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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, June 20-22, 2018 The Park Record B-7 Burro packed a lot into three decades Breckenridge fixture Flapjack loved cookies ELI PACE Summit Daily BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. – Last week, a dear friend of Sam McCleneghan’s passed away at only 32 years old. An active member of the community in Christmas pageants, teaching kids and an all-around happy face to see on the trails, Flapjack the burro will be dearly missed. Flap, as the donkey was known, succumbed to old age almost a month shy of his 33rd birthday. Those who knew the burro say he was full of personality, showed a remarkable kindness and always carried more than his fair share. Flapjack’s life began July 22, 1985, but exactly where and to whom the burro was foaled, McCleneghan doesn’t know. He has a “birth certificate,” with the date Flapjack was born and some instructions about caring for the animal. “One-and-ahalf quarts horse grain morning and evening at least,” the certificate reads, adding that Flapjack should get all the hay he wants, clean water and salt at all times, with “lots of love, care and kindness.” Soon after his birth, the burro was gifted to a retired couple with a home in the Gold Hill neighborhood. They kept Flap in a small corral by the house, the same way someone might care for a hunting dog, McCleneghan said. Flap went on daily walks with the couple, even some hikes — he always liked being first in line — and the couple generally gave Flapjack the kind of personal attention and handling one would SPECIAL TO THE SUMMIT DAILY Flapjack folds his ears back and sticks out his tongue as he savors a chocolate chip cookie in this submitted photo. Playing roles in a church’s annual Christmas program and working with children at the High Country Horsemanship School, Flapjack became a well-known burro in Summit County, Colorado, before his death last week at age 32. heap on a family pet. But, as McCleneghan recalled, the couple was getting up in years and about to move away from Summit County, Colorado. For them, it was important to find Flap a good home. Noticing that McCleneghan had horses and mules on his land, the couple asked McCleneghan one day if he would like to have Flapjack. When McCleneghan agreed to take Flapjack in, the burro came with a halter and lead rope, a packsaddle and pad, some panniers and a bag of grain. The couple insisted McCleneghan not pay a dime for the donkey, but he refused. “At least let me pay for the bag of grain,” he told them. The couple agreed, and that’s how Flapjack came to be McCleneghan’s “$4 burro.” For the money, Flap was a steal, and the ensuing partnership led to more memories over the last three decades than McCleneghan can possibly remember. Over that time, Flapjack, it would seem, also became somewhat of a local celebrity. He packed a lot into his 32-plus years but will likely be best remembered for his affinity for cookies, especially chocolate chip and Oreos. “That was one thing that stood out about Flapjack: He loved his cookies,” said Sean McCleneghan, Sam’s son, who grew up with Flapjack. “Not joking at all, you’d give Flapjack a cookie, and he would close his eyes, hold his tongue out, and you could just tell he was just loving every minute of it.” Many people might remember Flap for playing a supporting role in the Rocky Mountain Bible Church’s annual Christmas celebrations in Frisco, which he did a handful of times around 2004-06. Having a live burro carry Mary into “Bethlehem” before trudging through the church itself was always a hit, and some even said Flap was the star of the show. Away from the limelight, Flap was a fixture along the Summit County Recpath, where McCleneghan has 10 acres by Farmers Korner, just west of Highway 9, and kept Flap over the summers. According to McCleneghan, countless people stopped along their way to pet the gentle-natured burro over the years, and many came to know him by name. More than once, in fact, McCleneghan held children on the burro’s back as their parents took pictures. “He was always a good little boy for the kids,” McCleneghan said. “They’d just be beaming.” Flapjack always had a way with children, though. At the High Country Horsemanship School, where Lynn Bauer teaches a range of ages how to ride and care for horses and where Flap came for some TLC, it didn’t take too long for him to earn his place. “We called him Flapper,” said Bauer, remembering how Flapjack was always available for hugs, soaked up the attention like it was “the best thing in the world,” and brayed like a fog horn anytime someone would drive up to the barn. “He wasn’t a horse, but he was certainly our mascot,” Bauer said of the lovable donkey, adding that children at the school were sad to learn Flapjack won’t be there to greet them anymore. “He was just fun to have around,” she said. “Flappers was a nifty guy, no question about it. Those nice animals are hard ones to have go.” Flapjack was great on hunting trips, too. He was well prepared by the regular hikes he took with his owner, and McCleneghan and his buddies would use Flap to help pack camp in and out on their trips up Swan Mountain. “You could load him up and he’d just follow you,” said Myron Goldstein, one of McCleneghan and Flap’s longtime hunting buddies. “You didn’t have to lead him. He’d just follow you.” Flap is buried on Sean McCleneghan’s property in Dillon, and his father, Sam McCleneghan, thinks the burro had a good life. “He was a happy burro,” McCleneghan said, explaining that Flap got to do a lot more than most burros. “You could just see it in his face,” McCleneghan said. “Without a doubt, he had a very good life, and he enjoyed it.” Some of the petS at NuzzleS & Co. lookiNg for love Introducing... 