Steamboat Magazine Home Edition 2023

CONSIDERING A MOVE TO STEAMBOAT?

D OUG WILL SEARCH LOW & HIGH TO FIND THE RIGHT PROPERTY FOR YOU.

We worked with Doug over a period of several years in the Steamboat area and can gladly say that he is the best real estate professional we have had the pleasure to work with. He combines a depth of knowledge of the market with great negotiating skills and an extensive network of resources. He went the extra mile to help us find the right property and went even further to close the deal!

— MARK & REBECCA

The Warnke family turns a former Mount Harris home into a magnet for friends and family in downtown Steamboat Springs – by Suzi Mitchell

DEPARTMENTS

16 Publisher’s Note – by Deborah Olsen

18 Letters

20 Contributors

Suzi Mitchell, Erin Campbell, Lisa Schlichtman

24 Genuine Steamboat

Spring Awakening: Local photographer Cyndi Marlowe shares spring images from the Yampa Valley.

34 In the News

Steamboat Magazine pays tribute to Dennison “Denny” Parker.

36 Environment

The Eco Club focuses on sustainability.

– by Suzy Magill

38 Community

Holding the middle ground. – by Dan Greeson

Little givers lend a hand.– by Kaitlyn Kinshella

62 | A Bird’s-Eye View

Local artist Dedi Knox finds inspiration for her paintings f rom her custom-built log cabin in North Routt – by Suzi Mitchell

68

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An Eye on the World

A power couple in the political arena find the ultimate place for their home ofices in a secluded home above the treeline in the south valley – by Suzi Mitchell

72 | A Neighborhood is Born

Andrew and Charis Petty join with their neighbors to make their mark in the newly built Sunlight neighborhood

– by Suzi Mitchell

42 People Kelly Romero-Heaney advises the Colorado governor on water policy issues. – by Lisa Schlichtman

44 Wildlife

The story of a greater sandhill crane rescue.

– by Erin Campbell

46 Arts & Culture Cowboy to the core. – by Deborah Olsen

48 Design

Functional design at the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation building.

– by Sophie Dingle

76 Media

Dive into this year’s Literary Sojourn books.

– by Jennie Lay

79 Crossword Puzzle

Steamboat Freestyle #1 – by Victor Fleming

80 Why Stop at the Last Page?

The last page is only the beginning: continue the journey with Ski Town Media’s online oferings.

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Home 2023 – Volume 45, Number 3

PUBLISHER

Deborah Olsen

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sophie Dingle

SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR

John Sherwood

ART DIRECTOR

Melissa VanArsdale

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Trey Mullen

FEATURE EDITOR

Suzi Mitchell

MEDIA EDITOR

Jennie Lay

OFFICE MANAGER/STAFF WRITER

Casey Hopkins

STAFF WRITER

Suzy Magill

PROOFREADER

Christina Freeman

CONTRIBUTORS

Erin Campbell

Victor Fleming

Dan Greeson

Kaitlyn Kinshella

Lisa Schlichtman

PHOTOGRAPHERS

David Dietrich

Elisa Maines

Cyndi Marlowe

David Patterson

Andrew Petty

Dustin Trider

Noah Wetzel

Steamboat Magazine is published by Ski Town Media, Inc. The Outdoors 2023 edition will be published in July 2023. For advertising rates and subscription information contact info@SkiTownMedia.com. Steamboat Magazine, P.O. Box 880616, Steamboat Springs, CO 80488. Phone: 970-871-9413. Subscribe: www.SteamboatMagazine.com Single copy mailed frst-class $9.50. No portion of the contents of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. © 2023 Ski Town Media, Inc. All rights reserved – ISSN 2164-4055.

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Editorial Advisory Board

Katie Brown

Steamboat Resort

Amy Charity SBT GRVL

Rory Clow

Western Centers, Inc.

Samantha

Coyne Donnel

Steamboat Mountain School

Scott Engelman

Carl’s Tavern and Trufe Pig

Sarah Floyd

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

Betse Grassby

Steamboat Art Museum

Jennifer Grathwohl

Steamboat Symphony Orchestra

Larry Mashaw

The Resort Group

Lisa Popovich

MainStreet Steamboat

Lindsey Reznicek

Yampa Valley Medical Center

Ray Selbe

Selbe Farms

Susan Stempel

The Stempel Group

Columbine fowers are a sure sign of spring.

Secret Splendors of Spring

Sagebrush

tumbled down Main Street during mud season 30 years ago. It was the only thing moving once the ski area closed.

Steamboat Springs has changed a lot since then, but one thing remains the same. The town empties out within a week of the lifts shutting down. The days when Steamboat appeared totally deserted may be gone, but even now, the entire atmosphere changes in spring. I get why people want to leave; when you’re a skier or rider, watching the snow melt is sad.

I’m not going to lie – I wouldn’t mind a trip to the islands either. But on the other hand, the secret splendors of spring in Steamboat are enticing. Look past the voluminous mud and you will fnd the joys of the “shoulder season,” as marketing professionals would love to rebrand it.

1. Fully stocked grocery shelves, especially during the springtime tropical fruit bonanza, when pineapples, coconuts and kiwis bring the islands to us.

2. Mountain trails, mostly snow-covered, but empty of everyone except the dogs and me.

3. Spring corn snow. The only limit is your stamina when it comes to how many miles you can cover on spring corn in the early morning.

4. Gardens, slowly emerging from their winter hibernation.

5. Glorious neon green aspen trees, with leaves so full of chlorophyll they shimmer.

6. Dining out without reservations. Many restaurants close, but those that stay open welcome locals.

7. Kayakers, who defy the cold, rocks, mini ice foes and whitewater to navigate the Yampa River, which looks nothing like the meandering summer stream of July and August.

8. Gravel rides. Spring is too early for mountain biking, but Routt County’s miles of gravel roads are best enjoyed before the heat and dust of summer.

9. Empty parking lots.

10. End of season sales.

11. “Cabaret,” Steamboat Creates’ annual talent show lampooning local politics and unforgettable faux pas.

12. Return of the snowbirds, friends who fee to warmer climates during winter.

13. Garage sales, which ofer us a chance to exchange garden tools, kids’ toys and books, books, books.

14. Fields of columbine, glacier lilies and those little purple fowers that seem to be their sidekicks.

15. The baby calves and little lambs that dot the hillsides all along the rural roads.

16. Most of all, peace and quiet. Ahhhh.

We hope your spring and early summer will be fabulous, whether you’re remodeling your home or biking over slickrock in Moab.

DEBORAH OLSEN

Sophie, Congrats on the magazine and thanks again for including me. l was on a direct fight back from Nashville on Saturday. The people seated next to me had a copy they had received in the mail. If you ever wondered if they get looked at, wonder no more. They opened it together and looked at every single page in eager anticipation...including all the advertisements. They planned dinners, and dreamed of condos or houses, and marveled at the people through the ages. It was on their tray the entire fight.

– Matt Tredway, author of “A Chance Encounter”

Dear Deb,

I really enjoyed reading your opening letter, “The City We Built,” in the latest Mountain Edition 2023. Even though I’ve been “gone” since 2008 or so I still feel an intense connection to the ‘Boat. I moved there in 1981, got on ski school and didn’t quit until 2010. I had so many return families and kids that I - and my colleagues - share your sentiment that “we built it.” We participated in creating a world-class ski area. I also was deeply involved in the Steamboat Dance Theatre; look at it now! Wow! As board member and president, I brought African dance to the community with summer Art in the Park and winter performances at the high school for all those years. Kids performances at Strings and lots of other community events. The town’s culture of skiing and dance is still in my soul. And yes, “we built that” and should be proud!

