March 5
In Studio Retreat: Yoga & Yarn with Louise
Nederland’s Tadasana Mountain Yoga, 20 Lakeview Dr., and cable8designs have partnered to offer a meditative afternoon of yoga and knitting, March 5 from 1-5 p.m. Knitting is a perfect complement to a yoga practice as both enhance the mind-body connection and are proven to reduce stress. Participants make a chunky scarf while learning to cast on a project, the knit stitch, how to cast off and finish. No yoga or knitting experience is needed. The $75 fee includes yoga classes, knitting instruction, afternoon tea and healthy snacks. To learn more, visit tadasanamountainyoga.com, e-mail info@tadasanamountainyoga.com or call 303-258-9642.

Honey Bee 101 Workshop
Get an introduction to the world of the honey bees, March 5 from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Georgetown Heritage Center, 809 Taos St., during Beth Conrey’s Honey Bee 101 workshop. Learn the roles of the bees in the hive, how they interact and work with each other in a colony setting. Learn the challenges of keeping bees alive and what can be done to support bee health whether you keep bees or not. The workshop is $40. Visit http://www.georgetowntrust.org or e-mail info@georgetownheritagecenter.org for more information.

March 9
Ski with a Ranger at Loveland Ski Area
Volunteer snow rangers with the Clear Creek Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests lead visitors on a ski and snowboard tour along intermediate runs at Loveland Ski Area through April. Participants learn mountain ecology and unique bits of local history at stops along the way. To take part, show up at the Ptarmigan Roost Warming Hut for a scheduled program on March 9 at 1:30 p.m., March 26 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., April 13 at 1:30 p.m., April 30 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Loveland Ski Area is located on the Arapaho National Forest and operated under a special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service. Visit skiloveland.com or call 303-571-5580 to learn more.

March 12
People for Silver Plume’s Cabin Fever Dance
Swing to the beat of the Roots and Rhythm Band at the 7th Annual Silver Plume Cabin Fever Dance, March 12 from 7-10:30 p.m. at the Silver Plume Large Town Hall. The event is a fund-raiser for historic preservation of People for Silver Plume, Inc. buildings. Enjoy hors d-oeuvres and compete for the best 1930’s-1940’s attire. Tickets for sale from all People for Silver Plume, Inc. members. E-mail caldwell970@aol.com for information.
An Afternoon with Author Buzzy Jackson
Historian Buzzy Jackson thought she knew who she was and where she came from until she took a look at her scrawny family tree. Her first visit to the Boulder Genealogy Society brought her more questions than answers, but gave a peek into the fascinating, and enormous, community of genealogists. Her book Shaking the Family Tree is part family memoir, part investigation into the world of obsessed genealogists and part how-to manual for constructing a family tree. Join Jackson, March 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the Estes Valley Library, 335 E. Elkhorn Ave., to learn about her journey contacting long-lost relatives, fact-checking family legends and getting cozy with a growing subculture of amateur genealogy. To learn more, call 970-586-8116 or visit estesvalleylibrary.org

March 12
Whiskey Warm Up Weekend
Get toasty from the inside out at Estes Park’s Whiskey Warm-Up, March 12 from 1-4 p.m. The whiskey tasting event and celebration features whiskey-themed events, packages and specials. Sip on Colorado whiskeys from a variety of local distilleries next to the fire pits in the outdoor Riverside Plaza while browsing local cigar shops selling handmade stogies and watching expert demonstrations of hand-rolling cigars. Learn about the styles, tastes and smells of whiskey at live snapshot seminars. Dancing Pines Distillery’s tasting room hosts a finale reception with buy-one-get-one-free drink specials from 4:30-8 p.m. Tickets are $50 a person or $90 for a couple and include samples from distilleries; seminars including food pairings with chocolate, cheeses and donuts; BBQ from a variety of smokers; and live music from Pandas and People. Visit visitestespark.com for more information.
Meet Turkey Vultures and Snakes
Join Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center, 20 Lakeview Dr. in Nederland, during Frozen Dead Guy Days for a free open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, March 12, and Nature’s Educators, March 13.  Both will share turkey vultures, other creepy-crawlies and information. Donations are always accepted. Visit wildbear.org, call 303-258-0495 or e-mail info@wildbear.org for more details.

March 17
Irish Sip ‘n Paint: 40 Shades of Green
The Irish say there are 40 shades of green in the Irish landscape. Join Betsy Byrne Hubner, who received a summer fellowship to paint in Ireland, for an Irish Sip ‘n Paint, March 17 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Western Stars Gallery & Studio, 160 E. Main St. in Lyons. Paint a landscape while enjoying Irish coffee, Guinness or other beverage and viewing Hubner’s photos of the Irish countryside. The class is $35. To hold a spot, e-mail info@westernstarsgallerystudio.com or call 303-747-3818. Visit http://www.westernstarsgallerystudio.com to learn more.

