Editor’s Note: Due to the high volume of letters we are receiving this election season, we are publishing letters in the order we receive them. We will publish as many letters as space will allow and letters may be held until the next edition of The Telluride Watch is published. All letters received will be published online at www.watchnewspapers.com

In Norwood, Vote Yes on Rec District

Editor:

I am writing to encourage everyone to vote yes on ballot questions 5B-5D.

For the past two years a small, but determined group of residents from Wright's Mesa have worked tirelessly to try and bring a recreation plan to fruition that could greatly enhance the quality of life for our residents. Input from the community has been collected, donated funds raised to pay for a feasibility study and responsible decisions made have also changed the course of action for this group.

After careful consideration as to the liability to landowners for a mil levy to build a recreation center, it was determined to be too risky and irresponsible to move forward with that plan. This new plan, however, is a very small step in the right direction for our community.

Ballot question 5B is asking voters to approve a property tax levy of 1 mil. This equals out to about $8 per $100,000 annually to property owners in the district.

Where would this money go? It will go into a fund to bring recreational amenities to our community that would otherwise not be available. By forming this district, the Norwood Park and Recreation District Board will be able to look outside of our tax base for funding for projects and apply for grants and other funding sources to make these projects more feasible. Things like a skateboard park, riding trails linking outlying areas to town so that families can ride together safely, an eventual swimming pool, and other projects that would help to bring our residents together.

The Town of Norwood alone does not have the tax base or capabilities to develop these things on it's own. Nor should it. Creating this Park and Recreation District is the first step in responsibly building a base for recreational development.

I have heard so much support for bringing more recreational amenities to Norwood for our kids and families. By building community, we attract more residents looking for a nice place to raise their families as my husband and I did 13 years ago.

In these tough economic times, we need to invest in our communities and bring our friends and neighbors together to build a stronger America. Please join me in strengthening our community on Wright's Mesa by voting yes on 5B-5D.

Respectfully Yours,

 

– Jennifer Dabal

Difficult Decisions in Difficult Times

Editor:

This will be the first time in my memory where the national and global stages will directly affect the local politics of Telluride, in a way unprecedented in my modest tenure here. Cast aside are the usual micro-analyzing and pugnacious debates that permeate our political landscape. Replaced with a burgeoning financial nightmare that promises to define if not at least change our times. Campaign organizers and supporters are no longer discussing the merits of their bonds, but merely justifying their price tags. Nothing narrows the mind faster than paying large bills during steep economic recession.

Even during times of prosperity, I would never presume how one should spend his or her money. However, I will put forward my opinion, in defense of all the bonds specific to the Telluride region, as necessary expenses.

I believe that the school expansion, the daycare facility, the spur repair, and the med center bonds are necessities and not benefits. Some may see a benefit as a prairie dog catapult, or a monster truck arena on the Valley Floor (opinions vary). But providing the space to educate our children, a facility for working parents to tend to their ankle biters, a safe road into town, or a medical facility that can support our growing population, are necessities. It is unfortunate that events have conspired to place the voters backs up against a financial wall.

Yet, this is the time to acknowledge the potential pain and continue to support and improve this region. This is not the time to run from problems screaming, like little schoolboys, and leave the community to languish in apathy and inaction. We have been doing that for the last decade, always preoccupied with the short term, and now Telluride is inadequate to support the growing number of people who wish to live here.

These ballot issues are clear long-term solutions to obvious needs. Do not let short term thinking continue to neglect this community.

If there is any levity to be injected into these troubling times, it’s that this region will be better off with sacrifice and not indolence. Perhaps to actually “play it safe” may be to make the tough decision, and support these initiatives. This is not necessarily a plea for the future of the children. They are blissfully unaware of the bedlam we face today, same as we were at a young age, or at any age on a powder day. These proposals strive to solve challenges that burden us during our time, and consequently will improve their futures. I will be voting yes for the school, the daycare facility, the spur, and the med center.

Very sincerely,

– John Matthews

No Better Investment

Editor:

My father was a child of the great depression and he has passed his fiscally conservative nature along to me. That is why in this time of economic instability I am urging you to vote yes on the Telluride R1 School District initiative. Where out there is a better, more secure investment than an investment in the future of our children?

When I first moved to Telluride the people who could afford it took their kids out of the public school and sent them to private schools. That no longer occurs very frequently and in fact our public school has become a magnet.

