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C’DALE CELEBRATES LOCAL ACTOR’S TV DEBUT

Photos by Sue Rollyson

The Crystal Theatre once again rolled out a red carpet for another hometown hero achieving stardom. Bob and Kathy Ezra made their theater available on a Friday night for the screening of two episodes of ABC’s “The Rookie” featuring Patrick Keleher, a 2020 graduate of Roaring Fork High School. Keleher honed his acting talents with the Stage of Life Theatre Company, Aspen Community Theatre and Theatre Aspen before landing a lead role on stage in the show “Fatherland” in Los Angeles (beating out 528 other actors). The success of that show, extending from a 30-day run to six months in Los Angeles and three Off-Broadway in New York City, helped him get a recurring part on “The Rookie.” Erin Rigney and Andrea Chacos organized the Jan. 17 festivities, beginning at the Crystal Theatre then moseying over to Bonfire for drinks and celebration. Rigney and Chacos have been long-time family friends of the Kelehers and wanted to create a community event for Patrick’s success.

Andrea Chacos and Erin Rigney

Kathy and Bob Ezra

The Keleher family

A smell conspicuous in its absence

This latest cold snap was reminiscent of years gone-by. This is cold that pinches your nose and robs your breath as the snow crunches beneath your feet. It was common fare in Carbondale. With the cold came an odor so ubiquitous, if not pervasive, that it was part of our everyday life. The pungent smell of burning coal is eponymous with our township. It is now burned so rarely that I haven’t scented it in several years.

Half a century later I have come to realize that we elders retain stories, if not knowledge that was not known or conveyed to our youth. Newcomers today may know nothing of the importance of local resources to our history. Not that long ago, Carbondale was a mining town.

One of our strongest senses, the olfactory power of smell opens an entire index of memories and emotions of profound past experiences. Time and place, relationships, joys and losses can all waft out of one of those old black chimneys. Fifty years ago, “everyone” burned coal in the Valley. The cold was colder and lasted longer. The old and uninsulated miner houses that lined blocks of Carbondale were built at the turn of the last century and were extremely difficult to heat. Most of the old stoves and furnaces’ efficiencies had long expired and they struggled to keep up with the demands of the residents.

not shattering the brittle chunk into pieces too small for the stove. Most of the stove grates on the ranch were burned out. Old cabin dwellers had scavenged the coal from the abandoned Genter Mine just above. Genter coal was more the metallurgical coal used for coking coal to make steel and it burned so hot it melted the iron grates. This is the kind of coal extracted from Redstone’s Coal Basin.

OPINION

Tend your fire well because poorly oxygenated coal fires created a thick and ugly smoke that would stifle your neighborhood. Imagine the pristine Redstone Valley with scores of coke ovens slowly burning (coking) the metallurgical coal for shipping to Pueblo.

CVEPA VIEWS

By John Armstrong

Self-feeding stoker stoves rattled and groaned as the aging augers fed the crushed coal into the firebox. Noisy, dirty and temperamental — they cranked out a lot of heat when cooperating.

Most Carbondale houses had a coal shed in the backyard. People would put up a ton or two of local coal each fall in preparation for December and January. The carbon was sourced from the mines up Four Mile Creek, New Castle or Paonia. If you didn’t have a truck, JW Weaver would deliver anything that did kick or buck. You had the menu: stoker coal, nut or lump. Stoker was already crushed and fit into the auger, nut was about the size of a walnut in the husk and lump could be chunks as big as a five gallon bucket. I lived in an uninsulated 14’ x 14’ cabin in the shade along Rapid Creek. There was a chrome-clad, black Quick Meal wood cook stove parked in the cabin like an old Dodge.

I had a bow saw and a lot of youthful energy. When Chicken Charlie Niles heard I was moving to a cabin in Marble, he said, “You’ve got to have a load of coal,” and drove me to the coal yard to load his 1950 Chevy pickup truck. I would save the lump coal for an “all-nighter” which would burn long and hot and sustain coals ‘til the early morning. Breaking up the lump coal was an art;

LETTERS

Coal was a dirty romance and the black soot ultimately coated all surfaces. If not diligent, coal smudge was on your hands and everything you touched, from light switches to curtains or your left cheek! Coal-burning environmentalists flexed their discretionary thresholds to stay warm.

No matter what coal you burned, you were still burdened with the klinkers. Klinkers are the brick-like chunks left after burning the coal with its inevitable rock layers (impurities). Klinkers and fly ash are the pesky byproducts of coal firing. Fly ash is unlike the ash from your wood stove that is welcome in your vegetable garden. Fly ash can be used in concrete production but even more so presents toxic disposal challenges, especially with large coal-fired energy facilities.

Many local families prospered from coal mining, many men lost their lives. All of us have benefitted from the steel and other products or simply the heat generated by coal production. We have another by-product that coal mining left behind. Western Colorado mines still emanate tons of methane gas daily. On a cold drive through Somerset last week, methane plumes rose above the valley slopes in warm clouds. The same phenomenon exists high in Coal Basin. The Coal Basin Methane Project (CBMP) is fine tuning a proposal for capture of this gas. Mitigation is a complex prospect affecting the environment in many ways. The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) waits as CBMP prepares a proposal for mitigation of methane this winter.

To stay informed and learn about the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, visit search www.cvepa.org or follow CVEPA on Facebook.

CORRECTION: It was falsely stated in the version of the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) article published last week that Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole, with approval by the RFSD Board of Education, enacted a new health insurance plan for teachers and staff. In fact, the decision was approved in the spring of 2023 and launched July 1, 2023 under the leadership of former superintendent Dr. Jesús Rodríguez. We sincerely apologize to Dr. Cole, RFSD and our readers for the mistake.

Canyon Creek

I think I speak for many people when I say we choose to live in this beautiful part of Colorado because it is a special and sacred place.

Our community cherishes our most important natural resource — water; and during increasing times of drought and resulting fires, we hope to protect the Canyon Creek watershed from an unnecessary water drain threatening to dry up the creek before it reaches the Colorado River. This threat comes from Nutrient Farm’s planned unit development (PUD) scheduled for review by the Garfield County Planning Commission on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 6pm.

This PUD plans to divert nearly 9 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water (approximately 5 million gallons per day) from almost 1.5 miles up Canyon Creek, yearround, by piping the old Vulcan Ditch, through AVLT conservation easements, across the dangerous and unstable hillside that burned and slid during the 2007 fire, under Highway 6 & 24 and I-70 and the

railroad. This is why the Vulcan Ditch hasn’t carried water nor been maintained to cross the Colorado River in decades; it’s just too unstable, dangerous and inefficient.

To protect this sacred watershed and ensure it flows for future generations, a group of concerned citizens formed Friends of Canyon Creek (FOCC).

We are opposed to the PUD because:

1. Drying up the creek would have significant environmental consequences, harming trout populations, destroying riparian ecosystems, and irreparably destroying the wetlands and watershed.

2. FOCC’s legal counsel believes Nutrient Farms has no legal right to divert Canyon Creek. This issue is currently before the Colorado Water Court.

3. Last and perhaps most important, drying up Canyon Creek would hinder firefighting efforts and heighten risk for us all.

Importantly, Nutrient Farms has the legal right to divert its water directly from the Colorado River, completely avoiding harm to Canyon Creek. They claim the Colorado is not high enough in quality, but

it provides water to 40+ million people and irrigates 5.5 million acres of crops. Pumping and filtering with solar is clean and increasingly cost effective and would also protect other water rights on Canyon Creek.

We do not oppose a new farm, we oppose killing a creek to irrigate that farm.

Please contact GarCO P&Z and BOCC and voice your opinions or join us for public support and information on Jan 29.

Sonja Linman friendsofcanyoncreek.com

GarCo Dems

SEEKING: Thoughtful, passionate, and strategic individuals interested in working at the grassroots level to elect leaders who will truly serve the families, seniors, and working people of our county.

The Garfield County Democrats will be electing new officers and other leadership team members at our Reorganization Meeting (aka Reorg) on Feb. 8. We’re looking for people committed to our mission of electing open-minded, forward-thinking leaders at every level of government.

Thanks to countless volunteers and donors, our local party is on strong footing. Over the past few years, we’ve updated and advanced our website as well as our database and communication tools; we’ve adopted innovative

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Cut up your art

Your photo or art could be cut into 500 pieces to make the 16” x 20” jigsaw puzzle for Carbondale’s family-friendly fourth annual Puzzle & Pie Night on Feb. 23. Submission is free, open to all ages and you can submit more than one entry. Photos must be 1625 x 2025 pixels or have an aspect ratio of 4:5. Art must have a fourth-inch bleed and a resolution of 100-300 pixels per inch. Submissions must represent Carbondale. Email entries to mdonnelly@carbondaleco.net no later than Feb. 2. For more information, visit www.carbondalerec.com

Glenwood Chamber awards

Nominations are open for the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association’s annual community awards, honoring citizens and businesses for achievements in 2024. The awards include the Top Brass Outstanding Business of the Year, the Top Brass New Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, the ATHENA Leadership Award and the ATHENA Young Professional award. Winners will be honored at the chamber’s Annual Gala on Saturday, March 15 at the Hotel Colorado. The nomination deadline is Feb. 7. Nomination forms and info are available at glenwoodchamber.com/gal

Carbondale building codes

The Town of Carbondale Building Department wants your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to help update building codes. There will be a public open house

on Jan. 30 from 2 to 6pm at Town Hall to ask questions and submit feedback before the codes are presented to the Board of Trustees. Find more information at www.carbondaleconnect.org and submit comments to building@carbondaleco.net

MAPped

The Town of Carbondale has prepared a final Mobility and Access Plan (MAP) and will present it to the Board of Town Trustees on Jan. 28. You can review previous project documents and information, at www.carbondaleconnect.org

Wolves released

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) completed the second release of gray wolves last weekend. At a Monday press conference, CPW director Jeff Davis said 29 gray wolves now roam the Western Slope, including eight females and seven males from Canada, five from the original Copper Creek Pack and nine existing wolves. Garfield County Commissioners Monday signed a letter, requesting no further gray wolf releases.

