Creative Citizen: Recent Episodes
Alamosa Citizen
Alamosa Director of Parks and Recreation Andy Rice is the next guest on The Valley Pod. With a diverse list of programs, Rice talks about the importance of kids being involved as well as people's want to "un-plug." He also discusses projects that have been in the works for Alamosa including the pedestrian bridge crossing near the Adams State baseball fields.
All about the necessary and often unglamorous nuts and bolts of municipal government – everything from sludge removal to building a better Glory Days parade.
Zaragoza, Mortensen, and Marty Jones talk Valley fishing. They give their insights to what they’re seeing, how often they’re getting out on the water, all while reminiscing about their days fishing on the San Luis Valley’s waters. Which there is no shortage of.
Singer-songwriter Susan Gibson is this week's guest on The Valley Pod. She wrote "Wide Open Spaces" more than 25 years ago. The song was made famous by The Dixie Chicks. Susan Gibson performs at Society Hall this Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m.
How a speeding ticket he received as a young man in rural Montana led to a long career in law enforcement. A conversation with new Alamosa Police Chief George Dingfelder a few weeks into the job.
Co-director of the Valley Veterans Recreation Craig Rauwolf and retired county commissioner Mike Yohn are the most recent guests on The Valley Pod. They talk about the Memorial Park Project with upcoming events to help raise funds for the memorial. Rauwolf and Yohn talk about the importance that having this memorial in the Valley has.
We hear from Alamosa Bicycle Coalition’s Grantley Showalter and SLV GO’s Annie Altwarg as we recap some of our survey data and discuss where we take these conversations in the future. Also in this episode are clips of interviews with Intrinsic Path’s Jonothan Stolls and CDOT’s Annelies Van Vonno.
Adams State President David Tandberg talks about the new Direct Admission policy for all 2024 graduates of San Luis Valley high schools. He says he also sees the campus like a park with its public art displays and wants to see more community members walking around and enjoying it.
Colorado Sen. Cleave Simpson and Rep. Matthew Martinez give an inside look to the Colorado General Assembly. The budget was at the forefront of a lot of the conversations. They also reflect on past general assemblies.
Alamosa Live Music Association's Bill Tite and Angela Myers talk about this summer's Sunday's at Six concert series. The concerts range from bluegrass to Chicano funk and include this year’s winner of the music association’s Battle of the Bands.
This episode features the SLV Rattlers Mountain Biking Team. Learn more about the starts of the team and how it functions. Team coach Gregg Goodland and team captain Summit Mashburn give an in depth look at the Rattlers. Hear from locals about their experiences riding around the San Luis Valley. We want to hear from you too! Take the survey on AlamosaCitizen.com.
Eric Hinton president and CEO of the Monte Vista Coop joins The Valley Pod to talk about the importance of the Coop to the Valley's agricultural scene. With many different facets, Valley residents find multiple needs for the Coop from propane, to gardening goods, to great snacks. There are many different subsections to the Coop, Hinton gives us a deeper look.
Part II of the series Bicycling in the San Luis Valley explores the thoughts of commuters and how safe they feel riding their bicycles in The Valley. Hear from locals on what they think as well as a conversation between host Marty Jones and long-time Valley rider Jim Grant.
This episode features the upcoming Faith Hinkley Veterans Memorial Park benefit in Monte Vista. We visit with organizers Larry Garner and Rob Vance about the upcoming event and Monte Vista’s very special veterans memorial park named after Army Sgt. Faith Hinkley. She died in 2010 from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her unit in Iraq.
Sean Noonan BLM Recreation Planner joins The Valley Pod to discuss reconnecting to nature on public lands. Noonan says how lucky The San Luis Valley is to have these lands as their backyard. Noonan talks recreation, BLM history, environment, water, and more.
This episode features San Luis Valley Great Outdoors’ Annie Altwarg and Brian Puccerrella. In this series, we are looking to learn more about the cycling culture in the Valley. That requires talking to people who ride their bikes or advocate for bike riders. We want to hear from you too! Take the survey on AlamosaCitizen.com.
Visit Alamosa puts the fun in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley. Visit Alamosa's Kale Mortensen and Beth Sumner are excited to share about everything they have going on. They discuss the upcoming mural project they're doing April 6 with 12 community led paint-by-numbers murals. Mortensen and Sumner talk visitor numbers for the spring into the summer and how the new RV parking might influence things.
