Roaring Fork March 2015 by City Lifestyle

Roaring Fork MARCH 2015

RoaringForkLifestyle.com

™

Iconic and Inspiring just outside our back door

LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD…SKIS! FEMMES FROLIC ON FAT BIKES FIND YOUR SISU AT SPRING GULCH

aspen glen club

The RoARinG FoRk VAlleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peRFeCT Venue FoR MAGiC MoMenTs!

A place of stunning beauty embellished for each season by nature. this is aspen glen club.

Easily located within a private gated community, 9 miles from Glenwood Springs and only 30 miles down valley from Aspen. Delight in the breathtaking views of majestic Mt. Sopris as you celebrate your special day! Stroll from the lawn inside to the Sopris Dining Room and Lounge for your reception. The Director of Events & Certified Wedding Planner will assist you in creating the perfect day that fits your budget and all of the details you have been envisioning! We want you to relax and enjoy the planning process as well as the big day, so let us take care of the rest!

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0545 Bald Eagle Way, Carbondale, Colorado 81623 | 970-704-1905 | www.Aspen-Glen.com Aspen Glen is a private club and requires a member sponsor for events. If you need assistance in finding a sponsor we will happily assist you!

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Editor’s Letter “Ms. Nicolette, what do you do when you’re not teaching ice skating?” That’s what two of my figure skating students recently asked me. Kate and Morgan were surprised to learn that I was the editor of Roaring Fork Lifestyle magazine. “We get that at my house!” squealed Kate. Perhaps when you’re in elementary school, a writer seems like a bit of a celebrity. “Well, look in front,” I said. “You’ll see my picture.”

MARCH 2015 publisher Rick French | RFrench@LifestylePubs.com

editor Nicolette Toussaint | NToussaint@LifestylePubs.com

copy editor Mason Ingram

For this month’s editor photo, I was torn between the skiing-at-Snowmass photo and a shot of a nice back crossover on the ice rink. When it comes to photos of me engaged in winter sports, the choices are many. I love Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, skating and sledding. I don’t have photos, but I hold fond memories skijøring – not behind horses as they do in Leadville, but behind the huskies my family raised during my childhood. Unlike Chicagoans, who have to dump excess snow into Lake Michigan, Coloradoans know what do with snow! So this issue is devoted to powdery fun in many forms. As Scott Fitzwilliams, the supervisor of the White River National Forest reminds us, we have iconic and inspiring treasures just outside our back door. This issue will take you to the fine cross-country trails of Spring Gulch and introduce you to our neighbor Matt Cudmore, whose handmade Meier skis are putting beetle-killed pine to good use. You will meet Sam Ferguson, a mono skier who works with Challenge Aspen to empower disabled athletes. And you will find out why seemingly balanced folks have taken to riding bikes not just in the snow, but also at ski areas!

contributing writers Scott Fitzwilliams, Bridget Grey, Andrea Palm-Porter, Nicolette Toussaint, Carolyn Watt Williams

contributing photographers Gregg Adams, Darin Binion, Heather Gray, Andrea Palm-Porter, Roger Poirier, Renee Ramge, Nicolette Toussaint, Carolyn Watt Williams

Published monthly, subscriptions are: 1 year for $22 or 2 years for $39. Visit RoaringForkLifestyle.com

Then, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, you will enjoy a good laugh over a collection of mondegreens that I have assembled. One doesn’t actually wear a mondegreen, but since they are mishearings, I titled our Parting Thoughts column “The Wearing of the Mondegreens.” Also in this issue, you will get some sound advice about mortgages from local expert Don Ziegler, who knows a good bit about green of the folding and spending kind.

I got a good bit of help with those mondegreens from fans who have friended Roaring Fork Lifestyle on Facebook. Please join us there, and also check out our website at RoaringForkLifestyle.com. As always, I invite you to write to me and share upcoming events for our calendar and other features. Write to me at ntoussaint@lifestylepubs.com. Sincerely,

Nicolette Toussaint , Editor

by Community ™

| RoaringForkLifestyle.com | ON THE COVER Callie Carpenter

cross-country skiing at Spring Gulch. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN WATT WILLIAMS

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

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P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Roaring Fork Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Roaring Fork’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Roaring Fork Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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March 2015

Departments 9

Good Times

Around Town

Locally Owned

Field Trip

Water & Woods

Financial Fitness

Lifestyle Calendar

Parting Thoughts

14 Spring Gulch

Show off your “sisu” at this great spot.

18 Femmes on Fat Bikes

“Fatties” frolick in the snow.

20 Challenge Aspen

Organization builds confidence and resilience for disabled athletes.

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Publisher’s Letter

recently had the opportunity to attend a wonderful event when the Carbondale Council on Arts & Humanities (CCAH) opened their 35th Valley Visual Art Show. About 60 local artists displayed their work: cast sculptures, oil and watercolor paintings, beautiful photographs, live plant exhibits, a shower curtain adorned in aspen leaves.

suggestions about the magazine, and was pleased to see so many people gravitating to Lifestyle’s editor, who was received as a minor celebrity.

There was even a guy wandering around in a folded CD ninja costume complete with a sword and full mask. Strange but true. This was a collection of artists, so nothing should be unexpected or surprising. This was a collection of the Inspired, the Eccentric, the Gifted. A collection of incredible people.

Attend any or all of them and come away with a feeling of awe and enjoyment. Show your support for the arts. The world is a better place because of them, and besides, it is just a great fun. If you see the CD Ninja, no fear! He is weird, but harmless.

At the event, I had the opportunity to talk with both artists and people from the community who showed up in droves. I was pleased to discover that in just a few months, Roaring Fork Lifestyle seems to have generated quite a buzz. I got a lot questions and

To be honest, I have not had a lot of experience in the arts community so this arts opening was a new experience for me. What a great time. Please take the time to attend different arts events held up and down our incredible valley, whether it is a gallery event, theater production or a high school play. You will find plenty listed in our calendar.

Rick French, Publisher RFrench@LifestylePubs.com

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

Taste of Basalt Fundraiser

Good Times

The Basalt Education Foundation’s annual event at the Roaring Fork Club raised $100,000 for Basalt public schools and featured MidValley restaurant food samples, cocktail/wine tasting, dancing and silent auction. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREGG ADAMS

Phillip Gallegos and Basalt Elementary School teacher Noel Gannett are perennial volunteers at the Taste of Basalt.

Bonnie and Joseph Kowar on the dance floor.

Doug Olson and Basalt Mayor Jacque Whitsitt.

Leana Fisher, Erika Leavitt and Ellen Freedman in front of the raffle ticket drum.

Robin and Steve Humble enjoying the evening with Beth Mobilian.

Let Them Roar Howls at Steve’s Guitars

The award-winning Carbondale band Let Them Roar performed at Steve’s Guitars on New Years Eve. Photographer Renee Ramge was on hand to capture the fun.

