Frank and Elaine Zellner will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on Feb. 28. They were high school sweethearts and were married in 1959. They have four children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Frank has a little tip to sustain a long marriage: Never go to bed without saying, “I love you.”
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Lifestyle, Relationships
The following is the list of January births with parents from Pagosa Springs, as reported by Mercy Regional Medical Center:
Tara Weil and John Hodson, Daryn Jean, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, 6:31 p.m., Jan. 8.
Kailey and Kyle Wiggers, Eryn Annette, 7 pounds, 12 ounces, 6:16 p.m., Jan. 22.
Parents are invited to submit photos of their baby and an official announcement to editor@pagosasun.com to be printed in the newspaper and online.
Follow these topics: Births, Celebrations, Lifestyle
The Matzdorf family is pleased to announce the engagement of Hannah Matzdorf, daughter of Claudia Matzdorf and the late Mathew Matzdorf, to Drew Mackey, son of Butch and Debbie Mackey.
Hannah and Drew plan to have an intimate outdoor wedding in late August 2014.
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Lifestyle, Relationships
Joseph DuCharme, a native of Pagosa Springs, has been named to the University of Iowa’s Dean’s List for the 2013 fall semester.
Undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the Tippie College of Business who achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or higher on 12 semester hours or more of UI graded course work during a given semester or summer session and who have no semester hours of I (incomplete) or O (no grade reported) during the same semester are recognized by inclusion on the Dean’s List for that semester.
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Education, Lifestyle
Hank and Sylvia Carpenter of Jessieville, Ark. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception arranged by their four daughters on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the home of their youngest, Dana Ramsey. in Hot Springs Village. Friends and family joined the couple in a walk down memory lane complete with a slide show, stories, punch, wedding cake and treasured fellowship.
Hank and Sylvia were married Feb. 21, 1962, at the home of Bud and Inez Seavy in Pagosa Springs. They spent the first few years of their marriage migrating back and forth between Hank’s family in Colorado and Sylvia’s family in Arkansas before deciding to settle in Pagosa Springs when their oldest daughter started elementary school. In the spring of 1987, they made their last move back to Jessieville, where they have lived since.
Hank and Sylvia are now retired and enjoying the freedom to travel to their favorite camping spots; create handmade heirlooms for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and to devote their energies to what has always mattered most to them — family.
They are the parents of Melissa and Steve Speers; Frankie Kemp; Marlena and John Dodd; and Dana and Tim Ramsey, all of Garland County, Ark. They have 11 grandchildren and one new great-granddaughter. The couple is also blessed by many siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Lifestyle, Relationships
Jesse and Barbie are getting married. Jesse Morris, a 2005 graduate of Pagosa Springs High School, and Barbara Lish of Centennial met at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, both graduating in 2009. They make their home in beautiful Aspen, where Jesse works at Rocky Mountain Institute and Barbie at the Aspen Community Foundation. Jesse and Barbie are planning a September 2014 wedding in Aspen, and their family and friends can’t wait for the celebration.
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Lifestyle, Relationships
Photo courtesy Rosalind Marshall
The Archuleta County Education Center after-school tutoring program at Pagosa Springs Elementary School includes reading practice. Pictured are (left to right) students Dylan Pastrama and Dalton Archuleta with tutor/teacher Aaron Wamsley. After-school tutoring is available free of charge Monday through Thursday, 3:30-5 p.m. Register at the elementary school or www.theacec.com.
They met in Durango and lest she go, he picked her up … or so I’m told. They rowed down a canyon, wild as the West. Their love was strengthened, but wait there’s the rest. He thought up a plan, on Kickapoo Crick, It required a canoe and two paddle sticks. The rain poured down and to go with the flow, he took a knee with a question that glowed. They moved from the cordillera on an east-bound road, with ambitions brighter than hoarded gold. Becoming turophiles in the scholastic Midwest, as they build a future where sunsets nest.
The water’s fine, so Codye Reynolds and Jake Cammack will make the jump June 7 and are excited for the journey, wave and poetic excellence ahead. Their phenotypes and genotypes flow through the veins of proud parents Dallas and Olivia Reynolds of Durango and David and Mary Helen Cammack of Pagosa Springs.
