2019-12

relax + soak massage + yoga

Letter to the Editor

A follow up to “Echoes of a Legacy: A History of the Community Sites on Firehouse Road” published in the November 2019 edition of The Crystal Valley Echo

Hello from Dorik, Gentrye;

So pleased to know of your interest in our family’s experience of years past in Redstone. Mike and Carolyn have provided a good background for your project and I've been able to think of only one addition that may be of future interest because it is the subject matter that has long escaped public awareness.

That subject is electricity. Whether visitors or newcomers to Redstone, folks have rarely been curious about the source of power that electrified all the major buildings erected in the creation of Osgood's extraordinary experiment. But this obscure accomplishment was in keeping with the challenges that characterized his every move; I hope you will find the background of this obscure story of some interest.

The location for generation of needed power was upriver two miles from the village — Osgood’s Crystal Ranch. Kline Creek plus a small diversion from the river provided the needed water power via a large holding pond in a hayfield just upstream from Hawk Creek. From the deep pond, with the means to control flow, water

would enter a large wooden flume, cross the creek, and continue along the river bank almost a quarter mile, cross the Crystal on the long bridge (wiped out by floodwater years later), and end in the nearby powerhouse built on the river bank. This structure housed a large generator capable of producing such power as was needed, through power lines to Redstone for distribution to all the structures included in Osgood’s personal estate, and various other significant structures.

When our family moved to Redstone in 1937, the village was deserted except for Mrs. MacDonald's hired caretaker, John Kenney, his wife, Norma, and the family of John’s helper, George Clayton. These two men alone had the responsibility of looking after all of Osgood’s Redstone legacy. But neither of them had learned how to get any lights turned on; so, on the rare occasions when Mrs. MacDonald wanted to put on a show, she engaged a previous employee, who knew the system, to get it functioning. The only time I witnessed this becoming a brief reality was when John Kenney told me that the power was going to be turned on in the Club House — just for a big party that lasted well into the night. And so ends this tale …

Local color, for what it’s worth! Best wishes, Dorik Mechau

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.

Editor • Gentrye Houghton

Publisher • Ryan Kenney

Contributor • Charlotte Graham

Contributor • Dan Sohner

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The Crystal Valley Echo 364 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623

Think friendly, Northern England accent in your mind. Then you can imagine how much I enjoyed the visit with this month’s featured Crystal Valley resident, Angus Barber.

“I stumbled onto Marble,” he started, with a boyish grin. “A friend of mine in Denver, who is a keen mountain biker, suggested that I go to Car-bondoe-lay.

"Well, this is a nice little town, I thought, but it’s not what I’m looking for." And not really knowing what he was looking for, Angus continued driving up the road.

Getting to Know You

“[This summer] four of us went up to retrieve my ATV, which I rolled down Sheep Mountain. I fell off it and I am lucky to be alive. It rolled over the top of me and glanced my head as it went over.

Charlotte Graham

“[Then] I discovered Marble. It had everything that reminded me of my teenage years with my parents in the Lake District. It’s a kind of mountainous area, nothing as extreme, … the highest mountains are about 4,000-feet. But it has an abundance of water, and I think water is paramount to my existence. I fell in love with the place immediately.” Angus subsequently purchased former residents Ron Miller and Joyce Illian’s house about four years ago.

He has a clear memory of his first visit. “I had arrived late one afternoon in the middle of May. Beaver Lake Lodge was just starting up. I met Karen Good, one of the owners. She said they weren’t ready yet to receive guests but if I went down to [Beaver] Lake, they would have one ready for me in an hour or two. She gave me a short little paddle and said to take out one of the canoes there.”

“I paddled out to the far side of the lake. And I must have fallen asleep. Suddenly there were three loud concussions—in quick succession, they were. I woke with a start and sat up. There were these three beavers swimming around the canoe. I had never seen a beaver before and was amazed. I thought okay, there is something enchanted about this place.

“I’ve always been open to those kinds of nature experiences. I still am. It’s been even more extreme since. I’ve seen mountain lions off Carbonate Creek Trail. I’ve seen dozens of bears on Raspberry Ridge. But it’s not without its dangers. I’ve gotten lost several times, found myself crawling through all fours on animal trails. You can get in serious trouble if not prepared.

“Somehow, I think there’s a benevolent force in this valley that if you choose to believe it, it will protect you. If you choose to ignore it, it will take you -–just like that.”

Angus has traveled extensively in his lifetime. “I moved to the States about ten years ago. To Denver. I’ve always been interested in the outdoors. In the UK, I always took long trips, like coast to coast. This valley attracts people who are interested in adventure. Some of the aspen stands around here are incredibly energetic places. I’m very tuned into that now.”

Professionally, Angus worked in investment banking for fifteen years. “I worked for Lehman Brothers and left a year before they closed. It was a life of excess. In fact, I would like to rewrite the fable, The Emperor’s New Clothes, but with a financial industry bent* to it now. I wonder if greed is the corollary to the fear of loss. Comes from the emptiness of life.”

Angus talked about what he learned in that world of IPOs, corporate bonds, and asset-backed securities. “It amazes me that with access to knowledge, media access to pretty much everything in life, that people don’t eschew it. I would say, one step further, it created a deficit in my life.

“I feel my soul is getting more energized here than if I had stayed in Denver. I don’t think I would have made those realizations had I not come here — being out in nature. I’ve done a lot of research about energy and how it moves through our body. This place has been absolutely essential for the awakening process. My life has changed since — it’s marvelous!”

Angus is a dedicated volunteer at The Marble Hub. He is also the Hub’s self-appointed “hippy-dippy” weatherman, regularly posting his reports on the menu board. He’s offered to be the primary winter volunteer at The Hub on Saturdays, 10 am — 3 pm, beginning January 2020. YAY!

*bent: an informal British word for corruption.

