Benchtalk April 15, 2016

Just sayin’

It sure is quiet out there. It sure is nice out there. It sure is spring out there.

Home ownership meetings coming up

The town of Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority will have two Homeownership Trainings, April 14-15 and June 9-10, 2016. Classes run from 5 to 9 p.m. and there is a $25 materials fee. Food and beverage will be provided to attendees. Attend and receive an additional lottery credit for buying in Blocks 79 and 80. Stop by Crested Butte town hall for a registration form or call the Housing Authority at (970) 641-7900. Spaces are limited.

Paint your own Mother’s Day pottery at GAC

Saturday April 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., paint Mother’s Day gifts for spring at the Gunnison Arts Center’s Clay Studio. Choose from sushi dishes, jewelry boxes, dinnerware, personalized ornaments, cookie jars, and so much more. No reservation is necessary and all experience levels are welcome.

Great boating will soon return to Blue Mesa Reservoir

Boating at Blue Mesa Reservoir is right around the corner. Once the reservoir ice breaks up and the Lake Fork ramp is clear enough for safe launching, the ramp will open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The Elk Creek ramp usually follows a few days later. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspections are required before launch and after boating whenever ramps are open. Starting Thursday, April 21, Elk Creek and Lake Fork inspection station hours will expand to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Iola ramp will open for the season on Thursday, May 5.  The Steven’s Creek ramp will open on Thursday, May 12, and just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the Ponderosa ramp will open on Thursday, May 26. All of these dates depend on reservoir water levels high enough to allow safe launching and retrieval. Watch for updates on ramp status and water levels as the season progresses. As always, visit the Curecanti Watercraft Inspection webpage for the latest inspection news and status.

Apply now for teen defensive driving scholarships 

The Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley will award three defensive driving scholarships to local teens just learning to drive. This year’s application deadline is Friday, April 22. Applicants must be Gunnison County teens with their learner’s permit or Colorado provisional driving permit. Award recipients are chosen by a committee and provided with pre-paid tuition for MasterDrive, one of the nation’s most respected emergency driver safety organizations. The driving camp is offered most weekends through the summer and fall in Colorado Springs. In addition to the MasterDrive tuition, the award includes some reimbursement for travel and lodging expenses.

Housing applications being accepted until Friday

Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications for housing. Income qualifications and applications can be downloaded from www.hfhgunnisonvalley.org or picked up at Habitat’s office location at 307 N. Main St., Suite 2E in Gunnison. The deadline to apply is April 15. For more information call (970) 641-1245.

Birthdays:

April 14- Megan Mensing, Bob Huckins, John Ryan, Kelli Councilman, Tim Allenbaugh, Bev Jordi, Justin Wheeler, Ren Kern, Jen Nolan

April 15- Bill Roseberry, John Biro, Jan Murdock, Noella Fouquet, Susan Gellert

April 16- Cassidy Hardin, Andy Booth, Eban Wight

April 17- Laurie Barnard, Kathy Napoli

April 18- Heidi Daughn Patrick, Riley Kortz, Hank Barlow

April 19- John Parker, Henry Linehan, Sean and Ryan Weller, Haley Shrieves, Ruby Gonzales

April 20- Carl Jones, Frank Coffey, Tommy James, John Dethloff, Joe Coburn