Our Readers Write

Humphrey Museum story failed to recognize dedicated volunteers
Editor:
Having just read the article by Vicky Gits in the Oct. 27 edition of the Canyon Courier regarding the Humphrey Museum, I have two questions: How did Ms. Gits article help the Humphrey Museum, and was anyone else as dismayed as I was at the negative tone of her article?
I have attended several events at the Humphrey Museum through the years, including an engagement rehearsal dinner for a young couple, a Christmas event, two museum tours, and a summer garden party event. Not only were these events done professionally but with obvious pride in this charming museum and its breathtaking grounds, and in a way that would have made Hazel Lou Humphrey very proud of her caretakers, indeed. Although I haven’t been privileged to attend an event there in the last year, never prior have I witnessed anything less than the purest of motives in the efforts of the volunteers and staff.
Perhaps Ms. Gits could have better served the Humphrey Museum in the past many years and in her current article by highlighting all of the events, multiple fund-raising efforts, and ongoing dedication of the few but tireless volunteers, board members and staff, who in a fledgling economy made every attempt to bring in monies to save this little treasure.
Perhaps Ms. Gits could volunteer her services for the good of the Humphrey Museum rather than to find fault with those who continue to try to save Hazel Lou Humphrey’s dream.
Kathy Miller
Evergreen

A ‘season’ to remember
Editor:
Most people see seasons as “winter” or “holiday,” etc. Not in the Instrumental Music Department at Evergreen High School, at least not this year — they refer to this time of year as “Marching Season,” and rightfully so for a marching band that has received more accolades and awards than anyone can remember in recent history.
This includes, but by far is not limited to, a sixth-place trophy at the 2010 Colorado State Marching Band Championships. Another huge accolade was the very coveted “Most Improved” trophy at the Metro Regionals. In all, the EHS “Cougar Pride” Marching Band received five trophies, three finalist banners, and a beautiful plaque for their performances this season.
This could not be accomplished without dedication, sacrifice and hard work from not only all the kids but also from their parents and from the new instrumental music director at EHS, Wiley Cruse and his staff.
 Even though the marching season is now over, the Instrumental Music Department is far from quiet. The Jazz Band, the Percussion Ensemble and the Chamber Orchestra had a combined concert just one day after the marching band got back from state competition. Many of the kids in the concert also played in marching band. The time commitment is enormous. There are several more concerts this school year, along with Madrigal Faire (Dec. 4), pep band and the spring play. So of course the kids don’t have much time to fund-raise. This along with continuing budget restraints in our schools make it so very important to get the kind of continuing support we receive from our community.
Businesses like First Bank of Evergreen, Intero Real Estate Services and Kohl’s Department Stores that help us with repairing instruments and uniforms, foundations like Ryan Briggs that help us with grants to purchase new music and instruments, the Evergreen Blue Spruce Kiwanis that helped in purchasing much-needed flags for color guard, and stores such as the Home Depot and Wal-Mart that supply materials for a variety of things we’ve had to build or repair along the way, Ponderosa Car Wash for allowing us to clean our band trailer, Kirk and Dee Patterson for providing the much-needed transportation of instruments for the state competition, and to all the people who donate time and/or money to help make our kids happy and successful, a huge thank-you to all.
We would like to give a special thanks to the extremely supportive administration at EHS, including principal Matt Walsh and assistant principal/activities and athletics director Tony Barnett. Mr. Walsh drove through the inclement weather the morning of the state competition in Grand Junction to be there when the band performed. It meant the world to them to see their principal present.  
If  you are interested in the continuing improvement of instrumental music at EHS and support for us in any way, please contact Garry Moore at 303-697-0476 or David Homburger at 303-670-0480, and once again, thank you to everyone who has supported this very important program.
Garry Moore
VP fund-raising
Instrumental Music Boosters
Evergreen High School

Hunting elk on golf course outrageous
Editor:
I was shocked that the only outcry from the elk hunting on Hiwan Golf Course was that they should have used rifles instead of arrows. A few points need to be made about this. Golf courses are for golfing. Forests are for hunting.
We chose to live and have businesses in this area with the wildlife. The golf course made a decision that affects my family. We have not seen an elk in over three weeks at our home in Hiwan. We like seeing the wildlife every one or two days, and Hiwan Golf Course took that enjoyment from us. I hope the elk come back soon. Shame on them. Make a better decision next time.
Brenna Vaughn
Hiwan resident

Stevenson deserves contract extension
Editor:
I am writing, as a parent of Jeffco students and as a community member, to urge the Board of Education to negotiate an extension of Dr. Cynthia Stevenson’s employment contract with the district. Her accomplishments since 2002 are far too numerous to fully detail here, but I will provide a few observations:
• Under Stevenson’s leadership, Jeffco Public Schools have consistently seen CSAP scores rise. These are long-term trends.
• In 2004, the district passed the largest bond and mill levy in Colorado K-12 history, earning nearly 92 percent of all Jefferson County precincts.
• Stevenson was a dynamic force in providing the information needed to educate voters.
• The district has completed all building projects funded by the 2004 bond monies on time and on budget.
• During her tenure, the percentage of teachers in the district with doctorate degrees has doubled from the 2005-06 school year to the 2008-09 school year.
• Under her leadership, the district has robustly expanded options for education: doubling the International Baccalaureate opportunities; increasing the number of charter school staff from 608 in 2005-06, to a staff of 704 in 2008-09; and the composite ACT score for our students has steadily improved from 19.9 (2005-06) to 20.4 (2009-10).
These few facts are illustrative of the excellent guidance provided by Stevenson. The arguments for extending her contract are as numerous as all the tireless hours she has poured into her current position, and her earlier roles within the district.
Linda J. Chalat
Evergreen