The Pitkin Miner Winter 2013-14 Edition

*REVERSE 911 LINK for Cell Phone Users who have homes here: pg. 27* *CALENDAR is at the very end of this document.*

Local Online Newspaper for the Town of Pitkin, Colorado - Suzy Metzler, Editor

Email Suzy at Bsktlover@aol.com with any news or comments. Published December 21, 2013. Updated December 31, 2013,

January 3, 7, 9, and 31, February 25, and March 9, 10, and 26, 2014

Helmut Metzler, December 31, 2013

Photo by my niece, Dana Malfeld of Colorado Springs, of Dana Sue Photography

March 26, 2014 NEWS FROM MY FAMILY I don’t like to be Metzler-centric, but now I have devastating news. My husband Helmut passed away on March 18, 2014, at 5:49PM in Englewood, Colorado, at Swedish Hospital. In the wee hours of the morning, he suffered a very serious and fatal brain bleed caused by the radiation treatments to his brain. We had had a wonderful 17 days in Denver, staying a two-bedroom suite at TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Littleton. We stayed busy the entire time and had lots of fun times. We had visits from Katy and Heidi as well as Heidi’s boyfriend Zach Nelsen; we went to Pueblo to watch Katy teach a class on the digestive system and the three of us later had dinner with Bob & Bev Landdeck; we ate at many good restaurants; we took walks in Deer Creek Canyon Park not far from the hotel; we shopped a little bit in downtown Littleton and Helmut bought me an antique wagon wheel and a simple antique Kodak box camera like the one I had when I was a little girl; I did some knitting, Helmut did lots of reading; our youngest daughter Kelsey flew in from California on Friday morning March 14 and we had a fun visit from her, with her flying out on Monday evening, March 17. Kelsey barely got back to California that night and slept maybe for 5 hours before I was calling her to let her know her Dad was not expected to make it through the day. She and her boyfriend Tom Hammond made it in time and all three girls and I, plus Chuck Anderson and Wally Simer, friends whom Helmut worked with in Dallas for many years, Greg Winslow, our friend from Steuben Creek near Gunnison (Helmut’s teacher during his First Responder Class which he started taking in January and enjoyed very much until he became ill on February 7), and Jan & Gary Pearson’s daughter Tracy and her husband Kyle Scheideman of Denver, were all at Helmut’s bedside when he passed away. One nurse, Jenn, who helped take care of Helmut the week of February 8-13 when he had brain tumors removed from his head, was also with us, staying about three extra hours with us after her shift ended. The next day I needed to plan a funeral and did so. I really hoped that somehow, the funeral could be held in Pitkin, at the Pitkin Community Church, so I asked Jesse Garetson if that might be possible. Then realizing there needed to be a reception after the service, I asked a couple of people who are on the PHCA Board if there was any chance that the reception could be held at the

Newcomb Community Center. I got on Helmut’s email account (thinking that Sean McCormick’s email account would throw an email from me into spam!) and wrote to Sean McCormick, who is the ringleader for the snow plow drivers, to see if there would be any way he could get the Newcomb Community Center plowed out. We had a lot of snow this year, and both the church and the community center were all winterized, but people here really came through for me and all of that happened! Helmut is up in Heaven, still smiling and touched because of his wonderful Pitkin funeral and reception, and the things that were said about him when Spence Nicholl, who officiated, Todd McCrery, who did the eulogy, my brother-in-law Bob Nuttelman, our niece Cathrin Metzler Moen (of Frankfurt, Germany), and our three daughters, Katy, Heidi and Kelsey, who stood up in front of the funeral attendees and said how they felt about him. It was sad, but both Spence and Todd, and even our daughters, were able to mix in a little bit of humor, telling stories about Helmut. Two of Helmut’s three brothers flew to Denver on Wednesday. They had hoped to make it before Helmut was gone from earth, but there wasn’t any way to get here fast enough for that from Offenburg, Germany. Our niece, Cathrin, the daughter of Helmut’s brother Herbert and his wife Traudel, arrived, too, as did Katy’s boyfriend Shahrad Jamshidi, who is currently working in France. My lifelong friend, Becky Thorson Shawgo of Lakeville, Minnesota, surprised me by showing up at our front door on Friday afternoon! Then after that, Hedwig and Rainer Planz of Kriftel, Germany (who have a cabin on State Street just above the Silver Plume about half a block) appeared at our house as well! At the funeral service, I really did not have a chance to look around and see who was there, but at the reception I saw that many people traveled a huge distance to attend Helmut’s funeral. It was so touching. Thank you to everyone who was involved in putting the funeral and the reception together. This is such a wonderful community – I will not be leaving anytime soon, that’s for sure – and I will never forget the kindness, the time people took to clear snow, decorate the community center, fix food, bring food, take food to the reception, write healing cards with wonderful sentiments, give me a big hug and tell me how sorry they were…this was a beautiful ending to the great life of an amazing, intelligent, and wonderful man whom I was blessed to spend over 38 years with.

