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VOL. 143 NO. 13 | THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 | $1.00
Valley’s first Spanish-speaking, licensed daycare opens in Gunnison Daisdasa family child care center already at capacity Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer (Editor’s note: Mayte Burton acted as interview interpreter.)
Paola Tapia stood at the front of the small room, bouncing a child on her hip. At the same time, she spoke in Spanish to a crowd of parents sitting on a colorful rug, doing paperwork. She thanked them for allowing her to love their children like they’re her own. As of mid-March, Tapia is Gunnison County’s first licensed family child care home provider whose native language is Spanish. A family child care home provider cares for kids in a home setting rather than a separate, usually larger space — Daycare A6
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(Left to right) Ruby Hernandez and her mother, Rosa sit with Mileivi Hernandez and her son, Darrel, at the Daisdasa Family Daycare on Monday, March 25. Owner Paola Tapia recently received her license to run the home-based child care center. Daisdasa is located on the west side of Gunnison. (Photo by Abby Harrison)
Western to offer City resumes nursing degree 3-mile plan Program meant to ease valley’s years-long nurse shortage Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
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By the fall of 2025, Western Colorado University will offer, for the first time, a full-time nursing degree and certification program. Administrators hope it will improve the persistent nursing shortage in the Gunnison Valley, exacerbated by a rising cost of living and pandemic-era retirements. Last week, Western received just over $1.5 million from the Opportunity Now Colorado grant program, which is funneling $85 million into bolster-
ing Colorado's workforce. That money will help build out a program that allows nurses to be fully trained, and start practicing, locally. Western intends to unveil a certified nurse aid (CNA) certificate program by this fall, followed by a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an accelerated BSN program by the fall of 2025. The goal is to recruit 20 students each year for the traditional track, and 10 per year for the accelerated track and CNA certificate. Gunnison Valley Health is supporting Western as it builds out the new program. The GVH Foundation Board committed $20,000 in scholarship money for the inaugural cohort in 2025 and will welcome students Nursing A6
process Studies will show how much development city utilities can support Bella Biondini Times Editor
After some delays, the City of Gunnison’s 3-mile planning process has resumed, this time with a focus on exactly how much development its existing utility system can support.
A 3-mile plan, required by state for all municipalities, covers the areas directly outside of city limits where Gunnison can “reasonably” expand, said City Manager Amanda Wilson. The city’s existing 3-mile plan was adopted more than 20 years ago, and needs to be updated. The ongoing project will create a set of building guidelines for future development on adjacent Gunnison County land that may eventually be annexed into the city. New construction in these areas needs to be compatible with the city’s land development code, and connect to Gunnison’s network of roads, utilities and sidewalks. 3-mile plan A8