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Kudos and Kindness from Aspen Times readers (Oct. 6, 2019)

Thanks and gracias for protecting our lands

Thank you to the many community members who attended a hike with Wilderness Workshop during our 2019 hike series. For many of us, our love for the environment ­— ­for wildlife, plants, fungus, clean water and air, and concern for the climate — began in nature. Through the hike series, we hope that we can introduce new places, ideas and ways of being outdoors to you and your family. Western Colorado is special, not least of all because of its protected landscapes.

That’s why, from June to late September, Wilderness Workshop guided 160 people on trails into the areas we are working to protect! We hosted six bilingual hikes with our Defiende Nuestra Tierra Program. We offered the classic hikes, like our Hay Park Full Moon, and some new hikes, like Forest Bathing on the Lost Man trail, and with five journeys into the Thompson Divide, we built a strong base of local support for the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act. I hope your experience on a Wilderness Workshop hike was inspiring and memorable. See you on the trail again soon!



Gracias a los todos los miembros de la comunidad que participaron en alguna de las caminatas con Wilderness Workshop durante nuestra serie de senderismo del 2019. Para muchos de nosotros, nuestro amor por el medio ambiente (por la vida silvestre, la flora, los hongos, el agua y el aire limpio y la preocupación por el cambio climático) comenzó con una aventura por la naturaleza. A través de la serie de caminatas, esperamos poder introducirlos a nuevos lugares, ideas y formas de estar al aire libre a usted y su familia. El oeste de Colorado es un lugar especial, sobre todo por sus paisajes y tierras protegidas.

¡Es por eso que de junio a fines de septiembre, Wilderness Workshop guio a 160 personas por senderos hacia las áreas en las que estamos trabajando para proteger! Organizamos seis caminatas bilingües con nuestro Programa Defiende Nuestra Tierra. Ofrecimos las caminatas clásicas, como nuestro Hay Park Full Moon, y algunas caminatas nuevas, como Forest Bathing en el sendero Lost Man e hicimos cinco viajes a el Thompson Divide, construimos una base sólida de apoyo local para la propuesta de ley Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy Act. Espero que su experiencia en una caminata dirigida por Wilderness Workshop haya sido inspiradora y memorable. ¡Nos vemos pronto en el sendero!




Brandon Jones and Beatriz Soto

Carbondale

Ruggers shows their thanks

The Gentlemen of Aspen would like to thank the many people who helped us stage our 52nd Ruggerfest. Where to start when so many lent us their hand? Thank you to the city of Aspen for the use of these great facilities. The Parks Department, aka Ryan Dewy and Co., had both fields in superb shape. We more than appreciate their help in lining the fields, delivering bleachers, and in implementing some cover patches over infrastructure that could have caused unnecessary injuries. Thank you to Aspen Ambulatory medics who were there when we needed them, though thankfully not too often.

Many thanks to Craig Melville at the Mountain Chalet for his help in hosting the referees without whom we couldn’t hold the tournament. We gratefully wish to acknowledge the Special Events Department, especially Kirsten Klein, for helping us to coordinate with the city departments that have authority over the many different aspects of the tournament. Thanks also to the help we received from ZG Green, Julia Farwell in particular, for helping us to process our trash.

Thank you to all the businesses that bought advertisements in our program. The funds we make off of the publication help us put more funds to use in our successful burgeoning youth program.

Many thanks go out to Four Seasons for their help in the setup and take down of the event, to Roscoe Hancock from Taranaki Electric for keeping score at our “Fenway-like” scoreboard, and to Chip Seamans, Alec Parker and Hayden Mexted and many of this year’s players for their volunteer efforts.

Finally, we would like to thank all of the local fans who attended this year. The Gentlemen were knocked out in the semi-final by the Misfits, who went on to win the tournament, but you still turned out in droves to witness some spectacular rugby in the finals. The Misfits played the North American Rugby Academy, a team of young superstars funded by the governing body of World Rugby. We hope that all enjoyed the great display of play throughout the event.

Cheers.

The Aspen Ruggerfest Committee

Homecoming gets outstanding support

On behalf of the Aspen High School Booster Club Board, we would like to thank everyone who participated in Homecoming 2019. Student events including the class of 2020 senior breakfast, powder puff football game, community bonfire, mac-and-cheese contest and the homecoming football game were all a huge success!

The outstanding support for Aspen High School and skier athletics confirms that families and the Aspen community are committed to supporting our school.

We especially want to thank our sponsors for their overwhelming support and generous giving. Sponsors include: Mountain Temp Services, The Aspen Store, The Romero Group, Altec Foundation, Savage Excavation, ANB Bank, Crossroads Church, Atlantic Aviation, Zane’s Tavern, Smiddy Limo, Lash Bar Aspen, Schlosser Development, Hendrickson Construction, SH Built, Aspen Valley Hospital and Mary and Pat Scanlan.

AHS girls lacrosse and dance teams, and all involved in the first annual Mac and Cheese Cook-off, thank you for your enthusiasm in hosting such a fun, festive and cheesy delicious event. Generous donations were made by the following: Cache Cache, Slow Groovin’, L’Hostaria, Home Team BBQ, Public House, Monarch Steakhouse and chef Lindsey Aldridge.

A special thanks to the many volunteers who contributed, many behind the scenes, to the success of Homecoming 2019. The city of Aspen, Aspen Volunteer Fire Department, the Maroon Creek Club, Tindallskye Designs, Paradise Bakery, Austin Colbert, AHS principal Tharyn Mulberry and assistant principal Sarah Strassburger, athletic trainer Celty Fitterer, Tenille Folk and the kitchen crew, Gary Varvra and the transportation/facilities team and our amazing athletic director Martha Richards and assistant athletic director Amanda Trendell.

With sincere gratitude and appreciation,

Aspen High School Booster Club

Thanks to our safe and courteous RFTA drivers

As a weekly Maroon Bells cyclist, I wish to thank the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority drivers for their constant courtesy when passing bicycles. All the drivers make an effort to give cyclists as much room as possible and we are very grateful for this! I also wish to apologize for the numerous e-bikers who have no idea of the rules of the road and tend to ride four abreast or right next to the double yellow line. Thanks to RFTA for always keeping us safe.

Catalina Cruz

Aspen

Fun for all in the Buddy Program

Just out of curiosity, I’m wondering if anyone in this town likes fun? I’m asking because that’s what a Big Buddy mentor has when they spend time with their Little Buddy a few times per month.

I’ve been a Big Buddy for nearly five years and my “Little” (who’s not so little anymore) and I have loads of fun together: behind-the-scenes tour of the X Games, a pottery class, a painting class, Nutcracker performance (her first time to see it!), a gondola ride plus lunch with killer views, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park (she made me ride that horrifying swing four times!), and sometimes just a quick cheeseburger on a weeknight.

Most people think they are just too busy to have a Little Buddy, but everyone has time for fun a few times each month, right? There are Big Buddies who are parents and bankers and teachers and lawyers and other super-busy people. They still want to make a difference (they are!) and they want to give their time to an actual human in our community. (And we are so grateful!) Nothing is more impactful than making a connection with a child who really needs it.

Still not sure? How about you join the Buddy Program for a sip and a few bites at Capitol Creek Brewery (at Willits) on 5 to 7 p.m. Oct 15? You can talk to Big Buddies, learn more and decide for yourself. Bring a friend or two. We’d love to see you there!

Laura Seay

Aspen