inter finally arrived on Grand Mesa in the first week of December after a slow and unusually warm November, bringing the total to nearly 20 inches of snow and allowing Powderhorn Mountain Resort to officially open the 2025-26 season on Dec. 5.
The same storm created enough coverage for Grand Mesa Lodge to begin booking snowmobile tours, triggering the first major wave of winter activity on the flat-top mountain and giving a needed boost to businesses that depend heavily on early-season momentum.
Forecasters had been calling for a gradual shift toward colder temperatures, but the mesa remained bare through most of late fall, leaving visitors unsure when winter recreation would begin. The latest storm changed the outlook quickly and helped restore confidence among skiers, snowmobilers and out-oftown guests now watching conditions closely.
Early-season conditions still developing Grand Mesa Lodge owner Spencer Christensen said snow depth at the lodge on Dec. 4 measured “just a little under 20 inches, about 18 or so inches,” which places Grand Mesa behind typical early-December levels.
See story Page 5
CanvaScape Comeback
CanvaScape left Mesa Mall in August 2024 and reopened a little more than a year later in downtown Grand Junction, 455 Main St. The store specializes in custom canvas prints, and it prints photos onto metal and stone as well.
CanvaScape also sells a wide variety of pre-made prints that are displayed in the showroom, such as these wildlife prints. Photo by Tim Harty.
Print it in stone (or canvas, or metal)
CanvaScape specializes in custom canvas prints, but don’t overlook the stone prints
Tim Harty The Business Times
Ray Kinnick knows from experience that people rarely understand what he means when he says his business, CanvaScape, prints people’s personal photos on stone.
“No one really knows what you’re talking about,” said Kinnick, who also prints photos on canvas and metal.
So, he advises customers to come to his store and actually see photos printed on stone. Then, the comprehension commences.
“When they see it and they feel it, everyone falls in love with those,” he said, adding prints on stone make great gifts.
They’re also wonderful for memorializing loved ones, and the permanence of the stone hits home with people when customers see the finished product. Kinnick has seen it firsthand.
“People get emotional here when they see it,” he said.
Kinnick is able to witness those moments again because CanvaScape is open again, now in a new location – 455 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction –after about a 15-month hiatus.
It’s Kinnick’s third try at making CanvaScape fly, but he thinks Main Street solves the primary issue that cut his previous two attempts short.
He said he first opened CanvaScape in the Pueblo Mall, but after six months he was told JD Sports is coming to Pueblo Mall and will take his space.
That led to Kinnick moving to Grand Junction, where he said he had resided for 15 years before he went to Pueblo.
Kinnick then opened CanvaScape in Mesa Mall in August 2023, but he had a specialty lease, which is for one year, and about halfway into that term he said Mesa Mall let him know a new tenant will be taking his spot when his lease is up.
That tenant? JD Sports again.
Kinnick said Mesa Mall offered him a different commercial unit, but he wasn’t interested. When his lease expired in Aug. 2024, he moved out.
This spring – Kinnick thinks it was May – he signed a lease for the store at 455 Main St.
Then, he needed to renovate.
“It took me a few months to get this built out,” he said. “There was a lot that had to get done in here. We wanted to give it a new look with better displays and
stuff, so it took quite a bit to get it ready.”
Kinnick also had some issues with inventory that delayed opening the store, but he finally opened the doors to the public in late October.
What customers need to know about CanvaScape is they can bring Kinnick their photos, “and I turn them into custom canvas prints. I can print into any size, really, that people are looking for.
“People can bring me stuff even just directly from their phones. So, if you have a cool picture or something you’ve taken on your phone, you just bring it in.”
What Kinnick does from there, he said, is what separates him from many similar businesses.
“I’m really, really good at cleaning images up that are lower resolution and making sure that everything that leaves here is high quality,” he said. “I personally will not let anything leave this shop if it doesn’t look good.
“And I make a point to let people know if they’re trying to give me something that I know is going to turn out bad, I let them know we may want to find an alternate picture, encourage them to do something else. I take a personal stake at making sure that everything in here looks really nice. And you can see it, all of this stuff that I do here, I have really high-end equipment to make sure that it all turns out really good.”
In addition to the custom prints, CanvaScape does retail sales.
The showroom floor is stocked with a large variety of pre-made art on canvas and metal in various sizes. Wildlife and landscapes are popular.
“There’s so many different types of people out there with different tastes, so I’m trying to do everything I can to get as many different categories for whatever people are looking for,” Kinnick said.
He was able to open CanvaScape in time for the Christmas shopping season, which is a good time to be open. But he thinks his store would have benefitted from gaining familiarity by being open a few months earlier, and he admits he’s a little leery about how willing people will be to spend this holiday season.
Still, as an owner of other retail businesses over the years – Kinnick had High Tides Wireless in Grand Junction for 15 years, still operates High Tides Wireless in Pueblo Mall and ran a few other mall businesses – he knows what December traditionally means for retailers.
See CanvaScape on Page 11
City sending $185K in leftover funds to HomewardBound
Nonprofit aims to keep Pathways and North Avenue shelters open through February
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
The City of Grand Junction signaled it will release roughly $185,000 in previously allocated but unspent funds to help HomewardBound of the Grand Valley maintain shelter operations through the coldest months of the year.
