OCT / NOV 2019 MOUNTAIN PARENT MAGAZINE

MOUNTAINPARENT O C T O B E R + N O V E M B E R 2 0 19

R O A R I N G

SEASONAL SNIPPETS

F O R K

VA L L E Y,

WHAT'S HAPPENING

A N N U A L

C O L O R A D O

EVERY AGE & STAGE

HOMELIFE

RECREATION & OUTDOORS

E D I T I O N

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MOUNTAIN PARENT

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2019 ISSUE 15

Contents FEATURES:

17

Trail Map: Lunch Loops Ian Anderson gives us another reason to take a trip to Grand Junction – a mountain biking area with something for everyone.

21

A Bittersweet Sting A Q&A with Brooke Mackay and Jenny Henry, the high school playwrights behind HONEYBEE, a new musical about the aftermath of a young mother’s post-partum suicide.

7& 56-59 PICK A PECK OF PEACHES OR POTATOES

We’ve got plenty to harvest in our community’s foodshed. Find the intel on where to go and how to celebrate our local harvest.

25

Making Sense of College Stats You’ve always planned on sending your child to college, but the numbers have changed since you were in school. We asked college consultant Carolyn Williams to help us move beyond the statistics.

DEPARTMENTS:

Seasonal Snippets a harvest road trip to the North Fork Valley 7 DIY an alternative to plastic wrap from fabric scraps & beeswax 11 Helping Hands ASFB’s Folklórico is more than a dance; it’s a bridge 14 Good Sports Crown Mountain Park’s BMX scene + local rec 47 What’s Happening Today + October & November events 54 Out & About "Society" snapshots from here and there 60 Up Next our annual Locally Sourced Holiday edition 62 PUBLISHER Director of Business Development + Advertising Lauren Suhrbier EDITOR Creative Director + Designer Kathryn Camp TA L E N T Writers, Artists, Photographers & Friendly Support: Nikki Allen, Shane Allen, Ian Anderson, Lee Beck, Jair Bravo, Rich Camp, Dawn Cooper, Jordan Curet, Amy French, Jenny Henry, Scott Gilbert, Brian Golden, Erica Golden, Nate Grinzinger, Catherine Johnson, Jennifer Johnson, Izzy Knaus, Mike Kosdrosky, Sarah Kuhn, Brooke Mackay, Jared McDermott, Alissa Michaelson, Jessica Moore, Katela Moran, Paco Nevarez-Burgueño, Adam Nickamin, Anne Nickamin, Sara Pironti, Colin Quinn, Erin Quinn, Elana Royer, Lily Royer, Kim Stacey, Anna Stonehouse, Karla Stukey, Kenny Teitler, Tavia Teitler, Carolyn Williams.

SPECIAL SEC TION: 29

HOMELIFE Finding a Place for the Missing Middle Our annual focus on HOME SWEET HOME Stories of local families and visionaries behind efforts to create housing for those who neither qualify for low-income units nor fit comfortably in the open market.

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MOUNTAIN PARENT

Dear Readers, LITTLE KIDS ARE ALWAYS putting on a show - a show of tears, a show of mischief, a show of giggles, or a show for simply themselves.

But shows for audiences are always the best. I snapped this photo of my son and his buddy engrossed in their own show. They were arguing over what would be more powerful shooting out of their hands - spider webs or fire - and whether or not dragons actually barf lava. This time of year is all about watching our kids be the star of their own show. School plays, Halloween, colder weather. Dressing up and playing make-believe helps kids think abstractly, problem solve, work on leadership skills and gain confidence. But of course, its just plain fun to put on a show for whoever is there. Thinking about our annual HOMELIFE edition, I realized that no matter the physical space, home is where our kids feel truly free to put on a show and be whoever they want to be, hot lava and all.

COVER ARTISTS

ELANA & LILY ROYER

founders of Lilybart, a local greeting card and paper-art product line created to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis

MAMA BEAR & BABY BEAR HUNTING & GATHERING

After we moved to our family’s ranch in Woody Creek, one of my first impressions of the wildness of our new home was spotting a mama bear and her two cubs scurrying up the side of a nearby mountain.

“They are fattening up before the winter sets in,” I was told. The thought of being nestled in a warm winters’ den with my kiddos was comforting. While the winds blew colder, I found myself identifying with Mama Bear as I unpacked boxes, organized our pantry & prepared for a Colorado winter.

… Elana Royer

Lauren Suhrbier Publisher A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH MY YOUNGEST: “Mama, will you please write about me in the magazine?”

“Would you like that?”

Big, clear blue-green twelve-almost-thirteen-year-old eyes, “yes.”

“What should I write about?”

“Me. Being me.”

“Are you sure?”

WEBSITE

MOUNTAIN-PARENT.COM

Find new content between issues, plus more current events on our online What’s Happening community calendar.

DISCLAIMER

The opinions and views expressed by contributors to Mountain Parent are not necessarily those of the Publisher.

Mountain Parent Magazine is registered with the State of Colorado. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited.

CONTACTS:

editor@mountain-parent.com kathryn@mountain-parent.com mountain-parent.com and on Facebook

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We’ve told best friends, then classmates, their parents, our neighbors, BB and Granddad, cousins.

“Maybe this is something we keep for people we love,” I offered, from an instinct to protect. I then started my rationale against a public announcment – describing the line I try to draw between my family and my work. Privacy. My way of running away from very loud tell-all conversations. How I’m really not big on “Sharenting.”

“Mama – this can’t be a secret,” comes a truth that stops me. A pause – “Maybe everyone is a little afraid to show who they really are? Maybe I’m this way so I can help them be themselves, whoever they are.”

I needed a hug and a deep breath before I could suggest that we think for a day or a week or so about what to say, how to say it. But this kid knew already what to say and told me. Loudly.

Here it is: she is HE. He is transgender. We spent the summer asking what this truly means – for today, for the teenage years ahead, for a decade from now – and I can honestly say we don’t have many answers.

Except we see how HE sparkles when HE is HIM. This I know – he hasn’t changed an iota; he’s the same child (now with an awesome new haircut) who has always loved horses, baseball, tree forts, mountain bikes, cats, certain dogs AND babies. There shouldn’t be a girl-way or a boy-way to love any of these things, or anyone.

When I wrote the BE YOU article about LBGTQ+ inclusion in our April 2019 edition, I knew. Or, I sort of knew.

Parents know, but until we’re told, we wonder. I think it’s like this for others in other situations. We just want our child to be okay, happy, safe. When readers stopped me on the sidewalk to thank me for the BE YOU article, it affirmed another thing I already knew – our Mountain Parent readers, the parents of our community, we’re in this together, no matter what it is. YOU are why we live in a place where a child like mine can tell us first with post-it notes, then in a whisper, and finally in a full-throated roar: “THIS is ME and I want EVERYONE to know.”

Thank you dear reader for BEING YOU. Kathryn Camp Editor

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Contributors

IAN ANDERSON

Ian fell in love with his wife, Sari, when she flew past him on a mountain bike climb. Thankfully, she waited for him at the top.

Today, Ian is still trying to keep up with Sari on a bike, as well as their two kids Juniper (12) and Axel (9). A 13-year resident of the RFV, Ian works as the PR director at Backbone Media.

RICH CAMP

Rich creates the trail maps that accompany our Getaway Weekend Destination articles. He’s always looking for a good excuse to spend a day in GJ, so the Lunch Loops project combines three of his great interests – traveling with his family, biking and drawing site plans, a cornerstone of landscape architecture practice.

SARAH KUHN

Sarah is a fine art and family portrait photographer based in Carbondale. Her two kids are her favorite (and somewhat reluctant) muses. We collaborated with Sarah to create the portraits you will find in our HOMELIFE special section. We chose to build our story around Sarah’s work because we appreciate her eye for capturing her subjects in beautiful yet authentic moments.

JARED McDERMOTT

Jared followed his two sons into BMX racing when they were four and five-years-old. Now tweens, he drives them to biking competitions, where they compete at the national level. When he’s not helping his sons to develop their skills, he’s helping other young racers and volunteering as manager of the Crown Mountain BMX program.

TAVIA TEITLER

Tavia is a junior at Stanford University in California majoring in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and Psychology.

She grew up in Carbondale, and danced 13 years with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklorico.

CAROLYN WILLIAMS

Carolyn has worked as a college adviser for over seventeen years, helping students and families navigate the admission and financial aid process. Her goal is to help students find colleges that fit and that the family can afford, while helping students create applications that effectively communicate their strengths.

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SE A SON A L

S N I PPE T S

Celebrate the

HARVEST We’re blessed to be surrounded by acres of farming and ranch land.

Let’s get out with our kids to experience the bounty.

K AT H RY N C A M P

WANT TO PICK A PECK OF PEACHES? + tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, cucumbers, berries, peppers, kale, kohlrabi & plums?

Make a day-trip to visit our neighbors in the North Fork Valley. You cannot get lost.

From Carbondale, head South on Highway 133 over McClure Pass. Keep going until you spot a farmstand. Get out of your car and say hello.

Before you know it, you’ll have a new friend.

Here are a few of our favorites.

PHOTO:

Austin Family Farms in Paonia offers Farm-to-Family deliveries, and welcomes extra hands, even the smallest, to visit and pick-your-own. (credit: Sara Pironti)

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Of course, our harvest and local foodshed starts with growers and ranchers right here in the RFV. Rose LeVan of SUSTAINABLE SETTINGS is always happy to welcome visitors of any age who drop by their biodynamic farm and learning center for eggs, honey, meats, veggies and shares of raw milk.

• THE FARM RUNNERS STATION in Hotchkiss is the homebase of a cooperative C.S.A that delivers shares of vegetables and fruits to delivery sites and restaurants throughout the Western Slope. At the STATION, you’re likely to find Katie Darlington, Lauren Traylor and Alissa Schwartz, who serve an outstanding farm-to-table breakfast and lunch menu. Try their handmade gluten-free quiche made with farm-fresh eggs or zippy ginger-kale salad, then organic chocolate cupcakes in a variety of decadent flavors, including GF, by BLUE SKY BAKING CO. • If you’re searching for U-Pick options, time your trip to coincide with an annual fundraiser for the NORTH FORK SCHOOL FOR INTEGRATIVE STUDIES, where for $35, you can fill-your-whole-BYOBox. •

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To make your appointment, please visit our website or call us for more information. 970-925-2840 | www.mountainfamily.org Photo: Healther Hazzan-SELF Magazine

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Stay for dinner and make reservations at SALT.POLLEN a new foodie destination in downtown Paonia. Chef Marcus Parrot and restaurant manager Bonnie Barker have teamed up to offer a date-night-worthy dining experience that makes the most of the restaurant’s light-studded pear tree garden patio. Imagine: live outdoor music with a glass of local STORM CELLAR PINOT GRIS ROSÉ while you’re enjoying grilled Hotchkiss COLORADO

PASTURED PORK chops with peach relish, followed by a peach cobbler with WESTERN CULTURE CHEVRE custard. YUM! • Ask longtime Roaring Fork Valley locals Jeanne and Pat Hayes about their next chapter, HUMMIN’BIRD FARMS, and they’ll tell you about their 27 acre dream, which they are developing with their son Connor Hayes, who graduated from BHS and CMC. This year, they welcomed some harvest weekend help from cousin Sarah Murray and Clay Shiflet and their sons. You’ll find their peaches and berries in your FARM RUNNERS C.S.A. box •

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That’s Valley View.

H O M EL I FE

DIY

IT’S A

wrap

Turn beeswax and fabric scraps into this eco-alternative to plastic wrap.

K AT H RY N C A M P

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR – Thanksgiving, harvest potlucks, sharing the bounty with friends… your roasted apples seem like precious jewels served au gratin in a covered dish, the hit of the party. Yet somehow, those same sliced apples in the lunchbox, NOT. Your brownbag magic has faded, perhaps because your wake-up alarm comes in the dark now, when the mornings are bitter cold. Whatever the reason, the kids won’t touch your lovingly packed PB&J, even when bribed with pumpkin spiced sweet potato chips. They’re over the Ziplocked carrot curls and so are you.

Here’s a project you can make with your kids that might help spiff up your next covered dish as well as your lunchbox routine. Beeswax Cloth Wraps can be used again and again for years, and you can make a whole stack of them on a blustery afternoon.

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STEP BY STEP: 1. GATHER FABRIC SCRAPS

That beloved cowboy shirt with the stain on the collar?

Perfect. The yardage you bought because you thought you might get into quilting? Let go of quilt guilt.

Remnants from your inspired attempt at throw pillows?

Even better – as long as it’s 100% cotton broadcloth.

Cut your fabric into squares and rectangles – great for covering casserole dishes or wrapping sandwiches. Cut circles for bowls and jars. Measure so your fabric pieces are 2” larger than the item you will cover. Frayed edges can be trimmed later. One yard will make 8-12 wraps.

2. FIND BEESWAX

Don’t substitute parafin or soy waxes for this project.

Beeswax is slightly sticky, which is key to making these wraps stay in place. Also, beeswax is naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial – so unlike plastic, this food storage can actually help keep things fresher longer. Locally, you can purchase beeswax at Basalt Printing & Art Supply, where they stock it in onepound blocks or packages of granular pellets. Pellets are easiest, but any form will work. You can even use the ends of old candles. Plan on two pounds for 1 yard of fabric.

