Thrift Shop supports nonprofits<\/p>\n
Every month, volunteers of the Aspen Thrift Shop meet to continue to accomplish our mission: to make grants to nonprofit organizations in the Roaring Fork Valley. We are grateful to community members who continue to support our efforts by donating and purchasing gently used clothing and household items. For the month of January we are pleased to announce the following recipients: Aspen High School (girl’s volleyball), Aspen Historical Society, CRMPI, Empty Bowls, GlenX Career Expo, Homecare and Hospice of the Valley, Independence Pass Foundation, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Pitkin County Economic Assistance, Roaring Fork Leadership and Wildwood School.<\/p>\n
Ladies of the Aspen Thrift Shop<\/p>\n
Thanks to local author Jill Sheeley<\/p>\n
For 18 consecutive years, students at Aspen Elementary School have had the opportunity to enter the Fraser Creative Writing Contest. Because of Jill Sheeley’s passion for writing, over 1,000 students have taken pen to paper and poured their best efforts onto the page.<\/p>\n
Jill asks students to write an original piece of fiction around a specific theme: This year the theme was space. Jill Sheeley as well as another independent judge (currently Lynda MacCarthy and previously Mary Eshbaugh Hayes) have spent numerous hours reading and rereading each story. Together they determine the awards which are then given out during a high energy assembly.<\/p>\n
The results for the 18th Annual Fraser Creative Writing Contest were announced Jan. 14. This year, an unprecedented 130 stories were entered into the contest. Jill, along with Lynda MacCarthy, read each story in a blind judging to determine the winners. Lia Hodgson and Taj Clarence tied for first place in fourth grade. Reagan Ferrell was the first-place winner in third grade. The students awarded first place not only had stories published in The Aspen Times, but also will be reading their stories on the radio with David Bach. The Aspen Elementary School community would like to thank Jill for her continuous efforts to inspire young readers and writers.<\/p>\n
Thank you, Jill, for your enduring vision and energy throughout the years. You are an asset to our school system as well as our community.<\/p>\n
Julie Wille<\/p>\n
Basalt<\/p>\n
And thanks to you, Julie Wille<\/p>\n
I’d like to acknowledge Julie Wille, who has coordinated the Fraser Writing Contest for the past 16 years at Aspen Elementary School. This contest gives third- and fourth-graders an opportunity to enter a creative writing contest outside their school curriculum. It’s not an easy task to put it all together as the stories are read anonymously. I appreciate all Julie has done over the many years. She’ll be handing over the torch to Julie Zats next year.<\/p>\n
Thanks to Julie for all her support and hard work.<\/p>\n
Jill Sheeley<\/p>\n
Aspen<\/p>\n
A good Samaritan among us<\/p>\n
We would like to give a shout-out to a an exemplary Aspenite.<\/p>\n
Linda was shopping downtown recently and dropped her wallet outside her car leaving her parking spot. A sharp-eyed Waste Management employee spotted the wallet and picked it up.<\/p>\n
Unable to catch up with Linda, he searched through her belongings for possible contact information.<\/p>\n
He used her library card, called the library and got her email address.<\/p>\n
Disaster averted. We were more than a little stressed over the potential loss as Linda was to travel the next day.<\/p>\n
So, a very heartfelt thank-you to Thomas McCarten, our guardian angel that day.<\/p>\n
We should all be so caring of our fellow citizens.<\/p>\n
Linda Maslow and Alan Waters<\/p>\n
Aspen<\/p>\n