June 20, 2013

Harvest queen

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Kathy English and longtime employee Debbi Shaw (right) know most of their farmers’ market customers by name. They’ve been a mainstay of the farmers’ market at 5th and Meeker in Delta for years. The farmers’ market is open Wednesday and Saturday mornings through late fall.
The produce Kathy English offers for sale at the farmers' market in downtown Delta doesn't get much fresher — she's up at the crack of dawn Wednesday and Saturday mornings to load her pickup with carrots, cucumbers, cabbages and more. By late morning, she's sold out of everything she harvested that morning.

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Cordially, Coalby

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Photo submitted
Members of the Coalby Birthday Club in a 1996 meeting then at the home of current member Norma May.

Delta County's rural heritage ever since pioneer days has given rise to social organizations that met the mutual support needs of people.

Many of those neighborhood and community groups continue into the present day.

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Keeping ‘em in the air

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Photos by Randy Sunderland
With a big grin, Charlie Huff of Crawford shares the joy of flying a vintage Piper J-3 Grasshopper over Delta. A member of the Rocky Mountain Wing of the Commemorate Air Force, Huff and others are dedicated to keeping these warbirds in the air and sharing the stories of these great airplanes and their brave pilots.
"I have one rule for everyone who flies with me," quips pilot Charlie Huff over the headphones. "You can't have more fun than me!"

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Loving lavender

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Photos by Tamie Meck
Apis melifera, also known as the western honey bee, forages on lavender grown by James and Carol Schott of Lamborn Mountain Farmstead in Paonia. Lavender’s sweet scent is wonderful for attracting pollinators.

Carol Schott became interested in essential oils several years ago when she began making goat's milk soap. She wanted to know more about the essential oils used to make it smell so wonderful.

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A shared love for gardening

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Photos by Verna Barr
The flower bed near the Chapel of the Cross is cared for by Four Seasons Garden Club members. In photo (l to r) Marilyn Stumf, Margie Keep, Vernetta Mackley and Shirley Hutchinson are planting additional marigolds. The dianthus plants are in full bloom and the Shasta daisies will be blossoming soon.

There are five garden clubs in Delta County. Each has their own agenda, programs, and field trips.

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Finding the strength to overcome

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Several times a week, Rick Marion bikes to Bill Heddles Recreation Center where he works on his strength and balance. Sitting around and trying to drink his troubles away didn’t work; instead he’s found purpose by challenging himself physically. “Rick is a role model for all the patrons of the rec center,” says Gary West, fitness/aquatics coordinator.
For 10 1/2 years after Rick Marion was partially paralyzed in a 20-foot fall from a ladder, he vacillated between feeling sorry for himself and drinking and smoking — a lot. When he was diagnosed as a borderline diabetic, Jeannie Mueller, a physician's assistant at Surface Creek Family Practice, asked him if he had anything to live for.

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Model citizen

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Photos by Hank Lohmeyer
Ed Bernadou of Cedaredge has his best known and most admired work of model building, a complete scale model of Pioneer Town, on display at the Welcome Center.

A lot of people know that the masterpiece scale model of Pioneer Town on display at the Cedaredge Welcome Center was built by Ed Bernadou.

What people may not know is that Ed's model building career began in the 1930's when he was a young boy, and that his career continues to this day.

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Quality in . . . quality out!

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Photos by Tamie Meck
Lance Hanson describes the distillation process at Peak Spirits headquarters.

Anna and Lance Hanson don't know who nominated their business, Peak Spirits, for a James Beard Foundation award last spring. But it's a tremendous honor, said Lance, who was nominated in the Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional category, given to a winemaker, brewer or spirits producer who "has had significant impact on the wine and spirit industry nationwide."

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Locals’ guide to cycling

d08_bp1Cycling is a great way to savor the beauty of western Colorado. Take advantage of the great weather and hop on your road or mountain bike for one of these rides, which have been suggested by three local residents.

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