2012 crystal valley echo april

THE CRYSTAL VALLEY ECHOand Marble Times

Providing a voice for community-based organizations and individuals that enrich the life of the Crystal ValleyApril 2012 FREE Volume 9 Number 4

• Serving the Crystal Valley since 2002 •

Inside

Hot springs reservations

page 2

“Frozen”page 9

Around theValley

page 10

Great Outdoorspage 15

Wii bowl in Marblepage 16

One of Redstone’s most important buildings is gettingreplaced.

Top left, Redstone's old sewer plant is going to be disman-tled and hauled away. Photo by Carrie Click

A new facility is being constructed adjacent to the old plantnext to the Redstone fire station at the north end ofRedstone Boulevard. Photos by Nancy Chromy

An essentialRedstonebuildinggetsreplaced

Coming down… going up

, Crystal Valley Echo & Marble Times

MISSION STATEMENT:To provide a voice for Crystal Valleyites; to bringattention to the individuals and local businessesthat are the fabric of the Crystal Valley region; tocontribute to the vitality of our small town life.

PublisherAlyssa Ohnmacht

EditorCarrie Click

Staff WriterSue McEvoy

Advertising SalesAlyssa Ohnmacht • [email protected]

DistributionDawn Distribution • 963-0874

Contributors to this issue ofThe Crystal Valley Echo:

Nancy Chromy Sean Jeung, John Emerick,George Newman, the Walter family,

Ron Leach, Town of Carbondale,Faux Reel Films, CMC, Pitkin County,

Bruce Gledhill, RCA, Pat Bingham,Andrea Waldmann, YouthEntity,

Dan Prazen, Beneshes, Marble Charter School students and staff

The Crystal Valley Echois published monthly, and is distributed

throughout the entire Crystal Valley.

Home delivery is available for many locations throughout the valley.

Newspaper box locations:Carbondale City Market (inside) • Village Smithy

Carbondale Post Office • Dos Gringos • Red Rock DinerRedstone General Store • Marble Charter School

The Echo is also available at businesses from El Jebel to Glenwood Springsand throughout the Crystal Valley.

For subscriptionsPlease send $35 and address information to:

The Crystal Valley Echo274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623

For informationPlease contact us: [email protected]

All copy submitted to The Crystal Valley Echo will be edited and reviewed by our staff for

style, grammar and content. The Crystal Valley Echo reserves the right to refuse publication of any submitted

material that does not meet the our standards for a positive, informative, educational community newspaper.

H O T S P R I N G S

In Marble… A salon experience in a natural setting.

In Redstone… a convenient locationfor all your beauty needs.

Lower Level of the Redstone Inn • 970-963-2526170 Crystalline Drive • Marble CO 81623 • 970-963-0998 • 970-319-5716

IN REDSTONE AND MARBLE

Avalanche Ranch Hot Springstaking reservations

Avalanche Ranch’s new hotsprings pools have become so popu-lar that in order to avoid overcrowd-ing, the ranch has started a reserva-tion system.

All guests staying at the ranch’scabins have complimentary, 24-houraccess to the pools. However, only alimited number of paid public accesspasses are being accepted on a dailybasis. To ensure availability, MollyOgilby of Avalanche Ranch asks dayusers to call 963-2846 or [email protected] to make areservation prior to visiting the pools.

Day use is available from 9 a.m.-5p.m. for non-lodging guests. Day usecost, Mondays through Thursdays, is$15 for adults, and $9 for children 3-14 years. Fridays through Sundays is$18 for adults, and $12 for children.The pools are closed on Wednesdaysuntil 3 p.m. for cleaning.

The pools are family friendly;clothing is required and there are nopets, glass or smoking allowed in thepool area.

For more information, go toavalancheranch.com.

– Echo staff

APRIL 2012

W H O W E A R E

Sean JeungOccupation: Chaplain of HomeCare and Hospice of the Valley thatservices the entire Crystal Valley and beyond.

Birthplace: Mountains of Virginia

Age: 57

When did you move to the Crystal Valley andwhy?In February of 1987 I moved to the Crystal Valley toget my infant daughter, Shelby, out of Orlando, Fla. toa safer, more powerful, more sacred and more alignedplace to grow up. I lived along the Crystal River justoutside of Redstone for two years.

When did you start working in the CrystalValley? What do you do here?When I lived in the Crystal Valley, I worked at the Mt.Sopris Montessori School in Carbondale. My currentwork in hospice allows me to still visit Redstone andMarble regularly.

Where do you live now? No Name

What three things would you like people toknow about you?1) I do what I love.2) I love what I do.3) Right now, right here, is all we have for sure.

Which living person do you most admire? My husband, Greg

What's the best piece of advice you've everbeen given?We are all one.

What is your favorite thing to do in the CrystalValley?Watch and listen.

Who are you? Would you like others to know who you are and what you’re about? Or do you know someone who lives and/or works in the Crystal Valleywho would make an interesting Who We Are subject? Let us know by contacting the Echo at [email protected], or call 963-2373.

“Who We Are” is a Q&A about Crystal Valleyites and/or those who work in the Crystal Valley area. Our objective is to give community members better connections and familiarity with each other.

W A T E R

Sean Jeung. Photo by Kim Doose

Turn the page to learn TWO AMAZING FACTSabout our community…

By Carrie Click, Echo editor

One of Redstone’s most important buildings is getting replaced. No it’s not the Redstone Castle, or the Redstone Inn, or even the Redstone General

Store. It’s Redstone’s old, green, metal sewer plant that sits next to the Redstone fire sta-tion on the back road to the village.

You may scoff, and you may chuckle, but you would not want to live in a communitywhere the sewer plant was going to….well, you know.

“The beams [in the old plant] were starting to crumble,” said John Chromy, RedstoneWater and Sanitation District president. “That building is almost 40 years old. It wasn’tmeant to last this long.”

The old plant has been financed on a 40-year note. The new plant is being financed ona 20-year note. And John said the new building is expected to last a lot longer – at least50 to 60 years.

“It’ll probably last 100 years, and we’ll pay for it in 20,” he said. With the passage of three tax increase measures on the November 2011 ballot,

Redstone voters secured funding for water district operations, including the loan for thenew facility.

“It’s a bad time to expect people to vote to increase their taxes but the voters camethrough,” said John, of district residents who apparently saw the necessity of a fully oper-ational water treatment plant. “We designed the funding structure so that the increaseswon’t rock anyone’s world. They’re slight and incremental.”

At a reported cost of $2.1 million, the new facility will be able to process up to 50,000gallons of water daily.

“We planned it so it could take double the current capacity of the old plant,” said John,referring to the possibility of the Redstone Castle tapping into the district’s sewer line inthe future.

Like an old battleship, the old green building will be decommissioned and disassem-bled.

“It’s coming apart,” said John, of the structure, which will soon be a faded memory. Schmeuser Gordon Meyer of Glenwood Springs are the engineers on the project, and

Hydro Construction from Denver, which specializes in building water treatment facilities,is the contractor on the job. John said the new building’s crew have been renting a houseduring construction in Redstone, going home to the Front Range on the weekends.

John said the new plant is expected to be up and running by June – and maybe a littleearlier.

“We’re shooting for the landscaping to be completed by the Fourth of July,” he said.

Redstone’s new wastewater treatment facility is a far cry from the old metalsewer plant that will soon be dismantled. Photo by Nancy Chromy

So long sewer plant, hello wastewater treatment facility


Your calendar for goings on in and around the Crystal River Valley

C R Y S T A L C A L E N D A R

Help the Echo’s calendar grow; let us know. Sendevent items to [email protected] by the15th of the preceding month. Be sure to include thefive Ws (who, what, when, why and where); contactinfo, cost and anything else you think readers needto know.

• April 1: April Fool’s.

• April 1: 6:30 p.m. “India & Nepal: Volunteeringand Trekking in the Himalayas,” a slide show pre-sented by Sue McEvoy, volunteer coordinator withGlobal Dental Relief, is at the Redstone Inn. Free;sponsored by the Redstone Community Foundation.704-1843.

• April 2: 3:30-5 p.m. Junior Masters painting classtaught by painter Garry Michel for ages 9-12 runson Tuesdays starting today through May 14 at theThird Street Center, 520 S. Third St., Carbondale.For more information or to register, go to carbon-dalearts.com or call 963-1680.

• April 3: 10 a.m. Redstone Community Associationmeets at the Redstone Inn. Learn about upcomingRedstone events, and help plan for them. redstone-colorado.com.

• April 3: Town of Marble mail-in election today. Allballots must be into Carbondale Town Hall by 7p.m.

• April 3: 6-8 p.m. Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteershold their big season kick-off at the Third StreetCenter in Carbondale. Find out 2012’s nine workprojects on public lands in the Colorado River andRoaring Fork River valleys. Call 927-8241, or [email protected].

• April 5: 1-3 p.m. Time to recycle in Redstone. Infront of the Church at Redstone, RedstoneBoulevard.

• April 5: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Roaring Fork OutdoorVolunteers (RFOV) Crew Leader Kick-off is at theVillage Smithy in Carbondale. Find out more detailsabout RFOV’s Crew Leader Program. Learn what ittakes to become a crew leader. Call 927-8241, or e-mail [email protected].

• April 6: 6-8 p.m. At First Fridays, Carbondale’s cel-ebration of the arts, shopping, dining and music, gal-leries and shops stay open late and restaurants runspecials. Go to carbonalecolorado.com, 963-1890.

• April 7: 10 a.m. Redstone Easter Egg Hunt atRedstone Park for children 12 and under. Jen, 963-2365.