3. GET STARTED

Heat your oven to 150 degrees. Line your countertop and a baking sheet with parchment paper. You’ll need a cheese grater and a metal spatula. (Don’t worry – these will clean up easily with a paper towel dipped in warm oil.)

You’ll also need a natural-bristle paint brush. (Go cheap here – once it’s used for wax, this item will NOT get a second life in your art bin.)

4. NOW FOR THE FUN PART

Place one cut fabric piece on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Grate your wax into small bits or use wax pellets.

Sprinkle these evenly around the fabric. Pop the tray into the oven for 5-8 minutes. When the wax melts, remove the tray from the oven and use the brush to evenly coat the fabric with the wax. If it seems thin in spots, just sprinkle more grated wax and reheat. Once the fabric is well-coated, slide the parchment onto your countertop.

Let it cool until it can be comfortably handled, still warm enough to be worked. Use your spatula like a squeegy to remove excess wax. Reuse this wax on your next wrap.

5. INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN

If a child is old enough to cut fabric with scissors or handle a cheese grater, then they can help with prep. Kids who are 6 and older can help with brushing and squeegying the warm wax. Here’s the secret about taking time for projects with your kids – this is when they tell you what’s really happening at school and with their friends.

6. HOW TO USE, CLEAN AND STORE

• When placing a beeswax wrap around a bowl or container, it helps it stick if it is slightly warm. Just hold it in your hands for a couple of seconds, or run it under warm water, then dry it. Place it where desired, then press the fabric edges together to form a seal.

• For wrapping blocks of cheese and other food items that you’ll keep in the fridge, be sure to wrap tightly and press firmly to form a tight seal.

• Clean with warm soapy water and rinse then air dry. Do not put these in the dishwasher! Fold and store as you might keep hand towels and other kitchen linens.

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H EL PI N G

H A N DS

Shall we

DANCE?

? Or shall we say BAILAMOS?

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s FOLKLÓRICO program has made a name for itself with its award-winning after school dance classes and jaw dropping performances.

To the families involved, it’s more than a dance.

It’s a cultural bridge.

TAV I A T E I T L E R

THE GROUP IS BEST KNOWN FOR what is seen on stage: the colorful costumes, the complicated footwork and the bright red smiles. However what isn’t as immediately obvious about the ASFB Folklórico program is its impact on the families, students and community involved.

useful, which often includes getting costumes and props ready for shows, acting as a chaperone and assisting backstage with costume changes and organization during performances. For Baez and her family, Folklórico has served as a way to connect to their cultural roots.

Having a child in the Folklórico program means much more than dropping your kid off at dance lessons twice a week. For some parents it means driving three-plus hours back and forth to practice. It means helping braid headpieces while waiting outside the dance studio during lessons. It means helping dancers quickchange out of their costumes before their next entrance on stage – sometimes with less than two minutes to completely change everything from their dress to their shoes to their earrings.

“My children take pride in the fact that, through Folklórico, they know a part of their culture that often gets forgotten, since we are living here in another culture. Folklórico is a way for them to learn about our culture through music and dance,” Baez said. “My kids feel the way that the history of the dances they are performing relates to them, and they realize that even though we live here, some part of them is from Mexico,” Baez said.

For Kenny Teitler, Karla Stukey and their two daughters, Folklórico has become a wholefamily affair. Their daughters have both danced in the program for 13+ years.

In this time, Teitler served as the president of the Folklórico parents association (which no longer exists) where he was in charge of leading fundraising efforts and helping coordinate performances. Stukey currently serves as the educational coordinator for the dance group, helping students plan for college, as well as providing general academic support. She also runs the performance group’s leadership team.

Additionally, both Teitler and Stukey have helped plan, organize and chaperone much of the group’s travel both within the United States and abroad. Even Stukey’s mother Faith Magill has become involved by helping ASFB Folklórico Director Francisco “Paco” Nevarez-Burgueño sew costumes for the group.

Norma Baez is the mother of three young dancers, the oldest of whom is 13 and part of the advanced traveling group. Baez helps wherever she can be

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The Folklórico program teaches much more than dance steps. “The program is a perfect platform for learning everything,” Stukey claims, “from perseverance to self respect to compassion, teamwork, follow-through and ability to look at things from other people’s perspectives.”

Teitler agreed, adding that “what my daughters have learned most of all in this program is how to look outside of themselves to see another perspective that they otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to.”

This learning isn’t confined to just the students either. “I am learning alongside my children,” Baez said. “Even though it’s my culture, there are things I didn’t know that I’m learning from them, like which traditions come from which places,” she added.

PHOTO:

These dancers are performing the Mexican Hat dance, the most traditional Folklórico dance, paired with a potpourri of various famous traditional songs. (credit: Jordan Curet)

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join us on campus soon!

ALL ARE WELCOME

FOLKLÓRICO

Carbondale First Friday

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

free public performance Friday, November 1

Because the Folklórico program is situated within the United States and because an increasing number of Anglo students and families are participating in the programs, an important part of this learning is figuring out how to connect the Anglo and Latino communities.

“The Folklórico program is a great bridge between the two cultures,” Baez said, explaining why for her, these cross-cultural connections add an even deeper level of meaning to the art form. “When children begin to learn, at such a young age, how to share these two cultures, it benefits everyone.”

Teitler expressed similar sentiments, sharing that ”Folklórico has opened up a pathway that wouldn’t have existed without the program. It has allowed for cross-cultural relationships to develop and it has allowed for a broader understanding and a deeper appreciation of the Mexican culture,” he said.

Music with Miss Kim Thursday, October 24, 9-10 am

An essential part of what makes this merging of cultures possible is the community that is built within the program. “When a group becomes a team, it becomes a family and crossing cultures all of a sudden happens naturally… you become one group and one family and one team instead of different people,” Teitler reflected.

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“

When I see the Latino kids dancing it makes me really happy. But when I see the Anglo kids dancing, it makes me even prouder because you can feel that they want to learn about our culture.

Their curiosity and compassion mean a lot.” … NORMA BAEZ

“It is amazing because through Folklórico we feel like part of the Anglo culture, and the Anglos also feel proud when watching the children dance,” Baez said. “Even if sometimes they don’t understand the history or the music, you can see the pride on the Anglo parents’ faces when they see their children on stage and this is really beautiful.”

The ASFB program has come to fill important gaps in our community. Stukey points out that Folklórico has “stretched way way beyond just an after school program and has become a way to get parents involved outside of their homes in something they understand and take pride in.”

Baez also mentioned the importance of the discipline children learn in the program, which is often hard to teach at home. ”For 15 years, this program has been a consistent part of our children’s lives and our lives too,” Teitler shared. “The expectation of excellence in the Folklórico program has carried over into other parts of their lives and has had a profound impact on who my girls have become.”

PHOTO:

Tavia Teitler in the Aspen Independence Day parade. (credit: Anna Stonehouse)

MOUNTAINPARENT O C T+ N O V F E AT U R E S

LUNCH LOOPS

MOU N TA I N PA RE NT TRA I L M A P

Grand Junction’s mountain biking area with something for everyone IAN ANDERSON

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MOUNTAINPARENT

TRAIL MAP 4 18

Tabeguache Road toward The Ribbon

LUNCH LOOPS GRAND JUNCTION, CO

Lunch Loops

IAN ANDERSON

WHEN OUR LOCAL TRAILS GET DUSTED WITH EARLY SNOW (may we be so blessed)

it’s a good time to plan trips to nearby trails outside Grand Junction. In the high desert of the Western Slope, warm, dry days make for excellent mountain biking. The Lunch Loops biking area offers 65 miles of singletrack, with something for everyone in your group.

Here are a few good trails that you can explore during a day trip or over a getaway weekend:

1

GREEN: KID’S MEAL

2

BLUE: HOP, SKIP & JUMP

3

BLUE: MIRAMONTE RIM

4

5

Easily accessible right from the Tabeguache trailhead parking lot, this 1.6 mile trail can be ridden in multiple configurations. It’s smooth and fluid with signs along the route offering helpful skills development tips. It’s a perfect confidence builder for younger riders, or warm-up ride for Mom, Dad and older siblings.

A brand new trail to the Lunch Loops, the HSJ trail loops along the base of the Three Sister’s hills, adjacent to Monument Road. Incorporate Noreaster and Yes N Dee Dee (clearly marked Blue trails) to extend the ride.

Here is a fun step up into 4 1/2 star riding. Warm up with a mellow uphill climb to a plateau loop overlooking the desert.

BLUISH BLACK: THE RIBBON

Note: This trail is located South of the map area. It is easily found with clear trail markers by following the Tabeguache Road, as shown on the map.

This is one of the most iconic trails in Colorado, featuring massive slabs of slickrock that can be descended at high speeds. Kids love the wide open slickrock riding. It’s accessible to intermediate riders, but there is some exposure followed by some technical rock drops. But the drops are short and easily walked, and this is a ride your kids will always remember. With 1,500 feet of descending, this one is best done as a shuttle.

BLACK: MOTO

There are lots of black diamond trails in the Lunch Loops network to choose from, but Moto is one of the most accessible. To get there, climb up the Tabeguache doubletrack to Motocross, then turn left onto Moto for a fast, flowy downhill with some jump options.

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BONUS: The Trailhead Coffee Bar & Café, located right off of Monument Road, has great baked goods and awesome post-ride smoothies.

Maria B. Wimmer CAMPING Saddlehorn Campground There is no camping in the Lunch Loops area. Follow Monument Road west to Colorado National Monument Park. Saddlehorn Campground is the only camping area within the park. Tent and RV sites with picnic tables and charcoal-only grills. Flush toilet facilities. Some loops are closed during winter months. Make reservations at Recreation.gov.

Broker Associate 970.274.0647 maria@masonmorse.com mariawimmerhomes.com

MAP DESIGN

RICH C AMP

19

Lunch Loops RESOURCES

Boneshaker Adventures Mountain Bike clinics in Grand Junction, Fruita, Loma, Palisade and Rabbit Valley.

Weekend and after school programming.

Hint: If you’re looking for a great birthday party idea for your mountain biking tween, teen or spouse – call Dawn Cooper to plan a private, small group guided adventure.

Mountain Bike Project website offers extensive descriptions, photos and elevations of trails. The site covers almost 40 thousand mountain biking trails, both in the U.S. and abroad.

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Sting A BIT TERSWEET

HONEYBEE, a new original musical by teenage playwrights Brooke Mackay and Jenny Henry, explores the devastating impact of a young mother’s postpartum suicide. The SOL Theatre production created a valley wide buzz this July with three debut performances, and now the creative team plans to develop the script for release to broader audiences.

Q&A: To learn about their creative vision, I sat down with Brooke Mackay, a home schooled high school senior who wrote the script and directed the production; Jenny Henry, a junior at Glenwood Springs High School who wrote 12 original songs and played a leading role; and Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director of SOL Theatre.

KATHRYN CAMP

Kathryn Camp (KC): How did HONEYBEE get started?

Brooke Mackay (BM): First, Jenny and I became close friends while working together on the SOL Theatre production of Rent. We had known each other through theatre for several years, but I was always in the ensemble cast while Jenny played starring roles, so we didn’t rehearse together. Then during Rent, we clicked.

Jenny Henry (JH): That’s how theatre works. You become like family.

Brooke is like a sister to me now. When I was in 7th grade and Brooke was in 8th, I wrote two songs, ”Imagination“ and “Look to Your Left.”

Brooke shared her ideas for lyrics, and we soon realized that the chorus lines of these songs could work really well in a musical.

KC: What inspired you to write a play about suicide?

JH: After years of doing childrens’ theatre, one thing we both loved about doing Rent was how it deals with real issues. So right away, we knew we wanted to take up a topic with a relevant message, and we wanted to explore mental health issues.

BM: It took a lot of trial and error, exploring different plot lines trying to find the story. Ultimately, the characters and their inner challenges led us to this piece that takes up postpartum depression, LGBTQ+ relationships, parental abandonment and suicide.

KC: Tell me about your creative process.

How did you get the story onto the page?

BM: It was definitely a collaborative process. On the playbill, it was cleaner to simply say that I wrote the script and Jenny wrote the songs, but the whole process happened really organically.

JH: We’ve spent hours, days, months discussing what the characters felt in each of the scenes, what motivated them, and how their experiences impacted other characters. In a co-creative process, we always felt safe to say what we felt was best for the story, and we worked together to experiment with various plot directions. We bounced dialogue off one another, and spent a lot of time thinking about themes and symbolism in the story.

KC: The storyline is not overtly about bees.

How were you working with this metaphor in the title?

JH: Honey was my grandmother’s nickname, and originally, we liked HONEYBEE for our title just because we liked the sound of it. The seasons of the year and of life were always important to the story. We thought a lot about how we were working with color to reflect mood, and how all of this related back to what was happening in nature.

Honeybees are strongly connected to the seasons, and they are all about serving the next generation, which is the heart of this story.

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BM: The story explores how love can sometimes be full of life and fresh and new like s rin time owers. lowers fade awa and sometimes t is a ens wit lo e. is fear seemed to e li in nder t e s rface of a lor’s de ression and s icide. er own mot er ad died and er fat er ad a andoned t e famil . a lor ad t is ea tif l a irl and s e co ldn’t et ast w at s e felt was ine ita le er own ercei ed ina ilit to e t ere for er c ild. She named her daughter w ic w en rono nced oneticall as a BEE in it. not er c aracter am later calls one ee and in a wa t e c cle ecomes com lete.

