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Volume 15, Number 51 | January 25 - 31, 2024

Pleading for Peace

The local group Ceasefire Now RFV led a rally in Glenwood Springs Sunday, Jan. 21, calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and for the United States to stop funding Israel's offensive in Gaza.

The Biden administration bypassed Congress twice in December to approve a total of $253.5 million in arms sales to Israel. Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israeli citizens. Since then, close to 25,000 Gazans have lost their lives as collateral damage from Israel's violent search for Hamas.

Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh. Related story on page 6

OPINION

CVEPA Views

By John Armstrong

The breaking of branches and the thunder of hooves struck trepidation in my heart. The fading light of December dusk made the scene even more surreal.

My girlfriend and I were directly in the path of a stampede of about 50 elk! The snow was so deep and the autumn so cold that the elk had remained on the shady side of Marble Valley where a rancher’s open air hay barn provided unnatural forage. This uninvited grazing is called “depredation.” The Colorado Division of Wildlife, now Colorado Parks and Wildlife, paid farmers and ranchers to feed these distressed ungulates during severe winters.

My neighbor at Prospect Mountain Ranch asked us to block the herd from returning up into the woods where they had camped for weeks. Of course, we agreed. He then proceeded to haze them. He wanted to move them back to the south face of Elk Mountain where they naturally spend winters in their crucial habitat. As the agitated herd charged toward us I was rethinking the wisdom of my decision.

The elk returned to the woods where they had been squatting. The elk had gnawed the bark of the mature aspen trees, girdling the trees and ultimately killing the aspen grove. This chewing is a sign of the nutritional distress they were in. The aspen bark offers carbohydrates but also salicin, an aspirin-like chemical that reduces inflammation. The elk did not comply with our efforts but by morning they had crossed the river and returned to the sunny side of the valley.

LETTERS

Bienvenidos, recién llegados

Winter of ‘83 stampede Mind you, this was not a normal winter by any standards. This was the Great Winter of 1982-1983. By mid October, I was already snowed out of the ranch in Marble. Oct. 16, we skied up to Lead King Basin, rewarded with face shots in 36” of fresh powder. When I left the ranch before Thanksgiving, I hung two long red chile ristras (wreaths) from each corner of the cabin’s balcony. The blood red wreaths were in brilliant contrast against the dark wood and white landscape. When we returned weeks later there were but two bare wires left where the ristras had hung. The yard was buried in elk droppings! We laughed at the thought of the smoking elk tails and joked about marching them right to the chili pot.

The snows continued. Aspen reported 52” in November and 71” in December.

This was just the beginning. This was the biggest El Niño weather event ever recorded. The City of Aspen recorded 276” in town (23 feet). We don’t have a recording for Marble. It was a skier’s winter dominated by powder days.

We hear the overused cliché, “The granddaddy of them all.” This was it, a winter of extremes! A large elk herd sheltered in a pasture along Highway 82 for months in their severe winter range. This meadow is now metropolitan Willits. The snow persisted into May. Remnant snow banks remained along the Marble Road into June.

By spring, local rivers swelled beyond their high water marks.

Meanwhile, the drama downriver was poised to be one of the world's worst man-made hydrologic disasters. Rain washed snow into the desert canyons.

Lake Powell rose at the rate of one foot per day (a lake 190 miles long with approximately 2300 miles of shoreline).

Water managers soon realized things were approaching critical mass.

Glen Canyon Dam was the crown jewel of the Upper Colorado River Storage Project and, made of 10 million tons of concrete, it was believed to be indomitable. Completed in the “golden age” of dam building, that June was the 20th anniversary of Glen Canyon Dam.

I’ve been a proud Carbondalian since I moved here some nine years ago. Never have I been more proud than I have recently, observing the way my town has treated the 100-plus, mostly-Venezuelan newcomers that have come here.

The migrants came to Carbondale because they heard in Denver there were jobs to be had in Colorado’s mountain towns. The newcomers ended up in Denver because the heartless bastards in Texas bused them off to Democrat-run cities to make a political point.

The jobs report was true enough, but the missing piece is there are so many help wanted signs because the people who work here have been priced out of the housing market by greedy developers who’d rather build dwellings they can make money on than the homes we need.

So, the newcomers ended up underneath the bridge over the Roaring Fork River near the intersection of highways 82 and 133. What do you do? Let them starve and freeze with winter coming on? When the newcomers got hungry and cold enough, they’d head back to Venezuela.

There are those, many of them writing letters to the editor in local newspapers, who would’ve done just that. They’re apparently unaware hunger was a primary motivator in getting the migrants to leave their homeland.

On June 6, loud noises never heard before at Glen Canyon Dam roared above the deafening cascading waters.

Boulders the size of Buicks rocketed down the spillway tunnels tearing apart its infrastructure as federal agents tried to divert as much runoff as possible. The discharged water turned a suspicious pink. The Navajo sandstone anchoring the dam was being pulverized. This hydraulic behemoth eventually gouged a hole bigger than the Goodyear Blimp in the tunnel.

The more visible alarm was the rising lake water which was soon approaching the level of the massive spillway gates.

A failure of the dam threatened millions of people and vast agricultural lands downstream. Desperate times beget desperate measures. Having run out of options, reclamation crews welded braces on the dam, working 710 vertical feet above the raging Colorado River.

Men installed 4’ x 8’ sheets of plywood to the spillway gaining precious height.

The plywood held, but the water kept rising. Crews added a second level of steel panels. The water came within inches of overflowing this makeshift eight-foot wall.

On July 15, 1983, the water, draining a significant portion of the Rocky Mountain West, began to subside.

Disaster was narrowly averted. For many, this drama 40 years ago seems implausible. (Winter 1984 broke many of the 1983 records.) Scientists, engineers and climatologists warn that extreme unpredictable shifts in weather patterns pose a risk to dams in general and Glen Canyon Dam in particular.

Water augmentation, dams and diversions dominate current discussion.

The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) supports improved water management efficiency, resource responsibility and water conservation in lieu of new dams or water impoundments.

To learn more about our mission and to support CVEPA, visit www.cvepa.org

What Carbondale’s leaders, notably Mayor Ben Bohmfalk, Town Manager Lauren Gister and former Roaring Fork School District superintendent Rob Stein have done is find temporary shelter for the migrants. Now they’ve moved from the Third Street Center to Town Hall and the Carbondale Community United Methodist Church. The Roaring Fork School District has arranged for the newcomers to be fed at Crystal River Elementary School.

All of this costs money. Carbondale has received $223,880 in state emergency funds. When it was suggested Garfield County should chip in some assistance, Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober told Aspen Daily News, “Don’t hold your breath.”

The migrants have now been in Carbondale for months.

If you believe the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for president, we should be experiencing a crime wave by now. A quick check of the Town’s police log reveals that’s not happening.

It’s called compassion. Some believe it’s for sissies, but if we’re going to persevere with 8 billion souls on this planet, we’d better learn to pass it around.

Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

continued on page 22

Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Contributing & Digital Editor James Steindler Editorial Designer Hattie Rensberry Advertising Designer Emily Blong Delivery Frederic Kischbaum Hank van Berlo Bartlett Proofreader Lee Beck Executive Director Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Board Members / Mesa Directiva board@soprissun.com Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke Lee Beck • Donna Dayton Eric Smith • Roger Berliner Elizabeth Phillips • Jessi Rochel Andrew Travers • Anna Huntington

The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on second Thursdays at the Third Street Center.

The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to inform, inspire and build community by fostering diverse and independent journalism.

Donations are fully tax deductible.

Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+ Lee Beck & John Stickney Kay Brunnier • Frances Dudley Michelle & Ed Buchman Sue Edelstein & Bill Spence Deborah & Shane Evans Greg & Kathy Feinsinger Gary & Jill Knaus • Eric Smith Peter and Mike Gilbert Carly & Frosty Merriott James Noyes • Megan Tackett Patti & George Stranahan Anne Sullivan & John Colson Elizabeth Wysong • Alpine Bank Emily & George Bohmfalk Kathy & Carter Barger Sandy & Paul Chamberlin Karen & Roger Berliner Gretchen Greenwood & Lee Mulcahy Donna & Ken Riley Gayle & Dick Wells

Legacy Givers for including us in their final wishes.

Mary Lilly

Donate by mail or online: P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #26-B 970-510-3003 soprissun.com/Donate The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District

SCUTTLEBUTT X-stang

Our Underwriters and Nonprofit Partners!

Food and coat drive

For the first time ever, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Bustang will partner with X Games and Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) to provide a travel option for fans traveling from Denver to the X Games in Aspen through Sunday, Jan. 28. The Bustang West Line goes from Denver’s Union Station to Glenwood Springs five times daily. X Games commuters will be able to transfer to a RFTA bus at the West Glenwood Park and Ride. For more information, visit www.ridebustang.com

In the spirit of service inspired

by Martin Luther King Jr., Colorado Mountain College is collecting nonperishable food and gently-used winter clothing donations through Jan. 31 at its Aspen and Carbondale locations.

Questions? Call 970-236-0412.

AARP grants

AARP Colorado invites eligible nonprofits and governments to apply for their 2024 Community Challenge grant program. Ideal projects will help “make communities livable for people of all ages” by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital access and more. The deadline to apply is March 6, learn more at www.AARP. org/CommunityChallenge

Wish Week

Alpine Bank RJ Paddywacks Cool Bricks Studio White River Books Alpine Animal Hospital Nonprofit Partners Basalt Library Colorado Animal Rescue Carbondale Arts Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner in 2024? Email Todd@soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866

CARE has

Basalt High School’s Student Leadership class is partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make dreams come true for children battling critical illnesses. Taking place Feb. 5-10, Wish Week is replacing the school’s traditional Snowcoming Week. The highlight will be Friday’s basketball game, featuring fun half-time activities and a “miracle minute.” The Student Leadership class is seeking sponsorships and other support to make it a successful fundraiser.Visit www.site.wish.org/ goto/BasaltWishWeek24 to contribute.

a n d 2 g 8 dogs and 8 cats

Construction fencing around the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District office is obstructing a Main Street sidewalk in Carbondale. Whether or not the Forest Service applied for a permit through the Town to work within the public right-ofway has yet to be confirmed. Stay tuned and The Sopris Sun will update readers accordingly. Demolition of the Forest Service buildings is scheduled to begin in February. Photo by Jeannie Perry

Great Expectations

Andrew Romanoff is bidding adieu to his role as executive director of Great Expectations, a source of guidance and support for new and expectant parents in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys.

Romanoff is leaving the agency this month to lead Disability Law Colorado.

Outgoing Great Expectations Board President Jenny Lindsay will step in as interim executive director while a hiring process commences. For more information, Lindsay can be contacted at jenny@greatexpectations.co

CORE funding

The Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) is funding up to $200,000 for construction projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pitkin County and the Roaring Fork Valley part of Eagle County. In 2023, CORE awarded nearly $1 million to support 177 energy-saving projects.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for single-family homes, multifamily homes and commercial buildings, with priority given to organizations and individuals in childcare, education, nonprofits, local government, the energy efficiency industry, first responders, local workforce housing, active military, veterans and households under 150% the average median income. Learn more at www.AspenCORE.org/savings-finder

Farm fresh

Agricultural producers are encouraged to submit their listings for the 40th annual Farm Fresh Directory, published by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The listing fee is $25 and the deadline is Feb. 29. More than 100,000 copies will be distributed statewide in June. More info at www. bit.ly/2024farmfresh

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High school students from Aspen to Parachute are invited to apply for a paid internship opportunity with Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers’ (RFOV) Youth in Nature Program.

Participants will meet once a month from September 2024 to May 2025, with orientation in June and a backcountry hut trip in July 2024. No experience is necessary and all gear will be provided. Applications are due

by April 12 at www.rfov.org/yin

Host a kid

ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking families to host a foreign exchange student, 15 to 18 years old, from one of 50 countries. ASSE also offers U.S. students the opportunity to live abroad. Learn more at www.asse.com, by calling 1-800-733-2773 or emailing asseusawest@asse.com

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: 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); Ami Maes and Luca Rio Phelan (Jan. 30).

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 3

School District introduces ‘delayed start’ option Analysis by Gus Richardson Youth Correspondent Editor’s note: Gus Richardson is a student at Roaring Fork High School.

Thursday, Jan. 18, marked Roaring Fork School District’s (RFSD) first attempt at implementing its new “delayed start” protocol, intended for days when there are hazardous road conditions but that aren’t dreadful enough to call a snow day.

The idea is for RFSD to have a third option in its back pocket, rather than simply opting for either a normal school day or a canceled school day. In the past, RFSD has canceled school only for weather conditions to clear up later in the day. Delayed start days are to be announced the night before, or by 5:30am the day of — at the latest. It pushes the first bell of the day two hours later than a typical school day. Students still get to leave at the end of the day at the regular time.

