November 2021 . Issue 10.11
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Steamboat Springs Hayden Oak Creek Yampa
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November 2021
Valley Voice
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Valley Voice
November 2021
Rants...
Contents Nov. is Native American Heritage Month Page 4 By Gary Suiter/ City Manager
Access State COVID Relief Programs
Page 5
Speaking the Language of Kindness
Page 6
Gobble and Gulp
Page 7
Brooklyn Town's Little Nellie
Page 7
Little Snake River Valley: Part II
Page 8
The Birds of My Heart
Page 9
The More You Know...
Page 10
Changing Seasons
Page 11
Sense of Place
Page 12
Who Needs Educational Theatre?
Page 13
Colorado Creative Industries Summit
Page 14
Hayden Happenings
Page 15
The Business Card
Page 16
Too Many Skis
Page 17
Power and Innocence
Page 17
Your Monthly Message
Page 18
By Dylan Roberts By Scott L. Ford
By Sean Derning
By Duane Koukol
By Ellen and Paul Bonnifield By Fran Conlon
By Sarah White-Crane
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By Karen Vail
Valley Voice is published monthly and distributed on the last Wednesday of each month. Please address letters, questions, comments or concerns to: Valley Voice, LLC, P.O. Box 770743 or come by and see us at 1125 Lincoln Ave, Unit 2C, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477. Or contact Matt Scharf: 970-846-3801. Website www.valleyvoicecolorado.com. Subscription rate is $40 per year (12 issues). All content © 2021 Valley Voice, L.L.C. No portion of the contents of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission from the Valley Voice.
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Over appropriated water wells… Charging $250 for COVID tests, then getting offended when someone says “Pandemic Profiteering”… The Riverview project will kill some views… Trash in the back of your pickup that’s not yours… The difficulty of finding peace in a resort town… Miscommunication when you thought you had communicated clearly… Feeling like a feather in a whirlwind… When your friends move away because of no available housing… When there is not enough time in the day…
Raves... A gas station with gas… Michigan vs Michigan State football game… No line at the car wash… Having a good time without throwing up… The perfect affordable haircut… The anticipation of another ski season… When there is food in the cupboards… Finding someone who will work on your vehicle…
Say What?... “I’m lost and I live here. Nothing looks the same.” “Where is a good place to eat – that’s open?” “Help! I’m having a seizure! My motorcycle is stored for the season!” “Why is the 10mm wrench always missing?” “You said breathe deep. Not breathe deep under water.” “I can’t make it, the horse died.”
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November 2021
Valley Voice
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November is Native American Heritage Month Gary Suiter/ City Manager
The acknowledgement reads:
Steamboat Springs, as a community, acknowledges that this land is part of the homelands of the Indigenous Ute Tribes. Steamboat further acknowledges the continual fortitude of indigenous culture of Native Americans today. We will work to uplift Native Americans and strive for equality in our communities and beyond. The intent of the acknowledgement is to bring awareness to the history of Indigenous Peoples in the Steamboat Springs area and to commit to a collaborative relationship with the Ute Nation moving forward. The DEI committee recommends that the ILA be published on the city’s website and used at various city public ceremonies connected to the land including ground breakings for new facilities, and trail dedications.
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The land acknowledgement follows a proclamation in 2020 recognizing the Indigenous Peoples of the Yampa Valley for their contributions to the land, water, plants, animals, and people of Steamboat Springs, Colorado and the Yampa Valley which was first inhabited by the Yampatrika or Yampatika band of the Ute Tribe.
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Chief Colorow, chief of a band of Utes, died in 1888
The Yampa Valley and all that is enjoyed today dates back to the first inhabitants, the Ute tribe. Long overdue, this land acknowledgement and proclamation is a small first step in recognizing the valuable contributions of the valley’s indigenous people and their traditions which helped shape our community.
Steamboat’s history goes back as early as the 14th century when it is believed that the nomadic Ute Indians spent summers in the Yampa Valley. The Utes roamed the vast lands alone until the 1800s, when early settlers ventured into the valley.
The Ute Indians Nuche (pronounced “Nooch” and meaning “the people”) are Colorado’s oldest documented inhabitants. The Ute’s creation story tells the Ute people that in the beginning of time, the Creator placed the Utes in the Rocky Mountains, their ancestral home.
The Yampa Valley remained the summer hunting grounds of the Ute Indians for hundreds of years. The Yamptika Ute and Arapaho tribes also visited the area for its mineral or “medicine” springs, considered sacred places of physical and spiritual healing.
Regionally the Ute people that inhabited the Yampa Valley were later forcibly removed from their ancestral home and relocated to reservations in Utah and Southern Colorado after the Battle of Milk Creek in 1879.
Last month, City Council unanimously adopted a land acknowledgement with the intent to bring awareness to the history of Indigenous People in the Yampa Valley.
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“This is a very important first step,” commented Steamboat Springs High School junior Macy Reisman, who worked on the language with the city and spoke during the council meeting. “But people of color are disproportionally impoverished within our community, and I would encourage you to keep acting toward things like this.” The city’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) committee worked with students from Steamboat Springs High School’s social justice group and a representative of the Ute Indian Tribe (residing on the Uintah and Ouray reservation in Northeastern Utah) to develop an indigenous land acknowledgement.
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The evident past of the Indigenous Peoples of the Yampa Valley is recognized as a valued and rich source of heritage, education, reflection, and celebration for all guests and members of the Steamboat Springs community, and the city recognizes the need to increase our efforts to include this in civic life and events. November is Native American Heritage Month and a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.
Heritage Month also provides a time to educate the public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
Valley Voice
November 2021
5
State Representative/ Eagle and Routt Counties
Access State COVID Relief Programs Today By Dylan Roberts
Returning to work after the pandemic is proving to be a unique challenge. The job market has changed, and some Coloradans may want to change careers, too. The state has $75 million in funding to support job seekers, workers, and students in getting the skills, training, work experience, and support services needed for in-demand jobs and careers. Visit: mycoloradojourney.com/journey/recovery to learn more. C
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It was no surprise that Colorado’s artists, who largely rely on in-person performances for their livelihood, were hit hard by the pandemic and the closure of venues. We created the Colorado Arts Relief Grant program, which will provide $15.5 million in funding to support our creative sector. This grant is designed to support the music, theater, dance, visual arts, literary arts, and film industries. If you operate an independent music venue, community theater, gallery, art museum, performing arts venue, production company, or radio station, you should apply. Visit: oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-arts-relief-grant to learn more.
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If you, your business, or your community are still reeling from the pandemic and the subsequent economic fallout, you are not alone. While many Coloradans are on the road to recovery, lifting up every Coloradan remains my priority. That’s why the Colorado legislature worked hard this year to craft relief programs that will last well into the future. I write today to tell you about some of the help we made available and how to access it for yourself, your family, or your business. As we know in our mountain communities, small businesses create good paying jobs, lively main streets, and a strong community. That’s why we created the Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery program, which will promote small business recovery. This program, which was allocated $250 million, will provide capital loans to small businesses through 2023. We also created the Colorado Community Revitalization Grant to support creative projects that combine creative industry workforce housing, commercial spaces, performance space, community gathering spaces, child care centers, and retail partnerships for the purpose of economic recovery and diversification. The program has $65 million in funding. Visit: https://climber-colorado. com/ to learn more. We also set aside significant funding specifically for rural economies. The Rural Economic Development Initiative and the Rural Jump Start Program will issue grants and tax credits to help rural communities diversify their local economy and become more resilient. The programs will provide training, offer networking opportunities, and create new infrastructure to help improve rural Colorado’s economic resilience, heighten its ability to adapt to change, create new jobs, and retain old workforces. Visit: oedit.colorado.gov/rural-jump-start-program for more.
