By Shannon Lukens.
The holiday season is upon us. Official Christmas tree lightings happened in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig over the weekend. The always popular Parade of Lights was also this weekend through downtown Craig.
Pictures of the Hayden Tree Lighting on the Steamboat Radio Facebook page
Pictures of the Parade of Lights in Craig on the KRAI & 55 Country Facebook page
Older Driver Safety Week starts today. Hope Hunt is the Transportation Coordinator for the Northwest Colorado Center for Independence, serving Routt and Moffat counties. It’s a group that supports people with disabilities and seniors by helping with housing, transportation, employment and other independent living services.
As for transportation, Hunt says residents can be taken to medical appointments in Denver and Grand Junction as well as locally.
“I know a lot of times, especially in rural areas, that when people are older, tend to start thinking about ‘I’m not able to drive. How can I get to the grocery store or my medical appointment?’ Just knowing that there are organizations that can help them with transportation if that’s the route they want to take or they are thinking about not driving anymore.”
To reach out for a ride or services from the Northwest Colorado Center for Independence, call 970-819-0579. Or email hope@nwcci.org
The group is currently providing between 50 and 70 rides a month in Moffat and Routt counties.
More on the Story — Older Driver Safety Week is Dec. 2-6
NORTHWEST COLORADO CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE — Empowerment through advocacy, peer support and education.
Promoting Driver Safety & Transit in Colorado for Drivers Over 65 at OlderWiser.org
Tour Western Colorado Without a Car
When is it Time to Stop Driving?
Signs that it’s Time to Limit or Stop Driving:
- Almost crashing, with frequent “close calls.”
- Finding dents and scrapes on the car, on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs, etc.
- Getting lost, especially in familiar locations.
- Having trouble seeing or following traffic signals, road signs, and pavement markings.
- Responding more slowly to unexpected situations, or having trouble moving their foot from the gas to the brake pedal; confusing the two pedals.
- Misjudging gaps in traffic at intersections and on highway entrance and exit ramps.
- Experiencing road rage or causing other drivers to honk or complain.
- Easily becoming distracted or having difficulty concentrating while driving.
- Having a hard time turning around to check the rear view while backing up or changing lanes.
- Receiving multiple traffic tickets or “warnings” from law enforcement officers.
- You are taking new medications with this warning “May Cause Dizziness. Do Not Drive Or Perform Other Potentially DANGEROUS Tasks Until You Know How This Medication Affects You.”
- During the last two years, have you had any physical, mental, or emotional condition that would interfere with your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely including heart problems, diabetes, paralysis, epilepsy, seizures, lapses of consciousness, or dizziness?
General registration opens Monday, Dec. 2, for the SBT GRVL ride next summer. This is for either the Saturday Ride or the Sunday Gravel Circuit Race. Next summer’s event is now June. 28-29, 2025. General registration is Dec. 2-7 with a random selection process. All entrants will be notified of their status on Friday, Dec. 13.
A documentary has been made about the SBT GRVL ride called, “The Routt Forward.” A screening of the short film is a Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Steamboat Social Club, at 11th and Lincoln. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the film starts at 6:30 p.m. It’s 22 minutes long.
RSVP for The Routt Forward: A Watch Party with SBT GRVL
The Christmas Giving Tree in the community of Yampa is Dec. 1-21. The way it works is that you select an ornament in the Crossan’s building, and then purchase the gift on the ornament, and then return the unwrapped gift to Crossan’s by Dec. 21. It will help a local family have a happy holiday season. Reach out to Kasey for any questions or if you want to register. Call 719-469-1292.
The Creative Arts Scholarship Contest is open for the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition. There are three categories: Story or Essay, Poetry or Song, and Visual Arts. This i9s for all high school seniors in Moffat and Routt counties. The deadline is Feb. 18, 2025. More Information is at ColoradoCranes.org
Each week, we’ll be updating the Mental Health Minute for Routt and Moffat counties. This week’s topic is about finding hope and healing, and supporting each other through the holidays. Find out more on our website.
More on the Story — Yampa Valley Safety Net for Routt and Moffat counties
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.