Apathy kills local elections

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

They are two words heard during every election season - voter apathy.

But it wasn't voter apathy that foiled the town's upcoming town council election, it was candidate apathy.

With three town council seats and the mayor's post up for grabs in the upcoming April 4 election, the contest might have proved exciting. But "might have" is the operative clause.

In an announcement made during Tuesday's town council meeting, Town Manager Mark Garcia said that because only two candidates - John Middendorf for District 1 and Darrel Cotton for District 3 - had stepped up for the three district seats, Middendorf and Cotton are shoe-ins for their respective town council posts.

The District 2 seat, being vacated by Trustee Judy James, lacks a candidate and Garcia said the town will seek letters of intent from residents of District 2 who would like to be considered for the post.

District 2 includes everything within the town boundaries east of Hot Springs Boulevard and south of U.S. 160; and everything within the town limits east of North Sixth Street and North of U.S. 160.

Town Clerk Deanna Jaramillo said the letters will be reviewed by members of the town council, and that the nominee must reside in District 2. She added if an appointment is not made by the council within sixty days of the election date, April 4, another election must be called.

Although the town council race, is a non-election, the mayor's race is on. As of press time Wednesday, incumbent Mayor Ross Aragon and challenger Paul Nobles had entered the fray and voters, in addition to voting "yea" or "nay" on the lodger's tax, will have an opportunity to select the town's next mayor.

Although the importance of the mayor and town council elections are debatable, it is undeniable that the issues facing the next town council will be numerous.

With the current big box moratorium expiring in June and the town having already faced a large scale retail development proposal, the next council will again grapple with the future of big box development in the Town of Pagosa Springs.

In addition, the town is nearing completion of two significant planning efforts - the Downtown Master Plan and the Comprehensive Plan - and the council will face the choice of adopting those as policy come late spring or early summer. Add adoption of impact fees, business licensing, and what Garcia called, "a whole host of development proposals," and the council could have a very busy schedule in the months ahead.

In addition to low candidate turnout at the town, the following is a list of other local elections cancelled, also due to low candidate turnout, and a list of their respective board candidates who were declared elected because there were not more candidates than offices to be filled.

- Pagosa Area Fire Protection District: Ron Maez, Bob Frye and Michael Howell - all will serve four-year terms.

- Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District: Karen A. Wessels to a four-year term, including a remaining board vacancy, also for a four-year term.

- San Juan Conservation District: Heidi Keshet and John Taylor, both for four-year terms.

- Loma Linda Metropolitan District: John W. Porco and Jack T. Lilly, both to four-year terms.

- San Juan River Metropolitan District: Michael Scott Kay, Joseph M. Nanus, Richard W. Riethmiller, all to four-year terms.

In other town business, an ordinance mandating business licensing passed on first reading. The ordinance will now go to a second reading during April's council meeting.

County hires new manager, attorney

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

Archuleta County has seen its share of staff turnover during the last year, and despite the tumult caused by resignations of key, long-time personnel, perhaps there are two bright spots on the horizon - the much anticipated arrival of a new county administrator and county attorney.

Katherine Ross, human resources director for Archuleta County, announced the hiring of the two positions at Tuesday's board of county commissioners meeting.

In her presentation to the board, Ross identified the selections - Robert Campbell for the county administrator's position and Teresa Williams as the new county attorney.

According to Ross, Campbell has served as the city manager for Bloomfield, N.M., since 2000, and prior to that worked as Bloomfield's chief of police. Ross said, Campbell has an extensive law enforcement background and served as a manager for McDonald-Douglas, where he administered their Department of Defense contract procedures. Campbell, Ross said, holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree from the University of Colorado in public administration.

He will start March 20, Ross said.

Williams will begin her tenure with the county nearly a month later, Ross said, with Williams' starting date scheduled for April 10.

Williams will be moving to Archuleta County from Palmer, Alaska.

According to Ross, Williams has served as the borough attorney for the Palmer area since 2003. A borough is the Alaskan equivalent of a county. In addition, Williams has served as the city attorney for Glenwood Springs, Colo., and Sugarland, Texas; as a borough attorney in Ketchikan, Alaska, and as assistant city attorney in Houston. Williams holds a bachelor of science in speech communication and earned her law degree from the University of Texas-Austin.

In addition to announcing Williams' and Campbell's arrival, Ross also announced her own departure.

Ross said she "is moving back to the midwest to manage some personal family health issues."

Although Ross' tenure has been relatively short - her first official day was Nov. 1, 2005 and her last day in the office is tomorrow - Archuleta County Commissioner Mamie Lynch commended Ross for her role in filling many of the county's staffing vacancies in various capacities and departments, including the new county administrator and attorney, public works, solid waste, the assessor's office, building and planning, road and bridge and the geographic information system department.

Ross shrugged off the compliment and attributed hiring successes to a team effort. She said as a human resources director, location and recruitment of candidates was her primary role.

"I rope 'em, they brand 'em," Ross said.

With Ross' resignation, that puts county-wide resignations for the fiscal years 2005/2006 near 40. And although reasons for resignations are attributed to a variety of reasons, from personal to professional, they come at a cost to the Archuleta County taxpayer.

According to county documents, during the 2005 fiscal year and as of Dec. 6, 2005, the county had suffered a total of 38 resignations at the cost of $146,000 to the taxpayer.

During that time period, four resignations occurred in county administration, to the tune of $23,258 in separation costs. Three occurred in the assessor's office at $12,308 in separation costs; three at the county clerk's office for nearly $3,000; eight in building and planning for about $26,500; 11 in the sheriff's office, including six from the patrol staff, at a department-wide resignation cost of about $64,000; two in road and bridge administration for roughly $6,000; one in senior services for about $700; five in solid waste at nearly $8,000 and one at the airport for $1,800.

Archuleta County Finance Director Bob Burchett defined separation costs as severance pay, if any was paid, and accrued compensation such as vacation time or sick leave.

Burchett said the accrued separation costs as of Dec. 6, 2005 was equal to two, one-year salaries for a county senior management position.

Airport commission asks for improvements

By Chuck McGuire

Staff Writer

The Archuleta County Airport Advisory Commission is recommending two specific enhancements to newly constructed amenities at Stevens Field. One will increase public utility and convenience, while the other will heighten airport safety and performance. According to the ACAAC, neither will break the budget.

During the ACAAC regular meeting in February, a tour of the new, nearly-completed fixed base operations center resulted in two separate motions meant to address items the commission feels are of pressing concern. By meeting's end, both carried unanimously, by vote of the commission members present.

The first item recommends the county improve drainage patterns and apply sufficient gravel to the short- and long-term public parking areas around the new FBO. Recent spring-like snowmelt has turned the areas, and the interior airport roads leading to them, into a sea of mud and standing water. Short-term parking is located on the north side of the new FBO, and long-term parking is situated to the west.

During the tour, commission chairman Elmer Schettler pointed out the sorely saturated areas and suggested, "Stevens Field is becoming a first class facility. We need to ensure that persons driving to, and parking at, the airport do not have to drive through standing water and walk through mud to access their autos."

As a whole, the commission believes the work can be accomplished by utilizing county personnel recently hired to operate snow removal equipment around the county and at the airport. "During slack work load times this spring," Schettler said, "they could be used to haul the necessary gravel and do the grading."

The second concern raised by the ACAAC is a little more complicated, and involves a newly-constructed connector road between the midfield aircraft parking apron (Alpha-1) and the north apron (Alpha-2).

The existing lane is sufficient for automobile use, but is too narrow to tug or taxi light planes between aprons. Consequently, to move a plane from one apron to another, whether for fueling at Alpha 1, or tie-down parking at Alpha 2, planes must be towed or taxi onto the active runway, effectively closing the airport. Because Stevens Field has no control tower and is not "radio-controlled," the ACAAC believes using the runway for such purposes constitutes a safety issue.

Therefore, the ACAAC is asking airport management to devise a plan for the widening and solid-surfacing of the road to accommodate aircraft up to 7,000 pounds, and to discuss the concept at the next ACAAC meeting, March 16. The ACAAC is also requesting a final plan by its April meeting, and to assure that the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners is informed of both requests, it has also submitted copies to the commissioners' office.

According to both formal recommendations, the ACAAC believes each can be accomplished by utilizing county equipment and employees during down times, and surplus capital originally budgeted for airport snow removal.

With little snowfall so far this winter, the idea seems feasible, but when asked for his reaction to the proposals, airport manager Rob Russ suggested the projects "are already in the works." He explained, "the airport is a work in progress, and there are several jobs ongoing, including them."

When asked if these two items were a priority, he said, "They're kind of prioritized Š yes, they are a priority."

Russ insisted he has materials and equipment already lined out for such projects, but warned, "The work can't be done until those areas dry out later this spring, and even then," he said, "there may not be funding available."

Meanwhile, the current FBO services provider, Avjet Corporation, hopes workers will finish construction on the new FBO building in the next few weeks, thus facilitating their move from the old center in Nick's Hanger, by late April. If so, depending on the weather, parking around the new structure could be challenging.

Impact of second homes studied

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

Region 9 Economic Development District has released Phase 1 of a study exploring the impact of second home owners in southwest Colorado.

According to Region 9 documents, second homes and their ownership present a paradox to many communities, and therein lies the impetus for the study.

While the study acknowledges that second homes add dollars to local economies, the study seeks to understand at what social and economic cost.

"Second homes are taking up large amounts of land in some Colorado mountain resort areas where developable land is already in short supply. This demand, and ability to pay top dollar, also has an effect on the cost of housing locally.

"As their numbers increase, and the land available for development decreases, a dilemma is created. Second homes have generated the need for more workers, but the rise in property values and subsequent housing costs have made it difficult for the workers to live within a reasonable distance of their place of work," the study states.

With the framework laid, Region 9 Assistant Director Laura Lewis said the study will proceed in three phases, with recently completed Phase I, focused on gathering data about the percentage of second home owners; land use patterns and land values; population trends and demographics; and economic drivers in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan counties.

The data compiled in Phase I shows that between 1990 and 2000, the population of Archuleta County grew by 8.5 percent annually. Those growth figures ranked Archuleta County as the fifth fastest growing county in Colorado, and the 14th fastest growing county in the nation. Since 2000, the study states the growth rate has slowed to about 3.2 percent annually with much of the growth occurring in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Current population numbers listed in the report indicate the county population will nearly double to roughly 20,000 by 2020 and will broach 27,000 by 2030.

According to the study, "This rate of growth is expected to continue through 2030, presenting challenges for the provision of adequate facilities and infrastructure. These population figures, however, do not reflect the large number of seasonal residents in the area."

Within this burgeoning population, the study reports that two of the key economic drivers in the county are tourism and jobs in the service industry, coupled with the economic impact of second homes, their ownership and their construction.

According to the report, the second home industry accounted for about $11.8 million in wages and proprietor's income in the county during 2003.