IN REDSTONE AND MARBLE

Angus Barber

Christmas in Marble

by Amber McMahill

Christmas once again comes to Marble. On December 14th, the town's non-profits will come together for a full day of family events to kick off the holiday season. There will be pancakes, local artisans selling their wares, woodcarving demonstrations, ornament making, a drawing for gift baskets, and, of course, visits with Santa. The annual event is in its 11th year and provides fun entertainment for locals and visitors alike.

The event got its start with Judy Morande and Linda Menard at the Marble Community Church. This was during the recession and the church coffers were getting bare. "We looked at the budget and knew we had to do something! We wanted it to be something that brought the community together, and came up with the idea," remembers Menard. "It was just a church event to start with, we had the bake sale and the baskets. I think we had five baskets the first year - last year we

had around 20!”

The baskets are all donated by community members, and providing the best basket has now become somewhat of a competition among participants. A ticket costs just a dollar and you can put it in the drawing for the basket you so desire. A few years after inception, Ray Gilbert suggested adding chili and cornbread to the offerings and Menard provided her homemade apple cider, a tradition that continues today.

For Amy Rusby at the Marble Charter School, which is hosting a pancake breakfast this year, the event provides both an opportunity for students to learn practical skills and a means to give back to the community.

"I think over the years we have done about every activity there is from gift wrapping to movies. The breakfast seems to be a big hit. The kids take care of all the cooking and clean-up themselves with the help of volunteers," she explains. The kids she refers to are the seventh and eighth-grade students who use the opportunity to raise funds for their annual trip.

New this year, the Marble Arts Guild will be hosting a craft bazaar at the school. "When we built this building we had the intention of it being a community space, and it is great to be able to offer it up in that capacity," Rusby adds.

In addition to the crafts and goods for sale, there will be crafting demonstrations including wood carving by internationally renowned sculptors Rex and Vickie

Branson. The Marble Gallery will also be on hand offering items for sale from their collection.

Long-time resident and owner of Chair Mountain Ranch, Linda Adams, participates for the kids. She sets up her free "gingerbread" house decorating station at the school and offers a chance for children to expand their creative energy.

"I assemble them beforehand out of graham crackers so they have time to set. You should see my kitchen,” Adams says, "every counter and table is covered with little houses. I start stockpiling candy after Halloween. It's worth it though, the kids just go crazy!”

Down the street at the Marble Hub, it is all about gathering the community. The non-profit coffee shop offers a hot cocoa bar and, of course, their pour-over coffee. Santa will be on hand for visits, dropped off at high-noon by the fire department's big red engine.

The firehouse also plays host to the community tree; donated this year by Richard Wells. All-day long the public is invited to come and make natural ornaments out of dried fruits, popcorn, and birdseed to hang on the tree. Later that evening, everyone will gather for caroling and a bonfire at the tree lighting ceremony — a chance for people to come together, stand around the fire, and appreciate each other in the spirit of the holiday season.

UniqUe Crystal Valley Gifts by...

Robert Kausch

The perfect holiday gift can be difficult to find. Colorado landscape photographer Bob Kausch can help with a special offer that is sure to please anyone who loves Colorado outdoors. Many might remember Bob from his works shown at the Redstone Art Show for over 10 years, where his metal prints and framed works are always popular. He always loves coming to Redstone to share his images!

As a special holiday offer for this year, Bob is offering his beautiful images, printed on metallic paper, matted, and ready to frame, at a special holiday price of $59.00 (plus shipping). Favorites like the Crystal Mill, Hayes Creek Falls, and many more can be a gift that can be enjoyed forever with this special offer. Several of these offerings are shown here, but if you would like to view his entire body of work, it can be found at www.RKauschPhotography.com.

This special offer is for a 12 x 16-inch image, with a 16 x 20-inch mat with foam core backing, ready to use in any frame you choose. To order, please go to www.rkauschphotography.com, choose your print(s), and select “2019 Holiday Special Print Package” to receive special pricing. Order by December 18, 2019, to ensure delivery by Christmas.

Daniel Reinberger

Marty Hartman

Marty Hartman grew up in Aspen and now resides in Swiss Village. “I simply loved the energy in this valley, and it made sense to me to look for a place to live here,” she explains. “Once I moved into the valley and met friends, it reminds me of growing up in Aspen: Everyone just has that friend/family love going on.”

She works with mixed media. “From dried and pressed flowers, semi-precious stone beads, glass beads, wire weaving jewelry, photography, and gourd artwork,” Marty grins, “To name a few.”

When asked how she would describe her work, she exclaims, “Unique!” and we couldn’t agree more. Her infectious smile, zeal for life, and bubbly energy comes through in all of her work.

Marty has impeccable attention to detail, and each of her pieces comes with a story about where the materials were gathered, or how she came about with such an idea. She told The Crystal Valley Echo that she sees a vision and then goes to work on making that vision come true. “Some artwork can take up to a year and a half to complete,” she says.

You can see Marty’s work, along with other local artists, by visiting Crystal River Arts, Crafts, and Collectables located at the Redstone Cliffs Lodge on "The Boulevard." To see more of her work, you may also call, (970) 704-0270, or email, marty_hartman@yahoo.com.

“As a person who has lived in Colorado for the vast majority of my life, the Crystal Valley has always been a legendary region of the state. The Mill is one of the most recognized historic places in the area and easily one of the most beautiful. I have been up several times,” comments Daniel Reinberger, photographer from Denver, “and every time it takes my breath away with the sheer beauty.”

Daniel has been a photographer for several years and is now pushing to sell his work professionally. He has a distinct eye and says the process of photographing and creating prints has been beneficial in working through issues related to bipolar disorder. “My goal with photography is to showcase the beauty of this state in the most authentic way I can,” he explains. “This state means so much to me, and this is how I portray that.”

He creates archival grade prints, which are done with high-quality inks printed on a cotton rag, and sells them in two sizes: 13x19inch and 5x7-inch. He also sells cards of his work, and everything is available on his website ReinbergerPhoto.com. “With each print or card sold,” says Dan, “I donate to a local charity, and I am currently supporting the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.”