Sophie Frankenberg and Donna Wehe launched some listening sessions around The Valley about Alamosa County's Comprehensive Master Plan. They got to hear why people love to live in The Valley and what makes it unique. ImagineAlamosa.com allows people to share their visionary thoughts and give feedback. Wehe and Frankenberg talk about the stages of the Alamosa County Comprehensive Master Plan and how the county can move forward.
Matt Nehring and Scott Clayton with the Adams State Mechanical Engineering program in conjunction with CSU, join The Valley Pod to talk about the program that the university was missing. Nehring says it's one of the premiere growth areas in the engineering field. Clayton and Nehring talk mechanical engineering and the opportunities that the degree track can open. The beauty of the program is that is entirely in The Valley.
Adams State's Nick Saenz and Maya ter Kuile-Miller give a preview of this year's Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium, which includes the film “Acequias: The Legacy Lives On.”
All about our upcoming in-depth look at the SLV's cyclists bicycle infrastructure, which will be a three-part audio narrative. Alamosa Citizen will also be releasing a survey about local bicycling.
With an architectural firm now on board, Valley-Wide Health is ready to move forward with its renovation of the historic Alamosa County Courthouse. CEO Jania Arnoldi talks about the project and Valley-Wide Health's focus on mental health services.
Adams State history professor Nick Saenz on the 1779 Spanish Expedition into the San Luis Valley led by Juan Bautista de Anza.
Alamosa's Director of Destination Development and Public Relations, Beth Sumner, discusses fall events on the horizon.
Sean Sluyter the new Outdoor Recreation supervisor joins Jones to talk about upcoming projects at the end of September. Dani Robben shares more on the Dark Skies event.
Alamosa School District has a lot to celebrate as they show growth district-wide in state testing.
The university's athletic director has found money where there is none and pushed Adams State athletics into a new era.
Audrey Liu tells more about Habitat for Humanity's Bike2Ride. Liu and host Marty Jones discuss this year's Bike2Ride.
Adams State’s vice president for academic affairs says the university is starting 2023-24 with more students and renewed “energy, excitement and enthusiasm.”
We hear about the summer of RVs and a new event – KOA Campground’s chili cookoff on Sept. 9 to help send kids with cancer to summer camp.
Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue's vice president talks with The Outdoor Citizen about their mission. Their event Suds4SAR is August 19.
Adams State opens its football season with a night game at Rex Field on Sept. 2. Head Coach Jarrell Harrison previews the season for us.
Colorado Senator Cleave Simpson is running for re-election. After some deliberation, Simpson believes he still has something to offer to his southern Colorado community and the state.
Nathan Samora and DJ Salazar talk involving Veterans in outdoor recreation. They work to build of sense of social community for Veterans and their families within the SLV community. PLUS: Armando Vigil on the Rio Grande Farm Park including the Rising Stewards program.
SLV Pride co-presidents Vince Alcon and Matthew Tully discuss what it means to live as a flourishing community in the San Luis Valley. They talk about the upcoming Pride event in August.
La Puente's executive director Lance Cheslock is back form his sabbatical. Cheslock was working with refugees in Chiapas, Guatemala. The other half of his sabbatical was spent in helping refugees near the Mexico and United States boarder. Cheslock gives insight to the stories and struggles of the people looking for asylum in the United States.
Brian Puccerella of SLV GO! and John Reesor, Alamosa's outdoor recreation supervisor, on this weekend’s Rio Trio Adventure Race
Simpson drops by to talk about the legislative session that just ended, plus the season's water outlook.
Armando Valdez is the USDA State Rural Development director; he chairs the Colorado State University Board of Governors; and is board vice president for the Rio Grande Water Conservation District. And he DJs on the side. A great conversation with the busiest person in the San Luis Valley.
CEO of the San Luis Valley Rural Electrical Cooperative Eric Eriksen discusses electrical workforce development. Jennifer Alonzo celebrates the recent winners of the REC scholarship and dives into the scholarships importance. Learn more about Eriksen and his journey leading from his stomping grounds in Alaska to the San Luis Valley.
GSA's Aaron Tuioti-Mariner and Rob Woods join The Citizen to discuss the upcoming NFL sponsored flag football camp. They also give insight to Adams States football program.
