n Skatepark bathroom situation stinks
Local skatepark patrons express disappointing bathroom conditions to the City of Grand Junction.
As summer approaches, District 51 enters the first stages of Phase 1 of its 25year Facilities Master Plan. n Construction projects for D51
4
5
6 In this issue
Beginning July 1, HopeWest will be offering support for caregivers and their loved ones living with dementia throughout Western Colorado.
n St. Mary’s gets an ‘A’ for patient safety
The Leapfrog Group gave St. Mary’s Hospital an “A” grade for patient safety.
12
n Guest Column: Marcus Straub
Empower your team to think independently.
n Opinion: Craig Hall
Regrets are not enough, Jason Nguyen needs to be removed.
19
n HopeWest adding dementia support 21
Be Sweet Café & Bakeshop feels the sting of two separate construction projects reducing customer traffic at its store on W. Main Street in Grand Junction. — See Page 2
Roadwork near the intersection of West Main Street and First Street as well as on the opposite side on Crosby Avenue has limited access to Be Sweet Café & Bakeshop, and several other nearby businesses, during Be Sweet’s most vital time of the year. Photo by Brandon Leuallen on May 15.
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
Ewa Nowak didn’t expect her first summer as the new owner of Be Sweet Café &
Be Sweet, located across from the Mesa County Courthouse at West Main and Spruce Streets has experienced a significant loss in sales at the most inopportune time.
“According to Google Maps, there’s no way to get to our shop,” Nowak said. “We’ve lost over $2,000 a week since the closures started. And this is supposed to be our busiest time of year. We count on April through September to make up for the slower winter months. It’s how we recover. Without that, we’re struggling to stay afloat.”
Be Sweet isn’t alone. Neighboring businesses, including Good Judy’s, Tumblin’ Country, Luminox Tattoo, and Skin Suites, are all caught in the same predicament. The only way to reach the stores is through Spruce Street if you go around and out of the way, which is especially difficult for a shop that catches a number of customers because of the convenience (in normal times) as they come and go through the Main Street corridor.
On one side, CDOT’s First Street Improvement Project has closed Main Street west of First Street.
On the other side, the city’s ongoing work along the corridor, stretching from Main Street west and north toward the Rimrock Walmart, has further restricted access. That project is expanding the road for multimodal access between downtown and the Rimrock Marketplace, and it is scheduled to continue through October. The CDOT project is expected to wrap up in late summer, but delays are not uncommon with work of this scale.
Perhaps most frustrating for Nowak wasn’t the construction itself — she was quick to praise the road crews who’ve become regulars at her counter — but the lack of communication from the city.
“We had very little notice about the Main and First closure, and no notice that Crosby Avenue would be closed at the same time,” she said. “If I had known, I could’ve planned a marketing campaign, posted updates on social media, let our customers know how to find us.”
Instead, she says, she was left scrambling.
See ROADWORK on page 10
ABOVE: Few cars are parked in the 100 block of West Main Street in Grand Junction during the late morning of May 12, a Monday, because West Main Street is closed to through traffic while two road construction projects are ongoing. Photo by Brandon Leuallen.
BELOW: Also late-morning on May 12, several tables sit unoccupied inside Be Sweet Cafe & Bakeshop, 150 W. Main St. Access to Be Sweet has become difficult because of nearby road construction. Photo by Brandon Leuallen.
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
Local skateboarder and Grand Junction native Nick Steffens posted on Facebook on May 10 that the bathrooms at New Emerson Skatepark were not sanitary and are not being properly maintained.
In response, the City of Grand Junction said the restrooms are serviced twice a week – on Tuesdays and Fridays – by a local contractor.
The city thanked Steffens for alerting them to the issue and acknowledged temporarily closing one of the units after dispatching a city employee to assess the bathrooms until a contractor could make it out to the park to service them. The response also said some of the conditions in the complaint were not accurate.
A group of skateboarders spoke to The Business Times at the park and said they have stopped using the bathroom facilities. They cited issues including non-skatepark users occupying them for extended periods and even finding a needle inside one of the units.
“We are very thankful for this place, and it’s frustrating when someone who doesn’t use the skatepark comes in and makes the bathroom unusable,” one skateboarder said.
Steffens said he skates at the park at least twice a week, and his concern is for the safety and sanitation of those who use the park.
When asked about the city’s response to his Facebook post, Steffens said, “ I skated Wednesday morning, and the bathrooms definitely were not cleaned on Tuesday, and they looked the same on Saturday,
so they definitely did not get cleaned Friday either.”
Steffens added, “My cousin, I skate with him, and he has a 3-year-old that has to use the bathroom, and you don’t want to take a kid in there — it’s supposed to be a family place.
“Last Wednesday at about 10:30 in the morning, I went to use the bathroom, and it was locked. Then the other one was locked, too, with a bike sitting out in front of it. I ended up going to the gas station to use the bathroom. Then at about 12:30, my cousin’s son had to go, and they were both still locked, and the same bike was still there.”
Steffens said that after he alerted the occupants that others needed to use the restroom, a woman eventually exited one of the portable units with a dog, and a man emerged from the other while putting items back into his backpack before riding off on a bicycle after cursing at them.
“I don’t know how she could stay in there for that long. I went in for seconds, and it smelled so bad I couldn’t handle it,” he said.
“I’m not one to stir anything up. I barely ever post anything, but I was just like, ‘Dude, this is ridiculous.’”
Steffens said there were a lot of comments from others, citing issues with bathrooms around town before his post was removed from the message board where he shared it.
Steffens is also concerned about the image of the town, as skaters travel from outside the area to visit.
“The skatepark should be a tourist attraction. People travel from all over the world to skate in these parks. Like, that’s the whole purpose of getting a destination skatepark.”
See SKATEPARK on page 8
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
As summer approaches, Mesa County Valley School District 51 Chief Operations Officer Clint Garcia said the district is entering the initial stages of Phase 1 of its 25-year Facilities Master Plan.
While some larger projects remain in the design phase, work on a wave of elementary school upgrades is set to begin next week, marking the first execution phase of the long-term improvement strategy voters approved last year.
These first projects are labeled specifically in the PIP category.
“What we’re calling Priority Improvement Projects, the PIPs, those are all of our elementary schools on the east end of the valley,” Garcia said, adding they include Rocky Mountain, Chatfield, Mesa View, Thunder Mountain, Fruitvale, Orchard Avenue and Nisley.