For more information, you are welcome to email him at dan@ReinbergerPhoto.com.

Tic Toc Goes the Redstone Clock

Above the entrance to the Redstone Inn, inside a looming square spire, within what feels to me like a miniature captain’s wheelhouse resides a bastion to a time gone by. It is a Seth Thomas tower clock built in Thomaston, Connecticut, in 1901 and installed the following year. When I first came to Colorado in 1979, part of my duties as maintenance man/chief horse wrangler was to care for this beauty. It wasn’t running at the time and with the help of my father, we were able to coax it to life and get it to run like a…well, like a clock. What follows is a story of my musings about returning to this, now volunteer, labor of love, a task I share with my best friend, Mary.

This is intended to be a human-interest story. The main character of this story though is not human at all. At least not entirely. This is a story about a clock. But first, please indulge me as we take a couple of dozen big steps backward in time: Millennial sized steps.

Archaeological evidence suggests that primitive men and women left evidence of their tracking the passage of time. The phases of the moon and the rising and setting of the sun and stars throughout the year have always been the measure of time. From early cave paintings to scratches, nicks, and gouges in bone and stone monuments, humans have demonstrated a need and value for the tracking and recording of time.

Now, come forward with me to a more recent past. One experienced by our grandparents and great grandparents. The era is during the second period of industrialization that followed the Industrial Revolution, and the setting is Redstone, Colorado, around the very early 1900s.

The situation is set in a coal-mining town — a company

town. In this town are children, teachers, shop keepers, maintenance workers, water managers, early electricians, chimney sweeps, housewives and, of course, coal miners and cokers, who are all part of the company in one way or another. These folks were generally poor and came to Redstone in search of a better life.

With the creation of John C. Osgood’s little village of “enlightened industrial paternalism” (one of the first towns in the U.S. to have electric lights), it offered a possibility of opportunity, and also steady gainful employment. Families and bachelors alike had little or no wealth of their own, and many of the workers lacked fancy personal accoutrements, one of which would be a pocket watch.

Village life ran as villages do; governed mostly by the rising and setting of the sun, but company life marched to a different beat which ran on a 24-hour schedule. For them, their schedules were divided into day, swing, and night shifts — each with their divisions of duties, a midshift meal, and a break, if you were lucky enough that the straw boss wasn’t watching too closely.

Miners were going on and off shift, children were going to and coming from school, wives were washing clothes as well as shopping for them, horses were harnessed and shod, and shops were opening and closing as needed for the miners. The only practical way to schedule and synchronize all of village life was with one clock.

A big clock with a big bell, one that rang the appropriate time, day and night; and someone had to take care of that most important centerpiece of village life: the all-important organizer of wake and work, work and eat, eat and sleep. The Big Clock.

"A community with an unreliable town clock must be regarded with suspicion. The town clock is the most emphatic public word for a city. It should be honest in its tale; the information it gives should be beyond suspicion of any doubt. If it lies, the morals of the city must suffer; for it is the conspicuous example of lying or truth, to the public body..."

— The Jeweler's Keystone, September 1905

Forty orbital cycles later, I find myself the beneficiary of fortunate happenstance. I am again at the helm of this mighty timepiece along with my companion, Mary; we share this labor of love as cockeyed clock masters. After gaining access to “the clock tower” room, the only rentable room in the Redstone Inn without a toilet, I climb the ladder and open the locked hatch so that we may climb into the spire. Once we extend our apologies to George (an affectionate name given to the spirit said to roam the halls of the Inn after dark) for our disturbance and to avoid bad karma, we set about our chosen duties beginning with inspecting the tower for debris blown in by seasonal winds and feathers left behind by aviary tourists.

The clock room seems diminutive within the tower, with no real hint as to what is inside other than the massive bell on top and the drive shafts poking out to the four clock faces. A first impression when entering the room is that inside is a monstrous, distorted, steampunk version of your grandmother’s foot-powered sewing machine only with more bells and whistles.

Fear not, potential future clock winders, this machine is no more complicated and menacing than Mr. Rogers in a comfy cardigan and slippers. And that is exactly what it is — a super-sized grandfather clock on steroids. It has a pendulum the size of a watermelon. This is its power weight, the equivalent of two bags of concrete that you wind up with a big crank periodically to keep the old boy ticking.

Like many grandfather clocks, this tower clock was built to be an eight-day wind. Meaning, if you wind the clock every Sunday it allows for an extra day in case you forgot or fell asleep while watching that movie you’ve already seen. The number of days the clock can run is limited only by the length of travel the weights move from top to bottom. In the case of our clock tower, the weight can travel nearly two stories on a single winding! A length that allows our clock to run for 11 days (as we found out by accident).

Now, about that bell:

“The big clock in the Redstone Inn tower regularly tolls out the hours now, it’s rich tones reverberating up and down the valley.”

— Camp and Plant, Nov. 15, 1902

It didn’t take long to discover that having a big bell in the roof of a hotel that “tolls out the hours… up and down the valley” goes over about as well as a robocall on your phone to let you know “Your social security number has been suspended due to fraudulent activity” right at midnight…and at one… and at two… and at three… and at…well, I think you get the gist. Yet, much to our astonishment, the mechanism that rings the bell every hour on the hour has mysteriously and inexplicably been disconnected. Thanks, George!

The world has changed a bit in 100 plus years, and our village is now global, encompassing the entire planet. Just as the small village did back then, this modern global society revolves around a central, coordinated timekeeping system that nearly 7.5 billion people casually carry in their pockets or display on their wrists.

So why do we make this weekly pilgrimage to climb several flights of stairs, two ladders, and two hatchways, to bestow a gift of life to an inanimate pile of cast iron and brass gears for a world that seldom looks to the sky as the source to regulate their lives?

Because the clock had a purpose. And it still has a purpose! As much as Stonehenge and a Roman sundial still have a purpose. If the sun rises over the Heel Stone or passes over a sundial and no one is there to notice, do they still mark time?

