Issuu

Photograph by Ryan Kenney.

Letter to the Editor

AdAm WithroW for Congress - ColorAdo CongressionAl distriCt 3

Hello,

I am a normal working stiff from Southern Colorado. I, along with many others in our District, recognize the need for a change in representation in the US House of Representatives away from Lauren Boebert. I also recognize the vast enthusiasm gap between her and the person she defeated in 2022. The honest fact is, the majority of the votes he got, mine included, were votes AGAINST her and not FOR him. I do not believe Adam Frisch can or will win the general election in this district. Since my mid-20s, people have been asking me to run for this House seat, some of whom were highly influential business owners, and others who were regular working people like myself. This cycle, I have caved into the pressure. Instead of coming across as though I have the answers to all of our problems or presenting myself as a full-blown partisan zealot, I'd like to practice a little true Democracy as our representative. When major issues come up, I want to contact local experts and stakeholders, and I'd also like to survey the citizens of the district at large for their direct input. I would like every city council and town board to have a vote on what I will vote for while in the House. If the citizens in the towns stay engaged, it's possible for us to work together on what OUR word is on all legislation that passes through the House. I'll be coming to your town to pay a visit as soon as it is feasible, and when I do, I hope you'll be there. In the meantime, you can go to www.crowdpac.com/ campaigns/421578/adam-withrow to chip in and help me get to you.

Adam Withrow

T

HE C RYSTAL VALLEY E CHO

& Marble Times

Mission Statement: To provide a voice for the residents of the Crystal River Valley; 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 gentryeh@hotmail.com • (806) 374-0055

CONTRIBUTORS

Amber McMahill • Melissa Sidelinger

ADVERTISING SALES

Gentrye Houghton gentryeh@hotmail.com • (806) 374-0055

DISTRIBUTION

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

NEWSPAPER BOX LOCATIONS: Third Street Center • Village Smithy Carbondale Post Office • Carbondale Park & Ride The Marble Hub • Redstone General Store

Priced under current appraised value of $1,380,000. Highly sought after property on the Crystal River Offering 2,200 SF, 3 BR/2BA, open floor plan, large rock wood burning fireplace.All new kitchen, baths, flooring and paint. New windows, new boiler and new roof. Oversized 2 car garage & additional storage/workshop Direct and easy access to 200+ ft of privately owned river frontage. Quiet end of town on almost an acre. ADU potential and ability to park/store all your toys All Colorado recreational activities are steps away from this one-of-a-kind property

Lynn M Kirchner 970 379 4766

News and Updates

Open Space and Trails Updates

Wildlife habitat improvements via mechanical tree thinning at Filoha Meadows Nature Preserve and in the adjacent national forest is scheduled to occur in August/September. The work will be done by machine and/or hand crews Improved forage for elk, improved sightlines and escape routes for bighorn sheep, and a reduction in wildfire fuels are the goals of this project by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails with the Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Stay informed during an emergency

Download the free Reach Well App to receive emergency alerts in Spanish and other languages Sign up to receive emergency notification in English at PITKINALERT ORG

Tobacco Retail License now required in Pitkin County

The Pitkin County Commissioners voted to approve a Tobacco Retail License program that aligns with other local tobacco control policies and strengthens the county’s efforts to combat youth tobacco and nicotine use

Pitkin County TV Service

The Pitkin County Telecommunications Dept is reviewing how it uses money from a property tax that funds free over the air TV in our region We need to know if you're watching TV on this Pitkin County operated, free platform that's available in the Roaring Fork, Crystal and Frying Pan valleys simply by using an antenna The service includes channels like PBS, Grassroots TV, and CGTV Call the translator line at (970) 920-5395 to speak with a representative about your TV usage

Pitkin County Library News

The Redstone Inn now has a corner bookshelf of honor books. Book selection includes popular adult fiction, young adult books, juvenile fiction books, picture books, board books, and DVDs

Redstone Castle Development Proposal

Monopolizes July Crystal River Caucus

By Gentrye Houghton

Current Redstone Castle owner, Stephane De Baets, and land planner Glenn Horn, of Davis Horn, Inc., appeared before the Crystal River Caucus last month to present attendees with their developmental proposal and wellness concept.

They are seeking to amend the 2018 Master Plan, which laid out land-use plans for the property under the previous ownership. After the long public hearing process, previous entitlements were secured for four additional cottages on the Castle Parcel, and four additional cabins on the Barn parcel. Permits were also secured granting up to 36 special events from spring through the fall.

