Founder of Artists Training Program

Central City Opera’s (CCO) General/Artistic Director, Pelham (Pat) G. Pearce, announces that following more than 30 years of service, John Moriarty is retiring as the administrator of the company’s nationally recognized Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program. The organization is also pleased to announce that it has named Marc Astafan to succeed Mr. Moriarty as the new administrator of the Program.

“The past 33 summers I have spent in Central City have been among the most productive and satisfying for me. From the time of my arrival in 1978, I felt very much at home in the town and as part of the Opera Festival. Now, after having gradually shed administrative and conducting duties, I feel it is time to bring an end to what has been a most gratifying association,” says John Moriarty. “Although it is with great sadness that I close this chapter, I can do so knowing that the Association and the Festival are in good hands. I shall always cherish the memories of my years with Central City Opera, as well as the many friendships I have made in Colorado.”

John Moriarty – 30 Years of Inspiration

In 1978, John Moriarty founded the company’s Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, a rigorous 10-week program that has become a national model for the professional development of young singers. It integrates daily training in diction and movement, individual coaching, and sessions in career management with rehearsals and performance opportunities in the summer’s main stage and surrounding productions. Approximately 30 participants are selected from more than 1,000 applicants each year. Some of America’s most notable opera professionals, including Denyce Graves, Cynthia Lawrence, Mary Mills, Emily Pulley, Samuel Ramey, Celena Shaffer, Matthew Polenzani and Gregory Turay are former students of the program.

Mr. Moriarty served as Central City Opera’s artistic director from 1982-1998 before becoming artistic director emeritus. Says Moriarty, “In 1982, when then Chairman of the Association At Gilman then Vice-President Jeannie Fuller asked me to assume the post of artistic director, I felt honored to be asked to take a leadership position with such a historic and storied organization. At that time, the Opera Festival was in shaky condition. But with superb cooperation and backing from the Board of Directors, it was possible to restore the Festival to its prominent place in Colorado and in the opera world.”

In 2008, Moriarty celebrated 30 years with Central City Opera. The 2008 Festival included Opera Pops- A Tribute to John Moriarty, commemorating the artistic director emeritus’ 30^th anniversary with the company, as well as that of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program. The evening was headlined by Artists Training Program alumna, Denyce Graves. At the closing ceremonies for the Central City Opera Festival, it was proclaimed by then Mayor Buddy Schmalz that “in honor of the distinguished career of Artistic Director Emeritus John Moriarty and his accomplishments and contributions to the City of Central through his dedicated and loyal service to the Central City Opera, ‘A’ Street will now be known as ‘Moriarty Lane.’” Mr. Moriarty had the great honor of replacing the street sign for “A” Street with one for “Moriarty Lane” following the ceremonies. Ten years prior, on June 17, 1998, then Colorado Governor Roy Romer declared June 17, 1998 as John Moriarty Day “for his uncompromising dedication to artistic excellence.”

A lauded conductor of many Central City Opera productions during his tenure, Mr. Moriarty led the world premiere of Henry Mollicone’s Gabriel’s Daughter in 2003, as well as the CCO digital recording of Douglas Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe in 1996 and the 50^th anniversary production of the opera in 2006. The John Moriarty Award is named in his honor and annually presented to an exemplary Apprentice Artist at the final performance of the festival.

“In addition to his many contributions to the opera world, John Moriarty has enriched Central City Opera with his development of a young artists training program that has become one of the most respected in the country, along with love and knowledge of the art form, history, and the company’s properties,” says Central City Opera President/Chairman of the Board Nancy Parker. “Central City Opera’s 30 plus years with John have been years of rebuilding, progress, education and joy to the opera fans of Colorado. We thank him for the experience and dedication.”

Marc Astafan -Veteran Stage Director Takes on New Role at CCO

As the new Administrator of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, Astafan will continue with the format established by John Moriarty, with an added acting class and stage technique class taught by Astafan. He will also be adding one-on-one acting, monologue coachings and role study. The Apprentice Artists will have opera scene study with the CCO directing staff in preparation for the Short Works scenes offerings that will be overseen by Astafan. They will continue to perform featured roles in the main stage productions, as well as covering roles that will be performed by CCO’s guest artists. CCO will also carry forward its mission for the program to make sure that the Apprentice Artists receive information and coaching in regards to the business aspects of the art form and its ever-evolving trends.

