Estes Park News Weekend Report – May 18-20, 2012 – This Weekend & Beyond!

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Estes Park News Weekend Report – May 11-13, 2012 – This Weekend & Beyond!

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Have Fun and Lose Weight at Akasha Belly Dancing of Estes Park

The ancient art of belly dancing is over 5,000 years old, making it the oldest form of dance in the world. It was traditionally used for religious and spiritual purposes, to prepare women for childbirth, as a celebration dance and as a right of passage.

Besides the spiritual and emotional benefits, belly dancing is also a fun and creative way to stay in shape. It is gentle and low impact, making it perfect for women with knee, hip, back or joint pain.

Belly dancing was created by women for women using the movements that are natural for their bodies. It is practiced by women of all ages, shapes, sizes and ability levels all over the world.

Improve strength, flexibility, muscle tone, posture and poise while learning the fascinating history of this beautiful dance form. Lose yourself in the exotic rhythms and intriguing melodies of the Middle East. Feel beautiful in the luxurious and flowing fabrics of traditional Middle Eastern clothing. Learn to love your body and be proud of your belly. Come, awaken your senses, unleash your spirit and discover your inner goddess!

Akasha has 23 years of dance experience and over 11 years of experience teaching. She has studied many styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, salsa, the Viennese waltz and Irish step-dancing which won her over 100 awards. Akasha has been belly dancing for 9 years and currently studies with internationally famous dancer and instructor Joynan from the television show “The Art of Belly Dancing with Joynan.” Akasha also teaches piano, violin, guitar and drums. As a musician she has a strong understanding of music which she incorporates in her dance classes.

Akasha Belly Dancing is located in the Lower Stanley Village Center behind Olde World Treasures. It is a full service studio with a complete line of belly dancing clothing, zills, veils, Middle Eastern décor and anything else you need to bring out your inner goddess. For more information on classes go to www.akashabellydancing.com or call (720) 732-5128.

[Akasha Belly Dancing is an advertiser on EstesParkLife.com]

Estes Park News Weekend Report – May 4-6, 2012 – This Weekend & Beyond!

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Retiring head of Eagle Rock school to launch the ducks

The man pulling the rip cord dumping thousands of little rubber ducks into Fall River launching the 24th edition of the Estes Park Duck Race on May 5th at Nicky’s Steakhouse will be the man who has headed one of the largest sellers of duck race adoption forms over the last ten years – Robert Burkhardt, Head of School, at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center.

“We couldn’t think of a more appropriate person to be given the honor of launching the ducks than Robert,” said Kris “Big Duck” Hazelton, chair of the Estes Park Rotary Club’s Duck Race Committee. “Eagle Rock is nearly always the number one seller of duck adoptions each year and with Robert retiring at the end of August, we figured this would be a good retirement present.”
Over the last ten years, Eagle Rock has raised more than $100,000 for the school’s Graduate Fund from participating in the Duck Race. “We’ve been selling duck race tickets since ’91,” explained Burkhardt, “but in terms of us getting money and being on the card (one of the participating organization), it’s been only since about 2002, so it’s been 10 years. See, we’re slow learners out here. It took a while to figure out we might be able to (make some money), but we finally figured it out.” Last year, Eagle Rock received more than $11,400 from the Duck Race and still holds the record for the largest number of duck adoptions sold in any one year – 849 adoptions in 2007. That translates to $16,980 worth of adoptions.
Burkhardt said Eagle Rock staff and students sell duck adoptions primarily out of town. “We don’t compete with anyone in Estes Park. We may sell a few tickets in town, but New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago – we sell a lot of tickets there. We like selling tickets without competing with the other 60+ organizations” listed on the adoption form.
As an incentive to spur sales, the school offers a $100 cash prize to the student and staff member who sell the most. Burkhardt says this year’s winners are Cindy Elkins, the art teacher, and Sandra Natal, a student from Bronx. Each will receive $100. Burkhardt doesn’t participate in the competition. “That would be unfair,” he said, “but I buy $200 worth of ducks for my wife and kids, so I have never won anything.”
After 22-years at Eagle Rock (he was on board before the place was even built), Burkhardt claims he’ll be “totally retired” by the first of September and will continue to live in Estes Park. “We love it here and we’ll be here for a while.”
And he’s already thinking on down the road, or the river in the case of the Duck Race, and his role as a member of the Rotary Club. “Maybe we should start a month earlier selling tickets. It would give people a little more time. Perhaps, more year round publicity to buy tickets so that people in town in the summer – when we get the most people here — they could buy a duck race ticket. I think that’s a lost market. We could sell $10,000, $20,000 worth of duck race tickets in the summer just out at Performance Park alone. It’s worth thinking about.”
It’s good food for thought from the chief “duck adopter” who this year becomes the “duck launcher” for the May 5th Estes Park Duck Race.

