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UPLIFTING NEWS IN DOWN TIMES – Late Spring 2020 News

There are three Aspen-based projects that aim to spread positivity:
Aspen Times’ Mining For a Silver Lining #ASPENSILVERLINING
Connecting people and showing that Aspen has such a vast network of positivity in the world, this project shares how unique individuals are creatively coping with the effects of the coronavirus and the good advice they have to inspire others. Everyone’s positive ideas are shared on The Aspen Times’ website along with their social media outlets and in the paper, showing how Aspen enthusiasts are making the best of the situation we’re in. Share a photo of yourself and answer questions on how you are positively and creatively coping during these uncertain times at aspentimes.com/aspensilverlining
The Roaring Fork Valley Front Porch Project
The Front Porch Portrait Project is a grassroots effort popping up all over the country to provide a way to document individuals and families from a socially safe distance during the current stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19. Here’s the idea: You step outside your house with your family and a photographer snaps your portrait however you’d like to remember this time—pajamas, unbrushed hair, loved ones close, etc. The Roaring Fork Valley Front Porch Project will be accepting donations to support the MANAUS Emergency Fund via the LeMedichi project. Receiving upwards of 900 applicants to date, local immigrant families can apply for a $1,000 grant to help them weather this economic storm. If you are interested in having your portrait taken, contact photographers: Kimbo Brown-Schirato, Ross Daniels at RFVporchproject@gmail.com.

Hear Others’ & Share Your Own Stories from Quarantine
Record and send in an audio clip to be preserved in perpetuity in the Aspen Historical Society Archive and broadcasted on Aspen Public Radio: aspenpublicradio.org/quarantine-stories-recording-history
- APR and Aspen Historical Society are asking readers from the community to help capture history in the making by contributing audio recordings to “Quarantine Stories: Recording History,” a new community oral history project.
- Record stories as a voice memo on your phone and email it to aspenpublicradio@gmail.com or call 970-812-3726 and leave your story as a voicemail.
- Selected stories, and selections of stories, will be broadcast on Aspen Public Radio as on-air features and will be featured on the APR website.
APR Wins 2020 Award for Reporting: Colorado Broadcasters Association (CBA) Gives APR Certificate of Merit for ’Best News Feature, Report or Series’ for reporter Alex Hager’s feature, “How Police Respond To Ursine Visitors.”
- About the story; Across the state and the nation, law enforcement agencies are testing and utilizing new ways to handle bears that wander into town. Aspen Police Department employs a practice called aversive conditioning, repeatedly pestering the bear with physical discomfort and loud noises until it leaves the area. By hazing a bear, police hope it will stay out of town to avoid discomfort and people in the future.
About Aspen Public Radio’s mission is to support, nourish, and enrich the community by providing informative, entertaining and educational radio and digital programming in a reliable and professional manner. More about Aspen Public Radio News.

How to Create a Refuge in the Home
Designing your home as a sanctuary is more important now than ever. Everyone is looking for simplicity and support right now, as well how to prepare spaces for the ‘new normal.’ Demesne architects Managing Partner Richard Mullen is the source for home trends and ways to create calm design in the home:
Architectural Thoughts During the Pandemic:
Home As A Sanctuary & Refuge: Despite the amount of space in your home, people typically spend most of their time in a few spaces that occupy about 200 square feet of the home. These are the most used ‘vignettes’ and specific-use ‘comfort’ area:
- Meals/Food: Areas around food preparation and storage is part of our daily ritual and a source of comfort. Tables/chairs areas where meals are consumed.
- Sleeping space
- Space to comfortably sit/lie when reading
- Quiet spaces to work
- Space to watch TV
Outdoor Spaces: Our current worlds are small during these ‘Stay at Home’ orders. When the weather is nice, the interplay between interior and exterior spaces increases. The physical places where one can experience nature fully and as a backdrop are extremely important in the home surroundings. Outdoor spaces that are close to the home and ingress/egress doorways are increasingly more valuable, including gardens, patios, courtyards, decks, and visual space provided by windows looking onto the landscape.
Reducing Tech To Create A Sanctuary In The House: Moving forward, architectural technology will evolve because of this period: home as a “studio” for video conference and phone calls with backdrops and lighting playing a part. Today’s homes need to be a real place of refuge, especially as the future of tech is still uncertain. Homeowners are asking “how is this technology ultimately going to change what we do and how we live?’ How can homeowners enjoy the convenience of modern tech and use holistic design elements to make the home a sanctuary both now and for the long term.
Thoughtful Design Replaces Square Footage: People live most of their lives in areas that they find comforting. The designer needs to create spaces that are beautiful yet provide solace to the soul. Land costs are rising and homeowners are more aware of their impact on the environment. Homes are being designed with higher quality materials, more spent per square foot, with thoughtful design in spaces that are slightly smaller.
Demesne Architects – With offices in Dallas and Aspen, Demesne has designed boutique hospitality and luxury residential architecture and interiors for over 15 years. demesne.design Learn more about Demesne Design.
High-res images of Demesne home projects.