The crowd was all ears for Aaron Taylor’s drums

Frank Martin on the electric guitar

Let Them Roar’s Mateo Sandate on guitar

Natalie Spears lays it down on bass

Let Them Roar’s Morgan Williams March 2015 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

Around Town BASALT EDUCATION FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH $56,000 IN DONATIONS In January, the nonprofit Basalt Education Foundation announced more than $56,000 in donations to three public schools: Basalt Elementary School (BES), Basalt Middle School (BMS) and Basalt High School (BHS). Basalt teachers apply for grants to support specific programming in their schools, and this year’s funds were awarded for Spanish-language and e-reader library books, outdoor education, hands-on curriculum materials, technology such as Chromebooks and interactive software, the theatre arts and STEM projects, including robotics. Three of the Basalt Education Foundation’s grants benefited more than one school: BES/BMS/BHS: Speech Language Support - $500; BMS/ BHS Wrestling Club - $1,000; BES/BMS Junior Achievement - $1,600. Over the past 11 years, the Basalt Education Foundation has donated more than $400,000 to Basalt public schools.

GAYLE EMBREY WINS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY Local filmmaker Gayle Embrey, who lives in Glenwood Springs, just finished a successful film festival run with her documentary film Beyond The Walls. The film, which tells the stories of people living in conflict and post-conflict areas of the world, has screened at prestigious film fests such as Cleveland International, Montreal World Film, Mar del Plata and Williamsburg International. Beyond The Walls won an award for Outstanding Achievement from the Williamsburg International Film Festival. Throughout the world, people instinctively go to the walls, painting their stories to give

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

voice to their life experiences. Beyond The Walls brings to life the struggles and successes of mural painters who tell personal stories of their struggle for human rights through their art.

DANCE INITIATIVE KICKS OFF ARTIST IN RESIDENCY PROGRAM The Dance Initiative will inaugurate its new residency program for professional dancers with a performance by modern dancer Patrick Mueller on March 27. Mueller, who has performed in New York City with the Troika Ranch Dance Theater and in Europe with the Ben J. Riepe and Mancopy Danse companies, is a faculty member and the production manager at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance. He will offer open workshops and work with contemporary dance company CoMotion here over a three-month period, ending with a public presentation on Saturday, June 6. Dance Initiative’s Artist in Residency program, which was made possible by the opening of professional dance facilities at Carbondale’s Launchpad, seeks to inspire, to educate, and to spark new and renewed appreciation for dance in the Roaring Fork Valley. It aims to offer exposure to local dancers and to establish Carbondale as a regionally—and even nationally—known hotspot for creativity and innovation in dance. Dance Initiative will welcome its second artist in residence, Molissa Fenley, in September. The third residency will feature Carbondale’s own Alya Howe, and will take place between September and November.

NEW HOTEL AND BREWERY NOW OPEN IN CARBONDALE This month, a new distillery/hotel will open at the end of Carbondale’s Main Street. Inside the building’s modern exterior sits an 18-foot copper still and a bar that was carved from two slabs of local marble. The Marble Brewing Company will produce vodka, whiskey and other spirits, including offerings called Crystal River Vodka 80, a ginger liqueur called Ginger Cello and a Moonlight Espresso coffee liqueur. The whiskeys will include Ragged Mountain Rye and Hoover’s Hound Hooch. In addition to five luxury hotel rooms, the new facility includes two patios and a tasting room.

SAGE WILLIAMS MAKES TRACKS AT REGIONAL SKATING COMPETITIONS Sage Williams, 13, of Carbondale, performed at the Aspen Skating Club’s Winterskol exhibition in January. She has shown a talent for figure skating and is starting to work her way through the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) certifications. Sage passed the USFSA Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field and Pre-Preliminary Free Skating tests last August. She performed in the 2014 Spring Funtastics and Colorado Showcase in Arvada last April.

W.J. BRADLEY MORTGAGE OPENS NEW OFFICE IN BASALT The newest branch of W.J. Bradley Mortgage opened at 104 Midland #102 in Basalt on March 1. Voted “Best Mortgage Company in the Roaring Fork Valley” for the last two years by readers of the Post Independent newspaper, W.J. Bradley also has branches in Frisco, Edwards and Glenwood Springs. The new office will host the Basalt Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours on St. Patrick’s Day on March 19.

Sage Williams doing an arabesque, which is officially called a spiral, last fall at the Southwest Regional Competition in Fort Collins.

JEFF BARBEE DIRECTS HIGH COST OF CHEAP GAS DOCUMENTARY The High Cost of Cheap Gas is a movie about how the lessons learned from hydraulic fracturing in Colorado’s west can help inform communities as “fracking” starts to roll out across the world. Glenwood Springs native Jeffrey Barbee, the film’s producer, traveled around the world with producer Mira Dutschke in search of facts about this controversial business. From secret drilling operations in Africa’s best-protected parks to new information about how fracking affects unborn children in Parachute, Colorado, this is a hard look at an industry that is globalizing. Distributed through the Basalt-based not-for-profit foundation Alliance Earth, The High Cost Of Cheap Gas has been called “explosive” by the media. The film is going on tour in 2015, and will be screened in the Roaring Fork Valley this month. More screening dates, accompanied by talks from director Jeffrey Barbee, are planned for the summer.

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK FASHION SHOW SLATED FOR MARCH 13-14 “Underground” is the theme of this year’s seventh annual Green Is The New Black Fashion Extravaganza, which will be held Friday, March 13 and 14. Sponsored by the Carbondale Council for Arts and Humanities (CCAH), the fashion show focuses on sustainable fashion. It will bring together 80 models and performers, 50 volunteers, and 30 local, regional, and nationally known fashion designers. Green Is The New Black is one of the largest collaborative creative projects in the Roaring Fork Valley, and it will combine textile, digital, and fine arts with film, dance, aerials and full body paint. The show will be held at the Carbondale Recreation Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. for those seeking a pre-show underground experience with interactive art, a dessert reception, and a beer, wine and martini bar. A trunk show will take place after each performance, and also from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 14. Funds raised by the fashion show supports arts education in local schools.

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Locally Owned

HANDMADE BY

MEIER SKI COMPANY ARTICLE NICOLETTE TOUSSAINT PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

att Cudmore, who was a computer draftsman for an engineering firm in Glenwood Springs, started building skis with $1,000 given to him by his grandmother, Harriet Hanson. Matt used the money to build his first ski press. It took about five months of trial and error for Matt, who knew nothing about building skis, to turn out his first pair. “They were the coolest skis ever, not by looks, but to ski on,” he recalls. Today, things have speeded up a bit. Meier Ski’s Cattle Creek workshop can turn out a 12-16 pairs of handcrafted skis in a day. Big-name manufacturers can crank out a more than 250 units a day, but Meier’s pace is just fine with Matt and his wife Rosanna, whose maiden name was given to the business. “It’s not just about building skis,” she says. “These are local skis made by local people. We’re creating fun jobs and supporting small business in our community. That’s what we’re about.” “The whole idea is to keep it as local as possible. We emphasize home-grown, local wood and a product coming right out of Glenwood Springs,” adds Matt. How does a neophyte learn to build skis? Asked whether he looked up “ski recipe” on the internet, Matt laughs and says, “Kinda!” Matt began his experimentation after a buddy of his found a website that showed how skis are built. Matt started the painstaking task of building his first skis around September of 2009. “I started researching. I had to build my first press. Then I had to figure out where to source the materials. I was starting from nothing so it took me the whole season. By the time I finished and let the skis cure for a week, it was the last week at Sunlight Mountain. I just made it in time to test those skis. “I was kind of nervous that the skis would break or the bindings would rip out. That day, one of my friends was skiing on an old pair of Solomons, and his binding ripped out. I felt safe then. I thought that the odds were way against that happening to two of us.”

