Smash a Van, Save a Life!

Here’s another opportunity to help out the Leadville/Lake County Animal Shelter. This Saturday, May 25 starting at noon, The Scarlet will be hosting a fundraiser.  Supporters of the cause will find a “Smash-The-Beer-Van” event, with three hits for $10, and a Beer Garden.

All proceeds will benefit the local animal shelter. The fun will take place in the alley behind The Scarlet located on the corner of 4^th & Harrison in downtown Leadville.

Oh and let’s not forget, there’s LIVE MUSIC tonight at The Scarlet. Dogman will be putting down the tunes, with music starting at 9:30 p.m. Put on your dancing shoes and head on out – its Summertime!

Callaway’s Restaurant Re-opens TODAY for Summer!

Callaway’s Restaurant at the Delaware Hotel re-opens for Summer today Friday, May 24.  Customers will find many returning favorite dishes, along with some new.  While the focus will be barbeque, the menu also highlights fresh salads, homemade soups and chili, as well as burgers, chicken and salmon. 

The restaurant’s summer hours  will be Thursday – Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.  

In addition to standard lunch-dinner operations, Callaway’s will continue to offer banquet, reception and group food and beverage services booked in advance.  Call 719-486-1418 for more information.

By Kathy Bedell    

It’s said that all things flow downhill from Leadville. If that’s the case, grab your glass for the Grand Opening of Two Guns Distillery this Memorial Day Weekend. 

While it’s been a while since a distillery has been operating in Leadville, Two Guns is a solid example of how to do it right.

 “This side of the bar, where you’re sitting, is for Leadville,” explains Ben Dallas, owner of Leadville’s new Two Guns Distillery.  “But this side,” he says pointing to where the whiskey still sits behind the bar, “this is going to go all over the world!” 

And so it is!

While the hub-bub of a new establishment on Leadville’s historic Harrison Avenue crescendos with the Grand Opening of Two Guns Distillery this Memorial Day Weekend, the real core of the new venture will be consumption beyond the boundaries of Lake County, Colo.

In fact, the new facility on the corner of 4th & Harrison was built specifically to market two brands:  Single Six Rocky Mountain Moonshine and Two Guns Wild West Whiskey.

“We suspect that distribution is going to be far and wide on both of them,” stated Dallas in a recent interview with Leadville Today.  “Because long before the public ever got a taste, we were able to take it to distributors and they were blown away with our packaging, our marketing, our story, and most important of all, our flavor.”

Two Guns Owner Ben (BA) Dallas is artist turned distiller turned mixologist!

When it comes to flavor, Dallas describes his whiskey as “table ready” and “fashionable,” the kind of hooch you can sit down and enjoy on the rocks.

“We’ve had so many people come in and taste it that may be regular Canadian whiskey drinkers, known for its smoothness, but light in flavor. And then we’ve had bourbon drinkers who are all about heavy flavor, but they sacrifice their smoothness,” explains Dallas. Two Guns seems to be a happy showdown between the two sets of sippers.

So, how does Dallas describe his product? As a “crazy old wild west whiskey.”

No doubt, the taste is unique, fermented from 100% Colorado grain. But even Ben admits, it’s like comparing apples to oranges when you’re going up against a 10-year-old scotch. “But it is a true whiskey,” he adds, something that might just be missing in your bar lineup.

Sarah & Ben Dallas tend bar at the new distillery at 4th & Harrison.

By no means is Two Guns Distillery another bar, another saloon on the Lead Vegas strip.

“The purpose here – the reason why I bought this space on the corner of 4th & Harrison,” explains Dallas, “was that it was develop-able space where we could build a porch, and people would come and enjoy the experience of what we’re trying to do.”

A Singapore Sling anyone?

So don’t expect a micro-brew or PBR on tap when you step into Two Guns. Instead you can choose from a small array of unique cocktails – like a Singapore Sling or Moonshine Mojito – made with “super clean, top shelf, locally made liquor.” They have a unique mix, ranging in price from $7 up; and if you fall in love with a drink, they’ll send you home with a recipe card!

“The response has been huge,” says Dallas, his eyes on fire, as if he’s been sampling the latest batch. “So far, it’s been awesome!”

Guess all things do flow downhill from Leadville. Even the whiskey!

