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connections since 2009

Sun

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una nueva publicación semanal con noticias Volume 13, Number 51| Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022 locales en español.

Basketball's back alright

By Sue Rollyson Sopris Sun Correspondent

The sound of sneakers squeaking around the gym, punctuated by the cheers and jeers of spectators, is back.

The Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) boys began their basketball season with an exciting win over Basalt on Friday, Jan. 21.

They started strong and maintained a 10-point lead at the end of each quarter.

Then, Basalt made a valiant comeback in the fourth quarter, even managing to tie up the score. The Rams fought back and ended victorious with a final score of 60-52.

Meanwhile, the Lady Rams saw defeat against Basalt on that same day, ending their match with a score of 36-50.

Both RFHS teams went on to play against Delta on the following Saturday. The boys were defeated 48-58 and the girls 19-75.

Basalt’s Longhorns were also bested on Saturday, playing against Grand Valley (boys 55-66, girls 30-54).

Then, on Tuesday, the RFHS boys emerged victorious against Grand Valley, 61-55, while the girls lost, 25-51.

Rif le beat both the Basalt boys, 58-65, and girls, 29-49.

Upcoming games JAN. 28

RFHS v. Gunnison (Carbondale), girls at 1:30 p.m. boys at 3 p.m.

Basalt v. Coal Ridge (Basalt), girls at 5:30 p.m. boys at 7 p.m.

FEB. 1 RFHS v. Basalt (Basalt), girls at 5:30 p.m. boys at 7 p.m.

FEB. 4 RFHS v. Grand Valley (Carbondale), girls at 5:30 p.m. boys at 7 p.m.

Basalt v. Delta (Delta), girls at 5:30 p.m. boys at 7:30 p.m.

Basalt’s Elias Schendler defends against Ram River Byrne during Friday’s game between the rival schools. Photo by Sue Rollyson

GOT SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT? Advertise it here!

For more info contact Todd Chamberlin adsales@soprissun.com 970-510-0246

OPINION

MATURE CONTENT

by Sue Zislis

With the author’s permission, the following article includes excerpts from “Clutter Free Revolution” by Evan Michael Zislis.

My aging parents hadn’t had the energy to manage their cluttered living space for a while.

Overstuffed cupboards, extralong extension cords, stacks of must-keep papers mixed with expired two-for-one coupons were all junk blocking the paths to things they wanted and needed. Cleaning up had become impossible without help.

Guilt, my constant companion, called to me from the depths of my subconscious. “Don’t be a lazy ingrate! Go on vacation next summer.” After consultation with a pro, calls to far-flung siblings and many deep, cleansing breaths, I practiced the impending dialogue with my parents.

My goal was to enable them to continue aging in the home they loved. I knew they were ready to simplify their lives, but really didn’t want to move. We

One version of a ‘legacy’

needed creative problem-solving to make the place safer, easier for self-care, cozier for stay-at-homedays. I saw this as an opportunity to work together, share forgotten stories and reconcile our pasts with an unfamiliar future. We made a plan of action to address one room at a time. My folks were beside themselves with gratitude.

First bathroom, kitchen, bedroom. Working floor to ceiling, paced so they could manage, we considered every item, piece by piece. Keep? Donate?

Sell? Trash? Shred? The labeled boxes filled up, ready to be carted away. We plowed through old documents, ditched trip-hazard throw rugs, installed grab bars, and improved lighting. Next, we organized and labeled everything so essentials were easy to find, easy to reach. One room at a time, floor to ceiling, piece by piece.

Feel-good accomplishment and shared lunch breaks made the work easier. However, anticipation brewed an everemerging undercurrent of dread for hard decisions coming up.

We had been stacking cherished keepsakes on the table next to the crammed-full China cabinet.

Watching the steadily growing cringe-worthy pile, I found that deep, cleansing breaths were no longer helpful. I often screamed to myself, “FOCUS! Don’t lose momentum. You’re doing great.

One room at a time…FOCUS!” So far, so good. My proud parents shared details of the “Great Purge” with everyone they knew. I was sure, however,

that Kumbayah would come to a screeching halt once they realized I had no intention of taking home their lifetime accumulation of intended “family heirlooms.”

The closer we got to THAT table, the more the subject seemed entirely unapproachable.

Unlabeled photos, gaudy picture frames, cheesy trinkets, china tea sets, embroidered tablecloths, broaches… and there were drawers filled with carefully wrapped caches, apparently too “special” to use. I had no recollection of ever seeing those things.

My minimalist-wanna-be self whispered in my ear while I hyperventilated, “You can’t use any of it, don’t have room for it, don’t like it and no one else you know aspires to owning any of it.”

Independent, modern me, chimed in with a refreshing truth. “You don’t need to be encumbered by gifts you don’t want. You have an obligation to yourself, too.” I knew practicing this speech would not make the actual conversation any easier.

Time to call for reinforcements.

Reluctantly, the far-flung siblings came for the weekend.

With glasses of wine and stacks of brownies, we gathered by the bewildering amassed stuff. There was eye rolling, jaw clenching and uncomfortable silence. Then, my here-and-now self-proclaimed an epiphany: “It was the story behind each keepsake that was the treasure, not the item itself.”

With a sigh of relief, the gathered family agreed wholeheartedly.

I continued, “If backstories of

memorabilia were indeed the treasure, we must document those intriguing tales to move on.”

We spent the rest of that weekend videoing mom and dad sharing memories recalled by each piece. They were joyful for the opportunity to share lifetime details through these possessions.

This experience helped them feel content to part ways with many of those items, knowing that the stories were recorded and videos would be shared.

Once we siblings gained perspective of the meaning of each item, the assemblage was no longer just an annoying pile of junk. We could make informed decisions about accepting a few of these heritage pieces into our homes, even if they didn’t match our décor. After each story was told, the item was wrapped and put into an unmarked box. Mom and dad didn’t ask, and we never said, exactly what the destiny of those items was.

This process, physically and emotionally exhausting for everyone involved, turned out to be valuable and cathartic. It validated a lifetime of experiences and provided a safe setting to share, heal and move on. It was a precious time to reflect on what life has meant, what lessons have been learned and how we chose to define our family legacy by sharing stories, not things.

Mature Content is a monthly feature from the Carbondale AARP Age-Friendly Community Initiative (CAFCI).

LETTERS In remembrance Last week, two of the finest humans on the planet passed on. Chris Chacos and Thich Nhat Hanh were my mentors, teachers and inspiration. Please reflect a moment upon their lives and resolve along with me to try and live gentler, more peaceful lives. The world is a better place because of them.

Russ Criswell Carbondale

Buddy Program benefits What have I learned during these hard times? I have learned to lean on my community and that community really matters. We have so many opportunities in the Roaring Fork Valley, so how do you choose one? I recommend the Buddy Program where you can make a direct impact on one person’s life.

Three years ago, I wanted to give my time to an organization that REALLY makes a difference. I chose the Buddy Program. I wanted to help a young person see all the good things I see and help them develop into a wellrounded individual. Little did I realize that all that would be turned around on me! My Little Buddy has taught me about accepting myself, patience and unconditional love. I have also gained a whole new family and so many life

experiences. My Little Buddy and her family are now a constant in my life and I can’t wait to see where the future takes us and the best part is that I know we will all do it together!

So did the Buddy Program make an impact on one person’s life? Nope, it has impacted many lives. Most notably mine!

Please give your time to this great nonprofit.

The team at the Buddy Program is very supportive and cares very deeply about this program. They will help you succeed in this Mentorship. From free experiences to monthly newsletters and great case managers, Big Buddies always have the support they need. Go to www.buddyprogram.org and check out all that the Buddy Program has done in 49 years of mentoring! Find your way to join or support this great program.

Kara Lindahl Basalt

A thanks from our birds Roaring Fork Audubon (RFA) extends a big thanks to RJ Paddywacks for supporting RFA with its annual bird seed fundraiser.

Locally-owned RJ Paddywacks donated a portion of its sales towards this important fundraiser, helping our all volunteer board bring awareness to local conservation issues facing

our native animals — especially the birds. Our hope is that awareness and education transfer to protection. Please join us in supporting RJ Paddywacks! Thanks!

Mary Harris President Roaring Fork Audubon

Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 • adsales@soprissun.com

Editor

Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 • news@soprissun.com

Contributing Editor James Steindler

Interim Graphic Designers

Will Grandbois & Alyssa Ohnmacht

Delivery

Frederic Kischbaum

Proofreader Lee Beck

Current Board Members board@soprissun.com

Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke Lee Beck • Megan Tackett Gayle Wells • Donna Dayton Terri Ritchie • Eric Smith The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on first Thursdays on Zoom.

Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+

Lee Beck & John Stickney Kay Brunnier Michelle & Ed Buchman Toni Cerise CoVenture Sue Edelstein & Bill Spence Deborah & Shane Evans Greg & Kathy Feinsinger Peter & Mike Gilbert Gary & Jill Knaus Carly & Frosty Merriott Mama Sandy & Lee Mulcahy James Noyes Ken & Donna Riley Patti & George Stranahan Anne Sullivan & John Colson Megan Tackett True Nature Healing Arts Elizabeth Wysong Alpine Bank

Legacy Givers

for including us in their final wishes.

Mary Lilly

Park gratitude After a sunny walk along the path at Crown Mountain park with hundreds of other walkers and their numerous pet dogs these past few weeks, I want to say thank you, from myself and everyone in the Valley to the Crown Mountain Park staff.

The cement path is almost totally dry and we all sure do enjoy the ability to be outside without the worry of slick and icy walkways.