The Incentives for Meetings and Events, a bill that I sponsored and passed with bipartisan support, is designed to bring events back to Colorado—this incentive includes weddings and other private events, which the previous grant does not. The state is providing cash rebates to lower the costs of hosting in-person events and to encourage more meetings and events to be booked in Colorado. Visit: oedit.colorado.gov/meeting-and-events-incentive to learn more. As individuals in Colorado lost their jobs, paying rent became an impossible hurdle—and tenants and landlords alike struggled. Housing insecurity, an issue I’m working on as a member of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force, is being addressed in part by the Rental Assistance Program that provides funds for tenants and landlords. Visit: cdola.colorado.gov/rental-mortgage-assistance to learn more. Along with rent, food is a fundamental expense that no one can or should live without. For those who used Colorado’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the pandemic, there is now additional aid. We allocated $3 million to help SNAP recipients access employment, training, and other services to find and retain a living wage career. Through the Colorado PEAK website, SNAP recipients can find all the resources they need to start their new profession. Visit: coloradopeak.force.com for more. We have created a one-stop website for all these resources and more so please visit cohousedems.com/powering-thecomeback-resource-guide/ to learn about these programs and how to access them. Or, if I can help, never hesitate to contact me at Dylan.Roberts.House@state.co.us or on my cell: (970) 846-3054.
Representative Dylan Roberts serves Routt County and Eagle County in the Colorado House of Representatives
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I always see America as really belonging to the Native Americans. Even though I'm American, I still feel like a visitor in my own country. — Nicolas Cage
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November 2021
Valley Voice
Go Figure
Speaking the Language of Kindness By Scott L. Ford
I am taking a break from the discussion I have been having in this column on the status and trends of the middle class in Routt County. I will return to this topic next month. This month I want to share three examples of kindness I observed that encouraged me in a time in which the language of meanness is being normalized.
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Last week I returned from a 5,000-mile Amtrak adventure that started in Granby and included stops in Chicago, Washington DC, Waterbury/Stowe Vermont, New York City and back home via Granby. During this trip I witness three acts of random kindness that were refreshing and inspiring. These acts helped remind me that not everything has become vitriolic. It reminded me that kindness is personal. It is a simple gift we can offer each other. The first act occurred in the early morning hours somewhere in Iowa where forty plus people were doing their collective best to catch a few hours of sleep while riding in coach on Amtrak. When we boarded the train in Granby I notice a young mother with what I am guessing was a twoyear-old boy and an infant. The mother had done her best to create a contained space for herself and her children across two Amtrak coach seats. Most likely she was traveling on Amtrak alone with two young children because it was the only option open to her financially. Also on this overnight train to Chicago was a contingent of Amish. It is not unusual to see a number of Amish folks traveling on the California Zephyr. Seated directly across from us were two Amish young ladies who I am guessing were in their early twenties. They were traveling with a vintage Amish couple I surmised were their grandparents. Sometime shortly after 2:00 AM the infant began crying. There was little that the mother could do to console and comfort the baby. The crying that started out as a soft whimper soon crescendoed to an all-out wail. The Amish grandmother made her way to where the young mother was seated and offered to help with the baby. For the next two hours this kindhearted grandmother walked up and down the aisle of the coach car holding a baby she did not know and sang softly to it. The baby fell asleep in the arms of this caring woman and allowed the mother and the two-year-old to get some much-needed sleep. That is kindness in action. The next act of kindness I witnessed occurred in Washington DC’s Union Station. While standing in line to get an early morning cup of coffee prior to boarding the train to Vermont, the man in front of me spotted a homeless
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woman hovering just outside of the entrance to Einstein Bros. Bagels shop. As he approached the counter to order he paused and turn to the woman and said, “Sister, what would you like this morning?” With some hesitancy she step forward and ordered a breakfast bagel and a large cup of coffee. As their respective orders were being prepared, he engaged the woman and myself in some casual chit chat about the weather which put her at ease. When their orders arrived, he wished her and me a good day and went on his way. He was kind in a way that protected her dignity. This was something that was not lost on her as she fought back tears. Yet another act of kindness I observed occurred while walking back from watching the play (Wicked). There is no shortage of panhandlers in the Times Square area with their cups which they rattle while asking for money. I typically do not give these folks money or engage them beyond a wave of the hand that says no to their request for “spare change.” About a block south of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, located at 8th Avenue and 42nd Street there was the usual crush of humanity going in both directions jostling for the fastest route through the crowds on the sidewalk. A few yards in front of us a panhandler had either dropped his cup full of change or someone had kicked it. Regardless there was a cascade of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters spilling across the sidewalk. The owner of the cup was in a panic as he attempted to retrieve its contents. Two nicely dressed middle-aged women stopped, bent down on their knees and help this man gather the scattered change. The least we could do was to stop and provide some form of a barrier to protect them from the pedestrian traffic. Clutching the cup close to his chest the man thanked the two women for their help and sat back down on the doorway stoop he had been occupying. The two women stood up, dusted off the knees of their slacks and continued on their journey down 8th Avenue. All this occurred in about 30 seconds. From my perspective these two women did a simple yet bold act of kindness for someone who needed help. Three separate incidents reminded me that it is not hard to be kind if we choose to do so. Without question the opportunities abound if we look for them. Mark Twain perhaps said it best, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Valley Voice
November 2021
Suds Central
Gobble and Gulp By Sean Derning AKA A Beer Fairy
7
Poetry
Brooklyn Town's Little Nellie By Duane Koukol
Heading on down the mountain Going across the Brooklyn Bridge Going to see my Little Nellie, yea That’s where, that’s where she lives Stomp my boots off Outside the bath house door and wash off Three months of cold and rusty miner’s dust Four shots of Old Crow To wash the hard rock down And darned poor Yea darned poor miner’s luck Down at the old’ Kline’s Bar Three bottles of Budweiser Three for just a buck
A trio for Turkey Day; Anchor Steam, Great Divide’s Colette and Founder’s Dirty Bastard. In a few weeks, it will be time to sit down to a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends, hopefully to create lasting memories that have been put on hold due to the pandemic. Sometimes this experience can be a test of one’s patience due to others’ political/social/religious/ sport team loyalties or sniping those not in attendance. And depending on who’s cooking, the meal can result in a culinary epiphany or a dry, chewy ordeal with several interesting side dish entrees to spur on indigestion. These variables are often beyond your control. But one thing you can control is the quality beverage you bring to or supply at the event. A Beer Fairy would like to offer several Thanksgiving beer choices that offer consistent satisfaction to the thirstiest and are guaranteed to wash down and liven up even the driest bites ever put on a fork. A side note; please leave the pumpkin beer on the store shelf. Get your orange squash fix in either a soup, pie or latte. To simplify, A Beer Fairy will explore beer choices according to color, starting light and finishing with dark. Let’s review three quality suggestions worth hunting down. The first selection is the Colette Belgian farmhouse ale from Great Divide Brewing Co, located right in Denver. This beer took home a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2010, and the flavor profile stands true to Belgian farmhouse ales; light golden color, fruity nose, tart taste with a dry finish. A nice counter to a Riesling white wine, this ale offers some effervescence to stand up to turkey meat and stuffing.
Moving up the darker color scale is a beer offered from Anchor Brewing Company. Their Steam Beer is a San Francisco beer that started the craft beer revolution in 1971. This amber brew is very smooth and drinkable, with a rich malt backbone and creamy beige head. The beer gets its name from how the beer is cooled in the open air. Hot wort (beer before it ferments) is exposed to the cold, moist air rolling in from the ocean and it cools the wort, producing steam. Ratings from independent judges peg Anchor Steam at 92/100 for Beerconnoisseur.com and at 87/100 from Beeradvocate.com. Getting darker still is the Dirty Bastard scotch ale from Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, MI. The name alludes to the ale’s style and origin and does not contain any scotch whiskey. With a dark ruby color, this beer, also referred to as a Wee Heavy due to its alcohol content (8.5%), features seven different malts and offers aromas of smoke, peat and malt. A favorite with the critics, Ratebeer.com and Taphunter.com both rated it at 97/100 and Beer advocate.com gave it 91/100. As we start to head into the winter months with shortened daylight hours, these beers will offer satisfaction for a time of year when it gives chance to ponder what we are thankful for, take a long draw and nod that these beers, when paired with fine food and friends, are all perfect choices to enjoy during the holidays.