At a time when one out of every four students in Colorado drops out of high school our administration instituted a progressive new program targeted at helping our kids prepare for a future very unlike the future with which we were faced at that age. It is an interim two-week program that allows the high school kids to study intensively a subject that falls outside the normal range of academic offerings.

It is these innovations, small class sizes and outstanding teachers that makes our school such a good investment. This proposal makes good use of our limited space, reorganizes the existing building more efficiently, upgrades our historic elementary school, and helps insure that our outstanding teachers stay with us. Stock markets tumble but a good education lasts a lifetime. Please vote yes on the Telluride R1 School District initiative.

Thank you,

– Kari Distefano, Telluride parent

‘No’ on Bond for R-1 School District

Editor:

Quite frankly I am puzzled. I have been voting in Telluride since 1974 and I have never seen so many local taxing districts competing for large tax dollars in an unstable economy at the same time. The districts used to talk to each other and decide an order to ask the voters for money. The Library District would put off a voter request for a year if they felt the Fire District had a more pressing need. Not so any more. It is “we all need the money now” and “our project is the one you must support.”

I am going to take a very unpopular position and ask the School District to withdraw their mill levy as in my opinion it is poorly thought out. When a mill levy is approved and the bond is issued, the cost of repayment over 20 years is approximately twice the face value of the bond, depending on interest rates. If the voters approve the collectively proposed $45 million in bonds, the pay back will be around $90 million plus another 13 million if the preschool mill passes. Residential or commercial property, this is a lot of money.

Why should the taxpayers pay twice as much for some items that should be covered by School District reserves? Let’s say (no bond line item has ever been released) the landscape plan could be around $50,000. Why should I pay my share, over 20 years, of $100,000 for $50,000 worth of trees that will be dead in 20 years?  Bonding to pay for fencing? Come on board, that number must be small enough that it should just be put in the 2009 budget. Doesn’t the school have a maintenance/replacement fund that should pay for a boiler? Improvement of the middle/high school entry way will not improve education in Telluride. With the national recession we may not need a new kitchen/seating area as the coming failure of local business may make it impossible for families to find the work to afford to live in Telluride. Thus, with less students the same existing kitchen/eating area will work.

The bond will build eight new classrooms. Currently two existing classrooms are used for preschool. The taxpayers built them for grades k to twelve. Are they being rented out to the preschool at a commercial market rental rate triple net? The voters have never voted to keep class size at 20. Why not go to 24 for a couple of years? Seventy out-of-district students use our school. Maybe it is time to cut out this practice. What happens if we add one period per day or extend the number of days classes are held. Doing some combination of the aforementioned might put off the building classrooms for a couple of years.

Just for the record, I have never heard of a public school having a greenhouse. What does your demographer say about the student mix in five years? Is it possible that a wood shop or auto mechanics shop might make more sense than a greenhouse. After all, not every student wants or is qualified to go to college. The way things are going nationally they may need a job, not a college education after high school.

Other questions remain unanswered:

l. What is the cost per item on the bond?

2. What is the remaining life of the Elementary School roof?

3. Have grants been written to do the roof and repair the bricks on this historic building?

4. What is the plan on teacher housing: does the district recover the cost of the land, interest and construction, and are the units restricted to teachers in perpetuity?

Have you really thought about the argument, “This is really not a new tax, but just a reduction of an existing tax?” If we pass this it is money we are going to have to pay. This mill seems to be a giant wish list of the school board members. Did I understand correctly that “new infrastructure for technology” is merely a free laptop for each student? Aren't we all ready concerned with what they are learning on the internet? If they all have laptops, do we need new classrooms or maybe just rent space in town and have satellite classrooms.

We now learn that the school enrollment is down 1 percent (six students) this year. If next year is also down, might we build eight classrooms that will sit empty? If the school board won’t withdraw the mill, I would ask the voters to join me in voting against this bond.  Not because you are against quality education, but because the timing is wrong, many questions are not answered, and this bond has too much nonessential spending in it.  Let’s wait, cut out the fluff in this bond, and pass a reworked bond in the future, after we know how the recession has affected the School District and our community.

– John Hopkins

Support Our Schools

Editor:

As the parents of a first and third grader in the Telluride Elementary School we are writing to urge you to support Ballot Issue 3A with a yes vote.

The population of the Town of Telluride, Mountain Village and the surrounding areas is growing steadily, and so is our student population. Respected demographers tell us this trend is here to stay. New families have moved to the region and local couples have started their own families. Children are everywhere.