RFSD pointed out that many other districts in the area have instituted this kind of policy, and in Roaring Fork High School’s (RFHS) recent “Week at a Glance” newsletter it was mentioned that the option is well liked in those districts. The district also assured that snow days are not going anywhere, just that there will be less of them each year (zero to two, they say).

Additionally, administrators don’t anticipate that delayed starts will affect the school calendar.

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, RFSD recently had its first delayed start day. I took the opportunity to observe and canvas some of my classmates at RFHS. The effects, which this reporter observed anyway, were less than ideal. Many students reported feeling more tired than they did on a regular day, and quite a few didn’t even show up. Throughout the day, for each of my classes, about a fourth of the rostered students were absent — students that don’t typically cut class.

Some, assumedly, didn’t show up due to the difficulty of getting to school, but others, surely, simply had a desire for a true snow day I myself felt sluggish and odd throughout what was supposed to be a rare, fun and refreshing experience. In many ways, I felt worse than I do on a normal day. My opinion was without a doubt shared among some of my peers.

One such student, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Sopris Sun that “While the delayed start policy is a valuable way to gain back learning time in the classroom, it interferes with a student’s normal routine — throwing them off and disrupting their productivity and ability to pay attention throughout the day.”

The anonymous source likewise

Art by Sofie Koski

noted that “The late start negatively impacts high school attendance.”

Though the delayed start policy is an interesting third option and may be beneficial from an administrative standpoint, a lot of students are opposed.

For more about RFSD’s delayed start policy, visit www.bit.ly/RFSDLateStart While such a policy seems to work for other districts, it will take more than one occurrence to see how it shakes out for RFSD.

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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

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Climate film series provides opportunity to learn and take action

By Jessica Peterson Special to The Sun A local activist group confronting climate change, 350 Roaring Fork, invites members of the community to attend its Winter Film Series, designed to educate and facilitate conversation and action.

The series kicked off on Jan. 11 at the Carbondale Library with the movie “Bidder 70,” and is scheduled to run through March 27 when the group will screen the final film, “A Land Out of Time.” Co-leaders of the organization, Jennifer Moore and Fred Malo, chose six different films to screen, including “Fracking the System,” which is set for Feb. 24 at the Glenwood Springs Library where filmmaker Brian Hedden will be in attendance.

‘Bidder 70’

When introducing the first film, “Bidder 70,” Moore acknowledged that while it was released 12 years ago, it’s empowering for viewers to see the impacts of just one person’s actions through the documentation of Tim DeChristopher’s trial and subsequent jail time after taking a stand against oil and gas companies.

“The film is a story of what one person can do. Tim DeChristopher saved two National Parks during the Utah auction and did not back down,” Moore said. “(It’s) one thing to be committed (and) another thing to go that far. That kind of commitment is really cool.”

DeChristopher was a college student during the auction in 2008, when he outbid oil and gas companies in order to preserve over 22,000 acres of land for $1.7 million. Once the auction was invalidated, DeChristopher was indicted for two federal felonies and the film follows him as he turns down plea deals, navigates nine trial postponements and rallies other grassroots activists in peaceful demonstrations for climate justice. When DeChistopher falsely entered the auction, he was registered as Bidder 70. The film shows footage from various peaceful demonstrations, including when fellow activists gathered outside of the courthouse for his sentencing with signs and shirts reading “We are all Bidder 70.”

Ultimately, DeChristopher was sentenced to two years in prison despite the support and awareness he received.

Moore happened to be in Moab on the day he was released in 2014, and said his endeavors and commitment to the cause were just as strong, if not stronger.

Who is 350.org?

350 Roaring Fork falls under 350 Colorado which branched off from the national organization, 350.org, started in 2011. The group’s mission is to halt the use of fossil fuels and to uncover alternative solutions that work to preserve the climate instead of destroying it.

“The number 350 means climate safety,” the 350 Colorado website states. “To preserve a livable planet, scientists tell us that 350 parts per

million (ppm) is the safe upper limit of CO2 in the atmosphere.”

According to an article published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in May 2023, carbon dioxide levels hit a new record of 424 ppm at the time. In the same article, it’s noted that the primary cause behind rising CO2 levels is the burning of fossil fuels for energy.

Malo said 350 Roaring Fork is encouraging people to attend these film screenings and hopefully inspire action by raising awareness. “Some pounding on desks with fists needs to happen,” Malo laughed when asked what the ultimate goal of the film series was.

One of the most recent accomplishments mentioned on 350 Roaring Fork’s website, was its hand in helping halt the transportation of huge amounts of waxy, crude heated oil by way of the Uinta Basin Railway through the Glenwood Canyon.

Malo and Moore agreed that the oil would not only harm the natural beauty and wildlife within the Glenwood Canyon, but a spill in the Colorado river would contaminate drinking water for individuals beyond the Valley.

There is no cost of admission for the film screenings, but a donation of $5-$10 is suggested to support the continuation of the 350 Roaring Fork’s film series in the future. For updates on the group’s actions and for those looking to get involved, visit www.350Colorado. org/RoaringFork

"Kiss the Ground" screens at 6pm Jan. 31 at the Carbondale Library. Courtesy image

350 ROARING FORK WINTER FILM SERIES Jan. 31 - 6pm (Carbondale Library) “Kiss the Ground” Feb. 22 - 6pm (Carbondale Library) “American Outrage” Feb. 24 - 6pm (Glenwood Library) “Fracking the System,” with filmmaker Brian Hedden March 13 - 6pm (Carbondale Library) “Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution” March 27 - 6pm (Carbondale Library) “A Land Out of Time”

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 5

While local peace activists were preparing to rally in Glenwood Springs over the weekend calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, one Carbondale woman was acting out her faith-based views inside the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Katrina Toews, who helps lead the Western Slope Mennonite Fellowship, took part in a hymn sing sit-in for peace while gathered in a tight circle with about 150 fellow Mennonite activists and allies beneath the House Cannon Rotunda on Jan. 16.

Toews is prominently seen in some of the videos of the event posted to the Mennonite Action Network’s social media pages and captured by national news media, helping lead the hymns in American Sign Language. One of her young daughters is hard of hearing.

“We came in peace, and it was very disarming for the Capitol Police to see and hear a group of protesters singing in four-part harmony and acting peacefully,” Toews said.

Still, 139 of the participants, including Toews, were ultimately arrested for essentially blocking passage through the space, which comes with a $50 fine in order to be released.

Toews said she was fully prepared to join her counterparts in handcuffs, if, and when, it came to that.

“I’ve never been arrested before, but I did go in with a plan that I would be standing up for my First Amendment rights,” she said. “It’s part of our democracy, and I think it’s really important that we do that when we feel strongly about something.”

The hymn sing was preceded by a “peace training” the day before, which followed a much larger national march for peace in Gaza on the Washington Mall on Jan. 13.

That event involved some 400,000 people, according to news reports, with participation by both organized secular peace groups and other faith-based groups.

“As a Mennonite and a pacifist, I found the actions of Hamas were horrific on Oct. 7 [2023],” Toews said of the attack by the Palestinian terrorist group on Israeli citizens, which provoked Israel’s massive military retaliation in the occupied Gaza region that continues today.

“I also thought that Israel's response only created more bloodshed,” Toews said. “As an American, I am complicit in funding this war with my tax dollars. We were already

Carbondale peace activist, Mennonite leader takes Gaza ceasefire message to D.C.

By John Stroud Sopris Sun Correspondent

Above: Participants in the Mennonite Action Network demonstration display banners calling for a ceasefire and with messages like "Send Food, Not Bombs" during the sit-in and hymn sing in the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 16. Courtesy photo by Emma Koop-Liechty Right: Katrina Toews of Carbondale helps lead songs in sign language and dance during a Mennonite Action Network hymn sing, beneath the Rotunda in the Cannon Building of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., as part of a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Courtesy photo by Candace Lautt

giving Israel over $3 billion before this war. The US is profiting by creating more bombs and weapons. I say, not in my name!”

The Mennonite Action Network (MAN) is a newly formed nonprofit that began teaching from the Mennonite’s historical perspective of nonviolence in the wake of the most-recent conflict between Israel and Palestine in Gaza.

Toews explained that the Mennonite Central Committee has been working in Israel regarding Gaza since 1948. MAN has joined other religious groups in leading the latest call for a ceasefire.

6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

“Our learning sessions centered on hearing voices from American Jews, Israelis and Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank and those who had already fled to America,” she said. “We also learned about the social movements of our past to build on needs for today.”

The Mennonite action involved two gatherings,

including a permitted event on the lawn outside the Capitol that involved about 250 participants with more singing, speeches and children’s events, and then the flash-mob style hymn sing inside.

Following the events, Toews said she and others from the Mennonite contingent were approached

by Jewish and Muslim groups thanking them and other Christian groups for adding their voice.

“I met one woman who had helped to bring nine buses of people from Indianapolis to support the national march, and she was intrigued that a religious group would want to call for nonviolence, because she hadn’t experienced that before,” Toews said.

In response to those who defend Israel’s actions, Toews said her reply is that both sides should lay down their arms and work toward a peaceful resolution.

“We want to see all hostages released, both Israeli and Palestinian, and we want safety, freedom and peace for all involved,” she said. “We know that under an apartheid rule in Gaza and the West Bank, the Palestinians have not been free. This does not create love, but a deeper hate. To secure the future peace of Israel, means that we must secure the future peace for Palestinians.”

Toews was joined at the demonstration by other Colorado Mennonite representatives from Denver, Colorado Springs and Alamosa.

She said her motivation to jump up and offer to use sign language and dance to help lead the songs was spontaneous.

“I come from a dance background and I have a daughter who is hard of hearing, so we are learning ASL with a deaf mentor,” she said. “The leadership welcomed me in, and (during the singing) I was overcome with emotion. …The intersectionality is something that inspires me to continue to work for peace and include our deaf and HH [hard of hearing] friends into the circle.”

Toews said she is also grateful for friends in Carbondale and the extended Roaring Fork Valley who helped her husband, Aaron, and two daughters with child care, meals and emotional support while she was away.

“I could have never gone to D.C. to lift my own voice without the support of the ‘family’ back on the Western Slope,” she concluded.

The Western Slope Mennonites meet twice a month on Sundays, alternating between the Masonic Center in Grand Junction and First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs.

With rising fentanyl threat, CPD chief urges community awareness

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent The fentanyl statistics are alarming — especially for teens.

In 2022, an average of 22 adolescents aged 14 to 18 died weekly in the United States due to drug overdoses. Fentanyl in counterfeit pills is identified as a significant contributor to this alarming trend.

The rate of adolescent overdoses more than doubled from 2019 to 2020 and has reached a point where the weekly death toll is the equivalent of an average high school classroom.

Drug overdoses are now the third leading cause of pediatric deaths, following firearm-related injuries and motor vehicle collisions.

Carbondale Police Chief Kirk Wilson, in a recent conversation with The Sopris Sun, shared his concerns about the presence of fentanyl in our community. He also understands that addressing the issue will take a concerted effort from everyone.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is among the most abused pain relievers in the U.S. and the leading cause of overdose deaths.

In 1959, Dr. Paul Janssen developed the synthetic opioid under a patent held by his company, Janssen Pharmaceutica. Its intended medical use is surgical anesthesia and managing severe pain.

Fentanyl was approved for medical use in the U.S. in 1968 and was primarily used to help cancer patients cope with intense pain following invasive surgeries.

Fentanyl is here

In May of last year, the Carbondale police arrested a male in the downtown area with outstanding arrest warrants. The arrest led to the discovery of alleged cocaine laced with fentanyl.

In late December, a routine traffic stop in West Glenwood Springs by the Garfield County Sheriff’s office led to an unexpected drug seizure of more than an ounce of methamphetamine, a small amount of alprazolam (known by the brand name Xanax) and close to a half-ounce of fentanyl.

“I think a lot of people want to believe that we live in Utopia, but the reality is that this area, this Valley, is affected by the fentanyl issue as easily as any other community across the country and that shouldn't take us by surprise,” Wilson told The Sopris Sun.

The size of a lethal dose of fentanyl. Photo courtesy of Drug Enforcement Administration

Counterfeit vs. legitimate pills

Many counterfeit pills are made to look exactly like prescription opioids such as oxycodone (brands names: Oxycontin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin) and alprazolam (Xanax) — or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall).

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) “One Pill Can Kill” public awareness campaign (which seeks to inform the public about the dangers of counterfeit prescription drugs), 70% of pills confiscated by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.

In 2023, the DEA seized more than 78.4 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The 2023 seizures are equivalent to more than 388.8 million lethal doses of fentanyl. A lethal dose is defined by the DEA as two milligrams of fentanyl.

Social media

A Pew Research Center (PRC) survey from late 2023, revealed that 46% of teens, aged 13 to 17, said they were online “almost constantly.”

The number has nearly doubled since 2014,

when just 24% of teens said they were online “almost constantly.”