The staff has worked diligently to get a few trouble ice spots all cleared this year.

A special thank you to Becky, Nate and their staff. We all sure appreciate this special winter walkway. Wow! Also, don’t we all love the new ice skate rink! Thanks to all involved.

Happy winter walks and chats with neighbors and friends.

Janice Duroux Basalt Continued on page 14

The views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The community is invited to submit letters up to 500 words to news@soprissun.com. Longer columns are considered on a case-by-case basis. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022

Executive Director

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P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #26-B 970-510-3003

soprissun.com 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 journliasm.

Donations are fully tax deductible.

The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District

“Heat Pumps, heat pumps, that’s the key,” declares Marty Treadway, program director of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE). This is the sort of adamant answer he gives homeowners who ask, what equipment can be installed to lower residential utility bills, and preferably, not destroy the planet? The next question is, what’s a heat pump?

It’s time to find out. The year 2022 is when homeowners should “identify location for future batteries and heat pumps,” according to the CORE Codes Platform, a road map to reducing all greenhouse emissions from residential and commercial buildings to net zero, the point at which every structure produces only as much energy as it consumes, and has no natural gas line connected. The Codes Platform puts pressure on local building codes to mandate green technologies and readiness for them in all new construction. The global goal is to cleanly, comfortably and affordably electrify everything under the sun to achieve “beneficial electrification,” the jargon renewable energy nerds use in discussing the human race against climate change. Carbondale’s target year is 2030.

What makes the heat pump a critical component in this massive undertaking is that it burns no fossil fuels. A 2017 CORE survey estimated that 62% of all greenhouse gases in the upper Roaring Fork Valley are emitted by structures already built. Without a mandate to electrify, as there is with new construction, it’s up to owners of existing buildings to retrofit beneficially, and to “fuel switch” from natural gas to electric. Heat pumps have long been used in temperate cimates to cool buildings by absorbing warm, inside air and releasing it outside; they are also an important mechanism in refrigerators and air conditioners. The big breakthrough is the development of heat pumps for cold climates that absorb heat from cold air outside and transfer it inside.

Truly electrifying

Heat pump retrofits make net zero attainable

By Dyana Z. Furmansky Sopris Sun Correspondent

Isaac Ellis poses with his new heat pump, acquired with help from rebate programs.

Photo by Brent Moss Photography

Demonstrating that cold climate heat pumps can operate even in frigid temperatures, Aspen Skiing Company (SkiCo) installed one at Elk Camp, the Snowmass ski patrol center located at 11,800 feet, says Ryland French, director of facility operations and energy facility management. To view heat pumps galore, French recently led The Sopris Sun and other visitors up to the roof of The Hub at Willits, built by SkiCo for its employees and childcare workers.

The top was bedecked with 53 heat pumps, one for each of The Hub’s 53 rental units. They look like air conditioners. In Basalt Vista, a subdivision of 27 affordable single-family houses built by Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley, each residence has a heat pump, says Gail Schwartz, president.

Treadway applauds these generously subsidized showcase installations. But “they don’t demystify heat pumps for everybody else.

Installing heat pumps must be normalized,” he says, like buying an electric vehicle (EV) is rapidly becoming. Heat pumps can be less expensive than EVs and don’t evoke status and style. Yet they are equally important, Treadway says.

Lisa Reed, energy programs manager for Holy Cross Energy (HCE), offers an example of the difference in public awareness between EVs and heat pumps. She says that in 2021 HCE issued 102 home EV battery installation rebates in the RFV, but gave out only 20 heat pump rebates.

Some systems still require a conventional heating backup. Reed acknowledges that without rebates, heat pump systems are more expensive at the front

end, than conventional equipment. But not for long. “I’d give it another three to four years before heat pump installation is competitive,” she says.

Isaac Ellis and his wife Dana Ellis, did not want to wait. They “rode the rollercoaster” of rebate programs to find the financial formula to retrofit the 40-year old, all-electric, 2,000-square foot Carbondale home that doubles as their office for their architectural firm, Outpost Studio LLC. “Heat pump rebates come and go,” Ellis cautions.

He advises that homeowners visit the online Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency to find current offerings. Before installation, Ellis says it's essential to “have a baseline understanding of how your house uses energy,” by getting a free energy assessment and making necessary improvements.

Contractor Dan Dixon knew nothing about heat pumps until he found out about them from CORE, and found an Xcel Energy rebate program to install heat pump-powered radiant floors in his barn workshop. He also installed a heat pump for the 1,000-square foot main house’s 40- gallon hot water heater. “We’re three people and we never run out of hot water,” he says. Dixon’s house and workshop are so comfortable that he encouraged a client in Aspen to install a similar system in his multi-million dollar remodel.

“We are super happy with our heat pump,” says Scott Dillard, a real estate agent who received an HCE rebate to retrofit his family’s 7,000-square foot house. The Dillards didn’t need to use the fireplace in a large glass-walled room, even when the outside temperature dipped below zero. The same system cools the house in summer, he says.

“Having a house that makes its own energy is emotionally exciting,” says Isaac Ellis, who also installed solar panels to sell energy back to HCE. “Switching to a heat pump is not a luxury. It’s affordable for lots of people who live in this valley.

And it’s a necessity, to keep future generations from inheriting our climate conundrum.”

Warm up this winter at Garfield County Libraries!

Open Hours are expanding at all Garfield County Libraries: *All branches now open at 10 am, Mon-Sat. *Extended evening hours starting in January. *Sunday open hours will begin in Spring 2022.

An Uplifting Evening of Light + Love + HeART

Enjoy our holiday events: *The Holiday Concert Series features an array of artist all winter long including a guitar soloist, celtic duo, pianist, and local choir. *Reindeer at Your Libraries gives you the chance to have an up close encounter with reindeer at your local library in December.

An interactive HeArT Walk along the rio Grande ArTway

Laptops and Wifi to Go! hotspots are now available for adults to borrow and take home!

Check us out at:

www.gcpld.org

February 11-12, 2022 | 5:30-7:30

Light & Art Installations

Live performances

decorated Farolitos

Tickets and farolito kits are available to purchase at ShopCarbondaleArts.com. Tickets include a set of special LOVE lenses to enhance the light experience. Farolitos line the ARTway and are perfect for decorating or honoring someone you love. All proceeds benefit Carbondale Arts and KDNK Community Radio.

For tickets and more information please visit prESENTED BY

WITH SupporT From Love Lights

Hearts

Frosty Merriott

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • Jan. 27-Feb. 2 • 3

SCUTTLEBUTT

Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com

Crystal Trail

Request for water

C’dale Trustees

The White River National Forest has released a draft environmental assessment of the proposed Redstone to McClure Pass Trail project. A public meeting will be held on Feb. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Third Street Center and comments must be received by Feb. 22. Find the relevant information at www.bit.ly/CrystalTrailReview

Every January for the past five years the Colorado Water Conservation Board asks water-rights holders to consider options to use their holdings to benefit rivers and streams. There are an array of options available to help the natural water sources around the state. The request is confidential and open to all types of water-rights owners including agricultural, municipal, industrial and more. Offers are due by June 30. For more info, visit www.coloradowatertrust.org

Petitions are in! Trustee Ben Bohmfalk is running unopposed for mayor.

There are eight petitions for three trustee seats: Chris Hassig, Zane Kessler, Colin Laird, Frosty Merriott, Colin Quinn, Jessica Robison and incumbents Erica Sparhawk and Luis Yllanes.

Love Line This coming Valentine’s Day weekend, the Carbondale Creative District and KDNK present Light the Night with Love, “an interactive HeART Walk” along the Rio Grande trail through downtown Carbondale. You can call KDNK’s Love Line to record a note to be played on-air during the event at 970-510-3250.

In-person events nixed As of Jan. 24, Garfield County Public Libraries District suspended all in-person events through February due to COVID. The libraries remain open, providing all other regular services and any virtual or online events will still take place. For more info, visit www.gcpld.org

Vision Glenwood Roaring Fork School District Superintendent Rob Stein will be resigning at the end of this school year, announced a press release on Friday, Jan. 21. A letter from the Board of Education extended “a sincere thank-you and appreciation to Rob for his nine years of leadership: six as superintendent and three as chief academic officer.” The board seeks to hire the district’s next superintendent by May, to begin in early July.

Courtesy photo

The city of Glenwood Springs will also be freshening up its comprehensive plan beginning with two virtual open house sessions on Wednesday, Feb. 9. The first is at noon and the second is at 6 p.m.

Both sessions will be live with Spanish interpretation. Learn more at www. visionglenwood.com

TOWN OF CARBONDALE

Get involveD!

Comment & ConneCt

Draft Carbondale Comprehensive Plan Update

Public feedback is needed on the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update to Town of Carbondale’s 2013 Comprehensive Plan. All materials are provided in English and Spanish.

Beginning Monday January 24 there are two ways to provide feedback on the Draft Plan: 1) Go online and read the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update and take the Draft Plan Survey at Chartcarbondale.com 2) Head to a "Reading Room." Stop in at one of ten locations around town, read the Comprehensive Plan Update and take the online survey or paper survey.

- Locations are listed at Chartcarbondale.com or call : 970.510.1208 - Hard copies of the Draft Plan will be placed in all the reading rooms, along with a comment box. P

Paper + online Surveys will be collected from January 24 – February 25 www.chartcarbondale.com

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022

Comp Plan

Autumn Rivera, Colorado’s 2022 Teacher of the Year, has been named one of four finalists for the 2022 National Teacher of the Year award. Rivera is a sixth-grade science teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School. “Colorado is extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of educators across our great state,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Ms. Rivera is an incredible asset to her students and her community.” A winner will be announced later this spring.

