Captain Jack’s Trees on Red Mountain

Editor:

I would like to thank the citizens of Telluride for the warmth, friendliness and hospitality they showed to me, Howard and Don from Red Mountain while we were in town for Captain Jack Carey’s memorial service. We were truly impressed by outpouring of love and positive energy for our good friend Jack, his wife Monica and the rest of the family.

As you heard at the memorial, we are dedicating a new run at Red Mountain in Jack’s honor and memory. Captain Jack’s Trees, an awesome double-black diamond, 2,500 vertical foot run will be cut this fall and ready for the coming winter season.

We plan on dedicating this run on January 23, 2010, at 2 p.m. during the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships, where Captain Jack was our long time event Director.

This is an open invitation to anyone from Telluride and Ophir who would like to attend the dedication. Red Mountain Resort will provide a two-day complimentary lift pass to all who would like to attend and ski Captain Jack’s Trees with us.

Just send me an email at jim@redresort.com and tell me you want to be there.

Sincerely,

– Jim Greene, Vice President, Red Mountain Resort, Rossland, British Columbia

Support the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act

Editor:

I am writing to urge everyone who lives in the San Juan Mountains and who cares about the fauna and flora they sustain, as well as the solace and beauty they offer us, to please write a letter of support for the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act.

Congressman John Salazar has opened a comment period on the proposed San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, which will add 63,475 acres of Wilderness to our regional national forests: the San Juan, and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests. This is your opportunity to have a positive impact on the future of wildlife and wildlands around Lizard Head, Ophir, Hope Lake, the Sneffels Range, Ice Lake Basin, McKenna Peak, and Naturita Canyon.

Under the proposed legislation the following areas will receive Wilderness Area designations: 3,374 acres will be added to the existing Lizard Head Wilderness Area by the Blackface, Sunshine and Wilson additions; 9,086 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar additions; 13,224 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Whitehouse addition; and 8,614 acres of the McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area will be designated as

Wilderness.

In addition, 22,582 acres will be designated as the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area. Existing uses including heli-skiing will be allowed to continue indefinitely, but no new roads or other development will be permitted. Also, 6,595 acres will be withdrawn from eligibility for mineral leasing in Naturita Canyon. No other uses in the canyon will be impacted.

By protecting and linking large parcels of wildlands, the Act offers what conservation biologists deem essential for the long-term presence of wildlife, like the Canada Lynx, and the ecosystems they maintain. Given the fragmentation and disappearance of Colorado’s fragile environments, I can only emphasize the importance of the passage of this Act. These areas are integral to the ecological, cultural, recreational, and economic wellbeing of southwestern Colorado.

You can fax letters to: 970/259-9467 (Durango) or 202/226-9669 (DC), or email letters to: john.whitney@mail.house.gov. For more information, maps and the entire bill, go to Congressman Salazar’s website: http://www.house.gov/salazar/sjmw.shtml. The comment period closes on August 16, this Sunday.

Please thank Congressman Salazar for his visionary leadership and urge him to introduce this bill to Congress. That way, future children of Colorado, America, and the world may have the fortunate experience of seeing wild horses and rare butterflies, fishing in clean high-country lakes, hiking terrain unchanged since the footsteps of Native peoples –experiences that we Coloradoans hold dear and that distinguish our truly beautiful state.

– Rhonda Claridge

$900 for Two, Count ’em, Two Stitches

Editor:

I understand some who oppose health care reform are concerned that taxes will increase for those earning over $250,000 per year to pay for new government programs. I would argue that most of us (including many making less than $250,000 per year) are already paying for those who do not have health insurance, but in a covert and inefficient way.

I recently took my son to a regional hospital where he received two stitches for which we were charged $950. When I called the hospital to discuss the bill, I was told the charges could be reduced to $50 if I did not have health insurance and could not afford to pay. I do have health insurance, with a high deductible, so I was expected to pay $950. In addition to paying for my family's health insurance and for my son's two stitches, I was, in effect, paying for those who do not have health insurance and cannot pay for their own hospital care.

Since I am already paying for the health care of those less fortunate than I, I would rather pay for it openly and efficiently, in the form of preventative care. I would like my fellow citizens to engage with "the system" when they are healthy rather than when they are in a desperate situation and need expensive emergency care.

As an American, I am ashamed that the health of our citizens is not yet a national priority. I support health care reform, including a public health insurance option that would be available to those who cannot secure private coverage.

I have contacted our congressmen in Washington to express my support, and urge my fellow citizens to do the same. They can be reached easily by email at: bennet.senate.gov, house.gov/salazar, markudall.senate.gov.

– Anne Brown

Arts in Nature Thanks

Editor:

I’m writing to express my gratitude to Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities for their grant which made possible my second annual Arts in Nature program – a free six-week summer art group that addresses the needs of children age 8-13 who have experienced loss or separation from a loved one, usually a parent or grandparent. I’m thankful to TCAH for their small grants program because it makes possible smaller local humanities projects, which would not qualify for other funding within the county. And I’m especially grateful for their willingness to support the Arts in Nature program this year, when funding was not easily attainable.

The Arts in Nature program is offered in partnership with One to One Mentoring Program – thank you for your hours of coordinating applications, attendance and administration! – and Telluride Historical Museum, whose staff has graciously provided exhibit space and a reception in the lovely Weatherford Room, as well as advertising, design, manpower and display materials for the exhibition of the children’s artwork.

The Arts in Nature program is a grief support group that combines nature and a variety of art materials to provide a relaxed, creative atmosphere where children can explore nature and art through the use of watercolors, acrylics, oil pastel, clay, ceramics, sculpture, paper maiché, and mixed media. Art-making in this way gives children a sense of mastery and builds their self esteem. They also learn to express themselves in a non-verbal way, and achieve a sense of belonging by making friends with similar interests and life-challenges.

There will be a free Grand Opening held this Friday, Aug. 21, 4- 6 p.m. at the museum, and the exhibition will remain open to viewers throughout the weekend. This exhibition of the children’s creative process will be a treat for the entire family, and I invite everyone to support these young artists by attending!

– Pamela Hancock