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Lifestyle, Relationships
Private Tyler Lindsey-Fearon, 18, of Pagosa Springs, graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on Feb. 28.
Private Fearon successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training at MCRD San Diego as one of 55 recruits in Training Platoon 1035.
While in recruit training, Private Fearon achieved the following: most improved and sharpshooter.
Following 17 days of leave (he will be a recruiter’s assistant for seven days), he will report to Camp Pendleton for one month at Military Combat Training, then to his Military Occupation Specialty school, where he will study diesel mechanics.
It is unknown at this time where Private Fearon will be stationed following training.
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Education, Lifestyle
Grandparents Leticia Gallegos and Jeff Mills, of Pagosa Springs, and Robert Brewer and Lorena Gladding are very excited to announce the birth of their grandson Jaxon Brooks Brewer born to Shantilly and Brooks. He arrived on March 5, weighing in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
Follow these topics: Births, Celebrations, Lifestyle
Misty and Roman Espinosa are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Isabella Espinosa. She was born Feb. 12 at 9:20 p.m. She weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 17 3/4 inches long.
Isabella is welcomed by her brothers Michael and Tristan. Her proud grandparents are Karlie and Kenny Garcia of Houston; Steve House of Durango; and Lou Jean and Henry Espinosa of Pagosa Springs. Her great-grandparents are Georgia Lou and A.C. House of Pagosa Springs and Beatrice Espinosa of Pagosa Springs.
Follow these topics: Births, Celebrations, Lifestyle
SUN photo/Randi Pierce
Kelsey Hagman qualifies as a competitor for the Colorado History Day competition to be held in Denver May 3. Hagman won first place, out of 44 competitors, in Individual Website at the regional History Day competition held at Fort Lewis College last Thursday. Hagman’s website featured her research about the women in WWII, in relation to this year’s theme of “Rights and Responsibilities.”
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Education, Lifestyle
By Ed Fincher and Randi Pierce
Staff Writers
Photo courtesy Jacque Aragon
Ross Aragon has collected 38 years of memorbilia from his service as town trustee and mayor for the Town of Pagosa Springs.
When Pagosa Springs Mayor Ross Aragon hands over the reins to his successor in April of this year, he will hold the record for being the longest serving town trustee and mayor in the history of Colorado.
To celebrate the occasion, everyone is encouraged to stop by the community center tomorrow night, March 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. to hear, or possibly share, stories about the mayor’s long history of service to this community.
Ironically, the location for the celebration is aptly named the Ross Aragon Community Center, which is located to the south of the downtown area at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., next to Town Hall.
While the Pagosa Springs Community Center has been in operation since August of 2002, it was renamed in 2009 and dedicated to the person who was most responsible for its existence.
“It was my idea,” Aragon confirmed in an interview with SUN staff last December, “but there were a lot of people involved. It all began with the town being in such a remote area and we didn’t have a place to gather.”
The mayor explained that in the mid 1970s, other than getting together at the high school to watch basketball, there really wasn’t a place for the townsfolk to meet, until the Head Start building on South 8th Street was built.
“That’s where everyone had their meetings and gatherings,” Aragon said. “The karate club had its practices there, for example, but it was really small, so I kept watching that and I said to myself, ‘Man, we need someplace to assemble.’”
Through persistence and hard work, the project finally came to pass, but only because it was all about the community, and the mayor’s connection to this community goes back a long way.
Aragon was born and raised on a ranch near Arboles and Allison, part of a family whose roots in Pagosa Country go back five generations. He went on to graduate from Pagosa Springs High School and he has remained in the area all of his life.
Mayor Ross Aragon
Aragon was married to his late wife, Patty, for 37 years and the couple raised six children in Pagosa Springs. They also operated popular restaurants in town, where the green chili was the stuff of legends.
Since the position of mayor has, so far, been a voluntary one, Aragon’s day job since 1975 has been as the manager of the Archuleta Housing Corporation, which provides low-cost housing in the community. Under his guidance, the corporation received low-cost loans and grants to rehabilitate facilities in town and to build a new facility on South 8th Street.
As for Aragon’s political career, he has fulfilled the duties and obligations of that unpaid position in a remarkably productive fashion, having never missed a regularly scheduled board or council meeting.
