Editor’s note: We want to meet your neighbor. Send nominations to crow@gjfreepress.com.

Denise: What is the Fruita Historic Preservation Board (FHPB)?

FHPB: The FHPB is one of several City of Fruita volunteer advisory boards and commissions. Our mission is to protect and preserve Fruita’s architectural, historic and cultural heritage and to provide educational opportunities to increase public appreciation of Fruita’s unique heritage.

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Denise: What projects and activities is the FHPB involved in?

FHPB: Among other things, the FHPB organizes and operates an annual Fruita History Fair. This year’s fair will take place Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. upstairs at the Fruita Civic Center (325 East Aspen Ave., in Fruita). There will be exhibits, artifacts, slide shows, and photographs of historic Fruita and surrounding areas including Colorado National Monument. FHPB member Yvonne Peterson will be there to show some of the treasures she has collected for the Lower Valley Heritage Room. Dahna Raugh will conduct tours of the Civic Center, which was built as Central School in 1912. We will also give Fruita History Coloring and Activity Books, a previous project of the FHPB, to children. Admission to the history fair is free, and the public is invited to bring in stories of old-time Fruita or old photographs and artifacts they would like to share or have identified.

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Denise: How does someone get involved in the FHPB? Are you looking for new members?

FHPB: The FHPB meets the first Monday of the month, upstairs in the Fruita Civic Center. There are openings for two new board members. Qualifications are the ability to attend monthly board meetings, and an interest in Fruita’s story. Prospective board members are welcome to attend a meeting. Applications to join the board can be found on the City of Fruita’s website, http://www.fruita.org. Click on City Boards and Commissions, go to Historic Preservation Board, and click on the application. We look forward to welcoming new board members soon.

Denise Hight is co-author of Images of America: Fruita, which was published by Arcadia Publishing in 2011. She is currently working on another book for Arcadia, Legendary Locals of Fruita, which will be published in 2016. She can be reached at hightswrite@gmail.com.