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Loveland’s starlight, starbright

By on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 | No Comments

Namaqua Star on the hill in Loveland

There has been considerable discussion on the Facebook page Remember Loveland When ….    regarding the lighted star on Namaqua Hill.  This unique feature of Loveland is a curiosity to many.

I know when our son was younger, he liked to point it out when we were driving around Loveland during the holidays.  I think one year, we even drove up Namaqua Hill to see it “up close and personal.”

The star is on land that was owned by a couple named Mr. and Mrs. Ray Black. The Black’s helped raise funds for the initial star.  (It originally cost $500.)  Western States Distributing Co. discounted 115 bulbs and associated clips and sockets to the project.

As best I can find, it looks like Loveland’s Namaqua Star was built in 1965. (one account said 1964) but most seem to think it made its first appearance on December 15, 1965.

The star measures some 50 feet by 50 feet, and consisted of 40-watt bulbs in the main frame with 100-watt bulbs at each of the five points.

The star not only has been visible during the Christmas holiday time, but also was lit to honor the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.  There are reports that from December 1979 to sometime in 1991, the star was illuminated for the taking of American hostages (including Fort Collins resident Tom Sutherland.)  This does not seem acurate to me. I do not remember it being lit during all that time myself.  It probably was lit for some of the time Sutherland was a hostage.

Over the years, the star and its wiring and bulbs felt into disrepair. Boy Scout Max Moree (Troop 194) took on the rejuvenation of the Loveland star as his Eagle Scout project. Thanks to him, the star shines over Loveland even as I write this article.

Some information here was found in the book, “Loveland 365   365 Things to Love about Loveland.”  (I am one of the main contributing writers for this book.)  Gerri Gerling, John Giroux and Maryjo Morgan wrote about this topic in Loveland 365.

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Loveland has an organic cafe

By on Friday, November 11th, 2011 | No Comments

Info on Loveland comes to me in many forms. For the most part, I see something happening, hear of it or read it on the web.  I am also very appreciative of my followers, called “beeps.”  They are my extra eyes and ears to what is going on in town.

My latest find through someone else is the an organic cafe in Loveland called the Organic Cafe.  It is amusing to me that my son, who lives and works in Denver, told me about this.  He was in Loveland on business, and stopped by the Organic Cafe while waiting to meet with someone.

I hustled over to the Organic Cafe today, and met with owner Karen Szyanowski. She is an acupuncturist, and last Monday opened this new Loveland eatery.

Rignt now the new Loveland restaurant serves coffees and lattes.  She will add lunch items including soups starting next week.  Karen said many of her offerings will be gluten-free, and all are healthy food.

It is interesting that we are so close to getting a natural food grocery store (The Crunchy Grocer) and now we can have a healthy lunch too.

The other interesting part of the story is that Karen’s healthy restaurant is located in much of the space that was currently Walter Huang’s  universal health and universal wellness center.  It is located at 1714 E. Topaz Drive.  This is the area behind and a bit west of McGraff’s restaurant.   It seems that seems Walter’s vison for a large place to have chiropractic, massage, meditation and other wellness activities did not last.

Hours for the Organic Cafe are Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Loveland church moves — temporarily

By on Friday, August 12th, 2011 | No Comments

Loveland’s sculpture shows are a great deal for the city.  They bring in lots of visitors, but some aspects of the shows are not covenient for local residents.  One such group is the Bent Tree Church.  They normally meet at Loveland High School, but are being displaced due to the sculpture shows.

Here is what they say on Facebook

Bent Tree Church is meeting at Thompson Valley High Auditorium this week (8/14) at our regular service times of 9 and 10:30am. 1669 Eagle Drive in Loveland. Let your friends know. It’s also 2nd Sunday Lunch, so stay after and enjoy lunch
together.

It’s potluck so bring enough for your crew and we will all share. BTC will have drinks cups and plates.Bent Tree Church is meeting at Thompson Valley High Auditorium this week (8/14) at our regular service times of 9 and 10:30am. 1669 Eagle Drive in Loveland.

Let your friends know. It’s also 2nd Sunday Lunch, so stay after and enjoy lunch together. It’s potluck so bring enough for your crew and we will all share. BTC  will have drinks cups and plates.

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Loveland new McDonald’s on Eisenhower

By on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 | 4 Comments

Loveland is back at full strength when it comes to McDonald’s.  The new Mickey D’s on west Eisenhower has opened.

I posted about the razing and building of McDonalds in previous posts.   I walk by this McDonald’s on many of my morning walks.   The newly renovated Loveland fast-food restaurant is now complete.

I went there last weekend for the first time.  (We got some coupons in the mail.)  Had a cold drink, and check it out.

The new location is, ummm, how do I say it ….. smaller.   I never counted the seats in the old one but is sure looks like less seating now.

This is probably not a major issue most of the time.  I wonder what it will be like when the high schools are back in session. It only took one visit for me to realize that lunchtimeon a school day is the wrong time to go there.

Another aspect that they may not have considered in the McDonald’s redesign is groups who meet there on a regular basis. I know of one church group who relocated when the old building went away.   They are evaluating whether they can find sufficient seating in the new setup on a weekday.

What are your thoughts on the new and “improved” McDonald’s in Loveland, CO?

 

 

Bobservation — Best Western in Loveland

By on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 | 1 Comment

Loveland’s Best Western Crossroad Plus Crossroads Inn & Conference Center (The old Coachhouse, to some of us) had a celebration yesterday afternoon.  General Manager Christine Stephens, along with my friend Amy Wyscarver and Maureen Radice, were great hosts.

 The event was a customer appreciation and celebration of Best Western’s 65 birthday.

We toured part of the facility. I have been an events in the meeting rooms, and may have spent a time or two at Monroe’s Lounge onsite.  Last night we got to see one of the rooms and an amazingly large suite with a kitchen in it.  Very impressive.   This place is nothing like it was many years ago.

 The facility and staff are celebrating the PLUS designation on the Center.  They have a new menu at Monroe’s Lounge, trivia in the lounge on Saturday night, extra fluffy pillows and rooms are getting flat screen televisions.  An on-site exercise area is coming soon.

 Check out Loveland’s Best Western for your next meeting, a place for visitors (mother-in-law?) to say or just to have a meal or an adult beverage.

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