During that time, the Castle, Carriage house, Hose house, garden shed, gazebo, dog kennels, gated entrance, and reservoir were added to the Pitkin County Historic Register, which limits change.

Several of the Castle's interior rooms were placed into a conservation easement with the Colorado Historical Foundation, including the music room, library, great room, dining room, billiard room, John

Osgood’s study, Osgood’s bedroom and loggia, and Lady Bountiful’s bedroom, parlor, bathroom, and closet. According to the easement agreement, these interior spaces are protected against the “alteration of the fixtures, architectural features, and finishes;” however, no restrictions are in place for the interior of the Carriage house.

A 2018 BOCC resolution approved the use of a bed and breakfast, restaurant, and special event facility — currently, a commercial kitchen is not located onsite.

DeBaets would like to move away from the B&B vision and instead invite guests to the resort for a minimum five-night therapeutic and medicinal wellness retreat. For efficiency, they would like to locate all of the 1,200 square foot, two-bedroom cottages, and 1,800 square foot three-bedroom cabins on the Barn parcel. Rooms will be keyed individually, and none of the guest accommodations will feature kitchens.

He is also proposing two additional buildings, each 6,800 square feet, for employee housing that con-

9 ACRE CREEKSIDE LOCATION

32 miles from Carbondale over McClure Pass

$895,000

2136 sf log home, 3BR, 2 BTH, art studio, 30x40 shop, 3 car carport, horse pastures

sists of eight, two-bedroom, apartments that will house approximately 36 employees and their families.

Under the proposal, spaces within the Castle and Carriage House will be converted into treatment rooms with dining areas inside the Castle. The riding arena will be transformed into a hydro-therapy facility, along with the addition of a commercial kitchen and greenhouse elsewhere on the property to provide guests and employees with meals.

De Baets stressed that Castle tours will continue.

During the Caucus meeting, Hank van Berlo, who sits on the Redstone Water Board, expressed concern regarding the possible stress this development could place on the Historic District’s wastewater system with the year-round activity of nearly 80-something people.

“[The Redstone Water and Sanitation District] may not be able to handle all of the sewer capacity needed without an expansion,” said RWSD Manager Ryan Kenney. “If development triggers an expansion, the cost would fall on the developer.”

Horn expressed shock and that this was the first he'd heard of this concern. He said they would be following up with RWSD's manager, but did not respond when contacted by The Crystal Valley Echo

MICHAEL R. KENNEDY

Broker/Owner

970-379-3907

mikekennedy@sopris.net ColoradoHomesRanches.com

This graphic from DHM Design of the Redstone Castle development proposal was presented to the public during the Crystal River Caucus July meeting.

Redstone Art Foundation Presents the 27th Annual Art Show and Sale Voices of the Crystal

We get to hear the Crystal River every night through our windows. It’s soothing, it’s magic… There’s so much pressure on the Crystal and as one of the last undammed rivers, we need to protect places like this. My hope for the future is that the Crystal continues to stay as it is.”

learn more CrystalWild.org

The Redstone Art Foundation (RAF) hosts the Annual Redstone Art Show and Sale August 25th — 27th at the Historic Redstone Inn. Thirty-five artists gather to exhibit and sell their work on the front and back lawns of the Redstone Inn. This is the Redstone Art Foundation’s biggest event ever. Please note the date change.

All are invited to this free event. Get to know local artists throughout the weekend and stay for a demonstration or a workshop. A People’s Choice Award is presented to the most popular 2D and 3D artists. Winners will be announced in September’s issue of The Crystal Valley Echo and on Facebook.

Join in the fun by participating in the Paint Out! event Friday, August 25th for artists also in the art show and Saturday, August 26th for painters from around Colorado. All artists must provide their supplies and submit a work of art that is ready to hang by 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Capture the beauty of the Crystal River Valley or pick up one of these one-of-akind paintings at the Paint Out! auction at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 27th. A wine tasting featuring wines from the North Fork Valley is accompanying the auction.

RAF is also offering a “Community Paint Out!” and “Kids Paint Out!” Look for the doors on the lawn and add your painting flair to this fun project. All are welcome with kid-safe paints and brushes in each area.