– Robin Getter

I remember visiting with Tanya Tucker at the Tugboat! She was very friendly and we talked about record jacket covers artwork!

– Tom Wither via Facebook

Deborah Olsen telemark skis on Bufalo Pass with Steamboat Powdercats.

COURTESY OF STEAMBOAT POWDERCATS

Chhiring Dorje Sherpa and his cousin from “A Chance Encounter.”

COURTESY OF MATT TREDWAY

Contributors

Abby Jensen Photography

Suzi Mitchell

Suzi Mitchell is a Scottish writer who adopted Steamboat Springs as her home decades ago. She is the features editor for the home edition of Steamboat Magazine and writes for publications on both sides of the Atlantic. “I’ve always been fascinated by people and their stories,” she says. “Nothing tells you more about a person than the place they live in. As an artist, I am drawn to design and color which is why writing about architecture is so appealing.” Suzi also paints and runs You Out Loud, an art program for teens, and manages The Art Barn in North Routt.

Erin Campbell

Erin Campbell is a freelance journalist in Steamboat Springs, CO. She is an animal lover who wrote the story, “A Slim Chance,” on page 44. Erin says, “As a sandhill crane admirer, learning about Slim’s story and Tracy Bye’s wildlife rescue work made my heart full. This valley is home to a beautiful array of native animals and wonderful people who cherish and care for them. This article captures that spirit that I love so much about Steamboat Springs.

Lisa Schlichtman

Lisa Schlichtman is a freelance journalist living in Denver. She is the former editor of the Steamboat Pilot & Today, and her career spans nearly three decades as a writer, editor and publisher. Lisa says, “Writing a profle on the very accomplished Kelly Romero-Heaney was an easy ask. Her passion for water is contagious, and she has a special knack for making a complex subject more accessible and easier to understand. I remember when Kelly became the city of Steamboat Springs’ frst water resource manager several years ago, so it was a thrill for me to showcase her continued success. Kelly is truly a rising star, and it was exciting to learn how a Steamboat woman is infuencing water policy across the state.” See “A Passion for Water” on page 42.

Spring

Awakening

The sound of melting ice, skiing in a t-shirt, late May snow furries, the frst sandhill crane sighting, mud, so much mud – this is springtime in Steamboat Springs. In a season of wavering weather, one thing is certain: spring in this valley is a time to slow down, reset and renew.

Local landscape photographer Cyndi Marlowe captures Steamboat spring in these photos.

“I love the Yampa Valley,” she says. “I knew in 1980 when I arrived in January that I would live in this beautiful place for a long time. The frst winter was almost overwhelming for an Ohio girl. One of the frst people I met said, ‘when spring comes, the greens are so beautiful, tears will come to your eyes.’ It’s true. When spring comes to this valley after a long winter, the new green of aspen leaves, the brilliant yellow of glacier lilies, the blue of mountain blue birds brings you to tears…of gratitude, for new beginnings and growth. It’s a wonderful time of year in a wonderful place to carry a camera.”

Genuine Steamboat

Photos by Cyndi Marlowe

The iconic Steamboat barn was built in the 1920s and has come to symbolize Steamboat’s Western lifestyle and legacy.

Genuine Steamboat

A feld of wildfowers blooms in the spring under the rabbit ears of Rabbit Ears Pass.

Genuine Steamboat

Early spring days on Flash of Gold. The trail, which leads from the top of Spring Creek Trail up Bufalo Pass, winds through a large aspen grove, which is lush with green in the spring and golden in the fall.

Dafodil sightings are a sign of spring in the Yampa Valley as they are among the frst fowers to poke their way up through remaining snow.

Genuine Steamboat

Spring signifes the return of the sandhill cranes to the Yampa Valley. A crane with two colts explores wetlands on the west side of town.

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Steamboat Magazine Pays Tribute to Its Late Leader

Colorado held a special place in Dr. H. Dennison “Denny” Parker’s heart, and Steamboat Springs was at the center of that afection.

In Steamboat, he was a publisher, mentor, friend and colleague to the staf of Steamboat Magazine. In 1998, he and his then wife, Nora Sherwood, purchased the business, which they operated until Parker sold it in 2004.

“We were fortunate to acquire Steamboat Magazine from Michael Barry’s Mac Media in July 1998. We’ve had a chance to work with some wonderful people in the community, and I’d like to thank them for all their support,” Nora wrote in the frst edition of the magazine the couple published. “You’ll notice some changes in Steamboat Magazine. Our goal has been to increase the quantity of usable information. In addition to the beautiful feature articles you’ve come to expect, you’ll notice additions like the city map and free bus maps in the Visitors’ Guide.”

Their goals largely formed the Steamboat Springs Visitors’ Guide as it appears today. It’s not surprising that maps were at the top of the Parkers’ list. Denny was a pioneer of GIS technology, as well as the founder and publisher of GIS World magazine and GIS World books, later adding GIS Europe and GIS Asia to the publication roster.

His enthusiasm for wildlife, riparian systems, hunting and camping stemmed in part from his doctorate in environmental biology from Colorado State University. Since Denny’s tenure at

Steamboat Magazine, these topics have been mainstays of the publication’s editorial content.

Denny led the company into the digital age. He envisioned a website with live cams, up-to-the-minute weather reports and video footage, decades before others saw these possibilities for websites. At one point, he purchased an early incarnation of a weather sensor, climbed onto the rooftop of the ofce building where the magazine was housed and installed the equipment himself because no one else in Steamboat had the skills to do so.

He brought a wealth of expertise to publishing Steamboat Magazine. Long after he sold the business to Deborah Olsen in 2004, he stayed involved as a business consultant and mentor. “I don’t think Steamboat Magazine would be what it is today without Denny’s help,” Deb says. “We weathered the recession, numerous boom-and-bust cycles, the emergence of the digital age and even Covid, in large part thanks to his stalwart encouragement and practical advice.”

In addition to his involvement with the magazine, Denny was also an enthusiastic supporter of the community, especially the Strings Music Festival. After he moved from Northwest Colorado to Florida, he continued to return to Steamboat to hike, fyfsh, photograph and explore the outdoors with his son, Jefrey.

Dr. H. Dennison Parker died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Lake Wales, Florida, where he was surrounded by his family. He leaves his son, daughters Kimberley and Nissa, and grandchildren Bailey, Tessa, Jeremy, Peyson and Devan in his wake. SM

COURTESY OF JEFFREY PARKER

Denny Parker

Denny Parker co-owned Steamboat Magazine from 1998-2004.

Generations of Sustainability

| BY SUZY MAGILL

Thefuture of our planet belongs to youth, and students at Steamboat Springs High School are leading the movement to protect it.

The Eco Club is a group of local students led by copresidents Margaux Shea and Thomas Cooper, who manage projects and encourage individual lifestyle choices that support the planet. Emi Cooper, widely known in the community for her activism, is Thomas’s older sister. She started the club pre-Covid, but it was mostly inactive during the pandemic.

Made up of about 20 students in all grades, the club has doubled in size since it was formed. Both increased recruiting of underclassmen and a global rise in awareness and involvement in sustainability have led to more students participating in the club.

“I think it’s a really special role to work with both underclassmen and upperclassmen, especially in a fght that is so pivotal right now. We need everybody that we can get,” Margaux explains. “I don’t want to just lead this club. I want other people to lead with me.”

Recent projects were a community tree planting, a campaign to city council and fundraising for Colorado Gives Day.

