About Me
I first moved to the Ward area in 1973 and lived there from 1973 - 1987. I lived at Ogalalla Lodge in Osage with Ivan and Jim, then in Arapahoe and Teton. I later lived in the Alaska Tunnel cabin, the two-story outhouse, Carolyn's house that burned down, and the house below the school bus turnout that Coleen bought and that Mike and Mary live in now.
My sons Adam and Wade were born in Ward. I was the Ward Town Clerk from 1978-80, the mountain representative on the Board of the Boulder County Women's Resource Center, and a member of Ward Volunteer Fire Department. I fought local fires and was once helicoptered in to fight a fire in the Poudre Canyon.
I was also a volunteer counselor on therapuetic wilderness trips in the Indian Peaks with Barbara Sperl, led wilderness trips and taught backpacking classes for the City of Boulder Department of Recreation, and co-founded a non-profit organization, Summit Human Resources, which provides wilderness experiences for women and children, and training for leaders of therapeutic wilderness programs. Other co-founders included Barbara Sperl, Clincal Psychologist, Liz Midlarskey, Ph.D., Psychology Professor, CU Boulder, and Barbara Oppenheim, Recreational Specialist, Boulder Recreation Department
Later I was Director of Youth Services for the Boulder YWCA at "The Dome", developed Career Education and School/Business Partnership programs in Colorado and Florida, and served as the Coordinator of the Loretto Heights College, University Without Walls in Boulder County.
Chuck and Kim Foy, Barbi O and I
Firefighter Training, Ward, 1976
In 1989 I relocated to Port Charlotte, Florida where I taught at an alternative high school, adjunct at Manatee Community College, and at Charlotte Technical Center. Throughout my career I have been involved in grant writing and developing alternative educational programs. I have taught in high schools, adult ed, colleges and developed a GED program for the Charlotte County Jail.
I am the author of Pyrite and Flowers,a fictional short story that is set in early Ward, and I am currently working on a history of Ward and a biography of Hazel Schmoll. I also work with local area artists to help market and publicize their works.
Currently I serve as the Historical Laison for the Ward Public Library, on the Ward Historic Preservation Committee, and am a volunteer interviewer with the Maria Rogers Oral History Program at the Carnegie Historical Branch of the Boulder Public Library.
I have been back in Ward as a part-time resident (June - November) since June 2003 when I retired from teaching.
I spend the rest of the year in Florida with my husband, Jim, and near my grown son Zach, and Zach's family, Tammy, John, Shawn and Alora.
My other sons live in Colorado. Wade lives in Ward with his wife Nicole in David and Emma's house. Adam lives in Boulder. I live in the old Crimmins cabin.
Crimmins Cabin in fall
I love music, art, poetry, and the mountains.
I respect the Bill of Rights and the Ward Town Charter.
Niwot's curse is true.
Pawnee Pass is the home of the gods. . .
I have tried to speak the truth . . .
Patty Cypher