An online survey regarding Carbondale's comp plan update is open through Feb. 25 (https:// carbondalekaleidoscope.org/chartcarbondale). Physical copies are also available at Town Hall, the library, Third Street Center, Launchpad, Craft Coffee, the Rec Center, RVR Ranch House and Bonfire Coffee. The topic will be discussed at the next Planning Commission meeting on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Spanish translations of both the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update and survey will be available at the beginning of February.

Ski for Sisu

They say it’s your birthday

National honors

How far can you ski in nine days?

The 30th annual Ski for Sisu is all about persistence, endurance and hard work and benefits the maintenance of Spring Gulch trails. To sign up, visit www.springgulch. org then gather sponsorship pledges to multiply your contribution. Between Feb. 5 and Feb. 13, participants will Nordic ski as much as possible and self-report their results with prizes for the most kilometers skied and most pledges raised.

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Laura McCormick Grobler and Elizabeth Ritchie ( Jan. 27); Greg Albrecht, Sharill Hawkins and Carly Rosenthal ( Jan. 28); Noah Scher ( Jan. 29); Ami Maes and Luca Rio Phelan ( Jan. 30); Joani Lubrant (Feb. 1); Marcos Guevara, Candy Holgate, Nikki Macleod, Mountain Maes, Rex van Minnen and Silvia Rodriguez Gutierrez (Feb. 2).

Best way to warmup after playing in the cold Historic Underground Vapor Caves

No Walkins Please Call for Appointments Caves Included

Hot Springs Mineral Baths

“A Lot More Private than a Pool”

For Information & Reservations call 970-945-0667 • yampahspa.com Spa Open 9-9 Salon Open 9-7 • One Block East of the Hot Springs Pool Working Togethe r For Pets And The ir People 2801 CR 11 Glenwoo d Springs 4 , CO C.A.R.E. h (970)9479173 as 7 dog

s an available for adop d 8 cats tion.

.R.E. ers a “C.A f f o s k c a w RJ Paddy optive or new ad f ” e g a k c s for pa ing a Paw d lu c in , s 15% familie first time a d n a n Points pla your new pet. for discount

Looking for a co hello to Piper. S mpanion? Then come say young lady look he is a gentle, delicate to call her own. ing for a peaceful place such a beautifu She is 5 years old and of all ages, bu l girl! Piper adores people without any cat she would prefer a home an appointmen nine friends. Call to make t to meet Pipe r today!

Call C.A.R.E at 970-947-91 more inform.at 73 for ion about me.

RJ Paddywacks

400 E Valley Rd. # I/J

Next to City Market in El Jebel

970.963.1700 rjpaddywacks.com

Current Ritual shines a light on holistic health

By Kate Phillips Sopris Sun Correspondent

Kat McAfee, founder and owner of Current Ritual, is not your average occupational therapist.

With over 12 years of experience working in various healthcare settings from the newborn intensive care unit to hospice, McAfee knew she was ready to break away from the mainstream healthcare model to offer her clients a different approach; an approach that would facilitate accessible and inclusive healthcare.

In her practice, McAfee has successfully intertwined her extensive clinical background with her passion for holistic healing to present Current Ritual.

Current Ritual is a virtual wellness center where people of all ages and abilities can explore their mind-body connection through self-guided videos and audio, according to McAfee.

Within the virtual library, McAfee offers three learning tracks for nervous system regulation and health: Family Cohesion, Self Exploration and Beyond the Diagnosis. To help guide members on their journey, each track includes five practices: self-care, mindfulness, sensory exploration, foundational movement and therapeutic touch. Each lesson is designed for members to go at their own pace and to be simple enough for daily integration.

Another key component of McAfee’s work is to provide a safe environment for people to explore their unique capabilities, by breaking down socio-economic and ability barriers.

“When you come to my site, you don’t feel like you’re being sold on something,” McAfee said. “It’s meant to be a safe and neuroprotective place for people with neurodiversity, but it’s also for people who are in fight-or-flight mode, which is all of us from the pandemic. I built the site to be neuroprotective, which is why there are free lessons and a seven-day free trial, because I want people to feel safe and held within the virtual realm.”

In addition to financial inclusion, the Current Ritual website is in alignment with American Disability Act regulations by providing transcripts for all audio lessons and closed-captioning for the video lessons to support individuals with varying capabilities.

While McAfee’s virtual library is self-guided, her private practice includes extensive in-person services here in the Roaring Fork Valley. Emphasizing nervous system health, McAfee offers hands-on myofascial release work, guided psychedelic preparation and integration and the noteworthy Lucia Light — a therapeutic, flickering light practice that modulates the nervous system by calming the fight-or-flight response and promoting the rest-and-digest response, according to McAfee.

The Lucia Light is unique in that, “the resultant altered state of consciousness is similar to advanced meditation, and creates synergy for releasing restrictions in fascia throughout the body,” McAfee said.

Whether online or in-person, McAfee notes that it is important for her clients to be empowered to heal themselves, regardless of who they are or what their needs may be, and that she is simply honored to support them along the way.

On the airwaves Now, with a growing business, McAfee is ready to bring her insight to the airwaves with her new public affairs show on KDNK, aptly called Current Ritual.

Airing the first Wednesday of every month, McAfee's show explores how we approach our daily habits and rituals through mindset and behaviors. Each episode highlights one health topic — such as eating disorders, sexual intimacy and plant medicine — by inviting an expert from the field to have an open dialogue. In alignment with her mission to normalize accessible, holistic healthcare, McAfee focuses on creating a neuroprotective environment for triggering topics.

“I want to have honest conversations where we bring things into the light,” McAfee said. “I want to do these interviews because it’s not about what I think is right. I just want to have conversations to help you ask yourselves questions or reflect on your own way that you are handling that part of your life. It’s a non-confrontational way to reflect on your own habits, routines, and behavior.”

With this mindset, McAfee hopes to continue reframing how we connect with each other, our environments and ourselves.

AFTER-HOURS MEDICAL CARE

Friendly Après-hours Care

Kat McAfee founded Current Ritual, a virtual wellness center, to help people explore their mind-body connection. Her associated public affairs show on KDNK airs on the first Wednesday of every month at 4:30 p.m. Photo by Paula Mayer

Current Ritual’s first show focused on breaking down mental barriers when faced with adversity with Kirstie Ennis, veteran and founder of Kirstie Ennis Foundation. Her second topic was the importance of discussing intimacy from an authentic place with Advanced Erotic Blueprint Trainer and Somatic Sexologist Anne More.

“The ultimate goal of the show, of my website and of my services is to get your nervous system into a place where you can connect with your internal wisdom,” McAfee said. “You can guide yourself and you can feel centered as your own ally, and as your own advocate.”

Listeners can catch McAfee’s next show on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 4:30 p.m. She will discuss healing through nutrition with Amber Harmony Crowley, a consultant, private chef and founder of Itzy Bitz of Health.

To learn more about Current Ritual, visit currentritual. com or @current__ritual on Instagram. Future clients can also reach McAfee via email at Kat@currentritual.com to book a session or to simply connect.

Ski For SISU

ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL

WHEN YOU NEED IT

30th Annual

Our After-Hours clinic — conveniently located in Southside Basalt — provides you with a lower-cost option for treating minor illnesses and injuries than a trip to the ER.

SISU (Finnish): Demonstrating extraordinary determination and grit in the face of adversity.

Scan the QR code for directions and more information.

FUNDRAISER FOR SPRING GULCH

“

A big thank you to everyone who helped us — you guys went the extra mile to make sure my son and I felt safe and comfortable.

All proceeds benefit the Mount Sopris Nordic Council for the Spring Gulch Nordic trail system.

”

Weekdays: 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm Weekends: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

234 East Cody Lane, Basalt 970.544.1250 Virtual visits available

AspenValleyHospital

TAKE THE 9-DAY CHALLENGE

1) Sign up on our website. $30 per adult, $20 per youth to participate.

2) Gather sponsorships to multiply your contribution!

3) Between 2/5 and 2/13, ski anytime of day, as often as you like, on our marked 3.5k, 10k, and 12.5k courses -OR- take advantage of our new virtual option to ski remotely on a trail near you.

4) Report your distance(s) skied via our website (honor system).

No appointment necessary, walk-ins welcome!

aspenhospital.org |

Feb. 5 - 13, 2022

most KMs skied, most Prizes! For pledges raised, & more!

Sign-up and pledge online:

www.springgulch.org Many thanks to our generous SISU sponsors!

Celebrate SISU - 2/13 Join us for a celebration of SISU’s 30th year! Stay tuned for details.

- Weather permitting -

Cold Mountain Ranch

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • Jan. 27-Feb. 2 • 5

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Visit soprissun.com to submit events

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27 COLOR AND LIGHT

Basalt Library hosts The Aspen Science Center conducting fun experiments for the K-4 age group at 3:45 p.m. Questions?

Contact kschimpff@basaltlibrary.org

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 8th Street Improvements

Issue Date: 1/24/2022 | Closing Date: 2/14/2022 Non‐Mandatory Pre‐Bid Conference: 2/1/22 @ 2 PM at Project Site

NATURALIST NIGHTS

Wilderness Workshop, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and Roaring Fork Audubon present “Soil Carbon in Colorado Agroecosystems: Practice and Promise,” a virtual presentation at 6 p.m. For info on how to tune in, visit www.bit.ly/agroecosystems RANDAL & SMOKIN’ JOE

Randal Utterback and Smokin’ Joe Kelly perform at Heather’s in Basalt at 6:30 p.m.