Thirty percent of all sales are allocated between the Redstone Art Foundation’s Scholarship Fund and fundraising needs

for the organization. Each year, scholarships are awarded to members of the graduating class from either Glenwood Springs or Roaring Fork High Schools. We have expanded eligibility for scholarship funding to members of the Foundation who would like to take art-related classes in the community.

sChedule of events

Friday, August 25th

6 - 8 p. m. Tents open.

Opening Reception. Mingle with the artists while enjoying complimentary wine and appetizers.

Saturday, August 26th

Tents open at 10:00 a.m.

Plein air painters will be painting along Redstone Boulevard. Take some time to watch art come to life!

Sunday, August 27th

Tents open at 10:00 a.m.

Demonstrations by artists all day. Live Auction and wine tasting, 3:00 p.m.

All workshops and demonstrations are free, open to the public, and last approximately one hour.

Are you interested in volunteering? The RAF is looking for art enthusiasts to help with two and a half hours shifts during the weekend. If interested Contact Cathy Montgomery at cathymontg@gmail.com or (970) 963-7212; for more information, visit www.redstoneartfoundation.org

See you in Redstone on August 25th — 27th!

Jeff Bier

Realtor & long-term Redstone resident

Art Show organizer Cindy Cole picking up a painting she purchased by Connie Hendrix (pictured left) during the 2022 Annual Art Show and Sale. Photograph by Gentrye Houghton.

Press Release from the Redstone Art Foundation

Redstone Historic District STR Ordinance Change

The following letter was issued to Crystal River Caucus members and the Pitkin County community by Jeanette Muzio, Pitkin County Short-Term Rental Administrator on July 12th; the addition of the BOCC vote on July 26th was added by the editor of this publication.

The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopted the Short Term Rental (STR) Licensing and Regulations for all unincorporated Pitkin County in September 2022. Throughout the adoption of the regulations, the county heard from the public that the Village of Redstone has unique characteristics and zoning that should be considered differently than the rest of the county.

BOCC directed staff to develop a public outreach process to discuss what, if any, changes to Ordinance 28-2022 would be appropriate and specific to Redstone. Staff conducted outreach during the month of April. The results of the outreach effort were presented to the BOCC on May 18, 2023.

At the BOCC work session on June 13th, 2023, the BOCC directed staff to move forward with amendments to Sec. 6.50.055 of the STR code to loosen restrictions for STR licenses in the Village Commercial zone district as follows:

• The duration of each rental period will be reduced from a minimum of four nights to a two night minimum.

• The total number of nights in a calendar year will be increased from 120 nights to 180 nights.

All other provisions of the STR code remain in effect for properties in the Village Commercial zone district.

The BOCC approved the Ordinance Amending the Pitkin County Short-Term Rental Code, Section 6-50 of the Pitkin County Code to Establish Restrictions Specific to the Village Commercial Zone District in Redstone on July 12th, 2023, at the BOCC regular meeting. The second reading and public hearing was held on July 26th, 2023, in which the Board approved the amendment three to one.

PERFECT SETTING

$1,300,000 | 3 BED | 3 BATH | WEB ID#: AN180179

Redstone This special property offers unexpected privacy at the north end of the Boulevard, with not only riverfront views but easy access to the Crystal River also - just steps away. A peaceful location that is just a short walk to the historic village of Redstone along a secluded wooded trail through the bordering national forest. With 2 story south-facing windows, the home is illuminated with natural light throughout the open floor plan. Three ensuite bedrooms gives you flexibility and makes your guests feel completely at home. There’s a covered porch, 2 patio areas, a fire pit, a tree house, and a large natural landscaped yard which creates multiple outdoor entertaining options. A rare 2 car garage for Redstone homes completes the package to make year round living even more enjoyable.

Bill Blanton

Broker Associate C. 970.379.6684 O. 970.704.3217 bblanton@masonmorse.com

cbmasonmorse.com

Writer's Corner

sAfe

When anxiety is at it's worst And the tears threaten to fall When fear attempts to drown

Remind me that I'm not alone.

Create for me a safe place

To hide me from the world

Tuck me away in your arms Hold my hand so I don't fall.

When I can't hide the pain

Or the scars of what once was Be there for me through the night And kiss me awake in the morning.

Best friend

Best friend, I don't know what I would do

If you weren't there each morning

Holding me close in your arms

As you sleep quietly beside me.

My safe and happy place

Is surrounded by your warm embrace

Your hair tangled in mine

Your heart a gently beating drum

Your eyes as blue as river water.