• April 10-15: Aspen Shortsfest in Carbondale. All filmsare 40 minutes or less and cover the gamut, from doc-umentaries to comedies. Go to aspenfilm.org to seewhich shorts are screening in Carbondale.

• April 14: 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. A yarn spinning classis being held today, and the two followingSaturdays, April 21 and 28, at Carbondale Councilon Arts and Humanities. Taught by Ruth Hollowellfor age 15 and up for $75. At the Third StreetCenter, 520 S. Third St., Carbondale. 963-1680,Ruth 963-1924, carbondalearts.com.

• April 19: 1-3 p.m. Time to recycle in Redstone. Infront of the Church at Redstone, Redstone Boulevard.

• April 20: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. "2012Regional Trails, Biking, Walking Summit: Health,Economic and Clean Energy Benefits," is at theGlenwood Springs Community Center, 100 WulfsohnRd., Glenwood. Discover how our regional trail sys-tem boosts the economy by extending the length ofvisitors' stays and shoulder seasons, and the benefitsof having an infrastructure to bike for miles betweencommunities. Registration is $15 and includes lunch;704-9200 garfieldcleanenergy.org/register.

• April 22-May 20: Earth Day clean-up of Highway 133,Redstone. Contact Steve at [email protected]

• April 25-30: During the latter part of this month,be aware that the Forest Service is planning severalprescribed burns in the Avalanche Creek and FilohaMeadows area. Those with respiratory concernsshould be aware of this smoke. Call Jim Genung atthe Forest Service office in Carbondale at 963-2266with questions.

• April 26-29: 5Point Film Festival in Carbondalefocuses on films of adventure and challenge. Thisyear’s program includes special guests: climbersRenan Ozturk, Jimmy Chin, and Hayden Kennedy;paddlers Erik Boomer and Jon Turk; and skateboardlegend Tony Alva. Go to 5pointfilm.org for a fullschedule and details.

ONGOING

• Guided tours of the historic Redstone Castle onSaturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available atTiffany of Redstone and the Redstone General Store.$15/adults, $10/seniors/children, free for kids under5 years. 963-9656 or redstonecastle.us.

• Speaking of the Redstone Castle, if you missed the“American Greed” TV special on CNBC that aired inMarch regarding the scam involving the castle thatoccurred in the 2000s, watch for reruns. It is episode#58 and is called “Loan Scam: Money for Nothing.”

• Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around Redstone.$25/person. 963-2526, redstoneinn.com.

• Pilates in Redstone is on Monday and Thursdaymornings; 8-9 a.m. is advanced; 9:30-10:30 a.m. isbeginner; and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. – all levels,everyone welcome, at the Redstone Inn. $10 fee,punch passes available. Dress comfortably and bringa mat. 704-1843.

• A drop-in, uninstructed figure drawing session isheld every Monday from 7-9 p.m. at the Third StreetCenter, 520 S. Third, Suite 9, Carbondale. No feebut there is a model’s fee and attendees need tobring supplies and easels. 963-1680.

• Roaring Fork Combat Veterans Support Group, asafe place for veterans who have served in combatoperations to share, meets every Monday at 8 p.m.at the Circle Club, 123 Main St., Carbondale.Contact Adam McCabe, [email protected].

• Total Body Fitness schedule in Redstone is Tuesdayand Thursday, 8:30-10:30 a.m., at the Church atRedstone on the Boulevard. Have a two-hour bodyexperience: Sculpt your figure with low impact toburn body fat, weight-bearing exercises to strength-en and breathing and mindful stretching for flexibil-ity and body/mind awareness. Free to the communi-ty. All abilities welcome. Since 1995. Personal train-ing available. Instructor: Lisa Wagner, 963-8240.

• Zumba Gold, dancing lessons for seniors, withprofessional Latin dance instructor Paula Valentimeets on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. seniorsmatter.org.

• HEARTBEAT – support for survivors after suicide –meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 824 CooperSt. (the Bethel Chapel entrance), Glenwood. CallPam Szedelyi, 945-1398, or [email protected].

• Want to be "In Stitches"? Every first, third andsometimes fifth Wednesday, bring the stitches (knit,crochet, needlepoint etc.) of your choice to theRedstone Inn Library Room from 4-6 p.m. Beginnerto advanced. Call Kay Bell, 963-9811, or MaryDorais, 963-3862.

• Recycling in Redstone is on the first and thirdThursday of each month from 1-3 p.m. Bring yourcardboard, glass, plastic, newspapers, magazines,aluminum, steel cans and office paper to the PitkinCounty bin parked adjacent to the Church atRedstone, Redstone Boulevard.

• Zingers, a group of seniors who sing all over theRoaring Fork Valley, meet at 2 p.m. every Thursdaywith Betsy Schenck for practice at Seniors Matter, inRoom 33 at the Third Street Center, 520 S. Third St.,Carbondale; seniorsmatter.org.

• AA in Redstone is every Thursday at 7 p.m. This isa closed step discussion meeting at the Church atRedstone on the Boulevard. Men and women wel-come.

• Painting with Expression and Creativity, an artclass for seniors, meets on Fridays from 10-11:30a.m. at the Third Street Center in Carbondale withinstructor Gerry Michel. Inquire at 963-2536 or 948-7033.

• Carbondale Recreation offers classes and programsfor a range of activities for kids and adults. 704-4190, carbondalerec.com.

• Get help: Crystal Valley residents living in PitkinCounty (that’s you, Redstonians), are encouraged bythe Aspen Counseling Center to pick up the phoneif you are in an emotional crisis and need to talk toa trained professional. Don’t wait. Call 920-5555.

UPCOMING

• May 10: 7-9 p.m. Crystal Rive Caucus meeting willbe held at the Church at Redstone on the Boulevard.For more information, contact the Crystal RiverCaucus at [email protected] or call 963-2143.

APRIL 2012

M I N I N G

TWO AMAZING FACTSabout our community…

1. We truly live a life of the “unforseeable”

2. We are truly blessed with wonderful friends

THANK YOU to all of our friends that just “showed up” and

offered help in so many ways.– Mitch

Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District will be holding a mail ballot election on

May 8, 2012. Ballots will be mailed to eligible electors

between April 16 and April 20. Mail ballots can be returned through the

mail or dropped off at Carbondale Fire District Headquarters,

301 Meadowood Drive, Carbondale, CO,Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm

Replacement ballots can be obtained at the same address.

The Elections Office is open Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,

and from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, May 8th.


On March 2, District Ranger Scott Snelsondecided that virtually no mining operations willbe permitted during winter months at a pro-posed mine up Avalanche Creek. The mine canoperate with restrictions from May 1-Nov. 30.

Snelson’s decision is based primarily on theeffects such operations would have on bighornsheep in the area. The White Banks Mine (morerecently known as the Mystic Eagle Mine) is analabaster, marble and gypsum mine located onnational forest east of and across Highway 133from Swiss Village and Avalanche Ranch.

It’s unknown if the inability of WhiteBanks’ operators, Elbram Stone Company,(ESC), to mine during winter months will cur-tail their efforts to open and operate the mine.During a site visit in February 2011, ESC rep-resentative and part owner Walt Brown ofGlenwood Springs said that a year-round oper-ation was necessary to make the venture feasi-ble.

ESC submitted a mine plan in October 2010of the White Banks Mine. A previous plan ofoperations was approved by the Forest Servicein 1995 and expired in April 2010.

The new proposed plan requested a continu-ation of alabaster mining within the WhiteBanks’ claims over the next 20 years. Othernotable additions in the proposed plan includemining marble and gypsum; year-round surface

operations; drilling a well to provide 1,000 gal-lons of water per day; constructing a bypassroad around the mine; on-site camping for mineworkers; and the construction of a log officebuilding to replace an existing mobile bathhouse.

After considering information provided inthe EA, design features, public comments, con-sultation with Colorado Division of Parks andWildlife, review of the White River NationalForest Plan, and internal Forest Service special-ist input, Snelson decided to accept what’sknown as Alternative 3 with modifications.

“My decision to select this alternative wasdeveloped in response to the key issue raisedabout potential impacts to bighorn sheep dur-ing critical winter periods,” stated Snelson.

Under the selected Alternative 3 with modi-fications:

• A bypass road can be constructed but noon-site employee camping or additional build-ings.

• The existing mobile home at the minemust be removed.

• No worker camping is allowed on site.• All mining-related equipment must be

removed from the site at the end of each oper-ating season (prior to Nov. 30).

• Foot traffic to and from the mine portalentrance is allowed during the winter months,excluding Jan. 16-March 15 when there is nosurface use allowed at the mine site.

District Ranger Scott Snelson makes decision on White Banks Mine Plan• Truck travel and associated snowplowing is allowed on a

temporary basis during two weekends in December and April,excluding the Christmas holiday.

• Monitoring winter truck travel and associated snowplowingis required.

• To receive authorization for winter hauling, ESC must notifythe Forest Service.

Other provisions and restrictions are included in the Alternative3 decision.

Snelson said besides concerns about bighorn sheep habitat, hisrationale for selecting Alternative 3 is based on the operator’s pastperformance, and current market demand for alabaster, marbleand gypsum.

“Since 2003, no production has been recorded from this mineoperation,” he said. “Past performance and market conditions indi-cate that the operation is still in an early development phase. Mydecision allows for a phased approach to continue mining in thedevelopment stage while establishing a viable market prior to ini-tiating a larger scale production phase of operations.”