-Sean Derning is A Beer Fairy and offers beer/brewery reviews and videos at Beerfairytales.com
But I got to say hi to my Little Nellie Yea she lives farther down River Road She’s kind of sweet on me Any-how that’s what I’ve been told There’s an old soot covered lantern lit Hanging outside her cabin door Just like Its hung there yea- yea-many nights before Four feet of snow on top that old tin roof All those little cabins covered in winter night’s snow Some more like little shacks lining the streets of Brooklyn Next to the railroad tracks Heading on down the mountain Going across the Brooklyn Bridge Going to see my Little Nellie, yea That’s where, that’s where she lives
Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. — Princess Diana
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November 2021
Valley Voice
Bonnifield Files
Little Snake River Valley: Part II: Whose Land and Grass? By Ellen and Paul Bonnifield
James B. Thompson while traveling from Hayden, Colorado to Rawlins, Wyoming noted the Ute had set several fires burning thousands of acres. Asking a Ute "Why?", he was told it helped to encourage growing grass for the ponies. William Byers in 1877 asked Chief Colorow the same question and received the same answer. David Morgan when interviewed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA - 1933) told how the country had changed since he first arrived in the early 1870s. Sage brush and buck brush now invaded most of the bunch grass hills he originally observed.
Editor and publisher of the Snake River Sentinel, M. T. Christensen, in an article titled "Life in Our Valley" provides an excellent summary of south-central Wyoming: "I can conceive of no section in the entire west today in which one may find such a profusion of fascinating pursuits, nor a valley memory laden with such a tragical past, breathing old historical feuds between Indians and white men, between cattle and sheep men, a rendezvous for the lawless, a home for desperados now in practical banishment." Let's look at that "tragical past." Alvin T. Steinel dedicated a section of his book History of Agriculture in Colorado to the Revival of Feudalism. Although he wrote about Colorado, his basic argument fits well into the history of the Little Snake River basin. Historians in a broad sense agree that transcontinental railroads often viewed western territories and states as their empirical domain that they ruled with an iron fist. For example: the Union Pacific completed its line across Wyoming in 1868. A wealth of coal was available south of Crescent Junction down Muddy Creek and Fortification Creek into Colorado. Feasibility surveys were conducted; however, the UP prevented laying train tracks. For reasons lost in the past, eastern railroad officials and investors chose not to develop the Little Snake River Valley. The communities of Baggs, Dixon, and Savery have suffered from inadequate transportation, financial backing, and isolation.
Following the Civil War, the removal of the Native Americans onto reservations and the destruction of the buffalo, millions of acres of grass land lay open, beckoning the sons of British nobility to establish vast estates. The publications, The Beef Bonanza, or How to Get Rich on the Plains and Cattle Raising on the Plains of North America, told the would-be feudal lords how to become wealthy while ruling an empire. The Swan brothers heard the call and by various methods took control of several ranches in Wyoming. On October 13, 1883, with a capital stock of $200,000, W. (William) F. Swan organized the Snake River Cattle Co. with George Baggs as a member of the board. Swan quickly took total control and the ranch became the Ell Seven claiming vast holdings on both the upper and lower Little Snake River. Several smaller ranchers (meaning they claimed less acreage) also ran cattle or horses in the river basin. Swan implemented a "parched earth" tactic to eliminate the competition. Large herds of cattle were driven onto the smaller rancher's range. The cattle soon ate all available feed and the smaller rancher was forced to either move onto someone else's range or sell to Swan. At the company's peak, it claimed absolute dominance over a range 150 miles long and fifty miles wide and ran 120,000 cattle on land it did not own. The drought followed by many blizzards of 1886-1887 nearly destroyed the open range cattle business in the West. Swan closed their North Platte River ranches and moved the livestock to the Little Snake River basin, further compounding the problem of overstocking which
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resulted in pushing onto other ranchers' range. One rancher complained that when Swam arrived with 1,200 steers and twenty armed riders, the smaller rancher was helpless. If the smaller rancher failed to get his cattle out ahead of Swan's arrival, he would not see them again. Mother Nature had the final say. Range conditions were poor before winter set in. The winter of 1889 was disastrous for the L7 (Swan's ranch) with a seventy-five percent loss. In 1895, Swan sold 450 cows to Bob Temple - all that remained of their Little Snake River operation. Temple and Charley Ayer soon afterward operated a much larger ranch. Despite the romantic myth of the roundup, they were extremely inefficient leaving many calves unbranded or with the wrong brand on the calf's side. Often smaller operations were not allowed to join the roundup wagon. Charges of cattle rustling were numerous and deadly. Ora Haley's Two Bars fight with "Queen" Ann Bassett and the Browns Park ranchers is a tale often told. In the winter of 1899-1900, Haley called a meeting in Denver of men who ran big ranches in the Little Snake River Basin. They considered hiring a professional killer. Arrangements were made for Ayer to hire Tom Horn, alias James Hicks. The story of Horn's ambush murder of Matt Rush as he sat eating his lunch in his cabin on Cold Springs Mountain and the cold-blooded murder of Isam Dart is a bloody blot on the Valley.
A a M r t f m John Rolfe Burroughs tells the story. In the wee hours of morning, a group of men were drinking, gambling, and n visiting when Horn entered the Bull Dog Saloon. Without ceremony he demanded a drink. "California Red" Kelley E and his brother Kewt sat along the wall. Red stood up and w H challenging words were exchanged. Red knocked Horn down and Kewt knifed him. Doc White saved Horn's life a and was caring for him at the hotel when a traveler ar- . rived with an excellent buggy and team. During the night, d Horn stole them and traveled to Juniper Springs where a w he finished recovering in the mineral springs. Healed, Horn moved on. He took a job to murder a sheepman, but o instead killed a fourteen-year-old boy, Willie Nickell. For b r that killing Horn was tried and hung. R One unconfirmed legend Ann Basset told was that at the M time of the murder of Rush, Horn had teamed up with another rustler who double-crossed Horn and drove the s H cattle away. While shooting rustlers, Horn was stealing d cattle. m The big ranches hired yet another gunman, Bob Meldrum, L for $250 per month plus expenses and had him deputized d by Sheriff Horton. Now the killer wore a badge. In Febru- t ary 1901, George Banks was slightly wounded and chased l four miles before he escaped. A few days later Banks was i riding to Lay, Colorado, when someone shot at him - hittingo A the forks of the saddle.
Valley Voice
Afterward, "Longhorn Thompson" who owned a ranch adjoining the Two Bars was riding home when he saw Meldrum hiding in the willows. Thompson jumped into the river and was able to hide. Thompson and his wife moved to Craig where they were followed. Leaving their livestock for the Two Bars to claim, Thompson moved to Utah. Other men whose names were on the list also moved on. (It is not clear if the gunman was Horn or Meldrum.) Editor/owner of the Routt County Sentinel John Weiskopf was incensed by the hiring of Meldrum. He wrote, "Kid Hampton was another Routt County man who met death at the instance of the western Routt County cattle outfits, . . . A verdict was brought in [by the coroner's jury] that the deceased came to his death as a result of being dragged by a rope . . . but there was a bullet hole in his head." The jury was afraid they would not get home alive had they ruled otherwise. Weiskoph's protest prevented Meldrum from becoming a Routt County deputy. Clearly, the big cattle ranches had declared a reign of terror in the Little Snake River Valley. Meldrum arrived at Dixon in 1899 where he worked as a saddle maker for Charley Perkins while wearing a badge. He claimed he rode with Tom Horn when they chased down two horsemen only to learn they shot the wrong men. (The killing may not have happened at least in the Little Snake River country; however, it illustrates Meldrum's willingness to openly admit murder. The community was willing to do nothing about it.) It is firmly established that Meldrum shot a fellow worker, alias Wilkinson, in the back of the head to collect the reward money - dead or alive. Meldrum left Dixon to work for the Pinkerton Agency in the labor wars in Colorado and Idaho.
