2019-08

Whoo Hooo! This year the Echo celebrates 16 YEARS of serving our community! •

THE CRYSTAL VALLEY ECHO and Marble Times

Providing a voice for community-based organizations and individuals that enrich the life of the Crystal Valley August 2019 FREE Volume 16 Number 9

Passing of the paper Passing of the paper

See story on page 5

To the Communities of the Crystal River and Roaring Fork Valleys,

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the compassion, love, prayers, cards, meal gifts and much more that you have provided to myself and the McEvoy and Strong families.

Susan touched so many lives through the world with her love and kindness.

There will be a Celebration of Susan’s life at the Redstone Inn on September 15, 2:00 — 4:00 p.m. All are welcome.

If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, comments, and stories about Susan, I ask that you email written remarks that will be read either by myself or another. You are welcome to send them via email (mrfyfer1@gmail.com) by August 23.

Thank you, Dana Strong

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide a voice for Crystal Valleyites; to bring attention to the individuals and local businesses that are the fabric of the Crystal Valley region; to contribute to the vitality of our small town life.

Publisher • Alyssa Ohnmacht Staff Writer • Sue McEvoy AdvErTISINg SAlES

Alyssa Ohnmacht • 970-963-2373 echo@crystalvalleyecho.com dISTrIbuTION

Dawn Distribution • 970-963-0874

The Crystal Valley Echo is published monthly, and is distributed throughout the Crystal Valley.

NEWSPAPEr bOx lOcATIONS: Carbondale City Market (inside) • Village Smithy

Carbondale Post Office • Red Rock Diner

Redstone General Store • Marble Charter School FOr SubScrIPTIONS

Please send $40 for printed or $25 for digital and address information to: The Crystal Valley Echo PO Box 2988, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602 FOr INFOrMATION

Please contact us: 963-2373 –echo@crystalvalleyecho.com

All copy submitted to The Crystal Valley Echo will be edited and reviewed by our staff for style, grammar and content. The Crystal Valley Echo reserves the right to refuse publication of any submitted material that does not meet our standards for a positive, informative, educational community newspaper.

Carbondale Location • 574 Hwy 133 Carbondale, CO 81623 www.custombodyfitnessllc.com

Glenwood Springs Location • 2550 Hwy 82 C220, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 www.custombodyfitnessgws.com

Getting to know you...

When Victoria Schlueter was ten years old, her mom, Lisa, and dad, Michael, brought her and her five-year-old sister, Lauren, up to Marble. Lisa had fallen in love with this area when she was a child and wanted her family to experience something different from their life in Tucson. On that trip in 2006–’07, Mom and Dad found out the Redstone General Store was for sale and at the same time, so was a house at the top of Daniels Hill. “It was so beautiful here. So different,” Victoria said. As a child, the utter remoteness of their new home didn’t sink in until “we found out that we had to take a ‘machine’ to our house; we couldn’t take a car.” Victoria was in fifth grade when they started in the old Marble Charter School (MCS) building, (now a National Historic Site). “Debbie Macek was my teacher. Lauren had Gina Mile and Mrs. Preston. There were about ten kids in classes that year. Instantly, I felt super comfortable here.”

She continued, “I feel like I got a really good quality education at MCS, not only academically, but mostly because of the whole outdoor thing we did. Instead of dodge ball in the gym like other people do, P.E. (Physical Education) here was: build our own ice rink. We went skating and cross-country skiing. I feel like I got experiences I’d never get anywhere else.”

She went on to high school in Carbondale and had no idea when she first started at Fort Lewis College in Durango that come August 2019, she would come back home to be the Director of Marble Sprouts Preschool with six or seven students her first year.

“I was a month or so into my freshman year when I realized teaching was what I wanted to do. People always told me I was really good at explaining things to people and helping them understand. And I really like kids. Then someone said, ‘Hey, you’re doing both of those things.’”

three to five-yearolds. And this is where Victoria wants to make a gentle point of clarification.

“When Marble’s first Preschool started, it was as a preschool. Later, it became more like a daycare center, and everyone got used to that. Now some will ask, ‘Oh, can you watch my kid?’ I answer, ‘Yes, when they are three, I can teach them here.’”

by Charlotte Graham

She explained, “Preschool is learning through playing. I am very aware that they need time to play, and that they are too young to sit down and ‘go to school.’ But preschool to me is a really great time to learn to socialize with other kids—and other adults. I am here to teach your children. I also got my endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education through methods of TPR, Total Physical Response, so that I can work with children coming in that only speak other

Victoria also grew up helping out at the General Store. “What an education the store has shown me,” she remarked. “You see everything. I find myself catching kids, even adults in their sixties, and saying to them, ‘Does that look like the trash can? How about we pick it up and go over there and put it where it belongs?’ These people are so shocked to have anyone say something to them. But I think, Did you not learn to take turns? Didn’t someone say this to you before? Why did we miss this?”

