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Letters – May 2008
Local Heros
Dear Editor,
Just a note to salute two unsung Valley heroes, Jeff and
Amber Shook at the Villa Grove Trade. On Sunday, March 1 my
wife and I were caught in a blizzard that restricted visibility
to where I couldn’t continue driving toward Saguache.
We were able to make our way back to Villa Grove, thinking
to eat at Villa Grove Trade and wait out the storm.
As the storm raged on, as many as 60 people joined us and
ate as well. Before the storm subsided around midnight, Jeff
and Amber had a full restaurant, motel, and house (where they
lodged my wife and I and 20 some members of the Fort Lewis
Peace Delegation). Jeff, Amber, and Kris Vollertson are the
greatest!
Thanks from all you helped,
Harold and Becky Hutson
Thank you
Dear Editor,
Vicki and I would like to offer a sincere “thank you”
to our Crestone family for all the prayers, good wishes and
support sent our way with the passing of my father, Dean Hillman.
The cards, flowers and hugs have meant quite a lot to each
of us. It is such a blessing to live in a community filled
with so many kind and open hearts.
—David Hillman
and Vicki Matthews
Sad cottonwoods
Dear Editor,
On April 7 at a county wide planning meeting the presenter,
Steve Mullen, suggested planting a row of cottonwood trees
as one enters Crestone/Baca. A gentleman from Crestone questioned
why we should bother planting more cottonwood trees when the
ones along the creeks are dying. Good point!
Now, I do not feel these trees are dying due to lack of water.
There seems to be enough water around that area. I feel those
trees are dying because they are sad. Sad at the “underground
network of negativity” that is pervasive in this community
and has been for several years.
Recently someone forwarded an email to me from Crestone Talks
where several local people are engaging in negativity and
lies. Our spiritual environment senses the negativity. All
we can do to combat the underground forces of negativity is
to pray—as the Native Elders asked at their beautiful
ceremony.
I ask people of all faiths in Crestone to pray for the cottonwoods,
to pray for us, to pray for those angry people—just
pray! I love attending the Spiritual Life Institute every
week. Easter sunrise services were so beautiful with people
from all faiths attending. Thank you all for joining the Spritual
Life Institute at sunrise ceremony. Thanks to the Carmelite
monks for hosting a wonderful breakfast after mass, thus creating
fellowship and love.
I would like to thank all those who have called and provided
positive thoughts and love.
—M. Esther Quintana Grant
(Note: Those cottonwood trees died during the record
drought years of 2002 &03 when the creeks were so low
the water didn’t make it that far downstream. However,
it is always good to pray—for water and for love. -kz)
Golf to school?
Dear Editor,
At the POA meeting last night, Hammersmith representative
Bob Hite said the golf course would be listed for sale (‘to
learn the market value’). If the golf course is not
spoken for here, an outside buyer would come in and purchase
it. The ‘outside buyer’ seemed a somewhat nebulous
prospect, and my understanding was that the use of the golf
course has not yet been envisioned in that case. However,
following the Sustainability Conference, residents are committed
to envisioning the best future possible for our community.
It seems the golf course, owned by the POA, would be a wonderful
location for the new Charter School and for the Crestone Youth
Plaza/community center. The objection to the golf course,
according to Hite, is that it costs $12,000 a month to water.
So let the CCS and CYP xeroscape it and keep the grass cut.
The kids would have a great sledding hill in the winter.
The sharks are around, as we have seen. It is only good sense
to keep a large tract of beautiful, cleared land within the
community.
Sincerely,
Pavita
Beat view
Dear Editor:
I want to offer a personal perspective.
I write the Washington Beat from my love for America. I believe
this is a wonderful country and very much a work in progress,
as the Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitution indicated
that it should be. In addition, the Declaration of Independence
is one of the most inspiring documents ever written. Over
the centuries this country has ebbed and flowed, with high
points and low points, but always there was the notion that
despite all of its shortcomings, there was always the promise.
This is the promise of what this country can be and is very
much there for me.
Reading my columns, you will know I am extraordinarily critical
and very much angered by what has happened to America over
the last eight years, which has been abused in the lust for
power, used and prostituted for greed and great gain, with
little regard for the care and suffering of the people. I
write to raise awareness of issues and provide an analysis
and opinion about them, and I am very careful about how I
say things. I write with the knowledge that I am responsible
for the content and am very much aware of the powers that
be and what they can do.
Unlike many, I actually have read the Patriot Act passed
in October 2001, which pretty much outlaws the reasoning in
the Declaration of Independence. I recognize that it is the
new power and that people should be very careful about what
they write. I write with the expectation that everything that
I express can have consequences for me. Or not.
Friends who know me well are well aware that this does not
and has never fazed me. In fact, knowing this I am aware that
this makes me stronger and all the more determined to persevere.
The responsibility of what I say is all mine. I write from
this perspective, and I am humbled by it.
Sincerely,
David Nicholas
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Thank you to our community
Dear Editor,
Upon the successful completion of the yearlong Sustainable
Governance Committee’s work, as chair I wish to thank
all those who have contributed in any way. While many folks
attended and gave valuable feedback and questions at one or
two meetings, I’d especially like to acknowledge those
who contributed to the specific research that led to our conclusion,
shared by many in the community, that the most favorable governmental
alternative for our community as a whole is for the Town of
Crestone to annex the Baca and then for all of us to become
one home rule municipality.
