Editor:

While we will not know the results of the Fire District election until next Tuesday, we want to thank those who have worked for the past two years in support of creating the Estes Valley Fire Protection District for the betterment of their community.

First and foremost, Fire Chief Scott Dorman and the fantastic volunteer firefighters of the Estes Park Volunteer Fire Department on whose behalf we labored. Their early and continuing support provided the focus and inspiration for the campaign.

The Town of Estes Park’s Board of Trustees and the Town staff: Mayor Pinkham and the Board of Trustees’ unanimous support, and the assistance of the Town staff in jumping the numerous legal hurdles with the County Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners, the Larimer County Elections office, and the courts to get the initiative before the voters this November. Jacquie Halburnt, Lowell Richardson, Jackie Williamson, Cyd Deats, and Sandy Petrie all provided their expertise in navigating the labyrinth of the county government. Rob Helmick on the Larimer County Planning Commission staff, our liaison with the county, provided outstanding counsel to the committee. Here in the Estes Valley and in Larimer County, we are very fortunate to have elected officials and governmental staff truly interested in serving the total community’s best interest.

Following the court certification for the initiative to go on the ballot, the Fire Service Initiative Committee became the Campaign Committee. We have had the pleasure of working with this dedicated group of citizens who continue to put the community needs above their own individual needs, even if it means it may cost them a few dollars. The committee members deserve the thanks of the entire community: Jim Austin, John Baudek, Will Birchfield, Fred Day, Bob Dekker, Sue Doylen, Dorla Eisenlauer, Bruce Johnston, Bill Pinkham, Sue Pinkham, Lowell Richardson, and Frank Theis.

Before we could even start the campaign, we had to have a plan. For the first year, another dedicated group gave of their time and efforts to consider a huge variety of options in an effort to come up with a plan that was fair and equitable to everybody. That task force created the innovative and unique plan for this campaign. Thanks to those task force members who got this initiative started: Jim Austin, Kelly Claypool, Bob Dekker, Scott Dorman, Sue Doylen, Dorla Eisenlauer, Wil Finch, Bruce Johnston, Lowell Richardson, Bill Van Horn, and Frank Theis.

The community also owes a debt of gratitude to the nine individuals who put their name on the line as candidates for the five Fire District Director positions. Although only five of the nine can be elected, all of those willing to serve their community are to be commended: Fred Day, Sue Doylen, Bud Duryea, Bob Cheney, Steve Laing, Paul Mueller, Bob Obele, Jack Rumley and Frank Theis.

And last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank our supporters throughout the community: the generous donors, campaigners, sign displayers, and all of those citizens who offered encouragement for our efforts in our daily contacts throughout the Estes Valley.

Tom Anderson

Don Widrig

Fire Service Initiative Co-Chairs

Photos courtesy RMNP

The NPS Preservation and Skills Training (P.A.S.T) program has taught over 100 building maintenance personnel the proper skills and techniques to maintain, repair and restore historic structures in the national park system. Part of the program consists of three, two-week-long skills workshops held in host parks. Rocky was the host park for the program for two weeks in August. The group conducted preservation work on the Onahu Lodge on the west side of the park and stayed in Grand Lake.

The group consisted of 23 participants from throughout the National Park Service from the Northwest region to the National Capitol region and included six mentors and 17 trainees. They performed 1,100 hours of work at the Onahu Lodge including: log replacement, re-chinking, masonry floor repairs, window installation, interior paneling installation and masonry cleaning.

The Onahu Lodge was built in 1945; this is the first major restoration and rehabilitation that the lodge has undergone. It was operated as a lodge until the park service purchased the property in the 1960s and was determined eligible for the National Register in 1998. The lodge had been used as seasonal employee housing, however, the park deemed it unsafe for occupants in 2005-2006 due to mold and unsafe electrical and plumbing issues. The improvements include making the lower level accessible. The lodge will again be used for seasonal housing and is expected to be completed in 2010.

Myrtha was born July 22, 1946 in Pfafers, Switzerland. She passed away October 21, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. at the Medical Center of the Rockies.

Myrtha was very energetic, always walking with friends, and walking with her four legged friend Rocky. She had moved to Estes Park in 1991 from Glenwood, IL.

She worked at the high school from August 1997 to April 2003. She was also employee of the month in October 2002. From time to time, she also volunteered at the Elizabeth Guild, the Community Thrift store, and the Mary Martha group.

She is survived by her husband Frank Palazolo and her two sons Andrew and Victor Sweet and three sisters in Switzerland, Anna, Heidi and Klara.

A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday October 28th, 2009.

The ceremony was held in the backyard gazebo on Olympus Lane were she loved to sit and watch the birds.

Estes Park resident Robert Leiper died at Windsor Healthcare Center on Saturday, October 10, 2009. He was 82 years old. Robert A. Leiper was born August 2, 1927 in Dunbar, NE. His parents were Charles D. and Elizabeth (McClenahan) Leiper.

