skulls and pelts reveal special adaptations that make these creatures supreme hunters. The ranger will guide discussion as to whether the historical predators were friends or foes to mountain communities like Estes Park. No reservations necessary. The free family program will take place in the Estes Park Museum meeting room from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Estes Park Museum, located at 200 Fourth Street, is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The mission of the Estes Park Museum is to collect, interpret and preserve local history, as well as to present exhibits, programs and events for the education and benefit of residents and visitors of all ages. For more information call the Estes Park Museum at 970‐586‐6256 or visit the Museum's website at www.estes.org/museum. Admission is free. The gray wolf once roamed in Estes Park and its surrounding environs. Image courtesy the Colorado Division of Parks & Wildlife. Friday, September 14, 2012 September 24, 2012 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information call 577-4390 Please bring personal identification Page 7 BLOOD DRIVE Estes Park Medical Center Longs Peak & Meeker Conference Rooms Enter through the main front lobby.

Page 8 Friday, September 14, 2012 www.estesparknews.com Tickets are going fast for the September 18 th special rock 'n' roll show by the Rocky Mountain Opry to benefit children's learning programs in the Estes Valley and Guatemala. With a little more than a week to go before the show, only 90 tickets were left for what promises to be a spectacular special musical show celebrating the rock 'n' roll era of the 1950s and 60s. "We expect this show to be a sellout," said Barbara Barleen, one of the stars of the Rocky Mountain Opry. "The rock 'n' roll show is the most popular show we do. When we launched our season in Arizona last year, we started with the rock 'n' roll show and it was a sellout in 38-minutes. People love the music from that era." The Sept. 18 th show also will feature cars from 50s and 60s parked outside the door, thanks to the Estes Park Car Club. The Estes Park Museum is donating photos of Estes Park during that time period as decorations inside the National Park Village Theater downstairs. And Scott Webermeier has donated the use of the theater for the show. The best daughter the world can only do so much. We offer affordable health and in-home support to help seniors live independently in their own homes. Call InnovAge today for your customized solution. 888-992-4464 TTY Toll Free: 866-327-8877 Rotary Rocks At The Opry For Kids Tickets for the Sept. 18 th benefit show at 6:30 p.m. are on sale the Rocky Mountain Opry box office at the entrance to the National Park Village, 900 Moraine Ave. (Hwy 36) or by calling the box office at 970-577- 8000. Reservations are required and seating is going fast so you'd better get your reservation now. The cost is $30 per person. Credit cards accepted. The Rocky Mountain Opry is donating all proceeds from the show to the Rotary Club of Estes Park which will use the money to help children learn to read. One of those efforts is the summer reading program at the Estes Valley Library. "Each year our library has over 300 participants in the summer reading program," explained Library Director Claudine Perrault. "Our programs are the antidote for learning loss. Instead of losing knowledge and skills during the summer months, kids who participate can actually show gains. They continue to improve their skills while having fun over the summer and parents are so appreciative that their children are motivated to read!" Perrault said the Estes Park Rotary Club has helped purchase paperback books for prizes. "What could be better than book incentives for reading books?" said Perrault. "We're rewarding reading with more ways to read-- a wonderful cycle that promotes and rewards the love of reading. Without Rotary's continued support of our summer reading program, we would find it difficult to maintain the book giveaways for our summer reading participants." The Rotary club also built an outdoor reading area for children at the library. "It has worked out much better than we had expected," said Perrault. "It has han- dled up to 35 children and parents and everyone could hear us just fine and there were no problems with traffic distractions. It's a sweet, intimate spot that we'll be using again and again." Perrault said the library would like to add some birdhouses and other touches next spring to make the reading area even more attractive. Rotary will also use some of the proceeds from the benefit performance to purchase books for the children's library. The program speaker at each Rotary meeting signs a book that goes to that collection. The Rotary club also supports the Guatemala Literacy Project. It provides textbooks to schools in rural Guatemala where only about one in ten children graduates from high school. Most drop out by the sixth grade. "We made a $1,000 contribution in 2010 and we received $2,500 in matching funds from the Rotary District 5440 and the Rotary International Foundation," said Rotarian Jack Vaughan. "In addition, there were 71 other Rotary clubs that contributed various amounts in 2010 and most of them also got their money matched. So the total in 2010 was over $200,000. We just recently mailed them another check for $1,000." Some 350 Rotary clubs are involved in the Guatemala Literacy Project and it's having a positive effect. Dropout rates are dropping and more kids are staying in school because they have a textbook. "Estes Park has always given to us," said Barbara Barleen. "You know we had a lot of tough years, many, many tough years, but our family business is now very successful and now it's time to give back the other direction." Barleen said the benefit show will be an extended, special edition of the Opry's regular rock 'n' roll show with prizes for the best dressed in clothing of the era and for correctly answering trivia questions. Free ice cream sundaes or root beer floats will be available as well as a cash bar for beverages. "We're going to put in extra songs," said Barleen. "It's going to be one great big, fun party. It's celebrating that era. We want to bring back those memories, back to those wonderful days." The doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the show starts an hour earlier than usual at 6:30 p.m. "But tickets are going fast," said Rotary club president Pete Sumey. "So, call the Rocky Mountain Opry box office today at 970-577-8000 and reserve your ticket today. You'll see a great show and help a lot of children at the same time." MyInnovAge.org MyInnovA Age e .org