Meanwhile, Mesa County expects to contribute $30,000, bringing the combined public support to $215,000.
Grand Junction City Manager Mike Bennett told the city council the money includes about $70,000 left from Navigation Center allocations and roughly $115,000 from Resource Center funding that HomewardBound never used after operations scaled down this fall.
Some of the reimbursementbased dollars were returned to the city after documentation requirements were not met, leading Council member Ben Van Dyke to point out that “money was already given back, because there were no receipts.”
The Pathways Village on 29 Road is where HomewardBound of the Grand Valley plans to consolidate its shelter operations when it closes its North Avenue shelter after Feb. 27, 2026. Pathways Village will have expanded case management, stricter entry standards and structured time limits for shelter stays.
Leuallen.
Why city had money available
The unspent dollars the city is now reallocating originated from agreements tied to HomewardBound’s Resource Center and Navigation Center operations earlier in 2024.
Under the amended agreement, the city reimbursed HomewardBound only after the organization submitted documentation showing how the money had been used. This structure required HomewardBound to file regular reports detailing eligible expenses before any funds were released.
Van Dyke pointed out during the meeting that in some cases the organization returned funds to the city when required documentation could not be provided. In addition to the returned reimbursements, the navigation center closed prematurely, and Homeward Bound also did not request some of the remaining funds that had been set aside for these two programs.
As a result, the city retained about $185,000 in allocated but unused money, which council signaled it will approve to be redirected to support winter shelter operations.
HomewardBound prioritizing Pathways
Interim HomewardBound Executive Director Dan Prinster outlined the nonprofit organization’s immediate financial outlook, saying HomewardBound still needs about $300,000 to operate both the Pathways family shelter and the North Avenue shelter for individuals through February. Current run rates put Pathways at $80,000 per month and the North Avenue shelter at $60,000 per month.
Prinster emphasized the organization must focus on Pathways first.
“We are fundraising the pathways shelter first, and then whatever is left over goes to North Avenue,” he said. He added the organization still needs about $40,000 to finish out December at Pathways.
HomewardBound has adopted a two-track fundraising system. Some donors, including a coalition of pastors, are contributing exclusively to North Avenue, while the nonprofit separately pursues grants and private support targeted toward Pathways.
“There are already people who say all they want to do is raise money for North Avenue. We are also going to be approaching donors to fund specifically for Pathways,” Prinster said.
North Avenue shelter closing Feb. 28
Prinster reiterated HomewardBound’s plan to consolidate operations and eventually sell the North Avenue property after Feb. 27. He said the building is tied to an older line of credit and a state covenant, but he recommended using proceeds from a sale to pay down debt and set aside capital reserves for Pathways.
“My recommendation is that they sell the property and set aside funds, because it is going to require some capital improvements,” he told council.
Prinster also apologized for earlier inconsistencies in operational-cost estimates,
noting the organization has been undergoing major restructuring since he stepped into his role Sept. 23.
Stricter entry, time limits, case management
Prinster told the council that HomewardBound is tightening its barriers to entry, and some individuals will no longer qualify under the updated criteria. He said these changes are necessary to maintain safety, manage limited staff capacity and focus resources on people who can participate in case management.
As part of the organization’s restructuring, Prinster recommended establishing a clearer time limit for shelter stays, saying Pathways is considering a target of about 90 days with defined expectations at intervals such as Day 3, Day 10 and Day 30. He added the organization plans to increase case management, so staff can do more to help people transition into housing more quickly.
Prinster also noted the community does not have enough transitional-housing options to meet demand. He told council, “We have to acknowledge that there is potentially a gap at the end of that,” and some individuals may return to homelessness if no placement is available when their stay ends.
Prinster said these realities make it essential to pair new time limits with stronger case management and more direct support, so clients can progress toward stability and move out of the shelter system sooner.
During the workshop, Prinster described two distinct groups of people using the shelter system. Some individuals stay for only a few days and return periodically, contributing to an artificially low average length of stay in the data. Others remain for extended periods, with presentation charts showing large numbers staying three to six months and even six months to a year.
Prinster said understanding these patterns is part of why the organization is pursuing stricter entry expectations, clearer timelines and expanded case management aimed at helping long-term shelter residents move into housing faster.
Also, at the Nov. 19 regular City Council meeting, Mayor Cody Kennedy said the partial shelter closure earlier in the fall led to a number of individuals securing housing, based on information he received from HomewardBound’s chief operating officer.
Matching grants and immediate funding
Council member Anna Stout encouraged the city to consider a matching-grant structure to draw in other jurisdictions.
“To the extent that the city can be a leader in getting other jurisdictions to pony up, that might be a good use of our funding,” she said.
Council members Van Dyke, Scott Beilfuss and Laurel Cole expressed favoring a straightforward disbursement to avoid leaving HomewardBound uncertain about future funding.
“I would feel more comfortable just saying this would be the amount we are going to give and encouraging our community to help support,” Cole said.
Kennedy pressed for a clear understanding of how far the combined initial $215,000 would stretch. After working through the numbers, Kennedy noted the remaining need appeared to be in the range of $40,000 to $65,000 to fully fund both shelters through February.
