20240815

Conservation easement a ‘moral choice’ for prime habitat

AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent

Imagine a swarm of ecologists, birders, soil scientists, climate scientists, teachers and students descending upon a landscape for several days. Toting equipment and personal hydration systems, they peer into magnifying glasses at insects and plants, take soil samples, identify birds, wildlife and water sources, and take photos of everything – all to figure out what lives on that particular corner of the earth. It’s called a “bioblitz.”

In 2016, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) partnered with five organizations to host a bioblitz on 455 acres in Spring Valley. The land, bordering Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus to the northeast, has been in the Powers family for more

than five decades. “My father bought it in 1968 and gave it to his three children,” said John Powers, who also owns the 122-acre Rifle Creek Ranch, which was bioblitzed around the same time as the Spring Valley property.

The bioblitz gave Powers an ecological inventory. “They found the Good Neighbor Bladderpod,” he told The Sopris Sun during a tour of the Spring Valley property in early August. According to the Colorado Natural Heritage Foundation, the Good Neighbor or Montrose Bladderpod (Physaria vicina) is known to grow only on the Western Slope, specifically in Montrose and Ouray counties and, as of the 2016 Sprinwg Valley bioblitz, in Garfield County. “It’s a globally rare species,” added Powers.

The bioblitz also serves as a baseline. “It tells me that there is a lot of biodiversity here that’s worth preserving,” he said. Preserving land is a priority for Powers. “I guess it’s values-based. Land ownership is simply a lifetime lease,” he explained. “Unfortunately, with property rights, an individual who owns a piece of property for a period of time can change it forever.”

With that in mind, Powers and his family are considering placing the Spring Valley land into a conservation easement. He has no plans for developing it except for maybe a house at some point.

“My nephew would like the option to build something,” he explained. Powers is not big on the building idea but, he said, the conservation easement is a family decision.

Ranch development is right in the middle of prime elk calving grounds and critical winter and summer range. Construction and other human activity, including hikers, cyclists, domestic dogs and horses, will chase elk and deer out of the

give wildlife a chance.”

Land ownership is simply a lifetime lease ... Unfortunately, with property rights, an individual who owns a piece of property for a period of time can change it forever,

- John Powers

A big concern for Powers is the threat of the proposed 6,000-acre Spring Valley Ranch development. Georgia-based Storied Development plans 577 housing units (mostly second homes), two golf courses, a private ski hill, 15-20 miles of public trails, a convenience store, fire station and 1,100 acres set aside as wildlife habitat — all within a few miles of the Powers land.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Spring Valley

area and further fragment an already fragile habitat. Increased fragmentation concentrates ungulates into smaller areas. But with development expanding throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, even those smaller areas are shrinking.

“If they were to do that development up there, it’s going to absolutely disrupt everything for wildlife around here,” said Powers. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re considering a conservation easement — to

The well on Powers’ land provides clean water at about 88 gallons per minute with the existing pipe. But the Spring Valley Ranch development could change that. Storied Development’s water supply and distribution plan predicts water use for the 577 homes, at buildout, would be roughly 407,000 gallons per day (gpd). Commercial water use could add up to about 34,000 gpd with 329 acre-feet per year for golf course irrigation from April to October. Add to that 500,000 gpd for snowmaking in winter. The wells for the development are deeper than nearby domestic wells.

During the tour of Powers’ land, it was clear that he enjoyed being out on it, driving his Tesla over a bumpy, winding two-track or walking through a field to a pond surrounded by cattails. Not to mention the stunning, 360-degree views. “It’s quiet,” he mused. “There’s no development in sight.” A conservation easement would protect that forever, giving the ecosystem — the animals, the birds and that Good Neighbor Bladderpod — a fighting chance. “This is just one little part of a much bigger picture and that 6,000 acres should be preserved,” said Powers. “You know, it’s a moral choice.”

John Powers — an environmental advocate — stands out on land his family purchased in 1968. He is committed to protecting the property, located above Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus, as wildlife habitat. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

This distant hill, northwest of the Powers’ Spring Valley property, could be developed into 577 homes, two golf courses and a private ski hill. Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh

Who was Nikos Patsantaros?