BM: Jennifer knew exactly how to tell us what we needed to do without e er makin s feel like we were st kids. We felt incredi l onored to et to work wit er at t at le el and we also felt er ilt er. e alwa s res ected o r artistic ision and s orted s as t e decision-makers on e alf of o r stor .

KC: You worked on the script for two years, then what?

BM: ennifer talked wit s a lot a o t ow to lea e doors o en ow to lea e estions nanswered so t e actors and ltimatel t e a dience mem ers can inter ret t e stor . is meant c ttin moments w ere we ad wra ed t in s as well as a oidin t e im lse to e lain t in s a o t t e c aracters t ro dialo e.

JH: We knew we needed feed ack and we wanted to et t e stor into t e ands of someone w o wo ld know w at to do ne t not st in terms of ow to et it rod ced t also ow to take it to t e ne t le el of a t enticit and rofessionalism.

BM: We knew that Jennifer was producing Spring Awakening for SOL’s rin m sical a la t at we ad e ed er to do after we did Rent for w ic we ad lanned to a dition. o we didn’t ima ine t at s e wo ld e a le to take it t we reac ed o t o in s e wo ld read it and i e s ad ice a o t ne t ste s.

Jennifer Johnson (JJ): We sc ed led a read-t ro . enn san t e o enin l rics and as soon as eard rooke’s o enin dialo e knew t is was somet in s ecial. t was a lea and t e net will a ear’ decision t knew we needed to do t is.

JH: ennifer was t e odmot er of t is ro ect.

KC: How did the story change in moving from the page to the stage?

JH: Wit ennifer we ad a so ndin oard for rin in more a t enticit to o r c aracters. or e am le we’ e ne er e erienced ost art m de ression nor a e we faced decisions like t ose made

by Cassie and Eve (aunts of baby Abby) who found themselves raising a c ild. We worried t at it wasn’t o r stor to tell. ennifer el ed s see w at we ad otten ri t and ow we co ld i e te t re to t ese e eriences to make t e c aracters more relata le.

BM: l s o r cast told s w at t e felt t eir c aracters wo ld sa or do in t e moment and we learned a lot lockin t e scenes and act all seein t e actors em od t e c aracters.

SARAH MURRAY Connecting Life & Home.

Call me today! Together, let’s make Carbondale and the Roaring Fork Valley your home.

Carbondale Neighbor, Mom, Volunteer and Local Realtor®

Sarah Murray Broker Associate 970.618.0109 | sarah@masonmorse.com

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JJ: rooke was reat a o t lettin ad ice s a e t e scri t. e was o en to allowin t e stor to e ol e. nd t is was a sol tel reaffirmin of m decision to o wit t is rod ction at t is sta e in its incarnation. felt t e same wa watc in enn alance er desire to see t e s ow row learnin t at it was still er a e en as er son s were inter reted ot er m sicians. ris arrison transcri ed some of t e ieces and le ones’ iano accom animent enric ed the production immeasurably because he created the underscore for t e scenes workin from enn ’s com ositions. t takes a le el of maturity to give other artists room to express their understanding of o r work.

BM: Being the writer and director for this initial production was helpful for t is rocess eca se took off m writer at and t on m director at and saw w at worked and w at didn’t. We ot saw ow adie arrison w o la ed e c an ed o r iew of er c aracter. We ad alwa s seen e as a little an r cold and ard. adie inter reted her differently and brought complexity and strength that we hadn’t ima ined.

PHOTO: HONEYBEE playwrights Brooke Mackay and Jenny Henry. t re work for t e d o in ol es co writin t e scri t recordin t e m sic and networkin wit a encies w o roker t eatrical scri ts. owe er first and foremost t e are re ectin a o t t e e erience of sta in it considerin feed ack and makin decisions a o t ow to f rt er de elo t is work. We learned a lot in a er s ort eriod of time. ow we need to take a ste ack and row from w at we learned. st like t e seasonalit of t e stor we’re enterin a new season acka said.

HERE WHEN YOU NEED US! DR. HEATHER MURPHY

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“

A R AV E RE V IE W

I came away last night incredibly impressed and proud. How many people do you know who’ve written a musical? How many people do you know who’ve written a *good* musical? How many people do you know who’ve done that in their teens? This show is impressive just for these facts. But aside from that, it is a solid theatrical experience.

The difficult subject matter is handled with artistry, maturity, sensitivity and insight, and the show’s over-arching messages are poignant without being saccharine.

I left the theatre so proud to be a part of a community that produces work like this, a place that grows creativity and courage in its children and gives young adults the support they need not just to “play at” theatre but to actually do the real art thing, from top to bottom.

KC: HONEYBEE ran for 3 packed-house shows at Thunder River Theatre. Everyone was talking about it. How did that feel?

BM: t was incredi le. acksta e efore we o ened on t e first ni t we were s akin cr in wit o not ite s re it was finall real. e moment w en eard t e first notes reali ed t at it wasn’t o r stor an more. t elon ed to e er one in t e room.

JH: One thing about Thunder River Theatre is how intimate the lace feels wit t e sta e ositioned in t e middle of t e room. e erienced t is on a w ole new le el w ile la in assie. s s e encountered the suicide of her sister and then struggled with the an er and rief t at followed felt w oll in scene w ile also felt t e a dience’s reaction from a few feet awa . was not at all remo ed. felt e er t in . o ear m son s wit t is resonance of feelin s ared ot ers is somet in o e will ne er for et.

M A R I S A PAU L L G O R S T PHOTO: HONEYBEE actors Jenny Henry and Cadie Harrison credit la s oc er

JJ: er one is askin w en we’ll do anot er r n reac in o t to see if we can rin t is to local i sc ools. icide re ention is of co rse a owerf l moti ator. t to r s it wo ld e to sti e t is work of art. is r n was tr l st a works o for a iece wit tremendo s otential. don’t want to re acka e and s o t efore it is e actl w at t e irls wo ld want in- an el iranda to come and see on t eir o enin ni t on roadwa .

KC: What can we tell everyone who wants to see HONEYBEE? Stay tuned! MOUNTAIN PARENT will be sure to let you know What’s Happening in time to mark o r calendar for s ne t o enin ni t.

After School Workshops October 2019 – April 2020

Ages 7-10

Halloween Costume Design

and

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24

Ages 12-16

Printmaking

3D Basics

Kinetic Sculpture

Famous Artists

Architecture: Building + Design

Wearables

Ceramics

String Art

Ceramics

Rube Goldberg Machines

Furniture Design

Book Making

Printmaking

Register today! Call 970/924-5089 or visit andersonranch.org

1086 = 50 $280 th

MEDIAN SAT SCORE

N AT I O N W I D E :

69% of the Class of 2019 took out a student loan to pay for college.

PERCENTILE

(half scored higher) (half scored lower)

64

2 & 4 year colleges & universities in Colorado

average monthly student loan debt payment per each $25,000 borrowed at 6.8% interest over 10 years.

CO M B I N E D LO C A L S C H O L A R S H I P S

$893,900

earned by the Class of 2019 from AHS, BHS & RFHS

You’ve always planned on sending your child to college.

But the numbers have changed since you were in school.

We asked College Consultant CAROLYN WILLIAMS to help us reach beyond the statistics.

30% 51% 89%

of college students drop out after 1 year

of those who drop-out do so because of financial reasons

of first-generation college students drop-out 25 before earning a degree

1,626 public colleges 1,687 private nonprofit schools + 985 for-profit schools 4,298 total U.S. 2 & 4 year colleges THIS IS A FACT The choices students make in high school matter – and they matter a lot. Whether your child is dreaming of a highly selective college or a regional public university, how they move through high school will determine their options for years ahead.

Admissions, financial aid, scholarships … the process can feel daunting. Here is a rundown of what students (and their parents) need to know to make the most of the college application process.

TRANSCRIPTS Admission representatives look at the offerings of a particular high school and check to see if an applicant is taking the most challenging courses he or she can handle. Typically, AP and IB courses are considered the most challenging, if they are offered. Early in the school year, a student should make sure their course load is neither too easy nor too difficult, and should switch courses or get a tutor as soon as possible.

Through senior year, students should be challenging themselves, within reason.

Few students realize that their grades from as early as ninth grade will be considered by colleges. It is important that students immediately sign up for the five major subjects – English, history, science, math, and foreign language. Students should continue with at least four major subjects for four years, and if they need to drop a major subject, they should double up in another major, i.e. two sciences. Keep in mind that many universities require at least two or three years of a foreign language. Taking four years of all subjects keeps a student’s options open.

TEST SCORES Students should practice with the PSAT during October of their junior year. Then they should begin testing during the spring of their junior year and take both the SAT and the ACT to see which score is stronger.

Senior fall, students can re-take whichever is their strongest test. Khan Academy test prep or private tutoring can help raise scores.

EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT Quality over quantity is the message coming from college admission offices regarding extracurriculars. Colleges prefer students who pursue their activities with devotion and rise to leadership and excellence.

Students should look for ways to make a lasting impact in their area of interest. For example, if a student loves theatre, perhaps they can participate in school plays, join a local summer theatre and mentor in an afterschool program for younger students.

Average number of applications handled by each admission officer:

enrollment less than

3000

= 296 applications enrollment more than 10,000 = 1016 applications

WEATHER INSURANCE: If it rains or snows bring the vehicle back within 48 hours after an Ultimate Wash and we will rewash it.

SUMMER Summer months can be valuable time for a student to develop expertise in a given area.

From devoting time to community service, to completing an internship, to working in their field of interest, summer is a time to devote to growth. For example, if your child dreams of becoming a professional musician, perhaps they can enroll in JAS Aspen Camps or the Aspen Music School P.A.L.S. program or attend a summer intensive offered by a collegiate music school.

DEVELOPING THE LIST Students should start casually visiting a few colleges during their sophomore year. A tour of a nearby campus can help them know if they prefer a large college or a smaller college.

During their junior year, students should start identifying and researching colleges that could be a good fit for them. Their college list should also take into consideration whether their family qualifies for need-based financial aid or if they will need to seek out colleges that offer merit scholarships.

FINANCIAL AID Families ought to see if they qualify for needbased aid. The online FAFSA application will provide a score that measures a family’s financial strength and determines a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The FAFSA may be filled out after October 1 of senior year. Early, unofficial estimates can be calculated at Collegeboard.org or on the financial aid pages of college websites.

SCHOLARSHIPS This is where a student’s merit (grade point average, test scores, musical or theatrical talent, community service and / or athletics) can make a big difference in opening doors.

The best scholarship awards will come from the college itself. Students should research to learn which schools are seeking applicants with strengths that match their interests and skills. These are more likely to offer strong four-year scholarships. Local and regional programs can also take the edge off of the cost of college, but most often, these are one-year scholarships.

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New Tires & Changes Express Detailing Headlight Restoration

745 BUGGY CIRCLE, CARBONDALE • (970) 963-8800 26

DEMONSTRATED INTEREST & INTERVIEWS Colleges want to accept students who are most likely to enroll. How much interest a student has demonstrated in a particular school can help the college determine the odds the student will join the community. Did the student open the college’s email? Did the student come to the presentation in their high school guidance office? Did the student visit the table at the college fair? Did they visit campus? If they visited, did they choose to interview? Colleges keep track of these details, and even a student’s online activity.

Most important factors in admission decisions Larger colleges:

1. grades in ALL courses 2. grades in college prep courses 3. admission test scores 4. strength of curriculum 5. essay or writing sample

Smaller colleges consider these qualities, as well as: 1. interview 2. teacher recommendations 3. demonstrated interest

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Students should request at least two teacher recommendations during their junior year. If a student plans to pursue music or art, they should also seek a recommendation from this specialty teacher. A recommendation from a guidance counselor also strengthens an application. Seek supplemental letters of recommendation from coaches, employers, clergy or alumni who know the student well.

Western Slope College Fair

225 colleges & universities

30 + workshops Sunday, October 6 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Aspen Middle School

College fairs can be a great place for students to learn about options without flying around the country. The largest fair in our region is the Western Slope College Fair in Aspen on October 6.

Get ahead of the learning curve with these DOs & DON’Ts: DO: Review the list of attending schools and narrow your focus down to 5-10 target schools.

DO: Research – ask about specifics not commonly found on college websites. For example, instead of asking whether or not a college offers engineering, a student could ask if it is possible to study abroad through the engineering program and whether the program is more theoretical or hands-on.

DO: Bring Mom & Dad, who should plan to attend the workshops held throughout the day.

DO: Dress appropriately. (i.e.“Business casual”) DO: Register in advance to save time at check -in.

DO: Plan on taking RFTA to the Buttermilk parking lot, or see if your high school is bringing a bus.

register: cwscollegeoutreach.org STRONG APPLICATIONS & ESSAYS The strongest part of an application is the student’s essay, which presents a wonderful opportunity for students to tell their stories and show what makes them unique. These should be drafted and edited multiple times. In addition to the traditional college essay submitted to every school, colleges often ask additional questions to learn why the student wants to apply, why the student has chosen to study a particular major, or why the student is a good fit for the college. Counting basic essays, collegespecific essays, and scholarship essays, many students write 25-30 essays or more.