435-645-7139 www.marketatparkcity.com Please look for our insert in today’s paper! LIZY MICHELLE JA N E L L E Deer Creek TITLE INSURANCE, INC. Confidence to close! MICHELLE HUGGINS 4 35 . 6 59. 4 4 07 These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Alpine Murphy Danny Spruce Alpine is a 3 year old, medium sized mixed breed who is sweet but a little timid at first. He is great on leash, doesn’t jump, and is very affectionate. He is good with cats and other dogs with proper introduction. Murphy is almost 1.5 years old and would love an active household to get all his energy out. He is a medium sized shepherd mix that ignores cats and likes some dogs when he gets to know them. Danny is an adorable 9 month old mixed breed that is so sweet, good on leash, doesn’t jump, and already knows how to sit for a treat. He is good with cats and other dogs! He loves to play and go for walks. Spruce is a sweet older lab mix deserving of a slower-paced, loving home. At 10 years old, he is great on leash, doesn’t jump and is good with kids of any age. He is also good with cats and can be with more submissive dogs. Booboo Giorgio Armani Pu’a Ollie Booboo is a friendly and sweet 1 year old black and white Domestic Short Hair. One look at her gorgeous eyes in person and you’ll be hooked! She loves playing with toys and getting treats. Giorgio Armani is a handsome long-haired Siamese who is about 8 years old. He loves to talk and tell stories to his human and cat friends. Giorgio mostly loves human attention so visit him at the Adoption Center today! Pu’a is a beautiful brown shorthaired tabby that is 5 years old. She loves attention and is great with kids but would do best as the only pet in the home. Ollie is a sweet but shy 5 year old orange tabby. He takes his time to warm up to you but once he does, he’ll give you lots of love! He can be found hanging out with his cat friends in our community room at the Rescue Ranch. WaNted: voluNteerS These Organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words EATS Park City EATS Park City is dedicated to working with the school district and community to improve the school-lunch program using education as the foundation for change. School volunteers are needed to help with programs like lunchtime taste tests, cooking classes, and community events. Give an hour a week or a few hours a month to support interesting and fun ways to increase Park City children’s healthy habits. Contact eatspc@gmail.com to get involved. Girl Scouts Be the Girl Scout volunteer she’ll always remember. As a volunteer with a Girl Scout troop, you’ll introduce girls to new experiences that make every day feel like the best day ever. At every turn you’ll be their cheerleader, guide and mentor, helping them develop the skills and confidence that will last long after the meetings are over. For more information, visit http://www.gsutah.org/en/ volunteer-role-model.html or call Heather Smith at 801-716-5109. Guide Dogs for the Blind Guide Dogs for the Blind needs puppy raisers and sitters. Volunteers provide a nurturing, well-rounded, social environment for puppies 8 weeks old to 15 months. Guide Dogs for the Blind supports raisers and sitters with organized weekly training and socialization meetings. Basic equipment and complete veterinary care is provided for the puppies while with their raisers. Meetings are Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Park City/Heber areas. Contact Stefanie at 435-657-0760 for meeting location or questions; Facebook/ SummitGuideDogs, or www.guidedogs.com. Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties Habitat for Humanity invites you build sustainable, healthy and affordable housing as a ReStore volunteer. Do you love to tinker and fix things? Find treasures? Are you looking for a regular volunteer opportunity that is fun and makes a lasting difference for local families? Immediate opportunities include cashier, merchandising, and customer ambassador roles. For more information call 435-658-1400 or visit habitat-utah.org. Help Eliminate Alzheimer’s The Alzheimer’s Association’s Utah Chapter has many opportunities available for volunteers to raise awareness and promote community events. Areas of particular need are community education, outreach, research, social media, public policy, communications and development. Positions can also be created depending on interest and passion. Many positions are virtual. Please contact Ronnie Daniel, executive director: rdaniel@alz.org For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/ volunteers Love. Truth. Hair. D M I C H E L L E H U G G I N S @ H OT M A I L .CO M Hair never H takes a vacation. There’s no holiday from looking great. Going away is no time to take a break from looking and feeling brilliant. In fact, the opposite is true. From a quick cut, to eyelash extensions, to a full day of pampering, give us a call. And while drop-ins are welcome, we’d love the chance to schedule your appointment. (435) 655-2680 1811 Sidewinder Dr. Park City, UT 84060 www.oohlalahairparkcity.com |