Graffiti on public buildings, carving into soft desert sandstone and covering signs with insipid stickers all seem endemic these days. Is there a point when vandalism becomes artifact? Reflecting back on my high country meanders, I treasure the shepherd’s tree carvings the most. Throughout the boreal forest on Colorado’s Western Slope one can still find the artistic and now historic carvings of an era in the stretchedout bark of aged aspen trees. The antique engravings, some more than 85 years old, use cursive scroll with creative images to tell a story to an audience they would never meet. There is a plethora of these unique trees in the verdant, shady aspen groves at 9,000 feet elevation. These trees also have a silent narrative to share.

OPINION

CVEPA VIEWS

By John Armstrong

The groves of aspen trees became the novel of the men who guarded the large bands of domestic sheep that grazed United States Forest Service Lands through a brokered grazing system for over 100 years. Hundreds of thousands of sheep fattened on the protein-rich high country grasses and forbs from June to September. These flocks were watched over by men who lived on the high range in distinctive round-roofed, custom wagons that were towed into the mountains each season. Sheep ranchers hired Basque shepherds from Spain’s Pyrenees mountains and on our Western Slope, New Mexican men of Spanish descent were most common. Some Mexican and even Greek immigrants were also employed.

One day in August of 1973, my neighbor in Marble Valley came by and proposed that we take an evening Jeep ride into the Crystal River highlands. My girlfriend and I hopped in the Jeep. After a short drive we followed a lightly used track into an intimate and lush valley fed by a small spring. As we started to turn around we noticed a small shepherd’s wagon parked at the edge of the trees, smoke wisping out the chimney. A short, gray-bearded man came out and waved us over. He was clearly thrilled to have unexpected company. Despite the language barrier he invited us into his tiny abode to share dinner.

On the petite stove he had a pot of savory mutton stew and to our amazement he pulled out a loaf of hot bread from the oven! We ate well and enjoyed each other’s company, communicating through the international language … food. He was from Greece and produced a handful of photographs of his family and hometown for which he clearly longed. The food was delicious and the setting became even more enchanted as orange streaked the evening sky. We never saw each other again but I will savor the magic of that August evening the rest of my life.

I have since found hundreds of shepherds’ carvings throughout Western Colorado, always on aspen trees, always in the lush transition zone around 9,000 feet. The Trujillos, Archuletas, Carillos, the list goes on and on. The villages of Arroyo Seco, Ojo Caliente, Picuris and El Cajon evoke distant places. Many trees have accompanying pictographs. The images are bears, horses, flowers, hummingbirds but very often women. Women were not scarce in these high mountains, they were non-existent! The etchings were of voluptuous women and were often ribald renderings.

I was comparing my historical fascination with shepherds’ carvings with a friend, a retired teacher from a prep school near Satank. He recounted the spring interim project he directed decades ago when the students compiled a scrapbook and narrative of the shepherds’ carvings of the Crystal Valley. He was so pleased with the comprehensive collection of something so especial to our local environment. When the compilation reached the headmaster and he saw the “tree porn,” the project was immediately squashed! We both laughed long at the censorship but also lamented that this body of work was lost forever.

My favorite carving of all has been one I found on a ridge with a panoramic view of the Valley. The bearded caricature had an odd fez-like hat on. It read Nikos Patsantaros “Greek Boy,” dated 1969. There were so few Greeks in our Spanish-dominated shepherd culture that I will always wonder if Nikos was our lonesome, gracious host that August night in the Crystal Highlands.

Throughout the years these aspen trees have more than doubled in size. Many of the etchings have stretched out to become unreadable, many trees have fallen down. Dates on the trees go back into the 1920s. There is still a story being told in these aspen groves. The narrative harkens back to a time much simpler, not without hardship but rich in the romance of a bygone era. The trees have a story to tell but you must have the will to walk and to listen.

To learn more about The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, visit www.cvepa.org

LETTERS

Re: Three-legged stool

This is in response to Richard Vottero’s letter in last week’s Sopris Sun.

Three-legged stools are great! Balanced and stable, I’d sit on a good one without thinking twice. A three-party system would be great, too. I would love to vote for a thirdparty candidate with humble roots, original ideas and a realistic path to the presidency. The sense of humor required to dump a bear carcass in Central Park is giving major trustfund-kid energy. This is one of many reasons that RFK ain’t him.

Imagine going to a local woodworker and asking for a stool with one 45” leg, one 43” leg and one 5” leg. You would get the same look I’m giving you right now. If you want a well-balanced stool with three 33.3” legs, it will take decades of consensus-building, hard work and better metaphors.