Here is his obituary, written on Wednesday morning the day after he passed away… Helmut Metzler Obituary Helmut Metzler of Pitkin was born on October 15, 1949, in Offenburg, Germany, the son of Max Bruno Wilhelm and Katharina Luise (Moehrle) Metzler. He passed away on March 18, 2014, in Denver, Colorado after a short battle with brain cancer. Helmut loved the mountains and nature in general, was an avid snowmobiler and woodsman, and a voracious reader. He enjoyed woodworking and woodcarving and created beautiful pieces of furniture for his daughters. He loved his family very much and he so enjoyed being a provider for them. He was very generous, eager to help, enthusiastic about everything in life, loved to learn new things, and had a genuine spark for life. Helmut was a member of the Pitkin Volunteer Fire Department and the Pitkin Community Church. He was training to become a medical First Responder for the PVFD when he became ill in early February 2014. Helmut also served as Pitkin’s Street Commissioner since his retirement. Helmut studied in Germany both in Karlsruhe and in Giessen before coming to the USA early in 1976 on an exchange program from Justus Liebig Universität in Giessen, to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Suzy and Helmut met about three weeks after his arrival, were engaged later in the year and married on May 14, 1977, just 15 months after their first date. Helmut was a successful business executive, initially with W.R. Grace & Co., Memphis, TN, then joining Occidental Chemical Corp. and working first in Tampa, FL, then Darien, CT, and finally in Dallas, TX. He retired early in 2009 to spend more time with his family after having commuted to Dallas from Pitkin for thirteen years. He traveled all over the world with his work. Helmut is survived by his wife, Susan (Olson) Metzler of Pitkin, Colorado; daughters Katy of Pueblo, CO, Heidi of Boulder, CO, and Kelsey of Santa Rosa, CA; his mother, Katharina Luise Metzler (who will be 100 years old next month) of Offenburg, Germany; brothers Gerhart Metzler (Sieglinde) of Zell-Weierbach, Herbert (Traudel) Metzler of Fessenbach, and Wolfgang (Bianka) Metzler of Offenburg, Germany; nieces Dana Nuttelman Malfeld and her husband Curtis and four children of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Cathrin Metzler Moen and her husband Nils of Frankfurt, Germany; Libby Olson of Denver, Colorado; and Katherine Olson Mestdagh of Parker, Colorado; nephews Gerhart Metzler Jr. and his family of Karlsruhe, Germany, Matthias Metzler of Karlsruhe, Germany; Max Nuttelman of

Boulder, Colorado; Charlie Nuttelman of Boulder, Colorado; and Philip Metzler and his wife Anne and two sons of Cupertino, California, and Yves Metzler of Heidelberg, Germany. Helmut was also very close to Suzy’s sister Nancy Nuttelman and her husband Bob of Colorado Springs and Pitkin, and Suzy’s brother Pete Olson and his wife Mary of Garden City, Kansas, and Pitkin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pitkin Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 235, Pitkin, CO 81241; or to the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631; or to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Welcome to Pitkin! January 31, 2014

March 10, 2014 SUMMER PLANS IN THE QUARTZ CREEK VALLEY QCIA 5K and 10K RACE

The Quartz Creek Property Improvement Association (QCPIA), an organization of residents of the entire Quartz Creek Valley, is planning a 5K and 10K Walk up Gold Creek from Ohio City on August 16, 2014! They now have both a Facebook Page found at Ohio City Gold Rush 5K 10K on Facebook, and their own website at http://www.goldrush5k10k.com/, where people can donate, register and learn more about the route, view sponsors, and get area information! If you have further questions, the organizers can be emailed at goldrush5k10k@gmail.com. PHCA FLAG CONTEST and BEARD-GROWING CONTEST The Pitkin Historical and Community Association is planning a celebration of Pitkin’s 135th Anniversary this summer. They are asking for people to submit designs for a Pitkin 135th Anniversary Flag and they are also planning to hold a beard-growing contest among the men. For more information, please email Nancy Mitchell at GrammyM53@aol.com (for now…I emailed her for more information that I will include here in the Miner when I get the info). March 9, 2014 Sad News Former Pitkin full-time resident Bob Mahaffey passed away on Tuesday, March 4, in Grand Junction, Colorado. I learned this today from a Facebook post by former longtime Pitkin resident Patti Barr who now lives in Montrose. Patti wrote: He and wife Ruth, who preceded him in death...owned the house the Miltons now own on Main Street. His memorial service will be this Tuesday (March 11) in Grand Junction at 2:00 at the Callahan Funeral Home on Patterson. Facebook me if you need more info. The two Mahaffey's were quite an asset to the town in their over 30 years as part-time and then full-timers after Bob's retirement from the Post Office. They were major animal lovers and always had a biscuit on hand for any dog that passed their way. I, for one, will miss Bob as we developed a great friendship before and after Ruth's passing. I have truly missed "grandma Ruth," our pet sitter when we needed one to take care of our dogs when we had to be gone. Bob has missed Ruth so much these past several years and I am glad they are together again!