“We are getting close to that,” he said.
Council signals support for releasing funds
By the end of the discussion, Kennedy asked whether council is comfortable releasing the $185,000 in unspent city funds. No objections were raised.
Stout clarified she does not consider the city’s responsibility finished, and it “still has an appetite for more funding” as longer-term shelter plans begin to take shape.
Bennett closed the meeting by noting the next step will be coordinating with Mesa County leaders to explore a valley-wide approach to shelter operations and funding.
Photo by Brandon
Fresh snow the Dec. multiple Mesa. Photo
Powderhorn opens for season; snowmobile tours begin at Grand Mesa Lodge
Continued from Page 1
“For December 4, we are definitely behind where we normally are,” he said. “I think that normally at this time we would have about 20 or 30 percent more snow on the ground.”
Christensen cautioned readers not to assume a slow start means a weak winter.
“All winters are different,” he said. “Sometimes you get a huge storm early, and then January and February are low snowfall. Sometimes the winter starts slow, and January is huge. Sometimes March and April end up being heavy years.”
Christensen said the inconsistent start affects customer behavior more than the actual conditions.
“When the season starts slow, people wait,” he said. “They look at the snow reports and say, ‘I will book later.’ As soon as a big storm hits, the phones go off the hook.”
A storm, a viral post and instant bookings
Grand Mesa Lodge has become one of the region’s most watched sources for realtime winter updates. Its Facebook page, which has roughly 40,000 followers and
an annual reach of 4 million to 6 million views, plays a major role in how quickly bookings rise after a storm.
“When I post after a storm, it goes viral,” the owner said. “Hundreds of thousands of people see it. Our phones ring, not just from locals, but from out of state visitors, too.”
Winter updates, especially photos showing snow depth and trail conditions, remain the most popular content the lodge produces. Many followers check the page particularly because Grand Mesa weather can differ dramatically from conditions in the Grand Valley.
Powderhorn’s opening in context
Powderhorn’s Dec. 5 opening fits well within the resort’s historical range, which has shifted somewhat over the past decade, depending on storms, temperatures and snow-making capacity.
In stronger snow years, Powderhorn has opened as early as Dec. 3, including in 2020 when cold weather and early storms created excellent early-season coverage.
See SNOW on Page 13
Fresh snow covers the entrance at Powderhorn Mountain Resort the day before the Dec. 5 opening of the 2025-26 ski season. Powderhorn’s opening followed multiple storms that brought much needed early-winter snowfall to the Grand Mesa. Photo courtesy of Grand Mesa Lodge Photos Facebook page.
Nailing it at the mall
LO Nails is getting the foot traffic it sought and serving customers who appreciate its Englishand Spanish-speaking nail techs
Tim Harty The Business Times
Liz Ochoa’s goal when she started working as a nail technician was to own her own nail salon inside Mesa Mall.
Little by little she worked toward it, starting with learning on her own how to do nails.
Then, seven years ago, she was able to go to school for it.
“As soon as I was a professional, I was a solo,” she said, referring to her days of renting booths and being the lone nail technician.
She said she “booth-rented” for a couple years, then got her own studio at Sola Salon Studios in Mesa Mall, where she worked solo for another two years.
“And then eventually, after probably four years of being on my own, I decided to grow and have more girls and make it bigger,” Ochoa said.
That’s when she opened LO Nails at 304 North Ave., Unit 2B. Another couple years later, her own nail salon inside Mesa Mall became a reality.
AT&T left its unit near Target, and
Ochoa made sure it didn’t sit empty for long.
“I was at a point in my life where I was able to do it, and then my lease was up at the other place, and so it all worked out,” she said.
LO Nails was closed for two months while Ochoa renovated the space to accommodate seven nail stations and seven pedicure stations. LO Nails opened in its shiny new home Oct. 10.
Ochoa takes pride in the fact her nail salon is locally owned, female-owned and Hispanic-owned.
“I might be mistaken, but I think it’s the only or the first Latina-owned, Hispanic-owned nail salon in town,” she said.
In many ways, the business remains the same, offering the same services, but it’s in a more spacious unit that Ochoa said “just feels more open.”
The major difference, Ochoa said, is it’s “just a better location, better setup. … Everything is brand new here. It’s just better for us.”
She added the clients really like it, and there are “a lot of new clients.”
See LO Nails on Page 9
Nail technician Bianca Romero, is shown working Nov. 20 at one of the seven nails stations at LO Nails, which also has seven pedicure stations. Romero is one of four nail technicians at LO Nails, which plans to double its number of technicians soon. Photo by Tim Harty.
mall Colorado PUC looks to eliminate gas heating and English-
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
Colorado is moving toward one of its most sweeping energy transitions as the Public Utilities Commission finalizes new greenhouse gas mandates that would significantly reduce natural gas use in homes and businesses. The mandates set the state on a path toward eventual elimination of natural gas usage.
About 70 percent of Colorado households currently rely on natural gas as the primary heating source, which means the transition will affect the majority of residents.
