22
1 The Antero Digest A Community Newsleer for Mesa Antero Property Owners No. 5 July 2020 Be Bear Aware; Avoid A Bear Visit In recent months, throughout Mesa Antero, bears have been spoed at all mes of day - morning, noon, and night. A review of the Mesa Antero Facebook page shows more than a dozen instances of bear sighngs. One big guy even went into a neigh- bors open door and helped himself to some apples from a bag on the counter before leaving. He was likely aracted by the hum- mingbird feeders in the yard. It was dayme and the residents thought it was too early for a bear to be acve. Clearly, bears are not only nocturnal. Please be aware when you go outside. Bears will move on if they do not find a source of food. And recently, we seem to have fewer bear sighngs so keep up the good work by denying the bears some tasty treats. PLEASE: Remove all food sources - no hummingbird feeders and no birdseed feeders, remove outdoor pet food Put out your garbage as late as possible on the morning of garbage pick up Purchase a bear proof garbage can if the bear is geng into your garbage Clean up your grills, picnic tables, outdoor garbage cans, etc. Keep your windows and doors closed and locked on your first floor when you are not acvely there Click on the links below to learn more about living with bears. Bearproofing your home Be Bear Aware Learn About Chaffe Chips; July 15 Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans this fall. Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have limbs, trees, etc. you want chipped at no cost to you. A virtual meeng to familiarize Mesa Antero landowners with Chaffee Chips has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 from 6-7 p.m. Plan to join the Zoom Meeng by clicking on the link below. Please note the password below as it will be needed to access the meeng. Zoom meeng link: hps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88062230828? pwd=TklsTEJxSElTeXpvM2hvV1djSjZFQT09 Meeng ID: 880 6223 0828 Password: 873581 New on the Mesa Antero Website Check out these new posngs on the Mesa Antero website. MAPOA Bowen Ditch Company Presentaon MAWA Geologic Presentaon Living with Bears Table of Contents Virtual Community Gatherings…………..…………….……..……..2 Community Acvies………….....…………..………………………….4 Neighbors to the Rescue………………………..………………..…….8 Wildfire Evacuaon……...…………………………..………………….12 Wildfire Migaon & Moths………………………………………...13 Browns Creek Alliance……………………………………….…………14 FYI & Announcements……………………………………….………….16 Neighbor News………………………………………………….………….17 Markeng Mesa Antero……………….……………..………………..18 Try a New Recipe Page…………………….…………....……………..21 The Wrap Up………………………………….……….……....…………..22 Mary Gontero snapped this beauful sunset on July 1. The photo was taken from Deer Trail. Catch up on previous editions of The Antero Digest at MesaAntero.org.

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1

The Antero Digest

A Community Newsletter for Mesa Antero Property Owners No 5 July 2020

Be Bear Aware Avoid A Bear Visit In recent months throughout Mesa Antero bears have been

spotted at all times of day - morning noon and night A review of

the Mesa Antero Facebook page shows more than a dozen

instances of bear sightings One big guy even went into a neigh-

borrsquos open door and helped himself to some apples from a bag on

the counter before leaving He was likely attracted by the hum-

mingbird feeders in the yard It was daytime and the residents

thought it was too early for a bear to be active Clearly bears are

not only nocturnal Please be aware when you go outside Bears

will move on if they do not find a source of food And recently we

seem to have fewer bear sightings so keep up the good work by

denying the bears some tasty treats

PLEASE

bull Remove all food sources - no hummingbird feeders and no

birdseed feeders remove outdoor pet food

bull Put out your garbage as late as possible on the morning of

garbage pick up

bull Purchase a bear proof garbage can if the bear is getting into

your garbage

bull Clean up your grills picnic tables outdoor garbage cans etc

bull Keep your windows and doors closed and locked on your first

floor when you are not actively there

Click on the links below to learn more about living with bears

bull Bearproofing your home

bull Be Bear Aware

Learn About Chaffe Chips July 15 Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans

this fall Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have

limbs trees etc you want chipped at no cost to you A virtual

meeting to familiarize Mesa Antero landowners with Chaffee

Chips has been scheduled for Wednesday July 15 from 6-7 pm

Plan to join the Zoom Meeting by clicking on the link below

Please note the password below as it will be needed to access the

meeting

Zoom meeting link httpsus02webzoomusj88062230828

pwd=TklsTEJxSElTeXpvM2hvV1djSjZFQT09

Meeting ID 880 6223 0828

Password 873581

New on the Mesa Antero Website Check out these new postings on the Mesa Antero website bull MAPOA Bowen Ditch Company Presentation

bull MAWA Geologic Presentation

bull Living with Bears

Table of Contents

Virtual Community Gatheringshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip2

Community Activitieshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip4

Neighbors to the Rescuehelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip8

Wildfire Evacuationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip12

Wildfire Mitigation amp Mothshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip13

Brownrsquos Creek Alliancehelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip14

FYI amp Announcementshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip16

Neighbor Newshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip17

Marketing Mesa Anterohelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip18

Try a New Recipe Pagehelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip21

The Wrap Uphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip22

Mary Gontero

snapped this

beautiful sunset

on July 1 The

photo was taken

from Deer Trail

Catch up on previous editions of

The Antero Digest at MesaAnteroorg

2

Virtual Community Gatherings Happy Ladies Meet Via Zoom in April

With the prohibition of large gatherings and in concern for

everyonersquos safety Happy Ladies opted to meet via Zoom in April

For the most part the technology worked ok It was a great way

to stay in touch

Participants included Jennifer Barker Sue Armijo Peggy Finkowski

Sheila Prior Linda Rak Joanie Barbier Janet Brockman Joyce

Peryam Brenda Dempsey Risa Jenkins Nancy Tafoya Mary

Gontero as well as a few dogs and cats

Happy Ladies May Meet in July

No doubt many of the neighborhood ladies miss their Happy Ladies

friends It would be nice to get everyone together again but with

Covid still a threat it is better safe than sorry so Happy Ladies will

not be meeting in June

If Covid19 cases continue to decline organizers are tentatively

planning for a gathering in July It would be hosted at Jennifer

Barkerrsquos where multiple outdoor areas will provide for social

distancing Beverlyn Pepper and Brenda Dempsey will co-host

Details will be forthcoming once plans are confirmed

Photo by Joyce Peryam

Need to track down someone in Mesa Antero Find them in the Mesa Antero Directory by clicking here

Please pick up your dogrsquos poo when out and about

Your neighbors appreciate

it

The posted speed limit in the Mesa is 35 MPH However most of the time thatrsquos really too fast For everyonersquos safety ndash yours other drivers bikers walkers and four legged friends ndash please slow down and be safe

Questions about Happy Ladies Contact Jennifer Barker at MrsJenniferLBarkergmailcom

3

Virtual Gatherings continued MAPOA Board Met Virtually in April

The MAPOA Board met on April 21 via Zoom Highlights of their

discussion follow

bull Chaffee County Fire Update - Chief Bertram of Chaffee County

Fire County Rescue provided an overview of the fire district and

restrictions put in place due to Covid He asked that residents

call the Sheriffrsquos non-emergency number to report campfires or

other illegal burning

bull Wildfire Mitigation Guide ndash Quinn McLeod provided an

overview of the guide he drafted to assist residents in their

wildfire mitigation efforts

bull COVID-19 ndash Discussed current restrictions and impact on

upcoming events

bull New Neighbors - Reviewed virtual welcome bag and discussed

how to best keep track of ownership changes and new

neighbors

bull MesaAnteroUnited Project ndash Expressed appreciation to Sue

Ann Hum for sharing this idea and making our beautiful

rainbow sign

bull Food Drive ndashJoyce Peryam is collecting donations for The

Grainery Food Pantry She and Jan Toniazzo are transporting

food to the Grainery each Monday amp Friday

bull Picnic Assignments ndash Solicited volunteers to coordinate summer

picnics (NOTE Picnics have since been cancelled)

bull Weed Control ndash Discussed the need for a new weed control

coordinator

bull Front 38 Canada Thistle Project ndash The thistle in the front 38

needs to be removed Craig Galler and Sheila Prior to explore

options

bull Annual Membership Meeting ndash Reviewed activities from the

member meeting held in January and discussed improvements

for the next meeting

bull Volunteer of the Year Award ndash Discussed process for

nominating the 2020 Volunteer of the Year

bull Mailbox Area Maintenance - Ed Biederbeck will contact Miles

Construction Company when appropriate They will fix the

road and clean out the ditch behind the mailboxes

bull Online Directory - Wendell Day is updating the Online Directory

to include the ability to see all properties by lot number the

Happy Ladies Calendar and a link to the Mesa Antero Resource

Guide

bull Tree Limbs Hanging Over Tabeguache ndash The cottonwood trees

at the corner of Tabeguache and Panorama have been cut and

trimmed Bristlecone completed the work for less than their

bid

bull Stew Brown Park Maintenance ndash Discussed removal of dead

trees and branches

bull Financials ndash The budget includes $7923 in operating costs

$15353 in savings for a total of $23276

bull MAPOA Statistics ndash MAPOA currently contains 275 lots 195

homes 69 vacant lots and 10 lots under construction In 2019

there were 267 members In 2020 there are 247

bull Recreation Study - Discussed Envision Chaffe County and

Recreation in Balance who are looking at outdoor recreation in

Chaffee County to ensure public lands are not damaged

bull Next Meeting ndash The next Board meeting was scheduled for

Tuesday June 23

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Weed Coordinator Needed

We are looking for a volunteer to help out neighbors by

providing guidance on weeds identify native weeds that can

stay and those that need to be removed

To learn more or to volunteer please contact Mary Gontero

Snapped these beauties

enjoying dianthus and

clover in our garden

yard

4

Community Activities Fence Repairs Completed Thanks Volunteers

by Jim Finkowski

As with everyones activities this spring Mesa Antero fence repairs

required extra planning due to the Covid 19 virus Fortunately

damage to the fence was

minimal this past winter I

believe this was due to the

extra effort we have put in

over the past few years to

upgrade the perimeter

fence However the

section along Broken

Bough which has not had

much done to it for some

time was in need of some

significant improvement

which was our focus this

spring

The work began with one or two volunteers preparing the fence to

create an opportunity to maintain social distancing when the larger

group showed up for a scheduled work day Cory Van Doozer new

to the Mesa helped clear the fence line of brush and down

trees Chris Elzey here on spring break with his wife Karen when

the stay at home orders were issued helped repair two forest

access gates and became an expert in fence repair not the type of

experience normally

required of a professor

at their home in

Washington DC

And my daughters

friend Andrew who

normally lives in Denver

helped out for several

days while they were

riding out the virus here

in Nathrop

All of the preparation

led us to have two

successful group work

days (thanks to Bill Schiller Dave Kuhn Jerry Cunningham Wendell

Day and Ron Rak) while being able to maintain a safe personal

distance The result of our efforts was that nearly 34 of a mile of

fence was repaired and upgraded The entire fence line from

Adobe Circle to Broken Bough which Mesa Antero volunteers

maintain is currently in really good condition Unfortunately the

grass always seems to be greener on the other side of the fence at

least to the cattle so fence repair will continue to be a source of

FUN for anyone that wants to help out

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Fence Repair Coordinator Needed