Citizens oppose new PUD

The proposed Nutrient Farms Planned Unit Development (PUD), a 1,136-acre agricultural mixed-use community at Riverbend between New Castle and Glenwood Springs, goes in front of the Garfield County Planning Commission on Jan. 29. In a press release, Friends of Canyon Creek (FCC), a citizens

coalition, said approval of the PUD would have “a devastating effect on Canyon Creek and the surrounding community.” The project would use water from Canyon Creek for livestock and crops, which FCC fears would dry up Canyon Creek. Trout Unlimited, Aspen Valley Land Trust and Protect New Castle also oppose the project.

Quarry quietly quits

Rocky Mountain Industrials dismantled mining facilities at the limestone quarry above Glenwood Springs late last week. According to the Glenwood Springs Citizens Alliance, trucks hauling machinery and structures, including the signature green, silo-shaped hoppers, were seen leaving the property and heading west. The U.S. Interior Department recently put the kibosh on mining common variety minerals at the quarry.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Josie Cruz, Jack Green, Bear Matthews, Becca Rogers, Christine Hill Smith and Hone Williams (Jan. 23); Linda Lafferty and Marty Silverstein (Jan. 24); Felina Cruz (Jan. 25); Kitty Bearden, Brian Colley, Alli Powell, Kat Taylor and Arick Zeigel (Jan. 26); Kaleb Cook, Laura McCormick Grobler and Elizabeth Ritchie (Jan. 27); Greg Albrecht, Sharill Hawkins and Carly Rosenthal (Jan. 28); Molly DeMarr and Noah Scher (Jan. 29).

The female bald eagle (left) in Aspen Glen whose mate was hit by a car on Highway 82 in June has found a new companion. They have been spending time together this month, bonding in the Eagle Buffer Zone, repairing their nest and preparing for a new family. Photo by Steve Harding

Staffing concerns precede planned opening of new Carbondale forest ranger office

JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent

A recent decision to temporarily close the White River National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Glenwood Springs to public walk-in services for lack of staff may forebode staffing difficulties when it comes time to open the new Aspen-Sopris Ranger District Office in Carbondale later this year.

The “public room” at the Glenwood office had already been operating on limited hours during the fall, White River Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams said in a Dec. 16, 2024 news release.

When the last seasonal employee left in December to take another job, and with federal agencies operating under a continuing resolution budget bill until March 14 that includes a hiring freeze for some positions, the decision was made to close the front office until further notice.

“We are looking for solutions to our staffing issues, but we do not have an estimate for when the Supervisor’s Office will be reopened,” Fitzwilliams said in the release.

In the meantime, with the new Aspen-Sopris Ranger District office building still under construction in Carbondale, anyone who needs a permit for forest resources such as firewood, post and pole harvesting, trees for transplanting,

or mushroom gathering must go to either the Rifle Ranger District office, or the Eagle-Holy Cross District office in Minturn.

Hiring challenges in general for front-office positions related to low pay and small applicant pools, coupled with expectations for budget tightening under the new Trump administration come the 2025-26 fiscal year, does raise concerns for staffing up at the new Carbondale facility when it opens.

That’s expected to be sometime this summer, said Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Kevin Warner.

“It’s still a little up in the air as

to when, so that makes it difficult to know when to even start trying to get someone to fill those positions,” he said.

Optimally, Warner said they would like to have two people in the summertime to be able to handle both phone calls and walk-in traffic at the same time.

That’s in addition to the 20 to 25 full-time professional resource staff, from recreation and resource specialists to wildlife managers, and permanent seasonal employees who will be working out of the office.

Difficulty hiring seasonal office positions, with a wage between

$17.27 and $19.33 an hour, and the lack of a visitor information specialist to train those people — that position has been vacant for nearly two years — leaves Warner in a tough position.

“We’ve got a little bit of time to try to figure it out as we get closer,” he said. “But at this point, I would be ecstatic to have one individual working up front so that we can have that open to the public.”

Typical foot traffic in and out of the ranger district offices is manageable — “It’s in the 10s of people (per day), not hundreds, so it’s not huge,” Warner said.

But the combination of foot traffic and answering phone calls does tend to keep two people pretty busy, especially at peak times during the summer and fall and when permits or reservations are in hot demand for things like the Maroon Bells Scenic Area shuttles and access into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, he said.

While hiring for temporary seasonal workers is on hold, the Forest Service does have the ability to hire what are called “permanent seasonal employees” who could help fill in where needed.

It could also be possible to rotate some of the full-time staff into the front office.

“With any decision like that,

PRIMARY REGION’S LARGEST NETWORK OF

though, you’re giving up something else,” Warner said.

The White River National Forest was recently granted permission to rehire up to 21 “partner-funded” positions for operations such as the Maroon Bells shuttle system, and hiking permits for Hanging Lake which is located in the EagleHoly Cross District. The reservation system for Hanging Lake is operated in partnership with the City of Glenwood Springs, while the Maroon Bells involves partnerships with RFTA and Pitkin County.

Even then, rehiring all 21 of those positions can be a challenge, Warner said.

“We’re actively looking at our options, but even when we do have the ability to hire and advertise for positions, we tend to get very small applicant pools,” he said. “We’re pretty limited on how much we can pay, and we’re not like a business that can raise the rate of pay based on cost of living, and such.”

Warner added, “We do anticipate that when we do move into the (Carbondale) office, it’ll be fully utilized. We’re really excited to have adequate conference space and an updated, more professional work environment for everyone.”

For now, the nearest Forest Service locations for walk-in business are the Rifle Ranger District, 0094 County Road 244, Rifle; and the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, 24747 US Highway 24, Minturn.

The new U.S. Forest Service Aspen-Sopris Ranger District building remains under construction at Main Street and Weant Boulevard in Carbondale, as viewed from the third-story balcony walkway in the Jalins Building. The new ranger station is expected to open this summer. Photo by John Stroud

CO embraces cage-free future

LONDON LYLE Sopris Sun Correspondent

Colorado’s cage-free egg law entered its final phase on Jan. 1, requiring that all eggs sold in the state come from fully cage-free facilities. The law, which was passed in 2020, has been implemented in phases over the past five years, gradually moving the state’s egg supply toward compliance.

Daniel Zangari, technical services section chief in the Inspection and Consumer Services Division with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, explained that the law was developed in response to consumer demand and structured to give producers time to transition. “The cage-free law passed in 2020 through initiatives set up by legislators, and that put the Department of Agriculture in charge of implementing it,” Zangari said. “The law was written to take a phased approach to where we start working on moving toward cage-free facilities.”

The first major benchmark of the law came in 2023, when all eggs sold in the state had to come from facilities that provided at least 144 square inches of space per hen. As of this month, the final phase has taken effect, meaning that egg

retailers who sell more than 25 cases per week must source eggs from fully cage-free facilities.

According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), the transition has been largely successful, with the department issuing 74 certificates of compliance for farms outside of Colorado that are now permitted to sell eggs in the state. All five of Colorado’s major egg producers have been working toward full cagefree compliance since the law was passed. “All of our Colorado producers — we have five major producers — all of them are fully cage-free facilities,” Zangari said. “They have worked towards being fully cage-free since it was adopted in 2020.”

Despite this, consumers may have noticed higher egg prices and even shortages in some grocery stores, leading to speculation that the new law is the primary cause. However, Zangari pointed to another major factor affecting the industry: avian influenza, more commonly known as “bird flu”.

“The issue that we are currently seeing is the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza,”

Zangari said. “Since it first hit in 2022, we’ve seen lots of heavy losses in bird populations, both in conventional and cage-free facilities. High-path avian influenza doesn’t discriminate — it doesn’t care if the bird’s in a cage or not.”

According to CDA, more than 127 million domestic birds across the U.S. have been affected by avian influenza since 2022, including nearly 10 million in Colorado. Zangari said that since mid-2024 alone, Colorado has lost approximately 3.4 million egg-laying hens to the virus, affecting three of the state’s five major egg producers. “When it hits a facility, all the birds in that facility must be depopulated,” he said. “It takes a while for

those facilities to get the population back up, to get them back online, and to get to a point where they’re able to produce eggs again.”

While avian influenza has disrupted egg production nationwide, the impact is particularly severe in states that supply eggs to Colorado. “Just in California alone, since December 2024, they’ve had 11 of their egg-laying flocks affected by high-path avian influenza,” Zangari said.