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

Matt launched the Meier Ski Company in the fall of 2009. Like Apple Computer, the company was a hobbyist’s dream, started in a garage. The product is design savvy, but in a very think-different way from flashy high-tech products. Designed to be long and fat, Meier skis feature a clear top layer or window that shows off the interior wood grain—and also the company’s environmental ethic. Like many native Coloradoans, Matt has watched the pine beetle with dismay. “I was devastated about beetle kill and what was happening to all the pine trees in Colorado,” he says. “I wanted to do something about it.” As a result, Meier skis are made using locally-sourced wood, both beetle-killed pine and aspen. “It’s super cool,” says Matt. “You can go to Steamboat, on the top of the mountain and look over a couple ridges and see where the wood for the skis came from.” That wood makes the skis surprisingly light, but they feel solid. “Our cores are hand-picked to bring you the most stable fun ride of your life,” says Matt. “They don’t chatter. When we were learning to make our skis, we ripped apart countless pairs of big-name skis to see what was hidden between the sheets. It wasn’t pretty. Many big box ski companies use manmade materials such as foam, plywood, or metal at the core of their ski, and that results in a whole lot of chatter.” Colby Christoff, who grew up ski racing on the East Coast and who writes the Backcountry Skiing blog (WildSnow.com), tested a pair of 185 mm Meier Heritage Tour skis and agrees. He wrote, “They have traditional camber underfoot combined with plenty of tip and tail rocker. The large front shovel floats easily in whatever conditions. More, I found with the big shovel and a ‘thinner’ tail there is no need to sit back to let the tips rise. These skis want you to lean forward and attack.” Matt comments, “People who are using our skis have realized that the performance is there. They are realizing that you don’t have to have a really heavy ski to have a good time.” Matt is understandably proud of what’s inside of his skis. “You won’t see clear top sheets with other ski companies because it takes precision, care and a passion for fine craftsmanship to grow a ski that is free of manufacturing defects.” Matt, who is now 35 and the father of three small children, says that starting a company is the coolest and scariest thing in the world. “Every morning on the way here we pray that things are going to work out the way it should. If you surround yourself with really good people, and people who believe what you believe in, and work really hard, you will succeed.”

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Field Trip

Spring Gulch COMMUNITY-POWERED SKIING ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY CAROLYN WATT WILLIAMS

he best cure for cabin fever just might be a lap around the Spring Gulch Nordic Ski Area. With the warm sun in your face, a bright blue sky above, and Mt. Sopris towering in the distance, there is no better place to find yourself in the winter months. The parking lot may be full, but the 21 kilometers of trails never seem crowded. “Unlike other Nordic centers, Spring Gulch has a true backcountry feel,” says Michael Shook of Carbondale, the president of the Spring Gulch board of directors. “There are no trophy homes or highways along the trails. I have been to many Nordic areas around Colorado, and this is by far the best.” For those that live mid-valley, Spring Gulch is compelling. It is close. Merely seven miles west of Carbondale, Spring Gulch is convenient for those who tire of commuting to Aspen. “It is so wonderful to have Spring Gulch so that we can ski during the midweek,” says Cindy Blachly, who works at the nearby Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale. Young Nordic ski racers also appreciate the ability to train locally. Several groups meet multiple days per week on the trails, including racers from Colorado Rocky Mountain School and the Aspen Valley Ski Club (AVSC). Local AVSC parent Leslie Schraemer comments, “I’m happy to have our down-valley venue as a part of Lucas’ training. The trails are always groomed and ready to go.” Spring Gulch is also free. Remarkably free. Its success depends

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

upon hundreds of hours of volunteer help to maintain the trails, and as winter arrives, upon a professional staff that grooms the trails. According to its website, the Mount Sopris Nordic Council, a local non-profit, operates the Spring Gulch Trail System which represents a community effort in every sense of that phrase. That community effort has included financial support provided by membership contributions, local government and foundation grants, business sponsorships and fundraisers. It also includes the free use of land that is private property. Access to the trails is made possible through the generous permission of the North Thompson Cattlemen’s Association and the Crystal River Ranch. If you use the Spring Gulch trails regularly, you should consider purchasing a membership in this wonderful organization. Mike Shook says, “Although we have raised as much money as in previous years, we have fewer members. The members we have are contributing more. It would be great to expand our membership to include more people.” To become a member, go to the Spring Gulch website, SpringGulch.org. Another way to support Spring Gulch is to put on your skis and take some laps at the annual Ski for Sisu event. Sisu is a Finnish word meaning determination, bravery or resilience. Thus, Ski for Sisu is all about how many laps you can ski. Sponsors contribute according to how many kilometers you survive. On February 1st, Ski for Sisu raised over $10,000 with 128 people wearing participant bibs; roughly 50 skied unofficially and chipped in with a donation. The future of Spring Gulch looks bright. According to Shook, ideas for future consideration include “some sort of a warming hut, such as a temporary yurt.” Because Spring Gulch trails are limited to those with Nordic skis, cross-country skiers will be happy to know that several places on Route 133 in nearby Carbondale rent skis so they can give the sport a try. Ajax Bike and Ski rents and sells both classic and skate Nordic skis. Skiers can find also used equipment for sale at Ragged Mountain Sports.

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Water & Woods

The National Forest Right Past Our Back Door

ARTICLE SCOTT FITZWILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY ROGER POIRIER

very community in the Roaring Fork valley, from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, has the White River National Forest out its back door. Whether it’s Mount Sopris or the Maroon Bells, the landscape is iconic, inspiring and all too often taken for granted. Would the 12 million visitors who visit the White River National Forest come here if it were not managed as public land and for the greatest good? Recreational opportunities abound in our valley all year long. Making a list of the outdoor memories that can be made would take up the rest of this article. Whatever you fancy, get out and enjoy the trails, vistas and endless experiences. Unplug your kids and take them with you. The White River National Forest provides our communities with much more than just places to play. The ecological values are immeasurable. The drinking water for most of our communities comes from the national forest. Healthy forests are a sponge to absorb carbon emissions. The forest creates habitat for wildlife and open spaces for solitude. It provides forage for livestock, timber for building houses and places for small businesses to flourish. More than 100 years ago, Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot and other visionary leaders came up with the national forest ideal where lands would be managed in the public trust for the greatest good, for the greatest number in the long run. Nowhere else in the world is there a public lands system like we have in America. Their foresight allows us to experience the quality of life we have in the Roaring Fork Valley. If it were not for the National Forests in our backyards, we would not have the lifestyle we enjoy. As global population approaches 7 billion people, places like the White River National Forest are more and more important to our human condition. With these opportunities comes responsibility. We all must be stewards of this wonderful landscape. The Forest Service can’t do 16

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

it alone. We need the engagement and resources of people, businesses and partners to insure the long-term sustainability of the forest. Here are three things you can do to be part of the stewardship of the White River: 1. Go play! It is all yours to enjoy. Get out and experience the sights, smells and sounds of our backyard. 2. Check out the National Forest Foundation (NationalForests. org). Congress founded this organization to conserve, enhance and restore our nation’s national forests. 3. Engage with one of the many non-profit partner organizations in the valley, which are helping us in our stewardship mission. Here are just a few: Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (AspenNature.org), Colorado Backcountry Trail Riders (Cbtra. org), Colorado Rocky Mountain School (Crms.org), Forest Conservancy (ForestConservancy.com), Independence Pass Foundation (IndependencePass.org), Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (Rfov.org) and Wilderness Workshop (WildernessWorkshop.org). Next time you head out your back door and step onto the National Forest, think about how fortunate we are to live in a country that has public land. The freedom to enjoy the great outdoors is something to be thankful for.

