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Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area

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Laura Lucero

January Library Events – 2024 Adult Reading Program announced; Toddler Time resumes

By Harriet Halbig

The 2024 Pikes Peak Library District Adult Reading Program will begin on Feb. 1 and last until March 31. More information will be in the next issue of OCN.

Monument Library will begin offering Toddler Time again in January. Sessions will be at 9:30 and 10 on Wednesday mornings, followed by Stay and Play.

Story Time on Tuesdays in Monument will not resume, but Family Story Time will continue at Palmer Lake on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:15.

There are a few changes on a district-wide basis. Use of The Hall adjacent to Penrose Library will be discontinued beginning May 1, 2024. A few reservations are still available before that date. Staffing posed a problem. The Special Collections department is now called Regional History and Genealogy. The department offers an extensive collection of maps, periodicals, government publications and pamphlets, and family history resources back to Colonial times. Materials must be used on site. Hours for the department are 10 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday.

Database resources will also change in 2024 as the district reviewed usage and expense. For details, please see the district website, ppld.org.

Happy New Year from the library, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Harriet Halbig can be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.

Other Pikes Peak Library District articles

Palmer Lake Historical Society, Dec. 17 – 90th Annual Yule Log Hunt

By Marlene Brown

As part of Christmas activities, the Town of Palmer Lake, with the Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) helping with the ceremonies, held the 90th Annual Yule Log Hunt on Dec. 17 at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. The event is known to be the longest-running yule log ceremony in the United States.

The yule log celebration was brought to Palmer Lake by Lucretia Vaile and Miss Evalena in 1933. Fifty people wearing red and green capes went on the hunt for the hidden log. The first yule log was found by C.R. Hays. He then rode the log back to town pulled by the other hunters. They were greeted by 200 cheering residents and visitors. The log was cut in half, half of the log was burned, and the other half was saved for the next year.

This year’s yule log was found by Josephine Maslak of Erie, Colo. The log was then cut in half with a hand saw. Half of the log was burned in the fireplace at the Town Hall. According to tradition, Christmas songs are sung by everyone in the Town Hall, then the first drink of the wassail, a traditional warm drink of apple cider and spices, is served to the finder of the log, and all the guests are then welcome to partake in a cup of wassail.

The Town of Palmer Lake supports the Yule Log Hunt and has proclaimed the second Sunday before Christmas to be known as Yule Log Sunday. Many thanks to Palmer Lake Yule Log Association for continuing the traditions of Yule Log Hunt. See its Facebook page—Palmer Lake Yule Log—for more information.

Above: Pictured at the 90th Annual Yule Log Ceremony are Mistress of Ceremonies Patricia Atkins, Master of Ceremonies Niall Byrne, and euphonium and Call to Hunt player Nolan Byrne. Photo by Mike Cimino.

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The next event for the PLHS will be at 6 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 18 (doors open at 5:30 p.m.). The Annual Potluck Supper and Membership Meeting will be held at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. A brief business meeting will include a recap of 2023 and the election of 2024 officers. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, go to www.palmerdividehistory.org.

Marlene Brown can be reached at malenebrown@ocn.me

Other Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) articles

High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – The wonderful gifts of the pine tree

By Janet Sellers

We live in a high desert pine forest clime. Our soil and environment have been optimized for millions of years for the native plants that include our pine trees. Besides lumber, the pine forests offer much to us that we may not know, but the Native Americans who lived here for thousands of years have a deep understanding of the forest benefits to our health and land stewardship.

From root to crown, our local ponderosa pine tree holds much benefit for nature in its up to 800 years of forest ecology life—and for us. Our area has been an important conservation place, too. In an article this year about the origins of the nearby Monument Nursery (on Mount Herman Road), Eric Swab of the TrailsandOpenSpaces.org (TOSC) shared some historic facts about our beloved local forests, a huge factor for why we all live here in the Tri-Lakes region.

“By the mid-19th century, the U.S. government owned much of the forested land in the West. Over the years these forests had been devastated by wildfires, and by logging for the railroads, mining and the building industries. The government was beginning to realize that something needed to be done to protect this resource, this ‘green gold,’ that was so important to the growth of the country.” The forests had to be replenished, and the Monument Nursery became the place where millions of seedlings got their start to protect the forests and the land of the mountain West.