Dani Robben and Mick Daniel from SLV GO! join host Marty Jones to discuss the survey results from the winter of 2022. This survey gave perspective on local conservation and recreation across the San Luis Valley.
Acting interim director of La Puente Amanda Pearson talks about her experience in the director role and what she has learned. She gives a deeper perspective on the work that La Puente does.
Katie Goodleaf, Cathy McCurdy, and Susan Graham join Marty Jones to talk VOC opportunities, including nine public projects, and personal experiences. May is national bike to work month and Marty Jones shares events around The Valley.
After an almost 8 month hideous Maddy Ahlborn of the Creative Citizen is back with another Unexpected Artist to exhibit for San Luis Valley residents. Meet Yael Defaye, a photographer of skill, passion, and his form to create a sense of unknown to contrast the daily planned events we all adhere to with daily jobs. Listen to Maddy and Yael’s conversation from Friday evening April 14th, 2023. If you want to learn more about Yael, his story, and his work, follow on IG or visit his website! IG: @yaeldefaye Website: https://www.yaelphotography.com/
Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue's President, Crystal Wilson, and Member-at-Large,Stephen Cline, dive into the importance of their new night-vision goggles. Wilson and Cline give safety tips and tell stories that have taught them important lessons.
DA Anne Kelly and Lani Welch give insight to National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Welch tells more about her story and her advocacy for crime victims through her non-profit. DA Kelly shares her mission as DA for the Valley.
Director of the Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center Eric Carpio talks history and heritage with The Citizen. Carpio gives insight to upcoming summer projects as well as his own personal Valley history. "In the San Luis Valley, history isn't a thing of the past."
Grantley Showalter from the Alamosa Bicycle Coalition joins Outdoor Citizen host Marty Jones to discuss biking in the community. Showalter shares events that will help encourage more biking activity within the Valley community.
Matt Wellmann and Will Krebs from ALMA give insight to the upcoming music season in The Valley including Battle of the Bands and Sundays at 6.
Al Stone from the Spadefoot Story Slam gives insight to the community project that is the story slam. They offer deeper understanding to the importance of story-telling and how to get involved in The Valley.
Sherri Valdez and Bryan Lindert from the Early Childhood Council of The San Luis Valley, join The Citizen in discussing Colorado's universal pre-school program and what this looks like in for San Luis Valley families.
The owner, operator and chef of Alamosa's hottest dinner spot, Denise Vigil, gives an update after 8 months of operating. She dives into lessons learned, risks taken, and future hopes.
Planning and Development Specialist for Alamosa, Deacon Aspinwall, talks trout with host Marty Jones. Dani Robbins also joins our host to enlighten listeners on Dark Skies.
She's a native of Ireland turned nine-time national running champion at Adams State University
Chrissy McKinney and Paul Clark from the Adams State University School of Education join the Citizen to discuss their new Educators Highlight Award. Relationships developed with educators make an epic impact on student's lives, Adams State wants to acknowledge that.
The Great Sand Dunes' Kathy Faz and Visit Alamosa's Beth Sumner, talk with Marty Jones about April as the 'We Love Our National Park' month and all the fun things that the Valley can expect
Adam State’s interim president on building campus momentum, and being a “positive energy source” for the university
Alamosa Citizen’s publisher talks about digital storytelling and what the Rural Journalism Institute has planned
The manager of the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District walks us through a project to improve the accuracy of snowpack measurements
Dawn Melgares from the SLV Affordable Housing Coalition talks with The Citizen about her diligence with her work as well as the purchases and developments of properties. Melgares also talks about the coalitions growth.
Craig Cotton Division 3 Water Engineer talks with host, Marty Jones, about spring run-off and the things that effect it, including wind and snowpack. They also discuss drought in the San Luis Valley.
Nick Chambers and Al Stone from Valley Roots Food Hub talk with The Citizen about their growth as a program in the last 8 years. They also elaborate on their day to day is Mosca.
Town Manager of Center Brian Lujan, shares more on the North-90 Annexation project that will lead to further commercial and residential developments in Center.
PJ Bergin from SOIL Sangre de Cristo, talks with The Citizen about why she started this not profit. She also discusses the loans that SOIL provides and how a farmer may use it to extend their growing season.
Host Marty Jones talks with Gigi Dennis and Patrick Ortiz about the upcoming push for the outdoor community engagement in Monte Vista. Don Richmond makes a special guest appearance.