Sealed bids for the construction of the 8th St Improvements Project will be received from invited Bidders by the Town of Carbondale (“OWNER”) at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave, Carbondale, CO 81623, until 2:00 PM on February 14, 2022, at which time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The project consists of constructing approximately 260 SY of full depth asphalt replacement; raised crosswalk; 1200 LF of curb, gutter and sidewalk; curb extensions; drainage structures; and other street improvements.

END OF LIFE POSSIBILITIES

Bids will be received for a single prime Contract.

Bids shall be on a unit price basis as indicated in the Bid Form. Bidding Documents will be provided to prospective Bidders as electronic PDF files.

The Crystal Theatre brings “Licorice Pizza” to the screen Jan. 28, 29 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee showing on Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is Roaring Fork Engineering (RFE), 592 Hwy 133, Carbondale, CO, 81623 (Contact: Anthony Alfini, PE (970) 618‐7073, AnthonyA@rfeng.biz). Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8 AM to 5 PM and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below.

Bidding Documents are available as electronic portable document format (PDF) files. Alternatively, printed Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office via in‐person pick‐up, for a nonrefundable charge of $75 per set. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to Roaring Fork Engineering. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered the date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.

A pre‐bid conference will be held at 2:00 PM on February 1, 2022 at the intersection of 8th St and the Rio Grande Trail in Carbondale, CO. Attendance at the pre‐bid conference is highly encouraged but is not mandatory.

A 5% bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Bidders shall submit proof of qualifications to perform the Work as described in the Instructions to Bidders.

Public Works Department Town of Carbondale 6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022

The Center for Human Flourishing presents an encore screening of the documentary “Griefwalker” with special guest Akaljeet Khalsa, a conscious death coach, at 6:30 p.m. To register, email info@davinikent.org

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 HEART OF HARMONY

Basalt Library presents a free concert with Jan Garrett and JD Martin at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required at www.basaltlibrary.org CRYSTAL THEATRE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Artist Jim Harris’ Valley Visual Art Show entry is featured on this year’s poster.

COMMUNITY CHOIR

The Carbondale Community Choir meets at 6:30 p.m. to sing fun and simple songs. For location details, call 970-319-0108 or email carbondaleccsing@gmail.com DANCE WORKSHOP

NVA & Guests teaches an intermediate dance class at The Launchpad from 6:15 to 8 p.m. To sign up, visit www.danceinitiative.org

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

PLAYING MAGIC

GOOGLE TUTORIAL

TO THE WHEELER

BABY GYM

SUZANNE SANTO

BOOK CLUB

The Ute Theater in Rifle hosts a CD release party for Suzanne Santo’s new album, Yard Sale (featuring Gary Clark Jr. and Shakey Graves), at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets at www.utetheater.com

CREATIVE KITS

Magic: The Gathering players are invited to bring their card deck to the Glenwood Spring Library for a tournament on Saturdays at 2 p.m.

Sopris Theatre Company takes its production of “Three Viewings” to the Wheeler Opera House on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. with a matinee on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m.

Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30 DANCE WORKSHOP

NVA & Guests, in residency with Dance Initiative, hosts an all-levels dance workshop at The Launchpad from 10 a.m. to noon. To sign up, visit www.danceinitiative.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 31 EAGLE COUNTY TAI CHI

Eagle County Healthy Aging offers an eight-week tai chi class on Mondays at the Eagle County Community Center in El Jebel. For details, call 970-319-8829.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 STORYTIME AT HOME

Every first Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Garfield County Libraries posts a storytime video to it’s YouTube page; just search “Garfield County Libraries” on YouTube.

GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB

Students in middle and high school are invited to work on graphic novels at the Basalt Library on the first Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. No registration is necessary and the library will provide supplies!

YARN GROUP

Basalt Library gathers knitters, crocheters and other yarn workers to toil together on personal projects from 5 to 7 p.m.

Learn to use Google Calendar with a virtual workshop hosted by Basalt Library at 10 a.m. Registration is at www.basaltlibrary.org Guardians with children ages zero to three are invited to Basalt Library’s indoor gym “to get out some winter wiggles” at 10 a.m. More info at www.basaltlibrary.org Enjoy an informal discussion of all things books at the Basalt Library at noon.

In partnership with The Art Base, Basalt Library offers bilingual, afterschool activity kits for middle and high schoolers available from 2:30 to 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3 EARLY LITERACY

Basalt Library invites families to early literacy storytime from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

BEGINNERS QUILTING

The Roaring Fork Quilting Guild leads a four-week workshop on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. For registration, email cclick@basaltlibrary.org

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 VVAS RECEPTION

The 43rd Valley Visual Art Show is ongoing at Carbondale Art’s R2 Gallery, open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The First Friday artists reception is from 5 to 7 p.m.

SOUND JOURNEY

True Nature hosts Dr. Zachary Cashin for a sound healing journey at 6:30 p.m. To register, visit www. truenaturehealingarts.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 DANCE PERFORMANCE

NVA & Guests, in residency with Dance Initiative, perform at The Arts Campus at Willits at 8 p.m.

Tickets are at www.tacaw.org

Sol del el

Conectando comunidades

Valle

A este su agrpadec nu e o y o e m o vo p par s ro y a ecto .

Volumen 1, Número 48 |27 de enero - 2 de feb. de 2022

Demócratas de GarCo buscan alcance latino Por Amy Hadden Marsh Traducción por Dolores Duarte

Los demócratas del condado de Garfield tienen grandes esperanzas en una nueva campaña de alcance latino. La campaña se basa en el Proyecto Nueva Georgia de la exrepresentante estatal de Georgia y activista del derecho al voto Stacy Abrams, para organizar a los votantes negros en el estado.

En una recaudación de fondos vía Zoom el 15 de diciembre de 2021, la demócrata y organizadora comunitaria Beatriz Soto dijo que 89,000 votantes latinos elegibles no están registrados para votar en el Distrito Electoral 3 (CD3), que ahora está representado por el republicano Lauren Boebert de Silt. "Somos la columna vertebral de la economía", dijo Soto. "Ahora es el momento de asegurarse de que los latinos voten".

Los datos del censo de Estados Unidos de 2020 muestran que los latinos son el 25% de los que viven en el CD3, un poco más que el 21.8% de la población latina del estado.

Los datos del Pew Research Center del mismo año muestran que cerca del 16% de los votantes de Colorado son latinos. En el condado de Garfield, los latinos representan casi el 30% de la población.

Soto dijo en diciembre que la participación de los votantes latinos saltó del 40% al 60% cuando se postuló como comisionada del condado de Garfield en 2020. De hecho, según datos de Voces Unidas de las Montañas, el 58.4% de los latinos votó en 2020 en el condado de Garfield, comparado al 44.5% de 2016. "Así que sabemos que cuando tenemos más latinos que se postulan como candidatos, más latinos acudirán a votar", dijo Soto.

Debbie Bruell, presidenta de los demócratas del condado de Garfield, dijo en un correo electrónico que, aunque la participación de los votantes del condado fue grande en 2020, el partido demócrata necesita hacer algo diferente.

"Necesitamos invertir en esfuerzos durante todo el año para conectar con la gente de una manera significativa", escribió.

"Especialmente cuando se trata de personas que típicamente han sido dejadas fuera del proceso político, como muchos de los miembros de nuestra comunidad latina".

Añadió que los demócratas no pueden limitarse a decirle a la gente que vote por ellos. "Tenemos que escuchar y responder a la gente, escuchar sus esperanzas y desafíos, ofrecer soluciones y una visión".

Una campaña de alcance similar se lanzó en el condado de Boulder en 2019 y está codirigida por Ángel Sánchez y Sonia Márquez. En un evento vía Zoom organizado por los demócratas del condado de Garfield el 15 de enero, Sánchez explicó que cuando el programa comenzó, los líderes de la comunidad, los jóvenes indocumentados, los funcionarios electos y otros se reunieron para compartir sus experiencias. "Todos dijeron que hay una necesidad de crear mejores oportunidades y avances para las comunidades negras, indígenas y personas de color (BIPOC)", dijo.

Una nueva iniciativa de demócratas del condado de Garfield se base en una campaña del condado de Boulder, codirigida por Ángel Sánchez (izquierda) y Sonia Márquez (derecha). Foto de cortesía

Sánchez quería saber qué es lo que impide a los latinos participar en la política, votar regularmente o incluso registrarse para votar.

Esa ha sido su búsqueda como director de la campaña de Boulder. Hasta ahora, ha descubierto que los líderes del compromiso cívico pueden venir de cualquier parte.

"Son las personas que se acercan a sus comunidades y necesitan ser educadas.

Nosotros les proporcionamos la información y los conocimientos que necesitan", dijo.

Una cosa que notó fue que los jóvenes pueden ser buenos líderes porque tienden a ser la voz de las familias de estatus mixto o de aquellas con barreras lingüísticas. Pueden traducir el idioma, no sólo del español al inglés, sino de la política como "ayúdame a entender esto", dijo.

Ayudar a la gente a participar en el proceso y enseñarles la importancia de votar es sólo una

pieza del rompecabezas. "El puesto también tiene que buscar ... cómo conseguir que la gente sea activa en el proceso de entender sobre qué estamos votando y por qué. ¿Cómo hemos llegado hasta aquí?", explicó.

Añadió que la campaña de alcance de Boulder no se creó sólo para conseguir votos para el partido demócrata. "Queremos que la gente de la comunidad latina sea oficial en el partido. Queremos que aprendan y entiendan lo que se necesita para postularse a un cargo y que se les dé una oportunidad dentro de la estructura del partido para ser apoyados y poder hacer esas cosas", dijo.