Jim Finkowski has been a hands-on volunteer solo

worker and fence repair coordinator for over six (6)

years now He has done a terrific job and we are

extremely appreciative of his efforts Jim is planning

to step aside next year so he can focus his energies on

other activities

Thanks to Jim and his volunteer crew the fence is in

great shape right now and should not need a lot of

effort to keep the cattle out of the Mesa If you are

interested in taking over coordinating the fence

maintenance activities please contact Jim Finkowski

or MAPOA President Mary Gontero

Photos by Peggy Finkowski

5

Community Activities conrsquot

Mailbox Area Paved The area in front of the

mailboxes was paved on

Wednesday May 27th Now we

have a nice even pavement

from the roadway to the

mailboxes

Stew Brown Park Clean-Up Underway

SBPark Coordinator Chuck Washer and his wife Denise have been

working to clean up the park by removing dead branches and trees

They had some help from Quinn McLeod Jim Harsh Craig Galler

and Sheila Prior Chuck and

Denise have also put a fresh

coat of varnish on several of

the tables in the park

The park is looking spiffy Thanks

to all who helped

Road Work in Mesa Antero

Chaffee County has recently graded roads and removed dirt from

ditches in Mesa Antero Ed Biederbeck estimates the county spent

over $100000 on Mesa Antero roads

Specifically Chaffee County Road amp Bridge has

bull added road base to Elk Run Tabeguache Ouray and Panorama

bull put down magnesium chloride on roads to reduce dust

bull repaired chip amp seal damage from their road grader

bull cleaned out ditches

Thanks Chaffee County

Thistle Removal Started Stopped to be Continued

You may recall a lovely patch of pink flowers in the Front 38 field

last year Unfortunately those lovely flowers are produced by

Canada Thistle an invasive

weed and it has to go

Front 38 Maintenance

Volunteers Craig Galler and

Sheila Prior with help from

Mary Gontero and Wendell

Day went out on a recent

Saturday to see if digging the

immature plants would

result in their demise

Unfortunately we learned

that digging wonrsquot work so

reached out to the weed

expert at the county Long story short the most effective way to rid

the field of Canada Thistle is to treat it with a safe spray that will kill

80 to 100 of the Thistle in a single treatment We are contracting

with the County to provide the treatment The spraying has not

yet been scheduled but is expected to take place late summer or

early fall at the pre-blooming stage

Jan Azzopardi took this picture of a double rainbow from their

back deck on Tabeguache

6

Mesa Antero Scheduled for Chaffee Chips Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans

this fall Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have

limbs trees etc you want to have chipped Your slash will be

removed at no cost to you Start now and create your slash pile

(See directives in How to Make the Perfect Pile)

For mitigating guidelines for your property use the extremely

helpful Wildfire Mitigation Guide that Quinn Macleod wrote for our

community It is posted on the Mesa Antero web page

After reviewing the Guide if you still have questions about what to

remove to create a more defensible space around your home

contact Quinn McLeod at (303) 810-5739

Help us help you by following a few rules in preparing for chipping in

September

bull include trees tree branches small logs and brush cut away

from root mass

bull no logsbranches with a diameter greater than 6 inches

bull no logsbranches longer than 10 feet

bull no construction building or other manmade materials

bull no lumber fence posts or signs

bull no roots root wads stumps or anything that grows below the

soil

bull no materials that contain dirt sand gravel or rocks

bull no materials that contain metal (nails screws fencing) string

or other manndashmade materials

bull no herbaceous material (leaves weeds bushes)

How to Make the PERFECT Pile

bull piles should be no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7

feet long with cut ends facing the road

bull no ldquoratsrdquo nests

bull piles should be placed within 5 feet of roadway or driveway

but not in drainage ditches piles should not impede traffic

bull piles must be accessible with adequate turnaround space for a

trucktrailer

bull limit piles to six (6) per property

bull stack firewood separately from branches so it can be collected

for heat

Your wood piles must be out by 800 am on the first morning of

the event

To learn more about Chaffee County Chips click here

Fire Mitigation Matters

Defensible space is the natural and landscaped area around your

home that has been modified to reduce wildfire hazard By creating

a defensible zone your home and property are less vulnerable and

the chance of spreading wildfire is greatly reduced

Community Activities conrsquot

Share Your Mitigation Efforts

If yoursquove taken steps to mitigate fire risk on your property please

send pictures of what yoursquove done to Mary Gontero We plan to

use them as examples for our community and post them on the

Mesa Antero website Thank you

June Rogersrsquo dog

Scooter keeps an

eye out for deer

and other critters

on the road

June says Scooter

is a great traveling

companion who

accompanies her

on any day trip

7

What I Did on My Covid Vacation

Neighbors were asked to send pictures andor share information

about what theyrsquove been up to during the stay at home period

brought about as a result of Covid-19 A few folks were kind

enough to share

How Wersquore Spending Our Time

Nancy Bowsher and Andrith Davis said ldquoWe are going through all

our old photos amp weeding them out--makes us feel good Working

out reading jigsaw puzzles amp trimming brushes We keep busy

with our birds--filling the feeder for chickadees nuthatches jays

squirrels amp keeping the hummingbird feeder filled amp clean And our

Christmas tree greets us every morning amp says Good Night every

eveningrdquo Nancy added that ldquo Even though we arent square

dancing Andrith stays up on her round dance cueing Check out

round dancing on Youtube--its also called choreographed ballroom

dancing Life is goodrdquo

Community Activities conrsquot

Sue Ann Hum and her dog Hornsby

were looking for a change of pace for

their walk so they went over to the

gated trailhead on Tabeguache turn

Sue Ann was feeling creative and

made some games for all neighbors to

play untogether during social distanc-

ing

1 Fill Our Heart - Find a pine cone

heart outline and toss a pine cone in-

side

2 Tic-Tac-Toe (Natrsquol Forest edition) -

Xrsquos made with two crossed sticks a big

pine cone can be the Orsquos

3 Built a Tipi Help build a teepee

Connie and Ed Biederbeck

decorated and masked a rock in

their yard

Craig and I put a metal bird sculp-

ture ndash complete with the requisite

mask ndash next to the driveway

The crows in front of

Janet and Lorin

Fullmerrsquos home are

now donning masks

Michelle and Cory Van Doozer deco-rated their house number sign with brightly colored flowers

(13580 Deer Trail)

Wendy Skean put this bicycling kitty

by her driveway entrance The

wheels will spin in the wind

(12519 Ouray)

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

2

Virtual Community Gatherings Happy Ladies Meet Via Zoom in April

With the prohibition of large gatherings and in concern for

everyonersquos safety Happy Ladies opted to meet via Zoom in April

For the most part the technology worked ok It was a great way

to stay in touch

Participants included Jennifer Barker Sue Armijo Peggy Finkowski

Sheila Prior Linda Rak Joanie Barbier Janet Brockman Joyce

Peryam Brenda Dempsey Risa Jenkins Nancy Tafoya Mary

Gontero as well as a few dogs and cats

Happy Ladies May Meet in July

No doubt many of the neighborhood ladies miss their Happy Ladies

friends It would be nice to get everyone together again but with

Covid still a threat it is better safe than sorry so Happy Ladies will

not be meeting in June

If Covid19 cases continue to decline organizers are tentatively

planning for a gathering in July It would be hosted at Jennifer

Barkerrsquos where multiple outdoor areas will provide for social

distancing Beverlyn Pepper and Brenda Dempsey will co-host

Details will be forthcoming once plans are confirmed

Photo by Joyce Peryam

Need to track down someone in Mesa Antero Find them in the Mesa Antero Directory by clicking here

Please pick up your dogrsquos poo when out and about

Your neighbors appreciate

it

The posted speed limit in the Mesa is 35 MPH However most of the time thatrsquos really too fast For everyonersquos safety ndash yours other drivers bikers walkers and four legged friends ndash please slow down and be safe

Questions about Happy Ladies Contact Jennifer Barker at MrsJenniferLBarkergmailcom

3

Virtual Gatherings continued MAPOA Board Met Virtually in April

The MAPOA Board met on April 21 via Zoom Highlights of their

discussion follow

bull Chaffee County Fire Update - Chief Bertram of Chaffee County

Fire County Rescue provided an overview of the fire district and

restrictions put in place due to Covid He asked that residents

call the Sheriffrsquos non-emergency number to report campfires or

other illegal burning

bull Wildfire Mitigation Guide ndash Quinn McLeod provided an

overview of the guide he drafted to assist residents in their

wildfire mitigation efforts

bull COVID-19 ndash Discussed current restrictions and impact on

upcoming events

bull New Neighbors - Reviewed virtual welcome bag and discussed

how to best keep track of ownership changes and new

neighbors

bull MesaAnteroUnited Project ndash Expressed appreciation to Sue

Ann Hum for sharing this idea and making our beautiful

rainbow sign

bull Food Drive ndashJoyce Peryam is collecting donations for The

Grainery Food Pantry She and Jan Toniazzo are transporting

food to the Grainery each Monday amp Friday

bull Picnic Assignments ndash Solicited volunteers to coordinate summer

picnics (NOTE Picnics have since been cancelled)

bull Weed Control ndash Discussed the need for a new weed control

coordinator

bull Front 38 Canada Thistle Project ndash The thistle in the front 38

needs to be removed Craig Galler and Sheila Prior to explore

options

bull Annual Membership Meeting ndash Reviewed activities from the

member meeting held in January and discussed improvements

for the next meeting

bull Volunteer of the Year Award ndash Discussed process for

nominating the 2020 Volunteer of the Year

bull Mailbox Area Maintenance - Ed Biederbeck will contact Miles

Construction Company when appropriate They will fix the

road and clean out the ditch behind the mailboxes

bull Online Directory - Wendell Day is updating the Online Directory

to include the ability to see all properties by lot number the

Happy Ladies Calendar and a link to the Mesa Antero Resource

Guide

bull Tree Limbs Hanging Over Tabeguache ndash The cottonwood trees

at the corner of Tabeguache and Panorama have been cut and

trimmed Bristlecone completed the work for less than their

bid

bull Stew Brown Park Maintenance ndash Discussed removal of dead

trees and branches

bull Financials ndash The budget includes $7923 in operating costs

$15353 in savings for a total of $23276

bull MAPOA Statistics ndash MAPOA currently contains 275 lots 195

homes 69 vacant lots and 10 lots under construction In 2019

there were 267 members In 2020 there are 247

bull Recreation Study - Discussed Envision Chaffe County and

Recreation in Balance who are looking at outdoor recreation in

Chaffee County to ensure public lands are not damaged

bull Next Meeting ndash The next Board meeting was scheduled for

Tuesday June 23

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Weed Coordinator Needed

We are looking for a volunteer to help out neighbors by

providing guidance on weeds identify native weeds that can

stay and those that need to be removed

To learn more or to volunteer please contact Mary Gontero

Snapped these beauties

enjoying dianthus and

clover in our garden

yard

4

Community Activities Fence Repairs Completed Thanks Volunteers

by Jim Finkowski

As with everyones activities this spring Mesa Antero fence repairs

required extra planning due to the Covid 19 virus Fortunately

damage to the fence was

minimal this past winter I

believe this was due to the

extra effort we have put in

over the past few years to

upgrade the perimeter

fence However the

section along Broken

Bough which has not had

much done to it for some

time was in need of some

significant improvement

which was our focus this

spring

The work began with one or two volunteers preparing the fence to

create an opportunity to maintain social distancing when the larger

group showed up for a scheduled work day Cory Van Doozer new

to the Mesa helped clear the fence line of brush and down

trees Chris Elzey here on spring break with his wife Karen when

the stay at home orders were issued helped repair two forest

access gates and became an expert in fence repair not the type of

experience normally

required of a professor

at their home in

Washington DC

And my daughters

friend Andrew who

normally lives in Denver

helped out for several

days while they were

riding out the virus here

in Nathrop

All of the preparation

led us to have two

successful group work

days (thanks to Bill Schiller Dave Kuhn Jerry Cunningham Wendell

Day and Ron Rak) while being able to maintain a safe personal

distance The result of our efforts was that nearly 34 of a mile of

fence was repaired and upgraded The entire fence line from

Adobe Circle to Broken Bough which Mesa Antero volunteers

maintain is currently in really good condition Unfortunately the

grass always seems to be greener on the other side of the fence at

least to the cattle so fence repair will continue to be a source of

FUN for anyone that wants to help out

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Fence Repair Coordinator Needed

