San Luis Valley Voices

In this latest podcast with the LOR Foundation, we get together with Irene Arellano, Records and Evidence Manager for the Monte Vista Police Department. Listen as Monte Vista Community Officer Ivette Atencio and Irene discuss the four special events put on by the police department last year, to help connect with community, along with future plans, other project ideas, and a lot more. Enjoy...

In this latest podcast with the LOR Foundation, we get together with Monte Vista Youth Cheerleader Coaches Jessica Ornelas and Jenny Emmons. This group of young cheerleaders are wowing audiences at local ballgames, parades and various events across Monte Vista and beyond. Jessica & Jenny discuss their history, future plans and how the LOR Foundation helped them to thrive in this banner year of growth. Enjoy...

The Tiny Timbers Resort was developed to share the owners’ love of South Fork, and to provide guests with the opportunity to make cherished family memories in one of the most beautiful areas of Colorado. Expansion of their dreams has continued with The Spa at Tiny Timbers. SLVoices got together with Charity Legg, Tiny Timbers Spa Manager & Esthetician to find out more about this unique addition to their resort, what they offer, their mission & vision and a whole lot more. Enjoy...

In this latest podcast with the LOR Foundation, we get together with Kathryn Trujillo, an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley. Listen as Monte Vista Community Officer Ivette Atencio and Kathryn discuss the focus of the Early Childhood Council, a couple of the neat projects they collaborated on, future plans, other project ideas, and so much more. Enjoy...

This fifth podcast with the LOR Foundation features Dervin Taylor, Director of the Recreations Department for the City of Monte Vista. Listen as Monte Vista Community Officer Ivette Atencio and Dervin discuss the new projects the LOR Foundation has helped fund for outdoor recreation activities such as new soccer and baseball equipment. We also talk about the Monte Vista Youth Cheerleaders, the overall reaction to the new equipment, other projects on the horizon and so much more. Enjoy...

The Crestone Energy Fair is so much more than just sustainable energy practices. It’s evolved over the years to encompass health & wellness, alternative building practices, self sufficiency, workshops, demonstrations, speaker panels, great music and even guided home tours. This free to the public event is the longest running sustainable energy fair in the country and takes place on Saturday & Sunday, September 16th & 17th. In this podcast you’ll hear from event organizers Nick Nevares, Lydia Sprouts, Chris Manfield and Goldie Mariola, as they discuss how the Energy Fair has evolved, what’s planned for this year and so much more. Enjoy...

This fourth podcast with the LOR Foundation features Dr. Mikaila Pence, Pediatrician & Medical Director of the Children's Specialty Clinic of the San Luis Valley. Joining Dr. Pence is DJ Enderle, Board Member and City Planner for Monte Vista. Listen as Monte Vista Community Officer Ivette Atencio, DJ and Dr. Pence discuss this new children’s clinic serving neurodevelopmentally diverse children and their families. We also talk about the outdoor therapy space, slated to open this fall; how it came to be, the result of the LOR grant funding and so much more. Enjoy…

This third podcast with the LOR Foundation features Bill Metz Elementary School Principle Gabe Futrell. Listen as Monte Vista Community Officer Ivette Atencio and Gabe discuss some of the wonderful projects that are helping the school teachers, students and parents. These include a teacher revitalization space, family fun nights and of course the positive impact these projects have already had. Plus they both touch on some future solutions also funded by the LOR Foundation. Enjoy…

This second podcast with the LOR Foundation features Monte Vista City Manager Gigi Dennis. Listen as Gigi tells us of her own fascinating history as well as some of the history of the town of Monte Vista. Community Officer Ivette Atencio and Gigi Dennis discuss at length incredible projects that have had a direct impact on our community, along with others that are still in the works. Enjoy…

By now you’ve probably heard of the LOR Foundation but do you know that they’re working on multiple projects in Monte Vista? Well they are! SLVoices sat down for an intimate one on one interview with Community Officer Ivette Atencio to find out more about her background, how she became involved with LOR, what this private foundation is all about, some of innovative solutions they’ve helped with in other towns, and how you can get involved.

Get ready!! Plan to join with the community and enjoy all the fun and excitement in beautiful downtown Monte Vista from 11:00AM until 8:00PM (or maybe even later). This downtown street party is hosted by the OptiMystics Citizens Action Network! Bring the children for bounce houses, Hall’s Way Escape room, games, face painting, and of course local business specials and deals and craft vendors. Treat yourself awesome food! DJ Pete “Big Sexy” will have you dancing in the streets. New this year! The Grande Musical Finale is in the evening with Moonshadow Marauders and Mariachi San Luis. Listen as event organizers discuss some of what's planned for this lively and vibrant one day event! In this podcast you’ll hear some behind the scenes discussions on who The OptiMystics are, what they’ve done, and of course even more about Cinco de Mayo. As well, how The OptiMystics Citizen Action Network is connecting people and creating community and how you can become a part of this grass roots non-profit celebrating and enhancing our vibrant and diverse City of Monte Vista! Come join us for all the fun and frivolity as we elevate Monte Vista and the entire San Luis Valley!

