Local community members, stakeholders and GJ City Council convened March 5 to debate impact-fees.
n Wine, chocolate and fruit together!
Colorado Fruit Designs moves in with Carlson Vineyards downtown.
4
5
n Summit on growth and investment in Western Colorado
6
The 2025 Western Colorado Economic Summit, hosted by the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, will take place April 24 at Colorado Mesa University from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
n Proposed housing at Matchett Park
A proposal to develop housing on part of a 14-acre parcel at the front of Matchett Park has sparked a range of reactions from local residents.
8
n Where will Joann shoppers go?
Local fabric/craft shops hope former Joann’s customers see that quality matters.
9
Brian Oliver, general manager and co-owner of The Rock Slide Brew Pub, 401 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction, holds a Horsethief IPA at the bar. Oliver said one of the reasons The Rock Slide has been successful for 30 years “is that we’re okay with change. I mean, we brew seltzers now because they became popular, and we do a good job with them. And now we have a lot of other restaurants that carry it here locally. So, I mean, it’s not always just got to be beer.”
Photo by Tim Harty.
Aware of what ales craft brewers
The Grand Valley has steered clear of the oversaturation plaguing Front Range breweries
In late January the Colorado Beverage Coalition announced Colorado “lost” 41 craft-beer breweries, taprooms and brewpubs in 2024.
When The Business Times asked for the list of the businesses that closed, the number climbed to 44.
Regardless, after 35 closures of Colorado craft-beer breweries, taprooms or brewpubs in 2023, the increase signified a disturbing trend, which Colorado Brewers Guild Executive Director Shawnee Adelson addressed by saying, “Colorado’s breweries are facing major challenges. Between inflation, supply-chain issues, employee shortages, a pandemic and a downward trend of drinking, these local businesses need the support of the public and lawmakers to survive.”
Or, perhaps they just need to be in the Grand Valley, where only one brewery earned a spot on the list of closures for 2024. That was Suds Brothers Brewery in Fruita, but technically, the brewery was sold to Russell Klase III in September and was closed for a couple months for renovation, then reopened Dec. 2 as Reckless Brewing Company.
The majority of the closures were on the Front Range, in particular the Denver metro area, and a common word used by Grand Valley craft brewers in regards to that area and breweries is “over-saturation.”
Before starting in sales for Palisade Brewing Company, 200 Peach Ave., in January, Brett Zahrte amassed 20 years in the craft-beer industry on the Front Range. He said the effects of over-saturation there were due to hit at some point, and he thinks it arrived in the late 2010s, just in time for the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to start a wave of closures in 2020 and 2021.
“Those that found their niche and stayed within their means did really well,” Zahrte said. “Those that expanded too fast regionally had a really hard time. A lot of the closings in that first big wave were small brewhouse settings like this (Palisade Brewing), where we’re just under 3,000 barrels of production last year. Some of those places that were this size or smaller tried to
The brewery owners, they are a changin’
Tim Harty The Business Times
The Grand Valley craft-brewing scene has avoided brewery closures, but it has seen a few ownership changes in recent months.
The most recent occurred in late February when a group led by Handlebar Tap House co-owner Adam Kinsey bought Kannah Creek Brewing Company’s Edgewater Brewery, 905 Struthers Ave. in Grand Junction.
In a Feb. 23 post on its Facebook page, Edgewood Brewery announced that after 12 years it closed its doors for the last time. The new owners have begun renovations, and they will change the name to WestCo Brewing Co.
In October, Todd Williamson and Tyler Frye bought Gemini Beer Company, 310 N. Seventh St., and kept the name and stayed open during the transition.
get up to 10,000 to 20,000 barrels really quickly and struggled.”
Ryan Dutch, owner and general manager of Trail Life Brewing, 463 Main St. in Grand Junction, echoed Zahrte.
“In Denver, the places that are closing are too big,” he said. “They tried to go too big.”
At The Rockslide Brew Pub, co-owner and General Manager Brian Oliver knew the proliferation of breweries in Colorado had gotten “over-saturated” when he had problems buying equipment.
“They were popping up left and right,” he said. “It was hard to get equipment; everybody was buying it. We had to get a grinder from Canada. One of our mills we bought from Canada, because the supply was low and the price was so high in state.”
Zahrte said a similar saturation point hasn’t hit the Grand Valley yet.
“I mean, when you can name every brewery within 45 miles on two hands, that leaves a lot of room at the table for others to join,” he said.
That doesn’t mean Grand Valley brewers went unscathed.
Gemini Beer Company’s Todd Williamson, who along with Tyler Frye bought the business in October, has been a brewer at several other breweries in the Grand Valley, so he’s about as tuned in as a brewer can be to the local scene. He said he talks to other brewers and winemakers, and they give honest assessments when asked how their businesses are doing.
“Overall, we have taken a hit just like the entire nation has taken a hit for craft (beer),” Williamson said. “Maybe our numbers are less down than everywhere else, but it seems like breweries are down about 12 to 15 percent, from the conversations I’ve had, and wineries around town about 15 to 20 (percent) in terms of business being down.”
Similarly, Base Camp Beer Works owner Brian Fischer said, “I’d say the craft brewery scene in general in the state of Colorado, like a lot of other industries, is struggling to maintain the numbers that we saw two, three years ago. And a lot of that is to do with the cost of goods. The cost of ingredients has gone up, and the cost of labor has gone up significantly.”
STORY BY TIM HARTY
See BEER on Page 13
In September, Russell Klase III bought Suds Brothers Brewery, 127 E. Aspen Ave. in Fruita, closed it for renovation, then reopened Dec. 2 as Reckless Brewing Company. The name keeps the Reckless theme that Klase started with his De Beque saloon and restaurant, The Reckless Roadhouse.
GEMINI OWNERS FREE TO CREATE
At Gemini Beer Company, much remains the same, even some of the former owners’ beers. But there will be changes in the form of new beers, because as veteran brewers, Williamson and Frye want to put their creative stamp on things. And as owners, they have unchecked creative license.
“That’s always the goal when you’re a brewer,” Williamson said. “You don’t have full creative control when you’re a brewer working for someone else’s brewery, because they have their own ideas of what they want, and you’re being paid to produce their product. And now and then you get a little leeway to do some fun things.
“But now that we own a place, sure, we definitely have more ability to do what we wanna do and experiment with some recipes and make them our own. And we kind of split that between us: You do this beer; I’ll do that beer; and I trust you on that one; you trust me on this.
See BREWERY on Page 12
Photo courtesy of Gemini Beer Co.
Minnie Zeuner, the marketing and social media coordinator at Base Camp Beer Works, 2575 U.S. 6&50, Unit C, in Grand Junction, shows off Base Camp food and beer that she set up to photograph and post on social media. Photo by Tim Harty.
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GJ City Council considers impact-fee consequences
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
The Grand Junction City Council convened March 5 to participate in a second reading of proposed impact-fee increases, a topic that has sparked significant debate among council members, city staff and community stakeholders.