These elementary school upgrades are slated to be completed before the beginning of the 2025–26 school year.
“Our intent is to have all of that done before the start of this next school year,” Garcia said. “By the time students come back, 98 to 99 percent will be completed. I give you that 2 percent wiggle room just in case something unexpected comes up.”
Some of the most critical improvements happening this summer won’t be immediately visible to the public, but they’re among the most important from a safety perspective. That includes asbestos abatement across multiple elementary schools in the east valley, work that Garcia says should have been done years ago.
“The removal of asbestos in our buildings is a big deal,” Garcia said. “Making those buildings safer and adding fire-suppression systems are things that absolutely need to be done. Of course, those are the kinds of improvements people don’t see, but they matter.”
Many of the upgrades underway, such as classroom remodels, new firesuppression systems and modernized security measures, are addressing issues that have been needed for a long time.
“A lot of these things have been waiting for years,” Garcia said. “We’re finally able to get to them now, thanks to the community’s support.”
While the elementary-level construction ramps up, planning continues
for larger projects at Central High School and Fruita Monument High School.
“We’re still in the design phase and doing some conceptual designs for those buildings right now,” Garcia said. “Physical work won’t start on those until April or May of next year.”
One of the biggest early wins, Garcia noted, is the installation of updated security systems across every building in the district, an initiative that was fast-tracked ahead of schedule.
“We were able to secure a company to do all of our security-camera upgrades, door access and visitor-management systems,” Garcia said. “By the start of next school year, every building in the district will have a modernized, hardened security system in place.”
The project replaces outdated analog systems that only stored surveillance footage locally for about 10 days.
“If we didn’t catch something quickly, that data was gone forever,” Garcia said. “Now, with cloud-based systems, we can keep video for 30 days minimum and save it forever if needed.”
Parallel to the physical construction projects, the district has also been focused on cutting long-term operational costs through technology and smarter resource management. Facilitron, a building-use and energy-management system, has been implemented to track when and how school facilities are being used and to coordinate heating and cooling systems accordingly.
The district also rents out school buildings during off-hours, which used to result in wasted energy costs beyond the time the facility was being rented.
“If someone’s got a pickup basketball game from 7 to 8 p.m., our system turns the units on during that time and shuts them off right after,” Garcia said. “We used to run buildings until 10 p.m. That’s no longer the case.”
Garcia credited District 51 Facilities Director Keegan Gering for meticulously reviewing utility billing and spotting errors before payments are made.
“That’s a lot of billing to look through, but when Keegan finds an error, we don’t just pay the bill, we get it fixed,” he said.
Garcia said the district has remained focused on how it stewards the money from the bond.
“We are well under budget on our current PIP projects,” Garcia said. “I don’t want to quote an exact number, but we’re talking millions.”
See D51 on page 8
Tim Harty The Business Times
Because HopeWest applied for and was selected to participate in a Medicare model program focused on improving the lives of people impacted by dementia, it will launch a dementia-support program this summer.
Through comprehensive, home-based services, newly formed HopeWest Dementia Support is tailored to serve caregivers and their loved ones living with dementia throughout Western Colorado, and it's scheduled to begin July 1.
To implement the program HopeWest Clinical Support Manager Jaycee Ray said HopeWest is adding new team members and providing specialized training for existing staff.
“We recently welcomed a care navigator with extensive experience in communitybased support for patients and caregivers,” Ray said. “Additionally, we are hiring a nurse practitioner to focus specifically on the medical needs associated with dementia. As the program expands, we anticipate increasing staffing to meet community demand.”
Ray said HopeWest frequently receives inquiries from families seeking support for loved ones living with dementia, especially during the earlier and middle stages, when traditional programs like hospice are not yet appropriate.
“Historically, our ability to serve these individuals was limited by specific eligibility requirements,” she said. “This program fills that gap, allowing us to reach and support a broader segment of the community. It enables us to offer care and resources to families who previously had few options during the most challenging phases of caregiving.”
Being selected for the Medicare model program called Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) made the new program possible. Ray said the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation “recognized a critical need for expanded support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers,” which led to the new, innovative care model.
HopeWest said in a news release the GUIDE opportunity aligns directly with its mission to “profoundly change the experience of aging, illness and grief one family at a time,” and participation in the GUIDE model allows HopeWest to offer enhanced dementia care and support services at no additional cost to patients or their families.
Ray said HopeWest Dementia Support aims to keep people living with dementia safe in their homes or communities and reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The new program will help caregivers manage the behavioral health challenges associated with dementia and support caregivers' emotional health to reduce stress and prevent burnout.
“Dementia is a complex disease and caring for someone with dementia can feel overwhelming,” Ray said. “Our goal is to ease that burden by offering support for both caregivers and the people they love.”
HopeWest said beneficiaries of the dementia-support program will receive:
HopeWest will collaborate with the patient’s primary care provider to offer enhanced dementia support, ensuring dementia patients and their loved ones receive the guidance they need.
Ray explained “enhanced dementia support” means providing families with practical, personalized strategies for common caregiving challenges.
If you are a caregiver seeking dementia support, HopeWest is here to help.
To learn more or enroll in the program, call 970-248-4400 or visit HopeWestCO.org/ dementia-support.
The HopeWest Dementia Support program is available at no additional cost to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B who have been diagnosed with any form of dementia.
All HopeWest Dementia Support staff involved in the program receive more than 20 hours of dementia-specific training, with ongoing education to ensure they remain current on best practices and advancements in dementia care.
This specialized training allows its team to offer tailored support that improves the quality of life for patients and caregivers.
“For example,” she said, “helping caregivers understand why their loved one might resist bathing, such as discomfort with temperature or feeling exposed, and offering techniques to make that experience more comfortable and dignified.”
Beneficiaries receive direct communication from a HopeWest team member and have 24/7 access to HopeWest's helpline, so it can answer questions whenever caregivers need help.
Access to tools and knowledge needed to ensure those living with dementia receive proper care. HopeWest can also assist caregivers with coordinating community-based programs and resources, such as meals and transportation.
Ray said caregivers will benefit from HopeWest's personalized guidance, best-practice education, and curated community resources.
“For instance,” she said, “managing concerns like wandering is a major challenge for many families. Through this program, we can connect caregivers with resources such as the AngelSense Program offered in Mesa County,
which provides GPS tracking devices for individuals at risk of wandering.
