The annual Galloping Goose Historical Society meeting was held Saturday, Sept. 13, and it was a resounding hit, according to reports.

About 30 people attended the meeting, held at Joe Becker's house in Dolores.

Financial and activity reports were given, and officers were elected at the meeting.

Lew Matis was re-elected the president of the Historical Society; and Bill White, the vice president. Marie Richmond and Jerry McKenzie were re-elected to the board. New to the board will be Joe Becker, who was elected Saturday. Becker fills the seat of Ed Latham, who stepped down.

The highlight was Becker's garden railroad, which is modeled after the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. Matis said the railroad was impressive, with Rico and Dolores depots, and trestles.

Tickets are selling fast for the Oct. 2-5 Galloping Goose No. 5 excursion on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Information: cumbrestoltec.com.

Sidewalks looking good

The sidewalk project is moving along, and looked as if students could soon use it to walk to the Dolores Public Library after school, which thrills Children's Librarian Kathie Butler.

The town contracted with D&L Construction to build sidewalk, curb and gutter along Railroad Avenue. The project will see about 600 square yards of sidewalk between First and Second streets on the north side of Railroad and between Eighth and 11th streets on the south side of Railroad. ADA compliant ramps will be installed where sidewalks meet streets. The crosswalk at 11th Street will connect two ADA-compliant ramps as well. The project includes about 700 linear feet of curb and gutter.

The project is scheduled for completion by Nov. 7. It was facilitated by the state's Transportation Alternatives Program, which is based on the federal highway program and administered by the Colorado Department of Transportation.

To receive funding through the TAP, a local, state or federal government agency must sponsor the project, and the sponsor must provide 20 percent of the project costs. The total cost, including design, is about $225,000; of that, $180,000 is paid with federal TAP funds, and $45,000 by the town.

Shannon Livick

Bright spot in town

If you ever need a bit of cheering up on a dreary day, just take a stroll through the Art Girls Studio and Quilting shop on the corner of 4th Street and Railroad Avenue in Dolores.

The fabrics inside, many of which are designed by part owner Virginia Robertson herself, are simply beautiful.

It is impossible to walk into their rooms of wonderful, bright fabrics and it not feel like a sunny, beautiful day, even when it is storming outside.