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Letters to the editor

editor@vaildaily.com

Well servedI’m writing this letter in appreciation of what David Honda and his team of physical therapists have meant to me.David donated six months of physical therapy to me and it was extremely generous and has meant so much.I have been blessed with great physical therapists in the past, but when you have a long-term injury, it is good to have new and fresh ideas and methods.When I started working with Gentian at David Honda’s office in Cascade Village, that is exactly what happened. She had new ideas, tools, techniques and go-girl attitude that really helped me improve.My paralyzed arm has slowly been regaining movement and feeling, but it is a very long process. I truly feel David Honda’s wonderful donation has greatly benefited me and helped me progress. It is great to see local companies take care of locals in this way. This is a salute to him. Thank you.Kelly LemonEagle VailGreat decisionContributing $2 million toward the Bair Ranch conservation easement is possibly the best decision our Eagle County commissioners have made in several years.The vision of protecting this land by the Bair family deserves the thanks of every current and future citizen of Eagle County, as well as anyone who drives I-70 through our county.And the 500-plus acres which the BLM would acquire in perpetuity along three miles of the Colorado River between Dotsero and Glenwood Canyon is used by deer and elk in summer and winter for food and access to the Colorado River. I-70, Highway 6, cliffs or development cut off wildlife access to most of the low elevation land along the rivers in the I-70 corridor. Bald eagles and osprey feed on the trout in the river and roost in the cottonwood trees on this land. Ducks, geese and a large variety of migrating shore birds seldom seen in other parts of Eagle County feed and rest on the gravel bars along this stretch of the Colorado River.The fishing along this stretch is as good as any section of any river in this county. Glenwood Canyon is a scenic jewel viewed by thousands of people every day.This easement and BLM acquisition also provide three miles of public access to thousands of acres of BLM lands south of Bair Ranch. The river access does not make it so accessible that this land loses all of its value to wildlife. When several thousand people inhabit Two Rivers Village and the rest of Dotsero, this will be critical. How much worse would this be if the other over 4,000 acres of the Bair Ranch were developed?The people of this county voted to create a fund to preserve and protect critical wildlife habitat and open space. What other parcel of land provides all of these benefits and has not been developed already?The Bair family has lived and ranched on this land for nearly 100 years. They realized what would be lost if they had to sell to developers. Our past and present congressman, governor, attorney general, county commissioners and a vast majority of people who publicly commented see the benefits of preserving this land as open space. Eagle County only needs to contribute a fraction of the cost of preserving this open space.Only Tom Stone and his ideologue cronies don’t support this open space easement. They did not support the open space initiative that passed last year, either. Let’s not let a disgruntled minority destroy this opportunity.Let’s support the majority and complete this easement while it is still available. Let’s thank Craig Bair and his family for their past stewardship and future vision for all of us.Dick BrooksGypsumRiver rescueI was fishing in the Gore River Monday, Oct. 6, about half a mile west of Wolcott, when I fell in the water. After floating about 75 feet downstream, I managed to grab a rock. I tried to get on my feet, but again fell into the water. Another try 25 feet down stream ended the same way. Floating along, I managed to stop among some trees in the middle of the stream. Again, I tried to stand, but was too exhausted.I heard a voice asking if I was alright, and looking to my left saw three Department of Transportation workers standing on the shore. I asked if they could throw me a rope to pull me out. Without hesitation, Jim McRay and David Kahn plunged into the knee-deep water and got me to the shore. Jim, David and Tere Smith are my heroes and deserve to be commended for their bravery. Thank you, Jim, David and Tere, for the rescue.Herman RichmanEast VailWeiss for CMCIt’s almost election time in the Colorado Mountain College District, time for you to be aware that your vote counts and that you can vote for candidates in the entire district. For example, even if you live in the Lake County District, you can vote for candidates running for the Board of Trustees in all six counties served by CMC as well.Let me introduce myself. I served as president of CMC from 1986 to 1993. Helen Ginandes Weiss was on the Board of Trustees from Eagle County at that time as well. In 1898, CMC was selected by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s top community colleges and she helped to win that prestigious honor. She was also one of our most popular Adjunct Professors and with her husband Martin was an integral part of our success.I know Helen and her dedication and commitment to education and it is without hesitation that I recommend her to you. She was an excellent board member and I believe she will do an outstanding job representing Lake County. Helen has kept up with the many changes in education because she is a lifelong educator with extensive experience. She is also a wife, mother, grandmother, active citizen and co-author of articles and books for parents and teachers.Her weekly articles and books co-authored with her husband, Martin, reveal exceptional insights into learning and a perceptive understanding of our complex modern world.She has successfully created and promoted strategies that help all students face the accelerated demands of today’s academic and vocational world.As an innovator in education, she can apply these numerous skills to help CMC be the best it can be, a vital asset to an institution that serves over 21,000 students per year.Her election to the Board of Trustees from Lake County will help ensure the continuing success of the Leadville campus and CMC as one of the best community colleges in the nation.Dennis M. MayerFormer PresidentMt. San Jacinto College & Colorado Mountain College


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