The meeting included public comments from a variety of residents, city advisory board members and industry representatives.
Community Development director Tamara Allen, provided an overview of the study and of some recently proposed concessions, including increasing the rollout timeline to three years and changing the calculations for transportation fees to represent the costs per mile prior to the new Transportation Engineering Design Standards completed in 2023.
The council members then shared their positions.
Mayor Abram Herman suggested that, in the interest of continued collaboration and compromise, the ordinance be returned to a first reading, with a second reading to occur at a later date.
This was followed by a public-comment session with 21 speakers voicing their opinions. Of these, three supported the fee increases as currently proposed or suggested they should be higher, citing the need for sustainable infrastructure funding.
Two speakers proposed minor changes to the methodology, and the remaining speakers urged the council to consider further decreases, extended rollout timelines or the removal of the fees altogether, raising concerns about housing affordability and the broader economic impact.
Keith Ehlers, a former planning commission member, strongly criticized the city for causing part of its own need for increased funds, particularly after participating in recent updates to transportation and parks and recreation regulations.
“This is what we get when we allow policy changes and policymaking to happen with an explicit denial of consideration for the costs of what we’re implementing,” Ehlers said. “It was not allowed for any of us on stakeholder groups or anything to talk about costs or what alternatives could impact costs, because we’ll figure out how to pay for it later.”
Resident Donald Hunger questioned the broader implications of the fee increases.
“Why is the city increasing fees and regulations consistently on market-rate houses while fast-tracking subsidized housing?” Hunger asked, advocating for a focus on homeownership as a means of building wealth.
Nancy Strippel, chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, emphasized the importance of implementing the originally recommended impact fees, saying, “These numbers were derived with great care.”
“If we choose to implement lower fees in any of the areas, whether it’s the parks or the transportation, we are saying that we no longer want to have the same quality of life that we have now,” said Nancy Strippel chair of the parks and recreation advisory board. Photo by Brandon Leuallen.
She warned against lowering fees, arguing, “It doesn’t make Grand Junction a more affordable place to live to not use the... impact fees. It just shifts who’s paying.”
She highlighted the consideration of park resources in the study process, saying, “The parks staff went through and enumerated everything we had.”
Stripple added that not implementing the fees would mean compromising the current quality of life or raising taxes on existing residents to accommodate new community members.
Cindy Ficklin, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties, expressed concern about the challenges faced by firsttime homebuyers.
“Impact fees should not be considered in isolation. And from what I’ve seen in the discussions, we’ve only looked at impact fees by themselves,” said Mike Foster of Coldwell Banker. Photo by Brandon Leuallen.
“I work very hard to get my clients to the finish line, but if you continue to move the finish line out and out and out, eventually they won’t be able to reach it,” she said. “If that happens, they become renters again for another four years while home prices increase, and they’ve missed out on generational wealth.”
Candace Carnahan, president of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged the efforts made to address concerns about the fee increases.
“Thank you to staff for deep diving into that and really looking at how we could use previously used methods,” Carnahan said, appreciating the compromise that led to a reduced increase in commercial fees.
However, she also highlighted the ongoing challenge of workforce housing, urging continued collaboration and an extended rollout of new fee increases.
After public comment, Councilmember Dennis Simpson, who is nearing the end of his term, urged the council to consider alternative funding sources, and he suggested the city explore budget cuts to offset the need for increased fees.
Herman then rattled off a list of what he considered inaccuracies from speakers from the audience.
Councilmember Cody Kennedy motioned to move to a second reading with an amendment to extend the rollout period to five years instead of three. Simpson seconded the motion, but the other four council members in attendance did not approve it. Kennedy then submitted a motion for a three-year rollout, with the understanding that he would continue to pursue the five-year rollout in future readings. The council decided to proceed with a first reading of the ordinance.
The council is scheduled to revisit the issue April 2, allowing time for additional analysis and public input before the second reading.
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They belong together
Colorado Fruit Designs moves in with Carlson Vineyards downtown
Tim Harty The Business Times
Willy Tuz thinks it was June last year when he moved his store, Colorado Fruit Designs, out of Grand Junction’s Mesa Mall.
His store needs a little space, as in not much at all. As in not nearly as much as he was occupying, and paying for, in the mall.
The local chef, who has appeared several times on Food Network shows, still had his food trailer, and a lot of his work requires being mobile, so he was able to take his time finding a new place for Colorado Fruit Designs to call home.
His patience paid off with a pairing that’s a lot like chocolate and wine. Actually, that’s exactly what it is. He uses chocolate on his fruit trays, and Carlson Vineyards makes and sells wine.
It seemed like they belong together, and now they are. Tuz began operating his store in a small space inside Carlson Vineyards Downtown Tasting Room, 545 Main St. in Grand Junction, on March 1.
“Combining our stuff, our fresh fruit gifts, which is the chocolate fruit, with what Carlson Vineyards has, it’s like chocolate and wine. It’s like the best combination,” said Tuz, who started his business in 2019 with a focus on fruit carving, primarily watermelons.
Carlson Vineyards’ owner Garrett Portra agrees it makes perfect sense, something they could have planned during one of their meetings at events in years prior. But the way it came to be was more coincidental than logical.
Portra said Carlson Vineyards was interested in adding a renter in its downtown location, but he didn’t advertise it. Instead, “I kind of put word of mouth out that I was looking,” he said.
Then, one day Tuz walks into the store and asks about leasing space there.
“I don’t think he ever heard about it,” Portra said. “He just kind of came in one day and asked if I’d be interested” in leasing space to him.
It turned out Portra was.
“It just felt like it was going to be a good fit,” he said. “I feel like it was gonna be a good fit for both of us, because we’re doing a rebranding of our downtown space. We’re currently working on it, and it just fit with kind of the direction that I wanted to go with that space.
“But it was really more him kind of getting ahold of us and asking. It was pretty serendipitous that it just like worked out that way.”
The space is handy, too, because it gives Tuz a place for people to find him, which they may need to do more often. In addition to the fruit trays, he now is the area’s point person for Fruit Bouquets, which is owned by 1-800-Flowers, and Shari’s Berries.
Online orders for either come to Tuz, and he has all of the supplies he needs from both companies to prepare the fruit bouquet or the berries for customers to pick up at the store. Or, he can deliver.
The location also allows people to seek out the “celebrity” chef. His appearances on The Food Network yielded three runner-up finishes – Tuz said he almost cried the last time it happened – and he is surprised by the number of people who remember him from those shows: Outrageous Pumpkins All-Stars 2024; Halloween Wars Season 12; and Outrageous Pumpkins Season 1.
Tuz said strangers will come up to him and say, “Oh my God! We watched you on TV.”
Willy Tuz, owner of Colorado Fruit Designs, carving a watermelon for an Edesia event. Photo provided by Colorado Fruit Designs.
And that’s OK if they do it in the store. Maybe they’ll buy a gift basket or a fruit tray while they’re there.
Or maybe they’ll buy a bottle or two of Carlson Vineyards wine.
