FEBRUARY 1-14
• Main Street Central City Photo Contest
Win up to $200 cash and a chance to be featured on postcards by entering the Main Street Central City Photo Contest, which is open to all photographers. The contest is soliciting original, striking images of Central City, including, but not limited to buildings and structures, wildlife, people, events, community, work and trade, auto and more. All entries must be submitted by Feb. 14, 2017. Voting continues throughout the duration of the contest. Up to 15 photographs may be submitted per person. Entries may be entered by uploading digital files to Main Street Central City Facebook Page or e-mailed. Complete details can be found online at the Main Street Central City Facebook page. For questions, contact Zeke Keeler at zkeeler@cityofcentral.co or 720-279-7335.

FEBRUARY 1-MARCH 31
• Ice Skating & Ice Fishing
Come enjoy Estes Park’s only centrally located skating rink at Trout Haven Fishing Pond at Trout Haven Resorts on Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m until March 31. The 60 x 30 rink is located at 810 Moraine Ave. and is the perfect location for skaters of all ages. Ice fishing is also available on a fully stocked trout pond. Poles and bait are provided and no license is needed. All Trout are catch and keep . Skating is $5 including skate rental or $3 without skates. Call 970-577-0202 or visit trouthavenresorts.com to learn more.

FEBRUARY 1 & MARCH 2
• Book Club Meets Science Program
The Nederland Community Library, 200 Hwy. 72, begins its four-month “Pushing the Limits” reading, viewing and discussion program for adults, Feb. 1, 7-8:30 p.m. The program explores science-related themes each month through book discussion and viewing of video clips. February’s theme is “Survival,” and the group will discuss Paolo Bacigalupi’s “The Water Knife.” On March 2, “Nature,” is the theme and T.C. Boyle’s “When the Killing’s Done” is discussed. “Connection” is the theme, April 12, when Erik Larson’s “Thunderstruck” is discussed. Finally, on May 3, the theme is “Knowledge.” Discussions are co-moderated by CSU Extension in Gilpin County Director Irene Shonle and library Director Jay Mann. Each program is limited to 15 participants, and books are provided with registration. Sign up in person, call 303-258-1101 or e-mail jaymann@nedlib.org

FEBRUARY 3
• Estes Park Mayor’s Chat
Estes Park Mayor Todd Jirsa invites community members to join him for a Mayor’s Chat, Feb. 3 at 8 a.m. at Kind Coffee, 470 E. Elkhorn Ave. Residents are encouraged to join him for an informal discussion of local issues. Mayor Jirsa holds regular Mayor’s Chats, generally during the first week of each month, with varied dates, times and locations throughout Estes Park. Visit estes.org or call 970-586-5331 for additional details.

• Lyons Old-Time Square Dance
Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy old-time reels, mixers, squares, waltzes and clogging to live fiddle and banjo music, Feb. 3, 7-10 p.m., at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, 303 Main St., in Lyons. All dances are taught and are beginner and family-friendly. Dance calling will be by Larry Edelman with old-time music by Nine Dollar Shawl. Dances are easiest earlier in the evening and become more complex as the evening progresses. Come alone, bring family, friends and children and join the mix of beginner and welcoming seasoned dancers. No experience, partner or special shoes required. The dance is $10 for adults, $5 for children or $25 for a family. Additional dances take place March 4 and April 1. For more information, e-mail oldtimedances@musicinlyons.com or call 303-827-6322

FEBRUARY 10
• Sweetwater String Band concert
Sweetwater String Band brings its “soul grass” from California to The Caribou Room stage, Feb. 10, with opening act Thunder & Rain. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for happy hour specials. Sweetwater String Band is a cello-driven band founded in California in 2008. Their music often deals with serious issues such as mountaintop removal coal mining, workers rights, and finding middle ground in today’s divided political arena. This seriousness is balanced by ghost stories, drinking songs, improvised jams, and tales from the long, lonesome road. Tickets are $10 and are available online. Visit http://www.thecaribouroom.com or e-mail info@thecaribouroom.com to learn more.