While the law impacts largescale commercial operations, backyard chicken keepers are not affected. “Any producer that has more than 3,000 egg-laying hens falls under the cage-free requirements,” Zangari said. “If you’ve got

a backyard flock with eight birds, you don’t have to worry about this.” CDA is emphasizing an education-first approach to enforcement as the law fully takes effect. Inspectors will work with retailers facing supply chain disruptions due to avian influenza to ensure they can continue providing eggs to consumers. Existing eggs will not be removed from shelves unless a recall or human health concern arises. Consumers looking for eggs that comply with Colorado’s new law should look for packaging labeled “CO-COM,” “organic,” or “cage-free.” CDA maintains a list of compliant egg suppliers on its website, ag.colorado.gov/eggs

Olive Byman, Silt Library’s unstoppable employee

KATE PHILLIPS

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Deep winter is upon us. Fireplaces are crackling with seasoned wood, herbal teas are steeping and the promise of rich storytelling lures us indoors. Whether gathered around a table laden with food, or curled up with a beloved book, our stories weave

us together, offering warmth and connection. For Olive Byman, a senior at Coal Ridge High School, stories are the very essence of humanity.

“I am drawn to people because of everyone’s different story,” she told The Sopris Sun. “We can chat about it and then I can share my part. I love getting to know people and what they’ve been through, and I feel like each story brings us a different lesson.”

Eloquent, joyful and deeply caring, Byman is the type of storyteller people gravitate toward. Her laughter rings as she describes being the oldest of 11 siblings and needing some quiet, and thoughtful insight flows as she reflects upon overcoming an unimaginable adversity: losing her eyesight.

Nearly 15 years ago, as a toddler, Byman had a stroke. Thorough scanning revealed a brain tumor that required immediate surgery. When she awoke, she was completely blind. Slowly, her right eye regained limited vision, but the tumor damaged her left eye’s optic nerve leaving it blind.

“With my right eye, I do not have peripheral vision. It’s like looking through a straw,” said Byman. “I can see colors just fine, and it’s easier for me to see things closer up than further away.”

Despite the gravity of her circumstances, Byman, with her community’s support, is committed to fulfilling her dreams. A year ago, Byman’s life changed when she met Jeo Mendez, Ascendigo’s vocational and housing assistant director, and mentor to qualified students enrolled in Colorado’s Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). One day during class, Mendez asked the students if they were ready to lead

independent lives. Byman’s hand shot up.

“From the very beginning she knew she wanted to work, but she didn’t know what she wanted to do,” said Mendez. “One way or another she came upon the idea that being a librarian would be fun.”

As a book lover fascinated by culture and art, Byman knew the library would bring meaningful work. With Mendez’s assistance, she wrote a resume and cover letter and practiced her interviewing skills while Mendez connected with the Silt Library. Branch Manager Brenda Ramirez was thrilled to hear Byman was seeking employment and immediately created a paid internship position. After three months, Ramirez was impressed by Byman’s work ethic and asked her to apply for the library page position.

“I rewrote my cover letter and resume and went through the interview process,” said Byman. “There were maybe four or five others who applied, and they said I was the best one who interviewed. I got the job! It was the first interview I ever had.”

Since September, Byman has proven to be an asset for the library. Mendez and Ramirez complimented her drive, cheerful demeanor and strong desire to help patrons and co-workers. Wanting to support her success, the team gifted Byman a pair of glasses that magnify the minuscule call numbers she uses to shelve books. The work became infinitely easier.

“Olive is such a go-getter,” said Mendez. “If there’s something in her way, she’s going to figure out a way to get around it or through it. She’s really motivated.”

Supporting independence

The journey toward independence is often sparked by desire and elevated by communal support. In Byman’s story, Ascendigo’s vocational program and DVR played pivotal roles. DVR helps individuals with cognitive and physical differences achieve gainful employment by providing funds for families and organizations like Ascendigo, a registered provider.

While Ascendigo is only for people on the autism spectrum, Mendez said his work in the schools is funded by DVR. He added that students receive services for free, and lucrative financial assistance can be used for trade school, college and living expenses. Businesses partnering with DVR also benefit. Fiscally, DVR will pay an individual’s salary for the first 160 hours in addition to any reimbursements such as training and supplies. Personally, businesses connect with dependable individuals eager to work.

“They’re just like everybody else,” said Mendez. “I think a big thing businesses see is that it’s just a different way of doing things. Maybe it takes a little bit longer, but once our individuals learn the task they’re unstoppable.”

While expressing gratitude for her team’s support, Byman said she is excited about her future. After graduation, she hopes to apply for a library specialist position, and eventually become a youth services coordinator.

“Take every opportunity that is given to you because you never know what door might be opened by that chance,” said Byman. “Go and start talking to people. You can learn a lot and broaden your experience in life.”

Olive Byman, a senior at Coal Ridge High School, is driven to live life to the fullest despite having significantly limited eyesight.

Photo by Jetta Byman

‘We Won’t Go Back’

Taking local action for women’s rights

ROMINA CABRERA Sopris

Sun Correspondent

Braving cold winds amid the arctic blast over the weekend, dozens of women and men joined the People’s March in Aspen on Saturday to take a stand against threats facing women in the community and the entire nation.

The local People’s March, which has been held yearly since the pioneer Women’s March in 2017, was aptly themed “We Won’t Go Back” and took place just two days before President Donald Trump took his second oath of office.

Led by the Pitkin County Democrats, the People’s March stormed through the streets of Aspen followed by a women-led talk at the local library. Residents of Roaring Fork Valley took part in the national movement held on Jan. 18, which saw nearly 100,000 attendees at over 382 events nationwide.

President Trump back into office.

The amendment will prohibit the state and local governments from denying, impeding or discriminating against abortions, which will now be allowed to be a covered service under health insurance. Championed by reproductive rights groups, the amendment was approved by 62% with nearly 1.9 million people voting in favor.

“That is not national. That is Colorado,”

We must remember that progress is not inevitable, - Shannon Meyer, Response

Betty Wallach, chairman of the Pitkin County Democratic Party, emphasized the need for local action in the community to augment national and even global movements to promote women’s rights. “All politics is local; I really believe that. Our politics is local,” she said in an interview. She highlighted the recent passage of Amendment 79 that will enshrine the right to abortion in the Colorado State Constitution during the last local elections — the same election that ironically brought

Wallach said. “And we are very proud of that. That is something that we worked very hard on. We had it passed here and in the whole state. We are extremely proud of that.”

Women speakers during the People’s March event agreed that, despite the continuing threats made against women’s rights in recent years and the years to follow, communities must stand together to end sexism and dangerous actions against all individuals.

The esteemed speakers included human rights and trial attorney Beth Klein, freelance writer Annalise Grueter (also a Sopris Sun contributor) and women’s rights advocate Cidney Fisk.

Touching on needed support for reproductive health care, organizations like Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM), assured that they will continue to serve women in

COEXISTENCE WORKS!

Fostering peaceful coexistence among humans, wolves and livestock. Join us in a discussion about fostering peaceful coexistence between humans, livestock and wolves with Suzanne Asha Stone and Glenn Elzinga.

January 27th, 2025, 5:30pm-7:30pm Glenwood Springs Branch Library Community Room, 815 Cooper Ave

Suzanne Asha Stone has been on the Western frontlines of wolf restoration since 1988. She is the founder and executive director of the International Wildlife Coexistence Network and was a member of the 1990s Yellowstone/Idaho wolf reintroduction team. She is also co-founder of the Wood River Wolf Project, where for the past 18 years, 22,000 sheep have grazed in the 1200 sq km project area during the annual grazing season. Despite the ongoing presence of wolves, fewer than ve sheep on average have been lost to wolves annually, and only two wolves have been killed due to livestock con icts in those 18 years.

Glenn Elzinga is CEO and co-founder with his wife Caryl, of Alderspring Ranch, an organic, grass-fed cattle ranch in the central Idaho Rocky Mountains. Using low-stress livestock handling, intensive grazing and completely nonlethal predator coexistence methods, they’ve had no livestock losses in 10 years. And, due to using regenerative ranching practices on their 46,000 acre public land grazing allotment, they’ve documented improvement in riparian, sh and sage-grouse habitat and the number of cattle the ranch can support has doubled.

Colorado and other nearby states, such as Wyoming and New Mexico, despite the barriers and challenges anticipated with the incoming administration.

“We want to reassure our patients and communities that we serve that we are not going anywhere,” said Meiko Lunetta, PPRM senior major gifts officer.

“We have been planning for this, for the challenges ahead,” she added. “We have been working on contingency plans to make sure no matter where you come from, who you are and how you identify, you can continue to count on us for the care and support that you deserve here in the Rocky Mountains.”

The women speakers at the event collectively agreed that although the years ahead may be difficult, this can be met with vigor and resilience by having difficult

conversations and in-person practices to protect women in our communities. They highlighted the progress made for women’s rights throughout the decades — from not being allowed to vote and open bank accounts, to now leading corporations and businesses throughout the country.

Shannon Meyer, executive director of Response, lauded the activism that it took for women to get this far but cautioned that more action will be needed as the community and nation looks toward the future of women’s rights.

“We must remember that progress is not inevitable,” Meyer said. “It requires vigilance in our actions. We’ve got to legislate and advocate to create a society where all individuals can live free from fear. We will not be silenced, we will not be passive, and we will not go back.”

