This week's featured photo was submitted by Jennifer Gary from the Settlement neighborhood. Jennifer shares a beautiful evergreen tree that is lit by her neighbors every holiday season. Jennifer writes, "It is always so pretty, especially at twilight!" We couldn't agree more Jennifer, thank you for sharing!

We would love to feature your photo in an upcoming mailing! If you're interested in having your photo highlighted in the weekly news, please submit images to: jessica.hennessy@rvrma.org.

Pictured above, RVR homeowners gather to distribute Holiday Baskets to families in the Roaring Fork Valley. 

Thank you to all our RVR neighbors for their wonderful participation in the Holiday Baskets Program this year supplying new gifts, food cards, clothing and toys for 257 families, over 1,000 individuals. People helped in so many ways; buying individual gifts, "adopting" entire families, donating money for City Market and other gift cards, transporting gifts, knitting hats, wrapping gifts, baking cookies for Stepping Stones, sorting packages, and assisting agencies on gift bag pick-up day. It was heartwarming to witness so many residents helping with this valley-wide project.  

-Anne Blackwell, Chairperson

It was a sweet and festive Saturday at the Donuts with Santa event at the Ranch House! Thanks to all who came out for a fun gathering with family and friends.

Our furry friend Jack Straw poses for a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Some of our littlest RVR residents delight in donuts from Sweet Coloradough.

There will be no delay in trash collection the week of the Christmas holiday.

The Town of Carbondale has released the Waste Collection Calendar for 2025. Click here for a printable version of the calendar with more information.

Cheryl Bumgarner’s service is being held in Castle Pines on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. If you are unable to travel to Castle Pines, Cheryl’s service can be viewed via a live feed from your home by clicking on this link:  https://www.warwickproductions.com/memorial-livestream-broadcast/cheryl-bumgarner/.

If you’d rather gather at the Ranch House with friends, we will view the service in the Board Room. Please arrive by 1:45 p.m. so all can be settled when the service starts at 2 p.m.

Cheryl Bumgarner Obituary

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Contact Carrie here
Contact Dave here 

Sunday, Jan. 19 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

As you saw in last week’s newsletter, two Ranch House employees are having babies.

Please join friends at the Ranch House to celebrate these new babies who will become part of our RVR family. Ali is having a girl and Rachel is having a boy.

Please mark your calendar and RSVP here:  https://forms.gle/VBmGhEQMNGznMxQc8 

If you would like to join in the planning, please contact Sarah Murr at sarahmurr100@gmail.com
or Jessica Owings at jessicarowings@gmail.com.

Did you know that dog waste is an environmental hazard? According to the EPA, pet waste doesn't just decompose, it adds harmful bacteria to local waters when it is not disposed of properly. Animal waste can be a source of pollution that can create problems for water quality, and even human health.

Read more about how animal waste can be harmful to humans and pets alike at carbondale.com

Poop bags are provided in RVR year round at the regularly serviced waste stations. Please be a good neighbor and dog owner, and scoop the poop!

And don’t forget — Carbondale’s leash laws apply in RVR.

The organizers of Tom's Door Holiday Giving program would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who contributed. There was another tremendous outpouring of gift cards donated this year!

Thank you to our amazing RVR residents for your incredible generosity.

The Carbondale USPS team is currently understaffed. When visiting the RVR mailroom homeowners may find parcels placed on top of the center island or above mail boxes. We implore homeowners to collect their mail regularly. Packages will be sent back to the post office if they haven't been collected for 10 days or longer. 

A few kind reminders:

The Homestead Bar & Grill will remain open through Sunday, Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Friday - Monday with only a few exceptions for private parties (see below). The fall menu will have many of your favorite items with some daily additions as well.

"We've appreciated all of the support this season and would love to see you again before the year ends!" -Stephen VanDyke.

Click here for information on closing weekend sales and the closing day Ugly Sweater Party.

The golf course is officially closed for the season and responsible winter traffic is welcomed.

Remember to keep off the greens and out of bunkers, pick up after your leashed dogs and no bikes on the course.

The sledding hill will be open for use as snow permits. Supervision for kids 12 and under and helmets are recommended. Sledding and use of the course walking areas are at you own risk.

Wednesday, Jan. 8

A note below from Michael Korber, RVR Ski Club Ambassador:

"The recent snow we have had at Snowmass has made skiing so good that the mountain opened a week early. Pictured above is the Snowmass Snow stake on November 28. What I am suggesting for starting the club on snow meetings, is that we let the holidays pass and give the mountain time to get things fully organized and the crowds to lighten. So, subject to weather and snow conditions, let’s plan to celebrate the new year by starting the club on Wednesday, Jan. 8th.  Like last year we will meet at 10 a.m. at the Ullrhof. I will keep everyone posted and would appreciate it if you would let me know if you will be there on the eighth. Depending on how many of us are coming and how many groomers, bump, blue groomed and black groomed and ungroomed folks we have, we might take a little longer organizing that morning too. Looking forward to hearing from you all and enjoy the holidays with your family".

Please contact Mike if you’d like to join the RVR Ski Club at mbkorber@gmail.com or (401) 439-9132.

Click here to view the Town of Carbondale meeting calendar.

Following the Board’s unanimous approval of the budget at the November Board Meeting, homeowners had the next step of voting on the budget. According to our governing documents, two-thirds of RVR’s property owners would have to vote no to reject the budget to curtail it from going into effect on 1/1/2024. Of the 121 homeowners who voted on the budget ratification, 111 were in favor of the budget, while 10 opposed it. That means the budget goes into effect on January 1, 2024.

 RVR Property Owners who mail their payment will be receiving notification from our Accounting Department about what their monthly dues will be, starting in January. Those owners who are on auto-pay will automatically have their payment adjusted.

Now collecting donations at the Ranch House

Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 9 a.m. via Zoom - 45 minutes.

Join from wherever you are. Share the link for friends to join, too.

We will start with some gentle movements to wake up our energy and loosen our bodies. With focused breathing we can feel our internal energy, our chi, and send it all over our bodies. We will end with a focused meditation called polarity to help us feel centered and balanced. Please join us even for just part of the time. 

Join via Zoom here: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9492574662?pwd=YTZ3Mkc5Z3FrdllEdjVyZ3R0TXFadz09

Did you know RVR has an amazing restorative yoga class on Sunday afternoons from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.? 

It’s the perfect way to unwind to start a fresh week! Register for class here.

Restore and Renew Yoga Class Description: Let your body release and recover from all the stresses and strains of daily life. Ellen will guide you through gentle, supported poses designed to open and relax the body. Restore your body and refresh your mind!

Ellen Kaplan, Level 2 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher and Certified Yoga Therapist (pictured below), has been teaching at RVR for two years, but her yoga journey started in 1999. She is wonderful! Check out her class at RVR on Sundays here or her new class at True Nature here.

Learn about more about how “Restorative Yoga Can Nurture You Mind, Body, and Spirit" here.

As part of the 2025 approved annual budget, fitness fees will change from $2/class to $3/class starting January first.

970.963.6300  •  www.rvrma.org