There are a lot of things on the calendar in the Estes Valley

Story by Patti Brown

While the goal is not to be busy for the sake of being busy, there are a lot of things that offer engagement and an opportunity to lean in and contribute to our community.

Over the past week, I have attended an Indigenous Fashion Show, an instructional recital and ballet master class put on by AVID — Artistic Adventures in Dance –and the Estes Skijor event. This may be the “shoulder season,” and some businesses are taking a brief break, but the Estes Valley is not in hibernation mode.

This week I am having dinner with a group of Estes businesswomen to talk about what a quarterly networking organization might look like. The purpose would be to support each other and share lessons learned. Stay tuned.

My February calendar includes a One Book One Valley event this week with Elizabeth Letts, author of “The Ride of Her Life,” the First Friday Night Art Groove on Feb. 6 and the Wine and Chocolate Festival on Feb. 7.

The Estes Valley Voice is also sponsoring two events in February. One is an author talk with Ron Pevny of Ft. Collins on Tuesday Feb. 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the dining room of the Good Samaritan Society – Estes Park Village. Pevny has just released the 10th anniversary edition of his book “Conscious Living, Conscious Aging.”

Estes is a unique community. Forty percent of our population is 60 and older. For the most part, we are a well-elderly community with many people who have chosen to move here during their retirement years because they are active and love the outdoors. The senior years are a time of more than just retirement. Pevny’s book is not about how to be busy with activities, but rather he offers insights into navigating the existential challenges and opportunities that this period demands.

The event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, click here. The book is available at the Estes Valley library, it can be ordered from Macdonald Book Shop, and it will be available for sale at the event.

The Estes Valley Voice is also sponsoring a workshop on Colorado’s Open Records and Open Meeting Laws that will be held in the Town Hall boardroom on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. The presenter will be Jeffrey Roberts, the director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. This workshop is also free and open to all members of the public. To RSVP, please click here.

While the goal is not to be busy for the sake of being busy, there are a lot of things that offer engagement and an opportunity to lean in and contribute to our community.

This week we will be publishing a guide about the upcoming special district elections on May 6, and all the open board seats on these various boards.

Between the Estes Valley Fire Protection District Board, Park Hospital Board d/b/a Estes Park Health, the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District Board, the Estes Park Sanitation District, and the Upper Thompson Sanitation District there are 17 seats open on special district boards in our community.

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