Page 4, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
L E T T E R S
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Send us a letter. Got something on your mind? We’re expanding our word-count limit to 500 words or less for Letters to the Echo to give you plenty of space to express yourselves. The Echo welcomes your input, opinions, thanks and whatever else you’d like to share with our readers, provided it’s written in a respectful, civil way. (Please, no unsubstantiated attacks, etc.) The Echo reserves the right to edit and proofread letters. Send your words to The Grand Valley Echo, gve@crystalvalleyecho.com, or 274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623. Please be sure to include your name, title if necessary, and where you live.Thanks. Oil and gas rules can benefit all Editor’s note: This letter was originally addressed to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Dear Echo: Contrary to what might be perceived, the new Colorado Oil and Gas Rules and Regulations have not cut down on the number of well permits this past year. As reported in the Grand Junction Sentinel on Jan. 12, 2010, Colorado leads in the number of permits issued. The economy is the cause of a decrease in oil and gas production: less demand, therefore excess supply. Even the energy companies agree to that reasoning. So this would be a good time for the energy industry to really look at the benefits of even better regulations, and sit down to add on stricter rules. “This will prevent drilling and a loss of jobs,” some will say. Let’s look at it another way.
Strict rules on the books, that are enforced, prevent fly-by-night companies or subcontractors from coming in, drilling poorly, and raking in the profits, leaving behind possible ground, air or water contamination; disruptions in communities and wildlife; and many angry residents. Communities would welcome energy companies and respect them, rather than mistrust them and worry about the impacts they now create. All the thousands of dollars spent by the oil and gas industry in electing “friendly” state officials could be funneled toward upholding higher standards, such as putting state-of-the-art air filters on every well drilled; staying at least 1,000 feet from a residence; drilling outside PUDs, etc. Money spent fighting the new rules and regulations could be spent on constructive projects in the area instead. There then should be fewer lawsuits due to spills or water, air or soil contamination with these stricter
rules. Companies would spend their money on hiring the most reputable subcontractors, instead. Workers would be safer, too. An open dialogue would be far more beneficial than overthrowing the new rules and regulations. Try them and report back. Be proactive rather than reactive, thus making our communities and our environment a healthier and safer place to live now – and in the future. In Garfield County, the Community Counts program is a step in the right direction, pulling various companies together to discuss problems and solutions. Stricter regulations would make their job more meaningful because there would be less “gray” areas. We need good rules and regulations – so please do not overthrow the years of negotiations. Don’t let dollar signs of profit guide you in the final analysis. Sandy Getter Battlement Mesa
G R A N D VA L L E Y G R AT I T U D E Are you thankful – and you want everybody to know about it? Please try to keep your gratefulness under 500 words and send to Grand Valley Gratitude, 274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623, or email gve@crystalvalleyecho.com. ‘Six women - 25,000 books’ Dear Echo: Editor’s note: This letter is in regards to the temporary move Parachute Library’s staff recently made from the library's original building to the corner of Fisher and Hill in Parachute. The original library building is now undergoing an expansion and remodeling project.
Read any good books lately? I have and I bet you have too, thanks to the ingenuity and dedication of Parachute Library's staff of six. Here's a brief review of the mammoth job of the relocation of 25,000books in just nine days. Step one involved deciding where to place the different sections, like children’s, fiction, etc. in the library’s new quarters and then color-coding the new empty areas. Step two saw the arrival of four men from United Van Lines Mesa System who built the required number of shelves. Then the 25,000 books were loaded on gondolas after careful wrapping for transport to the new building. On the fifth day the gondolas were rolled into the new quarters. One of the staff described the arrival as a sea of gondolas rolling to the new building. Each cart was moved to its color-coded location. The shelving began! Remember, six women 25,000 books! Amazing as it may seem, the staff accomplished the entire relocation of thousands of books in just five days. The staff members who accomplished this feat are Karol Sacca – Branch Manager, Beret Brenckman – Assistant Branch Manager, Michelle Duran – Youth Services Librarian, Kim Benson, Megan Hagenson and Jennie Campbell. Catherine Evans Parachute
letters for 2009, so I also want to extend my deepest appreciation to the entire community for your tremendous support last year. With the instability of the economy, it was a year of unusually high demand for LIFT-UP’s services. Requests for assistance were about triple what they were the previous year, with some of our food pantries serving five to 10 times more people than usual in certain months. We tried to keep the public informed, and thankfully, our community came through and helped us meet the dramatically increased needs of our struggling neighbors. A huge amount of food was donated, and financial support remained strong despite the weak economy. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who participated in food drives and gave financial support, and to all the businesses that did special promotions to benefit LIFT-UP. Our volunteers, staff and board of directors also went the extra mile to meet the needs. There are far too many people to name here, but it’s safe to say that thousands of people participated in making sure everyone in our region had food to eat last year. LIFT-UP is effective because our caring community makes it possible for us to be effective. We are simply a channel for your generosity and kindness. I know the economy impacted every household in our region, so I am extremely grateful for the extraordinary support that LIFT-UP received. Our six area food pantries and The Extended Table Soup Kitchen continue to be much busier than before the economic downturn, and we don’t know when conditions will improve. But I do know that as long as there are people in need, and a community that cares, LIFT-UP will be here to help. It’s great to live in a community that cares so much about one another.
Generosity in challenging times Dear Echo: LIFT-UP recently wrapped up its year-end accounting and sent out receipts and thank-you
Sincerely, Michael L. Powell LIFT-UP executive director, Garfield County
Fees to fit your budget! Thomas L. Hall, CPA
Phone 285-9554