A public meeting was held on March 22 in Redstone withForest Service officials to discuss Snelson’s decision. Eight citizensattended the meeting. Principal questions from citizens concernedthe area’s bighorn sheep population, water quality impacts, lightpollution, and bridge stability on the Avalanche Creek Road lead-ing to the mine.

Individuals or organizations may appeal the Forest Service’sdetermination within 45 days of March 2, the date Snelson filedhis notice of decision.

For more information, contact the Forest Service’s Skye Sieberat 945-3212 or [email protected]. To see the complete decisionpaper, go to fs.fed.us search for “Decision Notice for White BanksMine.”

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C RC R YY SS TT A L R I V E R CA L R I V E R C A U C U S M AA U C U S M A TT T E R ST E R S

By John Emerick, Crystal River Caucus

You might be asking yourself that question thisspring, if not throughout the summer. Speakers at ourlast caucus meeting on March 8 focused on emer-gency preparedness, particularly with regard to wild-fires in the valley, as well as prescribed burns plannedby the Forest Service.

There hasn’t been a major fire in the Crystal Valleyfor decades. However, there is ample evidence ofnumerous past fires, from charcoal layers in the soil –especially under oak brush stands.

This year, we seem to be headed toward anotherdrought, at least in the near term. Climate conditions inour area are predicted to range from abnormally dry tomoderate during the next three months. We arealready witnessing a much lower than normal snow-pack. Last year, peak flows in the Crystal were a bitabove 3,000 cubic feet per second at the stream gaugenear Avalanche Creek, and forecast flows for this yearwill only be about half that. So the thought of wildfireswill be on the minds of many residents this season.

Prescribed burns for wildlife mitigationThis spring, the US Forest Service plans to conduct

prescribed burns on around 500 acres near FilohaMeadows and near the mouth of Avalanche Creek aspart of a wildlife habitat improvement project. At ourMarch meeting, Jim Genung and Phil Nyland of the

Forest Service described various aspects of the project,which will involve brush and tree thinning withchainsaws and other equipment as well as prescribedfire. They said the objective of the project is to replacesome of the older decadent habitat with younggrowth that is more nutritious and palatable, andoffers better cover for wildlife.

The prescribed burns will probably be conductedover one to three days in late April, though thebiggest factor in determining the timing of this eventis going to be the weather and when the snow comesoff. The burns are planned to be low intensity “prob-ably more smoke than anything,” Nyland said.

One of Genung’s concerns with the public is ifthere are any people in the Crystal Valley who mayhave smoke-related health issues.

“We work very closely with the National WeatherService and Colorado state health officials to ensurethat we are burning on days with good ventilation,”Genung said. “With our plan in place it is likely thatno one in the valley will be affected by smoke.”

As a precaution, if folks are concerned or are smokesensitive they can contact Jim Genung at 963-2266.

Emergency preparednessAs valley residents know, not only is there the

threat of wildfire, but summer thunderstorms cancause mudslides as well as potential flooding near theriver. Any of these events could displace people from

their homes with little warning. Tom Grady, from Pitkin County Emergency

Services, pointed out at our March meeting that whilePitkin County has the capability of sending outreverse-911 calls to warn county residents of an emer-gency, it is incumbent on all residents to prepare foran emergency beforehand. This includes being awareof evacuation routes, having an emergency kit withfood, water, and medical supplies ready, and beingaware of physically impaired neighbors who mighthave difficulty evacuating.

Many homes have only single-road access, andthat is a concern if the road is blocked by a wildfire ormudslide. Genung stressed the importance of creatinga fire buffer around homes, That includes the elimina-tion of dense vegetation adjacent to structures, notstacking firewood against the side of the house, keep-ing areas under attached decks free of combustiblematerials, and keeping roof gutters clean. If you wantto learn more about protecting your home againstwildfire, check out the Colorado State Forest Servicewebsite at http://csfs.colostate.edu.

Next Crystal Rive Caucus meeting on May 10The next meeting will run from 7-9 p.m. and will

be held at the Church at Redstone on the Boulevard.For more information, contact the Crystal RiverCaucus at [email protected] or call 963-2143.

Is that smoke on the horizon?

APRIL 2012

Redstone Boulevard, Coal Creek Road,

Redstone Coke Ovens to see improvements

By Pitkin County District 5 Commissioner George Newman

The Pitkin Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) receives regular updates from our departments,such as Public Works, Road and Bridge, and Human Services, as well as the library and the airport.

Our landfill is currently projected to last 29 more years: five years longer than projected in 2005thanks to the grinding program for construction and demolition debris that began in late 2008. Bysorting and grinding waste before placement in the fill, we have been able to reduce the volume ofmaterial by up to 50 percent. We’re also able to recover items with recycling value, such as metalobjects and boulders. Extending our landfill is critical as no other suitable landfill locations have beenidentified in the county. As one staff member said, “After all, a landfill is a terrible thing to waste.”

From our Road and Bridge department we received a recommendation in March for a pedestrianbypass at the Aspen Airport Business Center (AABC). This bypass will provide safer access to andfrom RFTA’s bus stops at the AABC. It will also link up with new bus stations and accommodate futuredesign plans for the airport terminal. I succeeded in securing the majority of funding needed for thisproject through my involvement with the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT)Intermountain Regional Planning Commission. Our staff is also coordinating with CDOT to completea large paving project on Highway 82 from Gerbazdale to the AABC, slated to begin mid-summer.

In addition, planning continues to move forward on BOCC-approved road projects including aRedstone Boulevard chip seal and a Coal Creek culvert replacement. Finally, Phase 1 of the RedstoneCoke Ovens stabilization and restoration is complete and Phase II is underway. The latter will bringthe site together, including a visitors’ walking path and interpretive site markers.

The BOCC also serves as the board of social services and is relied on by the state to oversee localefforts addressing public assistance and welfare duties and responsibilities, and activities of thehuman services department. Pitkin County collaborates regionally with Eagle County on cost shar-ing and providing a wide variety of economic services such as Medicaid, food stamps, emergencyassistance, and the low-income energy assistance program, to name a few.

Our partnership with Garfield County provides Pitkin County residents mandated services includ-ing adult and child protection services, child support enforcement, and childcare licensing. One of theissues we wrestled with this year was related to the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program(CCAP), a state-mandated program that covers a portion of childcare costs for low-income familiesfor children under 13 years of age. Based on current needs, I supported staff’s and Kids First’s recom-mendation to lift the cap on the number of families able to participate in this program, which thenpassed by BOCC resolution. We have allocated additional funds to meet incremental needs above theprevious cap of 13 families and will continue to monitor the situation.

The Pitkin County Library has been designated a “Star Library” by Library Journal and its perform-ance places it in the top 3.5 percent of the 7,513 libraries in the country. Library use continues toincrease with all the new technology available. To address the demand for an interactive learningarea for children, programs and space for teens, public meeting spaces, etc., building renovation andexpansion is required. Through a community outreach program, these needs have been identified andpreliminary design plans with costs have been laid out. Much work still needs to be done and fund-ing addressed.

The county is also seeking public input as it updates the Airport Master Plan: a 20-year guide forthe airport. The BOCC is reviewing potential needs for future general aviation facilities as well asdesign options for a new terminal. Citizens can learn more about the status of the master plan andprovide comments by going to aspenpitkin.com and clicking on the link to Airport Master Plan.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments on any of these issues.

The Pitkin County Commissioners hold weekly work sessions on Tuesdays and bi-monthly public hearingson Wednesdays in the Plaza One building (next to the Pitkin County Courthouse) in Aspen. Both meetings aretelevised live and repeated on locater CG12 TV. They are also streamed live and available on the county web-site, aspenpitkin.com. Agendas are published in newspapers throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, and online ataspenpitkin.com. In this column, your Pitkin County District 5 Commissioner George Newman offers his take oncurrent matters. You can reach him at [email protected].

What’s up with Pitkin County?

VISIT THE GUNNISON COUNTY WEBSITE FOR HELPFUL INFORMATION:

www.GunnisonCounty.orgGunnison County Administration200 E. Virginia Ave. • Gunnison, CO 81230

(970) 641-0248

1-877-GUNNGOV1-877-486-6468

• Agendas/Minutesfor the CountyCommissioners, PlanningCommission, Sage-grouseConservation Program andHousing Authority

• Interactive Maps

• Elections Forms

• Road Closures/Conditions

• EmergencyInformation

• EmploymentOpportunities

• Tourism/AirlineSchedules

• County Budget Information

• And more!

Please let’s keep our community firehydrants clear of snow or debris…

your life might depend on it. If you needhelp, please call Lisa at 963-8240.

Town of Marble News

Election day is April 3By Carrie Click, Echo editor

Marble’s April 3 mail-in election will decide who willserve on the town’s five-member board, which is com-posed of four trustees who run at large, and a townmayor. All five seats are up for election.

On the ballot are:For mayor:• Robert Pettijohn (uncontested)

For trustees:• Jim Aarts• Tony Petrocco

Write in trustee candidates:• Lance Allee• Craig Blevins• Vince Savage

All write-in candidates had to submit an affidavit ofintent to run as a write-in by March 13 at 5 p.m.

As of press time, Gunnison County officials were stilldetermining if Robert Pettijohn, according to countyregulations, could serve as mayor, as he is an employeeof Gunnison County; county regulations may precludehis eligibility to run for a town office.

Carbondale Town Clerk Cathy Derby must receive allballots between 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. on April 3 to be includ-ed in the official election count. Contact Marble TownClerk Karen Mulhall at 384-0761 or Cathy Derby at510-1206 with questions.