It only makes sense, as Portra said, “I think people that care about quality fruit and craft-made stuff, care about quality wine and craft-made wine.”
COLORADO FRUIT DESIGNS CONTACT INFO
To contact Colorado Fruit Designs, call 970-628-4775 or go online to www.coloradofruitdesigns.com.
To contact Carlson Vineyards, call 970-424-5827 or go online to www.carlsonvineyards.com. Or go to the store at 545 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction.
Economic summit aims to tackle growth and investment in Western Colorado
Sponsored tables are now on sale for $1,100 for the 2025 Western Colorado Economic Summit, which is hosted by the Grand Junction Economic Partnership and will take place April 24 at Colorado Mesa University from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sponsored tables include seating for 10 and company-logo placement. To reserve a table or learn more about the event, go online to www.gjep.org/wces.
General Admission tickets will go on sale starting March 24th.
The economic summit will recognize a local company and an individual who have significantly impacted economic development within Mesa County. Nominations for the Spirit of Economic Development Award and the Joseph C. Prinster Award will be accepted through April 4 and may be submitted to selena@gjep.org or online at gjep.org/wces.
The summit’s title sponsors are FCI Constructors and Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital.
The economic summit will open with a panel discussion by Mesa County, the City of Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa University and Mesa County School District 51 representatives, detailing key updates, areas of collaboration and strategies for success.
Then, for the first time, the summit will welcome a select group of site selection professionals from industries including tech, manufacturing, life sciences, tourism, retail and more. They will share their insights about the region’s key strengths, opportunities for business attraction and areas for improvement. The session’s intent is to provide an understanding of how Western Colorado can position itself for future investment and economic success.
Additional breakout sessions will include:
• Economic data presented by Dr. Nathan Perry of CMU’s Davis School of Business.
• Updates on the state of affordable housing in the area.
• Rural transportation challenges and opportunities.
• The economic importance of water and agriculture.
• An update on the RAPIDS Tech Hub initiative.
• Cyber hygiene with Kurtis Minder.
• Uncovering the economic impact of creative industries.
• Business and talent attraction.
GJEP will provide its annual update, detailing the organization’s economic impact, recent wins through business relocations or expansions, and upcoming goals.
“Our goal is to increase economic impact based on the number of jobs created and capital-expenditure impact facilitated by our organization’s business attraction and expansion efforts,” GJEP Executive Director Curtis Englehart said. “We are proud to share that in 2024, GJEP’s efforts resulted in a record-breaking $91,252,018 in economic impact, and we look forward to continuing this momentum in 2025. It is because of our investors and stakeholders that we can achieve this growth and host impactful events like the economic summit.”
GJEP’s full 2024 Annual Report, detailing its business attraction and expansion efforts, will be released later this month.
The Western Colorado Economic Summit is made possible through the support of its sponsors, including FCI Constructors, Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, Grand Junction Federal Credit Union, Conquest Development, High Country Beverage, West Star Aviation and Colorado Mesa University.
Perry,
Colorado
professor of economics, addresses a crowd during a presentation at the 2024 Western Colorado Economic Summit. Photo by Ryan Sanchez, courtesy of Grand Junction Economic Partnership.
Nathan
a
Mesa University
Curtis Englehart
economWestern courtesy of
Proposed housing at Matchett Park sparks community discussion
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
A proposal to develop housing on part of a 14-acre parcel at the front of Matchett Park, directly off Patterson Road, has sparked a range of reactions from local residents, reflecting differing views on affordable housing and whether housing is the proper use for land originally donated for recreation and schools.
The 14 acres originally was donated to School District 51, and the district had identified it as a spot for a future charter school and elementary school.
In 2014, the city developed a master plan for Matchett Park, which included the district’s parcel and two schools. However, in 2016, the district decided not to use the property and sold it to the city, leaving the parcel in limbo. Now, with construction of the new community rec center under way, the city is considering using the land for housing in partnership with the Grand Junction Housing Authority.
Community Perspectives
Community members have voiced support and opposition to the proposed housing units on social media.
Supporters generally praise the idea of increasing subsidized housing for lower-income residents. Opponents, however, argue the city’s involvement in providing housing is outside the government’s role. Others, while supportive of more housing in the city, believe the project conflicts with the intended use of the property and goes against the wishes of the Matchett family, who donated the larger portion of the land to the city for parks and recreation rather than housing.
City’s Objectives
During a Feb. 24 workshop, Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbenou, Housing Manager Ashley Chambers and Jody Kole, the CEO of the Grand Junction Housing Authority, presented background on the proposed project. Their recommendation described the initiative as a strategic move to address the city’s affordable-housing shortage while also enhancing park security. It highlighted issues of vandalism and after-hours trespassing at Canyon View Park and argued that adding housing at Matchett Park could provide “eyes on the street,” helping deter illegal activities and safeguard community investments.
The background reads, “In February 2024, a memorandum was submitted to the City Council and later presented at the April 1, 2024, City Council Workshop; staff provided an inventory of City-owned and School District 51-owned land identified for potential affordable and mixed-income housing development
A
conceptual design for potential housing at Matchett Park. Photo courtesy of the City of Grand Junction.
to help reduce costs and facilitate affordable housing efforts. Matchett Park was among the sites identified. Following City Council’s direction, the City initiated discussions with the Grand Junction Housing Authority regarding a potential partnership for the site’s development.”
Furthermore, the background says, “In the City’s refreshed and adopted 2024 Housing Strategy, the City continues to look for opportunities to “Leverage Cityowned land for affordable and mixed-income housing.” Part of the strategy includes maintaining partnerships with local and regulation affordable housing developers that work to construct and deliver affordable units within the City. Ballot Measure 2b that passed by a vote of the people now allows the city to lease for up to 99 years, lands for affordable and workforce housing.”
Incentives and Costs
The passing of Proposition 123 in Colorado has further influenced the city’s goal to expedite subsidized and restricted units through the planning process. To encourage development in this sector the city has a voucher program that reimburses impact fees for qualifying units. The program requires long-term commitment.
“To qualify for fee waivers, affordable housing units
must have an affordability term of 30 years. This term must be enforced through a mechanism such as a recapture agreement, land use restriction, deed restriction, use covenant, or another comparable document commonly used in affordable housing models,” according to the city website.
Developing affordable housing has historically been more expensive than market-rate housing due to stringent regulations and requirements. According to the city’s proposed-linkage-fee presentation from Nov. 19, 2024, the rounded weighted cost per unit from affordable housing the city has already participated in is $388,000 per apartment.
Response from City
The Business Times reached out to the City of Grand Junction about the proposal, and Sherbenou responded: “The City now owning these 14 acres, they are available to meet needs beyond what was planned in the 2014 Matchett Master Plan. This includes allowing for the relocation of amenities that shifted with the final location of the Community Recreation Center (pickleball courts, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts and a skate park).
“Additionally, there is now room for two more full sized multi-use fields (for soccer, lacrosse and football) as well as softball fields, neither of which were envisioned in the 2014 Master Plan.
