The Garfield County Libraries system has a lot of events coming up next week! Be sure to go to the Libraries’ events pages because some may require pre-registration or include details not listed here. All the branches will close early on Wednesday, and stay closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The webpage can be found here: https://www.gcpld.org/news-and-events. 

Library locations are:

Parachute: 244 Grand Valley Way

Rifle: 207 East Ave.

Silt: 680 Home Ave.

New Castle: 402 West Main St.

Glenwood Springs: 815 Cooper Ave.

Carbondale: 320 Sopris Ave.

MONDAY

Parachute:

Colorado Workforce Center: Mobile Office Hours at 11 a.m.

SPARK: Challenge Island at 11:30 a.m.

Silt:

Club de Bolsitas Rojas at 10:30 a.m.

Carbondale:

In Stitches Knitting Club at 1:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

Parachute:

NaNoWriMo Writers’ Nights at 5 p.m.

Rifle:

Great Expectations Circle of Parents at 10:30 a.m. 

New Castle:

Storytime at 10:30 a.m.

Glenwood Springs:

Storytime at 10:30 a.m.

NaNoWriMo Writers’ Nights at 5 p.m.

Carbondale:

Baby & Me Storytime at 10:15 a.m. 

National Novel Writing Month: Come Write In! At 5 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY

Parachute:

Storytime at 10:30 a.m.

Rifle:

Preschool Playgroup at 10:30 a.m. 

Free Health Screenings at 2 p.m. 

Silt:

Storytime at 10:30 a.m. 

New Castle:

Storytime at 10:30 a.m.

Glenwood Springs:

Club de Bolsitas Rojas at 10:30 a.m.

SPARK at 2:30 p.m.

Carbondale:

Magic the Gathering at 3 p.m. 

All branches:

Closing early for Thanksgiving Holiday at 5 p.m. 

THURSDAY

All branches:

Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

FRIDAY

All branches:

Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

SATURDAY

Parachute:

Oran Mor Holiday Concert at 2 p.m.

New Castle: 

Entre Las Paginas Virtuales at 10 a.m.

Pokemon Club at 3 p.m. 

Glenwood Springs:

Magic at 1 p.m. 

Valley View Hospital of Glenwood Springs is extending its in-house palliative services to outpatient care, the hospital recently announced.

“Palliative care and hospice care are two different things — palliative care is for people with serious illness that are pursuing life-prolonging therapy,” Shane Lieberman, M.D. said on Friday.

Lieberman and Brandy Drake M.D. have been doing palliative care for six years at Valley View. The Glenwood Springs hospital offers palliative care in-house and, most recently, outpatient care.

Palliative care now being offered as outpatient services is new and helpful. Sometimes it helps Drake and Lieberman catch problems earlier and helps them with the patient’s care.

This helps not only the physical care of the patient, but the emotional care of them and their loved ones. This process is for when the illness progresses, but sometimes the person is cured. 

“People weren’t going anywhere for palliative care before this,” Lieberman said. “It wasn’t available. Primary care doctors try their best to do this, but they often just don’t have time.”

Palliative care can lead to hospice care, but Drake stressed they’re not about death.

“We’re not afraid to talk about death, but it can be a harm to associate palliative care with death,” Drake said. “We’re about life.” 

Drake explained that hospice is limited toward the last six months of a patient’s life.

“I think it can confuse people, but hospice isn’t a place you go — it’s a philosophy,” Drake said. “Palliative care is the same, it’s not a unit.”

It’s all about quality of life, Lieberman said.

“We get involved early, we build a relationship with that person, and we focus on who the person is: what do they want? What’s important to them? This illness has changed their life, so who are they now?” he said.

Lieberman and Drake diligently work with oncologists and pulmonologists. They monitor specific areas in the body in which the cancer has invaded, while Lieberman and Drake look at the entire person.

Associating palliative care with death can mean that people seeking to pursue life won’t get it. However, Drake and Lieberman have their own facility next to the hospital that is a non-clinical space big enough for families. Palliative care is a discussion that involves loved ones and how life should be pursued by the patient. 

“Palliative care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances,” Lieberman said. 

The hardest part of being in this kind of care is the emotional burden, both doctors said. 

“Toughest part of the job is the emotional burden, to meet people where they are, who they are, what’s important to them, but that can be difficult because they’re very sick people and they might die soon,” Lieberman said. 

Drake said another hard part of their training was the young people part of it. 