In other news, Karen said the Marble Town Trusteesmeeting was cancelled on March 1 due to a snowstorm.Karen said, “We decided not to meet again until thenew board is seated.”


PITKIN COUNTY GOVERNMENTNow streaming

Board of County Commissioner

meetings on the internet!

Go to www.aspenpitkin.com

On the left hand side of theHome Page look for the

blue box that says:Watch Live & Recorded

City MeetingsCounty Meetings

Click on the Agenda on only the topic ofthe meeting you wish to watch.

Physical Mailing Address:Pitkin County Administration

530 East Main Street, Aspen, CO 81611

QUESTIONS?Call 970-920-5200

Also on the PitkinCounty website:

County Commissioner

Agendas

Vehicle and TitleRegistration

Property TaxInformation

Maps

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ObituaryGraden Wesley Walter

July 26, 1938 – March 13, 2012

Graden Wesley Walter, of Wabash, Ind., died onMarch 13, 2012 at the Wabash County Hospital inWabash. He was 73.

Graden was born July 26, 1938 in Wabash to JohnF. and Helen (Cowles) Walter. He was a 1956 gradu-ate of Wabash High School, and graduated fromMichigan State University. He was a US Army veter-an serving in the Airborne Division as a paratrooper.

Graden married Shirley DeLauter in Wabash onJune 17, 1961. He was the fourth generation tolead B. Walter & Company, and served as its pres-ident, until his retirement in 2002. He also servedas president of the American FurnitureManufacturers Association, attended the WabashPresbyterian Church, and was a member of theWabash Kiwanis Club.

Graden had a deep love of dogs, particularlyWesties. He was a true connoisseur of “The ThreeStooges.” He loved the outdoors, being in the woods,hiking, cutting wood; just being in nature. He spent agreat deal of his life in the mountains of Colorado, where he built a home on the Western Slope.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Walter of Wabash; three children, Amy (Mark) Ford ofWabash, Heather (Courtney) Malott of Indianapolis; and Christopher (Karen) Walter ofWabash; six grandchildren, Graden and Macy Malott of Indianapolis, Melissa and ErikaFord, and Jasper and Samantha Walter, all of Wabash; three siblings, Stephen Walter ofSeattle, Wash.; and Posy (Art) Jasen, and Stan (Judy) Walter, of Wabash.

Memorial services for Graden were at the Wabash Presbyterian Church in Wabash onMarch 17.

Preferred memorials are to the Westie Rescue of Colorado, the Crystal Valley Preschoolof Marble, the Wabash Valley Dance Theater, or the Wabash County Historical Museum.

The memorial guest book for Graden may be signed at grandstaff-hentgen.com.

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APRIL 2012

S H O W B I Z

Graden gave generously to the preschoolers of Marble both

financially and with his time and heart.

Above pictured with his wife, Shirley, helping the kids carve pumpkins

that they donated to Crystal Valley Preschool.

In memory ofGRADEN WALTER

Jeff Bier970-963-1061

[email protected]

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NEAR MARBLEWith almost two acres, this lot commands views of two wilder-ness areas, two National Forests and surrounding peaks. Theoff grid site takes advantage of it's location for passive andactive solar applications. Hiking trails into adjacent wildernessare only steps away. Reduced to $49,000.00

Indie filmmakers highlight Redstone’s “picturesque, storybook”qualities in their new thriller

By Sue McEvoy, Echo staff writer

It is the story of a young couple stranded in the wilderness following a harrowing snowmobileaccident. Events take a turn for the worse as the couple gets separated and a mysterious hunterstalks the young woman.

While part of this story takes place in Redstone, fortunately this is the script for an independentfilm recently shot in Redstone, Carbondale and Old Snowmass. The Fox Hill Productions moviewas filmed entirely on location at the Redstone General Store and Redstone Castle in Redstone;Mushroom Rock and The Pour House in Carbondale; and at the Child Ranch in Old Snowmass.

“The Frozen” was shot between Feb. 8-24 and stars Brit Morgan (who plays Debbie Pelt in thevampire TV series “True Blood”), Seth Mitchell and Noah Segan. Additional local talent includesJeff Groom, Sedona Cohen, Russell Criswell, Kiko Peno, Laurie Stone, Carter Graham, BenLudlow, Jess Wiley and Todd Merriam, who all attended a casting call at the Thunder RiverTheatre in Carbondale on Feb.1.

Most of the film was shot at night, including the shoot at the Redstone Castle, which tookplace from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Feb. 23-24. Working in 12-hour shifts, the cast and production crewalso spent many cold, snowy nights filming the outdoor scenes.

Colorado native Andrew Hyatt, who worked on the production crew on 2007’s "Ghost Rider”starring Nicholas Cage, is the screenwriter and director of “The Frozen.” For producers SamanthaLusk, Brian Girard and Seth Mitchell, Redstone made a big impression during the shoot here.

“We thought that Redstone was an absolutely amazing town,” said Samantha. “Coming fromLos Angeles, it was hard to imagine that such a picturesque, special place could actually exist out-side a storybook.”

In fact, after scouting the Redstone Castle as a location for the indoor shots, they lengthenedpart of the script to utilize all the castle has to offer.

“When we set foot in the Redstone Castle, we knew we had to figure out a way to shootthere,” said Samantha. “We think our time in Redstone will absolutely make the visuals of our filmgo above and beyond what we ever could have imagined.”

“The Frozen” is scheduled to premier at the Toronto International Film Festival this September,with a special preview at the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale for the friends and family of thosewho helped make it happen. Check out facebook.com/thefrozenmovie for more information.

It’s “Frozen” in Redstone

Scenes from filming atRedstone Castle top andright. Some of the castand crew at the RedstoneGeneral Store. Photos by

Douglas McMillin ofBDM Photography


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Above and right, a groupof Carbondale ladies –Allie Kurzka, Melissa Graf,Megan King, and Allie’smom, Kathleen Drennan– and a group of bighornsheep had the same ideaon the same March day:to hang out at Penny HotSprings.

Photo by Sue McEvoy.

Learning to helpSixteen locals completed a First Aid/CPR course in Marble in March through a partnership with theCarbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, The Marble Hub, and the Marble Community Church. The four-part course was offered free of charge to residents of Redstone and Marble to give as many locals as possiblethe information needed to render care in emergency situations – a real concern in a remote location such asthe Crystal Valley. Here, from left, Carbondale Fire Chief Ron Leach and local students Steve Fowler, GlenBurnett, and Izzy Palins watch as Mario Villalobos opens an automated external defibrillator (AED) case, whileMariah Villalobos practices on a CPR mannequin. Ron said upcoming courses are being planned in Redstoneand Marble, and will again be offered free of charge to Redstone and Marble residents.

Photo courtesy of Ron Leach

A R O U N D T H E V A L L E Y

APRIL 2012

THE MARBLE TIMESA LOOK AT L IFE AT THE MARBLE CHARTER SCHOOL

S P E C I A L P U L L - O U T S E C T I O N - M A R C H 2 0 1 2

Many Thanks TO THE SPONSORS OF THE MARBLE TIMES!

DAVID PARKS & LAURIE FARBER & FAMILY Become a Sponsor of The Marble Times!

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April 2:School resumes after spring break

April 12:MCS School Board Meeting 4:30 p.m.

May 5:Professional Development Day - no school for students

May 31:Last day of school for students

June 1:Final P/T/S conferences for the year

IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE:

Marble Charter School – Recipient of The John Irwin Award for 2011

Making the change from TCAPS toCSAPS at the Marble Charter SchoolBy the Marble Charter School staff

Public schools are accountable to parents and taxpayers who entrust the schools with the educationof our future citizens. To check to see if schools are doing the job, each state has established standardsof academic expectations for every subject and grade.

Based on these standards, each state has developed tests that measure student growth from year toyear. This provides a yearly measure of progress, often referred to as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).Schools that do not have a significant number of students meeting AYP must make changes.

In Colorado, the statewide test has been the Colorado Student Assessment Program, or the CSAP. Butthe Colorado legislature, along with several other state legislatures, reviewed and revised these standardsto better reflect higher expectations and to align with national standards.

And while we don’t have national standards for every subject and grade that is taught in our country,we are coming closer to having a unified set of expectations that are comparable across state lines. Whilewe transition from the previous set of standards into the new set, our students will take the TransitionalColorado Assessment Program, or TCAP.

The TCAP begins to address the current set of standards, with a three-year development of tests thatwill, by 2015, move from assessing the previous set of standards to assessing the new standards. The test-ing window began in each school during the week of Feb. 27, when third graders began their readingassessments. From mid-March through mid-April, students are taking the remainder of the reading, writ-ing, and mathematics tests for 3rd graders as well as all tests for 4th through 8th graders.

Students in 5th, 8th, and 10th grades are also required to take a science test based on the science stan-dards for those particular grade levels. The test results will help schools assess the growth of their stu-dents over the past year.

Based on these tests, schools will gain information on how they might improve, and often schools willbe faced with mandated changes, based on that student growth or AYP.

At the Marble Charter School, we use the standards as a tool to guide our curricular choices, design learningactivities, and assure that students have the adequate knowledge to do well on these tests. And while we areproud that our students score among the top eight percent of schools in the state, we do not always make AYP.

When there are fewer than 10 students in each grade, the statistics can become skewed, leaving gapsin perceived growth of a school when one or two students do not meet AYP. If, in a class of four, one stu-dent does not do well, the school may not make AYP, as 94 percent of students need to make AYP. In thisclass of four, the AYP would be 75 percent, inadequate for the school to be considered successful.

