Author: Larry Borowsky

This year’s heavy snowpack has made for heavy runoff and spectacular whitewater on Colorado’s rivers. Those same conditions have heightened the danger that always comes with water recreation. Dr. Jasjot Johar, medical director of the emergency department at McKee Medical Center, has seen firsthand what can happen when people aren’t safety-conscious on the water. Here are his thoughts.  — Ed. With the high water this summer season, Colorado has experienced a slew of river accidents and deaths, largely related to rafting and tubing. Many of the people involved wind up in the McKee Medical Center Emergency Department, where I work...

The Colorado Rockies don’t look like they’re headed back to the playoffs, but two NOCO ballclubs are. The Fort Collins Foxes and the Johnstown-based Colorado Cyclones won their respective summer leagues and will be representing the state and the region next month in the National Baseball Congress World Series. The Cyclones, winners of the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League for the 5th straight year, made it all the way to the quarterfinals in last year’s NBC tournament and will try to bring home the national title this season. They’re coached by Greeley native J.L. Buchanan and feature a NOCO-heavy...

The High Plains Environmental Center welcomes the Tipi Raisers to Loveland this evening for a LakotaRide Wicoti. It’s one of several NOCO stops on a 400-mile horseback journey that started July 13 down in Salida and ends early next month at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The annual LakotaRide (aka “Ride of Reconciliation”) brings Lakota Sioux culture to communities throughout the West. The goal is to foster conversation, camaraderie, understanding and, ultimately, healing between Lakota and non-Lakota people. It’s also the primary annual fundraiser for the Tipi Raisers, who sponsor youth leadership training, humanitarian projects, anti-poverty...

If this month’s travel article didn’t give you enough reasons to head up to Summit County, you might consider some of the special events and festivals taking place there over the next couple of weeks. Here’s a smattering: July 20-21: The 30th annual Courage Classic bicycle ride takes place this weekend, with proceeds benefitting Children’s Hospital Colorado. You can choose from half a dozen different routes of varying lengths, including the famous Triple Bypass over Fremont, Tennessee and Vail passes. It’s not too late to register, or to support the riders as a volunteer.  For more on Summit County...

One of the jewels of NOCO’s natural-areas system turns 10 years old this weekend. Soapstone Prairie, a 19,000-acre preserve in the Laramie Foothills, will celebrate its decennial on Saturday, July 13, with interactive stations where you can learn about the area’s archaeological treasures and wildlife — including a thriving bison herd, prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets and plethora of birds. There are 44 miles of hiking trails at Soapstone, which one CSU naturalist describes as “Fort Collins’ best-kept secret.“ Owned by the City of Fort Collins, the parcel lies about an hour northwest of Fort Collins via Buckeye Road, County...

If you’re itching to learn how to weave from NOCO fiber artist Sarah Neubert (featured in this month’s issue), there are still a few slots open for her next class. The three-hour session takes place on Saturday, July 27, at Fancy Tiger Crafts down in Denver. This introductory session covers weaving, warping, shapes, and textures. The $75 fee includes a take-home loom and workbook, so you can keep practicing after the class. If you’re willing to follow the skein a bit further afield, plan to attend the Intermountain Weaving Conference down in Durango from July 25 through 28. Themed...

This is a big week for golf in NOCO. It begins with the inaugural TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes, the first pro tournament at the world-class Berthoud layout that opened last year to great fanfare. Practice rounds begin today, and the first round of competition tees off Thursday morning. Tickets are still available; former world #1 David Duvall heads the field. Also today, Fort Collins Country Club hosts a qualifier for the 83rd annual CGA Amateur. They’ll be playing 36 holes today, with the morning round starting at 7 a.m. sharp and the afternoon round getting underway at...

At age 83, Dick Maxfield doesn’t chase bird sightings very often. But he doesn’t have to. These days, the birds come to Maxfield.