Scott Fitzwilliams is the supervisor of the White River National Forest, which covers 2,285,970 acres of land in northwest Colorado, encompassing the Roaring Fork Valley, eight officially designated wilderness areas, and 11 ski areas.

The Staff: The team philosophy of flawless building site management and prudent business management is the foundation for the success of JCI. All highly committed to meeting client standards. Ken’s Philosophy: The client and those involved in the project are everything. Clients warmly refer Ken to family and friends. The home-building experience goes beyond specifications and budget. Janckila Construction, Inc. (JCI) was founded by Ken Janckila to build luxury homes, carefully customized for each client. Our clients have unique project goals, such as building a healthy home or protecting the environment by adhering to green building standards. Since 2003, Ken and his staff have been building relationships and building distinctive homes for discerning clients.

50 Sunset Drive, Ste 3 · Basalt, CO 81621

970.927.6714 · JanckilaConstruction.com March 2015 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

Femmes on Fatties ARTICLE ANDREA PALM-PORTER | PHOTOGRAPHY DARIN BINION

t’s sunny, brisk and a comfortable 28 degrees as four ladies meet at the bottom of Babbish Gulch near Sunlight Mountain Resort. Excitement fills the air, freshies lie on the ground, and laughter, hugs and a unique camaraderie tie these fat biking ladies together. It’s time for a morning spin—and what will be spinning, oddly enough, are bike tires! Fat ones. It’s called “fat biking.” These ladies have been riding fat bikes for three years, about one-quarter of the sport’s lifetime. Fat biking, the fastest-growing segment of the bicycle industry, was probably invented in Alaska by a fellow named Mark Gronewald, who won the human-powered counterpart of an Iditarod dogsled race on a Emily Murray, Andrea Palm-Porter, Rebecca Murray, Alison Rene bike fitted with tires two or three times as wide as those on a summer road bike. Fat bikes typically range in weight from 30 to 40 pounds, and more when you add the accessories and gear carried on the rides. Their snow-worthy tires are (pardon the phrase) broad, ranging from a knob shoulder width of 88 to 119 millimeters wide. Two summers ago, Amy Butowicz joined most of today’s group to ride the infamous Monarch Crest Trail near Salida on their fat bikes. Today, the three core riders— Rebecca Murray, Alison Birkenfeld and Andrea Palm-Porter—are joined by Emily Murray. They are riding a custom-painted peacock Surly Pugsly, two Salsa Mukluks and a custom, powder-painted, purple Twenty2 Bully. The Bully comes from Twenty2 Cycles, a shop that custom-builds bikes in Glenwood Springs. The shop thrives on personalization of the bike and on customer relationships. The Twenty2 Cycles Bully features an aluminum frame and carbon components that make it a featherweight in the fat bike world. The Bully, being ridden by Andrea Palm-Porter, is lighter than most and weighs a total of 24 pounds. It’s a sweet ride. Smooth shifting of the gears and the bike’s lightweight make climbing easier. What’s so crazy is the air pressure for the big fat tires; it’s typically set at around four to five pounds per square inch (psi) for riding on the snow. The wide 18

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

The author’s custom, powder-painted, purple Twenty2 Bully

tires and low pressure create the suspension and traction needed to ride in style and get the performance needed from the bike. One of the favorite rides of local fat bikers is to climb up Grizzly at Sunlight Mountain Resort after the lifts close or during a “dawn patrol”, before the resort opens. It’s not easy riding a bike weighing more than 30 pounds up 2,000 feet, but it is rewarding and fantastic exercise. The group always encourages newbies and nobody is ever left behind. The energy runs high in preparation for the descent as people gear up with helmets, headlamps and extra layers. The descent on Ute has lots of rollers and dips that only make you giggle more. The smiles are bigger than you can imagine, and screams loud with joy, as the group stops to ensure that everyone is safe and having fun. After the climb, as endorphins from the effort kick in, everyone meets in the warming hut for some silliness and for a shared feeling of accomplishment. Prince Creek and Red Mountain are a few other local stashes that appeal to fat bikers. If you are looking for something new to do, try fat biking. It’s biking with a little bit of attitude, and it has fun and inspiration written all over it. The local bike stores are great at connecting you with fat bike events, riders and will even let you demo a fat bike. There’s even a Facebook group called “Fat Bike Gurlz”— it’s a perfect place to follow femmes on fat bikes.

Why Ride a Fat Bike? EMILY MURRAY: “I don’t really ski and this is a way to get out in the winter and in shape for mountain biking season.” REBECCA MURRAY: “Fat biking is another form of staying healthy in the winter. It keeps my legs strong, and the women I bike with are motivating and inspiring.” ALISON RENE: “I want to ride bikes all year long and fat biking gives me that opportunity during the snowy months.” ANDREA PALM-PORTER: “It’s fun, keeps me active and gives me different options to play in the snow.”

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Challenge Aspen “Challenge Aspen gave me the ability to dance again and to feel whole, to feel great. It will never be the same steps, the same song, but it is still dancing down the slopes.”

Building Confidence and Resilience for Disabled Athletes ARTICLE NICOLETTE TOUSSAINT | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

am Ferguson is a very independent guy, but to ski up Snowmass Mountain in late February, he counted on a little help from his friends. Sam, a bronze and silver X-Games medalist, lays down his tracks with a sit ski, a metal frame mounted atop a single steerable ski. Sam is so good with it he can catch air and run the half pipe—not things most folks would expect a person who is paraplegic to do. But since the mono ski won’t run uphill, on the day of the Challenge Aspen Chris Bove Memorial Uphill fundraising event, Sam hitched the sit ski to a climbing rope and asked half a dozen friends to clip in and pull, dog-sled style. “I know plenty of disabled athletes who will be among the 250-300 doing the Uphill,” Ferguson told Roaring Fork Lifestyle in January. “Challenge Aspen works with people who have all kinds of physical and cognitive challenges, and they will be there. But I think that I’m the only sit skier who does this event.” Challenge Aspen grew from the dreams of Houston Cowan and Amanda Boxtel. Cowan became interested in teaching blind skiers in 1991. Boxtel, who was paralyzed from the waist down after breaking her back in 1993, paired her teaching background with that personal experience to help the disabled gain access to sports in the Rockies. At the urging of mutual friends, Houston and Amanda met in 1994. The two formally established Challenge Aspen in 1995. It was Boxtel who gave Sam Ferguson, who was paralyzed in a mountain biking accident, his first ski lesson. He recalls, “I kept saying no. I had had the fear of God put into me by my doctors, who said ‘no sports.’ I was afraid. Amanda would invite me to come ski, and I would decline. Then she’d ask again. And again! Finally, she told me that they needed a first-time mono skier to do an interview with the media. I agreed partly because she promised that she would quit nagging me after that.” “That morning, to my surprise, it turned out that my first-ever mono-ski lesson was going to be on Good Morning America!” Amanda taught the lesson, and according to Ferguson, it went great. “I think I only fell twice. They were there to catch me. As soon as the skis hit the snow and I made a few turns, I realized that this was something I could be passionate about. It would give me my confidence back.” Rebuilding confidence is what Challenge Aspen does. Year

round, the nonprofit gives adults and children with disabilities access to a variety of recreational sports: downhill and cross-country skiing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, swimming, hiking and fishing. Anne Merz, who is 58 and lives in Carbondale, was able to ski again with the help of Challenge Aspen. She wrote to them, saying “…thank you for giving me back something that had been stolen from me. When I had gotten so sick that the ability to ski was impossible, I thought that I would never again be able to feel the snow under my skis, the sun in my face and the thrill of meeting CONTINUED >