Last spring’s tree-planting eforts began with calculating the school’s paper usage. The club spoke to teachers regarding their usage in classrooms and the front ofce about general paper usage outside classrooms. To be most accurate, the club used pre-Covid estimates from 2019. The result? Per year, the school uses around 600,000 sheets of copy paper and a million sheets total, translating to a planting goal of 205 saplings.

Working with Tim Sullivan, resilient land and water director at Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, the group decided what trees would best suit the valley’s soil and harsh climate. They settled on red osier dogwoods, Douglas fr and blue spruce.

Members of the Eco Club worked to secure local sponsorships and donations that made saplings, purchased through Tree-Plenish, available to the community for free. The

Eco Club delivered saplings for residents to plant themselves or did the heavy lifting and planted the saplings for them.

Last fall, YVSC reached out to the Eco Club with another concern: the city council was planning to power the new city hall and fre station project with natural gas. The club discussed the pros and cons of natural gas versus electric energy sources and created a template for writing letters, providing guidance and confdence to the students.

“A lot of these kids have never done that before, and it can be scary to write letters or do any kind of public comment,”

Thomas explains.

The club sent about 20 letters to the city council. A week later, the council decided on an all-electric plan.

The road is not without challenges though. During last year’s high school club fair, Margaux ran both the Fellowship of Christian Athletes table and the Eco Club table and was told she needed to choose between the two.

“I thought that was such a fascinating idea that your personal and community beliefs might not mix in the eyes of others,” Margaux says. “I don’t think that’s how this should work at all. The climate fght doesn’t need to be a political fght. Our climate is changing, and we need to change with it.”

Both graduating seniors, Margaux and Thomas plan to take what they learned through the Eco Club with them.

“Even the little changes in your lifestyle can make such a big diference, whether that’s changing your diet or your normal transportation methods,” Margaux explains. “The movement is about being able to recruit people in that efort, and no matter how small that is, it can create a big impact.”

The duo hopes that the Eco Club’s work can spark community-wide conversation outside the high school.

“Steamboat is full of very outdoor-oriented people and we need to raise community awareness that this lifestyle is not going to be available forever; we are going to have to make some serious changes in our daily lives to be able to live this life that we love,” Margaux says. “This is not just a youth movement. This takes everybody.” SM

COURTESY OF MARGAUX SHEA

Margaux Shea leads the Eco Club at a Fridays for Future rally in 2021.

With over 30 years of experience in the Steamboat Springs real estate market, we are eager to help you fulfll your dream of living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Good communication, exceptional service, extensive market knowledge, and a client-focused approach are what set us apart.

Holding the Middle Ground: 20 Years of Seminars at Steamboat

| BY DAN GREESON

Seminars at Steamboat, a nonproft organization that has brought nonpartisan educational speakers to Steamboat Springs for over 20 years, started the same way many of the best ideas have: with a hike.

Seminars at Steamboat’s 2023 Schedule

Monday, July 10

Jamie Metzl – “R/Evolution: Recasting Life in an Age of Radical Biotechnology”

Monday, July 17

Wendy R. Weiser – “Elections on the Brink: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go to Ensure Fairness and Integrity”

Monday, July 24

Matthew Rojansky – “Russia, Ukraine, and Beyond – Challenges for the U.S.”

Monday, July 31

Heather J. Tanana – “Colorado River in Crisis: Learning From the Past to Protect the Future”

Monday, Aug. 7

Craig Fugate – “Disaster Preparation and Management in the Face of a Changing Climate”

“I had been participating in the Aspen Institute’s strategy groups for a number of years,” says Belle Sawhill, one of Seminars’ co-founders. “When I moved to Steamboat, I missed that meaty intellectual component that I had in Aspen.” One summer morning, on a hike with Jim and Freddy Goodrich, Belle voiced her frustrations and the others agreed. Inspired, Belle returned home and, with input from co-founders Jane and Bob Stein, created a prospectus for what would be Seminars at Steamboat.

Leading up to the frst seminar, held in Centennial Hall in 2003, no one knew what to expect. “I remember fearing that only 10 or 15 people would show up,” Belle says. Expectations were far surpassed – over 100 attended, a success with standing-room only. Belle and her co-founders formed a board, and Seminars at Steamboat was of and running.

Since that frst seminar, with the help of people like Kate Hawk and Bob Stein, who have served as board chairs in the past, the organization has grown into a cultural staple in Steamboat. The group brings experts each summer to speak on a variety of public policy themes and ideas, from education to military conficts, and holds a post-seminar dinner with each speaker. Seminars at Steamboat, now held at Strings Music Pavilion, draws crowds of over 500, and is still free to attend.

“You can’t encourage dialogue about public policy in the community if you’re constraining the audience with an entry fee,” Belle says.

The board’s speaker-selection process has been honed to a science over the years. “Choosing speakers is the best part about being on the board,” says board member Marianne Capra. “It is a thrilling process.” After extensive research and refection, the 16 board members bring their ideas to a battle royale of policy topics at the end of

“We would like to see more young people involved,” says Walt Dabberdt, chair of Seminars’ board. “We’re not just looking for retired folks.”

Seeing the year’s p fruition is an exciting prospect for board members. “I’m as excited – if not more excited –than I ha I’ve been involved with,” Walt says.

“I can’t wait to have a lazy afternoon tube down the Yampa, grab a bite at Cruisers, then dive into the futuristic feld of biotechnology with Jamie Metzl,” Marianne adds.

“The best part is the community buy Belle says. “I’ve had people come up to me in the supermarket who I don’t know but who recognize me because I’ve been up on stage at the Strings Pavilion, and they thank me for putting this together. The community seems to really value what we do.”

Learn more and watch videos of previous seminars at www.seminarsatsteamboat.org SM

COURTESY OF SEMINARS AT STEAMBOAT

Board chair Walt Dabberdt introduces a seminar last summer.

Little Givers Make a Big Impact

| BY KAITLYN KINSHELLA

Asmallcup of cofee can make a big diference. When Stephany Traylor opened her Steamboat Springs cofee shop, Dusky Grouse, she knew that she wanted to brew beans alongside connection and community. Now, nearly two years since its opening, many of Stephany’s customers see Dusky Grouse in the same light as she does: a space that does so much more than serve lattes.

Stephany has created a business that gives back to the community in many forms, including ofering a safe and sober place for people and nonprofts to gather and connect. And now she wants to pass her expertise to the next generation. Last January she started Little Givers, a group of 4-12 year-old children who – with help from their parents – complete volunteer projects

each week. Their altruistic tasks have ranged from raising money for LiftUp Routt County by cleaning bikes to volunteering for the Thanksgiving dinner at the Community Center.

It doesn’t matter to Stephany what Little Givers does each month, as long as the kids are intentional with their giving. During their group gatherings, she teaches them this hopeful message through fun and thoughtful children’s books from the Moniker Foundation. In the books, a superhero brother/sister duo urges readers to donate their time, talent and treasure to a cause that is important to them.

And what is important to Steamboat’s youth? At this point, Stephany says, many of them want to help puppies, kittens, fairies and their families. But she encourages them to think outside their

The Little Givers work on a spring project to gift plants to teachers, friends and neighbors.

immediate friends and family. One of her favorite projects has been writing thank-you cards for service workers in town.

“My kids wrote a thankyou card for a bagger at City Market,” Stephany says. “He lit up when he got the card. It was amazing to see his reaction and then my kids’ reaction to his reaction.”

Just like a tiny shot of her strongest espresso, Stephany recognizes that kids are powerful. Her goal of showing them how to use that power to make positive changes seems to be working. “My fve-year-old has become more mindful of his actions and impact,” shares Shelly Wu, a local mother whose son started picking up trash left behind, putting the correct items in the recycling, making cards for others and expressing more gratitude since he started Little Givers.

