Roaring Fork November 2016

Roaring Fork NOVEMBER 2016

RoaringForkLifestyle.com

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CLIMBER MARY HARLAN—LIVING LIFE AT THE EDGE LIVING & PROMOTING A LIFE OF ADVENTURE MISADVENTURE & INJURY LEAD TO LEFT-HANDED ARTISTRY

A home is for every last one of us.

protect.

Belong here.

When your time comes to put down roots, and a thousand different reasons tell you no, remember this: a home is for every last one of us.

Including you. Be part of our civic story.

Our community is counting on it.

Community grown.

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November 2016 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

3

Lifestyle Letter

In Praise of Acts of Random Kindness

NOVEMBER 2016 PUBLISHER

Rick French | Rfrench@LifestylePubs.com | 970.618.8981

W

hen I moved back home to Colorado in 2011, it was actually the second time I ran away to the Roaring Fork Valley. Both times, my reasons for wanting to hide in the mountains were similar. William Butler Yeats' 1919 poem describing his feelings on the eve of World War I describes mine as well: Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

Here in the Roaring Fork Valley, the center does seem to hold. It's a major reason why I want to be here. Even though, in 2016, violent crimes have seemed more prevalent, our small towns remain fairly safe—at least in comparison to big cities. In this valley, our public discourse remains civil. Courtesy, tolerance and respect are the hallmarks of our public space.

I pray we keep it that way. To counteract these bristling times, I urge us to reach out.

Be courteous. Do something kind for someone who looks different from you or speaks a foreign language. Perform an act of random kindness.

It makes such a difference. As a journalist, I must read the news, even when, these days, my desire to remain well-informed is at odds with my desire to stay sane. About a week ago, when news of how the "blood-dimmed tide is loosed" made me feel like putting my head down on my desk and weeping, I experienced one of those surprise adventures that periodically convince me that "the ceremony of innocence" is not drowned.

My husband Mason and I had gone out for breakfast, mostly because local residents Greg and Kathy Feinsinger had given Mason a Village Smithy gift certificate for his birthday. During breakfast, I was telling Mason about having made a Rosh Hashana resolution to be more generous; it had inspired me to suddenly buy new computers for my elderly mom and her partner in Longmont, and then to stay over an extra day to set the computers up.

During this conversation, the waitress came up and told us that another couple, unbeknownst to us, had paid for our breakfast!

We gave our gift certificate to the waitress with instructions to give it to someone else who would need or enjoy it.

I don't know who bought our breakfast, or who got our gift certificate. But my wish for both of them—and for you, dear neighbors—is the same: may the BEST of us remain full of passionate intensity.

RoaringForkLifestyle.com Lighthouse Tower at Big Bend, above the River Road near Moab, Utah PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN CAREY 4

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Caitlin Causey, Hannah Condon, Bridget Grey, Georgine Garbarini, Rebecca Knight, Andrea Palm-Porter, Garry Schalla, Nicolette Toussaint, Geneviève Joëlle Villamizar CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bob Boylan, Bennet Bramson, Will Burks, Erin Carey, Caitlin Causey, Hannah Condon, Lewis Cooper, Savanah Cummins, Mike Garbarini, Beth Goralski, Mary Keisau, Todd Kennedy, Rebecca Knight, Mid Levis, Erica Miller, Andrea Palm-Porter, Renee Ramge, Lance Torre, Geneviève Joëlle Villamizar

CORPORATE TEAM | Steven Schowengerdt

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| Matthew Perry

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| Brad Broockerd

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EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT APPLICATION ARCHITECT WEB DEVELOPER

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by Community ™

Nicolette Toussaint, Editor

ON THE COVER Mary Harlan climbing at

EDITOR

Nicolette Toussaint | Ntoussaint@LifestylePubs.com

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P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Roaring Fork Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Roaring Fork’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Roaring Fork Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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November 2016 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

5

November 2016

Departments

26

16 Up, Up and Away in Snowmass

Bennett Bramson Volunteers to Put Hot Air to Good Use

10

Good Times

12

Around Town

16

Our Town

18

Locals Choice

20

Giving Back

22

Animal Kingdom

38

Faith Reflections

40

Open House

42

Healthy Lifestyle

44

Lifestyle Calendar

50

Parting Thoughts

20 Tom's Door Cards Support Those in Need

Carbondale Charity Celebrates 15th Anniversary

22 Hands-On Learning at CMC's Vet Tech Program

A Goat or a Llama Might be the Best Teacher

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Student Amanda Powell takes a break during class to hug one of the school's goats

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Publisher’s Letter

The Adventure of a Lifetime

A

s we sit through this horrible political season, endless commercials, ravings of hatred and division, I’m proposing something that may seem overwhelming at first, but with rewards that are never ending.

Years ago, I found a poem that has always resonated with me. This was written in 1934 by Peter Dale Wimbrow, Jr. You might like it too.

THE MAN IN THE MIRROR When you get all you want and you struggle for wealth and the world makes you king for a day, then go to the mirror and look at yourself and see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your mother, your father or wife whose judgment upon you must pass, but the man, whose verdict counts most in your life, is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest.

For he's with you right to the end,

and you've passed your most difficult test if the man in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum, And think you're a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you're only a bum If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world, down the highway of years, and take pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears if you've cheated the man in the glass.

The late, great Michael Jackson gave us this same message. Here’s an excerpt from his 1988 Grammy-winning song “Man in the Mirror”: As I turn up the collar on my Favorite winter coat This wind is blowin’ my mind I see the kids in the street With not enough to eat Who am I, to be blind?

Pretending not to see Their needs.

A summer's disregard, A broken bottle top, And one’s man’s soul.

They follow each other on The wind ya know 'Cause they got nowhere to go.

That's why I want you to know I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change His ways.

And no message could have Been any clearer.

If you wanna make the world A better place, Take a look at yourself, and Then make a change.

The biggest adventure we can ever take is the adventure of change. I’ve found that as I change my way of thinking, the way I look at other people—no matter how different they are—I will find that I slowly start to feel good about myself and those whose lives I touch.

Read the poem or download the song from YouTube. Either way, this is where the adventure of a lifetime begins.

Rick French, Publisher RFrench@LifestylePubs.com

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Good Times

Colorado Rocky Mountain School Celebrates New Base Camp

Colorado Rocky Mountain School recently celebrated completion of its new Alpenglow Base Camp. It's the final building in a $10.6 million capital campaign that included two new dormitories, remodeling three others, a new state-of-the-art science facility, a library, a music building and a welcome center. PHOTOS BY RENEE RAMGE.

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

Making Tracks at the K-9 5-K

In September, the Alpine Animal hospital sponsored its annual K-9 5-K fundraising race. Local residents participated by running with their canine best friends, by jogging with kids and strollers. During the event, shelter dog Jasmine found her new home.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MID LEVIS.

We’ve moved and invite you to enjoy our new facility.

We always welcome new patients.

A D E D I C AT E D T E A M W H O A RE CO M PASS I O N AT E AND GOOD L I ST E N E R S. T E C H N O LO GY T H AT M A K E S A P P O I N T M E N TS EASI E R A N D M ORE CO N V E N I E N T. A SPAC E T H AT I S CO M FO RTA B L E A N D I N V I T I N G.

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Around Town

AROUND TOWN

TRUE NATURE BUILDING KIVA IN CARBONDALE A kiva is being built in the public gardens behind True Nature Healing Arts in Carbondale. Historically, kivas were underground buildings that were used by Pueblo Native Americans for religious rituals, many of them associated with the kachina belief system.

Among the modern Hopi and most other Pueblo peoples, kivas are

BASALT PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS IN THE MAKING

square-walled, underground structures used for spiritual ceremonies.

