We all claim Randy
Dear Editor:
The Udall family asks us to live as
Randy did. Did becomes does. He lives on because of his ability to
drive home and also live the message of how we can participate
responsibly in our future, which can appear perilous, brings a power
and energy to me daily. I am sure it does to others.
Someone said to me, “We all claim
Randy.”
How true.
Over the last 20 years or so, each
encounter I had with him — grocery store, Red Hill, Two Rivers
Park, the local dump (when we could still visit it), CRMS — all are
sharply in my memory. Sometimes I witnessed extraordinary compassion,
other times thoughtful wry humor, and usually critical questions.
In his writing he delivered some truths
we might want to avoid in our daily lives and then with his
characteristic joy, he seized today’s moment and demonstrated how
to fasten issues into personal behavior NOW.
I am the citizen I am in our skeptical
times because of Randy. No doubt the brilliance of the night sky and
the fragility of spring wildflowers in the Wind Rivers wrapped Randy,
and the universe said “Thanks.”
Adele Hause
Carbondale
Dump the tents
Dear Editor:
In their July newsletter, the CCAH
announced a lottery to allow twenty 10’x10′ shade tents to be erected
by the music mixing tent at a cost of $100 to $125 to the winners of
the lottery.
Tents would restrict the view of the
stage and walking access through the already crowded park for 200
feet across the middle of the park.
A very bad idea.
As the fair has grown, more and more
tents have been allowed to congest the park. The open-sided tents
allowed in the past should also be removed. Only about 100
“privileged” people (five folks per 10’x10′ tent) will benefit
while blocking the view of the stage and easy movement through the
park by the thousands of visitors to the fair.
CCAH seems to be concerned with the
“fairness” of selection of the “privileged,” hence the
lottery, without concern for the thousands inconvenienced by the
presence of 200 feet of tents.
Sopris Park is a wonderful venue that
belongs to the public and the Mountain Fair is a great event that
should not cater to an elite few willing to pay for shade.
It’s summer!
It’s July!
Wear a hat!
For 42 years the Mountain Fair has
succeeded without shade for the few, and there is the danger that
this year’s lottery will set a precedent for future years. Keep the
park open and equal for everyone. Take down all the tents except the
music mixer and let a bad idea die quickly.
Frank Norwood
Carbondale
Celebrate the Divide
Dear Editor:
My name is A.O. Forbes and I have been
a teacher in the valley for the past 27 years.
I grew up in Aspen, attending schools
in both Aspen and Carbondale. I have raised my children here and
feel uniquely lucky to have spent so much time here, and to have the
connections to this valley that have given me so much.
This valley, and all the communities in
it are all about relationships, relationships between people that are
born out of relationships to the land. As a child, riding my horse
with my mother up the side of the Highlands’ Thunderbowl through
the aspen on a June morning is for me the essence of this reciprocal
relationship between a place I love, and people I love. Aldo Leopold
writes so eloquently about the need to revere that connection to
place, and to live within that relationship, and to feed it
constantly.
To that end, I invite all to come to an
event at Two Rivers Park on July 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. to celebrate our
reverence for the land we live in, the land that raises our families,
feeds our souls and gives us sustenance in every way imaginable. The
landscape that we will celebrate is the Thompson Divide. Please come,
eat, listen to music and let’s discuss, and celebrate, our
connections to this beautiful place. Come, and help us collectively
speak to the future of a place that we all love.
A.O. Forbes
Carbondale
We need drones
Dear Editor:
Imagine an elderly pedestrian stranded
at a busy intersection. The drone flies over, sees the problem, and
immediately dispatches a signal to the nearest Eagle Scout. Or think
of the ease with which we will find lost cats. Those charity runs to
end breast cancer? Tape-to-tape coverage. They can even do traffic
reports. Not only that, but there if there is an abandoned vehicle
blocking a lane, consider it cleared.
Now, the critics will say this is just
another example of Big Brother, but they’re wrong. This is the
ultimate Big Brother! Each drone will be paired with one
disadvantaged young man of color, and, like always, about once a
month, they will get together, and have a blast.