We continue to work with the Colorado Department of Education to review our scores in light of ourpopulation, and we have had great successes in having our scores reviewed. We also participate willing-ly and fully in the process of creating a Unified Improvement Plan, based on our scores but also based onknowing all of our students very well.

So begins the time of testing: an opportunity to demonstrate to our stakeholders – parents and tax-payers – that our students progress adequately every year. Parents are partners in student success, andyour support during testing time is essential. We ask that you ensure your child gets adequate rest andhealthy nourishment in order to allow them to perform at their very best on every test day.

Marble CharterSchool’s Spring Trip By Bella

Marble Charter School is going on their annualspring trip. This year we will spend four hours on thebus to get to Arches National Park, Moab. We willleave May 15th and return May 17th. Sadly, only the3rd-8th graders will be attending this trip. But the K-2nd will be going on daily excursions at school. Thefocus of the trip will be about geology because we willsoon start a unit learning about geology.

One day while we are on our trip, we will departfrom the campground and go to a place called The FieryFurnace. The Fiery Furnace is like a red-rock maze. Youcan’t go into it without a ranger because you will getlost. That’s how confusing it is. We will be doing watercolor workshop paintings and putting them up on thered-rocks to make a gallery. We are also doing environ-mental book clubs. Students will get to choose whichbook club they want to be in. Hikes will be a daily activ-ity. We will have a ranger come one night and he willtell a story as we roast marsh-mellows by the campfire.

All the students are very excited and we will lookforward to start our geology unit with this spring trip!

MCS StudentsSpring Break By Bella

Spring break for Marble Charter School studentssstarted on March 26. School starts back up on April2. We interviewed what some MSC student are doingover their spring trip: Megan is going to CancunMexico, Jose is going to Phoenix to visit family, Patrickis going to Florida, Kosara is going to CampRunamuck, and Mason is skiing and going to Denver.


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Bus Driver Spotlight:AVA’S INTERVIEW WITH JIM AARTS

Who has influenced youthe most and why? Ofcourse there are many, butmost recently Amory Lovinsfor being a thinker and doerof smart and good things.What is your favoritemovie? “The Real Dirt onFarmer John”What is your favoritebook? “The Natural Way ofFarming: The theory andpractice of green philoso-phy” by Mason Bu FukuokaWhat is your favorite TVshow? I don’t have afavorite TV show because Idon’t watch TVWhen were you the hap-piest? Happiest is when Iam planting a seed and see-ing it grow.When were you the sad-dest? Saddest is when theseed does not grow.Where did you spend your best vacation ever? FranceHow old are you? 60Why did you decide to be our bus driver? Because I am a gooddriver and I think the bus driver should be a good driver. And, it’s beenreally fun so I am glad I am doing it.What was the best thing about working for the X-Games?It’s a lot of work, but more like a paid vacation where I get to hang outwith the new friends I’ve made there.What are the best things about having a greenhouse? I get tofeel a sense of connection with gratitude for the earth while watchingmiracles happen. I don’t need to go to the store to buy GMO productsgrown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Student InterviewJustin’s interview:Erica, 3rd Grade

Who is your favorite teacher:DanWho would you most like tomeet? Seabiscuit What is your favorite hobby orsport? Horseback riding What is your career choice?Stable handWhen where you the happiest?Horseback ridingWhere would you like to visit?TEXASHow old are you? 9 years oldHow will you want to be remembered? A crazy weird personWhat is your favorite ice cream? Chocolate ice cream


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Why? Earth Tales: The MusicalGrowing up creativeBy Debby Macek and Debra Winston

Why write and produce an original musical? The Marble Charter School closed“Earth Tales: The Musical” last month. As we process what the students havelearned, we will begin with some theoretical underpinnings.

In “Out of Our Minds,” Sir Kenneth Robinson argues against the testing systemthat focuses on testing math, language arts and science ? our NCLB focus.

“Why do the disciplines at the top of the hierarchy get all the attention? Whydoes this hierarchy exist in the first place? The first answer is economic: some dis-ciplines are simply assumed to be more relevant to the world of work and to com-mand a higher rate of pay when finding a job. Generations of young people havebeen steered away from the arts with benign advice about: ‘Don’t do art; you won’tmake a living as a musician.’ Benign advice maybe, but it is now profoundlywrong...”

At MCS, we are engaged in the testing for the Transitional Colorado AssessmentProgram (TCAP) while reaching for communal excellence through the arts, andnothing is as encompassing of all of the arts than a musical! One of the primary skillsgained through this arts experience is to cultivate useful ways of thinking and avoidnegative ways of thinking. There is a camaraderie that evolves by doing somethingso difficult together. Everyone cheers one another on toward excellence. It’s difficultto assess, but a growth mindset is the primary expected outcome of this learningexperience.

A myriad of other cognitive skills are honed by producing an original musical.Students learn to generate mental images, perform mental rehearsals, and becomeaware of interpretations. In “Earth Tales,” as they dramatized folk tales, they creat-ed environments to sustain their shared interpretations of the stories. They activelyperformed mental rehearsals to memorize their choreography.

Opportunities for problem solving were abundant. The whole school collaborat-ed in both classroom groups and in cross-age groups. Everyone had to work togeth-er in new and unusual ways. These are 21st century life skills. We believe our stu-dents will never forget this experience. We trust that all they have been learning willserve them for a lifetime of problem solving, as thoughtful and creative citizens. It’sgoing to take a while for our school to assess all we have learned.

“Longitudinal data of 25,000 students involved in the arts, conducted at UCLA’sGraduate School of Education by Dr. James Catterall, shows that consistent partici-pation greatly improves academic performance and significantly bumps up standard-ized test scores. Students who make time for the arts are also more involved in com-munity service, and less likely to drop out of school. And we’re not just talking aboutupper middle class kids. These facts remain, regardless of a child’s socio-economicbackground.” (Why Children’s Theatre Matters, 2012)

Favorite thing to do while skiingBy Maximus

Skiing…why is it so popu-lar? What’s so fun about ski-ing? I’ve done an experiment tosee out of the E-team (grades 6-8) and Wildcats (grades 3-5) ofMCS who goes skiing at all,who goes skiing or snowboard-ing and the percentages. Out ofthe 20 students we were able tointerview 60 percent skis and 5percent snowboards 20 percentdo both and 15 percent don’tdo either. I’ve made a graphshowing what the E-team andWildcats favorite things to dowhile skiing or snowboarding.

APRIL 2012


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The great drug unitBy Tomas

In school we studied all kinds of drugs like marijuana andhallucinogens. The E-team and Wildcats are the ones whostudied about drugs. We were learning about them, to notuse them and learn about the negative effects of drugs. Wewere studying them from January to February. We didresearch on the internet and some books and then we madeposters. That’s what we did on the drug unit.

Earth Tales: The Musical

A few scenes of MCS studentsmaking costumes and posters,

and the performance.


• Small Class Size, High Staff : Student Ratio(typically 5:1)

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The Dino Mites • K-2nd • Gina Miles

As most of you know, much time last month wasspent on this year’s musical “Earth Tales” that was per-formed at the Thunder River Theatre. The most excit-ing part of this to me is how we as a school havelearned to incorporate the musical into our curriculum.

“Earth Tales” was so appropriate for this.Learning about different cultures in our world andthe impact that humans have on the environmentties into social studies and science beautifully.Having the students write and edit the scripts alongwith studying the literary components of each storybecame a part of language arts – not to mentionreading over the scripts as they studied their lines.

Being a part of the curriculum to me was impor-tant but looking back, some life lessons that werelearned may be even more important. By workingtogether, each skit had to determine how each storywould look. Yes, the teachers help to guide the stu-dents, but over all this was the students’ work. Thecollaboration that happened was incredible. Theyhad to help each other thoughout the whole process.

The confidence and accomplishment felt by thestudents was well worth the time and effort thatwent into “Earth Tales.” The students shined andlearned so much about theater, dance, collabora-tion, problem solving and the world. They alsohave tackled this challenge realizing when theywork hard at something they can accomplishincredible results. What important lessons for all ofus to learn. I am so proud of every single student atour school.

So now we are getting back into our “normal”classroom rhythms:

• Math: We are finishing up with measurementand will be moving on to geometry.

• Language arts: The students are learning howto write a persuasive paper.

• Science: We are continuing on with our studyof endangered species; next up is learing aboutlight and sound waves.

• Social studies: The students are studying U.S.geography.

Science • Amy Rusby

Third through 8th grade Marble Charter School(MCS) students have been working hard to learnand understand the periodic table and how atomsmake up the various forms of matter (solid, liquid,gas, and plasma). The students used gumdropsand toothpicks to create an atom, which showedthe protons and neutrons within the nucleus andthe electrons circling the nucleus. They were thenasked to pick a substance from the periodic tableand create that substance out of the gumdropsand toothpicks.

This activity was especially effective since theolder students were paired with the younger stu-dents to foster a more concrete learning experience.Doing this type of cross-age activity is common atMCS and is one of the great benefits that our schoolcan offer to each and every one of its students.

The month of April brings with it the LifeScience Unit. We will be studying geology, whichwill include the following topics and how they cor-relate with one another:

• Plate Tectonics• Earthquakes• Volcanoes• Earth Processes• Rock Cycle• Rocks and Minerals

We are looking forward to meeting the educa-tional specialist from the Black Canyon of theGunnison National Park. She will be coming tospeak with each classroom regarding ColoradoGeology and Fossils.

Please don’t be shy…you are always welcome tojoin us to share in our science learning experiences!