“I’m thrilled to return to Central City Opera in this new position, and to play such a vital role in the training of young and exceptionally talented opera artists. This is not only a new beginning but a continuation of the legacy that my mentor, champion and friend, John Moriarty, began. He is responsible for my early career as an opera educator and stage director and to him I’ll always be grateful,” says Astafan.

The two first met in late 1992 when John interviewed Marc to assistant direct at CCO. John didn’t hire Astafan and Marc took a position with The Santa Fe Opera that summer. Soon after, John’s then assistant at New England Conservatory in Boston (NEC), James Robinson, hired Marc as a stage manager for The Barber of Seville, a production that was directed and conducted by John. This marked the first time the two worked together. The following year, John called Marc and offered him an assistant directing position at CCO for the company’s season opener, Manon, directed by Adelaide Bishop. Says Astafan, “At this point, John had never seen my work as a director, but he went with his gut feeling about me. His feelings about young talent were usually right.” A few weeks later, Moriarty asked Astafan to join him on the faculty at NEC. Astafan continued to assistant direct at CCO in the summers until Moriarty offered Astafan the opportunity to direct Tosca in 1998. The two continued to work together at NEC until 2000 when Astafan left to join the directing staff at The Met.

Marc Astafan is a respected director, educator, mentor and coach who has dedicated most of his career to the development of young opera singers in the United States. Marc’s career took off in 1994 at the NEC, where he eventually became the Resident Stage Director and Director of Productions, and continued teaching classes in acting, stage technique, directing and scene study until 2008. He made his official directing debut with The Magic Flute at the Eugene Opera in Oregon in 1996. Many engagements followed, most notably productions at Central City Opera, Virginia Opera, Nevada Opera, Opera Delaware, Anchorage Opera, and Syracuse Opera. He has also been guest director and teacher at The Juilliard School, Temple University, Florida State University and The University of Southern California, as well as directing and teaching at Central City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Music Academy of the West, Bay View Music Festival, Atlantic Coast Opera Festival and The Tanglewood Music Center. Marc’s New York debut came in 1999 when he directed and choreographed The Magic Flute on the site of the Egyptian Temple of Dendur at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with the Opera Orchestra of New York.

From 2000 to 2002, he directed The Met’s revivals of Tosca and Le Nozze di Figaro. Since then, Astafan has continued to direct critically acclaimed productions across the country. Astafan attended Schenectady County Community College, The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York and The Boston Conservatory.

Astafan’s full Central City Opera credits include: Assistant Stage Director for Manon in 1994, The Queen of Spades in 1995, Rigoletto in 1996, Madama Butterfly in 1997 and 2005; Stage Director for Tosca in 1998, Don Giovanni in 2006, Cendrillon in 2007, Rinaldo in 2009, and Orpheus in the Underworld in 2010; Collaborations with CCO and the CSO for A Night at the Opera in 1997, The Jerome Kern Songbook in 2002, HMS Pinafore in 2004, The Pirates of Penzance in 2005, and The Mikado in 2006. Astafan also assisted with Education and Community Programs from 1994-1996, as well as The Face on the Barroom Floor from 1996-1998, an opera that was commissioned by CCO in 1978.

2012 Festival

Running June 30 to Aug. 12, Central City Opera’s 2012 Festival will feature three new dynamic productions: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s original collaboration and Broadway classic, Oklahoma!;Puccini’s famous and most popular opera, La Bohème; and a new production of Benjamin Britten’s chamber opera based on the Henry James ghost story, The Turn of The Screw, as part of the world-wide celebration of the centenary of Britten’s birth. In addition to its slate of operas for 2012, CCO will continue to present innovative initiatives that will engage a broader audience. Attendees will again find many exciting enhancements to their Central City experience. Subscriptions for the 2012 Festival are on sale now starting at just $28. For more information, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700.

