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Pool advocates lobby Mt. Crested Butte DDA for new Rec Center

Serving children to “gray-heads”

By Mark Reaman

A crowd of approximately 20 people from the north end of the valley who passionately want a pool and rec center spoke to the Mt. Crested Butte Downtown Development Authority (DDA) on Monday, September 11 and were told their best shot might be spearheading some sort of partnership with the DDA and the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation (Met Rec) District.

The group was there with the hope of using some DDA money that had been freed up with the dissolution of the Biery-Witt Center. Millions of dollars of expected revenue from the DDA had been earmarked for the center.

The board explained that the Biery-Witt figures were based on a potential extending of the DDA until 2046. That has not yet happened and expected revenues until the current end of the DDA in 2026 are closer to $7 million or $8 million.

“That money is anticipated and not in the bank,” said DDA board member and Mt. Crested Butte mayor Todd Barnes, who explained some of the details of the DDA and how it was set to work with the performing arts center. “Canceling Biery-Witt freed up money but the expectation, without any economic crash, is about $7 million more would be generated between now and the end of the DDA’s life in 2026. We should have about $2 million by the end of this year.”

The DDA was discussing other possible uses of the money and parking was a major priority. They have committed just over a million dollars to obtain the land behind the Nordic Inn as part of a planned unit development (PUD) with the new lodge owners. There is expected to be some major work and wetland mitigation as part of that deal. It will contain at least 150 public parking spots.

But the people wanted to advocate for a pool, not parking.

Long-time pool proponent Moss Wagner suggested taking a survey of town citizens to see how they want the DDA to prioritize the funds. “A town this affluent should have what places like Telluride and Gunnison have,” he said. “I’m obviously for the pool but more important, I’d suggest conducting a survey of everybody to see what the citizens want.”

DDA chairman Gary Keiser said an aquatic center was on the list of possibilities for use of DDA funds. But traditionally, such facilities have been expensive to build and to operate.

Town manager Joe Fitzpatrick said a survey was conducted in July 1996 and a Rec Center was high on the list. “So we had a building designed and priced out in 2007 and then in 2009 a firm familiar with such facilities did a feasibility study. In 2009 the building would cost $16 million to build. I’d hate to think what that big building would cost today,” he said. “The feasibility was also dependent on the entire county using it and it had a projected operating deficit of about $500,000 per year with no source to fund that. So the DDA laid that project to the side.”

Wagner said all the entities in the north end of the valley, the town of Crested Butte and Crested Butte South for example, should be expected to pitch in for the project.

DDA board member Janet Farmer said the growth projections from the 2009 study were way off. While the number of children in the upper valley was expected to be about 325 in 2013, the current Crested Butte Community School enrollment is more than 700. “That tells me the study might need updated and a whole new projection could be needed,” Farmer said.

“The Rec Centers that run really, really well, like the ones in the Denver metro area, don’t generate 100 percent of their operating expenses,” said Fitzpatrick. “Probably at least 50 percent of those costs would have to come from a tax or mill levy. There is the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District and in my view that is who should be taking this on. Not the town of Mt. Crested Butte, in my opinion.”

Resident Michael Vaughn suggested relying on a 2009 study was irresponsible. “It is not just people who would live here that would use it,” he said. “When we travel we use them all the time. There are plenty of people who come here and don’t ski and there is nothing for them to do. Before you sell yourselves short, at least ask for a better public comment process. At least do a public survey.”

Board member Al Smith emphasized that their study found a potential Rec Center would be hugely expensive to operate. “It wasn’t just a really bad idea, it was a really, really bad idea,” he said. “When we realized it could bankrupt the town we put it aside so I’m not really in favor of it.”

Cassia Cadenhead has lived in Mt. Crested Butte for five years and she ran down a 10-point list of why it was a good idea to build the aquatic center while staying financially responsible. “I think we can be creative with funding options,” she said. “Growth here has been tremendous since 2009 so it is certainly worth updating the study. Just look at the growth in the community school. The demographics are also changing here. You can earn a city salary and live in paradise with (internet) opportunities. The center could also include underground parking.

“We are the only major ski resort in Colorado without a public pool,” Cadenhead continued. “It doesn’t have to be ginormous. But it provides activities for down days that help make a good vacation for guests. With the Trailhead possibly leaving, the childcare situation on the mountain will be very different. Also, local kids would use it and it is an alternative for kids to stay out of trouble. It can be a cradle to grave opportunity for the community.”

Keir Wark, who has an eight-year-old son, agreed. “As he gets older I see fewer places for kids to hang out,” she said. “This would be an opportunity to have a place for kids to hang out. It would be safe with constructive things for them to do.”

Trudy Frazier said as some of the population ages, a rec center would be a draw. “It is good for seniors. Not everyone can ski and hike like they used to,” she noted. “It is not a bad thing to have a gym to walk around as more gray-heads move here. We use the one in Gunnison and it does the job but traveling there can be a drag. A rec center here would help the health and wealth of the area.”

Janae Pritchett asked the board to at least consider the idea anew. “Before anyone says no, open your minds and say maybe,” she asked. “Set up a committee to look further into this. We’ll help. Our family goes to the Gunnison Rec Center and every time we are there, probably half of the people are from Crested Butte.”

Annie McFarland said given the number of people who incur some sort of injury recreating in the area, a pool would be used as a valuable place for rehab.

“I didn’t mean to be negative so I would love it if you could find a way to make it happen,” said Smith. “But a big part of that means writing checks or working to pass a tax. This board by itself can’t make it happen.”

“I personally agree with most of what has been said here today,” added Keiser.

“There is an obvious interest and desire for this in the community,” said Farmer. “I’m not sure we are the right entity to spearhead the effort and do it. That might fall more on the Met Rec District. But I’m open to more study. It might be worth a conversation between us and Met Rec. It will take public organization.”

“I too am open to the idea and updating the study,” agreed board member Michael Kraatz.

“It is worth pursuing with the Met Rec District,” concluded Keiser.

Community calendar Thursday, July 20–Wednesday, July 26

THURSDAY 20
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15 a.m. CORE Moves ages 14+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 8 a.m. Ecumenical Meditation at UCC.
• 8-9:15 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 8:30 a.m. Women’s book discussion group at UCC.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m.-noon Dance Camp Ages 3-5 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 9 a.m.-noon Wildflower Affirmation Cards with the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 9:30-10:30 a.m. Outside Yoga at the Center of the Arts with Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9:30-10:45 a.m. Forrest Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 10 a.m. Mothering Support Group at Oh Be Joyful Church. (last Thursday of every month)
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 11:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• noon All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Church Community Healing Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• noon-1 p.m. BUTI Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon-4 p.m. Mt. Crested Butte Farmers Market at the CBMR base area. (runs thru August 31)
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 3-5 p.m. Watercolor & Wine at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ballet ages 9-11 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 4:30-6 p.m. Crested Butte Community Food Bank open at Oh Be Joyful Church. (first and third Thursday of every month)
• 4:40-7:15 p.m. Ballet & Prepointe Training ages 12+ at the Pump Room.
dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30 p.m. Bridge Night at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Vin-Yin Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Hatha Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 5:30-8 p.m. Silversmithing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044. (runs thru August 3)
• 5:45-7 p.m. Freestyle Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6 p.m. The Art of Relaxation with Mary Burt in the Art Studios at the Gunnison Arts Center. (runs through July 13)
• 6-7:15 p.m. Kundalini Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 6-9 p.m. Colorado Pallets AND Peaches in the Gunnison Arts Center Outdoor Courtyard.
• 6:30 p.m. AA Open Meditation at UCC.
• 7 p.m. Women Supporting Women Group Discussion at the Nordic Inn.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 21
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15-8:45 a.m. Aerial Conditioning/Open Aerial ages 15+ Center for the Arts Stage. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 7:30-8:30 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 8 a.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 349-6482.
• 8:45 a.m. Core Power Yoga Class at the Pump Room.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Yoga for the Flexibly Challenged / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Modern Fusion ages 14+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 9-10:15 a.m. Iyengar Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Open Wheel Throwing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Simple Sketch Series – Trees at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1:15 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• noon-1 p.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon-2:30 p.m. Mud Masters Session #2 in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio. (runs thru July 28)
• 1 p.m. Art group meets at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 2-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio. (runs thru September 1)
• 3-4 p.m. Kids Yoga (ages 6-12) at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 4-6 p.m. CSA Box pick-up for Mountain Roots at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535. (thru October 17)
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Happy Hour Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 6-7 p.m. Poi Playshop at the Pump Room.

SATURDAY 22
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA at UCC.
• 7:45 a.m. Weights and Indoor Biking Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8-9 a.m. Mindful Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m. Shofar Fellowship meets at 1825 N. Hwy. 135, Gunnison. 349-1899.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Community Yoga at the Sanctuary Yoga & Pilates Studio, Gunnison.
• 9:30-10:45 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 9-11 a.m. Everyone Programs! with Bruce Eckel at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 9-11 a.m. The Art of Sourdough Bread Making with the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts (continues Sunday, July 23. 3-6 p.m.). 349-7044.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mountain Roots Food Project collecting household scraps at the Community Garden at Red Mountain Park. 970-964-8823.
• 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mixing Media with our Mountain Muse – A Two-Day Art Immersion (July 15 & 16) with the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10-11 a.m. Hip Hop Community Dance Class at the Pump Room (above Fire House on 3rd & Maroon). 415-225-5300.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 10:30 a.m.-noon St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 11 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous meeting at 114 Wisconsin Street. 970-201-1133.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Guided Sound Meditiation at 405 4th Street.

SUNDAY 23
• 7-8 a.m. Meditation at Yoga for the Peaceful, by donation.
• 8:30 a.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 8:30 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 9 a.m. Worship Service at Union Congretional Church. 349-6405.
• 9-10:15 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 9:30-11 a.m. Free Community Class / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 10-11:15 a.m. Vin-Yin at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Crested Butte Farmer’s Market, first block of Elk Avenue.
• 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 4-5:15 p.m. CBCYC Community Book Club at 405 4th Street.
• 5-6 p.m. All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Eucharist at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• 5-7 p.m. Pick-up Adult Basketball. HS Gym, CBCS.
• 6:30-7:45 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 6 p.m. AA meets at UCC.
• 6 p.m. Evening Service at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison.
• 6:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• 7 p.m. Gamblers Anonymous meets at the Last Resort.

MONDAY 24
• 6-7:15 a.m. Sunrise Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 7 a.m. Barre Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30-8:30 a.m. Pranayama and Namaskars / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 7:30-8:30 a.m. Intro to Ashtanga at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 8:45 a.m. Pilates at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:15 a.m. Prana Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 9:30-10:30 a.m. All levels Adult Ballet at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 10:40-1:15 p.m. Ballet Techinque/Pointe Training ages 12+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• noon Adult Children of Alcoholics open meeting at Union Congretional Church.
• noon-1 p.m. Lunch Break Vinyasa Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:45 p.m. Bridge at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 2-3:15 p.m. Hatha Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ballet ages 6-8 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 4-5:30 p.m. Wisdom Women Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Moms in Motion class at the GVH rehab gym.
• 5:45-6:30 p.m. Zumba in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studio. (runs thru August 28)
• 6-7:15 p.m. Yin Yoga Nidra at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6-7:15 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 6:30 p.m. WellBeing Connection Workshop at the CB/Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce.
• 6:30-8 p.m. Women’s Domestic Violence Support Group at Project Hope. Childcare available upon request. 641-2712.
• 7:30 p.m. Open AA at UCC. 349-5711.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

TUESDAY 25
• 6-7 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful, by donation.
• 6:30-7:45 a.m. Intro to Ashtanga at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. AA/Alanon Open at UCC. 349-5711.
• 8-9:15 a.m. Intro to Ashtanga at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m.-noon Dance Camp Ages 3-5 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 9:15 a.m. Core Flow Yoga donation class with Mary in Totem Pole Park. 970-275-1271.
• 10 a.m.-noon ArtHouse Teen Art Camp (ages 13-18) in the Gunnison Arts Center Art Studio. (runs thru July 27)
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Hatha Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 11:30 a.m. League of Women Voters meeting at 210 W. Spencer in Gunnison.
• noon AA Closed at UCC.
• noon-1 p.m. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tech Tuesdays at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Contemporary Jazz ages 9-11 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 4:30-5:45 p.m. Contemporary Jazz ages 12+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:45 p.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Gentle Restorative Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6-7 p.m. Piyo at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 6-7:30 p.m. All level Adult Contemporary Jazz at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 6-8 p.m. Figure Drawing Sessions with a live model in Downtown Crested Butte. 349-7228.
• 7 p.m. Alanon meeting at the Last Resort.
• 7-8:15 p.m. Yoga for Men at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 7-8:30 p.m. Blessing Way Circle support group at Sopris Women’s Clinic. 720-217-3843.
• 7:45-9:45 p.m. Drop-in Adult Volleyball, CBCS MS Gym.

