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— Erica Jong
Opinion
Leaving a job but finding a home
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thing unexpected happened on y personal motto comes the way to work. from the celebrated People in Conifer expect writer J.R.R. Tolkien: certain things of their reporters Not all who wander are lost. — an understanding of what life Before I was hired as the reis like in the mountains, such as porter for the High Timber Times the death-grip of fear that the in August , Conifer was just a words “smoke check” elicit when place I drove through on my way uttered over mountain-area to some other exotic destination, BARBARA police scanners; that bears are say, someplace like Como. smart enough to find the dumb I used to think wanderlust was FORD people who leave their trash out a good trait to possess, especially at night; and that if you drive if journalism was your bailiwick, over mph in Turkey Creek Canyon, you but it took searching for stories at a smalldeserve that ticket from Morrison PD. Most town newspaper for me to find something I of all, Conifer residents want the reporter wasn’t expecting … a home among friends. to know they love their mountains, their privacy and that political issues follow the Looking to see same philosophical lineage as the argument I’m an alumna of Metropolitan State over the popularity of dogs versus cats. College, and one of the best experiences Independence and self-sufficiency mean offered to journalism students are the knowing how to use a chainsaw without lossocial documentary classes — basically, ing a limb and that being careless in Denver Wandering . Led by teachers whose might mean a trip to the ER, but being hearts brim with wanderlust, the love of careless in the mountains can mean death. storytelling and a knack for packing light, Before moving to Conifer in and the classes travel to exotic locales such buying a home on a mountaintop in , as Santa Fe, Monterey, New Orleans, San I never knew about septic systems, the Francisco, Washington, D.C., and a fun preciousness of clean, running water and jaunt to cover small town Fourth of July how to conquer -foot-deep snow in the celebrations. Students pair up — a writer driveway and get to work on time. My and a photographer — and they look, house, neighbors and Mother Nature have listen and talk to people and find the story taught me those skills and more. others pass by. The classes give journalists a snapshot of life on the newspaper beat, and of all the classes at Metro, I loved those Saying thanks classes best. My dad used to say I could test the paFunny that I would end up a reporter tience of a rock, and Lord knows I’ve tested in Conifer, doing that very thing, looking, the patience of my Metro professor and listening and talking to people, but someeditor, Doug Bell, and the assistant editor
and former Metro journalism department head, Deb Hurley Brobst. To have two such learned and exacting journalists as my first teachers should be the blessing given to all new journalists, but I still don’t think I’ve conquered my penchant for split infinitives and mastered suspensive hyphenates. Lord knows they tried. But stories are more than just words, and to the subjects of my stories: Thank you for teaching me how to listen and letting me into your world, if only for an hour or so. I’ve loved hearing the yarns of the venerable old-timers down in Buffalo Creek, and covering the incredible and savvy Jefferson County schoolteachers and their plucky and photogenic students. And special thanks to the local veterans who shared their stories of the wars they fought both on foreign lands and within the confines of their own lives. On a humble note, thanks to the people who taught me the tough lessons about dealing with difficult people, politics, mistakes and misunderstandings — you know who you are. So long … for now As a leopard can’t change its spots, a wanderer can’t resist the winds of change, and it’s time for me to move on from being the full-time reporter for the Times. Much to the relief of some (and the bane of others) I’ll still be around the mountain areas making pictures and maybe writing the occasional story. After all, Conifer is my home. Barbara Ford is the outgoing reporter for the High Timber Times.
More funds means more to debate
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unfair to balance the budget on s news begins to trickle the backs of senior citizens. The in about improvements to budget Hickenlooper sent to the our economy, the political legislature Nov. did not include implications about who will funds to restore the exemption. benefit most will have both high As more funds now appear stakes for the interests who will to be available to budget writbattle for the increased resources ers, the issue about where they a better economy makes availshould be directed will become a able, and high drama as our GREG major point of contention. School state’s leaders decide where to districts have been working dedicate the newly found money. ROMBERG COLUMNIST to determine how they would When state economists deal with the consequences of predicted the state will collect the governor’s original proposed budget. million more than expected last week, In Jefferson County alone, the Board of Gov. John Hickenlooper announced that he will ask the General Assembly to use most of Education was looking for million in the money to increase his budget request for savings over the next two years. Reductions to funds for higher education would lead to K- and higher education. increases in tuition while financial aid for For several months, it has appeared lower-income students would be reduced. that we’ve been on a collision course over Hickenlooper has suggested the vast majorwhether the state could, or should, restore the homestead exemption that allows senior ity of funds redirected to higher education be used for financial aid. citizens a break on their property taxes if These issues are further complicated by they’ve lived in their primary residence for the recent decision of Denver District Judge at least years. The exemption has been Sheila Rappaport in the Lobato case that suspended in recent years because of the said insufficient education funding violates state’s budget difficulties. House Speaker Colorado’s Constitution. The decision Frank McNulty had said that the exemption doesn’t say how much more money would be needed to be funded again in , as it was
necessary or from where it should come, but if the Supreme Court affirms Rappaport’s decision, the need to find more money for K- education will have disastrous implications on the rest of the programs the state funds. Last week’s good news is next month’s political controversy. Look for Republicans to push hard for restoration of the senior homestead exemption, while Democrats will argue the money is more urgently needed for education. At a pre-legislative forum sponsored by the Colorado Press Association earlier this month and before the better revenue figures had been released, legislative leaders discussed the possibility of a compromise involving some form of means testing for the senior homestead exemption. Some kind of phased approach that brings back the senior homestead exemption on a tiered basis based on need is likely to emerge as a compromise about how best to use the additional taxes Colorado expects to collect between now and the end of the fiscal year. Greg Romberg is president of Romberg and Associates, a government relations and public affairs firm. He lives in Evergreen with his wife, Laurie, and three daughters.
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The comments in the opinion section are opinions of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Evergreen Newspapers. While opinion columns offer one point of view, stories on the news pages strive to incorporate all sides of a story.
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