The PUC adopted a requirement that by 2035 gas utilities must cut emissions for home heating by 41 percent compared to 2015 levels, building on the state’s 2021 Clean Heat Law that mandated a 22 percent reduction by 2030.
Although the commission did not set a formal 2050 target, its decision states Colorado’s broader climate law implies a 100 percent greenhouse-gas-reduction goal for gas utilities to heat homes by mid-century. It signals a long-term phaseout of natural gas heating and movement toward full electrification.
As the plan moves forward, concerns about climate, cost impacts and grid reliability during Colorado’s harsh winters continue to shape the debate.
Environmental groups praise decision
In its article “Colorado regulators set new greenhouse gas reduction targets for utilities,” The Colorado Sun reported Sierra Club organizer Sarah Tresseder said, “We are excited to see Colorado continue committing to some of the strongest gas utility decarbonization goals in the nation.”
The same Colorado Sun article quoted Sierra Club attorney Jim Dennison, who described the ruling as “a significant step forward in decarbonizing Colorado’s gas utilities,” even though the organization had supported deeper cuts.
In a separate interview with Denver7 for the story “Colorado PUC sets new interim goals for greenhouse gas emissions from utilities,” Tresseder added, “We pushed them on this, and we are really happy with
the 41 percent, because it keeps us moving.”
Electrification at center of policy Utilities will now file updated Clean Heat Plans that sow how they will cut emissions using approved strategies to incrementally make the change.
In its article “Xcel’s 440 million dollar plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions gets Colorado’s OK, but it could boost utility bills again,” The Colorado Sun reported that one example of how utilities could reduce emissions under the Clean Heat framework is to electrify buildings instead of replacing aging natural gas lines.
Concerns about grid reliability, costs
Xcel’s 2024 Clean Heat Plan included more than $440 million in planned investments and estimated that meeting the 2030 target would raise natural gas bills by about 7 percent and electricity bills by roughly 1.1 percent between 2024 and 2028 (source: Colorado Sun, June 12, 2024).
The Independence Institute warned the PUC in its comments about the goals and said the commission should reject or revise the proposal, adding, “Independent-modeling projects indicate that Governor Jared Polis’s plan for full residential heat electrification and a 100 percent renewable grid would cost up to $620.7 billion by 2050, require 12 times today’s capacity, and still result in winter blackouts.”
The comment concluded, “Colorado’s clean energy transition must be built on policies that are lawful, durable and financially sustainable, not aspirational mandates divorced from economic realities and operational constraints.”
Debate Over the Target
The 41 percent emissions target was not universally supported.
In its coverage of the decision, The Colorado Sun reported the Colorado Energy Office and the Air Pollution Control Division recommended a 30 percent reduction because of feasibility and cost concerns.
Environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, by contrast urged the commission to adopt deeper cuts of up to 55 percent. The commission ultimately selected a figure between the two positions.
Mesa County Public Health director Crockett leaving; Minnerath chosen as interim director
Xavier Crockett will step down as executive director of Mesa County Public Health on Dec. 31 due to personal matters, the department announced in a Dec. 2 news release.
The Mesa County Public Health board voted during its regular meeting on Dec. 2 to make Erin Minnerath the interim executive director, effective Jan. 1, and appointed Crockett as a temporary special advisor for the first half of 2026.
“I would like to thank Xavier for what he has done at Mesa County Public Health,” said Marguerite Tuthill, Mesa County Public Health board chair. “We are grateful for his leadership over the past two years. He built a strong, dedicated team that will continue the vital work of protecting and improving the health of our community.”
According to the news release, Crockett:
• Led transformative change that strengthened the organization during his tenure.
• Restructured the agency, leading to more efficient operations and more opportunities for leadership development.
• Built a culture where teams are empowered to lead and innovate.
• Provided steady, decisive leadership during critical public health responses, including the E. coli and measles outbreaks, ensuring timely action and clear coordination.
• Was involved with the Intermountain St. Mary’s Hospital board of directors and Grand Valley Catholic Outreach.
• Brought diverse stakeholders together for the Behavioral Health Community Planning Summit.
• Helped guide the development and publication of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), aligning the community around shared priorities.
• Positioned Mesa County Public Health to meet emerging community needs with greater collaboration, adaptability and impact.
Minnerath has been the deputy director at Mesa County Public Health since April 2024, leading the Health Protection Division and supervising the Health Promotion and Behavioral Health divisions.
“We are confident that operations will continue without interruption,” Tuthill said. “We appreciate Xavier stepping into an advisory role to support continuity, and we know Erin’s proven leadership and problem-solving experience position her well to guide the agency through this transition.”
Fruita City Council adopts 2026 City of Fruita Budget
The Fruita City Council adopted the City of Fruita 2026 municipal budget of $28.2 million on Dec. 2 following a public hearing. The plan includes $27.1 million in projected revenues and $28.2 million in expenditures, and it continues to maintain healthy reserves, the City of Fruita said in a news release. According to the news release, the 2026 budget:
• Aligns with the Fruita Strategic Plan and invests in transportation safety, livability and core-service delivery.
• Increased funding for sidewalk repairs, traffic calming, overlays, bike lanes, striping and chip-seal work that will strengthen pedestrian and roadway safety.