Jose Alcantara
Carbondale
What’s up with
Four Mile?
Dear Editor:
I gathered with other interested people
to listen to Scott Fitzwilliams, Supervisor of the White River
National Forest, speak on the status of oil and gas leases in Four
Mile Park. The BLM was meeting with SG Interests (the company holding
the leases for development) and other stakeholders to begin
collecting data to conduct an environmental impact statement on the
leases. This is the beginning stage for moving the process forward to
approve or deny drilling in this portion of the Thompson Divide
region.
I would like to thank Scott for meeting
with us for a very informative discussion. I learned some important
facts:
The Forest Service has informed the
Garfield County commissioners it will NOT build an alternate route
from East Divide Creek for trucks carrying equipment, water,
chemicals and ancillary facilities to drill sites in and near Four
Mile Park. So, if drilling is approved up Four Mile, the traffic will
move up Four Mile Road, unless the county commissioners take formal
action to remove this county road as an official haul route for oil
and gas development (which they have not done to date).
The Forest Service has reminded the
county commissioners that the commissioners are the only officials
with authority to close Four Mile Road to oil and gas traffic. Why
haven’t they taken formal action on this issue when they continue
to assure the public that they are committed to doing so?
The Garfield County Commissioners keep
telling the public they oppose oil and gas industrial traffic on Four
Mile Road. Are they being honest with us? Let’s look at their
actions: The commissioners are spending millions of taxpayer dollars
to improve Four Mile Road; they built a bridge that cost in excess of
$1 million into the Oak Meadows Sub-division, where SG Interests
holds a lease to drill (under normal circumstances, this bridge would
be unnecessary); against overwhelming public opposition, they
approved a contract to blast the mountain near Black Diamond Road and
straighten the curve (this is a beautiful geologic feature and a
natural traffic calming device and the new design accommodates faster
speeds and industrial traffic; they approved a contract to pave all
the way to Sunlight Mountain Resort.
Why is the county making these
improvements? Who will benefit? It is my opinion that through action
taken by our county commissioners, we as taxpayers are paying to open
this area up for oil and gas development.
Now is the time to become involved. The
BLM has begun the process to identify what values need to be
protected should development move forward. Please attend a gathering
from 4 to 7 p.m. on July 13 at Two Rivers Park to learn more about
the issues.
Trési Houpt
Glenwood Springs
Former Garfield county
commissioner
Burlesque was
repulsive
Dear Editor:
My boyfriend and I went to the
so-called burlesque production at the PAC3 on June 29. He’d seen it
in previous years and said it was fun and not too raunchy.
Let’s just say that this group of
local women have changed their MO since previous shows. It wasn’t
just raunchy, it was repulsive. We left during the third number with
a very bad taste in our mouths. I’m not a prude or a religious nut,
but I do have a sense of decency. The “madame” MC wasn’t funny
or seductive, just nasty and disgusting.
The first skit was a 1-900 number type
monologue with graphic details about lesbian bedroom practices. It
was nothing short of pornographic. The second skit was a very
talented hula-hoop artist with real talent. I could hardly believe
she’d affiliate herself with the others. Skit number three was such
a poor display of bad taste that we couldn’t take any more.
It’s hard to imagine that donors to
this “performing arts center” would sign another check.
Gina Shaw
Basalt
Farewell friends,
welcome vols
Dear Editor:
The wave of the future is here with the
NEW Carbondale Branch Library. Among the exciting changes is the
establishment of a new volunteer program offering additional
opportunities for community participation.
Historically, the Friends of Gordon
Cooper Library provided materials and volunteer assistance,
conducted semi-annual book sales, hosted One Book/One Town, and
raised independent funds to support a new library. The principal
mission of the Friends group has been met with the creation of the
new library. With the addition of the revised volunteer program, the
Friends of Gordon Cooper Library will cease to be a formal
organization. The new volunteer group will continue to support the
library’s programs and objectives.
The Friends will host a volunteer open
house and reception at the new library from 5 to 6:30 pm. on July 31
to thank all Friends and to welcome new volunteers.
Jane Hart
Carbondale