DO: Shake hands, listen & ask follow up questions.

DON’T: Stress. This is one of the many fun parts.

ENJOY THIS MILESTONE Applying to college is a rite of passage and an exciting time for a young person. There are thousands of colleges, each with its own unique educational philosophy and focus programs, which means there is a good fit out there for everyone who truly wants to earn a post-secondary degree. A majority of colleges accept the majority of their applicants, and better yet – there is financial aid and merit money available. The key is to stay organized, start the process early, and treat each step as an important indicator of how your student will approach the many opportunities ahead.

SHOP LOCAL. IT MATTERS.

If everyone spent just $20 more in Garfield County this year instead of shopping online or out of town,that would equal over $1.2 million for our local economy!

PC: Ben Mawhinney

www.carbondale.com

27

Bring fables and tales to life.

Bring learning and fun to our children.

If you have some free time (about 5 hours a month) and want to give an incredible gift to the children in our community consider becoming a Spellbinders storyteller by attending the next training. We do not memorize the stories. We learn to “see” the story as we tell them.

Trainings: November 4 & 7 and 11 & 14 all from 2 – 5pm.

970-963-1689 kstacey@rof.net nonprofit spotlight underwritten by

34 1

Umbrella’s commitment: giving back 1% of gross revenue to community organizations

(970) 704-9130

UMBRELLA-ROOFING.COM

MOUNTAINPARENT

Finding a place for the

Missing

MIDDLE

A N N U A L

HOMELIFE

E D I T I O N

29

PHOTOS

(page 29) The impulse behind this family’s decision to downsize from a three-bedroom 1800 squarefoot house in Carbondale to a 450 square-foot tiny home was so that they could spend more time together as a family, enjoying the best things in life. Though the move required extreme paring down, they held onto a beloved book that had belonged to a grandmother when she was a child. (right) Even the stairwells at Basalt Vista feel light-filled and grand, with plenty of room for displaying this eleven-year-old’s artwork. The home was designed for maximum living in a minimal footprint, so details make a big difference. Hardwood floors, high end cabinetry, and a pallet of lighting options give each residence a unique character.

30

MOUNTAINPARENT

Finding a place for the

Missing

MIDDLE K AT H RY N C A M P PHOTOGRAPHY

SARAH KUHN WHERE IS THE MIDDLE? Here’s the Middle – if your family is living on two professional incomes yet feeling stretched when deciding between seeing the dentist and taking a road trip – chances are, you’re in the Middle, capital M. If either of you is a teacher, nurse, delivery driver, mid-level management, hourly worker, or self-employed at your dream start-up, you’re probably in it. Own your home in the Roaring Fork Valley? Renting? Upvalley? Downvalley? Either way, you’re statistically most likely in the Middle. “The Missing Middle” is a new catchphrase describing a market gap for families who can neither qualify for traditional low-income housing nor comfortably buy on the open market.

It’s like this right now all over the country, particularly here in the Mountain West.

HOW MANY ARE MISSING? YOU are Missing if your household of any size earns between $70k - $137k annually. This is according to the 2019 Greater Roaring Fork Regional (GRFR) Housing Study, the first comprehensive look since 2000 at our region’s housing “workshed” (the geographical span of our workforce, stretching from Aspen to Parachute and Avon). “This is the diagnosis that will help us come up with solutions,” explains APCHA executive director Mike Kosdrosky, who helped initiate the GRFR study. We’re talking about commuter patterns, construction costs, income growth, real estate variables, demographic trends – truly every metric you’ve ever imagined if you’re curious about our local economy. You’ll find stats from this study throughout these pages, plus our key takeaways, a few cool charts and graphs, and a downloadable copy of the 140+ page study at Mountain-Parent.com The GRFR tells us that 14,126 local households live in the Missing Middle, the largest demographic group in the study (39% of total population), 55% of which are households with children under age 16. According to GRFR, these families “can afford” to spend between $400k-$450k to purchase their home. The catch? The study also shows a 1,900 unit shortfall in this price range. That’s a shortage in supply of nearly 2000 almost half-million-dollar homes.

Entrepreneurs on the forefront of new-urbanism around the U.S. are building specifically for the Missing Middle, who are literally lining up to make offers on smaller-footprint, duplex, triplex and four-plex bungalows in walkable neighborhoods with communal outdoor spaces and smart design details. So why aren’t local developers jumping on this hot trend? Because land prices and construction costs turn a very slim (if not upside down) margin on a new $450k three bedroom.

GOOD NEWS There’s good news – and it isn’t just a silver lining – we live here. Here – as opposed to a large metro area or another mountain resort community. Our Valley has been on the forefront of affordable housing for more than 45 years, ever since visionaries built Pitkin County’s first deed-restricted workforce housing in the early 1970s. The City of Aspen and Pitkin County later joined forces to create the Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority (APCHA) in mid-1980s – now the oldest and largest mountain resort workforce housing program in North America. Relative to population size, it is the largest in the nation – with 3033 deed-restricted homes (45% of these are affordable rentals; 55% owner-occupied).

We’re now three generations into a land-use legacy that inspires innovations and partnerships today. In our annual HOMELife edition, we share stories of visionaries and families who are finding a place for the Missing Middle to live in a multi-family net zero neighborhood, a trailer-park makeover and a consciously sourced tiny home.

31

32

A BIG IDEA

Imagine a housing Shangri La where people live near where they work, near where their kids go to school, near where they shop and play; where affordable means attainable.

If this sounds like some sort of utopia, it is, yet it’s exactly what happened when Habitat Roaring Fork’s president Scott Gilbert asked how we can address the housing needs of the Roaring Fork Valley – first low-income families, and now also working professionals in the Missing Middle, especially teachers.

“I started my career as a teacher,” Gilbert said. “And I quickly learned that I couldn’t support a family on what I was earning. So I changed professions. We lose teachers every year because they can’t afford to live here. Affordable housing is an issue that becomes a crisis for teachers. Their income isn’t enough to promise housing security. When I saw that there was a large, unused piece of land immediately adjacent to Basalt High School, I reached out to the school district to see if we could talk.”

The Roaring Fork School District and Habitat for Humanity started envisioning affordable housing for teachers on the RFSD’s seven acres near Southside Basalt. Pitkin County entered the equation by providing road construction and utility infrastructure in exchange for a portion of homes slated for workers within the county. Next came discussions with Basalt planners and trustees, who extended the Town’s urban growth boundary. The result is Basalt Vista, a 27 home neighborhood for teachers and other families in the Missing Middle.

Remove the cost of purchasing land and developing infrastructure, then the rest of the puzzle is solved by Habitat’s model of construction. Expert builders and subcontractors work together with volunteers and homeowners who pay a portion of their future home’s cost through true sweat equity, working on-site during construction.

“I like to think of it like an old-fashioned barn raising. People come together to help each other. This is what community is all about,” says Habitat Volunteer Coordinator & Family Services Director Amy French. If our community’s housing future is one of your red button issues, then Amy can help you get involved. Of course supporting Habitat’s Restore is a small way to make a big difference.

“

ONE entity cannot solve the

problem.

“

BASALT VISTA shows us what we can do together.

A M Y FRE NCH HABITAT VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

BASALT VISTA: THE BIG PICTURE

Basalt Vista is the first Habitat project to recognize the Missing Middle gap. Habitat’s mission has historically served families in the lowest income bracket. In 20 years, the Roaring Fork affiliate of the international nonprofit has built 33 homes for families whose annual household income is approximately $58k or less. Basalt Vista’s qualifying threshold spans annual incomes of almost $58k for a single person, up to almost $120k for six-person households. This target elevated Habitat’s vision, recalling the look and feel of a high-end artfully designed neighborhood.

When the project’s architects Erica and Brian Golden of 27/57 Design Build walked the land for the first time, they noticed how the hillside behind the school formed a natural shelf 10 feet higher than the school buildings. They understood how the eyeline from upper floors would bypass the school and neighboring homes, so they positioned living spaces on top with bedrooms on ground level, clearing the way for open, panoramic views from each home.

Suzanne Wheeler-Del Piccolo, Basalt Elementary School principal, called the homes “affordable housing with million dollar views.” Habitat adopted the appropo quip for it’s marketing materials.

PHOTO

“Our happiness is as big as our gratitude,” says Katela Moran, who along with her husband Jair Bravo and their eleven-year-old son were the first family to move in. “Our home was built with so much love. I can feel the energy every time I step inside.”

33

AFFORDABLE. ATTAINABLE … AND ASPIRATIONAL.

The architecture team also imagined a front-porch neighborhood, where homes orient toward the street, as opposed to “backyard” houses with private, enclosed yards. At the same time, they wanted indoor and outdoor privacy, so even with shared walls in duplex and triplex units, you can live without constant awareness of your next-door neighbors. They accomplished this with a “split and shifted” floor plans and home sites that were slightly rotated to create a dynamic streetscape and an individual identity for each home – quite different from what you get when every home on a street is lined up and identical.

“Aspirational design feels more inspiring, welcoming and enjoyable to be part of than what has been the norm for typical so-called affordable housing,” Brian Golden said, sharing an Eames quote that has shaped his career: “We want to make the best for the most for the least.”

Rather than designing bump-out wings that create additional corners, or complex roof lines with dormers and gables – which quickly add to the cost of construction – the Goldens started with simple forms positioned with an eye for visual impact. For example, the shed roofs are created with pre-fab trusses over-lapping off of a central top chord.

You get a clean, interesting roof line that can be sheathed in a couple of hours. Exterior details add texture, such as: corrugated metal siding at grade, open-framed porch walls with exposed rafter tails and painted scrim materials. Interior elements include large, efficient windows, wood floors and solid cabinetry.

“

We aren’t in this to build ‘statement’ homes.

But this about neighborhood is a where we’re heading, and where we want to be as a community.

statement

BRIAN GOLDEN ARCHITECT

NET ZERO PIONEERS

Efficiency is a cornerstone of the Habitat approach. However, this development begged another question: could Basalt Vista help prove that community-scale net-zero is possible on a budget?

“We saw a perfect combination of adequate sunlight, passive-solar gain, wellperforming efficient homes and lots of roof exposure,” Brian Golden explains.

Sunsense Solar, Holycross Energy and CORE joined the team, each bringing their expertise to the mission. The result is the first development on this scale on the Western Slope. Every home is entirely electric, from heat to hot water to appliances, meaning that if enough photovoltaic electricity can be generated on site, the homes will have a net-zero footprint. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory will monitor the efficiency and energy loads of each of the four completed units to help other multifamily developments plan for this scale. Even though these systems cost more upfront, the driving belief behind this push was to build homes that are ultimately far more affordable for families on a month-to-month basis.

LIVING THE DREAM

The first wave of Basalt Vista homeowners was chosen through a lottery system in October of 2018. These families include teachers at Aspen Elementary, Basalt Elementary, and Basalt Middle School, a couple whose first child was born a few weeks before their move-in date, and a single mother with two teenage daughters.

The Bravo-Moran family (photographed on pages 30-33) received their first electric bill for a total of $10, including set up fees. They were so delighted by this savings that they traded in their car for a hybrid electric to plug into the solar car charging station built into their home’s carport. “Protecting the environment is important to us,” says Basalt Elementary School teacher Jair Bravo. “We teach this to our students, and now we get to be live the solution every day in our home.”

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“

Got kids?

WE ARE FREE! If you have a rising 4th grader through 12th grader, join us for FREE a!er-school & all day summer programs!

Since 1991, Aspen Youth Center has provided a safe and supportive place where all youth in grades 4-12 connect, learn, and grow, for free.

Programs include: Top Chef Art Spot STEAM and Tech Agility Make a Difference Mondays Community Crusaders Free play and sports Outdoor Explore: Ra!ing Horseback Riding Rock Climbing Skiing and Snowboarding Hikes and Trail Work Hut Trips and more!

Aspen Youth Center is open Monday through Friday, 9am - 6pm during summer 10am - 6pm duirng the school year.

PHOTO

Basalt Vista’s architects Erica and Brian Golden of 27/57 Design Build are regular visitors to the job site, along with their twin daughters. The family recently attended a Habitat Homeowner Dedication ceremony, where keys are presented to families ready to move in. The girls got to play with other children their age whose homes are the end result of their parents’ designs. “Basalt Vista brings together a triffecta of our priorities – teachers, affordability and sustainability,” Erica Golden says. “We’re grateful that our daughters get to watch us put our beliefs into action.”

www.aspenyouthcenter.org 970.544.4130

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Branch Manager, NMLS #162799 Office: 970-945-4001 • Direct: 970-928-7900 • Mobile: 970-618-3355 lmckinley@fairwaymc.com • www.lindamckinley.com 811 Colorado Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Copyright©2019 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. All rights reserved.

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“

design.

It got fun when we started working on the But the stress was far from over.

