Friday letters: Thanks, schools, health care, childcare and more

Thanks from the Bookcliffs Arts Center
A special thank-you to Keith Gray and his team for removing the red-paint graffiti from the mural on the connexes at the Bookcliffs Arts Center. He was able to remove the paint without damaging the mural.
We also appreciate the outreach of the community, who were shocked and outraged that anyone would vandalize these beautiful murals. We love this community — Rifle is a great place to live.
Brenda Cox, president, Bookcliffs Arts Center, Rifle
Thanks from Mountain Valley Developmental Services for grant — and a chance to help
Mountain Valley Developmental Services is honored to have received almost $300,000 in grant funds from the Colorado Department of Transportation toward the purchase of two new Ford vans, modified by MobilityTrans and Driverge, to transport Adult Service participants to and from home, work and Community Connection enrichment activities at the Silt Day Program. Mountain Valley has three day programs in Silt, Glenwood Springs and Minturn.
MVDS is currently holding a Sneaker Drive through Nov. 11 with seven drop-off locations to fund day program enrichment services: https://www.mtnvalley.org/enrichment-services/. We are very grateful for this generous support toward our adult enrichment programs.
Sara Sims, Glenwood Springs
‘Politics has no place in the classroom’
Politics has no place in the classroom. What we need is common sense. Megan Heil brings exactly that. She’s practical, straightforward and focused on results. She knows our schools are about preparing kids to succeed, not about pushing agendas. Her voice will help keep our district grounded in what really matters: student achievement and family partnership.
Vote for Megan Heil for the Re-2 school board.
Perry Will, Garfield County commissioner, New Castle
Darlane Evans is ready to serve Re-2
The Re-2 school board is the perfect place for Darlane Evans, a dedicated former educator who has served this district and Western Colorado in multiple capacities over the past 28 years.
Darlane holds two master’s degrees — one in curriculum development and instruction and the other in gifted education — giving her both the expertise and perspective needed to strengthen educational outcomes for all students.
She knows the K-12 education system inside and out and will be ready to get to work on Day One. Darlane is focused on the real issues the district needs to address, rather than national political distractions that take time and attention away from the important work that needs to be done in the boardroom.
Our students, staff and community deserve a board member like Darlane Evans — someone who will keep their best interests at heart and make thoughtful, informed decisions for the future of Re-2. I strongly encourage voters to support Darlane Evans for the Re-2 school board.
Willow Brotzman, Silt
In support of Tamara Nimmo
I’m writing to support Tamara “Tammy” Nimmo for the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education. I know Tammy has the qualities our schools need most right now — deep support for the teachers and staff and a commitment to every student’s success. I am a teacher in the district and have two children who attend schools in the district. Teachers and students both need support and dedication in order to succeed, not weapons, as opposing nominees have suggested.
Tammy has involved herself with the school district so much already. She is a substitute teacher, an active PTO member and a parent in the district. She believes in academic excellence, transparency and ensuring all students feel seen and supported. Tammy will work collaboratively to keep our schools strong, welcoming and focused on learning.
Please join me in voting for Tamara (Tammy) Nimmo — a candidate who will lead with integrity, balance and care for our kids.
Jennifer Kendzior, Carbondale
The choice is clear in local school board races
There are stark differences between the current school board candidates. Depending on your beliefs and values, the choice is clear.
If you’re a big fan of Donald Trump, Lauren Boebert, Project 2025, the American Birthright Standards and Cornerstone Christian Center, then Jodi Barr and Elizabeth Taylor in the Roaring Fork School District and Megan Heil in Garfield Re-2 are the candidates for you.
Barr’s website includes a blog run by Operation 1776, which celebrates Trump and his recent actions around taxes and immigration. Taylor posted about her campaign repeatedly on X using the handle “DOGEtheschools.” Heil has received a total of $1,500 so far from two of the most outspoken defenders of recalled school board member Tony May and the American Birthright Standards.
These three candidates all use Marge Klein — Boebert’s former campaign treasurer — as the registered agent for their campaigns. Heil and Taylor have donated to each other’s campaigns.
In the Roaring Fork School District, if you’d like to elect school board members who actually choose to enroll their kids in our schools starting in kindergarten, then Tammy Nimmo and Kathryn Kuhlenberg are the candidates for you.
Nimmo and Kuhlenberg are for you if you want school board members with significant experience in the district. Nimmo worked nine years as a substitute teacher and served as PTO president at Crystal River Elementary School for three years. Kuhlenberg is completing her fourth successful year on the RFSD school board.