You kiss me on the forehead

And smile sleepily down at me

Reminding me that I am never alone

That you are always there to hold my hand And catch me when I fall.

Best friend,

Before I met you, my love, Those two words belonged to no one And now that you are here They belong to you alone.

tAttoo

There's no words to describe

The sweet, gentle peace Of waking up slowly

On a weekend morning,

Rolling over in bed

And your tattooed arm

Slips from the sheets

To pull me close to you,

I'd tattoo you on my heart

If it were possible

Ink your soul

Into my very veins.

Touch

Touch me in those places

That I am most ashamed

The scars and the burns

The skin I wish was clean

I have so many stories And memories I wish to erase

Let me forget them all

In a night of your embrace

I am not the girl I once was

But sometimes I need you

To remind me, once more

What it means to be loved

Hope

Hope is such an elusive thing

So fragile and easily shattered I find myself hiding my hopes in objects

Talismans to remind me of unspoken desires

Like the white dress in my closet

Embroidered with silver sequins That I have never worn

But maybe someday I will

Like the necklace with the five-pointed star

That reminds me of my chosen path Or the bracelet from mom and dad

With the amber frozen eternally in time

The picture of my first cat

A memory captured forever

Or the stuffed tigers from childhood

Tucked away in the bedroom

The hundreds of books on the shelves Ones I have read and ones I have not And the ones that whispered to me

That I too could be a writer...

Hope is such an elusive thing

So I hide my hopes in things

So as not to lose faith

Or to forget to dream

Poems By Melissa Sidelinger

THE MARBLE TIMES

By Tobin Vinciguerra, 7th grade

Education in Singapore

You walk into a typical classroom in Singapore and see kids working their hardest to complete the problem before any of their peers finish. You try the math problem yourself and are brutally beaten by a third grader and you don't know how they did that. Singapore has one of the best education systems in the world. The country Singapore is located in Asia and is on the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula between Malaysia and Indonesia. Furthermore, it is a wealthy and clean country that is a major tourist attraction. Singapore's students are the most advanced in Math and Science.

Singapore's education system is different from the U.S. In other words the education system is one of the best but one of the hardest. For example, Singapore's students have to do six years of primary school, followed by four to six years of secondary school, and one to three years of postsecondary school. However, there are disadvantages in Singapore's school system. Some examples are, “It's too exam oriented, it can be stressful for students, and it doesn't encourage creativity.”(Tiger Campus). Kids are always worried about their next test and are always studying. These examples may be hard on a student in Singapore because going to a school that is too exam oriented can make them unhappy or stressed.

One thing that you may not expect about Singapore's students is that they are very competitive. They always try to be the best of the best and to not fail! Students carry the high expectations of parents, private tutors, teachers, all the way up to school administration. However this pressure does a good thing, without it Singapore would not be what it is today. This competitiveness is creating stress and anxiety for students in Singapore. Therefore “schools are also launching wellness programmes that seek to improve the mental as well as the physical health of students, especially during the exam season. Some students get to go on nature trips to reduce stress.”(Jones,2021). Schools are still trying to work on this so students can be cheerful again and hopefully in the future these schools can be mentally and academically the best schools in the world.

The average Singaporean student spends about 50 hours of school a week followed by 22 hours of out-of-school studying. Compared to the U.S this is a huge amount of work. This leaves very little time to do fun activities or even spend time with family. Furthermore, “this heavy workload, plus the time spent on co-curricular activities and earning

tuition fees, deprives students of adequate sleep, and could lead to a higher risk of problems such as poor mental health, obesity and injuries.” (Voices of Youth). If a majority of a child's life is spent on school that means they have little time to socialize with their peers. In the end the academic pressure takes a big toll on the social life of students.

To sum it all up, the U.S should not adopt Singapore's ways of teaching. In other words Singapore may produce the best math and science results in the world; however, their ways of teaching increase anxiety and stress. The only thing the U.S should adopt is Singapore's hard work to be the best of the best. Without a doubt Singapore students thrive in academic skills, but they are still missing out on the important things in life.

Marble Times is sponsored by dAvid PArks And lAurie fArBer

BeAver lAke lodge (970) 963-2504 www.beaverlakelodge.com

race courses—25k Lead King Loop & 2.5k Kids Race

From Jaime Fiske

K-2 Science: Mealworms

Mealworms are the larva of a grain beetle or darkling beetle, and are often found in grain bags and even tobacco. They come in a few varieties, the most common is the yellow one.

