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Cathy Walton-Smith: Don’t panic, but there’s only one more month of summer

Cathy Walton-Smith
View from the Lake
Grand Lake, Colorado

All year long, we pine for the summer months. Our season for boating, fishing, cookouts and more time to play and have fun. Here it is, the end of July, and there’s only one more month until the end of summer. Have we taken advantage of our beautiful summer? Most of us have been busy working – making sure all our visitors have a great summer. But, try not to see it as having only one month left to get it all in. Relax, take a breath, and remember – we live here.

Grand Lake is ours all year round. Living here is better than just about anywhere else. We get to choose anytime during the year to do all the things our visitors try to do in a weekend or a week. Our fun happens every day in everything we do. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Grand Lake is rapidly becoming a great town for musicians. Every Tuesday, for the rest of the summer, there’ll be live music by the fire on the patio at the Waconda, starting at 6 p.m. This is a great venue for any musician who wants to sit in. On Thursdays, the great entertainment in the town gazebo has become something to look forward to. This week’s entertainment is Jubilant Bridge (yes, they’re back!), folk/Americana, great harmonies with guitar and dulcimer. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.



Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes will play in concert at the Davn Haven, Aug. 5. Tickets are now on sale for “Get your Ship Together” a fundraising event for the Grand Arts Council. In addition to Sketch, the evening will feature a Gilligan’s Island costume contest, a dinner special and a drawing to win the Hobie Sail Kayak, Year of Three Lake’s Boating and Puerto Vallarta Vacation. Tickets to the concert only are $10, contact the Daven Haven at (970) 627-8144 or stop by the Grand Lake Art Gallery. Volunteers and sponsors are still needed. Call Jan Gamez at (970) 627-9454. Proceeds to benefit the Grand Arts Council.

The Big Thompson Project is the reason for the abundance of lakes in our Colorado River valley. It’s so big that it takes all day to tour the project. On Wednesday, Aug. 12, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District is offering a free tour of the project. You will depart from Windy Gap Reservoir at 7:15 a.m. and return around 5:30 p.m. touring the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, East Slope Distribution System plus learn more about Northern Water’s operations. This tour is only offered once a year, and you must register to participate. E-mail to registration@ncwdc.org or call (970) 622-2220.



The Juniper Library has some great activities coming up in August. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, enjoy a Historical Program. Grand County Historical Characters will present the story behind the Fourth of July shoot-out of 1883. This disastrous and sensational fight took place between three county commissioners, the sheriff and the under-sheriff over the proposed relocation of the county seat. Free.

Then, on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 12:30 p.m., join the Brown Bag Book Group at the Juniper Library for a discussion of “The Girl with Braided Hair” by Margaret Coel

“In this 13th Vicki Holden mystery, Boulder author Coel continues to combine full-bodied characters, vivid landscapes and snappy dialogue, and she builds suspense effectively. This series, with its expert use of Western settings and Native American themes, remains among the best read-alikes for Tony Hillerman fans.” ~ BookList.

Bring your lunch if you want, and join in the lively discussion.

And the hits just keep on coming.


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