Highlandlake 'Hey Day' set for August 23

Mead, CO -- In its heyday, Highlandlake was a vital community in southwestern Weld County. This year, a Highlandlake 'Hey Day', will be held, Saturday, August 23, to raise funds for the structural renovation of the historic Highlandlake Church, which was damaged by the heavy snows of this years blizzard. The day-long event will be held on the church grounds and eastern shore of Highland Lake, a mile west of Mead. The church is the only building in the Mead area that is designated a "National Historic Site."

The event will include fun, games, and rides for all ages, including hot-air balloon rides, miniature steam train rides, a "poker run." and and a fishing derby. The day's activities will close with lakeside dancing to various area bands.

Food will be available all day, beginning with a pancake breakfast, from 8 to 10 a.m., prepared by area volunteers. Throughout the day and early evening, sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and desserts will be available from the Highland Lake concession stand and the Mead Cafe booth, with all profits donated to the church restoration fund.

Some events, such as the fishing derby and poker run will require entry fees, which will be donated to the restoration fund, while others, such as the hot-air balloon rides and the pancake breakfast, will simply suggest a donation from the participant.

Funds raised by the event will be used to help pay for structural reinforcement of the 107-year-old church, which was damaged by the weight of heavy snow on the roof, which caused all four walls of the wooden church to bow, and the entire structure to shift on its stone foundation.

A total of $200,000 is needed to pay for the repairs. Grants from the Colorado State Historical Society, amounting to $200,000.00, are being applied for but those grants, require the 25% of the total, of $50,000 be donated by the private sector. To date, $15,000 has been received, according to Carla Brossman, treasurer of Historic Highlandlake Church, Inc, (HHCI), the organization responsible for the maintenance of the church. The group has until Feb. 1, 2004 to raise the additional $35,000, according to Pauli Smith, a member of HHCI who is preparing the grant applications.

Work which is progress on preliminary repairs to the foundation is being financed by a $10, 890.00 grant from the State Historical Society. That work is expected to be completed by mid-August.

The 'Hey Day' event is being organized by Karen Cizek, who grew up in the Mead area and who is being married in the Highlandlake Church on September 20, 2003 to Chad Roberts of Fort Collins. "I've always loved this church and its setting by the lake, so it was a natural choice for our wedding," said Cizek, "and when we found out about the structural problems and the amount of money that is needed to fix them, I wanted to do something to help the cause. Since organizing events is part of my job and career training, this is my way of giving back to the community,"

In addition to being the setting for several weddings each year, in 1990, the church was used in the filming of the movie, DieHard II, staring Bruce Willis. "A Hollywood location scout recognized the beauty and value of our historic church as background for one of the movie scenes," said Smith, "and it would be a shame if we were to lose it for 'live' viewing by future generations."

In addition to attending the Highlandlake Hey Day on August 23, tax-exempt donations, payable to Historic Highlandlake, Inc may be sent to HHCI treasurer Carla Brossman, at 1794 CR 34, Mead, CO 80542.