“

SHANE ALLEN HOME OWNER

WOODY CREEK: STARTING FROM SCRAPE AND SCRATCH

Shane and Nikki Allen were driving back from Burning Man in 2017 when they found out that they’d won the Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority’s housing lottery on a 1970’s era Chula Vista trailer in Woody Creek. The couple was familiar with the neighborhood. As a Pitkin County fire fighter, Shane qualified for a rental apartment above the nearby Woody Creek fire station overlooking the trailer park, so they’d spent a lot of time gazing out over the 58 unit neighborhood packed onto two narrow tree lined streets that APCHA brokers through a lottery system and keeps affordable through deed-restrictions. Neither knew exactly which trailer they had won in the blind lottery. All they knew was that three other couples had seen it and passed. The housing authority gives three days to commit, and by the time they got back to the Valley, they had less than 24 hours to make a decision.

“It had been vacant for a while, though not as long as it appeared. We found holes in the roof, ceiling and floor. Mold on the drywall. Heavy ‘modification’ over the years, But here was our chance to own a piece of the Valley,” Shane explained.

Nikki started first thing the next morning calling friends for recommendations and someone suggested reaching out to Brian and Erica Golden. “We needed to know if we could afford to scrape the trailer. Because there was no way we could live in it.”

The Goldens gave them a from-the-hip idea of what it would take. They went for it.

PHOTO

When the Phillips Trailer park was privately owned, renters paid to place their mobile homes on the lots.

When Pitkin County took over, they subdivided the property to create deed-restricted land for sale.

Ownership is beginning to inspire creative architectural answers to the allowed building envelopes, with one new home down the row and another in planning phases.

Smile THE ANXIETY OF GOING

TO THE DENTIST

HAS VANISHED INTO THIN AIR ANESTHESIA-FREE PAIN-FREE FILLINGS

amily

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38

HOME SWEET HOME, EVENTUALLY

“We provided a cost analysis between a custom home and new pre-fab so Shane and Nikki could see what is possible,” Brian Golden explained. “We are decidedly not antipre-fab. There are some incredible options out there, and the manufacturing process offers some efficiencies that are far more environmentally sustainable than custom stick-frame construction. But in this case, considering the site constraints, and the county’s height and FAR restrictions, we found that we could design a split-level that almost doubles their square footage for close to the same cost of going with a smaller manufactured home.”

The Goldens created a floor plan that gives the couple flexibility as their needs change.

You walk into a mudroom with plenty of space for winter coats, ski gear and supplies for their two dogs. Go up a half-flight of stairs to a sun-filled kitchen with open storage, tons of countertop, a deep farmhouse sink and island seating. A bump out creates an open floor plan and a large sitting area with a television and fireplace. Step out to a deck with a grill and rocking chairs. The master bedroom and bath are in the back.

Picture Moroccan-style tiles that Nikki laid herself and a headboard Shane built from the only salvageable part of the original structure – a weathered pine fence, which he also used for building a barn-track slider door separating their bedroom from their walk-through closet. Downstairs, you find a den with a built-in bar and room to display Shane’s collection of 15 guitars, plus a laundry room, second bedroom and bath. The den can be converted into a third bedroom if needed. Even though the footprint is that of a single-wide trailer, the spaces inside live large.

“The possibilities were exciting. It got fun when we started working on the design,” Shane said. “But the stress was far from over.” The couple was preapproved for a loan to cover the initial deed-restricted land purchase plus new construction. However, they faced a gauntlet of hurdles because mortgages on trailers are tricky at best. And in this situation, the title on the trailer had been purged, and its condition caused the appraiser to be unable to recognize it as an existing structure. The Allens went under contract using a line of credit, then got to work securing the final loan. Seven months later, they’d scraped the trailer and started excavation when their national lender indefinitely delayed the closing.

“My head was ready to explode when I told the story to a friend at Alpine Bank,” Shane talks about it with an air of post-trauma. “‘We can do this,’ came a quick reply. Within two weeks, we signed our mortgage papers. The only delay in the process came because the Alpine Bank loan officer predicted accurately that interest rates would drop in a few days, and he wanted to get us the best rate possible.”

They moved fifteen months after winning the housing lottery, and are still working on completing their vision, finishing fencing, building flower beds, laying sod. The best part? Their neighbors. A mother and daughter from down the street dropped by to introduce their puppy to Nikki and Shane’s dogs, Raven and Rio. “These dogs will grow up together,” Nikki says, “You can’t put a dollar amount on what it means to call a place home and know it’s for the long haul.”

PHOTO

Believe it or not, the kitchen in the Allen’s home is the width of a single-wide trailer. A cantilevered bump-out adjacent to this space provides room for a sitting area with fireplace and TV.

“

Our neighbors loaned tools.

They’ve welcomed and encouraged us from day one.

That’s the

best part,

“

feeling that we’re putting down roots.

N I K K I A L L E N HOME OWNER

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“

We wanted to free up our

lives

for other priorities – experiences like travel with our children, deeper engagement in their education, more time together as a family.

ANNE NICKAMIN HOME OWNER

“

A TINY HOME: WHEN WAY LESS IS WAY MORE

Anne and Adam Nickamin followed the route that many have taken toward home ownership. They rented a small cottage for years while they were building their businesses. Both work in healing professions – she as a couples therapist and he as a massage therapist and structural integration specialist. Their daughter was born, and a few years later, their son. They moved to a condo, then purchased an open-market three bedroom house in a new neighborhood in Carbondale – a brand new home with gorgeous stained cabinetry and marble countertops, custom trim work, lots of windows, walking distance to everything. It felt like they were following their path.

“Three years later, we started looking around, realizing how much stuff we had, and how much money we spent paying for enough space to store all of it,” Anne said. “We realized that we wanted to free up our lives for other priorities – experiences like travel with our children, deeper engagement in their education, time together as a family.

This meant more to us than material possessions.”

“We were working so hard just to maintain our lifestyle,” Adam said. “We both love our careers, love what we do. We run our own businesses and we have plenty of work. But at the end of the day, we felt stretched, and we wanted our lives to be about something else.”

The GRFR report indicates that a significant number of local households in the Missing Middle might be feeling similarly stretched. The study sites 14,100 “cost burdened” households spending more than 30% of their income on a mortgage. The estimated impact is an average of $320 / month / household. The study identifies this as a net loss in discretionary spending of $54 million annually across the area. This impacts local businesses, as well as each individual family’s ability to travel, invest, build savings, or plan for their children’s college education or their own retirement.

The Nickamins chose the “less is more” route and started researching tiny homes.

Shrinking their possessions down from 1800 to 450 square feet was a lengthy process.

A book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo helped. “She helps you go through a brutal process, slash and burn, to get rid of anything that does not bring you joy,” Anne explains. “It was incredibly liberating and emotionally cleansing. As we cleared out things, I started noticing the visual noise that so many possessions had created. You feel the energetic impact of owning so much.”

Adam’s full rack of rock climbing gear. Linens. Clothing. Gadgets. Toys. Books. Furniture.

A lot of it needed to go. Moving in stages helped. When their house sold, they moved back into the 1000 square-foot rental where they lived when their daughter was a baby.

Anne said, “This was a sweet, full-circle stage of the process. We could not believe how much we had accumulated in a few short years.”

PHOTO

This family discovered a double-meaning to the phrase, “getting away from it all.” They escaped what the GRFR study names as the “cost burden of over-spending,” and they also found a way to live in “the middle of nowhere,” yet only twenty minutes from their childrens’ school.

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THOUGHTFUL DESIGN

You can find countless builders of tiny homes online, as well as plans that you can buy and build. Anne and Adam chose to work with Jim Garratt of Tiny Healthy Homes in British Columbia because of his focus on non-toxic, consciously sourced materials. To protect healthy air quality, no glues, adhesives or spray foams are used in construction.

Garratt uses natural wool batten insulation, hemp oil stains and timbers free of chemical treatments. High-performance vapor barriers and heat recovery ventilation systems ensure that the whole house breathes, preventing mold and maintaining continual fresh air – a big priority in a small space. Each design is made for off-grid living with propane cooking, heat, hot water and refrigeration, as well as a composting toilet.

Every aspect of the design is carefully considered, both for environmental impact and for how each family will live in their space.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Finding a home for a tiny home might seem easy – it’s small, after all, and it’s on wheels.

However, options here right now are limited. The Hideout Cabins & Tiny Home Community in Glenwood Springs is transitioning from RV sites to Tiny Home sites, and space is available on a waitlist basis. The Tiny Homes at River Run is a new development adjacent to the Silt KOA, offering 70 one-bedroom + loft units. Aspen Skiing Company’s tiny home village in the former KOA campground near Willits is for employee seasonal rentals only.

The Nickamins found an opportunity to locate their new home on private property as an Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU.

“

ADUs are emerging as a mostly untapped option in discussions of open market solutions to our community’s housing needs. Planners, designers, architects and city-county reps all seem to agree that ADUs are good. Smaller and separate from the main home on a property, they can help homeowners offset the costs of their mortgage through rental income, while increasing the rental supply. Town codes emphasize infill over sprawl, and differ throughout the Valley regarding what is allowed, though each municipality and county offers a set of criteria and a delineated approval process.

Now we feel truly peaceful … less inundated in our by things, less surrounded by energetic clutter.

home

“

A D A M N I C K A M I N HOME OWNER

TINY HOME IN PARADISE

The Nickamin’s tiny home arrived on a snowy spring day when Adam was out of town.

So Anne needed to meet the delivery truck, with both kids, to guide it up a steep, icy driveway to its destination. The truck got stuck in a snow drift and friends and neighors came to the rescue with multiple tractors to help. The family completed site prep after snow melted and moved in this summer.

When you walk inside, the first thing you notice is how big it feels. Vaulted ceilings in the living-dining area feel expansive and filled with light from large operable windows on either side. Pale blonde pine walls give the home a sparse, Scandinavian cabin feeling, with built-in colorfully upholstered seating and a high, rustic dining table. The kitchen’s butcher block countertop offers plenty of workspace, and the deep industrial stainless sink is bigger than in most houses. Their narrow yet heavy-duty gas range / oven and open pantry Mason jar storage belong to people who, you can tell, know how to cook and love doing it.

An office in back is where you’ll find the family’s stacked washer/dryer and all of their clothing – hanging and folded in baskets chosen specifically for this space, an area designed for precisely what they need, nothing more. The bathroom truly is a marvel – with a full-size enamelled cast-iron shower / tub, mod porcelain sink and composting toilet. (Curious about Humanure? So are we. To learn how it works and to see a video tour of a tiny home prototype for the Nickamin’s design, go to our website.) Bedrooms upstairs are cozy and private, with each child in their own space. The master looks out at an endless horizon, rolling sage hills, mountains in the distance – and not one building nor road in sight. In the evening with the slider window open, you can hear crickets and breezes. You can actually hear what feels like peace.

PHOTO

After work and school, the family prepares dinner together sharing stories about their day. A framed print above their dinner table reads: “Love grows best in little houses, with fewer walls to separate.

Where you eat and sleep so close together you can’t help but communicate. And if we had more room between us, think of all we’d miss. Love grows best in houses just like this.”

43

E B D L COU E XT THE N

Voting begins

OCt. 1, 2019

2019 Mini-Mayor Colby Rogers

LAUNCH YOUR CAMPAIGN FO: N I es E MOR reat Priz e t G Up • nds to Vo n g i S rie Get F .COM

OR Y A M INIyor

M 44

ma

i #min

WHAT NEXT?

The GRFR study gives some eye-popping projections for 2027. For example, it estimates the housing supply gap for low wage earners will reach 2,383 and the gap for the lower Missing Middle will reach 3,338. It also shows that those who will age into the 65+ category will increase by 31% throughout the region; 48% in Aspen-Snowmass.

How do our community’s housing visionaries interpret the numbers?

“It means that now we know what we are really seeing,” explains APCHA executive director Mike Kosdrosky, who helped inititate the GRFR study. “We’ve never had a regional housing study. We’ve never actually identified the geographical region that is defined by our workforce. Just being able to apply statistical analysis to the numbers will give us tools we’ve never been able to use before – to better inform policy makers, to more actively engage the community, and to look at real needs in terms of dollars and inventory.”

To better respond to changes in demographics and increased need, APCHA is launching a Hometrek program that will automate the collection of housing data, taking the housing authority from a paper-based system to a web-based model where accurate, up-to-date information can, according to Kosdrosky, “revolutionize the way we serve the community. It will be as innovative as the original impulse to launch APCHA in the 70s and 80s. When we can see, for example, how many people Pitkin County imports every day from as far as an hour-an-a-half away, we can start finding better long-term answers that serve the whole region.”

“

We can

do this.

These numbers are scalable opportunities.

It’s just a matter of getting out of our own way and believing that we can get there together.

SCOTT GILBERT PRESIDENT HABITAT ROARING FORK

“

SPRINGBOARD

Once the broader community heard about what was happening at Basalt Vista, the momentum behind the project started growing, attracting more than 1,100 volunteers, and drawing the attention of state legislators and leaders in the fields of sustainable housing and renewable energy. Everyone wanted to know how to replicate the project.

“This was the seminal moment,” says Scott Gilbert of Habitat Roaring Fork, who got Basalt Vista started with a conversation. “We were willing to let go of our prior ways of doing things. We asked ourselves how we could work together, and we found solutions. We galvanized everyone behind this need. When this happens, you can drown out nay-sayers and NIMBYism with positive, can-do thinking. Basalt Vista can be a springboard for the next partnerships, the next big ideas. We can do this in ten years. I know we can. It’s what I think about everyday.”

