The city of Steamboat Springs, the Colorado Department of Transportation, Routt County and the U.S. Forest Service will hold a public open house for the U.S. Highway 40 East Steamboat Springs Access Plan from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Library Hall in Bud Werner Memorial Library.

The access plan is a long-range plan for future access to U.S. 40 as growth occurs between Third Street and Forest Road 302. The open house, which is open to the public, will provide the community with an opportunity to learn about access management and planning for future growth along U.S. 40, discuss future access to U.S. 40 with project representatives and provide comments on the draft access plan.

The project team will also schedule one-on-one meetings in Steamboat Springs on Oct. 7 and 8 with interested parties who might not be able to attend the open house or who would like to discuss the plan in more detail. In addition, open house materials are available for review online at steamboatsprings.net/index.aspx?NID=521.

For more information about scheduling a one-on-one meeting or about the open house, contact consultant project manager Michelle Hansen at 303-221-2330.

Coffee and a Newspaper scheduled for noon Wednesday

Steamboat Today’s next Coffee and a Newspaper will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the newspaper office, 1901 Curve Plaza. The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club will be the topic of discussion, and SSWSC Executive Director Jim Boyne will be presenting information about the club, including an update on its new Alpine ski racing venue on Mount Werner.

Members of the newspaper staff, including Editor Lisa Schlichtman, Assistant Editor Jim Patterson and Sports Editor Joel Reichenberger, will also be in attendance.

Those planning to attend can bring their own lunch. Drinks, chips and cookies will be provided. The newspaper will also provide a limited number of sandwiches for those who are unable to bring their own lunch.

Seminars at Steamboat elects new board members

The Seminars at Steamboat board of directors has elected four new members with strong connections to the community. New board members include:

■ Millie Beall is president of Integrated Community board of directors and has served on the Routt County United Way and Steamboat Springs Board of Education. A Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia and Costa Rica, Beall also received a Hazie Werner Award for Excellence and was Yampa Valley Woman of the Year.

■ Journalist Jennie Lay is the adult programs coordinator at the Bud Werner Memorial Library, where she plans about 15 events per month for the community. Lay was editor in-chief of Steamboat Magazine and the Steamboat Springs Visitors’ Guide and has written articles about energy and the environment for High Country News, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and other magazines.

■ Businesswoman Judy Odom is on the board of directors of technology, marketing and manufacturing companies, where she has served on audit and governance committees. She was the co-founder of Software Spectrum, Inc., a global provider of computer software and services. Odom is also an avid skier, hiker, cyclist and horseback rider.

■ Joella West, an entertainment industry lawyer, was general counsel of Comedy Central and worked with high-profile clients including Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. In Steamboat, she is on the board of Har Mishpacha Jewish Community and is a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates and at Casey’s Pond.

“We are fortunate that, with Millie, Jennie, Judy and Joella, our board will gain four people with roots in the Steamboat community and a strong interest in public policy,” Board President Bob Stein said. “I look forward to working with them and the rest of the board as we continue to bring interesting and knowledgeable speakers to Steamboat to lead nonpartisan discussions on important national and international issues.”  

The new members join Stein, past chair Kate Hawk, Bob Boyd, Dan Foley, Freddi Goodrich, Steve Hofman, Allan Kirkpatrick, Jason Lacy, John Merrill, John Morrison, Gary Nelson and Belle Sawhill. Mike Forney and Linda Kakela are retiring from the board.

OTHS will offer new class beginning on Sept. 16

Old Town Hot Springs is offering a new class, HIIT with TRX, beginning Sept. 16. High intensity interval training will be alternated with short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods. The 55-minute class integrates TRX equipment, stationary bikes and general athletic movements and is free to members or with admission. Classes instructed by Mary Beth Magalis Arce, will be held from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

Register now for guided sandhill crane viewings

 The Yampa Valley Crane Festival, which will celebrate the stopover of the iconic greater sandhill cranes, will be held Sept. 10 to 14 in Steamboat Springs and Hayden. The event attracts some of the world’s top crane experts, who will be leading guided sunrise and sunset crane viewings throughout the festival.

Guided crane viewings include a shuttle to crane viewing sites, along with an up close and personal opportunity to talk with and learn from those who have made a life studying these ancient birds. The shuttles will visit the cranes’ preferred feeding and roosting areas. Parking for private vehicles cannot be guaranteed during guided crane viewing sessions.

Visiting the cranes with a seat on a shuttle helps minimize the human footprint and reduces the risk of disturbing the birds. A $5 fee for the guided crane viewings helps cover the administration of this annual highlight of the festival, and participants must pre-register. Visit coloradocranes.org for more information or to register for the guided crane viewings.