Celebrating its 79th year, Central City Opera is the nation’s fifth-oldest opera company, located just 35 miles west of Denver in one of Colorado’s official National Landmark Historic Districts. The company continues to present artistically excellent professional opera in its annual summer festival; to offer career-entry training to young singers; to produce education and community service programs; and to preserve and maintain the Opera House and 30 other Victorian-era properties.

I’ll readily admit to having an ongoing love affair with Black Hawk and Central City. Both have been such a huge part of my life from the very first moment I saw them. I very fondly remember begging Susanne Staruk to hire me for a job at the old Glory Hole Saloon. I remember drinking the evening away with friends at Crook’s Palace, until the bartender would wise up and toss us all out. The party, of course, would simply move to another accommodating establishment much to the chagrin of those we were about to rowdily invade.

When signatures were being gathered to get Amendment 4 on the ballot, I talked up the prospects of gaming to everyone who crossed my path while I stood at the Glory Hole door. I like to feel that I, along with so many others, did our part for the future prosperity of Black Hawk and Central City. We knew that gaming would offer year-round employment and business opportunities. Twenty years later those opportunities still exist, only on a much different and larger scale.

During the gaming transition it was incredible to see the changes that were taking place right before our very eyes. It’s not often that anyone can witness the rapid force of change on a level that took place the year prior to “Opening Day.” At times it seemed as if the entirety of Black Hawk was under reconstruction or rehabilitation all at the same time.

Opening Day came and went, new people arrived and moved on, openings and closings occurred, property changed hands with the speed of a Monopoly board game and gaming itself eventually settled down into what we see today. As with any new industry some mistakes were made during those very early years, sometimes it seemed that the “learning curve” was really a 90 degree angle. But more importantly a tremendous amount of positive things came along with the few disappointments. The three gaming host communities had been given the chance of rebirth, restoration and rehabilitation, some took it but others did not. The City of Black Hawk was one that took those chances and challenges, thriving in the process.

Much has been made of and said about Black Hawk and gaming. Quite a bit of that has been negative and offered up by those that have either forgotten what existed and/or didn’t exist in Black Hawk before gaming. There are those that mistakenly say history was bulldozed and destroyed, forgetting that the existing trailer park was never quite “historic.” Some forget that the Gilpin Hotel had become a burned out shell that was in danger of total collapse. Or that the very few remaining historic business properties and extremely deteriorated residences had become little more than archeological digs, or so neglected they were fire traps just waiting for disaster to happen. Also forgotten was that Black Hawk’sMain Streetwas a dirt road that was rutted out when wet, pot holed and dusty when dry, and impossible to deal with when frozen. At the time, some 75% of Black Hawk’s “historic stock” was all located within the small residential areas. Time had been exceptionally cruel and the little that did remain wasn’t going to last for very much longer. The revenue stream from our newly implemented industry was about to change all that with the decay, neglect and ruin soon to be polished away.

When gaming first began, Black Hawk had an annual budget of just around $125,000. And that was after checking all the couch cushions for lost change just to keep the City
operational. One joke at the time was that the City’s assets included a car that wouldn’t start, a set of keys that no one was sure what they went to, and a flashlight that only had one battery.

During the past 20 years Black Hawk has stayed focused on building and encouraging our singular industry. The ultimate goal is for Black Hawk to be a destination resort community, synonymous with places such as Aspen, Vail, and Steamboat Springs – places easily recognized as being “Colorado.” That goal becomes more certain with each passing year. Presently, Black Hawk has about 74% of the gaming market share and is providing the bulk of all gaming taxes paid to the state.Coloradogaming itself is now a $2.2 billion dollar annual GNP forColorado, producing some 27,000 direct jobs with each of those creating an additional 1.5 non-direct jobs. Within 20 years Black Hawk has risen to the top of the market and became its own economic engine providingColoradowith a sustained and growing revenue stream that will only increase in the future.

