The Buena Vista Rotary Club is bringing the Great State Tomato War of the 1980s to The Meadows on Saturday.

After a year of Zoom and outdoor lectures, the Collegiate Peaks Forum Series will reopen their lecture series with a reception and a presentation by two paleontologists at the Salida SteamPlant Sept. 19.

Chaffee County Heritage Area Advisory Board invites the public to the presentation of the National Historic Register for the Maxwell School from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17. The plaque will be presented at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of CR 326 and CR 321/Rodeo Road in Buena Vista.

The annual Optimist Charity Golf Tournament at the Collegiate Peaks Golf Course drew 46 participants last month.

The madams of the early 1900s return to give their personal stories in “Madams of Central Colorado” on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Buena Vista Heritage Museum.

The Chaffee County Community Foundation is pleased to announce an innovative grant program targeting the twin crises of housing and childcare.

High Rocky Riders presented Colorado Off Road Enterprises founder Marcus Trusty with a $1,000 check at their recent meeting. Trusty said he started the stewardship group to do something positive for outdoor riders.

A siren cued the fishing lines to fly into the Town Lake at McPhelemy Park for the annual Kid’s Fishing Derby on Sept. 4.

A total of 69 fish were caught by the 107 kids registered for the event. 

Applefest returns to Turner Farm on West Main Street on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event features music all day, an apple pie contest, activities for kids and adults, lunch and a Victorian dress show.

Friday, Sept. 10

Remember to cool down if ever confronted by an aggressive driver. This article is written in order to remind you to keep your cool if you find yourself in a heated situation.

Chaffee County Mentors is proud to present our August Match of the Month, Bill Hussey and Skylar Schodorf. Bill and Skylar have been matched since January 2021.

After a year of Zoom and outdoor lectures, the Collegiate Peaks Forum Series will reopen its lecture series with a reception and a presentation by two paleontologists discussing “The Colorado Fossil Discovery that Rocked the World.”

This photo was taken in 1911 inside a bar on Main Street in the building that is now the Pearl Theater. 

Chaffee County residents can visit sustainable homes and learn to save money by using less energy at the third annual Chaffee Green Homes Tour on Sept. 11-12.

The free tour kicks off at the Salida Farmer’s Market in Salida (Alpine Park at 5th and E Street) Saturday, Sept. 11, starting at 9 a.m.

Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center will offer a free women’s health course titled “Menopause: Before, During and After.”  

The Salida Circus leads a new workshop beginning in September at the Buena Vista Public Library.

Animal Crackers, a program geared toward children ages 2–5, teaches stretching, games and circus skills, will be held at 10 a.m, each Wednesday at the library.

Children will once again be able to cast their fishing lures at McPhelemy Park for the annual Kids’ Fishing Derby on Saturday, Sept. 4.

The event is open to all girls and boys under the age of 15 for no entry fee. 

The Chaffee County Marijuana Excise Tax Advisory Board opened its 2021 community grants funding cycle on Aug. 23.

Jane’s Place will be comprised of 17 rental units, providing transitional housing for a minimum of 48 residents.

Jane’s Place is scheduled to open in the summer of 2022.

The Chaffee County Marijuana Excise Tax Advisory Board opened its 2021 community grants funding cycle on Aug. 23.

Jane’s Place will be comprised of 17 rental units, providing transitional housing for a minimum of 48 residents.

Jane’s Place is scheduled to open in the summer of 2022.

Chaffee County Public Health is a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program that will offer free DPP classes beginning Aug. 31, in Buena Vista and Salida. For more information and to sign-up, call 719-530-2572.

BV Strong’s organizers have revealed a new t-shirt design for this year, on sale for their sole fundraising activity. Tees must be ordered by Sept. 9 can be picked up locally on Sept. 17–18. The annual community dinner that fills blocks of East Main Street will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p…

This photo from Buena Vista Heritage was donated by Alice Meyers in 1979. 

This is the north side of Main Street showing all the brick buildings still standing.  

The Chaffee Arts Open Awards Show celebrates its 36th year Aug. 21-29 at the Buena Vista Heritage Museum on East Main Street.

