Kearney Excavation employees divert the Big Thompson River in preparation for the under-the-river utility crossing at the Marys Lake Road bridge. Courtesy photo

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Larimer County will close Mary’s Lake Road (County Road 67) in Estes Park from Riverside Drive to Highway 36 to through traffic, to begin construction of Project No. 268 – Replacement of Bridge No. 67-0.2-67E Over the Big Thompson River. Hamon Contractors, Inc., of Denver, has been awarded this construction contract.

Detour Route: Riverside Drive, Crags Drive, Moraine Ave.

Work will include complete replacement of the existing bridge and reconstruction of the roadway from just south of Lower Broadview Road to Highway 36. Access to businesses and residences will be available along Mary’s Lake Road south of the bridge.

The road is expected to be reopened to traffic by Memorial Day.

David Tavel as President Lincoln

In honor of the 200th anniversary of his birth, all are invited to join Abraham Lincoln in his White House office as he reflects upon his accomplished life. Lincoln, portrayed by David Tavel, will be joined by his private secretary John G. Nicolay, portrayed by Kurtis Kelly. The program takes place at 1:00 p.m. on February 14 at the Park Village Playhouse, 900 Moraine Avenue in Estes Park. Also at the Park Village Playhouse, at 1:00 p.m. on March 28, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln will make an appearance of her own in honor of Women’s History Month. Portrayed by Caroline Krandell, Mrs. Lincoln will reflect upon her life. Both programs are sponsored by the Estes Park Woman’s Club, the Estes Park Public Library Foundation and the Estes Park Museum.

Each program will be preceded by a playhouse luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. The February 14 luncheon, prior to the Abraham Lincoln program, will include chicken salad croissants with fresh fruits and a cup of soup, beverages and dessert.  The luncheon on March 28, prior to the Mary Todd Lincoln program, will include Mary Todd Lincoln’s own recipe for fricassee of chicken, her famous white cake and beverages.

Tickets to the luncheon with program are $20. They are available for purchase at the Estes Park Public Library, located at 335 East Elkhorn in Estes Park, at Macdonald Book Shop, located at 152 East Elkhorn in Estes Park, or by calling Patti at 970-577-0587 or Loretta at 970-586-3208. Luncheon tickets for the February 14 program must be purchased by February 12. Luncheon tickets for the March 28 program must be purchased by March 26.
For those who do not wish to attend the luncheons, program-only tickets are also available for $5 and may be purchased in advance or at the door beginning at 12:30 p.m. the day of the performances. Students can purchase tickets for just $2. For program-only attendees, doors open at 12:30 p.m. for the 1:00 p.m. program.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Estes Park Woman’s Club scholarship fund for Estes Park High School students.
For information on programs or tickets, please call 970-577-0587 or 970-586-3208.  For information on the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial including nationwide programs, events and exhibits, please visit the Library of Congress website http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov.

Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” opened Thursday, January 22 at the Park Village Playhouse to rave reviews. Additional shows will run January 30, and 31 at 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to see this wonderful play!

The story is about Charles Condomine, a successful novelist, wishes to learn about the occult for a novel he is writing, and he arranges for an eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a séance at his house. At the séance, she inadvertently summons Charles’s first wife, Elvira, who has been dead for seven years. Madame Arcati leaves after the séance, unaware that she has summoned Elvira. Only Charles can see or hear Elvira, and his second wife, Ruth, does not believe that Elvira exists. The ghostly Elvira makes continued, and increasingly desperate, efforts to disrupt Charles’s current marriage and the madness that ensues is certain to entertain you.

The production is part of the first season of The Estes Park Repertoire Theatre Company, Inc. The other shows during this first season include: the musical, “Damn Yankees” in May, a Melodrama, “Three Tickets to Timberwolf” in August, and Mary Chase’s, “Harvey” in October.

EPRTC’s cast includes:
Mike Young as Charles
Christann Higley as Ruth
Samantha “Sam” Holt as Elvira
C.J. Jensen as Madame Arcati
Michael A. Dzik as Dr. Bradman
Carolyn Wills as Mrs. Bradman
Rebecca Bailey as Edith.

The play is Directed by A. W. “Art” Blume who also is the Managing Director of the new Repertoire Theater Company.

Tickets for this great show are available at Macdonald Book Shop in downtown Estes Park or at the door, if the show hasn’t sold out.

To The Editor:

I am writing in support of the performing arts center. I feel that the proposed facility is critical to the future of Estes Park. Other Colorado resort communities that we compete with already have these types of facilities, so each day that we don’t have one furthers our decline in the eyes of potential visitors. Visitors to the top resort areas in Colorado expect these facilities to exist.

I feel that the performing arts center is very important for local residents, too. It will help stimulate our local economy, thus helping employers like me to keep local residents employed. It will give all of us who live here more options to enhance our quality of life. I believe that it will upgrade the lives of all residents of our community, from our youth to our elderly.