In this first 20 years Black Hawk has embarked upon a city-wide revitalization project that continues to this day. Our infrastructure, water and gas lines have been upgraded, electric lines placed underground, and unsightly telephone poles being removed. Residential streets have been paved and new streetlights added. The Post Office, Credit Union, and Sanitation District office also have a new home in a redeveloped commercial area. And our Historic Preservation Grant Program is restoring and rehabilitating all of our historic structures, making it possible for them to last another 100 years and keep our history alive and continuing. Some structures that had decayed over the decades to the point of being barely worth kindling were purchased, moved toMountainCityand restored, also preserving them for the future. Our City’s continuing projects include the revitalization ofGregory Street(beginning in 2012) that will see it transform into a new commercial district, using existing historic properties that will bring additional non-gaming businesses, jobs and opportunities to Black Hawk.

The City of Black Hawk has not dodged its civic duties and responsibilities either. As it became more and more difficult for our Gilpin County RE-1 Schools to continue with ever limited funding, the probability existed that our school district might have to be absorbed by other entities. If that were to happen, local property taxes would have skyrocketed and made it difficult for averageGilpinCountyresidents to continue to be able to afford to live here and would have put a huge damper on any future growth. The City of Black Hawk had a different idea that would help keep those property taxes low and asked city voters to approve a 1.5% Educational Enhancement Sales Tax that to date has provided over $1.6 million dollars in additional and continuing funding for the school district. This also insures that our local children receive the best education possible prior to college. One hope would be that those children will at some point return toGilpinCountyand our communities, possibly taking advantage of the employment opportunities provided by our industry. It is always amazing to speak with industry leaders and managers and learn how so many began their careers parking cars or working in the restaurants as they climbed the company ladder.

At 20 years it’s easy to look back and question some of the early day decisions, but the economic progress and the benefits our industry has brought to Black Hawk and our residents are impossible to ignore. While other places and people may not fully appreciate what has been done, none can say it hasn’t been a worthwhile endeavor. If the past 20 years are any indication of how the next 20 years will go, I would venture to say “we haven’t seen anything yet!”

About the author

Greg Moates is a long-time resident of Black Hawk, serves on the Black Hawk Board of Aldermen, and also serves on the Gilpin County Ambulance Board.

Several years ago, Gilpin County and the municipalities of Black Hawk and Central City collaborated on ways to make the area a destination goal. Looking beyond gaming, they included ideas about recreation, historic tourism, and business opportunities. Progress has been made in all three areas. A recreational bicycle ride this summer brought more than a thousand people to Gilpin; the Gilpin Historical Society’s annual Cemetery Crawl and the October Central City Creepy Crawls bring hundreds of people for each event; the Opera Association has begun expanding its season to draw new patrons and more of them; and smaller groups, such as the Spooks “ghost hunting” group, have made Gilpin a destination for special interest clientele. But, particularly since the completion of Black Hawk’s Ameristar Hotel and Casino, the business opportunity of hosting conferences has skyrocketed in Gilpin County, proving lucrative and successful with significant benefits beyond Black Hawk’s borders. Conference attendees boost the contribution Black Hawk makes to Gilpin County School (now totaling more than $1.5 million) via the dedicated sales tax. Their visits to local shops, historic and mine tours, restaurants, etc. add welcome dollars to Gilpin’s economy.

Within the past two years, by this reporter’s count (which is certainly incomplete), the following groups have chosen to hold conferences, classes, luncheons, awards ceremonies and banquets in local venues, the majority in Black Hawk (Ameristar, Lady Luck, Lodge, Riviera, Fitzgerald’s, Isle of Capri and Gilpin Casinos) bringing with them a cumulative total, to date, of more than 800 visitors (and the potential for at least that many return customers):

–Colorado County Clerks and Recorders

–Colorado County Assessors

–Colorado County Treasurers

–Colorado County Sheriffs

–Colorado County Under Sheriffs

–Rocky Mountain Women in Law Enforcement

–Colorado Municipal Clerks

–Certified Colorado Records Network

–Colorado Association of Code Enforcement Officials

–Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) National Academy

–Crime Stoppers of Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties

–Colorado National Association of Field Training Officers

–Police Officer Standards and Trainings Board

–Black Hawk Police Department (Trainings for officers from various departments.)

Please contact the Weekly Register-Call if your conference was not included, or if your group is planning a future conference. We look forward to seeing you!

