Serene Karplus, Nederland.   Exotic safari animals dot the rolling landscape around Zulu Nyala in South Africa. Enjoy them in the wild from the safety of vehicle tours with two trips per day for wildlife viewing. Dine on three meals a day and stay for six nights with this package at the beautiful Heritage Safari Lodge and Tent Camp.

The Lodge offers an elegant lounge, a spacious dining room and bar, outdoor verandas and swimming pools. With room to walk on the grounds, it provides space for relaxation in the African sun or evening strolls.

The Tent Camp consists of solidly constructed buildings with canvas roofing.

The trip voucher will be good for two years from our event date. Winners make their own travel arrangements and can seek the help of our Zulu Nyala contact, who can connect the winners with opportunities for reduced airfares, which are not included in the package.

To learn more about this locale and see photos and videos of the surrounding area, please visit www.zulunyalagroup.com. Everyone has a chance to bid on the Safari package and win this trip! The opening bid is $2,500, which is a 6-night package for two people.

Friends from both mountains and plains look forward to our huge silent auction at the annual Holiday Mountain Market at the Nederland Community Center on December 1 and 2, where proceeds benefit the nonprofit Nederland Area Seniors supporting mountain older adults.
This year’s auction promises, once again, dozens of gift certificates to restaurants and services, plus gift items donated by retailers and artisans. Everyone can find gifts for all the friends, family and neighbors on our lists this season. Throughout the year, people help us with little favors and it is nice to remember them at year end.

Give a gift of a nice dinner for two or a little lunch item for a worker on the go. Present fine jewelry or tickets to a museum for half the cost it would normally incur. Treat yourself to a massage or a day on the slopes.

This year we are extending our silent auction to an additional location prior to the event so that those unable to attend can still bid. Our friends at Citywide Banks, in Nederland, have graciously provided space to accommodate a few dozen of our bid sheets – a fraction of the hundreds we will have at the market, but a great sample of some of the gift certificates and items available.

Bidding begins on Friday, November 12, at Citywide Bank, moves to our Holiday Mountain Market on Saturday, December 1, and closes on Sunday, December 2, at 4 p.m. The Market opens at 10 a.m. both days, closing at 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

We look forward to seeing you at the popular Holiday Mountain Market Arts and Crafts Festival, with live performances all day both days, 60 artisans/crafters, festive hot foods, photos with Santa and story time at the top of each hour Noon to 3 p.m.

All ages of adults are welcome at all events, attended mostly by folks over age 50. Sign up for all meals and events at 303-258-0799 or Meetup.com/Mountain-MidLife-Social-Group or by email at NederlandAreaSeniors@gmail.com. Meals are served at the Nederland Community Center. Please call two days ahead for lunch reservations (more for dinners and breakfasts if possible). Missed the deadline? Call anyway. Please note that all age 60+ are welcome at meals regardless of ability to contribute financially.

(Originally published in the November 15, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)