WEDNESDAY 26
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7-8 a.m. Kundalini Bootcamp Yoga  / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 7-8:15 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 7:30 a.m. The Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte Rotary Club breakfast meeting in the Shavano Conference Room at the Elevation Hotel.
• 8 a.m. T’ai Chi for experienced participants in the northeast corner of Rainbow Park.
• 8:45 a.m. T’ai Chi for beginner participants in the northeast corner of Rainbow Park.
• 8:45 a.m. Mat Mix at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Mindful Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays @ Western: Batik Prayer Flags with the Gunnison Arts Center. (1 hour lunch)
• 9-10:15 a.m. Prana Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 9:30-10:45 a.m. Kaiut Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Travel Journaling with the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Two Buttes Senior Citizens van transportation. Roundtrip to Gunnison. Weather permitting. Call first for schedule and availability. 275-4768.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Middle School Art Workshops: Assemblage Art at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• 12:15-12:45 p.m. Yoga Nidra Relaxtion at Yoga for the Peaceful. ($5 donation)
• 1-4 p.m. Functional Pottery: Coasters in the Clay Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 3-5 p.m. Wednesdays @ Western: Sketch Journals with the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 3-5 p.m. Home Winemaking with the Center for the Arts. 349-7487. (runs through Aug. 23)
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. African Dance ages 9-12 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 3:30-5 p.m. ICELab tours at Western State College University with Patrick Rowley.
• 4-5:30 p.m. Youth Plein Air Watercolor – Session 2 with the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45-5:30 p.m. FREE Drum Class at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 5 p.m. An hour of German conversation every Wednesday at Pitas in Paradise.
• 5 p.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:15-6:15 p.m. Buti Yoga w/ Tarah Niccoli-Taylor in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studio.
• 5:30 p.m. Prenatal Yoga class in Crested Butte South. 349-1209.
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. African Dance ages 12+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Adult Ultimate Frisbee pickup at Rainbow Park.
• 6-7:15 p.m. Kundalini Yoga at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 6-7:15 p.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.
• 6-9 p.m. Pitchers Galore in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio. (runs thru August 2)
• 6:30 p.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 4th and Maroon. 349-6482.
• 7-9 p.m. “GriefShare,” a grief recovery seminar and support group, meets at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison. 970-349-7769.

Events & Entertainment:

THURSDAY 20
18th annual Writing the Rockies Conference starts at WSCU (runs thru July 23)
• 6-9 p.m. Rachel VanSlyke plays at Montanya Distillers.
• 6:30 p.m. The Art and Science of Building your Dream Life at the Crested Butte Library.
• 7 p.m. Renee Wright and Nichole Reycraft play at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7 p.m. Crested Butte Film Festival Monthly Film Series: International Ocean Film Tour at the Center for the Arts. 349-7487.
• 7:30 p.m. Firefall plays at the I Bar Ranch.
• 7:30 p.m.  I Hate Hamlet plays at the Gunnison Arts Center Black Box Theatre.
• 8 p.m. Crested Butte Music Festival Symphony: The Mothers of Identity at the Mt. CB Mirror Palace. 349-0619.
• 8 p.m. Ladies Night at the Red Room.
• 10 p.m. AfterDark: Voxare String Quartet plays at the Mt. CB Mirror Palace. 349-0619.

FRIDAY 21
• 4:30 p.m. Registration begins at Butte 66 for the Twilight Archery Series at CBMR.
• 5 p.m. Crested Butte Music Festival’s Gala: Paris 19xx at the Mt. CB Mirror Palace. 349-0619.
• 5-8 p.m. AWE presents ArtWalk in the galleries of Crested Butte.
• 5-8 p.m. Erin Dickie Artist Reception: “African Wild & Beyond” at the Art Studio Gallery of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 5-8 p.m. Rachel VanSlyke plays during ArtWalk at the J.C. Leacock Art Gallery.
• 6 p.m. History of the Gunnison Country with Dr. Duane Vandenbusche at the Almont Pavilion at Three Rivers Resort. Cook-out/pot luck at 6, ice cream social at 6:30, slideshow presentation at 7.
• 6 p.m. Family Game Night at the Crested Butte Library.
• 7 p.m. Tyler Hansen plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7:30 p.m.  I Hate Hamlet plays at the Gunnison Arts Center Black Box Theatre.
• 8 p.m. New Orleans Suspects play at the Center for the Arts.
• 10 p.m. Cranford Hollow plays at The Eldo.

SATURDAY 22
• 5-7 p.m. Suzanne Pierson Artist Reception: “Visual Passport” at the Piper Gallery of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 6-9 p.m. Rachel VanSlyke plays at Tully’s.
• 7 p.m. Craig McLaughlin plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7:30 p.m.  I Hate Hamlet plays at the Gunnison Arts Center Black Box Theatre.
• 7:30 p.m. Brendan James plays at the Mt. CB Mirror Palace. 349-0619.
• 9 p.m. Mostest with Toast plays at The Eldo.

SUNDAY 23
• 3-6 p.m. Happy Hour Deck Music with Rachel VanSlyke at The Eldo.
• 6-8 p.m. Sundays @ 6: Bump City in Legion Park, Gunnison.
• 7 p.m. Dwayne Dodson plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

MONDAY 24
• 5:30 p.m. Alpenglow: Bob Malone plays at the Center for the Arts Outdoor Stage. 349-7487.
• 7 p.m. Hummingbird Talk at the Crested Butte Heritage Museum. 349-7420.
• 7 p.m. Casey Falter plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

TUESDAY 25
Crested Butte Wine & Food Festival begins. See full schedule at www.cbwineandfood.com. (runs through July 30)
• 9 a.m. Coffe with Community at the Crested Butte Library.
• 3 p.m. Synergy Athlete’s free public lecture with Holden S-H. MacRae, Ph.D: “Are you recovered? What Tech and Physiology can teach us about performance optimization.”
• 6:30 p.m. The Jollification Project plays Burgers & Brews at the I Bar Ranch.
• 7 p.m. Bill Dowell plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7 p.m. An Oral History of the Gunnison Valley Video Series: Lee Spann at the Crested Butte Library.
• 7:15 p.m. Art Show and Silent Auction at the billy barr community center in Gothic. 349-7420.
• 7:30 p.m. Blazing Virtuosity: Gypsy Jazz Double Bill at the Mt. CB Mirror Palace. 349-0619.

WEDNESDAY 26
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Live! from Mt. Crested Butte: Super Doppler on the Red Lady Stage at the base of CBMR.
• 7 p.m. Jim Sargent plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7:30 p.m. Public Policy Forum: John Bellinger “Trump’s National Security Agenda: An Early Assessment” at the Center for the Arts.

Kid’s Calendar:

THURSDAY 20
• 9 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.
• 10 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.
• 4-5 p.m. Kids Yoga (ages 8-12) at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.

FRIDAY 21
• 9-9:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 2-3) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 10-10:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 4-6) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 11 a.m. Big Kids Storytime (ages 3-7) at the Crested Butte Library.
• 12:30-2 p.m. Art Fusion Fridays (ages 7-13) in the Gunnison Arts Center Art Studio. (runs thru Aug. 25)
• 4-5 p.m. Tang Soo Do Martial Arts classes for youth with West Elk Martial Arts, Town Hall Fitness Room. 901-7417.

MONDAY 24
• 3:30-5 p.m. Messy Mondays at the Crested Butte Library. (ages 5-12, kids younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

TUESDAY 25
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 3:30-5 p.m. Tween Scene (ages 9-12) at the Crested Butte Library.
• 4-5 p.m. Kids Yoga (ages 4-7) at Yoga for the Peaceful in CB South.

WEDNESDAY 26
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 11 a.m. Baby & Toddler Literacy Time at the Crested Butte Library.
• 11-11:30 a.m. Parent Tot Dance Class in the Dance Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center. (runs thru August 9)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

Profile: Michael Busse

Jersey boy

by Dawne Belloise

Michael Busse is sitting in a patio chair with a cocktail, cozied down by the river as it churns past his new River Bar, and he’s got a big grin on his face. “I’m gonna put these mosquitos on the menu, they’re so big,” he laughs and threatens the incessant buzzers. “It’s my happy place here. I wish I had time to enjoy it.”

photo by Madison Manning

Michael owns, operates and is the chef at his restaurant, Garlic Mike’s, right on the Gunnison River in what was once one of Western State College’s favorite watering holes called The Ramble Inn (“…and stumble out,” as the joke went).

An East-Coast Italian living in the Gunnison Valley for 23 years now, he hasn’t lost his New Jersey accent or culture. Inevitably, because he’s Italian, one of the first things Michael is concerned with when he meets with you is, “Didja eat?”

If you know Mike, then you know he goes by Michael, from Bergen County, New Jersey, right over the George Washington Bridge and about 30 miles from NYC. His dad was a general contractor plumber who liked to cook and mom was an Italian stay-at-home-mom and a bookkeeper, but Michael emphasizes, “Not a bookie…” Since he was the third child of five kids, he swears he suffered from middle child syndrome. “I never got any attention so that’s why I had to open a restaurant and name it after myself,” he chides.

He also came from a large family with lots of cousins and the jovial Sunday dinners that the entire family attended. “My grandfather made wine. It was terrible wine, but he made wine. There was a lot of chaos, hustle and bustle with all those kids,” says Michael as he recalls the escalating clamor of the Italian family conversation during gatherings that to an outsider would seem like arguing. But in Italian-American East Coast culture, the louder everyone yelled, the more love there was being shared. “We had to fight to get a word in edgewise. Food was always a part of our lives,” he says, noting that his family carried on the European immigrant tradition of making their meals a time of joy and family communion. This is a large part of why Garlic Mike’s is such a success and a joy for Michael. Cooking for people and feeding them is not only what he does best, it’s his love of sharing as well as connecting with his community.

There was never any doubt about what Michael wanted as a career. It’s always been about food. “Out of the class of 20 kids, I was one of only two boys in home economics because I wanted to learn to cook… and I wanted to pick up chicks,” he grins.

“At 12 years old, I wanted to cook, so I got a job working as a dishwasher and the chefs at the restaurant used to call me Cookie. I’m very lucky that I knew what I wanted to do my whole life and I’m still doing it.”

Moving West

Michael graduated from high school in 1983 and immediately enrolled at the Academy of Culinary Arts in Mays Landing, N.J., 25 miles outside of Atlantic City.

After working as a chef in several restaurants and catering places, he landed a job as chef for a gentleman in Allendale, N.J., who decided one day to pack things up and move out west, scoping out areas throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Gunnison was the spot they picked.

“He invited me to come out and be a partner in a start-up restaurant in Gunnison. We looked at The Trough and the Ramble Inn and decided on the Ramble. That was August 1994. I felt there was a niche missing in this valley and we felt the East Coast Jersey Italian would be a good thing here.”

Michael’s fiancée, Traci Hobbins, moved with him. “We moved everything out here in August, went back to New Jersey, got married in September and immediately moved to Gunnison,” he says. He says that from the time he met Traci in 1992 he pursued her for an entire year until she became available after she split from her former boyfriend.

Traci, who had a degree in fashion and was working in Manhattan, was waitressing her way through college. She claimed that she’d never work in a restaurant ever again. However, she now works alongside her husband as co-owner and business partner, handling everything from the restaurant’s books and wine choices to the marketing and decorating.

When they first arrived in Gunnison, the couple was living in a house with their business partner and all the cooks they had brought out from New Jersey. “Traci was the only female and I practically had to carry her out of the house to calm her down at times,” Michael remembers. They both look back on those arduous beginnings with amusement. Since they felt that they couldn’t really hold their arguments in front of the entire household audience, “We went out to my jeep and went for a ride… in 30 below zero weather. I mean, we all worked and lived together, so it was hard,” Michael says.

As the winter waxed on seemingly forever to the newcomers, they realized they had moved to the oftentimes coldest town in the nation. “We had heard stories of the brutal winters but we hadn’t experienced that kind of cold, ever. Sometimes we still think, like every January, what have we done? But never in the summer,” Michael says.

After their opening in 1994, Michael had a meltdown when a table of high maintenance people pushed him over the edge. “I said, that’s it, I’m getting out and I sold my shares to my partner. I said to Traci, let’s move to Florida, so we moved to Ft. Myers and I got a job on Sanibel Island as a chef at Toscanella. I worked there for about six month but hated it after three months. I missed Gunnison, I missed my regulars, and I told my wife, we have to move back.”