At 2011 Great American Beer Festival in Denver

  “Colorado is the Napa Valley of beer, right here, no question!” said Governor John Hickenlooper at the 30th Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver this past week. He was presented with a Gold Medal for being America’s first brewer-turned-governor during the awards ceremony on Saturday at the Colorado Convention Center, just before local brewers Buddy Schmalz and Dave Thomas received a Bronze Medal in the Classic Dry Irish Stout category for Shaft House Stout. This is the second medal garnered by this Gilpin County beer in the past three years and is always available on tap and for takeaway in 64 ounce growlers at Dostal Alley Brewpub & Casino in Central City, the only brewery in a casino in Colorado.

  Dostal Alley is one of 1,033 brewpubs in the U.S. today and these small brewery/ restaurants were the focus of the media luncheon hosted by the Brewers Association in Boulder just prior to the GABF opening on Friday. “Growlers are good!” said Julia Herz, BA Craft Beer Program Director. “Brewpubs will not have truly arrived until every food editor and Food Network star in the U.S. can say they know what a growler is and that they’ve toured their local brewpub.”

  Other statistics for this year’s GABF include: 3,930 beers in 83 categories were tasted by 167 judges from nine countries; 526 breweries from 48 states and Puerto Rico competed for a final count of 248 medals awarded; 466 American breweries served 2,375 beers in the festival hall during four sessions; 3,300 volunteers delivered ice and poured beer for 49,000 attendees. As always, Dostal Alley was one of the few booths using no volunteers, only our friends, to pour our beer and talk to beer aficionados about Dostal Alley, Central City, and Gilpin County. Many thanks to Barry, the two Brians, Andy, Rico, Robert, Greg, Diane, Corey, Debbie, Rabbit, Don and Kent for helping at the booth! Tickets for the largest beer festival in the world sold out in only seven days this year and expectations are that the October 11-13, 2012 GABF will sell out even faster!

Volleyball and Football games, spirit, and a parade

  Take a step back in the decades as the Gilpin County students celebrate Homecoming. The theme for this year’s homecoming was the decades – celebrating the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Each high school class chose a decade to represent. The freshman celebrated the 50s, sophomores the 60s, juniors the 80s and seniors the 70s. All the middle school students choose to represent the future. Each class also chose a color theme to use for decorating the hallways, and their parade floats. Freshmen were Green and Black, sophomores were pink and black, juniors were purple and sliver and the seniors were blue and neon green. The entire school was involved with dress-up days this year. The elementary participated in both Crazy Day and Black and Gold Day. The other dress-up days were hat day, always a favorite for students and decade day, where student dressed up to show their decade. The staff even got involved this year and dressed up. During lunch the students participated in various competitions and earned points to help them win the spirit stick. They also received points for the number of students who dressed up each day. This year the senior class won the spirit stick. They were very enthusiastic and showed outstanding school spirit almost all students dressing up for spirit days and tying with the junior class for the hallway competitions.

  Another very important part of homecoming is the Royalty. This year the King and Queen of the senior class were Molly Quaranto and Kevin Robertson. Prince and Princess of the junior class were Teresa Seitz and Trevor Dziedzic. The Duke and Duchess of the sophomore class were Ashlen Cortez and Andrew Immordino. The Count and Countess of the freshman class were Sierra Planck and Dalton Dziedzic. They were announced during the pep rally, presented by the Gilpin High School Cheer Squad. During the pep rally the students participated in fun activities and the cheerleaders preformed many cheers and a dance for the student body. The 1^st grade class did a cheer with Mrs. Henry in Spanish to show their spirit. The school spirit and student pride was obvious.

  On Thursday the secondary school ran a modified schedule to allow the afternoon for a barbeque where all middle and high school students were served lunch by the teachers outside on the football field, and then they had time to finish any last touches need on their parade floats. Then they attended the pep rally. It was a fun day to end the school time celebration.

  As for athletics, on Monday the Volleyball teams competed against Belleview – both JV and Varsity came away with a win. The middle school volleyball team worked hard, but weren’t able to gain the “W.” They all played hard. On Tuesday the middle school football team competed against Daysprings Christian and worked very hard, but weren’t able to come away with the win. On Friday the volleyball teams played against Community Christian and despite their hard work and the loud cheering fans, they were not able to gain another win. After the games ended there was a bonfire for all the students to enjoy and celebrate.