Recently, the Town of Basalt began construction of an illuminated

Many historic kivas, such as those at Mesa Verde, are round, like

pedestrian underpass at the intersection of Highway 82 and Basalt

the one being built at True Nature. By the time this magazine went to

Avenue. The underpass is meant to connect the south side of Basalt with the historic downtown. Because there are schools, residential, and commercial areas on both sides of Route 82, many pedestrians and bicyclists must cross the busy highway.

The road, known as "Killer 82" in the 1960’s before it was fully widened to four lanes in 2004, has become safer over the years, according to Colorado Department of Transportation statistics. Two pedestrian fatalities did occur in Basalt along Route 82 in 2014. Crossing the four-lane road remains daunting; the stretch between El Jebel and Basalt Avenue has an average daily traffic count of 30,000.

The new underpass will be 140 feet long, up to nine feet tall and 16 feet wide. In addition to the removal of over 8,000 cubic feet of dirt for an underground path, the project includes the installation of new traffic signals and an upgraded storm-water drainage system.

The underpass is slated to open in the fall of 2017. Updates, and a link to a video by Outside Adventure Media may be found at Basalt.net

CHICKENING OUT AT THE “CHICANE” ON INDEPENDENCE PASS As locals know, Independence Pass closes right about now. And

Photographer Lewis Cooper's drone captured this aerial shot of the kiva (upper left) being built at True Nature Healing Arts

stays closed until around Memorial Day.

press in the middle of October, concrete footers had been poured and

world is flat. Global positioning systems (GPS), which project a

the forms were being erected to hold poured concrete walls.

vehicle’s position onto a two-dimensional database of roads, have

But like medievals, most vehicle navigation systems believe the

True Nature’s Kiva will be used for workshops, training, classes, music

caused plenty of winter misery. Not only is GPS oblivious to the fact

and creative expression. The building idea came through a “channeling

that Independence Pass is approached by six percent grades and

session” with True Nature owners Eaden and Deva Shantay. Eaden

summits at 12,095 feet, they also fail to realize that it’s covered by

explained, “The guide shared that we needed a building that would

deep snow all winter!

marry sky and earth and ground the True Nature development. The

During a closure of Glenwood Canyon last February, hundreds of

building will be two-thirds underground with a living roof and skylight

cars and semis stacked up at the Route 82 gate above Aspen. Another

to let the sun shine in.” The Kiva will hold 30 yoga mats for trainings and

20 trucks stacked up at the Aspen gate in July due to a rockslide

75 for workshops, music and dance. All roofs will be living green scape,

closure of Glenwood Canyon. Each time, Aspen police, local sher-

and the building will be geothermally heated and cooled.

iff’s officers and the Colorado Highway Patrol racked up hundreds of CONTINUED >

12

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

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Around Town

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hours of overtime turning deadlocked vehicles around and stemming an oncoming tide of others.

Now, Pitkin County commissioners and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) are considering new ways to keep large vehicles off of Indy. CDOT is proposing to spend $200,000 to $250,000 to install an electronic system near the Difficult Campground. The technology would identify vehicles more than 35 feet in length and then trigger an electronic sign that warns the driver to turn around.

About a mile beyond that sign, Pitkin County would build a narrow artificial curve, one similar to the Narrows higher up the pass. Normal cars would have no trouble with the man-made curve, called a “chicane". But trucks would have to avoid it by following a roundabout

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RIFLE LIBRARIAN TAKES HELM OF GARFIELD COUNTY LIBRARIES Jesse Henning, the manager of the Rifle Branch Library, was named executive director of the Garfield County Library District in October. Henning, who holds a master’s degree in library and information science from Kent State University, had relocated from Ohio to take the job in Rifle in August. Henning now lives in Silt with his wife, Carrie Waibel, who is also a librarian.

Henning’s promotion comes at a time when the library district is projecting a $1.2 million decrease in revenue for 2017 due to a drop in natural gas production in the county and decreased property taxes.

The library district is facing a large reduction: the budget approved in 2016 was nearly $2.7 million while the 2017 budget is slated to be only $1.8 million, necessitating cuts to wages, benefits and services. The library district does not anticipate closing any of its buildings.

USDA-CERTIFIED MAKEUP COMPANY OPENS IN GLENWOOD The first USDA certified organic facial makeup company in the United States opened in Glenwood Springs this month. Olga’s Organics was founded by Olga Reding, who began the startup company in New Castle.

Reding stated, “We are the first USDA organic makeup company in the United States and feel very proud of this accomplishment. We have formulated the first USDA-organic-certified loose face powder in the country… We are in the process of finishing packaging for our USDA-organic-certified whipped body butters. Our strategy involves selling our products at the local farmers' markets here in the Roaring Fork area, as well as engaging with our customers through various social media outlets. Our sales doubled from our first month at the farmers' markets this June to the end of the market season in September. In addition, we created partnerships with seven local shops/boutiques that currently carry our product."

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

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Our Town

PHOTOGRAPHY BENNETT BRAMSON

B

UP, UP in Snowmass

BENNETT BRAMSON PUTS HOT AIR TO GOOD USE

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

ennett Bramson, who lives in Basalt and is a realtor and EcoBroker with Sotheby's Realty in Aspen/ Snowmass, recently volunteered to help with the 41st annual Snowmass Balloon Festival. It's something he's done before—this is his 14th year—and something he will do again, even though it involves rising before the sun does.

This year, Bramson was up at 5:45 a.m. each day on the Snowmass Village baseball field under a frosty full moon, putting hot air to good use. He pitched in on Saturday night for the "Evening Glow" as well. He snapped these gorgeous photos along the way.

Bramson, who is often referred to as the valley's "uber volunteer," worked closely with several balloon team crews to help fill, launch and land balloons, helping to make this year's edition of the festival a rousing success.

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Locals Choice

Country Rose Rises to the Holiday Occasion CREATIVE GIFTS FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE ARTICLE BRIDGET GREY

Lots of items for your C hristmas baking needs. C ute serving dishes and holiday cooking ideas

Frames to please that newly married couple or a someone celebrating a special occasion

Inspirational crosses and decor to choose from for that special person

Creative C hristmas decor!

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Unique home decor with pil lows, throws, wonderful signs, kitchen items, and furniture

rawing a blank on holiday gifts? The Country Rose Boutique in Glenwood Springs is stuffed to the rafters with jewelry, purses, home furnishings and creative gift ideas. The holidays transform the store into a magical Christmas wonderland! Everything is hand-picked by the original Country Rose, owner Rose Rauman.

Fashionable finds include brands like Free People, Vintage Concept, Fantasia, A'reve and Noelle, and Rose is continually adding new styles just for you. Here are some of Rose's personal favorites for that certain someone on your holiday list.

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

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Photography Credit: Greg Watts November 2016 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

19

Giving Back

TOM'S DOOR OPENS TO CARING CARBONDALE CHARITY CELEBRATES 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

ARTICLE GEORGINE GARBARINI | PHOTOGRAPHY BOB BOYLAN AND MIKE GARBARINI

L

ocal student Jesse Case (that’s not his real name) had a rough spring. His mother, Gina, was about to deliver a child and unable to work. His father was not around to help. Jesse was acting out at school and got expelled. Jesse and his mother had not eaten in four days when a Roaring Fork school representative intervened. With a quick referral to the Family Connie Nostdahl, Jackie Thompson, Resource Center—a partner of local charity and Yvonne Perry Tom’s Door—help was soon on the way. continue celebrating Tom’s Door funds helped secure housing after the photography auction. Photo for the family for another 30 days. Gina

by Bob Boylan worked with the Family Resource Center to develop plans for moving forward.

Jesse and Gina are typical of the people assisted by Tom’s Door; fortunately, this intervention was a catalyst for the family. Jesse successfully returned to school this fall. He has a new healthy sibling and Gina is currently seeking employment.