Jim Finkowski has been a hands-on volunteer solo

worker and fence repair coordinator for over six (6)

years now He has done a terrific job and we are

extremely appreciative of his efforts Jim is planning

to step aside next year so he can focus his energies on

other activities

Thanks to Jim and his volunteer crew the fence is in

great shape right now and should not need a lot of

effort to keep the cattle out of the Mesa If you are

interested in taking over coordinating the fence

maintenance activities please contact Jim Finkowski

or MAPOA President Mary Gontero

Photos by Peggy Finkowski

5

Community Activities conrsquot

Mailbox Area Paved The area in front of the

mailboxes was paved on

Wednesday May 27th Now we

have a nice even pavement

from the roadway to the

mailboxes

Stew Brown Park Clean-Up Underway

SBPark Coordinator Chuck Washer and his wife Denise have been

working to clean up the park by removing dead branches and trees

They had some help from Quinn McLeod Jim Harsh Craig Galler

and Sheila Prior Chuck and

Denise have also put a fresh

coat of varnish on several of

the tables in the park

The park is looking spiffy Thanks

to all who helped

Road Work in Mesa Antero

Chaffee County has recently graded roads and removed dirt from

ditches in Mesa Antero Ed Biederbeck estimates the county spent

over $100000 on Mesa Antero roads

Specifically Chaffee County Road amp Bridge has

bull added road base to Elk Run Tabeguache Ouray and Panorama

bull put down magnesium chloride on roads to reduce dust

bull repaired chip amp seal damage from their road grader

bull cleaned out ditches

Thanks Chaffee County

Thistle Removal Started Stopped to be Continued

You may recall a lovely patch of pink flowers in the Front 38 field

last year Unfortunately those lovely flowers are produced by

Canada Thistle an invasive

weed and it has to go

Front 38 Maintenance

Volunteers Craig Galler and

Sheila Prior with help from

Mary Gontero and Wendell

Day went out on a recent

Saturday to see if digging the

immature plants would

result in their demise

Unfortunately we learned

that digging wonrsquot work so

reached out to the weed

expert at the county Long story short the most effective way to rid

the field of Canada Thistle is to treat it with a safe spray that will kill

80 to 100 of the Thistle in a single treatment We are contracting

with the County to provide the treatment The spraying has not

yet been scheduled but is expected to take place late summer or

early fall at the pre-blooming stage

Jan Azzopardi took this picture of a double rainbow from their

back deck on Tabeguache

6

Mesa Antero Scheduled for Chaffee Chips Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans

this fall Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have

limbs trees etc you want to have chipped Your slash will be

removed at no cost to you Start now and create your slash pile

(See directives in How to Make the Perfect Pile)

For mitigating guidelines for your property use the extremely

helpful Wildfire Mitigation Guide that Quinn Macleod wrote for our

community It is posted on the Mesa Antero web page

After reviewing the Guide if you still have questions about what to

remove to create a more defensible space around your home

contact Quinn McLeod at (303) 810-5739

Help us help you by following a few rules in preparing for chipping in

September

bull include trees tree branches small logs and brush cut away

from root mass

bull no logsbranches with a diameter greater than 6 inches

bull no logsbranches longer than 10 feet

bull no construction building or other manmade materials

bull no lumber fence posts or signs

bull no roots root wads stumps or anything that grows below the

soil

bull no materials that contain dirt sand gravel or rocks

bull no materials that contain metal (nails screws fencing) string

or other manndashmade materials

bull no herbaceous material (leaves weeds bushes)

How to Make the PERFECT Pile

bull piles should be no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7

feet long with cut ends facing the road

bull no ldquoratsrdquo nests

bull piles should be placed within 5 feet of roadway or driveway

but not in drainage ditches piles should not impede traffic

bull piles must be accessible with adequate turnaround space for a

trucktrailer

bull limit piles to six (6) per property

bull stack firewood separately from branches so it can be collected

for heat

Your wood piles must be out by 800 am on the first morning of

the event

To learn more about Chaffee County Chips click here

Fire Mitigation Matters

Defensible space is the natural and landscaped area around your

home that has been modified to reduce wildfire hazard By creating

a defensible zone your home and property are less vulnerable and

the chance of spreading wildfire is greatly reduced

Community Activities conrsquot

Share Your Mitigation Efforts

If yoursquove taken steps to mitigate fire risk on your property please

send pictures of what yoursquove done to Mary Gontero We plan to

use them as examples for our community and post them on the

Mesa Antero website Thank you

June Rogersrsquo dog

Scooter keeps an

eye out for deer

and other critters

on the road

June says Scooter

is a great traveling

companion who

accompanies her

on any day trip

7

What I Did on My Covid Vacation

Neighbors were asked to send pictures andor share information

about what theyrsquove been up to during the stay at home period

brought about as a result of Covid-19 A few folks were kind

enough to share

How Wersquore Spending Our Time

Nancy Bowsher and Andrith Davis said ldquoWe are going through all

our old photos amp weeding them out--makes us feel good Working

out reading jigsaw puzzles amp trimming brushes We keep busy

with our birds--filling the feeder for chickadees nuthatches jays

squirrels amp keeping the hummingbird feeder filled amp clean And our

Christmas tree greets us every morning amp says Good Night every

eveningrdquo Nancy added that ldquo Even though we arent square

dancing Andrith stays up on her round dance cueing Check out

round dancing on Youtube--its also called choreographed ballroom

dancing Life is goodrdquo

Community Activities conrsquot

Sue Ann Hum and her dog Hornsby

were looking for a change of pace for

their walk so they went over to the

gated trailhead on Tabeguache turn

Sue Ann was feeling creative and

made some games for all neighbors to

play untogether during social distanc-

ing

1 Fill Our Heart - Find a pine cone

heart outline and toss a pine cone in-

side

2 Tic-Tac-Toe (Natrsquol Forest edition) -

Xrsquos made with two crossed sticks a big

pine cone can be the Orsquos

3 Built a Tipi Help build a teepee

Connie and Ed Biederbeck

decorated and masked a rock in

their yard

Craig and I put a metal bird sculp-

ture ndash complete with the requisite

mask ndash next to the driveway

The crows in front of

Janet and Lorin

Fullmerrsquos home are

now donning masks

Michelle and Cory Van Doozer deco-rated their house number sign with brightly colored flowers

(13580 Deer Trail)

Wendy Skean put this bicycling kitty

by her driveway entrance The

wheels will spin in the wind

(12519 Ouray)

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

3

Virtual Gatherings continued MAPOA Board Met Virtually in April

The MAPOA Board met on April 21 via Zoom Highlights of their

discussion follow

bull Chaffee County Fire Update - Chief Bertram of Chaffee County

Fire County Rescue provided an overview of the fire district and

restrictions put in place due to Covid He asked that residents

call the Sheriffrsquos non-emergency number to report campfires or

other illegal burning

bull Wildfire Mitigation Guide ndash Quinn McLeod provided an

overview of the guide he drafted to assist residents in their

wildfire mitigation efforts

bull COVID-19 ndash Discussed current restrictions and impact on

upcoming events

bull New Neighbors - Reviewed virtual welcome bag and discussed

how to best keep track of ownership changes and new

neighbors

bull MesaAnteroUnited Project ndash Expressed appreciation to Sue

Ann Hum for sharing this idea and making our beautiful

rainbow sign

bull Food Drive ndashJoyce Peryam is collecting donations for The

Grainery Food Pantry She and Jan Toniazzo are transporting

food to the Grainery each Monday amp Friday

bull Picnic Assignments ndash Solicited volunteers to coordinate summer

picnics (NOTE Picnics have since been cancelled)

bull Weed Control ndash Discussed the need for a new weed control

coordinator

bull Front 38 Canada Thistle Project ndash The thistle in the front 38

needs to be removed Craig Galler and Sheila Prior to explore

options

bull Annual Membership Meeting ndash Reviewed activities from the

member meeting held in January and discussed improvements

for the next meeting

bull Volunteer of the Year Award ndash Discussed process for

nominating the 2020 Volunteer of the Year

bull Mailbox Area Maintenance - Ed Biederbeck will contact Miles

Construction Company when appropriate They will fix the

road and clean out the ditch behind the mailboxes

bull Online Directory - Wendell Day is updating the Online Directory

to include the ability to see all properties by lot number the

Happy Ladies Calendar and a link to the Mesa Antero Resource

Guide

bull Tree Limbs Hanging Over Tabeguache ndash The cottonwood trees

at the corner of Tabeguache and Panorama have been cut and

trimmed Bristlecone completed the work for less than their

bid

bull Stew Brown Park Maintenance ndash Discussed removal of dead

trees and branches

bull Financials ndash The budget includes $7923 in operating costs

$15353 in savings for a total of $23276

bull MAPOA Statistics ndash MAPOA currently contains 275 lots 195

homes 69 vacant lots and 10 lots under construction In 2019

there were 267 members In 2020 there are 247

bull Recreation Study - Discussed Envision Chaffe County and

Recreation in Balance who are looking at outdoor recreation in

Chaffee County to ensure public lands are not damaged

bull Next Meeting ndash The next Board meeting was scheduled for

Tuesday June 23

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Weed Coordinator Needed

We are looking for a volunteer to help out neighbors by

providing guidance on weeds identify native weeds that can

stay and those that need to be removed

To learn more or to volunteer please contact Mary Gontero

Snapped these beauties

enjoying dianthus and

clover in our garden

yard

4

Community Activities Fence Repairs Completed Thanks Volunteers

by Jim Finkowski

As with everyones activities this spring Mesa Antero fence repairs

required extra planning due to the Covid 19 virus Fortunately

damage to the fence was

minimal this past winter I

believe this was due to the

extra effort we have put in

over the past few years to

upgrade the perimeter

fence However the

section along Broken

Bough which has not had

much done to it for some

time was in need of some

significant improvement

which was our focus this

spring

The work began with one or two volunteers preparing the fence to

create an opportunity to maintain social distancing when the larger

group showed up for a scheduled work day Cory Van Doozer new

to the Mesa helped clear the fence line of brush and down

trees Chris Elzey here on spring break with his wife Karen when

the stay at home orders were issued helped repair two forest

access gates and became an expert in fence repair not the type of

experience normally

required of a professor

at their home in

Washington DC

And my daughters

friend Andrew who

normally lives in Denver

helped out for several

days while they were

riding out the virus here

in Nathrop

All of the preparation

led us to have two

successful group work

days (thanks to Bill Schiller Dave Kuhn Jerry Cunningham Wendell

Day and Ron Rak) while being able to maintain a safe personal

distance The result of our efforts was that nearly 34 of a mile of

fence was repaired and upgraded The entire fence line from

Adobe Circle to Broken Bough which Mesa Antero volunteers

maintain is currently in really good condition Unfortunately the

grass always seems to be greener on the other side of the fence at

least to the cattle so fence repair will continue to be a source of

FUN for anyone that wants to help out

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Fence Repair Coordinator Needed

