Downvalley
There’s no news too small for the Downvalley column. Contact Pam Boyd via e-mail at pboyd@eaglevalleyenterprise.com; or call (970) 328-6656 x4.
Boogie at the Boneyard
On the heels of this week’s Eagle Outside Festival, the community will continue to shake off its cabin fever with the Boneyard Boogie race planned Saturday, May 18.
The Boneyard Boogie is a 10K trail run starting at the entrance to the Bluffs BLM Trailhead parking lot in Eagle and working up the dirt road following the single track to the left at the top of the hill. The trail continues on switchbacking single track through heavily wooded BLM areas, emerging from the trees and into rolling sagebrush fields. Runners will encounter some trail splits along the way along with some short burst climbs. The single-track trail descends to the Pool and Ice Rink Trail from above the east Eagle connection for an extended downhill run to the finish.
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The race start is 9 a.m. and registration opens at 7:30 a.m.
Racers will enjoy a free brunch at the Dusty Boot in Eagle Ranch, following the race. Prizes will be presented to the top three finishers of each age group at each race, with series prizes awarded to the top three finishers who compete in at least five events. Raffle prize drawings also will be held at each awards ceremony featuring products from area merchants and national companies.
The Boneyard Boogie is the first scoring race in the La Sportiva Vail Mountain Trail Running Series, Colorado’s premier trail running series, which is celebrating its 15th season. The seven-race series runs May through September and includes distances ranging from a 5K (3.2 miles) to a half marathon (13.1 miles). The race series was named Best Race Series in 2005 and 2008, the Vail Half Marathon named Most Scenic Race in 2010 and the Vail Hill Climb was honored as the best non-ultra race in 2011 by readers of Colorado Runner magazine.
For more information visit http://www.vailrec.com/boneyardboogie.cfm.
Roller Derby Bout
10th Mountain Roller Dolls will host a bout Saturday, May 18, at the Eagle Ice Rink.
The action will get under way 12:30 p.m. with a battalion of gutsy female athletes. Roller derby action offers more than your average sporting event — full contact, aggressive, competition four wheeled quad skates.
Event tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for kids and youngsters ages 3 and younger are admitted for free.
For more information, visit http://www.wecmrd.org.
Two Devils meet Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Two Eagle Valley High School students were among 100 teens selected to meet U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in Denver May 2.
Makenzie Sanders and Giselle Morin Azcona were picked from 1,500 applications submitted from all over the state of Colorado. The Colorado Youth Advisory Board selected the 100 students to participate in the historical event marking the grand opening of the Youth justice Center with Sotomayor, who became the first Hispanic on the Supreme Court bench when she took office in 2009.
“Makenzie was encouraged to participate in the essay competition by her social studies teacher, Nicole Dewell,” said Marie Sanders, Makenzie’s mom. “While visiting the center, Makenzie was introduced to legislators and senators. She took a list of prepared questions to ask them about state government. Her main platform was equality in education for children with disabilities.”
“Both girls are in my ninth-grade Honors Geography, so they are smart, hard-working go-getters,” Dewell said. “Despite busy schedules, they took the time to thoughtfully complete the required application. I encouraged all of my students to apply for it. We were lucky to get two students selected for the event. I thought they would only select one at most. Both girls are smart and interesting. EVHS is so proud of them.”
I-70 RESURFACING WORK FROM EAGLE TO EDWARDS
Work continues on the resurfacing project on Interstate 70 from Eagle to Edwards. Paving operations began on May 6 and will continue daily through mid-June. The project is currently on schedule and will be completed by August 2013.
Due to the recent spring moisture and changing temperatures, drivers through this work zone may also experience uneven road conditions, especially on bridge decks. Crews are working to address these conditions and as a result have reduced speed limits to 55 MPH in several areas as well as 40 MPH in the construction zone. Traffic fines through this work zone have been doubled. CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all road signs and flaggers, and to “Drive Slow for the Cone Zone.”
Work is scheduled on the project from Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through June 20, with allowance for eastbound commuter traffic from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily. Allowances will be made for westbound commuter traffic from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily and between noon and 7 p.m. on Fridays. Night work may be planned after June 20 but holiday and weekend work will be limited.
Habitat for Humanity accepting home owner applications
Habitat for Humanity of Eagle and Lake Counties is now accepting home owner applications for homes located in Stratton Flats in Gypsum.
A community meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at the Avon Public Library, to provide important information about the application process and about Habitat home ownership. The meeting will be held in English at 5:30 p.m. and in Spanish at 6:30 p.m. Applications will be distributed following this meeting and there will be time for questions.
Emily Peyton, Family Services Director for Habitat for Humanity, said, “Habitat’s home ownership program empowers families to build a better life for themselves through the stability and security of owning their own home. Habitat homes are not given away, but rather they are sold to qualified families who put in hundreds of hours of sweat equity. Helping people to help themselves is what Habitat is all about.”
Habitat for Humanity selects families based on three criteria: degree of need, ability to pay and willingness to partner. All applicants must be US citizens or permanent legal residents. Family members work hard to help build their homes before purchasing them from Habitat. Specific information about income range and other details are available at http://www.HabitatVailValley.org.
The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 31. Those interested in receiving an application before the community meeting can do so by stopping by calling to have one mailed or by downloading it off the website http://www.HabitatVailValley.org. For more information about the family selection process, please contact Emily@habitatvailvalley.org or at the Habitat office at 970-748-6718.
Around Town
The Eagle Valley Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is hosting its annual banquet Saturday, May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Eagle River Pavilion at the Eagle County Fairgrounds. Moe’s Bar B Que, a silent auction, raffles, a live auction and more is planned. For more information, call Dennis Goodspeed at 970-926-0836.
Gypsum Cleanup Day is planned Saturday, May 11, at the Gypsum Sports Complex on 3295 Cooley Mesa Road. There will be free dumping for town residents from 8 a.m. to noon. The service is not available to businesses. Proof of residence will be required. Dumpers must bring a utility bill and photo ID. Refrigerators will be accepted with proof of Freon removal. Four tires per household will be accepted. Lawn debris must be bagged or contained. Oil, paint, batteries, chemicals, flammable materials, vehicles and hazardous waste will not be accepted. Volunteers are greatly appreciated. To offer help or get more information, call 524-1740 or visit http://www.townofgypsum.com/towncleaup.