The Crestone Eagle

Ok...it's 3:44 p.m. and I'm working on the July issue and well, this seemed worthy of my procrastination! 😋🤠 Matthew Eric Lit, managing editor. The Sauders will be in town Thursday (about 1:30 p.m.) in their usual location selling goodness. La Garita Trading Post 😋🍩🍩🍩

Tomorrow is doughnut day! Please message us or a leave a comment if you would like a dozen or more.

From Donovan Spitzman and the Crestone Energy Fair

2024 Crestone Energy Fair Spring Home Tours Learn more - crestoneenergyfair.org

As the only legal, non-denominational open-air cremation site in the country, the Crestone End of Life Project (CEOLP) offers a meaningful, beautiful form of final disposition at its pyre site west of town. Don't forget the CEOLP registration party takes place Saturday, June 22 from 1-3 p.m. at T-Road Brewery in downtown Crestone! These registration parties only happen twice a year!

Read more about the pyre and the registration process in our June edition and on our website.

✍🏼 Gussie Fauntleroy
📷 Open-air cremations facilitated by CEOLP are only available for those who have registered with the organization before their passing. Photo by Taylor McIntosh
🦅 the Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/notes-from-the-pyre-crestone-end-of-life-project-registration-party-in-june/

"Just beyond the edge of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, nestled at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo range, lies the San Luis Lake State Wildlife Area. This time of year, it’s a hidden oasis brimming with water and life. The recent snowmelt and rains have revitalized the grasslands, wetlands, and lakes, bringing the area to life."

Read more about this hike in the San Luis Valley in our June edition and on our website.

✍🏼 & 📷Tegan Welsch-Rainek
🦅The Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/hiking-in-the-slv-discovering-the-hidden-oasis-of-san-luis-lake-state-wildlife-area/

"During the first week of May, the Crestone Charter School’s combined fourth and fifth grade intermediate class spent five wonderful days camping in the high mountain meadows along B***o Creek, just west of Del Norte. With plenty of sunshine, fresh air and clean water, the students enjoyed an unforgettable opportunity to work and play together and to reconnect with the rhythms of nature."

Read more about the Charter School's trips in our June edition and on our website.

✍🏼📷Intermediate students gather around the campfire. Photo and text by Daya Scheide
🦅The Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/crestone-charter-school-news-intermediate-spring-trip-primitive-skills-camp-del-norte/

Saguache community flea market
June 29, Otto Mears Park, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Northern Saguache County Library District

We're having a party! There will be a cookout at the Saguache Community Flea Market this month. We will have a bounce house and Peggy Godfrey will be there reading her ranching poetry and holding a group conversation in the library.

Northern Saguache County Library District is the bees knees.

Here's additional info on pollinators:

https://www.usda.gov/pollinators
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Updated Crestone July Fourth schedule.

Crestone Energy Fair vendor applications are now open.

Northern Saguache County Library District will be closed June 19th in observance of Juneteenth.

Be careful and watchful. 🔥🚒

Red Flag Warning for Saguache County Again Today

The US National Weather Service Pueblo Colorado has issued a Red Flag Warning for Saguache County and much of Colorado today from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Low relative humidity, dry fuels, warm temperatures and gusty SW winds will contribute to rapid fire spread. Use caution for activities that could lead to fire ignition.

Firefighters' Technical Forecast: https://www.weather.gov/crh/FWFdisplay?zone=COZ224

"Pieces of an complicated puzzle are beginning to fall into place on the way to funding 32 units of affordable housing in Saguache.

The proposed Range View Apartment complex will require an estimated $16.1 million to complete. Puzzle pieces include cooperation with multiple governmental agencies, grant approvals, partnership with private business enterprises, private investors, and a tax incentive program."

Read more about the efforts to create apartments that will provide housing for school teachers, restaurant workers, retirees, and others who make less than $60,300 a year for a two-person household in Saguache in our June edition and on our website.

✍🏼Tricia Toney
🦅The Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/range-view-apartments-puzzle-pieces-fall-into-place-in-saguache/

Valley Roots Food Hub (VRFH) launches the Summer 2024 Fresh Box multi-farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program on June 20 through September 11. The program runs alongside the fresh harvest season to bring shareholders fresh and local produce from growers across the Colorado bio-region. Would you like to a sign up for a box of specially curated produce that aims to supplement a family of two to three people? In addition to the produce, shareholders will receive a weekly newsletter filled with valley happenings, producer bios, creative recipes, warehouse highlights, and how to store produce.

Read more about Valley Roots Food Hub in our June edition and on our website.

✍🏼📷Maria Karahalios
🦅The Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/valley-roots-food-hub-multi-farm-brings-fresh-to-the-table/

"Although he remains committed to the completion of two large-scale affordable housing projects in Saguache County, Evan Samora is moving on and up." Read more about the Director of the Saguache County Housing Authority's new role in our June edition and on our website.

✍🏼Tricia Toney
📷Michael Pacheco
🦅The Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/samora-moves-from-local-housing-to-state-level-housing/

From the Town of Center Colorado. August 4, 2-7 p.m., Casa Blanca Park.