Jarrell Harrison from Adams State University talks with The Citizen about the upcoming 2023 football recruits.
John Taylor on Adams State Gives Day (Feb.16), with performance from alum Freddie Jaquez.
Jamie and Crystal Rae Dominguez on their new Shooting Stars Cultural and Leadership Center project on Alamosa’s Southside.
Christie Bode-Skeie and Jenny Nehring give an inside look at the Monte Vista Crane Festival that is celebrating 40 years, and the film that will accompany the event.
Director of Conservation Sarah Parmar talks with the Citizen about groundwater conservation, conservation easements that come from private parties, and resource challenges the Valley faces.
The new chair of the Alamosa Board of County Commissioners talks about why renewable power transmission development is a public safety issue for the Valley.
Megan Lang, Shelly Martinez, and Tiffany Martinez from Tu Casa talk with the Citizen about all the programs and work that they do through Tu Casa Inc. Including the resources they provide for the community.
Boys & Girls Club of the San Luis Valley executive director Aaron Miltenberger shares more about what the organization is looking forward to in 2023.
Rachel Baird director of development services for the city of Alamosa, talks with the Citizen about how and why Alamosa is growing. They also dive into what the future of Alamosa looks like developmentally.
Rodeo star Cayden Schulz talks with the Citizen about his life in rodeo and more about his recent success.
Elizabeth Sumner and Savannah Schlaufman from Visit Alamosa talk with the Citizen about tourism and the upcoming events in 2023 that they're most excited for.
A boy named Jojo learns to love Christmas in the Valley after being visited by three spirits
K-2 students from Alamosa Elementary School sent in questions for the Citizen to ask Santa and Christmas Bear
All about the homework the school district has done around a four-day school week and the upcoming vote by the school board.
Jean Alger talks with the Citizen about her life as a writer living in the Valley and her work as a current resident.
The Citizen talks with Dani Robben and Mick Daniel from SLV Go about conservation, recreation, and future trail plans.
Newly elected DA talks about plans for a San Luis Valley drug task force, and funding the office.
Executive Director of the Alamosa Bicycle Coalition chats with the Citizen about bike culture and the importance of bike access in the Valley.
Steve Kindsfather owner and operator of Kindsfather Knives talks with the Citizen about the craft of blacksmithing and the importance of a good blade
State Senator Cleave Simpson joins the Citizen to talk water and where water is going to push Colorado
Acclaimed wildlife artist Jocelyn Russell talks about her new sculpture and old memories of growing up in the Valley
In the second of two candidate roundtables, Carol Riggenbach and Matthew Martinez join us for a conversation about issues in Colorado’s House District 62
The retired judge talks about the upcoming celebration of the Maestas desegregation case and the ongoing S.P.M.D.T.U. building restoration.
The executive director of La Puente talks about the organization's long history of providing human services.
In the first of two candidate roundtables, Carol Riggenbach and Matthew Martinez join us for a conversation about issues in Colorado's House District 62.
George McConnell, assistant professor of theater, along with students Joaquin Rodriguez and Taylor Anaya-Estrada (pictured), talk about Adams State Theatre's latest production "Roosters"
Greg Stoker, the featured artist at the San Luis Valley Museum, talks about his photography practice, where he came from and where he is going next.
Bessie Konishi speaks about the history of Japanese Americans in the Valley. This is a recording of her lecture at the San Luis Valley Museum on Sept. 2.
Sheldon Rockey, owner of Rockey Farms and chair of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, gives the lowdown on this weekend's Potato Festival.
Professed mosquito nerd Sarah Cantu talks about her work as district manager for the Alamosa Mosquito Control District.
We talk about last year's triumphs in wrestling and cross country, and look ahead at what next year holds for the Grizzlies.
Karla Willschau and Eric Kimberling, Ski Hi Stampede board members, talk about this year's lineup as the event celebrates its 100th year.
Mandy Pittman talks about what's in store this season. The downtown market opens Saturday, July 2.
It’s a ‘rock show’... or is it a ‘play’? or is it ‘performance art’...? It is SourMILF (*NSFW)
Artist Jocelyn Catterson of Del Norte talks about the growth of new roots in the magical Valley she remembers as a child
Bookstore manager Allison Cruse talks about the store's transformation, and its upcoming summer author series
ASD superintendent and assistant superintendent talk about the district's strategic plan