Starlight Shines on Telluride

December 17, 2020

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A nighttime scene showing a glowing star atop a hill or building, with dimly lit houses and trees in the foreground. The sky is dark, and the star is the main source of light.

By Matt Hoisch

The renovated star shines in the distance on the northern hillside above Telluride. Picture by Matt Hoisch.

The renovated star shines in the distance on the northern hillside above Telluride. Picture by Matt Hoisch.

Sometimes in journalism a story is hiding in plain sight. Sometimes, it’s shining in plain sight.

Since early in the pandemic, a giant star has glowed on the north hillside above Telluride. Normally, the star is only lit around the holidays. But, when COVID hit, Rich Estes, a.k.a. Big Daddy, saw an opportunity. Estes is the town’s Streets & Utilities Superintendent and has lived in the area his whole life, most of it in Telluride.

Featured Songs:

“We Will Never Come Back Here Again” by Tim Linghaus

“Again” by Daigo Hanada

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