Dr. Joanne Whülke Missouri Heights

O&G savvy commissioner for GarCo

Garfield County commissioner candidate Steven Arauza forgot more about the oil and gas industry than his opponent, Mike Samson, will ever know. Arauza is an environmental protection specialist for the Energy and Carbon Management Commission and a member of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board. Much of what follows came from an exchange of emails between Arauza and myself.

Arauza monitors “reported spills and releases and enforces our environmental regulations to ensure they are properly cleaned up.” He also conducts routine environmental inspections of oil and gas facilities to verify compliance with state regulations and helps “to conduct follow-up investigations and pursue penalty enforcement if violations are found.” Arauza is proud to “serve as the eyes and ears of the public.”

Recognizing the importance of oil and gas to the tax base of Garfield County, Arauza believes the decisions the BOCC has made on behalf of the industry has made the county dependent on the industry. “It places the people of Garfield County, particularly in District 3, in a highly unstable situation. They’re impacted the most by predictable boom and bust cycles of the industry and forced to live with the environmental and health impacts,” Arauza said.

“My opponent,” Arauza said, “and the rest of the BOCC see oil and gas as free money. They are in denial that climate change is even a problem. They deny or accept the environmental and human costs. I understand the environmental, human and climate costs of this industry. I understand that we need to diversify away from our reliance on oil and gas production in a way that is mindful of the dependence of our county on property taxes and workers for their livelihoods. We can do this.”

“The challenge is to do this without bankrupting the county,” Arauza said. “We need to be careful not to sacrifice the quality of government services. Unfortunately, this really cuts to our continued ties to oil and gas production. We need to critically assess new applications and stop drilling in residential areas entirely while working with our municipalities to identify additional industries to bring more jobs into the region.”

Steven Arauza’s wife, Hanna, was chosen by the Garfield County Public Library District to become a trustee. In an unprecedented

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SCUTTLEBUTT

Montessori preschool

After 11 months of strategic planning, prioritizing and getting licensed, Ross Montessori School has opened a preschool for up to 10 students! Director Monica Wright has been at Ross since 2014 and is an American Montessori Society accredited teacher with a large-center preschool state license. Said Head of School/CEO Dr. Sonya Hemmen, “Monica is always focused on children and what they need. She is going to do great things with this Montessori preschool.”

Carbondale Community School

Compass for Lifelong Discovery, an educational nonprofit founded in 1970, is raising funds to support a $1.65 million capital improvement project at the Carbondale Community School (CCS). Updates to the building include upgrades to the fire suppression system, new security measures and a new roof. A state grant will provide a 41% match for the total project cost contingent upon securing donations to support the remaining 59% of the cost. With just $60,000 to get across the finish line, CCS is asking for support from families of alumni and current students as well as the broader community. To make a contribution, visit www.bit.ly/CCSdonations

FAFSA delay

For a second year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be delayed, Chalkbeat Colorado reported last week. Students and families won’t have access on Oct. 1, when the application is traditionally released, but federal officials promise to have a fully-functional form on or before the beginning of December. A new system that rolled out last year had ongoing technical glitches causing widespread frustrations.

Startup Colorado

Virginia Frischkorn of Basalt is one of six finalists for the Startup Colorado Pitch Competition at West Slope Startup Week. Frischkorn’s company, Partytrick, offers an end-to-end software platform that powers repeatable events at scale while capturing data to optimize operations. More than 70 innovative founders from across rural Colorado submitted applications representing diverse industries. A winner will be announced on Aug. 21 with the chance to receive over $280,000 in investments.

Tractor Supply snafu

In July, staff for the City of Glenwood Springs were made aware that Tractor Supply, in the old West Glenwood Mall, was erroneously charging customers with a public improvement fee (PIF). Tractor Supply is outside the PIF district. According to the City’s website, the 1.5% PIF is collected at businesses within Glenwood Meadows and is used to finance certain public improvements there, specifically. The city has placed the onus on Tractor Supply to resolve the issue and “encourages Tractor Supply to make genuine efforts to contact and refund affected customers who can email CustomerSolutions@ TractorSupply.com or call 877-718-6750.