“Preventing a family from eviction and ensuring they have food and support during a crisis is why we exist,” explains Tom’s Door founder and Executive Director Rosie McSwain.

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

Carbondale-based Tom’s Door has been proCutting a polka dot birthday cake viding emergency assistance to individuals and to celebrate 15 families in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2001. years of serving Three Catholic priests—Fathers Tom Bradtke, neighbors in need Tom McCormick and the late Monsignor Tom Dentici­—were leading local parishes in 2001 and the three Toms became the charity’s namesakes and supporters. The mission of Tom’s Door is simple: Provide emergency assistance to those in need and improve the quality of their lives.

Today Tom’s Door works closely with four other not-for-profit groups: Family Resource Center of the Roaring Fork School District; Reach-Out Colorado Inc., located in Rifle; the River Center in New Castle; and Glenwood Springs-based Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, Western Slope. “These partnerships expand our reach and improve our efficiency,” explains McSwain.

Since its beginning, Tom’s Door has provided over $1 million in emergency help to thousands of families in need, working one grant at a time. “People are often surprised to learn we are run entirely by generous volunteers,” states founder McSwain.

Tom’s Door is uniquely funded by a combination of individual donors, a few small grants, and the sale of handmade note cards with archetypal photos from the valley. In 15 years, more than 75 gifted photographers have donated their work to Tom’s Door.

Now, as from the start, a crew of Rex Coffman (right) served as auctioneer for the volunteers assembles and distributes the fundraiser and birthday cards to more than 25 local retail outlets celebration. Anita Owings and churches that sell them. The cards and Eileen Waski display Ken Krehbiel’s “Bugle Boy” change with the seasons, with new cards while Tom’s Door founder frequently added to the mix.

Rosie McSwain looks on.

“Who would have ever thought we Photo by Bob Boylan would be able to provide over $1 million

in assistance? With that kind of success, we decided it was appropriate to celebrate our 15th birthday in style," said McSwain. And celebrate they did.

On October 3rd, Tom’s Door held a 15th birthday party at the River Valley Ranch Barn. Enlargements of 55 Tom’s Door photos were auctioned to raise funds to help other neighbors in need. Several local vendors donated or provided discounted food and services to support the charity – a sign of how beloved this group has become in the community.

“Our assistance is 100 percent local, helping people from Rifle to Aspen. We are all volunteers, just trying to help our neighbors.” Your child’s teacher, your favorite checker at the grocery, your contractor or your elderly neighbor are assisted in times of dire need. “From a tank of gas to a month’s rent assistance, or covering a medical procedure, the assistance pours out in small doses—just enough to help our neighbors get back on their feet,” explained McSwain.

McSwain maintains a file of hand-written notes received from people Tom’s Door has helped. A recent card from a young girl named Maria reads, “Thank you for paying my dental bill. Now that my teeth don’t hurt, I am able to pay more attention at school.”

“When we receive tender letters like that,” McSwain reflects, “we know we are helping change lives.”

Tom’s Door always welcomes new volunteers, and of course, cash donations are always needed. For more information or to donate, please go to TomsDoor.com.

Author Georgine Garbarini serves on the board of directors for Tom’s Door.

Because Tom’s Door keeps its clients' names confidential, pseudonyms have replaced clients’ real names in this article.

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21

Animal Kingdom

Hands-On at CMC's Vet Tech Program B Student preparing to administer a vaccination to a horse while Assistant Instructor Lindsey Schoepfle observes

efore the snow flies at the Spring Valley campus, professors and students in the Colorado Mountain College (CMC) veterinary technology program will have spent a lot of hands-on-learning time outdoors with resident farm animals.

The college's 220-acre vet tech facility accommodates classrooms, offices, labs, a companion animal hospital, a six-stall teaching barn and hay storage. It provides plenty of outdoor space for six horses, four alpacas, seven steers, eleven chickens, two sheep, twelve goats and one llama. The majority of these animals were donated to the school by local residents. "Stella", a retired show horse, helps students learn animal handling and restraint, physical exams, giving vaccinations and de-worming. Animal Resource Manager Leslie Rockey explains that the school doesn’t accept just any animal. Each one must pass a behavioral and medical exam before being accepted into the program—good temperament and health are prerequisites.

Student Amanda Powell takes a break during class to hug one of the school's goats

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

Dr. Jeff Myers, DVM, director of the vet tech program, points out that the horses, alpacas, goats and others "all function to teach basic animal husbandry practices, medical diagnosis and treatment." Although the farm animals are handled for teaching only about twelve days per school year, they continue to "teach" through the year as students provide daily basic care for them.

CMC is dedicated to caring for these animals for the rest of their lives, and what a good life it is!

Students come to CMC from all over Colorado, the nation, and even different countries, arriving with varied experiences in the animal world. Professor Nancy Sheffield, Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) finds that "there are kids who grew up in the saddle and city kids who've never been anywhere near a horse or a cow." She finds rewards in both a student's enthusiasm for getting outdoors with the animals and in witnessing more-experienced students encouraging and assisting less-experienced classmates.

Miniature horse "Maverick" is led to the barn where students will learn to weigh him

Sneffles the llama teaches at CMC

LEARNING FROM A LLAMA OR A MINIATURE HORSE ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY REBECCA KNIGHT

Teaching horse "Stella" receives a physical exam

CMC’s program is rigorous and meant for serious applicants; before applying, prospective students must spend 30 hours shadowing a veterinarian or vet tech at a veterinary clinic.

"We demand a lot from the students because we want great vet techs out there," says CVT Lauren Thraen, who is an assistant instructor and a 2010 CMC graduate.

Because few programs in the U.S. offer CMC’s combination of hands-on experience, a variety of animals and a farm setting, future vet techs are drawn from all across the country. They encounter a challenging curriculum that ranges from learning basic handling to administering and monitoring anesthesia.

In addition to their hands-on learning, they spend many hours indoors at labs and classes ranging from Anatomy, Clinical Pathology, Pharmacology, Parasitology to Radiography.

They take tests every week.

Professor Dr. Gretchen Lamb, DVM, says that it's important to make "students comfortable with handling these animals and with safety for the humans. Learning humane, safe methods of handling the animals is a top

priority.” That’s easier said than done with some animals. The teaching horses tend to be more cooperative than steers and alpacas; the latter have a tendency to spit when handled.

Students and professors alike tend to have a favorite animal. Maverick, the miniature horse, has many fans due to his sassy attitude. Some students are fond of the pygmy goats for their spunk.

Larger livestock can be intimidating especially for those who have never handled them before, but some students like the excitement and challenge because of the animal's size, strength and/or stubbornness. Freshman Brian O'Neill says that cattle, weighing in at a ton, are the most challenging. Having worked with marine mammals for over 20 years (walruses are his favorite), O’Neill finds a lot of common ground between big land and sea animals when it comes to reading their behavior and the methods used to handle them.

Most of CMC’s four-legged, feathered and furred residents seem to love attention.

Horses begin to nap while the students examine them. These animals get their share

of hugs, scratches under the chin and rubs behind the ears. But as sophomore student Tasha LaForme points out, between the labs, animal care, studying and exams, the program is a lot of work. "This is not just about petting animals. You have to be dedicated!"

The Colorado Mountain College Vet Tech school, started in 1970, was one of the first American Veterinary Medical Association accredited programs in the country. Their mission statement is "to educate a small group of high-quality veterinary technicians who are successful at becoming credentialed and who are dedicated to the concept of lifelong learning and the improvement animal health."

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ADVENTURE Of Bikes, Bureaucrats and the Backbone of our Local Economy

ARTICLE ANDREA PALM-PORTER | PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

C

olorado attracts adventurers with its mountains, rivers, lakes, trail systems, wildlife, changing seasons and a laid-back but purposeful lifestyle. When they first get here, the first question is usually, “What adventure do I do first?”

