Irreplaceable asset

I would like to remind the residents of Glenwood Spring just how aggressively our mayor and senior staff have been trying to close the airport for additional development. When confronted with an issue, they exhibit plausible deniability, but their actions as a whole, are a concerted effort to show the airport in a poor and unaffordable light:

1. Our city had the notoriety of being the only airport in the country closed due to COVID.

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2. The proposed location of the South Bridge project necessitates an exorbitantly expensive tunnel (granted this was before their time).

3. Over 1,000 signatures were turned in for a ballot issue to protect the airport (when only 400 were needed), and it was rejected on bogus grounds.

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4. Amazingly, after rejecting the citizens’ initiative, the city proposed its own ballot issue requesting over $10 million in new taxes, ostensibly to keep the airport open.

5. That boondoggle included $500,000 for runway lights for an airport that is closed at night.

6. Throwing safety and function to the wind, they proposed truncating what is already the shortest paved runway in Colorado.

7. The city did an airspace use study, which showed over 800 trees and obstructions that purportedly need to be removed. They ran with that narrative even though it is unnecessary for an airport that is already operating safely.

8. The city recently proposed outlandish, minimum standards for the airport requesting items like insurance at 10 times the standard level required for flight instruction.

9. The city has rarely worked in conjunction with its own Airport Board and users, preferring pontification and edicts.

The city has consistently put their thumb on the scale to show the airport in an untenable position. Since 1937, our airport has thrived on donated lands, costing the residents almost nothing and providing critical medical/fire support. Can you calculate the cost to replace it? The airport should be seen as an irreplaceable community asset and not just land for 1,000 additional “units.” Vote “Yes” on A.

Eric A. Strautman

Glenwood Springs

How much more?

David Hauter hit the nail on the head when he said that we should wait until the city’s new Comprehensive Plan has been completed before approving any new major developments.

Times are changing, and any new plan should have as its priority full consideration of what are the environmental impacts of any new projects. This means do we have the capacity to supply water needs in the future with the ever presence of future droughts and the air quality with increase in traffic. Any new developments will mean a strain on our present infrastructure needs and our need to provide services that we are not capable of providing now. The use of affordable housing as an excuse for this continued approval of growth in our city is wrong. Employee housing is about the only way to provide affordable housing on a large scale.

To provide housing for the Roaring Fork Valley is not our problem. One side note, someone has said that the city’s purchase of the property at Eighth and Midland was for development. That is dead wrong. It was purchased for right of way use in case we relocated Highway 82 and as buffer for the overcrowded Cowden area.

How much more can we stuff in this narrow valley? How much longer do we have to endure having only one major grocery store? We need to get our priorities in line.

Don “Hooner” Gillespie

Glenwood Springs

Leaving Salvation Army

I am resigning my position at the local Salvation Army office that I have held since 2010. It is with profound joy, gratitude, admiration, sadness, respect and exhaustion that I reflect on these years.

Thank you to everyone in the community for contributing to this chapter in my life. Thank you for sharing, trusting and providing me an outlet to assist people.

Over 25,000 people shared a fraction of time in their lives with me. The dynamic nature of each one humbles me to no end, exhausted but forever thankful to you.

Estoy renunciando a mi puesto en la oficina local de Salvation Army que he ocupado desde 2010. Es con profunda alegría, gratitud, admiración, tristeza, respeto y agotamiento que reflexiono sobre estos años. Gracias a todos en la comunidad por contribuir a este capítulo de mi vida. Gracias por compartir, confiar y brindarme una avenida para ayudar a las personas.

Más de 25,000 personas compartieron una fracción de tiempo de sus vidas conmigo. La naturaleza dinámica de cada uno me humilla y me desarma, exhausta pero eternamente agradecida.

Karen Lee

Salvation Army Roaring Fork Valley

caseworker, 2010-2022

Glenwood Springs

Community Concert thanks

Many thanks to the Community Concert Association for a superb concert last night presented by the male quintet Veritas.