March 2015 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

CHALLENGE ASPEN

(CONTINUED)

the challenge of heading down the slopes.” At 18, Merz was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), which she calls “a slippery-slidy disease.” Merz explains, “They call it relapsing and remitting, but it means that you get back what was lost and then lose it again. I have now progressed to where I rarely get much back, but Challenge Aspen gave some of it back.” Last winter, Challenge Aspen took Merz to Snowmass. “It was glorious,” she says. “They took me down parts of the mountain that I had always loved and thought I would never see again. They gave me the ability to dance again, to feel whole, to feel great. It will never be the same steps, the same song, but it is still dancing down the slopes.” Basalt resident and real estate broker Matt Harrington has enrolled his son in Challenge Aspen’s summer program for nine years running. Oliver has a developmental disability. “It’s truly the most amazing time imaginable,” says Harrington. “This organization unites children with special needs from all over the country. The kids spend a week in our beautiful valley experiencing music, theater, dance and art, as well as opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities with other children with disabilities. I can’t speak highly enough of Challenge Aspen.” Sit skier Sam Ferguson, pictured at top right, has moved from being a Challenge Aspen participant to a volunteer. He observes, “If you get too wrapped up in a disability, it gets self-defeating. Lots of people lose their self-esteem, their passion and their drive in life whether they are abled or disabled. Skiing gave me a little nudge and showed me that I could adapt.” Ferguson, now 44, has not only adapted, he earned a level one adaptive certification with the Professional Skiers Instruction Association. He skied on the national circuit as a member of U.S. adaptive development ski team. He convinced the X-Games to add a mono ski cross event to their schedule, and he won a bronze medal in the inaugural event competing against U.S. adaptive ski team members.

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

“I have developed a philosophy about all this,” he reflects. “My life has been a blessing. My disability has opened doors to opportunity and adventure, and it allowed me compete in amazing events—all of which would never have happened if I hadn’t become a paraplegic. I have heli-skied in South America. I have been able to compete, and to be a pioneer, in mono ski cross, earning bronze and silver medals in the X-Games. I have been in three Warren Miller ski films. I have been on the U.S. adaptive development team. I have had an amazing career in skiing and it felt good to finally retire from competition at age 41.” The Chris Bove Memorial Uphill fundraising event—during which snow enthusiasts of all ages and ability levels tackle the 1,368 vertical rise up Snowmass Mountain using anything from snowshoes and skins to stabilizers and telemark skis—carries a special meaning for Ferguson. Chris Bove was a personal friend. “When we would go out skiing, I would always want to focus on something: going faster, jumping off a cliff. With Chris I was always learning something, and he was a great wingman. When we were out on the town, people thought we were brothers and we played that very well.” The two had originally planned to ski together on the day that Bove hit a tree and died of internal injuries. Ferguson was the only sit skier who participated in the uphill portion of the Bove Memorial fundraiser in late February. The money raised is used for scholarships for people who live in the Roaring Fork Valley and attend Challenge Aspen’s programs, which serve more than 400 participants with more than 2,100 participant days a year.

ASPEN JUNCTION

CASTLE VIEW

This wonderful single-family home provides ample living space and stunning views. Highly desirable location. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love the comfortable feel combined with little luxuries such as a wine cellar, heated driveway and a wrap-around deck. $885,000 MLS: 136865

New 6,600 sq. ft. custom home located just five minutes from Basalt and walking distance to the Frying Pan River. This masterpiece sits on four private acres and features five bedrooms, six and one-half baths, nine foot ceilings, central a/c, and views galore! $1,695,000 MLS: 134754

ROD WOELFLE 970.279.7612 | rod@masonmorse.com SARAH WOELFLE 970.279.7613 | sarahw@masonmorse.com

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RIVER COVE

CARBONDALE / EL JEBEL

RIVERFRONT and walking distance to Basalt! This four bedroom, two and one-half bath home has the Frying Pan River flowing through your backyard. Walk into Basalt to enjoy great dining, outdoor concerts. $1,795,000 MLS: 136404

Heaven on 4.75 acres! Great water rights. Three acres of irrigation. Horse property. Live in the existing house while you build your dream home on the river. No HOA. $995,000 MLS: 130626

CHRISTY CLETTENBERG

PATTY BRENDLINGER

CHRISTY CLETTENBERG

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RIVER VALLEY RANCH

Immaculate condition, meticulously maintained mountain comfort backing up to the 11th green in River Valley Ranch. Hardwood floors, granite and stainless kitchen, open living area perfect for entertaining. $875,000

Adjacent to open space, great views, close to clubhouse. Immaculate condition with sunny, cheerful spaces, large fenced yard with protected patio. Terrific floorplan with main level master, open living/ dining/kitchen concept, finished basement. $740,000 MLS: 137352

NANCY EMERSON

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NANCY EMERSON

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ASPEN - 970.925.7000 | SNOWMASS VILLAGE - 970.923.7700 BASALT - 970.927.3000 | CARBONDALE - 970.963.3300 REDSTONE - 970.963.1061 | GLENWOOD SPRINGS - 970.928.9000

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CRYSTAL RIVER PARK

ASPEN GLEN

Meticulously cared for, three bedroom, three and one-half bath, two car garage home surrounded by spectacular gardens. Enjoy a chef’s kitchen, open floor plan and large bonus room in this magnificent home. $875,000 MLS: 136851

A tranquil escape into this amazing custom built three bedroom state-of-the-art newly constructed home. Walk outside to the elegant terrace where you can enjoy peace and privacy surrounded by lush greenery. $1,565,000 MLS: 135945

JEFF BIER 970.963.1061 | jeffbier@masonmorse.com CHRIS LAWRENCE 970.963.1061 | chrislawrence@masonmorse.com

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ELK SPRINGS

SOUTH PARK

Located in a gated community, this lot offers spectacular views of Mt. Sopris and the Roaring Fork Valley. Just ten minutes from Ironbridge Golf Course and 50 minutes from Aspen. $177,500 MLS: 128995

Lovely mid-century home located within walking distance of schools, parks, trails and local amenities. Enjoy all the conveniences of town plus a large fenced yard, mature landscaping, garden patch and fruit trees. $393,000 MLS: 136991

BUCK JONES

BECKY CIANI

INGRID WUSSOW

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STONERIDGE

CANYON CREEK

Spectacular five-bedroom custom built home situated on 3.2 acres in Glenwood Springs is truly a one-of-a-kind property. Complete privacy and convenient to most anything. This home also boast amazing views. A piece of paradise. $749,000 MLS: 134807