The answer is yes, as well as for the Redstone clock if we, or someone else, continue with this labor of love. If you are ever passing by and care to look up to notice the time, this clock will continue to serve its purpose.

Crystal Valley Residents See Monet

The Redstone Art Foundation (RAF) purchased 20 tickets to attend Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature at the Denver Art Museum with a docent-led tour on November 18th

Seven of us utilized Bustang to Union Station and easily walked to our lunch destination, MAD Greens, right across the walkway from the museum. Our tickets allowed full access to the exhibits, and we all ran amuck before breathing in 120 of Monet’s masterpieces.

Our docent guided us through the regions where he resided, and educated us on this exhibit’s theme of Monet’s use of color, brush strokes, reflections in water, and light. “We all walked away looking at the sky a little differently,” Jimmie Benedict, RAF President, later claimed.

The Art Foundation offers such cultural experiences throughout the year; with the ease of travel, artistic enrichment, and simply getting out of the valley with friends, The Crystal Valley Echo plans to attend more of these field trips.

For more information as well as ways to get involved with RAF, visit www.RedstoneArtFoundation.org.

Maps like these made navigation from Union Station to the Denver Art Musuem extremely easy. We even came across a restaurant that Amber McMahill had heard claim that their bar originated from Marble. The group found it quite suspect when the bar keep explained that the bar itself came from the "Opera House in 1880" (unconfirmed). Our group also found photographs taken in the Crystal Valley displayed on the walls of MAD Greens. These photos were taken this year during a fall trip to the area by Daniel Reinberger, to see these photos and more on Reinberger turn to page 6.

Middle Right: Local

Lower Right: The Monet paintings were divided upon the region in which they were painted. Our docent led us through a tour of each room and helped navigate the crowds.

November 15 — January 31 “Winter on the Mountain” at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Friday afternoon Club on the Mountain features live music, food, and drink specials, 5 pm — 8:30 pm. Grab your coupon for a free gondola ride in the Friday editions of The Post Independent, 970-945-4228 or glenwoodcaverns.com

November 29 Grand Illumination will begin around dusk with Santa's arrival, luminaries and lights down the Boulevard, bonfire at the Inn with food, hot drinks, and caroling. For a full schedule, please see the back cover of this publication.

November 30 — December 8 Sopris Theater Company at Colorado Mountain College presents “The Veil,” Friday — Saturday at 7 pm, Sunday matinees at 2 pm, $13-18. For more information, call 970-947-8177 or visit ColoradoMtn.edu/Theatre, or visit EventBrite.com for tickets.

December 1 — 20 Send letters to Santa at the Carbondale Community and Rec Center, drop off letters at 567 Colorado Ave., Carbondale.

December 3 The Redstone Community Association meets for their regular board meeting. 7 pm at the Redstone Inn. Open Space and Trails will be presenting their draft management plan for Penny Hot Springs during this meeting. All are welcome!

December 5 Nordic Social at the Pour House, 6 pm, 351 Main St., Carbondale. SpringGulch.org

December 5 — 21 Thunder River Theater Company presents “The Doyle and Debbie Show,” 7:30 pm Fridays and Saturdays with a 2 pm matinee Sundays, 67 Promenade in Carbondale. For more information: ThunderRiverTheatre.com, info@ThunderRivertheatre.com, 970-963-8200.

December 6 First Friday “Light Up Carbondale.” Downtown Main Street in Carbondale, 5 pm — 9 pm. This First Friday in Carbondale kicks off a long tradition of holiday celebration; Santa will be coming to Carbondale for a special visit at The Launchpad, and will also light the trees on Main Street, followed by a fire, hot chocolate, and music by the Carbondale Middle School Band on the Fourth Street Plaza. Carbondale Arts “Deck the Walls” Holiday Market will be open for holiday shopping until 8 pm!

December 10 The Redstone Water & Sanitation District meets for their regular board meeting at the Redstone Inn, 7 pm. For more information, please e-mail Ryan.E.Kenney@gmail.com

December 14 Christmas in Marble, 9 am — 7 pm. A full day of family friendly activities at four locations throughout town. Activities include a pancake breakfast, gift basket drawing, chili lunch, decorating gingerbread houses, community tree decorating, craft bazaar and so much more! For more information as well as the full event schedule, please see pages 4 & 5.

December 15 Jingle Bell Run. Starting at Independence Run & Hike, 11 am — 2 pm. The Independence Run & Hike

Crystal Calendar

Send event information to gentryeh@hotmail.com

DECEMBER

Jingle Bell Run is more of a celebration and race rolled into one fun event.  Held annually on the Sunday before Christmas, this “running party” often brings snow and laughter.  The race winds its way throughout the heart of Carbondale and up to White Hill where racers get great views of Mount Sopris before racing back to the store.

December 19 Bingo at the Redstone Inn. 6:30 p.m. in the Bar & Grill.

December 20 — 22

Christmas from the Redstone Castle. A 1940’s live radio hour playing at the Redstone Castle with seating starting at 6:30 p.m. For more information and to purchase your tickets in advance please visit TheRedstoneCastle. com.

December 21 — January 4 “Holiday Entertainment” at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Get in the holiday spirit with a ride up the Glenwood Gondola for “Winter on the Mountain.” Enjoy the dazzling display of half a million holiday lights, a giant musical Christmas tree, fire pits, roast s’mores, and much more! 5 pm — 8 pm. Call or check out their web site for specific dates and music lineup, 970-945-4228 or GlenwoodCaverns.com.

December 24

Christmas Eve at the Marble Community Church, 7pm. The church will offer a Dramatic Cantata entitled: 'A Shepherd's Story.’ All are invited to this magical evening, with Christmas punch around the fireplace following the service.

December 24 Christmas Eve candlelight service at The Church at Redstone, 5 p.m. — 6 p.m.

December 24 Decorate Gingerbread Houses on Christmas Eve at The Redstone Inn. Come and go from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All materials included, $20 per person, please call 970-963-2526 for reservations. Bring your creativity and holiday spirit!