As teens are using social media, at rates higher than ever, Snapchat, the instant messaging app, has, according to PRC data, moved ahead of Instagram in popularity.

Snapchat allows for ephemeral messaging, meaning that the communications disappear after they are viewed, or after a designated period of time set by the user.

Snap Inc., the technology and social media company that owns and operates Snapchat, has come under increasing scrutiny from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Justice Department as they have honed in on fentanyl poisoning cases where the sales were arranged via Snapchat.

Drug traffickers and dealers often use emojis to convey the availability, quantity and quality of drugs for sale.

The DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” online resources include a reference guide titled “Emoji Drug Code Decoded” (www.bit.ly/DEAemojis), to reference the icons that are used on social media apps to buy and sell illicit drugs.

“We are aware that Snapchat and other apps tend to be the new avenue for [drug] sales,” continued Wilson. “No longer do you just find somebody selling drugs on the street corner.”

Where to go from here?

Wilson suggested a three-pronged approach as the best strategy for addressing the dangers of fentanyl within the community: 1) interaction, 2) education and 3) enforcement.

“First, it requires interactions with people who are trusted. Whether it's for our kids or others in our community, people are looking for answers from trusted people,” Wilson said.

“Secondly, I think people are hungry for education. Again, that can only come from trusted people who are informed about the dangers and the effects of fentanyl,” he said.

Substance abuse prevention agencies within the Roaring Fork Valley have stepped up efforts to educate the public. The third prong — enforcement — is a must to effectively approach the fentanyl issue, Wilson explained.

“We have to look for those that are dealing this stuff to our kids and who are knowingly selling fentanyl,” Wilson said.

To learn more about fentanyl, visit www. dea.gov/onepill

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 7

REGISTER TODAY!

Community Classes in Carbondale

BEGINNER OIL PAINTING Learn the basics of painting and mixing with water-based oil paints.

Supplies are provided.

Tue’s, 1:30-4:30pm, 2/6-3/19 BEYOND FUNDAMENTALS IN FUNDRAISING Learn how to calculate costs, effective communication, and building a donor relations.

Class meets online via Zoom.

Tuesdays, 7-8:15pm, 2/20-3/5

WINES OF ALSACE, AUSTRIA AND GERMANY Examine variations in Rieslings from three countries with acreage dedicated to this exquisite grape.

Friday, 6-8pm, 3/15

PHOTOGRAPHING ANIMALS Learn to get great images with your camera or cell phone.

Sat/Sun, 9am-12pm, 3/16-3/24

SPRING PLANTING IN THE ROCKIES Learn how and when to plant for BEGINNING SWING DANCE successful high altitude gardening.

Learn the basics of Jitterbug (East Wednesday, 6-8pm, 3/6 Coast) Swing steps, turns, spin, dips, and Thursday, 6-8pm, 3/21 and other fun moves.

Wed’s, 6:30-8:30pm, 3/6-3/27 BALANCE AND MOBILITY Exercises that improve balance TODDLER AND ME YOGALATES and mobility with strength, reflex, Yoga and pilates are combined in flexibility, sensory awareness, and this playful class where you can concentration. connect and exercise with your Thursdays, 1:30-2:30pm, 3/7-4/11 baby/toddler aged 6 mos - 4 yrs Fridays, 9:30-10:30am, 3/8-3/29 NEW TECHNIQUES FOR PRINTMAKERS ZUMBA WITH MIMI Expand your printmaking skills with Burn calories and have fun while drypoint, photo transfers, brushwork dancing to Latin music. and more! Supplies included.

Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm, 3/14-5/2 Mondays, 6-9pm, 3/25-4/29

FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER...

coloradomtn.edu/community-education Carbondale Lappala Center • 690 Colorado Ave • 963-2172

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Visit soprissun.com to submit events THURSDAY, JANUARY 25

MORTALITY Akaljeet Khalsa hosts “Conversations on Mortality” at True Nature from 4:30 to 6pm. Register at www. truenaturehealingarts.com KNIFE SHARPENING Rolling Stone Knife Sharpening will offer their mobile knife sharpening services out of Botany Houseplant Shop tomorrow. Drop off a knife (or pruners or scissors) by 5pm today, wrapped in a towel or placed in a box, for pick-up on Saturday.

MUSHROOM CLUB The Western Colorado Mycological Association meets at the Carbondale Library from 5:30 to 7pm. Dr. Amy Honan will present “A Fungal Odyssey: Unveiling the Mysteries of Mushroom Movement Through Space and Time.”

The event is free and open to everyone.

NATURALIST NIGHT Jennifer Back, retired National Park Service hydrologist of 21 years, presents “The Benefits of Wild & Scenic Rivers” at Hallam Lake at 6pm. The presentation will also be live streamed on the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Facebook page.

‘GAZA FIGHTS FOR FREEDOM’ Ceasefire Now Roaring Fork Valley screens “Gaza Fights for Freedom” at the Glenwood Springs Library at 6:30pm. The film will screen again at the Basalt Library on Feb. 1 at 6:30pm.

‘BOYS IN THE BOAT’ The Crystal Theatre shows “The Boys in the Boat” tonight at 7pm.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26

RESIDENT ARTISTS Carbondale Clay Center introduces resident artists Molly Altman and Ashley Banegas at The Launchpad at 6:30pm.

‘POOR THINGS’ “Poor Things” opens at the Crystal Theatre tonight and continues tomorrow, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 with 7pm showings. Catch an earlier showing on Jan. 28 at 5pm.

SOPRIS THEATRE COMPANY The Wheeler Opera House hosts Sopris Theatre Company for a one-night performance of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” at 7pm. For tickets, visit www.aspenshowtix.com RON STEVEN HOUSTON Ron Steven Houston performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27

SNOWSHOE HIKE Wilderness Workshop and Defiende Nuestra Tierra host a snowshoe hike along the top of McClure Pass with gear provided. A caravan will depart from the Third Street Center at 9am. To sign up, visit www.bit.ly/Defiende2024 LIMITLESS LIVING Joelene Ashker guides meditation and movement at True Nature from 10am to 1pm. Register at www. truenaturehealingarts.com ‘GOODBOY’ Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE) presents “GOODBOY,” a movie by local filmmaker Ashley Mosher, at the Crystal Theatre at 4:30pm. Proceeds benefit CARE. Tickets are sold out.

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

SKI MOVIES The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue hosts a ski movie film fest benefiting the Sunlight Winter Sports Club.

Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. Find details at www.gvrshow.com

LEFTOVER SALMON TACAW hosts Leftover Salmon for some live “jamgrass” at 8pm. Sold out.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28

UNJUDGE SOMEONE Age-Friendly Carbondale and Garfield County Libraries present The Human Library Project in partnership with The Aspen Institute, At Our Honest and Tom Karrel Coaching. The event goes from 10am to 1pm; sign up at www. bit.ly/human-library-carbondale

MONDAY, JANUARY 29

COMMON READER Colorado Mountain College’s (CMC) 2024 Common Reader program kicks off a nine-month series of nonpartisan community conversations inspired by this year’s book: “The Bill of Obligations” by Dr. Richard Haass. Walter Isaacson will host Haass for a virtual conversation at noon with moderation by Mary Louise Kelly of National Public Radio.

Free copies of the book are available at all CMC campuses while supplies last. To attend the virtual event, register at www.colomtn.me/47AL29D IN STITCHES The In Stitches Knitting Club convenes at the Carbondale Library at 1:30pm.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 30

FLAKES TO FLOW Jeff Derry, executive director of the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, presents “From Flakes to Flow: Unveiling the Dynamics of Snow, Water and Climate in Colorado” at the Basalt Library at 5pm.

BASALT YARN GROUP Yarn crafters convene at the Basalt Library at 5pm.

FRENCH Á LA CARTE Brush up on your French in this interactive, playful and practical four-week class, hosted every Tuesday at 6:30pm, through Feb. 20, at the Third Street Center. To register, email lamb.ericd@gmail.com DRAWING CLUB The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets at Taco Bell in Glenwood Springs at 6:30pm.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31

STEP WITHOUT THE STEP Linda Loeschen guides adults of all ages, with a focus toward seniors, in a gentle pilates and movement session at the Basalt Library at 11:30am.

For more info call 970-927-4311 or email edewetter@basaltlibrary.org TEEN FLY TYING The Basalt Library hosts Teen Fly Tying Club, where 5th through 12th graders learn to tie their own flies and a bit about the aquatic life in local rivers and streams, at 3:30pm.

Participants will have the opportunity to compete in the Iron Fly Competition on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Tipsy Trout.

More info at www.basaltlibrary.org ‘KISS THE GROUND’ Join 350 Roaring Fork for a screening of “Kiss the Ground,” a film about sustainable agriculture, at the Carbondale Library at 6pm.

MIDNIGHT RAINBOW The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies presents “Preserving the Dark of Night: Chasing the Midnight Rainbow” at Hallam Lake at 6pm. Photographer Ann Diggers and Martha Ferguson of WildSky Old Snowmass will talk about the importance of protecting the darkness of night. To register, visit www.aspennature.org

970.989.4203

Mindful Life Program co-founders (from left to right) Laura Bartels, John Bruna and Mark Molony are celebrating the program’s 10th anniversary this month with a retrospective webinar on Jan. 28 at 5pm. Since 2014, the eight-week Mindfulness Foundations Course has expanded into the Mindful Life Network, Mindfulness in Recovery Institute and Mindful Learning Year, all based in Carbondale with international reach. From Jan. 28 to Jan. 31 all memberships, courses, books and more will be on sale. Learn more at www.mindfullifeprogram.org. Courtesy photo

SNAP! The Wheeler Opera House hosts Grue Jarm, a South Korean illusionist company, for a familyfriendly magic show called “SNAP” at 6:30pm. The show will be followed by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performing with MOMIX at 7:30pm.

Tickets for both performances are at www.aspenshowtix.com ‘ORIGIN’ Aspen Film screens “Origin,” written and directed by Ava DuVernay and based on the book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents”

by Isabel Wilkerson, at the Isis Theatre at 7:30pm. Tickets and more info at www.aspenfilm.org

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1

ASPEN FILM Aspen Film presents “State and Main” at the Isis Theatre at 7pm, followed by a live interview with actor William H. Macy.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2

COMPUTER BASICS The Basalt Library offers an adult computer course where participants learn basic functions, so they can use their computers with confidence, at 3pm. More info at www.basaltlibrary.org ART RECEPTION The Carbondale Clay Center hosts a reception for Joanne Seongweon Lee’s “Volume 1: Reshaping Roots” from 6 to 8pm.

SOPRIS SOARERS The Launchpad presents “Wintery Wonders Showcase” by the Sopris Soarers at 6pm.

BLACK VIOLIN The Wheeler Opera House presents the two-time Grammy nominated duo Black Violin at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com JAZZMONAUTS Steve’s Guitars hosts The Jazzmonauts for a First Friday listening party at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3

TYPICAL GHOST A new local band, Typical Ghost, performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm.

Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

LIP SYNC BATTLE The Roaring Divas compete with drag queens from Grand Junction in a lip sync battle extravaganza at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4

STAGE MANAGING 101 Dani Taylor of Thunder River Theatre Company guides a workshop that delves into the imperative role of a stage manager at TACAW at 1pm. Register at www.tacaw.org/calendar WESTERN ALLIANCE The Western Colorado Alliance of Garfield County hosts a kickoff meeting at the Rifle Library at 2pm, with childcare, Spanishinterpretation and food provided. To RSVP, visit www.bit.ly/Feb4GarCo COWBOYS The Carbondale Historical Society’s speaker series continues with “Cowboys” at KDNK (76 South 2nd Street) at 5pm. This event is live, in-person and free.

RANDOM CONVERSATIONS Join in on the Lost Art of Random Conversations at the Carbondale Library at 6pm.

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COMEDY NIGHT Aspen Film teams up with Patio Night Live for its firstever Comedy Night at the Isis Theatre at 7:30pm, featuring Beth Brandon, Miller Ford, Zoe Rom, Louis Beck and Ryan Honey.

Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5

MOVE FROM CENTER Alexandra Jerkunica guides a four-week ballet barre and Pilates mat class. The class meets every Monday in February at 4pm at the Carbondale Library.

EIA OPEN HOURS English in Action hosts open tutoring hours for English learners at the Basalt Library at 6pm.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6

DRAWING CLUB The Roaring Fork Drawing Club travels to Aspen’s Soldner Center for informal sketching and socializing at 6:30pm. RSVP by emailing rfdrawingclub@gmail.com

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 9

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

Sol del el

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

Valle

Volumen 2, Número 48 | 25 de enero - 31 de enero de 2024

El servicio de cena gratuito de Carbondale para inmigrantes finalizará el 22 de marzo. Foto de Andrea Teres-Martinez/Post Independent

Fideicomisarios de Carbondale dicen que el próximo paso en la respuesta a los migrantes podría ser eliminar gradualmente los servicios Por Andrea Teres-Martinez Post Independent Traducción por Edgar Barrantes Los fideicomisarios de Carbondale se reunieron el martes, 16 de enero, para discutir planes futuros para su respuesta a los aproximadamente 150 inmigrantes recién llegados de Venezuela.

