Alamosa School District voted to sell the rich agricultural Polston land to Dan Russell for $500,000 to build an RV park and to put in a big parking lot at the footbridge.
Trust for Public Land Partner in land acquisition came and gave an awesome presentation, over 30 letters from a diversity of community members and state partners were written on short notice, more than 50 people showed up to support the Healthy Living Park proposal at 6:30am!   Breach of fiduciary duty here. Action is being planned. Here is believing!

Urgent Action to Keep Healthy Living Park

Friends,

 

Last night the Alamosa School Board went into Executive Session and came out to announce that they would like to hear from both parties interested in purchasing the former Polston School Campus on Hwy 17 just North of Hwy 160. The meeting is at 6:30am on Thursday May 9th at 209 Victoria Avenue.

This 38.2 acres on the Rio Grande River has been the focus of a longtime community effort to purchase and build a Healthy Living Park.

 

Action Items:

• Write Email/letter of support to ASD Board (see template below)
• Show up at 209 Victoria at 6:30am on Thursday May 9th - Wear green to identify yourself as a Healthy Living Park supporter.

 

This land has some of the best quality soil in the valley, and is the perfect location for an agricultural park. It ties in economic development, agriculture, education, nutrition and physical activity. It provides an opportunity to create a beautiful northeastern entrance to Alamosa, while tying the community back to the land and supporting young farmers. It provides an opportunity for business incubation through a San Luis Valley farm distribution center and a commercial kitchen, there are plans for growing greenhouse vegetables for our fourteen school districts year round. There is potential to connect East and West Alamosa via bike and walking paths and to realize community ideas such as an agricultural museum, clamshell amphitheater, a beautiful wedding space, a SLV Farm restaurant, and a community gathering and play place.

 

Our mission: To develop a healthy living park that promotes local agriculture and tourism, an values conservation and sustainability

Our vision: the Rio Grande Healthy Living Park cultivates a sustainable local foods system, healthy living practices , and local arts and culture inspired by the rich agricultural heritage of the San Luis Valley.

 

The Trust For Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. They, on behalf of the Local Foods Coalition and greater community are prepared to raise the appraised value of $750,000 with a 7 month purchase option.

 

The other offer of $450,000, is from Dan Russell who is proposing an RV Park.  This offer was refused and a counter offer is on the table. 

 

We are asking you to write an email or send an electronic letter to the Alamosa School Board to the Attention of Superintendent Rob Alejo and to copy:

• school secretary Bev Boice,
• Alamosa Courier 
• Local Foods Coalition - emails below

 

Please emphasize the economic development potential for the park as this is a main consideration of the board - looking for property tax income, increase in pupil count and job creation.

Other theme ideas to touch on if you would like are

• Agricultural heritage of SLV,
• Education,
• Sense of Community and
• Quality of Life

 

Please do by noon tomorrow to give board members a chance to read the letter before the 6:30am meeting.

I have included a template below to cut and paste if you would rather not write your own.

  

Questions call 719-539-5606 

Thank-you Thank-you

Here is believing!

Liza 

 

Superintendent Rob Alejo - ralejo@alamosa.k12.co.us

Bev Boice -  bboice@alamosa.k12.co.us,

Lauren at Valley Courier-  kashmir1542@yahoo.com

Local Foods Coalition at directorslvlocalfoods@gmail.com

 

To Esteemed Alamosa School District Board Members,

 

This email is to express my support of the proposed Rio Grande Healthy Living Park at the Polston campus.

I believe it will contribute to the economic development of the community by connecting families back to the land, educating beginning farmers, creating a market for San Luis Valley products to be distributed to schools, restaurants and institutions and producing vegetables in year round production greenhouses.

It will create jobs and will attract new families to the community.

The Trust for Public Land is an accomplished land conservation entity and we are so fortunate to have such an excellent partner to move this project forward.

Thank-you for your support of the Trust for Public Land's purchase option.