Thirty-eight years ago, in April of 1976, Aragon defeated Glen Edmonds by a 260-212 margin to win a seat on the town’s board of trustees, which at that time was one of the largest voter turnouts in town history. Two years later, Aragon was elected mayor and he quickly asserted his leadership.
Under the guidance of Aragon, most of the town’s gravel streets were paved, the town grew through a series of annexations, police protection was improved, parks were built and many recreation programs and facilities were developed.
As far as capital projects go, a new park was built on South 8th Street, the Reservoir Hill trail system was developed, the Riverwalk was started, and the new community center was constructed, as was a new town hall.
The town took over the local sanitation district and forged a relationship to provide domestic water with the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District that led to the town’s inclusion in that district.
Inclusion in the Pagosa Fire Protection District brought the residents of town a new level of fire protection.
In 2001, the Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce named Aragon its Citizen of the Year.
Aragon was also recognized by former SUN editor Karl Isberg in a 2001 editorial titled “A model to follow.”
In that editorial, Isberg wrote,
“Look no farther than Mayor Ross Aragon and the board of trustees of the Town of Pagosa Springs to find local political leaders who, over the past 15 years, successfully negotiated a course from the precarious to the positive.
“Look to the Town of Pagosa Springs to find political leaders who learned from mistakes and matured to understand how local government works best.”
The editorial continued to highlight work over the previous 15 years to revitalize and energize the community, including a new Town Hall and community center on the horizon.
“In league with a local non-profit group and the local banking industry, the town made it possible for ground to be broken in June for a 20,000 square-foot Community Center at the south end of Hot Springs Boulevard — a site accessed by a new bridge over the river at Apache Street. Development along Hot Springs Boulevard seems inevitable,” the editorial continues.
“Next to the community center site a new Town Hall will open mid-June. It is more than an office; it is a symbol.
“A symbol of what Mayor Aragon and a succession of trustees have learned and put into place. Town political leaders know their roles, distinct from the roles of a highly talented staff. That staff — administration, police, street, planning, building and Municipal Court — was hired to conduct day-to-day town business, and to do so with minimal intrusion by elected officials. Competent, experienced staff provides mayor and trustees with information, options and advice when policy decisions must be made. The town board has enacted strong building, zoning and sign codes and allows staff to administer them. The board conducts business in light of conflict of interest and nepotism policies that are public record.
“Granted, the town does not face problems as overwhelming as those confronting several other local governmental entities. Granted, too, the town has ample revenues to bring to bear on its problems.
“But, it is undeniable: the mayor and his trustees know how to govern. Their style can serve as a model for all.”
“It’s been interesting, very interesting,” Aragon said of his time as mayor. “It’s been a lot of changes.”
Many of those changes, Aragon added, came in the form of improvements to the downtown.
“I really didn’t ever feel like it was a job for me, it was just community representation,” Aragon said. “It made me feel good I could make a contribution.”
While Aragon’s run as mayor and town trustee has been historical (Aragon’s time as mayor was beat by a Paoli, Colo. mayor who served for 50 years), he agrees that it’s time to move forward.
“It’s time and it’s healthy for someone else,” Aragon said Wednesday.
Aragon announced publicly at a town council meeting that he did not intend to seek a 10th term as mayor in January.
But, he stated, he won’t be far away.
“I just live about a thousand feet from city hall, so I’m not going anywhere.”
While he’s stepping down, he hasn’t ruled out any future involvement in politics, and Aragon still plans to be involved in the community.
When asked about the turning of the page in the town’s story with the election of a new mayor, Aragon said, “As long as there’s improvements, that’s going to be a good page.”
With that page set to turn on April 8 with the handing over of the mayoral reins, Aragon said he has been humbled by the public response to his decision to not run for re-election.
That response began at the January meeting where Aragon made his decision public.
At that meeting, council member Don Volger, who previously worked with Aragon in his capacity as police chief, stated, “One of the things I learned … is even though I may disagree with the mayor, his heart was always with the best interest of this community, which he loves. He viewed it as his family, and that is going to be missed by all of us.”
“The last two weeks, I have had people come up and … say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ That just really humbled me,” Aragon said Wednesday. “I didn’t know that I had done anything. I just wanted to represent our community.”
