The 20 hour CERT training teaches individuals and families how to better prepare themselves and their communities for disasters and emergencies.  The curriculum includes classes on selecting preparedness supplies, family emergency planning, recognizing natural and human-caused hazards, fire prevention, an introduction to first aid, and terrorism awareness.

The CERT training will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Mt. Shavano Room of the Touber Building (old hospital) at 448 E. 1^st Street.  Students must attend all sessions.  There is no charge to attend and everyone over the age of 18 is welcome to participate.  We plan to offer the same class in the Buena Vista area sometime in the fall.

To sign up or for further details, contact Don Breece at 395-0344 or dbreece@chaffeecounty.org

Each year an individual receives the Enos Mills Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding, individual, long-term accomplishments in environmental education.  This award is named in honor of Enos Mills, whose writings, photography and passion for education and environmental protection are largely responsible for the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park.  This year, Marcella Wells of Wells Resources, Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado, is receiving this prestigious award.  During her academic role as assistant professor at Colorado State University, Marcella created the first environmental education course at the university and purposefully shared her planning, coaching and evaluation tools with countless students and professionals inspiring everyone who works with her to improve personal skills and plan for success on a program-wide scale.  In recent years, Marcella has been lending her expertise as a private consultant to over 50 projects with nearly 3 dozen clients.  She has worked with numerous national, state and local parks; natural areas; open spaces; as well as a variety of programs assisting them in planning education and/or to exploring its impacts.  In all her work, Marcella is always an advocate for learners.

Nine unique organizations from across Colorado are being honored for leadership in developing inclusive, effective, cooperative and cross-sector environmental education programs.  The award recipients represent a wide array of innovative and needs-based educational programs reaching out to a diversity of audiences, often through compelling partnerships, to increase environmental and conservation awareness among their participants.  The environmental education program award recipients for 2011 include these successful and inspirational programs:

Best New Program Award

The Greenway River Ranger Program, The Greenway Foundation, Denver, CO

Agriculture Award, Farmhands Education Program, Guidestone, Salida, CO

Citizen/Community Award, Denver Youth Naturally, Environmental Learning for Kids, Denver, CO

Government Award, Girl Scout Water Badge Day; Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space; Aurora, CO

Nonprofit Awards, The Bioregion in Your Backyard, Yampatika, Steamboat Springs, CO

Wings of Wonder, Wild Wings Environmental Education, Centennial, CO

PreK-Elementary Education Award

Discover the Wetlands; El Paso County Parks, Fountain Creek Nature Center; Fountain, CO

Secondary Education Awards

Earth Task Force, Cottonwood Institute, Denver, CO

Estes Valley Environmental Studies Science & Research Program, Park School District R-3, Estes Park, CO

The CAEE Board of Directors will honor Dean Winstanley with the 2011 President’s Award in recognition of his exceptional leadership and ongoing support for environmental education during his 20-year career with Colorado State Parks. Katie Navin, CAEE Executive Director, said “The environment is where we live and the decisions we make about the environment impact our economy, our communities and our homes. All across the state, from Steamboat to Denver, these inclusive and innovative environmental educators and programs are helping create informed and responsible decision makers.”

All recipients will be showcased at CAEE’s Fourteenth Annual Awards Celebration being held on Friday, March 2, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Denver Hotel.  The banquet is open to the public, but tickets must be purchased by February 24, 2012.  For information and tickets, please contact CAEE at 303-273-9527 or visit www.caee.org.

CAEE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting quality and inclusive environmental education by facilitating communication, coordination and professional development among the varied environmental education programs in the state.  A comprehensive electronic information clearinghouse and resource directory for environmental education is available on the organization’s web site, www.caee.org.

BERKELEY, Calif. – Outstanding participants from the Colorado High School Cycling League were honored at the 2011 National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) Awards, at the Clif Bar and Co. headquarters in Emeryville, California, Saturday, January 14.

The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) presented awards in 13 categories to 21 of the individuals considered to be the most outstanding athletes, most dedicated coaches, and most passionate volunteers, and supporters to have participated in the high school mountain biking revolution.

Matt Fritzinger, executive director of NICA, said, “I am held up by the greatness of those I’m surrounded by, and it’s a privilege to serve and be in the company of such great people. It’s amazing to listen to the stories of those honored, and I know there are many other fantastic accomplishments among the 1,150 student-athletes who raced in 2011, it’s incredible what is going on here.”

The SRAM Coach of the Year Award was presented to one coach from each of the four leagues in 2011. The recipients are, from left to right: Fred Maxwell (Salida High School, Colorado League), David Peery (Woodcrest Christian High School, SoCal League), Julia Violich (Redwood High School, NorCal League) and Kari Studley (Northshore Composite Team, Washington League). Photo Credit: Sol Gutirrez.