Our foremost researcher was Clay Bridgford, who led our research
tirelessly throughout the summer and fall of 2007. Bob Banaszek
joined our committee later in ’07 and became our enthusiastic
prime researcher in ’08. Alma Rose contributed in many
ways, but especially as a calm, positive presence throughout.
Kathryn Van Note, Kathleen Haas, and Aurielle Andhara helped
keep us on track. Bill Conway, Warren Stephen, Tom McMurray
and Peter Gyallay-Pap shared valuable materials and insights
with us. Bill Sitkin and Chinle Beaver gave their support
over many months.
In addition, I wish to thank our entire POA board (John Loll,
Diane Dunlap, Chuck Grant, Danush Dopierala, and Jason Anderson)
and the POA’s general manager, Bob Hite, for their challenging
questions and ultimate support for our conclusions. Thanks
to the Baca Grande Water and Sanitation board and staff as
well as the Board of Trustees of the Town of Crestone for
their willingness to seriously explore this potential opportunity.
Appreciation also goes to county commissioners Linda Joseph
and Sam Pace, Crestone Town Attorney Gene Farish, CO Department
of Local Affairs Regional Manager Deb Downs, and Policy Analyst
Geoff Withers for their support.
Finally, my congratulations and best wishes to Ralph Abrams,
who has accepted the appointment to chair the newly-organized
Annexation Task Force, which includes delegates from the Town
of Crestone, POA, Baca Water & San, Baca Townhouse Association,
Spiritual Alliance, and residents-at-large. May this task
force provide the tough, creative problem solving solutions
for the long-term health and cohesion of our community as
a whole.
—Kate Steichen
Postpone the BLM oil and gas leases
Dear Editor,
I have concerns about the oil and gas lease sale set for
May 8, 2008. Local residents can write the state BLM director:
Sally Wisley- 2850 Youngfield St., Lakewood, CO 80215.
The deadline for protest ended on April 23, but we can write
letters requesting a postponement concerning the local parcels
# COC72598; COC72599; COC72600.
More time is needed for adequate study; aquifer dynamics;
sensitive habitat; health impacts, etc. A major reason for
a postponement is allowing time for renewable energy proposals
for these same lease tracts of public land, i.e., right of
way permits. A solar plant would be ideal on parcel COC72599.
The point being that renewable energy must enjoy the same
opportunity for development as the fossil fuel developers.
It is time for Green Energy: It is quicker and cleaner.
Also write Governor Ritter and the Salazars, etc., and stand
up for our community.
Thank you,
Tom Tucker
Water & Sanitation candidate support
Dear Editor,
From the perspective of 13 years on the Baca Grande Water
and Sanitation District Board (1985-1998), attendance at a
recent Board meeting, and several discussions with current
Board members, I am recommending voting for the following
candidates, whom I believe will restore fairness and vision
to the District:
Vickie Matthews for the one available two year term;
and
Chris Canaly, Phil Madonna and Parvin Johnson for the three
available four year terms.
Respectfully,
Robert Philleo
Crestone Mart— upcoming changes
Dear Community,
Every day, Crestone Mart’s employees and new manager,
Robin Durrance, hear numerous comments and complaints about
the empty shelves at the store. “Has the store been
sold?” “Why don’t you stock x, y, or z anymore?”
“When are you going to be getting lumber in again?”
The answer to the first question is, “Not yet.”
The answer to the second question is, “Because right
now we can’t afford it.” The answer to the third
question is, “When we can afford it again.” Due
to bad economic times and past business practices, the Mart
is tightening its belt. Customers are beginning to see changes
that are necessary to make the store profitable and attractive
for sale. Two big changes are detailed below.
No more credit
As of May 1, 2008, C-Mart will no longer extend credit to
any customers. This means that all goods must be paid for
at the time of purchase, using cash, local personal check,
or credit/debit card. Because C-Mart’s customer base
has shifted away from the construction industry, it is no
longer feasible for the store to continue billing as though
its primary customers were other businesses. The cost of sending
out a monthly bill, including recording, preparation, material,
and postage, is 16 times the cost of postage per statement
alone. C-Mart must pay for its products at the time of purchase;
if the store is to keep its shelves stocked, then C-Mart’s
current customers must also pay for their products at the
time of purchase.
Late rental fees
As of the beginning of April, C-Mart began charging late fees
for videos returned after the date and time on the rental
agreement. There are two reasons for this. First, the store
has to pay for all missing movies at the end of the month,
which eats into movie availability for other customers, as
well as income that could be used to stock shelves. Second,
the more movies that are missing at the end of the month,
the fewer new releases can be delivered by the supplier, which
means less fresh entertainment for everybody.
It will take time for everyone to see the results of these
belt-tightening measures, and the Mart employees ask for your
patience while these changes take effect. In the meantime,
they will continue to listen to your needs and do their very
best to serve you.
Sincerely,
Catie Moore
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