“HopeWest acts as a central point of coordination, finding, vetting and connecting families to helpful tools, so they don’t have to navigate this complex landscape alone. This removes a significant burden from caregivers who are often balancing work, caregiving and daily life.”
Caregivers can take time for themselves while their loved one is safely cared for. Eligibility will be based on assessed care needs.
Ray said HopeWest is developing in-home respite services designed to allow individuals with dementia to remain in the comfort of familiar surroundings.
“This approach is supported by research as being most beneficial,” she said. “These services include assistance with daily activities such as meal preparation, toileting and companionship.
Providing caregivers with reliable, trusted respite care offers them much-needed time to rest, attend appointments or simply recharge, while knowing their loved one is safe and well cared for.”
Continued from page 4
The City of Grand Junction’s response said part of the issue with the bathrooms overflowing at the park is due to people placing trash in the toilet tanks instead of the trash cans provided outside.
“Given the tremendously high volume of use being seen at this activated park, one of the two units filled to capacity – some of which, again, involves trash being placed in the unit,” the city said.
The city also described its system for maintaining facilities and the benefits of portable restrooms, which are inside shipping containers.
“Portable restrooms and vault toilets are available throughout the parks and recreation system, and they are open during all open park hours. Since the expansion of enclosed portable restrooms, Parks and Recreation has seen a significant decline in vandalism. This includes a reduction in the need to replace sinks, toilets, dispensers, fix graffiti and conduct overall cleanings from excessive trash and
waste in the brick-and-mortar restrooms.”
The city said many brick-and-mortar restrooms at its most visited parks are open during park operating hours and monitored throughout the day by a rotating team of custodians during warmer months. They are also open for shelter reservations.
“This program allows these brick-and-mortar restrooms to be in a condition consistent with City standards during rentals and therefore available during rentals that often serve many residents,” the city said.
When asked, the city responded that there has been excessive vandalism at the bathrooms at the skatepark and it is frustrating.
To report any park issue Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., call 970-254-3866. Voicemails are accepted. For urgent issues after hours, call the Grand Junction Police Department at 970-242-6707. Email is also an option at gjparksandrec@gjcity.org.
Continued from page 5
“That savings will be rolled right back into other building needs, things like new HVAC systems or roof replacements that weren’t originally in scope but are badly needed.”
These reinvestments are critical in addressing the district’s estimated $600 million infrastructure deficit.
“Whether it’s a roof that costs over a million dollars or a 40-year-old HVAC unit, every dollar we save goes right back into extending the life and usability of our schools,” Garcia said. “It’s not the flashy stuff, but it’s essential.”
Gratitude for the community’s support remains front of mind for Garcia and his team.
“I’ve been on the support side of education for 30 years,” he said. “Anything we can do that improves a classroom, that makes it better for kids to learn in, I’m all in. And I’m grateful this community has given us the opportunity to do that work.”
As Phase 1 progresses, Garcia said he’s happy to share ongoing updates, including photos, once work is complete later this summer.
“We’d love to do another update in the fall,” he said. “We’re proud of what we’re building, literally and figuratively.”
1.34 Acre irrigated lot. Quiet street with gorgeous views! Minimal covenants and no HOA. Bring your builder or we will help you find one! $250,000.
Jalyn VanConett Broker/Owner
Mesa County District Court, State of Colorado
125 North Spruce Grand Junction, CO 81501
Case No. 2024CV030329
First Financial, LLC Plaintiff, vs.
Jeremy K. McDaniels; Michelle McDaniels; MidFirst Bank; Adrianne Todman in her Official Capacity as the Acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Casa De Pera Homeowners Association; and Sheila Reiner in her Official Capacity as the Public Trustee of Mesa County, Colorado Defendants,
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S):
YOU ARE HEREBY summoned and required to appear and defend against claims of the complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this Court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.
If you fail to file an answer or other response to the complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be entered against you by the court for relief demanded in the complaint without further notice.
This is a judicial foreclosure regarding the following real property:
Lot 11 in Block 1 of Replat of Lot 11, Block One and Lots 1 thru 15, Block Two, Casa De Pera Filing No. One, County of Mesa, State of Colorado. (the “Property”) commonly known and numbered as 451 Pera St., Clifton, CO 81501.
Dated April 29, 2025
Published in The Business Times
First Publication: May 14, 2025
Last Publication: June 11, 2025
Marcello G. Rojas, # 46396
Barrett Frappier & Weisserman 1391 Speer Blvd., Ste. 700 Denver, CO 80204
Phone: (303) 350-3711
Fax (303) 813-1107
Attorney for Plaintiff
Continued from Page 2
Her frustration spilled into a public letter last week, shared across social media, in which she called on the City of Grand Junction and Mesa County to do more than just talk about economic development; they also should act in support of the small businesses already here.
“We are the future of Grand Junction,” the letter reads. “We are its salvation.”
Nowak’s concern isn’t new, and her letter highlighted other businesses that have been affected by broader economics and other city projects.
She wrote, “Over the past year, local businesses have voiced concerns about policies and projects that have inadvertently hurt the downtown economy. From the controversial ‘pilot project’ on 4th and 5th Streets — aimed at calming traffic but resulting in reduced parking and confused drivers — to the quiet closure of longtime establishments like Homestyle Bakery, Sweet Kiwi, and Octopus Coffee, the tension between policy and practicality is growing.
“We’re taxpaying members of the Chamber. We donate to local causes. We employ local people. We use local suppliers. And we support local organizations with donations as much as we can. It feels, however, that the local governments are doing little or even undermining our efforts to drive local economy.”
“When we reached out to the city whether
we would be compensated for the loss of business,
She also raised concern about future plans to turn free parking lots near her location into paid ones — a move that could further deter
She points to Colorado Mesa University as an engine of talent and innovation, but she warns that without meaningful employment opportunities, Grand Junction risks becoming “a stagnant desert ... a city for retirees and an aging local population.”
In her words, “If the city wants to attract national corporations and young professionals, they need to support the businesses that give
Newly elected Grand Junction City Council member Ben VanDyke isn’t just sympathetic to Nowak’s plight, he’s lived it. Before joining the council, VanDyke’s own business, Van’s Car Wash, 305 Ute Ave., was affected by road
“I had to communicate a lot with CDOT to maintain and improve access to my car wash
He also said it really helped when word got out to the community about his plight. Locals went out of their way to make it through the construction to patronize his business.