“We don’t see a lot of kids, but even people in their 20s or 30s, who have a strange disease or just bad luck — it’s hard,” she said. 

Lieberman also spoke about the Right to Die, known as Medical Aid in Dying or also known as Colorado’s End of Life Options Act. This Aid in Dying is in 10 states along with Washington D.C. 

“One of the things we value is a patient’s autonomy, a person’s right to choose, especially around healthcare,” he said. “When going to the hospital, we can refuse a surgery, and for most of us, it may make sense to do it because we can get back to where we were, but as we get older it may not.”

This Act is viewed as hospice care and requires multiple qualifications — a terminal disease diagnosis, two medical professionals agreeing about the diagnosis and the patient being of sound mind while taking the medicine and able to do it themselves.

“I have written some of those prescriptions,” Lieberman said. “I always try to ask the patient if there’s a hope or another thing they can hold on to in these cases.”

“Sometimes the prescription is filled, but never used, or it’s written and never filled. Sometimes it’s for just in case. People like to feel they have some control over their own lives,” Lieberman added.

The palliative care team includes Drake, Lieberman, and Nurse Practitioner Erica Hickey and Board Certified Clinical Chaplain Lauren Martin. Palliative care appointments are by referral only, but anyone can get more information by calling the team at 970-384-4220.

The Mind Springs facility in Glenwood Springs is adding to the Withdrawal Management program. 

More commonly referred to as a ‘detox,’ the Withdrawal Management program is for clearing the body of substances and managing the symptoms of withdrawal that come with it. 

Mind Springs in Glenwood Springs, found at 2802 Grand Ave., is building this part of the facility right now. The new space will have eight beds: five for males, three for females.

Amy Cooper, executive vice president of operations at Mind Springs said the reasoning for this is that they typically “see more men in detox programs.” She added they could put more beds into the facility or swing the beds, depending on the needs of the community and census needs.

The program is equipped with 24-hour nursing and is medically monitored with access to a health care provider. It also has internal medical clearance, meaning instead of going through the emergency room or another referral source, the person in need can be dropped off by police or come of their own volition, as explained by Dr. David Conklin of Mind Springs. 

The model of care instituted in the Grand Junction Mind Springs facility was upgraded from 3.2 to 3.7, which are different levels of care from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The 3.2 model was a social or residential model of detox, while the 3.7 model is the medical model of detox.

This medical model is more tailored for individuals and their specific care. It was determined to be the best practice to support clients by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Conklin said they were “better able to handle the bumps in the road” with the 3.7 model. This model will be implemented in the new Withdrawal Management facility in Glenwood Springs. 

Construction is expected to be finished by spring 2024; right now, they’re working on plumbing and electricity. 

Although Mind Springs have raised nearly $1.14 million in funding for the capital build, they are requesting that approximately $240,000 of the budget allocated to operating dollars be switched to the capital budget. It leaves $460,000 to be raised, and Mind Springs is working on multiple grants and a targeted giving campaign for these funds. 

The Garfield County Outdoors (GCO) program was awarded a $250,000 grant by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) on Sept. 21.

With its vision firmly set, GCO is driven by a commitment to nurture personal growth and confidence through diverse outdoor ventures, ranging from neighborhood strolls to vast backcountry journeys.

This grant is a milestone within GOCO’s Generation Wild campaign, instituted in 2015. Its core objective? Pushing the boundaries and inspiring Colorado families to delve deeper into nature, enhancing their overall well-being.

Aligning forces with Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) and Colorado State University Extension (CSU Extension), GCO has charted a comprehensive blueprint for utilizing the grant. The primary focus will be broadening their community initiatives with a keen lens on inclusivity and sustainability.

The Garfield Re-2 School District stands central to their vision. By infusing additional personnel and resources, this district, often cited as the linchpin of GCO, is poised for an elevated synergy with community and youth figures. Among the slated projects are the formulation of a youth advisory council, spotlighting 10 dynamic leaders from GCO’s affiliate schools, and a slew of youth-centric leadership programs, all aimed at deepening the ties with the educational community.

The four pillars of GCO’s community outreach — New Castle, Silt, Rifle, and Parachute/Battlement Mesa — are set to undergo a transformative phase. Community leaders from these zones will be integrated more profoundly into partner deliberations, ushering in a more holistic and diverse decision-making landscape.

In tandem, GCO is also primed to embark on a meticulous strategic planning phase, aimed at refining their overarching goals and outreach modalities.