Michael feels they made the right choice to return and have been living happily ever after, since they are, Michael says, “Living the dream, as they say.”

Six years after they opened their doors as Garlic Mike’s, they bought out their business partner, which had been the plan from the beginning.

Although Michael cooks traditional Italian dishes with the accompanying seasonings and flavors, he adds ingredients to “Americanize” the food somewhat to accommodate his Gunnison Valley client’s taste preferences. His wife makes the wine choices, recently tasting more than 150 wines over a four-month period to update their list.

Diversifying

A few years ago, Michael was hired by a Gunnisonite to be their personal chef and accompany them on their vacation to Italy, where they had rented a beautiful villa overlooking the bucolic hills of Umbria. “One night, the owner of the villa took us to a restaurant that had closed because it was for sale but where they were aging some prosciutto in an old dusty basement. They had to dust it off before they slapped this slab of it on the table, started cutting into it, and there’s this dead pigeon on the floor. As the guy is slicing it, I’m looking at it, and at the dead pigeon, and I sneak the prosciutto into a napkin and hide it in my pocket. When the owner saw I had finished it already, he thought I liked it and kept giving me more,” which Michael also slipped into his pocket to toss when they got to the nearest trash.

“They thought I was a rich American scoping out restaurants to buy,” he laughs, but the Italian experience was wonderful and Michael says, “Italy is all about the food and the wine.”

From Sicilian descent, Michael has been to Italy several times, and back to his motherland of Sicily once, but he’s already planning future trips. “I think by next year we’ll go back. We’re thinking of putting a wood-fired pizza oven out back in the River Bar, so we’re going back to Italy to research.”

Michael confesses his love for Italy’s fresh and simple food. He had organized a tour a couple of years ago with Culture Discovery Tours out of Soriano, Umbria. “We took an intimate group of 18 people on a tour of the Umbria region and we’re planning another for 2018. We want to get feedback from our customers to see where they want to go but our plan is going to Sicily.”

Back at home

Michael’s very excited about the events surrounding his new River Bar, which he opened in June in the restaurant’s backyard. The little shed that has been converted into a bar was built by the construction class at Gunnison High School as their senior project. There’s a take-out right there on the river bank for canoes, rafts, kayaks and SUPs and a Float & Dine package in partnership with Three Rivers Resort, and those with reservations get to float to the River Bar, eat under a tent (all’aperto dining) and get shuttled back.

When the Travel Channel called Michael at home to say they wanted to feature him on their show Food Paradise, Michael was skeptical. “I hung up on them thinking it was a prank,” he says. “They called back and said it was for real. They were doing a show Food Paradise: Garlic Paradise, featuring garlic restaurants. I asked, ‘Is this a throw-down with Bobby Flay? Because I’m not taking the bait.’”

But it turned out to be the real deal. Michael and his restaurant were featured on the show and have been in the reruns since 2012.

A chef is required to be on his feet all day and night, which caused some related knee problems for Michael. After surgery to repair the damage, the chef was out of the kitchen for a while this winter and he laments that he missed cooking, although, “In the summer, I’m not cooking because I have a great staff, so I’m front of the house, socializing with all my customers.”

It’s quite obvious Michael sincerely loves meeting and chatting with people. Their summer staff numbers about 40 and about half of that in the winter. “Most of the cooks are high school or Western State Colorado University kids and we like that,” he says. The college freshman stay on for seven years because the joke is, “Nobody comes to Western State for only four years.”

Michael has his favorite dish, which he only runs as a special, and always on the anniversary of his dad’s birthday. “If I was on death row, I’d want my last meal to be osso buco [braised veal shanks]. It’s my favorite, but my daily food favorite is a puttanesca sauce with linguine.” When he was a kid, the pasta sauce would slowly simmer all day in its own simple richness, “and then, you’d dunk Wonder Bread in it,” to sop it up, he explains. “You could smell the meatballs cooking all day and it would kill you because you couldn’t eat them until supper,” although he confesses that he’d sneak one out of the pot.

Both Michael and Traci feel that no matter how crazy the restaurant business is, “We love it and Gunnison’s a great place to raise kids.” The couple has two boys. Josh is 18 and just graduated from Gunnison High School and Matty is 15 and a sophomore. Josh is already in the family business, working in the kitchen, the pantry, doing the salads, desserts and appetizers.

Michael also sells himself off to the highest bidder, for a good cause… he allows himself to be auctioned off as a fundraising benefit for the Adaptive Sports Center. “This fall I go to Texas to chef for some people who bought me,” he says. On August 11, Michael will be one of the prestigious Chefs on the Edge judges at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts.

Even to this day, after 23 years, the Jersey couple feels like they’re still adjusting to the western ways of life. “We’re city people,” they admit in unison. But the fact that they’re still here, they say, “Means we’re gonna keep on pluggin’ away.” The rest of Michael’s family followed him westward within a year after he moved here. “My sister, my brother, my nephew and recently my mom moved to Gunnison. So we’re like a little Ellis Island here,” he laughs.

Sometimes, they think about a sort of semi-retirement in the future, after their youngest son graduates, and spending a couple of winter months in a warmer clime, like Florida, “I call it New Jersey with palm trees. My mom calls it God’s waiting room.” But Michael says, “It’s just to warm ourselves up a bit in January and February,” as a sort of practice retirement because, he grins, “When we finally do retire, we’d like to spend three months a year in Italy.”

Benchtalk: July 14, 2017

Disc golf tournament this Saturday

Test your skills on the 18-hole disc golf course at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Registration is available from 9 – 10:30 a.m. at Coal Breaker Coffee in the Treasury Center with a shotgun start at 11 am. Registration fees are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Prices include one lift ride for the day.

Grin and Bear It

Want a challenge? Run the Grin and Bear It race this Saturday. It is a grueling 9.3 miles from the Town of Crested Butte to Green Lake and back with 1,700 vertical feet of elevation gain and loss. Participants will start at the Crested Butte Nordic Center and climb up to Journey’s End Road on the Bench where they will then turn onto the Green Lake Trail. The 4.5 mile trail winds its way up and over Gibson’s Ridge, across Trapper’s Road, ending at Green Lake. Runners then return on the same route, finishing at the Nordic Center. It starts at 9 a.m. and you can register at cbnordic.org.

Skatepark getting some love so stay off for a bit

The Crested Butte Skatepark will be closed the week of July 17th for much needed repairs. Please help Team Pain work their magic by staying out of the Skatepark during this time.  Contact the town Parks and Rec office with any questions or concerns at 970-349-5338.

40 Year Reunion could use some $ assistance

The Crested Butte 40 Year Reunion taking place at the Town Ranch July 29 has set up a bank account at the Bank of the West in Crested Butte. The account name is Crested Butte Reunion and donations will be used to cover the many expenses related to the reunion including rental of tents, tables, chairs, supplies, sound equipment for musicians and supplies for the potluck. Donations can also be made at the reunion GoFundMe account at www.gofundme.com/cb-reunion. For more information leave a message at 970-209-5678.

Cattlemen’s crescendo  this weekend

If you want to experience a taste of the old west – or at least old Gunnison – take in Cattlemen’s Days this weekend. There will be rodeos, an old fashioned carnival and 4H displays. It really is one of the valley’s premier events of the summer and everyone should put on their cowboy boots and experience ranch life. It all takes place at the county fairgrounds behine Safeway.

Support the GOATS

The GOATS 7th annual party, raffle and fundraising event will be held this Saturday July 15, 2017 at the Powerstop in Gunnison starting at 6pm.  Offering free food, beverages, and over $2,500 in raffle prizes and giveaways, this event is free to attend.  Proceeds from the event will help fund the new expanded motocross track which will be built at Hartman Rocks.  Additional proceeds will be used to construct the new recently approved Reno single track connector trail located up Cement Creek.

Birthdays:

July 13- Mandy Griffith, Steve Reep, Mary Pavillard, Addison Raab, Owen Murray

July 14- Bookie Louise, Lipstick, Mark Calve, James Bivens, Fred Koval, Tor Jennison

July 15- Hank Ebbott, Kat Cooke

July 16- Jake Sunter, Elias Friedman, Ron Copenhauer, Al Leonetti, Tuck, Eli Lambro

July 17- Katey Brandenberger, Lochlan Fletcher, Kristi Miller, Wynn Williams, Andy Eflin, Ken Stone

July 18- Eric Beck, OB Oberling, Melissa Leftwich, Emma McDuff, Olivia Lueckemeyer

July 19- Lina Glick, Cis Berry, Terren Judson

NEW BUSINESS: Meaghan Young is opening Crested Butte Jewelry & Design, a jewelry boutique and design studio above the Gourmet Noodle. photo by Lydia Stern
WESTERN ALCHEMY: Matthew DeFeo explained his traditional photography process that is over 150 years old at his opening reception at the Center for the Arts Piper Gallery. photo by Lydia Stern
FAMILY FILM NIGHT: The Crested Butte Library hosted a screening of The Lorax on Friday, July 7. photo by Lydia Stern

Cameo Question: If you were a wildflower, what would you be?

A dandelion because
they’re immortal.
Jay Ytell
The Columbine.
Paul Barnard
A daisy.
Julian Perea
A Fairy Trumpet because
I’m a blast.
Alex Shelly
A sunflower because they
follow the sun.
Wesley Smith and Sabrina Catron

Profile: Nichole Reycraft

Wisdom Woman | by  Dawne  Belloise 

“Most people call me Coco because my little brother couldn’t say Nichole,” says the sylphlike Irwin rebel with a sweet smile that belies her off-the-grid toughness. “I’m whimsical with hints of metal and tattoo, and sort of dark and twisty, but not in an evil way,” she laughs.

Nichole Reycraft was born in Gunnison and her parents, Russ Reycraft and Renee Wright, raised her up as a free-spirited Crested Butte kid from the late 1980s. Her family eventually grew into a clan of six siblings with a mom who was a jack-of-all-trades, including an aerobics teacher and cake-maker, and her dad is still on the Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski patrol. She was seven when her parents divorced and afterwards, Nichole inherited Mike Wright as another father figure.

photo by Lydia Stern

Nichole’s childhood was mostly spent in a house on Butte Avenue looking up the valley at Gothic Mountain and Paradise Divide and she grew up playing all over the spring drainages when the snow melted. “Back in the day, there used to be a huge puddle right in front of our house where all the neighborhood kids would swim. It was deep, it was huge, but then, we were little,” she says, and recalls the historically notorious town potholes when the streets were dirt and there was an unblocked view through all the horse pastures spread up the valley.

“None of those houses on the other side of the street were there. We’d spend a lot of time naked in the snow because we were Crested Butte kids.” In the summer, there were mud pies to be made and hunting for fossils around Peanut Lake. “You’d spend hours out there playing on the old coal heaps out by the Gronk and we had a whole network of forts in all those willows. I wore prairie dresses and bonnets with my baby Jesus strapped on my back until I was 14. I was all about the Oregon Trail and caribou hunting and playing out my fantasy of ‘Julie of Wolves,’” she grins about her wilderness make-believe world on the edge of a real-life wilderness at the end of the road.

Nichole feels the times here have changed for the kids growing up in town today. “I do feel electronics play a large part in it. I feel like there’s not that vivid imagination that was the epicenter of our entire world. Lives are busier in general. I feel like everyone is so scheduled and on-the-go that it doesn’t leave a lot of time for imagination. When I was a kid, we were out in the sun every single day, playing make-believe, in both winter and summer.”

With a father on ski patrol, and a racer once himself, Nichole also grew up ski racing, as so many young Buttian kids still learn to ski as soon as they can walk. But she says of her warm memories of childhood, “I loved every single aspect of growing up here. The community was always amazing. All my friends from when I was five are still my friends today. A lot of them have left, but a lot of them come back and if they’re not back yet, they’re planning on it.”

After Nichole graduated from the Crested Butte Community School (CBCS) in 2006, she was thinking she wanted to continue to pursue her theater arts as well as travel the world. She started off by signing up for a mission to backpack medical supplies, food, and water to different South African villages, in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“I loved Africa. I was based out of Livingston and I worked really hard, but we never got to do the things we signed up to do,” because, she explains, that was when the Overland Missions group arrived. The base hadn’t even been built yet, “So we wound up building the base. When we got there, it was only tents and one thatched-roof shack with straw and dirt on the floor. I ended up doing a lot of babysitting for the leaders’ kids and actually doing the construction building. It wasn’t my scene and I didn’t want to do bible study. It wasn’t supposed to be evangelistic and it turned out that it was.” So Nichole understandably bolted a month and a half early.

