The Santa Fe Reporter from Santa Fe, New Mexico • Page 6

LA VILLA REAL Orlando Romero The Big Tesuque Is Priceless Not since felonious Colonias have so many divergent people been so opposed to one issue. For some of you non-natives, Colonias was a large development that was planned on Tesuque Indian land. Protests, bumper stickers and lots of vocal disharmony plagued the development out of existence. We were so naive back then in the '70s when Colonias was seen as a threat to our pristine Santa Fe environment. then, we've had Eldorado, La Tierra and a host of other bedroom communities spring up around Santa Fe.

I guess the activists realized they needed a place to live, and not much noise was raised, or has been raised, about affordable housing communities. After all, how many working people can afford Santa Fe? But once again the activists have come to life, and with them a host of young, middle- aged and older Santa Fe-area residents spanning every ethnic group living here. Why? And what cause has stirred up passions and emotions and intelligent dialogue recently? If you guessed WIPP you're wrong: the most heated debate in this town is the proposed ski area expansion into the Big Tesuque watershed. It shouldn't come as a surprise to the Forest Service that such a debate has risen. Who in their right mind, who hasn't hiked, cross-country skied or fished the area, wouldn't feel threatened by such a radical change to the local biosphere? As a young man, I caught lovely, wily and wild brown trout in the Big Tesuque's beaver ponds and churning, crystal-clear pools.

I hold dear to my heart gently casting, tiny flies in search of the ultimate trout in that tiny creek. One time I met up with a bear, one time a big buck and two small does; most importantly, Big Tesuque is still "It makes more sense to further develop the existing ski area than to risk ecological damage to an area where skiable snow is questionable." Johnny Kinsolving one of those places immediately adjacent to an urban center that provides a feeling of semi- wilderness. But I'm not alone in feeling that this special place is threatened. Take Johnny Kinsolving, who as a six-year-old started skiing at Hyde Park in the rope- tow days before chair lifts. From 1953 to '58, he was a ski instructor and began racing.

During the Western States Championship in Sun Valley in 1961, he was named team coach. His biography reads like a Who's Who of accomplished skiers but he says one of the most rewarding periods of his career was his establishment in Evanston, of a very special ski program for mentally handicapped individuals. He also smiles with pride because he directed, the Santa Fe schools ski program, working with kids from grades 4 through 12. Presently, he loves skiing as much as running his shop downtown. Yet, he too is one of those vocal citizens who is adamantly opposed to any ski expansion into the Big Tesuque.

"It makes more sense to further develop the existing ski area than to risk ecological damage to an area where skiable snow is questionable." From a straw poll I took on the Plaza of local citizens during a couple of lunch hours, I discovered that this issue isn't just another anti-tourist tirade but a very intelligent protest that questions the very nature of the expansion. As one local said, "If it would guarantee me less time, traffic and hassle to get up there, I wouldn't mind it. But when you consider the issue of saturation that's going to occur and the ecological destruction to an area that naturally cannot -provide good skiing every year, it's just not worth it." The Forest Service needs to listen very carefully to what the area's citizenry is saying. Big Tesuque is vital to many cultures; left it is a resource much more meaningful and rich than one any new skiing dollars could bring in. PAINT WITHOUT PAIN BIO SHIELD LIVOS NON-TOXIC PAINTS, stains, wood preservatives, furniture polishes, waxes; children art materials, leather seal and polish.

Enjoy the beauty of earth colors made with non-toxic pigments and natural dryers. Pleasant odors from natural resins oils. Low allergy HEADACHES! THE NATURAL CHOICE .1365 Rufina.Circle, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 438-3448 Erik Craig, EcLIX gentle and effective humanistic psychotherapy for individuals couples 25 years in the practice, teaching and supervision of counseling and psychotherapy STEVEN FARBER DISTRICT 2 CITY COUNCIL Uncontrolled development by strong special interests threatens Santa Fe. Together we can make a difference. f' VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION, MARCH 3, for by Steven G.

Fafber for Fe, Lawrence Taub. Campaign Treasurer PSYCHIC MARY BETH HUBERMAN APPEARING AT: PSYCHIC FAIR FEB SAT 10-6, SUN 11-7 SANTA FE ACTORS' THEATRE GUADALUPE MANHATTAN IN PHONE INQUIRIES WELCOMED 10 SANTA FE REPORTER Feb. 1992.