Cartoons 2024...
This section will be my cartoons that have been created for the Estes Valley Voice. Enjoy!
First Cartoon - July 2024
Estes, like most American cities, constantly had construction ongoing. We had several loops created in the town that added to the traffic jams during the summer of 2024.
This cartoon was the introductory editoral cartoon in the last week of July.
August 2024
With in a week we had two big fires going east of Estes. If it's east it's not as big a concern as west but seeing all the smoke brought back memories of the two biggest fires in Colorado history in 2020.
August 2024
The volunteer firefighters in Estes Park did such a great job of helping with the two fires we decided to honor them with a cartoon. They had a chief who, after a long national search, only stayed 90 days.
August 2024
The Safeway in Estes is one of the busiest in Colorado. So we did a spoof on having to have a time entry pass to go there like Rocky Mountain National Park.
August 2024
This one never got published in the EVV but it was one of my favorite ones because it was a true situation. One of the breweries in Estes put this sign in there bathroom.
August 2024
This is a saying that I heard from someone and decided to use it in the EVV. I also wanted to try a three panel cartoon as I knew I would be doing some in the future.
August 2024
The owner of the Stanley Hotel bought one of the old building in downtown Estes. The Old Church Shops became, "Stanley Chocolate Factory" which he hoped to open before the start of the season. Come Labor Day it still wasn't open. I'm sure I'll do a cartoon when it finally does get open.
August 2024
The editor of EVV asked me to do a cartoon that related to, "Do not Feed the Bears" as they got more aggressive before they went into hibernation. This cartoon came out with an article related to this topic.
August 2024
Estes Park created a several "merry-go-round-abouts" in our town. The construction went on during the busiest season in Estes and the cost was $42M. One was right by "Fun City" which has the slide in panel 1. Lancaster was the town manager during the decision making process for the construction. I did add the big loop...
August 2024
The School District decided to replace the bleachers at the high school. They announced that they would be ready for the football season but, alas, they weren't. The team mascot in a Bobcat. Fans brought their own chairs for the first couple games.
September 2024
Estes Park's biggest seller is ice cream. You never see anyone eating a salad on the street. Since the construction was still effecting the streets this cartoon was created.
September 2024
One of the biggest festivals that comes to Estes in the Fall is the "Scottish-Irish Festival" which attracts people from all over the US and the world. This year they decided to honor First Responders. I put a firefighter playing the bagpipes inside of the familiar festival logo.
September 2024
I was so moved by the fantastic job the director of the main performance at the festival, the "Tattoo", that I created this cartoon to thank him for a job well done. If you're not familiar with, "Loony Tones" this might not make as much sense but I grew up watching them almost daily.
September 2024
Estes Park Health is our local hospital. The EVV has done several articles on the conditions at the hospital as it struggles to stay open. Several articles mention the work environment and that's what prompted this cartoon. It wasn't published and so I did a second version with all the labels on the sign saying, "EMERGENCY" but that didn't get published either.
September 2024
I did this one to honor, "Constitutional Week" which is a big deal in this area. Grand Lake, which is on the other side of Trail Ridge Road, has several days of speakers and discussion sessions on the Constitution.
September 2024
The Elk Rut [mating] season is a popular event for many Coloradans. The other thing going on is the leaves are changing. The Elk Fest is the main event with tents, beer and music at Bond Park. Yet nothing for the leaves - I gave them a voice.
October 2024
We kind of avoid national topics but I thought this cartoon could have a local message with overtones of what's happening at our southern boarder.
October 2024
After a couple of Fire Chiefs that didn't last we finally have a Fire Chief who is local and loved by all, Paul Capo. He has been with the department for many years and will serve our community well. Congratulation Chief Capo!
October 2024
This cartoon could probably be appropriate almost anywhere in the US. The ballot amendments are always worded to trick you into voting the wrong way.
October 2024
In Estes things are constantly changing. My editor wanted me to do a cartoon about the hospital going under the banner of USHealth but the more I thought about it many properties are "Under New Management".
October 2024
This was my first attempt at an election week cartoon but it didn't seem to fit so I did one that was exactly what my editor was looking for. See the next cartoon.
November 2024
My editor was a lot happier with this election week cartoon. Both parties are saying that the other is going to destroy Democracy. Although I think the Trump camp would say they are trying to save our Constitutional Republic.
November 2024
How do you squeeze $88M worth of expenses into a budget that is only projecting $79M worth of income in 2025? That's what the Estes Park Trustees have to figure out.
November 2024
Since the 2025 budget deficit is still fresh on our minds as we head into the Christmas Holidays season I thought I'd stick with that theme. Holiday lights is our hallmark here in Estes. They have an official lighting ceremony on evening after Thanksgiving and the lights stay on till Valentines Day. The caricature is of our mayor, Gary Hall.
