Say CHEESE!
Tucker Farris, a fifth-generation local, dropped by our summer solstice pizza party last week sporting a vintage (and operational) Voigtländer camera. For more photos from the cozy event, check out page 23…
Photo by Klaus Kocher
CVEPA Views: A conundrum, pure and simple
The news of the massive methane leaks emanating from the abandoned Coal Basin Mine above Redstone for years was shocking to many, but not to all. Anyone familiar with the Mid-Continent Coal and Coke (MCCC) mine knows that it was one of the most gaseous mines in the West.
The horrific gas blast of April 15, 1981 killed 15 miners and put Redstone in the national spotlight. Giant turbine fans sucked gas out of the mine and into the atmosphere ran 24/7 and could be heard down in distant Marble Valley. When MCCC declared bankruptcy, “sealed” the mines, turned off the fans and walked away, the gas did not stop flowing.
Although common knowledge to many “old-timers,” the figures that emerged in 2020 riveted local attention. Methane gas is a heat-trapping gas “84 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period … [and] contributes to more than 25% of current global warming.” Those figures are universal, but when it was announced that Coal Basin gas leaks were equivalent to the entire carbon footprint of Pitkin County and could be mitigated, that captured local attention.
So, where did this sudden focus come from?
OPINION
reclaiming the abandoned base operations area of Mid Continent Coke, commonly known as the wash plant. Catena transformed the industrially devastated area “into a silk purse from a sow’s ear” by cleaning ponds, planting trees and developing a system of bicycle trails which they have opened to the public. The foundation issued a grant to well respected Colorado State University professor Joe von Fischer to study the emissions in the basin. The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) had insisted on a second opinion early in the project and was pleased when von Fischer was empowered to research the claims.
The summer of 2023 saw an intensive effort by both entities to locate, evaluate and quantify the methane leaks and assimilate that data. Through aerial drones, fixed-wing aircraft and extensive on-the-ground instrumentation (moved biweekly by horseback and volunteer backpacking) both scientists derived data that essentially corroborated each other.
CVEPA VIEWS
By John Armstrong
Enter Dr. Chris Caskey. Caskey is a Paonia-based environmental entrepreneur with a passion for climate change study. (Caskey is also the founder of Delta Brick and Climate Company which turns Paonia Reservoir clay into tiles and pavers).
Caskey has been very involved in the methane capture and electrical generation at the abandoned mines in nearby Somerset, CO. That innovative project was sponsored by Aspen Skiing Company as part of its “Protect Our Winters” and environmental initiative. Within approximately five years, the Ski Company recouped their initial investment through power generation. In his research, Caskey found the estimated figures of the Coal Basin leakage. He dug deeper.
State entities, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Environmental Protection Agency and Pitkin County all recognized high volumes of methane flowing out of abandoned mine portals and fractures in the shale slopes. Again, the estimate was equated to the entire carbon footprint of Pitkin County.
These figures inspired the local Community Office of Resource Efficiency (CORE) to unite with Caskey. The two have been integrated partners almost since the inception of the project. Caskey wants the effort to be “a community driven project,” so the group has held community forums periodically throughout the process.
Pitkin County and the federal government have contributed significantly to the research effort to determine just what the reality of these emission claims are. So did a benevolent neighbor in Coal Basin, the Catena Foundation. Catena has a large investment
LETTERS
CORRECTION: Suzanne Frazier, a member of Carbondale Public Art Commission, was misidentified as Laurie Lindberg on last week’s parting shots page.
Fourth of July
On the Fourth of July, Americans gather to celebrate that day in 1776 when we declared our independence from Great Britain. It was a rocky start and standing independent has continued to bring challenges. Even as we argue among ourselves and become discouraged, we should remember that it is because of our freedoms that we can argue and protest.
As we celebrate our country’s independence and freedoms we should remember the men and women who serve and have served in our military. They, some at great cost, served to protect us and defend the freedoms we enjoy. Our U.S. veterans will be honored at several parades around the Valley this holiday. If you served, join in and receive the communities’ appreciation. If you are on the sideline, show your gratitude as they pass.
Aspen’s Fourth of July parade invites all U.S. military veterans and active duty
At the end of the research season, the original prediction of 10,000 metric tons of methane was found to be less than 25% of the actual figure. The guesstimate that equated the amount of methane to the entire carbon footprint of Pitkin County is more likely around one-third of the total footprint.
What is this in layman’s terms? The project could mitigate the emissions of approximately 8,000 passenger car trips in the Roaring Fork Valley annually. Is the destruction of this amount of methane worth the potential damage to Coal Basin itself? What would be the environmental cost to water quality, wildlife habitat, recreational values and general quality of life? (Not to mention deference to past CVEPA volunteers that spent countless (wo)man hours reclaiming the ravaged basin.)
CVEPA sat with Caskey, colleague Mona Newton and CORE’s John Dougherty last week to discuss finer details. Erosion, sound pollution and environmental concerns are the tip of the iceberg as, together, we dug deeper into what gas mitigation would truly encompass. Caskey opined that CVEPA was asking questions which the feds hadn’t even requested. Moving toward a National Environmental Policy Act decision, CVEPA remains engaged and vigilant.
A CVEPA board member, and an engineer, will remain on a technical review committee. Educate yourself on this issue at www.aspencore.org/coal-basin-methane-project How can we benefit our climate and quality of life and protect the environment of Coal Basin? The answer is neither black nor white, equivocal or Crystal Clear.
To learn more about the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association or to support our mission, please visit www.cvepa.org
to join our group, Tribute to Our Veterans. Meet at 10am on Main Street by Paepcke Park. (Remember, traffic is a nightmare). Call Sally at 970-948-8278 for details. Rides are available, but must be arranged in advance by calling Peter at 970-379-1371.
We hope to see you there!
Happy Fourth of July!
Hugh Roberts
USAF Vietnam
Snowmass
Democrat delusions
Thirty-four felonies, Jan. 6th and mean Tweets: Lions and Tigers and Bears? Oh my? All lies!
The NY Trump verdict is a Democrat law farce, sure to be overturned on appeal. Jan. 6th was a Democrat orchestrated Hollywood production where the only killing was an unarmed female veteran, shot by a whitewashed fat cop.
Trump’s mean Tweets came with a real secured border, low crime, affordable gas and groceries, while billions of our tax dollars were not funding wars.
Dems’ delusional fear tactics about “saving democracy” and their vicious
character assassinations only ring true for low information, sound bite influenced voters.
Saving our country and our children’s futures are on November’s ballot. The disease is Biden, the cure is Trump.
PS: By the way, why does Deb Bruell get a Dems column [in the Post Independent] but there’s no conservative Republican column? In the interests of impartial journalism, couldn’t the PI find space for an opposing opinions column?
Bruno Kirchenwitz Rifle
Cultivated meat
As the avian flu runs rampant through American cattle, now is the time for our political leaders to support increased public funding for cultivated meat research. For those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from animal cells, without slaughter. Since livestock are removed from the process, the risk of zoonotic viruses making the jump to humans is reduced.
Despite admirable progress by the private sector, technological hurdles
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is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District continued on page 22
OUR UNDERWRITERS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS!
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Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner in 2024? Email Todd@soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866
SCUTTLEBUTT
Primary projections
Jeff Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney, came out on top in the Republican primary to represent Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. Hurd will face Democrat Adam Frisch in the November general election. Frisch congratulated Hurd in a press release, saying, "My hat always goes off to anyone who is willing to stand up to represent their country and community," adding, "The last thing our district needs is another corporate lawyer funded by corporate PAC money." Lauren Boebert, our district's current representative, ran instead for the 4th Congressional District and won that primary. In Eagle County news, it appears that Tom Boyd has won the District 2 commissioner seat over Sarah Hymes by a narrow margin.
Friends of Fair
Carbondale Arts needs friends of the fair to sign up to volunteer and help pull off the 53rd Annual Mountain Fair. Volunteerism is a pillar of this Carbondale tradition, not to mention that it’s a whole lot of fun. This year, businesses can become volunteer sponsors by signing up four individuals (or more) with the Green Team or Peace Patrol. Visit www.carbondalearts.com/mountain-fair for more details and a list of volunteer options to choose from.
Three Mile fire
The Glenwood Spring Fire Department was called to a structure fire on County Road 127 (Three Mile Road) at 1:50am on June 24. The fire engulfed the home’s second story deck and part of its interior and spread to the surrounding vegetation. However, crews were able to extinguish the fire within 20 minutes. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. The occupants, who will not be able to return to the home in its current state, are working with the Red Cross moving forward.
Wolf pup(s)
On June 18, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists confirmed that at least one wolf pup was born in Grand County. Although only one was confirmed, it is possible that other pups are present as litters commonly include four to six pups. According to a press release, “Because these wolves have successfully reproduced, they are officially considered a pack,” and have been dubbed the “Copper Creek Pack.” For more information about wolves in Colorado, visit www.tinyurl.com/wolvesinColorado
Water rebates
As with Carbondale’s Bee Friendly initiative, the City of Glenwood Springs is offering rebates for up to $2,000 when people replace their turf with water-smart landscape designs. Rebates are also available for City water users when they upgrade to appliances and fixtures that limit water waste, including faucets, toilets, washing machines and more. For more information, visit www.garfieldcleanenergy.org/gwsw-rebates
Community service award
The Garfield County Public Library District (GCPLD) is seeking nominations for its Second Annual Lisa Detweiler Service Award. Detweiler worked at the New Castle Library, was bilingual and had a penchant for community service and an appreciation of diversity. A successful nominee should demonstrate “extraordinary service to the local Garfield County community,” can be of any age or background and must live in Garfield County. Nominations are due July 31 and the award winner will be announced during GCPLD’s Hispanic Heritage Festival in September. Submit a nomination at www.tinyurl.com/LisaDetweilerAward
Results are in for the 53rd Mountain Fair poster design! This year’s theme, “This must be the place: Feet on the ground, head in the sky,” is a nod to a Talking Heads’ song but also encapsulates a feeling everyone gets while dancing in front of the main stage at the Fair. Winning artist and Glenwood Springs resident Kirsten Hix’s portfolio includes four murals at Sunlight Mountain Resort, a mural at the Basalt Pool and she won the Basalt Public Arts Commission Mural Contest in 2023. Find more of Hix’s works on her Instagram page, @k.hix.art
Fair flashmob
Have you ever wanted to be part of a live Flashmob? Well, now is your chance. You are invited to join Bonedale Flashmob for the 2024 Carbondale Mountain Fair Flashmob. No experience is necessary and the only requirement is to have fun! Contact Alexandra Jerkunica at 970-379-2187 for more information.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Roberto de Leon, Erica Pincomb and Colton Mesner (June 27); Michael Black, Adele Craft, Niki Delson, Erin Galbreath, Jeff Isaacson, Claire de L'Arbre and Beth Mulry (June 28); Zuleika Pevec, Patty Phelan and Drew Sorenson (June 29); Erin Rigney and John Stickney (June 30); Cory Feldman, John Matchael, Jax Moss and Kyle Obuhanick (July 1); Staci Dickerson, Jeanie Chestnutt, Giana Grossman-Loiola, Dean Harding, Miranda Hyer, Bruce Kirk and Laurie Loeb (July 2); Katie Jones, Maggie Jones, Tony Mendez, Dani Ott, Cindy Sadlowski, Sissy Sutro and Luke Turner (July 3).
