Links and Literacy in Leadville

Golf Champ to Hold Leadville Clinics

Fore! That’s the warning call for an upcoming opportunity you don’t want to miss in Leadville Today. If you had a chance to learn some tips from a sports pro in order to improve your game, would you? What if they were ranked 5th in the world? That would be a pretty SA-weet situation!

While that opportunity doesn’t come around very often, for Leadville golfers, there are two upcoming opportunities at North America’s Highest Golf Course that you may want to take advantage of. National deaf champion golfer Dano Aldaz who is currently ranked 9th in the world, will be assisting with two free golf clinics on July 31 and August 8. The events are open to all ages and will take place at 6:30 p.m. both dates. And you don’t even need your own clubs! Come learn how to improve your swing and scorecard!

Contact Mike at (913) 449-1464 with questions and registration. Mount Massive Golf Course is located at 259 Co Rd 5 in Leadville, Colorado.

Mt. Massive Golf Course: North America’s Highest!

About the Pro, Dano Aldaz

When Dano Aldaz was a sophomore at Lake County High School (LCHS) he picked up golfing and since then, he has been blazing a course on the greens that have earned him a scorecard of accomplishments and awards that have another Leadvillite capturing the national and international spotlight. Aldaz was born with a hearing impairment which would place him in worldwide competition for golf by individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Aldaz ranked fifth in the national competition held in Maryland earlier this month, which qualifies him for one of six spots on the United States Team for 2020 World Deaf Golf Championships to be held in England. For readers who may be unfamiliar, the United States Deaf Golf Association promotes the active participation of golf by individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and ensures the protection of the game’s integrity and valued traditions through a variety of programs and events. In 2007 Aldaz received the Mt Massive Award from the Leadville/Lake County Sports Hall of Fame.

Dano Aldaz is the son of LCHS teacher Roxie Aldaz and her husband Danny. Dano is married to his high school sweetheart, Kaylee (Neufeld) Aldaz and the couple is raising their family in Leadville.

READING: The Building Block of Education

By Joyce Rankin, Colorado Board of Education

Shh……

Have you visited your local library lately? If you haven’t, you may want to check out some of the many things you can do there.  Besides great books, movies, music, internet, and computer access, you will find lists of news, activities, and community events posted in many of our local libraries. In some areas of Colorado, libraries are community centers.  They host community events and lectures.

Joyce Rankin

You can also visit libraries online. I recently connected online with my local library and found a link to a site where a viewer can input a favorite author and find recommended similar authors and suggested books.  In many cases, this is based on people checking out books throughout the library system. It’s a lot like movie rental stores of the past where you could put in the name of a movie, and the computer screen suggested other movies that you might like “If you like this movie, you may like….”

Children’s books may also be organized similarly. The books are usually grouped by age or grade level. First graders get excited about any book they can read, but as students progress, they tend to select books with topics having a more personal interest.  You can find, for example, the most popular books currently being read by sixth graders.

Childen enjoy Storytime at the Lake County Public Library. Photo: Brennan Ruegg/Leadville Today

Senate Bill 19-199 Reading to Ensure Academic Development or the READ ACT requires that Kindergarten-3^rd-grade teachers use evidence-based practices of the science of teaching reading in their classrooms.  The bill also provides for community members to be informed of the legislation and learn about some of the reading foundations included in the READ ACT.

Beginning in August, when students return to their classrooms, I’ll be traveling throughout the third congressional district sharing the READ ACT and what it means in your community. Watch the event board in your local library for details.

It continues to be an honor to serve on the State Board of Education representing the Third Congressional District.

Joyce Rankin is on the State Board of Education representing the Third Congressional District which includes Lake County. She writes the monthly column, “Across the Street” to share with constituents in the 29 counties she represents.  The Department of Education, where the State Board of Education meets, is located across the street from the Capitol. She can be reached at joycesrankin@gmail.com