Correction: Last week’s feature about Mountain Valley Developmental Services mistakenly dropped the “al” from that nonprofit’s name.
Re: USFS
I hope the octagonal porthole window above the west entrance got saved and given to Carbondale as an historical remembrance to be displayed in the town center, but it likely wasn’t. What a shame.
Nancy Morey, Glenwood Springs
Red flags
As a publicly funded institution, Colorado Mountain College (CMC) deserves scrutiny and oversight, and the recent announcements regarding the presidential search have raised more than a few red flags.
The position of CMC president is a massive undertaking — with a budget in the millions, 11 campuses, and around 2,000 employees. A significant amount of time and energy should be devoted to bringing a leader into this role that not only has experience in a similar role, but can bring an innovative lens to an institution that is critical to our mountain communities. An internal “search” of less than two weeks seems hardly enough time to adequately identify people that have the skills and qualifications to take on such a role. Additionally, soliciting public feedback at the same time as said “search” is nonsensical if the public’s opinion is actually going to be taken into consideration.
The search process for the next CMC president should not just be internal. As a former CMC employee, much work needs to be done in building a healthy work environment, which many staff are afraid to speak up about for fear of retaliation. Internal hires are known to perpetuate unhealthy work environments and will keep CMC in a place of “same old, same old” rather than innovating in the ways that need to be done to meet the changing needs of our communities, campuses, and landscape of higher education.
We have an obligation to taxpayers across the mountain region and an opportunity to recruit great candidates through a nation-wide search that can bring innovation and a breath of fresh air to CMC.
Jess Hedden, New Castle
From CMC
The Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees held a special meeting April 8 at CMC’s Vail Valley at Edwards campus regarding the search process for the college’s next president and chief executive officer.
Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, the longest serving president in Colorado Mountain College history, recently announced her decision to step down in August after nearly 11 years in the role. During a special meeting on March 22, trustees cited the strength and stability of CMC’s talented team of faculty and staff and determined that the college would conduct an internal search to identify current employees who are qualified to serve as the college’s next president.
During the meeting, trustees held an executive session to review application material for the position and input obtained through a survey of community members, students, faculty and staff. Survey data, which was anonymized and aggregated, provides useful and illuminating feedback for the trustees to consider. Trustees want to complete their review of all survey responses before moving forward with the search process.
“We are grateful for the passion and care with which community members provided their feedback about what they’d like to see in Colorado Mountain College’s next president,” said Board of Trustees President Peg Portscheller. “We believe that CMC is the thriving institution that it is today because of Dr. Hauser’s leadership, which includes the practice of tapping into the college’s internal talent for key roles. Trustees will spend this week reviewing application material and feedback from the public before determining next steps.”
Trustees plan to reconvene and continue the presidential search process review on Monday, April 15 after all survey results have been considered by the board.
Colorado Mountain College
Rhea concedes
Thank you to everyone who voted in the trustee election, and (wink) especially those who voted for me.
I did not win, but those who did need our continued support.
I’m still in the game, working on clean energy for Carbondale (Fred Porter and I have persuaded the Forest Service to use electric heat pumps in the new building), pushing Town priorities for our delightful new aquatics facility (again, all electric), helping Age-Friendly Carbondale bring inclusive accessibility to all Town facilities and new projects, and supporting the arts, music, festivals, and plants of Carbondale. I love it here!
I know many of you care strongly about how Carbondale moves forward. You can make a significant difference by serving on one of our many commissions. In a small town, an individual can make a big impact. Please find the time and passion to put yourself in there, helping direct the changes that will happen. Go to the following link and see how you can plug in:
www.bit.ly/CdaleGov
Be well my friends, and take care of each other. See ya on the trails —
Susan Rhea, Carbondale
Words matter
I just noticed that our humble grassroots nonprofit newspaper has four proofreaders listed on the masthead! As a former English major, I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. Meanwhile, the corporate chain newspaper just down the road has constant, sometimes very embarrassing, grammatical and spelling mistakes, often even in the headlines on the front page! Gotta love that nonprofit model. Just sayin’.