Free on-demand Downtowner service comes to Carbondale July 1
JEANNE SOULDERN Sopris Sun Correspondent
Carbondale is gearing up for a new transportation initiative by introducing Downtowner Carbondale — a free, on-demand ride service set to debut on July 1. This service hopes to enhance mobility and convenience for residents, workers and visitors alike.
In a recent interview with The Sopris Sun, Carbondale Planning Director Jared Barnes and Town Manager Lauren Gister discussed what’s new with Carbondale’s transportation options.
In 2016, Aspen decided to implement the Downtowner Aspen service to address the lack of available parking and congestion in Aspen’s downtown core. In 2022, Basalt launched Basalt Connect, an on-demand transit service in partnership with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), providing transportation to and from downtown Basalt, Willits and nearby neighborhoods.
monthly feedback and ridership data collected during the pilot phase will be crucial in shaping the service’s future. “We will have everything from response times to the most popular hours and frequent destinations. We’ll learn which neighborhoods are being heavily served and others that have just begun using the service,” she explained.
The flexibility inherent in the Downtowner model allows for real-time adjustments based on user feedback. “It’s extremely easy for them to say, ‘Let’s change the service hours,’ or, ‘Let’s change this service area a little bit.’ We can work with them to update our services,” Barnes said.
“If we move forward with the service long term, we want our community to tell us what they want it to be named,”
In late 2021, RFTA announced a new $3 million first-and-last-mile mobility grant program to further transportation solutions within the Roaring Fork Valley.
- Carbondale Planning
Director Jared Barnes
Carbondale secured a RFTA grant to fund a six-month pilot program, commencing on July 1 and running through Dec. 31. This initiative requires a 50% match of $181,500 from the Town of Carbondale, with potential plans to extend the service into a full-year operation in 2025, pending ridership usage, community
Operating seven days a week, Downtowner Carbondale will run from 7am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 10pm on weekends.
The service promises a maximum wait time of 20 minutes, though actual wait times are expected to average between 10 and 15 minutes.
The Downtowner company, a national entity known for its eco-conscious minibus fleet, will provide shared rides, ensuring efficiency without compromising comfort or sustainability. Future plans may include transitioning to electric or hybrid vehicles to better align with Carbondale’s green initiatives by promoting environmentally-friendly transportation alternatives.
Barnes said if the service is renewed in 2025 after the pilot program ends, Carbondale residents could rename the rider service or participate in a logo design competition.
Looking ahead, Barnes and Gister expressed optimism about the Downtowner’s impact on local transportation dynamics. They envision it as a pivotal link in Carbondale’s multimodal transit network and complement to existing services like RFTA’s Carbondale Circulator buses and WE-cycle, the local bike-share nonprofit that launched services in Carbondale last August.
The initiative aims to improve quality of life by providing convenient, accessible and sustainable transportation solutions tailored to Carbondale’s needs. “I’m very optimistic that it’s going to fill in those little gaps all over town,” Gister concluded.
Social Justice Service
Join us this Sunday for our Social Justice service with Dr. Barbara Zind, a pediatrician from Grand Junction who volunteers with Heal Palestine, an organization sending medical teams to Gaza to treat kids. She will describe her work as well as the conditions of life and the health care system in Gaza before the current war and the challenges of getting aid in now. She was caught in Gaza in Oct. when fighting broke out.
“If we move forward with the service long term, we want our community to tell us what they want it to be named. There are so many creative people in the community, and we think they could come up with a better name than three
Join Zoom Meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82605258305 Meeting ID: 826 0525 8305 - Passcode: chalice truu.org Sunday, June 30th, 10am at Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist Calaway Room @ Third Street Center in Carbondale or via Zoom (scan QR code)
Dr. Barbara Zind Bio: “I have practiced pediatrics in GJ since 1996. I grew up and went to school (UofA) in Arizona. Did my pediatric training at Colorado Children's Hospital in Denver. and did 2 years of a Pediatric hematology oncology fellowship. I have had a passion for working in underserved areas. My husband, Dr Paul Preston, and I worked in Papua New Guinea for a year then went to the Navajo reservation for 8 years until we moved here. Since living here we have volunteered in Honduras with our children and now volunteer in Guatemala also. I have been volunteering with Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) since 2010 in refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan the West Bank and Gaza and now am working with Heal Palestine. (A different organization recently founded by the founder of PCRF). I retired Jan 2023”
For further updates and details on Downtowner Carbondale, visit the official Town of Carbondale at www.bit.ly/CdaleDowntowner
July 5 th
Come enjoy the monthly celebration of local arts, shopping, restaurants, spirits and live music in the heart of the Carbondale Creative District.
Porcelain Memories and (Re)Location: Perspectives of Two 5-7PM Opening reception and artist talk Carbondale Arts Gallery
Flora/Fauna Reception
6-8PM at the Carbondale Clay Center Gallery
Sopris Music Fest
5-8PM Curated by Steve’s Guitars at Chacos Park
follow @carbondalecreativedistrict for updates and visit carbondalearts.com for more information
Downtowner Carbondale service area map. Courtesy graphic
Live in-person service. Live Music by Gabriella Mejia.
Keep Missouri Heights Rural urges county to vote no on Twin Acres
Special use permit hearing continued
AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent
Editor’s note: Photojournalist Will Sardinsky is the son of Robert Sardinsky who is quoted in this article.
Residents on the Eagle County side of Missouri Heights are up in arms about a new equestrian center proposed for a 20-acre parcel just off of Fender Lane. All that was missing were torches and pitchforks at an afternoon site visit last week when more than 60 locals, organized by citizen group Keep Missouri Heights Rural (KMHR), showed up to let Eagle County commissioners know that the business proposal for the Twin Acres Riding Stable and Boarding Stable is not welcome.
The crowd largely kept within the requirements for a site visit — no questions to the commissioners or to the applicant. But the size of the crowd and the signs they carried, like “Keep Missouri Heights Rural: Say No to Twin Acres,” conveyed the message.
The proposed plan is for Annie Graber Wells to lease the property for her equestrian center from landowner Jess Graber/Whiskey Mountain Estates. Current zoning is agricultural/rural and the special use permit is for a commercial operation.
Concerns include water use and wildfire danger due to high winds that are a Missouri Heights trademark. But Susan Sullivan, a KMHR board member who lives just above the proposed development, told The Sopris Sun about other potential problems.
“This whole area here is kind of like a stadium,” she explained. “So I think of myself as an unwilling spectator of all things Twin Acres.” Including, she said, manure,
flies and fugitive light at night. “I have worked all of my life for this type of lifestyle in my beautiful home and I feel like this could take some of that away from me.”
KMHR helped put the kibosh on a 2021 proposal from Ascendigo Autism Services for a camp and activities center on the Garfield County side of Missouri Heights. “With Ascendigo, we were concerned about the safety of the children,” said Sullivan. “Here, we’re concerned about the safety of the neighborhood.”
The 101 acres is in a drainage, rimmed by several subdivisions. Some houses look down on the old ranch. Hence Sullivan’s “stadium” comparison.
Dan Gageby lives just north of the site. “I'm closest in proximity. My deck’s about 65 feet off the fence line and 500 feet from the center of the barn,” he told The Sopris Sun. “So, our whole entire house is oriented to the proposed operation.”
The area was subdivided in the late ‘90s as Central Ranch. Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) brokered a conservation easement on 101 acres in 1998. The easement allows some development on the 20-acre Ranch Headquarters Parcel where longtime Roaring Fork Valley resident Tommie Zordel ran a small boarding operation and where Twin Acres wants to set up shop. But the remaining 80-acre agricultural parcel, according to a letter from AVLT, “is intended for continued use as a managed irrigated and agricultural open space”.
Existing buildings include a nine-horse stable, tack/ equipment storage and an office plus two outdoor riding arenas. Old ranch houses near the entrance would likely be removed if the development is approved.
Gageby manages a ranch and said he understands
what goes into an operation like Twin Acres. “We have side-by-sides, we have equipment, we deal with hay, we deal with moving stuff around and it’s loud,” he explained. He’s also concerned about diesel fumes, traffic and more. “It's a densely populated area. Water is thin, fire danger is high,” he said. “Adding a commercial operation in the middle of five HOAs really doesn't make any sense.”
continued on page 17
Doug Pratt, land planner for the applicant, answers questions near the site for the proposed 20,000 square foot enclosed indoor riding facility. Photo by Will Sardinsky
Town prepares for Basalt River Jams
WILL BUZZERD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
This year’s season of summer events in Old Town Basalt officially kicked off. Town Council celebrated a successful Sunday Market on June 16 as well as the first of the weekly Summer Concert Series on June 19. Concertgoers should note that for the week of July 4, the Wednesday concert will be replaced by the new Basalt River Jams — a day-long river and music celebration, July 6.
The Sunday Market, now in its 15th year, returned to its traditional location on the newly expanded and reopened Midland Spur. Last year, the market spread its tents along the path in the River Park. While those Sundays were as well-attended as years previous, some vendors complained about the extra difficulty lugging tables and goods into the park, and some attendees had safety concerns around the foot traffic crossing Two Rivers Road.
This year, vendors have room to unload their vehicles along the expanded Spur, with some setting up tents in the grassy area of Lions Park. From now until Sept. 26, the market will be held rain or shine on the freshly-paved spur from 10am to 2pm every Sunday.
While the Summer Concert Series is typically held every Wednesday night, the River Park stage will be quiet on July 3. Instead, the Town of Basalt asks visitors and residents to instead join Basalt River Jams on Saturday, July 6.
LIBRARY REPORT
Rather than compete with the many popular Independence Day events in the Valley, the Town of Basalt decided to push its live music programming to the weekend. Instead of a stars and stripes theme, Basalt River Jams celebrates the confluence of the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork rivers. Sign-ups are currently open for a boat parade, with prizes available to vessels and crews with the best theme, best
costumes, and “most Basalt-y.” The definition of “boats” includes inner tubes, inflatable kayaks or anything small and equally riverworthy. They will put in at Whitewater Park and Confluence Park to drift through town and float past the River Park for cheers and prizes. All participants are required to wear life jackets. In keeping with the aquatic theme, Frying Pan Anglers will host a fly rod
GCPLD embraces SB 24-216
LYNN “JAKE” BURTON
Sopris Sun correspondent
Garfield County Public Library District trustees met in Carbondale on June 6. It was mentioned that the citzen’s oversight committee held its first meeting of the year via Zoom on May 6.