Award Recipients

Specialized League Founders Award Kate Rau, Colorado High School Cycling League

Trek All-Star Athlete Award Dominique Fenichell, Boulder High School, Colorado High School Cycling League 
Joel Titius, Corona Composite Team, SoCal High School Cycling League

SRAM Coach of the Year Award Fred Maxwell, Salida High School, Colorado High School Cycling League 
Dave Peery, Woodcrest Christian High School, SoCal High School Cycling League 
Julia Violich, Redwood High School Mountain Bike Team, NorCal High School Cycling League 
Kari Studley, Northshore Composite Team, Washington High School Cycling League

Clif Bar & Company Volunteer Service Award Walt Lee, Colorado High School Cycling League 
Ezra Coleman, NorCal High School Cycling League 
Sean McCoy, SoCal High School Cycling League

Specialized Student-Athlete Leadership Award Dillen Maurer, Crescenta Valley High School, SoCal High School Cycling League 
Jencee Reardon, 7220 Racing Team, Colorado High School Cycling League

Primal Wear Digital Media Award David Curtis, NorCal High School Cycling League/NICA

QBP Race Production Partner Award Jason Ranoa, SoCal High School Cycling League

Visionary Leader Award Gary Fisher

Jeep Extraordinary Courage Award Hannah Mendro, Arlington/Lakewood Composite Team, Washington High School Cycling League

Fort Lewis College Distinguished Alumni Award Todd Norwood, 2004 Alum, NorCal High School Cycling League

Legacy Award Gary Erickson, Founder, Co-Owner and Co-CEO, CLIF Bar & Company

Easton Foundations Student-Athlete Community Service Award Josh Hodges, Rim of the World High School, SoCal High School Cycling League 
Angelique Margve, John Burroughs High School, SoCal High School Cycling League

Shimano Community Impact Award Officer George Martinez, Luther Burbank High School, NorCal High School Cycling League

About The National Interscholastic Cycling Association Founded in 2009, The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is the National Governing Body for grades 9-12 interscholastic mountain biking and fosters the development of high quality competitive cross-country mountain biking programming for high school aged athletes. NICA provides leadership, governance and program support to promote the development of interscholastic Mountain Biking Leagues throughout the United States. NICA exists by virtue of generous donors and sponsors including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as Easton Foundations, SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Clif Bar and Co., Primal Wear, Shimano, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, adidas Eyewear, CamelBak, Crank Brothers, Dirt Rag, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Mellow Johnny’s, Mountain Bike Action, QBP, Ritchey Designs, WTB, and Yakima. For more information on NICA visit www.nationalmtb.org or call 510.524.5464.

We will resume our monthly trail work days as soon as conditions and weather permit.

You can also check the SMT website http://salidamountaintrails.org/ for updates.

I have fond memories of that theatre, one that stands out was watching The Lord of the Rings in a down sleeping bag with a thermos of hot tea. Another had to do with a particular Spiderman poster John handed my two, very young, costumed clad sons as we left the theater one night.  It still hangs in our living room.

Zack Hughes of Badfish

Encinitas, CA (July 18, 2011) - Boardworks Surf announces that Badfish Stand Up Paddle will be joining their lineup of premier SUP and Surf Brands.  “ We are extremely excited about this news,” commented Phillip Rainey of Boardworks. “Badfish represents the ultimate in cutting edge designs for the growing sport of river SUP.”

Paddling whitewater rivers is all about dealing with opposing hydraulic forces, from running through holes and wave trains to crossing boiling eddy fences, and it requires a craft that can remain stable in a chaotic environment.   There is one company that is leading the charge with very innovative and unique SUP boards designed specifically for these challenging river conditions: Badfish Standup Paddle Company. Badfish boards are designed and built by mountain-based watermen, located in Salida, Colorado at the foot of 14,000 foot peaks on the Arkansas River. After four years of brainstorming, prototyping, surfing, and stand up paddling rivers, a new type of SUP board is born.

Mike Harvey and Zack Hughes

Mike Harvey and Zack Hughes, co-owners of Badfish, bring a high level of expertise to the table in their board designs. Since 2000, Mike has been working with Recreation Engineering and Planning (the country’s leader in whitewater park design) to design and build whitewater parks all over North America (www.boaterparks.com) Mike was the Project Manager for planning, design and construction of the first two river surfing specific, standing waves in the US, in the Salida Whitewater Park in 2010, providing Badfish with the ultimate advanced river surfing laboratory.