  On Saturday the Homecoming Parade started at 10 a.m. at the Teller House in Central City and ended down the hill at Bullwhackers Casino in Black Hawk. All the floats were ready and decorated wonderfully. The community members were plentiful as the parade went through town. The High School football team competed in their game at 1:00 against Vail Christian and played hard and kept and strong throughout the game, but weren’t able to get the win.

  After the game, students ran home to get dressed and freshen up for the Homecoming Dance, which started at 8 p.m. at the Teller House. It was a beautiful historic setting, and complete with great decorations. The students enjoyed themselves and danced the night away.

  Overall this year’s homecoming was one of the best. The students’ pride and spirit is obvious at Gilpin County Schools!

Presented by the Gilpin County Historical Society

  The program for the September Stroehle House Tea traditionally features a return of some of the Cemetery Crawl Spirits to tell their stories. Four of the Bald Mountain Cemetery Crawl storytellers shared their life-stories in Nevadaville in the 19th and early 20th centuries at the tea on September 10th. The Gilpin County Historical Society gives two High Teas a year in the historic Stroehle House on Chase Street in Black Hawk.

  The event was a sell-out. Guests enjoyed scones, salad, a choice of several tea sandwiches and desserts featuring a variety of fancy cookies and ice cream sundaes. Everything served at the teas is homemade. The busy chef for this tea was Gloria Gaines and the servers, in traditional servant costumes of black and white, were Carol Hulsey, Herman Gaines, Shari Desotel, and Linda Jones.

  The returning “spirits” were Gary Huffman, Herman Gaines, Cora Jean Lenheer, and Neal Standard and their stories featured a miner who was buried underground, a bachelor carpenter who became a grandfather figure, three young brothers left abandoned and on their own in Nevadaville in the 1880s and the most popular man in the county, murdered in his prime.

  Attending a tea in the Stroehle House has a special enticement – enjoying the family’s antique furniture. Next year’s teas will be on the second Saturday in June and September. For more information call the Gilpin County Historical Society at 303-582-5283.

Elks Lodge hosts Soccer Shoot Competition

  On Saturday, September 10th, the Central City Elks Lodge hosted 70 kids at the Soccer Shoot. This was the second year for the event, which saw a slight increase in participation.

  Kids 9 and under competed by kicking the ball through a set of five goals that decreased in size.

  Kids 10-13 competed by kicking the ball through a grid goal that was hanging, which required more accuracy and skill and the ability to get the ball into the air.

  All participants were given a free lunch cooked by Tom Ihme, a small prize, and free face painting done by artist Tesia Webb. Medals were given to first and second place winners, with the first place winners also receiving a t-shirt.

  Adam Dewald turned out an impressive perfect score, so will advance to the Elks district level competition along with the other first place winners.

  Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Central City Elks Lodge Soccer Shoot!

Ages 7 and Under                                  

BOYS                                                           

1^st – Kyan Restaino

2^nd – Spencer Berv

GIRLS

1^st – Jordan Hobson-Kroll

2^nd – Elise Harless

Ages 8/9                                                    

BOYS                                                           

1^st – Adam Dewald (perfect score)

2^nd – Hunter Harless

GIRLS

1^st – Bailey Hobson-Kroll

2^nd – Ellie Brewer

Ages 10/11                                                

BOYS                                                           

1^st – Wesley Davies

2^nd – N/A

GIRLS

1^st – Shania Gonzales

2^nd – Tabitha Keating

Ages 12/13                                                

BOYS                                                           

1^st – Joshua Keating

2^nd – Jonathan Ramsey

GIRLS

1^st – Devin Valen

2^nd – N/A

Jets flying low thrill mountain and foothill communities

  The 32nd Annual Rocky Mountain Air Show held on the weekend of August 26-28 provided lots of action and enticed folks to pull over their cars on Hwy 128 to catch some of the show, while other familes piled out of their mini-vans and were entertained for hours with the air show. Telecommunications professionals at Level 3 Communications and other nearby offices had a birds-ey view of the action from their windows. Both the Commemorative Airforce from Texas simulating dogfights and bombing runs with pyrotechnics, and the F-16 and F-18 jet fighters with turns and vertical climbs from 6-9 G’s kept viewers eyes glued to the skies so as not to miss a glorius minute of winged fury.