Jim Finkowski has been a hands-on volunteer solo

worker and fence repair coordinator for over six (6)

years now He has done a terrific job and we are

extremely appreciative of his efforts Jim is planning

to step aside next year so he can focus his energies on

other activities

Thanks to Jim and his volunteer crew the fence is in

great shape right now and should not need a lot of

effort to keep the cattle out of the Mesa If you are

interested in taking over coordinating the fence

maintenance activities please contact Jim Finkowski

or MAPOA President Mary Gontero

Photos by Peggy Finkowski

5

Community Activities conrsquot

Mailbox Area Paved The area in front of the

mailboxes was paved on

Wednesday May 27th Now we

have a nice even pavement

from the roadway to the

mailboxes

Stew Brown Park Clean-Up Underway

SBPark Coordinator Chuck Washer and his wife Denise have been

working to clean up the park by removing dead branches and trees

They had some help from Quinn McLeod Jim Harsh Craig Galler

and Sheila Prior Chuck and

Denise have also put a fresh

coat of varnish on several of

the tables in the park

The park is looking spiffy Thanks

to all who helped

Road Work in Mesa Antero

Chaffee County has recently graded roads and removed dirt from

ditches in Mesa Antero Ed Biederbeck estimates the county spent

over $100000 on Mesa Antero roads

Specifically Chaffee County Road amp Bridge has

bull added road base to Elk Run Tabeguache Ouray and Panorama

bull put down magnesium chloride on roads to reduce dust

bull repaired chip amp seal damage from their road grader

bull cleaned out ditches

Thanks Chaffee County

Thistle Removal Started Stopped to be Continued

You may recall a lovely patch of pink flowers in the Front 38 field

last year Unfortunately those lovely flowers are produced by

Canada Thistle an invasive

weed and it has to go

Front 38 Maintenance

Volunteers Craig Galler and

Sheila Prior with help from

Mary Gontero and Wendell

Day went out on a recent

Saturday to see if digging the

immature plants would

result in their demise

Unfortunately we learned

that digging wonrsquot work so

reached out to the weed

expert at the county Long story short the most effective way to rid

the field of Canada Thistle is to treat it with a safe spray that will kill

80 to 100 of the Thistle in a single treatment We are contracting

with the County to provide the treatment The spraying has not

yet been scheduled but is expected to take place late summer or

early fall at the pre-blooming stage

Jan Azzopardi took this picture of a double rainbow from their

back deck on Tabeguache

6

Mesa Antero Scheduled for Chaffee Chips Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans

this fall Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have

limbs trees etc you want to have chipped Your slash will be

removed at no cost to you Start now and create your slash pile

(See directives in How to Make the Perfect Pile)

For mitigating guidelines for your property use the extremely

helpful Wildfire Mitigation Guide that Quinn Macleod wrote for our

community It is posted on the Mesa Antero web page

After reviewing the Guide if you still have questions about what to

remove to create a more defensible space around your home

contact Quinn McLeod at (303) 810-5739

Help us help you by following a few rules in preparing for chipping in

September

bull include trees tree branches small logs and brush cut away

from root mass

bull no logsbranches with a diameter greater than 6 inches

bull no logsbranches longer than 10 feet

bull no construction building or other manmade materials

bull no lumber fence posts or signs

bull no roots root wads stumps or anything that grows below the

soil

bull no materials that contain dirt sand gravel or rocks

bull no materials that contain metal (nails screws fencing) string

or other manndashmade materials

bull no herbaceous material (leaves weeds bushes)

How to Make the PERFECT Pile

bull piles should be no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7

feet long with cut ends facing the road

bull no ldquoratsrdquo nests

bull piles should be placed within 5 feet of roadway or driveway

but not in drainage ditches piles should not impede traffic

bull piles must be accessible with adequate turnaround space for a

trucktrailer

bull limit piles to six (6) per property

bull stack firewood separately from branches so it can be collected

for heat

Your wood piles must be out by 800 am on the first morning of

the event

To learn more about Chaffee County Chips click here

Fire Mitigation Matters

Defensible space is the natural and landscaped area around your

home that has been modified to reduce wildfire hazard By creating

a defensible zone your home and property are less vulnerable and

the chance of spreading wildfire is greatly reduced

Community Activities conrsquot

Share Your Mitigation Efforts

If yoursquove taken steps to mitigate fire risk on your property please

send pictures of what yoursquove done to Mary Gontero We plan to

use them as examples for our community and post them on the

Mesa Antero website Thank you

June Rogersrsquo dog

Scooter keeps an

eye out for deer

and other critters

on the road

June says Scooter

is a great traveling

companion who

accompanies her

on any day trip

7

What I Did on My Covid Vacation

Neighbors were asked to send pictures andor share information

about what theyrsquove been up to during the stay at home period

brought about as a result of Covid-19 A few folks were kind

enough to share

How Wersquore Spending Our Time

Nancy Bowsher and Andrith Davis said ldquoWe are going through all

our old photos amp weeding them out--makes us feel good Working

out reading jigsaw puzzles amp trimming brushes We keep busy

with our birds--filling the feeder for chickadees nuthatches jays

squirrels amp keeping the hummingbird feeder filled amp clean And our

Christmas tree greets us every morning amp says Good Night every

eveningrdquo Nancy added that ldquo Even though we arent square

dancing Andrith stays up on her round dance cueing Check out

round dancing on Youtube--its also called choreographed ballroom

dancing Life is goodrdquo

Community Activities conrsquot

Sue Ann Hum and her dog Hornsby

were looking for a change of pace for

their walk so they went over to the

gated trailhead on Tabeguache turn

Sue Ann was feeling creative and

made some games for all neighbors to

play untogether during social distanc-

ing

1 Fill Our Heart - Find a pine cone

heart outline and toss a pine cone in-

side

2 Tic-Tac-Toe (Natrsquol Forest edition) -

Xrsquos made with two crossed sticks a big

pine cone can be the Orsquos

3 Built a Tipi Help build a teepee

Connie and Ed Biederbeck

decorated and masked a rock in

their yard

Craig and I put a metal bird sculp-

ture ndash complete with the requisite

mask ndash next to the driveway

The crows in front of

Janet and Lorin

Fullmerrsquos home are

now donning masks

Michelle and Cory Van Doozer deco-rated their house number sign with brightly colored flowers

(13580 Deer Trail)

Wendy Skean put this bicycling kitty

by her driveway entrance The

wheels will spin in the wind

(12519 Ouray)

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

4

Community Activities Fence Repairs Completed Thanks Volunteers

by Jim Finkowski

As with everyones activities this spring Mesa Antero fence repairs

required extra planning due to the Covid 19 virus Fortunately

damage to the fence was

minimal this past winter I

believe this was due to the

extra effort we have put in

over the past few years to

upgrade the perimeter

fence However the

section along Broken

Bough which has not had

much done to it for some

time was in need of some

significant improvement

which was our focus this

spring

The work began with one or two volunteers preparing the fence to

create an opportunity to maintain social distancing when the larger

group showed up for a scheduled work day Cory Van Doozer new

to the Mesa helped clear the fence line of brush and down

trees Chris Elzey here on spring break with his wife Karen when

the stay at home orders were issued helped repair two forest

access gates and became an expert in fence repair not the type of

experience normally

required of a professor

at their home in

Washington DC

And my daughters

friend Andrew who

normally lives in Denver

helped out for several

days while they were

riding out the virus here

in Nathrop

All of the preparation

led us to have two

successful group work

days (thanks to Bill Schiller Dave Kuhn Jerry Cunningham Wendell

Day and Ron Rak) while being able to maintain a safe personal

distance The result of our efforts was that nearly 34 of a mile of

fence was repaired and upgraded The entire fence line from

Adobe Circle to Broken Bough which Mesa Antero volunteers

maintain is currently in really good condition Unfortunately the

grass always seems to be greener on the other side of the fence at

least to the cattle so fence repair will continue to be a source of

FUN for anyone that wants to help out

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Fence Repair Coordinator Needed

Jim Finkowski has been a hands-on volunteer solo

worker and fence repair coordinator for over six (6)

years now He has done a terrific job and we are

extremely appreciative of his efforts Jim is planning

to step aside next year so he can focus his energies on

other activities

Thanks to Jim and his volunteer crew the fence is in

great shape right now and should not need a lot of

effort to keep the cattle out of the Mesa If you are

interested in taking over coordinating the fence

maintenance activities please contact Jim Finkowski

or MAPOA President Mary Gontero

Photos by Peggy Finkowski

5

Community Activities conrsquot

Mailbox Area Paved The area in front of the

mailboxes was paved on

Wednesday May 27th Now we

have a nice even pavement

from the roadway to the

mailboxes

Stew Brown Park Clean-Up Underway

SBPark Coordinator Chuck Washer and his wife Denise have been

working to clean up the park by removing dead branches and trees

They had some help from Quinn McLeod Jim Harsh Craig Galler

and Sheila Prior Chuck and

Denise have also put a fresh

coat of varnish on several of

the tables in the park

The park is looking spiffy Thanks

to all who helped

Road Work in Mesa Antero

Chaffee County has recently graded roads and removed dirt from

ditches in Mesa Antero Ed Biederbeck estimates the county spent

over $100000 on Mesa Antero roads

Specifically Chaffee County Road amp Bridge has

bull added road base to Elk Run Tabeguache Ouray and Panorama

bull put down magnesium chloride on roads to reduce dust

bull repaired chip amp seal damage from their road grader

bull cleaned out ditches

Thanks Chaffee County

Thistle Removal Started Stopped to be Continued

You may recall a lovely patch of pink flowers in the Front 38 field

last year Unfortunately those lovely flowers are produced by

Canada Thistle an invasive

weed and it has to go

Front 38 Maintenance

Volunteers Craig Galler and

Sheila Prior with help from

Mary Gontero and Wendell

Day went out on a recent

Saturday to see if digging the

immature plants would

result in their demise

Unfortunately we learned

that digging wonrsquot work so

reached out to the weed

expert at the county Long story short the most effective way to rid

the field of Canada Thistle is to treat it with a safe spray that will kill

80 to 100 of the Thistle in a single treatment We are contracting

with the County to provide the treatment The spraying has not

yet been scheduled but is expected to take place late summer or

early fall at the pre-blooming stage

Jan Azzopardi took this picture of a double rainbow from their

back deck on Tabeguache

6

Mesa Antero Scheduled for Chaffee Chips Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans

this fall Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have

limbs trees etc you want to have chipped Your slash will be

removed at no cost to you Start now and create your slash pile

(See directives in How to Make the Perfect Pile)