I have missed Bob, and Ruth who has been gone for several years, and really wish I had managed to visit Bob in the past few years while he was living in Grand Junction. Bob Mahaffey’s Obituary from the The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction, Colorado: Robert H. Mahaffey, 89, Grand Junction, died March 4, 2014, at his home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday (March 11) at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Mr. Mahaffey was a supervisor with the U.S. Postal Service.He is survived by one son, James M. of Rock Springs, Wyoming; one daughter, Cheryl M. Roberts of Sunapee, N.H.; four brothers, Graham of Mahaffey, Pa., Bill of Maryland, John of Illinois and Thomas of Oregon; three sisters, Josephine Brubaker of Arizona and Louise Mahaffey and Elizabeth Mahaffey, both of Pennsylvania. Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506. From the Pitkin Miner: From the April, 2001, issue of The Pitkin Miner, I have this background on Ruth and Bob, so that we can remember both of them at this sad time. They were longtime, beloved residents of Pitkin. They will never be forgotten.

“Though Bob and Ruth are no longer “official residents” of Pitkin, those of us who were fortunate enough to share time with them will always consider them Pitkinites. Ruth was born in Westover, Pennsylvania, in 1924 and after moving to Mahaffey, Pennsylvania, early in her high school years, she graduated from Mahaffey High School in 1941. She attended the University of Buffalo and received her degree in nursing, becoming a Registered Nurse in 1944. Bob was born in his namesake town of Mahaffey, Pennsylvania, in 1925, graduated from high school there in 1942 (where he met Ruth), and joined the Navy in 1943. He served during World War II and was on the aircraft carrier

Independence in the South Pacific serving in such battles as Saipan and Iwo Jima. After the war, Bob was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. Bob & Ruth were married on July 9, 1945, when they paid $13 per gallon on the black market for gasoline in order that they could drive to Folkston, Georgia, to get a marriage license. There was a waiting period everywhere else to obtain licenses, but not in Folkston, Georgia, and Ruth and Bob were ready to tie the knot! After Bob left the Navy, they moved to Niagara Falls, New York, where he worked for Kimberly Clark and Ruth was a nurse at the Memorial Hospital. Later Bob attended Penn State University, then spent time back in the Navy, worked for the Veterans Administration, then in 1952 went to work for the Postal Service as a Railroad Clerk and stayed with the Service until he retired in 1980 from the Bulk Mail Center in Denver. Bob and Ruth’s daughter, Cheryl, was born in 1947. She lives with her husband and three children in Sunapee, New Hampshire. The Mahaffeys’ son, Jim, was born in 1948. He lives with his wife and son in Ecuador. Along with their four grandchildren, Bob and Ruth have three great-grandchildren. Their daughter Cheryl is the reason they came to Pitkin. She was attending Western State College in Gunnison and when Bob and Ruth came to visit her, she took them to see “this beautiful little mountain town.” They bought their first property in 1970 and their residence at 510 Main Street in 1975, where they lived until purchasing a home in Grand Junction in mid-2000. The whole town of Pitkin misses having the Mahaffeys here, not only for their great company, but also for the fun and laughter they provide. Bob was always a source of anything from historical knowledge to weather forecasts and they were accurate most of the time. Ruth knew every bird that ever landed on their massive bird feeder as well as the location of anything you wanted to find in Pitkin. They lived here for 25 years and were a great addition to our community. They both agreed that they miss Pitkin along with its nice people, good times and great memories. They quickly remembered the snowmobile parties and the cross-country skiing outings that took place in Pitkin. They said Pitkin has changed in many ways but it’s still a great little town.