Zack Hughes, born and raised in San Diego has been surfing and skateboarding since the days when mullets and Trans-Ams were cool. Drawn to Colorado and later Honduras to be a whitewater rafting guide, Zack quickly became one of the top freestyle kayakers in the golden years of the mid-90s.  With his surfing background and kayaking expertise, Zack shapes boards that are completely relevant to the new sport of whitewater SUP. Note: Zack just won the Triple Crown SUP Title at the 2011 FIBArk River Festival.

Badfish Stand Up Paddle has now chosen Boardworks to manufacture and distribute their River specific SUP boards worldwide. “Badfish is incredibly humbled and honored to become the newest member of the Boardworks team.  Badfish takes its job of staying on the leading edge of river SUP paddling very seriously.  We understand that we have the dual responsibility of constantly improving SUP boards for river-based paddlers and also promoting river SUP to existing paddlers and new users alike. As long time surfers and kayakers Badfish is passionate about the new direction that SUP is taking river paddle sports. Boardworks has the experience, technical know-how and sales team to service dealers and customer needs while helping Badfish build durable, high-end SUP boards and products.  As new kids on the block, in a new and developing sport, Badfish looks to the Boardworks team not just as partners in our growth, but as mentors as well. The whole Boardworks family is as enthusiastic as we are about promoting SUP as a fun and accessible means for people to explore moving water.  We think this partnership will be a win-win for Badfish, Boardworks, dealers and consumers as well,” comments Mike Harvey.

This rating change is due to existing wind speeds above 10 mph and predicted winds above 25 mph, gusting to 45mph.  Relative humidity is predicted to be at or below 13 percent.  Very dry conditions exist in the valley except in irrigated agricultural areas.

Please report all sightings of smoke to 911.

Between the dates of March 22nd and March 24th 2011 a residential burglary took place in the 800 block of “C” street. Numerous electronic items were taken along with a 40” Samsung flat screen TV. The person or persons who did this took their time going through the upstairs bedroom and the detached garage. Most likely the vehicle parked in the alley next to the garage to load all the stolen items.

If you have any information about this burglary or any other crimes please contact the Chaffee County Crime Stoppers. Chaffee County Crime Stoppers is offering cash rewards up to $1000 for information leading to the arrest of person or persons responsible for crimes.

If you have information that will help in concluding this burglary, please contact the Chaffee County Crime Stoppers at 539-5299. Remember, callers do not give their names, can remain anonymous and you could be entitled to a cash reward.

For more information about how Crime Stoppers works please visit our website at, chaffeecountycrimestoppers.org

On April 3rd 2011, two abstract 8×10 oil paintings were found to be stolen from the Salida Public Library. A local female artist created the paintings and displays her work at the library. The frames the paintings were displayed in were left behind and the paintings were kept. One of the paintings was called, “Constant Variable and the other painting was called, Aerial Perspective #4.

If you have any information about this theft or any other crimes please contact the Chaffee County Crime Stoppers. Chaffee County Crime Stoppers is offering cash rewards up to $1000 for information leading to the arrest of person or persons responsible for crimes.

If you have information that will help in concluding this theft, please contact the Chaffee County Crime Stoppers at 539-5299. Remember, callers do not give their names, can remain anonymous and you could be entitled to a cash reward.

For more information about how Crime Stoppers works please visit our website at, chaffeecountycrimestoppers.org

Self-employed graphic designer Lauren Giusti’s Salidaslacker.com sheds light on the slacker mentality. Although Wikipedia refers to the term slacker as one who “habitually avoids work,” Giusti considers the word slack as being loose rather than taut. Giusti explains that being a slacker “doesn’t have anything to do with not being smart or not wanting to work.” It’s more about living your life with balance, perspective and “what fulfills your spirit.”

The site sells T-shirts, stainless steel water bottles, hats and totes. At a time when Salida’s schools face more of the state budget cleaver, 10 percent of profits will be donated to the school district. Giusti and her husband, Bill, are parents of a Longfellow Elementary School second-grader, Mia.

The culture of Salida and its surrounding valleys has evolved with its influx of residents who move here to play outside. It’s not uncommon for certain professionals or services to be unavailable on beautiful days. For the newly arrived who depend on professional services to maintain businesses, this can cause stress and turmoil. Especially since many days here are so nice.

The recent closing of Ploughboy, a market that sold local food, has sparked the debate. The owners publicly explained their reasons for closing included the lack of services and professionalism in Salida. This got locals talking.

We considered when it’s appropriate to put off or reschedule work and what services are absolutely necessary during business hours. There’s a discernible difference between hard-working professionals enjoying a powder day during business hours and others who can’t be pinned down to work, period.

There’s a certain measure of success to getting out on a nice day. The more we can enjoy our outdoor playground, the more successful we are. It’s one way to reinvent our lives.