What sometimes fails to rate a second thought is the impact that adventure has on our environment and economy—both positive and negative.

Colorado is one of the few states thinking about this. Only Colorado, Utah and Washington have official state directors for the outdoor industry. Governor Hickenlooper launched the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC) in 2015 because Colorado’s outdoor industry accounts for $34 billion in consumer spending.

Luis Benitez, who was appointed to direct OREC in June 2015, may have one foot behind a desk, but he keeps the other outdoors. Benitez has scaled the highest points on each of the world’s continents a total of 32 times. He guided a blind mountaineer, Erik Weihenmayer, to the top of Mt. Everest. One of Luis’s favorite Colorado outdoor adventures involved shepherding students across the knife ridge on Capital Peak when he was an instructor for Outward Bound. Because lightning was rolling in, he says it was “sort of spicy.”

One of the biggest challenges facing the outdoor industry is getting disparate groups to understand that they all need to 26

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

be pointing in the same direction, rather than at odds—as is the case with dirt bikes and mountain bikers, for example. “We must learn how to preserve and protect it [the outdoors]. We have to get to a place where we can start talking about pay-toplay options,” said Benitez. “For too long, we have relied on the non-profit sector to take care of these special places. We have to find ways to deepen the conversation.”

To that end, Benitez has formed a 24-member advisory council consisting of gear manufacturers, land-management agencies, conservation groups, hunters, mountain bikers, and motorized-vehicle enthusiasts. Penn Newhard, founder and managing partner of Backbone Media in Carbondale, and Bill Gamber, of Big Agnes/ Honey Stinger from Steamboat Springs, have both been named to the council, which seeks to find common ground on potential wedge issues—issues like wilderness access and trail repair in an era of strangled Forest Service budgets.

One of OREC’s big successes is reflected in the Forest Service’s September announcement expanding the permitting process to invite wider access. OREC has also played a key role in persuading a few outdoor companies to move to Colorado, and in a few of Colorado’s academic institutions creating degree programs focused on portions of the outdoor industry.

Photo courtesy of Roaring Fork Cycling

Roaring Fork Valley Adventure Bucket List

• Do a hut trip (summer or winter) • Climb a fourteener • Paraglide or skydive • Mountain bike the Government Trail near Snowmass or the “Idiots Trail” in a day • SUP, kayak or raft the Roaring Fork River • Downhill mountain bike at Snowmass • Road bike a “century” (take the Rio Grande Trail from Aspen to Glenwood with a little offshoot in Woody Creek to get to 100 miles) • Hike to Hanging Lake • Hike or bike from Aspen to Crested Butte • Climb to the top of Mount Sopris (ski down) • Overnight backpack and camp on the Maroon Bells trails

Photo by Todd Kennedy

While Benitez is blazing trail in promoting the outdoors industry as a state official, seeing emerging trends with SUP’s and Ebikes, he’s following in the footsteps of many local adventurers who opened up outdoor sports that form the backbone of our local economy.

MIRTE MALLORY & WE-CYCLE

In 2013, Aspen introduced the WE-cycle program, a community-supported bike share that has now expanded and made its way to Basalt and El Jebel. The brainchild of Philip Jeffries and Mirte Mallory, its current executive director, the program currently has placed 190 bikes and 43 stations in our valley. There’s more to come. A partnership that would aid the CONTINUED >

November 2016 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

27

LIVING (AND PROMOTING) A LIFE OF ADVENTURE (CON TI N UED)

Photo courtesy of Roaring Fork Cycling

Rob Russell and Ian Anderson; photo by Todd Kennedy

Glenwood Springs Bridge Project’s pedestrian bridge is in the works and could appear by the summer of 2017. Mallory has noted that “Regional planning doesn’t take place with one tool or one solution.

Much like the hub of a bike, we have a lot of different spokes that collectively make us roll.”

“The success of a bike-share program is having enough bikes at enough locations,” said G.R. Fielding, Pitkin County engineer, who is a mountain biker and skier extraordinaire and was also a local grant administrator for the Aspen WE-cycle program. Bike-share programs rely on local ridership and offer many benefits: It’s faster than walking, reduces traffic, noise and pollution. It connects the community and it’s good for short trips. The next progression to our valley could be the e-bike or electric bicycles, a bike that has a battery or motor.

Luis Benitez, director, Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

JON DELK & ROARING FORK CYCLING

Jon Delk is an outdoor enthusiast, traveler and educator. He spent three years in ski school management at Eldora Mountain Resort and three summers running outdoor education-based summer camps for the YMCA of Boulder Valley. After that, it was another 3-1/2 years of endless winter shuttling back and forth between Queenstown, New Zealand and Aspen, Colorado.

After deciding to settle in Aspen, Jon was coaching downhill mountain biking at Snowmass Bike Park and was asked to attend a coaches' summit held by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA).

Aspen High quickly invited Delk to help coach their mountain bike team. Although Delk saw a small team supported by a lot of passionate parents, he soon discovered that there were no organized youth cycling programs in the area. Twenty other states are home to leagues filled with thousands of kids who join in bike events and races, which adds recreation dollars to their local economies.

Delk quickly hit upon the idea of forming a local nonprofit, Roaring Fork Cycling, to offer free after-school cycling education.

For Delk, the evolving nonprofit offers a way to give back in the way he knows best, by getting young athletes excited about cycling. He hopes to get the program into every school in our valley.

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

SMART GUYS ON IDIOT’S LOOP

Last summer, after a few drinks, local adventurers Ian Anderson, a partner and PR director at Backbone Media, and Rob Russell, a Groundsprouts, LLC architect in Carbondale, decided to ride the “Idiot’s Loop”. While looking at a map of Colorado, Russell said, “Wouldn’t it be cool to start from Carbondale and ride a big mountain loop over McClure, Kebler, Cottonwood and Independence Passes in a single day?”

Anderson was the only “idiot” who volunteered to join him.

Beyond the mileage (238 miles) and the elevation (more than 22,000 feet of climbing), this adventure required more than 17 hours of time in the saddle. The trip was self-supported so the adventurers had to plan their refueling stops carefully.

The pair reached the top of Independence Pass around 7 p.m. under beautiful, clear, blue skies. It was almost all downhill from there.

Asked if he’d do it again, Ian Anderson made clear that this was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. “No, it was good to get the monkey off our backs after three tries,” he said. “Next year we want to find a different epic to attempt.”

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SNOW AND ICE CLIMBER MARY HARLAN THRIVES AT THE EDGE Because There’s Just Something About Mary ARTICLE GENEVIÈVE JOËLLE VILLAMIZAR | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Wow, is there ever.

As a pregnant snowboarder checking out freestyle skiing, Mary Harlan was ripping and feathering twin tracks down Aspen’s back country within days of giving birth.

Two weeks after giving birth to Sam, Harlan ran dirt and rocks, testing the mettle of her new mama-body. Dodging trees around Thomas Lakes at the throat of Mount Sopris, Harlan was stoked: she still had it.

Before Sam could crawl, Harlan was guiding her fourth team up Mount Denali, living in tents at subzero temps for weeks on end. Her jovial competence tempered the

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

challenges of surviving—let alone summitting—this glaciated behemoth.

As a single mom, Harlan switched careers, leaving the ease of guiding and a job with Ute Mountaineer to secure an EMT certification and to graduate from a fire academy. Thriving at the edge, Harlan felt that fire-fighting would also be more fulfilling, enabling her to live in service, with purpose. Harlan now finances motherhood and her own adventures by extinguishing other people’s oopsies and rescuing the unfortunate. She’s the most petite member of the Glenwood Springs Fire Department and Colorado River Fire Rescue.

Mary Harlan leading an ice climb in Vail; photo by Lance Torre

Nothing stops her. What is it about Mary?