When she returned from Africa, Nichole headed off to college at UNC Greeley, and she grimaces, “I hated every minute because the place smelled like cow sh*t and frankly, I wasn’t interested in learning. I wasn’t interested in being there at all, even though they have one of the best theatre programs in Colorado.” She returned home to Crested Butte after her first semester. She signed up at Western State College (WSC) and laughs, “I spent nine years there because I would take a semester off to work and then go back.” Although she mostly paid her way through school as she went, she smirks that she still has plenty of student loans to pay off.

The entire time she was at Western, Nichole was involved in theater, but she still didn’t know what she wanted to do in the big picture of life. “There are so many things I have an interest in and I’m good at a lot of different things, but I’m not career-driven. I’m into my writing and theater, and I love working with people and that means I can do a lot of different things and be happy,” she wisely surmised.

Nichole graduated in 2014 with a degree in communications and theater, determined to pursue theater and acting. “I was heavily involved in theater at Crested Butte Mountain Theatre and WSC. I’ve been part of more than 100 shows since I was 14.”

Being an actor and trying to survive and pay the rent in this town translates into being adaptable with many talents. Throughout her life in Crested Butte, from the age of 14 when she took her first job at Ruby Mountain Bakery, Nichole worked on and off for 10 years at Stepping Stones Preschool, with stints at the Sunshine Deli (the Sunflower), Camp 4 Coffee, Mochas, Le Bosquet, as Crested Butte Community School’s front desk receptionist, and manager at Townie Books, to name a few of her juggling acts.

“Today, I am doing property management for Bill Mog, and I’m a server and bartender for Slogar restaurant and a freelance writer [you can catch some of Nichole’s features in The Crested Butte News]. I’ve just begun submitting my writing to regional magazines. I got into writing because I was into reading and writing from birth pretty much,” she conjures up the grin of a bookworm. “I was reading novels when I was very young. As a fourth grader, I wrote a 40-page story with pictures that I drew. It was a fiction about a talking cat named Cheddar.”

Nichole is now living her childhood wilderness fantasy as a full-time Irwin resident, through her “manpanion,” as she calls her significant other, Tom Kelly, who owns a remote cabin in the winter-isolated former silver mining town ten miles up the winding Kebler Pass road. Tom owns Unearth Construction but in the winter he works for Eleven, with their exclusive cat skiing resort in the extremes of Scarp Ridge and Ruby Mountain in Irwin.

“Before we started dating, I had only been on a snowmobile three times in my entire life and I crashed and destroyed every single one. By the time I moved to Irwin, I had my own sled and had learned how to use it. I’m pretty sure I was the goofball up there,” she laughs about her entry into remote living four years ago. “I moved in the very frickin’ heart of winter into a cabin the size of a breadbox, but we all fit—me, Tom, Onyx our Rottweiler and our kitty Princess Aslog of Kattegat. I love everything about being up there. We’re not in the townsite, we’re closer to the base of Ruby, completely hidden in the trees. It’s a challenge getting back and forth to work, but I’ve never once been late for work because of living in Irwin. I feel like it’s the last rebel outpost. The crew of us out there are such a tight-knit community because we have to help each other survive. The people who are out there are strong and really uniquely beautiful characters,” says the theater-bookie nerd who likes to sing karaoke and who spent this epically snowy winter alone while Tom was working in Iceland and Japan.

“I learned something new about myself, learning how to live up there and challenging myself every day,” she said. “I love the lifestyle, that off-the-grid, quiet, independence and with the elements. I never want to live any other way again now. I wake up every morning feeling like the luckiest girl in the entire world, with amazing friends and being surrounded by that kind of beauty really inspires the soul. It feels really old up there, almost ancient, rustic, of days long ago.

“My family is everything to me and they’re the reason I want to stay close by. My mom is my best friend,” Nichole says, and her mom is also her musical partner. Renee and Nichole play Americana folk music on guitar and their sweet voices blending in perfect harmony as only mother/daughter vocals can. (You can catch them at the Princess Wine bar every other Thursday).

Nichole laughs that she had no idea she could sing until she braved the stage at karaoke one night. “Turns out I had a decent voice, so I kept going. Mom started playing guitar about 13 years ago. I came in once while she was practicing and started harmonizing and it sounded pretty okay—actually more than okay,” Nichole says confidently. They call themselves Nuthatch Harmonies since both she and her mom are obsessed with birds. “Mom’s an avid birder. I just love to sing, it’s what I really enjoy and mom loves to play so we look forward to our gigs and hopefully more in the future. I love people and between the writing and the music I have my creative outlet and that’s so important,” she feels.

Like so many locals, Nichole is enamored of her community. “The community here are my angels. It is something so special to wake up every morning and be surrounded by love and beauty to this degree. Most people will never have that. I may have to work three jobs, and my work ethic is pretty insane, I work really hard, but I wouldn’t change it. I don’t see myself anywhere else. I’m ecstatic being here and I’ll probably change jobs a million times, but I don’t mind not having a career because this is what I love, just being here, with my family, my boyfriend, and this community.”

Community calendar Thursday, June 29–Wednesday, July 5

THURSDAY 29
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15 a.m. CORE Moves ages 14+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 8 a.m. Ecumenical Meditation at UCC.
• 8:30 a.m. Women’s book discussion group at UCC.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m.-noon Dance Camp Ages 3-5 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 10 a.m. Mothering Support Group at Oh Be Joyful Church. (last Thursday of every month)
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 11:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• noon All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Church Community Healing Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• noon-1 p.m. BUTI Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Intro to Prana Vinyasa Level 1 with Monica at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ballet ages 9-11 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 4:30-6 p.m. Crested Butte Community Food Bank open at Oh Be Joyful Church. (first and third Thursday of every month)
• 4:40-7:15 p.m. Ballet & Prepointe Training ages 12+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30 p.m. Bridge Night at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Hatha Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 5:45 p.m. Zumba at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Freestyle Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6 p.m. The Art of Relaxation with Mary Burt in the Art Studios at the Gunnison Arts Center. (runs through July 13)
• 6:30 p.m. AA Open Meditation at UCC.
• 7 p.m. Women Supporting Women Group Discussion at the Nordic Inn.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 30
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15-8:45 a.m. Aerial Conditioning/Open Aerial ages 15+ Center for the Arts Stage. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 8 a.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 349-6482.
• 8:45 a.m. Core Power Yoga Class at the Pump Room.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Yoga for the Flexibly Challenged / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Modern Fusion ages 14+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Stacey at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Open Wheel Throwing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1:15 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• noon-1 p.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 1 p.m. Art group meets at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 2-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio.
• 4-6 p.m. CSA Box pick-up for Mountain Roots at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535. (thru Oct. 17)
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Aprés Ski Yoga Level Open at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 6-7 p.m. Poi Playshop at the Pump Room.

SATURDAY 1
• 7-8:15 a.m. Ashtanga Level 2/3 with Joe at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA at UCC.
• 7:45 a.m. Weights and Indoor Biking Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8-9 a.m. Mindful Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2 with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m. Shofar Fellowship meets at 1825 N. Hwy. 135, Gunnison. 349-1899.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Community Yoga at the Sanctuary Yoga & Pilates Studio, Gunnison.
• 9-11 a.m. Everyone Programs! with Bruce Eckel at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mountain Roots Food Project collecting household scraps at the Community Garden at Red Mountain Park. 970-964-8823.
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Making Paint with Powdered Pigment at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10-11 a.m. Hip Hop Community Dance Class at the Pump Room (above Fire House on 3rd & Maroon). 415-225-5300.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 10:30 a.m.-noon St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 11 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous meeting at 114 Wisconsin Street. 970-201-1133.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Guided Sound Meditiation at 405 4th Street.

SUNDAY 2
• 7-8 a.m. Meditation at Yoga For The Peaceful, by donation.
• 8:30 a.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 8:30 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 9 a.m. Worship Service at Union Congretional Church. 349-6405.
• 9-10:15 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9:30 a.m. Church in the Park Service with Oh-Be-Joyful Church at the Alpenglow Stage.
• 9:30-11 a.m. Free Community Class / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Crested Butte Farmer’s Market, first block of Elk Avenue.
• 4-5:15 p.m. CBCYC Community Book Club at 405 4th Street.
• 5-6 p.m. All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Eucharist at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• 5-7 p.m. Pick-up Adult Basketball. HS Gym, CBCS.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6 p.m. AA meets at UCC.
• 6 p.m. Evening Service at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison.
• 6:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• 7 p.m. Gamblers Anonymous meets at the Last Resort.

MONDAY 3
• 7 a.m. Barre Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30-8:30 a.m. Pranayama and Namaskars / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 8:45 a.m. Pilates at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Jackie at Yoga For the Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Plein Air Pastel Flowers with the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 9:30-10:30 a.m. All levels Adult Ballet at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• noon-1 p.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• noon-1 p.m. Lunch Break Vinyasa Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10:40-1:15 p.m. Ballet Techinque/Pointe Training ages 12+ at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 12:45 p.m. Bridge at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ballet ages 6-8 at the Pump Room. dancecrestedbutte.org.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Yin Yoga Nidra at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Moms in Motion class at the GVH rehab gym.
• 6:30 p.m. WellBeing Connection Workshop at the CB/Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce.
• 6:30-8 p.m. Women’s Domestic Violence Support Group at Project Hope. Childcare available upon request. 641-2712.
• 7:30 p.m. Open AA at UCC. 349-5711.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

TUESDAY 4
Happy Fourth of July! Please call ahead for holiday schedule.
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. AA/Alanon Open at UCC. 349-5711.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9:15 a.m. Core Flow Yoga donation class with Mary in Totem Pole Park. 970-275-1271.
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Hatha Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 11:30 a.m. League of Women Voters meeting at 210 W. Spencer in Gunnison.
• noon AA Closed at UCC.
• noon-1 p.m. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Church.
• 5:45 p.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Gentle Restorative Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6-8 p.m. Figure Drawing Sessions with a live model in Downtown Crested Butte. 349-7228.
• 7 p.m. Alanon meeting at the Last Resort.
• 7-8:30 p.m. Blessing Way Circle support group at Sopris Women’s Clinic. 720-217-3843.
• 7:45-9:45 p.m. Drop-in Adult Volleyball, CBCS MS Gym.

WEDNESDAY 5
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7-8 a.m. Kundalini Bootcamp Yoga  / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 7:30 a.m. The Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte Rotary Club breakfast meeting in the Shavano Conference Room at the Elevation Hotel.
• 8:45 a.m. Mat Mix at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Mindful Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Monica at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Two Buttes Senior Citizens van transportation. Roundtrip to Gunnison. Weather permitting. Call first for schedule and availability. 275-4768.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Middle School Art Workshops: Cyanotype Photogram Production at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1 p.m. Prana Vinyasa Express Level 1/2 with Stacey at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 3-5 p.m. Bringing the Art Masters Alive in the Art Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 3-5 p.m. Home Winemaking with the Center for the Arts. 349-7487. (runs through August 23)
• 3:30-5 p.m. ICELab tours at Western State College University with Patrick Rowley.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5 p.m. An hour of German conversation every Wednesday at Pitas in Paradise.
• 5 p.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30 p.m. Prenatal Yoga class in Crested Butte South. 349-1209.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Cleo Dance with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble with the Center for the Arts. 349-7487.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Adult Ultimate Frisbee pickup at Rainbow Park.
• 6-7:15 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6:30 p.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 4th and Maroon. 349-6482.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Clogging Dance Class in the Gunnison Arts Center courtyard.
• 7-8:30 p.m. Intermediate Adult Modern Dance with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble with the Center for the Arts. 349-7487.
• 7-9 p.m. “GriefShare,” a grief recovery seminar and support group, meets at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison. 970-349-7769.
• 7:30-8:30 p.m. Fusion Belly Dance in the Dance Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center.

Events & Entertainment:

THURSDAY 29
• 8:30 a.m. Public Policy Forum Epilogue at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 10 a.m. Crested Butte Wildfire Awareness Event at the Crested Butte Fire Station #1.
• 10 a.m.-noon Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory’s Geology Van Tour, meet at the CB Chamber parking lot. 349-7420.
• 2 p.m. Novel Tea Book Club: News of the World at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 4-6 p.m. National Dance Day! celebration and community tutu dance party at the Center for the Arts outdoor field.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Adele Bachman Artist Reception at the Piper Gallery of the Center for the Arts.
• 5:30-8:30 p.m. Gunnison Vibrancy Initiative in the WSCU Center Ballroom.
• 7 p.m. Rachel VanSlyke plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7 p.m. “Water, Federal Policy, and the Environment” talk by Dr. Sarah Oktay at the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum.
• 7:30 p.m. Taarka plays at the Mirror Palace.
• 7:30 p.m. Chasing the Limelight at the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre. 349-0366.
• 8 p.m. Ladies Night at the Red Room.