Medical Needs

Our After-Hours clinic provides a convenient, cost-effective way to receive the compassionate care you deserve without a visit to the ER.

No appointment necessary, walk-ins welcome! Weekdays: 2-10 pm | Weekends: 8 am-5 pm 234 East Cody Lane, Basalt | 970.544.1250

Photo by Romina Cabrera

At Naturalist Nights, Schendler advocates for connection

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

In the depth of each winter, local nature enthusiasts gather in Carbondale and Aspen every two weeks for the Naturalist Nights speaker series. This is the 25th year that the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) and Wilderness Workshop have carried the tradition. Past events featured high-altitude mountaineers, conservation specialists, activists and even politicians. The first talk of 2025 took place Jan. 8-9, hosting Auden Schendler, senior vice president of sustainability for Aspen One, aka Aspen Skiing Company.

Schendler has worked in sustainability for nearly 30 years. After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1992, he spent several years teaching high school and facilitating Outward Bound programs. By 1996, he joined the Rocky Mountain Institute, a local think tank. Aspen SkiCo hired him as vice president of sustainability three years later. Schendler’s first book, “Getting Green Done,” is now over 15 years old.

In November, Schendler’s second book was published: “Terrible Beauty: Reckoning with Climate Complicity and Rediscovering Our Soul.” At the Jan. 9 talk at the Pitkin County Library, Schendler opened his presentation by

focusing on joy. He spoke less to specific chapters of the new book and more to the broad topics of the climate crisis, human existence and paths he sees toward real change.

A video of his son chopping wood cut open a conceptual cross-section about human connection and disconnection. What do people care about, as people? Schendler invited the audience to consider. He named popular, common sense answers: kids, friends, home, family. “What do you do to protect those things?” Schendler asked, before asserting that too many people say (and do) “nothing.”

Schendler wove many of the cultural roots that inspire him

into his commentary. He interlaced the Aristotelian notion of eudaimonia, the highest condition of human thriving, with the Aspen Idea and an emphatic defense of skiing as a sport and a hobby. “The vision of Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke was that you come to a place that is so beautiful that you’re outside your regular life and explore new experiences and ideas, then go out into the world and act to improve the world,” he said. As for sliding on snow, “Skiing isn’t a luxury; it’s an example that humans need leisure in various forms to be able to contribute to society.”

Many contemporary writers and musicians have popular work

that examines themes of alienation, overwhelm and survival.

Schendler referenced Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Cormac McCarthy in succession. “You can’t be living a life where all you’re doing is trying to survive, where like in McCarthy’s ‘The Road’ you’re just trying to get by.”

We find ourselves in a society where we don’t do or get to do the things that make us thrive, Schendler said. “You need to be able to pause, to take a walk in a park, to sit outside.”

From this broad framing, Schendler focused on the climate crisis. He shared data maps about changing temperatures and strained ocean current patterns, and strong

words about what those numbers and images mean. “The problem with climate today,” Schendler said, “is the Paris Agreement said 1.5 [Celsius] over pre-industrial times. We’re going to blow past 1.5. We’re going to blow past 2. We’re currently on track for 3.3 to 4, and that’s not factoring in the acceleration of emissions.”

Schendler condemned greenwashing and most corporate sustainability efforts. He asserted that company emission reduction targets and glossy ad campaigns about energy use don’t address the systems-level damage of climate change. “That’s American environmentalism. That’s corporate sustainability. That’s a problem.” What does Schendler recommend instead? Companies messaging customers and nudging them to better engage and organize as citizens.

“We know how to do revolution, and we’ve done it through history. We’ve done it reasonably.” Corporations and governments fear power-wielding and challenges to any given status quo, Schendler said. As examples of subversive power-wielding, he cited Protect Our Winters infographics on ski lifts and the 2018-launched Give A Flake ad campaign. Part of that campaign, calling out U.S. politicians, was

continued on page 18

Carbondale Bike Project is seeking volunteers with bicycle mechanical experience to help keep our shop running in 2025!

Carbondale Bike Project is the only community bicycle project serving Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties.

Open Shop hours are Tuesday and Thursdays, 2PM-6PM and Sundays Noon-6PM. We ask for 2-6 hours volunteer time during open shop hours. Volunteers will receive training on shop operations.

Carbondale Bike Project is located in the Third Street Center, 520 S Third St., Suite 34, Carbondale

Contact Valerie Gilliam at valerieeudora@gmail.com, 970-948-5877 or Shop Manager, Erik O’Connell at Carbondalebikeproject@gmail.com

Check out our website under the “How Can I Help” tab to find more ways to volunteer: https://carbondalebikeproject.org

Carbondale Bike Project is under the fiscal sponsorship of Carbondale Community Center dba Third St. Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The Jan. 8-9 Naturalist Nights events with Auden Schendler saw full rooms as community members gathered to hear his thoughts on climate change and corporate inaction. Photo by Annalise Grueter

Rams boys atop league basketball standings, girls fall to undefeated Cedaredge

JOHN STROUD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

The Roaring Fork High School boys basketball team launched itself into first place in the 3A Western Slope League standings with a pair of wins last weekend. Meanwhile, the previously undefeated girls team stumbled a bit in their bid for the league title, but scored a pair of wins on the rebound.

Hosting Cedaredge on the home court Friday, Jan. 17, the Roaring Fork girls fell 78-40 to the still-undefeated Bruins, while the boys won the nightcap 67-33.

On Saturday, the Rams teams were on the road at Olathe. The girls rebounded from the previous night’s loss to score a 71-19 blowout win, while the boys won 82-61.

“I think we’re in a good groove right now, and hopefully we can keep it going,” boys coach Jason Kreiling said.

Versus Cedaredge, junior Lucas Carballeira had 18 points, including five 3-pointers, and junior Kiko Pena had nine points and nine rebounds.

With Pena out with a minor ankle injury the next day at Olathe, the Rams had balanced scoring.

Carballeira had 22 points in that contest, junior Ethan Wilson and senior Luis Andrade had 15 each and sophomore Quentin Galbraith contributed 14.

“We’re getting a good taste of some road games in the mix,”

Kreiling said of back-to-back weekends with a Friday home game and a Saturday road game.

“We’re in a good place right now, but there’s definitely some improvement that needs to happen yet.”

Better consistency on both ends of the court will be key as the Rams face a tough test at home this Saturday against a hot Meeker Cowboys team. Tip-off is at 4pm.

“Meeker has been on a roll,” Kreiling said of the Cowboys’ recent three-game win streak.

“With the Western Slope League, sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get, so we’ve got to be on our game.”

The boys stand at 9-3 overall, and are now 4-0 in league play.

Ladies hold strong

After the Olathe win, the Rams girls picked up another convincing win on the road at Aspen on Tuesday night, 61-23, to move to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in the league,

sitting in third place behind Cedaredge and Gunnison.

Against a big, physical Cedaredge team last week, sophomore Riley Bevington was the only Ram to score in double figures with 18 points in the loss.

Bevington again led the way at Olathe with 25 points and eight rebounds, while senior Carley Crownhart had 20 points, and junior Nikki Tardif had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

“The girls faced a very talented and physical Cedaredge team on Friday night, but they bounced back nicely on Saturday afternoon after the long trip to Olathe,” girls head coach Mike Vidakovich said.

The Cedaredge loss dropped Roaring Fork to 12th in the state 3A rankings, while Cedaredge replaced the Rams, who were featured on MaxPreps Colorado last week, at the fifth spot.

“We face another tough test this week on Saturday afternoon at home against Meeker,” Vidakovich said.

Saturday tip-off for the varsity girls is 2:30pm.

Wrestling results

Hosting a Jan. 15 dual meet with Battle Mountain, the combined

Valley View University : Women’s Health Series

Live Zoom webinars, Thursdays, 12 – 1 p.m. with Q&A following.

February 6, 12 p.m.

Heart Health for Women

Katrina Metcalf, Nurse Practitioner Valley View Heart & Vascular Center

Learn about how women can take a unique approach to maintaining a healthy heart, impacts of cholesterol and making lifestyle changes.

February 27, 12 p.m. Menopause Explained

Dr. Elizabeth Cruse, Internist Valley View Internal Medicine

Learn about the impact of and various treatment options for the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause: what is it, what to expect and how to handle it.

Basalt/Roaring Fork boys wrestling team prevailed, 47-12. Wrestled match winners were Graham Rose at 113 pounds (fall 5:27), Bronze Urfrig at 144 pounds (TF 23-8, 5:12), and Vaclav Hejda at 157 pounds (fall 2:14).

The girls team fell to Battle Mountain, 18-12, with Roselynne Bernal-Rodriguez scoring a win by fall in 1:12 at 155 pounds, before taking second at the Queens of the Mountain tournament on Jan. 18.

The boys are at the Cardinal

Invitational this Saturday, Jan. 25, and both teams are at the Meeker Duals on Feb. 1.

Nordic skiing

The Colorado Rocky Mountain School Nordic ski team hosted a 5-kilometer skate competition on Jan. 15, inviting skiers from 13 Colorado high schools to the Spring Gulch ski area outside of Carbondale.

The top CRMS finisher for the boys was Wyatt Smith, placing ninth out of 67 skiers with a time of 17 minutes, 6 seconds; and for the CRMS girls it was Wren Groves Benedict in 44th place out of 72 skiers, in 24:45.