“The sum total is well beyond what was planned for parks and recreation in the 2014 Matchett Master Plan. Lastly, four acres is contemplated for the affordable housing on the east side of Matchett Parkway. These four acres are too small and not conducive to diamond or rectangular fields, which makes this the best location to meet this need.
“It’s far too early to determine the options of rent, lease, or own. While GJHA has primarily focused on rental housing for households under 60 percent area median income (AMI), new funding sources that are being explored could allow for mixed-income rental opportunities—so AMIs haven’t been set and won’t for some time. Everything depends on funding and site-specific details.”
Sherbenou concluded with: “Before any of the above can be explored, the City first needs to determine if the site is even viable, which starts with a lease or Letter of Intent for a lease allowing the housing authority to conduct environmental reviews, soil studies, and other information. Then, develop design plans based on findings while also determining demographics (those who will be served and AMIs) – then identification of funding sources to fund the project, which also could change the AMIs and demographics again.”
Don’t be deterred by the cost
term must be agreement, or another affordable housing historically been stringent the city’s 2024, the housing the apartment. of Grand responded: available to Matchett relocation location of the courts, tennis more full football) as envisioned in planned for Master Plan. affordable housing acres are rectangular this need. of rent, on rental median explored opportunities—so Everything the above determine if the or Letter authority to and other findings who will be funding sources AMIs and
Local fabric/craft shops hope former Joann’s customers see that quality matters
Tim Harty The Business Times
After news broke in mid-February that fabric and craft retailer Joann will close all of its stores nationally by the end of May, questions arose about which retailers might gain Joann’s former customers.
Retail news service Retail Dive reported that a Numerator survey suggests Hobby Lobby and Michaels stores stand to gain the most business from Joann’s demise, followed by online retailers, then the likes of Walmart and Target.
All four of those big-box retailers have stores in Grand Junction, but some small local businesses hope to see former Joann’s customers walk through their doors, too. Among them are Owl’s Nest Quilters, 527 Bogart Lane; Hi Fashion Sewing Machines & Quilt Shop, 2584 Patterson Road, Suite B; and Quilters Inspiration, 2487 Industrial Blvd., Unit 8.
“It’s definitely going to be sad to see them go, just for the history, the nostalgia and all of the fun stuff that they did offer,” Schneider said.
Simply put, no other store that hopes to earn business from former Joann shoppers will have the variety and amount of items that Joann carried.
Instead, they hope to offer something else. Owl’s Nest, Hi Fashion and Quilters Inspiration won’t have the much-larger inventory of Joann, but they say what they carry is higher quality. And they’re not speaking ill of the dying when they say that.
Hood said it’s well-known that Joann’s fabrics cost less because they aren’t as durable.
“Their quality of fabric is not as high as a quilt-shop-quality fabric,” she said. “They are different qualities. So, usually a quilt shop’s prices will be slightly higher because the quality is higher. But I do try to keep my prices as reasonable as possible.”
To be clear, none of them are dancing on the grave of Joann.
Owl’s Nest owner Carol Schneider said she started sewing when she was 5 years old, and she’s 65 now. She loved going to the Joann store and Hancock Fabrics where she grew up in Denver.
Quilters Inspiration owner Robin K. Hood said her store stays open late, until 7 p.m. daily, but Joann was open later than that, allowing her to shop there at night when she needed things that aren’t stocked in her own store.
Schneider hopes anyone who used to shop at Joann for the lower prices will consider her store’s quality materials are worth the extra cost.
“I’m hoping that people will maybe learn that there truly is a difference in quality, and if they want to create something that’s lasting, they need to put the higher quality of fabrics into their projects,” she said. “Because what we create can truly be heirlooms, which is not necessarily what you get from using Joann fabrics.”
See FABRIC on Page 14
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Jenni Stansberry, left, watches Kathy Morgan work during a paper-piecing class March 5 at Owl’s Nest Quilters. Photo by Tim Harty.
Significant decline in Mesa County Japanese Beetle population
After a successful summer treatment plan, Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction are celebrating an 85 percent reduction in Japanese beetle populations.
Found in the city of Grand Junction in the summer of 2022, Mesa County declared the beetle a public nuisance species in March 2023. Joined by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University Extension and the City of Grand Junction, Mesa County has worked to eradicate the species, which is a threat to crops and ornamental plants on the Western Slope.
“We saw a significant reduction in the number of beetles we found through our trapping efforts,” said Wondirad Gebru, director of the CDA’s Plant Industry Division. “Through our collaborative efforts with fruit producers, CSU Extension, and the City of Grand Junction, we’re seeing great success in the treatment plan implemented by Mesa County.”
The eradication of the pest is a multiyear project and started in July 2023. The first treatment was applied in Spring 2023. After the second full year of treatments, CDA trapped 830 beetles in or near the treatment area, down from 5,716 in 2023.
“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Mesa County Noxious Weed and Pest Management team, our partnership with the City of Grand Junction, Colorado State University Extension Office, and the generous support of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, we are proud to report such a significant reduction in Japanese beetle numbers in Mesa County,” Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel said. “The 85 percent decrease in the beetle population is a testament to the effectiveness of our targeted treatment strategy and collaborative approach. We remain committed to closely monitoring the data and aggressively treating hot-zone areas to safeguard our region’s
agriculture and economy against this destructive invasive pest.”
In 2024, CDA provided a one-time grant of $110,000 to Mesa County to help cover the cost of the treatment.
The Japanese beetle is an invasive pest that can cause tremendous damage to western Colorado’s agricultural economy, including peaches, grapes, sweet corn and other crops. The beetle can be found on more than 300 species of plants, including ornamental plants in urban spaces, including turf grass and decorative flowers.
Mesa County beat back a Japanese beetle infestation in the early 2000s after the beetle was discovered by a master gardener in the county in 2002. According to data from the Upper Grand Valley Pest Control District, the area around the district acted decisively to eradicate the pest and reduced its population by 99 percent over five years. Due to quick and decisive action, the pest did not cause significant damage to fruit crops grown in the region.
To protect the state’s fruit and wine industry, a quarantine is in place that prevents the import of commodities that carry the Japanese beetle from affected areas, including the Front Range, to areas not under quarantine, such as Mesa County. The Pest Control Act gives CDA the authority to establish an intrastate quarantine to restrict the movement of nursery materials to prevent the spread of pests.
In addition to fighting invasive pests, CDA’s Plant Industry Division provides a broad array of programs and services related to crop production, environmental health and export certification. The division regulates hemp producers, nursery and seed distributors, organic producers, plant imports and more.
Japanese Beetles. Photo courtesy of Mesa County.
destructive grant of cover the cost invasive pest western including crops. The 300 species in urban decorative Japanese beetle beetle was county in Upper Grand around the pest and over five action, the pest fruit crops industry, the import Japanese beetle quarantine, such as intrastate of pests. provides a broad health and distributors,
Brewery
Continued from Page 2
Gemini Beer Company’s Todd Williamson added, “I might have a little input like, ‘Hey, this is probably what I would do, you know, but do it how you will on your specific recipe.’”
