Columns

By Kristine Newkirk

In response to those who see no harm in what they view as idyllic, grazing elk pacifically eating their mums, I say it is time to recognize the very real harm we are inflicting on the elk population in our area if we take no action to manage the herds. The ecology in Evergreen is out of balance. Closer human and herd interaction is creating a breeding ground for aggressive elk behavior that puts people in harm’s way. The health of the elk population is also at risk as larger herds become more susceptible to the spread of disease.

As Colorado has sunk further and further into economic distress, the biggest losers have been public institutions of higher education, the students who need to be educated and the employers who need an educated workforce. There is now a plan to address the problem, and Coloradans must come together to support it.

The negative ads are gone, the hype has died and the election is (finally) over. The expected GOP wave indeed swept across the country, bringing Republican majorities in the U.S. House and in statehouses across the country.
Back in Colorado, however, the wave was muted. To be sure, Republicans picked up two congressional seats, the state House of Representatives and two statewide offices (treasurer and secretary of state).

A few things have broken down lately in my aging body. Split fingernails led me to my first real manicurist, Shannon Hoffman. No mere nail technician, Shannon is a miracle worker who has rescued my hands from tape and glue with her sensitive and individualized approach to nail care.
What did I know? I’d had the obligatory manicure for a few family functions and a couple of mass-produced pedicures during sandal season.