|
Archive for the ‘Loveland, Colordo’ Category
 The Namaqua Star celebrates Independence Day! Max Moree, a 13-year old Loveland Boy Scout, delivered on his promise to have the Namaqua Star relit in time for the 4th of July last evening. He will light it again for the fireworks (which were delayed due to weather) TONIGHT, July 5th!
This was the first time - after all these years as a Christmas and winter holiday decoration - that the Namaqua Star shone to celebrate Independence Day!
 Max Moree throws the switch and lights up the Namaqua Star in the hills west of Loveland for the 4th of July Moree took it upon himself to test/replace the strings of white bulbs that form a star in the Namaqua hills west of Loveland, Colorado. His pains-taking work shone brightly through last night's torrential downpour.
Way to go, Max!
Photos by John Giroux
Tags: 4th of July, Boy Scout, Independence Day decoration
Posted in John Giroux, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365 | No Comments »
 Loveland 365 Team Ross Livingston, Rick Denning, & Jessica Reed-Baum With a winning time of 2 hrs 25 mins and 15 sec, Loveland 365's Team placed first overall.
Congratulations to the L365 Lake to Lake Triathalon Team! Starting at Lake Loveland and taking on the uphill to Horsetooth Reservoir, this is an athlete's challenge the Loveland 365 Team tromped.
They took first place in the relay yesterday, beating the nearest competitor by 12 minutes. Be sure to check Loveland 365's on Facebook to see additional photos; this photo was originally posted there.
See the Loveland 365 Team's button-poppin' score listed on the Lake to Lake Triathalon website. WOW!
Ross Livingtson enthusiastically notes, "Each of us finished first in our respective relay categories. This was the best day of my summer by far." He says it was a great race and he made great new friends, thanks to Loveland 365 idea man, John Giroux.
An "Olympic Distance Triathalon" includes a three part relay with these specified distances, each of which is a race unto itself:
Swim: 1.5 K (.93 miles)
Bike: 30 miles (48.2 miles)
Run: 10K (6.2 miles)
Kudos to the Loveland 365 Team! Jessica Reed-Baum set the pace swimming, Ross Livingston kept it up cycling, and Rick Denning ran the relay to the finish. Hats off to each of you for this significant accomplishment.
Tags: Lake to Lake Triathalon
Posted in Colorado, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365, Ross Livingston | No Comments »
I love that Loveland has many businesses that have been around for years. Some are owned and run but second and even third generations of the same family. It was with a heavy heart that I recently reported on the closure of one if the mainstays of the downtown Loveland retail community.
Loveland is losing it. Penner’s Appliance is no more. Harvey Penner started the business in 1969, and sold it four years ago. I think it was about 1972 when I first purchased a washer and dryer from Harv. Over the years, I have gone to him for stoves, refrigerator and a second washer and driver.
Harvey was not the cheapest. The big boxes could beat him by a few bucks, but he was LOCAL. He knew who his customers were, and called them by name.
I talked to Harvey in the parking lot of the business today. He still owns the building, and is trying to get it ready to be rented out. It can be used as one unit or divided into up to five separate businesses. The nice thing is that it has parking spaces in front that are not on the street.
Thanks Harvey and family for your service to Loveland as a businessperson, civic leader and church member. We all need to remember to support local businesses.
Call Harvey Penner at 667-9983 if you are interested in retail space downtown Loveland.
See photo and original post on Bob's Heart Beats.
Posted in Bob McDonnell, Loveland Business, Loveland, Colordo | No Comments »
 Carl and Ann Bradbury of Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch and Friend Ann and Carl Bradbury, owners of Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch in Loveland, welcomed their newest baby alpaca (aka cria), to their farm family on May 13th at 10 a.m. John Giroux, founder of Loveland 365, asked us to call him when the first baby came. We did and he was here, camera in hand, within 10 minutes of the birth. Right away he wondered if he could name the new cria and he did.
He thought about it for a moment and said “13 is my lucky number” and because crias are born coming out like Superman, he named him Lucky Clark.
 Newborn cria "Lucky Clark" stands on shaky legs We are grateful that John has taken an interest in our alpacas and especially in our newest cria.
Our ranch was established in 2006 and the first herd of alpacas were purchased and arrived in June of 2007. Since there was a large barn on the ranch, we knew we had to fill it up and bought 2 horses right away. We started the alpacas business with a herd of 10 and currently (including the 14 crias born on the ranch, have 26 total)…..we purchased an amazing herd sire (Jubilant) who is the sire to 9 of the 14 crias. We have a 2nd herd sire named Midnight who has sired a couple of the crias and several of ours have sires from other alpaca ranches in N. Colorado. We pride ourselves in having all 8 colors and all with beautiful fiber (what this business is all about). In addition to affording and healthy and less stressful lifestyle, alpacas offer you a unique way to diversify your financial portfolio. Alpaca livestock are tax deductable and fully insurable.
 Newborn cria "Lucky Clark" has his mother's full attention We love all our alpacas and their fiber. We have a small farm store where we sell yarn and products made from our alpacas. Last year we had many visitors to the ranch who loved the experience of meeting the alpacas and then buying products made from them.
Prior to raising alpacas, we published the Colorado Business and Lifestyle Magazine for almost 9 years. Retiring from publishing and moving to the ranch west of Loveland, we decided to enhance our life by getting into the alpaca business. The horses are a huge blessing to us as well. Ann rides (her dream since she was a teenager).
Carl and Ann both encourage everyone to follow their dreams because dreams can come true!
For more information or to schedule a free ranch visit, call 970-669-0043 or visit Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch online.