“I saw the letter, and I’m going down to Be Sweet to see for myself how things are going,” he said.
May is Member Appreciation Month at the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce — a time to shine a welldeserved spotlight on the local businesses that shape our town’s character, support our economy, and create the vibrant community we’re proud to call home.
Our Chamber members are the dreamers, doers, and neighbors who keep Fruita’s small-town charm alive. From custom gear at Designs with Altitude to the bold brews and bites at Reckless Brewing Company, there’s something special around every corner of Downtown Fruita.
Swing by Skip’s Farm to Market for a locally sourced lunch, grab your morning fuel from Best Slope Coffee or Aspen Street Coffee, and don’t forget to spoil your furry friends with a stop at Chow Down Pet Supplies
Need trusted services? Fruita has you covered. Real estate experts like The Christi Reece Group
and Chesnick Realty, home financing support from Town & Country Finance, and coverage options from Marianne Roybal Farmers Insurance and Adam Hoffman Shelter Insurance are all ready to help.
Off Highway 6 & 50, you’ll find Cowboy Mercantile offering western apparel and thoughtful gifts, and Morning Mission Coffee, where a warm welcome always awaits. Cross I-70 for family-friendly fun at Dinosaur Journey or James M. Robb State Park, and cap off your day with dinner at Trailblazer Pizza or Strayhorn Grill.
These are just a few of the 400+ businesses that make up the Fruita Chamber network, stretching across the Grand Valley and Western Slope. You can explore them all at fruitachamber.org
At the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to Advocate, Engage, Collaborate, Lead, and Innovate in support of a stronger business community. This May, we encourage you to do the same — shop local, say thank you, and help us celebrate the businesses that make Fruita feel like home. Because when you belong to a Chamber — and to a community — you’re never in business alone.
The five Intermountain Health Colorado hospitals, which include Grand Junction’s St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, recently received an “A” hospital-safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit patientsafety advocate. The grade recognizes hospitals’ efforts to protect patients and provide safe, high-quality care for the communities they serve. Leapfrog grades hospitals across the country based on more than 30 performance measures such as errors, accidents, injuries and infections, and the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
St. Mary’s Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michele Arnold said those performance measures may be: something as complex as a patient-safety or quality measure, “like a never event or complication that a patient might have” in the hospital; the way its nurses and physicians communicate with patients; or “something as simple as hand hygiene, washing your hands and what we call ‘foam in, foam out’ of our rooms.”
Arnold added, “We actually really excel in our outcomes measures, meaning how we take care of patients. So, for example, the types of things that can happen in a hospital, like complications that happen in and around surgery, we do really well in that space.
“In addition, things like hospitalacquired infections – people have IV lines or catheters in place, and those create routes for infection – and we do really well at preventing those types of infections in our hospital. We also excel at nurse communication and at doctor communication, and we’re really proud of those components, and that helps to drive that ‘A’ score.”
Arnold said St. Mary’s Hospital’s participation in the Leapfrog evaluation is voluntary and is one of many different resources available to the public in order to inform their choice of hospital care.
“Leapfrog itself is not one of those that helps capture market share, per se, or it doesn’t drive hospital reimbursement,” she
added. “It’s something that we choose to participate in because it gives us something to continually strive for to demonstrate the good safety and quality of care that we provide for our patients at St. Mary’s. So, it’d be nice if we got, like, some sort of additional reimbursement for this type of work, but we don’t. It’s just the right thing to do.”
St. Mary’s Hospital was owned by SCL Health until SCL Health merged with Intermountain Health in 2022. Arnold said that transition brought a lot of adjustments and changes, such as policy harmonization, sharing of best practices, additional clinical resources available to St. Mary’s, and changes to its electronic medical record.
“We’ve weathered that change and continue to provide the same ‘Grade A’ care that we provided back when St. Mary’s was SCL, so I think that’s something worth celebrating,” Arnold said.
In addition to St. Mary’s Hospital, Intermountain Health’s Colorado hospitals are Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton and Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver.
“I am extremely proud of the caregivers in each of our Colorado hospitals who are the ones responsible for these tremendous results,” said Jim Sheets, president of Intermountain Health’s Peaks Region, which includes Colorado. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to provide the highquality, safe care that we are recognized for in these ratings.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries, Intermountain Health said in a news release. The program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
Delta County Memorial Hospital also garnered an “A” grade during the spring 2025 evaluation.
Grand Junction’s Community Hospital did not participate in the Leapfrog evaluation.
A full list of hospitals receiving grades from The Leapfrog Group can be viewed at www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
Community Hospital has been recognized as a 2025 Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient by Healthgrades, the No. 1 website Americans use when searching for a doctor or a hospital.
The achievement reflects Community Hospital’s commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience, according to a news release from the hospital. Community Hospital is the only hospital in Mesa County to earn the Outstanding Patient Experience Award in 2025, the news release said.
“This prestigious recognition represents the dedication of our entire staff to provide the highest quality care possible,” said Chris Thomas, president and CEO for Community Hospital. “I am incredibly proud that
Community Hospital is among the top 15 percent in the nation for outstanding patient experience. Being nationally recognized sets us apart as a quality leader in our region and further demonstrates that Community Hospital is an exceptional place to receive high quality health care in our community.”
Each year, Healthgrades recognizes the top hospitals nationwide that provide an exceptional experience for their patients during their hospital stay. As part of its annual analysis, Healthgrades evaluated more than 3,000 hospitals that submitted at least 100 Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys, covering admissions from January 2023 to December 2023.
To determine the recipients of the Outstanding Patient Experience Award, Healthgrades applies a scoring methodology to 10 patient-experience measures. These measures focus on patients’ perceptions of their hospital care, including staff communication, medication explanations and cleanliness. Community Hospital’s
Outstanding Patient Experience Award is the direct result of positive patient feedback in these critical areas.
“We commend Community Hospital for going above and beyond to ensure patients have the best possible experience during their hospital stay and recovery process,” said Debra Gradick, senior physician consultant at Healthgrades. “Better patient experiences lead to better health outcomes, which is why it’s so important for patients to choose a hospital that excels at providing high quality, compassionate care.”