In addition, the study reported that 59 percent of private lands in Archuleta County are owned by non-locals. Non-locals, as defined by the study, are property owners whose mailing address is outside the county. And of that ownership, 72 percent of the non-locally owned properties are land without homes on them.

And, according to Laura Lewis, Region 9 assistant director, that begs the question: With high numbers of second homes both in the region and in Archuleta County, what impact do second homes and their ownership have on the socioeconomic fabric of the community?

Do second home owners vote locally? What is their level of commitment or their social contribution to the community? Lewis asked.

Answers to those questions, she said, will be explored during Phase II, the home owners survey portion of the study.

Phase III, Lewis said, will entail a joint effort with Department of Local Affairs demographers to delve deeper into the nature of economic impacts of second homes and will build on Phase I by providing a comprehensive analysis of the region's key economic drivers.

Lewis said the survey should be completed during the coming months with analysis occurring over the summer. Lewis said the anticipated completion date for the study is fall 2006.

Wolf Creek development hits home hard

By U.S. Rep. John Salazar

I am so proud to call the San Luis Valley my home and to have had the opportunity to represent my community first as a Colorado State Representative and now as a U.S. Representative. No matter what my title has been, though, I have always stayed true to my roots and will continue the fight for what matters to our rural communities - economic development and water rights.

Back in the state House, I built a bi-partisan coalition to protect our water rights. And now in Congress, I work hard to balance those same needs. Those of us from the Valley understand the importance of having elected officials who know firsthand that rural development and water are more than just contracts and legal paperwork - jobs and water hit home.

The Village at Wolf Creek development hits home too. From day one on this job, I took steps to educate myself about the ins and outs of this deal. My biggest concern has always been how this would impact the community. I have met with the developers and spent time with local community leaders. I have read agency reports, news analyses and constituent letters. My research has led me to believe that the new Village at Wolf Creek will result in growth, but it's not the kind of responsible growth that will be good for the larger community.

Responsible development is done in a way that enhances, not dries up resources - like water - which keep our economy running. Responsible development involves long-term economic growth plans, not flash-in-the pan, jobs here one day and gone the next. And last, if not most important, responsible development requires community input and participation. It involves taking time to bring people together as part of a public process to make sure no one community benefits at the expense of another one.

We have certainly learned some hard lessons about responsible development from Colorado Springs' poor management of Fountain Creek. Unchecked development has led to contaminated water and downstream users are the ones suffering from the poor planning. Rather than job growth and raising the standard of living for the region, unchecked development pits communities against each other, making people who should be united compete for scarce resources.

The new Wolf Creek development concerns me for the same reasons - a hope of new jobs and income twisted into a nightmare of contaminated water and communities fighting with each other.

The original development seemed promising at a 200-unit scale, bringing the hope of new jobs and income for the area. But the new plans for more than 2,000 units will be unmanageable and have raised an outcry throughout the 3rd Congressional District. The development may increase economic output from southern Colorado, but there is no guarantee that local people will get the jobs. Local communities will then have to find a way to absorb workers hired from the outside and deal with the strain that they put on the community.

With water users in the Valley still trying to dig out of the drought, we need to be especially careful of the Wolf Creek development's impact on downstream users. Valley water users are struggling to meet current demand and a project this size could hurt our ability to recover from the drought. Rural water users cannot afford to speculate on how this development will impact water supplies.

I am deeply concerned about what impact this project will have on Colorado's obligation to the Rio Grande Water Compact and the water quality for downstream water users. A 2004 study by the Hydrosphere Resource Consultants concluded that the Wolf Creek developers overestimated the available supply of water. The developers also underestimated the water needed to sustain the site. It is my understanding that the project specs do not account for any distribution system losses.

The Wolf Creek development as now proposed hits home in ways we cannot afford. Local farmers, economic development advocacy groups, and scientific studies have independently concluded the project will have major, negative impacts on local water users. The project does not fit the regional needs of communities in southern Colorado and will injure water rights of the Rio Grande River. I cannot support a project that hurts the community I grew up in and that I represent.

Economic development is key to the survival and growth of the Valley. One of my goals in Congress is to encourage responsible development and economic growth in the Valley, which can only be done by communities coming together. I will always be open to your ideas and stand ready to work with you to bring sustainable economic growth to the area.

Tate running for state Senate

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

In a press release issued March 2, Ron Tate of Bayfield announced his Republican candidacy for the Colorado Senate District 6 seat.

The seat is currently held by Democratic incumbent Jim Isgar, who is seeking reelection.

In the press release, Tate outlined his connection to the region, his educational and professional experience and his campaign platform.

"The very basis of who I am is a Reagan conservative. I will always work to make government smaller and more effective. I believe this means keeping the tax burden as low as possible, controlling spending and reducing the intrusive nature of government. I believe that we must encourage and allow people to control their own destiny, and shoulder their own responsibilities. We must always be on guard against the erosion of liberty.

"Specifically this means that in this campaign we must address eminent domain abuse such as we have seen in Connecticut. We must address state spending and actively seek to find ways to help state government comply with the message the citizens sent when they approved the taxpayers bill of rights. We must address illegal immigration and reestablish respect for the rule of law. We always have to pay attention to our water rights and protect quantity as well as quality. We must protect the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage for these are the bedrock of our society. We must protect our right to keep and bear arms, the U.S. Constitution says that it 'shall not be infringed.' We must protect the freedom of religion and speech, there have been efforts to stifle both," the press release states.

In addition, Tate said he would search for ways to attract light industry including biotechnology; reduce dependence on foreign oil; protect water quality and quantity; and would address specific issues such as chronic wasting disease and mad cow disease.

According to the release, Tate was born in Durango in 1963 and attended Bayfield area public schools. He graduated in 1981 and then served four years in the United States Army, with one tour in South Korea.

Following military service, Tate returned to Durango in 1987 and earned a degree in cellular and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry at Fort Lewis College.

Tate attended graduate school at Oklahoma State University in 1991 and earned a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology.

He has worked as a cancer research associate, a protein chemist and an environmental analyst. In 2000, Tate started Water Solutions, a family-run water quality consulting firm.

Tate said he is a third generation La Plata County native and has been married to his wife, Christina, for 21 years. Together they have seven children.

PAWSD seeking bids on Hatcher water treatment system

By Chuck McGuire

Staff Writer

The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) is accepting sealed bids for the Hatcher Water Treatment Plant "Clearwell/Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Treatment System Expansion Project."

Bids must be submitted by either mail or hand delivery before 2 p.m. Thursday, April 13. Those received after that time will not be accepted.

Copies of contract documents and project specifications for use in preparing bids are available by contacting PAWSD at 100 Lyn Avenue, P.O. Drawer 4610, Pagosa Springs, CO 81157. The phone number is 731-2691.

Lump sum bids should be submitted, and no independent subcontractor bids will be accepted. Qualified bidders should be licensed in accordance with all applicable laws of the state and local governments where the project is located - in this case, Archuleta County, Colo.

As described by PAWSD, "The work to be performed generally includes the design and construction of a completely functioning expansion of the existing Hatcher Water Treatment Plant. The plant expansion work consists of a clearwell and a GAC treatment system, including furnishing, delivery, construction, and testing of a fully functioning clearwell and GAC treatment system, including a new treatment building, GAC feed pumps, clearwell pumps, influent/effluent piping manifolds, miscellaneous piping connections, all associated appurtenant equipment, influent piping connection, yard piping, fittings, and all other items required for completely functioning systems. GAC contactors and associated valve manifolds have been procured by PAWSD separately."

The owner (PAWSD) reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive irregularities or informalities therein. All bidders shall agree that such rejection shall be without liability on the part of the owner for any damage or claim brought by any bidder because of such rejections, nor shall the bidders seek any recourse of any kind against the owner because of such rejections. The filing of any bid in response to this invitation shall constitute an agreement of the bidder to these conditions.

At precisely 2 p.m. Thursday, April 13, all bids duly received will be opened and read aloud at the PAWSD office located at 100 Lyn Ave. and all interested parties are welcome to attend.

Seeds to hold fabulous fund-raiser

"Once Upon A Time" is the signature event this spring for the Seeds of Learning Early Childhood Education Center in Pagosa Springs.

The community is invited to attend a dinner and auction Friday, May 12, at the community center, which will be transformed into a storybook fantasy land.

Each dining table will be decorated by a creative designer based on a different children's storybook theme. The fanciful table settings, as well as many other items, will be auctioned during the evening festivities.

Pagosa Springs Mayor Ross Aragon will be the host for the evening that will include a buffet dinner and a cash wine and beer bar.

Invite a group of eight friends to the dinner and auction and fill a table for $300. Proceeds from this evening will support the Seeds of Learning capital "FUNdraising" campaign.

Fore more information, to reserve a table or to find out more about being a table decorator, call Susan Thorpe at 264-5253.

No hoof, no horse'

The March meeting of the Four Corners Backcountry Horsemen will be 7 p.m. tonight, March 9, at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.

The program at the meeting will be "No hoof, no horse," by Dr. Ben Hufnagel, DVM.

April tack sale boss Laura Scarafiotti will finalize the plans for the sale. Tack for sale? Call Laura at 259-6113.

The April 13 meeting will be held at the Four Square Church on CR 501, north of Bayfield.

Health fair delivers 'unparalleled value'

By Pauline Benetti

Special to The SUN

Finger stick glucose screenings, oral screenings, vision screenings, and a 31-component blood chemistry analysis.

These are just a few of the free and low-cost health screenings available at the 27th annual 9Health Fair, which runs during the month of April across Colorado and here in Pagosa Springs Saturday, April 1.

The 9Health Fair promotes health awareness and encourages individuals to assume responsibility for their own health. As in past years, 9Health Fair will benefit thousands of participants through its one-of-a-kind health awareness and education program, which has earned unique endorsements and support from the state's leading health and medical organizations.

Last year 9Health Fair touched more lives than ever by generating nearly 93,000 participants. With nearly a three percent increase in participation from the previous year, 9Health Fair is the largest community health program in Colorado and in the country. More than 18,000 volunteers served those participants at 169 rural and urban sites throughout Colorado and into surrounding states.

"As Colorado's only health fair program endorsed by the Colorado Medical Society and the Colorado Nurses Association, and supported by the Colorado Health and Hospital Association, 9Health Fair continues to be an institution and tradition in communities across Colorado," said Anne Cosby, president and CEO of 9Health Fair. "Our goal is to be a leader in providing health information and to bring attention to crucial health issues that are at the forefront of our communities."

According to 2005 9Health Fair data, over 9,000 participants learned of a previously unknown health concern by participating in a 9Health Fair. In addition, approximately 2,700 participants received phone calls from 9Health Fair's pool of volunteer nurses, notifying them of a critical or alert health situation, and urging them to contact their primary care provider or other health provider for further evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.

