Believe it or not, some people are not devoted readers of Neighbors.
The column is always a gripping read, of course, but it’s a lot of words for someone dealing with dyslexia.
Over the past few years, I have learned more about this learning disability where a different way of processing language makes it difficult to interpret what is on the page. Much of that education has come courtesy of the Liberty School, which works intensively with students with dyslexia, gifted students and those considered twice exceptional: students who have dyslexia and are gifted.
On Nov. 2, the Liberty School held its fifth annual gala and induction into the Dyslexia Hall of Fame at the Henry Strater Theatre. The 130 guests enjoyed a silent auction in the Oak Room with background music by blues man Kirk James before moving into the theater for fun, frivolity and finally, recognition that many people of high accomplishment have learned to live with dyslexia, including Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Stephen Spielberg.
Chris and Sam Atchison and “Guitar Nate” Foster rocked out with James in the Kirk James Dyslexic Jam Band, including their signature tune, “It’s All Right Kiddo, (Mama) Liberty School is Here for You.”
Dan Guandolo once again served as master of ceremonies, sharing the story of how he and his family moved to Durango from St. Croix so his son, Danny, could attend the Liberty School. Danny, who graduated from Liberty last year, is now attending Big Picture High School.
Mimi Thurston, an ardent advocate for students with dyslexia, donated former Gov. Bill Owens’ act from 2006 recognizing dyslexia in the state to the school. It was accepted on behalf of the school by 10 current and former students.
Event chairwoman Cindy Atchison, silent auction guru Sandy Stiles and their teams, which pretty much included everyone associated with the school, helped raise $20,000 for the school’s scholarship fund.
The Liberty School’s founder, Joyce Bilgrave, board President Bob Harrington and the entire board of directors were on hand both to share the school’s story with attendees and engage in some spirited bidding.
Steve Harris of Harris Water Engineering was the event sponsor. His son, Quinn, who was inducted into the Dyslexia Hall of Fame in 2009, is off in Santiago, Chile, honing his entrepreneurial skills. Harris hosted Sen. Michael Bennet’s Durango staff at the dinner. (Bennet was one of the inductees.)
Fort Lewis College President Dene Thomas was flying high after the Skyhawks’ win for homecoming. Jeanne Bennett of La Plata Electric Association, Lynn Urban from United Way of Southwest Colorado, Ken Tallman from Mercury and Beth Drum of Alpine Bank were on hand to represent the corporate sponsors. Other sponsors included Wells Fargo Bank, First National Bank of Durango and the Ballantine Family Fund.
The main act, of course, was the induction ceremony. Bennet, who was represented by his Southwest regional director, John Whitney, sent a video, talking about his school journey, including a repeat of second grade, which was difficult but helpful. Bennet went on to earn a law degree at Yale University, where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Journal. Of course, his adult life has been a series of successes, from serving as managing director of Anschutz Investment Co. and superintendent of Denver public schools to now becoming a U.S. senator.
Keeton Disser, a Hall of Fame member who was inducted last year, presented the plaque to Whitney, who praised the Durango community for supporting the alternative path to learning that the Liberty School represents.
The second inductee was Brady Paulek, who had the best cheering squad west of the Mississippi River. Parents, in-laws, his sister, friends and very pregnant wife, Michelina, were beaming with pride as Paulek, a BP simultaneous operations technician, received his honor. His wife’s due date was also Nov. 2, so everyone was wondering if she’d make it through the ceremony, but baby Tate Nicholas Paulek held on until my birthday, Nov. 5, so no panic ensued.
Brady Paulek has been nominated for BP’s Helios Award, which recognizes teams that have achieved excellence. Bill O’Flanagan, Liberty’s head of school, said Paulek is a walking example of “The Dyslexic Advantage,” three-dimensional thinking and high-level problem solving. Fortunately, he received accommodations in school that allowed him to expand on his strengths in the sciences, art and history. Paul Folwell, who was inducted in 2011, presented Paulek with his honor.
The final inductee was our own chief of police, Jim Spratlen. After receiving his award from former inductee and Animas Elementary School Principal Lisa Schuba, Spratlen talked about his challenges with English, social studies, French and history, while he excelled in chemistry, algebra, calculus and physics.
“Dyslexia enhanced my ability to see projects, visualize what they would look like and the skill to build them,” Spratlen said.
The gala is a wonderful demonstration of how much we have learned about dyslexia since I was a child, when kids were considered “stupid” if they had problems reading and writing. But we still have a way to go to make sure every child who deals with dyslexia gets the help he or she needs to deal with different wiring in the brain.
Congratulation to all the inductees.
HHH
My Scorpio brethrens’ birthdays continue with Thalia Campbell, Bill Postler, Ginny Clark, Meghan Youngblood, Danya Eggleston, Carol Godlin, Laura Yale, Wes May, Terry Polsfut, Denise Polsfut, Tom Hahl, Robert Newby, Mary Ruth Bowman and Ryan Overington.
HHH
One fundraising auction after another here offers some kind of cool experience. I always ask people to tell me what happened on that experience, because it might encourage others to bid on a similar offering at the next fundraiser.
Beth Lamberson took me up on it.
At Music in the Mountains Pops Night in July, the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum donated a behind-the-scenes tour. Kathy Deaderick and Mary Barter got the ball rolling on the bidding, eventually recruiting Cindy Cortese, Foxie Mason, Jan Bowler, Jill Ward, Cindi Hilmer and Judy Michalski to join the group.
Some of them had not yet visited the award-winning building, which opened in 2011, while others, such as Cortese and Bowler, had volunteered at the grand opening weekend.
They took the tour on Oct. 14, visiting the vault and archives, and getting an extended tour of the exhibits courtesy of Executive Director Nathan Strong Elk and marketing intern Anthony Porambo. Lamberson, the museum’s fundraising program director, prepared a lunch of apricot-glazed chicken, mixed pepper salad, bread and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
At the end of the day, while they had seconds on the cookies, each woman wrote down something she had learned. Some had learned how to say hello in Ute - mique - or that there are seven bands of the Ute people spread out between Ignacio, Towaoc and Fort Duchesne, Utah. One of the pieces of paper was drawn, making Bowler the lucky winner of a custom Pendleton blanket woven with the museum’s logo, the other part of the donation.
HHH
I’m old-fashioned. I like the Christmas festivities to start after Thanksgiving, not before school starts in the fall, as seems to be the case for many retailers these days.
But there’s one thing I always look forward to, and that’s the ringing of the Salvation Army bell at kettles around the area.
That means we’re refilling the coffers to help our friends and neighbors through the tough times of 2014. There are about 600 shifts to fill, and volunteers are always needed.
Call Sharon Wiebel at 247-4763 to volunteer.
The ringing season is really short this year because Thanksgiving is so late. The ringing will begin Nov. 26 and continue through Christmas Eve.
HHH
Marking another year of life’s ups and downs together are Paul and Beverly Dittmer and Ken and Pat LeRoy.
HHH
neighbors@durangoherald.com
