Supporting Doug Meyers’ comments on Holocaust comparison

This letter supports Mr. Doug Meyers’ letter printed Friday, May 2, 2025. For those Post Independent readers who would like to be educated on Nazi concentration camps during World War II, read Daniel Goldhagen’s Hitler’s Willing Executioners.

Fast forward to 2025, and history seems in the early stages of repeating itself. The way things are playing out on some of our college campuses, the title of a book written today could be America’s Willing Executioners. That’s a horrible thought.

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Stan Rachesky, Glenwood Springs

A physician’s concerns about looming healthcare cuts

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I am a family physician and want to share some health concerns that our community may soon face. Medicaid cuts, passed by the House, could reach $880 billion and significantly reduce coverage for single mothers, children from low-income families, and individuals with debilitating injuries and diseases.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimates cuts could result in 5 million people being denied Medicaid, including at least 100,000 Coloradans from each district, and leading to 34,200 more deaths each year.

The Affordable Care Act enables working families to access insurance. Proposals would shorten enrollment periods and make plans more expensive. Two million people could lose coverage next year alone. The ACA mandates insurance coverage for preventive care, which may not survive, reducing preventive services for 150 million privately insured Americans.

Women are at particular risk for loss of healthcare. Funding freezes and Planned Parenthood closures limit access to birth control, pap smears, cancer screening and infection treatments.

Funding for childhood vaccines may be cut by $2 billion, during a measles outbreak that caused more than 800 illnesses, killing two unvaccinated children. 2025 already has the most cases in the past 25 years.

The Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that if vaccination rates drop 10%, there will be 11 million more measles cases in the next 25 years. If vaccination rates drop 50%, there will be an additional 50 million measles cases, 10 million rubella cases, 4 million polio cases, 10 million hospitalizations and 158,200 deaths.

Prescriptions will be impacted by new laws. FDA cuts will limit medication safety monitoring and decrease critical information available to physicians. Studies developing and evaluating new medications are being canceled. Import tariffs are expected to raise medication prices by 13%, or $51 billion annually.

These changes will significantly undermine the quality of American healthcare. Please contact your legislators to express your opinions on these critical issues.

Maria Chansky, Glenwood Springs

Thank you for making YouthZone’s gala a success

To the businesses, individuals and community partners who made YouthZone’s second annual Spring Gala such a success — thank you. Together, we raised almost $120,000 to support court-involved and at-risk youth in Colorado’s 9th Judicial District.

We’re proud to have such amazing supporters in our communities. Stay tuned for more details about next year’s big event — it will be a massive celebration of YouthZone’s 50th anniversary. If we’re lucky, the famed Kiss-n-Squeal might even make a comeback.

Cheers to hopeful youth, strong families and safe communities.

Ali Naaseh-Shahry, YouthZone Development Director, Glenwood Springs

Endorsing Gardner and Schlaepfer for Holy Cross Energy Board

In a world with lots of problems, your electric utility, Holy Cross Energy, is an incredible shaft of light and hope. Thanks to leadership from CEO Bryan Hannegan and his amazing staff — from engineers to linemen — we’ve got some of the lowest electricity rates in the county and some of the cleanest power supply.

A key element of what got us there is Holy Cross’ visionary board, and this month you’ll have a chance to vote for two seats via mail-in ballot.

I’m urging you to support Robert Gardner and Kim Schlaepfer. Bob was actually an employee of the company when the organization started moving toward cleaner power, where he was an essential supporter of the new changes. He later moved onto the board to help guide the utility through crucial years of transition. He brings long history and deep experience.

Kim has been working on climate and energy issues, including energy code updates at the state and local level, for over a decade and knows Holy Cross extremely well, having run for the board previously and done her homework.

Both Kim and Bob will help Holy Cross continue to deliver affordable, reliable and clean power for years to come.

Auden Schendler, Basalt

Reimagining high school sports by skill level

There’s been a lot of talk lately about a new resolution being discussed in school districts across Colorado. It suggests a fresh approach to high school sports — grouping athletes by skill level instead of by gender.

It’s an interesting idea, and while it might feel unfamiliar at first, it’s worth some honest discussion. Grouping by performance could make competition more balanced and enjoyable for everyone. It might also reduce mismatches that lead to safety concerns, especially in contact sports.

Every student, no matter who they are, deserves the chance to compete, grow and be challenged in ways that suit their abilities. And just like academic placements, athletic programs can evolve too. In fact, co-ed sports already exist and are performance-based.

I’ve supported youth athletics for years, and I’ve seen how good sports programs adapt when it means better outcomes for kids. That doesn’t mean rushing change — but it does mean being willing to talk about new ideas when they come up.

I hope parents, students and educators across our community take a closer look and have thoughtful conversations — maybe even at a school board meeting or two. There’s value in listening, even when we don’t agree right away.

Thanks for reading, and for supporting strong schools and strong kids.

Erin O’Connell, Woodland Park

Thank you for making the Fireball Drop a smashing success

Carbondale Rotary’s fifth annual Fireball Drop on May 2 was by far our best one yet. An enthusiastic group of spectators joined us at the Village Smithy this past First Friday to witness over 1,000 ping pong balls tumble from a fire ladder truck onto targets on the ground to select our winners. It was the perfect Colorado day and great fun.

First, a huge thank you goes out to our lead sponsor Alpine Bank for their consistent, dedicated support.
The Cowen Center, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Mike Waski, Obermeyer Wealth, RJ Paddywacks Pet Outfitter, Rivers Dentistry and Sopris Liquor and Wine stepped up as our supporting sponsors.

Annual sponsors included ANB Bank, Crystal River Customs, Modern Day Media, Nordic Gardens, Pain Center of the Roaring Fork, Reese Henry, Roaring Fork Oral Surgery, Six Productions, Skip Behrhorst and Mike Sturhan at State Farm.

Our single event sponsors were Carbondale Car Care, Herschel Ross Family Dentistry, Jack McKay, LB West, Robin Tolan, Karen Pierson at Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s Real Estate at RVR, RK Wolff Safety Consulting, Roaring Fork Co-Op, Whitsitt Law Office and Z Group Architecture and Interior Design.

Thanks also to the local businesses who donated this year’s prizes: Meridian Jewelers, Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs, Sure Thing Burger and Lulu’s Thrift Shoppe.

We would like to especially thank the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District. They brought the equipment, manpower, expertise and good energy that made it all possible.

Thank you also goes to our event partners: the Village Smithy, the Carbondale Parks and Recreation Department and everyone at City Market Carbondale.

Lastly, many thanks to everyone who bought balls from us, our local Rotary high school scholarship recipients, our exchange students and Ascendigo Autism Services. Our community service projects, scholarships and exchange programs will all thrive because of your support. We cannot thank you enough.

Alan Cole – Carbondale Rotary Fundraising Chair
Rachel Hahn – Carbondale Rotary President 2024–25, Carbondale