In attendance at the May 6 meeting were: Ksana Oglesby (volunteer member), Michelle Foster (board treasurer), Jamie LaRue (executive director) and Kevin Hettler (CFO). Guests in attendance were Nancy Barnes (branch libraries director) and Jackie Skala (library accountant). The report said the committee encourages members to recruit additional members. Their next meeting is Oct. 7.
A detailed agenda for the June 6 meeting included several updates:
• The district bought smart door counters to help maximize the best hours of operation;
• The district rolled out its new website;
• The first-ever Dia del Niño festival for children attracted more than 300 attendees;
• A new digitization staff position commenced, in partnership with the Glenwood Springs Historical Society;
• Youth services interns were hired.
Management Report
Technical Services Director Jenn Cook presented Executive Director Jamie LaRue’s monthly report. He led off his report, in the meeting packet, with an update on SB 24-216, recently signed into Colorado law. LaRue was not present at the meeting.
SB 24-216 contains several key provisions, including a directive that public libraries shall establish written policies for the acquisition, retention, display and use of library resources. “We have done so,” LaRue’s report stated.
The bill also includes many provisions of the Library Bill of Rights (already adopted by the Garfield County libraries board). Among the bill’s provisions:
• A public library shall not proscribe or prohibit the circulation or procurement of library materials because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval;
• A public library is responsible for resisting censorship;
• Challengers of library materials must reside within the library’s legal service area;
• The library must make the resolution of a challenge available to the public;
A request for a reconsideration of a challenge is an open record. The name and address of challengers are not confidential and would be provided through a Colorado Open Records Act request.
LaRue’s report said that Colorado is the fifth state to adopt an “anti-censorship” law. He elaborated there have been “several alarming pro-censorship” bills adopted in about a dozen states and similar bills under consideration in 27 others. He cited several states’ new bills, including:
In Missouri, access to Overdrive and Hoopla, platforms that provide libraries with ebooks, are now denied to minors;
Idaho’s “The Children’s Library and Protection” act allows anyone to claim a book is “harmful to minors” (which includes mentioning any act of homosexuality) and requires the library to move the item to an “adults only” section. LaRue said the tiny Donnelly Public Library in Idaho had to close its doors altogether because it doesn’t have space to create an “adults only” section;
In Alabama, anyone can claim a library resource is “obscene” and if not removed in seven days, the librarian can be fined up to $6,000 per incident and sentenced to one year in jail.
casting competition. With a $10 entry fee, the competition will be open to three divisions — youth (under 18), adult (18+), and pro (reserved for professional fly fishing guides). Participants need not bring their own rods! Frying Pan Anglers will provide all of the equipment and prizes and accolades are available to the best casters in each category.
continued on page 17
LaRue’s report continued: “Our library is already meeting the highest standards for the management of our collections and displays, but this new legislation firmly establishes the right to broadest possible access to the stories and ideas of our culture and protects library staff from prosecution for simply doing their jobs. My congratulations to the Colorado Association of Libraries Legislative Committee and the bill sponsors.”
LaRue concluded his report by saying he attended the recent Colorado Public Library Directors retreat in Grand Junction. One issue discussed at the retreat is the movement by several groups of county commissioners on the Western Slope to “actively” interfere with library operations. This has been seen with board appointment processes, but also pushing to replace paid staff with volunteers, a trend that is “putting libraries in the culture wars crosshairs,” LaRue’s report stated.
On July 6, Basalt River Park will host the first-ever Basalt River Jams — an all-day celebration of live music, local food and the confluence of the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork rivers. Attendees should be sure to set their picnic blankets by the waterside to get a good view of the day's boat parade and fly rod casting competition. Courtesy photo
Carbondale blacksmith John Hoffmann made these paperclip looking bike racks outside the Carbondale Library and the iron door inside. Photo by Lynn “Jake” Burton
Outdated building codes clash with state energy updates
JAMES STEINDLER
Contributing Editor
The Town of Carbondale Board of Trustees carried out its June 25 regular meeting at the Third Street Center. All trustees were in attendance with the exception of Chris Hassig.
The agenda item that took up most of the meeting was a proposed ordinance to adopt state required energy code updates and adjust the Town’s municipal Residential Efficient Building Program (REBP).
The challenge: balancing those items with the Town’s current building code as well as its 2022 Roadmap to Net-Zero.
Aaron Kuhns, the Town’s chief building official, and Jeff Dickinson of Biospaces Energy Consulting, presented to the trustees.
The 2022 roadmap “is not a part of code,” clarified Dickinson, whose time is funded, at least in part, by the Colorado Energy Office. “We’re getting a lot of support state-wide for this.” He noted that Carbondale has been a leader, regionally, in energy conservation and countering climate change.
“The goal is to adopt the 2021 IECC [International Energy Conservation Code] … and also adopt the Colorado solar energy and electric ready codes,” Dickinson said. Currently, the Town is using the 2015 IECC, and the state requires an upgrade to the 2021 code by June 30, 2026.
“The law now requires local jurisdictions to adopt the 2021 IECC and the state’s model electric ready and solar ready code when adopting or updating any other building code between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026,” reads the Colorado Energy Office’s website. “Beginning
July 1, 2026, local jurisdictions must adopt the state’s model low energy and carbon code (which the Energy Code Board will develop by June 1, 2025) when adopting or updating any other building code.”
“Basically, electric ready means a building that has infrastructure in place to convert to electric from gas,” Dickinson explained. A solar ready building has a space reserved for solar panels.
The Town is currently operating under the 2009 building code, but hopes to update to the 2021 code before too long, according to Town Manager Lauren Gister.
“For quite a while we didn’t have a building official so we didn’t put a lot of energy into these updates as requested by the council,” Dickinson acknowledged. Following the departure of the Town’s previous chief building official, John Plano, the position was vacant for nearly a year.
Later in the meeting, Gister mentioned that when Plano was the building official Kuhns was a parttime inspector and the only other staff member in the department. Earlier this year, Kuhns was hired as the building official and a full-time inspector was brought onboard. Gister and Kuhns have also discussed the potential of hiring a plan reviewer.
“It seems sort of cart before the horse to adopt an energy code that is so far ahead of the building code,” said Trustee Jess Robison, adding that it’s “hard to reconcile” even the 2009 building code versus the 2015 IECC. Although a “heavy lift,” she advocated for udating the codes in unison.
“There are definitely times when there are conflicts between the older codes and modern energy codes,”
continued on page
Roseberry, MD, FACS Trauma and General Surgeon, Chief of Medical Staff
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Richard Stumpf, a local contractor pictured here with his child in tow, advocated updating the codes together. “Give it the time it needs to do it right … because this is our future,” he urged the board. Photo by James Steindler
da Vinci.
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Jury summons for Marble residents put them between a rock and hard place
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
For folks living in Marble, being part of Gunnison County is one of life’s little jokes. It is not always important, but every now and then, Marble residents have to face the reality that serving jury duty when called is nearly impossible.
There’s an overblown joke that nobody likes jury duty; imagine having to drive several hours when called for it, regardless of the weather. The distance alone leads most Marblites to beg off if the selection date is held. This factor especially prompts the question: wouldn’t it be more practical to assign jury duty based on the nearby courthouses rather than the county seat?
The Pitkin County and Gunnison County lines hit each other around mile marker 48 on Highway 133, at the northeastern base of McClure Pass. Marble residents are aware that they’re driving a distance to reach any population center. That’s true of many of the towns in the West Elks; the solitude is a central aspect of the appeal. That blessing turns into a curse when it comes to civic duty. Voting is less of an issue, as all counties set dropboxes at select points for more rural residents.
Jury duty is another story. The Gunnison County Courthouse is 86 miles and nearly three hours from Marble by the shortest route, which includes the dirt road over Kebler Pass. Garfield County Courthouse in Glenwood Springs, by comparison, is 40 miles away. In winter, on occasions when McClure Pass closes for avalanches, summoned potential jurors must reroute through Glenwood Springs and Montrose. Per the Marble town manager, Ron Leach, that 235-mile drive takes five hours each direction. For a drive that long and in case of day-of cancellations, it’s
impossible to check the morning of whether the selection is truly occurring that day or not.
For contrast, consider Redstone. Also a small community that values its distance from larger population centers, Redstone sits five miles on the Pitkin side of the county line. Five miles is roughly the same distance Marble is on the Gunnison side. While still a drive, Redstone jurors face a mere one-hour commute to Aspen, a third of what is required of their Marble neighbors in the best of circumstances.
All this before even considering the current predicament with
the Blue Mesa Reservoir bridge. When Kebler Pass and the reservoir bridge aren’t options, the fastest way for Marble residents to get to Gunnison is to go over Independence Pass, through Buena Vista and Poncha Springs, and over Monarch Pass for a whopping four and half hours and 200 miles if they don’t encounter traffic. And these are all summer calculations. If the Blue Mesa Reservoir bridge isn’t repaired by winter, it becomes a minimum five-hour drive of 250 miles.
Much of this is hypothetical, of course. The Gunnison County Jury website is updated
before potential selections about whether said selection is still occurring (up to the night before). This same website has links to postponement and disqualification forms. The postal summons do also include the Gunnison court phone number to call and check the selection status or to request postponement or disqualification. There is a bureaucratic understanding of the distance and difficulty, and Gunnison has waived summons before due to the distance. What if someone wanted to report for duty, though? Is that distance reasonable?
There are occasional speculative citizen conversations about redrawing counties not for any kind of gerrymandering, but simply to follow sensible geography. If county boundaries aligned with watersheds, it would make courthouses and other county resources easier to access for small rural towns, thanks to roads generally following waterways. In the near term, however, the best solution is requesting disqualification. Marble residents, if called for jury duty in Glenwood Springs, would you be more likely to show up?
Marble Stewardship Extravaganza returns this weekend
WILL BUZZERD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
The Carbondale-based stewardship nonprofit Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) invites volunteers of all ages and abilities to the pinnacle of the Crystal River Valley this weekend, June 29 and 30, for the Fourth Annual Marble Stewardship Extravaganza: a family-friendly campout spent caring for public lands, learning and relaxing in the beautiful scenery that Marble has to offer.
Participants can choose to just drive up for the day to lend a hand with various restoration projects. Those who opt to camp with the RFOV crew will enjoy complimentary meals provided by Marble-staple Slow Groovin BBQ.
For the past several years, RFOV has been hosting the Marble Stewardship Extravaganza to help maintain and preserve one of Colorado’s historic areas.
According to RFOV’s marketing director, Sophie Ahava, over 40 volunteers came to last year’s Extravaganza.
“It’s awesome to see just how much reach we have in the community and how many people want to join us for an event like this,” Ahava shared.
Various volunteer options are on the table, and participants can choose the difficulty level that’s best for them. Each opportunity caters to RFOV’s three specialties: sustainable recreation, healthy landscapes and fire mitigation.