Sharing Jesus Through Song. That’s the vision of Lorraine and Amy Music Ministry, based in Del Norte, Colorado. They’re very excited to share the wonderful things that the Lord has been doing in their lives and pray that their songs will touch people's hearts in a special way. In this podcast, Lorraine and Amy talk about their past, discuss where their music ministry is today and even share a couple of special songs. Enjoy…

It's time for the 40th annual Monte Vista Crane Festival. SLVoices got together with Co-Coordinator Deb Callahan and Artist Amanda Charlton about this year's event. We talked about what's planned, the world premier of their new video, the craft fair, the Swoop of the Cranes, their special guest speakers, and of course, the Sandhill Cranes.

Carol Riggenbach is a 4th generation San Luis Valley native, born in Alamosa, and earning her degree from Adams State University. Her vast experience includes working in healthcare administration, farming & land development. Carol is a mother of 2 and a small business owner. She has also been affiliated with numerous boards & non-profit organizations. In this extended podcast, we hear from Carol Riggenbach about her run for the Colorado House of Representatives, District 62. Topics include her goals & objectives, term limits, redistricting, emergency powers, gun control, current & future district challenges, working together and much more.

Bustang’s daily outrider services can get you to and from the San Luis Valley to areas such as Durango, Pueblo, Lamar, Salida, Buena Vista, Telluride, Canon City, and Penrose. with connecting services to major cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Grand Junction. This comfortable, cutting-edge transportation alternative connects Colorado 7 days a week, 365 days per year. In this new podcast, learn all about this statewide service, from CDOT’s Bustang Outrider Project Manager, Jeff Prillwitz. You’ll hear about the resources available, standard accommodations, how to connect from the San Luis Valley to the rest of the state, the current special being offered, along with their special Pegasus, Snowstang, Estes Park and Denver Bronco buses; and how you easily & conveniently can get from the SLV to all of the major cities across our state.

The longest running sustainable energy fair in the country takes place on August 27-28, 2022. It’s the 33nd Annual Crestone Energy Fair, happening in the town of Crestone Colorado. Join Director Lisa Bodey, Producer Nick Nevares and Booking Agent Lydia Sprouts as we discuss this year's events. Topics include home tours, the Wellness Village, Rainbow Lightning Youth Village, education workshops, volunteer needs, discussion panels, fielding a few off the wall questions, and more.

The OptiMystics Citizens Action Network and The Poor Boy Car Club are hosting the second annual Beer Fest and Car Show on Saturday, August 20th. All the fun and excitement will take place at Chapman Park in Monte Vista, Colorado, from 10:00AM until 6:00PM. It’s so much more than beer and cars, as if that weren’t enough. There’s pugil stick competitions, corn hole games, and sword fighting to delight the whole family. Bring the children for bounce houses, an escape room, belly dancing, games galore, face painting, and of course the lovely Chapman Park playground. And did we mention awesome food? Of course the park will be filled with spectacular vendors. Exciting music and various give aways all day long! Listen as event organizers discuss some of what's planned for this exciting one day event; plus hear some behind the scenes discussions on who The OptiMystics are, what they’ve done, and some of their plans for the future. We are connecting people and creating community! Come join us for all the fun and frivolity as we elevate Monte Vista and the entire San Luis Valley!

Bring the whole family for games, free demonstrations, live music, a carnival, parades, a dance, rodeos, a demolition derby, local vendors, live music, magic shows, a duck race, RC car testing, fireworks, great food, free entertainment and the list goes on. That’s Manassa Pioneer Days 2022. All the fun happens July 13 to 16 this year in the wonderful town of Manassa, Colorado...Not Just Another Dot On The Map!

What do yurts, red & green chili, local vendors, the SLV Foods Coalition, live music, a master chef, potato sheds, 3-D printed adobe houses and an old drive-in theater all have in common? The Dish SLV is a community group in the San Luis Valley based in Center Colorado creating connection through food events. The Dish SLV is hosting a free valley preview at the Frontier Drive-Inn Theater, rescheduled for July 9th, 2022. There will be food, games, activities, a red & green chili dish cook off with prizes, live music, local vendors, a movie and so much more.

Pilots Baseball Academy brings professional training to the kids of the San Luis Valley! And the Top of the World Series Baseball Complex will bring children here from all over the world. Plus, coming up on June 11th there will be a pitch-hit-run homerun derby, held at the baseball field at Adams State University. To find out more, we sat down with the man behind it all, Coach Geoffrey West.