🎉🌾 Mark your calendars for the San Luis Valley Agricultural Coalition's 2024 Appreciation Barbeque and Resources Fair! 🌾🎉

📅 Date: Sunday, August 4th 2024
⏰ Time: 2PM - 7PM
📍 Location: Center's Casa Blanca Park

Come celebrate our agricultural workers with a day full of delicious food, fun activities, and valuable resources for our ag community.

"Every mother has a tremendous impact on the life of her child. Besides allowing passageway to the earth, a mother’s words and actions serve to shape the next generation. I sat with local mystic Maia Chrystine Nartoomid, at her mountain home, and felt the presence of her mother. “She was my earth guardian,” Maia said. “I wouldn’t be doing this work if it hadn’t been for her.”

Read about Crestone's Maia Chrystine Nartoomid in our monthly column "On the Shoulders of..." and on our website, where you can catch up on lots of columns you may have missed!

✍🏼Chantelle Pence
📷photo courtesy Maia Chrystine Nartoomid
🦅The Crestone Eagle, May 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/on-the-shoulders-of-maia-chrystine-nartoomid/

Two years ago Alixe and I met Ramone Isaacs when the Purple Moon Rising Studio was just a vision. Last night we drove over to Monte Vista for an open mic night there. An amazing vision to reality story.

July 4th Fireworks are on in Saguache. 💥 From Saguache Volunteer Fire Department.

WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED! The town has given permission to block off 4th St, from below the ambulance barn to the hotel. (THANK YOU!!)

OUR FIRST fireworks display in 30 years!

The fireworks are being shipped as I type! There will be vendors (if you would like to set up a booth message me), face painters for the kids, kids activities, DJ and Street dance, watermelon eating contests, side walk chalk art contest, FF hats for the kids, sq**rt guns, dunk tank.
Event is free!
We are accepting donations!
Bring your chairs!
Available for puchase: hamburgers, chips and a drink $8.00, hotdogs, chips and a drink $5.00. Fenced off beer garden beverages ranging from $6.00 to $8.00. Bottled water 1.00, sodas 2.00. Desserts for sale too. Event starts at 4 pm and fireworks at dark!!
COME OUT AND CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY at your home town 4 Station 4th of July!

Embroidery night at The Church Project Community Art Center, in Monte Vista. Friday, June 14, 3-6 p.m.

Thanks to Al Stone for this information.

"Paul New’s family has been farming in the San Luis Valley (SLV) for more than 100 years, going back to around 1917. Originally the News grew organic wheat, alfalfa, and raised sheep, but in 1984, New’s father Ernie, alongside their friend John McCamant, started experimenting with quinoa. In 1987, White Mountain Farm was incorporated and became the first large-scale quinoa operation in North America, located in Mosca, CO."

Read more about the history (and future) of White Mountain Farm in our June edition - and on our website.

✍🏼Anya Kaats
📷photo by Matt Lit "Cindy New with her daughters, Jennifer, left, and Marie, right."
🦅The Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/white-mountain-farm/

One more on June 14. Contact Anya Kaats

From the Villa Grove/Bonanza Volunteer Fire Department team.

Fundraiser, June 22, 10 a.m. Villa Grove Fire Station. 🚒🚒👨‍🚒🧑‍🚒👩‍🚒

🔥Hey, amazing community members!🔥

We hope you had a fantastic weekend! We're thrilled to finally show you the official poster for our annual fundraiser. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Also, stay tuned this week for some sneak peeks at the incredible and exciting items that will be featured in our silent auction this year.

You won’t want to miss it!

In Town of Center Colorado June 21 and 22. Check it out with Alluvium Studio.

The general specific schedule for Solstice 2024.
BYOB chair if you’re coming for the music.

The Crestone dance community is in search of an indoor space to host ecstatic dance, contact improvisation and authentic movement! Read more in our June edition and on our website.

✍🏼Anya Kaats
🦅The Crestone Eagle, June 2024: https://crestoneeagle.org/local-dance-community-seeks-indoor-space-for-hosting/

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PSA! PLEASE READ.

This is an important message from Robin Blankenship:

Saturday 10 a.m. Address is in the post.

"If you avoid the front lines of change and you stay hunkered behind the front lines of complain… Where does your power go?

We have a little emergency here. An older couple, fourth generation, trying to hold on to their land and their food growing and their agriculture. Their health issues prevent them from showing up. This weekend we come together as a community to get the water on , the possibility of food growing in this godforsaken Desert ...get the community song being sung.

Come on Saturday at 10 a.m. if you want to."

The garden on the right as you drive the tea road to Crestone and turn toward town and see the buggy sheds and alpacas.
Please tell everyone you know let's help these octogenarians create a food growing beauty in this place!

Love,
Robin Blankenship

Here is June's Food Distribution Calendar for Northern Saguache County! The Crestone Food Bank is now open and Free Food Friday will continue every Friday at both branches.