           Duck Race Entertainment Schedule
      11:00am – Riverside Ramblers – Nicky’s
     12:00pm – Estes Park Singers – Nicky’s
      1:00pm – Duck Drop – Nicky’s
      1:00-4pm – Balloon Art – Riverside Plaza
      1:00-4pm – Band Boosters bake sale – Riverside Plaza
      1:00-2:30pm – Bruiser the Dog – Riverside Plaza
      1:00-3pm – The Jug Band – Riverside Plaza
      1:00-4pm – Local Herd Caricatures – Riverside Plaza
      2:00-4pm – Dick Orleans – Riverside Plaza
      ???? – First Duck arrives!

   Ducks can be adopted for $20 each from any of the 65 participating organizations who benefit from the Duck Race. Or you can buy them online at www.epduckrace.org for $21. One dollar covers the cost of credit card usage.
Activities for the Duck Race begin at 11:00am when the Riverside Ramblers begin playing Dixieland outside Nicky’s Steakhouse and Resort. After the “Duck Song” and the National Anthem performed by the Estes Park Singers, a student singing group, Burkhardt pulls the release cord and the ducks drop into Fall River at 1:00pm and begin floating to town. When they arrive is purely a guess. “We need some rain and more water in the river,” exclaimed Hazelton, “otherwise those ducks may be walking to town.” It all depends on snow melt and rainfall. One year the first duck arrived in 35-minutes. Another year, it took three-and-a-half hours for the first duck to show up at the finish line outside the Wheel Bar in Riverside Plaza.
That’s where the Estes Park Band Boosters will be holding a bake sale. Dick Orleans entertains from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. The Jug Band performs from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. There will be balloon art, Bruiser the Dog, and Local Herd Caricatures will also be hand as the ducks cross the finish line.
“So, adopt a duck, come to Nicky’s as we honor Robert Burkhardt, and then settle in for a lot of fun at the finish line,” said Hazelton. “The Duck Race is always a lot of fun regardless of where you are along Fall River. But you can’t win a prize without a duck in the water.”
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Submitted by: Doug Fox
970-586-8050
dougfox@beyondbb.com

Estes Park News Weekend Report – April 27-29, 2012 – This Weekend & Beyond!

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It’s Showtime! this weekend

Chelsi Rose -- one of the high school seniors performing in It's Showtime!"

Singin’, strummin’ and strokin’ strings for scholarships

When more than 30 performers in 20 acts take the spotlight at “It’s Showtime!” this coming weekend (April 27 & 28th), it’s all for the benefit of graduates of Estes Park High School. “It’s Showtime!” is a variety show featuring various kinds of music and performances all presented with one purpose in mind – raising money for scholarships.
“Our goal is to raise $8,000 for the Estes Park Rotary Foundation’s scholarship fund,” said show chairman Pete Sumey. “Every person in the show is donating their time and talent to help us reach that goal. And it will be a great show. I guarantee it. Just think about it: spend an evening enjoying absolutely beautiful music, extraordinary talent, and you help our kids in the process. This is a win-win deal.”
The show is Friday and Saturday, April 27th and 28th, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Children and students are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Macdonald Book Shop, Estes Park Visitor’s Center, Hobert Office Services, MedX of Estes and at the Thursday Noon Rotary meetings.
The High School Jazz Band and the Jazz Choir, Major 13, are included in the lineup of talent for the show. You’ll also hear emcee Larry Pearce, Melissa Westover and Valerie Dascoli in a duet,
Bob Brunson doing a humorous talk, young violinists Douglas Klink and Ted Dumont, a duet from Bob Gunn and Lori Burnham, and music from Chandriée & Jim Davis, Vic Anderson, the OLM Trio, Elk Hollow, the Four Tenors, Nancy Bell, Erin Diedrich, Randy Boyd, a trio from Chelsi Rose, Kristina Bryson, and Jennifer Klink, and Madison Casey with a humorous rendition on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
“All in all, this promises to be one terrific evening – actually two evenings – Friday and Saturday, take your pick,” said Sumey. “You’ll leave humming a tune or two.”
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Submitted by: Doug Fox
970-586-8050
dougfox@beyondbb.com