A partir de noviembre, la ayuda a los inmigrantes del pueblo ha consistido en encontrar y abrir dos refugios temporales y lanzar un servicio de cena temporal con el Distrito Escolar de Roaring Fork.

Según la administradora de la ciudad, Lauren Gister, los dos nuevos refugios ubicados en el Ayuntamiento de Carbondale y la Iglesia Metodista Unida de la Comunidad de Carbondale

abrieron el viernes, 19 de enero, luego de la incorporación del personal de los refugios. El refugio temporal en Third Street Center de Carbondale, que había albergado a aproximadamente 60 inmigrantes desde noviembre, cerró el mismo día.

Además de los esfuerzos de la ciudad, Rob Stein dijo que algunas organizaciones han intervenido para ayudar cuando hay un niño involucrado en términos de encontrar vivienda para sus familias e inscribirlos en las escuelas, pero hay una gran brecha cuando se trata de esos recursos para adultos recién llegados.

Además, no muchas organizaciones comunitarias han adaptado sus misiones para atender la repentina afluencia de inmigrantes venezolanos,

lo que ha provocado un “aumento de diez o veinte veces la cantidad de personas sin hogar” en la comunidad, según Stein.

Actualmente, los planes de la ciudad para su servicio de cena gratuito tienen una fecha de finalización para el 22 de marzo y Recovery Resources solo administrará ambos refugios hasta el 31 de marzo. Aún no se ha decidido qué planea hacer la ciudad para sus próximos pasos en términos de vivienda y recursos después del final del invierno.

Una opción discutida por la junta directiva durante la reunión fue dar un paso atrás en su respuesta de emergencia y esperar que las organizaciones sin fines de lucro y los niveles superiores de gobierno estén dispuestos y listos para asumir las responsabilidades.

“Nuestro objetivo desde el principio ha sido ayudar a la gente a pasar el invierno”, dijo el alcalde de Carbondale, Ben Bohmfalk. “Nuestra esperanza, entonces, ha sido que esta sea una respuesta de emergencia realmente temporal a nivel del pueblo … Creo que nuestro objetivo ha sido sacar a nuestro gobierno municipal local, de pueblo pequeño, del rol de respuesta directa, proveedor de servicios y facilitador, y tener algún tipo de cambio hacia organizaciones sin fines de lucro, condados, niveles más altos de gobierno que tienen más recursos”.

Gister dijo que envió cartas a los condados de Garfield, Eagle y Pitkin pidiéndoles tres cosas: financiación para cosas que no están cubiertas por la subvención de emergencia del Departamento de

Asuntos Locales de Colorado, un refugio en cada condado que pueda albergar hasta 25 personas y una solicitud para reunirse y intercambiar ideas sobre cómo podría ser una respuesta regional.

“Me preocupa que sigamos siendo un destino para la gente, pero también estoy bastante comprometido a no seguir brindando el nivel de servicios que tenemos ahora porque no creo que tengamos la capacidad para hacerlo”, dijo Bohmfalk.

Gister dijo que aunque algunos de los inmigrantes pueden tener su autorización de trabajo cuando finalice su servicio de cena en marzo, cree que la gran mayoría de ellos no la tendrán. continúa en la página 12

OPINIÓN

Artista Existencial Por Vanessa Porras

¿Qué significa estar en movimiento perpetuo? El mes pasado acepté una residencia artística en Fruita, Colorado con otros tres artistas. El edificio donde estamos hospedados solía ser una iglesia Católica pero ahora se ha renovado para ser una vivienda de alquiler de corto plazo llamado Our Lady of Perpetual Motion (Nuestra Señora del Movimiento Perpetuo).

En movimiento perpetuo Al llegar a este lugar, cargaba conmigo la idea de que entraría en mi periodo azul como aquel de Pablo Picasso. Sería un tiempo dedicado a la lentitud incluso también a la tristeza. Me permitiría por primera vez en cinco años tomar una pequeña pausa para poder escuchar a las ideas que viven en mi subconsciente.

Llevo aquí tres semanas y aunque sabía que habría lentitud, no me imagine que tanto tendría que pelear con mi inquietud mental.

En este tiempo, he logrado más artísticamente de lo que he logrado en varios años.

Pero la ansiedad de producir aún más me sigue como una sombra. Así que regreso a la pregunta, ¿qué significa estar en un movimiento perpetuo?

La ironía o tal vez la magia de este edificio no solamente está en el nombre, lo cual me

CARTAS DE LECTORES Bienvenidos, recién llegados

He sido un orgulloso habitante de Carbondale desde que me mudé aquí hace unos nueve años.

Nunca he estado tan orgulloso como recientemente, al observar la forma en que mi ciudad ha tratado a los más de 100 recién llegados, en su mayoría venezolanos, que han venido aquí.

Los inmigrantes vinieron a Carbondale porque en Denver escucharon que había trabajo en los pueblos de las montañas de Colorado. Los recién llegados acabaron en Denver porque algunos bastardos desalmados de Texas los enviaron en autobús a ciudades gobernadas por demócratas para hacerlo un debate político.

El informe sobre el empleo es bastante cierto, pero la parte que falta es que hay tantos carteles de "se busca ayuda" porque la gente que trabaja aquí no puede pagar las casas del mercado por causa de promotores codiciosos que prefieren construir viviendas con las que hacer dinero antes que contruir el tipo de viviendas que necesitamos.

Así que los recién llegados acabaron debajo del puente sobre el río Roaring Fork, cerca de la intersección de las carreteras 82 y 133. ¿Qué haces? ¿Dejar que se mueran de hambre y de frío con la llegada del invierno?

Cuando los recién llegados tuvieran suficiente hambre y frío, regresarían a Venezuela.

Hay quienes, muchos de ellos escribiendo cartas al director en los periódicos locales, habrían hecho precisamente eso. Al parecer, no son conscientes de que el hambre fue una de las principales motivaciones para que los inmigrantes abandonaran su tierra natal.

Lo que han hecho los dirigentes de Carbondale, en particular el alcalde Ben Bohmfalk, la administradora municipal Lauren Gister y el antiguo superintendente del distrito escolar de Roaring Fork, Rob Stein, es encontrar un refugio temporal para los inmigrantes.

Ahora se han trasladado del Third Street Center al ayuntamiento y a la Iglesia Community United Methodist de Carbondale. El distrito escolar de Roaring Fork ha organizado un comedor para los recién llegados en la escuela primaria de Crystal River.

Todo esto cuesta dinero. Carbondale ha recibido $223,880 dólares en fondos estatales de emergencia.

Cuando se sugirió que el condado de Garfield aportara algo de ayuda, la comisionada del condado

recuerda al flujo constante, sino que todo lo que me rodea también es azul. El cielo, el piso, las enormes vidrieras, la loseta del baño y hasta mi recamara se llama el cuarto azul. Pareciera que la idea del periodo azul estuviese en yuxtaposición con el movimiento perpetuo.

Pero cuando analizo el movimiento perpetuo desde otra perspectiva me doy cuenta de que no todo es producción o resultado inmediato como lo que ha inculcado el “hustle culture”, la cultura del ajetreo.

Analicemos por un momento la idea del periodo azul, que en este caso simboliza la lentitud y la idea del movimiento perpetuo como símbolo del avance.

Inmediatamente se me viene a la mente la fábula de la tortuga y la liebre que se retan en una carrera.

La liebre, muy segura de sí misma, se movía a alta velocidad e incluso se burlaba de la tortuga por su lentitud.

En cambio la tortuga, a pesar de sus pasos cortos, permanecía en un movimiento perpetuo aunque la liebre arrogante corriera en círculos a su alrededor. En un descuido, la liebre aburrida se queda dormida debajo de un árbol y la tortuga continúa poco a poco hasta llegar a la meta, ganando la carrera.

Hace unos días, mi novio me dijo que él no podía correr después de que le platicara que me había suscrito a un maratón. En ese momento pensé que tal vez no cualquiera puede correr rápido, pero habemos muchos más que podemos correr lento, lo cual a veces hace que la jornada sea mucho más placentera, y como en el caso de la tortuga, nos lleva más lejos.

Migrantes de Pitkin, Francie Jacober, dijo al Aspen Daily News: "No creo que sea por mucho tiempo".

Los inmigrantes llevan ya meses en Carbondale.

Si le creemos al principal candidato republicano a la presidencia, ya podríamos estar experimentando una ola de crímenes. Una rápida comprobación del registro policial de la ciudad revela que eso no está ocurriendo.

A esto se le llama compasión. Algunos creen que es para mariquitas, pero si vamos a perseverar con 8,000 millones de almas en este planeta, será mejor que aprendamos a compartirla.

Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale

Gracias por detenerse

El pasado jueves, 18 de enero, me bajé del autobús en Basalt y supe que algo no estaba bien.

Me sentí débil y mareado y me agarré a la pared del andén para intentar estabilizarme. No funcionó. Me desperté de espaldas, había perdido el conocimiento.

Desorientado y asustado, conseguí llamar a mi esposa, que venía a recogerme. Mientras la esperaba, tendido en el suelo a la vista de todos los autos que pasaban, me preguntaba por qué nadie se paraba a ayudar, algo que necesitaba y deseaba. Entonces, aparecieron. Un hombre y una mujer se orillaron en la carretera y se acercaron. Me ayudaron a incorporarme, se ofrecieron a pedir ayuda y, cuando les dije que alguien venía por mi en coche, esperaron y me ayudaron a acercarme al coche.

No supe y aún no sé quiénes fueron. Espero que esta nota llegue a ellos y sepan lo agradecido que estoy por su ayuda. También quiero que sepan que estoy bien. Llegué al hospital donde pasé un par de días y ahora me estoy recuperando en casa. ¿Qué me ha llevó a esta situación? Bueno, esa es otra historia.

Matt Thomas Carbondale ¿Quieres dejar saber sus opiniones? Aceptamos cartas de lectores con un límite de 500 palabras.

Cartas cortas y con un enfoque local tendrán prioridad. No aceptaremos cartas inflamatorias ni odiosas. Por favor, incluye fuentes para los hechos citados y mándanos su carta antes del mediodía, lunes con su nombre completo y lugar de residencia.

Se puede enviar una carta al editor vía correo electrónico a sol@soprissun.com

12 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 25 de enero - 31 de enero de 2024

En este periodo azul, si hay un movimiento perpetuo, sólo que es un movimiento lento que me permite observar hasta los más pequeños detalles. Dentro de esta lentitud, puedo observar cómo los rayos del sol se reflejan de la loseta del baño y rebotan al pasillo, iluminando todo de azul como si estuviera en un acuario.

La observación, el soñar despierto y el aburrimiento son tan importantes para la persona creativa como lo es la herramienta con la que crean. A veces es difícil recordar esto, pero entre más persevero en mi práctica de ser artista me doy cuenta que vale más poner atención a mis alrededores, ya que es esto lo que alimenta mi inspiración. Y en caso de que se me olvide, me quedo con la tranquilidad de que habrán muchas ironías a mi alrededor y es solo cuestión de ir lento y observar. continúa de la página 11

Ya sea por razones de barrera del idioma u otras, Gister dijo que solo ha oído hablar de 16 solicitudes de autorización de trabajo presentadas por los recién llegados.

Mientras tanto, quienes no tienen autorización de trabajo han estado ganando dinero mediante trabajos remunerados en efectivo.

El administrador Luis Yllanes agregó que, con tantos migrantes aún llegando a Denver, cree que más pasarán por Carbondale una vez que termine el invierno y el clima permite su paso.

“Creo que una de las preguntas es: ¿cómo ayudamos a las personas que ya no quieren seguir aquí?” dijo Stein. “Claramente la ciudad no está interesada en mantener aquí a personas que no están trabajando y quieren quedarse aquí por más tiempo”.

Stein dijo que con la ayuda del Ejército de Salvación y fondos suficientes, podría haber una oportunidad en el futuro de ayudar a conseguir boletos de autobús para los inmigrantes que quieran trasladarse a otro lugar.

“Pero en este momento ese es un vacío que aún no se ha llenado”, dijo Stein.

Stepping Stones, un programa comunitario de tutoría para jóvenes que opera centros de acogida para jóvenes y adultos jóvenes en Roaring Fork Valley, ya se ha comunicado con Carbondale para ayudar con algunos de los adultos más jóvenes.

“Creo que Stepping Stones está muy dispuesto a desempeñar ese papel”, dijo Stein.