We wish them well in their “Golden Years,” and hope they come to see us soon and often.” February 25, 2014 My apologies for the lack of updates to the Miner over the past three and a half weeks! I will explain. Pitkin was slammed with snow from January 29 through February 1, and again from February 7 through February 10 or so (I was gone beginning February 8 for a while, so I’m not sure how long that storm lasted) and Pitkin is full of lots of snow! There was very high avalanche danger there for quite a while, but now things have calmed down. SAD NEWS Lois B. “Peggy” BonDurant Smith Passed Away This week’s Gunnison Country Times had an obituary for Lois Bon Durant Smith, who grew up in Pitkin, her mother the school teacher. She passed away on February 11 at the age of 95. Several years ago, instead of a Melodrama during Pitkin Days, Lois Bon Durant Smith, then 89, did a one-woman play at the Pitkin Town Hall and it was wonderful. She was a delightful woman who was still taking classes to learn new things at the age of 89! I was also privileged to meet her brother Bruce Bon Durant who passed away in the early 2000’s. Here is the obituary from the Gunnison Country Times February 20, 2014, edition. Lois B. “Peggy” BonDurant Smith, age 95, passed away in Longmont, Colorado, on February 11. She was born in Canon City, CO on November 17, 1918. Peggy grew up in Pitkin, where her mother was the school teacher in the town. She married Paul L. Smith in 1940. He preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia (Roger) Drotar and was preceded in death by her older daughter, Peggy Fetterhoff. Peggy was the grandmother of Robin, Robert, Bradley and Bryan, and the great-grandmother of five children with two new ones on the way. A memorial service was held in Longmont and burial conducted at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Richard Eugene Gerbitz Passed Away In the February 13, 2014, Gunnison Country Times, appeared an obituary for Gold Creek Road resident Richard Gerbitz (near Ohio City). Richard Eugene Gerbitz, 66, died of injuries sustained at his home on February 1. He was born on May 9, 1947, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Richard graduated from John Marshall High School in 1965, and went on to earn his Bachelors degree at UWM, Milwaukee. Drafted into the U.S. Army, Richard began honing his mechanical skills at maintaining whatever they brought him. The 1970s and ‘80s provided a time of restlessness, seeing Richard spend time in Wisconsin, Alaska, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and California. After all the miles, Gunnison and his mountain house gave Richard the place he called home. Richard was preceded in death by his mother, Gloria, and cousin, Kathleen Komas. He is survived by his father Clarence of Geneva, Illinois; brother Alan and wife Janice of Batavia, Illinois; nephew Mike Gerbitz and wife Karla and their children Ian and Glorianna; nephew Dave Gerbitz and wife Alexandra; nephew Andrew Gerbitz; uncle Eugene Gerbitz of Jackson, Wisconsin; cousin Dave Renock and wife Chris and their children Jeff and Jenny; cousin Doug Renock and wife and their children Shelly and Jamie; cousin Kathleen’s husband Ron Komas and their children Gregg, Kristen and Brian; cousin Jennifer Arvan and husband Andy; and cousins Dennis, Karl and Amy. A service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 523 N. Pine St., today, February 13, at 2:00 p.m. A viewing begins at noon. Memorial contributions may be made in Richard’s name to Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League at PO Box 1834, Gunnison, CO 81230.

Richard’s beloved dog is believed to have recently died as well, or I had also heard that the dog died with him. I remember that he used to frequent the Mother Lode in Ohio City when it was open and he’d say that his dogs would help him drive home. He was quite a character. GARY HAM’s SURGERY In Arkansas City, Kansas, Gary Ham fell and broke his hip. He had surgery around the 10th of February to repair his broken hip and he is currently in a rehab home and here’s his address: His address is Medicalodge East, 203 E Osage Ave, Arkansas City, KS 67005 His phone number is (620) 441-1269. I’m sure he’d love to hear from his Pitkin friends, whether they are here or elsewhere! HELMUT METZLER’s SURGERY AND DIAGNOSIS On February 7, friends from Dallas (a doctor and his wife, a pharmacist) were flying in on the American flight from Dallas. The weather was so bad that day that I really didn’t think the flight would be able to land in Gunnison, and it was delayed twice, but thankfully, it did finally land. Helmut went to Gunnison to pick them up. To make a long story short, both of them noticed things about Helmut that were different. I had also noticed a few things but I thought maybe he had hurt his back snowmobiling in the really deep, fresh snow we’d received the weekend before, or that when he went out to split some wood, he had hurt himself. I just couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong. But the doctor could. Within an hour of arriving in Pitkin, he told me he wanted to take Helmut to the emergency room in Gunnison to have him checked out. It was snowing really hard and I asked if I should come along, but our friend said, no, we women should stay here and he’d call me later. When they called, they had already had a CT Scan done on Helmut and a mass had been found in his brain. They needed to fly Helmut to Denver to Swedish Hospital, which is the #1 neuro center in the state of Colorado. A fixed-wing plane was required because of the horrible weather and wind. A fixed-wing air ambulance was heading to Denver from Durango and it stopped in Gunnison and took Helmut and our friend Dr. Matthew Krebs along. (That only cost $61,000, we found out this week! Wow!)