FRIDAY 30
• 5-8 p.m. ArtWalk evening in the galleries of Crested Butte.
• 5-8 p.m. Laura Cooper Elm Artist Reception at the Art Studio Gallery of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 6 p.m. First Summer Western Speaker Series featuring Dr. Bruce Bartleson at the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum.
• 6-8:30 p.m. Family Game Night at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 7 p.m. Chuck Grossman and Dawne Belloise play at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7:30 p.m. Local Vocals Concert in the Black Box Theatre of the Gunnison Arts Center. 641-4029.
• 7:30 p.m. Chasing the Limelight at the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre. 349-0366.
• 8 p.m. Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers play at the Center for the Arts.
• 9:30 p.m. Gun Rack plays at the Talk of the Town.
• 10 p.m. Marc Berger & Ride play at The Eldo.

SATURDAY 1
• 9 a.m. 5th annual 5K & 1K Color Fun Run & Splatterdash Block Party featuring the Okee Dokee Brothers, race starts at the CBCS parking lot. 349-7160.
• 10:30 a.m. 4th annual High Mountain 3D Archery Competition at CBMR.
• 7 p.m. Craig McLaughlin plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7:30 p.m. Chasing the Limelight at the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre. 349-0366.
• 7:30 p.m. Davis Contemporary Dance Company plays at the Mirror Palace.
• 9 p.m. Funk & Punk Party with MILLK & Black Ice Drive at The Eldo.

SUNDAY 2
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Backcountry Lifeline’s “First Aid for Mountain Bikers with CB Devo,” at Town Ranch.
• 3-6 p.m. Happy Hour Music with Jack at The Eldo.
• 6-8 p.m. Sundays @ 6: The Gunnison Country Ramblers in Legion Park, Gunnison.
• 6-10 p.m. Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum’s 15th annual Black & White Ball with live music by Alive on Arrival. 349-1880.
• 7 p.m. Dwayne Dodson plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

MONDAY 3
• 5:30 p.m. Alpenglow: Chatham County Line plays at the Center for the Arts Outdoor Stage. 349-7487.
• 7 p.m. Doug Scharnberg plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7-10 p.m. Pete Dunda’s Polka/Variety Band plays at the Three Rivers Resort Dance Hall in Almont.
• 7:30 p.m. Diamond Rio plays at the I Bar Ranch with guest opener Tyler Hansen. 642-8406.
• 8 p.m. Open Mic Night at The Eldo.
• 8:30 p.m. Rebirth Brass Band plays the Grand Opening of Public House.

TUESDAY 4
Happy Fourth of July!
The Crested Butte Library closed
• 7-10:30 a.m. Crested Butte Fire & EMS annual Pancake Breakfast, Third St. & Maroon Ave.
• 8 a.m. 49th annual Gothic to Crested Butte 1/3rd Marathon to benefit RMBL.
• 11 a.m. Fourth of July Parade on Elk Ave.
• 12:20 a.m. Gun Rack plays on Elk Ave.
• 12:30 p.m. Kids Carnival at Third St. and Elk Ave.
• 12:30-3 p.m. Dwayne Dodson plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 1:45 a.m. Chuck Grossman plays at Third St. and Elk Ave.
• 2-5 p.m. Pete Dunda’s Polka/Variety Band plays at the Three Rivers Resort Dance Hall in Almont.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. BBQ on the lawn at CBMR.
• 6:30 p.m. MILLK plays Burgers & Brews at the I Bar Ranch.
• 7:30-9:30 p.m. Diamond Empire Band plays at CBMR.
• 9:30 p.m. Fireworks display sponsored by Town of Mt. Crested Butte at CBMR.

WEDNESDAY 5
• 5:30 p.m. Tour de Forks: Pastoral Heaven Dinner. 349-7487.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Live! from Mt. Crested Butte: Marcus King Band at the Red Lady Stage at the base of CBMR.
• 5:45 p.m. Pinnacle Free Bike Race Series at Evolution Bike Park at CBMR.
• 7 p.m. Travis Meadows outdoor concert with the Center for the Arts.
• 7 p.m. Evelyn Roper plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

Kid’s Calendar

THURSDAY 29
• 9 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.
• 10 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 30
• 9-9:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 2-3) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 10-10:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 4-6) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 11 a.m. Big Kids Storytime (ages 3-7) at the Crested Butte Library.
• 12:30-2 p.m. Art Fusion (ages 7-11) in the Gunnison Arts Center Kids Art Studio. Drop-in.
• 4-5 p.m. Tang Soo Do Martial Arts classes for youth with West Elk Martial Arts, Town Hall Fitness Room. 901-7417.

SATURDAY 1
• 1:45-3:45 p.m. Crested Butte Book Binders at the Crested Butte Library, ages 9-13. (every 2nd and 4th Saturday)

MONDAY 3
• 3:45-5 p.m. Messy Mondays for school aged kids at the Crested Butte Library. (kids younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

WEDNESDAY 5
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 11 a.m. Baby & Toddler Literacy Time at the Crested Butte Library.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

Community calendar Thursday, June 22–Wednesday, June 28

THURSDAY 22
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15 & 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:40, 6:15 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance Dance in the Mountain classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon or the Center for the Arts. (runs through July 29, no 4:40 or 6:15 class on July 6)
• 8 a.m. Ecumenical Meditation at UCC.
• 8:30 a.m. Women’s book discussion group at UCC.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Open Wheel Throwing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10 a.m. Mothering Support Group at Oh Be Joyful Church. (last Thursday of every month)
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 11:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• noon All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Church Community Healing Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• noon-1 p.m. BUTI Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Intro to Prana Vinyasa Level 1 with Monica at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 4:30-6 p.m. Crested Butte Community Food Bank open at Oh Be Joyful Church. (first and third Thursday of every month)
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:45 p.m. Zumba at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Freestyle Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6 p.m. The Art of Relaxation with Mary Burt in the Art Studios at the Gunnison Arts Center. (runs through July 13)
• 6:30 p.m. AA Open Meditation at UCC.
• 7 p.m. Women Supporting Women Group Discussion at the Nordic Inn.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 23
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15, 8 & 9 a.m. Crested Butte School of Dance Dance in the Mountain classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29)
• 8 a.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 349-6482.
• 8:45 a.m. Core Power Yoga Class at the Pump Room.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Yoga for the Flexibly Challenged / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Stacey at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Open Wheel Throwing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1:15 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1 p.m. Art group meets at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 2-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio.
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Aprés Ski Yoga Level Open at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5-7 p.m. Advanced Skills Aerial Workshop with Jocelyn Rudwig at the Center for the Arts.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 6-7 p.m. Poi Playshop at the Pump Room.

SATURDAY 24
• 7-8:15 a.m. Ashtanga Level 2/3 with Joe at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA at UCC.
• 7:45 a.m. Weights and Indoor Biking Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2 with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m. Shofar Fellowship meets at 1825 N. Hwy. 135, Gunnison. 349-1899.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Community Yoga at the Sanctuary Yoga & Pilates Studio, Gunnison.
• 9-11 a.m. Everyone Programs! with Bruce Eckel at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mountain Roots Food Project collecting household scraps at the Community Garden at Red Mountain Park. 970-964-8823.
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Making Paint with Powdered Pigment at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10-11 a.m. Hip Hop Community Dance Class at the Pump Room (above Fire House on 3rd & Maroon). 415-225-5300.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 10:30 a.m.-noon St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 11 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous meeting at 114 Wisconsin Street. 970-201-1133.
• 11:30 a.m., 1:15, and 3:30 p.m. Aerial Workshops with Jocelyn Rudwig at the Center for the Arts.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Guided Sound Meditiation at 405 4th Street.

SUNDAY 25
• 7-8 a.m. Meditation at Yoga For The Peaceful, by donation.
• 8:30 a.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 8:30 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 9 a.m. Worship Service at Union Congretional Church. 349-6405.
• 9-10:15 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9:30-11 a.m. Free Community Class / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Crested Butte Farmer’s Market, first block of Elk Avenue.
• 4-5:15 p.m. CBCYC Community Book Club at 405 4th Street.
• 5-6 p.m. All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Eucharist at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• 5-7 p.m. Pick-up Adult Basketball. HS Gym, CBCS.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6 p.m. AA meets at UCC.
• 6 p.m. Evening Service at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison.
• 6:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• 7 p.m. Gamblers Anonymous meets at the Last Resort.

MONDAY 26
• 7 a.m. Barre Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45 a.m. Pilates at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Jackie at Yoga For the
Peaceful.
• 9:30 & 10:40 a.m., 12:15 & 3:30 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29)
• noon-1 p.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• noon-1 p.m. Lunch Break Vinyasa Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:45 p.m. Bridge at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Yin Yoga Nidra at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Moms in Motion class at the GVH rehab gym.
• 5:45-6:30 p.m. Zumba! with Barron in the Dance Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 6:30 p.m. WellBeing Connection Workshop at the CB/Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce.
• 6:30-8 p.m. Women’s Domestic Violence Support Group at Project Hope. Childcare available upon request. 641-2712.
• 7:30 p.m. Open AA at UCC. 349-5711.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

TUESDAY 27
• 6-7 a.m. Meditation at Yoga For The Peaceful, by donation.
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. AA/Alanon Open at UCC. 349-5711.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:30 & 6 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29, no classes July 4)
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Hatha Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 11:30 a.m. League of Women Voters meeting at 210 W. Spencer in Gunnison.
• noon AA Closed at UCC.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Iyengar Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1-4 p.m. Cyanotype Photogram Production at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044. (runs through June 28)
• 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tech Tuesdays at Old Rock Library. 349-6535.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:45 p.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Gentle Restorative Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6-8 p.m. Figure Drawing Sessions with a live model in Downtown Crested Butte. 349-7228.
• 7 p.m. Alanon meeting at the Last Resort.
• 7-8:30 p.m. Blessing Way Circle support group at Sopris Women’s Clinic.
720-217-3843.
• 7:45-9:45 p.m. Drop-in Adult Volleyball, CBCS MS Gym.

WEDNESDAY 28
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. The Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte Rotary Club breakfast meeting in the Shavano Conference Room at the Elevation Hotel.
• 8:45 a.m. Mat Mix at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Mindful Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:45 & 5:30 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon or the Center for the Arts. (runs through July 29)
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Monica at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Painting on Silk at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Two Buttes Senior Citizens van transportation. Roundtrip to Gunnison. Weather permitting. Call first for schedule and availability. 275-4768.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Middle School Art Workshops: Discover Image Transfer Techniques at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Forrest Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1 p.m. Power Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon-1 p.m. Prana Vinyasa Express Level 1/2 with Stacey at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 1-4 p.m. Functional Pottery Single Day Classes: Buttons & Beads! in the Clay Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 1-4 p.m. Creative Accordian Books in the Art Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 3-5 p.m. Sketch Journaling in the Art Studio of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 3-5 p.m. Home Winemaking with the Center for the Arts. 349-7487. (runs through August 23)
• 3:30-5 p.m. ICELab tours at Western State College University with Patrick Rowley.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5 p.m. An hour of German conversation every Wednesday at Pitas in Paradise.
• 5 p.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30 p.m. Prenatal Yoga class in Crested Butte South. 349-1209.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Adult Ultimate Frisbee pickup at Rainbow Park.
• 6-7:15 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6:30 p.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 4th and Maroon. 349-6482.
• 7-9 p.m. “GriefShare,” a grief recovery seminar and support group, meets at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison. 970-349-7769.

Events & Entertainment:

THURSDAY 22
37th annual Crested Butte Bike Week, runs through June 25.
• 11:30-3 p.m. CB Land Trust hosts the Grand opening of StoryWalk® with Some Bugs at the Lower Loop Trailhead.
• 4 p.m. History of Mountain Biking tour featuring guest speaker and Hall of Famer, Don Cook at the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum.
• 5 p.m. Whitewater Ramble plays the Summer Solstice Party at the I Bar Ranch.
• 5-7 p.m. Katey Nelson Artist Reception at the Piper Gallery of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. Bridge Night at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 6-9 p.m. Rachel VanSlyke plays at Montanya Distillers.
• 7 p.m. Travel with a Cause: Ganesha Cookstove Project with Brice Hoskin at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 7 p.m. Renee Wright and Nichole Reycraft play at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 8 p.m. Ladies Night at the Red Room.