Estes Park News Weekend Report – April 20-22, 2012 – This Weekend & Beyond!

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Estes Park News Weekend Report – April 13-15, 2012 – This Weekend & Beyond!

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“It’s Showtime!” – a mix of music and money all for the kids

An evening filled with marvelous music awaits those who attend “It’s Showtime!” – a variety show April 27th and 28th at 7:00pm at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies sponsored by the Rotary Club of Estes Park.
“This is a win-win event for those buying a ticket,” explained Pete Sumey, chairman of the Rotary club’s Music Committee. “They not only get a great evening of music, they also help raise money for scholarships for Estes Park High School students. Heck, even if they can’t make it to the show, they should go ahead and buy a ticket, write the check to the Estes Park Rotary Foundation, and take the tax write-off. Or they don’t even have to buy a ticket. They can be a sponsor. We’d love to have more sponsors giving anywhere from $50 up.”
Sumey said the Estes Park High School Jazz Band will kick things off Friday night, April 27th. Emcee Larry Pearce sings his way on stage followed by Melissa Westover and Valerie Dascoli in a duet. Bob Brunson offers up a humorous talk called “Paddy and the Bricks,” followed by two incredibly talented young violinists, Doug Klink and Ted Dumont, performing a Hungarian gypsy number, “Czardas” by Monti. Lori Burnham and Bob Gunn will sing a duet from The Secret Garden entitled “How Could I Ever Know.” Chandriée Davis, accompanied by her husband, Jim, on guitar sings two songs: “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man” and “La Isla Bonita” by Madonna. Jim Davis remains on stage for the flamenco guitar solo “Soleares-Caracoles.” Champion yodeler Vic Anderson entertains the crowd next followed by the OLM Trio composed of Michelle Gergen-Wisner on piano with Brenda Brown and Gary Reeves performing two songs: “Colorado” by David Kirby and the spiritual “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” Alan Denney directs the high school jazz choir Major 13 followed by the Four Tenors: Dave Evans, Marc Richards, Pete Sumey, and Dick Broman.
In Act Two, singer Nancy Bell starts things off with “Over the Rainbow.” High school senior Erin Diedrich performs “Clair de Lune” on the piano and then is joined by Debbie Freireich with “On My Own” from Les Miserables. Kathleen Anderson does a P.D.Q. Bach number, “Let’s Face It.” Tenor Randy Boyd offers the Puccini aria “Sometimes I Dream.” Elk Hollow, composed of Gary Reeves, Jack Overly, and Dmitri Galcovski, offer the Irish folk song “Red is the Rose” as well as “Today” by Randy Sparks. High school students Chelsi Rose, Kristina Bryson, and Jennifer Klink perform “The Parking Glass” by the Wailin’ Jennys, emcee Larry Pearce does Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” followed by the grand finale.
Tickets for “It’s Showtime!” may be purchased at Macdonald’s Book Shop, the Estes Park Visitor’s Center, Hobert Office Services, MedX of Estes and at the Thursday Noon Rotary meetings.
Adults are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Children and students are free.
Whether you’re a sponsor or a ticket buyer, the goal is the same: raising at least $8,000 in scholarship money.
Pete Sumey says, “Come make an investment in your child’s future – come enjoy yourself at “It’s Showtime!”
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Submitted by: Doug Fox
970-586-8050
dougfox@beyondbb.com