Even in these difficult economic times the Glenwood Springs community still puts our schools first. Every one of these businesses take pride in our children’s reading program year after year. They support children’s reading by donating time, monetary gifts, prizes and gift certificates of all kinds. Sopris Elementary kids read more than 650,000 minutes in February. They concluded their accomplishment with our annual Wheel of Fortune game. The kids continue to work hard, and we continue to appreciate all of our community’s support.

Thank you to: Mr. Vac, City Market-Glenwood Springs, City Market-El Jebel, Glenwood Hot Springs, Through the Looking Glass, The Booktrain, Target, Sunlight Sports, FYE, Downtown Drug, Caverns Adventure Park, American National Bank, Bank of Colorado, Sweet Notes, Once Upon a Child, Glenwood Insurance, Schmueser Gordon Meyer, Quizno’s, Kaleidoscoops, Moe’s, Glenwood Springs Orthopedics – Dr. Hilty, All Kids Dental, Dr. Heim and Johnson DDS, Glenwood Springs Community Center, Peppino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut and Rock Shop.

Leah Mencimer

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Glenwood Springs

On behalf of the Glenwood Springs High School boys swim team I would like to thank everyone who helped and competed at our home meet on April 24. We hosted a fun tri-meet with teams from Montrose and Moffat County.

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A special thank you goes to Patty Schaffner, Keneka Newton, Alex DeLeo and Claire Collier for helping with the diving.

Also to Taylor McDonald, Tiffany, Zach, Kayla, Will, Cynthia and Stephanie from the Glenwood Springs Community Center for all of their help in opening the pool, setting things up, and in general just being fantastic to work with once again.

To our officials, Ken, Kim and Deb, you all are amazing.

To Kathy Keeler, our voice of reason and sanity at the timing center, you are an angel.

We could not do this without you, everyone.

To our coach, John Linn, your patience, guidance and leadership is sincerely appreciated.

Last but not least to the parents and school administration thank you for believing in us once again.

Here’s to the rest of the season, and we will see you next year.

Amanda Moore

Glenwood Springs

On behalf of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, I would like to personally congratulate this year’s award recipients who were honored at the chamber’s annual awards gala on April 22 at Aspen Glen. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to recognize individuals and businesses that make this community such a great place to live. The names of the 2010 award recipients can be found at glenwoodchamber.com/awards.

Thanks to our event sponsors for making the evening possible including: Alpine Bank, Colorado Lending Source, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Pinnacol Assurance, Schmueser Gordon Meyer, Valley View Hospital, Women’s Health Associates PC and previous recipients of the ATHENA Award. Thanks also to Advantage Branding Group for providing favors and to Rosi’s Little Bavarian for providing dessert.

We would also like to acknowledge the staff at Aspen Glen for their wonderful hospitality, as well as Colorado Audio Visual, Patrick Duprey with Full Circle Productions and Paul Vandre with Cable Channel 12 for sound and video production.

Finally, thanks to chamber board chair Michael McCallum for emceeing the event; Chamber Ambassadors Pam Ruzicka and Bryan Chochon for presenting the Top Brass Awards; and city councilors Dave Sturges, Russ Arensman and Matthew Steckler for handing out the awards.

We look forward to next year’s event!

Sincerely,

Angie Anderson

Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association

I would like to thank Lindsay Hentschel, teacher; Cliff Colia, principal; and Ro Mead, CCAH, for the privilege of teaching “Visual Poetry” to Lindsay Hentschel’s 8 a.m. creative writing class at Carbondale’s Roaring Fork High School last week. I would also like to thank the students in the class. They were polite, creative, focused and respectful and made my job extremely pleasant and fun.

In today’s world we seem to hear a lot of negative talk about our youth and our public schools. I am proud to say that every aspect of my experience was positive and uplifting. From the young man who held the front door of the school open for me and my cart of art supplies, to the attentive respect the students in Lindsay’s class had for the Pledge of Allegiance, for her and for me, to the apt listening skills and great attitude toward jumping into a project previously unknown to the class … it was an honor to spend time with these kids. In between classes the students gathered in the hallways, laughing and chatting and the energy of the whole place was comfortable and friendly.

I came away from my two days at the school wondering why we don’t hear more about the greatness of the youth of our community and how lucky we are that kids from all walks of life and ethnicities are mingling well and seem ready to learn and excel. It not only opened my eyes but filled my heart with hope toward the future for our most precious asset: our children. I am so grateful for this experience and for the opportunity to guide students in furthering their creative spirit.

Having been a teacher my entire adult life, I have great respect and admiration for the profession, and I wish it was held in the esteem that it deserves. For the parents of these fine RFHS students, it appears that your children are in great hands.

Most sincerely,

Wewer Keohane, Ph.D.

artist/author/teacher

Carbondale

This is from the heart to all the staff members of Valley View Hospital. Thank you all for the love that was shown to me at receiving the “Spirit of Caring” Award. I truly pray that I live up to this award.

Each and every one of you are so very important to this great hospital, starting with our leader on down. None of this would have been possible without your help and love of our patients.

A special thanks goes to Nancy and Michelle, for allowing me to be part of your staff and allowing me to be who I am. It is an honor to work side by side with my co-workers. I have adopted all my kids on Acute Care. I am the mom and now I feel that my kids have grown in numbers, and that is very fine with me.

Love,

(Mom) Ginnie Bitner

CNA Acute Care

Thank you to Barb and her most excellent staff at the Glenwood Springs Community Center’s Kid Kare.

I have been nothing short of impressed with the staff’s enthusiasm, patience, attention to detail, and genuine love for their job, which I imagine must be very challenging at times.

Thank you so very much!

Stacy, Brian and Jack

Tradition! Tradition! We can’t thank the Elks Club enough for hosting and serving the Glenwood Springs High School wrestling team, parents and coaches at our annual banquet.

The Elks and Lady Elks cooked up a great spaghetti dinner and served it up with a smile. The good thing for us: no cleanup.

We reminisced and figured out that the Elks Club has been doing the banquet for us since 1984. Wow … there is a lot to be said for traditions being started and for the memories shared over the years.

Our local Elks Club does so much for this community and beyond. Don’t forget to thank them when you see them around town.

Thanks also to Jody Jordan for the wonderful cakes she baked for the occasion.

Thanks to the wrestling moms who helped decorate and set up.

And finally, a thank-you to all who helped with and donated to our annual fundraiser last fall.

The high school wrestling program would not have had more than 40 participants this year without all the past and present support.

From the bottom of our hearts, thanks.

The Glenwood Springs High School wrestling team, parents and coaches