Fundraise Ski Celebrate Sunday, February 9, 2025

Join us at the Thompson Trailhead for Ski for Sisu, an annual tradition and the biggest fundraiser of the year!

Embrace the spirit of Sisu, go the distance, and give back to the trails you love at Spring Gulch.

Highlights

FUNDRAISE: Upon registering, you’ll receive a personal fundraising page to share with friends, family, and coworkers. Contributions are quick and easy through your link—no pledge collection needed after the event!

SKI: Choose from our marked 3.5, 10, 12.5, or 15-kilometer courses and ski as many laps as you can! New this year: 1k kids loop and games.

CELEBRATE: Head to the Thompson Trailhead after skiing for an après-ski feast! Enjoy Fatbelly Burgers (with beef and veggie options), delicious sides, treats, and drinks.

Details

ENTRY FEE: $50 adults, $20 youth, Under 10 is free! (Family pricing available) Includes a MSNC Buff or socks as a thank you for participating!

PRIZES • SILENT AUCTION

SIGN UP TODAY: Visit www.springgulch.org

Ram Carley Crownhart takes a shot during Friday’s game against Cedaredge. Photo by Isaac Sterling, youth correspondent

CALENDAR

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Jamie Lowe, MD, a urologist at Valley View’s Rocky Mountain Urology Center, presents “Taking Control: Bladder Issues & Treatment for Women 101” as part of Valley View’s Women’s Health Series, on Zoom at noon. Register at www.tinyurl.com/ VVWomensHealth

THUNDERCHAT

Thunder River Theatre presents its first “Thunderchat” with keynote speaker Mandy Moore at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26

NORDIC DEMO DAY

DIGITAL SAT

Basalt Library offers an intro to the SAT and resources for Spanish speakers from 4 to 5pm.

ESCAPE ROOM

Basalt Library invites all ages to take the Sherlock Holmes Escape Room challenge. Participants can sign up at the front desk in advance for a 30-minute time slot from 4 to 7pm.

LINCOLN CREEK 2.0

Last summer two graduate students from the University of Colorado Boulder conducted a comprehensive study of Lincoln Creek to evaluate the presence of rare earth elements and trace metals, and assess their implications for the creek’s ecological health. Athena Bolin and Adam Odorisio will present their findings at the Basalt Library at 5pm. Register at www.roaringfork.org/events

X GAMES

The 24th X Games Aspen will return to Buttermilk Mountain beginning tonight from 5 to 10pm and continuing through the weekend. Find all the details at www.xgames.com

CRYSTAL THEATRE

The Crystal Theatre shows “A Complete Unknown” at 7pm tonight, tomorrow, Wednesday and next Thursday at 7pm. The Sunday show is at 5pm.

STEVE’S GUITARS

David Lawrence performs a solo show at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. For tickets, visit www.stevesguitars.net

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

‘PINK TO BLACK’

Thunder River Theatre and El Dorado present the first installment of “Pink to Black,” a new immersive concert series, featuring the Triptides. DJ Pinto opens the show at 7pm. Tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com

BANK & HARRIMAN

Chris Bank and Hap Harriman perform at Heather’s from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

TACAWMEDY

Comedian Rory Scovel entertains at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

‘AIDA’

Aspen Film presents a screening of “Aida,” the opera, at the AF Isis Theatre at 10:30am.

APRÉS AT TACAW

In partnership with Aspen Historical Society, TACAW hosts family-friendly vintage ski films and an ‘80s-themed dance party. This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 4pm and the films begin at 5pm.

Independence Run & Hike invites folks to demo nordic skiing equipment at Spring Gulch from 8:30am to 1pm. Call 970-704-0909 for more info and to reserve gear in advance.

POND REFLECTIONS

A Spiritual Center presents “Deep Pond Reflection of Heaven on Earth” — a video of beautiful imagery accompanied with narration of spiritual principles — at Room 31 in the Third Street Center from 10 to 11:30am.

PRENATAL/POSTPARTUM

Kerrie Martin, a holistic perinatal consultant, hosts a workshop for pregnant women and postpartum mamas, as well as those contemplating motherhood, at True Nature from 10am to 4pm. Babies are welcome. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

MONDAY, JANUARY 27

YOGA IS MEDICINE

Laura Post teaches a free yoga class at the Basalt Library from 10:15 to 11:15am.

HOBBY TIME

The Basalt Library welcomes middle and high schoolers to learn the art of microwave mug cooking from 4 to 5pm.

COEXISTENCE WORKS

The Sierra Club, International Wildlife Coexistence Network and Colorado Wild present on peaceful coexistence between humans, livestock and wolves at the Glenwood Springs Library from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28

WALDORF TOUR

Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork invites parents of prospective students to tour their 13-acre campus and ask questions. RFVP at bit.ly/wsrfjantour PAWS TO READ

Young readers are welcome to practice reading with a friendly therapy dog at the Basalt Library in 15-minute increments, from 3:45 to 4:45pm.

MORTALITY

True Nature offers a conversation on mortality with Akaljeet Khalsa at 4pm. Register for free at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

FROSTBITE FRIGHTS

Basalt Library invites moviegoers 13 and older to come in from the cold and enjoy a scary movie with popcorn and beverages from 4:30 to 6pm.

DRAWING CLUB

The Roaring Fork Drawing Club gathers in The Launchpad’s R2 Gallery among the Valley Visual Art Show exhibit, from 6:30pm onward.

WILD PERSPECTIVES

NORTHERN LIGHT

BenFeng Music Productions presents “Northern Light: An Intimate Evening of Nordic Music” at the Old Thompson Barn in River Valley Ranch at 7pm, featuring violinists Sandra Wong (also playing the nyckelharpa) and MinTze Wu, storyteller Camille Moore and special guest Sarah Graf, basso continuo. Tickets are free for youth under 18; find more at www.benfengmusicproductions.org

ACES presents Maurizio Raselli, a PhD student at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, presenting about André Roch, a Swiss mountaineer, scientist and skier, at The Collective Snowmass at 6:30pm.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29

COMPUTER MYSTERIES

The Basalt Library helps patrons understand “cryptic computer messages” and how to search for missing documents from 5 to 6pm.

POTBELLY PERSPECTIVES

ACES presents “Seeing all the Cats” with Chris Daniels, a wildlife enthusiast from Snowmass Village, at the Pitkin County Library at 6pm. Register for free at www.aspennature.org

LEWIS & COLE

Roberta Lewis and Steve Cole serenade Heather’s in Basalt from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

‘I’M STILL HERE’

Aspen Film’s indie showcase screens “I’m Still Here” at the AF Isis Theatre at 7pm.

ONGOING EVENTS

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

The Meeting Place in Carbondale (981 Cowen Drive) offers “Hole in the Donut AA,” Monday through Saturday at 6:45am, plus “Daily Reprieve” at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Find a full schedule at www.meetingplacecarbondale.org

IN STITCHES

The In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 1:30pm.

AIKIDO

Crystal River Aikikai offers aikido training at 13 Moons Ranch for adults and teens on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30pm and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Kids classes are on Mondays from 4 to 5pm and Wednesdays from 4 to 5pm. Get your first class for free with an RSVP at www.crystalriveraikikai.com

ENGLISH IN ACTION

Volunteer English tutors and developing learners meet for informal conversational practice at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 6:30pm. Interested in becoming a tutor? Email angela@englishinaction.org or call 970-963-9200.

MONDAY MEDITATION

Roaring Fork Insight guides a weekly meditation group meeting at the Third Street Center (Room 31) from 7 to 8:30pm.

CRIBBAGE

Whether you’ve played for years or are looking to learn, stop by the Carbondale Rec Center from 4 to 5pm Tuesday nights. Bring snacks or non-alcoholic drinks to share! Visit www.carbondalerec.com for more info.

SOPRIS SISTERS

Steve’s Guitars welcomes The Sopris Sisters for a performance at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

DOGS IN A PILE

TACAW gets groovy with Dogs in a Pile at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

NOCHE PARA FAMILIAS

The Basalt Library hosts a night for Spanish-speaking families to learn about library resources and offer suggestions from 5 to 6:30pm.

YARN GROUP

Basalt Library hosts a weekly yarn group on Tuesdays at 5pm. All are welcome.

BIKE PROJECT

The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps people repair their bicycles on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm on the east side of Third Street Center.

SENIOR LUNCH

Every Wednesday at noon, Garfield County Senior Programs provides a nutritious meal for seniors at The Orchard. To reserve a place at the table, call 970-665-0041.

COSECHA TEXTILES

Textile enthusiasts are invited to a monthly workshop at Cosecha Textiles (95 Red Dog Road) every first Wednesday from 4 to 9pm. Register at www.cosechatextiles.com

CLUB DE ESPAÑOL

Practice Spanish and enjoy specials at Bodegón in Carbondale every Wednesday from 5 to 7pm.

UNDER THE SUN

Join Sopris Sun correspondents and guests for “Everything Under The Sun,” airing every Thursday on KDNK at 4pm.

GROUP RUN

Independence Run & Hike leads a weekly group run on Thursdays departing from the store’s location, next to the Carbondale City Market, at 6:30pm.

COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR

Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk posts up at Bonfire every Friday from 8 to 9am, and everyone is welcome to stop by to chat.