Two Guns Distillery is located on the corner of 4th Street and Harrison Avenue in downtown Leadville. They will be open this summer open daily from 1 – 10 p.m. weeknights and till 11 p.m. weekend nights. They will sell bottles at the distillery this summer and plan to start distribution with the liquor stores in the fall.  

Meet The Dallases

While the Two Guns Wild West Whiskey may only be 5 weeks old, the Dallases have been in Leadville a lot longer than that. This will be the Dallas’ 4th summer in Leadville.

Sarah and Benjamin Aaron (BA) Dallas are Colorado natives. Ben went to Cedaredge High School and is an accomplished professional artist. His bigger than life gunslinger artwork is on display in the distillery.

Sarah grew up in Paonia, Colo.,; but the Leadville similarity showed up quickly.

“Leadville is a lot like Paonia,” explains Sarah on their decision to move the family of six to Leadville. “You have that old mining heritage (it was coal in Paonia), and an influx of young, hip people who want to live on the mountain and have that mountain experience. I wanted to raise my family in a similar setting as where I grew up.”

Sarah poses with her family after receiving her Associate of Arts Degree in Business from Colorado Mountain College earlier this month.

Continuing her education was also important: earlier this month Sarah received her Associate of Arts Degree in Business (Congrats!) from Colorado Mountain College. And she was the Phi Theta Kappa president of the Leadville campus. Another strong Leadville woman!

Sarah and Ben have four children: 12-year-old Emma; Abram, 10 yrs (who notably won the West Park Mural Contest), then there’s First Grader Mahala, and baby June Bella who is four years old.

Congratulations and Best of Luck in “Ur Whisky Makin!”

When you live up in the mountains and have to travel on treacherous high-altitude passes and curvy roadways, often times, it’s fellow motorists and neighbors who are the “first responders” at the scene of an accident. That was the case last Friday in southern Lake County.

A Leadville mother and daughter went off Hwy 24 into the Arkansas River Last Friday. Photo: Nathan Fisher

And if timing is everything, then timing was perfect last Friday, May 17 for a Leadville mother and her 9-year-old daughter when their SUV went off Highway 24 South between Granite and the Twin Lakes turnoff. While everyone came out ok (no serious injuries), there were a scary few minutes as the car careened down the embankment, landing – thankfully –  wheel side down in the Arkansas River.

Leadville Today spoke to local Nathan Fisher, one of the first on the scene who stopped when he saw the flicker of a vehicle out of the corner of his eye, driving home to Leadville after a day’s work down south.

The SUV eventually stopped, after getting hung up on some rocks in the Arkansas River. Photo Nathan Fisher.

“The SUV had landed about four or five feet from the river bank and traveled about another ten feet down the river, but eventually stopped, after getting hung up on some rocks,” said Fisher. By the time Fisher and co- worker Bob Espinosa had pulled over, they saw that two kayakers (“Leadville guys” stated Fisher) had already suited up to begin wading into the frigid waters to help the victims inside the SUV.

Fisher immediately called 911 and then went to assist. By the time the girl was handed out of the car to Fisher, several other motorists had stopped and formed a human chain, hand to hand, to help Fisher carry the 9-year-old girl up the embankment to the highway.  It seems the mother had a more challenging time due to an injury to her arm she had sustained in the accident. But the group’s efforts were successful and both mother and daughter were safe and wrapped in blankets as Lake County Emergency Responders arrived.

Now normally this would be a solid enough “good news” story, but for Nathan Fisher it wasn’t just any day. In fact, his assistance in this unique river rescue, might be called “good timing” by some, but others would probably call it fate. You see, May 17 was also the birthday of Nathan’s brother Matt who had passed away in a tragic accident a number of years ago.

Nathan Fisher

Certainly his brother Matt was on his mind that day, but Fisher was also getting a premonition about rescuing someone, possibly having to perform CPR on someone that day. No doubt, those feelings led to Fisher’s quick response to jump into action, along with the other local rescuers.

“It definitely brought my spirits up that day. I was feeling pretty sad and then I saw a flash from the SUV out of the side of my eye and the adrenaline kicked in,” surmised Fisher.   

Guess that’s how it worked out for that Leadville mother and daughter last Friday, thanks to local kayakers, passerbys and a man mourning the loss of his brother, all of whom were heroes last Friday.