En última instancia, Bohmfalk reiteró que una de las prioridades de la ciudad en el futuro es salir de su actual respuesta de emergencia para los recién llegados, y que darles a los migrantes y a los condados hasta finales de marzo es un cronograma razonable para ello.

“Hemos cumplido con nuestra obligación como ciudad segura … al abordar el aspecto de emergencia de su llegada, pero eso es todo”, dijo la administradora Lani Kitching.

“Entonces se vuelven responsables de sí mismos. Y creo que ahí es donde la gestión de casos se vuelve clave”.

OPINIÓN

Criticás

Por Hector Salas-Gallegos

Debajo del árbol de mi abuela, se encuentran las raíces de un duraznero que de alguna manera logró a crecer alto y resistente en el aire frío de las montañas de Colorado.

Una vez, cuando mi abuela y yo estábamos hablando bajo su árbol de durazno sobre todas las frutas que ha dado desde que lo plantó por primera vez, me di cuenta de cuánto odio había tenido por México, el país de mis mayores.

Como inmigrante de segunda generación,

Debajo del árbol de mi abuela

siempre había albergado un profundo resentimiento hacia México. Para mí, era un lugar de dolor y dificultades.

Pero mientras hablábamos sobre su mortalidad y dónde quería ser enterrada, vi un lado diferente de ella, un lado lleno de calidez y nostalgia por el lugar al que ella llamaba su hogar.

En un principio, nos pidió llevar sus cenizas a la ladera de una montaña o a cualquier río viejo. Pero después de un momento de silencio, dijo que quería ser enterrada en México, en la tierra donde descansaban sus familiares y amigos de toda la vida.

Mientras hablaba, vi una luz en sus ojos que nunca antes había visto. Era como si una parte de ella hubiera sido iluminada por primera vez.

Antes, toda mi existencia había estado consumida por la necesidad de justificar la experiencia de ser inmigrante. Y lo hacía alejándome lo más

posible de mi herencia mexicana y de su imagen.

Para mí, la lógica era sencilla: si un lugar puede ser tan malo que las personas que amo necesitan salir para encontrar una vida mejor, entonces todo lo asociado con esos lugares debería ser arrancado y alejado de mí. Quería desaprender mi identidad mexicana e incluso someterme al odio y la negación de mí mismo para sacarlo de mí.

Solamente quería ser lo que mis mayores estaban buscando cuando emigraron.

Todo esto hacía que el deseo de mis mayores de regresar a México fuera un problema complejo. ¿Por qué alguien querría regresar a un lugar que necesitaba dejar?

La ciudadanía siempre ha sido el Cucuy. Así que pensar en que mis mayores regresen a México me parecía una traición a todo el esfuerzo y los sacrificios realizados para construir esta nueva vida.

Dejar tu hogar y aventurarte en lo desconocido a menudo no es una elección, sino una decisión de supervivencia. Una que solo puedo imaginar. Me identifico con mis seres queridos que dejaron su patria, el lugar donde tuvieron su primer beso, asistieron a la escuela y comieron frutas frías durante el verano. A través de sus historias, vislumbro la nostalgia que les rasca las fibras del corazón y los recuerdos que los atan a sus raíces.

Desde hace mucho tiempo, he llegado a la conclusión de que mi identidad latina es una parte inseparable de quien soy. De la misma manera, el regreso de mis padres a su herencia es un testimonio del poder perdurable de la conexión cultural. México es más que solo un lugar en el mapa: es donde está arraigada mi historia familiar y mi identidad, un vibrante tapiz tejido con los

hilos de ricas tradiciones y espíritus resistentes. Abrazar esta conexión me ha dado un sentido de orgullo y pertenencia que alimenta cada aspecto de mi vida, y por eso estoy eternamente agradecido.

He aprendido que es posible amar dos lugares al mismo tiempo, sentir un sentido de pertenencia en múltiples culturas. No es necesario odiar uno para amar al otro. Me doy cuenta de que la conexión de mi familia con México no se trataba solo de las luchas que habían enfrentado, sino también de la belleza y riqueza de la cultura que habían dejado atrás.

Si bien es posible que nunca comprenderé completamente la decisión de regresar a un lugar que ya no es el mismo, puedo empatizar con la profunda tristeza y el sentido de pérdida que conlleva tener que dejar un lugar antes de estar listo.

Y estoy agradecido de que esta vez, la reubicación pueda ser una decisión.

CHISME DEL PUEBLO Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Fondos de CORE

Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE por sus siglas en inglés) está financiando hasta $200,000 para proyectos de construcción que reducirán las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en el condado de Pitkin y la parte de Roaring Fork Valley del condado de Eagle. En el 2023, CORE premió casi $1 millón para ayudar a 177 proyectos de ahorro de energía. Las inscripciones son aceptadas en base continua para hogares unifamiliares, multifamiliares y edificios comerciales, con una prioridad hacia organizaciones e individuos en cuidado de niños, educación, organizaciones sin fines de lucro, gubernamental local, la industria de eficiencia energética, personal de primeros auxilios, viviendas para trabajadores locales, militares activos, veteranos y hogares con menos del 150% del ingreso promedio. Para saber más, visite www.AspenCORE.org/savings-finder

Acera de Carbondale

Una reja de construcción alrededor de la oficina del Distrito de Guardabosques de Aspen-Sopris en Carbondale está obstruyendo la acera en la calle principal. El que el Servicio Forestal haya solicitado un permiso a través del pueblo para la construcción dentro del espacio de derecho público todavía no se ha confirmado.

Manténgase al tanto y el Sol del Valle publicará actualizaciones a los lectores. La demolición de edificios del Servicio Forestal está programada para comenzar en febrero.

Comida y abrigos

En el espíritu de servicio inspirado por Martin Luther King Jr., Colorado Mountain College está recolectando donaciones de comida no perecedera y ropa de invierno con poco uso hasta el 31 de enero en sus ubicaciones de Aspen y Carbondale. ¿Tiene algunas preguntas? Llame al 970-236-0412.

Semana de deseos

La clase de Liderazgo Estudiantil de Basalt High School se une junto a la Fundación de Make-A-Wish para hacer los sueños realidad para los niños que batallan con enfermedades críticas. Del 5 al 10 de febrero, la Semana de Deseos reemplazará la semana tradicional de Snowcoming Week. Lo más destacado será el juego de baloncesto el viernes, el cual presentará actividades divertidas en el medio tiempo y un “minuto de milagros”. La clase de Liderazgo Estudiantil está buscando patrocinadores y otro tipo de ayuda para hacer esta recaudación de fondos un éxito. Envíe un correo electrónico a klewis@rfschools.com para saber cómo contribuir.

Subvenciones AARP

AARP Colorado invita a las organizaciones sin fines de lucro o establecimientos gubernamentales elegibles a inscribirse en su programa de subvenciones Community Challenge del 2024. Proyectos ideales ayudarán a “hacer comunidades habitables para las personas de todas las edades” al mejorar lugares públicos, transporte, vivienda, acceso digital y más. La fecha límite para inscribirse es el 6 de marzo, para saber más visite www.AARP.org/ CommunityChallenge

"Sincronías" parte 59, por Leonardo Occhipinti

Granja fresca Los productores agrícolas son alentados a entregar sus listas para el 40o Directorio de Granja Fresca, publicado por el Departamento de Agricultura.

El costo del listado es $25 y la fecha límite es el 29 de febrero. Más de 100,000 copias estarán distribuidas en todo el estado en junio. Para más información visite www.bit. ly/2024farmfresh

el Sol del Valle • Conector de comunidad • 25 de enero - 31 de enero de 2024 • 13

Roaring Fork basketball teams prep for second round of 3A league matchups

By John Stroud Sopris Sun Correspondent

Riley Bevington takes a shot during the lady Rams’ most recent home game against the North Fork Miners on Jan. 13. The next home game is Feb. 2 at 5:30pm versus the Cedaredge Bruins. Photo by Sue Rollyson

The Roaring Fork High School basketball teams both find themselves in the thick of the 3A Western Slope League race halfway through the conference schedule after the latest round of action.

With the last three games on the road, the Roaring Fork girls scored an important win, 64-43, at Gunnison on Saturday, following a close loss at Olathe on Friday, 53-48.

Earlier in the week, it was defending league champs and 2023 state semifinalist Grand Valley topping the Rams, 65-35, in Parachute.

Against Olathe, the Rams were up 39-34 late in the third quarter, before the Pirates were able to capitalize on some turnovers to claim the win.

Freshman Riley Bevington was the leading scorer on the night with 12 points, with nine each coming from junior Carly Crownhart and sophomore Nikki Tardif.

After spending the night in Montrose, it was on to Gunnison the next day for a chance at getting things back on track to close out the first round of games against conference opponents.

Crownhart, who is now averaging 18.4 points per game and is one of the leading scorers among the 3A girls in the state, helped secure the win with 24 points.

Tardif and senior Lelaney Gardesani each contributed 13 points. “Lelany has really been coming on strong,” Rams head coach Mike Vidakovich said. He also noted that Tardif is averaging 11.4 rebounds per game.

The win moved the Roaring Fork girls to 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the league, putting them in fourth place among eight Western Slope teams heading into a key stretch of rematch games with their league opponents.

A trip to North Fork on Friday kicks off the second round of league games, followed by a five-game home stand in Carbondale that begins with Cedaredge on Feb. 2 and leagueleading Meeker on Feb. 3. The girls will have the same schedule to close out the regular season, with one addition — a Feb. 6 trip to Aspen, where the Lady Skiers play at the 3A level while their counterparts on the boys team play in the 4A league.

Gentlemen Rams

Girls swimming results

The Roaring Fork boys find themselves in second place among the seven 3A schools in their league after rebounding from a 61-53 loss at Grand Valley to score a 90-52 win over Olathe and winning 55-36 at Gunnison.

The return of senior Noel Richardson to the lineup after he had been sick coming out of the holiday break made a big difference.

Richardson led all scorers with 25 points on Friday, and he had some crucial support from sophomores Kiko Pena (17), Lucas Carballeira (14) and Ethan Wilson (11) in the Olathe win. Pena also had 17 rebounds (10 defensive and seven offensive) to help keep the Pirates at bay.

For the win at Gunnison, Carballeira led the team with 11 points, while Pena had 10 to go with his 12 rebounds and three steals, according to stats posted to MaxPreps Colorado.

The boys team now stands at 5-8 overall and 4-2 in league.

The Glenwood Springs High School girls swimming team, which includes several swimmers from Carbondale, was at the Grand Junction High School Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The Demons won the 10-team meet with 510 points, well ahead of second place Gunnison at 348, to remain undefeated as a team this season.

Amelie Ogilby, a senior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, swept her two individual events, the 100 backstroke in 58.36 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes, 7.92 seconds. She was also a member of Glenwood’s winning 200 medley and 400 relay teams Isabella Moon, from Redstone, placed sixth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:30.04, and was 13th in the 100 backstroke in 1:14.66. She was also part of the sixth-place 200 medley and fourth-place 400 relay teams. Roaring Fork High School senior Luciana Phillips was part of the eighth-place 200 medley relay.

THE ANIMAL

SE BUSCA EDITOR/A EDITOR WANTED ¡El Sol del Valle está buscando su próximo/a editor/a!

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Ayúdanos a informar, inspirar y construir comunidad... ¡en español!

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Visit the link for more information: https://soprissun.com/elsoleditor 14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

IS LURKING …

Boot Tan Fest attendees skinned up the Bluebird Backcountry ski area outside of Kremmling at last year’s event. Photo by Nikki Hauser

A celebration of women, freedom and winter sports at Sunlight

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent The fourth annual Boot Tan Fest will, for the first time, be held at Sunlight Mountain Resort outside of Glenwood Springs on March 29 and 30.

Jenny Verrochi, founder of the event, said this is the first year with Sunlight as the venue and shared, “They are a wonderful partner. They're truly letting us have the entire mountain just to play on.”

The event began at Bluebird Backcountry in Kremmling in 2021, with 27 women skiing an after-hours naked lap. The following year, it was a ticketed event with 200 women participating, and last year garnered 450 female attendees.

Last summer, after Bluebird Backcountry announced it was permanently closing its gates, Verrochi began the search for a new venue. “I reached out to resorts in Colorado and on the east coast of California, and almost every single one of them was interested in hosting, but I chose Sunlight because they're local and privately owned. It's just the perfect place,” she said.

Working with more staff and volunteers than previous fests, Verrochi said over 400 tickets sold in the first week, and they expect a turnout of 1,500 attendees — specifically women and “femme folks” (non-binary or trans-identifying).

In the first few hours of launching online sales, they sold 200 tickets, and by week’s end, they’d sold 200 more. Verrochi attributes the brisk sales to people who'd come to past festivals and saved the date.

“One thing that the media does skew a bit, if I don't talk to them in-person, is they call it ‘a nude ski event.’ It is not. It is the world's largest ski and snowboard festival for women and femmes with a naked lap, which we call a party lap,’” she explained.