The fair "delivers unparalleled value to Colorado communities," said Cosby. "Our valuable supporters and partners help us provide evidence-based, thorough and comprehensive screenings for a nominal fee or at no charge at all. Many of our participants use 9Health Fair as their only chance during the year to obtain health screenings and talk with a healthcare professional," Cosby said. "Citizens across the state greatly rely on our ability to deliver health information and educational services to their communities."

Basic screenings at all 9Health Fair locations include the 31-component blood chemistry screening at a nominal cost of $30. During the same blood analysis, men can receive a prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening for an additional $25. Other basic screenings include blood pressure, colon cancer screening take home kits, height/weight/body mass index, bone density, and hearing.

Approximately 60 days after attending a 9Health Fair, participants should receive follow-up postcards encouraging them to seek further evaluation and medical treatment if necessary. Attending a 9Health Fair should not be considered a substitute for an annual physical examination and regular checkups with a primary care physician.

For more information on 9Health Fair, call (303) 698-4455 or visit the Web site at www.9HealthFair.org.

Region 9 names Zaday director

The Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado has added Ronnie Zaday and Michael Scannell to the Region 9 board of directors.

Zaday is an Archuleta County commissioner and Scannell is the La Plata County manager.

Region 9 is a public/private partnership that promotes and coordinates economic development efforts in five Colorado counties. The Region 9 board of directors is comprised of representatives from 17 local governmental jurisdictions and the private sector.

For more information, call 247-9621.

Correction

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

Last week's edition of The SUN featured a public service announcement from the Archuleta County Assessor regarding personal property tax.

In the article, the phone number for the assessor's office was erroneously reported. The correct phone number is (970) 264-8310.

In addition, the assessor would like to note, "Regarding the exemption for a total actual value of less than $2,500: Taxpayers should fill out and return the Personal Property Declaration Schedule and the County Assessor's Office will calculate the actual value of the personal property. If the calculated actual value is $2,500 or less, the listed personal property is exempt."

BLM seeks resource council members

The Bureau of Land Management continues to seek nominations to fill upcoming vacancies on the Southwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council (RAC).

Nominations are being accepted through March 27, to fill the positions of members whose terms of appointment will expire in August.

The BLM Southwest RAC has:

- one opening for a member representing holders of federal grazing permits/leases; representatives of mining, timber, off-road vehicle use and commercial recreation;

- three openings for members representing recognized national or regional environmental or resource conservation organizations; archeological and historical interests; wild horse and burro groups; and dispersed recreational activities;

- two openings for members representing state, county, or local elected officials; employees of state agencies responsible for management of natural resources, land or water; representatives of Indian tribes; academicians involved in natural sciences, and the public at large.

The RAC provides advice and recommendations to BLM on the use and management of 8.4 million acres of public lands in the state, enabling citizen members to have a meaningful say in how public lands are managed.

Members give advice to BLM on the broad array of resource, social, and economic issues that confront land managers and local communities. The council operates on principles of collaboration and consensus. Members are sought who are committed to working together with other interests for the long-term benefit of public lands and the people who enjoy and rely on them.

Council members must be residents of Colorado. Each year, one-third of the membership is up for renewal or replacement. The RAC consists of 15 members, selectively balanced and representative of the above general interest groups.

Qualifications for RAC membership are based on the nominee's:

- education, training, or experience to give informed, objective advice on an industry, discipline, or interest;

- experience or knowledge of the geographical area the council serves;

- demonstrated commitment to collaboration in seeking solutions to resource management issues.

BLM provides training on resource science and management issues to all council members. Members serve without monetary compensations, but are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses. Members are expected to attend RAC meetings called by the designated federal officer. Meetings usually occur no more often than every other month. Location of the meetings can vary throughout the state, and may include tours. Meetings will normally be held Monday through Friday, and may last more than one day.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Letters of reference from the interests or organizations the nominee wishes to represent must accompany the nomination form. In addition, each nominee must submit a completed Background Information Nomination Form and should have a demonstrated commitment to collaborative resource decision-making.

The nomination period will close on March 27, as announced in the Federal Register Feb. 8.

For additional information, contact: BLM Southwest RAC, Attention: Melodie Lloyd, e-mail melodie_lloyd@blm.gov 2815 H Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81506. Phone (970) 244-3097.

Public comment sought on trails project

The U.S. Forest Service is asking for public input on a proposal to reroute 13 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail on public lands between Cataract Lake and Stony Pass to the Elk Creek Trail east of Silverton.

The reroute will enable the trail to become non-motorized and parallel the Continental Divide as closely as possible. As part of the proposal, the Colorado Trail would also abandon its existing route in the same area and become joined with the Continental Divide Trail for the full 13 miles, seven miles of which is within the Weminuche Wilderness.

The segment from Stony Pass to Cataract Lake passes through public lands managed by the Rio Grande and Gunnison National Forests, and the San Juan Field Office of the BLM. The segment from Stony Pass to the Elk Creek Trail intersection passes through public lands managed by the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests and is within the Weminuche Wilderness.

Rerouting the trails would involve reconstruction and new construction, beginning in 2006 and finishing by 2007, in time for the 30th anniversary of the Continental Divide Trail in 2008. The resulting new section(s) of trail will be designated for non-motorized uses, however, existing motorized segments will remain open to motorized travel.

Within the segment from Stony Pass to the Elk Creek trail intersection, a proposed one-mile section of new trail construction within the Weminuche Wilderness would require a Forest Plan amendment. The existing Forest Plan designates this area to be managed under a "pristine" management prescription. Constructing a new trail through the Wilderness would require that the management prescription be changed to "primitive," which allows for more impact.

Public input will be used to develop the scope of issues to be studied in an Environmental Assessment of the proposal.

Written comments must be mailed by Monday, March 20, 2006, to Jody Fairchild, Rio Grande National Forest, P.O. Box 270 Creede, CO 81130. Comments may also be e-mailed to: jfairchild@fs.fed.us

For more information, contact Fairchild at (719) 658-2556, Ext. 6403.

A typical fishing day ... in Argentina

By James Robinson

Staff Writer

I don't know how long I've been sitting on this rock along the riverbank - 20 minutes, an hour - it feels like a lifetime.

It is late in the day and the sun hovers low in the west and just above the river. The valley is an oven set to broil and casting upstream requires battling the sun's rays face to face. I am losing the battle.

The heat and trials of the day have beaten me into submission. I have been sun burnt, bitten by horse flies and knocked down and carried downstream by the river - twice.

The wind rips down the valley, crashing through the pine and willow along the riverbank , cutting the water in violent erratic slashes like a seamstress tearing silk. Its force knocks my fly line easily from the sky. Its force makes it hell to cast.

It is a typical Patagonian fishing day, and I'm in heaven, but I need a break.

Perched atop my boulder from within the shade of the streamside willow canopy, I have a perfect view upstream. With my legs dangling in the river, I gradually cool off, and I scoop up water with my hands and pour it on my neck and head. The tension eases and I relax, but I maintain my view on the river.

Although the blistering heat makes this hardly the best time of day for fishing, it was a mayfly hatch that drove me from my afternoon break and back onto the water. And since my return, I've watched trout rising with regularity in the shallows along the bank. The action has lulled, so now I wait.

I gaze far upstream and the willows begin to undulate in waves of deep dusty green under the force of another powerful gust. I watch the wind as it moves down the canyon and I bury my head in my shoulders, pull my cap down tight over my eyes and brace for the hit. The gust blasts over, around and through me. The fabric of my shirt flutters furiously in the wind and my fly rod vibrates like a car antennae.

After a moment, the wind passes and I lift my head, open my eyes and look down at the river. A tiny, solitary, caramel-colored mayfly, deposited by the gust, is floating helplessly on the current. Its wing are splayed out in the shape of the Southern Cross, and it struggles, although its efforts are futile. It is trapped in the surface film and the current carries it lazily past my rock and to the mouth of a rainbow holding in the shadows just a few feet below. Time to cast.

I mentally scan the contents of my fly box, and my mind wanders back to a frustrating day on the Henry's Fork and to the words of a crusty old fisherman I met streamside.

"Everyone needs a rusty spinner in their fly box," he said before wandering off upstream.

I took his advice and bought two size 20s. I had hardly used them since, but the shape, size and color of this Argentine mayfly match the pattern perfectly.

I quickly tie one on and shuffle back out into the current before the next gust of wind. I am working a long, flat, nearly featureless run, but the water is deep and a few mid-stream boulders break up the current and provide cover for trout.

About 40 feet in front of me lays one such boulder and its placement piles up the current on the upstream side, while channeling the flow into a perfect V-shape on the downstream side. Each arm of the V extends down, well beyond the boulder, and is marked by a neat foam line. My targets are clear.

I strip off line and launch a cast into the momentary calm. It is perfect. The loop unfolds and lays the fly gently at the top of the foam line on the right side of the boulder. My imitation is tiny and it is impossible to see how it behaves on the water, yet there is no ambiguity when the trout hits.

After the fly drifts for a moment, a trout shoots up from the streambed and plows into the tiny spinner pattern. The river erupts in spray and foam, and in the chaos, I see streaks of silver and blue - a rainbow. I set the hook, and after a few leaps and runs, I bring the trout in. I then remove the hook, ease the fish back into the water, grease up the fly and cast again.

I can see the wind moving down river, and I race to make the cast before it hits. Although not as delicate as the first, my fly lands unscathed at the top of the second foam line on the left side of the boulder. And again, after a moment's drift, another feisty rainbow collides with the fly.

With the wind ripping down the valley, I grapple with the trout and eventually land the creature and release it back into the current.

I prepare for a third cast, but the wind does not relent. High along the Andean cordillera wispy Argentine clouds clash with their tempestuous, moisture-laden Chilean neighbors. Somewhere in the high country rain or snow is falling, but here in the Rio Meliquina valley all I taste is wind. I stand firm in the gale but a few thwarted casts later, I scuttle back to shelter of my streamside boulder and out of the full force of the wind.

Once there, I wait, and the Patagonian day evolves into dusk. As the light fades, dust hovering above the river, changes from tan to glowing violet, and like the sky and the light, the river undergoes a slow transformation.

Its depths become impenetrable and the current, once emerald, now slithers past, glistening black as obsidian. As the sun dips behind the mountains and darkness slowly swallows the valley, the landscape cools and the wind relents. And in the evening calm, the river comes slowly back to life.

I sit in the shadows and listen to trout sipping insects in the shallows along the shore. Far upstream, I catch glimpses of trout with their silvery bodies flashing as they break the surface to feed. At times, they rocket out of the water, flying in high arching acrobatics, splashing back down as though they are playing. Maybe, like me, they are pleased with the sun and wind's departure. I watch as ducks cruise in low, skimming the surface of the water like chubby bombers, making their way home for the night.

I reenter the river, moving slowly, feeling my way over the cobbles and back out to midstream. I face up river, stop, and search for the sound of a rising trout.

I cast in the direction of the nearest rise, letting the line peel back and forth in long sinuous loops. The casting is just a formality, a reason to be standing midstream in the blackness, listening to the night unfold, listening to the passage of the river.