This spring, K-2 students studied topics such as:

• The mealworm lifecycle

• Parts of a mealworm: six little legs, antennae, exoskeleton

• Can you eat a mealworm?

Redstone

Senior Days

Redstone programs are open to all!

RSVP: (970) 920-5432

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3

Special Marble Program

11:30 a.m. – Lunch at Slow Groovin’ Barbacue

After lunch the group will tour the MARBLE/marble symposium with local artists Rex & Vickie Branson. Please RSVP.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22

At the Redstone Inn

12:00 p.m. – Lunch ($10)

RSVP by noon the Friday prior – space is limited. Plated lunch served. Gluten-free option available.

12:45 p.m. – Plant Walk with Sheehan Meagher

Cultivate a relationship of reciprocity with our plant relatives along Main Street in Redstone to East Creek. Learn how to identify the species, how to ethically harvest, the ecosystem role of the plant, medicinal actions, and how to make medicine or prepare to eat.

WANT TO BE KEPT IN THE LOOP?

Send us your email address: (970) 920-5432 • seniors@pitkincounty.com

Town of Marble Board of Trustees: July 6th Meeting Recap

An account from DJ Sugar Monkey

A cool balmy evening embraced me as I made my way up the hill to the Marble Community Church. Taking a seat in the Fellowship Hall, my gaze drifted towards a couple of crows waddling about on the freshly cut grass behind the building, taunting one another on the smooth lawn in the dappled light of the setting sun.

I found myself slipping into a reverie of Summers past, of endless midsummer evenings spent in South West London. I could almost hear the pleasant thwonk of tennis balls reverberating from Centre Court a couple of thousand miles away as Wimbledon entered its closing stages, nursing a pint of Pimms garnished with a delicate bloom of borage.

Alas, all too soon the Town Council Members filed in and I was shaken abruptly to my senses, the distant memories evaporated on the cool Summer breeze. Smiling to myself, I sank back into my chair, content that I had made the upgrade from London and Pimms and Borage to the enchantment of Marble, Squirt, and Wildflowers.

Only three council members were present; Mayor Vinciguerra, Emma Bielski, and Tony Petrocco. In addition to the Town’s administrative staff (Ron Leach, Terry Langley, and Alie Wettstein) I counted 13 attendees. After calling the meeting to order shortly after 7 p.m., the Mayor announced that he had no comments of his own to make and the consent agenda consisting of the June minutes and current bills was swiftly approved.

Then, came the Administrator Report, in which Ron Leach announced that 39% of the budgeted revenues had materialized in the first six months of the current year and that this was to be expected given that most of the sales tax is usually received by the Town in the fall

and winter months. As for the Town’s expenses, they were running at 50% of the budget for the six months ending June 30th; although, the cost of snow removal had, perhaps unsurprisingly, come in significantly above budget, at $52,000 vs $30,000.

The meeting moved on to Land Issues, the first of which was to consider the approval of the lot line adjustment of Charlie Parker’s property with that of the Town where 1st Street meets the river. Mayor Vinciguerra informed those present that he and Parker had visited the spot to “kick some dirt around.” Vinciguerra commented that the Town seemed to be losing more beach every year, and further emphasized the need to maintain access to the river via 1st Street and routine clearance of vegetation.

When the Mayor asked the board if they were interested in striking a deal with Parker, Petrocco asked to see the paperwork showing that Parker did indeed have the correct title to the land in question. Bielski thought the land swap felt like a “fair trade.”

Vinciguerra then pushed Parker for a written agreement to cover the access maintenance. After some initial resistance claiming “I don’t need another job,” Parker capitulated and agreed to sign an agreement that the Town’s lawyer, Kendall Burgemeister, is drafting. A vote to approve the changes was tabled for the August meeting.

Next on the Land Use agenda was the consideration for approval of two ordinances for the Wilkey property: one for the zoning change, the other to approve residential structures in a business zone. Dustin Wilkey indicated his desire to meet with his new neighbors before being issued a business license.

Their neighbors, Linda and Mike Evans have expressed their discontent with the relocation of the Wilkey’s off-road guided Jeep tours business and the disruption of their privacy. The issue of creating a boundary to shield the Evanses has still yet to be resolved, yet Wilkey was insistent on first completing the foundation and building work on his home to get a better idea of what sort of boundary would work best for both parties. Noticing that both Linda and Mike were present, Emma Bielski pithily suggested: “Do you think now would be a good opportunity [to talk to your neighbors].”

