Two Rivers Community Foundation thanks Sunlight

The Board of 2 Rivers Community Foundation (2RCF) would like to thank the amazing Sunlight Ski Resort for their generosity. 

Sunlight Skier Appreciation Day on Friday, Jan. 10 was a huge success as a fundraiser for our foundation. We are so grateful for the generosity of Sunlight and the generosity of this community. 

Sunlight is a leader in philanthropy and we are so proud to live in this overwhelmingly generous valley. The atmosphere at Sunlight is always fun, relaxing and such a wonderful way to connect with others.  A special thank you to Travis Baptiste at Sunlight, who helped with all the logistics and made this an event to remember. 

---

---

The 2RCF looks forward to using the funds that were raised at the Sunlight Skier Appreciation Day, to give grants to local nonprofits that are doing such impactful work. In 2024 the 2RCF gave grants to Glenwood Springs Arts Council, Junior Achievement of the Roaring Fork Valley, Mount Sopris Nordic Council, Riding Institute for Disabled Equestrians and Valley Meals and More. 

Thank you from the 2RCF Board of Directors: 

---

---

Kati Ledall (Corresponding Secretary) Amber Wissing, Jesse Goff, Courtney Johnson, Don DeFord (Recording Secretary) Erin Davis (Treasurer) Mike West (Vice Chair) and Lori Mueller (Chair); Glenwood Springs

Be a mentor with Buddy Program

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the transformative power of mentorship and encourage others to step into this life-changing role. As a resident of the Roaring Fork Valley, I’ve always been inspired by our community’s willingness to show up for one another. Today, I’m asking you to consider showing up in a new way—by becoming a Big Buddy through the Buddy Program. 

The Buddy Program matches youth in our valley with adult mentors who provide guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear. For youth, having a mentor offers stability, trust, and friendship during critical years of growth. Big Buddies help their Little Buddies navigate challenges, set goals, and build confidence. Research shows that youth with mentors are more likely to graduate, avoid risky behaviors, and feel connected to their communities. But mentorship isn’t just for the kids—it changes the lives of adults, too. 

Big Buddies often describe how mentorship has deepened their sense of purpose and strengthened their connection to the community. Whether you’re hiking, playing sports, or attending Buddy Program events, you’ll find joy and fulfillment in creating a lasting bond. The Buddy Program provides all the training and support you need to succeed. 

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact, I encourage you to take the first step. Visit buddyprogram.org or email dominic@buddyprogram.org to learn more. Let’s show up for our youth and make a difference together.

Dominic Roman, Aspen

Red state vs. blue state response

The hurricane destroyed 10 times the number of homes, killed 4 times the number of people, and 3 time the number of acres destroyed by the LA fires. 

Comparing the news coverage and the White house’s immediate response that the federal government would cover 100% of costs of dealing with the disaster for the first 180 days at the request of California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, you would think that the fires are 10 times worse than the hurricane. 

One was a red conservative state and the other a very blue liberal state. Coincidence? Both are horrible events, but one was probably more preventable. I’m thankful that we have survived the last 4 years of the Biden administration and truly looking forward to making America great again. I just wish that all the media would tell both sides of the story, but that’s just a pipe dream that will probably never happen. There is hope though: CNN, NBC and other liberal news networks have lost a tremendous percentage of viewership recently.

John Harcourt, New Castle

Oil and gas zeroes in on West Mamm Creek

When I lived in Grand Junction in the early 2000s, I would frequently go for nature walks in the Piceance Basin. And there was plenty of nature to see. Cheatgrass and pinyon juniper covered the pristine terrain and deer, elk, and coyotes bounded about playfully.

A recent visit to the Piceance broke my heart and made me sick to my stomach. What I saw was a sterile moonscape, its only feature being unsightly methane gas rigs, all vegetation killed by methane emissions, all wildlife chased away from its habitat.

This is what the oil and gas industry, namely Terra Energy Partners (TEP) out of Texas, has in mind for the West Mamm Creek Valley south of Rifle. They already have a footprint in the valley, but they want more. TEP wants to build a seven-mile pipeline to transport methane gas and produced water.

Currently, the pipeline would serve only nine wells, but TEP has plans for 47 more. The water would be used for fracking future wells. The United States is already the leading exporter of liquified methane gas in the world and domestic demand is down. Why we need West Mamm Creek’s production is beyond me.

Like the Piceance Basin of days gone by, the West Mamm Creek Valley is an idyllic setting for outdoor recreators like hikers, hunters, and anglers. There’s no such thing as a leak-proof pipeline. Thus, the concern expressed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Beyond the environmental effects, there are the climate impacts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports we need to cease all fossil fuel expansion now if we’re to keep temperature rise below 2 degrees Centigrade by 2030. TEP’s plans would lock in infrastructure that’d emit greenhouse gases for 30 years. The planet’s climate can’t handle that.

Opposing the pipeline is Western Colorado Alliance’s Save West Mamm Creek Coalition, the Center for Biodiversity, and Wilderness Workshop. They encourage concerned citizens to make a comment to the Bureau of Land Management before the Feb. 7 deadline. The comment site can be reached at https://e.planning.blm.gov/e.planning-ui/project/2025023/510.

Fred Malo Jr., Carbondale