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If you missed the last two editions with Christmas Light Routes, click here.

In this edition:

• Grand Junction Christmas History

• Overcrowded Animal Shelters

• CMU Volleyball Coach Heads to Bigger Pastures

• End of Year Activities

Housing

Residents will soon move in to a 200-plus unit apartment complex in downtown Grand Junction off 1st st.

The Junction Apartments at First Street and Rood Avenue has a total of 256 units with a variety of amenities for tenants.

Market Stats:

Average Sales Price: $454,871(0% change from last week)

Inventory Levels:

Number of New Listings: 27 (-21 from last week) Big Christmas decrease

Average Days on Market: 89 (+3 from last week)

Total Number of Active Listings: 694 (-8 from last week)

_{Source: Skyler Kraai with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties}

News

A Grand Junction History of Christmas

The very first Christmas celebrated here in Grand Junction was in 1882, only a few months after the town was officially founded.

At what the Brunswick Hotel, a group of roughly 200 people gathered at 6:30 p.m. Christmas day.

The event lasted about two hours and gag gifts were passed around. George Crawford, one of Grand Junction’s founders, was given a tin horn since he always shouted from the rooftops about his aspirations for Grand Junction. According to Fishell, the hotel was torn down in about 1902.

However, the most famous local celebration started in 1929 at the Avalon Theater – the Soupeater’s Christmas.

Curator of History for Museums of Western Colorado Vida Jaber tells WesternSlopeNow the term “soup kitchen” became popular because soup was considered a cheap, nutritious and easy to produce meal.

On Christmas day, starting at 10 a.m., families would go to the Avalon Theater where they would watch movies and short films.

At noon, the kids would make their way to the Doctor Pepper building on 7th Street to pick out unwanted or broken toys refurbished by the Grand Junction Fire Department and Grand Junction High School.

By 1938, a recorded 1900 children participated. The event came to an end in the 1940s, as the war efforts took away the attention of the Soupeater’s Christmas.

Through all of these years, one thing hasn’t changed…no one wants to wake up on Christmas without any gifts.

Business Highlight

Real Estate Professional

Meet that provides housing data to the newsletter each week. Skyler helped get me into my first home several years ago and has helped my cousin and several friends do the same.

He is not a part time agent. He works hard to ensure you are happy regardless of the day or time. Whether you are looking to buy or sell in 2025, Skyler can make it happen for you.

Text or call - 970-901-5051

Local Community

Grand Valley animal shelters are overcrowded

Humane Societies across the country experience overcrowding.

According to Nan McNees, president of the Grand Rivers Humane Society Board of Directors, this crisis has steadily risen over the last 3 years since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shelters such as Grand Rivers and Roice Hurst Humane Societies both deal with overcapacity.

“We have just a real desperate need to get these rescue dogs and cats into homes,” said Steeve Woltjer, a volunteer with Grand Rivers.

If you are looking for a new pet, The Slope Scoop encourages you to look at a shelter. So many pets need good families and safe homes.

Western Slope Sports!

Dave Fleming leaves CMU after 20 years

After 20 years of leading Colorado Mesa’s volleyball team, head coach Dave Fleming is leaving the program, CMU announced Tuesday.

Fleming resigned to take the helm at NCAA Division I University of North Texas, which also announced his hiring on Tuesday. Fleming is leaving CMU with a 390-184 (.679) record. He is one of six Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference coaches to reach the 300-win mark.

“I thank Coach Fleming for all his dedication and hard work at CMU,” Colorado Mesa Athletic Director Joan McDermott said in a press release. “He is not only a great coach, but a special person and will be greatly missed.”

He was only the fourth volleyball head coach in Mavs program history. Fleming was named RMAC Coach of the Year four times, most recently in the spring of 2021. He also led CMU to three RMAC titles (2014, 2018, 2021 spring).

Fleming will coach a Mean Green team that finished 10-18 last season.

CMU is immediately starting a national search to replace Fleming, the school said in the release.

Exciting Events: December

This section only includes local upcoming events. Feel free to submit yours!

Sports

• Kid's Winter Games

  • Location: 48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa, CO 81643

  • Price:Free

  • Time: January 11th, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

  • Bring the kids to the mountain for some fun! We're setting up junior-sized features on the bunny hill for kids to slalom, curl, and shoot their way through the course.

• Grand Valley Racing League #1

  • Location:48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa, CO 81643

  • Dates: January 17, 2025

  • Time: 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM

  • Grand Valley Racing League is hosting the first weekend of races! The Grand Valley Race League is a business-oriented event that is all about having fun in a low pressure environment. We will set up a dual slalom type course and will set up race gates. Racing runs from 1-3pm. Awards around 3:30-4:30 pm upstairs over in the Slopeside.

• Western Region Basketball Tournament

  • Saturday, February 15
    8:30 am – 6:00 pm

  • Location: Colorado Mesa University
    1100 North Avenue
    Grand Junction, CO 81501

  • Special Olympics Colorado is hosting the Western Region Basketball Tournament at Colorado Mesa University! Traditional Play, Unified Play and All Star Skills Challenge will be played.

Family Fun

• Powderhorn New Year’s Eve Celebration

  • Powderhorn’s Annual NYE Celebration with DJ Chandlebar set during the Torch Light Parade and Fireworks Show.

  • 48338 Powderhorn RdMesa, CO 81643

  • Price: Free

  • Time: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM December 31st, 2024

• The Fab Four: USA Meets the Beatles

  • 645 Main StreetGrand Junction, CO 81501

  • Price: P4 $25.50, P3 $37.50, P2 $47.50, P1 $62.50

  • Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM January 5th, 2025

Date Night 🎆

• Bourbon and BBQ Tasting

  • 2325 W Ridges BlvdGrand Junction, CO 81507-2456

  • Price: $88/Ticket Tax & Gratuity Included

  • Time: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

  • Date: January 4th 2025

  • Join us for a 6 course pairing of decadent bourbons and delicious barbecue! Our pairing dinners are an immersive experience into the history behind each spirit, beer, or wine we feature accompanied by great company, ambiance, and flavors.

• Poetry Night

  • 443 N. 6th StreetGrand Junction, CO 81501

  • Price: $0

  • Time: 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM

  • Recurrence: Recurring monthly on the 2nd Wednesday

  • Poetry Night at the Library is a monthly program at the Mesa County Library. Each month poets are invited to read their work based on a previous month’s challenge, or any other poem they’d like to read. Then, a new topic is discussed and a new challenge is issued. Topics range from a particular poet, to a school of poetry, to a new tool for your poetry toolbox such as a form or poetic device. No poetry experience is required – all are welcome!

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