SMOKIN’ AND ROCKIN’

Smokin’ Joe and Rockin’ Randall perform at Heather’s in Basalt from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

AUSTIN SKALECKI

Steve’s Guitars presents Austin Skalecki at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

SOUND JOURNEY

Dr. Zachary and Krista Cashin present a monthly sound journey in True Nature’s Kiva from 6:30 to 8pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Classic and Skate style lessons for beginner and intermediate skiers at Spring Gulch. Classic Style: 1/24 & 1/31 Skate Style: 1/25

SOMATIC YOGA

A gentle practice to heal pain, release tension and anxiety, and facilitate ease of movement. Mondays, 9-10am, 1/20-2/24

SPANISH - START FROM THE BEGINNING

An intro class to develop listening and speaking with ease while you build confidence with introductory conversations. Thursdays, 5-7pm, 1/30-3/20

STORY OF CHOCOLATE

Learn about the history, varieties, regions, and cultivation of chocolate. Includes tasting. Thurs, 5-7pm, 1/30

DYNAMIC WORKOUT

A full body workout with cardio, sculpting, and floor exercises. Tues/Thurs, 11-11:50am, 2/11-4/17

SKETCHBOOK WORKSHOP

Learn fun ways to use your sketchbook with watercolors and pencils and get your creativity flowing. Tues., 1:30-4:30pm, 2/11-2/18

Carbondale’s Chamber of Commerce presented its 2024 Business of the Year award to Leslie Buettner’s Botany Houseplant Shop on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Buettner (right) is pictured with chamber director Andrea Stewart. The Nonprofit of the Year award went to Carbondale Arts and was received by (left to right) Michael Stout, Jamie Abbott and Stacy Dickerson. The chamber celebrated its own award for the highest rate of member retention in the state in 2024.

HONKY TONK

TACAW hosts Honky Tonk Night with the Caleb Dean Band beginning at 8:30pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

RANDOM CONVERSATION

The Art of Random Conversations returns to the Carbondale Library from 6 to 7:30pm. “Push your comfort zone and follow thought-provoking questions that allow you to connect deeply with whomever is sitting next to you.”

PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Learn to capture and process dynamic photographs using rules of design, camera controls and Adobe editing software. Tuesdays, 6-8:30pm, 2/11-3/4

KIDS Classes on Wednesday Afternoons:

CUPCAKES FOR VALENTINES AGES 8-16

Decorate cupcakes with the Pastry Chef Lab. Cupcakes and decorating supplies provided. Instructor is bilingual. Parent participation is welcome. Wednesday, 3-4pm, 2/12

SKETCHING AND DRAWING AGES 10-17

Learn to sketch and draw characters starting with the basics. Instructor Kurt Nestman learned to draw from a Disney artist and illustrates children’s books. Wednesday, 3-4pm, 2/19-3/12

To register for Community Classes...

Photos by Raleigh Burleigh

True Nature foundation achieves new horizons

MYKI JONES Sopris Sun Correspondent

The True Nature Healing Arts Foundation, best known in Carbondale and beyond as a place promoting wellness, healing and community, is expanding its programming efforts in 2025. This will include an uptick in programs centered around connection, such as addiction support, programming for children and even grief work — all built from an Ayurvedic philosophy, which True Nature founders Eaden and Deva Shantay live by.

In a press release sent Nov. 11, 2024, the founders wrote: “With the gift of the True Nature Carbondale campus to the True Nature Healing Arts Foundation now complete, we invite you to embrace True Nature as your own. This transition into a not-for-profit foundation means the center will forever be dedicated to conscious living through inspiration, connection, and self-discovery.”

The couple always intended for True Nature to become a nonprofit foundation. It has operated several for-profit businesses within the establishment for a number of years toward this aim. The Shantays took on the risks personally

as they poured resources toward growing a campus and making it a community asset. True Nature has already operated as a nonprofit since 2022.

“I liken [this process] to TACAW, with the difference being that the community was responsible for raising the funds to build out that campus,” said Anne White, sitting director of the foundation. “With True Nature, we’re very fortunate that Eaden and Deva saw the vision for themselves to build this out here in Carbondale, they have really put their own time and energy into doing so.”

The True Nature businesses, including an organic cafe, spa and boutique, are meant to raise profits to help sustain the foundation’s philanthropic programming. This year, the foundation’s focus is on five areas: 1. Wellbeing, mindfulness and healthy development for future generations via Ubuntu Youth Programming; 2. Consistent, holistic support for individuals affected by addiction in all forms with AID: Addiction Is a Doorway; 3. Deepening connections with the land and exploring

relationships with nature through the ever-popular Peace Garden; 4. Exploring meditation, yoga and Ayurveda as pathways to a more conscious and connected way of life; 5. Providing grief and trauma support for vulnerable community members.

“The vision — or rather the mission — of True Nature is to create a space in educational programming to help people connect with the truth of who they are and why they incarnate,” Eaden told The Sopris Sun. “What we’ve found is when people understand their life purpose, what their gifts and passions are, when they step into and live those purposes and share those gifts, they’re most happy and of service to the world without even trying to be, because they’re doing what they were built for.”

Eaden shared more about what drew him into a holistic approach to life, stating that his struggles helped him find Ayurvedic teachings. With a background in clinical psychology, Native American spirituality and yoga, he described the new programming, in part, as aftercare for

We asked parents: WHY did you choose the Waldorf School for your child?

“It's a place where their potential is recognized, their curiosity is encouraged, and their individuality is celebrated "

Experience the difference yourself…

Campus Tour

January 28th, 8:30-10am

New Applications for Fall 2025 open Feb 1st Toddler, PreK, Kinder, 1st-8th

“The confidence of Waldorf Graduates and their ability to adapt is the best gift I can give my child for an unpredictable future ”

“My child is seen, accepted and supported, every day, for who they are”

Hand’s on learning that engages children to crave and embody knowledge, not just to learn to memorize "

“My child is academically challenged, emotionally supported and fully engaged with learning every single day at WSRF”

“WSRF sees & supports each child as an individual and embodies relevant research on best practices in child development”

“The focus on developing the whole child emotionally, intellectually, and socially”

"They have their whole lives to be an adult I want my kids to cherish moments of being a child and learn skills a textbook can’t teach"

people living with addiction.

“What we’re providing is more aftercare, where people can come to support groups, yoga classes, workshops and immersions on how to connect deeply, because a lot of challenges people face are the result of being disconnected from their truth, their source and, in many cases, their trauma. We’re offering programming that welcomes people of all traditions and ages, to meet them where they are. It’s an invitation for people to connect and to deepen,” Shantay stated.

Valery Moore Kelly, a development associate on the foundation side of True Nature, echoed Eaden’s sentiments. She shared how the Addiction Is a Doorway (AID) programming has already seen many groups of young

people benefit from the connections made within.

“We’ve had some wonderful groups of kids come through [AID]. We’ve been really helping to support youth in developing skills to help them connect with their innate purpose, their passions and their inner guidance systems,” she stated. “I think it’s exciting to have opportunities where people can support each other. There’s lots of programming coming up, and we’ve been holding so many different things over the years that we keep growing and have some wonderful people helping us put them together.”

For more information, to make a donation to the foundation and stay connected, visit www. truenaturehealingarts.com

Our After-Hours clinic provides a convenient, cost-effective way to receive the compassionate care you deserve without a visit to the ER. No appointment necessary, walk-ins welcome! Weekdays: 2-10 pm | Weekends: 8 am-5 pm 234 East Cody Lane, Basalt | 970.544.1250

Through every season, True Nature welcomes the community in to enjoy a yoga class, a healthy meal, a day at the spa, wellness events, windful shopping and the simple tranquility of the Peace Garden. Courtesy photo

GARFIELD COUNTY REPORT

Library budget accepted, gray wolves rejected

AMY HADDEN MARSH

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Garfield County Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky moved swiftly through Monday’s meeting agenda after listening to a woman talk about the library budget during the public comment period. She and Trish O’Grady, who spoke to the Commissioners (BOCC) at the beginning of the month, are now trying to draw attention to the district’s budget, including Executive Director Jamie LaRue’s pay raise.

In fact, LaRue, who was on-hand to present the library’s 2025 budget, was able to use the BOCC forum to clarify his salary and his thoughts about what he considers to be bullying.

“A few years ago now, a small group of local residents, originally John Lepkowski, then Trish O’Grady, began a campaign of misinformation, insults and threats,” he began. “They obsessed about books that were never aimed at children and that children didn’t use. They lied about what was in the books and sometimes called for their burning.”

He continued, “They called library staff and board members — their neighbors and fellow

RFTA REPORT

church members and parents — they called them pedophiles and groomers,” he added. “Sometimes they wanted to defund the library, all while saying that 92 to 98% of what we did was fine. Why then the anger and name calling and threats?”

“I want to make something perfectly clear,” he said. “When a small group of people starts telling other people, or other people’s children, what they cannot read or what they must now say in public, that’s not patriotic. That’s bullying. That’s the attempt to deny others the liberty guaranteed by our Constitution. But we will not be bullied into breaking the law.”

“We are neither a partisan political body nor a religious inquisitor,” LaRue explained. “We are advocates for literacy rooted both in law and an abiding passion for understanding and for our community.”