FRIDAY 23
2nd annual Junior Crested Butte Bike Week presented by Crested Butte Devo, runs through June 25.
• 8:15-9:30 a.m. Free Yoga with Julie Laird at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 4:20 p.m. Chainless Race on Kebler Pass Road ending at 1st and Elk.
• 5:15-8:30 p.m. Gunnison County GOP Lincoln Dinner a Three Rivers Resort with keynote speaker Sherrie Gibson. 349-7744.
• 7 p.m. Bike Week Film Night at the CB Mountain Heritage Museum.
• 7 p.m. 20th Century Women plays in the Black Box Theatre of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 7 p.m. Tyler Hansen plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 10 p.m. Sol Seed plays at The Eldo.

SATURDAY 24
• 6-11 a.m. 20th annual Breeding Bird Survey at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
• noon Bridges of the Butte, the 24-hour townie tour.
• 1-4 p.m. RMBL’s Open House with the 90th Summer Celebration from 4-6 p.m.
• 5-9 p.m. River Festival Block Party on south Main Street featuring All About Me and Policulture.
• 6-9 p.m. Rachel VanSlyke plays at Tully’s.
• 7 p.m. Craig McLaughlin plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 10 p.m. The Outskirts play at The Eldo.

SUNDAY 25
• 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Blue Door Studio Tour, 173 County Rd. 749. 970-641-3153.
• 3-6 p.m. Happy hour deck music with Rachel VanSlyke at The Eldo.
• 6-8 p.m. Sundays @ 6: Barefoot Companion in Legion Park, Gunnison.
• 7 p.m. Dwayne Dodson plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

MONDAY 26
• 5:30 p.m. Alpenglow: Joey Leone’s Chop Shop at the Center for the Arts Outdoor Stage. 349-7487.
• 7 p.m. Sohrob plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

TUESDAY 27
• 9 a.m. Coffee with the Community with guest Ashley Upchurch at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 9-11 a.m. GCSAPP hosts Cannabis & Alcohol Meet & Greet at The Almont Resort.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Canvases & Cocktails on the Center for the Arts’ Outdoor Stage.  349-7044.
• 6:30 p.m. Colorado Parks and Wildlife elk management meeting at the Gunnison County Fairgrounds.
• 6:30 p.m. Hot Texas Swing Band plays Burgers & Brews at the I Bar Ranch.
• 7 p.m. Bill Dowell plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7 p.m. Strategies to de-clutter with Holly Annala at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.

WEDNESDAY 28
• 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Day trip to Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory’s new property, Cebolla Creek.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Live! from Mt. Crested Butte: Dirty Dozen Brass Band at the Red Lady Stage at the base of CBMR.
• 5:45 p.m. Pinnacle Free Bike Race Series at Evolution Bike Park at CBMR.
• 7 p.m. Jim Sargent plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

Kid’s Calendar:

THURSDAY 22
• 9 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.
• 10 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 23
• 9-9:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 2-3) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 10-10:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 4-6) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 11 a.m. Big Kids Storytime (ages 3-7) at the Crested Butte Library.
• 12:30-2 p.m. Art Fusion (ages 7-11) in the Gunnison Arts Center Kids Art Studio. Drop-in.
• 4-5 p.m. Tang Soo Do Martial Arts classes for youth with West Elk Martial Arts, Town Hall Fitness Room. 901-7417.

SATURDAY 24
• 1:45-3:45 p.m. Crested Butte Book Binders at the Crested Butte Library, ages 9-13. (every 2nd and 4th Saturday)

MONDAY 26
• 3:45-5 p.m. Messy Mondays for school aged kids at the Crested Butte Library. (kids younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

TUESDAY 27
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 3:45-5 p.m. Tween Scene (ages 9-12) at the Crested Butte Library.

WEDNESDAY 28
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 10-10:45 a.m. Art Babies at The Trailhead Children Musuem. 349-7160.
• 11 a.m. Baby & Toddler Literacy Time at the Crested Butte Library.
• 11:15-12:15 a.m. Toddler Art at The Trailhead Children Musuem. 349-7160.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

Community calendar Thursday, June 15–Wednesday, June 21

THURSDAY 15
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15 & 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:40, 6:15 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance Dance in the Mountain classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon or the Center for the Arts. (runs through July 29, no 4:40 or 6:15 class on July 6)
• 8 a.m. Ecumenical Meditation at UCC.
• 8:30 a.m. Women’s book discussion group at UCC.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Open Wheel Throwing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10 a.m. Mothering Support Group at Oh Be Joyful Church. (last Thursday of every month)
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 11:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• noon All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Church Community Healing Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• noon-1 p.m. BUTI Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Intro to Prana Vinyasa Level 1 with Monica at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 4:30-6 p.m. Crested Butte Community Food Bank open at Oh Be Joyful Church. (first and third Thursday of every month)
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:45 p.m. Zumba at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Freestyle Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6-9 p.m. Paper & Pinot AND Series Event: Gunnison Arts Center Main Gallery.
• 6:30 p.m. AA Open Meditation at UCC.
• 7 p.m. Women Supporting Women Group Discussion at the Nordic Inn.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 16
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:15, 8 & 9 a.m. Crested Butte School of Dance Dance in the Mountain classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29)
• 8 a.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 349-6482.
• 8:45 a.m. Core Power Yoga Class at the Pump Room.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Yoga for the Flexibly Challenged / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Stacey at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Open Wheel Throwing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1:15 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1 p.m. Art group meets at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 2-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio.
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Aprés Ski Yoga Level Open at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 6-7 p.m. Poi Playshop at the Pump Room.

SATURDAY 17
• 7-8:15 a.m. Ashtanga Level 2/3 with Joe at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA at UCC.
• 7:45 a.m. Weights and Indoor Biking Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2 with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m. Shofar Fellowship meets at 1825 N. Hwy. 135, Gunnison. 349-1899.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Community Yoga at the Sanctuary Yoga & Pilates Studio, Gunnison.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mountain Roots Food Project collecting household scraps at the Community Garden at Red Mountain Park. 970-964-8823.
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mountain Manners Wildflower & Natural History Hike. www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com.
• 10-11 a.m. Hip Hop Community Dance Class at the Pump Room (above Fire House on 3rd & Maroon). 415-225-5300.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 10:30 a.m.-noon St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mandalas & Mimosas: Cocktail on the Courtyard at the Gunnison Arts Center Courtyard.
• 11 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous meeting at 114 Wisconsin Street. 970-201-1133.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Guided Sound Meditiation at 405 4th Street.

SUNDAY 18
• 7-8 a.m. Meditation at Yoga For The Peaceful, by donation.
• 8:30 a.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 8:30 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 9 a.m. Worship Service at Union Congretional Church. 349-6405.
• 9-10:15 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9:30-11 a.m. Free Community Class / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Crested Butte Farmer’s Market, first block of Elk Avenue.
• 4-5:15 p.m. CBCYC Community Book Club at 405 4th Street.
• 5-6 p.m. All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Eucharist at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• 5-7 p.m. Pick-up Adult Basketball. HS Gym, CBCS.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6 p.m. AA meets at UCC.
• 6 p.m. Evening Service at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St.,
Gunnison.
• 6:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• 7 p.m. Gamblers Anonymous meets at the Last Resort.

MONDAY 19
• 7 a.m. Barre Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45 a.m. Pilates at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Jackie at Yoga For the
Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Painting with Water-Soluble Oils at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts (through June 20). 349-7400.
• 9:30 & 10:40 a.m., 12:15 & 3:30 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29)
• noon-1 p.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• noon-1 p.m. Lunch Break Vinyasa Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:45 p.m. Bridge at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Yin Yoga Nidra at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Moms in Motion class at the GVH rehab gym.
• 6:30 p.m. WellBeing Connection Workshop at the CB/Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce.
• 6:30-8 p.m. Women’s Domestic Violence Support Group at Project Hope. Childcare available upon request. 641-2712.
• 6:30-8:30 p.m. Make A Splash Watercolor class, Int/Adv. in the Art Studio at the Gunnison Arts Center. (runs through June 12)
• 7:30 p.m. Open AA at UCC. 349-5711.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

TUESDAY 20
• 6-7 a.m. Meditation at Yoga For The Peaceful, by donation.
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. AA/Alanon Open at UCC. 349-5711.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:30 & 6 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29, no classes July 4)
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Hatha Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 11:30 a.m. League of Women Voters meeting at 210 W. Spencer in Gunnison.
• noon AA Closed at UCC.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Iyengar Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tech Tuesdays at Old Rock Library. 349-6535.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:45 p.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Gentle Restorative Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6-8 p.m. Figure Drawing Sessions with a live model in Downtown Crested Butte. 349-7228.
• 7 p.m. Alanon meeting at the Last Resort.
• 7-8:30 p.m. Blessing Way Circle support group at Sopris Women’s Clinic.
720-217-3843.
• 7:45-9:45 p.m. Drop-in Adult Volleyball, CBCS MS Gym.

WEDNESDAY 21
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. The Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte Rotary Club breakfast meeting in the Shavano Conference Room at the Elevation Hotel.
• 8:45 a.m. Mat Mix at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Mindful Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:45 & 5:30 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon or the Center for the Arts. (runs through July 29)
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Monica at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Painting on Silk at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Two Buttes Senior Citizens van transportation. Roundtrip to Gunnison. Weather permitting. Call first for schedule and availability. 275-4768.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Middle School Art Workshops: Paper Quilling with the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Forrest Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1 p.m. Power Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon-1 p.m. Prana Vinyasa Express Level 1/2 with Stacey at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 1-4 p.m. Functional Pottery Single Day Classes: Spoons! in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio.
• 1-5 p.m. Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. Pay only for what you paint. 349-7044.
• 3-5 p.m. Bringing the Art Masters Alive in the Gunnison Arts Center Art Studio.
• 3:30-5 p.m. ICELab tours at Western State College University with Patrick Rowley.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5 p.m. An hour of German conversation every Wednesday at Pitas in Paradise.
• 5 p.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30 p.m. Prenatal Yoga class in Crested Butte South. 349-1209.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Adult Ultimate Frisbee pickup at Rainbow Park.
• 6-7:15 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6:30 p.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 4th and Maroon. 349-6482.
• 7-9 p.m. “GriefShare,” a grief recovery seminar and support group, meets at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison. 970-349-7769.

Events & Entertainment

THURSDAY 15
• 5-6:30 p.m. Gunnison Valley Health hosts BikeLife: A Community Bike Party at the North Entrance to the hospital.
• 5:30 p.m. The Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber Business After Hours Mixer at The Rijks Family Gallery, 310 Second St. 349-6438.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bridge Night at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 7:30 p.m. CBMT presents The Real Housewives of Crested Butte – The Ten Minute Plays at the Mallardi Cabaret Theatre. 349-0366.
• 7 p.m. Crested Butte Film Festival Monthly Series: 20th Century Women at the Center for the Arts.
• 7 p.m. Casy Falter plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 8 p.m. Ladies Night at the Red Room.

FRIDAY 16
• 4-8 p.m. KBUT Friday Night Fish Fry at the plaza between the KBUT studios and the CB Town Hall.
• 6:30 p.m. Headwaters Poetry Festival  in the Black Box Theatre of the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 7 p.m. Dawne Belloise and Chuck Grossman play at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7 p.m. Kongo, Evelyn and Turner’s Honky Tonk Happy Hour at Tully’s.
• 7:30 p.m. CBMT presents The Real Housewives of Crested Butte – The Ten Minute Plays at the Mallardi Cabaret Theatre. 349-0366.
• 7:30 p.m. The Crested Butte Mountain Runners Solstice Celebration with a twilight run and cookout at the Walrod Gulch trailhead. After the run, Brian Dale hosts the 21st annual “Brian’s beer, brats, boys and babes bash.”
• 10 p.m. Aquaducks play at The Eldo.

SATURDAY 17
• 9-11 a.m. Everyone Program! at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• Time? CB South’s Spring Clean Up Day.
• 7 p.m. “End of Snow” short film featuring RMBL’s billy barr at the Center for the Arts.
• 7 p.m. Craig McLaughlin plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7:30 p.m. CBMT presents The Real Housewives of Crested Butte – The Ten Minute Plays at the Mallardi Cabaret Theatre. 349-0366.
• 10 p.m. Earphorik play at The Eldo.

sunday 18
• 3-6 p.m. Happy Hour Deck Music with Chuck at The Eldo.
• 6 p.m. CAMP Advisory Group meeting in the CB South P.O.A. meeting room.
• 6-8 p.m. Sundays @ 6: Cary Morin in Legion Park, Gunnison.
• 7 p.m. Chuck Grossman plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

MONDAY 19
• 2-4 p.m. Standard Mine Community Advisory Group Meeting at Crested Butte Town Hall.
• 4-5:30 p.m. Alpenglow Kickoff – Volunteer Party at the Center for the Arts. 349-7487.
• 5:30 p.m. Alpenglow: Cadillac Angels at the Center for the Arts Outdoor Stage. 349-7487.
• 7 p.m. Doug Scharnberg plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 8 p.m. Open Mic Night at The Eldo.