Colorado's wily weasels

By Chuck McGuire

SUN Columnist

I will always remember the surprise and sheer delight in my first encounter with a short-tailed weasel. Nearly 30 years have since passed, yet I still recall the image of that rather long and slender, virtually pure-white figure frolicking so freely in the deep powder beneath me, as I rode Chair 16 out of Vail Village.

It was an ominous overcast morning, with heavy snow accumulating at the rate of an inch an hour, and I was buttoned up tight against the cold. With a ski hat pulled well over my ears and the collar of my jacket zipped high above my chin, I sat huddled in my seat, peering through broad rose-colored goggles at the deepening world of white 25 feet below.

At once, a slight commotion caught my eye, and as I strained to see more, a small face with large rounded ears and an elongated snout suddenly popped up from a drift near the base of a tall snow-shrouded pine, just ahead. I remember the reddish nose, and the black beady eyes glaring but briefly in my direction, before another flurry sent the strange creature scurrying back beneath the snow. In another second, it reappeared a few feet further from the tree, only to submerge again, and disappear altogether.

At the time, I couldn't say what kind of animal I'd seen and, in fact, describing it was awkward enough. Aside from its nose, eyes and a prominent black tip at the end of its short fuzzy tail, its fur was as white as the drifts it romped in. Given its lightening-fast movements, I gained only a vague sense of overall size and form, but as I related the encounter to my brother that afternoon, he immediately knew I'd seen an ermine.

Ermine is the name given short-tailed weasels in their winter pelage. In autumn, as shifting light patterns cause them to molt, their entire coat, except the tip of the tail, turns pure white. Come spring they molt again, turning dark brown with white under parts and feet. Interestingly, elevation and the severity of winter in their home range determine the actual extent of color change, though most short-tails live at higher elevations where transformation is complete.

In size, short-tailed weasels average eight or nine inches in length, and have about a three-inch tail. Weighing in at only a few ounces, they are the smallest carnivores in Colorado. Their long slender bodies and short legs enable them to follow prey into the tightest of burrows, where mice, chipmunks and ground squirrels make up much of their diet.

As small, cute and cuddly as they appear, short-tails are ferocious hunters and will often kill much larger animals with a powerful bite to the base of the skull. I once watched for several minutes, as a tiny weasel dragged a fat pine squirrel several feet over the leaves, sticks and low-lying shrubbery of the forest floor.

Like all weasels, short-tails are members of the Mustelidae family (of the order Carnivora), and have scent glands that can secrete a foul-smelling fluid when the animal is hopelessly cornered or overly agitated. Such defensive behavior is typically a last resort, but by some accounts, it can be at least as unpleasant as that of a skunk, though it doesn't last nearly as long.

Speaking of skunks, until their recent reclassification as the unique family Mephitidae, they were long grouped with the mustelids, and many guidebooks still refer to them as members of the weasel family. Though they lack the ferocity and boisterous characteristics of weasels, they seem to share more similarities than differences.

Of the four species of skunks in Colorado, only the spotted and striped are seen in the high country. The striped, of course, is the most common in North America, but all skunks are omnivorous, eating insects, birds, small mammals, eggs, berries and even carrion. Compared to other weasels, their movements are much slower, and when confronted with danger, they're more inclined to turn and raise a tail than run away. Consequently, many of the nocturnal creatures are found dead along roadways.

For obvious reasons, skunks fear few natural enemies, although great horned owls have little sense of smell and are largely indifferent to a skunk's "fragrant" defenses. More often than not, when an unwary skunk falls victim to an owl, it is taken completely by surprise. Nevertheless, in recent times, the automobile has become the skunk's greatest "unnatural" enemy.

Even as the short-tailed weasel is Colorado's smallest mustelid, the wolverine is her largest and most mischievous. A male wolverine can attain three-and-a-half feet in length and weigh 35 pounds or more, but its strength and ill-tempered disposition command more respect than its size. Wolverines have been known to kill elk and moose, and will chase bears from carrion. In the past, they have raided backcountry trap lines and ransacked cabins, stealing food caches and supplies.

While wolverines have never been abundant in Colorado, their affinity for carrion left them vulnerable to poisoned baits set out for predator control purposes in the early 1900s. Most disappeared from the state back then, yet stories of their existence in remote areas like the Flattops Wilderness north of Eagle still persist. Today, they are listed as "endangered" in Colorado.

Like wolverines, the black-footed ferret is extremely rare in Colorado, and is considered the most endangered mammal in North America. A captive breeding program undertaken in the mid 1980s has rescued it from the brink of extinction for now, with 186 ferrets released in northern Colorado through 2005. Last fall, researchers documented the first known ferret reproduction in the wild since the program started.

As predators, black-footed ferrets are overwhelmingly dependant on prairie dogs and typically reside in the midst of prairie dog towns. While never abundant in Colorado, their historic range includes the eastern plains, high mountain parks and western valleys where prairie dogs are found. Certainly, the agricultural plowing of natural prairie lands and repeated attempts to eradicate prairie dogs are largely to blame for reducing ferrets to near extinction. Their susceptibility to distemper has also contributed.

Black-footed ferrets average 22 inches in length and, like other mustelids, are mostly nocturnal and carry a strong musky body odor. When threatened by larger predators like eagles, hawks, owls or coyotes, they will express alarm through chatter and hissing, yet, in the presence of man, they are remarkably tolerant. Perhaps they share similar temperament, as they do appearance, with their domesticated cousins.

There are a number of other weasel-like mustelids in Colorado, including the long-tailed weasel, marten, mink and badger. On one end of the spectrum, the long-tailed weasel strongly resembles the short-tailed weasel, but is notably larger and hasŠyou guessed it, a longer tail. On the other end, the badger seems most similar to the wolverine, particularly in attitude, but is somewhat smaller and fairly common in the mountain parks and western valleys. Martens and minks are similar in size and color, with martens inhabiting dense mountain forests, and minks frequenting lakes, swamps and waterways.

Of all the weasels inhabiting Colorado, I am most familiar with, and fond of, the short-tailed weasel. However, there is another very intriguing mustelid that, until the mid-1970s, had essentially disappeared from the state. Today, river otters are making a comeback and now maintain self-sustaining populations in the Green, Gunnison, Piedra and Colorado rivers.

Averaging three to four-and-a-half feet, river otters are the longest mustelids in Colorado. A powerful cylindrical tail comprises about a third of their size and, with their webbed feet and semi-aquatic tendencies, they are at home in and around rivers. As efficient predators, their diet consists of fish, crayfish, frogs, muskrats and young beaver.

Undoubtedly, the river otters' most amusing attribute is their apparent affinity for play. Otters seem to enjoy sliding in mud or snow, diving for stones, wrestling, playing tag and harassing beavers. Their antics may go on for hours, while covering short distances or miles of terrain between rivers, streams and lakes.

Like all predators, each of Colorado's weasels is vital to the ecological balance of our natural environment. Some appear small, cute and cuddly, while others are fairly large and downright vicious. As hunters, all are highly evolved and efficient, and many apparently find time to live it up a little.

Meet candidates

Dear Editor:

Before the general election, before the primary, before the state conventions, before the county assemblies, and before the precinct caucuses, you have an opportunity to question the Republican candidates for the elected officers in Archuleta County. On Monday, March 13, at 7 p.m. in the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA) Vista Clubhouse (230 Port Ave.), the two Republican county commissioner candidates, the three Republican candidates for sheriff and other Republican candidates for county offices will answer your questions and listen to your concerns about the future of Archuleta County. This open forum of questions, answers and comments is sponsored by the PLPOA and the Archuleta Republican Party.

If you are interested in the future of your county, if you are a Democrat, a Republican or and Independent, come and let the candidates know your concerns and get your questions answered.

John Bozek

Contrails 1

Dear Editor:

As an 8th Air Force veteran of WW II, I was extremely interested in Ms. Woods' letter concerning contrails. It was not unusual for us to fly through, above or below these trails. They became so dense, especially on 1,000 plane raids, that ensuing bomber formations would have to alter their flight courses. To my knowledge, no flying or ground personnel suffered medical problems associated with these vapor trails. I'm acquainted with several airline pilots, now retired, who have had no problems either. However, we used propeller-driven aircraft using 100 octane gasoline versus jets using high grade diesel fuel. Perhaps the chemicals she described are jet fuel additives.

Bill Carnicom

Scary

Dear Editor:

I took the opportunity to attend the recent Comprehensive Plan meeting.

Very interesting.

Scary.

The Pagosa you know and love is about to become extinct, with much suffering to take place along the path to this extinction.

It is truly wonderful that a firm has been hired to create growth scenarios with all the housing, commercial and roads projected. But, my questions are: "Do we really have to accept this tremendous growth? Do we want such drastic changes in Pagosa?"

Change - OK. Growth - OK. But we don't have to allow enormous change and growth of our chosen lifestyle.

Do we even have enough water to support big growth? Water rationing had to be enacted in very recent history and this winter's lack of precipitation could certainly mandate another rationing season.

While this is a Town of Pagosa Springs Comprehensive Plan, it will affect much of the county and its residents (i.e., raised fees and taxes, light pollution, disturbed wildlife trails, numerous inroads into rural areas, vast road construction).

Please voice your concerns about this projected growth before it is a done deal!

Marilyn Falvey

Land sale

Dear Editor:

This is in reference to the BLM request for written input by March 23, in regard to land sale/trade northeast of Oakbrush Hill to the Smiths.

To BLM: Please consider open space, leave the BLM land as BLM land, for who? The wildlife, need I say more?

Readers, if you feel the same, write by March 23 to: BLM Pagosa Field Office, Box 310, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147.

Thank you,

Pam Morrow

Contrails 2

Dear Editor:

I don't know about all that research that last week's writer used to claim the hurtful aspects of this subject, but let me explain what a true contrail is. "Con" stands for condensation. It forms when supercooled ice crystals are disturbed. Chemtrails may be something else about which I know nothing.

When we were assembling our B-17s into formation over England to bomb Germany, the contrails sometimes became so thick as to endanger flight due to collision. I believe there were actual fatalities due to this natural phenomenon.

Bruce Muirhead

Wolves

Dear Editor:

In Franklin Anderson's letter dated March 2, he states that when his family arrived in Archuleta County in the 1880s there were "lots of wolves" and "few elk and deer." This is the only statement he makes that I agree with. By the late 19th century, market hunting had driven deer populations to extremely low levels, estimated at 300,000 animals nationwide, compared to 27 million today. Before settlers arrived, there were an estimated 10 million elk. In 1922, only 90,000 remained. Elk had to be reintroduced to Colorado in 1913.

The reason wolves and other native carnivores killed livestock at the turn of the century was because they simply had nothing left to eat. Today, the amount of livestock that predators kill is miniscule. In 2000, predators killed less than 1 percent of the total number of cattle produced in the U.S. The group Defenders of Wildlife reimburses ranchers for any animals lost to wolves. They also have a "proactive fund" that helps ranchers pay for items to protect their herds.