Eventually, Stephany hopes to spread more actions of kindness by getting Little Givers into Steamboat’s school

system. In her vision, all students would log into the Little Givers website to fnd out what the weekly project is. Then they would dedicate time together as a class to complete that volunteer assignment.

But for now, Stephany and her crew of Little Givers will continue to brighten someone’s day while strengthening the community. “In a community that is so small and tight, you can actually see the diference you make,” she says.

If you would like your child to join Stephany and her crew in making a diference, check out the monthly plan on her website https://duskygrousecofee.com/community/. As Stephany frmly believes, even a small gift – whether it be a child volunteering or a quick conversation over a cup of joe – can go a long way in our town. SM

DUSTIN TRIDER

Charlie Traylor, 6, replants a spider plant during a spring Little Givers meeting.

APassion for Water

Kelly Romero-Heaney advises Colorado governor on water policy issues

| BY LISA

Kelly Romero-Heaney considers herself lucky. The Steamboat Springs woman has transformed her passion for Colorado’s rivers and streams into a career that now has her advising the governor on the topic.

Kelly’s interest in water springs from a childhood spent playing along Big Dry Creek, the stream near her family’s home in Littleton on the southern edge of metro Denver.

“Me and my best friend would make forts out of the willows and catch crawdads, and I think that was my frst exposure (to water),” says Kelly, who now serves as assistant director of water policy for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and as Gov. Jared Polis’ water policy adviser.

But luck had very little to do with the trajectory of Kelly’s career path.

The Colorado native, whose family has lived in the state since the 1860s, earned an environmental geology degree from the University of Montana, and shortly after graduation, she moved to Clark in North Routt County, where she worked as a hydrologic technician with the U.S. Forest Service for several years. During that time, she was also a wildland frefghter serving as a member of the Yampa Valley Wildland Fire Crew and the Craig Hot Shots.

Kelly later accepted a position with Shell Oil Company in the early-2000s at a time when it was difcult to fnd environmental science jobs on the Western Slope.

“The people I worked for gave me the space to advise them on best practices for protecting the watersheds and streams,” Kelly says.

SCHLICHTMAN

NOAH WETZEL COURTESY OF KELLY ROMERO-HEANEY

Kelly Romero-Heaney is a member of Governor Polis’ policy team, advising him on water issues in Colorado.

Kelly Romero-Heaney

“There’s no such thing as magic water. We only get so much of it, and so we have to figure out how to live within our means. We have to be thoughtful about how we’re applying water to our landscapes, and we have to be very thoughtful about how we’re caring for our watersheds and our streams.”

- Kelly Romero-Heaney

At the time, Kelly was a single mom trying to provide for herself and her son in an expensive town. Eventually she was able to buy a house in Steamboat and a week after the closing, she learned that Shell was divesting of its assets in Northwest Colorado – she was out of a job.

It was a nerve-wracking time, but fate intervened.

As she was beginning the search for another job, the city of Steamboat Springs created the position of water resources manager within the public works department. Kelly was hired. She says she was “turned loose” for the next seven years to pursue projects that are still having positive impacts on the community today. Working with the Nature Conservancy to establish the Yampa River Fund to help support river health projects and implementing a stream management plan to restore fows and the riparian forest along the river are just two accomplishments she achieved during her tenure with the city.

That experience helped Kelly land her current position with the state in June 2021 – a move that shifts her focus from the technical side of water to policy.

In her role as assistant director of water policy for Colorado DNR, Kelly works closely with various water-related agencies like the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Division of Water Resources. Because she’s based in Steamboat, she’s on the road a lot, traveling a few days every other week to meet with agencies and stakeholders across the state.

“I see my role as making sure that our agencies and divisions have the resources they need to do their best work,” Kelly says.

As a member of the governor’s policy team, Kelly has Polis’ ear when it comes to issues surrounding water. In his recent State of the State address, Polis used the word “water” 24 times.

“I’m going to be a busy lady for the next four years,” she says. “Water is going to be a really big issue for Colorado in the coming years – more so than it ever has been – and I get to be part of really advising him (Polis) on where to focus the administration’s energy.”

Kelly says issues surrounding water can be complicated, and she believes that’s a problem that needs to be addressed.

“We’ve turned it into wizardry, and people get excluded that way,” she says. “The more we can demystify water for the general public – for concerned water users – the better of Colorado will be.”

When Kelly is not working, she enjoys baking pies, cross country skiing, mountain biking, paddleboarding and camping, and most importantly, spending time with her family – husband, Geo Romero, and sons, Luke Bedell, 15, and Nico Romero-Heaney, 5.

“My family is my north star,” she says. “Sometimes it’s hard because my work takes me away from them, but at the end of the day, I also know that I’m investing in the natural resources and landscapes that are going to support them and their children, and hopefully, the next seven generations of our families.” SM

Photo Credit: David Patterson

A Slim Chance

The story of a greater sandhill crane rescue

| BY ERIN CAMPBELL

Have you ever seen a rancher rope a crane? That’s what happened last November when a greater sandhill crane was spotted on a ranch in Walden picking at an elk carcass, unable to fy. As part-time residents of the Yampa Valley, this species of crane typically leaves the area in mid-September en route to warmer wintering grounds farther south. As winter approached, it was unusual to see the bird lingering. With the help of some gentle and caring cowboys, the crane was carefully roped and transported to Steamboat Springs by horse trailer.

The injured crane was confrmed to have a broken wing and needed care from local nonproft Born Free Wildlife Rehabilitation. For the past 30 years, Tracy Bye has cared for wild animals in need with a mission of releasing each one back into the wild. Upon arrival at Born Free, the underweight and injured crane was aptly named Slim, and given a temporary home in a cozy, heated barn.

For the next eight weeks, Slim gained her weight back on a diet of corn, mice and 6,000 superworms per week, all funded by the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition. Kept in a warm, small space, Slim was able to heal the fracture in her wing under Tracy’s watchful eye. Often, Tracy would wear a gray, hooded coat to mimic a crane’s appearance, to lessen the stress on Slim. Her careful and thoughtful approach paid of, and once Slim began roosting on higher perches in the barn, Tracy knew it was time for her release.

A crane release in the midst of a Yampa Valley winter –especially this past winter – was not easy, so Tracy asked for help from two local high schoolers who also happen to be expert birders and photographers. Grey Barbier and Noah Brinkman were not only experienced in crane rescue, but also knew exactly where Slim needed to go for her release. Having recently been to Delta, Grey and Noah knew there were thousands of sandhill

COURTESY OF GREY BARBIER & NOAH BRINKMAN

Slim is about to take fight.

cranes wintering in the area. A region known for growing corn, Delta sits at an elevation of 4,875 feet and has a mild winter climate. After a successful rehabilitation and with the approval of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Tracy, Grey and Noah left for Delta on Monday, Jan. 9, to release Slim back to her own kind.

During those four months of rehab, “Slim didn’t hear anyone speak her language,” Tracy explains. When they arrived in Delta, Slim’s head perked up and she was visibly happy to hear those

familiar loud, rattling bugle calls once again. With a fowing river, harvested corn felds, and thousands of her own kind in sight, Slim’s release was an exceptionally beautiful moment. For Tracy, Slim’s story is one of many highlights she has witnessed at Born Free. “I am grateful for tons of experience with all kinds of wildlife, and release is the best feeling,” she refects. And as for Slim, she is amongst the cranes enjoying her second chance at life. SM

COURTESY OF GREY BARBIER & NOAH BRINKMAN

Grey Barbier oversees Slim’s release in Delta.