November 2021
9
Poetry
The Birds of My Heart By Fran Conlon
He returned in 1908 to Dixon. Apparently the stock growers decided they no longer needed him and sent him down the road - not far. Baggs hired him as town marshal, where in 1912, a young cowboy, Chick Bowen was drinking with other cowboys. Chick stepped outside to yell. Meldrum gut shot him for no obvious reason. Chick died the next day. Later, Meldrum was arrested and tried for manslaughter. When he resigned as Bagg's marshal, the Snake River Sentinel wrote a glowing article of the good Meldrum had accomplished. Clearly, although a murderer, Meldrum had his local supporters. While powerful men and less powerful folks fought and died over who had the exclusive right to run cattle on land they did not own, they found time to kill each other over the right to graze sheep on grass they did not own. Another British-owned ranch, the Middlesex Land and Cattle Company, was expanding its range toward Browns Park. To check their movement, Jack and Griff Edwards, who also had some upper class British heritage, turned a large band of sheep loose on the range. No selfrespecting bovine will hold its ground against a herd of 2,000 plus bleating and lanolin stinking sheep. Middlesex lost the range. In Wyoming serious incidents occurred between sheep and cattlemen, but in the main they managed to dance around each other. A key factor was that the sheep men leased the Union Pacific's checkerboard land grant. In the San Madras Mountains, Slater Park is on the north slope and primarily in Wyoming. California Park is on the south slope and in Colorado. Sheep and cattle ran together in Slater Park. In Colorado a major sheep-cattle war was fought to keep the sheep out. It was reported in 1897 that Edwards planned to put 40,000 sheep in California Park and ship out of Wolcott. Wolcott, Colorado, is in Eagle County. To reach the railhead, Edwards would drive 40,000 sheep across Routt County, north to south, and well into Eagle County. Many men, including Frank Benton from Burns Hole, rode hard to Hayden, met, organized, and again rode hard and armed looking for Edward's sheep. The massive herd of sheep was not found. Edwards shipped out of Wolcott, Wyoming. The wild excitement was over a misunderstanding of the shipping point.
High-flying birds are a favorite sight, Raising the hopes of my heart, To climb and glide freely from the earth, A journey oft' made with a false start. Begone the stiff drink, and the sweet smoke, A pseudo push to see the high vision, The mountain and hill give adequate lift, I'll settle within the meditative provision. Inside my skull, the inner electronic map, Mixing the atoms of a designer's note, Exchanging such energies to make a whole, Of reality touching stuff for my tote. I'll take what is given, For it seems to be free, Like eagles aloof with uplifting current, Their views reaching to the sea. My heart is launched; it can improvise, The heavens ethereal, without disguise. (Far better for most things to take the slide, Less luggage for me with the departing tide.) The “LOCAL’S” choice for Personalized Health Care
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10
November 2021
Valley Voice
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The Art of Understanding
The More You Know... By Sarah White-Crane, Your Local Mountain Harpie
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The confusion surrounding identity labels right now is understandable. So, let’s try to break this down!
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It’s normal to be uncomfortable with new concepts, ideas, and identities that are foreign and different to you. New genders? New labels? How long is the LGBTQIA+ acronym going to get? What is this Gay Agenda thing?! Confusion is understandable. What's not understandable is to make fun of minority groups you don't really understand and aren't a part of. So please think twice before repeating any of the "Gender Alphabet Soup" jokes going around. They were funny months ago when being told within Queer communities. Now, for us it is a lot less funny to hear someone who doesn’t fully understand tell any type of joke that basically erases or disregards you or someone you love. (And BTW, The “Gay Agenda” is simply people wanting basic human rights, and to not be persecuted for being who we are. You can quote me on it!) I think what’s mainly causing confusion is that SEX AND GENDER ARE NOT THE SAME THING! We have more than 2 rigid genders, and a person’s sex at birth is simply not what determines someone’s gender. So we are dealing with multiple different layers of labels and identities that develop and change throughout life, and it is easy to get lost in the quickly evolving landscapes. Since this isn’t a text book, and you have Google, I’m going to focus on the biggest misconception I have been seeing, one that specifically harms Transgender folks the most. Grab a time turner and check out what JK Rowling said (that is currently being used to successfully create antitransgender legislation in the UK and the US). If you didn't really catch what JK Rowling was saying, you are not alone! Her essay seemed logical if you don’t understand the fundamental difference between your sex at birth (assigned to you), and your gender (not a choice). This obfuscation is intentionally being used to spread “TERF” rhetoric. “Gender Is Real” is their main argument. Of course gender is real. I believe Trans folks know this better than most of us, since suffering Gender Dysphoria is a front row seat to what gender is really about. TERF stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists. They are radical feminists, and their focus on the TransExclusionary part is important. TERFs DO NOT believe that Transwomen are women, (often forgetting to mention Transmen all together). JK and others believe that Transwomen are really men wanting to access "real" women’s spaces in order to harm them. So they are fighting to keep Transwomen excluded from women’s spaces based on women's safety. They cannot see the tragic irony that the group they feel threatened by deals with a much higher rate of sexual assault, violence, homelessness, and suicide rates than cisgender women do.
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Saying you are “Team TERF” usually means you have conflated sex and gender, and often then sexual orientation to all be the same thing. Again, they are not. Sex is what you are born with physically, and is decided for you. Gender is in the brain, and some people with Gender Dysphoria feel like their body doesn't reflect the gender they feel. It’s not a mental illness, and there are safe medical treatments to help both young and old Trans folks, if they are lucky enough to afford them. To exclude ANY group of people based upon physical and chemical characteristics they were born with, well, seems to be bigotry, prejudice, and preference. By the way, Transgender and Cisgender are not inherent insults. Trans and Cis are just two Latin prefixes! I have heard many Cis people say they are offended by the term, and I wonder how many know how the prefix is spelled, let alone its meaning. So, having orientations, gender, and sex all listed under an ever expanding acronym is confusing, unless you understand the differences and nuances. The plus indicates that we recognize many more not in this list, and no one seriously identifies as a helicopter. We are all humans. How easily we forget. Dehumanizing others has become so normalized, and maybe at the root of this issue, even at the root of the issues this country is talking about divorce over. We have learned to dehumanize humans. It's nothing new in practice, though the practices have evolved to be palatable to whatever the dominant class can handle. Squid Games anyone? Capital punishment, mass incarceration for profit, systems created so no one individual has blood on their hands', compartmentalize enough and no one person can be blamed for any systemic problems. When did we decide money and wealth (a concept we created) are more important than human life? When did we learn to dehumanize others so we could feel like justice was served, that they got what they deserved? What if we just always start with the label HUMAN when classifying people. What if we unlearned how to dehumanize others? What if we start with love and compassion for ALL earthlings, and go from there? YouTube Vids For More Information: JessieGender- More info about Terfs, and so much more! Contrapoints- Let Natalie Wyn educate you!