On Saturday the 8th, an MRI was done and it was found that Helmut had four tumors in his brain. Surgery was scheduled for Monday the 10th. Two of the tumors were removed and on Tuesday we learned they were malignant, and on Thursday we found out that they are the worst kind of brain cancer, called glioblastoma multiforme. Helmut will be receiving both chemo (by pill) and radiation for six weeks beginning soon. Please keep him – and the rest of our family – in your prayers. A Caring Bridge website was set up by our daughter Kelsey last week and the link to the site is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pitkindad. The password is welovehelmut. We have been completely amazed at all the assistance we have seamlessly received from friends and relatives here in Pitkin while we have had to be gone to Denver some of the time. Pitkin has to be the very best place to live on earth and with the most generous, helpful people living here! Thank you to everyone for your help and/or offers of help! NEW PITKIN COOKBOOK I have been thinking for several months that it’s time for a new Pitkin area cookbook to be published. The last cookbook, entitled “From Pitkin to Parlin,” was published as a fundraiser for the Pitkin Historical & Community Association in 1994. It is a real favorite and has contributions from many people who are no longer with us, either having passed away or having moved away (and no longer visiting or owning property in Pitkin or the Quartz Creek Valley). I think it will be fun to have a new cookbook that has contributions from people who are here in the present day, or who have been here or owned property here over the past 20 years. It is just so much fun to look through the old cookbook and reminisce about the people who have contributed. Now that can happen again in the future. So Helmut and I decided that we are going to pay for the cookbooks and the proceeds will go to the Pitkin Volunteer Fire Department. I am trying to get the cookbooks ready to order by Friday, February 28, as Morris Press Cookbooks has a special going that will save 90 cents per cookbook if they are ordered by the end of this month. I am dedicating the cookbook to the honor of Helmut Metzler.

There is a website where people can enter in their recipes, up to 6 per person. We are trying to collect about 450 recipes. The website is http://www.typensave.com The user name is Bsktlover and the password is Pitkin1879. I hope readers who have lived, full-time or part-time, or owned property, in the Quartz Creek Valley, from Parlin all the way up to Cumberland Pass, or even if your parents or children lived here or owned property, over the past 20 years, will submit recipes along with the periods of time that they lived here or owned property. (Such as, under my name, it will say “Summer Resident of Pitkin 1993-1995, Full-Time Resident of Pitkin since 1996.”) Email me at bsktlover@aol.com if you have questions! Suzy EXPLAINING WHY I had not updated the Miner in 3-1/2 weeks… Well, Helmut is my husband, and all of that started on February 7. Just before that, I was getting the house ready for having company who were planning to go snowmobiling with us, but ended up going to Denver with us and helped me and the girls through the time of learning that Helmut had tumors, through the day of his surgery, and learning that he has brain cancer January 31, 2014 – (GO BRONCOS!) Since Wednesday late in the afternoon, it has been snowing here in Pitkin and we have gained a lot of fresh powder! This afternoon Chip Lamar at the Pitkin Fish Hatchery reported that they had had 22 inches of fresh snow there. It’s a little hard to tell at our house here because we know there has been quite a bit of wind in addition to lots of snow. We are pretty sure that Chip’s report is accurate, as we can be sure that we have gotten at least 20 inches that is piled up on the ground in spots where Wednesday afternoon (before the storm), there was none. It has continued to snow since Chip wrote on Facebook that they had 22 inches of snow at the fish hatchery, and it is still snowing as I write at nearly 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening. REMINDERS

1. AVALANCHE DANGER IS HEIGHTENED this weekend… Because of all the fresh snow, there is a danger of avalanches in the backcountry. Chip Lamar reported the following on Facebook: “Hey there snow lovers... Sara and I ski toured behind the hatchery this afternoon and came across two natural avalanches that slid last night and today. Our weak snowpack cannot handle this heavy new load and even small hills you wouldn't normally think could avalanche are sliding big enough to bury someone. Be careful out there!”

Here is the most recent avalanche danger report, posted this morning, Friday January 31, 2014, at 9:07AM. ...AVALANCHE WARNING FOR NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO... THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER HAS ISSUED AN AVALANCHE WARNING FOR MOUNTAIN RANGES IN THE STEAMBOAT...FRONT RANGE...VAIL-SUMMIT...SAWATCH...ASPEN...AND GUNNISON FORECAST ZONES. HEAVY SNOWFALL HAS INCREASED THE AVALANCHE DANGER TO HIGH. AVALANCHE CONDITIONS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. NATURAL AND HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY. SOME AVALANCHES MAY BE VERY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE. BACKCOUNTRY TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED TO STAY WELL CLEAR OF ALL AVALANCHE TERRAIN. AVOID TRAVELING ON OR UNDER STEEP SLOPES. THIS STATEMENT IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO PERSONS USING THE BACKCOUNTRY OUTSIDE DEVELOPED SKI AREA BOUNDARIES. WHEN NECESSARY SKI AREAS CONDUCT AVALANCHE MITIGATION TO REDUCE THE AVALANCHE DANGER WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES. FOR ADDITIONAL AVALANCHE INFORMATION CALL...303-275-5360 IN DENVER...970-668-0600 IN SUMMIT COUNTY...970-920-1664 IN ASPEN... 970-247-8187 IN DURANGO...OR VISIT THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER'S WEB PAGE AT COLORADO.GOV/AVALANCHE

2. SNOWMOBILE SAFETY LIST

1. Never travel alone. No, not even go up to the top of Waunita Pass

and back by yourself! 2. Tell someone your destination, route, and when you plan to return. 3. Don’t drink and drive. 4. Slow down, especially at night. 5. Keep to the right when trail riding. 6. Watch for skiers, snowshoers and dogsleds. 7. Use caution when crossing streams. They may appear to be frozen

but most of the creeks and streams here continue to run throughout the winter and may be frozen only a little bit on top.