There’s a reason for this. Telluride’s a great place to live, work and play. The schools are excellent. The school board and our local teachers have worked hard to make our schools some of the best in Colorado, and we’ve seen the fruits of their labor in a variety of awards and in consistently high test scores.

Today, however, the Telluride School District is at a crossroads. Projected enrollment will soon overburden our existing facilities. Our daughter’s third grade class requires three classrooms. Our other daughter’s first grade class is larger and encompasses four classrooms, as do the second grade and kindergarten classes. If this trend continues we will not have enough classrooms in the existing buildings to accommodate these children. As these children move on we need a place to put them, and those who will follow them.

According to a 2008 childcare report for San Miguel County between 1990 and 1999 the average number of births per year was 56. Between 2000 and 2006 the average was 78. These children will end up in our schools sooner rather than later. We also need to ensure that the environment we provide encourages 21st century learning practices without compromising our larger community’s values of sustainability.

The Long Range Planning Committee has worked diligently to find a solution that works for everyone. We commend them for taking a step back from the original, larger plan of a completely new building. They have proposed a solution that is well-crafted, uses existing school property without eliminating our one soccer field, and incorporates sustainable systems (including much-needed renovations to the historic elementary school) to reduce energy usage and, last but not least, includes affordable housing for school employees.

The alternatives are not pretty. Portable classrooms cost approximately $250,000 each, are not well suited for our high alpine climate, and the only place to install them would be on the soccer field. No one wants to see our children going to school in trailers. Our community is better than this.

The school board has always recognized the importance of planning for future growth well in advance so that educational programs are not compromised. A yes vote on 3A gives them the tools they need to continue this important work, and the eight new classrooms and renovations should accommodate student growth projections for the next seven to eight years.

Finally, while the bond is for $18 million, thanks to the early retirement of a previous bond in December of this year, property taxes will not increase. Additionally, the interest rate on the bond is capped at 6 percent. In fact, if this measure is passed the net effect is a decrease, something surely everyone can appreciate in our current economic climate.

Please support our school board and our children on Nov. 4 by voting yes on question 3A. Thank you.

– Jim and Virginia Lucarelli

Art an Effective Coalition Builder

Editor:

Art Goodtimes is the best informed, most progressive and wisely pragmatic political leader in western Colorado. As a member of both Club 20 and Western Colorado Congress for the last eight years, I have seen first-hand Art Goodtimes’s effectiveness at building coalitions of elected officials, community leaders, and conservation organizations to promote policies that protect the environment while supporting economic development.

With our current, complex fiscal problems and West Slope mineral development boom, Art Goodtimes has the knowledge, experience and passion for problem solving that make him the leader that San Miguel County needs for the difficult times ahead. I strongly support his re-election as county commissioner

 

– Charles Kerr, Grand Junction

Goodtimes Good for West End

Editor:

I have had the pleasure of working with Art Goodtimes for the past two and one-half years as I serve as a Norwood Trustee. Art has always supported and cared about West End issues including Norwood Town proper issues and for this I am grateful.

It is important for such a small town like Norwood to have supporters and “cheerleaders,” if you will, in our corner. Art’s support has been invaluable and I can’t imagine it any other way.

Art has encouraged and been a proponent of funding requests for West End programs such as the Wright Stuff Foundation and the Farmers Market to name a few. He has shown genuine concern for Wright’s Mesa and has been the Wright’s Mesa voice on a regional and state level. He understands the long term historical context of local and regional political issues and has provided great assistance to myself as an elected official when needed.

I am casting my vote for Art and I hope you will consider doing the same.

More Goodtimes…

– Michelle Haynes, Town of Norwood Trustee

Leadership Beyond the County Line

Editor:

The reason this letter is being written by non-residents of San Miguel County is simple: We want to make sure the people of San Miguel know how far reaching and effective Commissioner Goodtimes’s leadership has been.

For almost a decade, Commissioner Goodtimes has participated in the Public Lands Partnership (PLP) and the Uncompahgre Restoration Project (UP) which encompass Delta, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. The PLP is a regional grassroots group with a very diverse membership. Since 1993, its mission has been to “to influence the management of forests and public lands in ways that maintain diverse, healthy and viable economies, forests and communities.” As both a member and leader of the Public Lands Partnership, Commissioner Goodtimes has brought knowledge, momentum and innovative problem solving to public lands issues that benefit the entire area.