By the way, I really loved the chocolate chip cookie reviews a couple weeks ago. I’ll have to check those out. Does anybody remember the chocolate chip cookies the monks at the Snowmass Monastery used to make? They were a little bigger than bite-sized and only cost a buck. Back in the ‘80s you could only get them at Local’s Corner in Aspen. They were the best, ever. Even though I’m an avowed pagan, I would say a thousand Hail Marys if they would give me that recipe. Someone needs to procure it before that place becomes a trophy ranch.
Luke Nestler, Carbondale
Equinox reading
MANA Foods celebrated spring with our bi-annual yoga event. We completed a 72-hour mantra reading through the Equinox. This makes 16 times in 8 years that Sotantar has organized this event. Each year, people participate in this Valley-wide, showing up to pray changes. Some readers have participated from the beginning. This past season participants blossomed to over 30 readers.
The Equinox is a special time of the year as our sunlight splits the day and night in half and the next season begins. This spring Equinox was special to me as our community experiences a new season of all the best fruits and veggies this region has to offer, all organic. By doing our event on this sun alignment, our intent was to raise our voices in gratitude for our families, our country, our planet earth, and God. We value that each one of us has a voice to make our community a better place for all.
It is a weird thing for a grocery store to do such a yoga project of a 72-hour reading, yet our lives are more than just the food we put in our bodies. MANA Foods is more than just a food store, it supports local farmers, ranchers, and regional food makers. Everyone who eats organic foods supports their brain and overall happier moods for each one of us. The readings also support mental health and open the possibility for improved physical health.
Anyone can call and make an appointment to read. Otherwise, the next Equinox is in September, so come and have an enlightening experience.
This was my eighth season reading. I have many stories to share about the people who have participated in the readings, so stop in MANA Foods on a Sunday and just ask for Roop.
Paramroop S. Khalsa, MANA Foods
Re: Downtowner
Hmmm … the Town trustees voted to spend $181,500 on a six-month trial for the free Downtowner transportation service, and will consider spending up to $726,000 for year-round service in 2025, according to the April 4 Sopris Sun.
Ok. Seems to me the decision to pay $181,500 for the Downtowner trial service could use some “Whereas’s,” like usually accompany ordinances. Off the top of my head, the “Whereas’s” could include such declarations as:
Whereas some Carbondale residents don’t own vehicles, even junkers;
Whereas the Downtowner will also benefit many under-age youth who have no way to escape their parents, other than to hoof it out of their house;
Whereas it’s a mile or two from south Carbondale to City Market, Roaring Fork Family Physicians, Peppino’s Pizza and the Cowen Center car wash;
Whereas the Downtowner will keep cars from clogging the Town’s busy thoroughfares, roundabout and parking lot across from the Crystal Theatre;
Whereas dogs will benefit from the Downtowner because their owners can more readily get them to the big dog park, and Carbondale is a dog-friendly town;
Whereas the Downtowner will improve the town’s air quality and directly combat climate change;
Be it now ordained that the $181,500 Downtowner expense is darn well worth it.
The Sopris Sun article quoted Mayor Ben Bohmfalk saying “ … We’re going to have to get a pretty quick read on whether we want to fund it for the next year.” He said the 2025 budget process begins in August.
Lynn “Jake” Burton, Glenwood Springs
MVDS
Mountain Valley Developmental Services would like to thank the Defiance Thrift Store for their recent generous donation. Again this year, we are thrilled to have been chosen by the Defiance Thrift Store for their continued financial support. In addition to supporting us financially, the store also provides work opportunities for many people- some who may not otherwise have been given a chance at being competitively employed.
The employees and board members of the Defiance Thrift Store understand the importance of building people up and are dedicated investors in our community. Please help this investment continue by donating your gently used clothing and household goods to them for resale.
Thank you again, for the important work you do, which helps Mountain Valley Developmental Services do our work!
Sara Sims, Executive Director