Así comenzó una evaluación del partido demócrata local, incluyendo qué está impidiendo que las comunidades BIPOC se comprometan a un nivel más profundo y cómo hacer cambios.

Sánchez está entusiasmado por ver

algo parecido a la campaña de Boulder en el condado de Garfield. "En el condado de Boulder, tenemos muchos números para apoyar el avance demócrata, asuntos demócratas, ideales y valores, pero esta posición en el condado de Garfield parece mucho más imperativa y mucho más crucial".

Bruell dijo al Sopris Sun que los demócratas del condado de Garfield planean contratar a una persona de tiempo completo para dirigir la campaña de alcance, pero todavía les faltan 10,000 dólares para alcanzar el objetivo de financiación de 60,000 dólares.

"Hemos estado en contacto con grupos de todo Colorado que reconocen lo importante que es este puesto y están ansiosos por ayudarnos a encontrar a la persona adecuada para ocuparlo", dijo. Puedes encontrar más información sobre la nueva campaña en www.garcodems.org

OPINION

AL NO ARTISTA Por Vanessa Porras

El año pasado usé esta columna para motivarlos a iniciar el proceso de crear arte. Comenzar algo nuevo siempre va a ser agobiante.

Hay muchísimas cosas que se necesitan aprender y conforme nos desarrollamos en nuestro nuevo medio iremos descubriendo áreas donde nos falta habilidad y experiencia. Una de mis intenciones personales para este año nuevo es exhibir mi trabajo.

No basta simplemente crear, exhibir arte es parte de la satisfacción de ser un artista. Cuando compartes lo que has creado, invitas a otros a entrar a tu mundo.

Así que, ¿cómo se exhibe el arte?

Suponiendo que este proceso es nuevo para ti, típicamente el arte se exhibe en galerías. De vez en cuando también se pueden encontrar obras en lugares como restaurantes,

¿Cómo se exhibe el arte?

oficinas médicas, o bibliotecas. A veces, el proceso es tan sencillo como preguntarle a alguien que tiene una pared en blanco si puedes montar tu cuadro ahí. Pero por lo regular, el proceso es más largo.

Primero, nos enfocaremos en los recursos que se dedican a oportunidades para artistas.

Carbondale Creative District tiene un blog donde tienen listas de oportunidades locales y estatales.

En él puedes encontrar enlaces para aplicaciones a galerías en búsqueda de artistas u otras oportunidades relacionadas al arte como empleos o residencias.

Simplemente, escribes en tu navegador, www. carbondalecreativedistrict.com/ artist-opportunities para encontrar la oportunidad que te resuena más a ti. Recientemente, este blog se ha trasladado del inglés al español, así que será más accesible para los hispanohablantes. La galería R2, ubicada dentro de Launchpad, está recibiendo propuestas de exhibiciones para el año 2023 y tiene el día 2 de mayo 2022 como fecha de vencimiento. Similarmente, The Art Base, ubicado en Basalt, también está recibiendo propuestas para el 2023 y su fecha de vencimiento es el 1 de febrero de 2022.

Otro de mis recursos favoritos es, CaFÉ (localizado en www. callforentry.org). Este sitio te permite ver oportunidades de todo tipo nacionalmente. Puedes

limitar tu búsqueda por estado o tipo de oportunidad, incluso hasta la cantidad de cuota que estás dispuesto a pagar.

Usualmente, cada llamado de artista requiere una cuota para procesar tu aplicación. Esta cantidad es diferente para cada galería, incluso a veces varía de show en show. De ahí un comité revisa tu aplicación y decide si tu estilo de arte es un buen encaje. Claro que si estás tratando de exhibir paisajes en una galería que típicamente exhibe arte abstracto, es muy probable que seas negado.

Con eso en mente, no te desalientes si recibes un “no”.

Es importante leer las descripciones. Muchas galerías ya tienen en mente el tema de la exhibición y están invitando a artistas que queden bien con esa visión. Otra opción es crear tu propio tema de exhibición y escribir una propuesta. La diferencia aquí es que una propuesta te permite la libertad de exhibir solo o escoger los artistas con los que quieres exhibir.

Escoger el tema de la exhibición determinará la experiencia de los visitantes a la galería.

Ya que hayan aceptado tu aplicación, habrán otros detalles que necesitarás mantener en cuenta como fechas de entrega y exhibición.

Es importante ser puntuales y tomar en cuenta el tiempo que necesitarás para terminar tus obras o si necesitan enmarcarse. Todos estos requisitos

Hagamos preguntas...

Preguntas nos hacen curiosos, flexibles y creativos para responder a los desafíos inimaginables de mañana.

se pueden encontrar dentro de la descripción o puedes comunicarte directamente con la galería para asegurarte de que todo esté tal y como debe ser.

Al momento de exhibir en una galería entras en un contrato con ellos. Cuando alguna de tus obras se vende, ellos tomarán un porcentaje de esta venta. El porcentaje que toma la galería es diferente dependiendo del lugar, pero los números típicos son de 20% a 40%. Esto se debe considerar al momento de ponerle precio a tu obra.

Dentro del acuerdo legal, debes saber que tipo de aseguranza la galería proveerá en caso de que tu obra se dañe. Si estás aplicando a una galería fuera de tu pueblo o estado y piensas enviarlo por correo, también habrá costos adicionales al igual que aseguranzas que debes considerar. Cada aplicación es un poco diferente así que me gustaría recalcar lo importante que es leer los requisitos. En mi experiencia personal, el exhibir mis obras en una galería, verlas enmarcadas, y poder hablar con otra gente sobre ellas me llena de mucha alegría. Me recuerda que aunque ser artista parezca ser una profesión aislada y un poco egoísta, también es una forma de iniciar conversaciones importantes y unir a la gente. Al no artista, espero que te animes a exhibir tu arte y aproveches las oportunidades que están disponibles para tí.

Donaciones por correo o en línea P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Executive Director Todd Chamberlin • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Editor Raleigh Burleigh • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Directores Artísticos Will Grandbois y Alyssa Ohnmacht Traductoras Jacquelinne Castro y Dolores Duarte Distribucion Frederic Kischbaum Miembros de la Mesa Directiva Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke Lee Beck • Megan Tackett Gayle Wells • Donna Dayton Terri Ritchie • Eric Smith The Sopris Sun, Inc. Es un miembro orgulloso del Distrito Creativo de Carbondale The Sopris Sun, Inc. es una 501(c) (3) organización benéfica sin fines de lucro. Contribuciones financieras son deducibles de impuestos. ¡ESCRÍBENOS! Para contribuir ideas y contenido al Sol del Valle, escribiéndonos a: sol@soprissun.com Para comprar espacio publicitario en español, inglés, o ambos, mándanos un correo electrónico a:

adsales@soprissun.com

También se puede contactarnos llamando a 970-510-3003.

Municipalidad

de Carbondale

¡InVolÚCreSe! ÚnaSe Y ParTICIPe

redacción de la actualización del Plan exhaustivo de Carbondale

la aportación del público es necesaria para la Redacción de la actualización del plan Exhaustivo como suplemento para el plan Exhaustivo de carbondale del 2013. Todos los materiales serán proporcionados en español y en inglés. comenzando el lunes 24 de enero, usted puede elegir entre estas dos maneras de aportar ideas y comentarios sobre la redacción del plan: 1) lea la redacción de la actualización del Plan exhaustivo en línea y tome la encuesta referente a la redacción del plan, visitando Chartcarbondale.com 2) diríjase a una “sala de lectura”. Visite una de las diez locaciones alrededor del pueblo, lea la actualización del Plan exhaustivo y tome la encuesta, ya sea de manera electrónica o utilizando la versión impresa.

- la lista de locaciones puede encontrarse en chartcarbondale.com o llame al 970.510.1208

Descubre una educación que prepara a estudiantes para la vida.

Recién nacido hasta el grado octavo

Cupos abiertos para el otoño 2022 Inicie una conversación hoy: waldorfschoolrf.org

8 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 20 de enero - 2 de feb. de 2022

- las copias impresas de la redacción del plan se encontrarán disponibles en todas las salas de lectura, junto con un buzón para comentarios y un código QR para tener acceso a la encuesta.

los resultados de las encuestas electrónicas e impresas serán recopilados del 24 de enero al 25 de febrero www.chartcarbondale.com

CHISME DEL PUEBLO Cambios en RFSD

Beca de CMC

El superintendente del distrito escolar de Roaring Fork (RFSD), Rob Stein, saldrá de su puesto a finales de este año escolar. Esto fue anunciado por un comunicado de prensa el viernes 21 de enero.

Una carta de la Junta de Educación de RFSD también incluye “un sincero agradecimiento y apreciación a Rob por sus nueve años de liderazgo: seis como superintendente y tres como director académico.” La junta está buscando contratar al siguiente superintendente en mayo.

Más de 500 becas estudiantiles de Colorado Mountain College Foundation estarán disponibles para el semestre del otoño a través de una sola inscripción, la cual automáticamente dirigirá a los estudiantes con las becas a las cuales califican.

Las inscripciones están disponibles en https://apply. coloradomtn.edu/ con la fecha límite hasta el 30 de junio.

Para más información, contacte a la coordinadora de becas Kathy Desportes a kdesportes@coloradomtn.edu.