Around age 17–18, she also remembers seeing moms in the store who were pregnant, not thinking that much about it. She now gets to teach those

Victoria also feels that getting her kids to integrate and participate with their community-at-large is important. “We had a really cool class called Family and Community Relations. It is where your kids and family members go out into the community, meet the town people and do things together.

“This past semester, I had thirty kindergarteners. I had one who was reading chapter books on Day One and I had another who didn’t know the letter ‘A.’ I never really appreciated the work it takes to teach kids—in the same room—that are at such different levels. I’m glad we studied differentiation in school. It is figuring out how to adjust things for different kids. You learn this kid is better when you talk to him or this kid is better when you just give him a project himself.”

Victoria elaborated on the routine of the day. “One of my goals this year is that every morning we sit in a circle on the rug. We say what day of the week it is and go over the class schedule, getting kids to think, and getting it in their heads that, okay, every morning we do this … Also, I’m teaching kids things like manners, taking turns, and discernment. Again, there’s obviously going to be free play time but it’s also going to be coordinated in ‘learning centers’ such as art center, puzzle center, dress-up center, etc.”

Victoria then recalled, “My senior project was to come up with a metaphor that explained teaching. How we felt about it. I came up with ‘Your Classroom Is Like a Crayon Box.’ I made a little book about all these crayons and how they didn’t like each other because they were all different colors. Then this little girl bought the crayon box and colored with them. And then they realized: ‘Hey, you are the color of the sun and I’m the color of the clouds, and we go together.’ The quote at the end of the book is ‘We are a box of crayons, every one of us unique, but when we get together, the picture is complete.’ Victoria has used this in the classroom with her students and has found it very helpful. “I asked them what they thought unique meant in the book. One little boy raised his hand and said, ‘It’s something about you that is different and that makes you special!’ My teacher-heart just exploded. I love that moment when a little kid understands something for the first time. They have that little light bulb that goes on. And they just look at you, like ‘I get it!’ It is

such a wonderful feeling.

“Each year, my goal is to send more decent humans out into the world. And here is a good start.”

CRYSTAL CALENDAR

AUGUST

YOUR CALENDAR FOR GOINGS ON IN AND AROUND THE CRYSTAL RIVER VALLEY Send event items to echo@crystalvalleyecho.com by the 15th of the preceding month. Please include contact info, cost and anything else you think readers need to know.

Aug. 3: 3 p.m. County Road 3 Cleanup with Marble Community Church. Contact the Marble Hub for more information 970-963-7300.

Aug. 3: 6 – 8 p.m. Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concert Series presents Scones Summer of Love, year 67. Redstone Park. Free. 970-963-8240.

Aug. 3: 6 p.m. Marble Hub Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Hub. Contact the Marble Hub for more information 970-963-7300.

Aug 3: 8:30 - 11 p.m. Astronomy Night / Dark Sky Party. Marble Hub Education: Wild Side Walks. Contact Alex Menard for information 963-1141.

Aug. 8 & 14: 9:30 a.m. Family Exploration at Filoha Meadows Open Space. Bring your family to Filoha Meadows and learn about the local bat population, visit beaver ponds, collect aquatic insects, and go on a scavenger hunt to explore this unique place. Free. Must preregister at roaringfork.org. 970-927-1290.

Aug. 10: 6 – 8 p.m. Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concert Series presents Zoltan & the Fortune Tellers. Redstone Park. Free. 970-963-8240.

Aug. 10: Second Saturdays in Marble. Live artists demonstrations and classes. Various places throughout town. Please check out the Marble Hub on Facebook, and the current issue of The Crystal Valley Echo for more details. 970-963-7300.

Aug. 10: 10 a.m. – noon. Beaver Lake Weed Pull. Contact the Marble Hub for more information 970-963-7300.

Aug. 10 & 11: MarbleFest

Aug 11: 1 – 3 p.m. Wetlands Walk / Beaver Talk with Roaring Fork Conservancy. Marble Hub Education: Wild Side Walks. Contact Alex Menard for information 9631141.

Aug. 17: 6 – 8 p.m. Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concert Series presents Hiroya Tsukamoto. Redstone Park. Free. 970-963-8240.

Aug. 17: 10 a.m. – noon. Community Weed Pull. Contact the Marble Hub for more information 970-963-7300.

Aug. 24. 6 – 8 p.m. Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concert Series presents: The Long Run, Colorado’s Tribute to the Eagles. Redstone Park. Free. 970-963-8240.

Aug. 31: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concert Series presents You Knew Me When. Redstone Park. Free. 970-963-8240.

ONGOING

Redstone Castle Tours: Guided tours of the recently restored and renovated Historic Castle. Reservations highly recommended online at TheRedstoneCastle.com, by phone at 970-963-9656, or at the Redstone Inn. $25 adults, $20 seniors (65+), $10 children (5-18).

The Redstone knit group meets every 1st, 3rd, and if there is a 5th Wed. of the month at the Redstone Inn from 4-6 p.m. All levels welcome, any hand work or just come to visit. Call Kay at 963-9811 for questions.