For Garfield Re-2 voters, Darlane Evans is the candidate for you if you believe professional experience in education is a relevant qualification for a school board member. Evans has 28 years of experience in education, including 19 years in Garfield Re-2. If you want board members committed to working with our district instead of against it, Evans is for you.
If you believe in the separation of church and state and that all kids should be free to be their authentic selves, then Nimmo and Kuhlenberg in RFSD and Evans in Garfield Re-2 are the candidates for you.
The choice is clear. Vote today.
Debbie Bruell, Carbondale
A reply on protests and democracy
Thank you, Joe Claypool, for your concern about us gathering en masse in Glenwood Springs on Oct. 18. I will be joining some family members in the Dallas–Fort Worth area next week to protest Donald Trump at the “No Kings” — or should I say “No Dictators” — protest. And do not be concerned about our numbers in attendance, Joe, we’ve got that covered. The last one like this drew about 1.2 million Americans — far more than a juvenile Trump rally.
Even Fox News is now openly criticizing Trump for his immigration policies and shutting down our government. When his tantrum is over, he will give in to the Democrats. Joe, these are facts — not made-up conspiracy theories you read on Newsmax. This protest one week from tomorrow will be the biggest one yet.
Marilyn Domino, Silt
Keep guns out of our schools
Keep guns out of our schools; please vote Kathryn “Kadi” Kuhlenberg (District E) and Tammy Nimmo (District A) for the RFSD school board.
Katie Hebson, Carbondale
Vote yes on Issue 7B for Grand River Health
When it comes to using Grand River Health, convenience and quality are both very important to me.
Right now, the wait times for physical therapy can exceed a month. But when someone needs PT, they usually need it right away. The wait times for other health care services are also increasing.
Quality care from our doctors is not only expected — it’s essential. GRH has done a great job recruiting excellent providers in the past, partly due to the positive work environment they provide. But now they’ve run out of space to bring in more primary care doctors and mental health providers, both of which are critically needed. Less space also means fewer support-staff opportunities for our local workforce.
Simply put, GRH has outgrown its current facility. Demand for PT, additional physicians, emergency care, surgical services and mental health support has grown.
Mail ballots should be arriving soon. Please join me in voting yes on Issue 7B. It’s about convenient, comprehensive access to quality health care for everyone in our community — and without a new tax.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary Miller, Rifle
A parent’s vote for Megan Heil
As a parent, I want someone on our school board who understands what families face every day. Megan Heil has walked in our shoes. She raised four children who graduated from our district, and she knows firsthand what it takes to prepare kids for life after high school. She believes families are essential partners in education, not bystanders. I’m confident she will always prioritize students’ success while respecting the value of parents.
I’m voting for Megan Heil for the Re-2 school board.
Robyn McMillen, New Castle
Kuhlenberg and Nimmo have earned your vote
I am writing in support of Kathryn Kuhlenberg and Tammy Nimmo for school board.
I have had the pleasure of working alongside Kathryn for the last four years on the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education, and I’ve seen firsthand what an asset she is to the district. She is thoughtful, highly intelligent, student-focused, organized and a strong leader. As board president for three and a half years, Kathryn moved the district forward in many ways. She was instrumental in getting all of the district’s policies up to date, some of which hadn’t been updated in 20 years. She also crafted a comprehensive board handbook that sets norms, procedures, roles and responsibilities for school board governance. Additionally, in the last four years the board has raised starting teacher salaries more than 30% and built an additional 50 rental housing units for school staff.
Tammy is well known for her public service and can-do attitude, including years of substituting in the Roaring Fork School District and serving as president of Crystal River Elementary School’s PTO.
There are several key points that separate this slate of nominees. Unlike their opponents, both Kathryn and Tammy have always enrolled their children in Roaring Fork School District schools. Also unlike their opponents, Kathryn and Tammy don’t support arming teachers but stand behind the district’s comprehensive school safety plan. Finally, they support 7A to bolster early childhood education, knowing that students who enter kindergarten with early childhood experience are set up for success.
Please join me in voting for Kathryn Kuhlenberg and Tammy Nimmo for seats on the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education.
Kenny Teitler, Carbondale
A note about library acquisitions
We attended the showing of “The Librarians” at the Ute Theater this week. During the discussion that followed, it came up that sometimes when a patron requests that a particular title be acquired by the library, it isn’t purchased because the cost falls outside the established parameters. What I should have mentioned then (but didn’t think of until later) is that the library accepts donations of books and other materials. That might help in such situations. Also, I believe that some books that are only available via Amazon aren’t available to libraries, as a result of Amazon policies.
Sharon McLin, New Castle

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