That representation, Aragon added, is something he feels everyone should do — that everyone should take a turn representing their community.
“I think that’s healthy,” Aragon said.
ed.fincher@pagosasun.com
Follow these topics: Celebrations, Community, Election, News, Political, Top Stories, Town of Pagosa Springs
The following is the list of February births with parents from Pagosa Springs, as reported by Mercy Regional Medical Center:
Kassidy and Jeffery Brueckner, Ezra James, 7 pounds, 15 ounces, 5:44 p.m., Feb. 12.
Christina Spence, James Dale, 7 pounds, 1 ounce, 9:38 a.m., Feb. 19.
Ginaveria Ramsey Clark, Lyla Rose, 7 pounds, 1 ounce, 5:03 p.m., Feb. 22.
Parents are invited to submit photos of their baby and an official announcement to editor@pagosasun.com to be printed in the newspaper and online.
Follow these topics: Births, Celebrations, Lifestyle
Zach and Lisa Ketchum, along with their children, Cooper, Augustus and Josephine, are happy to introduce the newest member of the Ketchum family, Ralen Calliham Ketchum. Ralen was born at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango. He graced us with his presence at 6:58 a.m. on Sunday, March 9. Ralen weighed 8 pounds 9.5 ounces and was 20-1/2 inches long. Ralen is the 11th grandchild for Clyde and Adelia Ketchum of Pagosa Springs, and also for Galen and Judy Hromas of Bovina, Texas.
Follow these topics: Births, Celebrations, Lifestyle
By Aaron Kimple
Special to The SUN
Forest health is a term we hear a lot about these days. We hear it in relation to bugs and wildfire and water quality. But what does it mean to have a healthy forest and how do we know if a forest is healthy?
San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership and Mountain Studies Institute will be offering opportunities to learn about and measure forest health throughout the summer.
The Citizen Science Brigade will have a kick-off meeting tomorrow, April 18, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Ross Aragon Community Center in Pagosa Springs. We will talk about what we found in previous monitoring of Cloman, what monitoring means and the activities it includes, and what we have planned.
Are we doing the right thing? Forest thinning is a common practice. It is used to reduced fire risk and restore ecological health. But how many trees do you remove? What do you do with the shrubs? Have you achieved your goals?
According to Aaron Kimple, program coordinator for San Juan Headwaters, “The thinning treatments that are applied to different areas are dependent on the goals for those areas. It is important to set up monitoring methods to make sure we meet those goals.”
Long-term monitoring helps direct future thinning efforts. The monitoring shows how the forest responds to thinning. It can inform how we approach thinning in the future. If, over the years, the forest demonstrates responses that are not consistent with management goals, thinning efforts can be adjusted.
It’s about more than just trees. Thinning forests can have unintended consequences. They can open the forest to different species of plants and affect how animals live within the landscape. Citizen Science monitoring includes ways to record observations about what animals are using an area and document any signs of invasive species, bug infestations or other indicators of stress to the system. The intention is to make the system function in a healthy manner and provide the necessary habitat for species of interest. Monitoring can help make sure we are meeting those goals.
We need you. There is a lot of forest out there and there is a lot of monitoring to do. You can help us meet the monitoring needs. Whether you are a local homeowner interested in forest fire risk, enjoy identifying wildlife, a birder or an outdoor enthusiast, we invite you to attend the upcoming workshop.
For more information, contact Aaron Kimple at akimple@mountainstudies.org or 382-6908. Register at https://www.memberplanet.com/events/mountainstudiesinstitute/citizens4foresthealth.
Follow these topics: Education, Education, Farm & Ranch, Forest, Outdoors
By Indiana Reed
Special to The PREVIEW
In an effort to make good use of idle funds left abandoned by former member-customers of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) as unclaimed capital credits, the cooperative’s board of directors has awarded four new Educational/Special Project Grants totaling $33,656 to nonprofit entities in its service territory.
• Manna — The Durango Soup Kitchen received $10,000 to support the capital campaign for new construction to house the planned Culinary Arts Training Program.
• The Durango Adult Education Center will use $8,656 grant for technology upgrades at its facility.
• Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center received $5,000 in support of its various programs.
• Pagosa Medical Center was granted $10,000 to assist in purchase of a four-wheel-drive ambulance to serve Archuleta County.
