Kudos and Kindness from Aspen Times readers (Jan. 14, 2018)
Cheers to Aspen
We would like to thank the Aspen community and particularly Aspen Skiing Co. for their generous acknowledgement of Australians this week. We have enjoyed Aspen for 40 years, also hosting our own party at the Mountain Chalet, and would like to thank Americans for their warm hospitality
Here’s to international relations.
Margi and Bruce Lynton
Aspen
Senior Center has delicious offerings
I would like to alert your readers to a wonderful service available in Aspen. The Pitkin County Senior Center, located just below Aspen Valley Hospital, provides delicious low-cost lunches Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Where else can an adult 60 and older get a three-course meal and only pay what they can afford? The quality and quantity equals or exceeds various valley restaurants; younger guests are welcome at a very reasonable $9 per meal. What a bargain.
Additionally, there are many other social activities and speakers, on subjects of interest to all adults, all easily accessible via Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and other transportation options. If any of your readers have questions, call the Senior Center at 970-920-5432. Thank you,
John Baran
Aspen
Thrift Shop thanks donors
To the donors of the Aspen Thrift Shop,
We would like to express our appreciation for your cooperation regarding the new donation policy. For those who aren’t aware, we are now gratefully accepting donations during our business hours only, 8 to 3 Monday through Saturday. We are so thankful to everyone who has respected the gate closure and has found a way to bring donations when we are there to receive them. The new policy has enabled us to accomplish our mission with renewed energy.
For more information, please visit our website, http://www.aspenthriftshop.org.
Special arrangements for donation delivery may be arranged at info@aspenthriftshop.com
Volunteers
Aspen Thrift Shop
Saluting Roaring Fork school board members
January is School Board Recognition Month, and the Roaring Fork Schools want to thank our board members for their commitment and contributions to our schools.
Our board members volunteer countless hours to make public education the best it can be in our district. Our board develops policies and makes tough decisions on complex educational and social issues that affect our entire school community — tackling everything from calendar schedules to anti-discrimination policies to extracurricular activities. They bear responsibility and oversight for an annual general budget of $67 million over 5,600 students in 13 schools and 1,300 staff in the Roaring Fork Schools.
• Board President Jen Rupert lives in Old Snowmass and has one child at Basalt Elementary. As a board member, Jen enjoys the opportunity to both give and receive. This role has allowed Jennifer the opportunity to grow in understanding, compassion, and so much more.
• Board Vice President Shane Larson lives in Glenwood Springs and has three children who attend Glenwood Springs Elementary and Middle schools. As a newer board member, Shane enjoys learning about the schools and how the district operates.
• Board Secretary/Treasurer Mary Elizabeth Geiger lives in Glenwood Springs and has two children at Sopris Elementary and Glenwood Springs Middle. As a board member, Mary Elizabeth enjoys seeing what an amazing difference our schools make in kids’ lives and being part of that process.
• Matt Hamilton lives in Carbondale and has two children at Carbondale Middle and at Glenwood Springs Elementary. As a board member, Matt enjoys working to ensure our schools meet the needs of all families in the district.
• Jennifer Scherer lives in the Basalt area and has two children at Basalt Middle. As our newest board member, Jen enjoys learning the big picture of education and being part of a team working to ensure we prepare our children for the future in the best way possible.
Help us thank our board members for the time, talent and passion they donate for the betterment of our schools.
Executive team, Roaring Fork Schools
Buddy up for a good cause
It’s been a really good year. No, really. I started working for the Buddy Program one year ago this month, and I’m so incredibly proud of what we accomplished in 2017. I’m most proud that we matched more than 30 local adults to serve as Big Buddy mentors to youth in Aspen, Basalt and Carbondale. That means 30 new lives will be changed forever. Thirty more kids have their own Yoda, their own Professor Dumbledore, their own Mary Poppins. You catch my drift.
January is National Mentoring Month and we’re already celebrating: Please join us for a Mentor and Mingle event from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 31, at Maker & Place (614 E. Cooper Ave., next to Mezzaluna) in Aspen. You can meet current Big Buddies, hear their stories and talk to Buddy Program staff about how to become a Big Buddy yourself. There will be complimentary refreshments served, so grab a friend and meet us there! And to celebrate the organization’s 45th anniversary, we would like to include any former Big Buddy to stop by and share their mentoring memories — help us celebrate.
You can be someone’s hero this year. You don’t have to be a Yoda or a Mary Poppins, you just have to be you!
With gratitude to all the mentors out there,
Laura Seay
Recruitment manager, The Buddy Program