Camping slots sold out quickly, but a partnership with sponsor Hotel Colorado and other Glenwood Springs hotels offers discounted lodging.

Former Olympic freestyle skier and three-time Olympic medal winner Kari Traa has committed to a two-year sponsorship, according to Verrochi.

Around 25 years ago, Traa founded a women’s baselayer clothing company designed for training and outdoor activities which is contributing 200 base layers for giveaways at the Sunlight event.

Additional sponsors include Coalition Snow, which offers specially designed ski and snowboard equipment for women, and Scott Sports, USA. Buck Wild Coffee, a New Englandbased sustainable coffee roasting company founded

by Verrochi’s parents, will provide free coffee during the event.

Weekend highlights

On Friday at 9am, ski lifts will start running and the “vendor village,” showcasing the work of over 40 local artists, opens. Denver native and comedian Shanel Hughes performs at 3:15pm.

The load-up for the special after-hours party lap begins at 3:45pm. The evening includes live music, a tailgate competition, beginning at 7pm, all-night uphill access and camping.

Boot Tan Fest participants enjoy a celebratory moment after an invigorating naked ski lap.

Photo by Nikki Hauser

Saturday’s festivities start at 9am with live music from Denver-based indie duo LVDY (pronounced Lady).

Artist and educator Andrea Slusarski leads a guided journaling practice. The morning event concludes at 10am, with optional skiing and snowboarding on your own to follow.

Verrochi encourages attendees to embrace the festival’s ethos and urges them to “come as you are.”

Whether a seasoned skier or a beginner — ski and boot rental is available — the festival provides a space for everyone “where you can take a breath and be yourself

because the camaraderie in the community is so amazing. Whether you're in your sixties or twenties, everybody's a friend — it's a cool experience.”

When asked if the naked lap is cold, Verrochi replied, “You're fueled by adrenaline, so you're not cold; it's just exhilarating. Everyone's a little nervous, and you feel very comfortable when you reach the top. Nobody's looking at each other, and nobody's judging one another. You're just in a sea of supportive women who are having a blast,” Verrochi said.

Safety and privacy remain top priorities, with measures

like taking Sunlight’s Ute run for its coverage, privacy and staffing by Sunlight's female patrollers and lift operators.

“This is where we can feel completely free and in our bodies. In the past, women have reached out to say that this event has changed their lives and how they look at and treat themselves. And that's just what the spirit of the event is about,” Verrochi said.

Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

Sunlight will have food available for purchase. For more information, visit www.boottanfest.com

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 15

Pickleball: a social phenomenon

By Jessica Peterson Special to The Sun

Over the past few years, pickleball has been on the rise across the country with more people learning, playing and talking about the sport. According to Trevor Cannon, the president of the Roaring Fork Pickleball Association (RFPA) — a local group that has seen a 500% growth in membership since 2014 — Carbondale is no exception.

“I don’t believe pickleball is just a fad,” Cannon told The Sopris Sun. “When I joined the club, I was probably one of the youngest members … I was 53. Now, [there are] at least 100 members under 40 or 45.”

This growth and demand from the community is what prompted the group to advocate for three additional courts at North Face Park.

“We were just overflowing all of the time,” said Cannon. “I don’t think we’re building something that’s going to be obsolete in 5-10 years.”

In 2019, RFPA worked to have six pickleball courts built. Now, five years later, they’re working with the town to add another three, as well as a shade structure for players.

At its Jan. 23 meeting, the Carbondale board of trustees approved an update to the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding with

RFPA. See this week’s Carbondale Report on page 16 for more on the updated MOU. The next step is getting a Request for Proposal (RFP) approved. Cannon said once the RFPs are released, the town will manage a bidding process to determine who will take on the project.

RFPA will provide all of the necessary funds for the additional courts, with an estimated budget of $300,000. Cannon said the group only started the fundraising process back in October and is already almost at $200,000. He expects that RFPA will meet their goal by the time spring rolls around, whether from corporate sponsors or individual donors.

“We’re just fingers crossed that we can get them built this year,” said Cannon. “We’re probably a few months behind where we thought we were going to be. I originally thought we’d be breaking ground and playing on them by June, but I think that’s a stretch now. I think it will be in the fall, most likely.”

A community

The added courts will be a win for the pickleball aficionados of the community, as well as those who have yet to discover the allure of the sport.

“The thing that I’ve noticed the most is … people from all different

Roaring Fork Valley pickleballers were all smiles following a tournament at the North Face Park courts in June 2023. Courtesy photo

walks of life, different ages, totally different belief systems getting out there and playing together,” Cannon shared. “They’re laughing, having fun and shaking hands or tapping paddles at the end of a game.”

Another ambition Cannon has as RFPA’s president is to reach more members of the Latino community through the sport. Through his volunteer role with a local English tutoring organization, English in Action, he hopes to bring even more new faces onto the pickleball courts.

“There’s certainly members of the Latino community that play, it’s just a matter of getting them involved on another level,” Cannon expressed.

It’s clear RFPA is not exclusive, but is interested in sharing the sport as well as the court with anyone who is interested. Cannon described RFPA as a friendly, welcoming group that enjoys introducing people of all ages and experiences to the game.

“It’s such a great sport … and a community builder. I have 500 friends I didn’t know I had,” Cannon laughed. “A lot of us, as we get older our friend circles get smaller. This is a way to expand it, and I think that’s really valuable.”

For more about the RFPA, visit www.roaringforkpickleball.org

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16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

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CARBONDALE REPORT

Pickleball association secures new courts, other action

General comments During updates from trustees, Marty Silverstein

BASALT REPORT

82 WEANT BLVD, CARBONDALE, COLORADO 81623

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ARCHITECT

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ENERGY & SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, INC

EXISTING TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS

(970) 963-0114 - PHONE/FAX BIOSPACE@SOPRIS.NET - EMAIL

appeared, likely from hail damage. An insurance adjuster was scheduled to visit, with major work predicted.

“If you see buckets catching drips, that's what that's about,” Gister said.

She went on to announce that the two new shelters are now active, each hosting 20 newcomer migrants.

One was audibly active through the dividing wall in Town Hall’s meeting room.

A1.1 Dinners are being served at the Crystal River Elementary School, with the school district preparing food five nights a week. Volunteers are providing dinners on weekends at the same location, and grab-and-go breakfasts at Town Hall each morning. All cars are parked next to Thunder River Theatre, with a few people sleeping in them, and the Third Street Center has been officially cleared out as of Jan. 19.

NORTH FACE COURTS EXPANSION

All trustees were present during the regular meeting on Jan. 23, with Luis Yllanes joining by Zoom. The meeting began with swift approval of the consent agenda, which included appointment of Allison Cryns to the Bike, Pedestrian and Trails Commission; an annual scope of work for the bikeshare program with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, and First/Last Mile Grant covering $72,815 of the costs; special event liquor licenses for the Carbondale Historical Society and Colorado Mountain College; and a change of manager at Carbondale Beer Works — for the purposes of the liquor license — from Patrice Fuller to Kelly Snyder.

REGRADE AND RETAIN THIS AREA

JEFF DICKINSON

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

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The Roaring Fork Pickleball Association will be building three additional courts, south of the existing six pickleball courts.

According to their MOU, they have 28 hours of exclusive use on these courts each week, in addition to two annual tournaments.

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announced that the team planning the new pool presented initial designs to the tree board, and “what they proposed was the most feasible way to help the trees while maintaining the budget.”

With more discussion on the topic to be had, Silverstein

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said he's encouraging them to be transparent with the public regarding the trees.

Town Manager Lauren Gister began her update with bad news. With the accumulation of snow and ice melting on the roof of Town Hall, a number of leaks have

Town Center commitment

Moving on to action items, Andrew Michaelson with Artspace asked for a letter of support and commitment for a Colorado Housing and Finance Authority application due Feb.1; asking for 9% tax credit financing for the Town Center development.

In order to achieve a balanced budget for the project, trustees were asked to commit $1 million from the 2025 budget. At least three units of the 39-unit project would be reserved for Town employees.

Mayor Ben Bohmfalk asked about the Town's total contribution so far. In addition to the land, Gister said it's been $650,000 in predevelopment costs, about half of which has been paid by grants so far.

The letter of support passed unanimously. continued on page 19

Emma Road development shifts plan towards affordable, local housing

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent Prior to the regular meeting, Council held a public work session for the preliminary planning of a new campus for Basalt’s Police Department and Public Works.

During the regular meeting, all seats were occupied, primarily by citizens looking to share their opinions on the Black Mountain housing project, while many others resorted to standing. Even beyond the conversation about the Black Mountain development, housing was a recurring topic throughout the night.

The Town has highlighted a lack of necessary operational space in both the Police Department and Public Works buildings and issues with insufficient/insecure parking.

Additionally, both areas have been recognized as not being particularly welcoming spaces to the public.

Through 2024, Town Manager Ryan Mahoney stated that the planning team will primarily be searching for grant funding and, by the end of the year, a schematic design might be in the works, likely for one of two parcels of land at the intersection of Original Road and Highway 82.

Councilor Elyse Hottel recently met with the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition and stated during the period for council comments that, while the presentations and the data gathered in the coalition’s research have yet to be released, the true numbers for how much it costs to purchase a home in the Valley is “shocking.”

Hottel also tearily said that she will not be retaining her seat on the council

Outlined in red is the potential site of the Black Mountain development situated between Highway 82 and the Roaring Fork River. Courtesy image

after this April’s general election, as there is simply not enough housing security for her to remain in her position for the next few years. “This has been an amazing experience,” Hottel said. “The townspeople of Basalt are wonderful people and I hope that you guys will continue to all work together in the spirit of camaraderie that we have been.”

In the manager’s report, Mahoney congratulated Finance Director Doug Pattison, as the Town recently received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for Basalt’s annual finance report — the highest form of recognition in government accounting.

There was one presentation on the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project.

Besides a two-day closure on Homestead Drive following this paper’s publication, work will pause until spring.

Black Mountain

Finally, the meeting reached the much-contested Black Mountain development from applicant Jadwin Park, LLC. This potential development would be located on nine acres at 431 Emma Road, just down the street from the Post Office and Basalt Library. Currently, the developer plans to construct 72 dwelling units, 12 short-term rental cabins and four “glamping pads” across the Roaring Fork River from the Rocky Mountain Institute, approximately.

Since its last hearing in October, Jadwin Park has adjusted its plan to increase the percentage of deedrestricted units from 35% (24 units) to 50% (36 units).

This is much higher than Basalt’s standard requirement of 20% for affordable housing. In addition, the applicants have proposed that the non-

deed-restricted units have purchase/ rent priority for families and individuals living and working locally.

Reportedly, Jadwin Park, LLC has already met with 14 local civic and nonprofit groups to see if any would like to partner up to obtain housing for their employees.

Since October, the plan has also shifted to reduce visual as well as environmental impacts — planned community amenities like seating decks along the Roaring Fork River have been eliminated, due to recommendations from both the council and Roaring Fork Conservancy.

Furthermore, the applicant initially wished to purchase a parcel of land, referred to as the “dog leg,” adjacent to the primary parcel to dedicate to the Town in lieu of providing space for a childcare facility.

However, this area is beyond the Town’s Urban Growth Boundary, so, instead, the applicant has proposed to provide $700k towards community benefits including childcare.

A full house of citizens lent their voices to the discussion, many of who argued that this development would endanger Basalt’s small-town charm and its environmental health.

Still, many agreed that housing is the biggest issue the Valley faces, and the applicant’s move towards more affordable housing is a good one.

For now, the council has not taken action and instead directed additional questions for the developers, regarding phasing of housing availability, cost of deed-restricted units and more, to be answered at a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 13.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 17

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Art at FirstBank — in conversation with local artists

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

Local artists Mila Rossi and Kazumichi Nakahara’s artwork is on display and available for purchase at Carbondale’s FirstBank location, in collaboration with Carbondale Arts. This installation opened on Oct. 3, 2023, and will run until the last week of March 2024.

Carbondale Arts began collaborating with FirstBank in the fall of 2019 to provide additional spaces for original art to be displayed. Since the program’s inception, nearly 20 artists have participated.

When discussing how artists are selected, Brian Colley, Carbondale Arts gallery manager, stated, “We have an open call for artists who want to learn more about showing their art at FirstBank. If an artist is interested, we send them information about recommended sizes to display, an artist agreement with general guidelines for preparing their work for installation, and images of what the space looks like inside the FirstBank building.”

Rossi and Nakahara reached out around the same time. After reviewing their works and seeing how well they played together, Colley suggested both artists collaborate.

“Since there are always two artists on display, we ask for a few sample images to pair up artists with similar styles,” he explained. “Since both artists are residents at SAW, we thought it would be a fun pairing to host them simultaneously. They have different styles, but both work fairly abstractly and playfully,” Colley continued.