Volunteers will work at three different sites. Those interested in breaking a sweat can take a steep hike up to Raspberry Creek for some good old-fashioned trail work.
Others looking for a more relaxing time in open scenery can help pluck invasive plants in the Marble Wetlands and scatter seeds native to Colorado. Families
are especially encouraged to join in on this portion of the project.
Finally, volunteers can choose to help with fire mitigation work around the historic Marble Mill Site. Much of the latter work will be performed with chainsaws, which can only be operated by people previously trained by RFOV, but extra hands are always welcome to haul away debris.
“There’s 20 years of work that could be done there, so we work on this site every year,” Ahava said of the Mill Site.
Fire mitigation volunteers will also be working with the Town of Marble, Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District and the Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative.
In terms of camping, folks can either roll into town on Friday night to pitch a tent before the volunteering begins, or just stay Saturday night to wake up bright and early for Sunday’s schedule.
RFOV has reserved nine campsites which are available free of cost to those who register in time. Water and restrooms are available at the campsite. People in need of a tent can contact RFOV ahead of time to reserve a loaner, courtesy of the organization.
While lunches will not be provided over the weekend, RFOV will dish up breakfast as well as dinner on Friday night. Those who hang around on Saturday and Sunday nights will receive comped dinners from Slow Groovin BBQ.
After each workday is over, campers are invited to chill at the site, chat with the always-friendly RFOV staff, or go for a quick jaunt to nearby Treasure Falls. Campfire musicians are especially welcome to bring their best singalongs.
IN A NUTSHELL
What: Marble Stewardship Extravaganza
When: June 29 & 30
Where: Marble, Colorado
More info: www.rfov.org
The Marble Stewardship Extravaganza gives volunteers of all ages a chance to interact with RFOV’s team of passionate staff and help keep the natural habitat around Marble healthy and accessible for years to come. Photo courtesy RFOV
Sabrina Piersol’s debut solo exhibition opens in Los Angeles
MYKI JONES
Arts Correspondent
Sabrina Piersol, a local painter and Aspen Art Museum employee, will have her solo show, “The Blue of It,” debut in Los Angeles, California this Saturday, June 29 in collaboration with the renowned art gallery Sow & Tailor.
Born and raised in an artistic household in Connecticut, Piersol said she has long appreciated creative expression but didn’t consider a career in the arts until college.
“I have always been an artist, but I didn’t start painting in any serious way until my undergraduate studies at Colorado College,” she told The Sopris Sun. “When I gave painting a chance, I knew I had found a language that made sense to me. Finally, I experienced a means of communication that felt easy for me to access and work through.”
artist and believe this work is quite representative of what I aspire to do. It feels informed and exciting to me.”
Taking in her work, viewers can identify themes of nature, temporality, eroticism and nods to the classical Greek poet Sappho. Piersol identifies Sapphic poetry as an informative influence after she studied lyrical poetry with renowned Sapphic scholar Page duBois while pursuing her master’s degree.
“When I gave painting a chance, I knew I had found a language that made sense to me,”
She pursued a degree in studio art and classics at Colorado College and graduated in 2017. Piersol went on to complete her master of fine arts at the University of California, San Diego in 2023. Through her thesis presentation, she connected with Karen Galloway, owner and director of Sow & Tailor, and garnered a solo presentation at the Dallas Art Fair in April 2024 plus her forthcoming exhibition in Los Angeles.
“I’ve always gravitated towards abstraction, but I began to incorporate various explicit allusions to landscape imagery while considering the logic of Sapphic poetry during my MFA Program,” she explained. “With Sapphic poetry, we see emotional experience communicated through visceral, sensory language coupled with descriptions of nature. That, plus its fragmented nature, makes the work feel balanced between the real and imaginary worlds. I try to do something similar in my work, where it’s somewhat representational but still rooted in abstraction.”
-Sabrina Piersol
Asked if she had any wisdom to share with aspiring artists, Piersol encouraged those seeking to create to learn how to trust their process and see how their work evolves. Additionally, she said that being able to both ask and answer difficult questions through one’s work can be validating.
“Karen and Greg [Ito] have been so supportive of me from the moment we connected — it was the first iteration of the kind of work that I’m making now that felt successful and resolved,” Piersol stated. “My work changes frequently, but I’ve found something that I’m enjoying and continuing to explore.”
Piersol expressed feeling thrilled and anxious about “The Blue of It.” This venture came at an opportune time. “I’m in an ideal position where I’ve answered many questions and have many ahead of me,” she said. “I have confidence in what I’m doing as an
“The deeper that you get and the way that your conceptual framework builds from your own experience and particular curiosities is what makes your voice,” she said. “To find it and to use it feels amazing. It’s the best way to cultivate a relationship with yourself and understand who you are, what you want to make of your life and see in the world.”
‘The Blue of It’ will be on view at Sow & Tailor through July 27, at 157 West 27th Street in Los Angeles. To keep up with what Piersol will do next, visit her website at www.sabrinapiersol.com
CARBONDALE CLAY CENTER
EXHIBITION ON
DISPLAY
JUNE 14 - JULY 12, 2024
FIRST FRIDAY RECEPTION JULY 5, 6-8PM
Flora/Fauna showcases the work of CCC’s 2023-24 Resident Artists Molly Altman & Ashley Banegas. The exhibition blends traditional ceramic techniques with innovative artistic expression to bring to life the vibrant diversity of plant and animal life.
Exhibition generously sponsored by
Thank you to our 2024 Gallery Sponsors, FirstBank and Slifer, Smith & Frampton
For more information, visit us online at carbondaleclay.org/gallery
Top: “Perennial Midheaven,” oil on linen,
ASPEN COMMUNITY PRIDE PARTY
THURSDAY, JUNE 27 4-6 PM | FREE!
David Karetsky Music Lawn outside the Benedict Music Tent
In collaboration with the City of Aspen, Aspen One, and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, the AMFS will host its second Community Pride Celebration—a free event celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, friends, and families. Enjoy ice cream, fun and celebration, and visit with local partner organizations. This event will kick off a four-day celebration titled “Sounds of Pride” celebrating and honoring the legacy of LGBTQIA+ musical artists and marking the anniversary of Aspen’s landmark anti-discrimination policy protecting gays and lesbians— the first of any Colorado municipality.
THURSDAY, JUNE 27
SHAKESPEARE
A troupe of high schoolers perform Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” at the Hurst Theatre Lobby at 10am today, tomorrow and Saturday. More info at www.theatreaspen.org
TEEN YOGA
The Basalt Library hosts a yoga session for teens at the library from 1 to 2pm. More info at www.basaltlibrary.org
ASPEN PRIDE
The City of Aspen, Aspen One, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association and the Aspen Music Festival and School host the second Community Pride Celebration at the Klein Music Tent from 4 to 7pm. More info at www. aspenmusicfestival.com
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
Aspen Theatre’s run of “Steel Magnolias” continues at the Hurst Theatre with just five more performances: today at 4pm and 8pm, tomorrow at 7:30pm and Saturday, June 29 at 4 and 8pm.
ENNEAGRAM
Lori Mueller teaches all about the enneagram from 5:30 to 7:30pm at True Nature. To register, visit www.truenaturehealingarts.com
ADVENTURE STORYTIME
Locals share their adventure stories around a campfire at the Basalt Library from 5 to 7pm. Come with a story of your own and hear a plethora of others. More info at www.basaltlibrary.org
TACAW GALA
Robert Randolph headlines TACAW’s fundraiser gala which begins with a cocktail reception at 5pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
CRYSTAL THEATRE
“The Bikeriders” shows at the Crystal Theatre tonight, tomorrow, Saturday, Wednesday and next Thursday at 7:30pm. The Sunday matinee is at 5pm.
POTUS
This weekend is your last chance to catch Thunder River Theatre Company’s production of “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” with 7:30pm runs tonight, tomorrow and Saturday and a Sunday matinee at 2pm.
FRIDAY,
JUNE 28
GARDEN TOUR
Take a tour of True Nature’s Peace Garden from 8 to 8:45am. RSVP at www. truenaturehealingarts.com
MARBLE EXTRAVAGANZA
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers hosts a weekend campout in Marble replete with stewardship projects, learning opportunities and fun times hanging out. It begins at 9am today and concludes on Sunday at 3pm. Register for free at www.rfov.org
TWEEN TIME
The Carbondale Library invites 8 to 13-year-olds to Tween Time on Fridays from 2 to 3pm in June and July. This week, participants partake in a scavenger hunt.
SHAKESPEARE IN BASALT
Theatre Aspen’s high school ensemble performs Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” on the lawn of the Basalt Library at 3:30pm. All are welcome to this free performance.
BEE FRIENDLY
Join Bee Friendly Carbondale at the historic Thompson House (301 Lewies Lane) to help tend to the new native pollinator garden and learn about native plant maintenance.
VETERANS FILM
WildWalkers presents “H.O.O.V.E.S. Healing Our Veterans” at the Isis Theater in Aspen at 5pm. A panel discussion will follow. To learn more, email natasha@ windwalkers.org or call 970-963-2909.
INDIGENOUS WISDOM
The Town of Eagle and the Tipi Raisers present the Indigenous Wisdom Gathering starting at 5pm today and continuing through the weekend at Eagle Town Park. Visit www.tinyurl.com/ IndigenousWisdominEagle for more info and a list of events. All are welcome.
VALLE MUSICO
Valle Musico performs jazz at Triangle Park in Willits at 5:30pm.
NEW CASTLE SOCIAL
The New Castle Chamber of Commerce hosts its second annual Summer Block Party at Burning Mountain Park with live music, food and drinks from 5:30 to 9pm.
SOUND HEALING
Zachary Cashin takes attendees on a vibrational sound healing journey at the Third Street Center at 7pm. More info at www.tcfhf.org
ERIK STUCKY
Steve’s Guitars presents Erik Stucky at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
YOGA AND SOUND
True Nature hosts Metamorphosize, a half-day retreat combining movement with voice from 10am to 2:30pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
LAURA PRITCHETT
Award-winning Colorado author Laura Pritchett presents her newest novel, “Playing with Wildfire,” at the Carbondale Library at 10am.
SOL DEL VALLE
Sol del Valle hosts a relaunch party at the Glenwood Springs Library from 4 to 8pm with food and music. The event is free and open to all.
SOLDER CENTER
Heather Swan, a naturalist, artist and educator, presents “The Need for Interconnection” free at the Aspen Chapel from 5 to 6:30pm. She will then host a full-day writing workshop at the Soldner Center on Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Registration and details at www.soldnercenter.com
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
REALIGN RELATIONSHIPS
Meghan and Jamie Gilroy lead a halfday retreat focused on realigning and strengthening partnerships (romantic and otherwise) from 10am to 2pm. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
SUNDAY SESSIONS
KDNK DJs Saranade and Leslie Johnson spin downtempo and acid jazz music at El Dorado from 4 to 7pm.