Capital credits are, in essence LPEA’s margins or revenues remaining after all expenses have been paid. Annually, the electricity payments made by members in excess of the cost to provide their electric service is placed into a patronage capital account in each member’s name. When the cooperative is able, capital credits are returned to members. The dollars become “unclaimed” when LPEA cannot find members deserving of the refund. The board has determined that these unclaimed funds should be invested in the community and thus established the Educational/Special Project Grants program.
By Jack Moore
Special to The SUN
Young Life is a nondenominational Christian organization dedicated to bringing Jesus to youth. On Friday, April 25, at 6 p.m., Young Life will host a barbecue and a club meeting at the Winslow on The Shire located approximately 3 miles south of town on U.S. 84 on the left side. It is a huge tudor home with a large sign.
The club meeting will include games, music and a message. Leaders from a number of different churches will be involved.
This night is open to anyone seeking to know more about Young Life. Specifically, the club is targeted to reach middle school students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
High school students and adults who are interested in volunteering as leaders are invited to come and see what Young Life is all about.
Follow these topics: Clubs, Lifestyle, Pagosa Springs Youth Center, Relationships, Religion, Youth
Kids 2 to 5 years of age and their caregivers are invited to our first-ever preschool dance party next Wednesday, April 23, from 10-11 a.m. We ask that each youngster be accompanied by a caregiver who stays with the child. Our Kristine is very good at her job — but we doubt she can handle a room full of excited kids by herself.
Meanwhile, this evening (Thursday, April 17) marks the start of the library’s free six-week spring Lifelong Leaning Lecture series, with a wide variety of interesting topics to enrich your life and keep your mind agile. First topic is “Wilderness history and law on the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act” by Ros Wu and Phillip Wheaton of the Pagosa Ranger District. All lectures take place on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. and last about an hour, followed by time for questions. Pick up a brochure at the library for the full schedule.
Library survey
This month, we are asking your opinion on what services you would like the library to offer in the future and how those wishes would affect an expansion of the library. We are eager to get input from our patrons — and equally eager to reach out to non-library users to get their views. Please go fill it out on our website at http://pagosa.colibraries.org/ by clicking on the Survey Monkey link, fill out the survey on paper at the library, or at the Kids’ Fair April 19 in the morning.
Questions in the survey include what roles you see the library playing in the community’s future, what parts of the library’s collection you use, what additional technology you would like the library to offer, what spaces in the library you feel need to be enlarged or created, whether library hours should be expanded, and what programming and services you want added. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey, and know that we greatly value your perspective and your suggestions.
Free books for
4 year olds
Libraries across Colorado are giving a free book to every 4 year old in the state from April 7 to 21 as part of a special family literacy project called One Book 4 Colorado. The book will be available in both English and Spanish and will be accessible to children with special needs.
Come by the Sisson Library or attend any program and pick up this free book for your 4-year-old youngster. Better yet, bring them to pick up their own book and see the opportunities for fun and learning that are available free at your library almost any day of the week. There will be a special distribution to 4 year olds at Head Start and Seeds of Learning, and at the Kids’ Fair on April 19 at the elementary school. As well, some of the books will go to the Reach Out and Read program at the Pagosa Springs Medical Center.
Earth Week event for teens
Tuesday, April 22, from 4-5:30 p.m. is a special Make It class that is smashed with Teen Gaming to celebrate Earth Week by making recycled crafts.
Art for kids
Tomorrow (Friday, April 18) from 2-3 p.m. kids in the first-third grades are invited to a free fun time with art. It’s always different and always results in something to take home.
Spanish classes
A free six-week class of beginning Spanish taught by Roberta Strickland for all ages began Monday, March 24, at 4:30-5:30 p.m. and runs on Mondays through April 28. The book used in class costs $8 and can be purchased at the library desk. You may join the class at any time and it is fine if you miss a few classes. Roberta understands about your sometimes complicated schedules.
