Jenny Haraden spends most of her time at the Grand County Public Library in Moab but comes out to Castle Valley on Tuesdays to read to the children and lead them in crafts and games. Last Tuesday morning, the kids were reading Dr. Seuss books and making hats that are featured in one of his books. Haraden and her husband, Tom, are currently building a house in Castle Valley and will move out here soon.
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The next community potluck dinner will be held at the Castle Valley LDS Church Tuesday, March 12, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Those who attend on a regular basis partake of a wide array of delicious food and desserts while visiting with their friends and neighbors for a while before packing up and returning to their homes to complete their evening activities.
Next week, the potluck will be a little different, in that Judy Carroll of Moab wants to furnish cake and ice cream for dessert for the community, and especially for those who assisted her during her accident in Castle Valley last December. Carroll suffered multiple injuries when her car hit the guardrail on Castle Valley Drive and veered across the road and was launched into the deep arroyo next to Castle Creek. Neighboring residents initially came to her aid before Castle Valley Fire Department members arrived to assist with the extrication and transporting her back to the road where a Grand County ambulance was waiting.
Carroll was transported to the LDS Church parking lot, where a Life Flight helicopter was waiting to take her to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. She spent several weeks at St. Mary’s and was transferred to Moab Regional Hospital for several weeks of therapy. She is now back at home continuing therapy, both at home and the hospital. She is walking with the aid of a cane and is driving to her hospital visits and elsewhere.
Carroll wants to personally meet and thank all those who assisted her during her time of need and chose the potluck dinner to do that. She invites all those who helped her that day to come to the potluck so she can meet and thank them personally and enjoy the cake and ice cream she is furnishing.
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Plants belonging to Mary Rees’s native plant nursery will go on sale this Saturday and Sunday, March 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mary was a resident of Castle Valley for 35 years before she passed away unexpectedly last January at her home. Her family will be hosting the community for the sale of all of her locally collected and grown plants, including cacti, Mormon tea, astragalus, penstemon, cottonwood, salt bush, mountain mahogany, sage brush, rice grass, cliffrose, serviceberry, and yucca.
The sale will take place on Mary Rees’ property in Castle Valley at 52 Lazarus Lane. The plants can be purchased by cash or check. Her daughter, Hilary, can be contacted at 520-429-8462 for further information.
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Thirty-five years ago, development and zoning changes in Castle Valley were studied by the Grand County Commission during a public hearing. Developer Joe Kingsley wanted to rezone lots 439 and 440, as he planned to build a general store and post office on one lot and a plastic factory on the other. The article, which appeared in The Times-Independent March 9, 1978, stated that while there was little objection to the general store, there was much opposition to the factory. A show of hands at the meeting revealed that 15 persons were against rezoning and only one voted for it.
Thirty years ago this week, dedication services were held for the Castle Valley LDS Church building. Don Cook, LDS Stake president at the time, conducted the program and offered the dedicatory prayer. Stake First Councilor Ron Holyoak and Branch President Richard Stucki also spoke during the service.