www.estesparknews.com The Thunker by Sarah Holdt For the first two months of the summer I avoided Bear Lake Road. I just didn't want to hassle with the construction congestion, the dust, the exhaust. But I couldn't keep up my boycott; I missed many of my favorite trails and lakes and peaks. Besides, I was curious. What did I find but abandoned trails leading to lonely lakes and unpopulated peaks! Because of the road construction many nature lovers have stayed away from the Bear Lake corridor and those of us who venture forth despite the inconvenience have been rewarded. Of course the parking lots still fill up and there will always be a parade of hikers to Alberta Falls and Nymph and Dream Lakes, but beyond the most popular destinations, the park is deliciously deserted. Sometimes eerily so. The construction is scheduled through next summer so if you stayed away this summer, I encourage you to take advantage of what is considered a disruption (road construction) and enjoy the park in a state we don't often get to see (underutilized). When we're eager to hit the trails, sitting in a long line of cars waiting for the flagman to rotate his sign from one four-letter word to another (STOP to SLOW) is a test of our patience. It is also an opportunity to ponder, which I did: why do people leave their cars running when they know they're going to remain in the same spot 20 minutes? How long could I stand there with a sign in one hand and a walkie-talkie in the other before I went crazy from boredom? Where do all of these rocks come from? That's the question I couldn't stop asking. Along the road, beautiful walls are being built out of huge boulders that weigh several tons each. Are they our rocks or did they get hauled in from somewhere else? Mark and I paid to have boulders hauled in from a Fort Collins operation for a small landscaping project underway. I felt silly paying for rock when our whole town sits on nothing but. We examined the collection of rock chunks for sale, making our selection based on shape, color and size, ensuring that every one was perfect. Then we tagged a dozen as ours. When the load was delivered, we spent several hours making sure each boulder was positioned just so in our yard. The entire exercise was so serious it was comical. They're rocks, for heaven's sake. We pay little to no attention to the abundance of them forming the foundation where we live. They are in mounds along roadways, they hinder us from digging and planting, they trip us on hikes, they make up our mountains. They simply are. Everywhere. So what about the park's rocks? I asked the flagmen. (They appreciated having someone show interest. One fellow said we were the first people to talk to him all day and this was at 3:00 in the afternoon.) I asked rangers at the BioBlitz. I asked the strapping young trail builders we encountered as we hiked. (Thank goodness for those guys and gals. They break their backs to maintain the trails for us.) Nobody knew the answers. I turned to the project's manager and goto guy, my buddy Joe Arnold. He calls them "rockery walls"-isn't that charming? "The big boulders used for the rockery walls came mostly from the area where we are rerouting the road away from Glacier Creek," Joe said. "Since we didn't have to import boulders we could do this kind of wall for about a quarter of the cost of the cut slope wall further up." I was so glad to hear we, meaning you and me, the taxpayers who are funding this road improvement project, didn't pay to have boulders hauled in for the rockery walls. We made use of what is found in abundance all around us. I wished Mark and I could have done the same for our little yard project. The Bear Lake Road retaining walls are beautiful to look at-art, really-and are structural wonders. I thought it odd, however, that the rockery walls don't match the fortification, or what Joe calls "cut slope walls" on the upper portion of the road, redone in 2004. Joe said those walls were constructed differently because the slopes up there had drainage issues that required different engineering to provide stability-and they used rock from Rifle and Lyons for those flat, red walls with sills. The new rockery walls currently being built with huge boulders look much more anchored to me, but I'm not an engineer-what do I know? I know that once the project is complete, part of the road will have been rerouted away from Glacier Creek where erosion has been affecting the riparian habitat, just as Joe said. The old road will then be converted into a trail. There's ranger talk of allowing dogs on that trail, or it could become a bicycle trail, but none of that has been determined yet. And I know that when it celebrates its hundredth anniversary in 2015, our Rocky Mountain National Park is going to be in tip-top shape, with 47 miles of road improvements done since 2003. We're rollin'. That's rockin'. You may let The Thunker know what you think at her e-mail address, donoholdt@gmail.com. EP NEWS/ Gary Hazelton Friday, September 14, 2012 SALOON NIGHTCLUB & GRILL Page 9 11am to 2am FREE POOL 11am to 9pm KARAOKE ROCKS with KJ Justin D at 9pm OPEN "MIC" NIGHT EVERY TUESDAY WITH HOST JUSTIN FAYE BRING YOUR INSTUMENTS, BRING YOUR SONGS, MAKE SOME MUSIC AND HAVE SOME FUN!