Could it be a tragic past? Some dark inner force pushing her to prove herself? Nope. “My parents encouraged everything I did,” she explains. “The only thing they didn’t want me to do was to get a tattoo, or to become a tattoo artist. So I didn’t.”

Harlan’s just a happy midwesterner who has translated her athleticism into scaling mountains, sending ice and surfing snow. She’s funny, corny and humble.

And hard core.

Harlan’s first thirteener was a whim. She and a girlfriend were goofing off in the mountains, no big expectations, “wearing jean cutoffs and cotton shirts,” she snorts. They noticed people in “serious” layers, with crampons and ice axes, headed to the top. Looking up, the girls thought, “We can do that.” And they did.

“I got altitude sickness. I felt terrible, but I loved it,” Harlan recalls.

“I just figured ‘Hey, this is a part of it.’” Above tree line, Harlan found an awesome, eerie peace. She fell in love with altitude, the mountains, and the physical and mental challenge of playing in them.

She then took an eight-week course with Outward Bound. To make mountaineering her life, Outward Bound told the 22-year old flatlander to “go do something epic,” while she was wrapping up her college degree in ballet. “Then come see us about a job!” With help from a crafty college advisor and a multitude of workshops and internships, Harlan’s degree leapt from plies and arabesques to figure-8s, expensive gear and a love for suffering.

In her early days, at an ice climbing seminar in New England, a pro instructor overheard Mary bemoan the challenges of paying for it all: gear, courses, training, travel. He offered to take her on as an assistant so she could attend courses for free. Mary’s ice climbing idol, southerner Kitty Calhoun, another instructor at the seminar, overheard and stole Mary from under his wing. “Ain’t no man gonna have no woman as his assistant!” Calhoun smiled at the male instructor as she offered to enroll Mary in the three courses she taught at the seminar, for free.

Because there’s just something about Mary!

Having attended an all-girls private school, Harlan has cultivated the gift of drawing people out and letting others shine. She could be “unlikable”—she has fierce climbing cred, a smokin’ body and confidence up the ying-yang. Yet she’s utterly adorable and non-threatening. “Competition ups the game,” she says, “But you don’t have to be

A study of Mary Harlan's hands; photo by Savanah Cummins, creator and director of the documentary film "A Balancing Act"

Harlan in East Vail on a route called Red Bull and Vodka; photo

by Beth Goralski

Mary climbing with baby on board at Independence Pass; photo by Mary Keisau

CONTINUED >

November 2016 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

33

SNOW AND ICE CLIMBER MARY HARLAN

(CON TI N U ED)

a narcissist about it.” Half of the time, Harlan reeks of sweat and her hair is a chunked-out mess from days without showering.

Her goof ball sincerity is magnetic.

There’s so little ego. While sharing her own goals or accomplishments, Harlan quickly points to the mountain friends who’ve made her successes possible.

Twenty years in, she points to how social media might tweak an ego. “I see posts of a hot young girl on-sighting a boulder problem I did ten years ago—I don’t have any pictures to prove I did it way back when. I’ve gotten over it. I’m just ecstatic to be doing this.”

Harlan is no trust-funder, and between Sam and firefighting, she has to watch her bank account. She doesn’t have the luxury of obsessing over bagging firsts or by working the sponsorship/celebrity angle. Harlan goes big, though. A Goethe quote in her email signature says it all: “Whatever you can do, or dream, you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power, magic in it.” Omega Pacific, Mad Rock Climbing, Gnarly Nutrition and Static Climbing have all recognized this quality in Harlan. She gets sponsorship offers.

Going into the winter season, Harlan will be looking hard at her motivations. A 50-foot whipper on pulled-pro and screaming ropes scared the hell out of her this past summer. In climbing, that’s a life-threatening fall and she’s lucky not to be paralyzed. Harlan was fully transparent, posting her terror on Facebook and her blog, GoBig!Adventures: “Why was I climbing? This is a stupid, selfish, egotistical, silly sport.

People just die doing this. I know two people who died in the last year from similar falls. I know one guy who will need hospice help for the rest of his life because of a fall like this... What the heck am I doing? I just want off, NOW. I feel sick. Am I going to have brain damage? This is so irresponsible. I have a child. I'm getting married. I love my mom and dad.

What will they say, that I died doing what I loved? Screw that.”

Harlan is still regrouping, with nothing to prove. A documentary-short on her mountain life entitled "A Balancing Act" was recently screened at the 2016 No Man’s Land Film Fest. Walking

Mary and her friend Alex in Ten Sleep, Wyoming

out afterward, she was reflective. “I think I feel self-conscious about the documentary because I don’t feel rad enough to have one made about me. I look up to so many other people!”

This may have elements of truth to it, but ultimately—in light of the many restrictions barring Harlan from a mountaineering life— she offers no excuses. Her blog motto? “From a woman who likes to get after it, get it done, and go big.”

Harlan just does it, maintaining a pace and appetite that few who are on parenting or career tracks are compelled to match.

She’s excited for winter. As of October, she has gotten married and earned a dream promotion in Breckenridge, working as a firefighter and an EMT at the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District.

Her son Sam’s life is rooted in Carbondale, so Harlan will commute, taking advantage of time and friendships in Summit County during 48-hour shifts at the fire station.

Always in training for work and play, Mary Harlan will have a full winter season: alpine and cross-country skiing, climbing goals in the desert, indoor training where she’s been hired to set routes, ice climbing and playing around with dry-tooling. All accompanied by her new partner in life, husband Lance Torre.

How does she do it all? Jeez, there’s just somethin’ ‘bout her.

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LEAH POTTS’ FIRST STEPS ON AN ADVENTURE IN Visual Arts Composing a Concerto for the Left Hand

ARTICLE HANNAH CONDON & NICOLETTE TOUSSAINT PHOTOGRAPHY HANNAH CONDON

I

n September, Leah Potts sat at an easel at the Art Base in Basalt wielding magenta and turquoise pastels with ease.

She worked fluidly: There was no trace of the struggle it took to “walk” into the classroom, drawing herself forward on a cane, her right foot dragging. No trace of the hesitation she might well have felt after a 17-year hiatus from art. No trace of awkwardness as her left hand moved across the canvas, despite the fact that Leah was born right-handed.

Leah Potts was three months out of college and interviewing for graphic design jobs in Boulder, Colorado, when she was in a life-changing skiing accident that left her instantly paralyzed from the neck down. At 23, she was confronted with no use of her hands or legs. The doctors gave her little hope for improvement, telling her that she would never walk, hug, or draw again.

A Upon hearing that, Leah became determined to overcome and to heal. Today, she not cr com ea m d only walks, she also teaches spinning classes to able-bodied athletes, travels the world, cooks, a n te i ce d a s s io r s a ne and enjoys outdoor activities such as scuba, horseback riding, and skiing. a dP bi o And now, nearly two decades later, she’s not only making art again, she’s also launching a long-der th t t s da p ferred career as an artist. In October, Potts finished and delivered her first left-handed commission, the y or t gi ra ft 18" by 24" oil pastel shown on this page. A friend had asked for the painting as a birthday gift for his wife, fo it ra Janell, who is a dancer. When he received the painting, he texted Potts, saying, "We just got home and she opened the box. OMG! It is absolutely gorgeous! Wow wow wow! I could not have hoped for better!"

36

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

“I was never a professional because of the accident,” says Potts. For years, healing demanded all of her focus. She did not have the energy or ability to create art.

To help her restart her artistic endeavors, Potts took a two-week workshop at the Art Base taught by Meridy Volz, an expressionist painter from California whose work can be seen at MeridyVolzArt. com. While walking around the studio, viewing works-in-progress, Volz told students that all works of art are, to some extent, self-portraits of the artists.