Crystal River Jeep Tours: Morning and all-day jeep tours to the Historic Crystal Mill, Lead King Basin and all over the Crystal Valley. Check out smithfamilycolorado.com/CRJT or call 970-963-1991.

Slow Groovin BBQ has live music on Fridays 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Look for the food truck at the Thursday Rodeo in Carbondale and the Glenwood Music in the Park. 101 W. 1st St. Marble. slowgroovinbbq.com. 970-963-4090.

Steve’s Guitars in downtown Carbondale offers a range of live music in an intimate setting.

Carbondale Recreation Department offers classes and programs for kids and adults. carbondalerec.com. 970-7044190.

Glenwood Vaudeville Revue has comedy, magic, music and theatre productions most evenings. Dinner is optional. gvrshow.com. 970-945-9699

Body Fusion Class with Lisa Wagner every Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 –10 a.m. at the Church at Redstone. Locals/visitors welcome. Donations accepted. 970-9638240.

The Redstone Community Association meets the First Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Redstone Inn. All are welcome!

Country Dancing every Tuesday night in the Round Room at Third Street Center in Carbondale. Lesson at 7, open dance 7:30- 9:30. $8 per person. No partner or experience necessary. BillyPat4@gmail.com. 970-366-6463.

First Fridays in Carbondale celebrates the arts, shopping, dining and music from 5 p.m. on the first Friday of every month downtown. carbondale.com. New this season, Second Saturdays in Marble. With a variety of activities at multiple locations throughout Marble. Please check out the Marble Hub on Facebook, and the current issue of The Crystal Valley Echo for more details.

Ongoing events at The Marble Hub include art studio tours, cooking classes, outdoor movies, community dinners, Marble Fest, Marble Living History Day, book club, and other activities. Watch the Hub website (themarblehub.org) for these events. All events meet at the Marble Hub. 105 West Main St. Marble. Call for more information at 970-963-1141.

The Thompson House Museum is located at 301 Lewies Lane in Carbondale and will be OPEN for tours from 1pm to 4pm every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday June through September. For more info, or to schedule a group tour, contact info@carbondalehistory.org.

Every Wednesday June to September, the Carbondale Farmer’s Market runs from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 4th and Main St. carbondalefarmersmarket.com

Every Thursday from June 6 to August 22, the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo is at the Gus Darien Riding Arena on County Rd. 100 near Carbondale. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., Slack is at 6:30 p.m. and the Grand Entry at 7:30 p.m. carbondalerodeo.com. Pickin' in the Park. Paonia’s free summer music series on Thursday nights at 6 p.m. pickinproductions.com.

Throughout the summer, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s Music on the Mountain features live bands most Saturdays in summer. Enjoy a free tram ride with a canned food donation for LiftUp food pantry. Free tram rides begin at 4 p.m. Glenwoodcaverns.com. 970-945-4228.

Summer of Music Series at Sopris Park in Carbondale offers a range of live music in an intimate setting. Check carbondalearts.com for schedule of artists.

Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concert Series. Saturdays June 15 – Aug. 31. Redstone Park. Free. 970-963-8240.

The crystal valley Echo changes hands after 16+ years

Alyssa Ohnmacht began publishing The Crystal Valley Echo and Marble Times in December of 2002. After many years and a move to Glenwood Springs, Ohnmacht felt it was time to dedicate her energy to Light of the Moon, Inc., Publishing Division, where she partners with self-published authors to get their books into print. Coincidently, at the time this was becoming apparent, Ohnmacht had a meeting with Gentrye Houghton, of Redstone. One thing led to another and an arrangemnt was made for Gentrye and her husband, Ryan Kenney, to become the Echo’s new publishers. Ohnmacht will continue publishing the Echo Guides

Publishing The Crystal Valley Echo each month has been part of my life for the past 16+ years ... longer than my youngest daughter, Erica, has been alive!

I started the Echo when I was seven months pregnant with Erica, and my older daughter, Olivia, was just starting kindergarten at Marble Charter School. I went in to volunteer at the school, perhaps reading or something like that, and walked out with the task/challenge/gift of working with The Marble Times. From there I created The Crystal Valley Echo, which has always included several pages for The Marble Times, the MCS pages.

For several years I worked with the kids at MCS each month, relied on community contributions for articles, and took care of the rest on my own. There were several years I collaborated with Carrie Click, who became the Echo’s Editor in Chief, and during this time we stepped up the “professionalism” of the paper, added a calendar and more consistency to make it the Echo we know

and love today. It was when Carrie moved away that Sue McEvoy, who had been contributing various items to the paper already, became the primary writer for the Echo.

I have enjoyed being the publisher of The Crystal Valley Echo all these years! I loved our life up the Crystal and have a great deal of gratitude for the opportunity I had to raise Olivia and Erica in Marble and Redstone. When we made our move from Redstone to outside of Glenwood Springs, I was still able to continue publishing the Echo with Sue’s incredible input and passion for the news of the valley each and every month. When Sue’s illness prevented her from being able to write for the Echo, several members of the community stepped up to help. Both Charlotte Graham and Gentrye Houghton contributed articles on many occasions.