• Supports engineering for two future bridges and continued enhancements to public art and alley improvements.
• Continues work on the 40-acre Fruita Launch redevelopment, a public/private partnership with 2Forks Venture that will transform the former sewer-lagoon property into a mixed-use development with open space, river access and commercial amenities.
• Funds strategic planning for economic development along with continued progress on workforce housing efforts, including the Oaks Development (62 units).
The news release said core-service delivery remains a priority with:
• A design to renovate Little Salt Wash Park.
• Improvements to Fruita Community Center.
• Replacement of downtown sewer lines.
• A redundant UV system at the Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
The Little Salt Wash design work will begin in early 2026 to refine plans for new parking, access, pickleball courts, a multi-purpose field, trails, pavilions and a community garden.
The budget also supports the administration of the April 7 municipal election, during which voters will choose a mayor and four city council members. Mail ballots will be sent in mid-March.
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LO Nails owner Liz Ochoa relocated her nail salon to Mesa Mall and opened there Oct. 10. She said the foot traffic in the Target wing of the mall is bringing in many new customers. Photo by Tim Harty.
worth it.
“We get the foot traffic we have been needing,” she said. “At the other place, it worked, but it was so hidden, and my girls are so talented, we needed to be seen, and this is perfect.”
Ochoa said in addition to manicures and pedicures, LO Nails does a lot of nail art.
“We try to keep up with trends, so we do a lot of fun designs,” she said. “We specialize in Gel-X, which is a newer system. … We do a lot of that here. It’s like a healthier system for your nails. ... It’s not as aggressive as acrylic.
“But we do it all. We do acrylics, we do builder gel, Gel-X. We did add some new pedicures to our menu. They’re like
something new for this town. I think most salons in town don’t offer that, and we do, and that makes us a little different.”
She said customers have expressed their delight about being able to communicate with her nail technicians, who are part of a staff of four, including Ochoa, and she plans to hire four more.
“What we’ve seen here is that they love that they can really express what they want, and we try our best to do that. They really like that,” Ochoa said. “Like, they bring a picture – ‘This is what I want’ – and we try to do it, and they love it.
“They love that we can communicate with them. They say that a lot.”
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Community Hospital hires new CFO
Community Hospital announced its new chief financial officer will be Glenn Williams, a seasoned healthcare finance and operations executive with more than 23 years of experience in military and corporate leadership. He will start his new job Jan. 5.
Before joining Community Hospital, Williams served as an executive healthcare consultant at Deloitte, where he leveraged his expertise in revenue cycle operations and process optimization to significantly improve his clients’ financial health, the hospital said in a news release.
Williams’ prior experience includes roles as chief financial officer of Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Kentucky, assistant chief financial officer at San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas, chief operating officer of Desmond Doss Health Clinic in Hawaii and director of healthcare operations for clinics in Hawaii and Iraq, according to the news release.
Williams earned his masters in business administration with a focus in data analytics from Florida State University and is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
“I am confident that Glenn brings the right leadership skills and background to help us successfully navigate the ongoing financial and revenue cycle challenges that lie ahead of us,” said Chris Thomas, president and chief executive officer for Community Hospital. “His level of expertise will prove invaluable as we work to move our organization forward.”
According to the news release, Community Hospital has experienced exponential growth over the past decade, moving to a new state-of-the-art hospital in March 2016, earning Level III Trauma Center designation by the Trauma Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, expanding primary care services to six locations spanning across the Grand Valley from Fruita to Palisade and additional service lines that include spine and pain, a cardiovascular procedure center, a new medical office building and robotic-assisted surgical technology.
“I am truly excited to join Community Hospital at such a pivotal time, when healthcare and community commitment are more important than ever,” Williams said. “I look forward to working alongside an outstanding team dedicated to delivering exceptional care and support for the patients and families who rely on us. Together, we will build upon the hospital’s strong foundation to drive sustainable growth, innovation and continued success for the community we proudly serve.”
For more information about Community Hospital, visit YourCommunityHospital.com.
Glenn Williams
CanvaScape
Continued from Page 2
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“From what I understand, December down here is really good,” Kinnick said of Main Street’s retail stores. “I’m hoping that’s the case, because in the mall that’s kind of where all your money comes from is December. You kind of go through all the bad months just holding your breath till December, so hopefully this will be a good December, and everyone down here says it is.”
Beyond the holiday shopping, Kinnick said he’s excited to be part of downtown Grand Junction.
“I wanted to be on Main Street,” he said. “Main Street is such an incredible place to me as far as what Grand Junction has to offer, and I just wanted to be a part of the culture
down here, you know?
“I hope that it works out really well. And we’ll see … You have less impulse buyers down here, so I’ve got to get more direct buyers, like people who are coming there for the destination of coming to CanvaScape, right? They’re actively coming here for that purpose.”
Kinnick also anticipates benefitting from the events that Main Street frequently hosts, and he said he will be active next year in downtown’s Market on Main.
“I’m going to be building new displays that we’ll be able to wheel out,” he said. “So we’ll have a 10-by-20(-foot) display out there for farmers market each week when that’s going on.”
CanvaScape uses this display on the wall behind its point-of-sale counter to show the various sizes it can do for canvas prints. Photo by Tim Harty.