Kevin Hettler, chief financial officer for the library district, answered questions about the 2025 budget, stating that the $25,130,779 fund balance for the end of 2025 is a result of “saving for a rainy day.” Those complaining about the budget state that the money should be returned to taxpayers, clearly not understanding why the library district wants to maintain a large reserve.

Looking back with gratitude and forward with focus

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

The first Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting of the year started quietly and quickly. There were no public comments or additions to the agenda. The group swiftly approved the December meeting’s minutes and moved on to board member comments.

Board comments

Several board members spent time reflecting on how much they appreciate RFTA bus operators and expressed gratitude for the access to transport during the holidays. “It’s so nice to have a solid backbone,” said Chair Greg Poschman. He later announced that RFTA is receiving a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) federal grant.

Art Riddle of New Castle thanked RFTA for cleaning up the Park and Ride there and extending patience with the construction of a new roundabout in that area.

Tom Fridstein, the Snowmass Village alternate, provided an update on the vision for the transit center at the Village Mall.

Snowmass is hoping to have a multilevel center, with the RFTA buses on the top level and Village shuttle buses below that on the ground level. The plan at present has six positions for RFTA buses and seven positions for shuttle buses. Snowmass Village is aiming to start work on this by March, given stipulations around a federal grant received. The community will explore financing options to make up for a possible shortfall between the grant and total project costs.

The board then proceeded to the consent agenda. Three items were quickly approved: a settlement agreement and mutual release of claims along Rio Grande Trail corridor in Carbondale, the designation of a Glenwood Springs location for posting public notice of RFTA board meetings (Blake Street Offices) and an intergovernmental agreement to provide additional Hogback transit service routes in unincorporated Garfield County.

Looking back and forward

CEO Kurt Ravenschlag shared a review of what the organization accomplished in 2024. Two

notable achievements included 5 million riders across RFTA services and 5.2 million miles driven by RFTA buses. Ravenschlag noted that the ridership increase is a significant win for the organization, as ridership had dropped to 2.6 million in 2020 and has slowly increased back toward the previous standard. RFTA also completed over 15,000 paratransit rides within the service area and counted

Hettler explained that in 2022, oil and gas valuation spiked due to the conflict in Ukraine, which indicated two more years of revenue from the industry. “At the same time we were talking about the [remodeling] schedules with our buildings,” he said. The district decided to collect the money approved by Garfield County voters through mill levies and reserve it for the building projects scheduled to begin this year.

“We also have that reserve in there for when oil and gas continues to show volatility,” he added, harkening back to 2017 when the library district had a 30% budget cut that it was not prepared for.

nearly 291,000 trail users on the Rio Grande Trail.

Across 2024, the organization secured over $48 million in funding grants: $32.8 million in federal grants for the Glenwood Springs maintenance facility expansion and $15.5 million in state funding to expand the electric bus fleet. The maintenance facility is a major project which will support downvalley and Hogback service capabilities and bus operator resources. RFTA has entered a contract with a U.S.based electric bus manufacturer for the 10 new buses.

Last year, RFTA was honored as a Climate Champion by the

“So, it’s been to protect us from the 2017 era,” he explained. “And to help us continue to maximize the use of our buildings, make them attractive and proud centers that our public can come in and use.”

Hettler added that a little over $12 million would be the minimum fund balance after the building remodels are finished.

Interestingly, there were no comments from the public after the library budget presentation. The BOCC voted unanimously to accept it.

In other news, the BOCC, unhappy with the Canadian gray wolf releases in Pitkin and Eagle counties over the weekend, signed a letter to Governor Polis, the Parks and Wildlife Commission and CPW director Jeff Davis, calling for a permanent pause in further wolf reintroduction. “It’s not fair to the wolves,” said Commissioner Perry Will. The BOCC was also concerned that current release sites were not what Coloradans voted for; although at a press conference later on Monday, CPW’s Eric Odell said that the sites were still on the Western Slope but more focused.

You can watch the entire meeting at the Garfield County website.

Federal Transit Administration in recognition of the work it is doing to further eco-friendly transportation alternatives, from bikeshare programs to expanding electric vehicle services. Ravenschlag’s induction as CEO in September of last year also marked RFTA’s first CEO change since 1988. The organization also finalized and passed a new five-year plan, which will shape strategy into 2029. That included the adoption of an official Climate Action Plan for reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, and a Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Plan

continued on page 18

CABIN WINETASTINFEVERG

Thursday Feb 20th 5-8pm

16th Birthday Celebration

The choice is yours

Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she will analyze someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting: www.dreamhealings.com

The dream

I was at an opening to an art museum exhibit for work. It was in a foreign city and there were different tiers of VIP tickets. I was bidding for the highest tier because of my association.

And I got it! I checked into a hotel which ended up being a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in which there was a woman living. Her stuff was every where and it was not what I was expecting.

I went to use one of the bathrooms. Even though I think the other bathroom in the apartment was clear, I used the one with a clogged toilet. When I flushed, it overflowed.

I left in a panic and realized I was in Mexico. When I checked in, I was in the United States, but appar ently the building hovered over the border. The exit was Mexico. I was never told that and didn’t need a passport to get in.

I did have two passports in my bag, however, an Australian one and the U.S. one. I was worried they wouldn’t let me back into the U.S. without paying fines for the damage, so I used my Australian pass port. I was confused about how easy it was to get into Mexico, but how challenging it was to get back home to the U.S. I decided to forgo the art exhibit and just try to get back before having to pay the fines for the bathroom overflow, even though it wasn’t my fault.

Then I woke up and I thought, “I must need to remember this.”

Interpretation

This is a dream about choices. You begin in the dream by winning VIP tickets showing that luxu rious things come easy to this “you” in the dream. However, things imme diately change. A shared hotel room takes a notch out of the luxury expe rience right away, then another notch with the woman’s mess. You use an already clogged toilet that overflows, causing you to flee into a foreign country where you feel uncertain, worried, and confused.

Here is where the meaning of the dream reveals itself. You say you were aware there

ASPEN

Aspen

Mi Chola

Aspen Valley Hospital

Snowmass Market

The Aspen Store

Box on Hyman Avenue

Pitkin County Library

BASALT

Basalt Quick Lube

Basalt Regional Library

The Basalt Store

Alpine Bank Basalt Timbos

7/11

Jalisco Grill

Big O Tires

CC Cafe

WILLITS/EL JEBEL

El Jebel Mobile Offices

Midvalley Surgery Center El Jebel Laundromat Eagle County Courts

Box on San Miguel

Casa Tequilas TAC Fitness

ANB Bank

CARBONDALE

Catherine Store Garcia’s

Alpine Bank Box at La Perla Box at “Main St.” Recreation Center

Carbondale Library

CMC in Carbondale

St. Center

Coin Laundromat

Tony’s Market/Bakery

Tequila’s

Frida’s

El Yaqui

Kum & Go

Comfort Dental

Impuestos Seguros

NEW CASTLE

Tapatio’s Post Office

Taquerina Elias

New Castle Library

City Market

SILT

Silt Library

Silt Laundromat

Kum & Go (Main St.)

Silt Roundabout

La Placita 2

RIFLE

Tapatio’s

Kum & Go

Taugenbaugh

Jalisco Grill

Box at City Hall

Rifle Library

Box at E 12 St.

El Patron

El Rincon

Spyderwash

Moma’s

Remington Square

Mercado San Jose

Carniceria San Jose

Nachos Mexican Dining

Paleteria la Korita

ProMex Bakery

Tutty Frutti

Look for stories like this in this week’s Sol del Valle!

Full edition is available every Friday afternoon on newstands and at businesses from Rifle to Aspen

Buddy Program and EcoFlight raise environmental awareness

BIANCA GODINA Sol del Valle Editor

On December 10, 2024, the Buddy Program wrapped up the year with one of its annual activities, EcoFlight. EcoFlight is a nonprofit founded in 2002 by pilot Bruce Gordon. They tackle a myriad of environmental concerns by hosting charter flights “to elevate and partner with the voices and communities affected, in order to advocate for conservation policies that promote environmental justice for all,” according to the official website. EcoFlight’s mission is based on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, using flight “to dismantle systemic barriers and achieve a more just and equitable future, where everyone can thrive in a healthy and sustainable environment.”

The Buddy Program created their “Outdoor Leadership Program” to develop leadership skills while students learn about nature. In a previous unit, they explored various topics related to public lands.

During five EcoFlight trips, 22 individuals, including students and Buddy Program staff, had the opportunity to fly. Pilots Gordon and Gary Kraft led the groups over the Piceance Basin in western Colorado. This area is rich in natural gas, used for cooking, heating and other purposes, and the area serves as an important habitat for local wildlife.

Garfield County has been drilling and working with the oil and gas industry since the 1960s, leading to more than 12,000 oil wells drilled throughout the region.

During the EcoFlight, participants were able to observe from a new perspective the scale of fossil fuel extraction in the Rifle area and the Colorado River Valley, seeing a part of Rifle that can’t be understood from the ground. In the air, students saw a web of roads leading to numerous wells.

As the plane ascended, pilot Kraft began a conversation with the students about drilling and its impact on Garfield County and surrounding areas. During the discussion, several participants recognized they are directly affected, as their families work in the oil and gas industry, one of the

largest employers in the region.