I was reminded of Marble Resident Joe Brown’s comment from a couple of months before: “It’s amazing what can happen if people just talk to each other.”

When asked to comment, Mike Evans indicated a preference to postpone the discussion until the full Board of Trustees was present, and to hold fire until a new Town Masterplan had been agreed upon. For the latter of these two requests, I see two hopes: Bob Hope and No Hope. The approvals of both ordinances were tabled until August.

The Parks Committee Report was presented by Brent Compton, who thanked the 40 or so Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers who had helped out at the Mill Site Park clean-up weekend. He praised the work of Greg Tonozzi, the legendary Marble Sculptor, for his gargantuan efforts to create an amphitheater in the park, which promises to be the centerpiece of Marble Fest (August 4th - 6th). When asked by Bielski what precautions were being taken to protect the historical jailhouse, Compton replied that the irrigation work he was doing in the park would be designed such that the building’s foundations would be protected.

There followed some disagreement over the general aesthetic of the Mill Site Park, in particular concerning the appearance of “social trails” around the disc golf course. Mike Yellico, who continues to do exceptional work in the park, was keen to point out that “it’s not a botanical garden” and “you should be able to go anywhere in a park.” He expressed his concern that the cottonwood trees needed constant pruning to ensure safety for all visitors.

In contrast, Richard Wells chimed in, “We have a very unique place down there,” and added, “It’s a ruin. People should not be able to tromp around anywhere.” Bielski was not a fan of being told where she can and cannot go in the park. In an effort to ease tensions, consummate diplomat Mayor Vinciguerra praised the work of the Parks Committee and all the improvements that have been made.

Yellico thanked Tim Hunter for the use of his trailer, which helped remove a vast amount of wood from the park, and issued an appeal for help for the New Year’s Eve bonfire. He expressed a solid preference for not wanting his name on the permit this year and requested that the Town take control of the event.

The Town of Marble’s administrative staff — Terry Langley and Alie Wettstein. Photograph provided by DJ Sugar Monkey.

When Wells suggested that Yellico write a proposal to the Town, Bielski sought to appease her husband and neutralize any further tension by suggesting, “It’s a great agenda item for November.”

Mark Chain, the facilitator of the Master Plan Committee (MPC) brought the council up to date with progress. As part of the Master Plan, a 10-question survey is being prepared which will be delivered to mailboxes in and around the Town of Marble this month.

Chain reported that the major issues the Committee had raised for discussion were infrastructure (in particular water), taxation, enforcement, and environmentally sensitive growth. Town Administrator Ron Leach next introduced Dana Hlavac from the Department of Local Affairs (DoLA). Hlavac talked up the “hundreds of millions of dollars” of government funding streams available to small towns whilst urging the Board to “chase the projects, not the funding.” He recommended the Board consider training opportunities made available by DoLA and emphasized the value of Proposition 123 funding in the domain of affordable housing.

To bring the meeting to a close, Leach took to the floor with an update about the restrictive changes that Colorado Parks and Wildlife have imposed over the use of Beaver Lake on the east end of town. The laws came into effect on August 1st, but will, according to Leach, not be enforced until a year has passed.

Although, the official press release from CPW states that "CPW wildlife officers will be implementing an education campaign for the first year to ensure everyone is aware of how new regulations may be affecting their favorite SWA before handing out citations for any violations of new regulations."

Leach warned that the changes instigated by CPW threatened to put Marble SUP, which rents stand-up paddleboards, out of business, and requested that the Board ask CPW to send a representative to a future meeting of the Board of Trustee

Greg Tonozzi: Marble's disheveled devil. Photograph provided by DJ Sugar Monkey.

Redstone Historical Society's Vintage Valley: History Matters

All content sponsored and provided by the Redstone Historical Society.

History matters, to some of us anyway. I don’t know why, but ever since my 4th grade experience studying Colorado history, I find I require a certain dosage of historical information no matter where I go. It’s like you can’t form an opinion of a person or a place without learning about its past. And for me, it’s history just makes me love it more.

It lengthens the conversation, colors the old photos, and creates a camaraderie between the then and the now. As I stand in awe of the accomplishments our predecessors made with so few modern conveniences they would think it fantastical what the future holds.