  The show included an opening appearance of a B-2 bomber, reported to be one of the fastest bombers in the Air Force.

  Jim Cimiluca, a guiding member of the Colorado Sport Aviation Association and the organizer of the event, speculated that there was in excess of 32,000 people who attended this year’s show. At $22 per ticket for those who paid for the privilege of being on the front row of the runway, that should be enough to cover the gas that all these planes burned up during the 3-day event.

  TORA! TORA! TORA! is a group of pilots in World War II planes that reenact the assault on Pearl Harbor. It was the first time the opening has ever been seen in Colorado.

  The Friday Twilight Air Show started at 7:00 pm and lasted about two hours, with performers showing off their aerobatic skills to the backdrop of a Rocky Mountain sunset. The Twilight Air Show performers included:

• Red Stars – Precision Formation Fly Over

• Don Nelson with his Sukhoi 26

• Gary Rower – Stearman

• Dan Buchanan – Ultralight

• Neal Darnell – Flash Fire Jet Truck

• Evening Fireworks Show

  Don Nelson in his Sukhoi 26 vs.

Neal Darnell in the FLASH FIRE Jet Truck…plane or jet truck, which one is faster? You had to come to the airshow and find out for yourself!

  On Saturday and Sunday, the excitement returned to the skies from noon – 4:00pm. Performers included:

• Red Stars – Precision Formation Fly Over

• Walt Green – American Flag Parachute Jump (with National Anthem)

• Warbirds on Parade – the T-6, T-28, T-33, Provost and more

• Don Nelson with his Sukhoi 26

• Dan Buchanan and a High-performance hang glider demonstration

• Neal Darnell – Flash Fire Jet Truck

• Gary Rower – Stearman

• USAF – Viper West F-16 demonstration with pyrotechnics

• USAF 509th BW B-2 Spirit Fly-by

• USN – F/A -18C Hornet flight demonstration

• CAF presents Tora!-Tora!-Tora!, a re-creation of the attack on Pearl Harbor

  On top of all the air show performers, there were plenty of new and vintage aircraft parked where folks could take photos with them and in some cases, even don a flight suit and helmet and have their photos taken in the cockpit.

  A full contingent of restored military vehicles was camped out beside the runways and they had vehicles ranging from a solid tire 1918 truck to modern day HumVees, with all the crews dressed in authentic military gear to match the era of their vehicles.

23^rd Annual Cemetery Crawl in Central City

  The Gilpin County Historical Society presented its 23rd Annual Cemetery Crawl on Saturday, August 27 at the Bald Mountain Cemetery. The Crawl is a 90-minute production by 30 volunteers. Stories of pioneer men – miners, a doctor, two sheriffs, a politician, a carpenter and more – and women are shared with each of the groups, as guides chart a course from storyteller to storyteller. Many of the 210 attendees were heard to comment that “This was the best Crawl yet.”  “Every story was so good and the storytellers were all wonderful. No one needed notes – they had everything memorized.”

  County Commissioner Buddy Schmalz, looking elegant in his ‘tails and top hat,’ gave a history of Bald Mountain Cemetery. Central City Mayor Ron Engels, the official Gatekeeper, also looked quite smashing in Victorian garb. The Gatekeeper’s duty is counting the size of each group and introducing each group to their Guide, who will steer them on a designated pattern to hear the storytellers: Children brought to the pioneer town of Nevadaville and abandoned by their parents, a miner trapped underground for 13 days, a disappointed suitor who stayed a bachelor but helped bring up a neighbor’s children, a doctor who traveled throughout the county on horseback to assist anyone and everyone, a beloved former sheriff shot in his prime, an illiterate Irishman who made a huge fortune mining, and many more riveting stories told by the costumed storytellers standing near their tombstones.