March 19
Colorful Attitudes of Your Pet
Pat Saunders-White, well known for her animal portraits, will inspire and energize workshop participants with demonstrations and instruction at her “Color Attitude of Your Pet” workshop, March 19 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Art Center of Estes Park, 517 Big Thompson Ave. Tap into the child within and use intuition to choose colors. Bold colors reflect our pets wonderful personalities and characteristics. All materials, instruction and demonstrations is provided by Saunders-White. No drawing skills are required in this class, which costs $102 or $91.80 for members. Visit http://www.patsaunderswhite.com and http://www.artcenterofestes.com, call 970-586-5882 or e-mail info@artcenterofestes.com for more details.

March 24
Raptor Ridge Wine Dinner    
The Lyons Fork, 450 Main St., welcomes Scott Shull, founder and winemaker of Oregon’s Raptor Ridge Winery, for a one-of-a-kind wine dinner, March 24 at 6 p.m. Shull is in Colorado for just three days including this evening of great food and great wine. Visit http://www.lyonsfork.com for details and menu.

March 26
Chasing the Sun Potluck & Open Mic
The Old Gallery, 14863 Hwy. 7 in Allenspark, hosts a potluck and open mic to celebrate the Vernal Equinox and usher in the beginning of spring, March 26 from 7-9 p.m. Mostly Joe Hawkins—who’s music embraces rock, folk, country, classical, jazz, bluegrass and, especially, blues—will be Master of Ceremonies and lead off a night of music by local and not-so-local musicians and comedians.  Bring a favorite dish, bring a friend and bring a healthy attitude and appetite. Visit theoldgallery.org or call 303-747-2906 to learn more.

Bunny Dip
Hop on over to the Sampler Mill Recreation Center, 98 12th Ave. in Idaho Spring, for the Bunny Dip, March 26 at about 12:30 p.m.. All ages are welcome. Two thousand candy-filled eggs will be thrown in the pool for participants to gather. The event follows the Idaho Springs Elks Lodge Easter Celebration. Bring a plastic bag to gather eggs and $2. Visit http://www.clearcreekrecreation.com or call 303-567-4822 for additional details.

March 27
Lyons Community Easter Service
Higher Ground Ministries presents a Community Easter Service at the Wildflower Pavilion at Planet Bluegrass, March 27, at 11 a.m. Music will be provided by local musicians and an Easter Egg Hunt and potluck will follow. A potluck sign-up sheet is available at the Stone Cup, 442 High St. in Lyons. Bring table service and beverages and a dish to share. Bring donations of filled plastic Easter eggs, without chocolate, to the Stone Cup, March 25-26. Call 303-823-2345 for more information.

March 29
Musical Benefit for Brittni Dennison
The Ax and Oar, 160 Main St. in Lyons, hosts a special evening to benefit Brittni Dennison to support her courageous battle with cancer and road to recovery, March 29 at 6 p.m. The night features a three-course dinner with a guest sommelier and silent auction followed by live music from Monica Whittington & Eric Wiggs of Monacle, David & Enion Pelta Tiller of TAARKA and Taylor & Bonnie Sims of Bonnie & The Clydes and special guests. Tickets are $40 and a RSVP and deposit is required. Limited seating is available. The After Dinner Party is open to everyone for $10 at the door beginning at 8 p.m. Entry includes a free City Star Brewery drink ticket and raffle prize ticket. Visit axandoarlyons.com or call 303-747-3795 for more information.

April 1
Second Whisky Release at Spirit Hound
Visit the Spirit Hound Distillery and Tasting Room, 4196 Ute Highway in Lyons, April 1, for its second aged whisky release event. Bottles go on sale at 11 a.m.  There will be food trucks, live music, and more. The distillery’s first five barrels worth of whisky, winner of a gold medal at the 2015 Breckenridge Craft Spirits Competition, sold out almost immediately upon its release in August 2015. When released, the whisky will be available in the tastingroom and a few select Colorado retailers. Don’t miss this second chance to acquire some of the award-wining spirit. Gin, rum, vodka, coffee liqueur, moon shine and Sambuca are also available for sampling and purchase. Call 303-823-5696, e-mail info@SpiritHounds.com or visit http://www.spirithounds.com for more information.

County receives grant for preservation survey
RUSSELL GULCH
The History Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has awarded funding to 13 local governments totaling $138,505  to aid in historic preservation efforts. These counties and municipalities are among the 52 local Colorado governments whose historic preservation programs have been certified by the National Park Service through History Colorado for meeting national preservation standards.

Local governments that received funding this year include Gilpin County, which received $23,500 for a historic preservation survey of Russell Gulch.

The grant is to help pay for an intensive-level survey that includes an archaeology component to evaluate the resources in Russell Gulch. Gilpin County Community Development Director Tony Petersen is hopeful the outcome of the survey will aid in creating a local historic district designation in Russell Gulch.

“The Certified Local Government program seeks to encourage and expand local involvement in historic preservation activities,” said Mark Rodman, History Colorado preservation technical services manager, “communities within the program place a strong local policy emphasis on historic preservation.”

History Colorado through the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation administers the U.S. Department of Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund Program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

For more information regarding the Certified Local Government program visit h-co.org/CLG. Contact Petersen at 303-582-5831 ext 1 and tpetersen@co.gilpin.co.us.