Sendero Crystal

¿Qué tan lejos puedes esquiar en nueve días? El 30vo Ski for SIsu anual se trata de persistencia, resistencia y trabajo duro y también ayuda financiar el mantenimiento de los senderos de Spring Gulch. Para inscribirse, visite www. springgulch.org y luego reúna patrocinios para multiplicar su contribución. Entre el 5 febrero y el 13 de febrero, los participantes esquiaran nórdico lo más que puedan para ganar premios con los kilómetros más esquiados y los patrocinios más recaudados.

Esquí para Sisu

El White River National Forest ha publicado un proyecto de evaluación ambiental del propuesto sendero desde Redstone a McClure Pass. Una reunión pública se llevará a cabo el 7 de febrero de 5 a 7 p.m. en el Third Street Center y los comentarios serán recibidos hasta el 22 de febrero. Encuentre información relacionada en www.bit.ly/ CrystalTrailReview

Línea de amor

Consejo de Carbondale

Para el fin de semana del Día de San Valentín, el distrito creativo de Carbondale y KDNK presentarán Ilumina la Noche con Amor, un paseo interactivo con amor a lo largo del sendero Río Grande en Carbondale. Puede llamar a la línea de amor de radio comunitaria KDNK para dejar una nota llamndo al 970-510-3250.

¡Las peticiones fueron entregadas! El consejero Ben Bohmfalk se ha postulado sin oposición para el puesto de alcalde. Adicionalmente, hay ocho peticiones para tres puestos disponibles: Chris Hassig, Zane Kessler, Colin Laird, Frosty Merriott, Colin Quinn, Jessica Robison y los consejeros actuales Erica Sparhawk y Luis Yllanes.

Honores nacionales Autumn Rivera, la Maestra del Año de Colorado del 2022, ha sido nombrada una de cuatro finalistas para el premio de Maestre del Año Nacional del 2022. Rivera es una maestra de ciencia de sexto año en Glenwood Springs Middle School.

“Colorado está extremadamente orgulloso del trabajo duro y dedicación de los educadores a través de nuestro gran estado,” dijo el gobernador Jared Polis. “Sra. Rivera es una ventaja increíble para sus estudiantes y su comunidad.” El ganador será anunciado esta primavera.

Plan integral Visión de Glenwood La ciudad de Glenwood Springs también refrescará su plan integral comenzando con dos sesiones virtuales el miércoles 9 de febrero. La primera será a mediodía y la segunda a las 6 p.m. Ambas sesiones serán en vivo y con interpretación en español. Para saber más, visite www. visionglenwood.com

La encuesta en línea con respecto a la actualización del plan integral de Carbondale está disponible hasta el 25 de febrero (https://carbondalekaleidoscope.org/chartcarbondale). Las copias físicas también están disponibles en el ayuntamiento, la biblioteca, Third Street Center, Launchpad, Craft Coffee, el centro de recreación, RVR Ranch House y Bonfire Coffee. Traducciones en español de la actualización del Plan Integral y la encuesta estarán disponibles a principios de febrero.

el Sol del Valle • Conector de comunidad • 20 de enero - 2 de feb. de 2022 • 9

We ask questions…

Questions keep us curious, flexible & creative to answer tomorrow’s unimaginable challenges.

People identifying as "hispanic" account for nearly one third of Garfield County, considering not everyone participates in the federal census. Graph by James Steindler

GarCo Dems seek Latino outreach director Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

Discover an education that prepares students for life.

Newborn to 8th Grade

Fall 2022 Admissions Open

Start a conversation today: waldorfschoolrf.org

VISITE UNO DE LOS SPAS MAS ANTIGUOS Y RESPETADOS EN AMERICA y las Cuevas históricas de Vapor

Baños naturales minerals termales “Más privado que una piscina” No WALKINS Por favor.

Llame para citas Para información y reservaciones llame a 970-945-0667 • yampahspa.com El Spa esta abierto de 9 a.m. a 9 p.m. y el Salón de 9 a.m. a 7 p.m.

Cuido médico, dental y mental — todo accesible y en un lugar.

Llamé a Mountain Family Health Centers para programar una cita o para encontrar seguro médico accesible y programas de asistencia financiero. Estamos ubicados en Basalt, Glenwood Springs, Rifle y Eagle además de seis centros de salud basados en escuelas.

Por favor, llámenos a 970-945-2840 para hacer una cita o vístenos en www.mountainfamily.org 10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022

Garfield County Democrats have high hopes for a new Latino outreach campaign.

The campaign is based on former Georgia state representative and voting rights activist Stacy Abrams' New Georgia Project for organizing Black voters in the state.

At a Zoom fundraiser on Dec. 15, 2021, Democrat and community organizer Beatriz Soto said that 89,000 eligible Latino voters are not registered to vote in Congressional District 3 (CD3), which is now represented by Republican Lauren Boebert from Silt. “We are the backbone of the economy,” Soto said. “Now is the time to make sure Latinos are voting.”

U.S. Census data from 2020 show that Latinos make up 25% of those living in CD3, slightly more than the state's 21.8% Latino population. Pew Research Center data from the same year show that close to 16% of Colorado voters are Latino. In Garfield County, Latinos make up almost 30% of the population.

Soto said in December that Latino voter turnout jumped from 40 to 60% when she ran for Garfield County Commissioner in 2020.

In fact, according to data from Voces Unidas de las Montañas, 58.4% of Latinos voted in 2020 in Garfield County, up from 44.5% in 2016. “So we know that when we have more Latinos running for office, more Latinos will turn out to vote,” said Soto.

Debbie Bruell, chair of the Garfield County Democrats, said in an email that even though county voter turnout was great in 2020, the Democratic Party needs to do something different.

“We need to be investing in year-round efforts to connect with folks in a meaningful way,” she wrote. “Especially when it comes to people who have typically been left out of the political process, as many of our Latino community members have.”

She added that Democrats can't simply tell people to vote for them. “We need to be listening and responding to people, hearing about their hopes and challenges, offering solutions and a vision.”

A similar outreach campaign launched in Boulder County in 2019 and is co-directed

by Angel Sanchez and Sonia Marquez. In a Zoom event hosted by the Garfield County Democrats on Jan. 15, Sanchez explained that when the program started, community leaders, undocumented youth, elected officials and others met to share their experiences.

“They all said that there's a need to create better opportunities and advancements for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities,” he said.

Sanchez wanted to know what keeps Latinos from engaging in party politics, from voting regularly or even registering to vote. That has been his quest as a director of the Boulder campaign. So far, he's found that civic engagement leaders can come from anywhere. “They are the go-to people in their communities and they need to be educated.

We were supplying information and the skills they needed,” he said.

One thing he noticed was that youth can make good leaders because they tend to be the voice for mixed-status families or those with language barriers. “They can translate the language, not just from Spanish to English, but from politics to 'help me understand this,'” he said.

Helping people engage in the process and teaching them the importance of voting is only one piece of the puzzle. “The position also needed to look at ... how to get people to be active in the process of understanding what are we voting for and why. How did we get here?” he explained.

He added that the Boulder outreach campaign wasn't set up just to get votes for the Democratic Party. “We want folks from the Latinx community to be officers in the party.

We want them to learn and understand what it takes for them to run for office and be given an opportunity within the party structure to be supported in order to do those things,” he said.

Thus began an assessment of the local Democratic Party, including how it is keeping BIPOC communities from engaging on a deeper level and how to make changes.

Sanchez is excited to see something like the Boulder campaign in Garfield County. “In Boulder County, we very much have numbers to support Democratic advancement and Democratic issues, ideals and values, but this position in Garfield County seems much more imperative and far more crucial.”

Bruell told the Sopris Sun that the Garfield County Democrats plan to hire one full-time person to direct the outreach campaign, but they're still $10,000 dollars short of a $60,000 funding goal. “We have been in touch with groups across Colorado who recognize how important this position is and they're eager to help us find the right person to fill it,” she said.

You can find more information about the new campaign at www.garcodems.org

CARBONDALE REPORT

Trustees accept acres of vacant downtown land from anonymous donor In other news…

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

The Fourth Street Plaza (380 Main Street) and 16 lots surrounding the Thunder River Theatre Company (TRTC) building were quietly donated to the town of Carbondale at the conclusion of 2021. Acceptance of this staggeringly generous donation of over 16 acres was tucked into the consent agenda at a virtual trustees meeting, adjourned in under five minutes, on Dec. 28 at 9 a.m.

The Sopris Sun sends gratitude to an astute reader for tipping us off.

The Fourth Street Plaza has long been leased to the town for use as a park and space for events like Cowboy Up, farmers markets and the Mt. Sopris Music Festival. The grantor, wishing to remain anonymous, will retain a private parking easement adjacent to the alley where parking already exists.

For the undeveloped parcels surrounding TRTC, private parking for four spots is maintained by the grantor.

Because government properties are tax exempt, this opportunity is nothing less than a “game changer” for a town struggling to provide affordable housing. Carbondale was made responsible for the cost of title insurance policies and customary closing costs, estimated at less than $7,500.

The Garfield County Assessor, meanwhile, values these properties combined at close to $2.7 million.

Trustees made further progress toward regulating short-term rentals (STR) at their meeting on Jan. 25. The pro-STR group, Carbondale Forward, was invited back to respond to comments made by Community First Carbondale (CFC) at the conclusion of public comments during last week’s work session.

“This group does not represent Carbondale and nor does mine,” said Carbondale Forward’s Brittany Hailey about CFC. She accused the pro-regulation group of “overstepping bounds” by proposing policy and “blatantly bullying the board” evidenced by their initial approach “to go straight to the ballot” and continued threat “to place their original proposal on the November ballot.”

The priority for trustees at this meeting, however, was deliberation by the board.