However, during the past two years, I have noticed my enthusiasm for publishing the paper shifting, as I didn’t feel like I was helping it reach its potential, but I still feel the incredible gratitude people have for it, so I continued publishing. When Sue departed the planet though, I experienced an overwhelming feeling that it was time to let the Echo go.

I am very happy that Gentrye and Ryan are in a position to keep the Echo alive and become the new publishers. I want to offer an incredible heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone who has participated with the Echo in any way over the past 16+ years. I am excited to see all of the great things Ryan and Gentrye will do with the Echo!

As things move forward, please help support the Echo on its continuing journey. The way a newspaper like the Echo survives is through advertising dollars and community participation.

~ With gratitude, Alyssa •••

Ryan and I have lived in and out of Redstone since February 2013, and became permanent residents last summer. Before falling in love with Chair Mountain and the river that winds below her, we built, opened, and operated an indoor climbing facility for about five years in our hometown of Amarillo, Texas.

With Ryan’s background in law, he became the manager of the Redstone Water and Sanitation District the beginning of this year, while I hold a degree in journalism and currently work as a Massage Therapist around the Crystal and Roaring Fork Valleys. I was also appointed as President of the Redstone Community Association last month.

We are excited to become the new publishers of The Crystal Valley Echoand Marble Times and look forward to forming even more intimate relationships with the communities of Marble, Redstone, and all of the Crystal River Valley. While changes to The Echo may evolve organically in time, we are thrilled to continue providing a voice to the upper Crystal Valley. That being said, we are committed to producing quality content but cannot do that without you!

We encourage you to send us your stories, tidbits, photos, and pretty much anything that can help us share life in our beautiful Crystal River Valley. Please feel free to email either Gentrye (gentryeh@hotmail.com) or Ryan (ryan.e.kenney@gmail.com) or give us a call at (970) 963-1495.

We are thrilled for this opportunity to come across our path and are excited to hear more from our community.

~ Ryan Kenney & Gentrye Houghton

VINTAGE VALLEY

Old-fashioned Ice cream Social

The Redstone Historical Society wants to thank the community for generously supporting our 2019 Membership Drive. Our old-fashioned Ice Cream Social at the Redstone Castle on July 14 was a successful blend of celebrating the past while enjoying the present. Period costumes, lawn games, and socializing set the scene for an enjoyable gathering on a beautiful summer afternoon.

We extend our gratitude to Redstone Castle owners Steve and April Carver and their property managers, Jennifer and Pete Pazour, who graciously hosted the event. A good time was had by all!

Gratefully, Board of Trustees, Redstone Historical Society

Membership information, announcements and a slideshow featuring the Ice Cream Social are available on the Society website www.History.RedstoneColorado.org

Contact Sue McEvoy 704-1843.

"The way you communicate reveals everything about you. Words are the clothes your thoughts wear."

~ Amanda Patterson

This makes thirty-one summers of a carver ’s paradise

For the past 31 summers, a stone carver ’s subculture has infiltrated the town of Marble Every year, during July, hundreds of curious stu-

d e n t s , s t a ff , a n d instructors come to

c a r v e Yu l e M a r b l e and participate in an artists workshop that is unmatched by any other

w

w a t c h t h re e o f m y friends carve,” said Madeline Weiner, of Denver, Founder of M A R B L E / m a r b l e

a n d t h e M a r b l e Institute of Colorado “They were carving this gorgeous white stone, and I wanted to carve with them

t o o T h a t ’ s w h e n a seed was planted in my mind and a dream started that I would carve in the woods with my friends ”

Madeline presented the idea to the board of directors of the Art Students League in Denver, where Weiner was an instructor, and 11 years after visiting Marble for the first time, she was

c

MARBLE/marble symposium was born July of ’89, and, according to the organization’s web site, “The first Symposium was 8 days, had 32 participants and and took place on land adjacent to the old mill site on the Crystal River, which was oaned (and later donated) by the Stover family By 1993 the Symposium had grown to three sesions with an average of 45 people/session.”

If you blink while passing by the M/M sign on County Road 3 as you enter the town of Marble, you might miss the old mill site altogether Situated next to the Marble Gallery, the sympoium is nestled just off the highway suspended over the Crystal River. Walking through the little popup tent city that is a stone carver ’s paradise, you can’t help but be in awe of the vast amount of marble that surrounds you

“

explained, “it’s kind of a no-brainer to at least attend one session. There’s Marble to carve everywhere!”

Remnants of marble ruins are repurposed and brought back to life to create the intricate grounds or these workshops The chopping block and prep tables in the kitchen are all waste once cut rom marble blocks, as are the picnic tables, the lassroom table, and the floor for the restrooms

The two showers even bring to life the history of this famous pure white marble The curved walls are the trashed ends from the diamond blades cutting the columns for the Lincoln Memorial!