Stay in shape inside your own home with Aspen Shakti
Donation-based Yoga & Meditation Videos: What is Essential to You? Exercise reduces stress, boosts endorphins and keeps you healthy. In lieu of heading to the gym or studio, Aspen Shakti’s virtual studio is now operational. Videos include restorative yoga, meditation, and a range of Vinyasa Flow depending on your mood and skill level. Subscribe to Aspen Shakti’s new YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.
- Stress Relief Playlist: Restorative Yoga for Stress, Sleep and Anxiety
- Breathwork Playlist: Energizing Pranayama
- Mediate with an Olympian: 30-Day Meditation with Gretchen Bleiler
- The Meditation Challenge restarts May 6 – June 30th, 2020.
Aspen Shakti – Aspen’s destination yoga studio, alchemy spa and wellness center was founded by Jayne Gottlieb, a thought leader, community gatherer and the magnetic force behind Aspen Shakti. www.aspenshakti.com | See additional events and panels for 2020


Road trips are the travel trend for the latter part of 2020.
Take the high road when travel is back on.
#Vanlife: Rejecting the cookie-cutter approach to RV rentals, Aspen Custom Vans is in the business of helping people create memories with their family and loved ones. Aspen-based founders Kimbo and Jason Schirato partner with peer-to-peer rental company Outdoorsy to offer customized van rentals, including:
- The security of roadside assistance.
- Insurance up to $1 million.
- Travel connoisseurs to offer support such as smore-cooking 101, one pot dishes, best van coffee, hot toddy recipes + destination guides.
- Home is where you park it – no setup or teardown at each destination.
Custom Conversions Build + Available to Rent – Photos Available
Check out the new builds! https://www.aspencustomvans.com/van-conversions)
Meet Grey Wolf – the perfect family van | 2018 170 WB Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van – This is the perfect family van. New 2018 Sprinter 2500 with 1500 miles, built to seat and sleep 2 adults and 2 kids. The bed was built with bike storage in mind, adding flares for sideways sleeping. The kitchen features clever storage, trash drawers, and a deep sink with hot, cold water and people. There is a hot and cold water shower out of the back to spray down bikes, dogs and kids. An induction cook-top plugs into any outlet. The second row 2 seater bench seat is perfect for kids, and both front seats swivel for socializing and to accommodate the amazing double bunk kid sleeping system. Finally, a removable cassette RV toilet is located in a drawer that you can use inside or out.
About Aspen Custom Vans – Own, rent or remodelfrom a fleet of customized 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter vans. Functional, custom-designed and attractive, these vans are built-out with every luxury in mind. www.aspencustomvans.com