Planning Director Janet Buck explained the importance of taking a comprehensive approach, emphasizing, “It’s gonna take time” and “there’s more you can put under licensing [and] it’s easier to regulate” compared with determining licenses based on zoning.

Graciously, the Planning Department had already been looking to update its Unified Development Code once the Comprehensive Plan update is completed. Therefore, STR regulations can be rolled into that process.

“The timing is really good,” observed trustee Heather Henry.

“Some action is warranted, but nobody wants rushed policy,” counseled Town Manager

The Fourth Street Plaza, home to a public ice rink in the winter, was among over 16 acres donated to the town at the end of 2021. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Lauren Gister. “The financial piece and regulatory piece are not necessary to happen at the same time.” Gister also warned that “cause and effect seemed to be stated between STRs and affordable housing,” but “solving one isn’t going to solve the other.”

Trustees committed to a phased approach, with the first phase designed to capture data and avoid disrupting STR operators who have been paying lodging taxes in good faith. The second phase will hone in on specific limitations.

Town Attorney Mark Hamilton recommended against the outright exclusion of LLCs and advised instead to require that a human being with ownership interest be tied to each license application, similar to what’s done for liquor licensing. Town staff will look at incorporating a tiered structure for licenses based on the number of bedrooms rented and whether the property is owner-occupied or not.

In the first phase, STR operators will be required to provide documented proof of paying the lodging tax in 2021 to receive a temporary license. A relatively high fine will be established for

STRs operating without a license (with the first strike being a warning). After this intermediary phase, beginning mid-summer, operators will have to come into compliance with more stringent requirements for their license to be renewed. At this point, it’s being discussed to grant licenses to properties with two years or more of ownership in order to limit speculation.

Trustee Ben Bohmfalk suggested that staff ’s draft ordinance be presented to the community later in February, along with another opportunity for public comment. “There are probably problems that we haven’t thought about,” he stated.

At the meeting’s conclusion, Henry informed the board that the Valley-wide regional housing coalition is finalizing an agreement between municipalities, calling it “momentum around legitimate affordable housing.”

With that, Mayor Dan Richardson asked that the board discuss how to proceed with “Town Center” — presumably referring to the donated lots surrounding TRTC — at their first regular meeting in February.

BASALT REPORT

Council greenlights solar project and police station

By Dyana Z. Furmansky Sopris Sun Correspondent

At its regular meeting, virtually held, January 25, the Basalt Town Council approved the hiring of Golden-based McKinstry Essention LLC to evaluate, plan, select the site and design the Town’s first solar and battery storage project.

Members swiftly powered through the passage of three ordinances after second readings and four resolutions, comprising what Mayor Bill Kane called, “a heck of a lot of important stuff.” Another bit of the important stuff was the purchase of land for the police station.

Scheduled presentations were few and brief, and the meeting was adjourned ahead of schedule.

Councilor Gary Tennenbaum was absent and judging from the backdrop she chose, Councilor Elyse Hottel, attended from outer space.

No one from the public spoke or attended via Zoom.

McKinstry will be paid $99,000 for its services, which will help Basalt meet Eagle County’s 2017 Climate Action Plan target of reducing

Computer rendering by Bldg Seed Architects of the approved apartment building with rooftop solar to be built on Emma Road. Courtesy graphic

greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. Funding for the entire green project was part of the Basalt Forward 2030 bond issue voters approved last year.

The photovoltaic array and batteries are projected to produce and store up to one-half megawatt of electricity, according to Account Executive Ashley Brasovan.

Basalt Town Engineer Catherine Christoff said the project will serve as a backup in case of a major power failure and provide “resiliency” if there is a need to “shelter in place,” at Basalt

High School or other designated facilities.

Town Manager Ryan Mahoney announced that the site for the new police station is under contract for $1.7 million, with Loose Cannon LLC. The location on three-fourths of an acre at 20526 Highway 82 will provide “visibility and good access to Willits,” Mahoney said. He predicted Willits will receive most of the police calls since it is the fastest growing portion of the Town. “We are looking for a 50-year investment in this purchase,” he said.

Basalt police currently occupy 2400 square feet of a building on Elk Run Drive. Their new headquarters will be 4500 square feet, Mahoney said. Adjacent to the site is land Basalt purchased for $1.6 million last year for the public works facility. Mahoney asked Councilors to authorize Town staff to enter into a contract with Gould Construction for the next phase of this project.

The town council’s approval of a resolution to immediately hire Ayers Associates Inc. for grant writing services enabled it to meet the deadline for a $1 million grant from Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Revitalizing Main Street Program. The state grant would cover part of the $2.5 million shortfall in the total funding for Basalt Forward 30’s Midland Avenue landscape project, said Christy Chicoine, finance director. Another $465,000 will be made up of unexpected building permit fees that Basalt received last year. The other portion will be contributed by the town to show “buy-in,” said Chicoine.

On its second reading, the Council adopted an ordinance approving

Fork Front LLC’s site-specific plan designed by Bldg Seed Architects, for a 12-unit apartment building equipped with roof solar panels, on the east end of Emma Road.

Three two-bedroom apartments will be deed-restricted to increase the amount of affordable housing.

Fork Front agreed to build an extension of the Ponderosa Trail along the Roaring Fork River within seven months of completion, or pay $70,000 to the Town if the work is not finished, said Assistant Planning Director James Lindt.

The Town Council meeting opened with a fond farewell to Planning Director Susan Philp, who is retiring after 24 years. Philp sat alone in the usual council meeting room to monitor Zoom traffic for the last Council meeting she needed to attend.

She was teary-eyed from the show of staff and Council appreciation. “She did everything, and then some,” said Mayor Kane.

Kane also acknowledged Basalt skiers Haley Swirbul and Hanna Faulhaber for earning places on the U.S. Ski Team, to compete at the Beijing Olympics.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • Jan. 27-Feb. 2 • 11

A brighter future by and for the youth

By Maeve Murray Youth Correspondent

YouthZone, a local program that helps young people improve their future outlook, is looking to expand collaboration among the population they serve.

According to their website, YouthZone is a “family-first nonprofit dedicated to fostering positive youth development for teens that call the Western Slope their home.” YouthZone has a facility in Glenwood Springs that offers counseling services, substance intervention, LGBTQ+ support groups, volunteer opportunities and more.

Magdalena Palomares, the youth advisory chair on the YouthZone board of directors, is seeking students from across the Valley to be a voice for the youth in the community by joining the nonprofit’s recently formed youth council.

Palomares says the goal is to “get everyone in one room and discuss how to help.”

The youth council is still in the process of being developed, so there's an abundance of space for creative ideas.

Youth council members will engage with the board and have meetings with Executive Director Jamie Hayes to discuss current and upcoming projects. This way, the youth population in the Valley has direct communication with YouthZone regarding the kind of support their peers need.

Palomares sees mental health and substance abuse as significant issues within our community which she strives to address with the new youth council. She is hoping to visit schools, along with newly appointed members, to talk more about these issues soon.

The youth advisory council has openings for middle and high school students across the Valley.

As Palomares says, “Anyone is welcome!”

Students who would like to be part of the youth council must be motivated to help the community. The perfect candidate is “someone who wants to help by working with others … and is willing to share their ideas.”

Palomares also hopes to see more content and programming originating from the youth council in the coming months, including videos, a social media presence and workshops.

Youth Art Park gains traction Staff Report

Carbondale Arts was approved for a $15,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support a Youth Art Park sculpture/mural, slated to begin construction in spring 2022 behind the Carbondale Recreation Center along the Rio Grande Trail.

The sculpture will stand as the backbone of the Youth Art Park within the heart of the Carbondale Creative District.

It will serve as a collaborative effort between the artists and

The purpose of YouthZone is to give kids and teens a space to be themselves and get help if they need it. The organization wants to get the word out about the kind of services they offer. Counseling, or simply advice, is offered if you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health struggles. As Palomares put it, YouthZone is a bright reminder that “it's not anything taboo to feel down, or like you need help.”

According to Palomares, joining the advisory council has significant benefits for the individual and community. “On top of being a good activity, it will help you become a leader, be comfortable speaking with adults, grow up and be around an office atmosphere. Not only that, but it could look great on college or job applications,” she added.

“If you know someone who would be a good fit for the youth advisory council, or are interested yourself, consider joining to help the community.”

In conclusion, Palomares wanted to pass along that “anyone who feels like their voice isn’t heard and wants to have their perspective out there as a youth from a different background should join.”

designers who created it, as well as the local students who will paint a new mural on the sculpture's open canvas each year.

This yearly changing mural will give Carbondale’s youth a space to share their voice with the community. The sculpture will transform a now blank space filled with shrubs into a park designed to inclusively connect Carbondale.

The project is among 1,248 across America that were selected to receive this first round of fiscal year 2022 funding from the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects category.

“The NEA is proud to support arts projects like this one from Carbondale Arts that help support the community’s creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers.

“Carbondale Arts is among the arts organizations nationwide

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022

Magdalena Palomares serves as a youth representative for the YouthZone Board of Directors. Courtesy photo

She encourages her peers to be the change in their community, help others and get work experience through this new initiative.

For details on how to join the youth council, visit www. bit.ly/YouthZoneAdvisory

that are using the arts as a source of strength, a path to wellbeing and providing access and opportunity for people to connect and find joy through the arts.”

"It is such an inspiration and accomplishment to receive support for the Youth Art Park from the NEA,” shared Carbondale Arts Executive Director Amy Kimberly. “This money goes to an incredible sculpture that mirrors Mount Sopris and promotes unity “unidad” [in Spanish]. We are excited to see it come to life."

