Just as the Postal Service won’t let anything (except for budget woes, apparently) get in the way of delivering the mail, a little rough weather – OK, a lot of rough weather, with hail, lightning, mudslides and torrential rains – couldn’t stop local food producers from delivering the fruits (and veggies, meat and cheese) of their labors to area chefs for the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado’s Community Taste Dinner.
The sold-out crowd of 150 filled the main room and a tent at the Ridgewood Center at Blue Lake Ranch, which is one of the most beautiful places in La Plata County. While the temperature was a tad brisk, it was a great evening to catch up with friends, enjoy a nice dinner and trip the light fantastic to Tim Sullivan and his band, Narrow Gauge.
Volunteers with the Women’s Health Coalition, which has a Fiscal Sponsorship Fund through the foundation, were on hand to help with serving and cleanup.
The repast began with a salsa bar featuring tortilla chips by the Chip Peddler and a wide variety of salsas from Nini’s and Zia taquerias, Linda’s Local Food Café, Gazpacho New Mexican Restaurant and Francisco’s Restaurante y Cantina.
Delicious salads from the Mahogany Grille, DoubleTree Hotel and Lost Dog Bar & Lounge kicked off the serving line. The green salad ingredients, especially the edible flowers, were the most hard hit by the storms, but you wouldn’t know it by the spread.
The Yellow Carrot prepared perhaps the most complex dish, sweet potato-crusted James Ranch zucchini sliders with caramelized onion mayonnaise and walnut pesto served on its homemade garlic honey brioche. (Tasty, but the only complaint was that they were too large in such an extensive menu.)
Perhaps the biggest raves went to the scalloped potatoes from the new El Moro Spirits and Tavern, using locally grown blue potatoes and goat cheese, and the Ore House’s macaroni and cheese. Durangourmet prepared James Ranch pork with a Thai curry, the Palace Restaurant did a tender grilled tri-tip steak with chimichurri sauce, and Blue Lake Ranch’s own jams were served with bread from Bread.
Ginger Tiger, who is starting a cottage business creating custom cupcakes, provided two delicious flavors, vanilla with vanilla-lavender frosting and gluten-free chocolate with peanut butter frosting. (The secret for body and moistness was smashed black beans.) Small cheesecakes from the Flour Sack, a new bakery opening on Main Avenue, also were considered swoon-worthy.
Carver Brewing Co. provided some growlers, and the fruit of the grape was courtesy of Star Liquors and Animas Wine & Spirits.
Board Secretary Tim Walsworth calls the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, which was founded about 15 years ago, the savings account for the nonprofit segment of our community, and it’s a great way to describe what the foundation does.
It has a variety of different funds. Organization Funds for other nonprofits such as La Plata County Historical Society, Volunteers of America and United Way of Southwest Colorado allows them to manage cash reserves and save money for big projects.
The Donor-advised Funds, such as the Gene and Sally Bradley Family Fund and Marc and Jane Katz Family Fund, are where families and individuals donate assets now and on an ongoing basis, then are able to direct the giving to their favorite causes.
The Fiscal Sponsorships allow smaller nonprofits to operate under the 501(c)3 umbrella of the foundation to allow for tax-deductible donations. And the foundation’s own fund helps pay the overhead, 11 percent, and finances the foundation’s own giving.
In 2012, the foundation achieved some significant landmarks. The Martin Family Fund, created by Greg and Molly Martin in the earliest years of the foundation, is the first Donor-advised Fund to reach the $1 million-endowment mark.
The foundation’s assets grew to more than $3.2 million, up more than 50 percent over 2011. (They were up to $3.4 million by April, so the growth continues.)
And for the first time, the foundation and its funds gave more than $1 million in grants in the five counties its serves: La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta, Dolores and San Juan.
Almost $330,000 went to nonprofits from fund holders and Friends of the Foundation. Another $355,000 went in scholarships to students at Fort Lewis College and for skills training. More than $380,000 in grants was facilitated by the foundation.
To learn more about the foundation, visit www.swcommunity foundation.org or give Executive Director Briggen Wrinkle a call at 375-5807
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Wishing for some Indian summer as they blow out their birthday candles are Kim Eisner, Margaret Vallejos, Linkin Griego, Dewey Peden, Erin Powers, Nennie Agee, Luke Jernigan, Mike Latham, Kenny Schramko, Jeff Huber, Jennifer Jenkins, Brian Grandin, Bruce Nye, Mae Reed, Ben Southworth, Jessica Steele, Josh Spaeder, Ruth Bingham, Irene Nix and Jordan Potthoff.
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On Sept. 19, the members of the Reading Club of Durango met in the oasis, er garden, of Gayle Brown for their fall potluck. After all the storming the night before, she was emptying the canopies of water and rescuing plants from the garden first thing that morning, but the day could not have been more perfect.
Women cooking for each other means they pull out all the stops, and the luncheon featured a cornucopia of goodies, from scones and garden-fresh goodies to a number of delicious desserts.
As is always the case with this group, the oldest in Durango, the conversation turned to summer travels and book recommendations.
The potluck kicks off the year’s study, and members are preparing their programs on the theme, “And the Award Goes To ... In Search of Excellence.”
Maile Kane will be discussing Newbery Medal winners, an award to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. And she assigned the homework for members, to read one of the winners before her program in January.
The list includes such favorites as Johnny Tremain, Island of the Blue Dolphin, A Wrinkle in Time and The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, so it might be fun to revisit one that lingers in the memory, and yet ... I’ve always wanted to read The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and the Bridge to Terabithia, plus I’ve been hearing good things about Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book.
You all won’t mind if I miss a few Neighbors columns, will you? My reading list is kind of full all of a sudden.
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The leaves are thinking about turning their glorious fall hues as fall begins for the anniversaries of Darrell and Diane Gardner, Robb and Amy Bourdon, Doug and Lori Brouner, Don and Sandra Mapel and Greg and Virginia Cavanagh.
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Here’s how to reach me: neighbors@durangoherald.com; phone 375-4584; mail items to the Herald; or drop them off at the front desk. Please include contact names and phone numbers for all items.
I am happy to consider photos for Neighbors, but they must be high-quality.
