By Mary Hasselwander
Can it be it’s the middle of summer and the Fourth of July has come? The cattle have returned to graze in the meadows and the kids are out of school. Motor homes, campers and boats of all sizes have appeared on the roadways as people head to the mountain valley area to enjoy the natural beauty here.
A unique feature of the area are the tourists and part-time residents who return each year. In a coffee shop recently, a newly returned summer couple was catching up with some of the locals. It turns out these couples first met 22 years ago. The summer residents had come to Westwood to witness the unveiling of the Paul Bunyan statue and the events surrounding the first Paul Bunyan Mountain Festival. At one of the festival dinners, they met a local couple whose children were close to the age of their two boys. They clicked and have been getting together over the summers ever since.
The people who reside in this area for part of the year are not a disconnected population. They are a part of the unique community fabric of the mountain valley and bring their own special talents and interests to the communities.
Speaking of the Paul Bunyan Mountain Festival, it is hard to believe that Paul Bunyan has been standing in front of the community center, greeting visitors and locals for 22 years. His exciting arrival and set up at the first festival was an event few of us will forget. A large crowd, along with outside media, gathered to watch the unveiling of the legendary logger. The following year, Babe, his faithful blue ox, joined him.
For many years, the festival has featured a logging show among the activities; however, last year the festival brought a new activity from the Midwest, grass racing with snowmobiles! It was certainly different and promises to be even more exciting this year.
When you add in the spectacular Fourth of July activities in the area, and the Clear Creek Mountain Festival later in July along with plenty of other mountain art shows and festivals, it makes for a pretty spectacular month of activities.
