Benchtalk May 21, 2015

by D. Clapsaddle

Memorial Day is early this year…
Memorial Day is a quiet holiday weekend in Crested Butte. But take some time during this three day weekend to reflect on those that gave their lives for this country. The Memorial Day parade takes place at 9:30 a.m. Monday along Elk Avenue as a formation of local soldiers march to the cemetery to honor the fallen. A Polka dance will be held Monday afternoon in the Eldo so get out and shake it up.

Boat ramp and inspections expanding at Blue Mesa
As spring progresses into summer, the National Park Service continues to expand boat ramp and inspection hours and to open more facilities on Blue Mesa Reservoir. Ponderosa boat ramp and Aquatic Invasive Species Inspection Station will open on Thursday, May 21 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and stay open Thursday through Monday. The ramp and inspection station will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays due to lack of adequate staffing on those days. Hours at the Lake Fork, Elk Creek, Iola, and Stevens Creek ramps and inspection stations will expand starting Friday, May 22 to 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Wild Canaries playing Thursday and Saturday for monthly Film Fest presentation
The new independent film, Wild Canaries, will screen Thursday night, May 21, at 7 p.m. at the Center for the Arts in Crested Butte. Tickets are $10. For those looking to make an entire evening of it, join CBFF at its popular “Dinner and A Movie” at 5 p.m. at The Bacchanale Italian Kitchen. The film will be shown Saturday in Gunnison at the Gunnison Arts Center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at 7 p.m.

Mountain Roots receives $1,000 award
The Top O’ the World Garden Club, a local chapter of the Colorado Garden Club with more than 20 members, recently awarded $1,000 to local food organization Mountain Roots. Top O’ the World hopes to promote gardening, especially among children, so the funds are slated to provide educational materials and kids’ gardening supplies for the youth gardens and to provide scholarships for children in need to attend Roots & Shoots summer camps. Funds are made possible by the annual Top O’ the World Plant Sale, scheduled for Saturday, May 30, at 9 a.m. at the Fred Field Fairgrounds Building. For more information on the plant sale, contact Karen Edstrom at (970) 641-3810. Summer camps begin in June, and more information on how to apply for a scholarship can be found at www.mountainrootsfoodproject.org or by contacting Holly at (970) 417-7848.

Sign up for Crested Butte softball
It’s time for adult summer softball, so get your friends together and sign up online now for either the rec or comp league soon at www.crestedbutterec.com or at the mandatory captains’ meeting in town hall on Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m. All teams must send two representatives to the captains’ meeting and have all necessary paperwork and payment. Games will start Monday, June 8 and run through mid-August. All softball information is available on the recreation website or by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 349-5338, or emailing recintern@crestedbutte-co.gov. Hope to see you all on the field!

Birthdays:
May 21- Erica Hogan, Jerry Deverell, Mary Frame, Bobbi Pogoloff, Katherine Hargrave, Henry Sunter
May 22- Glenda Harper, Jennifer Oberling, Rita Wengrin, Colton Parr
May 23- Kathy Wiggins, Bob Piccaro and brother John, Jenner Currier
May 24-Richard Rozman, Mary Perkins, Laura Magner, Oceana Friedman, Jack Dietrich
May 25- Mike Mabry, Mai Davis, Althea Davis
May 26- Steve Church, Dennis Magnetti
May 27- Heather Harris, Darby  Sullivan, Rob Berglund, Graham Ullrich, Cory Leonard, Glenn Michel

CAMEO QUESTION: besides money, what would you give for a nice bike?