Blogs

At Friends of Coal Creek, we are big believers in the power of art to connect hearts to places. And so, in collaboration with the Lafayette Art’s Council, we are proud to announce a Young Poets Competition. The theme is Transitions and entrants are asked to find inspiration in the areas of Coal Creek where one type of land, ideas or themes meets another.

The submission window is open now through February 15, 2025, and is open to all middle- and high school students who live or attend school within the Coal Creek communities (Lafayette, Erie, Louisville, Superior and Golden).

The contest has cash prizes for first ($100), second ($50), and third ($30) place winners in four categories:

• High school - Spanish

• High school - English

• Middle school - Spanish

• Middle school - English.

ZBassSpeaks, Lafayette’s poet laureate, is our esteemed judge.

“It is with great honor that I get to be part of this project, and even more so that I will get to hear from a new generation of writers,” ZBassSpeaks says. “I look forward to hearing your voices transcribed in my favorite art form. Your participation gives me great confidence that I will be blown away by your unique styles and views of our world. I encourage you to bring everything to the table and I implore you to be as expressive as you feel necessary. Good luck!”

Prizes will be awarded at an event at the Lafayette Public Library in April, 2025, which is National Poetry Month.

See here for full submission guidelines. If you know a talented middle- or high-schooler who has a way with words, please send them our way and help us share and celebrate the ways our young poets see our creek.

Friends of Coal Creek is a local nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the habitat value and improving the resilience of Coal Creek and the communities along its run.

NEWS PRESS RELEASE

Contact for more information:

Juli Arnold

Marketing and Communications Manager

juli@luvinarms.org

Colorado Animal Sanctuary Hosts Event to Support Community Impacted by Marshall Fire

Jan. 11, 2022 – The fire that swept through the tight-knit communities of Louisville, Superior, and Unincorporated Boulder County on December 30, 2021 has caused so much destruction and suffering, including the devastating loss of countless beloved companion animals. Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary is hosting a special pet loss grief support group event for members of those communities, giving them the opportunity to share stories, receive much needed emotional support, and connect with some of the Luvin Arms’ animal residents who have survived their own experiences with trauma and grief. 

The event will be facilitated by Richard Mercer, a Superior-based hospice grief counselor who also volunteers as a pet loss grief group facilitator. “My intention for our time together is for us to create a healing place where we might experience some respite and supportive companionship while we heal in our grief, “ said Mercer. “This can only exist when we feel safe.”

The event will be held on Sunday, January 23 at 1:00pm Mtn at the Erie-based Sanctuary. Community members have the option to attend the event virtually.

Luvin Arms is a nonprofit animal sanctuary for abused and neglected farmed animals, based in Erie, Colorado. Luvin Arms is working to provide exceptional lifelong social, emotional, and cognitive care for their animal residents, and to advocate for those who have not been rescued by sharing their residents’ stories to inspire, educate, and empower others to embrace a more compassionate and sustainable lifestyle.

For more information, please visit: https://luvinarms.org/petlossgriefsupport.

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If you see someone wearing a Bonfils Blood Center T-shirt at the Louisville Rec Center, there’s a good chance it’s Virgil Olson doing his daily workout. At 83, Virgil has no plans to cut back on the frequency of his workouts or his blood donations. He became only the 9^th Bonfils blood donor to reach the 70-gallon mark Thursday, June 16 at Bonfils’ Boulder Community Donor Center.

Only one other Bonfils donor is expected to reach this milestone in 2016.

A platelet donor, Virgil is able to donate as often as 24 times per year compared to six times per year for a whole blood donor. Platelets are essential for blood clotting and are routinely needed to support cancer therapy, open-heart surgery, blood disorders and organ transplants.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and whether a donor is making their 560^th donation or their first, every donation of every blood type has the potential to help up to three patients in need.

Bonfils operates seven community donor centers and up to 10 blood drives daily all around Colorado. To make an appointment call the Bonfils Appointment Center at 303.363.2300 or 800.365.0006 option 2 or visit bonfils.org.