MONDAY, JULY 1
IN STITCHES
The In Stitches Knitting club convenes at the Carbondale Library at 1:30pm.
WEED PULL
Carbondale Arts summons volunteers to tend to the Latino Folk Art Garden and DeRail Park along the Rio Grande ARTway from 5 to 7pm. “Bring gloves and your favorite gardening gear.”
MONDAY MEDITATION
Roaring Fork Insight hosts a meditation session at 13 Moons Ranch, south of Carbondale, at 7pm. More info and registration at www.roaringforkinsight.org
TUESDAY, JULY 2
MR. TAP
John “Mr. Tap” Williams performs and teaches tap dancing basics to youngsters and their families at 10:30am at the Basalt Library.
‘STANDBY, ME’
As part of its Cabaret Summer Series, Theatre Aspen invites Julie Benko to share, through song and dance, about her journey to Broadway stardom in this original production, “Standby, Me,” at the Hotel Jerome at noon. Tickets and more info at www.theatreaspen.org
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Celebrate the halfway point of Garfield County Libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge with an ice cream social at the Carbondale Library at 1pm.
YARN GROUP
Knitters and crocheters share projects and pointers at the Basalt Library at 5pm.
THE BIG FIVE
The Big Five, hosted by HeadQuarters in Basalt, helps participants leverage the power of their nervous system to boost mental fitness, emotional well-being and overall health every first and final Tuesday of the month at 6pm. More info at www.headq.org
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
SNACK TIME
Basalt Library offers a snack kit for kids and teens on Wednesdays featuring a snack from a different country each week, along with fun facts about that country and a snack review sheet. Available while supplies last.
TUNES & TALES
Aspen Music Festival and School musicians perform while a children’s librarian reads stories at Basalt Library from 10:30 to 11:30am.
BOOK CLUB
Basalt Library hosts its first-Wednesday book club, discussing no book in particular, from noon to 2pm.
ASPEN FILM
“Janet Planet” shows at the Isis Theatre in Aspen at 7:30pm as part of Aspen Film’s Indie Showcase.
Lorie MerfeldBatson paints flowers in a Redstone garden during the Art Show weekend. This year, Joy Springfield, owner of the Restone Gallery, sponsored the event and the Redstone Inn provided rooms for free to plein air artists.
Photo by Larry Day
Community Classes in Carbondale
MASTERING CELL PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY
Learn the quick and easy tricks to make great photos, and images with your cell phone. Mon./Wed., 9am-12pm, 7/1-7/10
INTRO TO HOMEOPATY
Simple, affordable medicine that gently heals mental health issues, allergies and more. Mondays, 6-7:30pm, 7/15-8/5
EAT YOUR WEEDS
Learn to identify and use edible and medicinal plants growing wild in your own backyard. Saturday, 10-11:30am, 7/20
PLANT PRUNING TECHNIQUES
Learn the “natural” style of pruning trees - timing, technique, different plants and styles. Monday, 5-8pm, 7/22
Credit Classes*
KNIT A STUFFED ANIMAL
Learn or review basic knitting techniques while knitting one these adorable stuffed animals. Thursdays, 6-8pm, 7/25-8/15
APOCALYPSE 101
Practical knowledge and skills to survive local disasters, or a national/global catastrophe. Saturday, 10am-1pm, 8/3
STEVE’S GUITARS
Steve’s Guitars presents David Lawrence & The Spoonful at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
THURSDAY, JULY 4
FOURTH OF JULY
Redstone celebrates Fourth of July beginning at 9:30am with homemade pies and pastries for sale in front of the museum. The parade begins at noon and the Ducky Derby on Coal Creek is at 2pm. The Redstone General Store will sell burgers, root beer floats a nd empanadas.
TRIBUTE TO VETERANS
Valley Veterans Parade Committee invites all veterans and active duty military to join Aspen’s Fourth of July parade meeting at Paepcke Park at 10am. For details, call 970-948-8278.
CARBONDALE PARADE
Carbondale celebrates July 4 with a “real old fashioned family parade” down Main Street at 10:30am. All kids are welcome to join in the parade. Staging will begin at 10am at the corner of 2nd and Main.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Glenwood Springs hosts Independence Day festivities at Two Rivers Park from 4:30 to 9:30pm with live music and a laser show!
MEN’S GROUP
HeadQuarters in Basalt hosts a free gathering for men 18+ to gather sincerely and share from the heart, 6 to 7:30pm.
FRIDAY, JULY 5
RAPTOR FAIR
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies hosts its annual Raptor Fair at Hallam Lake from 3 to 5pm.
FIRST FRIDAY
Local bands perform at Chacos Park in Carbondale beginning at 5pm for the annual Mount Sopris Music Festival. Carbondale Arts will have an opening reception for “Porcelain Quilts” by Dara Hartman and “Grounding” by Molly Frantz and Louise Deroualle from 5 to 7pm. The Carbondale Clay Center presents “Flora/Fauna” from 6 to 8pm.
COLOR THEORY & PAINTING
7/29-8/1 Aspen 9am-2:20pm
CERAMICS WORKSHOP
7/2-8/6 Aspen 11am-2:30pm
LAYERING TRANSFER IMAGERY 7/3-7/24 Aspen 11am-4:20pm
WILDERNESS EMS - UPGRADE 7/17-8/7 Online & Off Campus TOP ROPE CLIMBING
7/17-7/21 Spring Valley 8am-5pm
Call 970.963.2172 for Credit Class registration information.
ASPEN
Looking for el Sol del Valle?
Find our rebranded standalone newspaper printed by The Sopris Sun at one of these locations or online at www.soldelvalle.org
Aspen Daily News
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El
Spyderwash
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Paleteria la Korita
ProMex Bakery
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Readers and advertisers will be treated to an easier to access and more robust local newspaper, available for free every Friday. is shift re ects community feedback to simplify el Sol del Valle with its own unique identity, for and by local Spanish-speaking people living in the Roaring Fork Valley.
EL SOL DEL VALLE’S MISSION IS SIMPLE YET IMPERATIVE — TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE, INCREASING SOURCE OF SPANISH-LANG UAGE INFORMATION THAT SUPPORTS AND GROWS THE HEALTH, IMPACT AND WELL-BEING OF THE DIVERSE LATINA COMMUNITY FROM PARACHUTE TO ASPEN.
To get in touch with el Sol del Valle’s editorial team, please email Bianca Godina at bianca@soldelvalle.org or via WhatsApp at 970-510-0234. For advertising and other support, email Margarita Alvarez at margarita@soldelvalle.org
On June 29, el Sol del Valle’s relaunch will be celebrated with a party at the Glenwood Springs Library, sponsored by Colorado Mountain College, from 4 to 8 p.m. with food, music and activities for all ages.
¿Busca el Sol del Valle?
Encuentre nuestro periódico independiente renovado e impreso por The Sopris Sun en uno de estos lugares o en línea en www.soldelvalle.org.
ASPEN
Aspen Daily News
Mi Chola
Hospital Aspen Valley
Snowmass Market
e Aspen Store
Caja en Avenida
Hyman
Biblioteca de Pitkin County
BASALT
Basalt Quick Lube
Biblioteca Regional de Basalt
e Basalt Store
Alpine Bank en Basalt
Timbos
7/11
Jalisco Grill
Big O Tires
CC Cafe
WILLITS/EL
JEBEL
El Jebel Mobile O ces
Midvalley Surgery Center
Lavanderia de El Jebel
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City Market
Skotties
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CARBONDALE
Catherine Store
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Centro de Recreation
Biblioteca de Carbondale
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3rd St. Center
Valley Meats
La Roca
LiftUp
7/11
Jalisco Grill
Mi Lindo Nayarit
La Fogata
Gloria’s Boutique
GLENWOOD
SPGS
7/11 West Glenwood
O cina Postal
Hospital Valley View
Centro de Recreation
Mountain Family Health
Welcome Center
Biblioteca de GWS
Sal Mex
La Michoacana
Coin Laundromat
Tony’s Market/Bakery
Tequila’s Frida’s
El Yaqui
Kum & Go
Comfort Dental
Impuestos Seguros
NEW CASTLE
Tapatio’s O cina Postal
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SILT
Biblioteca de Silt
Lavanderia de Silt
Kum & Go (Main St.)
Rotonda de Silt
La Placita 2
RIFLE
Tapatio’s
Kum & Go
“taugenbaugh”
Jalisco Grill
Caja de “City Hall”
Biblioteca de Ri e
Cajja “E 12 St.”
El Patron
El Rincon
Spyderwash
Moma’s
Reminggton Square
Mercado San Jose
Carniceria San Jose
Nachos Mexican Dining
Paleteria la Korita
ProMex Bakery
Tutty Frutti
Lectores y anunciantes disfrutarán de un periódico local más accesible y sólido disponible cada viernes de forma gratuita. Este cambio re eja los comentarios de la comunidad para simpli car el Sol del Valle con su propia identidad, por y para los hispanohablantes locales que viven en el valle de Roaring Fork.
LA MISIÓN DEL SOL DEL VALLE ES SIMPLE PERO ESENCIALPROVEER UNA FUENTE CONFIABLE Y CRECIENTE DE INFORMACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL
QUE APOYE Y HAGA CRECER LA SALUD, EL IMPACTO Y EL BIENE-STAR DE LA DIVERSA COMUNIDAD LATINA DESDE PARACHUTE HASTA ASPEN.
Para ponerse en contacto con el equipo editorial del Sol del Valle, envíe un correo electrónico a Bianca Godina a bianca@soldelvalle.org o por WhatsApp al 970-510-0234. Para publicidad y apoyos, envíe un correo electrónico a Margarita Alvarez a margarita@soldelvalle.org.
El 29 de junio, se celebrará el relanzamiento del Sol del Valle con una fiesta en la Biblioteca de Glenwood Springs, patrocinada por Colorado Mountain College, de 4 a 8 p.m. con comida, música y actividades para todas las edades.
Regan Byrd teaches intersectionality at MANAUS Equity Symposium
JACKIE RAMIREZ Sol del Valle Contributor
When Regan Byrd was 8 years old, she wanted to be a lawyer. This came from growing up in Highlands Ranch, a conservative and predominantly white community — 80% of the population identifies as white according to 2023 census data — where Byrd learned to advocate for herself in response to directly experiencing racism. This shaped her interest in anti-oppression work later in life. In 2008, during the Great Recession, Byrd graduated from the University of Denver where she studied public policy and sociology. After speaking with lawyers, Byrd decided to take another path.
elected in 2016, many people took interest in anti-racism work, she said.
“I offered some community trainings that were about how to be an anti-racist ally,” Byrd said. “I received a lot of positive responses and had a certain number of seats available for those trainings that sold out within a couple of hours. So from there, that kind of became my current business, Regan Byrd Consulting, where I do anti-oppression training, consultation, individual coaching and strategic planning.”
