Monte Vista starts plans for ‘Christmas Vacation’


MONTE VISTA — Last Thursday, Oct. 3, during Monte Vista city council meeting, Jennifer Becker presented information for Monte Vista’s annual holiday celebration. They are tentatively going with the theme of Christmas vacation. “I like that theme because it kind of cover’s everything. Just go nuts!” said Becker. She told the council she hopes the theme will help people to channel their inner “Clark Griswold” and light up Monte Vista.
The holiday celebration promises something for everyone to enjoy. There will be the annual Christmas bazaar at the Nazarene Church, a house decorating contest, tree lighting, Christmas caroling,  fire pits on Adams St., and a parade of lights. After the parade, Santa will be making an appearance and there will be hot chocolate, cookies, and other goodies.
“I thought with the theme of Christmas Vacation a house decorating contest just seemed appropriate,” Becker told the council. They will be asking local businesses to give donations for prizes.
With the approval of the city they are ready to go full steam ahead with the plans for the festivities that will be taking place Dec., 7. Forms for the parade, business storefront decorating contest, and house decorating contest are available by contacting Jennifer Becker at (719) 850-2709 or at [email protected].

Bustang MOU
Public works director Rob Vance also came before the council during the scheduled appearance portion of the meeting. He came to bring a memorandum of understanding to the council in regard to the West SLV transit committee that he serves on. They had asked for some funding to pursue a CDOT grant to expand public transit to the western half of the San Luis Valley. A study was completed and submitted to CDOT. CDOT is currently evaluating the Bustang route deciding whether to move or add a route that would cover Highway 160 to Monte Vista and up to Highway 285.
While the study was going on there was a public transit shuttle route created from the Chaffee shuttle which is called the Eagle Line. The Eagle Line serves Del Norte, Center, Monte Vista, Saguache, and Alamosa. Vance also provided information on the service for anyone who didn’t know about the shuttle. “It runs twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tuesday it starts in Saguache and they come down through each of the communities and pick people up to take them to Salida. While you’re there you can go to doctors’ appointments,  go shopping, even visit the downtown. You can specify a time frame and they will come pick you up where they dropped you off. The same thing happens the next day but in reverse when the bus goes towards Alamosa. It’s a good service. It not only covers medical trips but also shopping opportunities. It provides a service to our residents that simply don’t have the financial means or a car, so that they can get to some of the outside specialists for medical care,” said Vance.
“It’s a really good program and ridership has steadily increased since the line was first formed last year,” said Vance. They are asking for $1,750 from the city for the annual fee to run the service.
Councilor Kathleen Ellithorpe asked how expensive it was to ride, and Vance told her it only cost $4 roundtrip.
Councilor Gary Johnson moved to approve the MOU as presented for the Bustang route, including the $1,750 matching fund, and authorizing the mayor to sign the MOU. The motion was seconded and passed.