All exhibiting artists receive 70% of the sales made on their art, with another portion benefitting Carbondale Arts. Colley said, “We understand FirstBank isn't your typical space to view art, but, like our rotating art exhibition partnership with Bonfire Coffee, we love giving local artists a place to showcase their work.”

Rossi incorporates photography of textures in nature — specifically lichen and moss — laid upon canvas and layered with paint and other materials to capture their essence. She has a total of 10 pieces on display at FirstBank.

“It's a cool collaboration for our community to have our art up,” Rossi stated. “I decided to include my bigger pieces [at FirstBank] because it is a big space.

This was an incredible opportunity to have a bigger scale for my work.”

One of Rossi’s pieces on display is “Blue,” a collage made with subtle shades of gold, yellow and blue, colors found in the Ukrainian flag and paying homage to Rossi’s heritage. The piece was a way for her to work through the grief of losing her Ukrainian grandparents and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“Sometimes through art — and I think this is true for many artists — creating is a language of expressing and processing,” Rossi explained.

“This piece was a way for me to process all those heavy feelings through a visual language. It was pretty cathartic and very special.”

Nakahara was born in Japan, raised in Seattle, Washington, and has lived in the Valley for about three years. When not painting, he works as a chef at Bosq restaurant in Aspen, which recently received a Michelin star. Nakahara also owns his clothing brand, KYODAI. He has three large canvases on display at the bank.

Nakahara uses acrylic and alcohol-based paints, does graphic illustration and also screen prints. Discussing his process and the inspiration behind his works, he stated, “During the offseason, I focus on my art, and during the [tourist] season, I focus on food art. Much of the plating we do at Bosq inspires me to paint what I do.”

He explained that he draws additional inspiration from street art, aka graffiti, and comics and manga, which played a significant role in his childhood. For the pieces at FirstBank, he was inspired by Ben-Day dots, an art style used for shadowing in comic books.

“Most of my pieces take me roughly three to four months to finish. I did a collage [for this installment] of Akira manga as a background, went over with the dots, and then played around to create these pieces. I just go with the flow when I am painting, and it turned out how it turned out,” Nakahara said.

For the latest artist opportunities via Carbondale Arts, visit www.carbondalecreativedistrict. com/artist-opportunities To see more from the displaying artists, follow Kazumichi on Instagram @official_kazumichi and Mila on Instagram @ artbymilarossi or visit artbymilarossi.com

Kazumichi Nakahara carries his paintings to display in Carbondale's FirstBank. Courtesy photo

Mila Rossi’s “Blue” pays homage to the Ukrainian flag and her heritage. Courtesy photo

Carbondale Report Finance policy

Finance Director Christy Chicoine then presented two finance policy resolutions. The first, a procurement policy, was suggested based on federal standards. The policy was drafted to avoid overburdening staff while meeting compliance.

For purchases above $20,000 (or $10,000 with federal grants) three quotes must be acquired. Projects over $100,000 will go through a competitive bidding process, with some exceptions.

Next, a new fund balance policy was proposed, allowing the Town to dip to 70% of the most current approved budgeted expenses — excluding onetime transfers and capital projects — for general fund reserves and 80% for the recreation fund.

Bohmfalk pointed to Basalt's policy being a 40% minimum fund balance, and Eagle informally at 25%.

continued from page 17

Trustee Lani Kitching remarked that other municipalities in the Colorado Association of Ski Towns have no reserves. “I think we're doing extremely well being prudent,” she said.

Silverstein strongly recommended maintaining unallocated reserve funds.

“I'm not opposed to 70% at all,” he said. However, “I can't live with Basalt's 40%.” The two months of operating costs standard would be 16%.

Both policies were unanimously approved and Chicoine received accolades for making strategic moves around earning interest and responsibly managing the Town’s finances.

Pickleball

The biggest item of the evening was a revised memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Roaring Fork Pickleball Association (RFPA) which approached Parks and

Rec requesting permission to build three additional courts on public park land, financed by RFPA. Currently, there are six designated pickleball courts. RFPA's original MOU reserves 28 hours of exclusive use each week for RFPA members: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The MOU also allows for two tournaments per year.

There was contention around the neighboring three tennis courts, painted to serve as pickleball courts as well. Those fall outside the MOU and are always open to anybody on a firstcome, first-served basis.

However, RFPA overflow has used those courts with some conflicts, as suggested by several emails to the board of trustees and one public comment during the meeting.

Asked by one member of the public about the sound impacts on neighbors, Parks and Rec Director

Eric Brendlinger said, “we have not gotten noise complaints” but the MOU requires sound mitigation on the southern end of the new courts.

It was approved 6-1, with Silvertein voting against. The MOU will remain in effect for five years, with annual reviews. At the end of the five years, it may be adjusted or terminated.

The meeting concluded with an executive session for the town manager's annual review.

Election

Seven aspiring trustees turned in their petitions by Monday for three open seats. The candidates (in no particular order) are: Jess Robison, April Spaulding, Katie Tabor, Susan Reha, Christina Montemayor, Nicholas DiFrank and Ross Kribbs. The Sopris Sun will be coordinating with other local media to host a candidate forum on Wednesday, March 20.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 19

OPINION

Guest Column

By Jim Duke

Editor's note: This column was originally printed in the short-lived Roaring Fork Weekly Journal.

Watching X Games always keeps me cringing in anticipation of the next serious wreck. While everyone enjoys and appreciates extreme feats of strength and agility, it’s hard to watch healthy young people take such dangerous risks with someone inevitably sustaining serious, life changing injuries. What’s so much fun about that? As I get older, it becomes less and less entertaining to watch the youth of the world take such risks.

Ever since having witnessed a young woman snap her elbow backwards trying to ride a bull at the Carbondale Rodeo a couple of years ago, even this favorite activity has become difficult to watch. It’s probably very sexist, but it was much more distressing to see that happen to a young girl than to a guy.

At any rate, it’s not fun watching young folks of either sex get hurt.

Senior X Games But, these kinds of sports are hard to criticize. At some point in our lives, we’ve all pursued dangerous activities to the extent of our limits and then some. The problem with the X Games is the age of the contestants. It would all make so much more sense and be more entertaining if we replaced all of the kids with us old farts. We should be having Senior X Games! I mean, really, instead of cutting short or limiting the potential of someone so early in their lives, it would make much more sense for us old guys and gals, with most of our lives behind us, to go down in glory! Most of us haven’t planned and prepared very well for retirement anyway, so disastrous failures would not bear such grim consequences. It’s not a big deal to watch an old guy go splat.

What do we have to lose?

Seriously! What’s the biggest problem on earth? Too many people!

And with recent success in curbing our population explosion, the largest demographic is too many old people.

This should tell us that safety is way overrated. We need to start curbing safety measures and encouraging high risk activities for old folks. No more seat belts, helmets or airbags after the age of 60. From then on, we encourage cliff diving, big wave surfing, cave snorkeling and rattlesnake round-ups.

My wife, Kathy, and I have always practiced the philosophy that if we

partied hearty enough, ate plenty of bacon, eggs and Big Macs and pursued many high-risk activities we wouldn’t live long enough to have to worry about limping off into the sunset. I rode my first bull on my 47th birthday. We used to fly our small aircraft throughout the mountains and all around Mexico in every kind of weather. We engaged in all sorts of extreme travel and activities often far beyond our abilities and comfort levels.

Yet here we are, eligible for social security and pretty much as healthy as ever. Now what are we supposed to do?

Because Senior X Games aren’t likely to catch on, we’ve been thinking about starting an X Games themed retirement community in Mexico that offers little in the way of health care, but specializes instead in the old pursuit of sex, drugs and rock and roll as well as many other high-risk activities. Our motto would be, “Skip the rocking chair, skip the wheel chair and get on this crotch rocket.” We will promote lots of drinking, smoking, drugs and late-night carousing in dangerous neighborhoods. There will be no basket weaving, crochet or quilt sewing circles, but lots of opportunity for skydiving, fly suits, surfing off rocky shoals and swimming with alligators. While not necessarily trying to die, we will try to ensure that, if death is encountered, it will be glorious and captured on totally awesome videos. It will no longer be

only young, dumb rednecks spouting their famous last words of “Here darlin’, hold my beer and watch this.”

Speaking of young, dumb folks, just as colonial villages used to support a town drunk to provide a bad example to discourage their youth from taking up the bottle, our pathetic efforts at being daredevils might help dissuade future generations from pursuing such selfdestructive antics. At least until they reach that age when it makes a little more sense to take bigger chances.

Taking this whole Senior X Games retirement concept a step further, our organization will not allow anyone to become cranky old folks. For some reason, it always seems to be old men, rather than old women, who tend to go to one extreme or the other.

We seem to either become totally laid back and easy going or to turn into completely unbearable old assholes. That said, we will not be sexist in our approach to those who become bitchy, whiney or in any other way unpleasant to the company of others. If any such individuals manage to survive all of our high-risk activities, and yet fail to appreciate and be happy with all of the good videos to their credit, the remaining ‘retirees’ will be able to vote them out.

Rather than throwing them out into the cold, cruel reality of old age and merely imposing their unpleasant disposition on others, we will have a huge “going away” party during which they will be slipped a “mickey” of some sort. continued on page 22

‘Fear and Loathing’ in Woody Creek and elsewhere Guest Column

By Lynn "Jake" Burton

Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson (HST) lived in Woody Creek from the mid-1960s until his self-inflicted death there in 2005.

Over the years, scores of locals interacted with the good doctor.

Jesse Steindler told a few stories to authors Michael Cleverly and the late Bob Braudis for their excellent book “Kitchen Readings: Untold Stories of Hunter S. Thompson.”

Steindler was manager of the Flying Dog Ranch, three miles past Thompson’s Owl Farm cabin on Woody Creek Road. Thompson had lived there for years before Steindler came on the scene. Like it or not, he quickly became Thompson’s go-to guy whenever troubles arose at Owl Farm.

For example, one Christmas morning at 1am, Steindler got a call from HST’s assistant who yelled, “There’s a mountain lion in the house.” Long story short: Steindler appeared with a 30-30 rifle. The mountain lion turned out to be a bobcat in the peacock cage, who escaped the cage, only to leap through an open cabin window.

“Now there really was a wildcat in the house,” the book says. Steindler ended up shooting the agitated beast.

The bullet went through the wildcat and lodged in the cabin’s back wall.

Thompson never patched the hole. “He liked having stuff around to remind him of the good times,” the book relates.

It’s unclear from the book when Thompson lost his go-to guy, but it was no doubt sometime after HST took his girls for a high-speed ride in his red convertible. Upon their return from the Glenwood Springs’ McDonald’s, one girl exclaimed to her parents, “Gee, I’ve never driven so fast in a car. I thought [name omitted here] was going to blow right out of the back seat!”

Personal encounters

My first encounter with HST was long distance in 1974. I was a student at the University of Oklahoma and thought it would be a great idea to get him to speak on campus. So, I wrote him a gonzo-ish letter, saying, among other things, that he could attend the OU/Nebraska football game and watch the Selmon brothers rip out the Nebraska quarterback’s lungs at midfield. I included a self-addressed stamped envelope, addressed the letter to “Hunter Thompson, Woody Creek, Colorado, 81656” and sent it.

A couple of weeks later, my selfaddressed stamped envelope arrived.

Inside, on two pages of Rolling Stone stationery, he started by saying he liked my instincts, then mentioned something about his “alleged agent” and then declined the gig. I’ve still got that letter.

The next encounter came in about 1980, when I worked at Big Sid’s liquor store in Glenwood Springs.

20 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

He walked in one day, his signature cigarette holder clinched in his teeth.

He brought a six-pack of Heiniken to the counter, whipped out his checkbook and wrote a check for $5.

I said something and he replied, “If this bounces, we’re all in trouble.” I thought about pulling out a fiver from my wallet to put in the cash register and keep the check, but money was tight, so I refrained.

I had a brief encounter with HST in the Paragon Ballroom restroom during some kind of political rally in Aspen.

I’d just ripped the event poster from a wall and told him he could have my stall if he signed it. He did. Note: His red convertible was idling in the alley the whole time. I briefly thought about moving it, but wisely didn’t.

One time at the Woody Creek Tavern, HST was reeling around outside pretty drunk. I wanted to talk to him about the Aspen Wall Posters he produced with Tom Benton.

He handed me a letter, mumbled something and sort of waved me to the receptacle at the Post Office next door. I took the letter, slipped it into the slot, returned and said something about the wall posters. He replied, “You should try it sometime … they’ll kill you.” That was the end of our Aspen Wall Poster conversation.

My final HST encounter was oneon-one with him (and his assistant, Deborah Fuller) at the Tavern. He wanted a photo I’d taken of him during

WCT 1990. Photo by Lynn Burton

the Fat Floyd Watkins controversy. I’d told Fuller HST could have the pic if I could have a beer with him. We met in his corner booth; he and Fuller were talking to each other and I didn’t say much. He perked up when I suggested a University of Colorado versus Notre Dame game in the Orange Bowl.