Spacious luxury home boasts exquisite finishes, views and location. Four-bedroom, three and one-half bath, gourmet kitchen. Entertain on the patio or lower level with custom bar, pool table, shuffle board and 80” flat screen. Furniture is negotiable. $798,000 MLS: 134309

BECKY CIANI

ERIN BASSETT 970.309.3319 | ebassett@masonmorse.com ELLEN TORELL 970.948.3701 | ellen@masonmorse.com

970.704.3235 | becky@masonmorse.com

ASPEN - 970.925.7000 | SNOWMASS VILLAGE - 970.923.7700 BASALT - 970.927.3000 | CARBONDALE - 970.963.3300 REDSTONE - 970.963.1061 | GLENWOOD SPRINGS - 970.928.9000

the source for real estate in the roaring fork valley

RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES OVER $400,000 NEIGHBORHOOD

ORIGINAL LIST

SOLD PRICE

%SOLD/ ORIGINAL

DOM

BEDS

FULL/ HALF BTH

SOLD PRICE/ SQ. FT

BASALT Townsite Basalt

$575,000

$475,000

83%

225

$363

Townsite Basalt

$965,000

$920,000

95%

2/1

$333

Aspen Equestrian

$790,000

$720,000

91%

245

3/1

$265

Wooden Deer

$815,000

$725,000

89%

261

3/1

$185

Wooden Deer

$1,500,000

$875,000

58%

1158

$214

Sopris Mesa

$795,000

$740,000

93%

535

4/1

$158

Mtn Meadow

$1,150,000

$625,000

54%

1608

3/1

$164

Fox Run Meadows

$2,150,000

$2,000,000

93%

129

3/1

$360

Townsite Carbondale

$450,000

$415,980

92%

289

$154

Townsite Carbondale

$748,000

$630,500

84%

168

4/1

$135

Townsite Carbondale

$467,575

$438,250

93%

$265

West Addition

$535,000

$520,000

97%

$203

Blue Creek

$889,000

$700,000

79%

231

$268

Ranch at RF

$454,000

$430,000

95%

137

$295

River Valley Ranch

$998,000

$907,500

91%

219

4/1

$188

Aspen Glen

$1,100,000

$950,000

86%

206

4/1

$214

Aspen Glen

$1,250,000

$1,200,000

96%

4/1

$251

Aspen Glen

$1,875,000

$1,575,000

84%

694

5/2

$294

Ironbridge

$575,250

$611,434

106%

126

3/1

$240

Walz

$549,000

$460,000

84%

189

2(3/4)/1

$189

Townsite GW

$449,000

$435,000

97%

203

$214

Townsite GW

$665,000

100%

$226

Oak Meadows Ranch

$465,000

$479,000

103%

$209

CARBONDALE

GLENWOOD SPRINGS

(This data is a sampling of sold properties up to 12/30/14, Source: Aspen Glenwood MLS)

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Financial Fitness

What You Need to Know About Mortgages Now ARTICLE BRIDGET GREY | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

on Ziegler, a Colorado native and a Roaring Fork Valley resident since 1992, is the area sales manager for Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc. on Colorado’s western slope and in northern New Mexico. Ziegler has been in the mortgage lending industry, both lending and managing since 1988, and currently serves on the board of directors for the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association. He values relationships and wants to give each customer the concierge service they deserve. Roaring Fork Lifestyle magazine recently asked his advice about the current mortgage market.

The same compliance requirements don’t specifically apply to the closing cost worksheets. Again, the best advice is to look to the reputation of the lender or loan officer. Q: HOW MUCH LEAD-TIME DOES A BUYER NEED TO PLAN BEFORE GETTING A MORTGAGE? A: On an existing home, typically four to six weeks. New construc-

tion obviously takes more time. Q: AFTER THE REAL ESTATE BUST, LENDERS REALLY TIGHTENED UP MORTGAGE STANDARDS, AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS BECAME NOTORIOUSLY BUREAUCRATIC AND DIFFICULT. MANY PEOPLE

Q: HOW IS THE ROARING FORK VALLEY HOUSING OUTLOOK? IS THIS A

COULDN’T GET LOANS, AND QUITE A FEW WHO COULD JUST FOUND

GOOD TIME TO BE LOOKING TO BUY A HOME?

THE PROCESS TOO DIFFICULT -- AT LEAST IF THEY HAD SOME CHOICE.

A: We have seen rebounding values and low interest rates. Our in-

WHAT’S THE PROCESS LIKE NOW?

ventory of existing homes is down. However, this is an exceptional time to buy an existing home or to consider building.

A: The mortgage industry has become more regulated, and com-

Q: WHAT ABOUT LAND? IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO BE THINKING ABOUT DESIGNING AND BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME? A: There are numerous opportunities to purchase subdivided lots.

Construction lending is on the rise and we have ample folks ready to work in any of the construction trades, so yes, this is a very good time to think about building a custom home.

pliance to fair lending drives the regulations. With that said, getting through the process of getting a loan requires more documentation than in years past. But it is based on making good quality, prudent decisions about the borrower’s ability to repay their mortgage. We don’t want to have a repeat of the past mistakes in the industry. If you choose a good lender, he or she will guide you through the process so it shouldn’t be too difficult. Q: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO ARE

Q: IS THE LOCAL MARKET SEASONAL? WHEN SHOULD BUYERS BE

LOOKING TO BUY A HOME OR LAND AND WHO WILL BE LOOKING FOR

LOOKING FOR HOMES? FOR LAND?

MORTGAGE LENDING?

A: Our market used to be more seasonal, but now it seems that

A: Find a quality, experienced loan broker who can tell you about the

those seasonal cycles have become less impactful. Early spring is a good time, if you are considering building a home, to begin that search process. The seasons do come into play related to weather. If you get a slow start, your construction process can be hindered later by cold and snow.

programs available, the current interest rate environment and what you can do to qualify for a loan before starting to search for a home. Ask for client references. Your lender’s past clients should tell you that the lender meets deadlines and delivers customer service that merits their praise.

Q: WHAT DO BUYERS NEED TO KNOW WHEN SHOPPING FOR MORT-

Q: HAVE NEGATIVE AMORTIZATION LOANS GONE AWAY? WHAT ARE

GAGES FOR CUSTOM HOMES?

THE BEST MORTGAGE OPTIONS ON THE MARKET NOW?

A: Work with a lender who has local market experience and a repu-

A: Every borrower has different circumstances and different goals related to their mortgage. Choosing the best program or mortgage options out there should be the responsibility of the loan officer. His or her job is to inform, customize, and guide the consumer to arrive at the best decision possible. The loan should not only allow the borrowers to purchase the home, but should also realize their longterm goals as well.

tation for quality. Look for someone who will return your phone calls promptly and who will take time to meet face to face. Q: WHAT’S A GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE (GFE) AND WILL A LENDER REALLY STAND BEHIND THAT ESTIMATE? A: Be careful; cost worksheets and a GFE are different. Lenders have

to be accurate on the GFE for compliance and consumer protection. 26

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

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Lifestyle Calendar

March MARCH 2

MOTHER GOOSE ON THE LOOSE BASALT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Basalt’s public library offers storytime for infants up to 23 months old every Monday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Toddler Tales are offered on Tuesdays and Preschool Tales on Wednesdays. See more children’s activities at BasaltLibrary.org/Children/Children. html. Located at 14 Midland Avenue in Basalt. Contact Children’s Librarian Linda Slaybaugh: lslaybaugh@basaltlibrary.org. Phone: 970.927.4311.