Following the 2002 Burn Canyon Fire for example, Commissioner Goodtimes led an effort to resolve conflict between environmental interests, loggers and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison Forest Service (GMUG) over the Forest Service’s proposed salvage logging prescriptions in San Miguel County. As a result of Commissioner Goodtimes’s leadership, an alternative emerged that enabled salvage logging to occur in some burned areas where the terrain was not steep. Commissioner Goodtimes, along with other devoted citizens primarily from San Miguel County and the PLP, subsequently implemented an annual monitoring effort to assessing the affects of the salvage logging that occurred in 2003-04.

Commissioner Goodtimes’s leadership and innovation through this and other projects has taught everyone involved about ecological monitoring and the importance of adaptive management. Not only were salvage logs provided for mills in Delta and Montrose counties, but San Miguel County received modest financial gains. Although Commissioner Goodtimes has always made it known upfront that his primary objective is to do what he believes is best for San Miguel County, his leadership and efforts have also significantly benefited neighboring counties and the region. In large part because of his involvement, the PLP and this region have received significant national recognition and funding for becoming more adept stewards of this breathtaking place we live. Recently this recognition included awards from the Regional U.S. Forester, the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, the Secretary of Agriculture and several nonprofit organizations.

In the event not all citizens of San Miguel County know what an asset Commissioner Goodtimes has been to neighboring counties, we thought it appropriate to reiterate the importance of his leadership from this broader perspective.

Sincerely,

– Mary Chapman, former coordinator and executive director of the Public Lands Partnership, and Stephen Schrock, co-founder of the PLP and Delta County resident

A Goodtimes Endorsement From Aspen

Editor:

During my 13 years as a county commissioner, I came to know and respect the work of Art Goodtimes.  Art is known throughout the region for his courage, his humor and his insight into the problems faced by rural mountain communities.

Once a lone voice in the (almost) wilderness of Colorado politics, Art is respected for having advanced the notions of community, local housing and sustainable public policy when others were repeating the all growth is good mantra. He is not afraid to challenge the policies and practices of energy companies where those conflict with the public good.

None of this is said in derogation of any other candidate or candidates – quite simply, I am proud to have shared with and learned from Art over the years.

 

– Mick Ireland, Aspen

Family Member Has Hope

Editor:

I have been coming to Telluride for years to visit family members. We visit several times during the summer and winter months. We love all that Telluride has to offer with the camps in the summer and the clubs for kids, especially the Adaptive Ski Program because my son has special needs.

I feel comfortable in Telluride because of the quality of health care that my family, especially my son, can receive at the medical center. I feel confident spending time in such a remote place, and allowing my son to ski and hike, knowing that our health-care needs will be met by the competent staff there. To date there has not been a trip that I have not used the med center.

I have been following the articles and letters in the newspapers regarding the need for a new facility.

It is difficult to imagine that anyone would oppose it. Telluride has a beautiful ice rink and theater. The current medical center is a house with a failing foundation. There is an extraordinary staff at the current medical center working in challenging conditions. There are increasing demands on the health care providers because of population and visitor growth. How does the community plan to meet these health care needs if they don’t support the new facility?

I am sure that I am not the only family member who visits Telluride who is concerned about this issue. A great health care facility is a determining factor for many when they decide to live in and visit a resort town. Telluride’s residents have an opportunity to make sure there is exceptional healthcare there for themselves especially, but also for the people who visit and play there.

Sincerely,

– Lynn Muller, Charlotte, N.C.

Vote for Goodtimes

Editor:

As a resident of neighboring Ouray County, I have served on boards and committees and attended meetings with Art Goodtimes and seen the great things that he has done for San Miguel County from far outside you County Lines. I can assure San Miguel voters that impact has extended beyond the county.

It would be hard to imagine a more dedicated servant in any county commission. He travels far and works very energetically on issues that would affect your county and the rest of western Colorado.

For the sake of the future well-being of San Miguel county, and other neighboring counties, I would urge you to support Art Goodtimes at the polls. I wish I could.

– Jim Stephenson, Ouray County

Another ‘Vote for Goodtimes’

Editor:

I am writing this letter in support of Art Goodtimes. Art has demonstrated his ability to listen to, and represent his diverse constituency in San Miguel County.  His work has been lauded on a county and state level, and I believe his experience will continue to be valuable in the commissioner's' position. I personally have appreciated Art's work with the Regional Transportation Task force.  Art realizes the importance of a consistent and reliable regional transportation network to support a reliable workforce and sustainable growth in the county.