Written by Ann Bradbury
Photos by John Giroux
Tags: Alpaca Ranch, Cria, John Giroux, Loveland, Loveland365, newborn alpaca
Posted in Ann Bradbury, Colorado, John Giroux, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365, Ridge Valley Alpaca Ranch | 1 Comment »
Written by Ross Livingston, Advantage Research
Susanne Cochran is an entrepreneur and a parrot’s best friend. Susanne has been a resident of Loveland since 1976 and she is also the owner of the Avalon Aviary. An aviary is a special type of building used for keeping many birds. Before Susanne went into business she was saddened by the irresponsible behavior of other parrot breeders who did not put the needs of their birds first. This inspired Susanne to start her own parrot breeding program based on compassionate values, continuous improvement in bird raising practices, education and a commitment to conversation and parrot rescue.
The parrots who reside in the aviary originate from Central & South America, Africa, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. The species of birds range from large Macaws to petite-sized parrots with outgoing personalities and vivid coloration. Captive parrots lay an average of 2-3 clutches of eggs per year. Baby parrots are eventually transferred to the “nursery” where they receive special care and gentle handling. When the baby parrots are ready to leave the nursery, they are placed in special baskets draped with towels. Baskets are used because they resemble a parrot’s nest and the draped towels offer the young birds a sense of privacy and security. As the birds mature they eventually learn flying and landing skills. During this process the juvenile parrots are exposed to common household items and socialized by aviary staff. This helps the parrots make a smooth transition from the aviary to their permanent homes.
Since the birds come first, anyone who wants to purchase a parrot from the Avalon Aviary must be approved through their home-qualifying process. Many parrots are loud, messy, destructive and demanding therefore prospective bird owners should know what to expect before they say yes. On the other hand, parrots are beautiful, interactive, comical and playful companions that can live 30-100 years. Since most of us are not parrot experts, Susanne offers educational seminars for new bird owners.
Finally, Susanne sends a portion of her profits to the Gabriel Foundation which is one of the leading bird rescue and rehabilitation programs in the United States. The Avalon Aviary also supports international organizations which have a proven track record of preserving and expanding wild parrot populations.
Posted in Colorado, Loveland, Colordo, Ross Livingston | No Comments »
Max Moree and his family who moved to Loveland 3 years ago. He is a 13 year old middle schooler working on earning his Eagle Scout badge. For his project, Max has decided to rehabilitate the Star on Namqua Hill so that all of us in Loveland can enjoy once again when the holiday season rolls around. Max Moree is one of those people who truly help to make Loveland America's Sweetheart City.
Posted in Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365 | 2 Comments »
Saturday was a "shirtsleeves" day! Warm and sunny, many of us headed to the hills to spend time out of doors. The Devil's Backbone Open Space is one of the most unique in our area. I happened to run across this video posted on YouTube by Loveland Chamber of Commerce SEO Brian Willims - it shows some of the great vistas you'll enjoy there.
National Geographic ran a story about the Devil's Backbone ages ago, before the area became accessible to all of us as part of Larimer County's Open Space. Now we are able to hike or ride this trail through one of the most prominent rock outcrops along the Front Range's hogbacks. Here's a downloadable map, available online through Larimer County Parks.
On their site you'll see a list of hiking trails with short descriptions and a verbal snapshot of the trail like this:
" ... Devil's Backbone Open Space has been in place since 1999. It was updated, with an extensive public process in 2004. The plan accommodates multiple-use recreation such as hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding on the 7-mile trail system. The trailhead at Devil's Backbone features restroom facilities, drinking water, horse-trailer parking and a picnic area."
If you visit soon, be watchful for the trail closure and re-route. Prairie Falcons and Ravens are nesting this time of year in the "Keyhole" area of the trail; it will open again in June when the raptors have finished nesting.
For a more complete list of hiking trails that are all only a short drive away, visit Larimer County's Parks and Open Areas. Be certain to click on the "current conditions" links - springtime in the Rockies is unpredictable.
~Maryjo Morgan
Tags: Colorado, Hiking, Loveland
Posted in Colorado, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365 | No Comments »
The first time I ever saw the mountains I was still somewhere well east of Greeley. It had been an interminable drive across a scorching Kansas. At first I thought I was seeing low clouds. But mile upon mile westward, the mountains gradually emerged from the hazy horizon.
 The mountains are visible as I sit waiting for the traffic light to change in north Loveland Wham! Just like that, I was in love. In love with the soaring peaks. In love with the fresh air. In love with the sparkling expanse of blue sky.
I try never to take all that for granted now, so many years later. Loveland has been my home, a place where I've met many others like myself, who've made the choice to move here. To build a life different from what it would have been, had we stayed where we were born.
As one who makes her living writing, why would I be involved in this volunteer project that even has a Facebook fan page?
 Nocturne by Barbara Chen seems to point the way to the path in Benson Sculpture Garden Quite frankly, it feels good to work in concert with others who are glad to live here in Loveland. It feels good to hear someone say they appreciate the art we have here. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who drives the "long way" just to pass the Benson Sculpture Garden or stop for a quick walk in Chapungu or even go down 4th Street just to see the temporary outdoor exhibits there. Loveland 365 just feels good for my soul!
This book project, full of interesting people's interviews with lots of photos of the people, places and things I love about Loveland is giving me a hugely healthy dose of positivity. It works well to combat the economy's ubiquitous negativity.
So I'm in!
~Maryjo Morgan, Freelance Writer
Tags: Art, Loveland, Loveland365
Posted in Art in Public Places, Loveland, Colordo, Loveland365 | No Comments »
|
|
|
|
|
|