Mesa County plans prescribed burns of slash piles
Fire managers with the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit plan to burn piles of cut branches and brush, called slash piles, in Mesa County now through April 2026. Smoke may be visible during and after the burns as piles continue to smolder.
Firefighters will only burn piles when the weather conditions are ideal for a safe, effective burn and allow smoke to disperse.
“Fuel reduction projects are one of our most effective tools to help slow wildfires and protect landscapes,” said UCR Interagency Fire Management Officer Tommy Hayes. “We’ve seen less fire spread, and intensity, in areas where we did this proactive work.”
Throughout the year, firefighters thinned tamarisk, Russian olive and native shrubs to create slash piles across the Western Slope. The inspected piles are dry and ready to burn. The
locations for the planned burns are generally remote, and fire managers do not expect smoke issues. If visibility becomes an issue, firefighters will follow a pre-approved backup plan. Planned burn locations include:
• Farmers Canyon Unit – 15 miles southwest of Whitewater.
• Little Dolores Unit – 13 miles southwest of Glade Park.
• Black Rocks Unit – 8 miles southwest of Mack.
• Crow Bottom Unit – 3 miles south of Mack.
• Dolores Units – 11 to 16 miles south of Gateway (three units along U.S. Highawy 141).
• Miller Canyon Road – 13 miles southwest of Grand Junction. Fire managers follow a detailed, approved prescribed fire plan and have smoke permits from the state of Colorado.
For more information, visit the “Wood smoke and your health” page on the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division website.
Grand Junction Economic Partnership Executive Director Curtis Englehart received the nationally recognized designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council.
The designation, according to a GJEP news release, denotes a mastery of skills in economic development and a dedication to personal and professional growth. Certified Economic Developers operate as highly skilled economic development professionals and collaborate with public officials, business leaders and community members. They serve as a driving force in the economic development landscape.
Englehart is now one of more than 1,250 active CEcDs worldwide.
“Becoming a Certified Economic Developer isn’t just a credential, it’s a career-defining milestone that demonstrates a professional’s dedication to elevating their expertise and their community impact,” IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle said. “Certified Economic Developers possess deep technical knowledge and bring trust and credibility to stakeholders, investors and peers.”
The Certified Economic Developer designation establishes a benchmark of excellence within the industry. To attain it, candidates must successfully complete a three-part, two-day examination that assesses a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency, judgement and critical-thinking abilities in the following areas of economic development:
• Business retention and expansion.
• Finance and credit analysis.
• Marketing and attraction.
• Strategic planning.
• Entrepreneurial and small-business development.
• Managing economic development organizations.
• Neighborhood development strategies.
• Real estate development and reuse.
• Technology-led economic development.
• Workforce development strategies.
• Foreign direct investment and exporting.
“Attaining the CEcD designation reinforces my commitment to continuous growth and elevating the impact of our work at GJEP. I’m grateful for the opportunity to strengthen my skills, so we can better attract quality jobs and investment to Mesa County,” Englehart said.
Curtis Englehart
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Snow
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The resort also opened on Dec. 4 in 2021 and 2022.
In leaner years, colder weather arrived later, and storms were slower to build. Powderhorn opened on Dec. 13 in 2018 and 2019, dates that reflected slower early accumulation and limited terrain at the time.
One of the latest openings in recent history came in 2017, when warm temperatures delayed operations until Dec. 23. These examples show why this year’s Dec. 5 opening, while slightly later than hoped, remains consistent with the resort’s long pattern of variability.
Lodge expands winter offerings
With the season under way, Grand Mesa Lodge is entering one of its busiest periods of the year.
The property offers yearround cabins and restaurant service, but winter brings additional activity centered around snowmobiling, guided snowmobile rides, rentals and an advanced-skills clinic designed to help riders learn
or improve mountain-sled techniques.
The clinics typically run from mid-December through the end of March, and many participants organize small groups of friends who want to learn together. If only one person signs up, the lodge often advertises the opening to round out a group.
The lodge recently completed a remodel that converted one of its cabins into a hot tub and sauna suite, which is expected to be fully operational this week. The owner said guests often pair a morning tour with lunch. Then, they can return for time in the hot tub or sauna before calling it a night.
The lodge’s main building also offers a small store and gift shop, a place to warm up by the fire and free WiFi for visitors stopping in after cross-country skiing or winter hiking. New this winter are helmets with Bluetooth speakers that allow riders to listen to music while out on the trails, a feature the owner expects will be popular for guided rides.
Guests stop in for dinner at the restaurant inside Grand Mesa Lodge, which serves visitors year-round and becomes a popular warmup spot for snowmobilers, cross country skiers and winter travelers on the mesa. Photo courtesy of Grand Mesa Lodge.
Childcare solution for working families in Mesa County
Childcare isn’t just a family issue, it’s a workforce issue. If parents struggle to find childcare options, they may be forced to delay job opportunities or work limited hours.
Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families (MCPCF) is addressing these challenges through BridgeCare, a database that has generated more than 1,500 searches this year alone.