According to a survey conducted by hungerfreecolorado.org in April 2021, 16% of Colorado children do not get adequate nutrition due to financial constraints, while a third of Coloradans lack reliable access to nutritious food.

How much these issues impact Buena Vista remains something of an open question.

The newly formed Chaffee Housing Authority is seeking input from the Chaffee County community about their challenges with housing, to help inform a strategic plan for the organization. 

Three performers will appear at Turner Farm on Aug. 15 at Turner Farm for a night of comedy and music that will begin at 5 p.m.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County is planning a new, countywide event – the Great Futures Gala in the Pavilion at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort.

Gold Rush Days weekend was a success, said Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce executive director Melissa Traynham. The 2-day event that celebrates BV’s history and heritage was a bit different this year in the new normal.

In addition to the history and festivities of Gold Rush Days, families celebrated a summer of reading July 31 with the Buena Vista Public Library’s Burro Tail End of Summer Party in McPhelemy Park.

The crowd at the annual Habitat for Humanity Macaroni and Cheese Bake-off Thursday at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort was smaller this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but appetites were as large as ever.

In celebrating local and Western history, Gold Rush Days once again featured the First Colorado Volunteers and their Civil War encampment. Joining them for her own reenactment was Susan Hillring from the Front Range, sharing the inspirational story of Louisa Hawkins Canby, the woman known as the Angel of Santa Fe.

Buena Vista native and local history buff Tim Stange presented the story of Mary Murphey mine worker Louis Shultz at the BV train depot at McPhelemy Park for Gold Rush Days.

This 1902 photo is of Town Lake at McPhelemy Park with the Princeton Hotel on the right. On the far left is the two story brick schoolhouse with the St. Rose Catholic Church in the center. 

The hotel was on the west side of the lake where the Lakeside Motel is now located. The brick schoolhouse is on the location of the Catholic Church Hall and the St. Rose church is where the present Catholic Church is located now. 

The Chaffee County Community Foundation is announcing the opening of the application process for organizations interested in applying to Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s Community Grants program.

An audience was entertained by class participants of High Country Fine Arts Association Summer Theatre Workshop Saturday, July 24, in McPhelemy Park.

Chaffee Arts is proud to announce that Evelyn Gottschall Baker has donated her “Study for Shed” for a raffle to raise funds for Chaffee Arts.

Colorado’s Move Over Law recently was modified to define what “slow down” means in relation to specific speed limits.

The law requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle (police, fire and ambulance), a tow truck or a highway maintenance vehicle when their red, yellow or blue emergency lights are activated, a press release stated.

Gold Rush Days is coming back to Buena Vista July 31–Aug. 1.

Performances will take place at the train depot at McPhelemy Park and at the Buena Vista River Park, the vendors location, with a shuttle running in between.

Foodshed Alliance is back in McPhelemy Park Sundays bringing local fresh produce, prepared foods, artisan crafts and more.

The return of the Mountain Mania Car Show drew 126 entrants to East Main Street July 10.

Buena Vista resident Max Champie took home the Grand Champion award with his orange 1969 Chevy Camaro.

The first photo shows a washing machine located at the Buena Vista Heritage Museum and the story to go with it

Bud and Joyce McBroom, center, are presented a Quilts of Valor piece by Connie Biederbeck, left, and Judy Querry. The Mesa Antero resident served in the U.S. Army Special Forces in Central and South America in the mid-1960s, Vietnam ‘67-’68 and other assignments as followed in Korea, the Middle East and Africa.

Connie Biederbeck, left, and Judy Querry present Mel Eggleston with a Quilts of Valor production.

Note: Choose Life Toymakers produces small wooden toys with wheels to give away.

Chaffee County Public Health is hosting several free, walk up COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

This  photo was taken in front of the windows of the Buena Vista Mercantile, which was on the north corner of Main and Railroad streets.

 This is the old Gone to the Dogs building now being totally remodelled and soon open for business.   

The Great Colorado vs Texas Tomato War, a popular annual event at Twin Lakes in the 1980s, is being revived in Buena Vista by the Buena Vista Rotary Club.