Benchtalk: July 17, 2020

Fire restrictions still in place

It is nice to see some afternoon rain but we were so dry that it will take more than that to green us up and get the area out of the fire danger. So as of this week, Stage-1 fire restrictions remain in effect. That means no campfires unless it is in a permanent fire ring in a campground. Don’t circle some rocks in a dispersed campsite and start a fire to roast marshmallows. Don’t light off fireworks. The wind can carry the embers and start something no one wants to see. So be aware and be careful. A bit more rain will help so we all need to be patient.

Don’t forget to return the Boomerang Bags

With a plastic bag ban in Crested Butte, there are alternatives in many local stores. So-called ‘boomerang bags’ can be used and then returned so others can also utlize them. We know how you love them and re-use them, but please return all those forgotten bags that are in your house or car so we can put them back into circulation. Please return to a rack at the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce bus stop or to a participating store or hotel.

The Center for Mental Health is there for you

With so much happening in the world right now, we know many people are under stress. The Center Support Line is free and available to our communities 24/7 for anyone feeling stressed or anxious or just needing someone to talk to. Call (970) 252-6220. The website is www.centermh.org/supportline. They are hosting Facebook live “Coping with COVID” chats every Tuesday at noon. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/centermh/. The www.centermh.org/covid19 page has been updated with lots of useful behavioral health resources, including information on how to gain free access to the myStrength app for individual use.

Schedule for the Gunnison Arts Center’s ‘Finding the Well of Your Creativity’

Find the Well of Your Creativity at the Gunnison Arts Center in Exploring Your Emotions. Shape, see, move, hear, and feel what’s inside. This new series of art activities and classes at the Gunnison Arts Center is aimed at helping all in our community understand and safely express emotions during difficult times. The Gunnison Arts Center has teamed up with the Center for Mental Health to offer this mindful art series to the Gunnison Valley to help you explore and express creativity and emotions through art. Participate in-person or in a virtual class and even download an activity to do in your own space, on your own time. The cost is $80 and $68 for Gunnison Arts Center members.

Four-week course schedule—Tuesdays on Zoom, July 21 to August 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in person, July 23 to August 13. 6 to 8 p.m.

Part One: Gaining Clarity—This class begins to lay the foundation for a healthier self, whether you are experiencing stress, fear, sadness.

Part Two: Listening Deeply—This class will begin with a unique meditation and the setting of intentions, to further clarify what is currently going on, and what we are seeking to heal and create.

Part Three: Seeing Truly—This session will begin with a unique mediation technique to illuminate and center us. We will be looking at different works of art to expand our language of creating.

Part Four: The Wisdom of the Well—By this fourth session we have integrated the use of Free Form Writing to remove mental/emotional blocks, we have the ability to listen deeply and respond, we have the ability to see truly and interpret, and now we will use all of this to create and solidify our leanings; that we have cultivated tools for creativity and well-being. To see our full course offerings, visit www.gunnisonartscenter.org! Scholarships available.

Birthdays:

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

July 20- Jacob Bernholtz, Laura Freeman, Henry Cahir, David Villanueva, Kat Hassebroek,

July 21- Tom Martin, Maila Olson, Leslie Locklear, Peace Wheeler, Ross Orton, Ashley Harrington

July 22- Lucy Zavala, Walker Carroll, Lisa D’Arrigo

Cameos: What has been your silver lining of the covid-19 pandemic?