Starting in the late 1800s, ranchers and bounty hunters waged a war on wildlife, augmented by a federal predator-control program. The Colorado Revised Statute 35-40-107, enacted in 1893, provides for a payment of a $2 bounty on any wolf.

Wolf hatred took on barbaric proportions. In Mr. Anderson's letter he graphically describes instances of wolves killing livestock. Well, maybe he would like to compare that to these wolf facts. Cattlemen laced carrion with ground glass and left it for the wolves. Trapped wolves were released with their jaws wired shut so that they would die slow, agonizing deaths. Wolves were burned to death while they were still alive. Hundreds of miles of poison baits were strewn across the West killing not only wolves, but non-predators as well. There are too many stories like this to list. All this done by supposed humanity, one definition of which is "the quality of being humane to people or animals.""

It is hard to comprehend that there are still people out there who feel there are "good" and "bad" animals. Predators, because they eat "prey" or "victims" are historically considered evil. That is ironic. Don't most humans also eat meat?

As far as New Mexico goes, it is the Mexican Wolf that has had "nothing but trouble," as they are being decimated faster than they can breed. Our "public lands" in that area are heavily grazed. Ranchers dispose of cattle carcasses on those lands, causing wolves to get a taste for beef. When cattle are moved in, the wolves' natural food source flees to higher ground. Despite everything, even using the highest estimate of losses provided by ranchers, wolves killed only about a quarter of 1 percent of the 34,800 cattle in the area.

As far as humans being unsafe around wolves, consider this. The animal in North America that causes the most human fatalities is not grizzlies, or wolves. It is deer. Deer, on average kill 200 people per year by car wrecks, with about 29,000 injuries. Wolves are less of a threat than bees, slippery bath tubs and tainted potato salad. I always marvel at the person who inhales cigarette smoke, but worries he or she might be attacked by a wolf. If Mr. Anderson wants to be consistent, then we need to eliminate anything that poses any risk to human beings.

I view the wolf's return as a precious gift. A second chance to show that our society is a little wiser and kinder than our long ugly history with animals would indicate. And, yes, I do want to hear the "howl of the wilderness" return, and I'm afraid it is just not the same on a tape recorder.

Sincerely,

Dina Siegwald

Kate's Calendar

By Kate Terry

PREVIEW Columnist

March 9, 10 and 11

Melodrama

The Music Boosters' production of the Gay Nineties' melodrama, "Lily, The Felon's Daughter" 7:30 p.m. each night, with a March 11 matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Plaid Pony or at the door of the high school auditorium prior to performances.

March 9

Newcomers Club

The March Newcomer Club get-together will be held at 6 p.m. The Hog's Breath will be the host. The cost per person is $8. All newcomers are most welcome and are encouraged to come as often as they want. Reservations are not necessary. The Pagosa Springs Welcoming Service is the sponsor. For more information, call Lyn DeLange at 731-2398.

March 9

Homemakers

The Mountain View Homemakers will meet at the Extension Building on U.S. 84. This will be a community service meeting with members making comfort pillows for the nursing home and hospice, and receiving blankets for the Pagosa Pregnancy Center. For more information, call Barbara Ford, 264-2625, or Mercedes Leist, 264-5943.

March 9

Loaves and Fishes

Loaves and Fishes is a free meal served 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. every Thursday at the Parish Hall on Lewis Street

March 11

Quilting

Pagosa Piecemakers will have a general meeting starting at 10 a.m. at the Methodist Church on Lewis Street. After the meeting, the program this month features "Painting with Fabric," a lecture and demonstration by Jeanine Malaney. The program will start at 11 a.m. with a demonstration at 1 p.m.

March 11

Kids at library

Children in preschool, kindergarten and up to grade four are invited to a special free event in the big front room at the Sisson Library from 11 a.m. to noon. The event will involve reading, food, fun and an interactive performance of "The Cat in the Hat." Other age groups who think they would enjoy these activities are welcome as well. The gathering is sponsored by the Pagosa Pretenders Family Theatre and Pagosa members of the Pi Beta Phi alumnae club as part of the sorority's national day of service focusing on literacy. Every child participating will be given a free Cat in the Hat bookmark.

March 11

Casino Night

Rotary Casino Night at the Pagosa Springs Community Center.

March 14

Republican Women

The March luncheon meeting of the Archuleta County Republican Women will be held at Boss Hogg's Restaurant at 11:30 a.m. Jill Phillips will speak of her experiences living in Russia. She will also discuss starting a business here in Pagosa, importing fine Russian linens. The business meeting will include information about the upcoming precinct caucuses. The group welcomes new members but there is no obligation to join. Call Barbara at 731-9916 for additional information.

March 14

Curious George

Repeat of the March 8 Preschool Story Hour at Sisson Library featuring "Curious George," 11 a.m.

March 15

Garden club

The Mountain High Garden Club will meet at 10 a.m. at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds Extension Building. Guest speaker will be Tamara Evans of The Flower Cottage. Tamara's program will include basic flower arrangements utilizing flowers and greens from our own gardens. The club meets the third Wednesday of each month; dues for the entire year are $5. There will be refreshments and a door prize at each meeting. Everyone is welcome regardless of gardening experience. For more information, contact Frances Wholf at 731-2012 .

March 16

Woman's Civic Club

The Woman's Civic Club of Pagosa Springs will meet at 1:30 at Community United Methodist Church. Susie Kleckner from San Juan Basin Health will speak.

March 17

St. Patrick's dance

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the community center's dance program committee offers another fun and exciting evening of dancing, laughing and camaraderie, 7:30-10:30 p.m. with DJ Bobby Hart. They invite individuals who know Irish dancing to perform during the DJ breaks. Tickets are available now at the center or WolfTracks bookstore for $5, or $8 at the door. There will be a cash bar. This is not a BYOB event; anyone who brings liquor will not be allowed to enter the building. Call Siri at 731-9670 or Mercy at 264-4152, Ext. 22, for more information.

March 17

St. Pat's at Sisson

Friday Afternoon Library Club at Sisson Library, for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. An afternoon of Irish and St. Patrick's Day stories, 1:30-3 p.m. Be sure to wear green!

March 17

The Pagosa Film Society meets at 7 p.m. in the Unitarian Fellowship Hall in Greenbriar Plaza. The film is "Ayurveda." A $3 donation goes to the Friends of the Library.

March 21

Kids at library

"Read With Your Baby," at Sisson Library, 11 a.m., for little ones through age 2.

March 22

Story hour

"Preschool Story Hour," 11 a.m., for those ages 3-5, featuring stories about spring.

March 27

Thai food

A Thai cooking class will be held at the community center, 10 a.m. to noon. Call if you are interested in attending. An advance payment of $10 per person is required.

March 31

Essay contest

Deadline for submission of entries for the Humane Society Junior High Essay Contest. There is a $100 cash prize for the writer of the winning essay. Entry forms can be picked up at the Humane Society Thrift Store. For more information call Lynn Constan, 264-5451.

April 7-8

Rummage sale

The community center's annual Spring Rummage Sale will be held 3-6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Tables are $20 for both days. Clean out your closets and call Michelle at 264-4152 to reserve your space.

Fair royalty orientation meeting

An orientation meeting for those interested in participating in the Fair Royalty Pageant at the 2006 Archuleta County Fair will be held 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 29.

The meeting will take place in the Extension Office at the fairgrounds on U.S. 84.

Pageant applications are available at the Extension Office and the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

Bring your completed application with you to the orientation meeting.

The pageant will be held Sunday, May 7, in the Pagosa Springs High School auditorium.

What is a Freemason, and what does he do?

By Bob Case

Special to The PREVIEW

What's a Mason?

A Mason is a member of an organization or fraternity of men bound together with a philosophy of moral standards, mutual understanding and a brotherhood in which all men are on an equal level.

What is Freemasonry? Freemasonry (or Masonry) is dedicated to the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God.

It uses the tools and implements of ancient architectural craftsmen symbolically in a system of instruction designed to build character and moral values in its members. Its singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion and brotherly love have survived even the most divisive political, military and religious conflicts through the centuries.

Freemasonry is a fraternity which encourages its members to practice the faith of their personal acceptance. Masonry teaches that each person, through self-improvement and helping others, has an obligation to make a difference in the world.

What do Freemasons do?

The Masonic experience encourages members to become better men, better husbands, better fathers and better citizens. The fraternal bonds formed in the Lodge help build lifelong friendships among men with similar goals and values.

Beyond its focus on individual development and growth, Masonry is deeply involved in helping people. The Freemasons of North America contribute over $2 million a day to charitable causes. This philanthropy represents an unparalleled example of the humanitarian commitment of this great and honorable fraternity.

Much of that assistance goes to people who are not Masons. Some of these charities are vast projects. The Shrine Masons (Shriners) operate the largest network of hospitals for burned and orthopedically impaired children in the country, and there is never a fee for treatment. The Scottish Rite Masons maintain a nationwide network of over 150 Childhood Language Disorder Clinics, centers and programs.

Many other Masonic organizations sponsor a variety of philanthropies, including scholarship programs for students, and perform public service activities in their communities. Masons also enjoy the fellowship of each other and their families in social and recreational activities.

For more information, contact Bob Case, 731-5593.

Music Boosters' melodrama tonight, tomorrow, Saturday

By Dale Morris

Special to The PREVIEW

The "melodramatic" cast of Tom Taggart's Gay Nineties Melodrama, "Lily, The Felon's Daughter" has worked hard to become comfortable with the acting styles associated with this type of classic theater.

They've perfected the walks and other characteristic physical movement involved in the portrayal of their colorful characters, as well as experimented with exaggerated facial features, attitudes and annoyances.

The art of the melodrama, developed sometime in the 1800s as an entertainment form, uses music ("melo") to underscore, enhance and heighten its characters.

This type of performance venue portrays clear characters, includes heroes, heroines and villains and represents an obvious challenge between good versus evil.

The style of play is exaggerated and showy, which provided pure entertainment to audiences a couple of hundred years ago and does the same for the contemporary viewer.

John Graves complements the splendid cast of 11 with his melodic and sometimes sinister character music, in addition to accompanying several soloists in the production.

Performance dates at Pagosa Springs High School auditorium are March 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., with an additional matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Advance purchase tickets are available at the Plaid Pony, 731-5262, and tickets will be available at the door prior to performances.

In Step dancers fare well in competition

By Belinda LaPierre

Special to The PREVIEW

Congratulations are in order for the In Step Dance Club's Charles Jackson and Deb Aspen. They brought home an impressive array of trophies, ribbons and high scores from their last two competitive endeavors.

Albuquerque's Arthur Murray Studio hosted its "Dancing Through The Decades" Winter Showcase Feb. 10-11. The Freestyle competition kicked things off with over 30 students competing in over 20 different dances. Staff and students combined talents in a progressive format which depicted some of the history of dance.