Please join me in supporting Art Goodtimes for San Miguel County Commissioner.

Sincerely,

– Richard Grimes, Norwood

Hagan for State House

Editor:

For eight years as Montrose Mayor and City Councilmember, Noelle proved almost daily what real nonpartisan leadership is all about. Regardless of the issue, she has held a distinguished reputation as the person to rely on for finding a way to bring people together to solve problems.

Noelle’s accomplishments cover quite a wide range of local concerns. They include helping to prevent the 2003 Front Range water grab that would have dramatically altered our local agriculture and businesses, creating a “rainy day” fund to protect against an economic downturn (have you noticed the rain lately? – Noelle had the foresight to provide some umbrellas), and voting to repeal tax on small businesses.

While Noelle’s past accomplishments are to be admired, the main reason I am so impressed by her is the understanding of complex issues that she has demonstrated. She comprehends what can and must be done at the state level to minimize the impacts of the coming economic, educational and health challenges in our region.

Noelle understands the need to explore all sectors of our economy to find what the most likely successes and best fits for future growth will be in Southwest Colorado. Noelle understands the limitations health care and education will face and has offered innovative ideas for maximizing the provision of these vital services

To these tasks, Noelle brings a unique brand of equanimity and decency from years of working cooperatively with others.

Vote for Noelle Hagan so that she can become our 58th State District Representative because the challenges we now face require a person who puts ideology aside and brings decades of experience to the daunting tasks now facing Colorado and our region. If anyone can do this right, it’s Noelle.

– Howard Greene

Go, Goodtimes!

Editor:

Art Goodtimes gets my vote again for the simple reason that he effectively represents his constituents. That’s you and me who live in Telluride, the people I work with in Norwood (as the town’s planner), everyone in San Miguel County. It’s not easy keeping such divergent needs in mind, especially if they conflict, which sometimes happens. But Art listens, sorts through what he hears, and figures out what’s important. Sometimes living in our remote and sheltered county, we forget that we’re part of the rest of the world. In these uncertain times, we need all the competent representation we can get, someone who knows how to protect the County’s interests in Denver, Washington and elsewhere. Art provides this better than almost anyone else. Vote for Art.

– Amy Levek

Yes on 1A

Editor:

I have lived and worked in Telluride for the past 30 years. I arrived in Telluride as a single parent of three children. I moved here to enjoy the out-of-door life style and beautiful surroundings along with several other young families. In those days I remember class sizes in the Telluride School of 8-11-23 students per grade. Things have changed for young working class families. The numbers of students has risen along with the cost of living and the cost of affordable childcare in the area. In 1950 one out of 10 women was in the working force. Today eight out of 10 women are in the working force. In San Miguel County we have over 200 working class families on a waiting list for quality child care. What happens to a whole community if these families can’t find affordable child care? They move out! I don’t want to live in a community of only second home owners and single folks. I love to see young families engaging in daily life in Telluride. It adds youth and happiness to my day and a big smile of enjoyment. Please join me in my quest to keep local working-class families in Telluride by voting Yes on 1A.

Thank you,

Cathy James, Telluride

 

TMC’s Health Fair a Success!

Editor:

Once again the Telluride Medical Center’s annual Health Fair was a resounding success! We again did more blood draws than any previous year, and immunized over 60 people against Influenza. Participants were able to take advantage of free HIV testing courtesy to the Telluride AIDS Foundation. Telluride EMT’s, Mike, Heidi and JT performed free EKG’s on numerous participants. Thanks to Darla from Southwest Hearing for providing hearing screening and to Dawn from Dr. Maruca’s office for performing low cost heel Bone Density testing.

Dr. Jeffery Ptak graciously provided his time to perform skin exams on many people during the Health Fair. Emo and Dr. Jenny Hargrove from IFAM (Institute for Altitude Medicine) checked oxygen status and lung function testing. The two local Physical Therapy groups Peak Performance with Brett and Megan and Balanced PT with Derek and Laura aided people with various physical evaluations and tips for exercises.

Linda from the American Cancer Society had a table full of information on cancer and cancer screening. Rocky Mountain Health Plans presented information on affordable health insurance. Luvlight Acupuncture demonstrated their therapies for any person interested. Thanks as well to Pam Brumley, PT, who demonstrated laser treatment for soft tissue injury.