When they arrived in Delta, Slim’s head perked up and she was visibly happy to hear those familiar loud, rattling bugle calls once again.

Cowboy to the Core

T.D.Kelsey has been described as a renaissance man. A rodeo rider, self-taught pilot, rancher, hunter, conservationist and perhaps most of all, an internationally famous sculptor, T.D. and his wife, Julie Oriet, are the focus of “Coming Full Circle,” Steamboat Art Museum’s summer 2023 exhibit.

An emeritus member of Cowboy Artists of America, T.D. is the quintessential Western artist; fttingly, the largest collection of his work is housed at Bufalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.

T.D.’s sculptures are authentic, impressionist and, some might say, romantic. T.D. describes his style as “loose,” a technique in which the artist’s marks are evident on the clay that will form the mold for the sculpture.

“T.D’s work – besides demonstrating his knowledge of animals and anatomy – has a wonderful patina and texture. It’s very sculpted looking. The way he works the clay brings out the feeling he wants to convey, whether it’s action or no action,” says John Fawcett, chair of SAM’s exhibition committee.

Learning the Ropes | T.D. Kelsey | bronze | 8 x 14 x 21 COURTESY OF T.D. KELSEY

John, who is himself one of America’s most renowned Western artists, says Steamboat is in for a treat when T.D. and Julie come to town this summer. “They are both a couple of the kindest, gentlest, most interesting people.”

Julie, like her husband, was raised on a ranch in Montana. Her work is primarily pastel and oil, and depicts iconic Western landscapes with big Montana skies. “I was drawn to her landscapes, the skies, the clouds, the vistas,” John says. “After she met T.D., she has expanded to include great fgurative work and animals.”

The couple travels the world to promote wildlife conservation and to study animals that will become models for their work.

T.D.’s love afair with Africa began 40-plus years ago with a four-day backpacking trip to Zimbabwe. His subsequent trips

to the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Cameroon have inspired works featuring Cape bufalo, kudus, lions, sables, warthogs and other exotic African wildlife.

Julie shares his passion for travel, wildlife and especially Africa. Her landscapes, as well as her fgures and animals, exemplify her love for that wild continent.

The couple’s combined talents in both Western art and African wildlife are exhibited in “Coming Full Circle,” which is on display at Steamboat Art Museum, 801 Lincoln Ave., Friday, May 26-Saturday, Sept. 2.

For more information, visit www.steamboatartmuseum.org. SM

A Splash of Light | Julie Oriet | oil on linen | 24x18” (30x24)

Built to Serve

| BY SOPHIE DINGLE

Advocacy. Partnership. Impact.

These three words are carved into the stone above the entrance of the brick building on Oak Street that is home to the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation. It’s a reminder to those who walk through the door each day what their mission is: to serve.

The Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation provides funding for local organizations through partnerships and initiatives that work to address a community need. Their focus on improving quality of life by increasing equitable access starts right here, in this building.

Inside, the ofce is full of clean lines, minimalist interior design and bright, open rooms with plenty of natural light. When CSFF’s founders, Sara and Michael CraigScheckman, bought the building in 2017, it was on its last legs. But Sara saw the potential to renovate it into a space that could serve the community for years to come.

“We wanted to create a space that had fexibility with use,” Sara explains. “It had to be peaceful and welcoming and have the ability to facilitate a lot of good community dialogue.”

Working with Fox Construction and architect Bill Rangitsch, the previous building came down and a new vision was brought to life.

Each aspect of the new building was meticulously planned. Materials, like the hardwood foors and the marble surrounding the downstairs freplace, were expected to stand the test of time. The entire frst foor is accessible to those in a wheelchair, with features like a lower front desk area and a roll-in steam shower in the bathroom. A large, open kitchen provides an inviting space for hosting events. The room known as the “zen room” consists of a wall made entirely of leafy green plants and ofers a peaceful reprieve

Sliding glass doors in the kitchen open up to the zen room, flled with greenery to promote peaceful moments.

The renovated building on Oak Street has the foundation’s guiding principles carved into the stone facade.

COURTESY OF CSFF/TIM MURPHY PHOTOGRAPHY

COURTESY OF CSFF/TIM MURPHY PHOTOGRAPHY

from the stress of the outside world.

Bonnie Hernandez, who is in charge of impact for the foundation, says, “The funder/grant recipient dynamic can be difcult. When we have funding conversations, we always make a beeline for the zen room; it’s a comforting environment in which to talk about difcult things.”

In warmer months, the outdoor deck and patio –complete with a frepit and bar area – can be used for meetings in the sun, parties or as a spot to eat lunch in the fresh air. A bike rack on the outside wall invites employees and visitors to get around in true Steamboat style.

Plants are prevalent and paintings by local artists adorn the walls. Upstairs, the ofces are homey with dog beds, exposed brick walls, couches used for impromptu meeting spots, and in Sara’s ofce, foor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Storage spaces – like employee lockers – are functional while still being aesthetically pleasing, and an upstairs ftness room provides space for

employees to workout with a private Pilates instructor.

“We work from the inside out to be well and build from there,” Sara says. “We want to set the example for others to follow. When you feel good about your work and you feel valued, it’s really authentic for you to then open the door and invite people in because you’re excited, you’re connected, you’re engaged, and it’s genuine and people feel that. We work hard at that.”

The emphasis on partnership is a bright beacon throughout the building as the ofce provides a soothing space not only for CSFF employees, but for their partner organizations –to work, to facilitate change and to make the community a stronger place.

The building was built to last, creating a space that is functional for today but that can also accommodate future growth.

“The building isn’t about us,” Sara says, “it’s about how we can serve our community.” SM

The patio behind the building ofers a space for hosting outdoor events.

COURTESY OF CSFF/TIM MURPHY PHOTOGRAPHY

A casita on one side of the house includes a second primary suite and covered deck to give visiting family and friends added privacy.

alpine living

| BY SUZI MITCHELL

Great restaurants and the summer rodeo series lured David and Lisa Alderson to Steamboat Springs. The couple, whose primary residence is in Lubbock, Texas, considered several mountain towns and ultimately fell for the warm community feel of the Yampa Valley.

“It felt so welcoming,” Lisa says. The Aldersons had been to Steamboat for ski vacations with their three daughters over the years and decided to take a serious look at property in 2021. Within 24 hours of viewing a speculative home in Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club on the east side of town, they knew they’d found a place to call home.

David and Lisa Alderson divide their time between Lubbock, Texas, and their frst mountain home in Alpine Ranch & Club.

“The house was designed as a market home, so the interior layout was simplifed,” says Dylan Cook, vice president of design and construction for Alpine Mountain Builders. Dylan’s team, together with architects at Eric Smith and Associates, worked to maximize views of the ridgeline, ski area and gondola on the east-to-west oriented lot.

“Eric did an amazing job of positioning the house,” Lisa says. “Every room has an incredible view.” Construction was 80% complete when they bought it, which allowed the Aldersons to make a few alterations and choose some of the fnishes. “We loved what we saw from the beginning,” Lisa continues.

A glass panel by the front entry door hints at the open-plan living space and beyond through a curtain window on the opposing wall. The vertical glass feature spans the staircase between the upper and lower levels and extends the view to an expanse of greenspace.

Windows line the living area on one wall, which opens onto an elevated deck. “The home functions well when it’s just the two of us, but when the family is here, or we have guests, everyone can fnd some separation,” Lisa says.

Lighting features aford a sense of division between the openplan kitchen, dining and sitting area. Midway through the room, a timber and steel barge truss feature in the ceiling adds another design element to the space, while serving a functional purpose. “We wanted it to be a centerpiece and augment the modern aesthetic,” Dylan says.