The faces that Potts drew in the class speak of introspection and a note of melancholy. But they also radiate the joy that comes from being fully present and glad to be alive. A strong chin line communicates determination.

Leah met many challenges while learning to draw again. Before the accident, Leah was right-handed, but during her recovery, she had to learn to write again using her non-dominant hand. At first, she had difficulty applying enough pressure to produce a mark on the page. Leah doubted that she would ever create the same quality of line that she once drew. Now, she can write with both hands with equal agility.

Potts with the two faces she created during the Art Base class

Potts working at the Art Base

As Volz noted during the Art Base class, experts authenticate works of art by looking at an artist’s stroke directions. Every artist develops distinctive stroke movements that are tied to the way that artists inhabit their bodies and how their minds work; their strokes are as individual as handwriting. For artistic reasons, some artists, including both Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, taught themselves to be ambidextrous. It’s an advantage for an artist whose hands may tire or who may need to work at a particular angle.

While taking Volz’ class, Leah was pleased to discover that she could use her left hand to create the beautiful, fluid lines she drew with her right hand before her accident. But getting to that discovery required courage and determination. The first day of class was daunting. “I was ready to run,” says Leah. “I was completely out of my comfort zone and afraid.”

However, after receiving personal attention from Meridy, Leah was able to confront her fears, pushing herself to learn how to make her left hand and brain work together again.

Creatively, Potts is not alone in confronting the loss of a right hand. Famed Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein had to have his right arm amputated during World War I and devised many novel pedal and hand-movement combinations that allowed him to play chords previously regarded as impossible for a five-fingered pianist.

Several famous composers, including Benjamin Britten and Richard Strauss, wrote works for Wittgensein to play with his left hand.

Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand is probably the most famous of those works.

Potts found that working with her left hand opened some new creative territory. During the class, Potts experienced a shift from left-brain to right-brain processing that art teacher Betty Edwards describes in her book, “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.”

That shift is characterized by a sense of flow, losing track of time, a lack of mind chatter and words, and a different way of processing thought—an intuitive sense that involves accepting errors and risk, and a willingness to go where creativity leads.

“I know that feeling,” says Potts. “Your brain is turned off. It’s a rest, and the worry side is shut down.” Getting into that zone during Meridy Volz's class “was freeing. I didn’t know if I would have the control or ability to work with my left hand, but I did. It was a way-better experience than I expected. During the class, I was in the zone, in the flow. I didn’t even hear the voices of others in the class. Figuring out an alternative such as using your non-dominant hand can set you free.”

During the workshop, Leah produced portrait drawings featuring electric colors and sophisticated line work. She formed friendships with classmates. “Meridy’s class was perfect for me. I had taken other classes in other places, but they didn’t click like this one. I felt supported and found community at the Art Base. That feels like a real gift.” __________ Leah Potts invites queries about commissions; she can be reached by emailing: Leah@MotivatedWellness.com.

November 2016 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

37

Faith Reflections Faith Reflections

A NEW ERA OF DEFIANCE IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS

Kelli, Roosevelt and Matt Shedden in front of Defiance Church

The Shedden family; photo by Erica Miller

Visit defiancechurch.org for more information

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY CAITLIN CAUSEY

O

n Easter Sunday this year, pastor Matt Shedden and his family celebrated not one, but two rebirths: that of Christ, and that of their church in Glenwood Springs. Known as Glenwood Mennonite for more than 60 years, the new Defiance Church unveiled a name change and a refreshed mission as part of its plan for revitalization—and Shedden is looking forward to seeing where it will take them.

Founded in the mid-1950s, the church's origins are tied closely with those of Valley View Hospital. A group of Mennonites, summoned to Glenwood Springs to help open the medical facility, at the same time established a church of their own here. Many from this group of transplants ultimately settled in Glenwood Springs, continuing to work with the hospital’s administration and volunteer force for decades. Their church cultivated a modest but beloved place in the community, despite variations in membership over the years.

Recently, the Glenwood Mennonite congregation felt ready for growth and change. Pastor Shedden, together with his wife Kelli and their infant daughter Roosevelt, relocated to the valley from Oregon in the summer of 2015 to help the church realize a new vision. Six months later, Defiance Church has emerged from the foundation that Glenwood Mennonite laid so long ago. Shedden recently met with Roaring Fork Lifestyle magazine, taking a moment to reflect upon the changes and what he hopes they could bring in years to come.

38

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

or find Defiance Church on Facebook, Instagram

Lifestyle: Why the name Defiance Church? and Twitter.

Shedden: In our church, we give three reasons for our name: First, that it is the historic name of Glenwood Springs, so we say it names where we live and love. Second, that it reflects a small part of our Christian tradition, but also, it names that, at times, we are called to be at odds with what the culture states is important. Finally, that we worship a God, who in Jesus Christ, defies death.

Lifestyle: How are you re-shaping the church's vision and mission?

Shedden: We’re still in the early phases of this. I love to tell people to come join us and help it take shape. However, overall, we’re looking at being a church that inspires practices for people rather than a church of programs. People are so busy in this world. I think sometimes the church says to us to stay busy, but busy with the “right things”. What Defiance Church believes is that our Sunday gathering forms, teaches, and calls us to live out of where we already are. And, hopefully in the end, we find ourselves drawn into the sabbath rest of God. Lifestyle: What can a visitor expect during a Defiance Church service?

Shedden: We read scripture, sing modern and ancient songs, and break bread for the life of the world. We offer prayers and intercessions, and then receive a blessing and a sending-forth. We have a great

nursery for those with little ones, and during the sermon a break-out time for kids to hear the Bible on a level that speaks to them. We end each service with a lovely short hymn called the Doxology that calls us toward the praise of God the Trinity. We normally sing this hymn a capella and it is one of my favorite parts of our worship.

Lifestyle: Does the church have any special plans for the upcoming holiday season?

Shedden: Our hope is that through our Advent services, starting Sunday, November 27, and culminating on Christmas Eve, people will be able to find a break from the rush of the holidays. We hope to offer a space for silence. We hope people will slow down and breathe during a hectic and often lonely time of year. All this is done so that we can truly contemplate and store up in ourselves the radical in-breaking of God through Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us.

Lifestyle: What kind of growth would you like to see in the coming years?

Shedden: That’s a great question. We try to consider at Defiance Church what it means to grow deeper rather than wider. Our hope is to be a little community drawn deeper into the mystery of God, learning how that can push us into a deeper love for the little patch of soil that God has placed us on.

Defiance Church, located at the corner of Blake Avenue and 23rd Street in Glenwood Springs

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Open House

A RIVER RUNS BY IT BEAUTIFUL HOME AND GUEST HOUSE IN BASALT

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A

river does indeed run by this Basalt home and its guest house.

Perched over the Roaring Fork River, this 4.57-acre estate offers private access to Gold Medal fishing for brown and rainbow trout. Nine cascading pools and 2,000 feet of the Roaring Fork River lie below the home, offering views of osprey, bald eagle, blue herron and Canadian geese flying along the river corridor. The grounds include 16 fruit trees, 2,000 plants and shrubs, and a swing overlooking the river. The home, offered

by Doug Leibinger of Compass Realty, is built on an open floor plan that allows guests to flow freely from the kitchen and dining area to the living room and deck. The deck features a Jacuzzi and views of Crown Mountain open space and the ACES' Rock Bottom Ranch Nature Preserve.

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

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Healthy Lifestyle ARTICLE ARTICLE GARRY SCHALLA PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

“W

e at Mountain Family Health Centers have been working diligently to expand.

We want to be able to provide affordable health care to low-income residents of our region who do not yet have access to our services,” says Ross Brooks, Mountain Family’s chief executive officer.

“We believe that access to affordable health care is a human right, not a privilege.”