Consumers can visit healthgrades.com to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access the Outstanding Patient Experience Award methodology. A patient-friendly overview of Healthgrades’ complete methodology is also available at healthgrades.com.
To learn more about the comprehensive health care services offered at Community Hospital, visit YourCommunityHospital.com. F
The Fruita Foundation announced the 2025 recipients of its annual scholarship program, which supports local youth pursuing education and training opportunities that contribute to a stronger workforce and community.
This year’s recipients demonstrate passion, integrity and commitment to service, aligning with the foundation’s core values and mission to invest in the future of Fruita.
The 2025 scholarship recipients are:
Hunter Gillilan Trade Industry Scholarship
Gillilan plans to pursue diesel technology, inspired by his passion for mechanics and experience with Fruita FFA’s award-winning Ag Mechanics team. Already balancing school, work and extracurriculars, his career goal is to serve in the mining, agriculture and trucking sectors.
Sadie Ganzer Certification Program Scholarship
Wilke, a dedicated FFA member and livestock show participant, is headed to West Texas A&M to study pre-veterinary medicine. Her goal is to return to Fruita to support local agriculture by becoming a licensed large-animal veterinarian.
Will Stewart
Business Major Scholarship
Stewart plans to pursue a business management degree while continuing to grow his own exterior cleaning company. His entrepreneurial mindset and leadership reflect the innovative spirit of Fruita’s small business community.
Ganzer will attend Colorado Mesa University and pursue a degree in dental hygiene. After job-shadowing in a local office, she discovered her passion for helping others through dental care. Her career will directly address healthcare shortages in Western Colorado.
Kylee Heathco Student Service Scholarship
Heathco completed more than 260 volunteer hours, led mission trips, supported youth programs and spoke on fentanyl prevention to more than 1,500 students. She plans to pursue nursing at Texas Christian University and continue advocating for local youth and mental health awareness.
The Fruita Foundation remains committed to investing in the city’s youth and workforce through scholarships and community programs.
To learn more or contribute to its mission, visit fruitachamber.org/ foundation.
April’s 267 residential real estate sales in Mesa County were down 1 percent compared to April 2024, while active listings were 38 percent higher year over year for April with 609, according to data gathered by Bray & Co. Real Estate.
April’s median price of $400,000 was down 2 percent year over year, while the average of 59 days on the market was 9 days more than April 2024.
Sellers also received an average of 98.5 percent of the list price, compared to 98.8 percent the previous April.
Year-to-date figures through April reflect growth over 2024 numbers. So far in 2025, units sold have increased by 11.3 percent, rising from 778 to 866, while total sales volume has increased 18.8 percent, with a total of $390.7 million compared to $328.8 million in 2024.
The most popular price range for residential sales is $300,000 to $399,000 with 262 sales year to date, followed by 179 sales in the $500,000–$749,000 range, 166 sales in the $400,000–$499,000 range and 132 sales in the $200,000-$299,000 range.
Through April 30, the most popular area to buy is Grand Junction City with 126 sales, followed by North Grand Junction at 122, Southeast Grand Junction at 111, Northeast Grand Junction at 110 and Fruita at 84. Orchard Mesa has 75 sales so far in 2025, while Redlands has 73, Clifton has 68. and Loma/Mack/Northwest/West has 49.
Single-family building permits, including townhome permits, are up 16 percent year-over-year at 213, compared with 184 a year ago.
Months of inventory currently sit at 2.3 months, unchanged from March.
Fruita currently has the most active listings with 79, followed by the Redlands with 74.
Marcus Straub
Business owners and managers frequently ask me, “How do you teach people to think?”
This profound question can lead to substantial improvements in results.
The answer lies in becoming a mentor and an effective communicator, consistently encouraging team members to think independently.
There is a tendency among business owners and managers to provide answers rather than investing time with team members to help them discover solutions. This is often due to the belief that it saves time. While this may be true in the short term, this approach ultimately costs more time in the long run, weakens the business and increases the manager’s responsibilities as the team becomes increasingly reliant on them for solutions.
Thinking involves employing one’s rational mind to evaluate a situation and explore possible actions that will lead to the desired outcome or solution. For a company to operate at the highest levels, team members must be taught that it is acceptable, and continually encouraged, to think through situations rather than relying on others for answers or guessing at a solution.
How can effective communication be utilized to encourage independent thinking?
Begin by creating a safe environment for team members to ask questions. This is achieved through composure, avoiding disappointment, frustration, judgment, condescension, demeaning behavior or anger as you work together toward a viable solution. Establish a constructive learning environment where team members feel safe to expose what they do not know as they work with and learn from you.
It is crucial to understand that individuals who do not feel safe asking questions will often guess what action is best to take or take no action at all. This leads to errors that can ripple throughout business operations. Accounts are not handled effectively, time and resources are wasted, customers become disgruntled, and business suffers. Consequently, more time and resources are spent repairing the error and the relationship with the customer.
Next, encourage team members to approach you with questions rather than guessing the correct course of action. Help them realize the strength in utilizing available resources to create understanding, learning and successful solutions.
A critical component to success is to avoid simply providing correct answers. Instead, take time to work with team members in exploring the situation. Ask open-ended
questions about the situation they are dealing with. This will allow everyone involved to develop greater clarity as you work together toward a solution.
Then, inquire about the possible solutions team members see. Continue asking openended questions to fully draw out their perspective. If their perception of the situation is not accurate, share some clarifying details with them and ask further questions to help them deduce the best possible solution or direct them to information that holds the solution.
Finally, have team members teach you what they have learned. This will indicate whether further work is needed and help them to further ingrain what they have learned.
Over time, you will identify how best to mentor each individual, and team members will learn they can collaborate with you to improve their decision-making abilities. This creates a strong bond between you and your team. Additionally, your team will become more competent, fewer errors will be made, and the company will deliver a far greater experience to customers.
It is important to remember that many individuals have been conditioned to rely on others for answers, instead of learning to think independently, due to a lifetime of experiences where they were told who to be, what to do and how to think.
When this previous conditioning is understood and overcome, individuals can access more of their potential and perform at higher levels.
You have a choice regarding the development of team members: You can either increase their dependency on you for solutions or empower them to seek and find answers independently.
Investing in your team members and their ability to think through situations to successful solutions fundamentally helps them to empower themselves. This enhances their abilities, reduces their dependence on you for answers, strengthens your business from within and improves your company’s performance.
Marcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives filled with happiness and success. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub at (970) 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.
As tourism flourishes and remote work continues to blur the lines between vacation and lifestyle, Grand Junction has emerged as a thriving hotspot for short-term rentals.
The region’s natural beauty, access to outdoor recreation and growing list of events and attractions have helped fuel the surge in demand for vacation rentals. For business owners and real estate investors, this trend presents a timely opportunity, not only to diversify their portfolios, but also to support the local economy.
From mountain biking in the Lunch Loops to wine tasting in Palisade, Grand Junction offers a uniquely Western Colorado experience that draws visitors year-round. Its central location between major national parks and growing reputation as a destination for adventure tourism, arts and culture make it a highly desirable place to stay.
Unlike larger resort towns, Grand Junction offers affordability and accessibility, two key qualities travelers increasingly seek.
Visitors today want more than a hotel room. They want a home base. Short-term rentals provide flexible, comfortable and often more economical lodging options for families, remote workers and event goers. Whether it’s a cozy downtown bungalow or a modern condo near hiking trails, travelers are seeking immersive stays that reflect the character of the community.
For local business owners, investing in or converting property into a short-term rental can provide consistent cash flow and long-term value. Nightly rates in highdemand seasons often exceed traditional monthly rental income. Owners also retain the ability to use the property for personal or family use when not rented.
However, successful vacation rentals require more than just listing a property online. Presentation, cleanliness, responsiveness and compliance with local regulations are critical to attracting positive reviews and repeat bookings. That’s where a professional property-management team becomes invaluable.
Grand Junction, like many communities experiencing rapid growth in vacation rentals, is navigating zoning rules and community concerns.
Partnering with a professional management firm ensures compliance with all city and county regulations, licensing and tax-collection requirements. It also ensures your rental operates responsibly and contributes positively to the neighborhood and tourism economy.
Vacation rentals managed well are not just profitable, they also benefit the broader business ecosystem. Guests frequent local shops, restaurants, outfitters and wineries, injecting dollars directly into the local economy. As a result, business owners who invest in vacation rentals can play a direct role in supporting tourism-driven growth.
The vacation rental market in Grand Junction shows no signs of slowing down. With strong demand,
attractive property values and a steady stream of visitors, local investors have a golden opportunity to capitalize on this trend. Whether you already own a property or are exploring a new investment, working with a trusted property-management partner can help you navigate the market, stay compliant and maximize returns.
Managing a short-term rental is a full-time job. From marketing and guest communication to cleaning schedules and maintenance issues, it takes experience and time to run smoothly.
Bray Property Management offers a dedicated vacation-rental division, known as Braycations, which specializes in helping owners turn their properties into high-performing, guest-ready stays. Braycations handles everything from professional photography and online booking optimization to guest screening, 24/7 support and dynamic pricing strategies that maximize revenue.
By entrusting your investment to a local, established team, you gain peace of mind and a competitive edge in the rapidly expanding short-term rental market.
At Bray Property Management, we’re proud to help Grand Valley property owners transform their homes into exceptional vacation experiences. If you’re ready to explore the possibilities, reach out to our team today and learn how you can make your next investment a vacation-worthy success.
Amy Donegon is director of property management for Bray Property Management in Grand Junction. For more information, call 242-8450 or visit www.brayrentals.com.
Dear Editor,
Councilmember Jason Nguyen’s apology tour is nothing more than empty words, and his time in public service must come to an end. The newly elected Grand Junction City Council must make it clear that divisive ideology and an “us vs. them” mentality have no place in our community. Comments like his are rooted in personal belief. Are we really expected to believe he’s sorry for what he said or just sorry it became public?
We should be advocating for our local small businesses, not rallying against them.
The recent comments attributed to Councilmember Nguyen, as reported by The Business Times and shared in a private Facebook group, are unacceptable for any public official. His call to “make a list” or “retaliation” of businesses that opposed a city project and his suggestion of a boycott amount to economic retaliation. This wasn’t a misstatement or a misunderstood remark; it was deliberate, divisive and dangerous. Even if we accept that Nguyen spoke out of emotion, we must ask ourselves: Do we want someone shaping policy in Grand Junction who cannot manage their emotions, or someone who can engage with the community as a responsible, mature adult?
This kind of rhetoric erodes public trust and undermines the principles of open, inclusive governance. Councilmember Nguyen may claim the comment was made in a private capacity, with 900 members I might add, but elected officials don’t get to choose when they represent the public. His words carry the weight of his office, and using that platform to punish dissent is a clear abuse of that responsibility
As someone who serves on multiple boards and committees in this community, I know firsthand that respectful civic dialogue and economic fairness are the cornerstones of effective public service. Councilmember Nguyen’s actions fall far short of that standard and risk turning legitimate civic discourse into harmful political division.
Public office is a duty to represent all citizens – not just those who share your views. Encouraging boycotts against local businesses for expressing their opinions sends a chilling message and undermines the very foundation of democracy.
This isn’t personal. It’s about having the right leadership in Grand Junction. Nguyen may not be a bad person, but his words revealed beliefs that don’t align with the responsibilities of his office. His vague apology doesn’t repair the damage or rebuild trust.
For the health of our community and the integrity of our city government, Councilmember Nguyen must resign.
– Shannon Secrest, Grand Junction
Your editorial here of May 13 seems to be as petty as you say the actions of Councilman Nguyen were, regarding his calling on Facebook for a possible business boycott against downtown business owners who spoke out publicly against 4th and 5th Streets changes.
You are as vengeful as you claim Councilman Nguyen was (it’s not “Jason,” which is disrespectful to his office). I think we all need to take it down a notch and realize that we have a point of disagreement on how to keep our streets safe, but that does not mean that we should become enemies.
In the context of massive federal government corruption and authoritarianism, one G.J. city official on Facebook calling for a boycott Is insignificant. He has apologized, and I believe he is sincere. I am very familiar with his demeanor as an elected leader, and I am confident that he means no ill will to any business in Grand Junction, nor do I and other Grand Valley Streets Alliance members.
I would ask downtown businesses to carefully consider the accuracy and sincerity of their public speech whenever an issue like this comes up again. The scapegoating of a minor street project in downtown Grand Junction brought forth an amazing opposition that I think was contrived and exaggerated by political opportunists such as Cody Kennedy and Ben Van Dyke.