“The home functions well when it’s just the two of us, but when the family is here, or we have guests, everyone can fnd some separation.”

-Lisa Alderson

A den in the lower level is a popular space for watching sports on television and ofers access to a patio and frepit.

DAVID DIETRICH

A curtain window throws natural light on the staircase between the upper and lower levels.

DAVID DIETRICH

A laundry and mudroom accessed from the kitchen give direct access to the garage, and a hallway leads to a second primary suite the couple dubbed ‘the casita.’ The suite ofers a sense of privacy for guests and benefts from its own deck.

European white oak fooring provides a seamless transition through the upper level, where the Aldersons have their own primary suite and David’s ofce. “I’ve always lived in a city, so for that frst month I would just lay in bed and look out at the stars at night,” David says.

The duo chose to add a workout room with a Murphy bed and were able to incorporate more guest space in the lower level with a bunk room that sleeps six people comfortably.

Perhaps one of David’s favorite features is the built-in wine storage, which he is “very much looking forward to flling.” A den by the bar area leads out to the ground foor patio where a built-in frepit was added.

Within the ranch, 900 out of the 1,216 acres are designated as greenspace and a wildlife preserve. “This is our frst home in the mountains,” David says. “It feels like such a great adventure being among all the wildlife that we get to see so much of here.”

The Aldersons’ fve-bed, fve-bath home was completed in June 2022, just in time for the couple to move in for their frst Fourth of July in Steamboat, and their frst visit to the rodeo as residents. SM

European white oak fooring brings a natural fow to the open-plan living space and complements the Tharp Custom Cabinetry in the kitchen.

“I’ve always lived in a city, so for that frst month I would just lay in bed and look out at the stars at night” - David Alderson

DAVID DIETRICH

The former Mount Harris home was bought in an auction and relocated to Steamboat in 1958, when the mining community outside Hayden was disbanded.

A Bridge to Happiness

Steamboat Springs Middle School Spanish teacher, Julie Warnke, loves summer for more than the long sunny days. The mother of three treasures her eight-week break from work and likes nothing more than spending time in her house on Spruce Street.

“Summer is when I get to be a stay-at-home mom for my own kids, instead of spending my days with 160 middle schoolers,” she says. Julie and her husband, Carl, bought their home in 2002 and got straight to work on their frst renovation. “We basically tore the house in half within the frst week of buying it,” says Carl, an engineer with Engineering Designworks. “The garage came down like matchsticks and for a moment, it was like watching your investment get split in two.”

| STORY BY SUZI MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELISA MAINES PHOTOGRAPHY

Julie and Carl Warnke, their three children Addison, Otto and Whitney, and Coco the dog sit on the bridge that crosses over Butcherknife Creek to access their front entryway.

The brightly colored kitchen is the hub of the home, with a side door that opens onto an elevated deck and rock garden.

The property was a former Mount Harris home, like several of the properties in the neighborhood. It is estimated that 68 properties from Mount Harris, a previous coal mining town east of Hayden, were auctioned of and relocated in 1958. The Warnkes’ house had already been through several additions when they bought it, but the original one-room living space remained intact.

“When we had Whitney, our frst child, we would creep around trying not to make the foorboards creak so we didn’t wake her up,” Julie says laughing. “We got to know which ones were the creakiest.” The couple was committed to preserving the history of their home but did replace the original oak foor. “The foor was made from scrap pieces of wood and patched together, so it was all funky,” Carl says.

Julie insisted on keeping one of the crooked doorways and an interior wall for posterity. “It kills Carl to look at that, given his profession, but keeping some of the original structure was very important to me,” she says with a smile. As the Warnke family expanded, so did the house. The twostory house now boasts four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a playroom and an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room. “The house is as big as it can be,” Carl says.

Doors of the kitchen open onto a deck and side-yard, which is a magnet for friends and cousins in the summer and also doubles as extra living space. “We love being able to sit out there, have meals, drink cofee and listen to the

Addison, Whitney and Otto have their own space on the second foor to chill out, read and play.

Excess tile from the kitchen and primary bath remodels frames the wood freplace in the living room.

creek,” Julie says. “It’s great for the kids, and we have Butcherknife on the doorstep as an added playground.” fr

the third rendition of the bridge and another thing the kids love about our home,” Julie says. “Living on a creek feels very peaceful and healing, and it’s unusual to have one going by your front door.” The property further benefts from its location at the end of the street, with very little trafc.

2021-22, the Warnkes contemplated moving for more space, but in the end, they realized something was keeping them there. “The house not only holds history of the area, it has a special meaning for our family,” Julie says. “All of our children have lived in this house, so our hearts and our spirits will always be here.”

The roof pitch on the log studio was designed in harmony with Hahns Peak in the distance.

A Bird’s-Eye View

Artist Dedi Knox had never set foot in Steamboat Springs until her husband, David, called to say he’d bought a piece of land in North Routt during a visit to see friends in the 1990s. “Definitely a surprise, but it turned out to be one of the best things he did,” she says.

The pair, who divide their time between Wisconsin and Routt County, initially built a log house, then added Dedi’s detached studio in the early 2000s. “It is my sanctuary,” she says.

| STORY BY SUZI MITCHELL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREY MULLEN

Artist Dedi Knox fnds plenty of inspiration out her windows for the bird life she loves to paint.

Designed with an Austrian feel, based on the couple’s travels in Europe, the kitchen and dining spaces feature rustic accents like the antler chandelier above the table.

Set among a grove of aspens with views as far as the eye can see, the lookout spot is ideal for someone who often paints birds. Stellar jays, with their charcoal black and cobalt blue coloring, are frequent visitors, along with the couple’s three children and their families.

“There are 18 of us when we are all together, so everyone needs a little separation,” she says with a wry grin. The 850-square-foot studio not only houses Dedi’s creative spaces, but it can sleep up to eight people.

“I’m thankful to David all those years ago for buying this place on a whim – it’s where I love to be.” - Dedi Knox

Elements of the natural world are depicted in a stained glass window in the primary bedroom.

“It is just such a breathtaking sight; it never gets old.”

-Dedi Knox

The upper level of a tiered deck is an ideal spot for morning cofee or evening drinks.

A clawfoot tub in the primary bathroom got a quirky makeover with its replica chicken feet.

David Knox designed the property to have an Austrian feel, based on the couples’ travels across Europe when they lived overseas for three years. Built in Kalispell, Montana, each log was numbered, then the building was disassembled and brought to North Routt by truck. “There was nowhere to turn the truck at the property, so it was hoisted in by crane,” Dedi says. Once in situ, it was rebuilt.

The compact structure includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and living room with an upper-level sitting nook that doubles as a sleeping area.

Views food the studio from every angle, including the lower-level bathroom, where a claw-foot bathtub begs to be wallowed in. In keeping with Dedi’s penchant for birds, the tub evades tradition with its quirky set of replica chicken feet.

The cozy interior of the property complements local custom-built furniture by Jace Romick, along with furnishings from the Black Forrest and pieces the couple has picked up on their travels. Dedi’s artwork dots the walls – the pieces are often interchanged with what is on her roving easel.

Much of her inspiration comes from hours spent on the deck, where views of Hahns Peak dominate the landscape. “I’ve painted it so many times, and it always sells,” she says. “It is just such a breathtaking sight; it never gets old.”

During a trip to France, Dedi followed in the footsteps of Cezanne to paint Monte Sainte-Victoire, an image he made famous through his own studies. “It reminded me so much of the way I feel about Hahns Peak; he never tired of painting the same thing,” she says.