Lake County Mock Emergency Scheduled for June 7

Wildland Fire Training Exercise for Emergency Responders

When you were growing up, they called them fire drills. In more recent times, they were referred to as mock emergencies. You’ve probably seen them featured on the evening news as exercises for emergency responders to train with “real” victims under “real” circumstances.

Back in February 2012, LCOEM’s Mike McHargue met with the residents of Twin Lakes to review emergency preparedness procedures and concerns.

Two weeks from Friday, on June 7, starting at 10 a.m. the Leadville/Lake County emergency responders will be PRACTICING a full-scale wild land fire (exercise) near the Sugar Loafin’ Campground. This exercise will include evacuations from the neighboring homes, pet evacuation, set up & use of an evacuation center, communication processes and practice a variety of other situations that could arise in a real wildland fire. 

It’s no surprise that wildfire is at the top of the risk list for Lake County. In fact, the scheduled training exercise is notably close to the anniversary of last year’s Treasure Fire on June 24.

Firefighters at the morning briefing of the Treasure Fire on June 27, 2012. Last year’s wildfire was a stark reminder to Lake County residents to BE PREPARED!

Perhaps this anniversary will remind resident’s of the need to get that emergency evacuation kit together and have a plan in place.

Or if you’re interested in becoming more actively involved, the Lake County Office Emergency Management (LCOEM) is actively seeking volunteers to participate in the June 7 exercise. This is a great opportunity for your family to practice their emergency plan as well as familiarize themselves with evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency in Lake County.   

If you would like to participate in this exercise as a volunteer, please contact LCOEM Manager Mike McHargue at LCEM@LakeCountyEM.org  or Nicole with the Lake County’s Sheriff Office at eoc@lakecountysheriff.co  prior to Friday, May 24. 

All volunteers assisting in this exercise must get a card from the Sheriff’s office and attend at least 1 training prior to this exercise.   Evacuation volunteers going to the evacuation center do not need a card. 

This exercise will help all responders to be better prepared in the event of a real wild land fire situation in the coming months.  Remember, with the recent furloughs in the federal budget, funding of exercise like these will be drying up, so get involved and informed NOW!

If you cannot participate in the June 7 exercise, there are a few things you can do to make sure you are alerted in the case of an emergency in Lake County.

1. Like the LCOEM Facebook Page
2. Pick up a copy of the Lake County Community Preparedness Handbook, available at the Lake County Courthouse.
3. Sign up for telephone notification alerts: LINK.

The recently upgraded Lake County Emergency Dispatch Center allows responders to communication with state-of-the-art equipment.

Legislature Wrapping Up Another Session

Tomorrow, May 21 the Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue will be commemorating 131 years of service to the local community. To celebrate, the Firefighters welcome the community to stop by for some cake and refreshment from 5 – 8 p.m.

This will also be an opportunity for folks to see the three new vehicles which have been added to the fleet: a new command vehicle, a new brush truck, and a new ladder truck. The Fire House is located in downtown Leadville at the corner of 9^th & Harrison. Be sure to bring the kids; they’ll love it! Happy Birthday Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue!
Here’s a Video Showing the Straight Stick Truck

The 21^st Century Community Learning Center Project Dream has some exciting end of the year events that are open to the community. On Wednesday, May 22 the Lake County Middle School Project Dream program will be holding its end of year celebration.  Dinner will be prepared by our own cooking club!  Entertainment will be provided by a variety of clubs including guitar, piano, dance, sign language, dog training, singing, and video club. 

Dance led by Lane Condell with dancers Caroline Benney and Caitlyn Ayers.

If you’ve wondered what Project Dream is all about, come join the fun beginning at 6 p.m. in the Lake County Middle School gym.  This event is free and open to the public, but donations are always gladly accepted.

If you have any questions, please call Susan Fishman at 719-486-6844 or sfishman@lakecountyschools.net.

High country folks take their pets seriously, especially dogs. So this report is a shout out to your four-legged, furry friends!

Dog Day Afternoon at Mt Massive Golf Course

The Dog Day Afternoon Charity Event is a 9 hole golf tournament to be held tomorrow May 19 at Noon. The tournament will consist of 2 person teams and dogs will be allowed to tag along on the golf course. All of the proceeds generated during this event will go straight to the Lake County Animal Shelter.