Valley Voice
November 2021
11
The Educated Guess
Changing Seasons By Fran Conlon
I have been impressed by the TV & Weather media; the forecasters seem a bit gleeful and snarky with the prediction of possible “snow in the West.” Goodness, I have barely gotten by the autumn date on the calendar. Sometimes the forecasters act as if they are the cause of any change. Such pride, or hubris: May their shorts freeze! Serious cold surrounded Otzi the Iceman, preserved for some 5000 years in the Alps. We are now 30 years after his discovery. He's about 5' 2” and around 46 years old when he died a violent death—an arrow in the back left shoulder that hit an artery. Tough neighborhood back then, or maybe just bad luck. He is being preserved in an artificial icy tomb. Future researchers, no doubt, will continue to ask questions about him and his environment. Truly a cold case. It's been thirty years since his discovery, September 19, 1991.
Perhaps he could read “weather signs” as well as today's forecasters. An educated guess is always welcomed. One study, a model, sees La Nina events related to drought in North and South America. Perhaps sun cycles are related to La Nina and El Nino phenomena. How all this relates to global warming is still not clear.
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The Old Farmer's Almanac, with its secretive formulas, predicts cold and dry winter conditions for the West. But that's better than the forecasts for Mars, with a high of minus 14 Fahrenheit, and a low of 114. On Earth, the Canada geese are making their departure southward. The echelons of honking birds makes an impressive sight. Sometimes in the V-shape pattern, there is a straggler or two. I guess they will figure it out, sooner or later. Way down south, Antarctica, a photographer was at the right place and time, and got a picture of a yellow penguin. Very novel. Very puzzling to the scientists. The pictures are on the internet, along with all sorts of speculations. I will keep my sun-lotion handy.
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Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. — Charles Dudley Warner
12
November 2021
Valley Voice
'Boat Almanac
Sense of Place By Karen Vail
Photo by Karen Vail
Wouldn’t these make a lovely place to live? But the valley always shoved its way back in and said “See, I am just as beautiful, in my own special way. And your roots grow strong here.” Sigh. It was a hard pill to swallow that my wanderlust would have to be quelled, but the land was calling. There were places growing up where I felt this intense pull when I was there, a satisfying peace. I visited those places again and found answers for many questions. And I found my sense of place.
I am sitting on a rounded, sun-warmed boulder high on a steep rocky face overlooking Mad Creek and onward into the Zirkel Wilderness. This is one of my favorite spots on Earth. It is beautiful, yes, but there really is nothing spectacular about this spot. Why am I so drawn to this specific piece of land and a few others around where I call home? I believe it has to do with my sense of place. I grew up in this valley and could not wait to leave after high school. It was a small town where everyone knew everything about you and the pressure was claustrophobic. So I went to college, traveled, lived abroad, traveled, went to grad school…. Then I came back expecting to leave again. Growing up here with a family that was passionate about the outdoors settled deep in my bones, and the older I got past that stifling high school phase, the more I felt a deep enduring connection to the land here. I found beautiful, stunning places in my travels.
Beach stop...
The American Heritage Dictionary defines “sense” as “Any of the faculties by which stimuli from outside or inside the body are received and felt, as the faculties of hearing, sight, smell, touch, taste, and equilibrium. An intuitive or acquired perception or ability to estimate. A capacity to appreciate or understand. To become aware of; perceive.” These words have been key concepts in the environmental education field for many years. And I love that we “sense” nature all through our lives, and through that we perceive and connect. My whole year is organized by the comings and goings of nature: glacier lilies blooming, mosquitoes arriving, frogs singing, elk bugling, serviceberry munching, ice thawing. This annual cycle of life is instinctual in all of us – we all are attuned to the turning of the Earth and the changes that come with it. Each year we add to the richness of our lives through life around us. This is what nature offers us; the opportunity to become enraptured and enriched, to evolve with a truly grand scheme, to sense the deep connection of everything
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For those who live here and for those who wish they did.
and the stewardship that comes with it. To me it is an enduring camaraderie that has guided my life. As I wrote earlier, I have these very special places, but I also have connections to very mundane places such as when I take my dog on her daily walks. Because we frequent these areas every day, every season, no matter the weather, the richness of its evolution through the seasons and years is fascinating! That is, as long as we are paying attention and taking the time to notice. I also have a sense of place through my garden, through volunteer work in my community, and through the people of my community. It is all connected and enriches my sense of place. Yes, the human-built community is changing, but the land will always be there to sustain us. It is in our best interest to have a voice empowering the health of the land. I will visit another of my favorite spots during this month of giving thanks. It’s a good time to reaffirm how special this little piece of Earth is. Maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of Canada geese flying south calling to each other high into the blue, or spy the last of the mourning cloak butterflies sipping tree sap before the long sleep. I will definitely lie in the crunchy leaves and breathe in the richness of death supporting life. I will give thanks to all that, and to the connections to come. Gary Ferguson in his outstanding new book, “The Eight Master Lessons of Nature” (Dutton, c 2019) provides apt words for closing. “Beauty is right here, within easy reach. You can feel it under the branches of an old maple tree on a summer afternoon, when in a kind, gentle startle it dawns on you that there’s no action for you to take, no problem to solve, no plans to make. Only the shade, the sun, the sound of the breeze in the leaves. And an extraordinary and effortless exchange. You, with every breath out, nurturing the tree. The tree, in turn, giving oxygen for your next breath. And so the world turns. And so you turn the world.” How is your sense of place evolving? Thank you all for caring! See you on the trails.
Valley Voice
November 2021
13
Piknik Theatre
Who Needs Educational Theatre? By Stuart Handloff
Still, this region has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation and the local schools cannot hire enough mental health counselors to meet the needs of young people.
Matilda, Steamboat Springs Middle School, October 2021 If you were fortunate to have caught the recent production of Matilda at the Steamboat Springs Middle School, the musical based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, you got to see not only a great team of middle school-aged performing artists, but also a great piece of live theatre. In a COVID era production of (mostly) masked actors and fully masked audience, these kids found an opportunity to create extraordinary dramatic performances that none of them will ever forget. As is the case with all performing arts events, no two shows were ever the same and there’s no way to recreate the live experiences for the artists or the audience. They exist for a moment in time and space; then they’re gone. And isn’t that exciting and rare? A bit like using an old telephone with a rotary dial and listening to the clicks every time the dial rewinds. In a YouTube world, almost every experience can be broken down into digital bits that are always identical. But live performance is totally ephemeral; it’s HERE in THIS MOMENT and then it’s gone. Video recordings are pale imitations. Theatre is always an event where you had to be there or you never really got the true experience. But what’s the value of this experience for actors or audience members? Are any of these kids likely to be professional performers? About as likely as any of them growing up to be world champion ski or bike racers. We live in an outdoor recreation-based community: our local governments and corporations have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on support for recreational activities. We’ve got world class skiing facilities, an Olympic sized skating rink, one of the few internationally rated ski jumping complexes in the country, and hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. Then there are the rodeo grounds, the tennis bubble, the numerous athletic fields, the Old Town Hot Springs, and the golf course. We’re surrounded by National Forest and Wilderness areas.