Movies for adults
Every Friday at 10 a.m., you are invited for coffee, popcorn and a movie for adults. The contract that we have for the movie licensing does not allow us to promote the title of what we’re showing outside the library, such as in the newspaper or on the radio. If you want to know what show is playing on a given date, pick up the monthly adult activities flyer at the library, check the home page of our website or phone the library to ask. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Free technology classes
Meg Wempe is available for the highly popular Tech Tuesdays and Thursdays sessions 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 3-5 p.m. Thursdays. Join her for one-on-one informal help with your computer or tablet issues. A more formal session requiring registration is Internet Basics on Wednesday, April 23, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. when you will learn how to connect to the Internet, use a browser, navigate safely, save favorite websites and use a search engine to find information.
Teen Gaming
Every Tuesday from 4-5:30 p.m. we host Teen Gaming (X-box, Wii, board games and Pokemon card battles, and you are welcome to bring other trading card battle games). Snacks provided.
DVDs
“The Croods” is a Dreamworks animated film. “The Cup” is about Tibetan monks who love soccer. “Kagemusha” is a samurai film. “Monsoon Wedding” features a family gathering from all over the world for a wedding. “Upstairs Downstairs” is a 20-DVD set of the entire series. “The Wolf of Wall Street” stars Leonardo DeCaprio. “Odd Thomas” is based on the novel by Dean Koontz. “Copper” is season one from this BBC crime series. “Berkeley Square” is a family drama set in London. “Get Smart” and “The Hot Chick” are both comedies. “The Karate Kid” and “Garden State” are both coming-of-age stories. “Fever Pitch” is a sports comedy. “Tombstone” is a western. “The Best of Jack Benny” is a 40-episode collection.
Large print
“The Chance” by Robyn Carr is the first in the new Thunder Point series. “The Bootlegger” by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott is the latest in the Isaac Bell adventure series. “Be Careful What You Wish For” by Jeffrey Archer is the latest in the Clifton Chronicles series. “Evening Stars” by Susan Mallery is the latest in the Backberry Island series. “Blackberry Pie Murder” by Joanne Fluke is the latest in the Hannah Swenson mystery series with recipes.
CDs
“Night Broken” by Patricia Bridges is a Mercy Thompson mystery. “Missing You” by Harlan Coben is a thriller. “Power Play” by Danielle Steel follows the lives of two CEOs, one male and one female. “The Chase” by Janet Evanovich is a mystery. “Concealed in Death” by J.D. Robb is the latest in the Eve Dallas mystery series.
How-to and self help
“10% Happier” by Dan Harris tells of the author’s spiritual adventure after having a nationally televised panic attack. “The Big-Flavor Grill” by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby provides easy, no-marinade recipes. “Small Beads Big Jewelry” by Jean Power shows you how to make 30 unique pieces of fashion jewelry. “The Organically Clean Home” helps you clean with simple kitchen staples.
Mysteries, suspense and thrillers
“The Accident” by Chris Pavone follows the people affected by an explosive book about to be published. “Precious Thing” by Colette McBeth follows two lifelong friends when one is reported missing. “Night Broken” by Patricia Briggs is the latest in the urban fantasy Mercy Thompson series. “The Cairo Affair” by Olen Steinhauer is a CIA thriller. “NYPD Red 2” by James Patterson and Marshall Karp is the latest in this thriller series. “Robert Ludlum’s The Jason Option” by Paul Garrison is the latest in the Jason Bourne series. “Watching You” by Michael Robotham brings readers face to face with a manipulative psychopath.
Other novels
“Shotgun Lovesongs” by Nickolas Butler is about four friends at a reunion in a small Wisconsin town. “A King’s Ransom” by Sharon Kay Penman is the sequel to her first book about Richard the Lionhearted. “Tempting Fate” by Jane Green tells of a happily married woman who has an affair. “The Lost Sisterhood” by Anne Fortier is about a young scholar who risks her reputation to prove the legendary Amazon warrior women actually existed.
Thanks to our donors
For books and materials this week, we thank Madora Bass, Alicia Brodner and Barron Haley. A very special thank you to the Friends of the Library for giving us the money to replace all of our public computers.
Quotable quote
“With age, you gain maybe not wisdom but at least a bigger picture, and you say, ‘Okay, these are the important things:’ It’s the simple things. The rest are just details.” — Susan Sarandon, contemporary American actress and Oscar winner.
Website
For more information on library books, services and programs — and to reserve books, e-books, CDs and DVDs from the comfort of your home — please visit our website at http://pagosa.colibraries.org/.