Created by Leadville local and golf enthusiast Katy Robison, the mission behind the event is to bring awareness about the importance of pet adoption and to show support for your local animal shelters whether it be through monetary donations, dropping off food and supplies or volunteering your time to walk the dogs and play with the cats.

If you golf at Mt. Massive Golf, here’s a familiar face: Maggie!

So grab your clubs and favorite four-legged friend and head on over to The Dog Day Afternoon Charity Event which starts at noon on Sunday, May 19 at Mt. Massive Golf Course. If you have any other questions or need more information, call Katy at (970) 389-3305.

Learn How to Communicate with Your Pet

If golf’s not your style, there’s another opportunity to hang out with your pet tomorrow at the Animal Communication Class. Well-known Denver area clairvoyant and medium Megan Riley will return to Leadville to teach an animal communication class at the Leadville Animal Shelter.

The Lake County Animal Shelter

The class will focus on beginning techniques of how to communicate telepathically, being present in the moment and understanding and feeling the energy in all things. “Sometimes it is easier to start with an animal you don’t know, because our feelings for our own pet can get in the way of us being open to what they are trying to say,” explains Riley.

Megan Riley: psychic, medium & animal communicator in Leadville this Sunday.

 The cost is $35 per person, kids under 15 are free. Bring your own pet or spend time with one from the shelter. The original class on April 15th was snowed out. For more details, to register or to make an appointment for a private reading, please call Cookies With Altitude at 303-720-3683 or email Megan Riley at mail@meganmriley.com.

Just when you think most of Leadville’s history has been discovered, someone lifts up a corner of a linoleum floor,  and ah-ha another piece of historic memorabilia reveals itself. This time, it was at the Tabor Opera House and in the form of historic posters used to promote such one of a kind performances as “The Girl! The Man! The Game!” and the ever-popular “Mutt & Jeff.”

One of several preserved posters now on display at the Tabor Opera House.

On Saturday, June 22, the owners of the Tabor Opera House, Sharon and Bill Bland will present these new treasures to the community in a special evening program: A Leadville Night, Talent at the Tabor!

“It was another discovery at the Opera House! We thought we had found all the treasures,” said Sharon Bland regarding the oversized posters recently uncovered. “One of the volunteers who used to come and spend a month every summer helping us out, brought her parents up,” explained Bland about the find.  “Her mother lifted up a corner of the linoleum to see what kind of floor was underneath and here were all these posters. What a great find!”

A Classic: Mutt & Jeff!

And these are not your normal-sized posters. These were posters that were displayed on the side of barns and building, broken into quadrants, for easy assembly and travel.

It was a time in Leadville history when the Tabor Opera House was touted as the best theater “west of the Mississippi” and certainly a stopping point for most traveling entertainers of the day.  Aside from the more familiar stars of the day, were the traveling variety acts including the “Jerry From Kerry” performing troupe whose posters are now framed and on display at the historic theater.

“It took us probably 5 or 6 years to get the money together to get them framed and preserved, explained Bland. “ High Country Glass did a great job with that. So we want to officially introduce them to the public on June 22, when we have our Leadville community affair – our talent show!”

Traveling entertainment troupes often used the side of a barn to display their posters.

A Leadville Night: Talent at The Tabor!

Leadville’s Tabor Opera House

The preservation and presentation of these posters, prompted the inspiration for a performance to accompany the sign unveiling. That eventually led to the creation of A Leadville Night: Talent at The Tabor!

 “We really wanted to have a night where we would open up the Opera House to the community to present the old posters, now beautifully framed. We thought, why not showcase some local talent at the same time,” explained Bland.

So consider this an open call to audition for the event to be performed live at the Tabor Opera House on Saturday, June 22. Individuals and groups can audition in the categories of dance, vocal, instrumental, comedy or drama/magic. Routines are to be kept to a 3-5 minute performance. You can download an audition form HERE. Performers can also pick up an Audition Form at City On A Hill Coffee Shop in downtown Leadville.

All forms are due by June 1, 2013. They can be dropped off at the Tabor Opera House (if they’re not open, drop in mail slot), forms can also be mailed to TOH, 308 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461 or you can scan a completed form and email to: taboroperahouse@gmail.com.

Auditions will take place on Tuesday, June 4 and Wednesday June 5, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the opera house, so performers should be available one of these dates/times. Judges will contact perspective performers via email to set up auditions.