“What do women and nonbinary Spanish speakers have to say about the term ‘Latinx?’ It’s recognizing who is at the intersection of the multiple identities that we are actually trying to examine or address,”
-Regan Byrd
Byrd spent about 14 years working in nonprofit operations, data systems management and human resources. During those years, she honed in on her interest in anti-oppression work after seeing how different institutions operate. After former president Donald Trump was
Byrd was recently invited to speak at MANAUS’ Equity Symposium along with others. “Given the audience of the symposium, it’s a lot of folks who are running nonprofits in the Roaring Fork Valley and folks who are interested in [diversity, equity and inclusion] work,” Byrd said. “I wanted to talk more about intersectionality, and more from an advanced kind of perspective.”
Byrd provided an introduction on intersectionality, which is a term coined
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by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a Black lawyer and scholar, after she tried to explain how oppression showed up for Black women in ways that do not impact Black men or women of other races. Intersectionality, according to Byrd, is an idea that people have multiple identities.
“We all have a race, a gender, sexual orientation and class, and not only can we analyze those independently, but we can also analyze what sorts of things show up at the intersection of multiple identities,” Byrd said.
She elaborated on advanced intersectionality by bringing attention to the ways that intersectionality is used incorrectly.
“People will try to discount the exploration of their privilege by talking about where they’re marginalized,” Byrd said. “For a lot of men of color, they might say, ‘I don’t experience male privilege’ or ‘I don’t experience benefits from patriarchy because I experience racism,’ and that’s an incorrect way to use intersectionality. It does not discount the areas where we have privilege. Or people think that someone based off of one identity can be representative of everyone within that identity.”
Byrd shared that there are many ways to stay aware of intersectionality and its
continued on page 22
Regan Byrd, courtesy photo
Forest to Field earth conscious convergence returns to Big B’s
RALEIGH BURLEIGH
Sopris Sun Editor
Calling all herbalists, primitive skills enthusiasts and Earth lovers — Forest to Field welcomes you to a gathering of likeminded folks from across the state and beyond for a weekend of wholesome exchange just over McClure Pass at Big B's Delicious Orchards, nestled between Paonia and Hotchkiss.
As described by Kat Mackinnon, one of the event's two founders, the offering was “created by people who wanted it to exist.” Mackinnon and Briana Wiles, owner of Rooted Apothecary in Gunnison and Crested Butte, had attended gatherings in other states and yearned for a Colorado-based event which blends the wild wisdom of the forest with the nourishment humans create with land they cultivate. Thus, Forest to Field, a family-friendly festival, is specific to our southwest bioregion. “There's also an abundance of really talented people who are in their stomping grounds,” Mackinnon added.
An extensive cast of teachers will offer workshops on everything from basket weaving to natural dyes, soap making to foraging, meat preservation to beauty care, plant propagation to beekeeping, corn nixtamalization to herbal first aid — to name only a few. “Basically, human skills,” Mackinnon summarized, “showcasing the complexity of human nature, as well as things that are just inherently fun.”
Among the teachers, Antoinette Yarrow, a Carbondale resident, will teach about herbs and sexuality — plants for healing trauma as well as herbal aphrodisiacs. “All of the plants are my favorites,” she spoke, “but I have a special connection to yarrow” because of its protective powers, hence her adopted name. Other plants Yarrow enjoys working with are rose, hawthorn, shatavari and damiana. “Sexual energy is also creative energy and creative energy is part of our life force,” she stated. Yarrow has attended women's gatherings and is pleased that Forest to Field is co-ed. “There's something about bringing both sexes in to really learn together and celebrate together,” she said. “It's also family-oriented.”
“Sickness comes from separation,” Mackinnon noted. Her desire is to bring people together who are passionate and know plants and animals and the land of this region. “For me, it brings sanity in an otherwise kind of unstable feeling world.” Mackinnon continued, “People are dying for connection and community. I mean — they're living for it.”
The immersive weekend festival will begin with a large wild foods potluck and include ceremony and live performances. A vendor's market will be present throughout where crafters sell their goods. The Healer's Garden will allow participants to experience affordable and accessible massage, body work, herbal sessions, energy work, acupuncture and other healing modalities. Coming off last year's success was the recognition that people needed more time to drop in and be together, so the festival was extended from two nights to four. In a place with spotty cell phone signal, “people are able to dip out and be together with people, deepening older connections and also creating new ones,” Mackinnon described. “When given the chance to slow down and be around other people in a fairly organic gathering, the result is often just simple joyfulness.”
A weekend pass covers camping at Big B’s, so participants needn’t miss a beat. Performances will include Lindsay Lou and Ayla Nereo playing music, the Singing Bone Medicine Show with shadow puppets, DJ Soul Candy bringing the dance vibes and even a talent show for anyone and everyone present to share. It's recommended people bring cash for the market and Healer's Garden.
IN A NUTSHELL
What: Second Annual Forest to Field
Where: Big B's Delicious Orchards
When: Sept. 5-9
Tickets: www.bit.ly/forest2field
When You Have Unexpected Medical Needs
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Basket weaving at the 2023 Forest to Field gathering. Courtesy photos
Kate Linehan teaches about natural dyes at the 2023 Forest to Field gathering.
portable CD player and GPS. The grand total of all this gadgetry (not counting the 38¢-a-minute cell phone plan, solar panel and portable satellite dish)?
$2,700 (roughly twice that of today). It puts your smartphone in perspective.
In other news … The release of the movie “Tombstone” brought a spike of visitors to Glenwood Springs, all eager to find out more about Doc Holliday.
June 10, 2004
A host of local businesses stepped up to fund the Wild West Rodeo after lack of sponsorship threatened to cancel the event. Roger Frahm of Rim Rock Rodeo in Denver said he had lost money on the previous year’s series and expressed frustration with the lack of support, but almost no one remembered being asked for a donation. So, new arrival Dave Weimer took it upon himself to knock on doors, drumming up $3,000 in a matter of days.
In other news … The Colorado Wildfire Academy drew more than 1,000 participants to town.
June 12, 2014
Carbondale Trustees’ decision to install a piece by internationally-recognized local sculptor James Surls in the new roundabout prompted public scrutiny. No other artists had responded to the Town’s ad, making Surls’ gift of “Sewing the Future” seem like a no brainer. The vote was 6-0 in favor, with Allyn Harvey absent, Pam Zentmeyer wishing for more community feedback and unlikely allies John Foulkrod and Frosty Merriott pushing for prompt approval.
In other news … A police bike patrol class in Glenwood Springs concluded with students apprehending an actual fleeing suspect.
A community member searches through the Gordon Cooper Library catalog at the library’s previous location, which is now The Launchpad. Valley Journal archival photo
from page 5
That’s the rub for KMHR: size and density. Twin Acres would transform the 20-acre parcel into a commercial operation complete with a new 7,860-square-foot, 25-stall boarding stable and a 20,000-square-foot covered riding stable. Up to 50 horses could eventually be housed on the property. Granted, the covered stable would use the footprint of an existing building but residents are worried that the operation is just too big for 20 acres.
“I would say ‘shoehorning’ is a good word for it,” said Robert “Sardo” Sardinsky, who has lived across the road from the ranch entrance for 25 years. He said horses have been part of the historic use of the area. “When you had two people in the bunkhouse and Tommie Zordel, the ranch guy, and six horses, that's manageable,” he said. “But not when you’ve got an industrial-strength operation there.”
Sardo’s concerns include where to store manure from 50 horses before it’s hauled away, air quality, trucks and vehicles negotiating the driveway, hay storage, wildlife, wildfire and water. The application was changed to get rid of events and the evacuation route that would have threatened conservation values on the 80-acre parcel. That means the evacuation route consists of Fender Lane and nearby roads.
The applicant has irrigation and water rights but Sardo said that’s not enough. “We think right now they need almost three times more water than they've secured the legal rights to,” he said.
Sardo said the complaints are based on facts. “It's not about people. It's not even about horses,” he said. “It's about compatibility and land use and commercialization in a fairly fragile, delicate, exposed space.”
After the site visit, an hours-long meeting at the Eagle County Annex in El Jebel included
presentations by the applicant and county staff plus comments from about 40 residents. Due to time constraints, Commissioner Mike Scherr said the board will continue the discussion and make a decision on July 23. Until then, commissioners are unable to comment.
For more from Keep Missouri Heights Rural, visit www.keepmohrural.com
To view the June 18 commissioner meeting, visit www.tinyurl.com/TwinAcres
The boat parade is scheduled to begin at noon and the casting competition at 2:30pm. Sign-ups for both can be found online at basalt.net/683/Basalt-River-Jams
Throughout the day, folks can jam out to live music from five different bands and enjoy libations and grub from local food trucks. Just like at the Wednesday concerts, attendees are also welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages and are encouraged to dine at some of the restaurants in Old Town Basalt. Due to the crowds, the Town asks dog owners to leave their furry friends at home, registered service animals excepted.
The Town of Basalt is also encouraging alternate modes of transportation to the event, both to support Basalt’s climate action initiatives and to keep vehicle traffic low. Those not too far are encouraged to walk or bike, and those who need a lift are encouraged to either take RFTA or use Basalt Connect, the town’s free shuttle service.
Folks who need to drive their own vehicle to Basalt River Jams should park at Basalt Middle School and Basalt Elementary School and walk or ride from there to River Park. Festivities and music will continue through the afternoon into the evening, with garage-rock group The Velveteers headlining at 8:30pm.
REPORT from page 7
Kuhns agreed. He added that the department would be “months out” from developing amendments that would coincide, as much as possible, with the latest energy codes.
“Why are we doing this first if we’re just trying to keep up with a roadmap that’s internal?” questioned Robison. “It’s worth the wait … I would hate to shoot ourselves in the foot by adopting the 2021 IECC and then having these unforeseen problems in the field.”
Erica Sparhawk noted that the board has been pushing the Roadmap for the past couple of years. She suggested allocating more resources to the department so the Town can move forward.
During a public comment period, Angela Loughry with Confluence Architecture suggested simplifying — and possibly cutting much of — the REBP.
“We’d love to take time and either gut [the REBP] or something,” replied Dickinson. “We need to do that. If [the Town] can manifest another couple of people to help [Kuhns] adopt the 2021 … codes and change the REBP all at once in a timely manner, I am all for that.”
In the end, the ordinance was not voted upon.
Instead, “We’re asking staff to formulate a plan to get us to code alignment … and to a point where the REBP is either integrated into those or greatly simplified,” summarized Mayor Ben Bohmfalk. Ideally, he said the board would like to see a plan and timeline outlined during a meeting in July.
In other news, the Town received a glowing review of its 2023 financial audit conducted by McMahan and Associates.