The E-Team • Debby Macek • 6th-8th grades

“April showers bring May flowers” is sometimestrue of the weather around here, but definitely ametaphor for what is occurring in the E-Team class-room this spring. April is a month of examinationand endurance, while May will become a month ofreaping what we’ve sown.

In April, real exams test the skill and knowledgeof kids across Colorado – the Transitional ColoradoAssessment Program (TCAP) asks kids to provetheir proficiency in reading, writing, mathematics,and for 5th and 8th graders, science as well. Aprilis also the month where students re-examine theirgoals and decide what they must do in order toreach them by the impending end-of-school dead-line. Portfolios fill up with work showcasingprogress, learning, and exemplary work.

I love this time of year; students actually beginto be able to measure their progress and success,much like seeing a seed that’s been planted weeksbefore finally poke its green growth into the sun-light and begin to reach for the sky. When 7th and8th graders head to San Francisco to try out skillsin decision-making, navigating, and functioning inthe “real world,” they’ll be able to measure in realtime how ready they are to move on to high schoolor to become the leaders of our school. Each stu-dent will have multiple opportunities to measureprogress and reflect on growth.

In April, our class will put to work the knowl-edge we’ve gained studying literary devices by cre-ating Earth Day poems and writings employingmany fun techniques. We’ll culminate our lan-guage arts study of persuasive language and form-

A brief look into the classrooms…

Redstone’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt

by AvaHey kids! Don’t miss out!

There’s an Easter Egg Hunt inRedstone on Saturday, April 7th, 10

a.m. SHARP, at Redstone Park. (Only for children

12 and under)

ing arguments by debating subjects from our US his-tory curriculum. We’ll come closer to completing ourmathematics curriculum for the year with geometryand probability projects. We’ll continue to cultivateour gardens for their imminent blooming in May!

Wildcats • Dan Poll • 3rd-5th grades

Congratulations to our students for doing such awonderful job on “Earth Tales: The Musical.” TheWildcats would like to thank all of you for your helpand support for helping us succeed in creating,designing and performing our musical.

The Wildcats have been working together toadvance our knowledge on geometry concepts andhow to classify them. Students are using rulers andprotractors to create the polygons we are studying.

The Wildcats are excited to see what spring has instore for us.

APRIL 2012

It’s the in between seasonBy Sue McEvoy

Welcome to our newest column detailing outdoor recreation opportunities around the CrystalValley. From the headwaters of the Crystal River near Schofield Pass high above Marble to the redsandstone features of Mushroom Rock overlooking the confluence of the Crystal and the RoaringFork rivers, each month we will explore a trail, mountain, river or cliff face.

Bordered by the Raggeds Wilderness and Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness areas, the CrystalValley is host to a plethora of off-the-beaten path trails for hiking, mountain biking, backcountry ski-ing and outdoor activities.

That said, our first month, April, is proving a little tricky for recommending that perfect localadventure. The snowpack has been considerably unstable for most of the winter, so I’m staying awayfrom backcountry skiing. I did have a great morning on March 9 climbing the Pillar, the ice featurebehind the Redstone ski area on the way to Redstone Castle but alas, I fear the Crystal Valley ice isall melting by press time.

Many valley residents take time during the off-season to get away to places where the climate ismore suited to summer pursuits like rafting, mountain biking, camping or lounging on a beach.Destinations like Moab or Mexico come to mind.

But if you are staying put, think about checking the air in the bike tires or pulling out the hikingboots for a trip up to Mushroom Rock in the Red Hill Recreation Area at the intersection of Hwy 133and 82. For a little less elevation gain, try out the Crystal River Trail bike path from Carbondale toBRB, with its amazing view of Mount Sopris.

The idea is to get out and explore new trails, adventures and pursuits or to revisit some of the clas-sic ones like hiking up Sopris or biking around the Lead King Loop. So stay tuned each month as weoffer a sampling of the best in outdoor adventure. As for me, I’m headed up to Aspen Highlands foranother lap in the Bowl.

The Crystal Valley’s Great Outdoors (GO)

Sue McEvoy ascends the Redstone Pillar on her final climb of the season; Chuck Downey salutes the end ofice season in the Crystal Valley; The Crystal River Trail is open. Climbing photos courtesy of Doris Downey

Bike photo by Ed Kosmicki


has opened its doors for dinner and Wii bowling. There are now 25 competitors on five teams:1) The Strikers2) The Musketeers3) The Marble Marmots4) The Bowling Stones5) The Marble MashersAs of press time, The Marble Marmots are in the lead with the Musketeers close behind. According to Slow Groovin’ owner Ryan Vinciguerra, Wii is a game system that simulates real

motion. Competitors play by swinging a remote control in the same motion they would a bowlingball. The bowling lanes and pins are displayed on a television screen.

“The game itself is easy and anyone can play,” said Ryan. “The difficult part is the technical aspect;which angle, how fast, when to release. To bowl, the best a person needs to have a great strategy andbe consistent. It’s easy to get up and throw the ball; the hard part is to knock ‘em all down.”

Along with Ryan, Connie Hendrix and Karen Good of Marble were somewhat instrumental inbringing bowling to town. They all agreed that dinner with an activity would encourage enoughpeople to come out one night a week. Now, there is a different buffet meal offering each Friday.

“The inspiration for the league was BBQ withdrawals,” said Ryan. “I needed a draw besides ourdelicious food to ensure a social and fun atmosphere so we decided to play. A little competitive edgealways brings smiles and laughter.”

Besides being one of the instigators of Marble Wii bowling, Connie is also one of the competi-tors.

“The hard part is adapting to virtual bowling from real bowling – the transition of using a controlin place of a ball,” she said. “You can still twist your wrist and get a curve ball just like using a real ball.”

However, the advantages of not having to build a real bowling alley in Marble outweigh any tran-sitional difficulties.

“The easy part is not having to drive to some bowling lanes,” she said. “You can play in your ownhome or, as in our case, at your local restaurant.”

The Slow Groovin’ Wii Bowling League is scheduled through April 6. The “lanes” open at 7 p.m.Ryan hopes that the success of the first Snow & Bowl season will lead to future, similar events.

R E C R E A T I O N

Yes, Wii bowl in MarbleSlow Groovin’s Snow & Bowl has a successful first season

By Sue McEvoy, Echo staff writer

It’s not what or why, it’s Wii. This winter, Marble residentsfound a way to put an end to the doldrums, at least for one nightof the week.

Each Friday night since Feb. 17, Slow Groovin’ BBQ in Marble

Wii bowling action in Marble. Left from top: Linda Menard of the Marble Mashers throws her ball rightdown the lane; all eyes are on the ball as Scott Kleckner of the Bowling Stones makes his move; DebbieRussell of the Bowling Stones gets a spare; right above, Steve and Linda Menard, both of the MarbleMashers, celebrate Steve’s double strike! Photos by Alyssa Ohnmacht

APRIL 2012

A R T S & E N T E R T A I N M E N T

“The Rocky Horror Show”comes to Spring Valley

Get ready to dothe “Time Warpagain,” whenColorado MountainCollege (CMC)presents nine per-formances of “TheRocky HorrorShow” this month.This long-runningBritish horror/com-edy musical, writ-ten by RichardO’Brien, tells thestory of a newlyengaged couplewho get caught in astorm and seekshelter in the homeof a mad transvestite scientist unveiling his new creation, amuscle man named Rocky Horror.

The 1973 musical was adapted for the 1975 cult film “TheRocky Horror Picture Show.” This show contains strong adultthemes and is not recommended for young children unlessyou’d like to explain what a transvestite is to your young'uns.The CMC Theatre production, directed by Tom Cochran, fea-tures a cast of student and community actors.

– Carrie Click

A & E BriefsCrystal Valley filmmaker seeks backing for fracking film

Crystal Valley resident Hamilton Pevec has until April 14 to raise money for a documen-tary he is making about the process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. “The WaterHandler” will be a 35- to 40-minute film that will investigate fracking with a former gasworker who saw first-hand the contamination and ecologic issues that occur as a result ofthis process of underground natural gas extraction.

As of press time, Hamilton and his company, Faux Reel Films had raised just more than$2,100. The filmmakers must make their goal of $8,000 this month in order for the projectto move forward.

For more information about “The Water Handler” and to donate, go tokickstarter.com/projects/358880437/the-water-handler. To learn more about Hamilton’swork, go to fauxreelfilms.com. To contact Hamilton Pevec, call 319-8235.

– Faux Reel Films

Carbondale receives Governor’s Art Award

The Town of Carbondale and the City of Lafayette have been selected as the recipientsfor the 2012 Governor’s Arts Award by Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Officeof Economic Development and International Trade.

The Governor’s Arts Award recognizes Colorado municipalities for their collective effortsto enhance their community and their economy through strategic use of the arts.

Carbondale Mayor Stacey Patch Bernot and Lafayette Mayor Carolyn Cutler will be pre-sented with the awards at the Creative Industries Summit on April 13 in Breckenridge.

"Extremely honored only begins to describe our reaction to being named a recipient ofthe 2012 Governor's Art Award,” said Mayor Bernot. “Art and creativity are attributes thathave been interwoven into the fiber of Carbondale for generations. We are grateful andproud to be this year's award recipient."

Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Office of Economic Development andInternational Trade, annually convenes a panel to review nominations. Other nominatedcities were Aspen, Durango, Greeley, Lone Tree, Louisville, Mancos, Parker and Westminster.

“The communities being honored by this award have each made a major commitmentto the arts and creativity,” said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. “They have invested inarts centers and downtown arts districts. They have made sure their young people contin-ue to have access to the arts in school, and they have encouraged their citizens and theirbusinesses to support local artists and arts organizations. I offer them each my hearty con-gratulations for their work to promote and grow Colorado as a premier creative hub.”