Williamson and Frye also plan to take advantage of warm weather and the big yard in front of the building, which once upon a time housed R-5 High School.
“We’re gonna utilize the lawn as much as we can this spring and summer,” Williamson said. “I mean, that’s a huge feature for us that, at least in the downtown area, nobody else really has.
“They’re gonna have a big one over there by the Edgewater location. They’re gonna have that same feature. But really between them and us, I don’t know that there’s anybody else with the big lawn to utilize, and that does help us stand out here. We’re very fortunate for that.”
RECKLESS HITS BREWING JACKPOT
Klase made physical changes with an interior renovation, but he kept one thing the same for a while when he opened back up as Reckless Brewing. He had the beer that Suds Brothers left behind.
“When we first opened, part of the acquisition was they left us with their inventory, so we ran that out, and it gave us beer to run on tap while we were still in our brewing process and getting licensed,” Klase said. “So, while we were going through that, we were fortunate enough to still have product to sell across our tap systems.
“But now we’re 100 percent Reckless Brewing. Everything that we brew, make and offer is all of our own recipes.”
A major part of the appeal of the Suds Brothers property to Klase was its location and what was inside for brewing craft beers.
“This is a great location, obviously prime real estate, downtown Fruita,” Klase said. “The brewing system here is absolutely immaculate.
“The property we had purchased up in De Beque, I have 2,000 square feet of my building (there) that we’re not using. We were going to originally put a brewing system up there, because this has been me and my dad’s dream was to always own a restaurant and brewery concept.
“So, we have this space up at our other restaurant that was the plan initially, and then when we found out that Suds Brothers was interested in selling, I had already been here and I know their facility. Our brewing system here is designed exactly for this space. It is very streamlined, very efficient. So, when we found out that they were interested in selling, we thought it was a very good opportunity that we wouldn’t want to pass up on, miss out on.”
Photo courtesy of Gemini Beer Co.
Continued from Page 2
Base Camp Beer Works owner Brian Fischer added, “So, while our projections for this year are to produce and sell about the same amount of beer, we can only charge so much for it. At some point the consumer is going to say, ‘I don’t want to pay $8, $9 for a beer.’ So, while we’re producing and selling the same amount of beer, our revenue is shrinking, because our expenses are growing while our prices for our product are not.”
Rob James, co-founder and co-owner of Ramblebine Brewing Company, 457 Colorado Ave., added, “We’re all coming off a 2024 that was a down year for the craft beer industry as a whole. It was the first down year for craft beer in 10 or 15 years. I forget the numbers, but the Brewers Association was estimating the industry to be down at eight, eight-and-a-half percent last year as a whole.”
Dutch thinks a couple more breweries may be all it takes to send the Grand Valley into oversaturation. And based on the trends he sees, he thinks it’s inevitable.
“Here on the Western Slope, we’re eight to 10 years behind the Front Range,” he said. “So, eight years ago (in the Denver area), it was thriving, and new places were opening, and it was like: Boom, done, you’re set. Now it’s harder. So, yeah, the eight to 10 years is just something that we’ve noticed.
“I don’t know if you find data on that, but I think it’s true with beer styles that we’re behind; or it’s true with the housing market, we’re behind; it is true with tourism, we’re behind; the breweries opening up, the restaurants, we’re just behind. So, I wouldn’t be surprised in eight years we’re gonna have some of these same issues that the Front Range is seeing now.”
All that said, life as a brewery or brewpub in the Grand Valley has been sustainable, and Zahrte sees it staying that way for a while.
I don’t think we’re gonna see anything like what has been seen out in the Front Range in the Valley anytime soon,” he said. “I think it’s only gonna be growth here, and hopefully continued, sustained growth for many years. I think the Valley has the opportunity.
“I think it really does leave a lot of opportunity for others and a lot of opportunity for the existing breweries like ours to continue to expand. As we change our offerings and have different seasonal rotations, we can get better penetration as well. I think more competition is only an exciting thing rather than, you know, a detriment to the existing businesses, expanding-too-fast thing.”
Klase’s decision to buy Suds Brothers made it clear he thinks things are sustainable in Fruita, even with Copper Club Brewing Company, 153 Mulberry St., and Base Camp Provisions, 155 Mulberry St., a stone’s throw down the street from his business, which is at the corner of East Aspen Avenue and Mulberry.
He renamed the brewery Reckless Brewing Company, but there was nothing reckless about his decision-making. For starters, he checked how the population’s trending.
“As an entrepreneur, business owner, that was one of the things I researched,” he said. “How’s my demographic growth looking? What are the projections? And it’s only showing projected growth for the Grand Valley area right now.”
Copper Club Brewing co-owner Michele Collins didn’t have any statistics in front of her, but she’s seeing what Klase is seeing, and along with it there’s the tourism benefits and the Fruita faithful.
“The tourism industry has built up, so it’s like our busiest times are spring and fall, the mountain-biking times, so a lot of people are coming to Fruita then,” she said. “We just have a good local base, so that kind of keeps us going. More people moving here, that’s helping.”
Brian Oliver, general manager and co-owner of The Rock Slide Brew Pub, 401 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction, pours a Horsethief IPA at the bar.
Photo by Tim Harty.
Fabric
Continued from page 9
Likewise, Hi Fashion Sewing Machines & Quilt Shop instructor and fabric buyer Angela Jones said her store believes quality matters, and Hi Fashion carries higher quality fabrics and definitely sewing machines.
“We sell high-quality sewing machines, because there is a difference,” she said. “Our sewing machines have metal parts inside instead of plastic parts, so they’re longer lasting.”
And it’s not that you can’t get a good deal on something at a small store, as Jones added, “We also have a good selection in our clearance corner.”
Jones, Schneider and Hood don’t fault people for wanting to spend less. Maybe they can’t afford anything more expensive. Or maybe they don’t realize there’s a difference and how dramatic it can be.
“They may not even know the difference between a quality cotton and a Joann’s or Walmart cotton,” Jones said. “But there, you can educate them and maybe get their business. “
That education is something the small, local stores can offer that Joann could not, especially classes.
Schneider said Joann frequently referred customers to her for sewing classes.
“If people want to learn how to sew, how to quilt, to learn their machines, then they need to come here,” she said. “I as the owner emphasize education a great deal, so we have classes going on every day.”
Jones said Hi Fashion has classes in its classroom nearly every day, from beginner classes, new machine-owner classes to advanced classes.
Ultimately, the small shops that stand to benefit from Joann’s departure from the market hope people will give them a look.
“We specialize in panels and novelty fabrics,” Hood said, “and a lot of people go to Joann’s for the novelty fabrics. So, hopefully we pick up a lot of the people that do quilting.”
Jones added, “We’re hoping they’ll find us. … If they come to you, you have a chance at least.”
High Fashion Sewing Machines & Quilt Shop owner Jeff Vogel stands in front of a fabric display in his store. Photo by Tim Harty.