For mitigating guidelines for your property use the extremely

helpful Wildfire Mitigation Guide that Quinn Macleod wrote for our

community It is posted on the Mesa Antero web page

After reviewing the Guide if you still have questions about what to

remove to create a more defensible space around your home

contact Quinn McLeod at (303) 810-5739

Help us help you by following a few rules in preparing for chipping in

September

bull include trees tree branches small logs and brush cut away

from root mass

bull no logsbranches with a diameter greater than 6 inches

bull no logsbranches longer than 10 feet

bull no construction building or other manmade materials

bull no lumber fence posts or signs

bull no roots root wads stumps or anything that grows below the

soil

bull no materials that contain dirt sand gravel or rocks

bull no materials that contain metal (nails screws fencing) string

or other manndashmade materials

bull no herbaceous material (leaves weeds bushes)

How to Make the PERFECT Pile

bull piles should be no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7

feet long with cut ends facing the road

bull no ldquoratsrdquo nests

bull piles should be placed within 5 feet of roadway or driveway

but not in drainage ditches piles should not impede traffic

bull piles must be accessible with adequate turnaround space for a

trucktrailer

bull limit piles to six (6) per property

bull stack firewood separately from branches so it can be collected

for heat

Your wood piles must be out by 800 am on the first morning of

the event

To learn more about Chaffee County Chips click here

Fire Mitigation Matters

Defensible space is the natural and landscaped area around your

home that has been modified to reduce wildfire hazard By creating

a defensible zone your home and property are less vulnerable and

the chance of spreading wildfire is greatly reduced

Community Activities conrsquot

Share Your Mitigation Efforts

If yoursquove taken steps to mitigate fire risk on your property please

send pictures of what yoursquove done to Mary Gontero We plan to

use them as examples for our community and post them on the

Mesa Antero website Thank you

June Rogersrsquo dog

Scooter keeps an

eye out for deer

and other critters

on the road

June says Scooter

is a great traveling

companion who

accompanies her

on any day trip

7

What I Did on My Covid Vacation

Neighbors were asked to send pictures andor share information

about what theyrsquove been up to during the stay at home period

brought about as a result of Covid-19 A few folks were kind

enough to share

How Wersquore Spending Our Time

Nancy Bowsher and Andrith Davis said ldquoWe are going through all

our old photos amp weeding them out--makes us feel good Working

out reading jigsaw puzzles amp trimming brushes We keep busy

with our birds--filling the feeder for chickadees nuthatches jays

squirrels amp keeping the hummingbird feeder filled amp clean And our

Christmas tree greets us every morning amp says Good Night every

eveningrdquo Nancy added that ldquo Even though we arent square

dancing Andrith stays up on her round dance cueing Check out

round dancing on Youtube--its also called choreographed ballroom

dancing Life is goodrdquo

Community Activities conrsquot

Sue Ann Hum and her dog Hornsby

were looking for a change of pace for

their walk so they went over to the

gated trailhead on Tabeguache turn

Sue Ann was feeling creative and

made some games for all neighbors to

play untogether during social distanc-

ing

1 Fill Our Heart - Find a pine cone

heart outline and toss a pine cone in-

side

2 Tic-Tac-Toe (Natrsquol Forest edition) -

Xrsquos made with two crossed sticks a big

pine cone can be the Orsquos

3 Built a Tipi Help build a teepee

Connie and Ed Biederbeck

decorated and masked a rock in

their yard

Craig and I put a metal bird sculp-

ture ndash complete with the requisite

mask ndash next to the driveway

The crows in front of

Janet and Lorin

Fullmerrsquos home are

now donning masks

Michelle and Cory Van Doozer deco-rated their house number sign with brightly colored flowers

(13580 Deer Trail)

Wendy Skean put this bicycling kitty

by her driveway entrance The

wheels will spin in the wind

(12519 Ouray)

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

5

Community Activities conrsquot

Mailbox Area Paved The area in front of the

mailboxes was paved on

Wednesday May 27th Now we

have a nice even pavement

from the roadway to the

mailboxes

Stew Brown Park Clean-Up Underway

SBPark Coordinator Chuck Washer and his wife Denise have been

working to clean up the park by removing dead branches and trees

They had some help from Quinn McLeod Jim Harsh Craig Galler

and Sheila Prior Chuck and

Denise have also put a fresh

coat of varnish on several of

the tables in the park

The park is looking spiffy Thanks

to all who helped

Road Work in Mesa Antero

Chaffee County has recently graded roads and removed dirt from

ditches in Mesa Antero Ed Biederbeck estimates the county spent

over $100000 on Mesa Antero roads

Specifically Chaffee County Road amp Bridge has

bull added road base to Elk Run Tabeguache Ouray and Panorama

bull put down magnesium chloride on roads to reduce dust

bull repaired chip amp seal damage from their road grader

bull cleaned out ditches

Thanks Chaffee County

Thistle Removal Started Stopped to be Continued

You may recall a lovely patch of pink flowers in the Front 38 field

last year Unfortunately those lovely flowers are produced by

Canada Thistle an invasive

weed and it has to go

Front 38 Maintenance

Volunteers Craig Galler and

Sheila Prior with help from

Mary Gontero and Wendell

Day went out on a recent

Saturday to see if digging the

immature plants would

result in their demise

Unfortunately we learned

that digging wonrsquot work so

reached out to the weed

expert at the county Long story short the most effective way to rid

the field of Canada Thistle is to treat it with a safe spray that will kill

80 to 100 of the Thistle in a single treatment We are contracting

with the County to provide the treatment The spraying has not

yet been scheduled but is expected to take place late summer or

early fall at the pre-blooming stage

Jan Azzopardi took this picture of a double rainbow from their

back deck on Tabeguache

6

Mesa Antero Scheduled for Chaffee Chips Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans

this fall Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have

limbs trees etc you want to have chipped Your slash will be

removed at no cost to you Start now and create your slash pile

(See directives in How to Make the Perfect Pile)

For mitigating guidelines for your property use the extremely

helpful Wildfire Mitigation Guide that Quinn Macleod wrote for our

community It is posted on the Mesa Antero web page

After reviewing the Guide if you still have questions about what to

remove to create a more defensible space around your home

contact Quinn McLeod at (303) 810-5739

Help us help you by following a few rules in preparing for chipping in

September

bull include trees tree branches small logs and brush cut away

from root mass

bull no logsbranches with a diameter greater than 6 inches

bull no logsbranches longer than 10 feet

bull no construction building or other manmade materials

bull no lumber fence posts or signs

bull no roots root wads stumps or anything that grows below the

soil

bull no materials that contain dirt sand gravel or rocks

bull no materials that contain metal (nails screws fencing) string

or other manndashmade materials

bull no herbaceous material (leaves weeds bushes)

How to Make the PERFECT Pile

bull piles should be no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7

feet long with cut ends facing the road

bull no ldquoratsrdquo nests

bull piles should be placed within 5 feet of roadway or driveway

but not in drainage ditches piles should not impede traffic

bull piles must be accessible with adequate turnaround space for a

trucktrailer

bull limit piles to six (6) per property

bull stack firewood separately from branches so it can be collected

for heat

Your wood piles must be out by 800 am on the first morning of

the event

To learn more about Chaffee County Chips click here

Fire Mitigation Matters

Defensible space is the natural and landscaped area around your

home that has been modified to reduce wildfire hazard By creating

a defensible zone your home and property are less vulnerable and

the chance of spreading wildfire is greatly reduced

Community Activities conrsquot

Share Your Mitigation Efforts

If yoursquove taken steps to mitigate fire risk on your property please

send pictures of what yoursquove done to Mary Gontero We plan to

use them as examples for our community and post them on the

Mesa Antero website Thank you

June Rogersrsquo dog

Scooter keeps an

eye out for deer

and other critters

on the road

June says Scooter

is a great traveling

companion who

accompanies her

on any day trip

7

What I Did on My Covid Vacation

Neighbors were asked to send pictures andor share information

about what theyrsquove been up to during the stay at home period

brought about as a result of Covid-19 A few folks were kind

enough to share

How Wersquore Spending Our Time

Nancy Bowsher and Andrith Davis said ldquoWe are going through all

our old photos amp weeding them out--makes us feel good Working

out reading jigsaw puzzles amp trimming brushes We keep busy

with our birds--filling the feeder for chickadees nuthatches jays

squirrels amp keeping the hummingbird feeder filled amp clean And our

Christmas tree greets us every morning amp says Good Night every

eveningrdquo Nancy added that ldquo Even though we arent square

dancing Andrith stays up on her round dance cueing Check out

round dancing on Youtube--its also called choreographed ballroom

dancing Life is goodrdquo

Community Activities conrsquot

Sue Ann Hum and her dog Hornsby

were looking for a change of pace for

their walk so they went over to the

gated trailhead on Tabeguache turn

Sue Ann was feeling creative and

made some games for all neighbors to

play untogether during social distanc-

ing

1 Fill Our Heart - Find a pine cone

heart outline and toss a pine cone in-

side

2 Tic-Tac-Toe (Natrsquol Forest edition) -

Xrsquos made with two crossed sticks a big

pine cone can be the Orsquos

3 Built a Tipi Help build a teepee

Connie and Ed Biederbeck

decorated and masked a rock in

their yard

Craig and I put a metal bird sculp-

ture ndash complete with the requisite

mask ndash next to the driveway

The crows in front of

Janet and Lorin

Fullmerrsquos home are

now donning masks

Michelle and Cory Van Doozer deco-rated their house number sign with brightly colored flowers

(13580 Deer Trail)

Wendy Skean put this bicycling kitty

by her driveway entrance The

wheels will spin in the wind

(12519 Ouray)

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

6

Mesa Antero Scheduled for Chaffee Chips Chaffee County has included Mesa Antero in their chipping plans

this fall Mark your calendars for September 11-13 if you have

limbs trees etc you want to have chipped Your slash will be

removed at no cost to you Start now and create your slash pile

(See directives in How to Make the Perfect Pile)

For mitigating guidelines for your property use the extremely

helpful Wildfire Mitigation Guide that Quinn Macleod wrote for our

community It is posted on the Mesa Antero web page

After reviewing the Guide if you still have questions about what to

remove to create a more defensible space around your home

contact Quinn McLeod at (303) 810-5739

Help us help you by following a few rules in preparing for chipping in

September

bull include trees tree branches small logs and brush cut away

from root mass

bull no logsbranches with a diameter greater than 6 inches

bull no logsbranches longer than 10 feet

bull no construction building or other manmade materials

bull no lumber fence posts or signs

bull no roots root wads stumps or anything that grows below the

soil

bull no materials that contain dirt sand gravel or rocks

bull no materials that contain metal (nails screws fencing) string

or other manndashmade materials

bull no herbaceous material (leaves weeds bushes)