– Town of Carbondale

Mountain Fair food vendor deadline is April 6

The deadline for food vendors at the 41st Carbondale Mountain Fair is April 6. TheCarbondale Council on Arts and Humanities (CCAH) have a preference for booths that servelocal, healthy fare.

Mountain Fair attracts between 15,000 to 20,000 people. This year’s event, held July27-29, includes many nonprofits and local businesses. CCAH accepts 22 food booths andmore than 120 arts and crafts vendors.

This year’s theme is “Let Carbondale Change You” and will feature live music, a familyarea and friendly competitions. The Infamous Stringdusters will perform at this year’s fairalong with Diego’s Umbrella, The Congress, 7Sector G and Spore Favore.

For more information about the food vendor deadline or vendor applications, go to car-bondalearts.com, [email protected], or 963-1680. – CCAH

CCAH’s art and fashion award winners receive cash and accolades

Several local artists took home awards from Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities’(CCAH) Valley Visual Art Show (VVAS) and Collage Designer Challenge.

Chris Hassig won the People's Choice award for his pen and ink drawings, and both hispieces were sold to an Aspen gallery. Chris’s art will be featured on next year's VVAS poster.

Second place went to Will Grandbois for his panoramic photography, and third placewent to sculptor Barry Sheehan.

The Collage Designer Challenge winners from the CCAH Green Is The New Black FashionExtravaganza were Jenna Bradford in the Functional Fashion Forward (ready to wear) cate-gory, and Tanya Black in Creative Couture. Each received a $500 cash prize from CollageCreative Collections.

The 32nd annual VVAS was the CCAH February gallery exhibit. The VVAS artists repre-sented all media, two- and three-dimensional, with original pieces that had not been shownin the Roaring Fork Valley in the last year.

For more information, go to carbondalearts.com or call 963-1680. – CCAH

“The Rocky Horror Show”

When: April 13-14, 20-21 and26-28; curtain time is 7:30 p.m.,with a late night show April 21 at11 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee ONApril 29

Where: At the New SpaceTheatre, Colorado MountainCollege, 3000 County Road 114,Spring Valley, Glenwood Springs

Tickets: $20 general admission,$15 students, seniors, CMC facultyand staff. Reservations: 947-8177or [email protected]

Worship 10:00 a.m. • Nursery provided

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE(joint service with Marble Community Church)

Be at McClure Pass parking area at 7 a.m.

Service is at the overlook at 7:15 a.m.

Easter Sunday Worship - 10 a.m.

Bruce A. Gledhill, Pastor • 970-963-0326www.churchatredstone.com

A community church serving Redstone and the Crystal Valley.

We invite you to come and worship God with us in a peaceful and beautiful setting

next to the Crystal River in Redstone

The Church at Redstone


As I See ItA MONTHLY

COLUMN BY BRUCE GLEDHILL

The symbolism of Marble

In the past few weeks, I’veseen a lot of trucks hauling hugeblocks of marble on the begin-ning of their long journey awayfrom our valley. The trucks stirred this question in my mind:How would you describe the two primary materials thathave been exported from this valley? You can, of course,give a very “black and white” answer to that question. Theblack is coal and the white is marble.

In March of 2004, our state legislature designated Yulemarble as the official state rock of Colorado. We already hada blue state gemstone, Aquamarine, and a red state mineral,Rhodochrosite. By adding a white rock, Colorado becamethe only state to have a red, white and blue trio of geologi-cal symbols. That seems especially fitting since Colorado isthe Centennial State.

Yule marble is not just white, it is brilliantly whitebecause it is 99.5 percent pure calcite. The swirls and visualtexture in other marble are due to various mineral impuri-ties. Our local marble is mostly free of impurities. Whitemarble like we have here has been a symbol of purity andimmortality, making it a good topic for this month thatincludes Easter.

Among the stones commonly used in sculpture, onlymarble has a slight surface translucency similar to that ofhuman skin. Unlike most stone, calcite allows light to pene-trate several millimeters before being scattered. In polishedmarble, that gives a rich, deep, waxy appearance to the sur-face.

When marble is fresh from the quarry it is relatively softand easy to sculpt and polish. But as the finished marbleages, it becomes harder and more durable. Because of thathardening, the sculptures of Michelangelo have remainedlargely unchanged for about 500 years! In this month ofEaster, we pray that God will find our lives easy to sculptand shape, and that when the desired result is achieved itwill have permanence and durability.

Bruce Gledhill is the pastor at the Church at Redstone.

Echo BriefsConcepts sought for Elk Park design

Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST) has released a request for proposals (RFP)for the final design of Elk Park in Redstone.

OST Recreation Planner Lindsey Utter said that a design consultant will be hired by theend of April and OST staff will start holding steering committee meetings in May.

It’s possible, under this time frame, that construction on Elk Park could be completedin 2013.

For more information, contact Lindsey Utter at OST, 920-5224,[email protected].

– Pitkin County Open Space and Trails

Applications available for free CMC First Ascent Youth Leadership program

Rising ninth- and 10th-graders in north-central Colorado can attend the free FirstAscent Youth Leadership program this summer at Colorado Mountain College’s campus inLeadville.

Now in its 18th year, this program offers students a chance to learn leadership skills ina residential, outdoor college setting, then return to counsel other students in future years.The program will run from June 24-29.

First Ascent teaches leadership, problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolutionand communication. Students build self-esteem through new challenges such as rockclimbing, summiting Mt. Elbert and rafting the Arkansas River.

Each year, the program accepts 40 students who show potential to be leaders andsuccessful students. Applications are due May 1, and are available through high schoolcounselors or online at coloradomtn.edu/firstascent. For more information, contactprogram coordinator Paul Edwards at 970-947-8329 or [email protected].

– Colorado Mountain College

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APRIL 2012

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HELP WANTED:HELP WANTED: Experienced hairstylist for The Barber Shoppe onMain Street in Carbondale.Contact Kathy at 963-0293.

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APRIL 2012

• • •

REDSTONECOMMUNITYASSOCIATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

————

Steve Pavlin:President

Cathy Montgomery:Vice President

Harry Remmers:Treasurer

Jacob RobbinsSecretary

Barbara Albin

Billy Amicon

Cary Hightower

Debbie McCormick

Ann Martin

Alternate Members:

Kim Amicon

Linda Cerf-Graham

Bob McCormick

Marlene Remmers

• • •

“Citizen empowermentand sense of communitymake people happier.”

– Dan BuettnerPaid Advertisement

REDSTONE COMMUNITY BULLETINwww.redstonecolorado.com

REDSTONE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Your membership dues directly fund RCA projects and events. Thank You for your support!

The next RCA Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3rd at 10 AM at theRedstone Inn, Osgood Room Come join us -- we need your support and your input!

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Name ______________________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone #__________________________________________ E-Mail ____________________________________

______ Individual/Family $35.00 ______ Business $135.00 ______ Multi-Business $210.00

Make Check Payable to: Redstone Community AssociationMail to RCA: 303 Redstone Blvd. Redstone, CO 81623

RCA presents Sue McEvoyand her travels

Redstone resident Sue McEvoy ispleased to present a glimpse into hermany trips to Nepal and India overthe past decade. Sue has trekked infive different remote regions in theHimalayas including Everest BaseCamp and the restricted areas ofManaslu and Mustang in Nepal.

In 2009, she became a volunteercoordinator for Global Dental Relief,a Colorado-based organization thatprovides free dental care to childrenin India, Nepal, Guatemala andVietnam.

Come share in Sue’s experienceswith friends new and old as sheexplores different cultures, commu-nities and landscapes.

This event will take place at 6:30on April 1 at the Redstone Inn.

Redstone Annual Easter Egg Hunt:When: Saturday April 7th 10 am SharpWhere: Redstone ParkWho: Only children 12 and underAlso: Volunteers 16 yrs & older are needed

This event can only happen with your donations of Easter Baskets or cash.

Contact Jen Stanazek at 963-2365 if you have questions. Please drop offbaskets/donations in the office of the

Crystal Valley Manor on Redstone Blvd.

EARTH DAY CLEAN-UPApril 22-May 20

In honor of Earth Day 2012,RCA is sponsoring clean-upof Hwy 133, Redstone, andboth sides of the river bank.

RCA will provide bags and vestsdonated by CDOT. Interested persons should contact Steve

Pavlin at [email protected] to choose your clean up area. See redstonecolorado.com for

more information. St. Patty’s Day 2012Painting the Boulevard

Echo Briefs

APRIL 2012

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport names new assistant aviation director

Brian Grefe has been named the Aspen/PitkinCounty Airport’s assistant aviation director ofadministration. A one-time airport employee inAspen, Brian has been the director of operations atthe Duluth Airport Authority in Duluth, Minn. since2007. Grefe begins his new position on April 23.

“We are very excited to have Brian aboard,” saidJim Elwood, Pitkin County Airport’s director of avi-ation, “We are in the final stages of a 20-year mas-ter planning process and will have numerous keyprojects before us in the coming years. Brian’sexperience with master planning, contract man-agement and financial planning will be very valu-able to help us keep the airport running smoothly.”

The Assistant Aviation Director’s position inAspen involves overseeing the administrative, finan-cial, and customer service functions at the airport inaddition to security and ground transportation.