Giusti was moved by the Salida residents who “defended the slower pace and embraced the outdoor culture, even if it was at the sacrifice of work and money” and decided to launch the site. “I feel incredibly lucky to be here,” Giusti said. “So any negativity just didn’t fit with the gratitude I feel.”

Giusti said she works 15 to 80 hours per week, depending on the project.

The idea of the site came to Giusti during her own slacker moment, on the slopes on a powder day under a brilliant, blue sky. “I thought it would be a good way to poke fun at ourselves and make light of a situation that seemed to have fluffed a few feathers in town,” she said.

“No matter how important we think something is, it usually can wait a few hours,” she said. ”Slackers know who they are and are proud to put play ahead of work . . .  if they can. It’s no coincidence that we all migrated to Salida. Those who have a strong sense of place are naturally attracted to it.”

Another reason locals may give in to play is that for the self-employed, work is often unreliable. To keep a positive attitude about living here and grinding out a living, it makes sense to play when possible. And playing is powerful.

Giusti mentions on her site that slackers understand what’s important and will go the “extra mile (on bikes, skis and kayaks)” to keep the play/work ethic in balance.

The site’s support page lists slacker activities, slacker supplies and slacker services. Giusti emphasizes the site is still evolving. She wants classifieds for selling/trading gear and bartering services, and a place to post events or report on cool adventures. She’ll list as many businesses as possible free of charge but will need to sell banner ads to cover the cost of the site. Giusti hopes to have her goods printed locally soon.

“Slacker is a perfect word to describe our lives,” Giusti said. “We are not rigid with our time. We allow some slack so that if an opportunity comes along that we want to embrace, we can. All we have is the moment we are in. Do we really want to be inflexible with that moment?”

CYCA honored 10 youth and young adults from across the state as 2010 Corpsmembers of the Year.

2010 Corpsmember of the Year Awards

• Dominica Alloy, Southwest Conservation Corps-Los Valles
• Melissa Bushey, Larimer County Youth Conservation Corps
• Andrew Fonseca, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
• Annie Grubbs, Steamboat Springs Community Youth Corps
• Steven Ladefoged, Mile High Youth Corps – Colorado Springs
• Juan Marquez-Martinez, Mile High Youth Corps
• Marshall Masayesva, Southwest Conservation Corps-Four Corners
• Erik Michalski, Weld County Youth Conservation Corps
• Kenny Warner, Boulder County Youth Corps
• Mitch Wright, Western Colorado Conservation Corps

“In many cases, these Corpsmembers of the Year overcame personal barriers and capitalized on support from their youth corps to serve our state, further their education, learn to work hard, and look toward bright futures,” according to CYCA Executive Director, Jennifer Freeman.

CYCA also recognized: State Representative Edward Vigil (District 62) as the 2010 Legislator of the Year; Colorado State Forest Service as the 2010 Champion for Youth; and Energy Outreach Colorado as 2010 Partner of the Year.

“We thank State Representative Vigil, Energy Outreach Colorado and the Colorado State Forest Service for recognizing the value of youth corps in providing effective solutions to our critical land, water, and energy issues,” said Freeman. “We are grateful they understand that youth and young adults have extraordinary power to make positive change in our state and that service is a strategy for addressing many societal needs.”

Representative Vigil promoted job creation for young adults both at the State Capitol and as a Costilla County Commissioner. He supported the inclusion of youth conservation corps in HB 10-1333, the Green Jobs Colorado Training Act, which expanded opportunities for youth corps to secure training funds for corpsmembers conducting energy efficiency, weatherization, and water conservation projects.  Rep. Vigil was also an original sponsor of the Southwest Conservation Corps-Los Valles Community Corps program in Costilla County and promoted that program across the San Luis Valley, which eventually expanded to three additional counties.

CYCA chose the Colorado State Forest Service as its Champion for Youth because of their ongoing commitment to utilizing youth conservation corps for some of our state’s most challenging forest health issues – hazard fuel mitigation and the beetle kill epidemic.  An investment of this kind in youth not only puts young people to work on much-needed projects, it helps them gain the training, experience, and education necessary to be the next generation of natural resources professionals.

Energy Outreach Colorado, CYCA’s Partner of the Year, was instrumental in helping youth corps launch their initial residential efficiency programs in 2005. Energy Outreach Colorado has a demonstrated commitment to engaging youth corps in energy efficiency work, creating lifelong stewards, and linking young people to careers.

“All of the 2010 award recipients have made a difference in the lives and futures of thousands of young Coloradans who are preparing themselves to be productive and educated citizens,” said Freeman. “These awardees recognize that youth and young adults represent the best future for Colorado.”