FEBRUARY 11
• Peak to Peak Chamber Music Concert
The next Peak to Peak Concert, Feb. 11, 2-4 p.m. at Shepherd of Mountain Lutheran Church, 2000 Ptarmigan Trail in Estes Park, features the third annual combined concert of the Q2 Strings, featuring Mary Jo Andrews, Marti DeYoung, Kathrine Hornbein and Jeff Tyler, and the Four Horns, which includes Scott Anderson, Jerry Brubaker, Julie Esposito and Carolyn LaVallee. There is a suggested donation of $10—net proceeds go to musicians—and a reception follows the concert. The Peak to Peak Chamber Music Concert Series, jointly sponsored by The Old Gallery and the Oratorio Society of Estes Park, continues through winter with a variety of concerts held at the Shepherd of Mountain Lutheran Church in Estes Park. Visit theoldgallery.org or osep.info for more information.

• Father Daughter Sweetheart Ball
Escort your daughter to the Annual Father & Daughter Sweetheart Ball, Feb. 11, 6-9 p.m., at the Gilpin County Community Center, 250 Norton Drive. “Enter into a magical kingdom” where there is dancing, refreshments, photo ops, special treats and special memories. Tickets are $18 per couple and $7 more for additional “sweethearts.” Call 303-582-1453 or visit gilpinrecreation.com to learn more.

FEBRUARY 24-26
• 42nd Annual Wells Fargo Ski Cup
This year, Feb. 24-26, commemorates the 42nd consecutive year of the Wells Fargo Ski Cup in Winter Park. The Wells Fargo Ski Cup, the longest running professional ski race in the country, serves as a signature fundraiser for the National Sports Center for the Disabled. The Corporate Challenge on Saturday has skiers and snowboarders from 33 corporate teams racing against each other to claim bragging rights and prizes. A NSCD Competition Center athlete races on each team for cash prizes to help finance training for the 2018 Paralympics. On Sunday, the Kids of Wells Fargo Ski Cup allows guests ages 5-12 to race the same course as the professionals. Mascots from Winter Park and Colorado sports teams ski in the Kids Snowplow Sprint. The World Disabled Invitational on Sunday has professional athletes from around the world competing for cash prizes in a race unlike any other. Other weekend events include a two-day silent auction, Wells Fargo hospitality tent, tubing to raise funds for the NSCD and the Ski for NSCD Pledge Drive. Visit nscd.org or call 970-726-1518 for more information.

MARCH 1
• Hermit Park Open Space Closure Ends
Larimer County’s Hermit Park Open Space, southeast of Estes Park, will reopen to the public March 1, from its annual seasonal closure. For questions, call the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources Administrative Office at 970-619-4570.

Seasonal closure protects nesting eagles

BOULDER COUNTY
To protect nesting golden eagles, the U.S. Forest Service will be implementing annual area closures in Boulder Canyon beginning Feb. 1, 2017. The closures include rock climbing spots at Eagle Rock, Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress and Security Risk in Boulder Canyon. These areas are located along Colorado Highway 119, approximately 1.5 miles east of Boulder Falls.

Effective through July 31, the closures protect a long-established golden eagle nesting territory. Happy Hour, Bihedral and Riviera will remain open as long as visitors stay out of the closed areas.

“These closures allow the birds to choose a nest site without human disturbance. The chosen site remains closed until the eagles fledge in late July, but we typically reopen other parts of the area earlier,” said wildlife biologist Bev Baker.

The Boulder Ranger District partners with the Boulder Climbing Community and the Access Fund to monitor nesting progress.

Federal and state laws prohibit disturbing any nesting bird of prey. Visitors can help protect wildlife by respecting all closures. Signs will be posted at key access points into the closed areas. Closure information will be available online at local climbing websites and at http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/arp/recreation/climbing.

Originally published in the February 2017 issue of the MMAC Monthly