Fraser WP Police found this skimmer attached to a credit card machine. The item looks very much like the faceplate of the actual machine! Photo courtesy of Fraser WP Police Department

Card skimmer found inside local business

Wednesday afternoon, a local merchant discovered a credit card skimmer attached to one of their machines inside the store. The item looked very much like the face plate to the actual machine, and only took a few seconds to install.

The Police Department does not believe a data breach occurred, because the device would have to be removed from the real reader to access the data storage unit. As such, they are not releasing the name of the business the device was found in.

No other devices were found at other stores in the Valley, and the investigation includes a request for onsite video footage of the suspect, for use in possible identification.

This incident serves as a great reminder to NEVER use your PIN when using your debit card. Run everything as a credit and check your bank or credit card statements regularly!

Volunteer Opportunities

The Grand Foundation has teamed up with local nonprofits and organizations to create a single source of various opportunities to volunteer throughout the county. If you are looking for ways to give back to the community, visit grandvolunteers.org and sign up today!

Space to Create Market Survey is open 

All ‘creatives’ in the greater region are asked to participate in a survey to provide direction on how to best serve you in Grand Lake, Grand County and beyond. ‘Creatives’ includes everyone from visual artists, graphic and web designers, musicians, custom woodworkers, and everything in-between.  However, if you enjoy the arts, local businesses, and non-profit organizations, we want your input too! The survey is open through August 20th and can be found at artspace.org.

To learn more and become involved, contact DiAnn Butler at (970) 531-1343 or dbutler@co.grand.co.us.  

Fraser Mountain Mural Festival

Preparations are nearing completion for the upcoming Fraser Mountain Mural Festival on July 26 and 27 located east of the Fraser Distillery on Doc Susie Ave in downtown Fraser. Twenty one artists from near and far will be competing for awards and recognition by showing off their

best work on their primed 8’x8′ panels. Kids can get in on the art with their very own collective murals each day. Be sure to stop by, see a variety of art displays and enjoy some live music! For more information, check out frasermountainmuralfest.com.

Winter Park Half-Marathon and 5k

Run for hope on August 3rd! The Shining Stars Foundation is hosting the annual Winter Park Half-Marathon & 5k on August 3rd in Winter Park. All proceeds go toward providing life-changing programs and events for children with cancer. This family-friendly event is open to racers of all levels. Participants receive a custom medal and goodie bag, as well as a discount code for tickets to the Winter Park Beer Festival immediately after the event. Learn more & sign up at shiningstarsfoundation.org.

Guiding the Future of Our Downtown

When you think about Downtown Winter Park, what do you love about it? And what would you improve? The Town of Winter Park wants to know!

The Town is creating a Downtown Plan that, when completed, will outline improvements to ensure Downtown is an all-season destination for everyone. As part of the first phase of plan development, a short Visual Preference survey is open through August 5th.

Survey responses will be used to better understand the character of Downtown and what community members want to see in the future. Find the link to the survey at wpgov.com. Additional comments can be sent to the project manager, Mara Owen, at mowen@wpgov.com. Thanks for participating!

Grand County Housing Assistance Fund

Housing is a major concern for many residents of Grand County. Fortunately, there is an excellent resource available called the Grand County Housing Assistance fund, formed by Grand Foundation and the Leadership for a Sustainable Community Committee.

This collaborative effort is a direct result of identifying needs in the community for economic  and social sustainability. The fund ultimately targets the housing issues that face the constituents of Grand County, as such addressing housing shortages, diversifying employment, improving economic revenue sources and improve the community’s infrastructure.

The Grand County Housing Assistance Fund, a designated fund of the Grand Foundation, is designed to provide housing assistance to eligible applicants with down-payment and rental assistance. The fund aims to help full-time residents successfully live and work in Grand County and applicants will be prioritized upon economic need.

The necessary guidelines for the application for disbursements from this Fund can be found at grandfoundation.com.

Leadership Coaching registration closes Friday

Thanks to The Colorado Trust, a Leadership Coaching class will take place at St John’s Church in Granby on July 24th, from 5-8 pm. This is a great learning opportunity to understand how to make positive community changes as a community leader. You will emerge from this event with shared language about health equity and the roots of inequality, and stronger connections to benefit your ongoing work and relationships. To register, call (970) 725-3477.

CHLT’s ‘A Grand Afternoon’ fundraiser at B Lazy 2

Everyone is invited to join Colorado Headwaters Land Trust (CHLT) for ‘A Grand Afternoon’ of fun, family-friendly celebration and fundraising on Sunday afternoon, July 21 from 12:30-4:30 pm at the B Lazy 2 Ranch in Fraser. Tickets include a delicious Mexican lunch buffet by Stone Creek Catering, and 2 drinks provided by Bottle Pass Liquors. There will also be a cash bar. Come meet your neighbors, see old friends, and show your support for land conservation in Grand County. 

To learn more and to purchase tickets for ‘A Grand Afternoon’, visit cohlt.org or call: (970) 887-1177. 

5th annual ‘Nepal: Here to Help’ fundraiser

On Wednesday, August 7th, Tashi and her son, Karma, will be preparing a home cooked, traditional Sherpa dinner to raise funds to provide education for the children who live in the Everest region of Nepal. The dinner will be held at Kukoy’s Cabin, 13026 Hwy 34 in Grand Lake. Starting at 5 pm, the evening will have music by the Alpine Classic Duo, jewelry by Tashi, an auction featuring Nepal Art, LuminAID solar lanterns, traditional weavings to empower women, crafts from Nepal and more. Don’t miss this special night! Tax-deductible $50 donation per person. RSVP to (970) 627-8487 or (303) 408-9736.

USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships 

Winter Park is honored to host this year’s USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships with official event days July 23-28. And with this honor comes the need for hundreds of volunteers.

Sign-up to volunteer and receive a volunteer t-shirt and lunch. Volunteers will earn a ticket, good for summer or winter, for every 6 hours of service. All your time volunteering will be combined. Volunteers are needed as early as July 20th. Students are welcome and encouraged to get their Grand County community service hours for graduation. To volunteer, call (970) 726-5514 or visit winterparkresort.com.