Dedi’s studio is a magnet, not only for family, but also for friends and neighbors. Over the years; she has held mini workshops and classes for painters of all ages and abilities. The Knox’s neighbor and dear friend Jeanne Lodwick says their locale and the people it attracts inspires creativity. “We enjoy a community of very kind and happy creators, which I think happens when the joy of life surrounds you,” she says.

Dedi, who shows her artwork at Pine Moon Fine Art in downtown Steamboat, is engrained in the community she adores. “I’m thankful to David all those years ago for buying this place on a whim – it’s where I love to be.” SM

Eric Washburn and Robin Schepper relish the peace of their home, which was designed as a former summer property by local architect Bill Rangitsch.

An Eye on the World

| STORY BY SUZI MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID PATTERSON

Robin Schepper is not usually thankful that her husband, Eric Washburn, is loud when he talks on the phone, but for once, it led to great things. The power couple, who work in the political arena, spend swaths of time on calls, and working in an open-plan living space with each other proved less than ideal.

The duo moved to Steamboat Springs in 2012 from Washington, D.C., and opted for a home on Steamboat Boulevard, which they loved, until Covid hit. “We had two lofts, one for him, one for me, but Eric refused to wear a headset and he’s so loud, it drove me nuts,” Robin says, laughing.

Eric spent a chunk of his childhood on a ranch in South Routt. His family lived in Phippsburg and for a while he was homeschooled, then later attended Soroco High School. “My time there cemented my love of the environment,” Eric says. “I got a camera in ninth grade and my stepdad asked me to take photos of what I saw around me. That time in Routt County really launched my future.” He went on to establish a career as a legislative policy expert and lobbyist for environmental policy, formerly in the U.S. Senate before moving West, where he now works from remotely as an adviser.

The couple, along with their two sons, Shokhan and Marat, share a deep appreciation for the outdoors. That hankering for space and a need for separate ofces led them up a winding road to a log home above the treeline, of County Road 14.

The house was designed by local architect Bill Rangitsch as a summer property for a Texas-based couple and was built in 1991. “It had always been a vacation home and needed some loving care when we took it on,” Robin says. Once they installed hot water, removed the mice and upgraded the insulation, they got to work on interior fnishes.

Original wood foors were refnished and the kitchen cabinets were painted. The three-story home benefts from multiple sitting rooms, including one with a faux painted wood ceiling. “We couldn’t use tape on the edges when that room was being painted as I was worried it would damage the

Robin’s ofce on the third foor was the ideal space to write her memoir, “Finding My Way,” which was released in April 2023.

incredibly detailed ceiling and we couldn’t replicate it,” Robin says.

Robin’s ofce on the third foor had been the artist studio and included a slot with direct access to the garage for canvases. Now the room, which boasts panoramic views to the north, is where she works as a strategist and coach. Her lengthy career in politics included four presidential campaigns, serving as the executive director for Michelle Obama’s children’s initiative, Let’s Move, and as a consultant for the 2004 Olympic Games, among other positions. Those experiences, coupled with a challenging childhood in a singleparent home, led her to write her memoir. “I fnally got the space and time to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” she says. Her book, “Finding My Way,” was released in April 2023.

“When you work for elected ofcials, you work until the work gets done,” says Eric, who uses the space out his backdoor to switch of and recharge. The family created a one-mile trail around their property where they can hike or snowshoe with their two dogs. “It was a family efort to clear trees, lay wood chips and build the pathway,” Robin says.

Within the log walls, the home is homage to years of shared travels and an appreciation of world cultures. Pieces from Asia and beyond blend efortlessly with furnishings bought during their time on the East Coast. Custom built-in shelves are laden with books in rooms that beg to be sat in, whether it’s to read and drink cofee, or stare out the plethora of picture windows.

The Schepper-Washburn household may have its sights on the bigger picture of our world, but their eyes are frmly on the valley below, contributing to the place they call home. SM

Custom wood detailing, an open freplace and refnished original wood fooring provide a cozy setting in the living room, and a backdrop for the kitchen and dining area.

Charis and Andrew Petty, with their sons Macgray and Marshall, were among the frst residents to move into their 1,920 squarefoot, two-level home in the new Sunlight neighborhood.

Neighborhood

Ais Born

| BY SUZI MITCHELL

Until 2017, an elevated parcel of land on the western periphery of downtown Steamboat Springs went undetected. Shielded from view off U.S. 40, the empty site morphed into Sunlight neighborhood, a sought-after locale with 92 allocated lots. Among the established residents are Andrew and Charis Petty and their two sons, Macgray and Marshall.

ANDREW PETTY

JOIN

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MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE: MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE:

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TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY CONTROLLED STORAGE

“Everyone who lives at Sunlight is new to the neighborhood, so we are all creating it together,” says Charis, who lives in one of the frst houses that was built.

“Each property is part of a holistic approach to building a neighborhood from scratch,” says Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien, a partner at Vertical Arts Architecture.

The Petty’s home was built by JSM Builders, Inc., the primary developers currently building in Sunlight. Charis knew what she was getting more than most prospective buyers do; her brother Jeremy owns JSM.

Their 1,920 square-foot, two-level home has three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space and small mudroom. “It’s all we need and we love it,” Charis says. The couple had been living in Williamsburg, Virginia, but Charis wanted to move to Colorado, where her parents and brother had lived for over two decades.

In 2014, they made the move to Steamboat Springs and lived in various condos on the mountain until the opportunity at Sunlight came up in 2019. “I remember our frst Halloween here, and there were only fve houses for trick-or-treating,” Charis

says. “Last year it was so diferent and great to have all ages involved and taking part in our own little community event.”

The development appeals to mixed generations, and the Pettys enjoy seeing their neighbors interacting on the trails and at the park. The overall streetscape is designed to connect neighbors with the incorporation of front porches. An alley for garage access reduces parking in the center of the development. “That part is very similar to downtown,” Sarah says.

Vertical Arts ensured windows maximize view corridors and aford privacy as much as possible. Homes on the periphery of the neighborhood beneft from views of Emerald Mountain and Howelsen Hill.

“Sunlight turned out to be an amazing spot, perched above town, and without any through-trafc, it’s a little world unto itself,” Andrew says.

The couple both work locally, Charis in real estate with her mom, Cindy MacGray, and Andrew in life coaching. Their boys attend Soda Creek Elementary and the Steamboat Springs Middle School. “We are so fortunate to live somewhere where the boys can have a lot of freedom with their friends and your neighbors know who belongs to who,” Charis says. SM

ANDREW PETTY

Double sinks with chrome hardware complement the modern gray and white tones in the primary bathroom.

Dive into books for Literary Sojourn

STEAMBOAT’S AUTHOR FESTIVAL TURNS 30 THIS YEAR, AND THE READING LIST IS PACKED WITH PAGE-TURNERS.

| BY JENNIE LAY

Steamboat Springs’ insatiable book lust launched the inspiration for an author festival in the Yampa Valley three decades ago. The idea was to bring big-name writers together on a local stage for readers to absorb the impulses and inspirations that spawn their award-winning stories. It took root with the Bud Werner Library, growing a literary tradition that has become one of Steamboat’s most beloved fall events. The past 30 years have brought more than 150 notable authors into the community, including dozens of Booker, Pulitzer and National Book Award honorees, for the single-day event. The 2023 lineup of fve writers and their exceptional books continues to raise the bar.

Introducing a well-rounded Literary Sojourn reading list to tide you over from spring break through summer vacation, and get you psyched to meet the authors in person on Saturday, Sept. 9.