The Aspen Historical Society has been doing a variety of well-attended walking tours for years now. Andrea Garr, owner of the Redstone Cliffs Lodge, on Redstone Boulevard, and I attended one of these historic tours early this summer, hoping to create our own. Our Tour Guide was a young college history major who truly loved her job and left us feeling connected and committed to a neighboring town that can sometimes be a bit alienating. It was Garr’s push from guests asking questions about the town of Redstone that drove us to develop our historic tour.

Yes, Redstone, Colo., is truly, “The Ruby of the Rockies,” a term coined by a visiting journalist from the east coast in the early 1900s. What is amazing is that this coal and coke town is still standing. Very few of these still exist but because the founder of the township, John C. Osgood, was so fond of the area and chose to make it his home. It still proudly stands as a monument to the Gilded Age's concept of Industrial Paternalism, and it has a lot to say.

”[The historic tour] was an engaging and fun hour-and-a-half tour that brought to light stories and facts in an entertaining and informative way ... I strongly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the history of the area regardless of your level of understanding of local lore."

— John Osgood, III.

trek BACk in time And exPlore redstone’s history

• 11 a.m. on Thursdays & Sundays (thru October 8th), the tour departs from the Redstone Inn.

• Tickets for this hour-and-a-half tour are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children — please purchase at least 15 minutes in advance. Wearing comfortable footwear is advised. For more information, call the Redstone Inn at (970) 963-2526.

Author Becky Trembley will be your guide who takes you off the beaten trail. She was a Castle docent for more than 12 years and is a Redstone Historical Society board member for over a decade.

The historic firehouse was built to protect the town, with access to manmade reservoirs. Photograph from the Colorado Historical Society.

The clubhouse was an example of the Gilded Age opulence containing a well-supplied library, a bar, and a game room on the first floor, a ballroom on the 2nd floor, and a 200 seat theatre on the 3rd floor. Photograph from the Charlotte Osgood Blackmer Collection

Eighty-five cottages were all homes for the coke-puller families lining River Road. Photograph from the Charlotte Osgood Blackmer Collection.

Historic Colorado Outward Bound School Marble Base Camp Under Contract with AVLT

Press Release from Aspen Valley Land Trust

Flagship Property in Marble Set to Remain in Outdoor Education

Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) is under contract to purchase the historic Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) Marble Base Camp, scheduled to close on October 3rd, 2023.

“This is an incredible opportunity to protect this region’s history, wildlife, and future of outdoor education and relationship to conservation,” said AVLT executive director, Suzanne Stephens. “We are grateful to everyone involved to date and to our community for supporting big, visionary projects like the acquisition of this campus.”

The Marble Base Camp has been owned and operated by COBS since 1962 as a site for youth outdoor education and leadership programs and has historical significance as the first Outward Bound base camp in the United States. In the 1970s, COBS acquired its primary Colorado base camp in Leadville.

COBS continued to operate the Marble Base Camp through 2019 but had to stop programming in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization decided that the best course of action both for COBS and the Roaring Fork Valley would be to sell the asset to a local, mission-driven buyer who will

continue to utilize the facility for outdoor education, including continued support for COBS’s expeditionary programs.

“Our dream for Marble was to honor the history of this special property as the first Outward Bound Base Camp in the United States and preserve its legacy as a site for outdoor education and exploration,” said COBS executive director, Lauren Schmidt. “We are thrilled to be entrusting the Marble Base Camp to AVLT, who shares our commitment to outdoor education and preservation and will help make this dream a reality.”

AVLT purchased the neighboring property, Chapin Wright Marble Basecamp, in 2016 with community support and has since expanded programming to schools and nonprofits in the Roaring Fork, Colorado River, and North Fork valleys. Purchasing the COBS Marble Base Camp will expand program capacity by providing a more accessible space that includes cabins and dining facilities. AVLT will continue and grow the outdoor education model established at Chapin Wright Marble Basecamp with a focus on serving children that have not historically had access to immersive outdoor education experiences.

The partnership aims to protect the regional and national legacy of the COBS Marble Base Camp as

one of the original homes of the expeditionary learning movement in the United States.

To save this historic campus, Aspen Valley Land Trust is working with several funding and programming partners and launching a public campaign. To learn more and donate, visit avlt.org/save-outdoored. For more information on how to support COBS’s outdoor education programs, visit www.cobs.org