Since its foundation in 2017, GCO has unfurled an eclectic range of programs tailored for the youth of western Garfield County. Their collaborations with the Garfield Re-2 and Garfield 16 school districts, and CSU Extension, have yielded innovative solutions to combat outdoor access impediments. Their portfolio boasts a vibrant mix, from agriculture and snow sports to climbing and beyond. 

This year, the program has gathered 3,900 youth and 360 adult participants in various programs for the 2023 year.

“We have really been working hard on developing this program for the past few years,” Partan said. “With this new funding, we are going to be able to not only shift gears, but we will also be able to start providing more programs as well.”

GCO’s Program Director Scott Partan shed light on the current program framework, emphasizing its dedication to students within the two affiliated districts. However, an exciting twist is on the horizon with the imminent roll-out of family-centric modules.

“Our weekly offerings are diverse, ranging from hikes to ski trips to extended outdoor escapades,” Partan said.

Partan said the GCO program aspires to enhance outdoor education outreach across various schools within the district.

“We are fortunate enough to live in this really awesome place that provides a lot of places to explore and activities to do,” Partan said. “There are a lot of people who don’t have the means to do that, so we want to bridge that gap and make sure everyone has access to those opportunities.”

GOCO Generation Wild Program Officer Chris Aaby mirrored the enthusiasm. 

“This is a program that is focused on making sure that we are able to get our future students and generations outdoors,” Aaby said. “We are excited to see this program expanding and can’t wait to help make a community-wide change to see more kids outdoors.”

For more information regarding the program, visit the Garfield County Outdoors website.

Editor’s note: This is the first of the series The Longevity Project,a collaboration between The Aspen Times and the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.

When former Olympian Jeanne Golay recalls her racing days, her emphasis isn’t just on winning championships or representing her country in the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics. For Golay, the daily commitment to movement was and remains her secret weapon.

“I aim for at least an hour of exercise per day, preferably biking,” Golay said. “A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, ‘Can I accomplish this task on a bike?’ If the answer is yes, then you should do so for your health.”

The Roaring Fork Valley resident, 61, who holds three U.S. National Road Race Championships and was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame in 2008, believes in the importance of consistent movement.

“Daily movement, even if it’s just a short walk of a few blocks,” Golay said. “Navigating variable terrain like sidewalk curbs and inclines helps to maintain balance and coordination. I’m trying to do more high-impact activities like hiking and walking, given that age and menopause contribute to a decline in bone density.”

But what of those who aren’t Olympians or professional athletes? Is there a simpler regimen they can adopt to maintain their fitness, balance, and mobility?

Danelle Docken, a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Grand River Health, thinks so.

“One of the biggest challenges I see, especially as people age, is just the ability to stay moving,” Docken said. “Our bodies are a use-it-or-lose-it system.”

To aid in the quest for lifelong mobility, Docken recommends a series of simple stretches.

“First, focus on your calf muscles by getting into that runner’s pose up against a wall and stretching the calf,” Docken said. “A seated hamstring stretch is great for balance. Sit with one leg extended out and lean forward to work that back hamstring muscle and glute.”

For spinal mobility, Docken suggests a cat-cow seated position. 

“Sit upright, open your arms out wide, then bring them around as if hugging a barrel,” Docken said. “This benefits your cervical spine down to your sacral region. Also, work on some posterior and anterior hip tilting for balance and mobility.”

Lastly, arm stretches can improve posture. 

“Try simple doorway or corner PEC stretches. Ensure your hands are below your shoulders and lean into a doorway to open up the chest,” Docken said.

“These stretches can go a long way in helping keep your mobility and balance and also strengthen your posture,” Docken added.

But it’s not just about stretches. As Docken highlights, the sedentary lifestyle can be a silent killer.

“It can happen so quickly,” Docken said. “Someone can get sick, lay down for a week, and the body needs to revamp its energy. But you start to lose muscle mass so quickly.”

To shift perceptions of exercise, Docken suggests a linguistic tweak.

“Exercise is viewed as such a negative word. It’s like the word diet,” Docken said. “Nobody wants to do it. Just moving a little bit more, even if it means walking from your doorstep to the end of your driveway and back up, that’s day one. Exercise doesn’t have to be done all at once.”

As for Golay, she believes in the power of repetition and adaptation.