How to Make the PERFECT Pile

bull piles should be no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7

feet long with cut ends facing the road

bull no ldquoratsrdquo nests

bull piles should be placed within 5 feet of roadway or driveway

but not in drainage ditches piles should not impede traffic

bull piles must be accessible with adequate turnaround space for a

trucktrailer

bull limit piles to six (6) per property

bull stack firewood separately from branches so it can be collected

for heat

Your wood piles must be out by 800 am on the first morning of

the event

To learn more about Chaffee County Chips click here

Fire Mitigation Matters

Defensible space is the natural and landscaped area around your

home that has been modified to reduce wildfire hazard By creating

a defensible zone your home and property are less vulnerable and

the chance of spreading wildfire is greatly reduced

Community Activities conrsquot

Share Your Mitigation Efforts

If yoursquove taken steps to mitigate fire risk on your property please

send pictures of what yoursquove done to Mary Gontero We plan to

use them as examples for our community and post them on the

Mesa Antero website Thank you

June Rogersrsquo dog

Scooter keeps an

eye out for deer

and other critters

on the road

June says Scooter

is a great traveling

companion who

accompanies her

on any day trip

7

What I Did on My Covid Vacation

Neighbors were asked to send pictures andor share information

about what theyrsquove been up to during the stay at home period

brought about as a result of Covid-19 A few folks were kind

enough to share

How Wersquore Spending Our Time

Nancy Bowsher and Andrith Davis said ldquoWe are going through all

our old photos amp weeding them out--makes us feel good Working

out reading jigsaw puzzles amp trimming brushes We keep busy

with our birds--filling the feeder for chickadees nuthatches jays

squirrels amp keeping the hummingbird feeder filled amp clean And our

Christmas tree greets us every morning amp says Good Night every

eveningrdquo Nancy added that ldquo Even though we arent square

dancing Andrith stays up on her round dance cueing Check out

round dancing on Youtube--its also called choreographed ballroom

dancing Life is goodrdquo

Community Activities conrsquot

Sue Ann Hum and her dog Hornsby

were looking for a change of pace for

their walk so they went over to the

gated trailhead on Tabeguache turn

Sue Ann was feeling creative and

made some games for all neighbors to

play untogether during social distanc-

ing

1 Fill Our Heart - Find a pine cone

heart outline and toss a pine cone in-

side

2 Tic-Tac-Toe (Natrsquol Forest edition) -

Xrsquos made with two crossed sticks a big

pine cone can be the Orsquos

3 Built a Tipi Help build a teepee

Connie and Ed Biederbeck

decorated and masked a rock in

their yard

Craig and I put a metal bird sculp-

ture ndash complete with the requisite

mask ndash next to the driveway

The crows in front of

Janet and Lorin

Fullmerrsquos home are

now donning masks

Michelle and Cory Van Doozer deco-rated their house number sign with brightly colored flowers

(13580 Deer Trail)

Wendy Skean put this bicycling kitty

by her driveway entrance The

wheels will spin in the wind

(12519 Ouray)

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

7

What I Did on My Covid Vacation

Neighbors were asked to send pictures andor share information

about what theyrsquove been up to during the stay at home period

brought about as a result of Covid-19 A few folks were kind

enough to share

How Wersquore Spending Our Time

Nancy Bowsher and Andrith Davis said ldquoWe are going through all

our old photos amp weeding them out--makes us feel good Working

out reading jigsaw puzzles amp trimming brushes We keep busy

with our birds--filling the feeder for chickadees nuthatches jays

squirrels amp keeping the hummingbird feeder filled amp clean And our

Christmas tree greets us every morning amp says Good Night every

eveningrdquo Nancy added that ldquo Even though we arent square

dancing Andrith stays up on her round dance cueing Check out

round dancing on Youtube--its also called choreographed ballroom

dancing Life is goodrdquo

Community Activities conrsquot

Sue Ann Hum and her dog Hornsby

were looking for a change of pace for

their walk so they went over to the

gated trailhead on Tabeguache turn

Sue Ann was feeling creative and

made some games for all neighbors to

play untogether during social distanc-

ing

1 Fill Our Heart - Find a pine cone

heart outline and toss a pine cone in-

side

2 Tic-Tac-Toe (Natrsquol Forest edition) -

Xrsquos made with two crossed sticks a big

pine cone can be the Orsquos

3 Built a Tipi Help build a teepee

Connie and Ed Biederbeck

decorated and masked a rock in

their yard

Craig and I put a metal bird sculp-

ture ndash complete with the requisite

mask ndash next to the driveway

The crows in front of

Janet and Lorin

Fullmerrsquos home are

now donning masks

Michelle and Cory Van Doozer deco-rated their house number sign with brightly colored flowers

(13580 Deer Trail)

Wendy Skean put this bicycling kitty

by her driveway entrance The

wheels will spin in the wind

(12519 Ouray)

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

8

Mesa Antero Seamstresses Make Masks

Seamstresses in Mesa Antero pulled out excess material scrounged

up elastic and rope and put their scissors and sewing machines to

work to make masks to help protect friends family members

health care workers and strangers from the COVID-19 Virus

Connie Biederbeck made

masks for a nephew - a CNA

at a nursing home in Grand

Junction ndash and his co-workers

She made masks for a friendrsquos

daughter who works at the

VA in Denver She also made

masks for the cardiology clinic

at the hospital

Joanie Barbier has sewn

more than 150 masks

Recipients include a nursing

home in Massachusetts

Helping Hand Native

American children in

Churchhill Manitoba friends

family and anyone else who

wanted one Joaniersquos still happy to make masks If you need a

mask email your request to her at jbar4004gmailcom

Sheila Prior made about 80

masks for friends family Heart

of the Rockies Regional Hospital

and a PT clinic in BV Sheila is

also willing to make additional

masks should anyone be in need

Email her at

spriorkohloutlookcom

Kathy Roach made two dozen masks for friends and family

here in New York and California

Hunter and Dillon Build Birdfeeders for Those In Need

The Roberts brothers - Hunter (11) and Dillon (10) - started a

fundraiser after the start of the

Covid virus to help people in

need and at the same time to

help support local restaurants

The kids built picnic table bird

feeders out of donated

materials They sold them to

neighbors ndash by asking for a

voluntary donation - and used

the proceeds to buy gift cards

from local restaurants They

then donated the gift cards -

$850 worth - to the Chaffee

County Covid-19 Disaster Fund

which helps those in need Way

to go boys

Neighbors to the Rescue

Hunter and Dillon are shown with

one of the picnic table bird feeders

they built to support those in need

Jackson - Chuck and jan Azzopardirsquos German Shorthair Pointer - is

captured here checking out whatrsquos happening in the woods below

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

9

Residents Participate in Weekly Food Drive

Jan Toniazzo and Joyce Peryam made their first of many weekly

donated food deliveries to The Grainery food bank on March 26

and have been going strong ever since The ladies report that the

volunteers at The Grainery truly appreciate the kindness and

generosity shown by the folks of Mesa Antero

Food collections continue because the need for food assistance

continues If you can help support families in need there are two

ways you can do so You can drop off canned and dry goods in the

wooden box next to Joyce Peryamrsquos driveway at 13030 Deer Trail

(CR261D) They are in need of all canned goods especially canned

wieners soup and beans rice and dried pasta Or you can mail a

monetary donation to The Grainery 1348 E Street Buena Vista

Thanks Joyce and Jan for coordinating collection and deliveries and

thanks to Mesa Antero residents for giving Joyce and Jan something

to do And most importantly thanks everyone for helping families in

need

Donations Drop Off Update You may note that the red drop off box is no longer by the roadside

in front of Joycersquos house Unfortunately the Mesa Antero bear has

made his way to lower Deer Trail and took out the Perrymanrsquos

bluebird house and new chicks While he didnrsquot mess with the food

drive red box the gals have had to rethink the way food donations

are collected from now on

You can still drop off your donated canned goods but are asked to

now bring them Joycersquos front door Please text Joyce to make sure

she is home to receive the food (her number is in the directory)

For the time being residents are asked to please limit donations to

canned goods ONLY Please NO pasta cereal crackers or glass

plastic jars

To the Rescue continued

Pictured here are some of the many donations made by residents of Mesa

Antero in recent months Joyce Perryman (left) and Jan Tonazzio (right) are

delivering donated goods to The Grainery each week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

10

Mesa Antero Golfers Support Food Bank

by Dan Downing

Irsquom part of a group of about 16 guys who regularly plays golf in

Salida Several are current or former Mesa Antero residents

including Tom Parkes Roger Miller and Rick Davidoff Our group

doesnrsquot have an official name We play a game called ldquoSwindlerdquo so

at least as Facebook goes we call ourselves the ldquoSalida Summer

Swindle Grouprdquo We play on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays

and in the spirit of friendly competition we each ante up $20 to

play

We begin playing each year as soon as the weather permits usually

in March which this year was just about the time the Covid-19

pandemic started getting serious The golf course was allowed to

remain open but with proper social distancing and restrictions on

touching things

In the past we determined who won and who lost on day of play

With winners buying drinks at the 19th hole When the virus hit

we didnt want to continue passing around scorecards and cash any

more than we absolutely had to We wanted to keep things

interesting and competitive by keeping the money in play So I

came up with a creative idea Instead of playing as teams wersquod

play as individuals and pay our losses into a kitty which would

benefit the Food Bank at the Presbyterian Church Like many

theyrsquod been hit hard as a result of the economic downturn All of

the guys eagerly signed on

Enthusiasm for the new ldquoQuotardquo game has been amazing Most

guys end up owing the kitty two or three dollars at the end of

the game It doesnt add up all that quickly but it does indeed add

up The guys soon began chipping in a little extra as did the

winners who owed nothing Then out of town guys who hadnt

returned to their homes here and hadnrsquot started playing with us

started chipping in Then other golfers started chipping in By the

first of April we were able to contribute a little over $1000 to the

Food Bank

We recently returned to our normal $20 Swindle game With one

difference All of the guys wanted to continue donating proceeds to

the Food Bank So thatrsquos what wersquore doing Since March 31st we

have contributed more than $2700 to the Food Bank The guys are

having a blast playing golf together and doing some good for the

community as well

To the Rescue continued

Early in the season the guys tee off from hole 1 at the Salida Golf Course

A few of the guys From left to right Dan Downing Tom Bevington

Kent Cookson Gus Argys Jerry Donner Tim Hinkle Bruce Davidson

and Darrell Sampson

Dan Downing is shown

presenting golf game

proceeds to Rev Tom

Abbott pastor of First

Presbyterian Church

for the churchrsquos food

bank The Swindle

Group has been do-

nating golf proceeds to

the food bank since

March 31and has do-

nated more than

$2700 to date

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

11

Mesa Antero Artists Support Ark Valleyrsquos Good Pet

Bad Art Fund Raiser

Ark Valley Humane Society held a fund raiser earlier this year called

ldquoGood Pet Bad Portraitrdquo Individuals provided a photo of their pet

along with a monetary donation Artists in the community as

young as five (5) volunteered to draw or paint a pet and then send

it to the owner At least three (3) Mesa Antero artists participated

in the charity event

To The Rescue continued

Sue Ann Hum painted two pets

The first a cat Mrs Buggles-

worth aka Bug aka Buggs

And the other a dog Charles

Craig Galler painted a

cat named Ozzy

Wendy Skean drew two dogsmdash

Goosebumps and Huckleberry

She said about her

participation Pretty sure I

lived up to the Bad part Still

I had fun participating in it ldquo

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

12

Be Informed Be Prepared Be Ready for Fire Quinn Macleod Mesa Anterorsquos volunteer Fire Prevention Volunteer