Meanwhile, the public investment in the performing arts has been slim to none. Local property taxes paid for the high school auditorium. There were some public donations to the Strings music pavilion. The PerryMansfield Camp (the oldest performing arts camp in the country) gets a few thousand dollars a year in funding, perhaps. But the public dollars going to the arts has been an infinitesimal fraction of what our community has spent on recreation. Do you think maybe we’re a bit out of balance in this community? I think it says something disturbing about our city that there’s hundreds of millions of dollars in recreational infrastructure but not one resident psychiatrist. What would Steamboat and the Yampa Valley look and - more importantly - live like, if we balanced our investments in arts and recreation? Do you think our community would be healthier if creative amenities were funded on the same level as recreational amenities? Do you think developing the imaginations in our students is at least as valuable as developing their abilities to make carved turns or do wheelies on their mountain bikes? At this moment, there are no theatre education classes in any of the schools in the Steamboat school district that are taught by trained professionals. The production of Matilda was a happy coincidence of the Piknik Theatre
Educational Outreach Director, Vivienne Luthin, living in my sister and brother-in-law’s spare bedroom while having a few weeks to spend teaching at the Montessori school, the Yampa Valley High School, and directing middle school music teacher Jim Knapp’s wild vision. Is this any way to run an “airline?” The performing arts in Steamboat sing, dance, and act on the head of a pin while outdoor recreation has been given virtually unlimited access to every square mile in the Yampa Valley. There’s something really wrong with this formula. Our little planet is facing unthinkable catastrophes, from climate change to an out-of-control pandemic. I don’t think even a world class ability to run gates, or ski powder, or set Strava personal records climbing Rabbit Ears Pass on a super lightweight bike are going to have much impact on the impending doom facing our children and grandchildren. It’s going to take imagination and creativity, in balance and harmony with physical well-being, to save humanity. So, if you want to know who needs facilities and education to support the performing arts, just look in the mirror: we all do. Theatre education teaches compassion and empathy to develop convincing character portrayals. Performing in front of a live audience takes incredible courage and vulnerability. Theatre artists rehearse for hundreds of hours in collaboration with each other, listening and supporting each other’s performances. The imagination required to take words on a page and turn them into actions that evoke a full range of emotions in an audience is extraordinary. There is unbelievable creativity that goes into lighting, costuming, and designing productions. Even finding the funding to underwrite a production takes problem solving skills worthy of a corporate CEO. But at the end of the day, it’s the simple joy on the faces and in the hearts of the middle school students after accomplishing a story well told that makes it all worthwhile. For a brief few weeks, these kids were stars. The confidence and personal strength they created for themselves is unforgettable and worth a lifetime of gold medals.
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You never get away from that thing in your hometown that it has over you. You don't outgrow where you come from. — Brian Fallon
14
November 2021
Valley Voice
Land and Culture
Reconciliation and the Healing of the Land By Angie Gamble it will be important to work together with others who are already there. You might have some new ideas to bring to the job and the company that could prove fruitful and good.
Rain, rain, rain – it rained so much towards the end of September that it broke the restrictions on using the Yampa river for recreational purposes. As I have considered the rain that has finally appeared here in the Yampa Valley, I have turned to considering principles of Reconciliation and the Healing of the Land. Reconciliation, why is it important? Doesn’t the other side just need to forgive and forget and then we'll all be good again?! But – there is more! When we live in ways of goodness, honor, and love towards one another, seeking to set right any wrongs that have been committed, the benefits of peace and wholeness start to flow through our lives and communities. When we are in right relationship with both our Creator and people, we receive the benefits of good relationship in a way that cannot be paralleled, copied, or manufactured. Furthermore, reconciliation not only brings goodness to our lives and hearts, but also to the land around us. There are principles within reconciliation that have to do with the land. Justice and injustice, people acting in goodness or ill-will towards one another also affects the land we live on. The land is more alive than we realize! In working in the field of cultural reconciliation for many years, I have come across some principles that are important to the health and welfare of society. And these principles also apply quite directly to the Yampa Valley at this point in time. The first principle is that honoring the First People/ First Nations that our Creator allowed to be on and steward the land in a certain area is important if we want things in that area to go well. In some ways it is common sense. If you start a new job with a new company,
But if you come in from day one wanting only to focus on your ideas and not seeking to understand how things have been working until that time, or for other peoples’ ideas to also come to the table, relationship with other co-workers and supervisors will often prove difficult. You might have difficulty bringing your ideas to the table or lasting long at the job. Honor and teamwork are essential qualities of good workplace environments as well as for good companies in general. There is also a principle in reconciliation that says that each person and each group has something to bring to the table that is important for the whole. No person or groups is always perfect in how they bring their part and no person or group has the whole story. We need each other, we are each pieces of the puzzle and as we make room for other peoples’ parts, we have the privilege of seeing and living in a greater picture of the whole. Life is not about competition, it is about fullness and walking in partnership with others helps us gain more of this fullness. The way that European people came to this land originally called Turtle Island whom many now call America was for the most part unfortunately NOT in this way of honor, teamwork, and recognizing the parts that each culture had to bring to the table. Unfortunately, people came in the way of taking, conquering, pride, and greed. There may have been some exceptions, but this became the dominant narrative in this land. And we still see the effects of it today. Native tribes live in remote areas often on difficult plots of land and the dominant culture has not made much room for their values and giftings to be brought to the table. Many times, as someone who works in the area of cultural reconciliation, when I have shared with people about the importance of reconnecting with Native people and making room for the good parts of their culture, I have received the response of – “why, we don’t see them, what does it concern us.” Well, that is exactly the problem. We don’t see them because they were removed from the land most white people live on in this continent decades ago. But what man forgets and wants to wash under the rug is not forgotten by our Creator or by the land itself. There is a story, for example, from an area of North Carolina about 15-20 years ago where there was a drought. People from various churches were praying and praying and praying for rain, but nothing was changing. It was a bad drought. A man from South Africa heard a word from God that there had been injustice on that land decades before towards Native American tribes and that this was why the drought was still there. He went to that area of North Carolina and told some pastors there. They took his word seriously and shared this with various churches. They decided to host an event apologizing to the tribe for what had happened years before. They invited churches and governmental officials to come (and perhaps anyone).
For those who live here and for those who wish they did.
They invited the tribe to come and had an event apologizing to them for the injustices that had happened against them years before. And… this broke the drought!!! And so there are still Jonahs needed in the world today. No whale stories I have heard of to go with many of them, though they might be out there. And just as in days of old, when the people listen to the Jonah’s of today, much good can result. Perhaps this is what the whole social justice movement has been about. The land is more alive than we realize. This is another principle in reconciliation. Both our Creator and the land remember the good or ill deeds of man and release or withhold blessings accordingly, either through principles set in motion since the beginning of time or direct current action, or both. This story used to be extremely difficult to share, but in the last few months I have suddenly been able to share it many places with many people. Amidst the social justice movement last summer, a couple of us shared with our local city council and I was able to share this story with them there as well. I believe they have begun some action steps accordingly. I never imagined this story could apply so specifically to our area. In all the emerald green summers we have had, most of us never imagined we would face much drought. But… as we have seen, we have been living in drought conditions in the past 2 years here in Northwestern Colorado, as well as the Western Slope in general. It all seems very timely to be able to suddenly experience an ease in sharing this story. And… rain, rain, rain! As I looked out my apartment window towards the end of September, a steady sheet of raindrops preceded the backdrop of beautiful fall leaves. I knew the Utes had come to town to do their beautiful dances for us. A step in re-connection. A step that was blessed with two or three days of rain, so much rain that the restrictions on the Yampa River for recreational purposes were lifted. And I knew it was yet another confirmation of how reconciliation and goodness are connected. Some steps have happened. More are needed. May we move forward not leaving anything undone that needs to be done. For then we will live in abundant blessings all around. As we seek to find and do what is right in the area of our relationship with the First People of the land (and all our relationships) we will not only be setting things right and doing what is right and just concerning our fellow man, which alone should be enough motivation, but secondly we ourselves will benefit as well. We will have the privilege of learning from those who are different from us, learning things we didn't know before, as well as giving to others. Secondly, we also will have the benefit of peace of mind and peace of heart (the ending of the movie “Amazing Grace” has a great line about William Wilberforce that speaks to this idea). And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, we will also have the goodness of healthy, whole relationship with our fellow man.
Valley Voice
November 2021
15
Hayden Happenings
New Dispensary Hayden Sprouts Opens in Hayden CDOT Signage By Brodie Farquhar
HAYDEN – In the last month or so, dozens of standardized signs have sprouted along Highway 40 in Hayden, giving drivers directions and distance to various destinations. Parks, the library, county fair grounds, Hayden Community Center, the school complex, off-highway eateries and more are now featured on Hayden signage. Town Manager Matt Mendisco said a $50,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in 2020 paid for most of the project. The town has contributed $2,000 in funds and $2,000 in preparing post holes for the CDOT signs.
