Benchtalk: July 13, 2018

Author Event for River of Lost Souls at Townie Books next week

Jonathan Thompson has been an environmental journalist focusing on the American West since he signed on as reporter and photographer at the Silverton Standard & the Miner newspaper in 1996. He has worked and written for High Country News for over a decade. Join Townie Books for an evening of reading, discussion, and book signing. His newest book River of Lost Souls digs into the science, politics, and greed behind the 2015 Gold King Mine disaster, and unearths a litany of impacts wrought by a century and a half of mining, energy development, and fracking in southwestern Colorado. Amid these harsh realities, Thompson explores how a new generation is setting out to make amends. The event begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17.

A special walking tour coming up

The Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum will be holding a special themed historic walking tour on Saturday, July 21st from 9 to 11a.m. The tour will feature the history of 2nd Street, once the hub of Crested Butte. This stretch of pavement tells stories of bars, brothels, coal-men, and jailbirds. Join us in front of the Museum at 4th and Elk for this brand new tour. $12 for members and $15 for non-members. Register by calling the Museum at 970-349-1880 or visiting our website at www.crestedbuttemuseum.com.

Organ recital with Derek Carden at UCC

Longtime friend of Crested Butte Derek Carden is returning to Colorado from London. On Sunday, July 22, at 11 a.m., Carden will perform a free organ recital at the Union Congregational Church, 4th and Maroon, in Crested Butte. Derek Carden is known in the Gunnison Valley for his musical direction in past Crested Butte productions such as Reefer Madness, Urinetown, and All Grown Up. He has also played the organ in numerous Sunday worship services and recitals at the UCC. As an organist, Carden is in demand as a freelance player for several of the major London churches, including Westminster Abbey.

County motor vehicles office closed

The Gunnison County Motor Vehicle office will be closed July 16 to 18 (Monday to Wednesday), so staff can participate in the Department of Revenue Training sessions. The office will re-open on Thursday, July 19, at its regular hours. If you need to renew your registrations remember you can renew online at https://mydmv.colorado.gov.

Call for artists: 2019 GAC Galleries

The Gunnison Arts Center is currently accepting gallery proposals for 2019. The GAC houses two beautiful historic exhibition spaces, one on the lower level as well as a smaller space in the located on the second floor. Individual and group exhibitions are accepted. Artists interested in exhibiting must submit an exhibition proposal to the program and gallery director. Pick up an application in person, or visit gunnisonartscenter.org/exhibits/artist-opportunities. Applications are due by August 1, 2018.

Birthdays:

July 12- Mary Holder, Glena Galloway, Derek Shomler, Randi Stroh, Mark S. Peterson

July 13- Addie Raab, Mandy Griffith, Mary Pavillard, Owen Murray

July 14- Bookie Louise, Lipstick, Mark Calve, James Bivens, Fred Koval, Tor Jennison

July 15- Hank Ebbott, Kat Cooke

July 16- Jake Sunter, Elias Friedman, Ron Copenhauer, Al Leonetti, Tuck, Eli Lambro

July 17- Katey Brandenberger, Lochlan Fletcher, Kristi Miller, Wynn Williams, Andy Eflin, Ken Stone

July 18- Eric Beck, OB Oberling, Melissa Leftwich, Emma McDuff, Olivia Lueckemeyer