MARCH 3 TODDLER TALES BASALT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Basalt’s public library offers storytime for toddlers two to three years old every Tuesday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Preschool Tales are offered on Wednesdays. See more children’s activities at BasaltLibrary.org/Children/Children.html. Located at 14 Midland Avenue in Basalt. Contact Children’s Librarian Linda Slaybaugh: lslaybaugh@basaltlibrary.org. Phone: 970.927.4311.

MARCH 3 PARENTS PREVENTING SEXUAL ABUSE CLASS GLENWOOD SPRINGS

Free class presented by Meghan Hurley, LCSW, sponsored by Garfield County Department of Human Services. At River Bridge in Glenwood Springs, 5:30-7:30 p.m. RSVP needed. For details see RiverBridgeRC.org or call 970.945.5105.

MARCH 3 ENJOYING POETRY GLENWOOD SPRINGS LIBRARY

Local author Claudia Putnam teaches the second of four classes about poetry; come to one or both March classes. From old-fashioned to free verse and to the poetry of today. Learn how to read and enjoy poetry! 6 p.m. Free. For more information, call 970.945.5958.

MARCH 4 NATURALIST NIGHTS THIRD STREET CENTER

Showing of DamNation. This film moves across America and explores the sea change in our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our future is 28

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

bound to the life and health of our rivers. Sponsored by Wilderness Workshop, ACES and Roaring Fork Audubon. Third Street Center, Carbondale. 5:30 p.m. Free.

MARCH 5 VIRTUOSO PIANO MASTERPIECES BASALT LIBRARY

Pianist Kevin Kaukl plays Beethoven and Rachmaninoff. Free and open to the public. Doors open 20 minutes before concert, which starts at 5:30 p.m.

MARCH 6, 7 & 8 HAMLET THUNDER RIVER THEATRE

Thunder River Theatre Company’s production of Hamlet runs this weekend. Shakespeare’s play is among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature. Starring David Pulliam as Hamlet and Valerie Haugen as Queen Gertrude; directed by Lon Winston. 67 Promenade in Carbondale, one block off Main. Adult tickets $25, student tickets $15. 970.963.8200.

MARCH 7 DROP-IN CRAFTS BASALT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Basalt’s public library offers a drop-in crafts session every Saturday at noon. (No session on March 28.) See more children’s activities at BasaltLibrary.org/Children/Children.html. Located at 14 Midland Avenue in Basalt. Contact Children’s Librarian Linda Slaybaugh: lslaybaugh@basaltlibrary.org. Phone: 970.927.4311.

MARCH 11 NATURALIST NIGHTS THIRD STREET CENTER

Fire in the Hunter Creek Valley, presented by Jason Sibold, PhD., Colorado State University. Series sponsored by Wilderness Workshop, ACES and Roaring Fork Audubon. Third Street Center, Carbondale. 5:30 p.m. Free.

MARCH 11 CHARITY BINGO BASALT LIONS CLUB

Come join the Basalt Lions for Charity Bingo Night, every second and fourth Wednesday. Food provided by the Beta Chi Sorority. Helps to raise funds for the Basalt Lions’ community outreach programs. 0020 Eagle County Dr., El Jebel (Eagle County Building next to Crown Mountain Park) 7-9 p.m., doors open 6:30 pm. $10 for 10 bingo games. 970.319.9163.

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March 2015 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

Lifestyle Calendar

MARCH 12, 13 & 14

MARCH 17

HAMLET

ENJOYING POETRY

THUNDER RIVER THEATRE

GLENWOOD SPRINGS LIBARY

to $45, or $100 for VIP runway seating with a complimentary glass of champagne. Tickets available at CarbondaleArts.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m.

Local author Claudia Putnam teaches the third of four classes about poetry; come to one or both March classes. From old-fashioned to free verse and to the poetry of today. Learn how to read and enjoy poetry. 6 p.m. Free. For more information, call the library: 970.945.5958.

MARCH 15

MARCH 19

GROW YOUR OWN FOOD & FLOWERS

BASALT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MARCH 13 & 14

GLENWOOD SPRINGS

W.J. BRADLEY MORTGAGE, BASALT

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK FASHION SHOW

COMMUNITY GARDENS

CARBONDALE RECREATION CENTER

A small number of community garden plots are available in Glenwood Springs. Two growing sites, one adjacent to the Community Center and another near the airport, open beginning March 15, weather permitting. The standard size is 10’x15’ and the fee is $40 per year. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Information, applications and waivers are available at GlenwoodCommunityGarden.org.

The newest branch of W.J. Bradley Mortgage celebrates St. Patrick’s day and hosts the Basalt Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours. Come see W.J. Bradley’s newest office, opened March 1. This is a fun, casual networking event for Basalt Chamber members and their guests. Event features appetizers, refreshments, door prizes and opportunities to build your client base. 104 Midland #102 in Basalt, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Local and national designers and artists come together to create a dynamic, alluring, and thought-provoking event featuring fashion that sparks the imagination and is created from recycled and/or sustainable materials. These creations are intertwined with dance and multimedia artistry. Each night includes a pre-show dessert reception, beer and wine bar, and a martini bar. General admission tickets are $33

ingle m d n rd a y u shop a t , a t a S e come every

December 6 through March 14 11:30AM to 4:30PM Stop in after skiing!

Great Shopping Happens Here

local produce, eggs, meats, fish, bread, cheese, pasta, baked goods, soups, prepared foods, coffee, organic snacks, fresh flowers, soaps and lotions, jewelry, arts, glass, apparel and more!

The Indoor Saturday Farmer’s Market Enjoy local vendors & musicians weekly! at Eagle Crest Nursery in El Jebel 0400 Gillespie Drive www.eaglecrestnursery.com

970-963-1173

Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

Thank you to our sponsors Eagle Crest Nursery, Colorado Colours Landscape, Crawford Properties, Daly Property Services, Nordic Gardens Landscape Co., Bank of Colorado, Sopris Medical Practice and Prima Plant Services

MARCH 19 BROADWAY’S UNKNOWN GEMS & HITS BASALT LIBRARY

Nikki Boxer, vocalist, and David Dyer, pianist, perform Broadway’s unknown gems and classic hits. Free and open to the public. Starts at 5:30 pm, doors open 20 minutes before concert.

and the Mt. Sopris Historical Society. This showing is Tall Tale. Popcorn and cookies served. G-rated, family-friendly and free of charge. Starts at 2 p.m.

MARCH 31 THEATRE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE THUNDER RIVER THEATRE

MARCH 20 ROARING FORK CULTURAL COUNCIL THUNDER RIVER THEATRE

The Roaring Fork Cultural Council welcomes Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, executive director of Colorado’s American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Thunder River Theatre: 67 Promenade in downtown Carbondale. Lecture starts at 7 p.m. Call 970.963.8200 for ticket information.