Robert lived in the Pittsburg, PA suburb of Sheridan and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1946. He attended Monmouth, IL Presbyterian College and Xenia Theological Seminary in Pittsburg. At Monmouth, he studied engineering, then followed a call to ministry. He later returned to graduate as an engineer. Robert married Dorothy Swiontek on December 27, 1951 at the United Presbyterian Church in Hammond, IN. Robert started his career at R.B.M. Essex Wire in Logansport, IN in relay design. He also worked for Mechanical Products in Jackson, MI on aircraft circuit design; North American Aviation in Los Angeles, CA on X B 70 Mach aircraft, design of power distribution; the microswitch division of Honeywell Corp. in Freeport IL working on design engineering on reed switch devices low inertia magnetic circuitry; Crucible Magnetics in Elizabeth, KY; Fansteel Electrometals in North Chicago, IL as Manager of Applications Engineering working on electric contact design. Robert formed Chugai, U.S.A. in Waukegan, IL to supply Ford and its suppliers with electric contact for switch devices. He retired as an Applications Management Engineer in September 1992. He is a member of IEEE and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Robert vacationed in Estes Park, CO with his family since his childhood. In 1993 he and Dorothy started visiting and working summers. He worked at the KOA Kampground. They bought a home in 1998 and became permanent residents of Estes Park. Robert was ordained as an Elder in the early 1960s. He was a member of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. He served on the Board of Session from 2000-2003. He served with the Stephen Ministers.

Robert is survived by his wife, Dorothy Leiper of Estes Park, CO; sons David Leiper and wife Mary of Stockton, IL, Mark Leiper and wife Lois of Loveland, CO, and Steven Leiper of Gurnee, IL; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two nephews and one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers at birth and a sister.

A private family service will be held. Memorial contributions can be made to the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, Organ Fund in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517. See www.allnutt.com to see Robert’s on-line obituary and send a message to the family.

Saturday, October 31, 7:00 p.m. don’t miss the evening program at Rocky Mountain National Park, “Extreme Alaska: Denali National Park.”

Denali National Park is home to the tallest mountain in North America and over two million acres of wilderness. Altitude defines which wild conditions and species dominate. During this 50 minute National Geographic film, we will trek between low and high to experience big game deep in the taiga forest, beautiful subarctic vistas of the tundra, and the challenge of ascending to the top of North America.

The program is held at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center at 7:00 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.

Students at the Estes Park Elementary school were excited to make and sign large “Thank You” cards to acknowledge and thank members of the Estes Park Volunteer Fire Department and neighboring fire departments and the Estes Park Police Department for all of their heroic efforts in last week’s Park Theatre Mall fire.

Students have also been busy writing letters to firefighters, police officers and shop owners in town, telling them of their thoughts of the fire.

The project was initiated by the Kindness and Compassion Club in the elementary school. The Kindness and Compassion Club is an offshoot of the Rachel’s Challenge Club in the high school and middle school. Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America.

Way to go students for being so kind and compassionate by thanking our local firefighters and police and thinking of the business people in town.

Since last Monday’s fire, an outpouring of concern for fire victims as well as appreciation for Estes Park’s Volunteer Firefighters and Police Department has been growing and local organizations are joining forces to facilitate offers of assistance.

The Local Marketing District, Convention & Visitors Bureau and Estes Valley Partners for Commerce are working together to assist the community.  EVPC established a special bank account with Bank of Colorado for donations.  Checks to help victims of the fire can be made payable to “The Bucket Brigade” and checks to assist Firefighters and Police can be made payable to ‘Fire Fighters & Police Fund.” Checks can be dropped off at Bank of Colorado or the Estes Park Visitors Center.

EVPC also established a web blog, designed to be a source for ideas and information. Check it out and sign up to help.

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The downtown Park Theatre Mall was without question, a historic structure on historic property, and it is important to get this history right. The Estes Park History Rescue Project (EPHRP) is hosting a one-hour Park Theatre Mall “wake” on Saturday, October 31, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Lake Shore Lodge Conference Center on 1700 Big Thompson Avenue. EPHRP spokesperson John Meissner will clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding the early history of the property using vintage photographs and the searchable electronic newspaper database. The bulk of the program, however, will be devoted to informal reminiscences of invited guests, including long-time residents and shopkeepers, along with audience members, indeed, anyone who wishes to share their fond memories of this early transportation complex that evolved into a commercial landmark. A “show-and-tell” table will also be available, in hopes that people will bring their Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Company bus ticket or Lyman Byxbe print or Rocky Mountain Pottery Factory memento, whatever holds significance for them, to help younger generations and newcomers better appreciate what a trip to Estes Park or a trip through the mall could have provided.

As with all EPHRP-sponsored programs, everyone is cordially invited to attend, and both the program and the refreshments that follow are free.

Park Theatre Mall timeline:

1907-Freelan Oscar Stanley buy three adjoining block 5 lots from Dr. Homer E. James.

1908-Stanley constructs a 22-car garage on the property for his “Estes Park Transportation Company,” early local managers include C. Byron Hall and Clayton Newell “Casey” Rockwell.

1915-Estes Park Transportation Company buildings expanded to 75-foot Elkhorn Avenue storefront.

1916-Estes Park Transportation Company sold to Roe Emery of Denver, Stanley Steamers replaced with White Company automobiles manufactures in Cleveland, Ohio. Business name changed to “Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Company.”

1955-Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Company moves to new building on what is now Moraine Avenue, Elkhorn Avenue building converted to Rocky Mountain Pottery Factory

1970-Property owner Vic Walker begins major renovation, grand opening of “Park Center Mall” celebrated on Saturday, 5 June 1971. Name changed to “Park Theatre Mall” in 1987.

2009-Building gutted by early morning fire.