TUESDAY 20
• 9 a.m. Socrates Cafe: Why is flag burning such an anathema? at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 6-8 p.m. The Gunnison Public Lands Initiative is presenting an initial proposal at the Gunnison Arts Center.
• 7 p.m. Chuck Grossman plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7 p.m. Eating Real Food for a Healthier You with Jen Nolan at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.

Wednesday 21
• 1-9 p.m. Plazapalooza! with Drum Safari and Mr. Kneel at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 5:45 p.m. Pinnacle Bike Race Series at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
• 7 p.m. Evelyn Roper plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7 p.m. Summer Solstice Party at The Umbrella Bar at Ten Peaks. 349-4554.
• 7:30 p.m. Del & Dawg—featuring Del McCoury and David Grisman with the Center for the Arts at the Big Mine Ice Arena. 349-7487.
• 9 p.m. The Legendary Wailing Souls play at The Eldo.

Kid’s Calendar

THURSDAY 15
• 9 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.
• 10 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 16
• 9-9:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 2-3) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mud Masters Hand Building for Kids in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio.
• 10-10:45 a.m. Art N Dance (ages 4-6) in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studios. Drop-in.
• 11 a.m. Big Kids Storytime (ages 3-7) at the Crested Butte Library.
• 12:30-2 p.m. Art Fusion (ages 7-11) in the Gunnison Arts Center Kids Art Studio. Drop-in.
• 4-5 p.m. Tang Soo Do Martial Arts classes for youth with West Elk Martial Arts, Town Hall Fitness Room. 901-7417.

SATURDAY 17
• 1:45-3:45 p.m. Crested Butte Book Binders at the Crested Butte Library, ages 9-13. (every 2nd and 4th Saturday)

MONDAY 19
• 3:45-5 p.m. Messy Mondays for school aged kids at the Crested Butte Library. (kids younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

TUESDAY 20
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 3:45-5 p.m. Tween Scene (ages 9-12) at the Crested Butte Library.

WEDNESDAY 21
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 10-10:45 a.m. Art Babies at The Trailhead Children Musuem. 349-7160.
• 11 a.m. Baby & Toddler Literacy Time at the Crested Butte Library.
• 11:15-12:15 a.m. Toddler Art at The Trailhead Children Musuem. 349-7160.
• 4-5:30 p.m. After School at The Trailhead: Outdoor Art Exploration. (runs through June 7)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

One Valley Prosperity Project hosts gathering to tout accomplishments and look ahead

Housing, aversion to change, and keeping it real highlight the conversation

By Toni Todd

The One Valley Prosperity Project, which began in 2015, was the Gunnison Valley’s year-and-a-half-long conversation with itself. Those discussions lead to a list of priorities locals believe are crucial for the community to thrive. The OVPP was nudged awake this past Thursday night with a pep rally of sorts at the ICElab at Western State Colorado University (WSCU).

County commissioner Jonathan Houck addressed the gathering of some 50 attendees with a recap of OVPP’s history. He noted skepticism on the part of many during the original discussion process, saying, “People said, ‘Great. Another plan that we’re going to put on a shelf.’”

Thursday’s meeting was, in part, designed to refute that, to share what’s been accomplished so far and to re-open discussion in order to continue moving forward. “We’re finding ways to figure out what we can do together,” Houck said. “Look where we’re sitting. The ICELab, an incubator for entrepreneurship.”

Houck ran down a list of accomplishments that he said have come directly from the OVPP plan. Countywide housing and health assessments have been completed. Additionally, he said, there are more mental health services; Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Program’s Sources of Strength program; a housing project proposed for Highway 135 and Brush Creek; the City of Gunnison’s recent grant award to improve the vitality of downtown; the birth of a new commercial area in Crested Butte South; the completion of a baseline trails report; and more.

“It’s a big group of people accomplishing these things,” Houck said. “We [Gunnison County] just re-did our strategic plan. Sixteen out of 20 things identified during the OVPP process are in that plan. We’re making choices about our future. In a time of doom and gloom, we’re swimming against that tide.”

Houck also touted the Civility Initiative. “We’re able to talk about things that are hard,” he said, suggesting not all communities can say that in these times of polarization and division.

Clark Anderson, executive director of Community Builders, facilitated the gathering. He said the OVPP process made clear some key characteristics of the community. “You guys are very closely connected… this is one of the most amazing places in the world, and yet, there are some real challenges here.” He listed the four priorities that came out of the OVPP discussions:

—Affordable housing

—Community health and equity

—Economic resiliency

—Sustainable tourism and recreation

Clark announced the OVPP Indicators Project, an online dashboard that will provide data on key indicators, where anyone can track the community’s progress.

Two panels took the stage—the first focused on housing and community health, and the second on economic resiliency and sustainable tourism.

The first panel included former county commissioner and former interim Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority (GVRHA) director Paula Swenson; current GVRHA director Jennifer Kermode; Maryo Gard-Ewell from the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley; Margaret Walker from Gunnison County Public Health; and Jessica Vogan from the Center for Mental Health.

The panel agreed that the issue facing the community with the most impact is lack of housing. “We need to find new boxes to start thinking outside of,” said Kermode. “The free market is not working.” The housing assessment, initiated by former GVRHA director Karl Fulmer, identified a need of roughly 900 housing units in the Gunnison Valley by 2020.

“The Housing Authority alone cannot fix the housing crisis,” Swenson added. She said the average price of a home in Gunnison is $400,000. “But the average wage can only afford $250,000. The farther north you go, the higher it gets. Currently, we are able to subsidize eight to 12 units per year.” This, Swenson said, won’t cut it.

“We need 300 homes [right now] just to catch up,” added Kermode,” and 600 more to keep up to what we’ll need by 2020.”

“At $200,000 per unit, you’re looking at $80 million to build the housing that’s needed by 2020,” said Swenson.

George Sibley, who attended the meeting, suggested priorities are out of whack when it comes to housing. “We want density, but we don’t,” he said. “We have a lawn problem, not a housing problem.” Sibley said he recently converted his garage into a rental unit, and would like to do the same for his upstairs. “But that would make it a triplex, and that’s illegal.”

Kermode suggested it’s time to take a close look at zoning regulations. Swenson added that setback requirements in the towns and in the county should be evaluated, too.

“Is neighborhood opposition ever a factor?” asked Community Builders’ Anderson.

“Never.” joked Swenson.

The Housing Authority, said Kermode, will likely go to the voters this fall with a request to increase either lodging or property taxes to help pay for community housing needs.

Poverty and mental health were also acknowledged as persistent struggles.

“However,” said Walker, “we have a lot of great collaborative efforts going on.”

“There’s a human tendency to let the experts handle it,” added Gard-Ewell. “If we remain siloed, we can’t address these problems.”

Walker said a Community Health Coalition has been formed to bring providers of health care together to address issues more holistically. She noted the addition of Gunnipacks for youth over the summer. Gunnipacks provide meals for kids over the weekend during the school year, with food supplied by the Gunnison Food Pantry.

Vogan said the County Health Assessment identified behavioral health as a pressing need. She addressed the recent suicides that have wracked the community. “We needed to react to this tragedy,” she said. “We now have a community organizer for suicide prevention.”

Gard-Ewell noted individuals who play important support roles in our community, helping some of our most vulnerable residents. Many locals are unaware, she said, that these jobs are not salaried, county positions. She suggested that if we value what these people do for our community, we should pay them a regular salary.

“What does this say? One—we are saying, ‘Let these people take care of our people. Two, these people are writing grants for their own salaries,” said Gard-Ewell, who then suggested an attitude adjustment, a shift in focus from a mindset of charity to one that recognizes potential return on investment. We should put our money where we say our values lie, she said. Those who serve in such crucial support roles, said Gard-Ewell, should be valued for the return on investment they generate.

The panel agreed that the single greatest factor influencing all four areas of the OVPP’s emphasis is housing.

“I can’t help somebody be less depressed if they don’t have a house to live in,” said Vogan.

The second panel included Erica Mueller from Crested Butte Mountain Resort; WSCU’s Julie Feier; commissioner Houck; Gunnison city manager Russ Forrest; executive director of the Tourism Association John Norton; and Sue Wallace, director of the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival and creator of the Mountain Manners.

“We’re loving this place to death,” said Wallace. “It’s impact. How do we embrace our tourism economy and better manage impacts?”

“I’m making Sue’s life miserable,” said Norton. “The TA’s mission is to promote tourism.” This month, he said, we’re on the cover of 5280 and Denver Life magazines. “Can we keep it up? Can we not screw things up?”

Norton said the TA has put significant effort into promoting mountain biking, a sport that offers what he called a “sustainable advantage.” Expert skiing also gives us a sustainable advantage, he said. “The first thing we did when we started to promote mountain biking, we spent $100,000 on signs,” said Norton.

The TA has also created electronic maps to make it easier for people to know where they are, and when they’re at risk of entering private property or areas closed off due to ranching activity. “We’ve had 35,000 downloads of our maps,” Norton said. “We also started TrailQuest,” he said, an effort to spread people out. TrailQuest challenges riders to ride all the trails, not just the most popular. “We’re also funding Sue and CBMBA’s [Crested Butte Mountain Biking Association’s] Conservation Corp.”

We should look at the mountain as a resource,” added CBMR’s Mueller. “We’re designated as a high-density use area by the Forest Service. Let’s use it.”

Skier visits, Mueller said, were up 5.6 percent this winter over last year. Mueller flashed back to 2011. “That was about as low as we could go,” she said. “We’re up 40 percent since then.” CBMR’s goal, she said, is 450,000 to 500,000 skier visits per year. “We realize we’re looking at operations and infrastructure improvements to support that.” Mueller said the recent push to grow the Denver market has paid off; this year, she said, Denver outpaced Dallas.

Forrest said improvements in broadband capacity were one response to the challenge we face in closing the gap between cost of living and income, making it possible for more people to live here who work at higher paying jobs they can do online. “We’ve also formed a downtown leadership committee to create a vision for Main Street [Gunnison].”

“Back to George’s comment about lawns versus density,” said Feier. “It’s hard to get away from wanting more. And that means we’re going to have to accept change.”

“How do we deal with the tension of changing?” asked Anderson.

“Public servants take the most heat,” Feier said. “I think they work their hearts out… But to say it doesn’t matter whether we have a vibrant downtown is false.” From the perspective of WSCU, she said, “We need to either grow or double tuition. There are definitely people who are throwing down roadblocks and we need to reach out to them in a way to turn that around.”

Forrest said it’s important to frame the need for change in the context of values. People, he said, are afraid they’ll lose what we value about this place and this community. “We asked, ‘What’s the impact of maintaining the status quo?’ If we do nothing, the cost of living is going to continue to go up.”

“Life is harder here,” added Mueller. “We have to all do it together.”

“Mountain Manners has recruited 31 volunteers, who will approach guests in a friendly way. We’ll get the word out as advocates,” Wallace said. “We’ll have volunteers on the trails. Nobody reads anymore. We have to be willing to have that conversation with people.”

“We struggle in this community with implementation,” said Houck, “because implementation means change. And change is hard for people.” It’s tough, he said, to keep people actively engaged. “When people do step up, they get beaten down by the process. If we really want to get people involved, we have to stop fighting and look at what we want to improve.”

“I hear, ‘We don’t want to be Aspen or Vail,’” said Anderson. “What do you mean? Do you mean we don’t want to be built up like that, or do you mean you want a community where real people can live?”

“If we stay connected to the land,” responded Houck, “we stay real. The ranchers are the original conservationists. But a biker or a snowmobiler can love this place as much as a rancher. Other communities have said, ‘We’ve got to look like this so people will come.’” The Gunnison Valley, by contrast, he said, looks how it looks and remains a viable, livable community because we’ve made a conscious effort to maintain that connection.

“It’s important that we not only stay connected to the land, but we connect our visitors to the land,” added Mueller.

Sibley countered that sentiment with what he sees as the new reality. “You can be connected to the land if you have a tiny house on a lot, and you can be connected to the land if you have an 8,000-square-foot house you live in less than half the year,” said Sibley. “I see this valley tending to go toward the 8,000-square-foot house.”

He shared a recent experience trying to get a plumber to work on a small bathroom project. Sibley said he called several, only to learn they were busy working up-valley. “They like working on 8,000-square-foot houses as opposed to my bathroom expansion,” he said.