Pine forests have natural oils released by the trees for many reasons, particularly to protect the health of the trees. A pine tree releases its scent messages to other trees about pathogens and pests. The pine scent comes from chemical compounds called terpenes. If the bark of the tree is damaged, the tree can release protective resin that deters pests and fungal growth. The pine scent also deters insects such as mosquitos.

One of the surprising facts for newcomers to our area about our pines is regarding pine needles. They make excellent mulch for landscaping (as evidenced by the forests themselves) and provide some health benefits to people and animals by breathing the pine scented air. Some species of pine, such as the white pine, are used in beneficial teas, but needles of the ponderosa are not used for this.

Pine needles decompose very slowly so they don’t need replacing as often as other mulches. However, eventually needles will break down and enrich garden soil. By the time the needles fall from the tree, they have lost a lot of their acid composition, and as the soil microbes digest them, they become close to neutral. They moderate soil temperature in summer and prevent winter soils from freezing and heaving roots from the ground.

In fire-prone areas, care must be taken in using any natural mulch. Pine needles hold in ground moisture, knit themselves together to stay put even on sloped areas, and allow snow and rain to sift through them to nurture the soil. The natural soil in our area is specific to support the native plants of pine forests, yet pine needle mulch topping does not bother food or flower garden plants, since these must be planted into appropriately amended soil. Then pine mulch does its job to keep in soil moisture while keeping out weeds.

There are many books and U.S. Forest Service pamphlets as well as online details if one has an interest in learning more about the benefits of pine trees and pine needle mulch.

Janet Sellers is an avid “lazy gardener” letting Mother Nature lead the way for natural growing wisdom. Reach her at JanetSellers@OCN.me.

Other gardening articles

Art Matters – Why people should live with art

By Janet Sellers

An artist may or may not show their work publicly. Fortunately, most artists will show and sell their creations. It is an act of sharing, and of course a strategy for attracting attention to one’s creative prowess.

Living with art gets you beyond everyday activity.

“It’s a matter of pure enjoyment, but also, living with art gives people a sensitivity, absolutely, and more feeling, more understanding,” Peter Selz, founding director of the Berkeley Art Museum, said in a recent interview for the library about the University of California at Berkeley art lending program. “Living with art gets you beyond everyday activity into a deeper world.”

Such library loans, museum loans, or rentals assemble a collection of works touched by the hand of the artist and make them available to students, which would support a meaningful extension of the university’s art teaching program. Many museums also have lending libraries of original art, and artists can offer their works in this way as well. Original art is available to live with and display, for a short while.

Even animals make art with a purpose

I recently saw a video of a puffer fish making an extraordinary sand mandala exhibition to attract a female mate. The male creates an elaborate mandala in the sand about 30 meters below the ocean surface and must maintain it carefully. A female will evaluate the structure and choose the male after evaluation and completion of other courtship behaviors. The females leave the nest but males stay and will care for the eggs and protect them until they hatch in about a week. They will chase off predators or other rival males that come to the nest. The mandala nest will deteriorate over time and won’t be used again.

Art as attractant and courtship display

The National Library of Medicine (in an article on communicative and integrative biology) reports that, “The bowerbird makes elaborate structures and decorates them with colorful objects. These are not nests. The operational definitions of art, judgment, and aesthetics suggest that great bowerbirds are artists and have an aesthetic sense. Males create art because their created bower is voluntarily viewed by females, leading to changes in their behavior up to and including courtship with the artist. Male bowerbirds have an aesthetic sense in that they have to create the bowers and forced perspective, and appear to constantly maintain and improve the bower geometry.”

Just as a male bowerbird chooses and displays its found treasures to be viewed and ascertained by his audience (female bowerbirds), so does a museum curator, who is responsible for designing displays and arranging art for exhibition. The bowerbird guards his creative display or artwork, and the museum curator is guardian of the artwork and exhibit. Both will have a voluntary audience to view and make judgments about acceptance of the works.

