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Post Independent
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

I would like to speak to all those in our area who are not participating in this year’s Susan G. Komen Ride for the Cure in retaliation to the choices that the national organization made this past year.

I support those feelings and was very upset as well that Komen took such a politically motivated step that only hurt the women we serve. Please remember, however, Komen Aspen not only had nothing to do with the decision but the moment we heard about it, we immediately published the following statement in the local papers:

“Susan G. Komen Aspen will continue to serve low-income and uninsured women as we have for the past 22 years. Unanimously, we have decided to continue our long standing relationship with funding breast cancer services to Planned Parenthood. Halting funding to Planned Parenthood is contrary to our mission. Our mission remains to end breast cancer forever by serving women and their families in the rural areas of Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties.”



We stood by our community to help woman all over the western Rockies who needed our support.

I understand the frustration, but by not participating in our ride, protesters are only hurting women in need in our area. The money that we do not raise this year translates directly into mammograms that we will not be able to give to women in need. Seventy-five percent of all funds raised stay right here, with the remaining 25 percent going to breast cancer research. We do not give our money to support national’s operations. National’s research grants are decided by the Scientific Advisory Board, and no Komen members are on that board.



For the Ride, we have lowered the fundraising commitment to only $100 and added new routes, at participants’ request. Our registration is down 20 percent.

Every registrant counts, please support your community. Those who decline to support the Komen Aspen ride are hurting the woman in their own backyard. Please rethink that position.

Komen Aspen is working hard to support our community. Please help us do just that.

Nancy Pickard

Aspen

On Aug. 1, I went to the Garfield County foreclosures, Silt section, on the Internet. I was prompted to do so by the front page article in that day’s Post Independent, “Nearly Half of Garfield County mortgage holders underwater.”

As I downloaded the 275 foreclosure names, I was saddened by how many of them I know personally. I remember the days when they were so excited to be able to buy a home or have one built. It was a new chapter in their lives, and the good times had come.

Now, only a few years later, they are forced to rent, downsize, or move in with family. Finances contribute largely to divorces and broken homes.

Tears actually formed in my eyes as I continued reading the long list. Then a thought come to my mind.

If we had a grocery store in Silt we would provide 35 to 45 jobs, a fast food restaurant would equal 15 to 20 jobs, a truck stop, a strip mall, and the list went on. If we had the said commercial businesses in Silt, the question would be, “How many families would not have had to lose their homes?”

Struggling financially is scary and frightful. Many of us have been there.

As mayor of Silt, I am deeply saddened by my friends and citizens losing their homes, and feeling helpless to do anything about it.

Is there an answer? I feel that there is hope and help. Silt is in desperate need of commercial business. If the citizens were to pressure the town and county into expediting funds to create a commercial boom in Silt as we have discussed in the past, then I could envision the creation of many jobs. As a concerned mayor, I am heartbroken.

Dave Moore

Silt


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