Support our pool
I have been serving on Carbondale’s Parks and Recreation Commission for three years now. I volunteered to serve because the pool construction was on the horizon and I thought I could help. As the cost curve has skyrocketed since we envisioned the project and passed the bond for it by a three-to-one margin, I ask myself, is it still worth it? How do we justify spending so much on a community pool? If we don’t build, what will it mean to be a small town without a pool?
As I hide from the heat in my house, I am grateful to the people who came together 50 years ago to build the John M. Fleet pool, and I’m dreaming of our new one. I think it’s critically important to provide an affordable local pool that kids can get to on their own — to support kids being water safe, to support a local swim team, to have a fun summer place for parties and community activities.
When Carbondale built the Recreation Center, we did not anticipate the community building and congregating that grew over the years. This new pool will be another amenity with outreach and impact we don’t yet know.
I recently gave the biggest donation I’ve ever made in one gift, because I know this is important. Carbondale is getting state and national recognition for building an all electric pool. This is a big investment we are making, and I’m proud to be part of it.
Contact mdonnelly@carbondaleco.net to make a donation, sign a pledge form or to get instructions for an investment transfer. Please, the next 50 years are counting on us!
Susan Rhea
Carbondale
A guilty Trump
Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying his company’s business records to keep information from voters that he knew would harm his 2016 presidential campaign. Lying on official business filings is a serious criminal offense and another clear example of Trump’s pattern of doing anything to gain or stay in power. No one is above the law, and any other American would be punished if they committed the same crime.
Despite the guilty verdict, Trump is still very much running for president. If he is elected to a second term, our democracy would be in serious peril. Don’t just take my word for it. Trump has pledged to weaponize the Department of Justice to seek revenge against his political opponents, pardon himself and his allies for crimes they commit and deploy the military against demonstrators exercising their First Amendment rights — all while purging the federal government of anyone who doesn’t agree with him.
There’s too much at stake to let Trump return to the Oval Office. It’s up to us to make sure we hold Trump accountable at the ballot box in November.
Nadine Adamson
Aspen
Sarah for Eagle County
I am writing to encourage anyone eligible to vote in the June 25 Democratic primary to: 1) VOTE! and 2) vote for Sarah Smith Hymes (if you’re voting within Eagle County).
We are lucky to have two outstanding Democratic candidates from which to choose, but at this time and place in Eagle County, with so many ongoing issues and challenges before us, the choice boils down to one word … experience.
Sarah brings the kind of vision and experience we need at this time. She has been engaged and involved in public service on so many levels over the years. Her contribution to the county through her service on the boards for the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, the Avon Town Council (where she served as Mayor), affordable housing, the Climate Action Committee and the Eagle County Charter Academy represents just a snapshot of her commitment and engagement to the betterment, sustainability and quality of life we so value.
She has worked closely with key players, both locally and regionally. She knows that the solutions to our county’s challenges will require out-of-the-box thinking, creativity and collaboration with all of the stakeholders, including our valley’s largest employers, in order to affect positive change and progress.
Eagle County’s current board has done an admirable job in addressing the many growth-related issues in our county — especially regarding housing and transportation, protecting our wildlife and environment, water quality and more.
However, the ongoing challenge of staffing our businesses, our schools and health care systems continues to be directly impacted by the lack of viable housing options. Sarah has passionately dealt with these issues and continues to do so.
She recognizes the value and contributions of those that have brought us to where we are today, but she is also committed to the more recent arrivals that would love to make this county their home but, currently, have no affordable path to achieve that goal.
Let’s maintain this hard earned momentum by putting Sarah Smith Hymes on the Board of County Commissioners. She’s already been working for years toward building a better future for the county, and she’ll be ready to continue that mission on day one.
Howard Leavitt
Avon
For Sarah, from Vail
I am writing this letter to show my support for Sarah Hymes for county commissioner in Eagle County, District Two. I’ve known Sarah since we were hockey moms in the early 2000s shuttling our kids to practices and tournaments around the state. Back in our hockey mom days, Sarah was always multitasking — juggling work and volunteering in the community.
I know her husband, Dave, and sons, Will and Ben. They were a typical young mountain town family; the kind that is finding it harder and harder to make Eagle County home. Since then, Sarah has gained an incredible amount of experience in governance. Housing matters very much to her and her family, and she is well-versed in water and environmental issues, as well as wildlife preservation.
Today, Sarah is committed to figuring out how to rebuild the heart of our community that is being hollowed out by the cost of housing. She wants to preserve our most valuable assets: our diverse communities, the environment, wildlife and the outdoor recreation that sustains us. Join me in voting for Sarah for Eagle County.
Kathryn Middleton
Vail
Another one
Sarah Smith Hymes has impressed me from the moment I met her. Her ability to understand and prioritize the critical issues, create opportunities and embolden the community she lives in has been remarkable.
As a new resident in Eagle County, I have been eager to learn about our public leaders in order to understand the community in which I live. As I asked around, Sarah’s name routinely came up as a great example of a strong, passionate leader; one whose reputation is exemplary and gets things done. As I dug deeper to understand the “whys” of her success, I was immediately astounded to learn of her deep, broad and distinct civic experiences (the list is too long to mention, so please see her website: www.SarahForEagleCounty.org) and the outcomes she accomplished in the areas of climate action, water, transportation, advocacy, housing and public safety.
After researching some more, I uncovered that her keys to success lie in her strong network with state and county officials, her ability to create results and her commitment to her community. Also, the testimonials public officials have written about her demonstrated the qualities I look for in a candidate.
It should also be noted that her current connections to the old and the young in Eagle County make her a fantastic individual to be the leader of the people – someone who will represent the best interests of District Two. Please join me in voting for Sarah Smith Hymes for Eagle County District Two in the June 25 primary. She is experienced, effective and committed!
Ceci Zak
Avon
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