December 24 Christmas Eve at the Redstone Inn. Breakfast served from 8 am — 11 am, lunch and dinner from 11 am — 8:30 pm in the Bar & Grill; dining room seating from 5:30 pm — 8:30 pm, please call 970-963-2526 for reservations. There will be specials as well as the regular Dining Room menu, and John Rigger will be playing Christmas carols beginning at 6 pm. Reservations are required and seating is limited.

December 25 Christmas Day Brunch at the Redstone Inn; 9:30 am — 1 pm in the Dining Room. This will be the only food service available on this day. The Bar & Grill will close at 3 pm so that the staff may enjoy the holiday with their families.

December 31 Dance the night away to a Roaring 20’s theme and DJ beginning at 8:30 pm in the Bar & Grill at the Redstone Inn. $15 per person or $25 per couple, includes party favors and champagne toast at midnight. Dress to the nines for the Best Dressed Couple contest, child care is available, please contact the Inn for more information at 970-963-2526.

Upcoming…

The Marble Hub will be open on Saturdays from January 4-April 11, 2020 from 10:00am-3:00pm to give community members an opportunity to socialize and enjoy free coffee, hot chocolate and pastries.

January 3 35th Annual Skier Appreciation Day at Sunlight Mountain. $20 lift tickets with proceeds benefitting regional United Way. For more information call 970-945-7491 or visit SunlightMtn.com.

January 4 The Marble Hub grand winter opening, 10 am —3 pm. Also offering Avalanche Prevention with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, 10 am — 3 pm at the Marble Charter School.

January 4 Heathen Challenge National Ski Mountaineering Qualifier at Sunlight Mountain. For more information call 970-945-7491 or visit SunlightMtn.com.

January 5 Teacher/Student Appreciation Day at Sunlight Mountain. Free skiing for all Re-1/Re-2 teachers and staff with discounts for students. For more information call 970-9457491 or visit SunlightMtn.com.

January 10 Mixology with Leslie Boyce at the Redstone Inn. Have fun making and trying new cocktails! Open to the public, $10 per person.

ongoing…

A draft management plan for Penny Hot Springs is now available for review and public comment. Please go to www.pitkinOSTprojects.com and click on the Penny Hot Springs page to review the plan and submit your input. The comment period will continue through Jan. 17, 2020.

Winter schedule and specials at Propaganda Pie: Thursdays (open 3 pm — close) 1/2 off wings. Fridays ( open 3 pm — close) All you can eat nonpizza buffet. Menu varies, 5:30 pm — 8 pm Saturdays & Sundays (open 11 am — 9 pm) Football all day Monday (open 3 pm — close) $10 off Large Specialty pizzas during the football game.

Second Saturdays in Marble. Wood carving with Rex and Vickie Branson 1 pm — 4 pm, at the Marble Charter School, will continue through the winter.

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

Body Fusion Class with Lisa Wagner. Meets every Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 am — 10 am at the Church at Redstone. All are welcome!

For anyone needing help stretching their food budget, Gunnison County Officials currently have boxes of food available distributed through the Marble Community Church. There is no charge to the recipient and no reservation is needed; boxes are available for an individual or up to a family of four and contain enough meals to last approximately three days.

Please call Pastor Jon Stovall at the church to arrange a pickup time for your box today, (970) 963-1464.

THE UTE INDIANS

Part 3of 3

Provided by the Redstone Historical Society History.RedstoneColorado.org/

Over the years, the Utes, led mainly by “Chief” Ouray, negotiated treaty after treaty with the white man, essentially granting more and more of their tribal lands for prospecting or settlement, but all the while maintaining a certain amount of freedom to hunt and live as they always had.

Ute shrewdness later became better known as “Ute Luck.” For two centuries they had jealously and successfully resisted white incursions into their lands, including the Crystal River Valley. Intelligence and a fortunate geographic location allowed these rugged, individualistic people to live in freedom for 200 years, generally isolated from the overwhelming northward and westward migration of settlers going on around them. The Central Rockies, after all, were too rugged for travelers heading in covered wagons for the West Coast and were out of the way for merchants on the Santa Fe Trail. But gold, silver, and other minerals (including coal and marble found in the Crystal Valley), was reachable despite the mountainous terrain. Still, hardship and danger lay ahead for those seeking wealth in our rugged valley.

In this case, a kind of isolation was, for the most part, a good thing.

Finally, in September of 1879, a horrible incident known as the Meeker Massacre propelled the Utes into nationwide headlines. For the Ute people, spread throughout the mountains, the Meeker affair was the final disaster in their long struggle for freedom. It was intended to permanently affect the entire tribe, especially when Governor Frederick Pitkin (Gov. 1879-1883) and his anti-Indian faction of politicians and newspaper editors decided it

Vintage Valley

by the Redstone Historical Society

was time to “rid the state of the Ute menace.”

Following 1879, the Ute People would never again be free to roam their beautiful high county as the undisputed possessors of the shining mountains. They could boast, however, that they were one of the last American tribes to pass under government control.

While the Utes, and Ouray in particular, could still accurately claim they had never been decisively defeated by the white man’s military force, they would soon be forced to make a sad and difficult retreat to reservation land.

As they passed through the Crystal Valley on their despondent way to reservations it is said that, in a final act of retribution, a Ute Holy Man placed a curse on the valley that would deter any white man who made efforts to exploit the valley for its riches.

In the Crystal River Valley residents and visitors alike continue to find thrill in the stories of these remarkable people, admiring their courage and distinctive lifestyle.

The Redstone Historical Society is working hard to preserve the memory of the Utes and their roles in making our history interesting, important and full of life’s significant lessons to those of us fortunate enough to be able to live in or visit this rugged country which was so loved by the Ute Nation.

By Larry K. Meredith

Author of “This Cursed Valley”

Material from a wide variety of sources including “Elk Mountains Odyssey” by Paul Andersen and Ken Johnson.