AUGUST at the Inn...

• NEW HOURS FOR THE GRILL:

- BREAKFAST

Everyday from 8 a m to 11:30 a m

- LUNCH

Everyday from 11:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.

- DINNER in the Grill daily!

• DINING ROOM is now open Thursdays - Sundays 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Due to some issues with our pool, there will be no family night this season.

Yet that is not the first thing that comes to mind when asking around about what makes this workshop so unique: “It’s the access to the knowledge and experience, not only from he instructors but also from your fellow t u d e n t s O n e i n s t ru c t o r m a y re s o n a t e more with you than another even though hey’re telling you the same thing, and no one’s afraid to disagree! There’s not a singular way to do anything, and this setting ultivates experimentation so that you to ind your own way,” said Anita Miller from Lions, Colorado.

“It’s as much a cultural exchange as a culpting workshop We have many students and instructors who come in from all over the world and return year after year Not to mention that most of our instructors were once students, and all of them are u p

Marble, Colorado remarked

“This is such an incredible setting, and we’re able to combine traditional tools and methods, using hammers and chisels datng as far back as 1200–1500s, with the conemporary,” Petro Hul from Santa Fe, New Mexico added

Along with the access to tools, classes, and roaming instructors, Colorado Stone Quarries donates enough marble for each student to receive a block to sculpt, included under the registration fee If interested, participants may sell their sculptures, but these will only be on display during participation MARBLE/marble is also looking to expand by purchasing two adjacent acres on the historic mill site. Heidi and Tony Trelevan generously offered to match a $5,000 donation per session, which was exceeded for both the first and second sessions with the third culminating on August 5. F o r a n y o n e i n t e re s t e d i n h e l p i n g w i t h f u n d s f o r t h

www gofundme com/marblemarble-expansion

Susan McEvoy-Strong

Assembled by Gentrye

Houghton

She is always with us in spirit. — Karla Miller

Like many of us, Susan McEvoy-Strong was not native to the Crystal River Valley, but eventually she found her way here. Born in Alabama and raised in Massachusetts, “Sue Mac” found her way to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1979 and began cultivating a deep fascination and intimate relationships with the communities of Redstone and Marble. After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1993, she made her way back to the Crystal River Valley and was offered a position at The Redstone Castle in 1996.

It was so much fun to work with Sue: At The Inn, at The Castle, and for the historical society. Those who love working in hospitality know what it means to be able to “dance together.”To work with Sue was a high energy dance. She was always agile enough to lead through the rocky parts.

— Deb Strom

Sue was the tour coordinator, caretaker, historian, and docent at the Redstone Castle; Sue welcomed visitors and shared the past of Cleveholm Manor. Our modern-day “Lady Bountiful” hosted numerous events at the Castle and was a long-standing member of the Historical Society, as well as the Redstone Community Association.

Sue’s knowledge, organizational skills, and general competence were outstanding attributes. She was the ‘go-to’ person for local history, stories, and adventurous outings. Some of my best memories are of shared Castle tours over the years, and sometimes unplanned, humorous events that occasionally occurred. From “hauntings” to “critters,” Sue handled all happenings with ease. I admire and will always remember her positive attitude, humor, and courage.

— Jane Munsell

She had a quiet wit, a beautiful smile, a legendary snort, and an infectious laugh. Friends knew Sue Mac to be an ice climber, river runner, fan of all things Boston, an avid hiker and backpacker, and an exceptional skier.

We were ice climbing partners, and together climbed from Vail to Ouray, taking on an array of challenges. She never seemed intimidated by difficult situations. I will forever remember her for her easy smile, positive attitude, and love of the wonders of the backcountry, especially in winter.

— Chuck Downey

Our friend Sue was the kind of person you’d want with you on a deserted island or any mountaintop. She was quick with a smile and an amusing thought, a culinary innovation, and a clutch move, even, and especially if, the shit hit the fan [b]and[b] it was raining. She was fearless, flexible, daring, generous, quiet, curious, thoughtful, warm, and wild as all get out. She was mad about living life to the fullest, and she included me on a regular basis.

— Cate Love

She was a talented staff writer for the Crystal Valley Echo and Marble Times, as well as the Echo’s Summer and Winter Guides. Sue was also a certified Pilates and Yoga Instructor, loved the music of Bob Dylan and was rarely seen without a Golden Retriever by her side.

Fifteen years of Pilates, three golden retrievers, one hike on the Ragged Mountain trail, one hike up Hawk and down East Creek. If love were only enough, we could have kept you here.

— Janice Ingram

Sue Mac was such an amazing friend. When you met her, you felt her love and kindness coming at you. We all had so many adventures hiking, skiing, duckying, and just having fun in the mountains that Sue so loved. I will always remember Sue’s beautiful smile and the twinkle in her big blue eyes. I have been so blessed to have had you in my life.