In addition to the evening’s unveiling of the posters and talent show, there will be some storytelling from the folks that uncovered the signs, as well as a representative from High Country Glass, who did the framing. The evening will also include a book signing from local author Gretchen Scanlon with her recently published “A History of Leadville Theater.”

So mark the calendar for Saturday, June 22 for a community-unity event at Harrison Avenue’s crown jewel of entertainment: The Historic Tabor Opera House. There will be a suggested donation of $5/general admission, all ages, with funds going towards the opera house’s ongoing renovation efforts. If you have never been inside this historic gem, this is the night to do it! Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is limited, so get there early.

Learning Center Live Performance Tonight!

The 21^st Century Community Learning Center Project Dream has some exciting end of the year events that are open to the community.  First of all, the 5^th - 6^th grade drama club will be putting on an adaptation of the Trojan War on TONIGHT May 17^th at 7 p.m. in the Lake County High School auditorium.  The event is free and open to the public.  Donations are always appreciated to help keep the programs going.  Come support our young thespians!

If you have any questions, please call Susan Fishman at 486-6844 or sfishman@lakecountyschools.net.

Summer is right around the corner and the Leadville/Lake County Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for another busy season. There’s a lot of great events happening in Leadville and Twin Lake this summer, so be sure you’re tuned into the latest, here’s a Chamber Update: 

The Pickle was Given

The “Give’ Em The Pickle” Workshop held May 8 was a great customer service refresher and well-attended by local businesses. Featured speaker Kerry Robertson helps businesses turn their customers into “Raving Fans!”

“We had a good turnout for both sessions and the reviews were positive,” said Carol Glenn, Chamber Board Member. “We’ll definitely consider having Kerry back again.”

“Give ‘Em The Pickle” was sponsored in part by St. Vincent Hospital, Climax Molybdenum, the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum, and the Silver King Inn & Suites, all of whom are now ready for the busy season!

Welcome Jeff McGuinness  - Acting Chamber Director

Jeff McGuinness  was named acting Director of the Leadville/Lake County Chamber of Commerce earlier this month.

In a letter of introduction to chamber members earlier this week, McGuinness reported, “I am looking forward to serving the business owners in Leadville and Lake County, and I will do my best to represent you and the Chamber of Commerce.”

There was also a recent election of new chamber board members which will be formally announced at the chamber’s annual meeting on Friday, May 17. Once the new board is seated the issue of the Director position will be addressed and announced to members.

Chamber Turns 100!

And now  . . . on to the PARTY – and not just any party. It’s the 100th BIRTHDAY PARTY of the Leadville/Lake County Chamber of Commerce!

In conjunction with the Annual Meeting, the chamber’s 100th Birthday Party will be this Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. This year as a special treat, commemorating the Chamber’s 100^th Birthday, Leadville Native Howard Tritz will be providing a brief oral history of the Leadville Chamber of Commerce.

Admission is only $18 per person. The event will include the infamous Chamber Chairs and a Wine Walk, auctions, hor d’oeuvres, music and dancing. As always, friends are welcome and encouraged to attend! In fact, this is a great event to come and find out what the benefits are of being a chamber member. 

It is not too late to RSVP – but let them know by Friday.  Call the Chamber at 719-486-3900 or email leadville@leadvilleusa.com.

Leadville Jewish History Interview with Bill Korn

Today, marks the beginning of the 2-day Jewish holiday called Shavuot.  The holiday of Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The word Shavuot means “weeks,” and it marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot.

In honor of the Shavuot, Leadville Today wanted to share a few links to help expand your knowledge of Leadville’s Jewish heritage. The first is a radio interview with Leadville’s Bill Korn by Radio Chavura host, Maxwell Rotbart. This is an extensive, well-done interview concerning Leadville’s Jewish heritage and local efforts to preserve that history. The two-part radio interview includes information about the Temple Israel, located at 4th & Pine Streets, as well  as the upcoming Leadville Jewish Cemetery clean-up event planned in Leadville on June 28 – 30. There is also some great Jewish music book-ending the interview, so enjoy!

The next link is to the story Leadville Today published celebrating the Temple Israel’s renovation and open house on September 23, 2012. If you haven’t been inside the synagogue yet, put it on your must-do list for summer.

And finally, readers can find more information by visiting: www.jewishleadville.org.