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Meeting growing needs

Dear Editor:As we celebrate the early snows and the coming of a great ski season and the accomplishments in our Roaring Fork Valley – the addition of Burlingame housing to retain employees in the community in which they work, the opening of trails (Brush Creek and Emma to Carbondale) that connect communities, the addition of environmentally sensitive hybrid busses to the RFTA system – we need to remember those issues that still need our support.In Pitkin County, our population is growing. Our population is aging. Agencies that serve children and families in our valley are finding an increased demand for services. State, federal and private grant funding sources for the health and human service programs have been reduced or eliminated. Lack of affordable health insurance continues to be a problem. Housing, when available, takes a disproportionate percentage of income. Long commute times create family and community related problems. Substance abuse continues to be a major health issue. Legal questions, domestic violence issues, educational and mental health needs and senior citizen requirements all place additional demands on our systems.Meeting the ongoing needs of our valley citizens, expansion of services to those living in the outlying portions of the county, the need for bilingual providers of services and the continued use of volunteers are goals of the Health and Human Service Agencies. The people who work in and for these agencies truly HELP FROM THE HEART, and so must we …Vote Yes on 1A for the Healthy Community Fund.Dorothea FarrisPitkin County commissionerRedstone