While these fascinating art experiences are temporary for appreciation, we can take a prompt from the phenomenon. When we like a work of art, we can get it for posterity. Some artworks are one of a kind, some are handmade prints or photographic prints in editions of specific multiples. Many artworks become family heirlooms, and some collectors’ artworks go out for a paid loan to museums for view or are sold at a profit for the collector as the artwork increases in value.

Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, and speaker. Her paintings, sculptures, and print artworks are exhibited coast to coast and locally in Colorado. Contact her at JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Other Art Matters articles

Snapshots of Our Community

Correction

In the December issue of OCN, it was stated that Jeanette Breton founded Bearbotics. “Coach” Breton is head coach of Bearbotics, FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Head Coach, and founder of Monumental Impact for Technology, Engineering & Entrepreneurship (MITEE). See monumentalimpact.org/. OCN regrets the error.

TLWC Grant process opens Jan. 15

Above: In a photo taken Oct. 1, Monument Warriors Team Coordinator Lisa Glen displays the new track uniforms and sound system purchased with a Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) 2022 grant. Eligible groups can start applying for grants from the TLWC on Jan. 15. Groups eligible to apply for grants up to $2,000 include nonprofits, public service organizations, and public schools that serve the Tri-Lakes area. The TLWC grant program focuses on smaller organizations that typically don’t have the staffing or resources to pursue grants from major granting foundations. Photo by Sue Leggiero.

Monument Tree Lighting, Dec. 2

Above and below: The wail of a fire truck siren announced the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus (Jeff and Sarah MacLean) Dec. 2 at Limbach Park in Monument. They hopped off the truck and were immediately surrounded by children. Shortly after their arrival, the countdown to the tree lighting began. A cheer erupted when the lights turned on. Kids lined up to give their Christmas wishes to Santa while adults took advantage of the food, drink, and entertainment throughout the park. Earlier in the evening, the crowd was serenaded with several Christmas carols by the Lewis-Palmer D38 Middle and High School Choirs. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.

Above: Crowd counts down the turning on of Christmas lights in Limbach Park. (17 sec)

Above: A fire truck carrying Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrives at Limbach Park on Dec. 2 (19 sec)

Above: Santa and Mrs. Claus greet the crowd upon arriving in Limbach Park on Dec. 2. (18 sec)

Small Town Christmas, Dec. 2

Above: Monument merchants took part in the annual Small Town Christmas event on Dec. 2 complete with music, goodies, snow, and Santa. Santa appeared around town and took time with Mrs. Claus to greet dozens of children who came to La Casa Fiesta. The Morris family, including Mom and Dad, Mary and Shawn, gathered around Santa (John Howe) and Mrs. Claus (Claudia Swenson) for a photo to put in their family album. Photo provided by the Morris family.
Above: All along the streets of Monument downtown, visitors enjoyed libations to buy and complimentary treats while buying gifts at the shops. Shown here, the Trails End Tap Room had an outdoor craft fair with the Trombone Christmas musicians. Photo by Janet Sellers.

High School Choirs, Dec. 6

Above: Choirs from Lewis-Palmer (LPHS) and Palmer Ridge (PRHS) High Schools presented a holiday concert at LPHS auditorium on Dec. 6. Madeline Smith, director, conducted choirs from both LPHS and PRHS in seasonal presentations that included Christmas, Hanukkah, and even a rendition of Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. LPHS choirs included Treble Voices and Mixed Choir, and PRHS choirs included Chamber Singers and Women’s Ensemble. Janice Kinsley, collaborative pianist, accompanied LPHS choirs and Nancy Jacobsen, collaborative pianist, accompanied PRHS choirs. Photo by Steve Pate.