To view the meeting in its entirety, visit www.tinyurl.com/ BonedaleYouTube
Eagle County Board of Commissioners listen to public comment. Photo by Will Sardinsky
TWIN ACRES
A man opposing Twin Acres Riding and Boarding Stable walks with his sign. Photo by Will Sardinsky
Dream Well: A pregnant dream of happiness
Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she will analyze someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting: www.dreamhealings.com
Enrica’s Dream
I was dancing in a green dress and I was very happy. I was pregnant. I was wearing wedges for shoes. It was evening. I woke up because my dogs were barking. That’s all I can remember. I’m not sure my age in my dream, but I’m currently 55. So there’s no way I can currently get pregnant, but I find it funny I would dream of being pregnant. Also, I haven’t been able to remember a dream in a very long time.
Interpretation
Enrica, your dream, even in its shortness of length, is very significant like pregnancy itself. This is why you remembered, when you haven’t remem bered a dream in a while. Your subconscious wants you to pay attention to this.
First, I would like to address this unspoken truth you have laid out in your writing that perhaps many are unaware of — many women dream of being pregnant before they are pregnant. It’s one of the most common prophetic dreams dreamt by mothers. Expecting mothers often dream of their children while in the womb, sharing experiences with them inside the dream realm. Some children communicate with their mothers in dreams telling them who they are and even picking out their own names. So, when women have a pregnancy dream the first question is indeed, “Are you pregnant?”
into which life is grown and birthed into the physical. Your dream is showing you in a perfect representation that you are growing something just as significant as life itself that you will soon birth into the physical. I would ask you to treat whatever it is that you are working toward right now as important as you would bringing a baby into the world.
Your life will be forever changed by this birth, but not to worry, your subconscious has shown you how incredibly happy this will make you. Dancing, twirling and moving rhythmically not only symbolize joy and freedom but the movement of particles. The dance that happens on a subatomic level during creation and evolution; the dance that happens on a macro level as the earth spins on its axis moving around the sun creating day and night, morning and evening. The dance of creation itself. Your movement in the dream is the movement of your creation, the progress you’re making in whatever it is
that you’re working toward. The evening being then the end of one cycle and beginning of the next.
The green dress is a beautiful suggestion of spring, new things, wealth and health. It’s also the color of the heart chakra. It is especially suggestive of the heart chakra in that it is paired with your dancing and happiness: a twirling ball of green light emanating joy. The wedges suggest new height, feminine beauty and ease of strength as you are wearing them while dancing and pregnant.
However, what is important is what a green dress and wedges signify to you specifically. Some dream metaphors like pregnancy are known in the collective consciousness to all just as the power of the womb is known. Other metaphors that are often more detailed are given in our dream language. Our subconscious speaks to us in a language we share with only it — a personalized and unique language that’s developed throughout our lives by all the definitions we have attached to our environment and understanding of our inner and outer worlds. I would suggest bringing the happy image into your mind’s eye and focusing on the details, feeling intuitively into the meaning. The meaning of these details may hold importance for your
By Natalia Rava Snider
coming life change, perhaps how to treat or deal with what you’re making once it is in the physical. Whatever it may be that you’re working on, your subconscious wants you to keep close and clear the memory of the happiness that this work is bringing you. The dreams we remember vividly are often sent not only from our subconscious but something higher as a message to hold and keep inside us. This one of happiness is a gift to keep close and to bring forward in your mind when the work that you birth feels tough or challenging. A memory to go back to if you lose your focus; a feeling to embody if you lose motivation.
Keep this dream like a jewel somewhere accessible in your mind so that you may wear it like jewelry whenever you like.
Art by Larry Day
I am a teacher — an audacious claim for one who learns more from his students than he imparts. Yet, my students keep me honest and thinking! In our last class a student was speaking on how we might steer our valley, our planet, towards a more just, sane and sustainable way of being — and, perhaps a more existentially meaningful life to feed our hungry souls.
My prompt called for how we might create a world imbued with justice, revered democratic processes and an allegiance to ecological morality. In his response, the student, Isaac Gerber, didn’t mention the usual: more justice, less greed, no mansions or private jets and greater economic and environmental morality.
Yet, his response struck a profound chord with our class, and with me. It seemed inspired and practical, sage advice — a viable reprieve for humans lost in a self-induced consumptive coma … A way to lessen our complicity in our ruinous ways and the stress we are putting on this Valley with our disharmonious relationships with each other, and the planet.
Isaac started with, and I quote:
The beauty we seek OPINION
“My favorite movies to watch are those that make you sit still through the credits, and my favorite books to read are those that make you feel something so strongly that you cannot read for a week afterward. I love food that makes you stop eating. I recently got to see a Monet painting in a museum. I stared at it for an hour, then promptly left. I simply could not walk around and see more paintings after I saw those haystacks.”
David James Duncan calls this “wonder.” Duncan writes,
“Wonder is like grace, in that it’s not a condition we grasp; it grasps us. We can seek truth without wonder’s assistance. But seek is all we’ll do; there will be no finding truth unless wonder descends, and unlocks us.”
There is an irresistible essence to this state of grace — like love, choiceless, and a wickedly contagious call for relationship. Wonder moves us to be intimate with the innate excellence of our human spirit. Wonder elevates our mortal mission to seek that which is
SEEKING HAYSTACKS
By A.O. Forbes
inherently sacred in people, our world, our place and care for it, with a kind of allegiance and intimacy with one’s places that engenders love, care, grace and good sense. As my grandmother would say, “What you love, you care for!“
Isaac continued:
“This quality, this inherent good I strive for in my trips around the sun, is like how Miles Davis vibrates the air with his trumpet and the passion with which Muhammad Ali bounces in a fight. The beauty we seek is encapsulated by those people and their actions!”
When I heard Isaac speak, and watched a room full of people — at the end of a three-hour class — in a simple state of awe, I felt honored to share this moment with other appreciative souls, a moment when we glimpsed a truth about who we are.
There is at least an ember of this quality in all of us; we are a humanity born in “ancient, naked, stunningly perfect, simple ferocious love!” (Bryan Doyle)
It is my responsibility to fan my own ember, and yours, and chase the sparks. Sadly, we often choose vain abundance over beauty, tucking precious “haystacks” behind excesses. Excess and excuses are first cousins who hold sway, leading us away from tending to the innocence of our soul and the health of our world. Our uncanny willingness to justify what we dislike about what we do leaves us foolishly worshiping a pretense, polishing our shiny thin veneer of justifications. And, we are good at it. It hurts the world.
Isaac ended his talk with my new mantra:
“Fight tooth and nail for the beauty in this world and for the beauty in others. Stop being so damn gentle with the good in
this world, but absorb it like Davis with his trumpet and like Monet with a sunrise. Sink those teeth in so that when the credits roll you do not wish for more, but instead, you can sit still in the beauty of memory. Monet was a man who saw the world and sank his teeth in. That is how I wish to live!”
Years ago a skeptical student asked Father Thomas Keating, an abbot in Snowmass, if and where he found God … Father Keating thought for a moment, stood up, stretched his long arms into the sky and with a graceful descending trembling of gentle hands … said… “When aspen trees shiver in the wind … I see God …”
Isaac is hungry for the real deal when people whose passion, attention and hard work spread the generous best of our human spirit. Whether it is Miles Davis, Monet, Father Thomas or Isaac, we share an unmistakable primal desire to live within the wonder imbued in our human spirit — it is a predisposition of our heart, to shiver as aspen leaves in even the slightest breeze. It is a simple magic that provokes a singular and profound concern for each other, our place and our planet.
Rex Allen Coffman
January 30, 1931 - June 10, 2024
On June 10, Rex Allen Coffman, 93, passed away at the Sopris Lodge in Carbondale. He was surrounded by his family in the hours previous to his passing. Family was important to him, and the family lived by the code: “Work hard, play hard!”
Rex, an only child, was born on Jan. 30, 1931 to Rollo “Chick” and Flo Mamie Coffman 20 miles north of Stewart, Nebraska. He attended school in Stewart from elementary through high school with 20 classmates, who later became lifelong friends. They celebrated with class reunions many times, one of which he hosted at the ranch.
He was active in sports including football and track. In fact, he used to challenge his sons to races because he still had that urge to go fast.
At 16, he began studies at the University of Nebraska in Animal Husbandry, knowing that ranching was in his future. During college, he was a member of ROTC. Upon graduation in 1952, he married JoAnn Gwendolyn Knotts, then entered into the army as a second lieutenant.
He spent several months in Korea before his daughter, Kristen, was taken to a children’s hospital with health issues which brought him home. For the remainder of his military service, he was based at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.
He fell in love with Colorado. He and his father sold their ranch in Nebraska and purchased a ranch in Eagle, Colorado. The family lived there for four years. During that time, their other two children, Doug and Greg, were born. From there, the family moved to Carbondale and bought the ranch where they lived until 2023.
He was a cowboy at heart but had many talents. Rex was a square dance caller and helped teach elementary school kids square dancing during gym class. He even called square dancing at the local 4H Riding Club.
For 15 years on the ranch, he milked cows twice a day and ran a dairy. When his sons went off to college, that gig shut down.
Rex was a rodeo and horse race announcer as well as an auctioneer. He announced many rodeos up and down the Valley, did auctions
for many groups and organizations and called the horse races in Rifle at the fairgrounds.
For 25 years, he was the secretary of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and was a very active member thereof.
On top of working as an appraiser, he owned a real estate agency in Glenwood Springs for a number of years.
Rex and Jo started their retirement in Aransas Pass, Texas. He loved to go fishing on the bay and surf fishing in the Atlantic Ocean off of Mustang Island. After selling that property, they continued their retirement in Sun City West, Arizona, where they parked their RV in their son, Greg’s, backyard before finally purchasing a casita where they resided through the winters for 20 years.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents Rollo and Flo Coffman. He was known as Papa by his great grandchildren. He is survived his wife, JoAnn Coffman, his children, Kristen Melsen, Doug Coffman (Julie) and Greg Coffman (Christel), his only granddaughter, Lindsay Coffman (Suz), and his great grandchildren, Bowen and Josephine Coffman.
Rex and Jo’s pride, along with their children, was selling their ranch to Aspen Valley Land Trust and securing a conservation easement that will preserve the ranch for generations to come. That was his wish: to keep the land in its natural state for others to enjoy.
Please make donations to Aspen Valley Land Trust in his name at www.avlt.org
A celebration of life will be held on Aug. 10 at 10am at Coffman Ranch, 1837 County Road 100, outside of Carbondale.
Drag empowers community and inspires creativity
BY GUS RICHARDSON Youth Correspondent
I recently attended the second session of VOICES’ newest project, the I Am Me Youth Queer Residency, in collaboration with Stepping Stones. This project was undertaken with the express purpose of giving queer youth and allies, ages 12 to 18, a space to learn from local creatives with a variety of backgrounds. The residency continues through Aug. 2, occurring each Tuesday and Friday.
The session I attended was led by Bryan Alvarez-Terrazas, also known as Ramona Chingona, the leading drag queen of The Roaring Divas. The participants further developed drag personas they had made the class before, creating looks and putting on short impromptu shows.
