Earthblog

The newest issue of Matterhorn is hot off the press and just waiting for you to pick it up at Matter Bookstore. Read all about north vs. south Fort Collins, what's going on at the Foothills Mall and if the Poudre School District is any closer to getting local food on the lunch trays. Don't miss the article on activism and social media, book reviews by Matter volunteers, poetry and of course, the Bingo Culture photo essay (a winning idea at this year's Pitch-a-thon). Copies will be hitting the streets soon but in the meantime, swing by the bookstore or flip through it above. Happy reading! And don't forget to send us your comments, suggestions or story ideas.

Photo by Anna Fagre

Earlier this month we held our 2nd annual Pitch-a-thon fundraiser at Odell Brewing.  The idea was to generate local story pitches while raising a few bucks to help publish our quarterly newspaper, MATTERHORN.  Below are 33 of the 50 plus ideas that were suggested.  We had to do a little editing first, which meant taking out ideas that were duplicates, didn't fit our mission, or had already been covered by us or other local media.

Please let us know (in the comment section) which of these stories you most want to see covered in the fall issue of MATTERHORN.

Thank you to everyone that came to the Pitch-a-thon and generously shared your thoughts and dollars.  And to Odell's for having us.  We appreciate all of your support and encouragement.  Look for the summer edition of MATTERHORN in June!

33 Pitch-a-thon Pitches

1.   Homeless on the streets.  Biography, case studies.

2.   A resource list/ calendar for a dog owners.  Dog hikes, dog friendly 5K’s, etc.

3.   Photo Essay of the Bingo Culture

4.   The USDA Wildlife Research Center – They recently moved to the foothills of Fort Collins from Denver.  What exactly do they do there?

5.   Trailer Parks in Fort Collins

6.   Shining the Plow:  The Story of Jim Hyde (1920-2000).  Jim was one of the largest farmers in Laporte in the 50s.   What happens mirrors the rise and delcline of farming in the US.  He was organic before there was organic but he died of pesticide exposure.

7.    Canyon Culutre.  Buckhorn Canyon and Rist Canyon have been locations of rural drop-out/ anti-establishment/ ex-urban counter culture for a century.

8.    A look at women’s reproductive healthcare in Fort Collins. Planned Parenthood vs. the Alpha Center.

9.    Interview with Marc Bekoff, an animal behaviorist from UC Boulder.

10.  AAA- All Area Art:  rundown of the recent art history of the still nascent visual art scene in Fort Collins.  Summit Studios, Gallery Underground, Pouder River Art project.  Interview new artists in the area.

The fake news was almost the real news. The District’s recommendation only includes one elementary school closure, Beattie. They’re confident the plan maintains quality education for all students and helps achieve a better financial picture. Students will be relocated to Johnson, Lopez, or choice into another school. Human resources is working on a “dignified process” for staff placement. The entirety of the plan can be read here and a survey soliciting feedback about it can be taken here.

The findings in the plan reveal the District’s values. The rationale is presented transparently, they value the dual language program at Irish, the IB World curriculum, and the District seriously considered how closing one school and moving those students around would affect other schools.

At the same time, the effect of this recommendation, if accepted, on the families and students at Beattie is something to keep track of. There’s a fight a going on to save Beattie, and there’s a meeting tomorrow at the school, 7pm, about the closure plan. Another meeting will be held Wednesday at 7pm at Lopez to discuss how Lopez and Johnson will be affected.

Last week’s story is the one I want to write. It’s hopeful. It’s a good story, heartwarming even. It starts with a budget crisis, includes the November ballot measures, a community coming together to support their children, and ends with its synopsis of Dr. Jerry Wilson’s statement following the January 25th Board of Education vote on the Poudre School District’s underutilized school recommendations.