A special thanks goes to Viking Rentals for the donation of tables and chairs for the 10th year in a row.

And as always many thanks and kudos to the Telluride Medical Center staff for their time and hard work: Dr. Sharon Grundy, Dr. Kent Gaylord, Eric Johnson, NP, Pam McCreedy, Reva Saunders, Barbara Newby, Gordon Reichard, Becky Padilla, Rebecca Pugh, Lorraine Heidergott, Paula Eaton, Anji Sawant, Beth Kuperman, Ann Doody, Julie Wesseling, Cheryl Fitzhugh, Rebecca Reichard, Bob Cronebaugh, Nan Dudek, as well as community volunteers: Margaret and John Matthews, and Tor Anderson.

Thanks,

– Eric C. Johnson, NP

Vote ‘Yes’ on Norwood Rec Center

Editor:

I am writing to encourage everyone to Vote Yes on Ballot questions 5B-5E.

For the past two years a small, but determined group of residents from Wright's Mesa have worked tirelessly to try and bring a recreation plan to fruition that could greatly enhance the quality of life for our residents. Input from the community has been collected, donated funds raised to pay for a feasibility study and responsible decisions made have also changed the course of action for this group. After careful consideration as to the liability to landowners for a mil levy to build a recreation center, it was determined to be too risky and irresponsible to move forward with that plan. This new plan, however, is a very small step in the right direction for our community.

Ballot question 5B is asking voters to approve a property tax levy of 1 mills. This equals out to about $8 per $100,000 annually to property owners in the district.

Where would this money go? It will go into a fund to bring recreational amenities to our community that would otherwise not be available. By forming this district, the Norwood Park and Recreation District Board will be able to look outside of our tax base for funding for projects and apply for grants and other funding sources to make these projects more feasible. Things like a skateboard park, riding trails linking outlying areas to town so that families can ride together safely, an eventual swimming pool, and other projects that would help to bring our residents together. The Town of Norwood alone does not have the tax base or capabilities to develop these things on it's own. Nor should it. Creating this Park and Recreation District is the first step in responsibly building a base for recreational development.

I have heard so much support for bringing more recreational amenities to Norwood for our kids and families. By building community, we attract more residents looking for a nice place to raise their families as my husband and I did 13 years ago.

In these tough economic times, we need to invest in our communities and bring our friends and neighbors together to build a stronger America. Please join me in stengthening OUR community on Wright's Mesa by voting YES on 5B-5E. 

Respectfully Yours,

 

– Jennifer Dabal

 

Vote for Tipton

 Editor;

Our family would like to ask your family’s consideration of Scott Tipton for election to the 58th House Seat. We believe that effective representation does have a lot to do with family and individual values such as honesty, integrity and caring, as well as the abilities to listen, formulate and to build consensus in order to implement. These values are those of Scott.

Scott’s family and ours have had a personal and professional friendship spanning the last twenty-five years. From knowing Scott’s strong, community building, father and courageous mother, his wife a former elementary teacher, his two bright daughters and other family members, we have gained an insight of him and his family that we would like to share with you.

Scott and his family have always been there for our communities. He is highly active in and supportive of education; always at the forefront of economic and community development efforts, as well as one of the first in line to help when action is needed to assist others. He is a first class businessman with a heart and mind as large as the Western Slope of Colorado.

Scott is one of those rare individuals when faced with a decision of a relative stress-free life or a choice of serving the public interest, has chosen that of serving. In all honesty our family does not know Scott’s opponent, however the one thing that we can assure you of is, that from family-to-family we can do ourselves proud by electing a great family man and beyond; Scott Tipton as our next Representative in the 58th.

– Gary, Nancy and Garan Shaw

Vote for Goodtimes!

Editor:

I first met Art Goodtimes many years ago when he was instrumental in bringing Colorado Chautauqua, a cultural and education traveling festival, to the Western Slope of Colorado. Since then, Art has participated in many more cultural and public interest activities and events around the Western Slope, including the annual Headwaters Conference in Gunnison, a gathering of people who discuss issues of importance to the future of our beautiful region.

I have served on the board of Western Colorado Congress with Art Goodtimes, and I know him to be a thoughtful, committed advocate for a sustainable and just society. We haven't always agreed, but the great thing is that I know Art is dedicated to finding solutions to the problems that face our region.

Also, I love to hear him recite his poetry! He's a Western Slope treasure.

– Gretchen Nicholoff, Hotchkiss