On the east side of Hayden, on Highway 41, is a new recreational marijuana dispensary, called Anna Dispensary. The new marijuana/CBD outlet is owned by Mark Wellstone, who opened the Blue Heron Dispensary in Oak Creek, six years ago. His Hayden partner, Cherie Sanders, came up with the Anna name, while Megan Stone was tapped for the interior design. Wellstone readily acknowledged that he has a great highway location for anyone driving from Steamboat to Hayden or Craig. “We intend to offer a full range of products – something for everyone,” he said. He’s opening with 16 strains of marijuana flower buds, gleaned from three growers throughout Colorado. Much of his edible product line oriented toward medicinal use, especially pain relief. “Just as we operated in Oak Creek,” said Wellstone, “we intend to cater to our locals and take suggestions.” There have been a number of technological developments with edibles, essentially speeding up how customers take up the CBD and THC chemicals. “More and more, researchers and customers are looking at terpenes,” he said, “chemicals that determine flavor, smell and overall impact.” Speaking of smells, there’s not a whiff of marijuana to be sniffed at Anna. Flower buds are stored in a tight vault, but also in stainless steel pots that can be locked. “The product doesn’t dry out and customers don’t get overwhelmed by odors,” he said. He wants to have a grand opening November 4-6, featuring a number of specials. He has a staff of seven on board at the Hayden outlet. Wellstone said it has been remarkably pleasant working with town and police officials, who have clearly communicated what’s expected and what is or isn’t acceptable.
HAYDEN – The Community Resource Center and Colorado Small Business Development Center made a little scouting trip to Hayden last month, preparatory to holding a Rural Philanthropy Days meeting next fall in Hayden. Officials from CRC and CSBDC, toured the Hayden Community Center, so as to evaluate whether a conference of several hundred people could be held there. Joseph P. Haines, executive director of Yampatika, volunteered to chair the local effort to prepare for next fall’s Rural Philanthropy Days. These events provide a great opportunity for Colorado’s funders to meet with local and regional grantseekers. The exchanges that take place at RPD help to break down barriers and result in stronger partnerships, increased access to resources, and the development of long-term relationships. (Photo by Brodie Farquhar)
Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change. — Barbara Januszkiewicz
16
November 2021
Valley Voice
Tales from the Front Desk
M
The Business Card By Aimee Kimmey
He gently sets the luggage up right, careful to keep the old box steady. As the box tips slightly open, the clerk catches a glint of gold from the inside before the guy from 101 quickly blocks her view. "Jake Smithe, Realtor to the stars." He flashes her an award winning smile completely devoid of mirth. The clerk nods politely, "Hi, just need your key card and you'll be all set."
The story you are about to read is true... more or less. Monday. 11:43 am. Front Desk. The guy from 101 rushes to the front desk, looking urgently at the clerk, "Checking out from 101...?" He's a handsome middle aged man in a double breasted Armani suit and Italian loafers. He tows a carry-on size Gucci suitcase with an antique lock box perched precariously on the top of it. The faded, Civil War era wooden box looks like it could have survived a canon blast back in the day. A heavy iron flap once sealed the lid shut, but now it swings loosely, hanging on by a thread. It's clearly over a hundred years old, but it's still in remarkably good shape.
"Oh. Yeah. Of course." Jake flushes just a bit and fishes out the hotel key card from his pocket. But instead of sliding it across the counter, he fidgets with it. "So, um, if I give you my business card, can you call me if I, uh, left anything in the room?" Jake looks around nervously. She shakes her head, "I usually don't go into the rooms, the housekeepers take any personal items straight to the lost-and-found."
"I did, I did. But you know, if I've missed anything... can you just call me?" He holds out the business card. The clerk shakes her head, "Like I said, I don't get into the rooms... It's just right there, sure you don't want to go back--?" "I-I'm already late for meeting that I can't miss." Jake's eyes dart back and forth, "Please, can I just leave you my card?" He shakes it impatiently at her. She hesitates, "I'll be long gone by the time housekeeping gets to your room--" Jake's eyes grow big, deep lines crease his forehead. For just a moment the clerk worries that this swarthy man in front of her is going to burst into tears. "Please..." Suddenly he's not half as pretty as he is on his business card. The clerk sighs, and finally takes the card. "Sure you don't want to just make one more pass? It's not that far away?" Jake shake his head, "I did, I swear, but if I missed something..." The color drains from his face. The clerk shrugs, "Alright, I'll leave a note for the housekeepers, but I can't guarantee you anything..."
"Can I leave you my card, just in case?" Like a magician, he produces a business card that's as slick as he is.
Jake's shoulders relax, and he smiles, genuinely this time, "Thank you, thank you!"
The clerk lifts an eyebrow, pointing at the key card instead. "Why don't you double check before you leave? It's just two doors down?"
He carefully tips his luggage and the antique lock box back to roll them out the door. The clerk could swear she hears metal clinking as it shifts. "I really appreciate it!" He flashes her one more smile and disappears out the door. The clerk reaches for a notepad to write the housekeepers a message.
“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.” - Frank Sinatra
As she writes, she watches him struggle to heft the box into the trunk of his rental car, and nearly tip it over. He quickly looks around to see if anyone is watching, completely oblivious to the clerk eying him through the lobby windows. Gently he settles the box into a nook in the car, then tosses his suitcase in after it. He rushes into the driver's seat and fires up the engine. As he roars out of the parking lot, the clerk steps out of the lobby with her note and Jake's business card. She watches him squeal recklessly out of the parking lot. "What the hell?" She mumbles to herself. As he darts into traffic, the clerk wonders what sort of pirate treasure Jake Smithe, Realtor to the Stars could possibly have lost. She glances back at the front desk, pondering how long she can actually be away for, I mean it's only two doors down...
On the corner of US40 and Hilltop Pkwy
New Hours: Mon. thru Sat: 10 am - 9 pm Sunday: 11:30 am - 7:30 pm
970.879.2191
For those who live here and for those who wish they did.
T
B
Valley Voice
November 2021
17
Mensan Musings
Too Many Skis By Wolf Bennett Photo by Greg Rawlings
A reader asked me, “can one ever have too many pairs of skis?” Metaphorical or figurative answer? So, I figured I would start with the facts … off I trundled to my garage and found that I really do have a great many skis, though that is probably fairly common in a ski town like Steamboat. I’ve got skis for Alpine: teaching, powder, rock skis, giant slalom, slalom and all mountain. I have Nordic gear (waxables and waxless), skating, classic, touring, telemark, AT and even a decorative wooden pair worthy of interior walls. Don’t forget the roller skis (skate and classic) for pavement. I’m not certain where the several pair of snowshoes or the snowboard fits in the scheme of things (I do have a beautiful pair of wooden Alaskan snowshoes about five feet long). There are also poles for each sport… long ones, short ones and adjustable ones, cheap and expensive, racing and training. Of course there are boots to match. I discovered that I have several pair that need to go to the next ski swap. Looking deeper, lots of skis, but too many? My skis accumulated over many winters mostly from ski swaps, all practical of course, some sentimental purchases and some to simply assuage my ego.