Follow these topics: Art, Community, Education, Library, Library News
For many, the Easter holiday is not complete without decorating hard-boiled eggs and the annual Easter egg hunt.
When I was young, eggs were usually colored Easter weekend and often not refrigerated for days. Now, of course, we have food safety guidelines and eggs used for the Easter egg hunt are often plastic or chocolate. To safely enjoy hard-boiled eggs this Easter, use the following guidelines provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, which can be found in their entirety at www.fsis.usda.gov.
• At our high elevation, water boils at a lower temperature and some foods, including hard-boiled eggs, require a longer cooking time. For instance, water boils at 212 degrees at sea level but boils at only 198 degrees at 7,500 feet elevation. To compensate for our high elevation, add one minute of boiling time for every 1,000 feet above sea level.
• Only use eggs that have been refrigerated and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.
• When decorating, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them, allowing bacteria to enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.
• Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs chilled on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door.
• Hide eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria.
• Don’t leave eggs out at room temperature for more than two hours before refrigerating. Be sure the found eggs are washed and re-refrigerated and eaten within seven days after cooking.
• When blowing out eggshells, use only eggs that have been kept refrigerated and are uncracked. To destroy bacteria that may be present on the surface of the egg, wash the egg in hot water and then rinse in a solution of one teaspoon liquid chlorine bleach per half cup of water. After blowing out the egg, refrigerate the contents and use within 2 to 4 days.
If you want to avoid using real eggs, here are some ideas that are both fun and festive and don’t require refrigeration:
• Make pine cone Easter eggs. Use acrylic paints or water color for decoration.
• Find rocks which are shaped like eggs and paint them in vibrant colors.
• Make wooden eggs and color them with sharpies, glue buttons or photos.
• Felted wool eggs are great when kids are young as they are soft, delicate and easy to make.
Easter lilies
What better symbol for the beginning of spring than the Easter lily with its beautiful, bell-like flower and wonderful fragrance.
There are a number of popular cultivars of the Easter lily, including some that grow from 18 inches to 3 feet in height. Care of your Easter lily during the holiday is easy and will bring enjoyment for weeks after the holiday.
Inside the white flowers are pollen-bearing golden anthers, or the male part of the flower. Most people prefer to remove these because by removing the pollen, the flower doesn’t become pollinated and the blossoms often last longer. In addition, the golden yellow pollen stains clothing very easily if someone brushes up against it. The anthers are easily removed as soon as the flower opens, which is usually before the pollen is freed. Just reach in and gently twist or pull or use a pair of scissors.
Easter lilies do best in indirect, bright light or curtain-filtered sunlight when in flower. Cool, nighttime temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees help extend the bloom period. Daytime temperatures no higher than 68 degrees are ideal. Keep the soil moist while in flower, but don’t fertilize at this time.
Easter lilies can be planted in Colorado gardens with varied success. They are not particularly cold-hardy, however, so you may lose them in a cold winter without significant snow cover. If you do want to give it a try, remove the lily flowers after they bloom and clip any browning leaves. Place the plants in a sunny area and water as the foliage matures. As soon as the danger of frost is past, plant the lily in a sunny, well-drained garden spot. Pick a warm micro-climate with protection from winds or against a rock wall for collecting radiating heat.
Seed potato varieties now being sold
Orders are now being taken for Colorado-certified Seed Potatoes grown at the CSU Experiment Station in the San Luis Valley. Varieties being sold for only 50 cents per pound are Sangre (red), Purple Majesty (blue), the standard Yukon Gold (white) and Mountain Rose (pink). Approximately 2 pounds will plant a 10-foot row. To place your order, please call the Archuleta County Extension office at 264-5931. Orders may be picked up May 7 and planted after May 11.
CPR and first aid
certification classes
CPR and first aid certification classes are now being offered monthly by the CSU Extension office on the second Monday and Wednesday of each month from 6-10 p.m. Anyone needing to receive or renew certification can register by calling the Extension office at 264-5931. We will also schedule classes on additional dates with five or more registrations. Cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid, $55 for individual CPR or first aid and $35 for recertification with proof of current certification. The type of first aid information provided will vary by the needs of the audience.
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