Scene One took place in "Bedrock" with a Formation (or group) Dance to the music, "Meet the Flintstones" followed by a trip to Vienna for a peek into how the waltz came into existence.

Much to the delight of the crowd, and the judge who awarded them a prestigious 95 percent, Pagosa's dancing duo performed their newly-choreographed Viennese Waltz solo to music from the movie "Practical Magic."

Then, the narrative took spectators across the sea to South America where, among other numbers, Deb performed a dramatically artistic Argentine tango with professional Bob Long. After another quick costume change, Deb and Charles took the floor once more and fox-trotted to the music "Orange-Colored Sky," as the scene took onlookers to New York and the Big Band Era.

Deb had minutes to change into a sailor suit and quickly jump into a very fast Lindy Hop with instructor Ben Snell. Instructions to the music director to slow the song down 6 percent were slightly misunderstood. He got the 6 percent correct, but went up with the speed instead of down. Try lindy-hopping 12-percent faster than you've practiced when you're over 50! All is well: Deb survived with a whopping 96 percent score (the highest given to any amateur).

Following an intermission, the curtain re- opened for some exciting excerpts from the 50s; including a John Travolta style Formation, followed by solos in rumba, cha cha and mambo. The '60s scene brought on expressive representations of the hustle, East Coast swing and West Coat swing, performed by other amateur couples and professional/amateur teams as well.

Country western was not ignored. Boot Scootin' Boogie made its debut during the '80s reenactment, and some '90s style country western waltz and swing ensued.

The show finished with a Latin flare with solos in salsa, rumba, cha cha and bolero. Charles and Deb donned '50s high school prom attire and played chaperones to a cute cha cha number danced by Charles' rival, Lonnie Chavez, and instructor Cindy Long. The routine began with Cindy begging her chaperones to dance with the infamous and lecherous Lonnie; with the promise to themselves to keep a discrete eye on them.

At first, it seemed quite innocent, with the chaperones not quite catching little things "going on" that weren't quite acceptable in the public eye in that day and age. Finally, the flirtations had gone too far when there was a voluptuous grab from behind by the "boy" and they were immediately escorted out under no uncertain terms: Deb with the wagging index finger in Cindy's face exit stage left, while Lonnie got the literal boot out the right stage door!

It was a hoot, and much enjoyed by rival Charles. (By the way, not only is Lonnie a 16-year dance rival, he was best man at Charles and Deb's wedding. As some may remember, Lonnie produced the wedding ring when needed from a very protected place ... his mouth!! I guess one could say, Charles owed him one.)

On to Colorado Showcase, put on by Arthur Murray Studios in Lakewood and Denver Sunday, Feb. 26. The beautiful El Jebel Ballroom in uptown Denver was the setting and the comment of the day was "It's like stepping into another world." Deb added, "It's a fairy-tale place where childhood dreams, like mine, can come true."

Deb's brother, sister-in-law, and 7-year-old niece came to watch and loved it. Former Pagosan and longtime dance friend Peggy Schwartzkoph came as their guest, and enjoyed the spectacle as well.

Jackson and Aspen earned bragging rights as they strode away with blue ribbons for first place in all their freestyle dances: waltz, fox-trot, Viennese waltz, American tango, cha cha, samba, salsa, bolero, East Coast swing, country western swing and country western waltz.

Seems like Charles and Deb not only made an impression in Denver, but have become a great inspiration for newcomer dancers as well as for not-so-newcomers. Concerning their two solos, judge Ingvar Geirsson said, "Such a joy. Great energy. Very classy performance. Beautiful Viennese waltz. Great job!"

Deb is teaching cha cha this month at the PLPOA Clubhouse. Call her at 731-3338 for more information.

Plan ahead for the April Fool's Day Party, April 1. Some will remember the visiting Antonio Fostino's sizzling bolero with local dancer Kris Ambrosich last April Fool's Night. Turns out, Antonio from California was actually Deb Aspen from Pagosa. Who knows what may happen this year? There's some talk about two X-rated movie stars making the trip. Call Deb for more details, and stay tuned.

Feasibility study planned for Cultural Arts Center

By Dale Morris

Special to The PREVIEW

The Pagosa Springs Arts Alliance is a non-profit organization working to build and establish a cultural arts and learning center in Pagosa.

The groups has successfully raised $50,000 through contributions from the town, county, Arts Alliance Board, corporate sponsorship and individual donors to fund a feasibility study to be conducted this year.

What is a feasibility study?

The feasibility process takes the dreams and vision of an organization, studies, observes and analyzes the project, and makes recommendations for moving forward. In the for-profit world it is a critical key in evaluating the success of any new business idea or venture. In the non- profit world it also provides an accurate assessment of the factors that might affect a capital or fund-raising campaign.

The board of the Arts Alliance envisions a three-phase feasibility process.

Phase I is a needs assessment that will solicit community input from local businesses, arts organizations and groups, government and individuals. Previous studies recently done regarding the future of cultural arts in Pagosa will be reviewed and included. The study will evaluate both internal readiness and external opportunities available to successfully complete a large-scale capital campaign.

Phase II will address the professional issues related to facility design and plan, operations, finance and budget, while integrating the needs assessment of Phase I.

Phase III, a key element to the success of the project, is the funding and fund-raising analysis. The selected consultant will present contacts and avenues for funding and fund-raising with interested partners, organizations and foundations. They will help design capital and endowment campaigns that support our compelling vision for a cultural arts and learning center that will engage our community.

By itself, the feasibility study is a community service: It allows members of the community an opportunity to voice opinions on the project, and offers local businesses the chance to plan for and develop economic strategies in relation to the cultural arts center. It also builds credibility for the vision and project.

Pagosa Springs is growing and changing. A recent town survey showed that approximately 60 percent of the respondents would like to see a performing arts center built here. The Alliance's feasibility study helps chart a course to accomplish this goal, and more.

If you would like to learn more or get involved with this project, call Susan Neder, president of the Pagosa Springs Arts Alliance at 731-4735. The Arts Alliance board holds its regular public meetings the second Wednesday of the month at 7 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

The vision of the Pagosa Springs Arts Alliance is "Što help establish the Arts as a regional, cultural and economic focal point for the community and to provide gathering places for engaging experiences that will touch the human spirit. Our services include the building and management of Cultural Arts and Education Facilities whose philosophy is focused on giving back to our schools, visitors and community..."

Famed Broadway singer to open

Music in the Mountains season

By Carole Howard

Special to The PREVIEW

If you love Broadway musicals and want to hear show tunes sung by one of the best voices on stage today, you will want to mark Saturday, July 8, on your calendar.

This opening event of the 2006 Music in the Mountains season will be something totally new for our local festival - a gala benefit concert featuring soprano Lisa Vroman, best known for her starring role as Christine in "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway and with the cast that had a record-setting run in San Francisco. She will sing her Broadway favorites in the concert tent in the spectacular mountain setting of BootJack Ranch. Vroman promises a mixture of Broadway standards including Gershwin, Irving Berlin and other classic show tunes &endash; plus some great stories to go along with the music.

This special benefit concert and reception will include sumptuous hors d'oeuvres and libations beginning at 6 p.m. Dress is cocktail attire or as fancy as you please. Attendance is limited. Cost is $175 per person, $105 of which is tax-deductible as a donation. Tickets will be available April 3 through the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Proceeds from this extraordinary evening will help Music in the Mountains continue to provide scholarships to Pagosa musicians, bring professional musicians into Pagosa schools for hands-on workshops, fund instrument purchase and repair programs for our school bands, and host the annual free summer Family Festivo concert for "kids of all ages" in Town Park. This year's free concert on Thursday, July 27 will be the world premiere of the musical score for "Breman Town Musicians," based on the Grimms' fairy tale, with composer Simon Sargon doing the narration.

Vroman is an award-winning soprano and frequent guest soloist with theatre groups, opera companies and orchestras. This month she stars as Rosabella in the revival of "The Most Happy Fella" with the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center. In addition to solo performances with major orchestras, Vroman has performed starring roles in "Oklahoma," "Les Miserables," "Aspects of Love" and many other musicals. She appeared on PBS TV in Cameron Mackintosh's "Hey, Mr. Producer," a royal gala filmed in London and attended by Queen Elizabeth II. She also starred as Laurey in "Oklahoma," filmed live at The Royal Albert Hall in London for the BBC.

Save the Date cards for Pagosa's gala Broadway benefit concert were mailed last week. If you want to be added to the invitation list, contact Teresa Huft at 731-1978 or teresa@lazy8.net or Maribeth Hill at 731-3234 or bluesky@centurytel.net.

To be put on the mailing list for information about other Pagosa Music in the Mountain events, call 385-6820 in Durango and specify that you want to be on the Pagosa Springs mailing list.

'Ayurveda' next offering at film society

By John Graves

Special to The PREVIEW

The Pagosa Springs Film Society is again having a mid-month screening and discussion in addition to its regular last-Tuesday-of-the-month showing. It will held at 7 p.m. Friday, March 17, in the Pagosah Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall.

The feature-length documentary, "Ayurveda," takes us into an ancient world which deals with a method of healing that has been practiced for centuries by trained practitioners in India. Many have found that Ayurvedic medicine and healing techniques are so powerful and complex that one can study them for a lifetime and still be learning.

A true master of this discipline takes the viewer through the Ayurvedic methods of crafting remedies from herbs, oils and even rocks, to treat everything from insanity to childbirth. This film lasts 102 minutes and is in Hindi with English subtitles.

The Pagosah Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall is Unit B-15, Greenbriar Plaza. Turn east on Greenbrier Drive off of North Pagosa Boulevard by the fire station, then left into the parking lot and look for the big sign. A suggested $3 donation will benefit The Friends of the Library.

Thirty-two artists in 'Primarily Found Objects'

By John Middendorf

Staff Writer

Shy Rabbit's seventh exhibition, "Primarily Found Objects," is currently underway.

The exhibit features the work of 32 artists from Pagosa Springs, Cortez, Durango, and Chromo, housed in two galleries at Shy Rabbits's unique (for Pagosa) remodeled warehouse space.

Each of the artists' compositions consists of least 60-percent found material, and a minimum of one of the three primary colors is incorporated into each work.

Upon entering the first gallery the viewer is presented with a series of interesting pieces, representing a cross section of the work in the main gallery. The first piece to catch the eye, "Primarily Skinned and Feathered," by Nancy Cole, consists of three pieces of aspen bark linked with horizontal needles and adorned with seven large feathers. Bright yarn used to stitch natural cracks in an aspen's once protective structure restores the bark's continuity, creating a remarkable composition.

Robert Garcia Jr.'s "Big Bang Theory," also in the entry gallery, is a duet of round disks, one bronze and one plaster, each adorned with spirals, symbols, and several carved human appendages embossed on the surface. The artist's statement that the symbols and spirals on the piece were naturally found in a remnant of ceramic material found in the bottom of a 5-gallon paint bucket draws the viewer closer to examine each flourish.