Do I have too many memories, thoughts or dreams? Each ski represents many of each. Perhaps I need to send some back into the system at the next swap to spread the energy. And are all these necessary? Over 10,000 years ago skis were used to go cross country from village to village. Skiing is certainly faster and easier than hunting on snowshoes. They probably had some fun downhill runs but who knows how their mothers dealt with that? I wonder how many pairs of skis they had? Injuries from a fall could easily be a death sentence so they probably didn’t want too much speed and shaped skis with metal edges were a long time coming. Even a hundred years ago anyone who went really fast downhill was probably in serious trouble. And here we are today attempting to add ever more speed and difficulty. Why do I ski? Seriously, it really is a bit odd to live in a climate that is difficult, dangerous and expensive, sculpting swaths of forest to groom acres of snow, build moving chairs to lift us high up the mountains and then securely attach ourselves to very slick boards and try to go really fast where mistakes could cause harm. And then, we take lessons so we can go even faster and leap off ever higher cliffs. Seriously, we did not evolve in this direction. I’ve long told ski students that there are 2 reasons to ski: (A) is to win lots of money and fame by winning in the World Cup Circuit, Or... (B) To have fun. Fun can be many things. Personal challenge, exercise, skill and technique development, speed, slope difficulty, teaching, sharing, exercise, adrenaline, stories, Nastar racing, family time, simple enjoyment of movement in beautiful spaces or just being goofy. I’m not referring to an adrenaline rush that is fun for a little while, but the really powerful stuff that creates many year memories. How is it that you can ski for year after year and still enjoy the feelings? Have you ever thought about it? What lights your fire? What is it that drives you deeply? Go into any kindergarten and ask, "Who can dance?", or "who can sing?" and every hand will go up with enthusiasm. Go into any high school and ask the same questions and you might get one or two hands. What happened during those 10 years that the simple joys were discarded? Why didn’t we teach fun? Why didn’t we learn the real life skills that would fill our lives constantly with joy?
I think skiing can take us back to those days when we sang and danced with joyous abandon and just enjoyed movement and feeling good inside. I’ve seen many skiers burn out by mid-season or even mid holiday and only ski on fair weather days. I believe they haven’t found that inner spark that brings them joy. I am a teacher first and a skier second because the challenges are endless and every student is different and special. The challenge of teaching keeps me going because my learning never stops. Why do you ski or boat or bike or whatever? It isn’t just skiing but huge swaths of life. Is it the joy of fishing or just catching fish? Is it the journey or the destination? The bumps in the road are the road. Eliminate the journey and you won’t have much. The top of the mountain is where there is no more mountain, the sides are what sustain life. Have you got too many skis or too many memories? Wanna buy a pair of skis? On another note, maybe I have too many boats… nah, it’s the river miles that count.
Poetry
POWER AND INNOCENCE By Joan Remy
If I had one wish Upon a star Earth would find peace All existing in harmony Soul to Soul Warriors beyond the Elite Playing with sweet animals Luminous Dragonfly wings Children smiling and free Finding beautiful paths In sunrays and moonlight With every possibility Golden hearts loving
Cooking is like snow skiing: If you don't fall at least 10 times, then you're not skiing hard enough. — Guy Fieri
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November 2021
Valley Voice
Yepelloscopes
Your Monthly Message By Chelsea Yepello Aries
March 21 - April 19
People seem to blame their damaging personality traits on their astrological signs. The excuse that being an Aries somehow gives you the right to not tip your waiter, when in reality, the stars alignment have nothing to do with your behavior. It will not predetermine your actions and can’t justify your bad manners. Maybe it’s simply that you are just a jackass.
Taurus
April 20 - May 20
May 20 - June 20
Cancer
June 21 - July 22
Leo
Kids will never learn unless you let them make their own mistakes. So, when your nine-yearold neighbor wants to borrow your car to play demolition derby, just give a knowing nod, hand them the keys and say "Go ahead kid, I trust you."
Virgo
July 23 - August 23
August 23 - September 22
Canadian Thanksgiving is similar to American Thanksgiving, in which both celebrate the harvest and other blessings of the past year. In Canada however, Thanksgiving is held on a Monday in October instead of a Thursday in November. Also, instead of family sitting around the table sharing what they are thankful for, Canadians sit around the table sharing what they are “soaree” for.
One small bonus about the short winter hours is you can say that you have stayed out way past dark and still get home by 4:30pm.
Libra
September 23 - October 23
After an extreme makeover, the unanimous consensus is that you are exceptionally fetching in your middle age. You find that not correcting people is better than explaining you are actually an exceptionally fetching blown out twentysomething.
It's that magical time of year when the majestic Bublé emerges from its long hibernation. You can hear its song in the distance, softly at first, then it comes crisp and clear over the winter air. And so begins the two month
Next-Level Functionality
Scorpio
A “Karen Thunder Dome” is a new fun game where you order a pumpkin flavored anything at Starbucks, tell the barista your name is Karen, then when they call your name, sit back and watch the passive aggressive blood bath ensue as the Karens fight for the unclaimed drink.
You thought you met a cool sensitive dude that loves IFC movies, preserving jams and watching dramadies on Netflix. Although they do genuinely have a lot in common with you, it turns out they are not a cool and sensitive dude, they are actually a cool and sensitive woman that participated in No Shave November and can naturally grow a full lustrous beard.
Gemini
mating ritual of the Bublé, crooning jazzy Christmas songs and impregnating everything that is seduced by its voice. Then, when the tradition is over, he will peacefully settle back into hibernation for another year.
October 24 - November 21
This is a good time to start a new hobby, as long as you are immediately good at it and it doesn't take too much of your time or money.
Sagittarius
Capricorn
November 22 - December 21
December 22 - January 19
You will find short term bliss after joining a wellknown and respected improv group. Unfortunately, you will be formally banished from acting in any future performances after a controversial skit resulting from asking the audience for a religion and a sexual position.
Aquarius
January 20 - February 18
The irony that William Shatner played the legendary Captain Kirk for three years, then made his dream into a reality by actually going to space is not lost on Christopher Reeves who played Superman in four movies.
Pisces
February 19 - March 20
You aren’t the first person to subconsciously try to change their partner after being together for a while, but you may be the first to secretly try to change them into a robot, one small wire connection at a time.
Presenting the Cloud Z Sleepers. Exquisitely engineered for seamless, European-inspired designs to compliment the most modern of decor. Handle for easy open and close sofabed transformation.
Attached back and seat cushions.
Featuring Premium Memory Foam Mattress.
Come On In! We have many styles & colors available.
1707 Lincoln Avenue
970-870-8807
www.timberlinefurnitureandmattress.com For those who live here and for those who wish they did.
Valley Voice
By Matt Scharf
Hurry Up and Wait Month
November 2021
19
November 2021
Valley Voice
Thank You for...
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THE HAYDEN HERITAGE CENTER AND THE HISTORIC HAYDEN GRANARY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE 2021 ANNUAL RIDE THE COG Thank You Sponsors! MOUNTAIN VALLEY BANK . STEAMBOAT ACE HARDWARE AT THE CURVE . THE GREEN COMPANY BEAR RIVER COOP . STATE FARM -DEBBIE ARAGON . THE DRUNKEN ONION . ALPINE LUMBER . IRON WHEEL TRADING . STEAMBOAT SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY . THE UPS STORE . AXIAL ARTS ARCHITECTURE . ADVANCE COPIER SOLUTIONS . YAMPA VALLEY BANK PETRA GENERAL CONTRACTOR/ Rodney McGowan . STEAMBOAT RENTALS
Thank You! Thank You Supporters! Wes Dearborn-Dearborn General Contractors . Yampa Valley Brewery . Sage and Spirit . Element Print and Design, Inc. . ChaosInk . The River 98.9 . KBCR . The Valley Voice . Wild Goose @ the Granary . Morningside String Band . Routt County Riders . Bicycle Colorado . Routt County . Town of Hayden
AND, OF COURSE, ALL OF THE RIDERS WHO CAME OUT TO SUPPORT US! Thank You Volunteers! Bonnie Girton, Mary O’Brien, Katie Blankenship, Rachel Wattles, Terry and Rebecca Wattles, Chief of Police Greg Tuliszewski & Officer Sean Hockaday, Jo and Rowan Webster, Millie Delaney, Amy Charity, Joe Kennedy, Cindy Zeller, Sue Reed
For those who live here and for those who wish they did.