“Parents are a vital part of Mesa County’s workforce, and access to quality, affordable childcare allows them to show up, stay productive and help our local economy thrive,” said Stephanie Bivins, director of Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families.
BridgeCare background
BridgeCare is a user-friendly, web-based tool that launched in the summer of 2022 and since then has helped hundreds of families connect with local childcare providers.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made since BridgeCare first launched,” said Michelle Reeves, childcare navigator supervisor for Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families. “We wanted to address Mesa County’s childcare desert, and the improvements we’ve seen in just a few years are incredible.”
The platform has tailored search options such as type of care, hours and services offered. Parents are able to search for providers located along a commute route or specific neighborhood. Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families and its partners can view the search data to understand how many additional childcare slots are needed.
“Even if a parent does not find care with BridgeCare, the search tells us where care is needed to encourage new locations. We use the data to find what our community needs and act on it,” Reeves said.
Lasting impact
Strong early-childhood development lays the foundation for long-term economic growth and community stability. With 90 percent of brain development occurring by age
5, access to early-childhood education and services is critical for future success.
Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families is committed to a two-generation approach, and BridgeCare directly supports that effort.
Children receive quality care and early learning that sets them up for long-term success as they grow and eventually become the workforce of the future. This, while parents and caregivers gain the ability to advance their careers and financially support their families.
Reliable childcare also stimulates the local economy by generating employment opportunities for early-childhood educators and providers.
Local success
Childcare shortages are most prevalent in rural parts of Mesa County, but targeted investments are making a difference. The opening of the Clifton Community Center in 2024 created more than 200 childcare slots, officially lifting the Clifton ZIP Code out of childcare-desert status.
BridgeCare now helps families easily find those new openings.
“BridgeCare has actually been a big game changer for me and our kiddo, especially in finding a safe environment for him,” local mother Elizabeth Riley said. “The first time I searched for childcare it took two weeks of making calls only to be on a waiting list, because they are full. With BridgeCare I was able to reach out directly to the people who actually had openings after I read all their ratings online.”
As Mesa County continues to make childcare more accessible, businesses benefit from a more stable, committed workforce. BridgeCare supports this momentum by quickly connecting families to care, ensuring employers feel the positive impact.
Mesa County Public Health encourages employers to share BridgeCare with their employees who are searching for childcare openings. Parents can visit the Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families website at childcare.mesacountypcf.org to get started. F
Elliotte Schroeder is a communication specialist at Mesa County Public Health.
Elliotte Schroeder
Some days, I just don’t give a darn. Better pray on it.
Well, I do. I really do. I probably care too much. I can even prove it, because people ask me all the time, “Why do you care so much about that, Craig?” or “What’s it to you, Hall?”
The biggest problem is the people asking are usually either in government, forcing its lust for power and money against the people, or people who are using the government to force what they want into society. And in my experience, neither of these are good.
So yes, my first reaction is always to give a whole, heaping pile about everything when days like this occur, which is all too often the older I get. Except when I don’t feel like it, which is where I am as I type on a Friday morning. Just picture my 64-year-old backside on my front porch with kids on my lawn if I’m not being very clear.
So, the real question is: “Why don’t I today?” Because when it comes to freedom and truth (in Grand Junction and parts unknown around the globe), that’s a very bad thing. Because that’s why God put me here. Not to spew my truth, but rather to present the Truth and all truth to the folks who care to read – and you should be if you care about truth as well.
But today, it’s just not easy. And the “not caring” today is for a very serious, very big reason.
My friend’s son is lying in a hospital bed in Salt Lake City fighting for his life after a horrific car accident last week in Grand Junction. And there isn’t anything I can do about it except pray. And pray. And then pray again. And to my human side, it kind of sucks.
And before you go all apocalyptic on me about prayer – regardless of which side you are on, the “it’s worthless so don’t do it” side or the “it’s the answer for everything” side – let me just say I don’t give a rat’s backside about the former, and I understand on the latter, no matter how bad I am about doing it consistently. But such is the life of a fallen man.
Now let me also say this about my friend Dusti Rae, whose son Wesley is in the battle for his life. No one I know prays more, not just for herself and her family, but for others.
Heck, she’s said countless prayers over a guy who doesn’t think he’s worth it as he contemplated striking out into the unknown with his time and treasure, risking it all to take a successful twice-a-month paper and insanely go weekly. Yeah, she did, and does, for me. From the first meetings when this was only an idea. Through several meetings
with me asking, “Should I do this?” To our first weekly publication printed this past January. And I’m sure up until I am typing today, Dusti Rae has been in the front line of battle as both my and The Business Times’ prayer warrior.
How do I know? I just know. Heck, once she hears about this column, I bet she’ll stop and say another. And Dusti Rae, as always, I can use one!
The hard part for me? I still don’t understand how she does it. She just puts it all in God’s hands, whether it’s The Business Times or something infinitely more important like the life of her son.
When it comes to that kind of faith, I’m just a toddler. And maybe that’s why I’m in the “don’t give a darn” mood. It helps me avoid the other reason I’m here: to serve and pray for others. And when it comes to faith, we’d all do well to have the faith my friend Dusti Rae has. Seriously, her posts and updates on her son’s condition lift me up all while she and her family are living through the worst of it.
