Concerns About Planned 15-Acre Ridgway Village Editor: Question: If the developers of the proposed 15-acre Ridgway Village can’t afford the pedestrian overpass; can the pedestrians of this town afford the proposed development? No! Ridgway and its fragile economic base cannot afford another split in community. This story is analogous to the Wal-mart scenario. Read on. The first business to enter the proposed development lasted one year prior to filing bankruptcy: A favorite town business, San Juan Bakery, formerly located at the intersection of town park and Hwy. 62, was the first casualty of a misplaced business that was originally supported by the core of the community with walking and local traffic. The failure of this business was in part due to traffic congestion at the stoplight intersection about which this development is proposed. This business failure is representative of the destiny of the future proposed village development if we fail to educate ourselves about the impacts of the automobile on community or fail to provide pedestrian traffic via an over pass. For people new to issues surrounding this town, please let it be noted that a child has been killed on Highway 62. This town is already divided in half by Highway 62; the proposed development will divide the community into quadrants separated by two highways. The proposed solution of a strobe-lit intersection for pedestrians is not a solution to the proposed traffic congestion, but in reality will add to the traffic congestion by adding another stream of traffic and contribute considerably to delay at this intersection. The developer and associated realtors who sold this property fail to understand the consequences of purchasing and proposing a retail development and residential community around the intersection of two major state highways. I am not sympathetic about prohibitive costs to the deep pocketed developer especially in light of the fact that one of Ridgeway’s popular businesses has already suffered bankruptcy and the Heron house development in the historic core is, for some reason, vacant. Issues surrounding Ridgway Development LLC (who partnered with the Hunter family in a joint venture) and the failure of San Juan Bakery and the vacancy of their Heron house project necessitates further investigation of how this developer works within the existing community and is not the subject of this letter. We are about to sacrifice the beautiful elements that make this community great if we sit back in complacency and fail to educate ourselves about how communities are impacted by the automobile and how the automobile destroys a sense of community. We must make educated decisions about the future development of this town by reading the book The Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America’s Manmade Landscape, by James Howard Munster. This is available on line through amazon.com or can be ordered through Food for Thought or Restore Our World bookstores. This town can become another highway exit like Vail, or we can continue to shape it as a community via healthy transportation corridors. All the dedicated efforts of Ridgway Mayor Pat Willits and Town Manager Greg Clifton to create the Colorado River trail and bike path over the river (about a quarter mile from this development) can continue to make Ridgway an incredible community if it is tied to alternative transportation that connects the new east side development and its residents to the historic core. The future of this town is dependent upon these decisions which will occur within the next few months and your input is desired. We need to understand the intrinsic beauty of a town in which we can walk or bike to meet our needs. Ridgway and surrounding west side community is the home the following sincerely grass roots groups dedicated to nature, global health and community. We promote growth that enhances rather than destroys the elements that make Ridgway desirable. • River Trail to connect Ouray to Ridgway to Pacochupuck State Park and watching eagles and incredible wildlife along the way. • San Juan Huts in which people bicycle the course of 250 miles from Telluride to Moab…this is the greatest thing since the pony express! Not to mention the back country non-motorized skiing huts. • Bob and Laura Haggert and the River Ranch • Ouray Ice Park • Season’s Harvest Natural Food • Sandy’s Restaurant promoting locally grown organic food. • Food for Thought Book Store • Holistic health center: Ridgway Integrative Medicine • Ridgway Outdoor Experience with a quarter million dollars of inventory • Ouray Trails Group • Rigs fly fishing store • And many building contactors dedicated to solar building ……and the spirit that created all of the above The proposed Village development isolates the historic commercial district by the cross-section of the highways. It appears to me that Joe Nelson’s concept of sustainable is an independent self-supporting for profit village that does not integrate with the existing community. The developers of the village benefit financially by drawing upon the beautiful aspects of the river trail and community aspects listed above, but are not reciprocal (evidenced by isolating the residents within their own commercial district, i.e., village) in establishing healthy transportation corridors for business in historic section of Ridgway. In a more global sense, the future of transportation and the threat of global climate change which is upon us… also justifies our need to make choices for individual transportation that make a difference for the future of climate change and global politics. Continued development of bike and walking paths as alternative transportation must be a top priority globally. People will come to Ridgway to live because of its beautiful simplicity and a sense of community. Please e-mail Janet Smith with your support and concerns on this topic of pedestrian bridge and how it relates to maintaining our sense of community to: Planet@independence.net. I look forward to your input. — Janet Smith, Ridgway Transportation Committee

Bärbel's the Best

Editor:

After all these years I am still completely overwhelmed by this community's support for the Telluride AIDS Benefit. Life and Telluride truly are magical, and I hope I live to see AIDS disappear. From all of us living with this disease that the benefit reaches a big thank you, sponsors, patrons, and volunteers – we warmly appreciate the support.

I have a special thank you to Bärbel Hacke for her monumental work putting the art show together, and who always seems to slip through the thank you net.

— Ron Gilmer, TAB Board Member

Chicks With Picks Raise $77,000 For Shelter

Editor:

We wish to extend to The Telluride Watch our appreciation for your coverage of the Montrose safe house volunteer story and related fundraising efforts earlier this month. (To date Chicks with Picks has raised $77,000 for the women's shelters.) However, only one of the individuals who have been participating in a major reconstruction project in Montrose at the safe house there had been recognized. As well, we wanted to mention some of the sponsors who made the Chicks with Picks fundraiser in Ouray a resounding success.

With the support of McDougal and Co., local businesses and craftsmen, we have added square footage to the clients common living room, completely remodeled the kitchen, added a client sitting room, and expanded the upstairs bathroom and completed a new coat of paint and window coverings for all of the downstairs rooms. Matt McDougal and his crew currently have a very ambitious schedule with the construction of Crossroads and the Bridges Projects, however they still took the time to remodel our safe house to better fit our clients needs. At this time we would like to thank Troy Brown and Doug Kahle for the creative vision to get the ball rolling. Mike Drumm, general contractor, Greg Hyatt, plumber, Joe Steel and Kati Eden electricians, Michele Young, interior decorator, Santiago Pinto, construction, and Brandon Reeder, Lynn Hopkins and Matt Pace, tile craftsmen; Eugene Barberi, Mountain Stone for tile and marble and the employees of Stone Mountain Flooring Outlet. Please patronize these local area craftsmen who have dedicated their time and skill to the remodel of the Montrose Tri-County Resource Center safe house and stop in and view the Crossroads project in Montrose. Their open houses are on display and exemplify the quality construction of Cougar & Co. Sponsors who donated ice climbing equipment for the Chicks with Picks auction in January included Marmot, Patagonia, Basque, Montrail Boots, Black Diamond, CAMP, Kayland, and Arcteryx. Thank you.

— Alberta Brown, Interim Director; Catherin McElman, Outgoing Director; Kim Reynolds, Chicks With Picks

Nordic Assn. Thanks

Editor:

Thanks to Clark's Market's Cash Saver's program, the Telluride Nordic Association received a check in the amount of $354.50. We'll put this money toward our grooming efforts at the Trout Lake Railroad grade and Priest Lake. We thank all those who contributed their cash saver coupons and to Clark's Market. Thank your grocer and keep on track!