Kraft commented, “Not all drilling is bad; we need it. What we want is to make sure it is done responsibly and in the most appropriate places.”

One of the students asked if the wells were located on public lands, to which Kraft responded, “Some are on public lands, and others are on private lands.”

Lulu Colby, a local activist currently working to “Save West Mamm Creek,” an area located near Rifle at an elevation of 7,820

feet, commented on the impact drilling has on the area. West Mamm is home to wildlife, recreationalists and hunters. Colby explained, “When you’re down here, you see one well, but when you’re in the air, you see one after another. Wildlife has no continuity.” She wondered, “When does this become a problem?”

Colby detailed that they were attempting to drill 90 new wells in the West Mamm area, although they have reduced that number to between 60 and 70. However,

they are still far from their goal to “Save West Mamm Creek.” She explained that the problem with massive drilling is that wildlife is forced to move from place to place until, due to the excessive activity, there is no longer a place to move to — a severe environmental issue.

Another topic discussed during the EcoFlight was the increased release of carbon into the atmosphere due to the number of wells, which contributes to climate change, droughts and, eventually, the alteration of weather patterns.

Xiadani B., a Buddy Program student who flew for the first time, shared that she felt nervous at first, but once in the air, her nerves dissipated. She described her experience: “It’s like being able to connect all the dots, being able to connect what we learned with what we can see.”

Koda G., also a Buddy Program student and first-time EcoFlight participant, shared how inspiring it was to see firsthand the scale of the wells they had heard so much about. She mentioned seeing her house from the air, and by the end of the flight, she dreamed of becoming a pilot.

“I personally believe that as a community, we need to come together,” Koda said. “Take a pause and realize the impact that [drilling wells] has, recognize that we need it, but also question how much we really need and find a balance.”

For more information about the Buddy Program, visit buddyprogram.org, and to learn more about EcoFlight, visit ecoflight.org

Follow Leonardo Occhipinti’s “Nuevo Mundo” in Sol del Valle every week in Spanish.

Koda G. was among other youth to catch of glimpse of the number of oil and gas wells in the Rifle area from above. Photo courtesy of the Buddy Program

More than five oil and gas wells can be seen in this photo alone of the Rifle area from above. Photo courtest of EcoFlight

Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

By Nancy Bo Flood

This month we honored his work by pausing to remember his dedication to achieving justice and human rights for all — the right to pursue and have life and liberty.

What is liberty?

The right to choose … How one wants to live, to learn, to work.

President Johnson, during his presidency, fought alongside Dr. King for equal rights for all. So did Lady Bird Johnson. Read her words regarding the right to choose a book:

“Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library.”

Public libraries are just exactly that. Public means used by all, paid for by all.

Even though I don’t support certain ideas, I support access to all, for all.

When I walk into a grocery store with my young grandchildren, I see bottles of wine and whiskey, bags of chips, candy, and my favorite — vanilla ice cream. What I select to buy and not to buy, teaches my grandchildren more than any words I might say.

Comparte tus proyectos creativos aún en proceso con nuestros lectores. Puedes enviarnos un correo electrónico con tus ilustraciones, creaciones literarias y poesía a fiction@soprissun.com

In August 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was struck by a rock during a march for housing inclusivity in Chicago. He was protected by supporters then raised his head high and continued the march. Illustration by Larry Day inspired by Chicago Sun-Times file photo

programs for connecting with a broader range of community members; and record numbers of supporters have been joining our annual events. We’ve even developed an award-winning recipe for participating

A new leadership team would have the option of building on our current structures and programs, reworking them, and/or implementing new ideas and approaches. It’s an opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of our community.

All registered Democratic voters in Garfield County are eligible to run for a position as an officer or other Executive Committee member. For more information about running or our upcoming Reorg Meeting, visit the “events page” of our website: GarCoDems.org or email us at

Debbie Bruell

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the transformative power of mentorship and encourage others to step into this life-changing role. As a resident of the Roaring Fork Valley, I’ve always been inspired by our community’s willingness to show up for one another. Today, I’m asking you to consider showing up in a new way — by becoming a Big Buddy through the Buddy Program.

The Buddy Program matches youth in our valley with adult mentors who provide guidance, encouragement, and a

listening ear. For youth, having a mentor offers stability, trust, and friendship during critical years of growth. Big Buddies help their Little Buddies navigate challenges, set goals, and build confidence. Research shows that youth with mentors are more likely to graduate, avoid risky behaviors, and feel connected to their communities. But mentorship isn’t just for the kids — it changes the lives of adults, too. Big Buddies often describe how mentorship has deepened their sense of purpose and strengthened their connection to the community. Whether you’re hiking, playing sports, or attending Buddy Program events, you’ll find joy and fulfillment in creating a lasting bond. The Buddy Program provides all the training and support you need to succeed. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact, I encourage you to take the first step. Visit buddyprogram.org or email dominic@buddyprogram.org to learn more. Let’s show up for our youth and make a difference together!

Dominic Román Glenwood Springs

LETTERS POLICY: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, no smearing, cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.

NATURALIST NIGHTS

from page 8

one of the first times that Lisa Murkowski and other targeted colleagues felt direct political pain for inadequate action on climate, said Schendler.

Despite increasingly frequent climate events and social pressures, Schendler holds on to a sense of optimism. “The story we like most to tell ourselves is a battle against impossible odds that we continue to fight and we never win. We fight impossible battles. That’s what we do as humans.” He hopes that “Terrible Beauty” will inspire readers toward that challenge and that the book will be received as a descendant of “Walden,” “Sand County

Delia Malone is the presenter for this week’s Naturalist Nights topic, “Beavers are for Birds,” at the Third Street Center on Jan. 22 and Pitkin County Library Jan. 23. The remaining events in the series will be Feb. 5-6, Feb. 19-20 and March 5-6, regarding tribal engagement with watersheds, ecological impacts from recreation and post-fire restoration work, respectively. You can learn more and register for any of these free events at www.aspennature.org or www.wildernessworkshop.org

from page 13

to have a fully electric fleet by 2050.

Other accomplishments included awarding nearly $765,000 to support first and last-mile mobility in member jurisdictions, WE-cycle surpassing 250,000 riders and the success and frequent use of the Basalt Connect and Carbondale Downtowner local microtransit services.

Completion of the Glenwood Springs 27th Street underpasses addressed risky pedestrian highway crossings. The project employed 678 people outside of RFTA and was completed on time and within its $22 million budget. Work on the Glenwood Maintenance Facility also made progress, with the Bus Operations Center opening last month. So far the latter project has employed 840 people outside of RFTA.

Looking ahead, RFTA anticipates additional Iron Mountain Place housing units being ready for its employees soon. Ravenschlag then introduced the 2025 work plan. One of the top priorities is the Rio Grande Trail corridor, reducing private landowner encroachments on the trail and implementing a public communication campaign to improve awareness and understanding of the corridor’s purpose and function. It was originally purchased for a commuter rail, and RFTA continues to maintain it according to those standards.

RFTA also plans to continue increasing first and last mile mobility solutions this year. Implementing a new housing policy including a housing stipend to support employees is another priority. Further details and goals of the 2025 work plan can be found in the board agenda packet on RFTA’s website.

The next meeting will occur Feb. 13 at 8:30am in Carbondale. The public is also able to join via Webex. More details will be available on www.rfta.com the week ahead of the meeting.

A fundraiser for socal wildfire AID

dance

led by Jen Campbell & Dana Ellis

music

by DJ Lydia Bain

songs with Clay Allen & Gabriela Mejia

ritual with Hanamaya Wild

The evening of Sunday, Jan. 19, six former Valley Journal employees, including co-founders Pat Noel and Becky Young, former editors Lynn Burton and John Stroud, photographer Carol Craven and ads manager Lee Beck, came together to tell behind-the-scenes stories of what it took to produce Carbondale’s weekly newspaper from 1975 to 2008.

The art of journalism was more physically tasking back then, from Noel being the sole reporter for the Roaring Fork Review — a year-long predecessor to the Valley Journal — and typing articles on an Underwood typewriter to Becky manually developing photos and tediously placing the paper together by hand, and both delivering the flats to a printing press in Craig (operated by parolees, according to Noel) to turn around that same night and come back to Carbondale and distribute the papers the next day.

The town they covered in the early days was small and tight-knit, and the Valley Journal was a paper for the times. The Sopris Sun is proud to carry on that service in its own, but familiar, way.

Sunday’s event, put on by the Carbondale Historical Society, was recorded and will be uploaded to its website (www.carbondalehistory.org) in due time.

LEGAL NOTICE

ORDINANCE NO. 1 SERIES OF 2025

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE, COLORADO APPROVING AN APPLICATION OF CHESTER’S FOOD & BEV LLC FOR APPROVAL OF A SITE PLAN, ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND A VARIANCE

NOTICE: This Ordinance was introduced, read, and adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Carbondale, Colorado, on January 14, 2025.

This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication of this notice. The full text of said Ordinance is available to the public at www.carbondalegov.org or at the office of the Town Clerk, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado, during normal business hours.

Published in The Sopris Sun on January 23, 2025.

Pat Noel holds up a photo of the late Joe Livsey, taken by Young in the early years of the Valley Journal.

(Left to right) Pat Noel, Carol Craven, Becky Young, Lee Beck, John Stroud and Lynn Burton.