THE CURSE OF THE UTES

Reprinted from “Elk Mountains Odyssey” By Paul Anderson and Ken Johnson

Published by the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway

In the treaty of 1863, the Utes ceded eastern portions of their mountain homeland to the white settlers and miners who anxiously swarmed the region for mineral wealth and homestead land. In that treaty, the Utes were promised the Crystal River Valley would be theirs “for as long as the rivers might run and the grasses might grow.”

Subsequently, as part of a national policy where Indians were deemed to be in the way of settlement, that pledge was broken and the Utes were forced out of their cherished valley. . . . (Angry at the whites) the Utes are said to have placed a curse on the valley, a jinx that would frustrate any efforts of whites to exploit its riches and establish settlements.

In the August 25, 1917, edition of the Marble Booster, a bankrupt newspaper editor, mourning a severe economic downturn, suggested that the curse was proven by the failure of four once-thriving towns in the Crystal Valley – Crystal City, Marble, Placita, and Redstone.

From Elk Mountains Odyssey: “First there was Crystal, once a mining town of several hundred souls and a metropolis of several other smaller mining camps. Then came Redstone, where millions of dollars were spent to make the prettiest, most ideal coal camp in the world. There was Placita, at one time a prosperous coal camp of several hundred, and where scarcely a remnant is left. Then comes Marble. Twelve millions of dollars are invested here in quarries and the finishing plant of the Colorado-Yule Marble Company, besides thousands upon thousands in stores and homes. Now there are scarcely 50 men in Marble. It is pitiful to contemplate such hard luck.”

While the Crystal Valley today enjoys a resurgent economy based on tourism, the tides of success and failure run in a regular ebb and flow. Perhaps the Utes will have the final word after all if their curse remains “for as long as the river might run and the grasses might grow.”

What's Up with Pitkin County?

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 at 530 E Main Street, Aspen. 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 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.

PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET FOR 2020

Pitkin County’s 2020 Budget and five-year plan were developed in partnership with the County’s Financial Advisory Board and a Budget Review Team. The Financial Advisory Board is made up of citizens appointed by the BOCC and works closely with the Finance staff to develop revenue projections. With the help of the Financial Advisory Board, the BOCC continues to take a conservative outlook over the next five years. At the time of writing this column, Pitkin County’s 2020 Budget had not yet been formally adopted by the BOCC; however, I hope to provide an overview here.

The 2020 budget continues to invest in services and infrastructure for results that Pitkin County residents need and want. The budget aligns with the County Strategic Plan and changing economic conditions. By County charter, the budget also reflects balanced five-year plans for the County General Fund and all other funds.

All County Funds: proposed 2020 budget is $142,460,209

3.7% decrease in expenditures vs 2019 budget

3.0% increase in revenues vs 2019 budget

General Fund: proposed 2020 General Fund budget is $32,078.526 8.6% increase in expenditures vs 2019 budget 8.9% increase in revenues vs 2019 budget

NOTE: overall, the proposed 2020 budget and five-year plan maintain a very healthy fund balance of $53 million for all funds or 45% of all operational appropriations. Our General Fund balance is 26%, well above the recommended percentages of 16.7% by the GFOA (Government Finance Officers Association).

The entire County budget includes several voter-approved Special Revenue funds (Library, Open Space and Trails, Healthy Community Fund, Affordable Housing, Healthy Rivers and Streams) and Enterprise funds (the Airport and Landfill). The General Fund portion includes the County’s core services of Public Safety, Community Development, Administration (includes Treasurer), Clerk/Recorder and Elections, County Attorney, Public Works and Facilities.

Capital Expenditure Highlights:

Solid Waste Center — Construction of an operations facility and purchase of a wood grinder. The operations facility will enable the expansion of our recycling and Construction and Demolition (C&D) diversion programs. Likewise, the grinder will improve the efficiency of composting operations and provide capacity for the landfill to implement C&D programs.

Healthy Rivers and Streams — Completion of the Basalt White Water Park. This feature protects stream flows and water quality in the Roaring Fork River by allowing the County to call for water to that portion of the river via a Recreational In-Channel Diversion (RICD) created for this purpose.

Road and Bridge — Ongoing maintenance and road/bridge improvements

Open Space and Trails — Crystal River embankment stabilization

Revenues to the General Fund are derived from several sources including property taxes, sales taxes, permits and service charges, intergovernmental revenue, and miscellaneous other sources. Although the County sends out your property tax statement

and collects property taxes, the County retains a very small portion of your total property tax bill. Property taxes supporting the General Fund represent less than $.06 per tax dollar collected.

In addition, Pitkin County levies a 3.6% sales tax, which is dedicated as follows: 1.5% for mass transit; 0.1% for the Healthy Rivers and Stream fund; and the remaining 2% split between the County and the municipalities of Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Basalt. In the end, Pitkin County receives less than 25% of the sales tax it collects (or less than a penny collected for every dollar in sales).

Proposed expenditures for all departments are illustrated in the following 2020 Budgeted Expenditures pie charts.

Our Marble School K-2 class has been busy learning about the Human body this month and enthusiastically getting their hands dirty in several experiments demonstrating the locations and functions of our organs. They started out learning about the heart and creating a model of blood in mason jars to show the various components. Next they learned about the lungs, how it works with the heart in delivering fresh oxygen, and removing carbon dioxide from our body. We discovered that trees are good partners! They created a balloon model of the lungs and diaphragm to demonstrate how this strong muscle helps our lungs to inhale and exhale. Next, they will be learning about the organs involved in our digestive system and will be replicating the process of chewing to the resulting “poop” (bananas and crackers) which will end up in their mock toilets. This should be a fun, yucky, hands-on experiment they won’t forget. Along the way, they have been coloring and cutting out images of their organs which they will use to make their life size paper bag models. They can wear these and show off their AMAZING BODIES!

Marble Charter School

A tuition free, public charter school serving K-8th grade students in the Crystal River Valley Mission: Marble Charter School teaches a growth mindset in a flexible, unique, and nurturing environment that empowers our learning community to explore significant ideas and exceed state standards.