  The “Crawl” has been a success for the Society from the beginning and is a major fundraiser for the group. The Society owns four 19th century properties, three of which are open to the public – the Gilpin History Museum, the Thomas House, and the Coeur d’Alene Mine. The Society is committed to sharing Gilpin County’s history with the public although paying the museum guides cost more than admissions bring in. The fundraisers which the Society’s volunteers present, help bridge the cash flow gap between income and outgo. Because of the popularity of the Cemetery Crawl, the Society began the Creepy Crawls two years ago with an entirely different focus – emphasizing ghost stories and murders in Gilpin County in the 19th century. All five Saturday nights in October will host a Central City Creepy Crawl.  

  The volunteers who contributed to this year’s Cemetery Crawl were: Storytellers – Anne Lueddes, Dave Thomas, Alynn & Gary Huffman, Gloria & Herman Gaines, Neal Standard, Chuck Roberts, Jennifer Rogers, Cora Jean Lenheer and Jim Peyrouse. Guides were Gail Keeler, Brittany Schmidli, Chuck Lueddes, Colleen Stewart, Janell & Roy Ince, Karen & Ralph Barnhardt, Deb Wray, Linda Jones and Chris Rogers. Cashiers were Verl Jones, Susan Lobato, Sharon Peyrouse and Suzanne Matthews. Barbara Thielemann and Martie Fast helped with crowd logistics. The 2012 Cemetery Crawl will be on Saturday, August 25 at the IOOF Cemetery above Central City.

Final exhibit of the season

  The works of approximately 75 Colorado artists, including many who are local residents, are now on display (and sale) at the Gilpin County Arts Association (GCAA) gallery in Central City. The opening reception for this special exhibit, the 2011 Members Show, was held August 27, 2011. Refreshments and the Bolder County Boys bluegrass band gave the event a festive atmosphere; the art works gave it awe.

  There are paintings, drawings and photographs, plus fiber, ceramics, glass, metal and wood pieces. Some are decorative only. Others are as practical as they are beautiful; pottery and glass vessels, platters, and utensils; wearable wovens; specialized bags for storage or carrying; postcards, note cards and calendars; and a collection of designer jewelry, expanded for this year’s show. Prices range from $1 for individualized note cards to $6,000 for an intricately wood inlay coffee table.

  “Practical and beautiful” might also describe the gallery itself. Located in historic Washington Hall, opposite the Teller House on Eureka Street, the building was once Central’s City Hall. The entrance features an original jail cell and “Lula” the elevator recently repaired through a partnership with Central City and funding from the Allen Green Foundation. (“Lula” has been “resting” for about four years.) Ascent, via Lula or the stairs, deposits the visitor in the original court room, now the gift shop, cleverly incorporating the judge’s bench, witness chair and jury’s corner for display and operational space. Each of the gallery’s five rooms is unique with architectural features original to the building or enhancements like the streaming water of the “Sluice Room” (this year it featured several political/social commentary pieces, too, and a special exhibit of aprons, bags, scarves, etc. from the artists of the African Community Center in Denver-a program, now in its second year, that teaches refugees to sew). A pocket garden behind the gallery also features water-a fountain, guarded by a stone lion. Last year’s tree trimming and clean-up of vegetation opened up the area, increasing the light into two of the gallery rooms through the large garden-side windows. A few years ago, GCAA replaced the floor in the main gallery and launched a fund-raising personalized paver project. Contributors pay to have names or inspirational inscriptions on their special bricks before they’re placed in the gallery pathways. There were six new pavers for the floor this year.

  The Members Show is the second show of the season. The first is the Juried Show. Sales from this year’s two shows are projected to be in the range of $20,000-$30,000 (exact figures weren’t available yet). Proceeds from the Members Show support art programs at Gilpin County RE-1 School. Sales from the Juried Show support the preservation of the gallery and its annual operations. The building currently has no heat; however GCAA’s president, Sandy Early, said they’re working on that. They hope to expand the gallery’s season for use throughout the spring, summer and fall. Another priority is expanding the kitchen corner which is currently a cramped closet with little room for adequate appliances or preparation space for events such as the opening reception. A prospectus and other information for GCAA are posted at www.gilpinarts.org.

  Volunteers will staff the gallery throughout September. The Members Show will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It closes for the winter on October 2, 2011.