 

Sincerely, 

--

 

The San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition develops local networks, educates the community, and promotes programs and policies that create an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable local food system for the San Luis Valley region. www.sanluisvalleylocalfoods.blogspot.com

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Nitschka ter Kuile	---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: SLV Local Foods Coalition <slvl...	5:04 PM (3 hours ago)
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5:04

Quivira Coalition announces the New Agrarian interns- one of which has just landed in the SLV to work at San Juan Ranch.  http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c85a7fa89b0b10639dd915a63&id=7aa0e93807&e=23a4aa2b63 

Cooking Matters!

And now we are so happy to announce the hiring of SLV Local Foods enthusiast and former Garden Coordinator Melissa Emminger who will be coming back to the San Luis Valley with her family to take on the position of Nutrition Education Director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition. Welcome Melissa!

New Creative Director

We are so happy to announce first our thanks for Elaine Patarini for her excellent contribution as the Nutrition Education Director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition. She will be transitioning out of this position and into a part time position as Creative Director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition.
Congratulations Elaine!!

Cooking Matters/Healthy Habits Director Job Description

Job Title: Cooking Matters/Healthy Habits Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Responsibilities:

The tasks required for this position include but are not limited to those listed below. 

• Coordinate and implement a minimum of 14 signature cooking courses, complying with CMC National gold standards, and maintaining an 85% graduation rate with no less than 25% being programing targeting Kids and Teens.
• Reach 75 low-income participants in Cooking Matters at the Store/Farmers Market with farmers market as the priority for the Local Foods Coalition.
• Recruit, train and maintain a large enough volunteer pool to fill each course with qualified volunteer chef and volunteer nutrition educators
• Recruit, verify, train and maintain enough community partners to offer at least 14 CMC courses to individuals and families living at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Line.
• Participate in nutrition, health or food events to promote Cooking Matters and its message.
• Offer programming in Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande, Saguache, & Mineral counties.
• Participate in required Cooking Matters local and national trainings
• Participate in required Cooking Matters local and national reporting
• Manage the Healthy Habits program, including the MOKI demonstrations at the Valley Farmer’s Market and at other locations, the 1-2 MOKI farmer’s market staff, and other nutrition/cooking education programming developed for use with the MOKI.
• Perform all job-related duties requested by the Local Foods Coalition Director, including assisting with funding applications to secure additional grants for nutrition education programming.

Abilities:

• Ability to organize and relate to groups of people from varied backgrounds.
• Evidence of personal initiative and resourcefulness with the ability to set own direction.
• Ability to effectively communicate with staff and community partners to mobilize resources and develop the necessary relationships to meet program requirements.
• Knowledge of nutrition and cooking, as well as local community agencies.  Knowledge of local languages and culture is a plus.
• Physical stamina.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Qualification Requirements:

• Passion for nutrition and cooking education, as well as the role it plays in the lives of low-income populations.
• B.A./B.S. in public health, nursing, health education, nutrition, dietetics, education OR equivalent education and experience.
• Experience and knowledge working with low-income parents and families.
• Basic knowledge in the preparation of nutritional foods.
• Must be willing to attend program activities even in the evening and/or on weekends
• Must be willing to attend meetings and trainings as required, which can be located within the San Luis Valley, the state of Colorado, and out of state.

Compensation:

• Range $30,000 - $35,000

To Apply:Submit resume and cover letter to nutritioned.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com   by Sunday April 14th at midnight.

 

SLV Local Foods Coalition is an equal employment opportunity employer and strives to comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful and all persons involved in the operations of the SLV LFC are prohibited from engaging in this type of conduct.

Local Foods Coalition meeting April 5th

featuring Jeffrey WishMer

Discussing the

benefits and possibilities for industrial

hemp production in the SLV

a crop that uses little water

pulls heavy metals from the soil

and has over 25,000 uses

and was grown by the founding fathers of

the United States

10am Hospice Meeting Room

Alamosa Colorado