Funding Our Heroes

While the Lower North Fork fire was burning, another fire sprang up in Sawmill Gulch near Genesee which threatened homes. Eight fire districts responded and this fire was thankfully put out overnight. One of the responding fire departments was Indian Hills, and unfortunately about $2,000 worth of fire hoses was destroyed during the blaze. Where does the money come from to replace equipment when it’s lost? Sometimes it comes from donors. Sometimes it comes from the firefighters own pockets.

This is the reason we have The Big Chili Cook-Off each year in Evergreen. The Big Chili raises money not only for Indian Hills, but also for the volunteer firefighters of Elk Creek, , Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon, Evergreen and  North Fork fire districts. We hope you plan on attending – you’ll have great fun, eat fantastic food and hear some rockin’ music. But please also consider donating to The Big Chili yourself. We currently have a local business that has stepped up with a matching donation. This means that if you give this month, every dollar you donate will be matched. This instantly doubles the impact of your gift. Check The Big Chili website here for more information on how to donate. Thank you to every single one of you – this event raises the money it does because of people like you!

Thank You, Heroes

This past week we’ve been reminded that we live amongst people who sacrifice every day for our good.  The Volunteer Firefighters of Elk Creek, Indian Hills, Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon and Evergreen have all joined the Volunteers from the North Fork Fire District in an effort to fight a bigger than average foe.  Wild fire has come to Colorado and our mountain area volunteers have put in many exhausting hours in the recent days and nights fighting this beast. Many homes and two lives have been lost because of extreme dryness and wind, and today we are thankful for moisture and cooler weather.

There are others in this community of volunteers who do not physically fight the fires but have chosen to sacrifice financially to support those who do. We thank business sponsors such as Aspen Park Veterinary Hospital and ESCO Construction who make supporting our Volunteer Fire Departments a priority. They are sponsoring our 2012 Chili Cook-Off which raises funds that supply equipment and training for our local volunteer fire fighters. These businesses are our heroes, too.

We are praying today for the safety and comfort of the families who have suffered loss during the Lower North Fork Wildfire, and the protection of our Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services and all the others who have come across state borders to help us.  We are indebted to them and thank them for their sacrifice.  Heroes are people who do what they can whenever they’re needed regardless of the possible outcome.

Chocolate Mousse Pie

If you’re in a hurry, and want an extremely easy dessert, try this yummy concoction. Everyone will think you slaved over it!

Chocolate Mousse Pie

1/3 cup hot, strong coffee

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup whipping cream, whipped

In a blender, blend coffee and chocolate chips until smooth. Fold coffee/chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Pour into a graham cracker crust, or into dessert dishes if you want to go without the crust. Chill until desired consistency. Serve and impress everyone!

1stBank Evergreen – Doing it Again

The Big Chili Cook-off Music and Arts Festival is going for bigger, better, let’s blow the doors off this year, and 1stBank Evergreen has climbed on for the ride.  They were a big sponsor last year and they have signed on again.  The Big Chili is thrilled to put our names on the same marquis as 1stBank.  They are a bank that has embedded themselves in the mountain community, offering their support to a wide variety of organizations, doing their part to keep it all moving.  It is a matter of heroes honoring heroes, when 1stBank steps up to support our Volunteer Firefighters.  As the saying goes, it takes one to know one! Thank you 1stBank!

Coming Soon

Evergreen Players

Have you experienced the award-winning theater in the heart of Evergreen? For four decades, the Evergreen Players have performed musicals, comedies, and dramas. The amateur troupe, consisting primarily of local residents, stages eight plays each year. Their current show, Remaining in Orbit, is playing through January 29, 2012. Come and experience the regional premiere of this play by Evergreen playwright Scott Gibson, directed by Len Matheo.

Henry “Hen” Loudin, a self-absorbed middle-aged man has shut himself off from the distractions and annoyances of the outside world, aided by his opinionated assistant Ginnie who runs errands–and interference–on his behalf. One day, Hen’s neighbor, the free-spirited Lissie bursts into his life, creating havoc with his well-ordered existence. A seriocomic examination of co-dependence between three slightly dysfunctional people each seeking a chance at happily-ever-after.

Check here for ticketing information.

Thanks Upon Thanks

Thank you Freedom Harley-Davidson. We were thrilled to have you participate at The Big Chili ~ and your bikes were a huge hit!

Thank you Rose Medical Center Midwives for providing a privacy tent for our nursing mothers. It was such a blessing to walk away from the crowds to quietly feed our tiny ones.

Thank you Best Buy. One of our firefighters won your T.V., and this seems like an extremely fitting finish to the day!

So many people and businesses made this day wonderful. Every sponsorship, big or small, was a critical part of making the day what it was. Thank you everyone!

The Beer Garden

The Big Chili Cook-Off is very excited to have Idaho Springs’ Tommyknocker Brewery sponsoring the Beer Garden at our event. Be sure to stop by for one of their flavorful signature beers.

Tommyknocker is also a chili cook in our restaurant category, vying for the People’s Choice award. In addition to chili, their vendor booth will have some scrumptious goodies available for purchase, like the Chicken Waffle Sandwich (you have to taste it to believe it!), wings, and other munchies.

Remember – the event is September 11th, and you can get more information here.

Thank you Tommyknocker for supporting our local fire departments and firefighters!

Staycation

The Royal Gorge is considered a world wonder, and is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River. Yet it’s unlike any other canyon. The width at the canyon bottom is no more than 40 to 50 feet, while the top measures only a few hundred feet wide. Hanging above Colorado’s wild Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge is America’s highest suspension bridge – hanging 956 feet above the canyon floor, and a legendary feat of engineering renowned the world over. Built in 1929 for $350,000, the cost today would easily exceed $15 million. But for those who venture across it, whether walking or driving, the experience is priceless.

The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park has more than 360 acres and 21 rides, shows and attractions to explore. Whether you’re looking to sightsee, have an adventure, go on a family vacation or a day trip, this one-of-a-kind attraction has something for everyone.

Along famous U.S. Highway 50, cutting across America at the corner of Fremont County Road 3A right outside Cañon City, Colo., the new Royal Gorge Bridge Visitors Center welcomes guests to the region, where one can buy tickets, shop, or eat in the cozy café. The visitors center is approximately three miles from the Bridge, and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 30 to October 16, although the Bridge is open 365 days a year, weather permitting.

So, what are we waiting for? One of the most spectacular vistas in America is just a day-trip from Evergreen. Let’s pack a picnic and enjoy a mini-vacation, in our own backyard.

Simmer

Calling all chili geniuses!  You know who you are – the ones who hand pick your chilies and roast them in a secret ceremony at exactly four o’clock in the afternoon, just hours before the sun sets. You understand chili, respect it for the perfectly blended spices, for its savory essence of rich exotic cultures, the way it owns the summer and holds the cold at bay.  Chili has a power all its own and you have learned to harness it with ladle and cooking pot.  The Big Chili is gearing up for another year and you have spent the winter priming the pump, perfecting your blend, making your chili better than it has ever been, because you know that chili isn’t something to be toyed with, it is to be revered.  So fire up the grill, and put your aprons on.  Let the Chili begin!