berthoud

Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2023 HeidiTown (2)

I have supported this cause from its start in 2014. It’s Puppy Mills Awareness Day (formerly Hops & Harley). One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event go to Harley Dream. This cause is close to my heart for several reasons but mainly, I love dogs. I mean, I really, really do. I think they are the best thing that has happened to the human race. Therefore, the story

The importance of shopping local and how I do it. Friday Fest 2022, Greeley, Colorado. HeidiTown

Originally published in the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor on December 22, 2022. In 2020, an Amazon truck lived in my neighborhood. I walk the dog multiple times a day and there it would be, lurking around the corner each time I left the house. I started to think that the driver was just going around the block, again and again. Then, I started to talk with friends and family and realized

Puppy Mill Awareness Day Logo 2 2022

If you’ve been a citizen of HeidiTown for any length of time, you know that I love dogs. There is something about a dog that brings out the best in me, in fact, all animals have a positive effect on me, but especially dogs.  I believe that we have a responsibility to ensure the best life for dogs. However, the mass breeding industry that produces puppies at a startling rate

Fun With Your Fur Friend in Fickle Park, Berthoud, Colorado. Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2

Did you know that 75% of Americans own at least one dog? I believe it because, at one point, we were the only people on our block with one dog, everyone else had two! And now for an unhappy statistic. Puppy mills are directly responsible for 75% of the dogs in shelters and rescues. And the topic of puppy mills is something that the average person knows little about. However,

Dogs & Beer in Berthoud, Colorado: 7th Annual Hops & Harley

Today’s featured festival is a nonprofit event I’ve been involved with since the beginning. You see, the event incorporates two of my favorite things—dogs and beer—and 100% of the proceeds of this festival go to Harley’s Dream. Harley had a dream of ridding the world of puppy mills, and I was lucky to have met him during his lifetime. An effective spokesdog against puppy mills, he made a big difference.

Featured Festival Hops & Harley 2018, Berthoud, Colorado. Emily Sierra Photography

There are a handful of festivals that I’ve been involved with since the beginning and Hops & Harley is one of those fests. This year is the sixth Hops & Harley, hosted by City Star Brewing. I support this festival as an in-kind sponsor because I believe so strongly in the mission of the event. The mission is to educate the public about the commercial dog breeding industry, also known

Hops & Harley 2016 (3)

As many of you know, I’m a passionate dog-lover. I believe strongly in the dog/human bond and that’s why it’s inconceivable to me that some people abuse these wonderful animals. Puppy mills are a form of abuse. If you have any doubts, read the story of the little puppy mill rescue dog that inspired Hops & Harley. Five years ago, the first Hops & Harley occurred in the taproom of City

Trivia at City Star Brewing - HeidiTown.com

When writing about breweries, writers often concentrate on the beers, and while that’s an important topic, sometimes the broader experience is worth writing about. In my travels around Colorado, I get the opportunity to visit a lot of breweries, and there are certain moments that stand out, so I thought I’d share a few of them with you. Winning Trivia Night (twice) at City Star Brewing, Berthoud, Colorado I freelance

snow stomping at Snow Sculpture after Dark HeidiTown

Several years ago I was walking through downtown Loveland, Colorado when I ran into a man carving a humongous ice block. We got to talking and I learned that he was helping bring a snow carving competition to Loveland. I knew immediately that this would be the perfect fit for a city already internationally known for art and sculpture, and boasting one of the largest sculpture shows in the country

brown palace coffee & tea co.

Some people love the holidays, but there are many of us who find the season a bit stressful. Family obligations, travel and high expectations can make an otherwise merry time of year downright  excruciating. There’s no way to avoid the holidays, but you can find ways to make them a little less hectic. In this week’s segment on KRFC 88.9 FM, I outline some activities that will slow you down