Ron Wilcocks,

owner, Earthwood Collections  and Earthwood Artisans

To The Editor:

I have reflected with great anticipation on the possibility of a dedicated Performing Arts Center in our community. Currently we face several challenges including the lack of an adequate venue that allows both local performing groups and outside programs to provide a variety of cultural experiences for our residents and guests. The Hempel Auditorium was built for recitals, not as a concert stage nor a theater. Ruesch is a lecture hall, not a theater. The Community Church of the Rockies and the Mountain View Bible Church are churches, not stages. We are grateful for their hospitality, but we need a multipurpose theater and concert venue in Estes Park.

Claudia Irwin,
conductor of Estes Park choral groups

Dear Editor:

Property owners in the Estes Valley need to be aware of a proposal currently under consideration by the Estes Valley Planning Commission that will likely impact property values and the mountain beauty of the Estes valley.

The proposal ( http://www.estesnet.com/ComDev/EVDCProposedChanges/Block12-ADUs.pdf) will allow construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on all lots of one acre or more within the Estes valley. Either the main dwelling or the ADU may be rented. It may not happen immediately but, as the years roll by, the proposed code changes will allow a huge increase in the housing density throughout the valley.

This proposal will circumvent current zoning regulations that limit the number of dwellings on each lot. Although covenants of some homeowners’ associations prohibit accessory dwellings, the allowance by municipal code of such structures might be used as rationale for violation of covenants. The Planning Commission is doing a good job of grappling with this issue but the need for citizen input is crucial. Please attend the next Planning Commission meetings (third Tuesday of the month, 1:30 p.m., Town Hall) to learn about the proposal and how it may impact the Estes valley, and to voice your opinion. Meeting agendas are posted on the Town website  ( http://www.estesnet.com/townclerk/Committees/List.aspx)

Don Sellers, Estes Park, CO

Dear Editor:

I am writing to express my concerns and to alert others to the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit code change. Most disturbing, is the “Use by Right” status allowed by the proposed code. The change supersedes current zoning requirements and allows building of an Accessory Dwelling Unit of up to 1,000 square feet without community input or planning commission review.  There is currently a process available through the planning commission to add an ADU in appropriate residential locations, so it seems unnecessary for this broad, sweeping code change. Should this ADU code change be passed, it will most certainly lead to increased density and the accompanying noise, traffic and parking problems.

In addition, there is the possibility of ADU’s being used to generate income as rental property. Many people are concerned that an increased number of ADU’s used as rental units, will significantly change the character and structure of neighborhoods.

Please contact the Planning Commission to learn more about this proposal or plan to attend the next meeting on Tuesday, February 17th at 1:30.

Elaine Downing
Estes Park, Colorado

Front row, L to R: Kerry Thompson, Ariel Mikolitch, Ashley Miner, Kimberly Hansen, Dylan Childs, Sean Fogerty and Maddy Rusk. Back row, Jasper Shull, Jeremy Audas, Avery Buser, Geoffrey Adams, Jordan Coleson, Chelsea Betts, Marley Mardock, Scott Wenzel and Nick Dobos. Not pictured, Chad Bryant.

Seventeen members of the Estes Park High School Band were chosen as members of the Patriot League Honor Band. In addition, eight more members of the band were chosen to the League Honor Ensembles. The Honor Band and Ensembles will present a concert on Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley.

Students will rehearse all day with guest directors and will present a concert that evening. The students will also be treated to a buffet dinner provided by the EPHS Band Boosters.

The Honor Band is made up of band students from the 12 schools in the Patriot League. Students were chosen by video-taped auditions, being evaluated on performance skills on scales, etudes and sight-reading.

Students selected to the band include: Kerry Thompson and Ariel Mikolitch, flute; Kimberly Hansen, Ashley Miner and Chad Bryant, clarinet; Jasper Shull, alto sax; Nick Dobos and Dylan Childs, tenor sax; Jordan Coleson, Chelsea Betts, Avery Buser and Geoffrey Adams, trumpet; Sean Fogerty and Maddy Rusk, french horn; Marley Mardock, trombone; Jeremy Audas, tuba; and Scott Wenzel, percussion.

In addition, Kerry Thompson, Kimberly Hansen, Jordan Coleson, Sean Fogerty, Jeremy Audas and Scott Wenzel were chosen as “1st chair” musicians.

Band members Lauren Mollé, Anna Schafman, Theresa Barosh and Lindsi Durrett were chosen as members of the Honor Flute Ensemble; Rachael Cunningham was chosen as a member of the Honor Sax Ensemble, and Taylor Ficke and Blake Hinson were chosen to the Honor Brass Ensemble. Gabrielle Davis, bass guitar, will accompany the sax ensemble.  The Honor Ensembles will also rehearse during the day and perform at the evening concert.

The concert is open to the public. There will be an admission charge of $5.00 for students and $6.00 for adults for this Patriot League event.