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

| By Angie Cruz

Cara is irresistible. She is a warm, unabashedly honest protagonist in this inventively structured story that is essentially an unemployment assistance interview. What emerges is alternatingly humorous and heartbreaking, revealed in the raw words of a Dominican woman who has long balanced heavy lifting and emotional work for family, friends and her rapidly gentrifying community. Cara’s story is an intimate unraveling of the long immigrant struggle in New York, and her multi-part confessional inside a bureaucratic ofce ultimately constructs a poignant portrait of America.

Go deeper with Angie Cruz | Dominicana was a fnalist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, a coming-of-age story about a Dominican teenage bride who immigrates to New York.

Calling for a Blanket Dance

| By Oscar Hokeah

This is the tale of Ever Geimausaddle – one boy/ man’s lifetime revealed through time and a dozen diferent perspectives. It’s a debut novel by a Native American author who writes about what he knows, connecting the reader deeply with rural Oklahoma and intergenerational tendrils of Kiowa, Cherokee and Mexican identities across the landscape. Recirculating trials of family, poverty, generations of injustice and intoxication are integral to their long-embedded trauma. But ancestral culture sustains a meaningful lifeblood that regenerates a man and a community. Beauty wins.

You Have a Friend in 10A

| By Maggie Shipstead

This collection of short stories is completely unpredictable –and deliciously literary. The tales are flled with tension and plots that are engrossing enough to have flled novels: newlyweds veer into a rural Romanian horror story; a man disappears while backcountry skiing and his lover searches for his body; a Hollywood actress attempts to escape a Scientology-like cult.

The stories are complex and varied in their time stamps, settings and human situations. Shipstead spent over 10 years writing them, giving readers ample reason to slow down and savor their unfolding.

Go deeper with Maggie Shipstead | Great Circle was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, a fnalist for the Women’s Prize, and our top Editor’s Pick in Steamboat Magazine last year – an epic globetrotting aviation adventure story.

Mecca

| By Susan Straight

This novel is a genius work of warp and weft, weaving together a complicated and compassionate cultural fabric that embodies Southern California. Its golden thread is a breathing landscape of canyons, desert, suburbs and beaches stitched together by thrumming freeways we witness through the motorcycle miles of a highway patrolman. Each person, place and intersecting plot relays grit, whether there’s a wildfre, an immigration raid or an intimate family decision to be made. Brilliant observation and skilled poetic writing make this complex multiracial, multicultural, multilingual masterpiece an essential story of the modern West.

Go deeper with Susan Straight | Highwire Moon was a National Book Award fnalist that mines the many trials of a young mother and daughter divided by deportation.

Good Night, Irene

| By Luis Alberto Urrea, Master of Ceremonies

Urrea steps out of the Latinx stories that have been a hallmark of his lofty writing career and dives into a World War II historical drama inspired by his mother’s Red Cross experience. On this journey across war-torn Europe, the Donut Dollies command military vehicles at the front line, providing sass, solace, cofee and donuts for troops heading in and out of battle. The women fnd friendship, heroism and love along with the horrors of war—and 50 years later they discover a satisfying twist of fate, too.

Go deeper with Luis Alberto Urrea | The Devil’s Highway is a true story of a harrowing journey that a group of men took to cross the Mexican border. It was a fnalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

HOT NEW PICKS FROM TWO PAST LITERARY SOJOURN AUTHORS

One of the joys of Steamboat’s annual author festival is discovering writers whose stories you’ll probably want to follow forever. Two past featured authors, Rebecca Makkai and Curtis Sittenfeld, have new novels to covet during this year’s sunny reading season. Take them both on vacation.

I Have Some Questions for You

| By Rebecca Makkai

This novel is dark. And you can’t look away. That’s how any true-crime type story should feel, of course. But this is a deeper cut on an obsessive crowdsourced investigation (think “Serial” and all the podcasts that came in its wake) into the brutal unsolved murder of a girl at an exclusive East Coast boarding school. Makkai’s fction gives us a multilayered #MeToo take on a culture that has become numbed and enchanted by the details and consequences of violence. The narrators in this book are traveling 25 years down their memory holes, revisiting a traumatic teenage experience and questioning with weary adultishness the motives and relationships of their younger selves. The story is eerie and familiar, and deeply engrossing.

Romantic Comedy

| By Curtis Sittenfeld

Not a spoiler: This book is funny. And there’s enough relationship angst to match any classic movie favorites in this genre. It’s a smart twist on falling for the wrong guy and being married to a job, set behind the scenes in the writers’ room of an SNL-esque television sketch comedy show. And yes, there are after parties, too. Sittenfeld’s observations on pop stars, power plays between witty creative minds, self-sabotage and falling in love are spot on. The whole story is fun, delightful, satisfying and insightful – a perfect companion for any 2023 vacation.

Learn about Literar y Sojourn and all the books by this year’s featured authors at www.literarysojourn.org. Tickets for the Sept. 9 event go on sale in June. SM

Order Online Pickup at Golden Leaf

Crossword

Steamboat Freestyle #1

THE IMPACTS WE MAKE MATTER

4.1 Metric tons of CO2 avoided via the CARbon-Free Challenge in 2022

4,367 Pounds of material diverted from the landfill through zero waste events in 2021

29,105 Trees planted since 2010

8,104 Linear feet of stream protected with 2022 tree plantings

14,091 Hours of volunteer time donated since 2017

2,537 Volunteers engaged since 2017

Why Stop at the Last Page?

Springtime Adventure

Now that the grips of winter have fnally subsided here in Routt County, it’s time to get outdoors, soak in the sun and take advantage of Steamboat Springs’ near endless options of hiking, biking and running trails. Whether you’re looking for a heart-pounding hike with serious elevation gain, or a leisurely stroll for the whole family, Steamboat and the surrounding Routt National Forest ofer something for every skill level. Visit www.SteamboatMagazine.com for information on our favorite trails in the Yampa Valley, and be sure to follow @SteamboatSpringsVisitorsGuide and @SteamboatMagazine on social media for trail guides and updates on the trail network in and around Steamboat.

The Beat

Stay up-to-date on local happenings with monthly newsletters from Ski Town Media. Each month we feature relevant local businesses, members of our community and events that you won’t want to miss. Visit us at www.SteamboatMagazine.com to subscribe to our monthly newsletters and follow us on social media so you never miss a beat.

Arts, Eats & Community

The combination of Steamboat’s thriving arts community, world-class restaurant scene and abundance of community events makes this mountain town a must-visit for any summer traveler.

Whether you’re looking to attend the latest art gallery premiere in Steamboat’s historic Creative District, end your day of fun-flled activities with cold drinks and delicious food at one of Steamboat’s many eateries, or dance the night away at a free community concert, you can stay up-to-date on all of Steamboat’s events by visiting us at www.SteamboatMagazine.com and by following @SteamboatMagazine on social media. Be sure to visit www.YampaValleyArts.com and follow @YampaValleyArts on Facebook for all arts specifc content.

Love Is In the Air

Steamboat Springs and the surrounding Yampa Valley has been a beloved destination wedding location for families throughout the years. Sprawling mountain landscapes, picturesque sunsets and venues capable of hosting parties of all sizes makes Steamboat an ideal Rocky Mountain setting for your special day. Interested in discovering local vendors? Looking for inspiration from those who’ve done it before? Be sure to check out our newly designed Steamboat Wedding Day printed publication, follow us at @SteamboatWeddingDay on social media and visit us online at www SteamboatWeddingDay.com for all of your Steamboat wedding needs.

COURTESY OF YAMPA VALLEY KITCHEN

Diners sit in the sun outside of Yampa Valley Kitchen.

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