I shop at many local businesses in downtown and value their products and services in a beautiful setting, and what I am really interested in is moving forward and forgetting this divisive issue and working together to keep downtown Grand Junction a sparkling, vibrant place.
– Jack Byrom, Grand Junction, member of Grand Valley Streets Alliance (speaking for myself only)
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Partly so the citizens of Grand Junction and Mesa County don’t have to “regret” Jason Nguyen fulfilling a full term of him ramming his personal agenda down our throats. But more importantly, Councilman Jason wants to be able to do his dirty work as Just Jason in the shadows.
Hall
Because Councilman Jason is now doing the typical, politician thing with his “apology” tour in the “daily” paper, via email and online. And Councilman Jason’s barnstorming is taken right from the Tina Peters School of “Sure I did it, but I’m untouchable because I was elected” role of I’m more important than the people or my job.
But Just Jason piles on with no remorse, using “regret” (in how he got caught) while not realizing he obliterated the public’s trust in anything he’s done, is doing or will do as Councilman Jason.
It’s like we have our own Batman villain in River City. I guess we citizens now flip a coin as to which Jason we’re getting.
Once again, in his own words, we see how out of touch another direct ditty from Just Jason is on a thread from Facebook discussing The Business Times’ op-ed on his calling for a boycott on businesses (citizens) which oppose his Commuting Manifesto:
“Hi all--Just wanted to talk about my comments being referenced here. While this comment was made I was functioning as a private citizen in a private group, it unfortunately also furthers an “us vs. them” mentality which cheapens the discourse. We all want the same thing – a thriving, vibrant downtown. We may have disagreement about how we get there, but I know we get further when we work collaboratively. I regret my comment as it didn’t help further that collaborative vision or the discourse, and I will do better in the future. I am truly sorry. — Jason”
Well, there you have it. Just Jason didn’t mean what he said. After all, regular people like Just Jason call for boycotts in private Facebook groups (with more than 900 members) every day against folks who disagree with them. The elected Jason who sits on City Council would never do that. Odd how he thinks saying things privately doesn’t remove meaning from what he says publicly.
To begin, Councilman Jason, you forfeited the right to speak privately, or as Just Jason, on anything City of Grand Junction-related the moment you got elected. But I would bet you’ve spoken under the authority of being an elected City Council member on myriad occasions. As much as you wish him to, Just Jason in those instances doesn’t exist.
Next, a current Daily Sentinel poll shows more than 90 percent of the people say they are against the Fourth and Fifth Street experiment. A good percentage of those folks also said they wanted more engagement before the City Council makes these kinds of decisions.
Not seeing this “collaboration” you speak of. And please note, the word “us” is very important in Just Jason’s “us vs. them” reference as a couple of “us” (or is it “them”?) still sit on City Council.
Finally, is Just Jason saying he really, really – like really – means what he says as a member of City Council, but he doesn’t mean what he says when acting as a private citizen? Any clearthinking individual who understands politics and politicians knows the opposite is true. That’s why politicians have “private,” Joe Biden-like moments. It’s where THE truth comes out.
But none of that is stopping Just Jason from going on some Vlog called “Better Together” or having his so-called “private group” members write and call me petty and vengeful about a guy who’s a member of a secret society which thrives on, apparently, being petty and vengeful.
Normally, I wouldn’t give anyone who doesn’t understand the difference between an op-ed and column the time of day, especially one claiming to be an educator. But I don’t have to listen to the podcast with “jolly ol’ Saint Nick” to understand it’s another opportunity for Just Jason to repeat what The Daily Sentinel printed above the fold for his apology tour. I mean, after this is Just Jason going to say what he really means ever again?
As for the emails from Just Jason’s secret society, please note in this column I have given Just Jason a title as requested. I say this as a business which I am sure heads your boycott list. But I’d be remiss to not post this quote from one of your diatribes:
“I would ask downtown businesses to carefully consider the accuracy and sincerity of their public speech whenever an issue like this comes up again. The scapegoating of a minor street project in downtown Grand Junction brought forth an amazing opposition that I think was contrived and exaggerated by political opportunists such as Cody Kennedy and Ben Van Dyke.”
Sounds like an out-of-touch threat to me. Just Jason, this proves your words were indeed “us vs. them.” And we now know about 900 more of “them” (or is it “us”?) are against “us.”
My friend, District 51 School Board President Andrea Haitz, wrote a thoughtful, measured letter to the “daily,” requesting Just Jason be censured by the City Council. I couldn’t agree more with this action – if the censure comes right before a vote to remove him. Make him Just Jason. The role he apparently relishes more.
In Christ and Freedom.
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
“The future’s not ours to see, que sera, sera,” is a lyric from a song by Doris Day. While the future may be unknown, there are definitely knowns in life. For students happily tossing their mortar boards in the air following graduation from high school or college, one known will be the need to find gainful employment, otherwise known as work. This group of recent graduates is referred to as belonging to Gen Z, which is defined by the Oxford dictionary as people born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s or between the ages of 18 and 28. These students grew up during the age of computers and social media.
Fewer teenagers today have actual work experience or have had a chance to develop a genuine work ethic as a daily habit.
Jeffrey Tucker wrote in “America and the Spirit of Work,” published in the April Epoch Times, “Since 1936, there have been severe legal restrictions on teenage work, such as teenagers cannot have a full-time job until they are 18.”
He noted that often work is treated as regrettable, resulting in “this crazy mentality of lazy entitlement that has seized so many.”
Work is defined as physical or intellectual effort to produce a desired outcome. From “The Happiness Blog” on July 12, 2021, author AMARVANI posited that “work is the most important thing about our lives.” His reasoning was that family is important, but one cannot raise a family if it were not for the work that they do.
Stephen Hawking, an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author who revolutionized scientific thought about the universe, said, “Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it.”
A quick search of the Internet reveals the benefits of work: a sense of purpose; a source of self-respect; confidence in our abilities; financial security; personal identity; and a productive way of life.
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion website summarizes data, saying, “Those who are unemployed report feelings of depressions, anxiety, low selfesteem, demoralization, worry and physical pain.”
Unemployed individuals tend to suffer more from stress-related illnesses. Securing employment is important for the graduates, yet are they ready to work?