SHOW UP & APPLY: BASALT VISTA – phase 2 – 11 homes OPEN HOUSES & INFO SESSIONS: October 2 & 19 – 4:00 – 6:00 PM DEADLINE TO APPLY: October 18 PHOTO

“We sometimes look around and cannot believe that this is our home,” Basalt Vista home owner Katela Moran says. “It is so beautiful I want to pinch myself. But instead, I reach for my husband or my son. I grab their hands. I squeeze them. ‘We’re home,’ I tell them. We’re finally home.”

45

Missing

MIDDLE

DIRECTORY

Finding a place for the

MOUNTAINPARENT

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27/57 DESIGN + BUILD CO

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PHOTO:

THE CROWN MOUNTAIN BMX TRACK will soon become a world-class bike park.

off to a

GOOD START What began with two fathers teaming up to create a hand-build BMX track (like the tracks they grew up riding) has grown into a stellar regional hub that’s about to get a major expansion JARED McDERMOTT

Ground-breaking is planned for later this Fall, with construction slated for completion in Spring / Summer of 2020 – just in time for next year’s BMX season to heat up.

On any given Saturday during BMX racing season, (May – October) you’ll find 30-50 racers in bracketed competitions, with 6-8 riders in each race.

The facility will expand from the current BMX Track and Tyke Track (for littles on push-bikes) into a multiactivity bike park with a paved pump track and dirt jumps, a beginner bike zone, a competition pump track and a big-air jump. It will elevate youth bicycling at the park, offering summer programs, more coaching and clinics. Competitions will include a pump track challenge summer series/ dirt jump series. It will also be home to the Crown Mountain Devo Bike Team.

When Heath Johnson and Paul Viola started this project six years ago, the area where they built their track was a dusty vacant backlot at Crown Mountain Park. Now the BMX track’s demonstrated community engagement is a big part of the move for expansion. It has proven itself as a popular center for the Valley’s BMX community, and also a great training ground for mountain biking – raising up national-level competitors and other kids who simply love to pump .

47

It’s truly never too early to learn how to ride a bike. Some kids learn to balance a push-bike as soon as they learn to walk. The PBR CUP welcomes “Push Bike Racers” starting at age two. They compete on a short track designed to build confidence. As if the almost-big-kid fun isn’t motivating enough, there’s a prize for the little racer who shows up for the most competitions – a pedal race bike at the end of the season. • BMX Racing is the newest

SANCTIONED OLYMPIC SPORT, the hottest show to watch next summer in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Local riders master the techniques you’ll see at the games, including big jumps on the 1000-foot-long course that takes around 45 seconds to lap. • One of the biggest attributes of BMX racing is that it’s a young sport, with competitors like this one who raced four years by age seven. It’s a challenging, high-energy, fast sport that requires

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athleticism, focus and a no-fear attitude. When kids start young, they learn how to manage their bike and the terrain before they’re old enough to doubt whether they’ll land a jump or not. They just go for it. • Here is a technical move that is mastered on the small rollers found on straight sections of track – rather than jumping, the rider wheels up to gain momentum before charging ahead. Other features found on Crown Mountain’s track include: doubles, tabletops, step ups, and three paved bank turns. • The local Saturday competitions attract riders from all over the Western Slope, from Grand Junction to Eagle, giving racers a chance to form friendships that they’ll grow with in years of competition ahead. Crown Mountain’s new facilities will provide a place for higher-level competition, plus clinics, coaching and a platform for training the next big BMX athletes.

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G O R A M S!

COM E SU PPORT T H E R A MS AT T H ESE HOM E GA M ES! @ RFHS Gymnasium VO L L E Y B A L L Oct 4 vs. Gu n n ison Oct 17 vs. Basa lt Oct 29 vs. Rif le Oct 31 vs. Aspen @ CMS field, 180 Snowmass Dr. SOCCER Oct 3 vs. Delta Oct 22 vs. Moffat JV FOOTBA LL Oct 14 vs. Moffat

*All games subject to change. Check the Facebook page or Roaring Fork High School websiter for full schedules*

Thank you to our school booster: RICHARD FULLER Mortgage Loan Originator | NMLS 458827 Office: 970.704.6440 | Cell: 970.618.4294 rfuller@houseloan.com www.RichardFullerCornerstone.com BRISA GARCIA Hablamos Español Loan Officer Assistant | NMLS 1700997 Office: 970.704.6440 | Fax: 866.311.6890 brisagarcia@houseloan.com Not a commitment to lend. Borrower must meet qualification criteria. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Aspen RECREATION DEPARTMENT 0861 Maroon Creek Rd, Aspen (970) 544-4100 aspenrecreation.com

CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY

AT THE ASPEN REC CENTER Choose the Green Room or the Aspen Youth Center for older kids.

Includes pool, climbing and skating if available. Add-ons: themes with set-up, color schemes, cakes.

AT THE RED BRICK Fee includes tables, chairs, setup and tear-down. Add-ons are available for an additional fee, including bounce houses, aerials, trampolines and more.

AFTERSCHOOL CLUB

Ages: Kinder – 10 yrs old Dates: Aspen School District Calendar Time: M/T/Thr/Fri: 3:15 – 5:30 PM Wednesday: 1:55 – 5:30 PM Fee: $15/day, Wednesdays $20 Where: Aspen Elementary School The Afterschool Club is a state licensed program that includes homework help and lots of fun recreational activities like crafts, games & field trips on Wednesday.

See the website for rental fees and more information.

YOUTH BASKETBALL CLINICS

Ages: 10 - 14 Time: 10U – 1:00-2:30 PM 14U – 2:30-4:00 PM Dates: Sundays, Oct 6 – Nov 3 Fee: $15 per player per session Where: AHS Skier Dome Run by Athletic Coordinator Alex Schrempf, sign your child up for weekly Sunday clinics where players and parents alike can learn how to prepare for the upcoming Winter season.

WINTER BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Ages: Boys & Girls 3rd–4th | 5th–6th Grade Practices: 2x/week (each 90 minutes) Dates: Dec. 2 - March 6 Fee: $169 Where: AES & AMS Gyms Volunteer coaches needed.

Registration opens in October, learn more on our website.

FULL DAY FUN CAMP

Ages: Kinder – 10 yrs old Dates: Oct. 24, 25 & 31. Nov. 1, 25 – 27. Dec. 23, 26, 27, 30 & 31 Time: Drop off: 7:30 – 9:30 AM Pick up: 3:30 – 5:30 PM Fee: $44/day online Where: Aspen Elementary School Play with Recreation Department staff on the days school is out. The days will be packed full of fun & educational activities. This is a state licensed program. See more dates on the website.

KARATE

Ages: 4 - 18 Dates: Starting in October Times: Tuesday & Thursday Beginner Belts: 4:30 – 5:15 PM Advanced Belts: 3:45 – 4:30 PM Fee: $96 / month | $15 drop-in Where: Aspen Recreation Center Elaine Kozel is a certified 2nd Degree Black Belt through the International Tang Soo Do Federation. She will teach your kids the basics of karate, including self-discipline and gross motor skills. $35 for new member uniform.

SWIM LESSONS

Ages: Ages 6 months and up Dates: Monthly Times: Days based on specific class Fee: $34 / month online Where: The ARC Beginners learn to be safe in the water and develop basic swim skills in a fun environment with their instructor. Various levels of classes to choose from.

Private lessons are available for kids and adults, book online.

ADULT ACTIVITIES

The Aspen Recreation Department has a variety of activities and classes for adults too. Choose from ice hockey, pickleball, swim lessons, slackline, basketball and more. Plus, there are over 40 fitness classes a week with two locations to choose from.

Punch passes, monthly and annual memberships are available, see our website for information.

The Golf Simulator at the Aspen Golf Club reopens in December, look for details at AspenGolf.com

YOUTH ART CLASSES AT THE RED BRICK CENTER FOR THE ARTS | REDBRICKASPEN.COM PRE-K ART STUDIO

Ages: PRE-K Dates: Most Wednesdays during the school year (no class: 11/27, 12/25, 1/1, 3/25) Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Fee: Free (suggested donation) Pre-K Studio explores many mediums and elements of art through new projects each week.

Open to all Pre-K aged students with guardian or parent.

FULL DAY ART CAMP

Ages: K – 4th Grade Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Dates: Days when school is closed, see website.

Fee: $60/ day Campers explore a theme through a variety of mediums such as papier-mâché, ceramics, mosaic, painting and collage. Weather permitting campers may head outside for more art making, exploring and play.

AFTER SCHOOL ART PLAY

Ages: K – 4th Grade Dates: Most Wednesdays during the school year.

Time: 2:15 - 4:00 PM (no class: 11/27, 12/25, 1/1, 3/25) Fee: $20/ class Each week children explore a theme through a different medium such as collage, painting, papiermache, ceramics and more.

Art Play is a time for children to use their imagination, be with friends and have fun!

• LEARN MORE AT ASPENRECREATION.COM •

Snowmass VILLAGE PARKS, RECREATION & TRAILS

2835 Brush Creek Road, Snowmass Village (970) 922-2240 snowmassrecreation.com

RECREATION CENTER PASSES

FREE ICE SKATING

KIDS DAY CAMPS

SWIM LESSONS

HOST A PARTY

FALL FITNESS CLASSES

PICKLEBALL DATE NIGHT

LEAGUE BASKETBALL

K-2 FALL BASKETBALL

Whether you want to work out for the day or have ambitious fitness goals that may take a little longer. There are a variety of memberships for every budget.

You don’t have to live in Snowmass Village to enjoy this great facility.

Options include youth and adult one-time daily visits, monthly, yearly and a 20 visit punch cards.

The Recreation Center offers yearround swim lessons for all ages and levels. Don’t let the weather deter you. The salt water pools are heated and open all winter. If you are interested in signing up your children, or perhaps even yourself, call (970) 922-2240.

Basalt

RECREATION DEPARTMENT 101 Midland Avenue, Basalt (970) 927-8214 x 400 Basalt.net/recreation

Ages: 10 - Adult Date: Fridays, October 18 Memorial Day 2020 Time: 5:45 - 8:00 PM Where: BMS Gymnasium Fee: $2 drop in fee.

This is a great way for the whole family to get together for some fun competition with the pickleball crowd. Join us on Friday nights for entertaining competition with people from around the valley.

Pickleball is a wonderful way to get some exercise and meet new people. Special New Year’s Potluck Celebration on Tuesday, December 31 from 4:00-8:00 PM. Bring a dish and join the fun!

The outdoor skating rink at the Snowmass Village Recreation Center will be open throughout the winter as soon as the temperatures drop and ice can be made. The Recreation Center has a limited number of ice skates that can be used free of charge. Stay informed on opening dates by visiting our website and social media pages.

Have your next party at the Snowmass Village Recreation Center.

There are a variety of rental options that include use of the swimming pool, bounce houses, ice rink and indoor climbing wall. Price and times dependent upon packages.

Ages: 3rd + 4th grade teams and 5th + 6th grade teams for boys and girls. Date: The regular season begins January 6 and ends with tournaments by the first week in March.

Cost: $75 (includes t-shirt); $85 after registration deadline date .

Teams are forming now. Sign up to volunteer coach for your child’s team and pay no registration fee.

This is a great way to spend some quality time with your child! Preseason practices begin December 16th with some open gym times available during Winter Break.

Time: Full day, see website.

Dates: Oct 24 - 25; 30 - 31; Nov 25 - 27 Ages: 5 - 14 Fee: $33 - $67 Join friends for a fun filled day of recreation and adventure, utilizing the great facilities so close to home during the Fall and Winter school breaks.

Activities will include but are not limited to: indoor rock climbing, swimming, arts and crafts, gym games and playground.

Schedules can be found online at snowmassrecreation.com.

Starting October 1st, the ever popular ski conditioning class returns. Ski Conditioning will take place Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 6:00 – 6:45 PM through November.

Stay tuned for our Winter fitness schedule, which will take effect on December 1st.

Ages: K - Grade 2 Date: Nov 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21 Time: Kindergarten: 3:30 - 4:15 PM Grades 1 - 2: 4:20 - 5:10 PM Where: BES gym Registration deadline November 6 Fee: $30; $35 after deadline date Drills, skills, and games, with some competition thrown in. Here is a great opportunity to learn all you need to be a great basketball player.

K-2 MUD SEASON BASKETBALL

Ages: K - Grade 2 Date: Feb 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 Time: Kinders-3:30 - 4:20 1st/2nd-4:30-5:20 Where: BES gym Registration deadline November 6 Fee: $30; $35 after deadline date This is an opportunity for the younger basketball players, both boys and girls, to get off the bench and on the courts with our K2 Mud Season Basketball League. Work on hoop fundamentals with games every practice day. End the season with a mini tournament for all players.

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Carbondale RECREATION & COMMUNITY CENTER

567 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale (970) 510-1278 carbondalerec.com

DINKY DUNKERS

Ages: 1 - 2nd grade Date: November 4 - December 5 Time: 3:45 - 4:30 PM Days: Monday/Wednesday (Girls) Tuesday/Thursday (Boys) Fee: $45 This is an introductory recreational basketball program for 1st and 2nd grade girls and boys. Participants will learn the fundamentals of passing, dribbling, and shooting, as well as the rules of the game in a fun active environment.