8. Dress appropriately - you never know when you might get stranded somewhere FAR from town.

9. Wear a helmet, always! 10. Respect private property, especially in Pitkin. You cannot see what

is under the snow. Riding through someone’s yard is NOT alright. Be considerate please!

11. Be familiar with your snowmobile; carry extra spark plugs, drive belt, tool kit, and a tow rope.

12. Carry a survival kit with a map, compass, flashlight, extra food and clothing, sunglasses, first aid kit, pocket knife, waterproof matches, candles or other firestarters, space blanket, folding saw, and snowshoes if possible.

13. Don’t go out in very windy or snowy conditions as your visibility and ability to drive your snowmobile safely will be impaired.

14. Remember that weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains.

15. Before you head out, watch the news or check online for avalanche danger warnings, to make sure that on that particular day, we are not part of a high avalanche warning.

3. PARKING YOUR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS

If you are visiting Pitkin, please do not park your vehicles and/or trailers on our town streets. If you own property in the Quartz Creek Properties and are going up to your cabin, a parking area for your vehicles and trailers is located near the entry to the Quartz Creek Properties.

A plowed parking area is also available for visitors near the Pitkin Campground about ½ mile out of Pitkin (past the Silver Plume and the Fishing Pond, up State Street) Our streets are not wide enough for vehicles and trailers to be left on them and snow plows need to be able to go up and down our streets to keep the streets clear. Thank you for your cooperation! – Mayor Steve Pinkston assisted me with this information.

Vic Slavick’s cabin on State Street is always my favorite because of the way the snow swoops down from his rooftops! January 11, 2014 January 11, 2014 SAD NEWS I had not heard this until just yesterday….Bill Wisenbaker passed away on December 22nd. Bill and his wife Patti have been longtime summer residents of

Ohio City and both are well-known and loved by many in the Quartz Creek Valley. Patti Wisenbaker’s address is Patti Wisenbaker, 9100 E. Kings Hwy., Box 40, Shreveport, LA 71115. I’m sure she would love to hear from her friends. W. R. "Bill" Wisenbaker Obituary from Legacy.com

A service of thanksgiving for the life of W. R. "Bill" Wisenbaker will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, Pineville, LA with Pastor Ricky Willis officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park, Pineville. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Hixson Brothers, Pineville and continued at the Church

Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Bill was born February 28, 1927 in Elizabeth, Louisiana. He died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Sunday, December 22, 2013. Bill is preceded in death by his son, Bill R. Wisenbaker; grandson, Michael P. McMillin; parents, G. G. and Bessie Virginia Wisenbaker; and his brothers, Gordon Wisenbaker and Beryl Wisenbaker. Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patti Mack Wisenbaker; daughters, Melanie W. McMillin and husband, Bill, and Cheryl W. McBride and husband, Bill; son, James W. Wisenbaker and wife, Monica; daughter-in-law, Dee Wisenbaker Nickles and husband, Mike; and grandchildren, Melissa McMillin Guy and husband, Luke, William McBride, Ben Wisenbaker and wife, Morgan, Nathan Wisenbaker, and Jacob, Amanda, and Lauren Wisenbaker. Bill was a veteran of World War II having served as a radarman on the escort carrier, U.S.S. Barnes. After the war, Bill attended USL in Lafayette, Louisiana where he met and married the love of his life, Patti Jean Mack. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetowntalk/obituary.aspx?pid=168728098#sthash.YQSrOTVD.dpuf January 9, 2014 REPORT ON PITKIN’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY & DANCE

Kandy Nasso sent me some photos from the New Year’s Eve Party and Dance that was held on the evening of December 31 at 7pm at the Newcomb Community Center. Dee Woodard’s sister and nephew (Linda and Nathaniel) did a great job teaching people how to square dance! People brought appetizers or snacks to share. What a great idea! Thanks to Chris and Kandy Nasso for organizing this fun event! It looks like everyone had a wonderful time! Kandy reported that there were ab about 100 people there which is an amazing turnout. Kandy said it was hard to get a very good count with so many people there who were drifting in and out over time. People from Pitkin, the rest of the Quartz Creek Valley, and Gunnison all joined to have a good time together with their families and friends, and to ring in the New Year!

Jerra & Jesse Garetson take to the dance floor

Looks like Musical Chairs!

Dee Woodard’s sister and nephew, Linda and Nathaniel, provided the music

and helped people learn how to square dance!

Looks like Chris Nasso is kicking up his heels with wife Kandy!

Some square dancing is going on here! What fun!