The two baritones and three tenors had wonderful voices that were evident in both their beautiful harmonies or solo performances. The group has appeared at Carnegie Hall and performs across the United States with symphonies and multiple venues.

The local audience was truly gifted last evening to hear Veritas in concert.

On Wednesday, May 4, the association will present Sons of the Pioneers with free admission that evening with purchase of a pass for next season.

Join them at 7 p.m. at Glenwood Springs High School, and treat yourself to five world-class concerts beginning next fall.

Joan Troth

Glenwood Springs

Beware, brother bear

I see your graceful amble by the light on this night of the full moon. Not out of the woods but down my cement street. The power of your spirit soothes my angst and settles to calm my being.

I close my eyes to partake in the memory of what was and how we roamed together the universe enlightened. Then to open my eyes and feel the utter sadness of helplessness.

Stay away powerful beast. We don’t deserve your presence. Our selfish vanity doesn’t allow such grace and beauty.

With our trash and arrogance we will kill you. Beware, dear brother bear.

Debra Bosns

Glenwood Springs

RSVP thanks

High Country RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) would like to thank our volunteers who graciously served with our Tax Assistance Program this year. They helped 393 clients and their families at tax sites in Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Battlement Mesa, Basalt and Eagle receive a total of $505,000 back in refunds.

We are so appreciative that they were willing to share their time and talents with our community.

Thank you, Kathleen Brehm, Judy Comm, Tam Harmon, Dick O’Connell, Penelope Olson, Ray Politowski, Judy Sappington, Bob Spuhler, Ginny West, Betsy Witt and Gail Zalutsky.

If you would like to volunteer with our tax program next year, please call Maria at 970-947-8441 for more information. Training provided.

Mary Moon

Glenwood Springs

Grocery workers make a difference

Consistency seems to help bring about a feeling of normalcy, something difficult to recognize, since it seems our world has turned upside down.

Within the pandemic, among the fires, struggles with employment and housing, political divisions and facing the unknown, there is, however, a “constant” in our town that often goes unnoticed.

Our one and only grocery store continues to provide us with much of what we need to get through this interesting time in life.

City Market employees are often overworked, underpaid, short-staffed and yet manage to greet the public daily with a smile and helping hand. They never seem too busy to say hello, ask how your day is going and walk you to an item you’ve been searching for.

These employees always take the time for our needs, isn’t it time we give back and give them “our time” to say hello, thanks for showing up, and I’m happy you’re here?

To quote Charles Dickens, “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other? “

Thanks to all the employees at Glenwood Springs City Market, for making my life less difficult, even if it’s only with a smile. You all make a difference in our upside down world.

Jamie Darien

Glenwood Springs

Primary voter for Velasco

I’m a fitness trainer, avid hiker and homeowner in Glenwood Springs, and I will be voting for Elizabeth Velasco for House District 57 in the Democratic primary on June 28.

Elizabeth is the leader we need to best serve the needs of our unique community. Her background is very similar to mine, as she’s worked in the service industry and held leadership roles for years. I want a leader who has been in the trenches, not someone who has never had to struggle to make it in this country.

Elizabeth aligns with my values, that everyone is entitled to quality health care as a right not a privilege, and no one should have to choose between paying medical bills and buying groceries. This community desperately needs affordable housing. Folks are driving two-plus hours to work each way because they cannot afford to live where they work. It shouldn’t be this way. When I was making the commute from Glenwood to Aspen, the money just didn’t add up.

It’s time for a change. It’s time for our voices from western Colorado to be heard at the Capitol for the first time. Elizabeth would be the first Latina immigrant woman ever in history to represent HD57, and I am proud to support her. She is the living embodiment of the American Dream, and her understanding of the Declaration of Independence is deeper than any other candidate in this race.

I will do everything I can to get the word out about Elizabeth Velasco. Join me today as a volunteer and/or donor, and vote for her this June.

Lauren Hinson

Glenwood Springs