Page 10 Friday, September 14, 2012 www.estesparknews.com Sunda y Service 9:45am Sept ember Sermon Theme: Extrav ag agant Gen er erosity Unit ed Me thodist Chur ch 1509 Fish Hatchery Road (970) 586-41 53 www. .es .estesparkummc.org School during ser vice Adult F orum 11:00 am Another Slice of Life! by Laurie Button This summer I've been blessed with two truly remarkable experiences. The first was watching Old Ironsides sail through Boston Harbor on the Fourth of July. Accompanying her on the annual turn-around journey was the U.S. Coast Guard tall ship Eagle. The two military vessels exchanged ceremonial cannon fire as they poised themselves next to each other and I'm sure all of us were instantaneously taken to another place and time. The other very meaningful event took place just this past Sunday in Loveland. Let me set the stage for Honor Flight last Sunday. By 6:30 a.m. Embassy Suites at The Ranch was already bustling with activity. Hundreds of well-wishers and family members were gathering to show their gratitude to 122 veterans from World War II, Korea, as well as the war in Vietnam and one brave soldier from the conflict in Iraq. These vets would be treated to a two-day, expense-paid trip to visit our country's war memorials in Washington, D.C. The Honor Flight Network is a national, nonprofit organization created with one purpose: Its goal is to honor America's war veterans for all of their many unselfish sacrifices. The inaugural Honor Flight took place in May 2005 when six small planes took 12 World War II veterans from Springfield, Ohio to visit our nation's capital. In the past four years the local organization, Honor Flight Northern Colorado, has taken more than 1,150 veterans on this same wonderful journey. In retrospect, there is absolutely no way I can possibly convey the emotions in the ballroom where everyone gathered for a breakfast provided by the hotel and a short program. There was time to mingle, exchange stories, enjoy patriotic music and feel unbridled pride in our nation's patriots. One of the highlights was a magnificent American Bald Eagle that - in the hands of a qualified trainer - spread its wings for all to admire from a perch near the podium. For me, one of the most insightful moments was when a proud woman smiling from ear to ear passed by - her head held high and wearing what appeared to be WWII WAC or WAV attire on her head. I will always regret that we did not have a chance to speak. Why were Joel and I there? My husband and I share many interests, but supporting our nation's military past and present is one we're very passionate about. Joel has video taped several dedication ceremonies at Veterans Plaza in Fort Collins and we brought soil back from Grenada to be included in the Plaza's "Victory Garden." Sunday Joel was working with his video camera once again while I was mingling with the veterans along with fellow members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. We went from table to table greeting the vets and talking with as many of them as we could. Their smiles were infectious. Their excitement about seeing the war memorials was much more than inspiring. And I man- aged to keep my emotions under check until the very end. A piper played as the veterans and the 60 "Guardians" accompanying them boarded the buses taking the group to Denver International Airport. The smiles on the faces of the WWII vets were the ones that touched my heart most profusely. Many were in wheelchairs, many required oxygen, while still others walked proudly without assistance to the bus doors. As the entourage left Embassy Suites, it was led by more than 100 bikers from the Patriot Guard, several Larimer County Sheriffs Department squad cars, one fire truck and I believe there may have been one helicopter overhead. The motorcade drove under the extended ladder of another fire truck with a huge American flag flying high overhead as it made its way to the frontage road leading to I-25. As the crowd dispersed, a fellow DAR member told me about a conversation she'd had with one of the riders in the Patriot Guard. My friend had mentioned to him how she was having a hard time fighting back her tears. The big, burly biker simply smiled and said, "Why do you think I'm wearing sunglasses?" ■ Honor Flight is funded entirely by taxdeductible contributions. If you're interested in more information about donating, if you would like to nominate a veteran, or would like to serve as a Guardian, visit www.honorflightcolorado.org. The next Honor Flight in northern Colorado will take place in May 2013. You may contact Laurie and let her know what you think at grenadagirl@me.com.