HALLOWEEN CANDY BUYBACK NOV. 1 - 5

Give your candy to troops through Operation Gratitude. Bring Halloween candy to the Rec Center November 1-5 and trade it for day passes! A range of free passes is offered per pound and age range.

FORK & PAN COOKING CLASS SERIES

Ages: 8 - 12 years Dates: Wednesdays October 2 - November 20 Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM Fee: $15 drop-in per class or $40 for a 4 class session Boost your child’s kitchen confidence with this eight-class cooking series. In each class, kids will roll up their sleeves and get cooking. They will work together in a fun, hands-on environment, making foods they love while making new friends too.

The best part—they’ll get to eat the dishes they make!

PRESCHOOL ART WITH THE ROSYBELLE MAKER BUS

Ages: 3 - 5 years Date: October 26, November 16, December 14 (seasonally themed) Time: 9:30 - 11:00 AM Fee: $5 or preschool play pass Hey preschoolers! Join us on the bus for some art time. Parents must remain in attendance the whole time.

This program is parent-supervised.

Join Drea Marsh in a creative adventure!

YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Ages: 3rd/4th Grade; 5th/6th Grade Dates: December 9 - March 5 Days: Schedules vary by team, Monday - Thursday Times: Schedules vary by team 4:00 - 7:00 PM Cost: $90/child (includes full uniform) Registration Deadline: Friday, November 22 Leagues are designed to develop kids into fundamentally sound basketball players by teaching them basketball specific skills, teamwork, camaraderie, a strong work ethic, and more. There are male and female leagues offered for both 3rd/4th graders & 5th/6th graders. Teams will practice once or twice each week with one or two games per week as well (practices and games are an hour each). The season will culminate with a tournament. All participants will receive a uniform.

TEAMS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE AND WILL FILL UP FAST! REGISTER EARLY!

Where Children Love to Learn.

Why Ambleside at Skylark?

Our purpose is to cultivate a child’s innate curiosity. We encourage this love of learning, guide it by the formation of excellent habits, and build a powerful relationship network around them consisting of you, their parents, their teachers, their peers and most of all, their Heavenly Father. Open enrollment grades K-8.

Come see how we do it.

Contact Sage O’Neil, Admissions Coordinator to schedule your visit today 970.930.1804 or soneil@theskylarkschool.org

W H AT ’ S

H A PPE N I N G

Today?

MONDAY MOTION MONDAYS

ARTFUL ARCTIC ANIMALS

POUND + STRENGTH

TIEHACK THEN DINNER

10:30 - 11:45 AM Carbondale Rec Center For ages 1-6 years. Parents/ caregivers must remain in attendance/supervise their children at all times. Includes bounce house, tumbling mats, and other fun toys.

Bikes, scooters, etc are all welcome.

FOR

KIDS

FOR

PARENTS

970-216-5365 familynestcolorado.com facebook/familynestcolorado Birth & Postpartum Doula Support • Childbirth Classes • Meet the Doula Nights • Support Groups for Moms & Dads • Certified Placenta Encapsulation • Breastfeeding & Baby Care Classes • Community Gatherings

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TUESDAY

12:20 - 1:05 PM TAC Fitness, Basalt (Willits) Lunch break idea: 20 minutes of cardio focused POUND to get sweating. It’s HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) with drumsticks. Then do 25 minutes of upper body and core strengthening.

4:00 – 5:30 PM Handmakery Starting October 15 Tues (8 & up); Wed (5 & up); Thursdays (5 & up) (mid-October until winter break) Create a “wild in the woods wintery wallhanging” with arctic animals such as fox, polar bears, wolves, ptarmigan, moose and caribou wearing wintery woodland wardrobes while vacationing in an A-frame ski cabin under the northern lights in the heart of the great outdoors.

Tiehack Mountain, Aspen Dinner, too many choices Another great datenight idea: meet up after work for an uphill ski at Tiehack followed by your favorite dining spot. Check Aspen Ski Co.’s website for information on early season, night-time trail closures for uphillers.

PIANO VOCALS PRIVATE LESSONS YOUTH AND ADULTS Lessons at convenient locations Event performances: solo, duo, trio or full band

WEDNESDAY SWEET PEAS

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Ms. Holly’s in Carbondale Waldorf early childhood teacher Holly Richardson welcomes babies (birth to 18 months) with their parents, grandparents or caregivers for a morning together.

Brunch, tea, and footbaths nourish parents, along with singing, stretching, connecting with others and exploring aspects of child development.

INTRO TO SALSA DANCING

6:30 – 8:30 PM CMC Glenwood Springs Every week in October A fun night out, spicy rhythm and fundamentals of Salsa dancing in a relaxed environment. No partner necessary. Si Si Puedes!

THURSDAY KIDKARE

MON - THURS 8:20 - 11:30 AM 4:00 - 7:00 PM FRI: 8:20 - 11:30 AM SAT: 9:00 - 11:30 AM Glenwood Springs Community Center KidKare is available on a first-come, first-served basis for a maximum of two hours.

Enjoy working out while your kids are having fun.

SEWING

Oct 17 - Nov 21 6:30 - 9:30 PM CMC Glenwood Springs Wishing to stitch together special holiday gifts? Bring your own fabric and supplies (upcycling is encouraged) and learn how to work with your machine or borrow one from the instructor.

HARVEST PARTY

SATURDAY, OCT 12 TH • 12-4 PM AT ROCK BOTTOM RANCH

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

SUPER PLAYHOUSE WITH INFLATABLES

FREE FARM TOUR AT ROCK BOTTOM RANCH

DROP-IN CLAY STUDIO

VINYASA & VINO

COMMUNITY CROSSFIT

VOLUNTEER: ASPEN HOMELESS SHELTER

8:30 - 11:30 AM Red Brick Rec Center, Aspen Fit balls, geometric learning shapes, bolster donuts, tumbler downhill mats, children’s music and inflatables. For ages 0 - 5.

6:15 PM Kula Yoga, Carbondale OM at the end of your week with an invigorating and restorative yoga class followed by a glass of wine and renewing conversation.

11:00 AM Rock Bottom Ranch, Willits (Monday through Saturday) Tours are appropriate for all ages and provide opportunities to interact with livestock and learn where your food comes from.

9:00 - 10:00 AM Sopris Crossfit, Carbondale What? A free community crossfit class? Yes please. This is a team style workout that is great for both beginners and experts. It’s addictive in the best way and great for ski season training.

~ Monthly support gatherings in Glenwood Springs and Eagle ~ Bereavement care packages ~ Emotional and physical support for any birth in any trimester ~ Bereavement doula services, providing labor and delivery support ~ Walk For Hope, annual event with butterfly release

TICKETS at

Because you don‛t have to be alone on your journey www.one-moment.org

3:00 - 7:00 PM Glenwood Community Arts Center Drop-in for unstructured studio time, wheels and firing.

Clay available for purchase.

For kids ages 12 (with adult) and up. Great for adults too.

Daily Aspen Contact the Shelter for information about helping with their daily hot meals, food delivery, fundraising or other services.

CALL OF THE WILD! I T ’ S S A FA R I T I M E !

Start a New Adventure with Theatre Aspen’s Fall Classes!

CLASSES FOR GRADES K - 12th AVAILABLE IN ASPEN & BASALT Second session begins October 29th DANCE CLASSES ARE BACK!

aspennature.org

REGISTER TODAY!

EARLY BIRD PRICING UNTIL 10/7

WWW.THEATREASPEN.ORG EDUCATION@THEATREASPEN.ORG 970 925 9313

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W H AT ’ S

H A PPE N I N G

October

OCT 2: ACS EL TIOGA GARDEN EVENT

OCT 5: RMS MARMOT MILE

OCT 9: CMC’S COMMON READER

OCT 12: ASPEN SKI SWAP

OCT 12: RBR HARVEST FEST

OCT 22: RIVERVIEW SCHOOL’S DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION

OCT 18-20: WINDWALKERS LGBTQ + TRANS 101 WORKSHOP

OCT 26: CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN FALL FESTIVAL

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS:

M O U N TA I N - PA R E N T. C O M

7:00 PM Spring Valley Campus For teens and parents: Auschwitz survivor and psychologist, Dr. Edith Eva Eger, brings her story to CMC. The Choice will have you reflecting on the historical atrocities of the holocaust while at the same time appreciating the resilience of victims of trauma, providing a hopeful message of triumph.

3:30 – 5:00 PM Riverview School FREE event for the whole community with traditional food, a student-created ofrenda & seasonal activities.

12:00 PM Aspen Community School A community meal fresh from ACS’s gardens. Families bring in their favorite harvest dishes and students prepare breads or other items made with ingredients from the school garden. Proceeds will honor beloved friend and teacher, Annie Teague, as a donation to The Farm Collaborative and the ACS Verana Garden.

9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Aspen Middle School 65th Annual Aspen Ski Swap – the largest winter gear swap in the Valley and the biggest bargains. 100% of proceeds fund the Aspen School District’s Outdoor Education Programs.

Owen Schiller’s Trans workshop for transgender children and their parents started at Basalt High School, where he was the only openly transgender student in his community.

He has now brought Trans 101 to high schools around Colorado and New York city, where he works as an actor and elementary choir and drama teacher.

7:00 – 11:00 AM Ross Montessori School 5K + 1 mile fun run / walk. This fun(d) run will benefit the school’s annual fund, supporting students in the classroom, with materials, programs, enrichment and technology.

12:00 – 4:00 PM Rock Bottom Ranch Family-friendly party with lunch, pumpkin carving, apple cider pressing, vegetable harvest, hay rides, face painting, ranch games, arts, photo booth, live music, and pie baking contest. Car-free event. Please bike or walk down the Rio Grande Trail.

4:00 – 6:00 PM Cornerstone Christian Carnival games, bounce houses, horse rides, pumpkin decorating, costume contest and “decorated car trunk & treat.” All proceeds benefit Wind Walkers. Make a donation and receive game tickets and free dinner from Slow Groovin BBQ.

SACRED POSTPARTUM CARE

HONORING WOMEN HEALING MOTHERS

We make life easier. Try our

DELIVERY SERVICE!

Charles Andrade ~ Artist Specializing in children’s murals and decorative wall finishes.

Commercial and residential commissions.

LAZURE

Custom Wall Designs Ensouling your world with color

www.lazure.com

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970.309.5559

All your pets’ needs.

M-F 9am - 6:30pm • Weekends 10am-5pm 970-963-1700 •Next to City Market in El Jebel

FOLLOWING ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF POSTPARTUM CARE, THIS IN-HOME SERVICE OFFERS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO SEAL THE BIRTH PROCESS. HEALING SOUPS, WARMING BATHS, BELLY BINDING, SALVES, AND REVITALIZING TEAS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU. EVERY WOMAN DESERVES TO BE WELCOMED INTO MOTHERING THROUGH GENTLE LOVING CARE.

This package makes a wonderful gift for family and friends, or for yourself.

ZOE WESTON • 808-387-1980 WWW.ZOEWESTON.COM ZOE@ZOEWESTON.COM

OCT 7, 8, 16,1 9: AVALANCHE AWARENESS

1:00 PM & 6:00 PM Garfield County Libraries, check locations Don’ let fear of the backcountry hold you back from planning safe winter adventures. Learn the basics in this class. Perfect for parents with their teenagers.

10TH MOUNTAIN HUTS SUMMER 2020 RESERVATIONS OPEN ON TUESDAY, OCT 1 OCT 14: CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR TEENS AND PARENTS

7:00 – 8:00 PM Third Street Center, Carbondale Celebrate a joy-filled life in a purposeful way. Teens are invited to join with other teens and enjoy activities that will help develop inner character, express creativity and embrace being in nature.

OCT 26: CRES HALLOWEEN HAPPENING

1:00 – 4:00 PM 160 Snowmass Drive, Carbondale Halloween carnival games, haunted house, pizza, hotdogs, bake sale, bouncy houses, costume parade. SPOOKtacular!

PLAN EARLY – as in 8:00 AM on the first business day in October – to reserve a cabin for next summer. The 10th Mountain Division Hut System opens their booking system 7 months in advance, and you can expect weekend spots to go quickly.

country lake fishing and mountain-biking approaches.

Boardgames, cards and birding books are among the simple entertainment options you’ll find around the fireplaces, or you can explore the surrounding wilderness or kick back and just enjoy the freedom from cell service.

Here’s a backcountry adventure without pitching a tent.

Many of the 22 summer huts are accessible with four-wheeldrive high-clearance vehicles after the snow melts. Look into Shrine Mountain Inn, Peter Estin and Polar Star if you prefer to motor it.

Summertime huts offer a perfect first experience of backcountry travel because you can get a feeling for the situation without the added pressure of snow and avalanche potential. You might even prep for your first winter hut trip with kids by planning a summer season visit first. (Winter reservations for 2020-21 open in March.)

Huts range in amentities from purely-roughing-it woodburning cast iron cook stoves to propane-fueled hot water claw foot tubs. The Fritz and Fabi Benedict Huts boast an outhouse view that may be arguably the world’s best backcountry throne.

If you and your children have the gear and go-get-’em to backpack in, you might consider several multiple-day hut-to-hut combinations, such as BettyBear / Skinner / Uncle Bud’s Hut. Other options offer stellar high-

Find availabililty by date online, as well as lots of helpful information about how to plan a trip with kids: Huts.org or (970) 925-5775.