Mary Prenon, writing in the Epoch Times on March 25, answers the question with a resounding, “NO,” as she summarizes in “New Survey Shows Many Gen Z Candidates Not Prepared for Workforce.”
She said that in a recent survey of 765 human resources managers across the U.S., Resume.Org found that some Gen Z candidates arrived for the interview late and inappropriately dressed, were unprepared, lacked professionalism, used their cell phone to text or answer calls and acted disinterested.
Resume.Org surveyed hiring managers who had interviewed at least three Gen Z applicants in the past year, and it related the following: “More than half of survey respondents (51 percent) indicated that Gen Z candidates had exhibited poor communication skills, 47 percent said they were dressed too casually, 23 percent said the candidates had inflated their qualifications or used artificial intelligence in their applications, and 44 percent said they showed a sense of entitlement.”
Irina Pichura, founder of Resumeology and a career coach working with Fortune 500 companies, said, “Growing up in an era of texting and social media, some come off as too casual.”
Younger people seem to not know how to dress appropriately or how to communicate face to face. Pichura went on to say, “I’ve also heard stories of those Gen Z applicants who were hired just disappearing from the job if they didn’t like it, without even telling anyone.”
The Intelligent.com website reports the summary findings of an August 2024 survey of 966 business leaders involved in hiring decisions at their company. The survey found that 75 percent of companies reported a significant number of the recent college graduates they hired in 2024 were unsatisfactory. The most frequently cited reasons why these hires did not work out were a lack of motivation or initiative, poor communication skills and a lack of professionalism.
A disconnect appears to exist between academic preparation and preparation for success in the workplace. The cited surveys indicate a failure to prepare the graduates in interviewing skills, workplace etiquette or work ethic.
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, said, “Your work will fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.”
The future may not be ours to see, but work is a known. Embrace it.
F
Phyllis Hunsinger is founder of the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise Foundation in Grand Junction. A former teacher, principal and superintendent, Hunsinger wrote “Down and Dirty: A ‘How To’ Math Book.” Reach Hunsinger by email at phyllis@free-dom.us.com. For more information about the FREE Foundation, log on to www.free-dom.us.com.
Colorado West Performing Arts Company announced it changed its name to Colorado West Ballet, marking a new chapter in its mission to bring professional ballet to Western Colorado.
Founded in 2022, the nonprofit organization has grown into a regional leader in the performing arts. In three seasons it has welcomed professional dancers from around the world, invested nearly $475,000 annually into the local economy and provided outreach performances for hundreds of students across the Western Slope, it said in a news release.
“This name change is about clarity and commitment,” said Theresa Kahl, Colorado West Ballet’s executive and artistic director. “We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we want our name to reflect who we are: a professional ballet company rooted in Grand Junction and dedicated to serving our broader community through the art of dance.”
The organization will continue its full schedule of performances, education programs and regional partnerships under the new name. The rebranding effort underscores its long-term vision to make ballet accessible, relevant and sustainable in rural communities.
The Grand Junction Lions Club will honor eight student athletes on May 20 during its 15th Annual Grand Valley Student Athlete Award Ceremony. The event will take place at noon at Warehouse 25Sixty-five, 2565 American Way in Grand Junction.
The Grand Junction Lions Club will recognize the student athletes for their outstanding achievements both on the field and in the classroom. Award recipients were selected by the faculty, coaches and administrators from Central, Grand Junction, Fruita Monument and Palisade high schools.
Each award recipient is presented a certificate, and each selects a local not-forprofit organization that the Grand Junction Lions Club has committed to making a $250 donation on the recipient’s behalf.
The award recipients, along with the not-for-profit organization each selected, are:
• Central High School: Sophie Litzen, Challenger Baseball; and Dom Colosimo, Western Slope Center for Children.
• Fruita Monument High School: Angelina Fortunato, Special Olympics Western Region; and Tatum Williams, Pig-a-sus Homestead.
• Grand Junction High School: Abigail Sophia Kearl, Catholic Outreach; and Will Applegate, Challenger Baseball GJ.
• Palisade High School: Braeleigh MacAskill, Enjoy Church; and Kaleb Reed, Happy Little Rescue.
Colorado National Monument Association announced the launch of its inaugural Community Artist in Park program, made possible through a grant from the City of Grand Junction’s Commission on Arts and Culture.
The initiative invites local creatives to interpret the awe-inspiring beauty of Colorado National Monument through their chosen artistic mediums. The Community Artist in Park program welcomes painters, musicians, dancers, sculptors, writers and other creatives to share their talents while engaging directly with park visitors.
Applications are now open for Mesa County residents who work in portable, visitorfriendly mediums. Artists must be able to commit to 12 hours of visitor engagement each month from July through November, primarily in front-country areas of the park, and must also host at least one public event in the City of Grand Junction. Additional responsibilities include participation in CNMA training, providing a detailed work schedule and collaborating with CNMA staff to produce art for sale at the CNMA bookstore.
To apply or learn more about becoming Colorado National Monument’s first Community Artist in Park, visit www.coloradonma.org. Application deadline is June 12, with programming expected to start in July.
CASA of Mesa County honored Steve and Terri Driscoll as the May 2025 CASA Champions, honoring their dedication to making a difference in the lives of children in foster care.
After moving to Mesa County from the Front Range three years ago, the Driscolls were sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocates in December 2024 and have been working together on their first case since January.
“We recently retired and were looking for ways to have some fun and do some good,” Steve said. “Being a CASA has turned out to be both.”
He added, “I’m amazed at the resiliency of these kids… despite what they’ve been through. And I give a lot of credit to the foster families. They are incredible people who really go above and beyond.”
The Driscolls say one of the most meaningful parts of their CASA journey is doing it together. “It’s a great opportunity to serve,” said Terri. “If you are able to do it with your spouse or a friend, it is great to be able to share that together. I would really recommend it.”
CASA of Mesa County encourages community members to consider volunteering together, especially for those who may feel uncertain about taking on a case alone. Partnering with a spouse or friend can provide added support and a shared perspective when advocating for a child’s best interests.
“The training is excellent and really prepared us to do this work,” Steve said. “The ongoing training is also helpful. We’ve learned about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, trauma and domestic violence, things that are critical to understanding the needs of the children we serve.”
CASA of Mesa County hopes the Driscolls’ story inspires others to take the first step toward becoming a child’s voice in court. To learn more about volunteering with CASA, visit www.casamc.org.