“Our bodies are truly amazing, especially our capacity for adaptation,” Golay said. “‘Getting in shape is the result of creating new habits and perpetuating them over time. My muscles were sore at the start of each day’s stage, but once warmed up, I felt like a well-tuned Ferrari.”

Both Docken and Golay agree: Whether you’re an Olympian or just someone looking to stay mobile, the journey to lifelong fitness starts with daily movement.

The next Longevity Project event is slated for 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 4 at The Arts Campus At Willits (TACAW), 400 Robinson St., Basalt. The panel is titled, “How to maintain mobility, balance and athleticism throughout life” and will feature experts in the field.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.aspentimes.com/longevity-project-2023-fall/.

Working to break down barriers, spend time in the wild and inspire the Latino community to take action to protect public lands, Defiende Nuestra Tierra is hosting an education and community-building hike this weekend in Carbondale.

The hike is slated for 9 a.m. Saturday at the Mushroom Rock Trailhead in Carbondale, a news release states. The trailhead is located at 100 Colorado Highway 107. Participants are invited to go for a hike to the top of Mushroom Rock with the group, where Defiende will pass out the first copies of the map.

The hike marks the launch of the new El Camino map. The free, bilingual map highlights locations to get outside and enjoy public lands in the Colorado River and Roaring For valleys.

The El Camino map is the first bilingual map designed specifically for the Latino Community and highlights over 15 locations and activities, including hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, camping and fishing. It will be available for the public online HERE. Printed copies of the map are available at the Wilderness Workshop office at the 3rd Street Center in Carbondale and 27 locations up and down the Roaring Fork Valley. Map sponsors include Tequilas Restaurant in Glenwood and the Carniceria in Carbondale. 

“Our goal with El Camino Latino is to ensure that more information about public lands are available in Spanish in an easy and friendly format for our community,” Dfiende Nuestra Tierra Director Omar Sabaria said in the release. “According to a survey conducted by the White River National Forest Service in 2020 only 4% of its users are Latino. Providing a print and digital map in Spanish will go a long way to giving the community more information and inspiration for using these special public places with their families.” 

Defiende Nuestra Tierra board member Marlon Funez said the map brings “my family and my Latino community closer by helping us enjoy more places, many of them I didn’t know were there.”

“Most of them are free and they are all on our public lands,” he said in the release. “We can do many different types of activities out there… there is something for all ages and abilities.”

Editor’s note: This article misstated that The People’s Clinic was a disease-management system.

The People’s Clinic treats patients already diagnosed to try and reverse diseases.

The People’s Clinic, located at the Third Street Center in Carbondale, received a $400,000 grant from the Colorado Health Foundation this week. 

A nonprofit organization originally started by doctors Greg Feinsinger and Judith Alvarez in 2016, the clinic is free of charge and does not require insurance for patients. Since its beginnings, the bilingual clinic has drawn in more than 500 patients a year, focusing largely on the immigrant community.

A clinic focused on preventative care, the organization has a different approach to common medical practices. Unlike the United States healthcare system, which Feinsinger calls a “disease-management system,” The People’s Clinic attempts to prevent and reverse diseases in people already diagnosed.

“We wait until diseases occur, and then we do what we can to try to manage these chronic diseases,” Feinsinger said. “Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are all things that can be easily managed and preventable as long as someone is committed to making lifestyle changes.”

With the grant money, Feinsinger said the clinic will have the opportunity to grow to new heights.

“Right now, we’re sitting in an office with one exam room. This grant will give us the opportunity to grow our team and add new roles as well as improve our space so that we can continue to help as many patients as we can.”

While the grant for the clinic is a step in the right direction for the Latinx community and local advocacy group Voces Unidas’ call for high-quality health care for immigrants within the Roaring Fork Valley, president Alex Sánchez said there is still a long way to go.

“Voces Unidas is supportive of any effort that increases access to quality health care for working families,” Sánchez said. “We have voiced our concerns over the years about the substandard care that sometimes is offered to members of our community simply because we self-identify as immigrants or lack access to insurance… We need more, not less investment in rural communities.”

As the grant money rolls in, Feinsinger said the opportunity for growth will be an immediate expectation for the clinic and the programs it has to offer, including a healthy cooking class and a weekly visit to the grocery store to learn about nutrition.

“We usually have 20 patients a week and with this grant we are looking to double that while also being able to continue on with our programs,” he said.

To learn more about The People’s Clinic, visit thirdstreetcenter.net.

