Another fruitful Strawberry Shortcut

This year was the 40th annual Strawberry Shortcut. Hard to believe! Presented by the Bank of Colorado, the Shortcut has allowed the community to come together to sponsor, volunteer and participate in the Strawberry Shortcut 10K, 5K and Family Fun Run. Special Olympics is very proud to be the recipient of the race proceeds.

The Bank of Colorado and its staff, throughout the valley, have taken the time to sponsor this wonderful event that coincides with Strawberry Days. We are very grateful for their continued sponsorship.

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We also appreciate the businesses that offer their continued support: the Rick Chavez Family, Yeh and Associates, Valley View Hospital, Sunlight Mountain Resort, Zheng Asian Bistro, First Floor North, Glenwood Chiropractic Center, Intermountain Distributing Co. and Deja Brew.

Thanks to all of you for supporting the Strawberry Shortcut and Special Olympics. Also, thanks to the Glenwood Springs Police Department and RFTA as well as to Kevin and Joy White, awesome race directors. We appreciate your time and energy.

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Again, thanks to the dedicated volunteers and racers that helped make the day a special one.

Sincerely,

Julie Fite

Western Regional Manager

Special Olympics Colorado

Another successful Casino Night

The Early Childhood Network would like to thank the community, sponsors and volunteers for their great support of our Casino Night fundraiser Friday, May 12, at Doc Holliday Harley Davidson.

The Early Childhood Network serves families, classroom teachers, center directors and home providers. We work to make it easier for families to afford child care, easier for providers to increase the number of children they can accept, and conduct training and coaching to raise the quality of all child care in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties.

We would like to extend special thanks to Alpine Bank for partnering with us to sponsor the event again. Specifically we would like to thank Jay Rickstrew (regional president, Bill Sanderson (president, Glenwood Springs), Jay Wentzel (ex VP Rifle) Angela Meraz (senior VP, New Castle) and Kate Collins, regional marketing coordinator. Alpine Bank is truly a community asset and an unequivocal supporter of community nonprofits.

We would like to also thank Britton Fletchall of Doc Holliday Harley Davidson for generously hosting us every year for no charge, Matt Hamilton of Aspen Skiing Co. and the Spidell Family Foundation. We also appreciate the businesses and individuals that donated for the silent auction and the guests who enjoyed a night of fun and gaming.

Thank you to all who attended a fun-filled night that raised money to support young children in our valley. We are looking forward to next year’s Casino Night.

Jonathan Godes

executive director

Early Childhood Network

Kapkesembe appreciates laptops

We, the Kapkesembe Community Council, would like to thank the Aspen Jewish Community Center, the Orchard Church in Carbondale, Aspen Community Church, St. Mary’s of Aspen and Grace Covenant Church of Texas, for the laptops donated to our community.

We are so grateful for the selflessness of Edward Lee “Bud” Mulcahy’s family. Their visit and water wells that were completed in our community have left permanent marks in our hearts. The children of Kenya are carrying this impact to the next generation.

Kibet Makerer Rotich

Kapkesembe, Kenya

Great care from Birch Tree

A heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Ron Carsten and Nikki Hoffman at Birch Tree Animal Hospital for their above-and-beyond care of my dog Sammy, who was diabetic, blind, and eventually deaf. Never did they provide anything less than the highest level of compassionate and professional care. Birch Tree Animal Hospital is dedicated to providing the highest quality of life possible to all of the animals who come through its door.

Karen Sedillo

Silt