MARCH 27 CONTROL GROUP DANCE CONCERT LAUNCHPAD, CARBONDALE

MARCH 21 MOVIES AT THE LIBRARY CARBONDALE LIBRARY

Roaring Fork Goes to the Movies, a series of movies filmed in and around Carbondale, is sponsored by the Gordon Cooper library

of the Americas, Denver Office of Arts and Venues, Denver Theatre District, American Dance Festival’s MFA program and others. Call 917.319.1608 for concert times.

Modern dance performance by Control Group Productions is directed by Patrick Mueller, Dance Initiative’s first artist in residence. Mueller creates movement-centered intermedia performance works. Control Group’s works have been presented by the Biennial

A theatre arts scholarship for $1,000 has been established by Lon Winston, founder and executive artistic director of Thunder River Theatre Company. Each year, the scholarship will be awarded to a local high school student who must reside in the Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen to Parachute) and be recommended by his or her drama teacher or director. To apply, the student must audition or present a portfolio for set, costume or light design; submit three recommendation letters from his/her high school teachers; and have been accepted to a university, college or conservatory. Candidates will be juried by a committee of professional theatre artists. E-mail lonw@sopris.net for details. The application deadline is March 31 and the first scholarship will be awarded May 2015.

Behind every great planner, caterer, production Company or private party, there needs to be a great rental company, and “Bethel Party Rentals” is that company. Call us for a 20% discount on your next order from December 2014 until March 2015. 5396 County Rd 154, Unit #3 • Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

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Join the Family!

As an advertiser in Roaring Fork Lifestyle magazine, you’re part of a family of local business owners who understand the value of connecting with your community. Our readers passionately support local businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley. To learn more about joining the Roaring Fork Lifestyle family of advertisers and making the most of your marketing dollars, call me today!

Rick French Publisher 970.618.8981 - RFrench@LifestylePubs.com RoaringForkLifestyle.com March 2015 | Roaring Fork Lifestyle

Business Directory ANIMALS & ANIMAL CARE

WJ Bradley Mortgage Capital (970) 456-4821 wjbradley.com

High Tails Dog and Cat Outfitters, LLC (970) 947-0014 hightailsco-op.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

JBC Agricultural Management (970) 319-8962

Glenwood Chiropratic Center (970) 945-8466 glenwoodchiro.com

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

Hot Springs Pool & Spa (970) 945-6571 hotspringspool.com

AUTOMOTIVE

Midland Fitness (970) 945-4440 midland-fitness.com

Sculpture By Dahl (970) 987-0350

Mountain Chevrolet (970) 928-9777 mtnchevy.com

DENTISTS & ORTHODONTICS Jack B. Hilty (970) 945-1185 hiltyortho.com

Murray Dental Group (970) 945-5112 murraydg.com

True Nature Healing Arts (970) 963-9900 truenatureheals.com Weight Management of the Rockies (970) 945-2324 wmrockies.hmrdiet.com

HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PLANNING Cornerstone Home Lending (970) 945-2011 donaldziegler.com

Janckila Construction (970) 927-6714 janckilaconstruction.com

HOME DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

Gotcha Covered Roaring Fork (970) 945-4010 Gotchacovered.com

HOME SERVICES Apex Security (970) 945-2152 apexsecurity.com

MEDICAL CLINICS & FACILITIES

Glenwood Medical Clinic (970) 945-8503 glenwoodmedical.com

Eagle Crest Nursery (970) 963-1173 eaglecrestnursery.com Hays, Maggard & Hood PC (970) 945-8588 hmhcpa.com R.J. Paddywacks (970) 963-1700 rjpaddywacks.com

PROPERTY & REAL ESTATE Kert Koski (970) 404-2131

OTHER

Mason & Morse/ Coldwell Bankers (970) 963-3300 masonmorse.com

CAPCO Tile & Stone (970) 963-7320 capcotile.com

Woodbridge Realty of Colorado (970) 325-6022 woodbridgerealtyco.com

Aspen Glen Club (970) 704-1905 aspen-glen.com

Distinguished Boards and Beams (970) 963-7326 reclaimedbarnwood.com

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Parting Thoughts

The Wearing of the Mondegreens WORDS AND ILLUSTRATION NICOLETTE TOUSSAINT

“M

inotaurs have overrun the garden!” The image I conjured up was right out of Fantasia—giant bull men capering around our postage-stamp garden. I laughed out loud, knowing that I had heard a mondegreen. What my husband had really said was, “Baby Tears have overgrown the garden.” Mondegreens result when we struggle to make meaning after catching only the syllabic rhythm, a couple consonants or a fractured phrase. Kids invent them to fill in for words beyond their vocabulary, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as “I led the pigeons to the flag.” Probably the most famous mondegreens are Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “there’s a bathroom on the right” (“there’s a bad moon on the rise”) and Jimi Hendrix exclaiming, “Scuse me while I kiss this guy” (“Scuse me while I kiss the sky”). Both Creedence and Hendrix eventually sang those alternative versions in concerts. Mondegreens give life to fictional characters. Consider the cruel bully, Olive, the other reindeer who used to laugh and call poor Rudolph names. And Lady Mondegreen herself. American writer Sylvia Wright coined the term mondegreen in 1954, referring to a poem that her mother used to read aloud to her: Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands, Oh, where hae ye been? They hae slain the Earl o’ Moray, And Lady Mondegreen. But alas, there ne’er was nae Lady Mondegreen! She was a misinterpretation of the words “slain the Earl o’ Moray and laid him on the green.” I asked Facebook friends to contribute mondegreens to this article, and they gathered a gaggle from popular music. Who can forget the Spanish ballad, One Ton Tomato? Or Johnny Rivers’ cold war lyric, Secret Asian Man? Or the country-and-western beauty tip, Doughnuts Make Your Brown Eyes Blue?

Friends told me that the Four Tops sang, “Ain’t no woman like a one-eyed goat.” Pat Benatar encouraged them to “Hit me with your pet shark” (“your best shot”) and Jimmy Buffet sang about “All of those tunas covered with oil” (“all of the tourists covered with oil”). Bob Dylan intoned, “Dead ants are my friends; they’re blowin’ in the wind” (“the answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind”). And The Beach Boys, in Help Me Rhonda, complained, “Since she put me down there’s been owls pooping in my bed.” If mondegreens are a Rorschach for the ears, my friends have buffets on the brain. Abba, in Dancing Queen, encouraged them to “see the meat on the tangerine.” The Rolling Stones assured them, “I’ll never leave your pizza burning.” (“I’ll never be your beast of burden.”) Tony Orlando and Dawn asked them to “Tie a yellow ribbon ‘round the old roast beef,” while KC & The Sunshine Band sang, “Do a little dance, make a little rum, Italian ice! Italian ice!” (“Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight, get down tonight.”) Bachman-Turner Overdrive had them “baking carrot biscuits” (“taking care of business”). Because I have been hearing-impaired all my life, I’m prone to mondegreens. I have come to enjoy them, and those who know me seem to relish them too. On Facebook, my friend Nancy Buffum reminded me of a long-ago incident. I had encountered Nancy in the hall around the children’s area of our church and wondered aloud what she was doing out there, rather than in a classroom. Nancy told me: “You crowned me the children’s ‘Helper Troll,’ which I use evermore, as the roving religious education greeter. Previously and un-poetically, I had called myself the Hall Patrol.” Ah, dear friends! What can I say to you? In the words of the Beatles, “All my luggage, I will send to you.”

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Roaring Fork Lifestyle | March 2015

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