The Colorado legislature is back to business
The new presidential administration, perhaps more so than in the recent past, presents an embarrassment of riches for constitutional lawyers, including employment practitioners. A bewildering eruption of executive orders, personnel actions, lawsuits and countersuits is already underway.
As a constitutional and employment attorney, I would love to jump in. But I don’t need to jump into the volcano to advise readers on the temperature of the lava. So, I am waiting out these salvos on the federal front to give more concrete advice to readers as matters sort themselves out.
Instead, I will discuss some bills introduced by the Colorado Legislature that may affect employers in the future. This year looks similar to last year. After several years of frenetic legislative changes affecting employers, last year was relatively quiet. So far, this year also proposes modest changes for employers.
Senate Bill 25-083 would broaden protection for doctors, dentists and registered nurses under Colorado laws regulating noncompete agreements. On August 10, 2022, HB 22-1317, “Concerning Restrictive Employment Agreements,” was enacted into law. The new law established sweeping new restrictions for employers using noncompete and other restrictive employment agreements. The updated version of C.R.S. 8-2-113 specified that any covenant not to compete in an employment, partnership or corporate agreement could not restrict the right of a physician to practice medicine. But HB 22-1317 only allowed a physician to disclose his or her continued practice of medicine and contact information to any patient with a rare disorder.
SB 25-083 would expand this exception, allowing doctors, dentists and registered nurses leaving a medical practice to provide patients to whom the health-care provider was providing consultation or treatment before the health-care provider’s departure from a medical practice the following information: 1) the health-care provider’s continuing practice of medicine; 2) the health-care provider’s new professional contact information; and 3) the patient’s right to choose a medical provider. The Senate’s Business, Labor and Technology Committee had a hearing on this bill on March 6.
Senate Bill 25-074 would have established an exemption from the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program for employers whose workforces consist of 51 percent or higher specialized employees. But on Feb. 11, the Senate State, Veterans
and Military Affairs Committee voted 3-2 to indefinitely postpone this bill.
A “highly specialized employee” is one whose job description or duties 1) involve responsibilities that are not easily transferrable; 2) requires a specific or unique advanced degree that limits the pool of replacements; or 3) require a skill set that is rare or in high demand. The exemption would not apply automatically. Qualifying employers would need to reapply annually to the Division of Family and Medical Leave Insurance for approval.
This bill is sponsored by Republicans in the Senate and the House. Because the bill relaxes Colorado’s tight limitations on restrictive agreements, albeit modestly, this bill faces opposition in Colorado’s Democratic-controlled legislature, and it is unlikely to return in this legislative session.
House Bill 25-1286 would require employers to provide protections for workers who are exposed to “extreme hot and cold temperatures” at the worksite. Protections would include temperature mitigation measures, rest breaks and temperature-related injury and illness prevention plans.
The goal of this bill is laudable, but the bill is complex, and some required measures could create difficulties for employers. For example, the “initial heat trigger” for the protections to apply is set at a heat index of only 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the “initial cold trigger” is set at 30 degrees Fahrenheit. But other triggers exist, triggered by combinations of wind speed and humidity. And some of the remedial measures contain very specific requirements such as specific drinking-water temperatures, gradual acclimatization of new employees to heat exposure, and varying break requirements.
This bill is sponsored by leadership in both the House and Senate and will draw broad support. The Business and Labor Committee will consider this bill on March 13.
The Employers Council provides its members frequent updates on legislative actions that affect employers and resources for understanding and applying new legal requirements. And Employers Council consulting and enterprise level members may speak directly with our human resources professionals and employment attorneys at any time for advice on complying with proposed and new legislation.
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Dean Harris is the Western Slope Area Managing Attorney for the Employers Council. The Employers Council counsels, represents and trains member employers in all phases of the employment relationship. For more information, call Dean at 970-852-0190 or email him at
Dean Harris
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Lead the way with exceptional customer service
With every interaction and transaction, a business gives its customers a positive, neutral or negative feeling.
The last two have no place in a thriving company, while the first is a necessary component to happiness and success.
In all likelihood, you can recall some experiences as a consumer that left you with a positive, if not a great, feeling. The value you received during these interactions endeared you to these companies, creating loyalty and repeat business. The money and time you spent was well worth it, and you walked away with a positive, satisfied and happy feeling.
You’ve also likely engaged businesses that left you wishing you had never walked through their doors. In most cases, this may have been because of the poor customer service you received, an inferior product or bad and uncaring attitudes.
Even if your experience was a neutral one – not negative, but not positive either – the trust and loyalty that is so vital for customers to have was not nurtured in you.
What business can afford the negative impact on its customers, and therefore the bottom line, from the lack of positive experiences? No matter the economic environment, customers matter, and the unhappy ones tend to have a far greater negative impact on your reputation and business success.
So, where does the quality of the experience your customers receive start?
If you answered at the top with you, the business owner, then you are correct. You are the leader of your company. This means that all of your team members take their cues for
behavior and performance directly from you. Your attitude and behavior set the standard in your organization.
When the owner of a business truly cares about people, they will endeavor to provide them – both team members and customers alike – with the best experience possible.
These leaders understand that when their team feels good about the people and company they work for, they will have a greater tendency to impart those same good feelings to patrons through a positive attitude and exceptional customer service. They know their well-chosen and highly trained staff will likely follow their lead and strive to give each and every customer a great experience.
The wisest business owners, the ones who “lead” rather than “boss,” hire people with a good skill set and more importantly a caring and positive attitude. In addition, these leaders create and work to maintain an uplifting and supportive work environment that fosters the positive attitudes of their fellow team members. By doing so, engagement goes up, and team members feel they are part of a solid team who, together, consistently deliver a positive experience to each customer.
Along the road of business, you will encounter team members who prove to be unable or unwilling to maintain a positive and caring attitude. In these cases, your best choice is to let these “bad apples” go. Negative team members are like a cancer within any organization, damaging the morale of the team, diminishing customer relations and ultimately hurting the business.
You will also experience customers that are never satisfied, no matter how well you serve them. They will always find something to complain about and some reason to bring negativity into your business. Toxic customers, just like negative and uncaring team members, must be let go of. Otherwise, you risk contaminating the positive experience your company provides and subjecting your
team members to unjust treatment.
In return for receiving a good feeling from your business, most customers you serve will be fiercely loyal to your brand. They will refer potential new customers and may even assist in negating any bad-mouthing you may be experiencing.
All of this leads back to and affects the bottom-line of your business. This will result in more sales and a feeling of accomplishment in providing a consistent, high-quality experience.
The majority of customers and team members have attitudes that contribute to a positive two-way experience. When you hire people with great attitudes, then supply them with training, support and a positive work environment, you have set the stage for exceptional customer service, the kind that leaves customers feeling great about your business.
Give yourself and your business the gift of an honest self-appraisal. If you find that your leadership style, current team, work environment or your customer service could benefit from the support of a qualified coaching professional, then take that next step and invest in your excellence.
The success of your company and the happiness of everyone involved is on the line.
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Marcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives filled with happiness and success. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub at (970) 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.