– Pat Bingham, Pitkin County

Study addresses poverty levels in PitkinCounty

New figures for Pitkin County based on thestate’s “Self Sufficiency Standard” were unveiled ina free community presentation at the Pitkin CountyLibrary in Aspen on March 13. The figures revealedthe high cost of living in Pitkin County, what kindof jobs and how much they must pay to keep peo-ple above the poverty level here, and what theobstacles and opportunities are in creating moreself-sufficiency among residents.

The State of Colorado Family Economic SecurityProgram Manager Tracey Stewart is taking what iscalled the “Take Action Challenge” on the roadacross the state in an attempt to engage local com-munities in finding innovative solutions for theirmost vulnerable citizens. The goal of the programis to cut poverty in Colorado by half by 2019.

“It’s often alarming for a community like Aspenand Pitkin County to hear that there are more peo-ple struggling to make ends meet here than is evi-dent,” Stewart said. “Often times they are what wecall invisible employees in service jobs that we allrely on who are not making enough to pay forchildcare, housing, their commute, and health-care,” Stewart said.

In Pitkin County, affordable housing rises to thetop as one of the biggest economic challenges for

employees whereas in other communities healthcare might be the biggest challenge.

Stewart said she hopes her program will inspirelocals here and across the state to break down bar-riers and find innovative solutions and promisingpractices for the most vulnerable people. Go tohttp://2019colorado.blogspot.com for ideas onhow individuals can take action.

– Pat Bingham, Pitkin County

Isaacson School for New Media at CMClaunched

The newly formed Isaacson School for NewMedia at Colorado Mountain College (CMC) willbeing offering classes this fall at the college’s cam-puses in Aspen, Carbondale, Spring Valley andGlenwood Springs.

The school honors author and Aspen InstitutePresident and CEO Walter Isaacson. Isaacson mostrecently wrote a New York Times bestselling biog-raphy about the late Steve Jobs. He is past editor ofTime magazine and chairman and CEO of CNN.

The Isaacson School will offer accessible, affordableeducation and retraining for students who want to beprepared for jobs in the evolving digital landscape.

“Whether they’re traditional-aged college stu-dents who want to apply their digital communica-tion skills to start a career or mid-career profession-als needing retraining to become more mar-ketable, they can find what they need by goingthrough this program,” said CMC President StanJensen, Ph.D..

“I am grateful to President Jensen and toColorado Mountain College for this most generousof honors,” Isaacson said. “I believe deeply in themission of community colleges and, especially, inthe important role this school will play for genera-tions to come in the Roaring Fork Valley.”

“By naming our new media program in WalterIsaacson’s honor,” Jensen said, “we acknowledgeand thank him for his lifelong experience in mediaand his outstanding leadership in highlighting therole of community colleges.”

An independent feasibility study found that 96percent of Colorado employers surveyed expect theywill expand new media activities for their businessesin the near future. This could take the form of socialmedia marketing campaigns, new and redesignedwebsites that include audio and video content, andmultimedia approaches to communicating and con-necting with clients and customers.

– Debra Crawford, Colorado Mountain College

The Art of Marriage seminar hosted atThe Orchard

The Orchard, a community meeting space andspiritual center, is offering a special seminar forcouples called The Art of Marriage on April 27 from7-9:30 p.m. and April 28, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Art of Marriage brings together respected andinfluential experts on marriage and family in one set-ting. This video event weaves together several ele-ments that help the principles come to life includingengaging stories, real-life testimonies, man-on-the-street interviews and humorous vignettes.

The cost of $45 per couple covers the cost of theseminar and the seminar manual, which is designedto be used during and after the event. It offers arti-cles, date night ideas, and useful tips for continuingto strengthen the couple’s marriage. Childcare willbe available onsite for a nominal charge.

The Orchard is located at 110 Snowmass Dr. inCarbondale. For more information or to registercontact 945-8940 or [email protected].

– Andrea Waldmann, Promotional Concepts

YouthEntity receives grant to expandfinancial literacy programs

YouthEntity, a nonprofit organization that pro-vides real-world learning experiences to youth inthe Roaring Fork Valley, has received a $75,000Daniels Fund grant to support its “I am financialknowledge” program.

“The grant will enable us to triple the number offourth to sixth graders served with our programand develop a new program for eighth to ninthgraders based on state and national standards,”said Kirsten Petre McDaniel, executive director.

YouthEntity’s “I am financial knowledge” DVD wona Telly Award for excellence in 2011. The programcombines hands-on experiences to help prepare youthfor future success. The students also have the opportu-nity to earn extra interest on their savings accounts atthe YouthEntity Alpine Bank as an incentive to save.

Bill Daniels, a pioneer in cable television knownfor his kindness and generosity to those in need,established the Daniels Fund to provide grants andscholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah andWyoming. For more information, please visitwww.danielsfund.org.

For more information about YouthEntity, call970-963-4055, email [email protected], or visitus at youthentity.org,

– YouthEntity

Welcome to the church in the midst of a cathedral created by God

Marble Community

ChurchTraditional worship,Sundays 10:00 a.m.

970-963-1464 • Pastor Jon Stovallwww.marblecommunitychurch.org

Expert PropertyExpert PropertyCaretakingCaretaking

•••Year Round ServicesExcellent References

•••Call Nancy at:970-963-8916


Echo-Travels…Thanks to all who share their travels! Take The Crystal Valley Echo along on yournext travel adventure. Send your photo and info to [email protected].

Dan Prazen of Marble recently went to Floridato visit former Marble residents Woody andJane Norton. Above left, Dan at the top of anold fort in St. Augustine; above right, Dan andWoody at the top of the Old SpanishLighthouse, also in St. Augustine; and right,Woody and Jane at the sign for the Castillo DeSan Marcos National Monument.

The Benesh family ofRedstone recently tookthe train to Denver fora long weekend.Above, clockwise fromtop left, Scott, Alicia,Wyatt Benesh andfamily friend, SpencerTuggle. Left, Wyattand Spencer enjoysome time reading theEcho while riding thetrain.

APRIL 2012

W E A T H E R

It's time to reserve your space in the

2012 Echo Summer GuideDon’t miss getting your

business into the 2012 Echo Summer Guide!

• Now in its 6th year, the free, four-color, Echo SummerGuides have become a tradition,

providing key calendar andresource information about

the Crystal Valley to our manyvisitors and locals.

• 20,000 copies of locallyresearched and written guides

are printed and distributedthroughout the summer and fall

locally, regionally and at various points

throughout Colorado.

• At only a fraction of the costof other local guides, our guide

ads are one of the most reasonably-priced advertising

opportunities available.

Call Mike Friend 963-9563, Ellie Kershow 963-3903 orAlyssa Ohnmacht at 963-2373. [email protected].

Reserve your space now!

This is it? Apparently notMother Nature sneaks in some snow – butclearly not enough


The Echo’s cover story last month asked the question, “Is thisit?” We’ve been watching this winter’s snowpack – or more likelack thereof – and wondered if we were going to get any signifi-cant snow in March, which is typically one of the snowiestmonths of the winter.

No sooner had we published the March Echo than a substantialsnowstorm came through the area right on March 1 dumpingblankets of snow up and down the Crystal Valley.

Well, that answered the “Is this it?” question we had embla-zoned all over the front page of the Echo. It felt similar to washingyour car only to have a torrential downpour come through imme-diately after and muck it all up again.

But we weren’t complaining. Any snow at this point was wel-come in a decidedly low-snowpack season. As of the end ofFebruary, the Crystal Valley’s snow water equivalent (SWE) wasonly at about 70 percent of average.

The snowstorm on March 1 struck us funny: it was dumpingsnow while the Echo was questioning the lack of it. But by the endof March, snowpack is looking alarmingly sparse. That big dumpat the beginning of the month is a fond memory.

According to the Roaring Fork Conservancy’s snowpack reportfor March 27, the Crystal River is running a snow water equivalent(SWE) of between 61 and 63 percent of average. That’s at least atleast 11 percentage points lower than at the beginning of March.

And the trend continues. Further downstream, the Roaring ForkRiver’s watershed SWE is currently at just 61 percent of average.

Maybe it would help to tease Mother Nature once again by put-ting a headline on the cover of April’s Echo. “Is that all you got?”might work. Still, the fact remains. We need some precip.

Kids enjoyed painting theBoulevard in Redstone on St.Patrick’s Day.

Photos by Sue McEvoy


The Echo’s Parting Shot…

See you next month!

REDSTONE CASTLE TOURSSaturday & Sunday • 1:30 p.m.

DAILY TOURS BEGIN MONDAY, MAY 21ST

Tickets: $15 adults, $10 seniors, $10 children 5-18, Children under 5: FREE(FOR GROUP TOURS CALL 970-963-9656)

Tickets available at Tiffany of Redstone, and the Redstone General Store.

CASH OR CHECK ONLY

www.redstonecastle.us

i|á|à exwáàÉÇxVtáàÄx‹i|á|à exwáàÉÇxVtáàÄx‹

Book yoursummer

adventureby calling963-1144

or 963-2526

CALL NOWFOR

YOUR SUMMER

ADVENTURE!

Enjoy aCarriage Ride

or aWagon Ride

One hour to full day

TrailRides

We offer fully guided

or drop camphunts

for elk, bear, muledeer, mountain goat

or bighorn sheep

Pilates inRedstone

Peak Pilates Certified InstructorSUE MCEVOY

Mat Classes at The Historic Redstone InnMondays & Thursdays8:00 a.m. - Advanced9:30 a.m. - Beginner

Thursdays • Yoga & Pilates Fusion!5:30 p.m. - Everyone welcome

704-1843

No classesApril 9 - 30. Classesresume May 3.

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