PHOTO:

There’s always reason to celebrate the accomplishment of simply gettting there. The Shrine Mountain Hut, shown here, can be approached on foot, bike, or vehicle. (credit: Walking Mountains Science Center)

NEW KIDS CLASSES Glenwood Springs Community Art Center

ART • PLAY • CLAY

Join art instructor Ms. Liz & friends for fun-filled art classes.

Monday Pre-K Art Play 10:00 AM - 12:00 pm - $10 A fun art class for children under the age of 5 who are accompanied by an adult.

Monday AfterSchool Art Club 4:00 - 6:00 pm - $15 Art class for students aged 4-13 who just want more!

Friday 5th Day 8:00 AM - 4:00 pm - $48 All day art program designed for adventurous students who have Friday free to create, explore and grow.

Glenwood Springs Community Art Center 601 East 6th Street Glenwood Springs, CO 61601 Information: (970) 274-3794 Register at www.glenwoodrec.com

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W H AT ’ S

H A PPE N I N G

November SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS:

NOV 1: ALL KIDS DENTAL CANDY BUY BACK

4:30 – 6:30 PM All Kids Dental – Glenwood Springs, Eagle & Rifle Trade in Halloween candy for cash + prizes, toothbrushes and goodie bags. Candy will be shipped to troops overseas. Come and make a card for a soldier to be sent with your candy.

M O U N TA I N - PA R E N T. C O M

NOV 12: CMC HIGHER SELF-CARE FOR SUPERWOMAN

6:00 – 9:00 PM CMC Glenwood Springs Embrace authenticity and discover a higher self while expanding and deepening the peace and potential that’s within you. Course covers life balance, foods that fuel, intuitive eating, plus a private session with wellness coach Donna Lee Humble.

NOV 16 & 23: WINTER STOKE FILM FESTIVAL

NOV 16: Vaudeville Theatre, Glenwood Springs.

Nov. 23: Third Street Center, Carbondale Sunlight Mountain Resort is inviting local filmmakers to submit their best winter videos to be featured in the fourth annual Winter Stoke Film Festival. Times TBD.

NOV 10 & 12: RFYO FALL CONCERTS

Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra November 10: 5:30 PM, Aspen, Edlis Neeson Concert Hall on the ACDS Campus November 12: 5:30 PM, Carbondale, Third Street Center Family-friendly, free and open to the public. Bringing together nearly 70 student musicians ages 5 to 18.

Beginner to advanced students play string, wind, and percussion instruments in an orchestral performance.

NOV 28: OPENING DAY ASPEN & SNOWMASS

9:00 AM – first lifts Get your snow gear organized, boards waxed and ski legs ready. It’s that time of year already! Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Ski Area open for the season.

970-384-6000 www.rfschools.com

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5:00 – 8:00 PM downtown Carbondale CRES & WSRF students will sing traditional Day of the Dead songs. Create elaborate flower alters in memory of loved ones. Join a candlelit procession across town culminating in Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Folklórico performance.

NOV 16: CMC CULINARY WORKSHOP INDIAN CUISINE

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CMC Glenwood Springs Learn how to make your favorite Indian dishes – Dal Tadka, curried sweet potatoes, Chana Masala and hummus.

NOV 29: REDSTONE GRAND ILLUMINATION

Main Street, Redstone 10:00 AM: Redstone shops offer special holiday fare 12:00 – 2:00 PM: Tour the newly renovated Redstone Castle (advance tickets required) 5:00 PM Santa lights the Christmas tree at Redstone Park 5:30 PM Visit with Santa at the Redstone Inn 6:00 PM Caroling, bonfire, warm libations and shopping with extended hours at Redstone shops.

LOTS OF FREE EVENTS COMING UP!

BILINGUAL PARENT EDUCATION EVENTS

Wed, October 2 at 5:00 - 7:30 pm at CMS Film & Discussion: “The Kids We Lose.”

This documentary looks at having a child or student with behavioral challenges, and the struggles faced by parents, educators, staff in facilities, and others in trying to ensure that these kids receive the help they need. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Dr. Ross Greene, a New York Times bestselling author.

The Roaring Fork Schools will be offering a free parent education event on Restorative Practices.

Restorative Practices in schools promote developing community and managing conflict by repairing harm and building relationships. This event will be offered in English and Spanish. Free childcare and dinner provided. Three events will be offered: This FREE five-week program provides skill-building in math and reading, enrichment and talent development, fun Friday activities with free breakfast and lunch.

Fri-Sat, October 4-5 at Glenwood Springs High School Free dental clinic / all day / see details for appointments The Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) is a “no questions asked” dental clinic that provides dental services at no cost for individuals who cannot afford dental care.

Services are available to all adults and children.

CONTACT

NOV 1: CARBONDALE FIRST FRIDAY – DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION

Thurs, October 10 at 5:30-8 pm @ GWS Vaudeville Theater Film & Panel: “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” The Roaring Fork Schools Prevention Specialists are kicking off the Information and Inspiration Series with a screening and discussion on “Suicide: The Ripple Effect.”

This film is filled with hope and will be followed by a panel of experts who will speak to responses and resources in our valley. Doors open at 5:30pm and seating is limited.

November 12: Basalt Elementary School November 13: Roaring Fork High School; November 14: Glenwood Springs Community Center All dinners from 5:30- 6:00 pm with bilingual meetings runnng from 6:00- 7:30 pm.

Questions?

Contact: Grace Tennant, Responsive Services Coordinator Roaring Fork Schools, gtennant@rfschools.com

NOV 5: SCIENCE DISCOVERIES

10:00 - 11:00 AM Aspen Country Day School, Aspen Dinosaurs, weather, animals, and more: science is full of things to discover, and children ages 4 and up are invited with their parents for an inquisitive morning with ACDS’s science teacher, Lise Sansom. Please R.S.V.P.

THE FARM COLLABORATIVE’S FREE FARM-TO-TABLE THANKSGIVING DINNER

NOV 7: WSRF SCHOOL TOUR

8:30 –10:30 AM Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork (Event also occurs on OCT 3) Take a look at Waldorf education by visiting the campus, seeing what happens in the classrooms, hearing the students play music, asking questions of teachers and meeting other parents. Adults only. Please R.S.V.P.

A FREE Farm-to-Table Thanksgiving? Too good to be true? Not if you know Eden Vardy, who created this event more than ten years ago, a giant communal dinner celebrating our abundance of locally grown foods. This year, The Farm Collaborative’s annual shared meal will offer something different. Since the dinner’s regular venue, The Hotel Jerome, will be under renovation, the local nonprofit has decided to offer their community gift in the form of free C.S.A. shares during the week of Thanksgiving.

“By packaging boxes of beautiful, locally harvested foods, we can continue to support our area’s growers and give thanks for the harvest,” said Vardy, the Farm Collaborative’s founder and executive director. “Only this time, families can enjoy the bounty in their own homes.”

Families can plan their Thanksgiving Dinner around The Farm Collaborative’s offering, which will include recipes from farmers showcasing foods available here throughout the winter months, storage crops such as: apples, potatoes, squash and beets.

NOV 7: CMC RETIREMENT INCOME PLANNING 6:00 – 9:00 PM CMC Glenwood Springs It’s never too early to create a mindset for healthy retirement. Dynamic instruction regarding financial concepts and strategies, NOT an endorsement of specific financial products or services.

The group will also donate Thanksgiving C.S.A. boxes to local food pantries. It provides ongoing support through a low-income C.S.A operated by Ben Armstrong, a grower who works with the Farm Collaborative and Live Well Colorado.

Other Farm Collaborative programming includes Earth Keepers summer camps (photo, left) designed to give kids a handson connection to food and fun experiences on the farm. The nonprofit also supports local growers by buying their crops for the C.S.A. and by offering incubation programs for future farmers.

Participation in the Thanksgiving C.S.A is free, though sponsorships are welcome, and all funds raised will help support the Farm Collaborative’s programming, as well as a capital campaign for expanding their land from 2/3 of an acre to 15 acres with a number of new amenities.

PARTICIPATE: THEFARMCOLLABORATIVE.ORG

Look in Mountain Parent’s NOVEMBER E-NEWSLETTER for details about how to sign up, and when / where to pick up.

STORYTIMES BABY TUESDAYS/ 10:30 AM

Ages: 0 - 24 months Lapsit storytime. Learn songs, bounces and rhymes to share with your child with a few stories thrown in. Storytime lasts about 20 minutes with stay-and-play following.

PRESCHOOL WEDNESDAYS / 10:15 - 10:45 AM Ages: 3 - 5 years

TODDLER WEDNESDAYS / 11:00 - 11:30 AM Ages: 2 - 3 years

AFTER SCHOOL WEDNESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS/ 2:30 - 4:00 PM

A new activity every week for school-aged children. Featuring science experiments, crafts and games. Always creative and always fun.

ASK A LAWYER

OCTOBER 10 & NOVEMBER 14 5:00 - 7:00 PM SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

pit colib.org

Free 15-minute consultations with a licensed attorney at the Pitkin County Library. No appointment necessary. First come, first served. Provided by Alpine Legal Services.

HUMAN SERVICES AT THE LIBRARY OCTOBER 8 & NOVEMBER 12 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Need a helping hand with medicaid, food assistance, or child care? Staff from Human Services will be at the Library every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 4:30-5:30 PM to answer questions. No appointment needed.

BOOK BUNCH: GRADES 2-5

OCTOBER 8 & NOVEMBER 12 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Need a helping hand with medicaid, food assistance, or child care? Staff from Human Services will be at the Library every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 4:30-5:30 PM to answer questions. No appointment needed.

THE LAB

THE LAB is a makerspace located at the Pitkin County Library in Aspen, CO. What is a makerspace, you ask? It’s simple!

A makerspace is an intellectual space that fosters the ideals of creativity and collaboration. Patrons will be given the opportunity to create, invent and learn all manner of things through various hands-on activities.

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Carbondale’s 5th Annual ONE TOWN ONE TABLE street dinner welcomed 100 tables and more than 1000 guests. The theme, “Under the Rainbow” inspired multicolored statements about LGBTQ+ inclusion and cultural diversity. A highlight of the evening was a flashmob performance choreographed and organized by Alexandra Jerkunica of BONEDALE BALLET • Captain Hook and his band of Neverland pirates plot to kill PETER PAN during the final rehearsal of SOL THEATRE’S production of the classic story.

Building Better Vision for Life Locals Choice for Eyecare & Eyewear Kids Frames Sport Glasses Flexible Wear

A B E S E E

Glenwood Springs & Carbondale Locations 60

GREAT BRANDS INCLUDING: Converse • db4K • Flexon • Junior Oakley Nike • Nine West • Ray Ban • & more

970.945.2020 2020EYECARE.com

These ASPEN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS planned a sunrise hike to Maroon Lake before the first day of school – with a promise to return for a sunset shot on the last day of the schoolyear. • ROARING FORK CYCLING coach Callie Carpenter and her group of middle school girls meet weekly for a free fall after-school program. • VALLEY VIEW HOSPITAL’S RALLY THE VALLEY fundraiser attracted 650+ volunteers raised more than $150,000 for alternative therapies and family assistance programs at the CALLAWAY YOUNG CANCER CENTER.

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

Ao A DECEMBER 21-22 S T E K C I T E L A S N O !

6 R E B NOVEM aspensantafeballet.com

PHOTO: SHAREN BRADFORD

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LOCALLY SOURCED O U R A N N U A L G U I D E T O H O L I D AY G I V I N G

MOUNTAINPARENT CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

FREE INCLUSION FOR COMMUNITY ARTISANS & LOCAL RETAILERS

Our Locally Sourced Catalog is a guide to giving in the Roaring Fork Valley.

We’re looking for unique, original, consciously-sourced or handmade items from local artists and brick-and-mortar shopping experiences that make our Valley’s retail scene fun and real.

Gifts for all ages, with a special focus on these categories: Youngest, Tweens, Teens, Moms, Dads, Teachers, Besties and Grandparents NONPROFITS SERVING FAMILIES & CHILDREN

Please let our readers know how a gift to your organization will support your mission.

Submission Deadline: Friday, November 1 email for details Kathryn@Mountain-Parent.com

Advertising

Lauren Suhrbier, Publisher (970)319-3939

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MOUNTAIN-PARENT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED REAL ESTATE ADVISORS.

MIKE ELKINS

CATHIE ENNIS

KIRSTIE ENNIS

DIANE TOMASSETTI

TONY SCHEER

VICKI O’HALLORAN

CODY REED

265 Main Street | Carbondale 61 970.930.4663

If you value price over perfection...

YOU’LL LOVE OUR “SCRATCH & DENT” APPLIANCES

If want to save up to 40% off the retail price on brand new appliances with minor cosmetic imperfections, look no more. (We even throw in a 1-year factory warranty.) Come in today for big savings and to see why people say we’re the best Habitat for Humanity ReStore in the country.

For ReStore hours or to schedule a FREE donation pick-up, visit HabitatRFV.org

Phase 2 applications available this fall.

If you’re employed with RF Schools or in Pitkin County you may qualify to purchase a home in Basalt Vista. For open house and info session dates, please visit HabitatRFV.org/Basalt-Vista

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