Marcus Straub
service
Hey, all we did was ask a good question or two
Well, news broke recently that the City of Grand Junction was abandoning its plans to acquire the property next door to HomewardBound as the new location to move the homeless resource center.
And at The Business Times, we’ve received a few accolades as being a catalyst for this occurrence. I guess that’s fine. I suppose we played some small role.
But from my desk this morning, let’s just say I’m a tad melancholy about the whole affair. I’m not thrilled we had to bring it to everyone’s attention.
Now, you may say that The Business Times, through its editorial, brought to light serious concerns about how our city is performing its role related to solving what is becoming an escalating, serious problem of homelessness in our town. Again, thank you. I think we did. Yet that makes me sad. Because why does so much of what our city does make most problems worse?
From my perspective this is about two things. One I just mentioned in how government sees its job. And the other, is in how I see mine and conversely, how all of us at The Business Times see ours.
And while it’s an old adage that hardly applies any longer to old-school media entities in our nation and across the globe, it’s still the simplest explanation of what the press should do: The press is here to speak truth to power. And the ultimate power in our country is the government.
It’s why freedom of the press is one of the first things mentioned on the parchment upon which we govern the country. And this isn’t about my truth. Any truth that’s subjective to one’s personal beliefs, feelings or desires isn’t truth. This has nothing to do with what I want. It has everything to do with what free people deserve.
Here’s a little truth for you: You aren’t free. But I digress.
Truth told, I’d love to go back to much of what The Business Times did so well in telling uplifting and quality stories about local businesses for its first 30 years of existence. As a matter of fact, we did it so well that our just retired editor of 25 years received the inaugural “Spirit of Business Award” from the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. Frankly, the award should be named for Phil Castle, as no one has done, or will do, for businesses in the Grand Valley what Phil did with The Business Times. Speaking of business and Phil, he sure made it easy to sell advertising for my business. The product Phil forged through his wonderful work is now allowing me a new opportunity to do things a little differently. Some of this will be a major disappointment
to those who put answers on our latest surveys saying, “Stop doing MAGA stories” or “less conservative opinion.” Probably not gonna happen. In fact, you’ll probably see a double down on these things, which generally fall under our “opinion” section – a section I hope grows to several pages in this new iteration of The Business Times.
But back to the topic at hand. The truth we strive for here at The Business Times isn’t about MAGA, or conservatism or “right wing” journalism. Those are just labels from folks who have a difference of OPINION. Because that’s much of the feedback is whether we’re doing a story, editorial or I do some sounding off (which is a LOT) in the paper.
When we did a story about the Fourth and Fifth Streets’ ongoing boondoggle (I can say that here, it’s an opinion piece), using actual quotes from our mayor, the “communications staff” from the city demanded retractions, saying the story went in a different direction than they thought it would (even though they sat in on the interview) and that The Business Times call the mayor Abram and not Abe when referring to our local potentate. A request, mind you, which has not been made to any other media organization, let alone the city uses itself in almost all its communications, as they all still call him Abe.
But oddly, the city didn’t dispute any of the information in the story.
When we ran the editorial on relationships between HomewardBound, its board of directors and our city council and the appearance of a conflict of interest in the rewarding of the contract for the resource center and subsequent attempt to purchase the real estate next door to HomewardBound to move the resource center into after its temporary location closes this spring, the city simply demanded a retraction of our opinion. And its evidence for retraction? Its opinion differed.
Sorry, City of Grand Junction, if you want your opinion as a story without questions, there are other media outlets more than willing to do it in River City. As for me and my house, we’ll keep asking questions and going wherever the answers lead us. Will this tact create a more difficult journey reporting on the city? Given the makeup of the council right now, I’d say yes.
But the times (and The Business Times) change, pendulums swing, and elections have consequences. We’re about to see that in the next city council election in a few weeks.
And yes, we’ll have questions for those winners. Hopefully, we’ll have elected folks happy to answer them.
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Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.
Colorado’s Education Crisis:
Broken promises and backdoor budget cuts
Gov. Jared Polis has supported HB 241448, the recently passed school-finance reform bill, as a historic step forward in education funding. But the reality? It still fails to address Colorado’s chronic underfunding of schools.
While the bill eliminates the Budget Stabilization Factor, it does not provide adequate funding for districts to meet the state’s own educational goals. Still, it was undoubtedly a step in the right direction. The new formula prioritizes student characteristics to allocate funds more equitably. Specifically, it increases funding weights for students who are at-risk, English Language Learners and those receiving special education services.
School District 51 supported HB 24-1448 under the explicit promise that it would include hold-harmless protections and enrollment averaging. Without these protections, we knew the financial impact would be severe. If D51 was forced to eliminate enrollment averaging today, we would face a $9 million shortfall. Coupled with ongoing declining enrollment, this creates a significant financial challenge for our district.
For the first time in 2024, the Colorado Adequacy Study was state-funded, and what did it find? Colorado is underfunding K-12 education by $4.1 billion, with an average per-student funding gap of $4,600. Colorado ranks 35th in the nation for per-pupil funding, and D51 ranks 174th out of 178 districts.
Rather than following through on his promise, Governor Polis is breaking it and using the elimination of averaging as a “backdoor” Budget Stabilization Factor. Instead of being transparent about his budget priorities, he is cutting school funding through a technical maneuver that achieves the same effect as the old Budget Stabilization Factor –just with a different name.
Fallout of Eliminating Enrollment Averaging
Removing enrollment averaging without a transition plan forces districts into immediate financial turmoil. Schools are expected to suddenly adjust to new funding models without time or resources to make responsible financial decisions.
Polis is now attempting to spin this as fiscal responsibility, claiming he is protecting taxpayer dollars by eliminating funding for so-called “phantom students.” The reality? His approach is neither fair nor well-planned.
The long-standing practice of enrollment averaging has provided funding stability for districts facing fluctuating student populations. Most districts, from liberal urban areas to conservative rural communities, rely on it to maintain financial stability. This isn’t a partisan issue.
As a member of the Executive Board of
the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Legislative Resolution Committee and a local school board, I have seen widespread frustration across the state. Instead of working with school leaders to create a transition plan, Polis has pulled the rug out from under us.
If the governor truly wants to be fiscally responsible in the short term, he should eliminate special-interest projects and refocus state priorities on essential governance, including education, safety, security and transportation, not shift the burden onto schools.
The Impact on District 51
If Gov. Polis does not follow through with the way HB24-1448 was intended, the consequences will be devastating for school districts across Colorado. In D51, the impact will be severe. Even a slight change to the averaging formula will create financial instability. If Polis eliminates it entirely, we must brace for a funding crisis that could jeopardize the progress we’ve made over the last four years:
• Increased teacher pay.
• Built financial reserves.
• Improved educational outcomes. D51 has been fiscally responsible while prioritizing students and teachers.
Colorado Must Reprioritize Its Budget
The state cannot continue shortchanging school districts while funneling money into pet projects that do little to serve students, teachers or communities.