January 7, 2014

Quartz Creek in Winter, late December 2013

FIRST RESPONDER CLASS A class begins next Monday, January 13, for those Pitkin and Ohio City Firefighters who would like to be trained as First Responders. The first meeting, an organizational meeting plus the first training session, will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Ohio City Fire Station in Ohio City. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board INSIDE of the Pitkin Post Office. There may be a sign-up sheet in Ohio City as well. Or call James Sharpton, whose number is in the phone book. He is interested in knowing how many people will be taking the class as Gunnison EMS (who will be doing the training) needs to know how many books and other materials will be needed.

Marissa, Corrina, Alicia and Fred Archuleta, out cross country skiing on New Year's Day!

ARCHULETAS VISITED DURING CHRISTMAS BREAK Marie Rossmiller wrote: "Fred, Alicia, Marissa & Corrina were there for holiday break. They love cross-country as well." SNOWMOBILE SAFETY INFORMATION

It is time for me to share my safety information about snowmobiling. We are definitely in the snowmobiling season and I hope everyone’s being careful and safe out there! Snowmobile Safety List

16. Never travel alone. No, not even go up to the top of Waunita Pass and back by yourself!

17. Tell someone your destination, route, and when you plan to return.

18. Don’t drink and drive. 19. Slow down, especially at night. 20. Keep to the right when trail riding. 21. Watch for skiers, snowshoers and dogsleds. 22. Use caution when crossing streams. They may

appear to be frozen but most of the creeks and streams here continue to run throughout the winter and may be frozen only a little bit on top.

23. Dress appropriately - you never know when you might get stranded somewhere FAR from town.

24. Wear a helmet, always! 25. Respect private property, especially in Pitkin. You

cannot see what is under the snow. Riding through someone’s yard is NOT alright. Be considerate please!

26. Be familiar with your snowmobile; carry extra spark plugs, drive belt, tool kit, and a tow rope.

27. Carry a survival kit with a map, compass, flashlight, extra food and clothing, sunglasses, first aid kit, pocket knife, waterproof matches, candles or other firestarters, space blanket, folding saw, and snowshoes if possible.

28. Don’t go out in very windy or snowy conditions as your visibility and ability to drive your snowmobile safely will be impaired.

29. Remember that weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains.

30. Before you head out, watch the news or check online for avalanche danger warnings, to make sure that on that particular day, we are not part of a high avalanche warning.

Katy & Kelsey Metzler cross-country skiing on the afternoon of New

Year’s Eve with their boyfriends, Tom from California, and Shahrad who currently lives in Nantes, France.

Merry Christmas from Pitkin!

Taken December 18, 2013, by a friend of Sara Lamar’s January 3, 2014 Happy New Year from Pitkin! The weather has remained really nice for outdoor activities. One thing I want to mention: Visitors who come to Pitkin to go snowmobiling need to refrain from driving on residents’ property here in town. Yesterday someone went through one resident’s property on a snowmobile, even got off of their sled to walk over and examine the resident’s older model truck(s), got back on their snowmobile and went right through the resident’s yard, hitting a rare old engine that was under the fresh snow and ruining it. This is just one example. Nobody can see what is just under the snow, and if people stay on the streets in Pitkin, which are snow-covered, this kind of damage will not be sustained. The resident did not see the snowmobile rider but of course the snowmobile’s tracks and the rider’s footprints in the snow show exactly what the rider did. The Pitkin resident is certain that the rider was not anyone who lives here in Pitkin, as he knows that nobody living here would do anything like that.

Thanks for your consideration. EMS First Responder Class A First Responder Class will be starting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, at the Ohio City Fire Station. The class is being put on by Gunnison County Emergency Medical Services out of Gunnison. This meeting will be the organizational meeting and first training session of the class. I am going to try to find out if people need to pre-register or if there is any cost for the class and I’ll post it here when I find out. 10K Run to be held in Ohio City in August A committee that is part of the QCIA (Quartz Creek Improvement Association, an organization with membership of those who live in the Quartz Creek Valley from Parlin up to Pitkin and beyond), is planning a 10K Run which will be held in August and will begin in Ohio City and go up Gold Creek Road. More information will be provided when I have it. I have heard that they are going to need lots of help from both year-round and summer residents. The road will need to be blocked off, there will need to be first-aid stations manned by First Responders, etc. More details coming soon! Calendar at the end of the Pitkin Miner has been Updated I just updated the Pitkin Calendar found on the last pages of this issue of the Pitkin Miner to show the dates of meetings and events (where known) of the PHCA (Pitkin Historical & Community Association) and the QCIA (Quartz Creek Improvement Association). December 31, 2013 Wishing you a safe and Happy New Year’s Eve today from Pitkin! Here in Pitkin we have had a wonderful winter so far. There is good snowmobiling, sledding, cross-country skiing, sunny days (until today, we are clouding up a bit and have had a few snowflakes, but hope for more fresh snow so I think everyone is happy to see that, too, and many are still out snowmobiling as the storm hasn’t really moved in yet), nice weather!