Alvarez-Terrazas taught the students how to create one of their signature looks, and gave a very fun and skilled example of how to put on a show, demonstrating
beginner-level moves appropriate for an aspiring drag performer. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to interview Alvarez-Terrazas.
“When I came back five years ago … I was looking for something that would help me find identity within myself [and] to find the [queer] community that also needed that space,” they shared. “That’s what really drew me to drag, finding a way to feel empowered in my queer identity and to be able to bring that to others as well.”
When asked how their teaching experience was, they responded by explaining that “Art and drag go hand-in-hand. Growing up here in the Valley … I never would have dreamed of anything like this being offered to core youth here. So I’m really grateful … to be a part of this moment and to see where it leads to next.”
For more information about I Am Me, visit www.voicesrfv.org
133, Dangerous as Designed: Village Road
By Age-Friendly Carbondale
This week’s focus on State Route 133 in Carbondale highlights the heavily trafficked and signalized intersection at Village Road. There are side paths on both the east and west sides of Highway 133, with a crosswalk located on the south side. However, the sidewalk along Village Road is situated on the north side. Residents living on the south side often walk in the road, facing oncoming traffic making sharp right turns onto Village Road from the highway, or they walk on the grass to reach the crosswalk.
OPINION
Respondents to our 2023 survey offered many anecdotes about their experiences at this intersection. For example, “I was crossing east to west. I waited for a green light. I looked both ways. A driver in a pickup truck on his phone tried to beat a yellow light and speeded up on red.” And, “A bus driver driving the circulator barely missed hitting me when he was making a right onto 133 and I was already in the crosswalk going west-east with a green light.”
Pedestrians and cyclist safety could be improved by:
Carbondale’s Park & Ride is located on the southwest side of the intersection. During peak hours, buses arrive and depart every few minutes from both the north and south, making right and left turns. Automobile traffic from all four directions turn left, right or proceed straight ahead. There is significant bicycle and pedestrian traffic associated with the buses, the Park & Ride and the Rio Grande Trail, which intersects the Park & Ride before crossing Highway 133.
The recent extension of the west side bike-pedestrian trail to Cowen Drive has no crosswalk or signal. Thus, Village Road is no longer a fully signalized four-way intersection. This set of conditions creates many opportunities for conflict between motorized vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians and makes Village Road one of the busiest and sometimes most confusing intersections in Carbondale.
1. A raised north/south crosswalk on Village Road to discourage cars heading west on Village Road from queuing up in a way that impedes pedestrians.
2. Advanced stop-lines or bike boxes for cyclists approaching from Village Road.
3. Brightly marking crosswalks to create a distinctive square, as pictured on page 45 of our complete report (www. bit.ly/133-Report).
4. Extending east/west crossing times for pedestrians, including a “head start” for pedestrians before automobile signals go green.
5. Addition of two marked crosswalks: one on the west side of 133, another on the north side of Village Road.
6. Traffic calming infrastructure to slow northbound cars on 133 turning right onto Village Road.
7. Warning signs/lights to slow motorized traffic approaching along 133.
8. Separate pedestrian and cyclist lanes where the Rio Grande Trail crosses 133.
The death of a loved one costs enough. The Sopris Sun is happy to publish local obituaries of a reasonable length, including a picture, for free.
Email news@soprissun.com to submit one or for more information.
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
Scene Six
By Don Marlin
The concept that a portal could be present in our bedroom was a very scary but intriguing one. The idea that Somers, Connecticut and Taryall, Colorado could be intrinsically linked via two oval mirrors in two bedrooms, and that sound, light and objects could be transferred one-way instantaneously suggests several scientific conundrums. The transfer of elements only one way was perplexing and that a potential vacuum existed between the two objects for the elements to probably reach a constant, such as the speed of light, was a more conceptual matter. In either case, Richard was so smoked by my response he did not return the phone call for an hour.
These concepts are like Scotty commonly beaming people and objects to and from the Starship Enterprise. Also that stars and planets from other galaxies continue to emit light in our visible spectra toward the planet Earth at rates that suggest that the changing angstroms we see today might have emanated from a planet thousands, millions or even billions of years ago as space expanded from the big bang into yet another void which is still unknown. Further, that light could be bent around the sun by gravitational fields per Einstein’s derivation of the curved space time continuum. Could our bedroom be a real physical science experiment come to daily life or was this just a sea of water one sees through the heat as it escapes upward from the desert sand?
Richard’s silence gave me time to ponder that instead of a window to Somers through which light reached maximum speed, as if in a vacuum, that what was witnessed was a parallel universe. This universe where Richard and Sally were, indeed, was not on the same time plane as we were but really connected via a temporary continuum where every single possible configuration of particles in a Hubble-like volume takes place multiple times. This “Matrix” film scenario really could not be reached because, theoretically, we do not know what to look for and Hubble states that we can only get messages to and from our own universe, not messages from a parallel one. However, waking up Richard and talking with him on the phone has the implication that he is still within our volume and connected by George II.
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As We Age
By Linda Helmich
March 16, 2024
Hours and days were slow to pass
When I was just a young sweet lass
But now the months go swiftly by
And even years do seem to fly
Time it seems is quite like plastic, Firm at times, but then elastic
Waiting makes it seem too long
Shortening when my timing’s wrong, Dear me, how can we ever learn to Pace ourselves and have a yearn to Use each hour of every day
Content to live a gentle, patient, measured way?
“I didn’t expect you to answer the phone call as now I think I am in this dreamscape too and we are inexplicably linked by some damn earplug,” Richard said when he called back late in the morning.
Sally had returned home feigning an illness to get a substitute teacher to fill in for her metaphor class in the afternoon. She was ill from the phone call from Richard and from the idea that I could tell what Richard was wearing and what he was drinking that morning.
“I can’t explain it either, but Mary and I have rationalized that Stella Spencer may have never uncrated these two mirrors at the homestead if she recognized the portal power between the two,” I said. “Further that for us to find them on this original homestead given to her by the United States suggests that she buried them under the shed with no intention of placing them in her house and never seeing them again. Maybe this would explain the incredible condition they were in and why she moved under such extreme circumstances and endured such hardships to raise five children out in the backcountry. She may have been scared to death as we were with whatever portal image was present at the time.”
“I think I can understand how unhinged you must have gotten last night,” Richard replied over the phone. “I can’t see or hear anything from my side of the George II, but we can’t help but believe you now. Can you tell me what Sally is wearing if I walk her over to the mirror also? That may convince her I am not nuts or pulling the wool over her eyes like some prank against her too. She thinks it’s because of her upcoming 50th birthday and this is just a bad joke.”
Sally walked slowly to the mirror with Richard by her side. Richard handed her the phone and she asked me what she was wearing, then quickly retracted the request and asked me to hand it to Mary.
“Mary, please tell me this is a joke as I really don’t like getting older before my birthday and find it pretty embarrassing to ask for a substitute while I play hooky for a day,” she said with a long sigh.
The second pink earplug hit her square in the nose
EDITOR’S NOTE: There are three more scenes to this wild and sweet scifi series written by local Don Marlin. Next week, look out for some creative content from other local creatives and The Works in Progress page will pick up with Scene Seven in the July 11 issue.
RIP,
Dolly
Parton the Chicken
Dolly Parton the Chicken passed away suddenly and peacefully on June 6, 2024. Dolly was originally from Delta and moved to Carbondale with four flock mates when she was just a pullet.
After being christened Dolly Parton, she took the name and grew into a beautiful, blond, full-feathered girl. Taking after her namesake, Dolly was very involved with the community. She raised money here in Carbondale by participating in fundraisers and helping to put on events, such as Chicken Poop Bingo. Through this work, she helped pay off the student lunch debt at Carbondale Middle School, raised money to help a multi-generational family in Maui after the fire last year as well as for many nonprofits in the Valley.
Dolly was a proud member of KDNK. In her memory, people can sign their animal companions up for a Pet Membership at KDNK or make a donation to Colorado Animal Rescue. Rest in peace, Dolly Parton. You were a good chicken.
remain in order for the new protein to be mass-produced at an affordable price. These can be overcome with government money for cellular-agriculture development. Politicians who care about public health, not to mention the environment and animal welfare,
Jon Hochschartner Granby, Connecticut
POETRY OF THE VALLEY
The poop flags, flying high on their sprightly metal stems glow the same color as the wild penstemon, only more ubiquitous, more dependable. How they flutter so gayly in the breeze, commemorating every pooch and puppy that has passed this way, their humans, lost in happy chatter or silent contemplation, oblivious to their hunched charges, each one committed to making this trail a more inspiring, fragrant place. Tony Alcantara Carbondale-ish
She flows and meanders
Her frothy white waters churning
Past rocks and railways and roads
She sings a song of life, of Spring, of rebirth
Her icy cold waters once snow
Forth into the mountains and vales
But you are the past and present and future
An eternal song of life itself
Sheila Tinkham
Visitor
from Lincoln, Nebraska
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INTERSECTIONALITY
from page 14
impacts on daily life. One way is to understand the 12 major identities and systems of oppression presented by the Social Identity Wheel which is specific to the U.S.
“That can help one say, ‘Okay, are we thinking about all of these identities? Are we thinking about experiences at the intersection of multiple identities?’” Byrd said.
She pointed to an example of where one can use intersectionality or see if it’s present. The example was with Spanish speakers and the word “Latinx,” which can be controversial. Some advocate for the word saying that it’s more inclusive of all identities that exist within the Latino community, but others say that there’s already a word to address the Latino community which is the original word, “Latinos.” Many don’t like it because the Spanish language defers to the masculine when referring to a group that includes multiple genders.
“This is a good place to use intersectionality because you can say, ‘What do women and non-binary Spanish speakers have to say about the term ‘Latinx?’” It’s recognizing who is at the intersection of the multiple identities that we are actually trying to examine or address,” Byrd said.
The importance of understanding the concept of intersectionality, she continued, is to dismantle systems of oppression in an effort to have systems of meritocracy and justice.
“[Intersectionality] helps us better to reduce harm and to have a better impact on the communities we’re trying to serve,” she said. “There’s a lot of depth to it and ways to think about it.”
Byrd encourages those who are interested in intersectionality to read about it or simply have conversations about its relevance to daily life and experiences.
To learn more about Regan Byrd and her business, visit www.bit.ly/reganbyrd
PARTING SHOTS
A few dozen brave souls weren’t deterred by the heavy rains on June 20 and joined The Sopris Sun for a summer solstice pizza party at the community oven behind the Third Street Center. Despite a few glitches, everyone left feeling merrily content after huddling together to share stories and toppings. Many thanks to Peppino's Pizza for supplying us with the dough.
Public Notice is given on June 10 2024 that a Petition for a Change of Name of an Adult has been filed with the Eagle County Court. The Petition requests that the name of Jennifer Lee Riffle be changed to Genevieve Juniper Lee Riffle Inga Causey, Judge
Photos by Klaus Kocher
Photo Credit: caitofosterphotography.com
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