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REDSTONE • REVIEW
AUGUST 19 / SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
INTEREST Longmont Humane Society discontinues breed labeling By Staff Reports Redstone Review LONGMONT – Longmont Humane Society announced last week that it will discontinue the practice of Mix breed labeling for its adoptable dogs. Instead of guessing a dog’s breed based on appearance, all dogs will be listed as “mix” as a means to more accurately and honestly present animals to potential adopters. According to Sarah Clusman, Director of Operations for Longmont Humane Society, the organization has based this change given the proven inaccuracy of visual breed identification coupled with
the irrelevancy of breed in relation to behavior. According to Clusman, “If we don’t have an AKC pedigree or DNA results, we cannot presume to guess the breed by appearance alone.” In addition, the organization believes that removing the breed label is likely to dispel preconceptions about a dog’s behavior relative to breed, encouraging adopters to learn about each dog as an individual. “Factors such as history of behavior and observed behavior while at the shelter are far more accurate predictors of future behavior than how we think a dog might or should behave based on a label” said Clusman. “We want to share all the facts we have on each animal in our care. As an adoption agency, it is our job to help our clients choose dogs who
are likely to succeed in their home based on factual information about each individual dog, not a breed label; dogs are individuals first, genetics second.” Longmont Humane Society understands that this change may be a culture shift for the communities it serves, and has placed handouts and posters throughout the shelter to further educate visitors. The organization notes that based on physical appearance certain dogs may not be permitted in specific municipalities or housing areas. For dogs that may be impacted by bans or discrimination, additional information will be provided to inform potential adopters. The organization believes that treating all dogs as individuals, and presenting only factual information to potential
Building your first instrument has emotional overtones By Don Moore Redstone Review LYONS – “I sat on the grass and strummed my mandolin for the first time and I teared up,” said Linda Baker of Dolores, Colorado. “I’d created both the instrument and heard its first sounds. It was an indescribable moment.” Baker had just finished bringing to life a mandolin octave at the RockyGrass Instrument Building class, which is a part of the fabled Rockygrass Academy held a week before the three-day festival. Thirteen of the 15 students in the class built mandolins and the other two built guitars. “We met together with our teachers on Sunday night at the beginning of the academy week and began building our instruments. By Thursday afternoon our creations had come to life. It’s an amazing process,” Baker said. Michael Hornick of Shanti Guitars is the father of the instrument building class. A master luthier (a maker of stringed instruments) in his own right, his first classes were taught at the Telluride Bluegrass Festivals in 1993 and ‘94. In 1995 the class
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The Food Pantry is requesting specific items LYONS – There is a 13 week rotation. Here’s the next 4 weeks: • Week of Aug. 23: Snacks-crackers, pretzel, popcorn, nuts, dried fruits, cookies, etc. • Week of Aug. 30: Syrup, honey, jam • Week of Sept: 6: Personal hygiene items-shampoo, conditioner, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes, lotion, soap, etc. • Week of Sept: 13: Condiments-mustard, mayo, ketchup, salsa, pickles, relish, salad dressing, etc. Items may be brought by the Lyons Community Church at 350 Main Street any time between 9:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays – bring items upstairs if downstairs is locked. All donations are tax deductible. Please call 720864-4309 with questions.
Martha Kate Thomas Fund for artists LYONS – Request for Proposals for the grants from the Martha Kate Thomas Fund for Artists are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 3. The Martha Kate Thomas Fund for Artists was established in 2013
was moved to Lyons to become a part of the academy and has been at Planet Bluegrass every year since then. In the off season Hornick will source the wood and other components of the instruments to be built and prepare a kit for each one. Then at the academy he and five other luthiers act as instructors, guiding each student along the path of building a finely crafted mandolin. The wood used is Koa (from David Crosby’s private supply), mahogany, and red spruce. The finished product is an extremely playable instrument, and becomes an heirloom for the maker. “In 1986 I finished building my first instrument and it was a guitar that took me a couple years to complete. I love every instrument I've ever made and I wanted to share that experience with others,” Hornick said. “I keep coming back to do this every year even though it’s a lot of work. It’s my highlight week of the year because it’s so rewarding and everybody gets so much out of it. It’s more about the experience, not the instrument.” Chuck Midgley is one of Hornick’s luthier instructors, who started in Telluride, and has been a part of the class ever since. through a bequest gift to The Community Foundation. Grants from this fund will be awarded to artists who live or work in Boulder County and who have unforeseen needs due to special circumstances. Grant awards will not exceed $3,000. Boulder County Arts Alliance is proud to administer this fund for The Community Foundation. For more information about eligibility and to apply, visit the BCAA website or contact Maegan@commfound.org or www.commfound.org. You can reach the community Foundation in Boulder at 303-442-1221.
Senior Rockies Trip LYONS – Attention Lyons area Seniors, 55 plus. Join the Parks and Recreation Department on a fun day trip to see the Rockies play the Pirates. Participants will take a trip down to Denver courtesy of Via transportation where nice shaded seats with easy access have been reserved for the game. After the game, the shuttle will head back to Walt Self. There is a 10 person minimum, so sign up soon. The trip will be on Sept. 24 and the shuttle will leave Walt Self Senior Housing on Railroad Avenue at 11 a.m. the game starts at 1:10 p.m. and will return immeContinue Briefs on Page 14
Linda Baker built a mandolin octave at the RockyGrass Instrument Building class. “I’ve been doing this for 23 years and have built a mandolin every year since 2004,” Midgley said. “I’m the luckiest person in the academy. I get to build a mandolin and then give it away to a child student in the academy.” It’s the building and giving away an instrument to a young student that keeps him coming back every year. “I have this belief that by gifting a newly made instrument, I could be changing a life and there is nothing more rewarding than to see that student a few years later pursuing a love of music,” he explained. Baker and her family have been frequent participants in the instrument
adopters, will help to discourage biased thinking and assumptions based on looks or labels. “In doing so” said Clusman, “we set all dogs free of the baggage and consequences caused by assumptions, prejudices, and discrimination.” The Longmont Humane Society serves the Lyons area. Serving Longmont and surrounding communities since 1972, Longmont Humane Society is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of animals. With a mission of caring, serving and educating to improve the lives of companion animals the organization cares for more than 4,000 animals every year, including dogs, cats, small mammals, and domestic birds that are lost, abandoned, or surrendered. Loving attention, nutritious food, meticulous health care and daily exercise are standard parts of the high-quality care provided to each animal. building class at the Academy. Her husband was the first to come to the school to build an instrument several years ago. “Then he came back and built another mandolin for our son. After that both my husband and son came and each built an instrument,” Baker said. “Now I’ve come and built this instrument. In our family we have three mandolins, one mandola, and a mandolin octave.” There is no need to have prior experience in either building an instrument or in woodworking generally. Hornick’s kits and the instructions given by the luthiers turn every instrument into a thing of beauty, both physically and in the sound produced. Baker had some prior experience in crafting, but nothing to prepare her for the experience she’d just had. “All the instruments are different,” Baker said. “Each has its own unique sound. The experience was both daunting and educational. The support here has been fantastic and is has given me a new appreciation for what it takes to build a stringed instrument.” Hornick’s hands are wracked with painful arthritis and he’s at what would otherwise be considered retirement age. He has an apprentice who’s been working with him in his instrument building business and he foresees turning that over to him. “Not this, though,” he said. “I’m going to keep doing this class as long as I’m able. I get so much pleasure out of it.” For more information see bluegrass.com. Don Moore is a retired lawyer and the author of Love is a Verb: Healing Yourself through Love, Gratitude and Compassion. He lives in Lyons.