Grand River Health has become the first hospital in the state to achieve a highly prestigious pediatric standard, the hospital recently announced.

Called the Pediatric Advanced Certification for Colorado Pediatric Preparedness for the Emergency Room (COPPER), this significant achievement reflects the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional care for pediatric patients in emergency situations.

Grand River’s Dr. S. Nichole Feeney expressed her gratitude and excitement about this significant achievement.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first hospital in Colorado to achieve the Advanced Certification for COPPER,” she said in a news release. “This certification is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of our entire team. 

“We are fully committed to providing exceptional care for our pediatric patients and ensuring that we have the specialized resources and training necessary to meet their unique needs in emergency situations.”

COPPER, administered by the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program in Colorado, is a rigorous certification program designed to ensure that emergency departments are well-prepared to handle pediatric emergencies effectively, Grand River said. The certification evaluates emergency departments based on a set of evidence-based guidelines and best practices, focusing on essential aspects of pediatric emergency care, including equipment, medication, protocols, and staff training.

“By successfully attaining the Pediatric Advanced Certification for COPPER, Grand River Health has demonstrated its dedication to the highest standards of pediatric emergency care,” Grand River said in the release. “The hospital has undergone a comprehensive evaluation process, which involved an assessment of its equipment, medication resources, policies, and procedures, as well as staff training and competencies.

“Grand River Health has met and exceeded the stringent requirements set forth by the EMSC program, ensuring that the hospital is fully equipped and prepared to handle any pediatric emergency with the utmost expertise and efficiency.”

For more information about Grand River Health and its services, visit grandriverhealth.org. To learn more about the Advanced Certification for Colorado Pediatric Preparedness for the Emergency Room (COPPER), visit the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) website at emsccolorado.com.

Editor’s note: This story was changed to reflect the correct name of Valley View Hospital’s cancer center.

The Valley View Calaway-Young Cancer Center is scheduled to hold its annual National Cancer Survivor Month celebration on Wednesday. Among celebration activities will include a live band performance from Bo Hale, complimentary treats and a tribute to honor survivors.

A celebration that has been held by the center for a number of years, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the event is set to continue and will be held at Sayre Park.

“In past years, this event has been more of a sitdown event and we are thrilled to be able to host this in a way that will be more inviting and fun for those who attend,” said Calaway-Young Cancer Center Director Hans Lindbloom. 

While the event took a number of years off due to the pandemic, Valley View Chief Community Relations officer Stacey Gavrell said the event is important to honor those who have had to face cancer.

“It’s great that we have the opportunity to continue this event and bring together a bunch of people with the same stories,” Gavrell said. 

Lindbloom also touched on the connections that are made when battling such a disease. 

“Cancer is a battle, and in the process of the battle you become close with those who have been by your side in the meantime,” Lindbloom said. “Family, nurses and everything in between are there for you, so this is a great opportunity to reconnect with those who many haven’t seen in a while.”

While the event will not have an opportunity for those looking to raise money for cancer research, those looking to donate can do so at vvh.org/survivor/.

13 recipients have received a total of $16,000 in scholarship funds from Grand River Health aimed towards assisting them in providing necessary education to pursue both their licenses and degrees in their respective fields.

Grand River Health started the scholarship program in 2006 and granted since a total of $180,000 in scholarships to 140 students on the Western Slope. An extensive process that asks applicants to write an essay, send transcripts and more, 11 Garfield Re-2 students received the scholarship this year, with each student walking away with $1,000 to put toward advancing their careers in the medical field.

Another recipient, Grand River employee Timothy Ghan, will receive $4,000 in scholarship funds to continue his medical degree at the University of Colorado Denver.

Helping fund those pursuing a career in the medical field, Grand River Director of Volunteer Services Kaaren Peck said this opportunity continues to help expand the medical field, an occupation that continues to grow.

“This is a serious field that requires a lot of attentiveness and education to pursue your desired occupation,” she said. “We know it’s important to support those looking to enter this field, and that’s a big reason as to why we have continued to support those in this region.”

While the medical field has benefited from this scholarship program on a national scale, she said Grand River Health has also benefited from the program.

“We currently employ five past scholars who have done what they needed to do and made their way back to the valley,” she said. “It’s a scholarship that has benefited all sides in the past and something that we want to continue to do for the foreseeable future.

A scholarship committee consisting of nine people employed within Grand River Health, applications for next year’s scholarship program will open for applicants this winter.