Q&A
Bill Anderson is a magician. And he gets Secret Service protection.
On Monday, the 33-year-old Castle Rock man and more than a dozen other magicians from Texas to New Jersey performed at the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. The yearly roll is considered one of the top honors for magicians across the country.
For a guy who started his magician career five years ago, Anderson still finds it hard to believe that he just got back from Washington.
“The fact that I’ve turned a hobby into a career is amazing,” he said. “There’s nothing better than what I’m doing right now.”
Anderson – a former electrician – was chosen for the White House gig through his connection with another performer, who recommended Anderson for the event.
Besides his White House work, Anderson performs across the state – doing shows mostly at schools and restaurants – and emphasizes respect and honesty among children through magic and comedy.
Q: What was the most exciting part of your White House trip?
A: I saw George Bush Sr. and Barbara Bush, and Laura Bush did story time at a stage right next to me. Mr. McFeely (from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”) was there, which was pretty neat.
Q: What did you keep from the event?
A: I have the Easter Egg Roll program. I got a lot of those. They wouldn’t let us take the signs.
Q: Are you performing next year?
A: I hope so. The problem is … the administration change (when President Bush’s term ends in 2009). It all changes with the president.
– Robert Sanchez, Denver Post staff writer
REGIONAL NOTES
MANCOS
Photo workshops at Mesa Verde
As part of its year-long centennial celebration, Mesa Verde National Park is offering three color photography workshops to continue its legacy of education and artistic inspiration among the 800-year-old cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and plaster paintings.
Dr. Gene Balzer, professor of photography at Northern Arizona University, will lead the workshops, which are open to amateurs and professionals, but will be limited to 13 participants each.
The sessions are scheduled for April 21-23, May 19-21 and Sept. 20-22. Each begins at noon Friday and ends on Sunday afternoon. For more information, visit www.mesaverde2006.org. To register, please call Krista or Tracey at 970-529-4445.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Meeting on Cabela plans, traffic
Two meetings about the proposed Cabela’s outdoor recreation store and related traffic impacts are planned by the retailer and Jefferson County.
A neighborhood informational meeting will be held by Cabela’s from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 25 at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St.
The open house will focus on Cabela’s final development plans, with a brief presentation every hour. Cabela’s and Wheat Ridge officials will be available for questions.
From 7 to 9 p.m. April 27, county commissioners will hold a “listening session” at the Denver Marriott West, 1717 Denver West Parkway, about traffic changes near Cabela’s, which is proposed near the intersection of Interstate 70 and Colorado 58.
Comments from the session will be incorporated into the county’s written remarks to the Colorado Department of Transportation when the environmental assessment is released this summer.
AURORA
2nd annual Java Fest brewing
The metro area’s only festival dedicated to the pursuit of coffee will kick off at 6 a.m. May 21 at the Fletcher Plaza on East Colfax Avenue in tandem with the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon.
Aurora’s second annual Java Fest will continue to 2 p.m. and will feature plenty of coffee, as well as music, poetry readings, chair massage, handwriting analysis, bocce ball, croquet, life-size chess and more.
The free festival will take place at Fletcher Plaza, 9898 E. Colfax Ave.
For more information call, 303-326-8FUN or visit www.auroragov.org/java.
DENVER POST STAFF REPORTS
