Elena Gonzales Ruiz has been a big part of the spirit of Toklat for 20 years, with her welcoming smile and engaging family history.

She lives in Oaxaca, Mexico in a community of Zapotec  weavers. The Zapotec are close to the land which sustains them with corn, beans, and squash for
the table, and a rich indigenous history which sustains their spirits.

Elena has very generously gifted a large traditional-pattern and natural dye weaving to the Catto Center at Toklat. We've chosen in turn to give the weaving as a gesture of gratitude to the supporter who steps up  to match Ann and John Doerr's challenge gift to ACES' green energy projects with a matching gift designated for Toklat. 

Please contact Tom Cardamone for details.

Click here for the full  schedule, descriptions, and registration.

After two and a half years of thoughtful consideration, a more than 1/2 mile stretch of the Roaring Fork River has been restored two miles east of Aspen, including land owned by ACES.

Factors contributing to the degradation of the river include trans-mountain diversions, gravel dredging for road building, and past agricultural practices.

The restoration project has recreated a stable, healthy channel with riffles, bars and pools, and stabilized two badly damaged sections of river bank to mimic a natural riverbank, held in place by native vegetation.

Ed Bass, ACES neighbor east of Aspen, deserves the lion's share of credit for envisioning the restoration possibilities and moving the project along, from the big picture to the smallest of important details, insuring excellent results.

The project began in late August of this year, and was completed in mid-September.