Janette Taylor, Nederland. Imagine a moose, a bear, a mouse, a survivalist, and a cartoonist playing poker in a small cabin while the wind whistles through the trees, the players cracking jokes and discussing the hassles of mountain living, and you’ll have an idea of what George Blevins’ Cabin Fever cartoon strip is like.

Cabin Fever appeared in The Mountain-Ear newspaper for 21 years. His inventions became some of the most beloved characters in the Peak to Peak, and people looked forward to the next six-framed cartoon from week to week. A few years ago, a couple of locals persuaded George that his cartoons needed to be saved for posterity, and so the three compendium books of Cabin Fever 1, 2 and 3 were published. 

On February 25, at 7 p.m., the Nederland Library will present their monthly “Book Talk”, this edition featuring George. Attendees will have an opportunity to chat with George (who is harder to find these days, holed up in his Gilpin County home), ask him questions about his cartoons, his memories of Nederland from decades ago, his experience as a Freedom Rider in the ‘60s, and where the “Nedhead” guy came from. 

George’s original art from Cabin Fever was on display at the Nederland Library for six months, and has only recently been replaced by the current exhibition, art by area middle and high school students. However, the library still has some of George’s art available for sale: feel free to ask about it the next time you visit the library.

Also, on the library’s website, go to Online/NedSpeaks and you’ll find a fascinating interview with George, that will lead to even more questions you may have for this gifted and entertaining local. Nederland.colibraries.org.

To participate in this Zoom hangout with George, email JanetteTaylor.ncl@gmail.com and she will be sure to send you the Zoom link for this once-in-a-lifetime event!