Several traditional found object pieces are present at the show, including Suzin Jesse Daniel's "Childhood Found," an example of "found art which transports us to another era," according to the artist. It is a collection of found pieces with a Howdy Doody theme placed behind a inclined gilt frame.

The gallery also houses several welded pieces using scrap metal objects. Jenny Treanor's "Circling Toward Balance" is an assembly of metal parts resting atop an industrial looking 8-inch steel tube, using steel cylinders, gears, discs and hooks, and topped with a sharp shard of curved rough hewn metal flinging upwards. Two human figures are represented in the piece - one adorned with a silver face and in gesture of operation of the contraption, the other armless and seemingly trapped within a cylinder in the prone position. The artist's comment, "The masculine is content with the status quo, the feminine is weary and hungry for more. What's next?" provokes thought.

Another mostly metal piece reflecting on the superfluity of the human experience is called "Royal Flush," by Susan Anderson. It is largely a collection of toilet parts, elegantly composed in a vertical composition with a fur decorated drain hole. The piece represents the potential flushing of human ego.

A few pieces inviting to the eye are random collections of spare parts. Mark Brown's "Tubo Paddler" consists of an old wooden canoe paddle festooned with a variety of circuitry, wires, inset gauges, spark plugs, a broken bicycle odometer, and knobs and handles. No hint of piece's interpretation is given, though the artist describes the object as "doo-doo."

A few pieces refer to contemporary issues. Lal Echterhoff's "The Streets of Houston, 4006 A.D." is inspired by the financial collapse of Enron, once based in Houston where Echterhoff rummaged the streets to collect the found items incorporated in this piece. The myriad found objects are buried in the bottom of a small aquarium, covered with sand and gravel. Atop the layers of earth, several small surveyor flags hint at a future archeological dig.

One of the centerpieces of the show is Chad Haspel's "The Sun Still Rises." Chad is the artist who crafted the beautiful wildlife carvings in Town Park and on Reservoir Hill, bringing life to otherwise dead trees. In contrast to his detailed tree carvings, "The Sun Still Rises" is composed of an ancient railroad tie mounted on end on a rough piece of sheet steel. The beam tilts slightly, owing to the wood's naturally altered form. Yellow circles alluding to suns lie between carved horizontal bands along the sides of the cracked and withered piece of wood, with a pyramid pointing up to the sun carved on its summit.

"Primarily Found Objects" is open to visitors 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The show ends March 25.

Cat in the Hat at Sisson Library Saturday

Children in preschool, kindergarten and up to grade four are invited to a special free event in the big front room at the Sisson Library 11 am.-noon Saturday, March 11. The event will involve reading, food, fun and an interactive performance by the Cat in the Hat. Those in other age groups who think they would enjoy these activities are welcome as well.

The gathering is sponsored by the Pagosa Pretenders Family Theatre and Pagosa members of the Pi Beta Phi alumnae club as part of the sorority's national day of service focusing on literacy. Timing of the sorority's volunteer events across the U.S. and Canada was set to coincide with the birthday this month of Dr. Seuss, creator of "The Cat in the Hat" and so many other delightful characters such as Horton the Who and Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Included in the Sisson library event will be a special reading session of Dr. Seuss books as well as cookies and juice. Every child participating will be given a free Cat in the Hat bookmark.

Parents may want to bring cameras because the Cat in the Hat, known in real life as high-school student Honor Nash-Putnam, will entertain by singing a song, then teaching the kids a verse and a couple of dance steps. The Cat in the Hat is participating in the library event courtesy of the Pagosa Springs High School's spring musical "Seussical," where more than 15 of Dr. Seuss' beloved books are woven together amid 30 songs and dances to be performed in the auditorium April 4-8.

Piecemakers host Jeanine Malaney workshop

Local artist Jeanine Malaney will present a program and workshop at the regular meeting of Pagosa Springs Piecemakers Quilt Guild Saturday, March 11, at the Community United Methodist Church, on Lewis Street.

At 11 a.m. Malaney will present a program - "Fabric Art Paintings." She will bring several finished paintings for display and will about the step-by-step techniques used to produce a picture with fabric that has an enhanced, realistic, three-dimensional effect. Her inspirations come from the beauty of the western landscape and wildlife. She composes a fabric collage then adds detail features and shading with fabric paint. Malaney then quilts the entire image with smoke monofilament thread, thereby increasing texture and highlighting features.

Malaney's work appears in the Pagosa Springs Arts Council 2006 Calendar. There will be handouts and discussion of the process and working with monofilament threads.

After a brief lunch break the group will reconvene at 1 p.m. and Malaney will present a workshop and an interactive demonstration. She will delve further into her work, discussing and demonstrating design, composition and her quilting and binding techniques. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to help Malaney select fabrics and create a demonstration painting in class.

There is no charge for the workshop; Malaney is donating her time and talent.

For further information, contact Fran Jenkins 264-9312.

Shy Rabbit to create art directory

Imagine a full-color art directory and collector's guide featuring regional artists with contact information and a map. Imagine 10,000 distributed around southwest Colorado in hotels, galleries, restaurants and visitor centers. Now imagine a multi-media CD that expands to include your artist statement and additional images. Imagine that as an artist you could reach over 60,000 upscale buyers and that you could get it all for less than the cost of ad in a local newspaper.

Stop dreaming and contact Shy Rabbit. Their creative development team is coordinating an "Art Directory and Collectors Guide." They will bring together the production of 10,000, 12x18 poster/brochures that fold to rack card size (4x9). The front of this brochure will be a poster-sized image made up of 2x3 images from 32 artists' work from around the region. The back of the brochure will provide text listings, a map and pertinent information. There is room for an additional 32 artists or artist-owned businesses to purchase a text-only listing.

Cost: $250 for a 2x3 (approximate) full-color image on poster and a text listing that will include name, studio name, address, phone, e-mail, Web site. (Thirty-two artists are required to make this work at this price); $75 for one text-only listing that will include name, studio name, address, phone, e-mail, Web site. (An additional 32 artists are needed to make this work at this price.)

Deadlines and details

- March 13 - Full payment of $250 due by 5 p.m. Make checks payable to: Shy Rabbit, PO Box 5887, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. Shy Rabbit reserves the right to cancel this project and will refund money in full if there are not a sufficient number of participants. After this date if there a sufficient number of participants, money is not refundable.

- March 31 - last date for submission of a high resolution, 2x3 image saved at a minimum 300 DPI, as a CMYK, .tif file format - the image to be used for the poster. (Additional images for the CD will have a separate deadline.) Also due is text information: name, studio name, address including city, state and zip code, phone number, e-mail and Web site.

- Mid-June - poster distribution.

Those wishing to participate must submit their final financial commitment by March 13 and photo and listing by March 31.

For more information, contact Leanne Goebel, Shy Rabbit Creative Development Team, at 731-1841 or call Shy Rabbit at 731-2766.

Business Women's Network Night March 15

A Pagosa Springs Business Women's Network Night is scheduled 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at Bank of the San Juans, 305 Hot Springs Blvd.

Organizers ask you to join them for their monthly Business Women's Network Night. It's an informal and fun way to meet other local professional women and introduce your products and services to the group.

Enjoy refreshments and door prizes compliments of Bank of the San Juans. Bring your business cards and your friends.

St. Patrick's Day dance at community center

By Siri Schuchardt

Special to The PREVIEW

The next community center dance will be held 7:30-10:30 p.m. St. Patrick's Day, Friday, March 17.

The center will come alive with shamrocks and plenty of green and white decor with a touch of the Irish.

This month's dance will feature local DJ Bobby Hart, who had everyone up and moving at the October dance and has become quite a popular DJ around town.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door and include salty and sweet snacks. Tickets are available at WolfTracks and at the community center, where tables can be reserved with the purchase of eight to 10 tickets.

There will be a cash bar featuring beer, wine and soft drinks as we are no longer able to bring our own alcoholic beverages into the dances. Community center dances are for everyone age 21 and older, and ID may be checked at the door.

So, dig out the "Kiss Me I'm Irish" buttons, find something green to wear (not required and you won't get pinched if you don't wear greeen) and come out for a fun and affordable evening out on the town.

For more information, contact the center at 264-4152 or call me at 731-9670.

Unitarian Second Sunday meditation

On Sunday, March 12, the Pagosah Unitarian Universalist Fellowship holds its regular Second Sunday Meditation Service.

Its leader, April Merrilee, quotes from the UU Words of Affirmation: "The spirit of this Fellowship is love and service is its law. This is our covenant with each other: to dwell together in peace, to search for truth with love, and to help one another."

She continues, "Come experience the essence of these words through the practice of group meditation. Our purpose is to create and sustain a spiritual community which provides a strong sense of connection while supporting individual growth."

The tone for this service will be set with an opening chant to invoke higher consciousness, leading to a silent meditation with the power of focused group energy. (Participants are invited to bring their own meditation cushions.)

The service begins at 10:30 in the Pagosah Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, Unit B-15, Greenbriar Plaza. Turn east on Greenbrier Drive off of North Pagosa Boulevard by the fire station, then left into the parking lot and look for the big sign. All are welcome.

American Sign Language classes at education center

By Renee Haywood

Special to The SUN

Have you ever wanted to learn American Sign Language (ASL)?

Learn in a fun, safe environment with Amy Withrow, an instructor who has been a certified sign language interpreter for 21 years.

Did you know sign languages are not universal? Each country has their own signed language,

Did you know ASL is not English? It is its own language, in and of itself. Demystify these and other myths.

In this six-week course, learn basic ASL grammar, structure and syntax; basic conversational signs; social etiquette and constructs such as introducing one's self and others; and Deaf culture, all in the context of functional language learning.

ASL is said to be the fourth most used language in the U.S. Come and learn tools to enable you to socially interact with Deaf people you may encounter anywhere.

Classes begin 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 9. Cost is $60 plus workbook.

For more information or to register, call the Archuleta County Education Center at 264-2835 or stop the office located on the corner of 4th and Lewis streets.

A town needs a name, doesn't it?

By Kate Terry

PREVIEW Columnist

Ima Gurl first appeared in Local Chatter in the late 1980s and surfaced off and on over the years.

This is her "return" rambling.

There is a well-known community in central Kentucky named Pig. This community has a restaurant called "The Porky Pig Diner" that is famous for its catfish.

To eat catfish at the Porky Pig Diner is why visitors from all around the world detour Mammoth Cave National Park. (They are both in Edmonson County.)

Now, the sad thing is that the owners, Calvin Durham and his wife, Ramona, are having to sell the Porky Pig Diner for he is going to have back surgery and can't do all that standing on a concrete floor.

Is this a familiar story?

Pig is a close community. A sign between the two churches says that people have always done things together, but the legend is that they have not always agreed - and so this is the story of how Pig got its name.

The leading men of the community met in the community post office and were going to decide what to call it, and each of them wanted it named after their last name. They were kind of arguing about it when suddenly they saw a pig wandering down the road. When it went under the building and they had a hard time getting it out, they decided to call it Pig.