An expansion in Basalt will help the nonprofit Mountain Family Health Center (MFHC) achieve that goal. In early 2018, MFHC’s Basalt clinic, currently located at 234 Cody Lane, will move across the street to the former Bristlecone Mountain Sports space at 123 Emma Road, significantly expanding its services. MFHC recently began a fund-raising effort to support that growth.

Noting that all of MFHC’s health centers—in Basalt, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Edwards and Avon—are currently near or at capacity, CEO Brooks explains, “We need the community to come together so that we can expand our sites and services. In Basalt, for example, we don’t have a dentist. We would like to add one. We also want to expand the number of behavioral providers on site.”

Currently, the Basalt clinic cares for 1,500 patients annually. The new clinic site will not only offer care to 3,500 persons, it will also incorporate dental services into its integrated care model. The Basalt clinic’s services currently include primary care and behavioral health services.

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

BASALT

the mountain communities it serves with special consideration for the medically under-served, regardless of ability to pay. It welcomes Medicare patients.

“I was pleased by the welcome I got at Mountain Family’s Glenwood Springs clinic,” commented Nicolette Toussaint, a part-time editor and writer who lives in Carbondale. “I recently reached Medicare age, and I was frankly worried. I have seen signs posted in medical facilities that all but push seniors out the door.

Medicare is not welcome. What’s more, some of the ‘medical’ practices I dropped in on while shopping for a new doctor seemed more interested in selling cosmetic surgery than in primary care.”

“When I met Dr. Sarah Kathleen Rieves, my new doc, I was impressed,” Toussaint continued. “I had some eye inflammation recently and Dr. Rieves not only knew what I should do to control it, she knew that it was an allergy and that junipers were causing it! I told her that I was astonished to find that she actually knew which allergens were in season. She’s a GP, so I wasn’t expecting her to be an allergy specialist.” Rieves, a family practitioner, told Toussaint that she has worked in several far-flung Colorado towns, including those that suffer from air pollution from nearby oil and gas fields. Because of that, Rieves has made an effort to learn about allergies and asthma.

CARING FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

Mountain Family Health Centers upholds the maxim “our family caring for yours” by providing integrated medical, behavioral and dental health care—and by making sure that care is available when and where it is needed. MFHC’s "care teams" perform above the national clinical outcome goals for childhood immunizations, tobacco screening and cessation, depression screening, diabetes management, hypertension management and prenatal care.

Currently, Mountain Family serves more than 17,000 residents of Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin and Rio Blanco Counties. MFHC serves 50 percent of our region’s low-income families whose income spans from zero to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

In real terms, the majority of MFHC’s patients live on less than $24,000 per year (for a single individual) or less than $49,000 per year (for a family of four). Annually, MFHC drives $15.7 million in local positive economic impacts, including jobs and tax revenues, and an additional $18.1 million in healthcare cost savings by reducing unnecessary hospital utilization.

“One of the common misconceptions is that we are free clinic,” says CEO Brooks. “We’re not. You come in and declare your income.

People pay on a sliding fee scale. Some folks pay $20 per visit. But patients themselves do pay for their care; everyone contributes.”

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For more information about becoming a Mountain Family Health Centers patient, or to become involved in the Basalt capital campaign, please visit MountainFamily.org, or contact Garry Schalla, development director, at gschalla@mountainfamily.org.

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Lifestyle Calendar

November NOVEMBER 2

NOVEMBER 7

FIRST WEDNESDAY BOOK CLUB

PARENT TIPS FOR PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE

BASALT LIBRARY

GRAND RIVER HEALTH

No required books, just bring what you are reading. Meets the first

Join Meghan Hurley, LCSW, for "Ten Tips Every Parent Should Know

Wednesday of every month. Info at BasaltLibrary.org

to Protect Your Child from Sexual Abuse." This free, interactive work-

NOVEMBER 4

shop empowers adults with effective strategies for communicating with children on this difficult topic. Hurley has been the mental health

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION

therapist at local children’s advocacy center River Bridge Regional

CARBONDALE

Center since it opened in 2007. Details at RiverBridgeRC.org

Carbondale's annual celebration of the dead returns on First Friday in an evening

NOVEMBER 11

of color, procession and performance. Join

MAKING GLASS CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

in an Art Walk along Main Street between

CRYSTAL GLASS STUDIO

5 and 7 p.m. before heading to the Thun-

Shannon Muse teaches you to make

der River Theatre at 7 p.m. for spoken word

fused glass ornaments. Parts for

and music. Everyone is invited to join the

one ornament included in $75 fee, more

free celebration. For more information visit

for an additional fee. After you assem-

CarbondaleArts.com

ble, we kiln-fire the glass for pickup the

NOVEMBER 5 & 6

next week. Also offered November 12, 1-4 p.m. No prior experience necessary.

BLOWN GLASS ORNAMENT MAKING

To sign up, go to Crystal Glass, Paradise

SPIRO GLASS

Art Glass, call 970.319.1939 or email par-

Create your own hand-blown glass holi-

adiseartglass@sopris.net.

day ornaments at Spiro Glass! Work with molten glass under the guidance

NOVEMBER 12

of glass artists Dylan and Jac-

CARBONDALE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

queline Balderson. Pick up orna-

CARBONDALE FIRE HOUSE

ments at the Art Base by Novem-

Enjoy the 40th Annual Carbondale Holiday Boutique at the Carbon-

ber 8. Workshop is Saturday and

dale Firehouse along Route 133. The longest-running Holiday Bou-

Sunday from 10 a.m. until noon.

tique in Carbondale is celebrating with handmade gifts to keep the

$60 or two TAB Punches. Regis-

nostalgia of Christmas alive! Free admission with treats to enjoy while

ter online at TheArtBase.org or

you mingle, shop and visit with valley locals and other special guests.

call 970.927.4123, extension 2.

NOVEMBER 5

NOVEMBER 12 & 13 EXPLORATION + DISCOVERY: ART ON THE EDGE

TASTE OF BASALT

THE ART BASE

ROARING FORK CLUB

Influenced by abstraction, pop culture, outsider art, and illustration,

The Taste of Basalt is the Basalt Education Foundation's biggest fund-

artist Stanley Bell will help students discover a new edgy style. Use

raiser of the year. Join us for food sampling, wine tasting, DJ dancing,

contemporary themes to create work that explores color, process and

a silent auction and a raffle drawing at the Roaring Fork Club. All pro-

personal identity. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mem-

ceeds go to Basalt public schools. Tickets are $100 each; purchase

bers $100, non-members $150. Register online at TheArtBase.org or

them at BasaltEdu.org.

call 970.927.4123, extension 2.

CONTINUED >

44

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

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Lifestyle Calendar

(CON TI N U ED)

NOVEMBER 13

NOVEMBER 17

RHYTHM FUTURE QUARTET

BASALT CHAMBER HOLIDAY PARTY

MOUNTAIN VIEW CHURCH

EAGLE CREST NURSERY

The acoustic jazz ensemble Rhythm Future Quartet keeps the spirit

Join the Basalt Chamber's annual holiday kick-off party. Co-hosted with Bank

of Gypsy Jazz alive. Admission is by membership to the Glenwood

of Colorado, Downvalley Tavern, Woody Creek Distillers, Bangkok Happy

Springs Community Concert Association. Cost for five concerts is

Bowl, El Jebeverage and others. Enjoy complimentary food and beverages.

$40 for adults; $15 students; $90 family. Buy a season pass by mailing

A benefit networking event for Basalt Chamber members and guests of the

a check to CCA, PO Box 214, Glenwood Springs, 81602. For info, call

event co-hosts. RSVPs required. Membership information and RSVPs at

970.945.8722 or 970.945.5384.

info@BasaltChamber.com or 970.927.4031. Details at BasaltChamber.org.

