Thanks for all the support

Hello everybody.

Nov. 28 was the one-year anniversary of my stem cell transplant for leukemia. My transplant came all the way from Germany (you know the Germans make good stuff).

I'd like to thank everyone again for their prayers and support over these many months. It is great to know I have so many good folks in my corner.

I have been back in the valley since late July and I'm getting better all the time. I look forward to getting reacquainted with everyone.

Nick Luchycky

Eagle

ERS doesn't just affect town residents

Decades ago the Eagle area was embroiled in controversy surrounding the looming prospect of huge development on Brush Creek, the Adam's Rib Ski Area and Resort.

The developer bounced his proposal back and forth between the town and the county, making it terribly difficult for citizens to stay informed about what it was, where it was going, and how it would affect the people who lived here. And by "the people who lived here,” I mean everyone who lived in the area, which at that time pretty much meant citizens of the town of Eagle, Brush Creek and the comparatively sparsely populated surrounding areas. But whether the proposal was before the town board or the county commissioners, every person's voice was heard with respect and weighed equally. Never once was there a sign up sheet to determine where you lived and thus your power, because it didn't matter. We were all in it together — the good, the bad and the ugly — and we all recognized our lives would be forever impacted by our official's decisions.

Had a major ski area been built close to my home I wouldn't live here today, and I know there are residents who live on U.S. Highway 6 who feel the same way about Eagle River Station and have expressed their concerns about it. That's not NIMBY-ism, that's exercising your right to protect your own future.

During the Adam's Rib debate governmental bodies formed their opinions, they voted their decisions and we the people had to live with the results. That's what they were elected to do and whether we liked it or not, that was the process, and in my opinion, still should be. At one point, those who didn't like the town's position of "no,” rallied a recall effort, as was their right. On that issue alone, only registered voters could vote and the recall was soundly defeated. The process worked as it should have.

But now the equally divisive question of major development itself has been handed over to only those who can vote. Those of us who can't vote but surely will be affected by what the voters of Eagle decide, are being criticized/ridiculed for our displeasure with this situation.

Here's my observation: If many of we non voters had not raised a lot of hell (as Paulo puts it) about changing our town and our lives forever with massive development, those of you who have since moved here because you love Eagle — it's community, and its way of life — probably wouldn't have found it nearly so appealing. Your lovely town would have had a Minturn-esque bedroom community feel and you'd have had a major highway right through the gut of it. Perhaps you'd have chosen to live in the outskirts of Grand Junction where you could include shopping as one of its major attractions.

I'm afraid the Eagle Town Board has done the entire area a disservice, has stepped out of the line of fire, and has chosen a way to avoid a tough and contentious decision while looking good at the same time. "The people should decide" sounds good except they really won't ... just a select few will.

And for a second observation, I'd suggest voting "no" on the referendum and let the developer come back with a better plan in three years when they're really interested in building. Then insist the town make a decision based on pro's and con's and what they hear from all of the people who will be impacted. Eagle and all of us will survive until then.

Rosie Shearwood

Brush Creek

Out-of-town folks have a stake in ERS

Regarding Paulo Narduzzi's articles, let's get all the facts straight ... just like the facts we have presented which spell out that Eagle River Station should be a “no” vote. I suppose one's judgement could be clouded, having been on the developer's payroll, but our facts speak for themselves.

I said "There is no way that many people have voted on line, no matter which way they voted. What a joke, over 2,100 votes?" This was written way before the poll stopped. Ironically, it stopped at the point where Eagle River Station lead by 400-plus votes, when many times before that day, it was even. It still means nothing.

It isn't fair that almost half of Eagle's population — Upper Kaibab, Castle Peak Ranch, Eby Creek, Diamond Star, Highway 6 along the property lines of Eagle River Station and all of Brush Creek — aren't eligible to vote because they haven't been annexed. Five out of six of those "non-resident" neighborhoods can see the Eagle River Station property.

The really disparaging thing about both of your letters, Paulo, is that you never admitted that there wasn't a "push poll" conducted by us, as many have proven who got the same calls. By definition, a push poll is "a political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a poll." Sounds exactly like the last poll, which wasn't conducted by our side, wherein they asked respondents "Would it influence your vote if you knew that the town board voted to require funds to be used for the redevelopment of Broadway.” As we all now know, there are no such "requirements."

You also never acknowledged that you were on the payroll of Trinity/RED until you were called on it. You asked "Who is buying the ‘no' vote?" We have lots of friends and supporters and many of those services were gratis. The pro side is funded by Trinity/RED. Mayor Woodland had a full page letter/ad in the paper last week — paid for by Yes to Eagle's Future. He, along with two former mayors — Roxie Deane and Jon Stavney — is hosting presentations with Trinity/RED for the seniors and the public at large. So, just who is buying votes Paulo?

The really sad thing is that you and many proponents continuously ostracize us non voters. Many of us have lived here far longer than you — some for more than 30 years. In our case, we have lived in our house for 12 years, which looks over all of town. We have owned a business on Broadway for 10 years, which provides a nice service for the community. We pay triple property taxes (much of which goes to service your neighborhood and the school in it). Because we own a retail store, we also contribute sales tax to the town. We donate to numerous charities. I was a member of the committee for the Broadway streetscape, served on the Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce Board for nine years, am a member of One Eagle (promoting businesses) and attend almost every community function. How come we rarely see you at any community functions Paulo?

Poll or no poll, Eagle River Station is a bad deal for the town no matter who can vote or not. All the “yes” vote really does is give the developer vested rights. They can do whatever they want with that land for up to six years. No guarantees of anything. No sustainable jobs. No guarantee of local labor. No actual numbers for projected revenue. No updated market study since the recession.

Eagle voters, please come to our upcoming community meetings ( www.votenoers.com) and get the facts from the two town trustees who voted No. They are both professional planners and their reasoning is very truthful and compelling. And, they can vote just like hundreds of others that will be voting ”no” to ERS on Jan. 5.

Jan Rosenthal Townsend

Eagle