“That’d be good,” he said. The main thing from the encounter I remember, however, was the flow of clear liquid running from his nose.

As I said at the top of this column, lots of folks have lots of stories about encounters with Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Ask around.

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

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

Roller Derby Queens

By Nancy Bo Flood

Cousins, we were the champion roller-derby skaters of Grandma’s basement. The floor was cement. Dusty spider webs hung in the corners of the wooden overhead beams.

A monstrous octopus furnace sat hunched over and frowning in the very center of the basement.

Giant metal arms reached out across the ceiling in all directions.

In the winter they crackled and popped as they did their job of conducting heat to the rooms above. We ignored the monster.

Faster and faster we skated, round and round, bumping invisible skaters out of our way. Roller derby champions, we were invincible.

But first, the scary part. Clamber down the outside hardpacked dirt stairs, push open the creaky basement door, walk around in darkness … try not to listen to the cockroaches and spiders creeping out of the way. Feel above your head for a string to pull that blinks on the one hanging light

bulb. Catch it. Yank it.

Nothing. Pull harder.

Light! Shadows loom from your feet. Perfect.

Sit on the damp, dusty cement floor.

Take the skate key that always hangs around your neck on a knotted shoelace. Fit the key into the skate clamps, loosen the clamps, slip on the skates, tighten the clamps.

Now, try to stand up.

Don’t laugh when your cousin lands back on her bum as her skates slip from under her.

Concentrate. Place one foot solidly beneath you. Push up. Knees bent. Next foot.

Suddenly, there you are, fully up. Quick, grab a cousin’s hand and zoom. Fly round and around, faster and faster until … down you go. Another skinned up knee, a bloody elbow.

Time for a snack break.

Grandma always has a pitcher full of fresh milk from the cow barn and a stack of graham crackers ready.

Grandma scrubs the bloody parts, shakes her head and doses the raw skin with bright orange iodine. Oh, does it sting! But what a badge of courage that shouts, “Roller Derby Queen!”

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Local artist Sofie Koski captured this photo of a couple enjoying the holidays, skating at the Glenwood Springs Rec Center. Struck by their smiles and stylish moves, Koski decided to mimic the scene through art.

(With Apologies to Joyce Kilmer)

By Susy Ellison

I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE A MURAL LOVELY AS A TREE

WE COVER UP THAT WALL WITH PAINT AND HOPE THE ART WILL EASE THE TAINT

LIKE THE VIEW THAT DREW THE EYE OF SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN AND THE SKY

CONDO BUILDINGS GROW LIKE WEEDS OUR BASALT MOUNTAIN VIEW NOW RECEDES

INSTEAD THERE IS A HALL OF GREY AS TALL CONCRETE LINES OUR ROADWAY

WONDERING WHEN THE NEXT COMMISSION WILL BLOCK OUR FAMOUS SOPRIS VISION

Offering: Dentistry Surgery Wellness Geriatric Care Chiropractic Acupuncture Cold Laser THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 21

LETTERS

Thank you for stopping

Last Thursday, Jan. 18, I got off the downvalley bus in Basalt and knew something was not right. I felt weak and dizzy and grabbed onto the platform wall as I tried to steady myself. It did not work. I woke up on my back, I had blacked out. Disoriented and scared, I managed to call my wife who was coming to pick me up. While waiting for her, laying on the ground visible to all the passing cars, I wondered why no one was stopping to help — something I needed and wanted. Then, they showed up. A man and a woman pulled off the highway and came over. They helped me sit up, offered to call for help and, when I told them I had a ride coming, they waited and helped me get to my car.

I didn’t and don’t know who they were. I hope this note finds its way to them and they learn how grateful I am for their help. I also want to let them know that I am okay. I got to the hospital where I stayed for a couple of days and am now recuperating at home.

What got me into this situation? Well, that is another story.

Matt Thomas Carbondale

Take action!

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has begun a massive redevelopment project on their Main Street property. This is after threeplus years of deceitful actions have been taken to minimize and disregard public input. The Carbondale Board of Trustees submitted a formal letter to the USFS stating a need "to incorporate more public comments" and "pursue a mutually beneficial collaboration."

Time is of the essence! Additional actions must be taken to save the integrity of our beloved community for generations to come.

Please visit and share MainStreet Alliance Facebook page: www.bit. ly/3GLIWZp Jim Coddington III MainStreet Alliance Founder and Director

WE-cycle waste?

As I drive meals for seniors around Carbondale once a week, I notice all the expensive e-bikes parked at the various WE-cycle bike stands around town.

They sit unused due to the inclement weather this time of year. They are often covered in snow, certainly getting wet and possibly rusting, and are withstanding sub-freezing temperatures

Senior X Games

continued from page 2

which certainly cannot be good for their batteries. What will this do to their lifespan and potential maintenance costs? Would it make better sense to store these out of the weather for a few months each winter so taxpayers aren't forced to bear the cost of their repair or replacement?

Siri Olsen Glenwood Springs

Big Buddy

I have had the honor of serving as a Big Buddy to two different girls over the past five years. I met my first Little Buddy when she was a high school sophomore. We spent three years together, attending The Nutcracker and X Games, going to the movies, walking my dog, and hosting a radio show together, among other activities. Our official Buddy pairing ended when she graduated high school; however, we have stayed in touch.

I was eager to be rematched with a new Little Buddy and was subsequently paired with a fifth grader. Over the past two years, we have had fun getting to know one another through our shared passion for skiing, art, games, and movies.

Both of my mentoring relationships have been unique, based on the age and personality of each girl, yet they share similarities in that we have each benefited from them in profound ways.

Giving back to young people has been my life’s work; as a child growing up in Aspen in the ‘70s, many adults outside of my family helped shape my life. I believe that being a positive role model is the most important thing an adult can do for a child. Please consider donating your time by becoming a Big Buddy. You may be surprised by how much happiness and fulfillment it brings to your life.

Brenda Carlson Stockdale Basalt

Cooperation

Over the 86 years the USFS has been a guest in Carbondale, there has been cooperation. For instance, what is now Sopris Park — a well-loved amenity — was a horse corral for the Forest Service (later traded to Marjorie Velasquez and Keith Berry for 11.3 acres near the rodeo grounds and deeded to Carbondale). My deep curiosity is, after all these years in our downtown, why did the USFS stop cooperating with their neighbors?

Enlighten me, I am available to listen.

Richard Vottero Carbondale continued from page 20

We will feature many of that person’s best, most death-defying videos while the rest of us go to extremes to make sure that they are happy when they “check out.”

To ensure a pleasant and productive hereafter, bodies will (by previous arrangement) either be composted and used to fertilize crops, landscapes or ecosystems of choice, or be ground up for hog and chicken feed. This will also provide a “reincarnation” of sorts, at least on a physical level.

Sure, hang out and play with your grandchildren while it’s still fun for everyone, but let’s skip the years of having oatmeal drizzle wiped off our stubbly chins and being hugged by total strangers calling us grandpa. X Games are okay the way they are, I suppose, but they could be a whole lot better for everyone if they attracted the appropriate age group.

For more from Jim Duke, visit www.authorjimduke.com

22 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024

PARTING SHOT

The staff at Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE) was prepared for flooding inside of the Crystal Theatre last Saturday, Jan. 20, ahead of a sold-out screening of “GOODBOY,” a documentary produced and directed by local filmmaker Ashley Mosher.

Because the screening was a fundraising event for CARE, its staff felt responsible and did their due diligence by providing tissues at the door to prevent flood damage from all of the heartfelt tears that were sure to be shed. The film was so moving and popular that CARE decided to have a second showing on Jan. 27, and those tickets are already, yet again, sold out.

Tune in for Everything Under The Sun on KDNK Community Access Radio Thursday, Jan. 25 at 4pm for a live interview with Mosher and CARE’s executive director, Wes Boyd.

Photo and text by Jane Bachrach

LEGALS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Board of Trustees for the purpose of considering Impervious Lot Coverage text amendments to the Unified Development Code (“UDC” and Title 17 of the Carbondale Municipal Code). The proposed text amendments would amend UDC Sections 3.7.2, 3.8.5, and 5.8.3 to clarify and modify how impervious and pervious areas are calculated and clarify and remove impervious area exemptions.

Applicant: Town of Carbondale Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO beginning at 6:00 p.m. on February 13, 2024.

Copies of the proposed application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application may also be viewed on the Town’s website at: https://carbondalegov.org/departments/planning/current_land_use_applications.php If you would like to submit comments regarding this application please send them via email to jbarnes@carbondaleco.net by 3 pm on February 13, 2024. After 3 pm on Febraury 13, members of the public are welcome to bring written comments to the hearing or speak during the public comment period.

corded at Book 35 at Page 403, and also acquired by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), as successor to the Roaring Fork Railroad Holding Authority in that correction bargain and sale deed recorded 09/09/08 at Reception No. 755399 in said record of Garfield County, as shown on a railroad right-of-way survey prepared by Farnsworth Group, 6 recorded at Reception No. 789, Located in Section 34, Township 7 South, Range 88 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, State of Colorado, described as follows: Beginning at the intersection of a line 14.15 feet Southwesterly at right angles from the centerline of the right-of-way of said D&RGW railroad with the West line of that parcel described in deed recorded in Book 35 at Page 403; thence Southeasterly along a line 14.15 feet Southwesterly at right angles from the centerline of the right-of-way of said railroad, to a point that is 18 feet Easterly from the Northeast corner of a wood shed, as shown on a railroad rightof-way survey prepared by Farnsworth Group, recorded at Reception No. 789; thence Southwesterly, along a line parallel with the West line of the East 17 feet of Lot 24, Block 1, of the Town of Carbondale, to the South right-of-way line of said RFTA railroad; thence Northwesterly, along the South right-ofway line of said RFTA railroad, to the West line of that parcel described in deed recorded in Book 35 at Page 403; thence Northeasterly, along said West line described in Book 35 at Page 403, to the point of beginning.

The following property conveyed pursuant to a Personal Representative’s Deed recorded on December 19, 2012 in the Office of the Garfield County Clerk & Recorder at Reception No. 828735: A parcel of land situate in Section 34, Township 7 South, Range 88 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, Town of Carbondale, County of Garfield, said parcel of land being more particularly described as follows: Commencing at the Southwest corner of that parcel of land described in Book 1571 at Page 494, a rebar and cap LS No. 14111 in place; thence along the Northerly right-of-way line of Main Street S88°53’34”E 47.00 feet to the true point of beginning; thence continuing along said right-of-way S88°53’34”E 42.29 feet to a point on the Southerly right-of-way line of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority Railroad (RFTA) right-of-way; thence departing said Northerly right-of-way along the arc of a curve to the left having a radius of 3769.63 feet, an arc length of 47.099 feet (chord bears N60°41’15”W 47.99 feet); thence S01°06’26”W 22.68 feet to the true point of beginning, said parcel of land containing 483 square feet more or less.

These two properties consist of a total area of approximately 1731 square feet and, together with adjacent Outlot B (Reception No. 817869), have a street address of 111 Main Street; Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale

If you have questions regarding the application, please contact Jared Barnes, Planning Director, at 970-510-1208.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Board of Trustees for the purpose of considering a Petition for Annexation submitted by Richard Camp, Kathryn D. Camp and Terrance McGuire. The address is 111 Main Stret (Parcel #2393344400026).

It is the 0.040 acre (1,731 square feet) parcel along the north side of Main Street at the east end of the 100 block.

Job Opportunity: Part-Time or Full-Time

New School Implementation Assistant SchoolBlocks, a Carbondale EdTech company on a mission to improve student outcomes, is looking to add a new implementation assistant to our team.

Skill Requirements

Project Description: The property is legally described as follows: The following property conveyed by that certain quit claim deed recorded as Reception No. 817870 in the Garfield County Clerk & Recorder’s office:

Comfortable communicating with school executives over video conferencing.

Deep understanding of the Google Suite.

Highly efficient and capable with day-to-day computing operations.

That portion of the railroad right-of-way conveyed

by Ludocia Moore to the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Company (D&RGW) by deed re-

Please inquire by writing jobs@schoolblocks.com.

Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO beginning at 6:00 p.m. on February 27, 2024.

Copies of the Petition for Annexation, Annexation Plan and the proposed application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application may also be viewed on the Town’s website at: https://carbondalegov.org/departments/planning/current_land_use_applications.php If you would like to submit comments regarding this application please send them via email to jbarnes@carbondaleco.net by 5:00 pm on February 21, 2024. The comments will be entered into the record. If you have questions regarding the application, please contact Jared Barnes, Planning Director, at 970-510-1208.

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • January 25 - 31, 2024 • 23

24 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • January 25 - 31, 2024