Our Christmas Eve Pitkin Community Church service on December 24 was really nice. Jesse Garetson was facilitating and he introduced Tom & Gayla Gibb, their daughter Rachel Gibb New (who played the guitar and sang) and son-in-law Levi New (who played some drums), and Juliet Serrato who played her violin. Chris Nasso read scripture and we sang several Christmas carols or hymns. Cyndi Wick sent me these photos which she took at the service:

Christmas Eve Service, Pitkin Community Church, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve Service, Pitkin Community Church, December 24, 2013

December 21, 2013 Today was a nice wintery day, with snow for much of the day, sometimes with the sun shining. It looks like tomorrow will bring more of the same and then after that there may be several days of sunny weather with lows in the single digits and highs in the mid- to high-20’s. Sounds like great weather for playing in the snow and even for traveling! IMPORTANT: REGISTER YOUR CELL PHONE FOR REVERSE 911 CALLS For those who are in the Pitkin area at summer homes and who have disconnected your local Gunnison area phone numbers, please note the following: REGIONAL EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS: To register your Voice over IP (VoIP) or Wireless Telephones, please use the link provided just below to go to the Intrado Target Notification System (TNS) and fill out the registration form. Each number provided will be added to the regional emergency database to receive

voice notifications when your address is impacted by a disaster or emergency. Each number can only be associated with one address in the system. https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF7ED953CC69 (new link as of April 11, 2014) If you are registered, you will receive a Reverse 911 call in case of emergency. Pitkin Calendar of Events 2013 Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Service at the Pitkin Community Church, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Party at the Newcomb Community Center in Pitkin. Time to be updated when available. Saturday, January 11 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m, Ohio City Town Hall Monday, January 13 – First Responder Class Organizational Meeting and First Training Session, 6:00 p.m., Ohio City Fire Station Tuesday, January 14 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, February 8 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall Tuesday, February 11 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 8 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Tuesday, March 11 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 – Election of Pitkin Town Board, Mayor and Clerk/Treasurer Tuesday, April 8 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 12 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall

Saturday, May 10 – QCIA Valley Clean-up followed by a Pot Luck Lunch at noon at the Ohio City Town Hall. Tuesday, May 13 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 4 – PHCA’s Bunco begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Newcomb Community Center. Come at 9:30 for food and fellowship before the game. Monday, June 9 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m. at Newcomb Community Center Tuesday, June 10 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 11 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 14 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall. Wednesday, June 18 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19 – PHCA Movies in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Monday, June 23 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m. at Newcomb Community Center. Wednesday, June 25 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m, Newcomb Community Center Friday, June 27 – PHCA Pot Luck Dinner and PHCA General Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Sunday, June 29 – PHCA’s Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. til noon, Newcomb Community Center Wednesday, July 2 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Saturday, July 5 – Pitkin Fireman’s Day! PHCA’s 4th of July Parade at 3:00 p.m. Times for Fire Department’s Dinner and Dance to be announced.

Monday, July 7 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Tuesday, July 8 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Thursday, July 10 – PHCA’s Movies in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Saturday, July 12 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall. Tuesday, July 15 – PHCA’s Family Bunco Night, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Wednesday, July 16 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Friday, July 18 – PHCA Pot Luck Dinner and Annual General Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Monday, July 21 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Wednesday, July 23 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Thursday, Friday & Saturday, July 24, 25 and 26 – PHCA’s Pitkin Melodrama at 7:00 p.m., featuring the Pitkin Town Players at Pitkin Town Hall Saturday, July 26 – Pitkin Day – Activities all day – schedule to be provided closer to the date. Sunday, July 27 – PHCA’s Pitkin Melodrama Matinee at 4:00 p.m. at Pitkin Town Hall Wednesday, July 30 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Monday, August 4 - PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m, Newcomb Community Center

Wednesday, August 6 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Thursday, August 7 – PHCA Movies in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Saturday, August 9 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall. Sunday, August 10 – PHCA Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. til noon, Newcomb Community Center Tuesday, August 12 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Friday, August 15 – PHCA Pot Luck Dinner and General Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Monday, August 18 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Wednesday, August 20 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Thursday, August 21 – PHCA Movie in the Mountains, 7:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Wednesday, August 27 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Sunday, August 31 – PHCA Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. til noon, Newcomb Community Center Tuesday, September 2 – PHCA Board Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Wednesday, September 3 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center

Friday, September 5 – PHCA/QCIA Joint Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Newcomb Community Center Tuesday, September 9 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 10 – PHCA’s Bunco, 10:00 a.m., Newcomb Community Center Saturday, September 13 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall. Saturday, October 11 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall. Tuesday, October 14 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 8 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall Tuesday, November 11 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 9 – Pitkin Town Meeting, Pitkin Town Hall, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 13 – QCIA Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Ohio City Town Hall Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Service at Pitkin Community Church, 6:00 p.m.