What’s next? “The Community Builders’ Task Force will be meeting in two weeks or so to discuss next steps and actions,” said Gunnison County community and economic development director Cathie Pagano. That task force is made of up representatives from a variety of entities and organizations throughout the county, such as municipal and county elected officials, Gunnison Valley Health, Western, GVRHA, Gunnison Health and Human Services, the TA, and more.

Community Calendar Thursday, June 8–Wednesday, June 14

THURSDAY 8
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8 a.m. Ecumenical Meditation at UCC.
• 8:30 a.m. Women’s book discussion group at UCC.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-noon Open Wheel Throwing at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 10 a.m. Mothering Support Group at Oh Be Joyful Church. (last Thursday of every month)
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 11:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• noon All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Church Community Healing Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• noon-1 p.m. BUTI Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Intro to Prana Vinyasa Level 1 with Monica at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 4:30-6 p.m. Crested Butte Community Food Bank open at Oh Be Joyful Church. (first and third Thursday of every month)
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:45 p.m. Zumba at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Freestyle Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6:30 p.m. AA Open Meditation at UCC.
• 7 p.m. Women Supporting Women Group Discussion at the Nordic Inn.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

FRIDAY 9
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8 a.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 349-6482.
• 8:45 a.m. Core Power Yoga Class at the Pump Room.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Yoga for the Flexibly Challenged / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Stacey at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1:15 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1 p.m. Art group meets at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Aprés Ski Yoga Level Open at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 6-7 p.m. Poi Playshop at the Pump Room.

SATURDAY 10
• 7-8:15 a.m. Ashtanga Level 2/3 with Joe at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 7:30 a.m. Open AA at UCC.
• 7:45 a.m. Weights and Indoor Biking Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level 2 with Jackie at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m. Shofar Fellowship meets at 1825 N. Hwy. 135, Gunnison. 349-1899.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Community Yoga at the Sanctuary Yoga & Pilates Studio, Gunnison.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mountain Roots Food Project collecting household scraps at the Community Garden at Red Mountain Park. 970-964-8823.
• 10-11 a.m. Hip Hop Community Dance Class at the Pump Room (above Fire House on 3rd & Maroon). 415-225-5300.
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 10:30 a.m.-noon St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 11 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous meeting at 114 Wisconsin Street. 970-201-1133.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Guided Sound Meditiation at 405 4th Street.

SUNDAY 11
• 7-8 a.m. Meditation at Yoga For The Peaceful, by donation.
• 8:30 a.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 9 a.m. Worship Service at Oh-Be-Joyful Church.
• 9 a.m. Worship Service at Union Congretional Church. 349-6405.
• 9-10:15 a.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. “Regenerations – Connecting in Nature” hiking, writing and art workshop with Molly Murfee, Ivy Walker and WSCU Extended Studies. 970-444-2218.
• 9:30-11 a.m. Free Community Class / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Crested Butte Farmer’s Market, first block of Elk Avenue.
• 4-5:15 p.m. CBCYC Community Book Club at 405 4th Street.
• 5-6 p.m. All Saints in the Mountain Episcopal Eucharist at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. 349-9371.
• 5-7 p.m. Pick-up Adult Basketball. HS Gym, CBCS.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Restorative Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6 p.m. AA meets at UCC.
• 6 p.m. Evening Service at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison.
• 6:30 p.m. Duplicate Bridge at UCC. 349-1008.
• 7 p.m. Gamblers Anonymous meets at the Last Resort.

MONDAY 12
• 7 a.m. Barre Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 8:45 a.m. Pilates at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 9-10:30 a.m. Lunar Prana Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Jackie at Yoga For the Peaceful.
• 9:30 & 10:40 a.m., 12:15 & 3:30 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29)
• noon-1 p.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• noon-1 p.m. Lunch Break Power Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 12:45 p.m. Bridge at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Yin Yoga Nidra at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:30-7 p.m. Moms in Motion class at the GVH rehab gym.
• 6:30 p.m. WellBeing Connection Workshop at the CB/Mt. CB Chamber of Commerce.
• 6:30-8 p.m. Women’s Domestic Violence Support Group at Project Hope. Childcare available upon request. 641-2712.
• 6:30-8:30 p.m. Make A Splash Watercolor class, Int/Adv. in the Art Studio at the Gunnison Arts Center. (runs through June 12)
• 7:30 p.m. Open AA at UCC. 349-5711.
• 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous meets at 114 N. Wisconsin St. in Gunnison.

TUESDAY 13
• 6-7 a.m. Meditation at Yoga For The Peaceful, by donation.
• 7 a.m. Core Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. AA/Alanon Open at UCC. 349-5711.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 8:45-10 a.m. Vinyasa Flow / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:30 & 6 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon. (runs through July 29, no classes July 4)
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Yoga Basics at Yoga for the Peaceful.
• 11:30 a.m. League of Women Voters meeting at 210 W. Spencer in Gunnison.
• noon AA Closed at UCC.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. Iyengar Yoga at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tech Tuesdays at Old Rock Library. 349-6535.
• 4-5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Garage, a free thrift store. 300 Belleview, Unit 2, on the south end of 3rd Street. 970-318-6826.
• 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at Queen of All Saints Church.
• 5:30-6:45 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 5:45 p.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 5:45-7 p.m. Gentle Restorative Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• 6-8 p.m. Figure Drawing Sessions with a live model in Downtown Crested Butte. 349-7228.
• 7 p.m. Alanon meeting at the Last Resort.
• 7-8:30 p.m. Blessing Way Circle support group at Sopris Women’s Clinic.
720-217-3843.
• 7:45-9:45 p.m. Drop-in Adult Volleyball, CBCS MS Gym.

WEDNESDAY 14
• 6:30 a.m. All Levels Iyengar Yoga Class at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 7:30 a.m. The Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte Rotary Club breakfast meeting in the Shavano Conference Room at the Elevation Hotel.
• 8:45 a.m. Mat Mix at The Gym. 349-2588.
• 9 a.m., 3:30, 4:45 & 5:30 p.m. Crested Butte School of Dance: Dance in the Mountains classes in the Pump Room Dance Studio, 3rd and Maroon or the Center for the Arts. (runs through July 29)
• 9-10:30 a.m. Solar Prana Vinyasa Level Open with Monica at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. “Creative Connections with Landscape” hiking, writing and art workshop with Molly Murfee, Ivy Walker and WSCU Extended Studies. 970-444-2218.
• 9:30 a.m. Mah Jong at the Senior Center. 641-4529.
• 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Two Buttes Senior Citizens van transportation. Roundtrip to Gunnison. Weather permitting. Call first for schedule and availability. 275-4768.
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Forrest Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon Closed AA at UCC.
• noon-1 p.m. Power Yoga / CB Co-op at Town Hall.
• noon-1 p.m. Prana Vinyasa Express Level 1/2 with Stacey at Yoga For The
Peaceful.
• 1-4 p.m. Functional Pottery Single Day Class: Light Switch Covers in the Gunnison Arts Center Clay Studio.
• 3-5 p.m. Sketch Journaling with Cheri Isgreen at the Gunnison Arts Center Art Studio.
• 3:30-5 p.m. ICELab tours at Western State College University with Patrick Rowley.
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 5 p.m. An hour of German conversation every Wednesday at Pitas in Paradise.
• 5 p.m. Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
• 5:30 p.m. Prenatal Yoga class in Crested Butte South. 349-1209.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Adult Ultimate Frisbee pickup at Rainbow Park.
• 6-7:15 p.m. Slow Flow at Yoga For The Peaceful.
• 6:30 p.m. Alanon at UCC Parlour (in back). 4th and Maroon. 349-6482.
• 7-9 p.m. “GriefShare,” a grief recovery seminar and support group, meets at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 N. Main St., Gunnison. 970-349-7769.

Events & Entertainment

THURSDAY 8
• 10 a.m. The Science of Positivity with Dr. Loretta Breuning at Townie Books. 349-6535.
• 5:30-8:30 p.m. One Valley Prosperity Project discussing Progress at the ICELab in Escalante Terrace at WSCU. 641-7929.
• 7 p.m. Wild & Scenic Film Festival, a benefit for 1% for Open Space, plays at the Center for the Arts. 349-1775.
• 7 p.m. Renee Wright and Nichole Reycraft play at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 8 p.m. Ladies Night at the Red Room.

FRIDAY 9
• 12:30-3 p.m. Town Picnic at Rainbow Park with community photo at 2 p.m.
• 3:30-8 p.m. Behavioral Health Integration Symposium at the University Center, South Ballroom at WSCU.
• 4 p.m. CBMBA’s annual Membership Meeting at Rainbow Park, Kickoff Party starts at 5:30 p.m.
• 7 p.m. Tyler Hansen plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 7-9:30 p.m. Line Dance & Colorado Beer in the Gunnison Arts Center Dance Studio.
• 10 p.m. Liver Down the River plays at the Eldo.

SATURDAY 10
• 9-11 a.m. Crested Butte Cemetary Noxious Weed Pulling Day. 349-5338.
• 10 a.m.-noon Mt. Crested Butte Community Clean Up Day, volunteers meet at the Mt. Crested Butte Pavilion, 911 Gothic Road. 349-6632.
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Writers Master Class: Write to Read at the Gunnison Arts Center Studios.
• 10 a.m. CBMBA’s ‘The Wall Workday,’ meet at West Brush TH or 9:15 at the 4-way to carpool. After Party and Raffle at 4 p.m. at Tent City (just beyond West Brush turn)
• 10 a.m. Schools Out for Summer! CB South’s Annual Ice Cream Breakfast Social at Red Mountain Park.
• 1-5 p.m. Father’s Day Paint Your Own Pottery at the Art Studio of the Center for the Arts. 349-7044.
• 7 p.m. Craig McLaughlin plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

SUNDAY 11
• 4:30-6:30 p.m. Gunnison County Democratic Party’s annual Roosevelt Dinner at Donita’s Cantina.
• 6-8 p.m. Sundays @ 6: Marc Berger and Band in Legion Park, Gunnison.
• 7 p.m. Dwayne Dodson plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 8 p.m. Magic Dick and Shun Ng play at the Center for the Arts.

MONDAY 12
• 7 p.m. Sohrob plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

TUESDAY 13
• 5:30 p.m. Books-N-Bars: The House of the Spirits by Isael Allende at Iron Horse Tap. 349-6535.
• 7 p.m. Bill Dowell plays at the Princess Wine Bar.

WEDNESDAY 14
• 7 p.m. Mind Your Mountain Manners with Mountain Manners at the Crested Butte Library. 349-6535.
• 7 p.m. The Edmond, OK., Performing Arts Center presents Reclaiming Artistry – dances celebrating life, hope and redemption at the Center for the Arts to benefit Lighthouse Pregnancy Center, Gunnison. 405-264-7061.
• 7 p.m. Evelyn Roper plays at the Princess Wine Bar.
• 10 p.m. Arkansauce plays at the Eldo.

Kid’s Calendar:

THURSDAY 8
• 9 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.
• 10 a.m. Munchkin’s Music & Dance Class in the High Attitude Dance Academy in Gunnison.
• 4-5:30 p.m. After School at The Trailhead: Paint Like a Famous Artist. (runs through June 8)

FRIDAY 9
• 11 a.m. Big Kids Storytime (ages 3-7) at the Crested Butte Library.
• 4-5 p.m. Tang Soo Do Martial Arts classes for youth with West Elk Martial Arts, Town Hall Fitness Room. 901-7417.

SATURDAY 10
• 1:45-3:45 p.m. Crested Butte Book Binders at the Crested Butte Library, ages 9-13. (every 2nd and 4th Saturday)

MONDAY 12
• 3:45-5 p.m. Messy Mondays for school aged kids at the Crested Butte Library. (kids younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.

TUESDAY 13
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 3:45-5 p.m. Tween Scene (ages 9-12) at the Crested Butte Library.
• 4-5:30 p.m. After School at The Trailhead: Advanced Art – Jewelry Making. (runs through June 6)

WEDNESDAY 14
• 9:30 a.m. Munchkin’s Music and Dance Class in the Fitness Room at Town Hall. 349-9639.
• 10-10:45 a.m. Art Babies at The Trailhead Children Musuem. 349-7160.
• 11 a.m. Baby & Toddler Literacy Time at the Crested Butte Library.
• 11:15-12:15 a.m. Toddler Art at The Trailhead Children Musuem. 349-7160.
• 4-5:30 p.m. After School at The Trailhead: Outdoor Art Exploration. (runs through June 7)
• 4-7:30 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for children and adults with West Elk Martial Arts, Jerry’s Gym at Town Hall. 901-7417.
• 4:45 p.m. Tang Soo Do classes for juniors at Town Hall. 901-7417.