Coordinator recently spoke with Chaffee County Emergency

Manager Richard Atkins and wanted to pass on some crucial

information

The county uses two systems to notify the public in times of an

emergency - Everbridge and a national system sponsored by FEMA

bull Everbridge allows for detailed messages that the county can

send out Including re-population information so residents

know when to come back home

bull The FEMA system uses technology like an Amber Alert So

everyone with a cell phone powered by a specific tower will get

emergency notifications So even short-term renters in MA will

receive an evacuation notification

BOTTOM LINE MESA ANTERO PROPERTY OWNERS STILL NEED

TO SIGN UP WITH EVERBRIDGE SO PLEASE SIGN UP

After some discussion it was determined that when it is necessary

to evacuate the subdivision due to an emergency most people will

evacuate the way they enter So given the low population of Mesa

Antero a somewhat orderly evacuation will occur The reality will

likely be quite different

Learn more about the Homeowner

Evacuation Plan at httpswwwfemagov

media-library-data1409003859391-

0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85

how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508pdf

Be prepared always

Prepare a kit that includes things you will need while evacuated

The duration of an evacuation can last from hours to days The kit

can consist of either a written list of things to assemble at the time

of evacuation or items that are already assembled and pre-

positioned Some things to consider including in your kit include

bull medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic or

COPD item an extra oxygen cylinder

bull important documents hard drives computers

bull photo albums

bull pets and their supplies

Think about and determine

bull Where you will meet up with other members of your home or

family The cell towers will be busy so where might you meet

your family members if you cant talk to them Walmart

Safeway City Market LaGrees

bull Identify who you want to call to let them know you are safely

evacuated Think about who might report you missing if you

dont call them

bull Where will you stay during the evacuation Will you take your

camper or camping gear Can you stay with friends living out

of the area

Prepare your home to receive the wildfire

bull Turn on outside lights and lights in every room to make the

house more visible in heavy smoke

bull Close all windows vents doors and fireplace screens This will

help reduce drafts in the home and will reduce radiant heat

bull Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be

opened by hand if power is lost

bull Move flammable furniture including outdoor furniture into

the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass

doors Remove flammable curtains and window treatments

bull Connect garden hoses Shut off propane gas from the source

and move BBQ grill propane and other fuels away from the

house

bull Follow any additional guidance provided by local authorities

When driving away from a fire

bull Roll up windows and close air vents (car amp camper) because

smoke from a fire can irritate your eyes and respiratory

system

bull Drive slowly with your headlights on because smoke can

reduce visibility

bull Watch for other vehicles pedestrians and fleeing animals

bull Avoid driving through heavy smoke if possible

Wildfire Evacuation

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

13

Wildfire Mitigation Guide Released

The recently published Wildfire Mitigation Guide should enable

every property owner in Mesa Antero to make some modifications

to lessen the negative effects from a wildfire Even if you donrsquot have

a structure on your property these actions will help to achieve

positive results from a wildfire Fire is a natural part of the eco

system so reducing ground litter and killing some weak trees

bushes overall is good plus the nitrogen release is naturersquos fertilizer

for the grasses

Itrsquos dry

This Spring has developed into a very dry one If you have some

mitigation projects in mind it would be good to start soon

The forest and Campers

The good news is that our surrounding forests have been managed

(thinned and controlled burns) to protect our community from

wildfires The dispersed campers with their camp fires is a ignition

risk but manageable If you notice someone burning illegally itrsquos

safest for you to call the Sheriff via 911 (immediately tell them itrsquos a

ldquonon-emergencyrdquo so they can talk to you on a different line) If you

come upon an abandoned campfire pull it apart and call the sheriff

so they can fully extinguish and document

Lastly I do have some more information to add to the guide in the

future but wanted to get the bulk of it out now

Irsquom always available to answer questions andor come by

Quinn Macleod

qmacleod61gmailcom

3038105739

The Wildfire Mitigation Guide is post on MesaAnteroorg for easy

access

Help Yourself Get A Reflective House Number Sign

Did you know that reflective house number signs are crucial to help

fire fighters or emergency personnel find you quickly The

reflective green and white signs are available from the Chaffee

County Fire District main office in BV for the bargain price of just

$10

Fire experts have advised that - especially in a neighborhood like

ours - having clearly visible reflective signs are crucial to their timely

arrival at a fire or emergency The signs should be double sided

and posted near the road so they can be clearly seen from both

directions

Moth Infestation a Real Nuisance You have no doubt been annoyed by the recent infestation of

moths The Miller moths start out as caterpillars that develop on

Coloradorsquos eastern plains and in Kansas and Nebraska In the spring

they migrate west to feast on the nectar of flowers

This year wersquove seen more

moths than previous springs

because weather conditions

last year were favorable for

caterpillar development It

isnrsquot extraordinary as Colorado

has seen this many in other

years preceded by mild winters While other moth species might

like to eat your wool sweaters these do not They just eat pollen

make your house dusty and die Unless yoursquore particularly allergic

to moth scales miller moths wonrsquot do a thing besides annoy you

Miller moths are a very important food source for birds bears and

other critters A single bear can eat up to 10000 miller moths a

day which helps them get fat for the winter The mothrsquos

abdomens besides housing ldquogutsrdquo also store a lot of fat that they

stock up for the long autumn trip back to the plains They hide

under rocks in the mountains during the day Thatrsquos where bears

find them flipping over stones and grabbing a quick bite

The good news is they wonrsquot stick around forever Warm nights will

speed up their migration They are usually gone by the fall

Wildfire Mitigation amp Moths

Did you know Charles Nachtrieb I was the founder

of the town of Nathrop Colorado Early

settlers could not pronounce the German

name of Nachtrieb easily so the name of

the hamlet was Americanized to Nathrop

The original site of Nathrop was about one

and one half miles north of the present

townsite and served as a stagecoach station between Bales

station near Cleora and Leadville

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

14

Alliance Formed to Help Preserve Brownrsquos Creek Volunteers Needed

By Chuck Azzopardi

If you have spent time in the Browns Creek Recreation Area over

the last few years you may have noticed a dramatically increasing

number of hikers and campers And also an increase in the size and

number of dispersed campsites A number of residents of Mesa

Antero have expressed concern for a potentially catastrophic

wildfire initiated from an illegal campfire in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area In response to these developments a new group -

Browns Creek Alliance - is being formed to ensure the Browns Creek

Recreation Area is not loved to death

Many in Chaffe County realize that our valley ldquohas been foundrdquo

We can expect growth and development to occur over the next

couple of decades Envision Chaffee County was a formed in 2016

to provide guidance on the future growth and development of

Chaffee County It has since become a catalyst for community

actions such as the Browns Creek Alliance Recreation in Balance is

a program led by Envision the Greater Arkansas River Nature

Association (GARNA) and the Salida Ranger District that is creating a

community-driven plan to maintain healthy public lands quality

user experiences and the economic benefits of recreation tourism

Browns Creek Recreation Area is one of the more popular places for

outdoor recreation in Chaffee County Visitation to the Browns

Creek Recreation Area is increasing and is expected to continue on

an upward trend for the foreseeable future Our San Isabelle

National Forest Service Ranger District has recognized that Browns

Creek Recreation

Area could use

some TLC Giving

their current

budget

constraints they

are actively

encouraging

volunteer groups including Browns Creek Alliance to provide

assistance in ensuring that public lands in our area do get the

tender loving care they deserve

So given a significant growth in locals and visitors how can we

Browns Creek Alliance as a volunteer organization have a positive

impact on the long-term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation

Area

To achieve our mission of supporting a sustainable management of

the Browns Creek Recreation Area the Browns Creek Alliance is

focusing on gathering data on visitation and its impact on public

resources The Alliance is providing education to encourage visitors

to our area to be respectful and responsible of our public resources

other visitors and residents while enjoying the Browns Creek

Recreation Area We shall also evaluate public resources

particularly dispersed campsites to determine if we can improve

their long-term sustainability

Luckily we have a successful model of how we can accomplish our

objectives right here in Chaffee County Friends of Four Mile has

years of successful experience ensuring that the Four Mile

Recreation Area is sustainable for the long-term

Friends of Four Mile has developed signage and brochures to

educate visitors They have also used buck amp rail fencing to ensure

dispersed campsites are of an appropriate long-term sustainable

size and location While some cost and efforts are necessary to

develop and implement these solutions they have been shown to

be effective

The first task for the Browns Creek Alliance is to gather data so that

we and other agencies including Recreation in Balance and the San

Isabelle National Force Ranger District can quantify the increase in

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance

Browns Creek Alliance Mission Statement

The Browns Creek Alliance is a volunteer

group The group believes in supporting a

sustainable management of the public lands

in the Browns Creek amp Raspberry Gulch areas

of the San Isabel National Forest

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

15

visitation as well as the measurable impact that the increasing

volume of visitors are having on our public resources

Being able to measure visitation and its impact is critical if we are to

develop and implement the best ways to ensure long-term

sustainability of our public resources This data may also be utilized

to gauge the success of our efforts as we strive to improve long-

term sustainability of Browns Creek Recreation Area

For our first task The Browns Creek Alliance similar to Friends of

Four Mile is implementing a vehicle count on the three busiest

holidays of the year - Memorial Day Fourth of July and Labor Day

Volunteers will document the number of vehicles including

recreational vehicles in Browns Creek Recreation Area on each

holiday This data shall be shared with agencies - including the

Forest Service -to determine if the number of visitors is within the

capacity of Browns Creek Recreation Area This data will also

determine whether or not visitation continues to grow and if so by

how much

The Browns Creek Alliance sees our second task as encouraging

visitors to be responsible and respectful while enjoying Browns

Creek Recreation Area If visitors understand proper outdoor

recreation amp dispersed camping etiquette they are much more

inclined to be responsible and respectful visitors and users of our

public resources Responsible and respectful campers in particular

are less inclined to have illegal fires We believe that to achieve this

second objective signage at the kiosks in the Browns Creek

Recreation Area needs to be updated and improved Brochures

containing information displayed on the new improved kiosks may

also be printed and distributed by volunteers

A sandwich billboard sign was recently erected at the entrance to

Browns Creek Recreation Area to advise visitors that a fire ban is in

place and campfires are not currently permitted Mesa Antero

Property Ownersrsquo Association voted to provide funding for this new

signage

A third task is to pursue surveying and ranking of dispersed

campsites in the area Once dispersed campsites have been ranked

for sustainability poor campsites may be removed or reconfigured

while high ranking popular campsites may be hardened or

improved As an example buck amp rail fencing may be used to

establish campsite boundaries at select dispersed campsites

Recently the Forest Service has begun implementing buck and rail

fencing at select campsites in Browns Creek Recreation Area Other

improvements are being considered in our arearsquos outdoor

recreational areas Browns Creek Alliance is already in discussions

with the Forest Service and others as to how we can evaluate and

improve dispersed campsites in our area One consideration is

moving toward designated dispersed camping to better control

campsites in the area

Finally Browns Creek Alliance intends to be a sounding board for

locals and visitors as to how Browns Creek Recreation Area can be

improved in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all To do so

we need your input We also need boots on the ground to secure

funding and assist in the implementation of the tasks detailed in

this article We have received a favorable response from many

Mesa Antero residents regarding our plans and efforts thus far

Anyone that wishes to be involved ndash by providing input andor

actual ldquoboots on the groundrdquo is invited to contact Quinn McLeod or

Chuck Azzopardi directly Contact Quinn at (303)810-5739 or

qMacLeod61gmailcom I can be reached by phone at (719)221-

6444 or by email at JanChuckBobbigmailcom

Brownrsquos Creek Alliance conrsquot

The United States Forest

Service (USFS) has placed a

large temporary No Camp-

fires sign at the entrance to

the Browns Creek area on

272 It is almost impossible

for anyone visiting the area

to not know there are

campfire restrictions

If you see someone with a

campfire please DO NOT

approach the fire burners

but call the sheriffrsquos office at

719-539-2596 to report the

campfire

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

16

Summer Picnics Cancelled

In an effort to keep community members safe from the possible

spread of Covid-19 summer picnics (Memorial Day Fourth of July

and Labor Day) at Stew Brown Park have been cancelled Additional

picnics may be scheduled when COVID-19 is no longer a threat

Reservations Required to Use Stew Brown Park

Residents are always welcome to enjoy Stew Brown Park However

with social distancing restrictions in place and because of concern

for our neighbors there is now a limit on the size of groups who can

gather in Stew Brown Park Groups of 10 or fewer are welcome to

use and reserve the park Reservations should be made in advance

by emailing President Mary Gontero at mapoa99gmailcom

Residents are asked NOT to use picnic tables or MAPOA supplies

and to bring their own chairs As always trash should be removed

Please note there is not a restroom in the park

No doubt we all look forward to the day we can once again gather

for our picnics after a vaccine or treatment is available Until then

letrsquos be safe and limit gatherings to 10 or fewer for the health and

safety of our community members

Chaffee County Community Foundation Emergency

Response Fund (ERF)

The ERF campaign is seeking donors who can help the fund attain a

level of resources commensurate with the local need as well as

eligible recipients who can seek financial assistance According to

the Chaffee Office of Housing well over 5000 Chaffee employees

have been or will be directly impacted by COVID-19-related

business closures Many of those may not be eligible for current

state or federal assistance The ERF is designed to meet the needs

of those individuals and families yet generous and ongoing

community support is needed CCCF is asking community

members who are able to contribute to do so either online or via

check made out to CCCF with ldquoERFrdquo in the memo line More

information or to donate go to wwwchaffeecommunityorg

erf Checks can be mailed to PO Box 492 Buena Vista CO 81211

Rachele Vierthaler recently moved to Mesa Antero from Buena

Vista Rachele sits on the Board of Directors for Chaffee County

Community Foundation and is happy to answer your questions

Email Rachele at rvierthalerchaffeecommunityorg

The Bears are Back

Numerous neighbors have reported seeing a bear in Mesa Antero

Studies show that often the first reward a bear gets for exploring

human places is a big meal of tasty nutritious seeds (a natural food

for bears) Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches

bears that coming close to people and homes looking for food is a

good idea For bears that can end up being a deadly lesson

Mesa Antero residents are encouraged to NOT feed the birds during

the months when bears are active Instead use water features

plant-ings nest boxes and flowers to attract birds Use bird feeders

only when bears are hibernating

If you donrsquot want to stop feeding birds hang your feeders at least

10 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from anything bears can

climb Keep the area underneath feeders clean and free of bird

seed and hulls or switch to a hulled bird seed with no waste Never

store bird seed outside under your deck or in a garage or shed a

bear could break into A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87000

caloriesmdasha reward for the bear that is well worth the effort of

breaking in

Interesting sites on bearshellip

httpscpwstatecousbears

Living with Bears

httpsjourneynorthorgtmspringBearYearhtml

FYI amp Announcements

Craig and I went

camping in Leadville

last week Our

African Grey Joey

went along and

enjoyed her view from

a tree perch She

loves traveling with

us I imagine she

enjoys the change of

scenery

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

17

New Neighbors

We are delighted to welcome two new totally adorable neighbors

to Mesa Antero

Jasper recently joined the Risa and David Jenkins family He is a

Welsh Springer Spaniel and is shown here with big brother Riley (16

months) The brothers are getting along famously Mom and Dad

are wishing for accelerated potty training as theyrsquore both a bit sleep

deprived

Neighbor News

Cutty is the newest

member of the Robin

and Chris Covert

family Hersquos a German

Shephard Golden

Retriever Poodle Mix

Cutty is settling in

nicely in his new home

No surprise but Mom

and Dad here are also

hoping for quick potty

training and less

chewing of random

stuff

A kind thoughtful and

unknown soul sent

these beautiful flowers

to me anonymously

earlier this week The

card reads ldquoHerersquos a

hug for yourdquo I do not

know who sent them

but I sure am enjoying

both the lovely flowers

and the very kind

gesture of the person

who sent them Genie

Malone and Denise

Washer also received a

lovely jar of anonymous flowers Thanks to the mystery sender

from all of us It surely did bring a smile to our face and make

our day And continues to do so each time we look at them

Harper Powell -an apparent wildlife magnetmdashhas seen two moose a bear and a

coyote in recent weeks She snapped a picture of what she believes is the baby of

the two moose shersquos seen between Broken Bough and Sawmill Look closely you

can see the baby moose in the trees How cool is that

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

18

Marketing Mesa Antero Mesa Antero Original Sales Brochure While cleaning out an old desk recently Patsy Torian found several

copies of the original sales and marketing brochure for Mesa Antero

She thought her neighbors would find it interesting and provided a

copy for the newsletter

Please note the home pictured on the next page What it looks like

today with all of the trees is amazing

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

19

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

20

Marketing Mesa Antero conrsquot

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

21

Aunt Mabelrsquos Coffee Cake

provided by Kathy Roach

2 frac14 cups all-purpose flour

frac14 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sour cream

1thinspfrac12 cups white sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

frac12 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 frac12 teaspoon ground cinnamon

12 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter melted

Preheat oven to 375 F Lightly grease a 9x13 pan

Mix together the flour baking powder and salt set aside

In a large bowl cream the butter until light and fluffy Gradually

beat in sour cream Then beat in sugar Beat in the eggs one at a

time Then stir in the vanilla

By hand fold in the flour mixture mixing just until incorporated

Spread batter into prepared pan

To make the Pecan Topping In a medium bowl mix together brown

sugar pecans and cinnamon Stir in melted butter until crumbly

Sprinkle over cake batter in pan

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a

toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp balsamic or other favorite vinegar

5 Tbsp olive oil

14 tsp salt

14 tsp pepper

Bacon Cabbage and Noodles

I found this recipe on Pinterest Its easy quick and very tasty

2 C egg noodles

34 lb bacon diced

34 medium head of cabbage sliced

14 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions Meanwhile in a

large skillet cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crisp Using

a slotted spoon remove to paper towels to drain Remove all but 3

Tbsp of drippings

Add cabbage to drippings Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes or

until cabbage is tender stirring occasionally Add bacon and

noodles to cooked cabbage Stir serve and enjoy

Chicken Legs with Maple-Sriracha Glaze

Recipe originally created by grill master Steven Raichlen

Chicken Prep

12 large chicken drumsticks

1 Tbsp coarse salt

1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Place drumsticks in bowl sprinkle with above ingredients stirring to

coat well

Maple Sriracha Glaze

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

5 Tbsp pure maple syrup

14 cup sriracha or more to taste

3 Tbsp Scotch whiskey

Melt butter in saucepan over high heat stir in maple syrup

sriracha and whisky Boil until mixture is syrupy 3-5 minutes

Grill chicken legs over charcoal fire until cooked through

Try a New Recipe Page

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week

22

DEAR NEIGHBORS amp FRIENDS

This is Ann Johnson and I am taking another opportunity to say a

very big amp loud THANK YOU to many neighbors amp friends who

visited me in the hospital sent cards and even did a meal train

(people bringing dinner every night for two weeks) It was truly

AMAZING amp HEART WARMING There arent enough words to

express my gratitude (not to mention shock) I am truly humbled

and honored amp I THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY

HEART

Ann Johnson

Dear Reader

Happy summer to you Didnrsquot we arenrsquot we having a beautiful

spring summer Irsquom never sure when summer starts here Itrsquos July

8 and Irsquom sitting outside at our picnic table in my flannel jammes

putting the final touches on the newsletter Itrsquos 110+ in the Phoenix

Valleymdashwhere we moved frommdashand I couldnt be happier to be

here

I mean donrsquot you love living in a place where some days you look at

the sky and it looks fake it is so picture perfect Donrsquot you love

living in a place where you can step outside and pick a mason jar full

of wildflowers for your dining room table A place where you go

outside at night and you can see every star in the Milky Way

Where neighbors calls you to see if you need anything from Costco

or City Market or Wal Mart when they go to town Where you see

rainbows often doubles on a regular basis Where a friend comes

to your aid at a moments notice with jumper cables or whatever

else you might need I could go on I could spend hours looking at

the clouds hurrying by on their way to somewhere unknown

watching the ripples of the water in Brownrsquos creek and the

shimmer of the aspens and cottonwoods in the breeze

The one thing I could do without however are the Miller moths

They are a supreme nuisance Each morning we take the hand vac

and suck up at least a dozen dead moths that have crawled out of

their hiding places at some point during the night Each eve we do

the same thing with the live ones who are attracted to the light for

reasons still a mystery to scientists Experts say they will be gone by

fall Ugh

Thanks to those who continue to provide stories and ideas for the

newsletter Your input truly makes the newsletter worth reading I

encourage YOU to be a contributor to the newsletter Send

pictures or stories of things yoursquore involved with like Danrsquos story on

the good deeds of his golf group If yoursquore a new neighbor send

information about yourself where you came from etc as a way to

informally introduce yourself to the neighborhood You get the

idea Snap write and send away

I look forward to the day we can all get together again in person for

friendship and fellowship Until then stay safe

Sheila

The Wrap Up

Risa Jenkins is constantly

taking spectacular

pictures of the mountains

from her and Davidrsquos

home on Deer Trail

She took these three - the

first two morning

rainbows the last a

spectacular sunset - just

this week