For perspective:
• 2005: The entire Colorado state budget was $6 billion.
• 2025: The budget is now $32 billion, a 433 percent increase.
• Meanwhile, Colorado’s population has only grown by 28 percent.
Compare that to D51’s budget:
• 2005: $112.5 million.
• 2025: $249 million, a 121 percent increase, while the state’s budget has grown four times faster.
The numbers speak for themselves. The state has dramatically increased spending, but education funding has not kept pace.
No More Games – Make a Real Plan
While I agree that funding should not go to phantom students, districts need time to plan. It is disingenuous to suddenly claim fiscal conservatism while the broader budget tells a very different story. If the governor truly wants responsible spending, he should start by cutting wasteful special-interest projects, not balancing the budget on the backs of students and teachers. Education. Safety. Security. Transportation. These are the core priorities Colorado must focus on. Balancing the budget at the expense of students and teachers is not leadership. It’s a betrayal of Colorado’s future.
F Andrea Haitz is president of the Mesa County Valley School District 51 Board of Education.
Andrea Haitz
Craig Hall
n HEARING CLINIC MOVING TO LARGER OFFICE
Western Colorado Hearing Clinic outgrew its current space and is moving to a larger location in Grand Junction.
The audiology, tinnitus and cognitive-care provider is moving to 605 25 Road, Unit 100, in the Sunplex office building. The audiology practice has been in business for more than a decade at its current location off 12th Street. The new location is more than 2,500 square feet and includes four sound booths/exam rooms, an ear-cleanser room, tele-health appointment office, hearing aid lab, conference room and reception area.
“Our new location is more than doubling the space of our current location,” said Dr. Jennifer Bebee, owner of Western Colorado Hearing Clinic. “As our practice grows and we hire more clinicians, it was time for us to get a bigger space. This provides us with more opportunity to grow and offer even more services to our patients and the communities we serve.”
She added, “Quality care and a top-notch patient experience is very important to us. We pride ourselves on taking our time with each of our patients to make sure they understand the testing, the results and the best treatment options for their lifestyle. Our style of care takes time and space. It’s going to be nice to have more elbow room. We can’t wait to unveil it to our patients and the community.”
After closing for five days to move, Western Colorado Hearing Clinic will reopen at their new location at noon on March 12. It will host a Grand Re-Opening celebration in conjunction with the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce on March 24 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend to tour the new space, meet the team, enter to win door prizes and enjoy refreshments.
In celebration of the Grand Re-Opening, the clinic is offering 10 percent off hearing aids from March 13 to April 30. Some exclusions may apply. You must mention the offer or bring a copy of the ad to your appointment to receive the discount.
To learn more about services offered at Western Colorado Hearing Clinic, visit www.wchearingclinic.com.
n CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE RECEIVES $7,500 SETTLEMENT
The Center for Independence, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, is being awarded $7,500 as part of a legal settlement stemming from an employment disability discrimination case in Mesa County. The funds will support the nonprofit’s efforts to provide disability rights and etiquette training to local employers and employees, fostering more inclusive workplaces.
The case, handled by attorneys Dan Robinson and Nicholas Mayle of Ramos Law Office in Grand Junction, involved a young man with intellectual disabilities who faced severe mistreatment from coworkers and inadequate support from supervisors. Rather than escalating the matter to court, the employer opted to settle, providing direct compensation to the young man while also directing funds toward broader workplace inclusivity efforts.
For more information about Center for Independence, 740 Gunnison Ave., and its mission, please visit www.cfigj.org or contact the Grand Junction office at 970-241-0315.
n FREE WEBINAR ADDRESSES COLORADO’S FAMLI ACT
Colorado HR Connection is presenting a free webinar featuring experts from the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment’s FAMLI Division on the nuances of FAMLI.They will discuss compliance requirements, interaction with other leave benefits, and practical strategies.
This webinar will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 25.
The speakers – Mona Karpouzos, Adam Sirimarco and Erin Bustamante-Trinidad – are senior policy advisors who will review current requirements, give insight into navigating the additional responsibilities and clarify who bears the burden for contingency staffing. To participate, the webinar registration link is: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ BYdfOOjNRJG_kPQTLh_2Uw#/registration
n INPUT SOUGHT FOR REC CENTER BRANDING
The Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department is asking community members to partake in an online survey and interactive community meeting regarding the Community Recreation Center.
The survey will be available through April 6, and feedback will help guide the facilities brand development.
The interactive community meeting will take place April 1, 5:30 p.m., at the Lincoln Park Barn, 910 N. 12th St. Staff will provide project updates, and gather feedback from residents on brand elements. Attendees can participate in hands-on activities and sign up for upcoming construction tours of the new rec center.
“The vision for the Community Recreation Center is to create a community hub that promotes an active and healthy lifestyle for all generations,” Parks and Recreation Director, Ken Sherbenou said. “We’re excited to continue engaging with community members as community input has led this process all along.”
City Council adopted the final plan for the rec center in November 2022, and an April 2023 ballot initiative approved by voters included a 0.14 percent sales tax increase and the debt necessary to build the facility. The facility has been expanded beyond the initial plan with awarded grants and partnerships.
For more information about the Community Recreation Center got to the City website, www.gjcity.org, or EngageGJ.org.
n WINE & WHISKERS GALA TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets are on sale now for the Wine & Whiskers Gala, presented by Comet Cleaners. The event, which benefits Roice-Hurst Human Society is scheduled to take place March 29 at Two Rivers Winery & Chateau, 2087 Broadway, Grand Junction.
The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. for general-admission ticketholders. VIP ticketholders arrive at 6 p.m. and get a wine-and-food-pairing presentation, private patio seating, a commemorative etched wine glass and a ticket for a door-prize drawing.
There also is a Gala-at-Home option in which you can have a bottle of wine at home, partake in the silent auction, and have a goodie bag hand-delivered to your front door
For more information and to purchase tickets go online to rhhumanesociety.org/gala.
n WALMART/SAM’S CLUB CAMPAIGN BENEFITS FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES
For the 12th straight year, Walmart and Sam’s Club locations nationwide will take part in the “Fight Hunger, Spark Change Campaign.” The campaign seeks to inspire customers to take action and help provide access to the nourishing food people need to thrive. Here’s how it works:
From now through March 31, shoppers can participate by:
• Donating at the checkout. Customers can donate at the register in stores or clubs or round up their purchases at Walmart.com and the Walmart app.
• Purchasing participating products. A portion of proceeds from specially marked products purchased in store or online at Walmart.com or SamsClub.com will be donated to the campaign.
• Making a direct donation online. People can give directly to the campaign at either www.feedingamerica.org/walmart or www.feedingamerica.org/samsclub.
Last year, Western Slope Walmart and Sam’s Club shoppers raised enough funds for Food Bank of the Rockies to provide nearly 500,000 meals to individuals and families across Colorado.
“Every donation – big or small – makes a difference. Together, we can ensure no one has to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Sue Ellen Rodwick, Western Slope Director for Food Bank of the Rockies.
