America’s premier archaeological preserve of ancient Indian ruins, Mesa Verde, will be marking its 100th birthday as a national park in 2006. A happily harried National Park Service staff is kicking off a year of celebrations with its biggest- ever holiday open house 4-9 p.m. Dec. 8.
Tessy Shirakawa, head of visitor services, says the event will feature never-before-seen sites.
Q: With preparations underway for the big birthday, what is the mood at Mesa Verde?
A: A headache. We’ll be giddy at the open house. We consider this a very important event. We want everyone to come.
Q: You have a holiday open house every year. How is this one different?
A: It’s going to be three times bigger. This is the first time ever Cliff Palace is going to be lit up. It’s going to be a sight to behold. It might not happen again until our 200th birthday. The mesa- top loop will be open, and normally it’s closed in the evenings. At the parking lot for the Sun Temple, there is a gorgeous view across the canyon of Cliff Palace, which will be illuminated with lanterns. We’ll have several Native American flute players in the canyons.
Q: How many lights?
A: There will be about 4,000 luminarias and … more than 100 lanterns. We have an incredible group of volunteers providing almost half the manpower for this. And the staff is working overtime.
Q: With all the budget woes for the National Park Service, is Mesa Verde showing its age?
A: Preservation-wise, things are better than they were 100 years ago. We have a full-time stabilization crew. We’re doing well in comparison with other years.
– Staff writer Electa Draper
REGIONAL NOTES
PARKER
Storied West just for kids
Children can enjoy the Tall Tales of the American West from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Parker’s Mainstreet Center, at 19650 E. Mainstreet.
Professional storyteller John Stansfield will recount stories passed down through the generations. Stansfield tells historically accurate stories of American Indians, pioneer settlers, conservationists and writers of the American West.
The event will include a hands-on art project. Kidz Kulture events are free, but preregistration is requested. The event is organized by the Parker Cultural Commission, Parker Library and the Parker Artist Guild.
To register, call 303-805-3263, or go to www.parkerpresents.org for more information.
AURORA
Schedule stint as holiday wrapper
The Aurora Public Library seeks volunteers from Nov. 25 to Dec. 24 to gift-wrap books and other items purchased at Barnes & Noble, 170 S. Abilene St., at Aurora City Place shopping center.
The gift wrapping will be provided free of charge to customers.
Customer donations for these services are voluntary, and all proceeds will benefit the Aurora Public Library’s programs and collections.
Weekend, evening and some day shifts for volunteers are available.
To volunteer, call 303-739-6599.
For more information on the Aurora Public Library, call 303-739-6600 or go to www.auroralibrary.org.
WHEAT RIDGE
Info offered on traffic options
An open house on the environmental assessment of traffic improvements near the proposed Cabela’s store will be 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St.
The Colorado Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have requested the assessment, which is studying potential impacts of three “build” alternatives compared with a “no action” option.
For more information, call 303-376-8394 or go to www.cabwheatridge.com.
DENVER POST STAFF REPORTS