— Ginny Myers

Sue made creating The Crystal Valley Echo a breeze. She had a gift of finding the right stories at the right time, and keeping our readers up to date and familiar with “Life up the Crystal.” I will forever be thankful for the years we shared with the paper.

— Alyssa Ohnmacht

A strong, wise, courageous, and dedicated mountain woman, she volunteered for the Dzi Foundation and later Global Dental. After she joined a Ladakh, India, trip in 2006, Sue became a dental assistant and began co-leading annual

trips of volunteer doctors to remote villages around Ladakh and Pokhara, Nepal. She was inspired by these magical places and the bright smiles of all the children she served.

aware, more loving (if that’s even possible), and more gracefully. What an incredible woman. What an incredible friend. — Doris Downey

Sue was an ambassador of compassion and caring. She practiced her quiet form of spirituality in all aspects of life, much like the Nepalese and Tibetan cultures she so loved.

—

Teresa Jennings

Sue Mac was known and loved by all throughout the Crystal River Valley and beyond. We all knew her in different ways, and her talents and lifestyle covered a range that few could even imagine. She gave generously of her time and energy, volunteering for virtually every activity in Redstone and the Crystal River Valley. She loved trekking in Nepal, and participated generously over many years with programs that provided medical assistance for the poor and underprivileged. — Chuck Downey

She was a friend to all living creatures, always exuding compassion and light. Sue adored the Redstone and Marble communities, and was a fixture at every event under the sun.

The biggest moment, for me, happened in the hot springs at Avalanche Ranch. Sue simply turned and looked into my eyes with a deep look into my soul. She said, “Thank you, Marty, for being here with me.” It came from her heart and was so [b]in[b] the moment. It took me a moment to understand the feeling she was passing on. THANK YOU, Sue, for all that you have and are still teaching me. — Marty Hartman

As she lived every day, she squeezed every moment out of life that she could, outliving a terminal cancer diagnosis almost two years prior. She married the love of her life, Dana Strong, and continued her adventures in the mountains of Colorado and Nepal until the very end.

Sue never said no; she lent a helping hand for so many events in Redstone and the Crystal River Valley. She was instrumental in helping us pull together our concerts, and especially the Pearlington, Mississippi, Fundraiser after Hurricane Katrina. This was a huge undertaking for a small town like Redstone, and with her help, we were able to pull it off.

— Billy Amicon

There did come an occasion, while at dinner at some friends’ house, on New Year’s Eve, where Sue hugged me at midnight. It’s a small thing, and probably no one ever noticed, but it meant a lot to me. That was Sue, able to overcome anything that was a hurdle in her quest to become more conscious. — Jimi Olson

Susan McEvoy-Strong lost her gallant fight with cancer on June 12, 2019.

Sue was brave and courageous. She faced cancer with the same optimism and determination that she had throughout her life. Although the side effects of cancer treatments and other medications caused fatigue and discomfort, she did not complain, she did not withdraw, she did not feel sorry for herself. Instead, she lived life more fully, more

Sue was not just a friend, she was a true blue YaYa who was always up for an adventure! Sue’s love of the mountains and their majestic peaks took her to live in Redstone and later to Marble with her soulmate, Dana. Her smile was always big and her laugh was infectious. She was a true friend, I miss her so much, and I know she is chilling with wine and setting up a perfect campsite for her fellow Ya’s in Heaven.

— Molly Garland

I suspect that in years to come, Sue, with her epic trips and adventures, will become one of Redstone’s great legends. — Deb Strom Redstone will never be quite the same without her. Sue was the “Ruby" of Redstone. — Kim Amicon

It was Sue’s wishes to support the Pema Ts’al Sakya Monastic Institute in Pokhara, Nepal. Donations can be made in her name by visiting their web site: www.vikramasila.org/pema-tsal-monastic-institute.

Author’s note: It is with great love and adoration that I have the honor to assemble such a tribute to an incredible woman. Sue Mac was a fierce inspiration to me from the moment we met six years ago, and I continue to cherish each of the moments we shared. It is the Crystal River Valley community who are the lucky ones for the gift she bestowed upon us: she chose to share her life with us. This piece would not have been possible without the beautiful words by Kathy McEvoy from Sue’s obituary. Thank you, Kathy, for sharing the life of your sister with us.

The Pitkin County Commissioners hold weekly work sessions on Tuesdays and bi-monthly public hearings on Wednesdays in our BOCC meeting room at the Pitkin County Administration and Sheriff’s Building. Both meetings are televised live and repeated on locater CG12 TV. They are also streamed live and available on the County website. Agendas are posted in the Aspen/Glenwood newspapers and on-line at http://www.pitkincounty.com. In this column, your District 5 Commissioner, George Newman offers his take on current matters. You can reach him at george.newman@pitkincounty.com.

PITKIN COUNTY ANNUAL AUDIT

The BOCC recently received our Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2018 compiled by our Finance

WILD HORSE ENTERPRISES

What’s up with Pitkin County?