Visit www.arts.gov/news for more info on other NEA grand projects and carbondalecreativedistrict.com/artway for more info on the Youth Art Park and Carbondale Creative District.

New York dance group to inspire local collaboration

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

As part of its residency program, Dance Initiative will host New York based performance company NVA & Guests from Jan. 29 to Feb. 7. The residency will culminate with a performance at The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) on Feb. 5. This collaboration is one of the first to come from a new and budding partnership between Dance Initiative and TACAW. Founder Nicole von Arx, who NVA is named after, will be joined

by Michael Greenberg, David Flores, and Caitlin Taylor. Von Arx’s résumé includes being a soloist at the Royal Opera House in London. She has also performed with Carte Blanche, Loni Landon and for the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York.

During their stay, NVA will not only be rehearsing new and repertory dances but will also conduct workshops, classes, and talkbacks up until the performance. Similar to other planned events, NVA was accepted to Dance Initiative for the 2020 season but due to the pandemic had to postpone their residency to a later date.

“I was excited about the kind of content that she was working with as well as her aesthetic and

the physicality of her dance,” stated Executive Director Megan Janssen, of Dance Initiative. “And just talking to her as a human — I really enjoyed it. She has a humility that is just really lovely,” continued Janssen. “She is very playful and will sometimes take harder concepts and make them playful and engaging to the audience. It should be really fun to have her here.”

NVA will host rehearsals that are open for public viewing during their workshop period. Open rehearsals are something that Dance Initiative always tries to offer with each residency, but, according to Janssen, few people take the opportunity. She spoke of this as a unique and beneficial activity for the community.

“It is really such a magical and special thing to watch real professionals performing their craft; sort of being a fly on the wall and watching it come together. It doesn’t cost any money and is a good way to engage with the performers,” she stated.

Von Arx spoke about the style of the dance that will be performed during this collaborative residency and how she foresees the community interaction will add to NVA’s final performance.

“We are a physical dance company so we do a lot of physical work. This includes a lot of floor work, partnering,

and, in the past two and a half years working to blend our work with theatricality,” she explained.

“We have created some interesting things that I am excited to share in Colorado. Michael, Caitlin and I have been working with ideas that need an audience; so we need to test those with people watching the work,” she continued. “It doesn’t work without them.”

Greenberg, of NVA, also expressed excitement about engaging with the community. Having not been able to perform residency work for nearly two years because of the pandemic, he shared von Arx’s sentiment of being happy to do so again.

“Just being in that creative artistic space is something that I am really excited about; interacting with new people, a new environment and sharing what we have been creating,” he stated.

“I think that whole experience is what I am looking forward to.”

Historically, Dance Initiative has held its residency performances at The Launchpad. Janssen mentioned that while that has worked for them — being a fun and intimate space — it’s not the same as having a full stage where there is more room to perform, professional lighting and so on.

“TACAW is wonderful at producing live performance art.

I'm just waiting until you say the magic word…

Tre a t s !

Nicole von Arx, founder of the dance company NVA & Guests, will lead a workshop and class during an upcoming residency with Dance Initiative.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

However, they’re still learning the dance landscape and this relationship has developed naturally between us,” stated Janssen. “For Ryan Honey, executive director, and Kendall Smith, programming director at TACAW, I’m able to help them with production scheduling, creating dance performances, and help build on what they already provide the community. For all of us it is a wonderful, reciprocal relationship.”

“It is truly an exciting venture for all of us to be taking on and I am really hoping that it just goes off without

a hitch and that everyone involved benefits from this,” Janssen concluded.

The Launchpad, where the open rehearsals will be held, requires everyone to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. The community is invited to participate in the community dance workshop on Jan. 30, from 10 to 11:45 a.m. and/or the intermediate workshop on Feb. 1, from 6:15 to 8 p.m. For more information on the workshops and performances visit: www.danceinitiative.org To purchase tickets for the final performance visit: www.tacaw.org

NOTICE TO TOWN OF CARBONDALE CITIZENS The Town of Carbondale is soliciting Pro/Con comments for Ballot Issue 2A. Text of the Town of Carbondale Ballot Issue 2A may be viewed at: carbondalegov.org The deadline for PRO/CON statements is Noon on Friday, February 18, 2022 Only comments filed by persons eligible to vote in the Town of Carbondale will be summarized and included in the TABOR Notice that is sent to voters prior to the election.

To be summarized in the ballot issue notice, the comments must address the specific ballot issue and must include a signature and the address where the signor is registered to vote. No statements shall mention the names of persons or private groups, nor any endorsements of or resolutions against any ballot measure.

El Jebel, Colorado 970-963-1700 RJPaddywacks.com

Signed statements may be scanned and e-mailed to the Town Clerk cderby@carbondaleco.net, or you may mail or hand-deliver a hard copy to the Town Clerk’s Office, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623.

Please be aware that your statement is unlikely to be reprinted in its entirety. It is the responsibility of the town clerk to summarize comments received so that each issue has no more than 500 words in the pro statement and no more than 500 words in the con statement.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • Jan. 27-Feb. 2 • 13

LETTERS A matter of public health As I observe the myriad of controversies and confusion around the COVID-19 pandemic, I am saddened by the misinformation and manipulation being perpetrated and how it largely ignores the most fragile and important part of our population: children. I became a pediatrician because I believe that the future of our world depends on the optimal health and development of children. There are so many variables from genes to environment that can influence how that happens, but the most important and influential is being nurtured and protected by a consistent parental figure.

Decades of research have identified a phenomenon called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which are derived from environmental, social and interpersonal adversity. The short and long-term impact of ACEs have clearly been associated with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, risky sexual behaviors, violence, obesity, reduced educational achievement and the early onset of a long list of chronic diseases that shorten lives and dramatically increase medical costs. There are many sources of ACEs in childhood and their impact varies with setting and age, but one of the most consistent and harmful causes is the loss of a parent or primary caregiver.

In the first year of the pandemic alone, studies have estimated that nearly 145,000 children lost a parent or custodial grandparent due to the virus. With better care, medical interventions and effective vaccination that number is lower for the second year, but is still devastating. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight as we see mutations causing new strains that quickly spread through the population.

Continued from page 2 A child may observe suffering, witness death, carry the guilt of being the source, or imagined source, of a parent’s illness, or fear they themselves could get sick or die from this stealth virus that has a dramatic and potentially devastating impact on their lives. And not many of us consider the confusion, embarrassment or anger a child may feel when their parent denies the disease exists and/or they refuse to respect public health recommendations or mandates and, therefore, the health and safety of others.

It is nothing short of confounding for children to see their parents refuse to be vaccinated nor let them receive the vaccine themselves.

No one has experienced a world-wide pandemic even close to this in over a century.

The U.S. toll is about 64,000,000 cases, 845,000 deaths, and 4,000,000 hospitalizations.

Without vaccination, it is estimated that there would be three to five times more deaths and hospitalizations, and a more severe disease with more complications and long-term disabilities.

Masks work; bandanas and lip covers do not. They are not magic. They are helpful and an important measure to reduce spread when people are in confined spaces. Vaccines are not magic, but they reduce the burden of illness and death. If you are not masking, refusing the vaccine or ignoring other public health measures, you are doing more harm than good.

It is not mask mandates, vaccination, social distancing, or virtual learning that are causing the most irreparable harm to our children. It is the real impact of the disease causing death, disability, observed suffering and guilt.

It also has the indirect impact of the politicization of our public health.

Russell Libby Snowmass

14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2022

PARTING SHOT

Corrections Due to a technical error, corrections regarding the Missouri Heights concert series by Dan Sadowsky (Pastor Mustard) were overwritten. Sam Bush and Béla Fleck have yet to perform there. Additionally, a glitch caused the headline on the front cover to not be printed: "Getting into good trouble."

We also shared an outdated deadline for the online survey on Carbondale's comp plan update. In fact, it began on Jan. 24 and will continue through Feb. 25.

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Carbondale has another guardian angel. Chris Chacos passed away Jan. 19, joining his late wife Terry Chacos in the ever-after. During their time here since the early ‘70s, the two were living-breathing guardian angels to the town, so we are comforted in knowing the job isn’t all that new to them. Before moving to Carbondale, Terry joined Chris in Quảng Ngãi, Vietnam serving a community already ravaged by war. Returning to the United States after the war, Chris and Terry opened the Village Smithy on May Day, 1975 in the town’s historic blacksmith shop, where breakfast and lunch is served to this day. The couple hosted the community and provided support to hundreds of employees and countless friends. In a 2015 Sopris Sun article Chris was quoted as saying, “It wasn’t work. It was a labor of love.” Chris will be dearly missed and always remembered as a steward to Carbondale and the world.

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Young

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ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TOWN OF CARBONDALE RED HILL TRAILHEAD SIGN PRODUCTION Town of Carbondale, CO is seeking a professional sign company to produce designed signage at the Red Hill trailhead.

The Request for Proposals can be obtained from the Town website: www.carbondalegov.org or by e-mailing ebrendlinger@carbondaleco.net Proposals are due via e-mail or hard copy to: Carbondale Town Hall attn: Parks & Recreation Director-Eric Brendlinger 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623

Due by 4:00 pm, Friday, February 25, 2022

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • Jan. 27-Feb. 2 • 15

Preserved!

Thanks to the support of our members and friends, the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association and the Trust for Land Restoration have conserved 55 acres along the Crystal river in Marble.

Wetlands, wildlife and public access are now protected for future generations.

For more information, please visit cvepa.org and restorationtrust.org.

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