• Common core curriculum with an emphasis on growth mindset and character building

• Focus on Outdoor Education

• Low student to teacher ratios

• Daily bus service to and from Carbondale Middle School

Please call or email for information and to schedue a tour of our school.

418 West Main Street, Marble, Colorado 81623 970-963-9550

Email: marblecharter@gunnisonschools.net Website: marblecharter.gunnisonschools.net

This page sponsored by

These photographs are from one of our Friday field trips. On this particular occasion, we made the trek to Carbondale for a hike where we learned about invertebrates in the river from

Jaime Fiske’s husband, Russ.

The Edge of the World by Tanner, Grade 7

CHAPTER ONE

I’m too young to die, I’m too young to die, repeated Kairapu to himself as he waited for the hordes to come over the hillsides like an angry wave would consume a town. He gripped his flimsy wooden bow tighter so as the sweat on his palms may slip the handle from his grasp. “You ready?” whispered Gizli to Kairapu.

“No,” said Kairapu sharply.

I hear you, thought Gizli nervously. Kairapu lowered the mouth guard on his elk skin cap and knocked an arrow in his bow as he heard a low rumbling noise, indistinct from a swarm of bees approaching. Gizli drew his sword and pulled his chainmail hood over his head, hands shaking with fear. Many men followed suit. Axe men lifted their axes, lancers assembled their poles, and engineers loaded their catapults. The grass and flowers on the hillside began to blacken and die as if some horrible disease had overtaken them, but this was no disease. Out of the blue an arrow flew through the air and hit a dwarf not far from Kairapu square from the shoulder. The wound began smoldering and the man fell to the ground. At first he held his wound and simply grunted in pain, but after a few moments had passed, he began to scream a most frightening sound. It took Gizli by surprise, and he briefly dropped his sword. Everyone turned back to the hill to see the first row of undead skeletons and goblins appearing over the hill. Kairapu tried to swallow, but his mouth was too dry with fear. Everything happened in a blur. Lord Estro, their leader, issued a call and everyone ran at the evil creatures with great rage. Kairapu tripped over a man downed by an arrow but got back up. He notched an arrow and aimed at a goblin. He fired... and missed. Instead the barbed arrow hit one of his own men in the chest and he fell dead. Kairapu cursed under his breath. He turned around to see an orc standing behind him with its axe raised to kill.

Clumsily, the beast swung it at Kairapu. If it hadn’t been for the slow speed and poor accuracy of the swing, Kairapu would not have been able to dodge the axe. Once he had gotten back to his feet, he notched an arrow in his bow and fired it at the creature. It hit the orc’s shoulder and it shrieked in pain. Ordinarily such a wound would not have been fatal for an orc, but this arrow was poisoned, not unlike the one that had hit the dwarf. Kairapu turned back around to see another skeleton behind him. It was too late; he could not draw his knife quick enough to parry the blow. I guess this is the end, thought Kairapu. Kairapu felt the sharp edge of the sword bite into his right leg, but just before it went all the way, the bone of the skeleton’s head came off. Shocked he had not died, Kairapu stood up to see who had saved him. Expecting to see one of the more skilled fighters like Cryf, he was shocked instead to see one so slender in knight’s armor.

“Thank you,” said Kairapu. “May I ask your name, so I shall repay my debt to you one day?”

When the addressed lifted its helmet, Kairapu was even more surprised to see that his savior was in fact a woman. She had long caramel hair rolling down her back and narrow eyes that seemed to constantly flow between storm gray, sea green and sky blue with an unmatched sparkle in them. She had copper-colored skin and a face so beautiful that Kairapu was breathless for a full ten seconds.

“My name is Jamila and I don’t need any indebtment.” She spoke with an unexplainably smooth, laidback soft voice that while being very respecting had a very feminine and delicate quality to it that expounded kindness and warmth.

“You, your Estro’s daughter aren’t you?” asked Kairapu, half stuttering.

“Indeed I am,” answered Jamila.

“Well then, if you ever need anything, just remember, that you still saved my life and my name is Kairapu.”

“You just stay here until I get help for your leg,” said Jamila and she walked away with a gracefulness to her stride that had Kairapu awe-struck in the same position for nearly a full minute regardless of his wounded leg or the raging battle around him. After about twenty minutes of stabbing enemies while limping on his unbearably painful leg, Jamila returned with two men dressed in white armor and carrying a stretcher.

“The walking probably wasn’t a good idea,” said Jamila as she bent to check the wound.

“This is still a war zone,” said Kairapu.

“Yes, but still,” said Jamila.

“What’s done is done,” said Kairapu, shaking his head. “Anyway, how does my wound look?”

“Well,” said Jamila, looking at the wound. “It looks like it got quite a bit of dirt in it, as well some sort of fungi; it got cut through the bone and you’ve lost quite a bit of blood,”

“But you can heal it, right?” asked Kairapu.

“Yes, but the recovery will be decently long, two months at least,” whispered Jamila with her voice full of concern. The two men in white armor lifted Kairapu by his back and put him on the stretcher while Jamila fought would-be attackers during transport. It looks like she’s a pretty good fighter, thought Kairapu. But her fighting was not good enough. A particularly fast, unarmored goblin called a Saritor charged and slit the throats of both medics. As the stretcher fell, Kairapu slid off it into a deep ravine and knocked him out.

To be continued…

Echoes of a Life: Kathy Vance

May 10, 1959 November 5, 2019

I have known Kathy since the late 1980’s. She was one of the hardest working people I have ever known. One of my favorite memories was once when she asked me to come to her house on a summer day to see her Honeysuckle plant. Kathy was so happy and proud of this beautiful plant growing over the archway on the side of her house. Truly one of her happiest days.