By Pitkin County District 5 Commissioner George Newman

Department and our auditor, McMahan and Associates. This report provides a set of financial statements to comply with accounting requirements of the Government Accounting Standards Board and is also used to ensure compliance with bond rating agencies and the Colorado State Auditor’s Office. The report is available to the public at http://www.pitkincounty.com under the June 25, 2019 work session, and offers substantial background as well as financial material, including the following highlights, which may be of particular interest.

Local Economy Update:

County population as of July, 2018 (the latest date for which data is available) was 17,950 and is forecast to grow approximately 17% over the next decade. Recreation, tourism, real estate and construction dominate the local economic activity of Pitkin County, including the 3 incorporated municipalities, Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Basalt, located therein. The County’s tourist industry is among the largest economic drivers for the County and is among the largest and least seasonal of any Colorado county with substantial ski resort facilities. The Aspen - Pitkin County airport moved from third to second busiest commercial airport in the State during 2018. Enplanements increased 16.5% in 2018 over 2017 and over 31% in the last five years.

Sales tax revenue, a good measure of the health of the tourism industry, has increased steadily over the last nine years, rebounding from its low point in 2009 during the great recession. Average increases during this nine-year period were 6%, with the highest rate in 2013; 2018 sales tax revenue increased 5.7% over 2017.

After strong growth since 2011, building permit fees moderated in 2018 as volume and valuation growth steadied. The sales volume of real estate in Pitkin County totaled over $1.8 billion in 2018, a 6.4% decrease over that of 2017, a year which saw an increase of 28.8%. The slight decline was attributed to a flattening of prices in Aspen where the majority of sales take place. In Colorado, property valuations are assessed every other year. 2017 was a reassessment year meaning the property tax collected in 2018 was impacted. Valuations increased by 16%; however, the residential assessment rate was reduced from 7.96% to 7.2% and property tax revenues increased $1.2 million or 5.4%.

The speculative residential and commercial real estate investment market remains strong and the outlook for the S&P Global Luxury

Index, a good indicator of performance for the County economy, is positive. Our economic vitality is linked to a strong equities and investment market and the health of both national and international economies. Political uncertainty, slowing growth, increasing interest rates and a weakening global economy can bring a drop in tourism and real estate investment and thus impact the economy of Pitkin County.

Financial Highlights:

As of December 31, 2018, the County’s total assets and deferred outflows of resources were $461 million, and total liabilities and deferred inflow of resources were $93 million. The total net position was therefore $369 million, an increase of 2.6 percent ($9.5 million) over 2017. Total net position comprises the following:

(1) Investment in capital assets of $280 million, including property and equipment, net of related debt (if any) and accumulated depreciation

(2)Restricted net position of $19 million, which is constrained for specific purposes by external providers, such as creditors, or amounts constrained due to constitutional provisions or enabling legislation

(3)Unrestricted net position of $70 million, which represents the portion available to maintain the County’s continuing obligations to its citizens and creditors.

Long-term Financial Planning: The annual budget serves as the foundation for the County’s financial planning and, as part of this process the County annually updates a five-year plan including review of a ten-year capital replacement schedule. In balancing its budget, the BOCC has adopted the following funding priority order: (1) debt service, (2) basic operations, (3) capital replacement, and (4) capital and service improvements. The County also maintains a minimum fund balance of 16% in the General Fund (including the statutory reserve) to provide a working capital reserve.

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is submitted each year to the Government Finance Officers Association for consideration for their Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program. The goal of the program is to ensure that users of the financial statements have the information needed to assess the financial health of the County. Pitkin County has been awarded this certificate for the past 36 consecutive years. Again, the entire report is available for your review online.

IN REDSTONE AND MARBLE

T HE M ARBLE T IMES

As I wrap up my time as Publisher of The Crystal Valley Echo, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the people at The Marble Charter School, both past and present. It was December, 2002, when Wendy Boland was the director of The Marble Charter School, that The Crystal Valley Echo was born. Over the years, I had many opportunities to work with the both the students and staff of this incredible educational facility.

I was also fortunate enough to watch my daughters, Olivia and Erica, grow and thrive from kindergarten through eighth grade at MCS. When they were young, I sometimes wondered if I was doing the right thing in having them attend such a small school. In hindsight, I can tell you 100% it was the best gift I was able to give to them both... and I know they would both agree with me. From the small, family-style environment, to the incredible outdoor adventures, and top-notch education, Marble Charter School provided Olivia and Erica and many other young people, a safe place to become solid in who they are.

Working together with the Marble Charter School to publish The Marble Times each month has been an amazing opproutnity to watch so many of our valley’s children grow and learn, and share that with the community.

With sincere appreciation, Alyssa Ohnmacht

Marble Charter School Marble Charter School

418 West Main Street, Marble, Colorado 81623 970-963-9550 Email: marblecharter@gunnisonschools.net Website: marblecharter.gunnisonschools.net

Another reminder to be bear Aware

by Gentrye Houghton

“As I opened the pantry door, I thought: Oh, what a beautiful bear! But you don’t belong in my HOUSE!” Diane Owens explained after a bear ripped a window out of her home and helped himself to her refrigerator and other pantry items.