So yeah, by the end of this 900-word – insert your adjective for how this reads here – column, I better feel better about where I am, because Dusti Rae’s example of faith and prayer is showing the way.
With that, I’ll lift Wesley up in prayer and ask you to join. I believe he’ll be fully healed between my last keystroke and when the ink hits the paper or the paper hits the racks. I know while the doctors and staff are doing God’s work with Wesley every second, all it takes is God’s touch in one of those seconds to heal. I pray for that touch in Jesus’ name.
I’ve lived through some difficult situations in my life. That’s what life is: living through difficulties, with some being more impactful, challenging and incomprehensible than others. I’ve made it through all of them. But what I didn’t, and don’t most of the time, do is give enough credit to the prayers of those who love me, who may not “love” me but cared to pray for me, along with the prayers of those who don’t know me at all and still prayed.
That’s the power of prayer. It brings forgiveness, grace, peace and healing to all those who say them along with whoever they say them for. I don’t need to understand it, I just need to keep doing it.
In Truth and freedom. And some prayer.
F
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
Craig Hall
n Fruita Chamber’s Parade of Lights returns Dec. 13
The theme will be “Whimsical Winter Woods” at the annual Fruita Parade of Lights on Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Fruita.
Hosted by the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce with title sponsor Grand Valley Power and supporting sponsor Western Colorado Pediatrics, the 2025 Parade of Lights invites families, businesses and organizations to take in the creative floats, glowing costumes and community cheer.
Following the parade, families are invited to continue the celebration with a free gathering hosted by the Lower Valley Fire District, 168 N. Mesa St. Guests can enjoy photos with Santa, cookies and hot cocoa.
“Our Parade of Lights is such a cherished tradition, and this year’s theme brings a sense of wonder that we all need during the holidays,” Fruita Chamber President and CEO Kayla Howell said. “We invite the entire community to bundle up, bring your holiday spirit and join us for a magical evening downtown. And we’re so grateful to the Lower Valley Fire District for hosting Santa afterward. It’s the perfect way to keep the holiday magic alive.”
The parade route and event details can be found online at fruitachamber.org/events/ fruitaparadelights.
n Museum’s Christmas at Cross Orchards is Dec. 13
The Museums of Western Colorado invite families, neighbors and holiday enthusiasts to experience a cherished seasonal tradition at Christmas at Cross Orchards on Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the historic Cross Orchards site, 3073 Patterson Road.
Guests can look forward to:
• Visits with Santa inside the historic buildings.
• Unlimited rides on the Ride-On Train, decked out for the season.
• Fresh cookies and hot cocoa in the cozy bunkhouse.
• Food-truck favorites from GJ Fusion.
• Historic blacksmithing and woodworking demonstrations in Santa’s Workshop.
• Twinkling lights, local vendors and old-fashioned holiday cheer.
Admission is $8 for the public and free for Museums of Western Colorado members.
“Christmas at Cross Orchards is where nostalgia meets community,” said Shenna Hayden, executive director of Museums of Western Colorado. “This event captures everything we love about the holiday season: joy; togetherness; and the magic of experiencing tradition in a historic site.”
For more information, visit www.mowc.co.
n Greek Orthodox Church hosts Christmas Marketplace
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Grand Junction will hold A Greek Christmas Marketplace on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-order for Greek pastries and other delicacies are being taken now at stnicholasmarketplace.com.
Orders can be picked up Dec. 13. Pre-orders are encouraged, because the pastries sell out fast. Gyros and other Greek food and gifts can be purchased on pick-up day.
The marketplace is an opportunity for the church to share with the Grand Junction community its culture, including traditional Greek food, baked goods, gifts. The public is also invited to tour the church. The event will be held at the Saint Nicholas Church, 3585 N. 12th St. (Horizon Drive roundabout).
During the past 20 years, with help from people and businesses of Grand Junction, the Greek festival and marketplace was able to donate more than $20,000 to community nonprofits through the Western Colorado Community Foundation, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, Marillac Clinic, Homefront Heroes and The Salvation Army. This year a portion of the profits from the festival will be given back to the community through Grand Valley Catholic Outreach and Foster Alumni Mentors.
n State group honors Hollenbeck as rising star
The Association of Colorado County Administrators honored Mesa County Administrator Todd Hollenbeck on Dec. 2 with the 2025 Rising Star Award.
The award, which Hollenbeck received during the Colorado Counties Inc. winter conference, honors an administrator who strengthens county operations, leads with integrity, advances strategic goals and delivers meaningful improvements for the community, according to a Mesa County news release.
Hollenbeck, who has served Mesa County for 25 years, assumed the administrator role in January 2025.
“Todd leads with steadiness, integrity and a clear commitment to public service,” Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis said. “His strategic approach has strengthened how we deliver services to residents. We are grateful for his leadership and proud to see him recognized at the state level.”
According to the news release, Mesa County under Hollenbeck’s direction has implemented a disciplined, long-range budgeting framework that protects reserves, stabilizes operations and maintains service delivery even as revenues tighten. He prioritizes clear communication, transparency and professional development, convenes department directors regularly to align operations, and he encourages innovation amidst fiscal constraints.
Todd Hollenbeck
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