— Nancy Chromy

Kathy and I hiked, skied, and rafted together.  She was certainly a "spicey" gal who always made the experience memorable.  I remember the raft trip she organized with Sue, Lisa, and myself on the Roaring Fork.  We started out and were having such a great time, decided to go past the take out point where we had our shuttle car parked.  Well, it was left, up to Lisa and me to hitchhike back up river to get the car.  It still humors me that the car that stopped to pick us up was the Garfield County Sheriff, I guess it was a safe ride anyway!

— Janice Ingram

In the old days, Kathy knew everyone in Redstone. She was the only hairdresser for the locals at that time and she always had a big smile for everyone. We also remember how she used to challenge anyone to leg wrestle! She was a tough young girl at that time.

— Joan Benson and Steve Kent

My memories about Kathy Vance: In September of 1993,  I moved to Redstone from the Island of Oahu.  My first evening in Redstone, I met Kathy and Alex Menard.  She was waitressing in the dinning room of the Inn.  She and Alex were so welcoming and shared the Redstone Community spirit and all the local gossip.

I learned to cross country ski with Kathy and Alex.

Most of the locals had their haircuts and color by Kathy, including me.  You would never know what new look she would create for you.

Kathy was a woman of many talents and had an engaging personality. Years ago, she was a Redstone local icon.

She was an artist and the artwork for my poster, Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concerts Series was a watercolor which I commissioned her to paint.  I still use this artwork for my poster.

I am saddened by the loss of her presence and the struggles she experienced through the years. I honor you, Kathy.

— Lisa Wagner

I loved Kathy Vance. She and I spent untold wedding receptions, Valentine’s Days, Easters, Mother’s Days, Thanksgivings, Christmases, and New Year’s Eves at the Redstone Inn. She never said no to my requests to staff these occasions. I loved Kathy not just for her willingness to give up holidays for my scheduling needs. I see her in my mind’s eye as a whirlwind blowing in and out to the next job she had also agreed to do. I see her as the generous person she was. I could see there was the little girl in her who wanted to please. And, if you ever needed a good hug you could count on Kathy’s being the best.

— Carrie McDonald

I moved to the Crystal Valley in July of 1987, I was 20 years old. Kathy Vance was one of the very first people I met. We worked together at the Redstone Inn as servers. Kathy also cut hair in a salon in the basement of the Inn. When we met she had just finished construction on her new home. I was in awe of a single woman having the knowledge and hard work it takes to build a home. Kathy and I spent lots of time together as our boyfriends at the time were good friends. Her persona was large as was her heart and her spirit. She will now become a legend in the minds of her friends and her spirit will continue to look over the Crystal River Valley. We will miss you, Kathy!

— Erin J Bassett

DECEMBER at the Redstone Inn . . .

the Bar & grill*

• Breakfast: Saturdays & Sundays 8 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.

• Lunch: Everyday from 11:30 a.m. — 5:30 p.m.

• Dinner served daily until 8:30! closed for cleaning December 4th & 5th

Bingo! Thursday, December 19 at 6:30

christmas eve gingerBread hoUse decorating December 24th 10 a.m. — 1 p.m.

$20 per person, call for reservations

So sad it was to hear of Kathy Vance's untimely death. Those of us who knew her back in her early days in Redstone, will remember a young woman with great enthusiasm and energy for her varied interests, someone who enriched the life and character of Redstone. And even after the troubles came, Kathy remained a caring good-hearted person., May she rest in peace.

— Bill Jochems

Well, what can I say, Kathy was the life of the party! Kathy was one of my first friends when moving to Redstone. We spent many holidays together and shared many fun times together. Even in her final days, she still maintained that touch of sarcasm and her wonderful sense of humor! RIP my friend! Your spirit and vivaciousness will remain with us always!

— Karen Kashnig and Duane Piffer

Kathy was a server at the Redstone Inn in the 80's and 90's.  She was cute, funny, a great athlete, and a bit of a rascal.  She also operated a successful hair salon at the Inn, "Curl Up & Dye," for over a decade .  Not only was her salon the place to get a great hair cut, it was the place to catch up on all the valley gossip.

dining room is now open*

• Friday & Saturday nights 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., reservations recommended.

*Seasonal hours vary from December 19th - January 2nd, call to confirm.

roaring 20’s new Year’s eve partY Dance the night away with a DJ beginning at 8:30 in the Bar - $15 per person/$25 per couple, includes party favors and champagne toast at midnight.

at

Parting Shot

HolidaysHappy from the Redstone Community Association

GRAND ILLUMINATION SCHEDULE OF EVETS

All day Shops and Restaurants open and ready to share holiday cheer!

10 AM - 1 PM Redstone Castle Tours: Advance tickets required. Purchase tickets online at www.TheRedstoneCastle.com, by phone at 970-963-9656 or at the Redstone Inn.

5:00 PM Enjoy carolers as they sing for Santa at the Redstone General Store. Then, join the holiday procession to the Redstone Inn.

5:30 PM Santa and his Elves visit their play land in the Fitness Center of Redstone Inn (follow the lit path beginning at the lower parking area) — GREAT photo opportunity for the kiddos!

5:30 PM Voting begins in the Library of the Redstone Inn for our holiday decorating contest. Please come and cast your vote for this year’s most elaborate light display, everything you need to vote is located inside the Library. Prizes are awarded to first and second residents with the most support; winners will be announced Saturday morning.

6:00 PM Bonfire, music, and caroling down at the lower parking area of Redstone Inn. Bonfire lighting by the Carbondale and Rural Fire Department.

skating rink opens earlY decemBer

The ice skating rink opens early December through mid-March, weather conditions permitting.

Donated skates of varying styles and sizes hang in the shed next to the rink; these are available for free use to the public, and please hang them again when not in use. Hockey equipment is also available; to help maintain the surface, we ask that nothing be left on the rink after use.

The shed is open whenever the ice surface is suitable, and skating opens daily until 8 p.m., after which it is resurfaced as needed and as weather permits.

MEMBERSHIP FORM

Redstone is an unincorporated village that relies completely on donations and volunteerism spearheaded by the Redstone Community Association (RCA)

Your membership dues directly fund RCA projects and events.

Thank You for your support!