Owens has been a resident on the north end of the Redstone Boulevard for the last nine years. She was startled awake around four on the morning of July 12. “I heard banging and then something crashed,” said Owens. “When I opened my pantry door, there was this big bear with its head through the window.”

After making some noise, she scared the bear away and crawled back into bed. But it came back! At which point she decided to call 911, and was paid a visit by John Groves, District Wildlife Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Groves decided the best course of action was to bait and trap the bear, and was successful doing so the following night. “I was sad, but it’s much better than a hurt kid!” replied Owens.

Bears that get too comfortable around people can destroy property or even become a threat to human safety, but sometimes we make mistakes even though we are bear aware. These industrious creatures have a nose that’s 100 times more sensitive than the human sniffer, so bears can literally smell food five miles away. Here are some tips to be even more bear aware.

Help Keep bears Wild from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife:

• Don’t feed bears, and don’t put food out for other wildlife.

• Be responsible about trash and bird feeders.

• Burn food off barbecue grills and clean after each use.

• Keep all bear-accessible windows and doors closed and locked, including home, garage, and vehicles.

• Don’t leave food, trash, coolers, air fresheners or anything that smells in your vehicle.

• Pick fruit before it ripens and clean up fallen fruit.

county seeks input on Penny Hot Springs

Press release to the Echo

Pitkin County Open Space and Trails is seeking public input as it begins work on a management plan for Penny Hot Springs in the Crystal Valley. An online survey is available through Aug. 9 to collect initial feedback from interested citizens.

In addition, survey respondents are being asked if they are interested in serving on a steering committee that will be convened to consider the public input and brainstorm on strategies to address increasing use of the hot springs, located along Hwy. 133 north of Redstone.

The Open Space and Trails Board will appoint three citizen members to the steering committee – two hot springs users and one resident of the Crystal Valley. The committee will also include representatives of various stakeholder groups, including the Crystal River Caucus, West Elks Scenic Byway Commission, Redstone Community Association and others, plus the Colorado Department of Transportation and other agencies.

The steering committee is expected to meet in September and a draft management plan for the hot springs is scheduled for release in October. Additional public comment on the draft plan will be accepted in the fall, with adoption of a final plan scheduled in December.

The Penny Hot Springs survey link is available at www.pitkinOSTprojects.com – click on the Penny Hot Springs page. The web page also offers additional information about the planning process and an overview of the colorful history of the hot springs. The history of Penny Hot Springs will be included as a section of the management plan.

Campfire Confessions

By Gentrye Houghton

The Redstone Connection

My first real introduction to Redstone was waiting tables for Billy and Kim Amicon at the Crystal Club Café. Both my husband and I waited and bartended there for about four summers.

Kim always told us wild stories about “The Redstone Connection,” where you meet someone while traveling who have either lived in or is familiar with our mountain hideaway. In one of my many adventures, I made three such connections in a single trip. Two were planned to some degree, but the other was an uncanny coincidence.

A couple of years ago, I met a girlfriend in Delhi, India, before going trekking in Nepal. I’d originally met Kate Mackay during a transitory stint we spent at the Crystal Club collecting paychecks between adventures. In 2015, my husband and I moved into a 25-foot school bus with our Great Dane and feline and took our little family to Alaska. We returned in time to cash in on the seasonal leaf peepers before jet setting to Thailand.

Kate had spent that same season working at the Redstone Inn, primarily in the dining room, raising funds before spending the winter teaching English in a small Thai village on the western banks of the Mekong, just across the border from the capital of Laos, Vientiane. Sara Lewis, General Manager of the Inn, introduced us just a couple weeks before Kate embarked on her journey. We visited casually and agreed to make plans to meet up somewhere in Thailand, and that’s where our unexpected friendship began. We stayed up all night chatting and discovered that we’re just two little peas in a pod.

We were both back in Redstone the following summer, and I pitched an idea of going trekking in Nepal. As always, Kate enthusiastically indulged in my desire for a Himalayan adventure, so we found cheap tickets flying into Delhi and met there before migrating to Nepal.

I spent a couple of solo days in Delhi before Kate arrived and took a food tour of both the new and old areas of the city. I cannot recommend such a tour more for the phenomenal cultural introduction you receive; it is while we break bread that we welcome new experiences, cultures, and friendships. Upon arriving at our final restaurant, the owner of the tour company joined us for our last meal.

This gentleman asked where I was from, and I replied, “A small mountain town in the western part of the state of Colorado.” Yet he pried further, and as it turned out, he had been to Redstone! It turned out that he’d spent several years in the United States working for the Indian Embassy. To encourage tourism, the consulate had assigned him to create a map of all the winding back roads and pristine mountain villages in the state. Talk about a Redstone Connection!

Pitkin County Senior Services hosted an outing to the Marble/marble Symposium and enjoyed lunch at Slow Groovin’ BBQ in Marble on July 16.

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