Now every town has to have a name, and Pig is as good as any.

If this summer you visit the Mammoth Cave National Park, detour to Pig so as to eat at the Porky Pig Diner.

Fun on the Run

The rules of chocolate Š

1) If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

2) Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

3) The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car.

The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

4) Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite and you'll eat less.

5) A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?

6) If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other?

7) Q. Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous?

A. Because no one wants to quit.

8) Money talks, Chocolate sings. Beautifully.

9) Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Therefore, you need to eat more chocolate.

10) Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way at least you'll get one thing done.

11) If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

Casino Royale, dance, rummage sale ... it's all at the center

By Becky Herman

PREVIEW Columnist

Fun, food, an auction, and gaming!

The Rotary Club's Casino Royale fund-raiser is happening 6-9 p.m. March 11 in the center's multi-purpose room. Tickets are $50 per person, and all the money raised is spent in Pagosa to benefit the community. The Rotary Club gives back in the form of college scholarships, grants and other donations to other worthwhile efforts.

The event will feature several food stations and a cash bar. Four different casino games will be available: blackjack, roulette, craps, and Texas Hold 'Em.

And if that's not enough, there will be a silent auction of approximately $14,000 worth of items. Some have been donated by local businesses; other donations include professional sports memorabilia.

The evening revolves around a sports theme, so come dressed accordingly. Rotarians expect as many as 350 people to attend.

St. Patrick's Day dance

Purchase your tickets now and save. The dance program committee is getting ready with decorations for the St. Patrick's Day celebration 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, with DJ Bobby Hart providing the music.

New dance floor panels will be set up and ready for a big crowd. Thanks again to all who contributed toward the purchase.

Stop by the center or WolfTracks Bookstore to pick up tickets, which are only $5 per person if you purchase in advance. If you buy at the door, tickets are $8.

Prices for drinks at the cash bar are $3 for wine and beer and $1 for pop. This is an adult event, but it is not BYOB. Anyone who brings liquor will not be allowed to enter the building. Call Siri at 731-9670 or Mercy at 264-4152, Ext. 22 for information.

Rummage sale

This year's sale is 3-6 p.m. April 7, and 8a.m.-noon April 8.

Clean out your cupboards, closets and garages and put things in order. Then rent one or more tables at $20 per table for both days. Earn dollars from stuff you don't need or want while providing others with useful items.

Call Michelle at 264-4152, Ext. 21, to reserve your spot. Those who are not selling, should plan to come, browse, buy and enjoy the day. The center will sell snacks, food, and hot and cold beverages.

Scrapbooking club

Just a reminder that the Pagosa Springs Community Scrapbook Club will meet again 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 11 in the arts and crafts room.

There will be a demonstration on dry embossing using a few tools like a light box, stylus and stencils. Come see how easy it is to create beautiful cards, invitations or scrapbook pages. The possibilities are endless.

Over-the-Hill Hoopsters

Larry Page has organized a twice weekly, early morning session of fun, friendship and basketball.

The Hoopsters meet for an hour at 8 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Prior basketball experience is not necessary - just bring a desire to enjoy yourself and meet others with the same goal.

Call Larry at 731-3984 or the center at 264-4152 for more information.

By the way, Larry says you can participate even if you're not over the hill. You will still be welcome.

Post prom party

The Community Center, under the Teen Center program, is sponsoring this event 1-5 a.m. Sunday, April 30. Yes, 1-5 a.m. right after midnight April 29.

The purpose of this party is to keep our youth safe while they have lots of fun. Entertainment will include giant inflatable, casino-type games, a live DJ, a hypnotist, a coffee bar, food and much more to be announced later. Electronic and cash prizes will be given away during the party.

The committee is working toward having a laptop computer as the grand prize. Watch for further details.

Arts and crafts show

The center invites all artists and artisans to display their handcrafted items for sale during the show on Friday and Saturday, May 26-27, at 3-6 p.m. and 10-5 p.m. respectively. Space assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cost is $40 and $50 for an 8x8 and 10x10 spaces. Proceeds from this show will be used to benefit community center programs and defray operations costs. Call 264-4152, Ext. 21, to reserve your spot.

Sewing classes

The community center is planning to offer beginning sewing classes.

A new volunteer, Cecelia Hopper, has come forward to offer her services. She plans to start with the basics - how to use a sewing machine, how to adjust patterns, how to tackle simple sewing projects.

Students will be asked to bring a sewing machine if possible and to furnish their own materials.

A tentative start date will be set in April, possibly on weekends. Call the center at 264-4152 to let us know you are interested; you will receive a call when detailed plans are made. If anyone has a sewing machine that isn't being used, we would appreciate your donation of the machine for the sewing classes.

Yoga

Thanks to Diana Baird, who taught the yoga class last week. The weekly yoga group meets Thursday mornings for an hour, starting at 11 a.m.

Spiritual practices like yoga and meditation help quiet the mind and reduce stress. The focus in Richard Harris' class is on stretching and relaxation, and awareness of your body and particularly of your breathing.

Join this group to experience for yourself how yoga can affect your life. Dress in comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat or a towel.

Computer lab news

We started the new series of beginner classes this week, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Wednesday class is the one reserved just for seniors.

Both classes are currently filled. However, if you have an interest in one of the next beginning computing groups or in using specific software programs, call the center at 264-4152 for more information. Don't forget that the Q&A session has moved to Thursday afternoons, 1-4 p.m.

Center's hours

During the winter months, the center will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10-4 Saturday.

Activities this week

Today - Over-the-Hill Hoopsters, 8-9 a.m.; AARP free tax help, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; yoga class, 11 a.m.-noon; Computer Q&A with Becky, 1-4 p.m.; Pagosa Lakes for swim team, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Leading Edge/Small Business Development, 6-9 p.m.; basketball practice, 7-10 p.m.; Teen Center open, 4-8 p.m.

March 10 - Seniors' walking program, 11:15-11:35 a.m.; open basketball, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.; Senior bridge, 12:30-4 p.m.; Teen Center open, 2-8- p.m.; Mage Knight, 3-6 p.m.; MTech meeting, 6-9 p.m.

March 11 - Girls' softball, 10-11 a.m.; Teen Center open , 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.; scrapbooking, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; MTech/Internet consulting, 1-5 p.m.; Casino Royale, 6-9 p.m.

March 12 - Church of Christ Sunday service, 9 a.m.-noon; Grace Evangelical Free Church service, 10 a.m.-noon; United Pentecostal Church service, 2-4 p.m.; Clashfest music concert, 4-8 p.m.

March 13 - First Methodist Church Youth Bible study, 6:30-8:30 a.m.; intermediate school meeting, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; seniors' walking program, 11:15-11:35 a.m.; Senior Bridge, 12:30-4 p.m.; Teen Center open (poker), 4-8 p.m.; drumming practice, 5:15-6:15 p.m.; Loma Linda HOA board meeting, 7-9 p.m.

March 14 - First Methodist Church Youth Bible study, 6:30-8:30 a.m.; Over-the-Hill Hoopsters, 8:30-9:30 a.m.; Pagosa Springs Area Association of Realtors, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; computing skills (keyboard and mouse), 10 a.m.-noon; Wednesday bridge club, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; seniors' walking program, 11:15-11:35 a.m.; Teen Center open (Uno Attack!), 4-8 p.m.; Bible study, 5:45-6:45 p.m.; Chimney Rock potluck, 6-9 p.m.

March 15 - First Methodist Church Youth Bible study, 6:30-8:30 a.m.; computing skills (keyboard and mouse), 10 a.m.-noon; Wednesday bridge club, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; watercolor club, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; preschool play group, 11 a.m.-noon; Teen Center open, 4-8 p.m.; Weight Watchers, weigh-in at 5 p.m., meeting at 5:30; Church of Christ Bible study, 7-8 p.m.

March 16 &emdash;CO Rural water, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Over-the-Hill Hoopsters, 8:30-9:30 a.m.; AARP free tax help, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; yoga class, 11 a.m.-noon; Computer Q&A with Becky, 1-4 p.m.; Leading Edge/Small Business Development, 6-9 p.m.; Teen Center open, 4-8 p.m.

Need a place to have a party or meeting? We have very affordable rooms for small, mid-size and large groups. A catering kitchen is also available. Tables, chairs, a portable stage, a dance floor and audiovisual equipment are available, too. The center is located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. Call 264-4152.

Skiing, snowshoeing, St. Pat's - all at The Den

By Jeni Wiskofske

SUN Columnist

The AARP Driver Safety Program, the nation's first and largest classroom refresher for motorists 50 and older, will be offered 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March 15, at Community United Methodist Church.

The class costs $10 and to register or for more information, call Don Hurt at 264-2337.

Quilting lessons

Have you ever wanted to learn the creative skill of quilting?

Join us at The Den in the dining area 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, for quilting lessons.

Whether you are a beginner, want to improve or learn new quilting techniques, or just come for the fun of socializing, you are sure to enjoy The Den's quilting club. Attend the first meeting to find out what materials you will need to begin making your first quilt. The quilting club will meet every Wednesday in March.

Play the bagpipes

A great deal of uncertainty, conflict and controversy surrounds the questions of the origins, evolution and distribution of bagpipes.

Nevertheless, there they are and here we are, wondering where these marvelous instruments came from.

Jim Dorian, who has been playing the bagpipes for eight years, will be at The Den 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, to shed some light on these incredible instruments. Not only will he share information on the Scottish attire and the mechanics of the bagpipes, but he will also play a few tunes.

Skiing at Wolf Creek

Calling all skiers - first timers or pros.

The Den is going to Wolf Creek for a day of fun in the snow. Meet at The Den 8 a.m. Thursday, March 16, and dress warm for a day of skiing.

Prices are as follows: ski and boot rentals $13; if you are age 65 and over, lift tickets are $25; and for the first-timers there is a great package for $44 which includes your full-day ticket for the beginner lift and a full day of ski lessons 10 a.m.-noon, and 1-3 p.m. Reservations with The Den office were required by Tuesday, March 7, to enjoy this fun day on the slopes learning to ski or making some turns.

St. Patrick's Day party

Is your name O'Reilly, O'Mally or Monnahan?

Well, you do not need a good old Irish name to celebrate festivities on St. Patrick's Day!

Join us at The Den Friday, March 17, during lunch for a St. Patty's party. Wearing the green on St. Patrick's Day can win you some cool prizes for the most festive authentic Irish costumes.

There will be a green cake, green drinks and a little green on your plate to add to the tradition of the most celebrated color.

John Graves will play some favorite Irish tunes on the piano. Join us for an afternoon filled with fun, music and laughter.

Snowshoeing

If you like to hike, you'll love snowshoeing.

Snowshoeing is a great way to introduce yourself to winter backcountry travel. The wonderful thing about snowshoeing is that it's easy to learn and lots of fun.

To see how much fun snowshoeing can b