NOVEMBER 17 "SINATRA JOURNEY" BASALT LIBRARY Join us at Basalt Regional Library for a concert by vocalist Scott MacCracken with David Dyer on piano. Free. Info at BasaltLibrary.org.

NOVEMBER 28 & 29 PLAY: THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND NEW SPACE THEATRE, SPRING VALLEY “The Real Inspector Hound” follows theater critics Moon and Birdboot, who are swept into the whodunit they are watching. In Tom Stoppard's hilarious spoof of an Agatha Christie-like melodrama, the Sopris Theatre Company asks, "Why is there a body under the sofa?" November 28 at 7 p.m.; November 29 at 2 p.m. Order tickets at ColoradoMtn.edu

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business directory DENTISTS & ORTHODONTICS

Jack B. Hilty (970) 945-1185 hiltyortho.com

Murray Dental Group (970) 945-5112 murraydg.com

Verheul Family Dentistry P.C. (970) 963-3010 verheulfamilydentistry.com

ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION Sunlight Mountain Resort (970) 947-7491 sunlightmtn.com

FASHION & ACCESSORIES

Country Rose Boutique (970) 319-8894

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PLANNING Bay Equity Home Loans (970) 309-2911 bayequityhomeloans.com/ glenwood-springs

HEALTH & WELLNESS Burn Fitness Studio (970) 379-7403 burnfitnessstudio.com

Contour Body Spa (970) 355-4897 contourbodyspa.com/

Crystal River Spas (970) 963-2100

Fahrenheit Body Spas (970) 315-1234 fahrenheitbodyspas.com

Midland Fitness (970) 945-4440 midland-fitness.com

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Simply Massage (970) 306-0098 simplymassage.com

True Nature Healing Arts (970) 963-9900 truenatureheals.com

HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS

Ace Roofing & Sheetmetal (970) 945-5366 aceroof.co

B & H General Contractors (970) 945-0102 bandhgeneralcontractors.com

HOME DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

Down Valley Design Center (970) 625-1589

HOME SERVICES

Seamless Design (970) 876-2232

Tom Roach Hardwood Floors (970) 274-0944 tomroachfloors.com

LANDSCAPING

Aspen Grove Property Services (970) 279-5530 agps.biz

LEGAL

Balcomb & Green P.C. (970) 945-6546 balcombgreen.com

Brown & Brown, P.C (970) 945-1241 brownandbrownpc.com

The Noone Law Firm PC (970) 945-4500 noonelaw.com

LUXURY AUTOMOTIVE Midvalley Auto Body (970) 366-0793 midvalley-auto-body.com

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

MORTGAGE

Liberty Home Financial (970) 945-7210 libertyhomefinancial.com

OTHER

The Fireplace Company (970) 963-3598 thefpco.com

The Glass Guru (970) 456-6832 theglassguruofglenwoodsprings.com

Timberline Pool & Spa (970) 920-5251 timberlinepools.com

True North Hearth & Home (970) 230-9363 truenorthfireplaces.com

West Canyon Tree Farm (970) 305-7556 westcanyontreefarm.com

Ajax Mechanical Services (970) 984-0579 ajaxmechanical.com

AV by Design (970) 945-6610 avbydesignllc.com

Community Ad (970) 618-8981

Delta Disaster Services (970) 712-5298 deltawesterncolorado.com

PET CARE Elite Hardwood Floors Alpine Animal Hospital (970) 366-1676 (970) 963-2371

alpinehospital.com Gianinetti Spring Creek Ranch

(970) 379-0809 Willits Veterinary Hospital springcreekspavilion.com (970) 510-5436

willitsvet.com Green Tech Electrical

(970) 618-2163 REAL ESTATE green-techelectrical.com Coldwell Banker Mason Morse

Real Estate Iron Mountain Hot Springs (970) 963-3300 (970) 945-4766 masonmorse.com ironmountainhotsprings.com

Compass Midland Shoe (970) 925-6063 (970) 927-0902 shaneaspen.com midlandshoe.com

RAD Development Network Interiors Glenwood, LLC (970) 984-9100 (970) 309-1540

Roaring Fork Valley COOP SPECIALTY SHOPS (970) 963-2220 Bethel Party Rentals

(970) 947-9700 Spring Creek Land bethelpartyrentals.com & Waterscapes

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Parting Thoughts

Turkey Day Tears and Other Woes IN CELEBRATION OF THE INTREPID HOME COOK

ARTICLE CAITLIN CAUSEY

W

e’ve seen it a thousand times: “Freedom From Want,” Norman Rockwell’s 1942 ode to the great American Thanksgiving dinner. There is Grandma in her white apron, clutching a perfectly glazed turkey the size of a small boulder under Grandpa’s smiling gaze. Beside them, a giddy assortment of relatives—all good-looking, mind you—exchange grins across the table as they prepare to devour what they know will surely be the feast of the year.

As I look at this painting, beloved by so many, I am conflicted. It is at once the quintessence of Thanksgiving and the very bane of it. It stokes our dreams of the perfect family gathering, and yet, year after year, our own ambitions may fall short of its glimmering idealism. Rockwell himself did once say of his work, “I paint life as I would like it to be.”

Not as it really is.

Just as I sigh and wonder if my own family gathering could ever measure up to this veritable reverie of a Turkey Day table scene, I take heart. Beyond the polished silver, the dimpled child and the sunshine is Grandma’s face. Take a closer look. Like the revelatory eye in a hurricane of delusion, Grandma’s not grinning at all.

What is that, a smirk? A crumpled frown damming her tears? She’s exhausted at best; at worst—indignant. Why? Because Grandma has been working her tail off in that kitchen. All. Day. Long.

I am so thankful that Rockwell didn’t paint a grin on Grandma’s face.

Her expression is a merciful dose of realism in an otherwise cruelly cheerful scene. None of us may ever live up to the rest of that little family’s barbaric holiday happiness, but I’d be willing to bet some of us will always be able to relate to Grandma. As long as Thanksgiving includes homemade turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and pie, someone in the house is going to have mixed feelings about the task of preparing all of it.

To that I say, "Long live Grandma and all the other courageous home cooks across the nation!" While everyone else is snoozing and 50

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | November 2016

salivating, you serve as both the sacrificial lamb and the indispensable hero of every holiday meal. What would the rest of us do without you?

I can remember my own grandmother slaving in her kitchen, days before our family arrived every Thanksgiving. She planned a shopping list, braved the grocery store aisles, and always began her prep work a day or two before the big meal. Her menu, a mainstay that our family came to count on, included all the usual suspects: green beans, gravy, cranberry sauce from a can, buttered corn and, of course, her perennial pièce de résistance: The Turkey. Pride of home cooks everywhere, and a thorn in their sides, too. How did my grandmother manage to cook hers through every year? How did she know to baste it so well, to pull it out of the oven, perfectly golden, at just the right moment? The way she brought a Thanksgiving meal together on time seemed to me like something akin to witchcraft.

Magic! How she did it, I’m only just beginning to understand.

Home cooks know that Thanksgiving does not mean kicking the old heels up, or watching the football game from the couch. Just like Rockwell’s Grandma and my own grandmother, they know it entails a significant amount of effort, planning, time-sensitive execution, dodging of cranky kids and meddling adults—and all for what?

The only reason I can think of why anyone in their right mind would embark on the preparation of a Thanksgiving feast is simply this: love. Love of celebration, of thankfulness, of good food and yes—even of family, no matter how deranged or grumpy or grinning they may be as they gather around the table together.

Here’s to all the intrepid home cooks as you embark on Thanksgiving dinner 2016. Godspeed. You might plop that turkey on the table in tears.

The bread might burn and you might even find a child’s wicked little finger snooping around in your beautiful pumpkin pie, but remember: there never was, and never will be, a true Thanksgiving without you.

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