Skiing & Surfing – Live by the Same Rules
Story Idea: Reichhelm’s surfing career started in Baja, Mexico when she was 35 years old. Although far from perfect, since then she has spent many a day on the waters of Baja trying to perfect her wave riding. A fortuitous opportunity while visiting Bali, Indonesia, put her in the position of “trying to get comfortable with the uncomfortable feeling of being challenged, Reichhelm said: “I realized that this is how some of my clients feel, completely intimidated and unable to function because of apprehension. I’m in my 50s; I’m not the fearless maniac I used to be. But this does not mean I can’t learn and improve. We all need to take on challenges in small pieces and embrace the uncomfortable. Whether in sports or in life, we never know where the reward may lie.”
Ski With Kim – When she isn’t at home in Aspen, CO or surfing at her off-the-grid casa in Baja, Mexico — the World, U.S. and South American Extreme Skiing Champion, Kim Reichhelm, can be found on the slopes, just about anywhere in the world, hosting adventurous, exciting and life-changing ski camps. www.skiwithkim.com
Summer Ski Adventures: See Kim’s website for full 2020 schedule Her 2021 dates to be announced soon – in summer!

Keep Your Spirits Up During the COVID-19 Lock Down
Virtual Quarantine Cocktail Challenge: Using just 4 Ingredients, bartenders are developing Apres-themed Quarantine Cocktail (or Mocktail) to compete for the title of best mixologist. Marble Distilling is participating in the virtual Apres Ski Quarantined Cocktail Challenge, presented by the Aspen Temperance Society, in lieu of the annual Apres Ski Cocktail Classic. Visit Aspen Ski Cocktail Classic to watch the cocktail challenge on Youtube and to donate “tips” by Venmo to the bartender’s fund to support these mixologists during closures.
- Any bartenders want to join in on the action? Visit apreskicc.com to learn how you can join the challenge, or send the organizers an email at info@apresskicc.com
Artisanal Hand Sanitizer: Sip on batched cocktails and enjoy bottle delivery from Marble Distilling Co. with 100% of the proceeds put towards keeping Marble’s staff employed, as well as repurposing the distillery to make gel based hand sanitizer for healthcare workers and the general public.
- Purchase a minimum of two bottles for free delivery and receive a bottle of Marble artisanal hand sanitizer.
- Place your order by 2PM for same-day delivery to Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood – Wednesday through Saturday. Call for Aspen delivery days and times. Credit Card charged at time of order, 21+ ID required. Tax not included. Call 970 963 7008.
- Marble Offers Special Pricing for First Responders
- Marble Distilling Co. & The Distillery Inn – Hand Sanitizer Price Sheet: See Full List Here
Marble Distilling is an innovative sustainable distillery, with a female distiller making award winning spirits, as well as hosting guests at the luxury boutique ‘Distillery Inn’ and two tasting rooms located in the heart of historic Aspen and Carbondale, CO. Learn More

New Kiln Debut!
Spiro-Lyon has built and is now firing a new kiln in the Roaring Fork Valley that was laid “brick by brick.” Inquire within to find out details about their unique project of building a glass furnace and how they’ll use art and humor to produce new glass works. The hot glass team is available to speak more about this project that will elevate glass works created here in the valley. Classes to resume mid-year 2020 once restrictions are lifted.
About Spiro Lyon ~ Glass Casting & Blowing | Founded in 1924 by Lee Lyon, Jacqueline Spiro-Balderson partnered with Lyon in 1990, and a few years later, Dylan Balderson joined the Spiro Lyon Glass team with experience in glassblowing and an expertise in woodworking.
How to Shop Local During Quarantine
Female Founders Provide Small Business Solutions
Quarantine is changing how we do business in Aspen and around the world. Small businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley are pivoting while doors are closed and getting creative on how to provide services, inspiration and wellness benefits for the online community.
- Each of the following seven founders is available to offer their perspective on what’s next for spring, summer and beyond, whether it’s
- The Wellness Guru Jayne Gottlieb provides online classes and the wellness-focused Buddhi Fest.
- The Holistic Healer Sheridan Semple offers stress-reduction techniques and free New Moon online readings.
- The Innovator Connie Baker producing artisanal hand sanitizer for healthcare providers and cocktails delivered to your home
- The Artist Jacqueline Balderson is a glass artist who has worked with the unique hot-cast glass since 1990 and built a brand-new kiln “brick by brick” this spring in the Roaring Fork Valley.
For more information on each of these women-led businesses, check out more here.