Above: The Lewis Palmer Middle and High School choirs entertain the crowd. (33 sec)

Above: The Lewis Palmer Middle and High School choirs sing Christmas carols at Limbach Park. (28 sec)

Above: The Lewis Palmer Middle and High School choirs entertain the crowd before the lights are turned on. (33 sec)

Arkenstone at TLCA, Dec. 9

Above: On Dec. 9, a capacity audience at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) ushered in the holiday season as they spent the evening listening to A Winter’s Eve with David Arkenstone & Friends. Arkenstone, a five-time Grammy nominee, was accompanied by virtuoso musicians Josh Gilgoff (percussion), Laurann Angel (violin), Emily Elkin (cello), and Kimberly Zaleski (flute), with candles lining the stage for a festive atmosphere. They performed songs from Arkenstone’s albums Christmas Lounge, Celtic Christmas, and his latest album Winterlude, applying genres including Celtic, new age, neo-classical, and world museum to the songs that emphasized the extent of their musical talents. The song list included I Saw Three Ships, Deck the Halls, Ice Palace—a song inspired by a story told by his grandmother—Tchaikovsky’s Arabian Dance from the Nutcracker ballet, and Warm Lights Flicker Across the Lake. Photo by David Futey.

Career and Technical Ed at LPMS

Above: On Dec. 11, Lewis-Palmer Middle School hosted a Career and Technical Education (CTE) showcase with projects, teachers, and students in its cafetorium. LPMS offers Gateway to Technology, Robotics, Web Design, CAD Design and 3D Printing, and Yearbook as well as Health Science (Medical Detective and Forensic Science). In the photo is Sean Sanger, 7th Gateway to Technology teacher in the CTE Department. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

For more information about D38’s CTE program, see lewispalmer.org/page/career-technical-education.

TL Dynamic Rotary distributes coats

Above: The Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary handed out more than 350 new winter coats to Tri-Lakes Cares clients as part of its second annual Warm Hugs new coat drive. Coats were distributed on Dec. 11 and 14. As one recipient said, “[There’s] something about having a new coat that can’t be duplicated.” The coats were collected at donation boxes at local businesses around Monument as well as at a coat and cash donation day Dec. 2. In photo are, from left, Rotary members Jeremiah Baty, Alisha Baty, Shannon Schurr, Soul Santa (Terrance Beasley), Rotary Community Service Director Laurie Beasley, Katie Lenger, Brenda Small, and Nicole Schoolsky at the coat distribution event at Tri-Lakes Cares. Photo by Julie Keim.

AARP elects officers, Dec. 13

Above: AARP Chapter 1100 Black Forest elected officers for 2024 at its meeting Dec.13. Roy Rozak was elected president, Stan Beckner, vice president, Jim Belk, treasurer, and Lin Rozak, secretary. A Board of Directors was also voted on. After the vote, members enjoyed a catered buffet dinner. Photo by Stan Beckner.

Friends of Fox Run Park, Dec. 17

Above: Friends of Fox Run Park, the volunteer organization that helps with tasks and education at Fox Run Regional Park, held its annual holiday “celebrating community” event on Dec. 17 at the warming hut near the twin ponds. Visitors and hikers at the park enjoyed hot cocoa, roasted marshmallows, and s’mores as well as making wooden ornaments from the park’s fallen pine branches. Representatives from the Native American Sacred Trees and Places were also on hand to share local history and knowledge of the special significance and historic cultural traditions unique to the park. The Friends of Fox Run Park is accepting volunteers of all ages for upcoming seasonal opportunities with park tasks and trails, which include forest education and conservation, and can be contacted at FriendsOfFoxRunPark@gmail.com. Photo by Janet Sellers.

TLMA holiday concert, Dec. 15-17

Above: On the weekend of Dec. 15-17, the Tri-Lakes Music Association offered its annual holiday music program at the Palmer Ridge High School auditorium. The evenings featured special performances from its orchestra, brass instruments, strings, piano works and vocals of solos, duets, and full choral works sharing holiday favorites and innovative pieces. Donations were accepted on behalf of Tri-Lakes Cares and the Music Association, both of which are nonprofit volunteer organizations for community benefit and enrichment. Photo by Janet Sellers.

100 million+ view gender reveal

Above: Monument residents Micah and Kya Jeub released a live video revealing the gender of their third child—during an ice bath. Pink paint shot through their bath to reveal a girl is on her way. Their video went viral on TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms, garnishing over 100 million views. Photo by Chris Jeub, Grandpa, who attended the reveal.

Holiday Season in Palmer Lake

Above: Palmer Lake welcomes you to “Believe” and brightens your holiday season with the Palmer Lake Star.
Photo by David Futey.

Other Snapshots of Our Community