Wildfire app

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is advising outdoor recreationists to download the Colorado Trail Explorer, or COTREX, app and check for fire alerts before embarking on an adventure. During fire season, COTREX is increasing its wildfire updates from once a day to once every hour. More than 36 agencies use the COTREX app to post real-time advisories, including wildfire closures, safety hazards and other trail related alerts. To download the app, visit www.trails.colorado.gov/#activity=hiking

Storytime Playgroup

Teen Café Wed, Aug. 21, 2:30-3:30PM

Middle and high schoolers can play the switch, create art, eat snacks, enjoy coffee, or work on homework. Must be in Grades 5+

Following the mudslides onto Highway 82 Saturday night, Aug. 10, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews finished cleanup Monday afternoon. Some areas of the approximately three-quarters-of-amile section of highway were under up to four-feet of debris. CDOT reported that approximately 450 truckloads of debris were hauled away and unloaded at a “right-of-way area … about two miles north of Carbondale.” Photo courtesy of CDOT

Cell towers

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment regarding an Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) proposal to install 11 communication sites on Forest Service land managed by ASC at four ski resorts to improve cellular coverage for tourists and nearby communities. Six sites (seven cell towers) are proposed at Snowmass, two sites at Aspen Highlands, two sites at Buttermilk and one site with National Forest associated utilities at Aspen Mountain, according to a press release. If approved, towers would start going up in 2025. For more information or to comment by Sept. 8, visit www.fs.usda.gov/project/ whiteriver/?project=66398

Pesticide recall

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rare emergency order to immediately stop the use of the herbicide Dacthal, a pesticide registered to control weeds. The sale, use, trade or transport of the herbicide has been banned nationwide due to significant risks to unborn children. “The immediate cancellation of all distribution and all end uses reflects the seriousness of their findings in this emergency order,” said John Scott, Colorado Department of Agriculture’s pesticides program section chief. For any questions, email the Colorado Pesticide Program at PesticidesProgram@state.co.us or by calling 303-869-9050.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Anna Broome, Jill Knaus, Cara Nieslanik, Maggie Seldeen and John Williams (Aug. 16); James Leonard and Jake and Heather Marine (Aug. 17); Rebecca Binion, Emily Good, Lindsay Gurley and Jonathan Shamis (Aug. 18); Kyle Bruna and Lance Norton (Aug. 19); Emily Bohmfalk, Kirsten Keenan, Eric Skalac, Sid Smock, Sarah Tory, Torrey Udall, Dan Whitney and Katherine Whitney (Aug. 20); Jan Edwards, Rick Norman and Kevin Schorzman (Aug. 21).

From law enforcement to education

Meet RFSD’s school safety and security coordinator

JEANNE SOULDERN Sopris Sun Correspondent

After nearly a decade in law enforcement, Dustin Gehring found himself at a crossroads. “At the time, I was married, we had kids growing up and the long hours were not congruent with having a family,” he recalled. The demanding nature of the job began to clash with his personal life, prompting a pivotal decision to make a career change.

That nudge led him to rediscover a long-held aspiration in education and his current role as school safety and security coordinator for the Roaring Fork School District.

Gehring, who is from Marengo, Iowa, earned an associate degree from Kirkwood Community College and served with the Marengo Police Department.

In 2017, he earned a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Northern Iowa as a nontraditional student, commuting 120 miles daily. Of the experience of being a student in his thirties, he said, “It’s culture shock when you’re sitting in a room with 18-year-olds.”

assessments proved invaluable. Still, as the contract neared its end, he felt the familiar urge to reset and find a new direction. “I’ve always wanted to be in education and wanted to stick with the safety aspect of things.”

That is when his search for the perfect role led him beyond Iowa. With his children now grown and fewer ties keeping him in the state, Gehring began looking at opportunities across the country, which led him to his current position.

I’ve always wanted to be in education and wanted to stick with the safety aspect of things, - Dustin Gehring

In 2020, he joined the Iowa City Community School District, where he developed and implemented a threat assessment program for its 14,000 students. The position was funded by a grant. “They needed a program started and things of that nature, so they brought me in,” he explained. He thrived in this role for a few years until the grant money dried up.

Once again, Gehring found himself at a professional crossroads. He secured a contract position with Tetra Tech, a company working with Iowa on on-site safety assessments for the state’s school buildings. His background in law enforcement and experience with behavioral threat

His current role as school safety and security coordinator for the Roaring Fork School District is a new position he began last school year. “It’s a concentration on safety and having somebody to focus on that full time.” He notes that many school districts may assign different safety components to several staff members. “In a public school system … it can be difficult to coordinate all that. My role centralizes this one person doing this one thing, concentrating on it all the time, giving it the attention it deserves.”

Upon his arrival, Gehring was impressed with the foundation already in place. “I was impressed with the baseline. I’ve been going through many things, and I see where this can be more efficient or where we can improve. But the team had already put together a great base. Now that I’ve come, I can bring it all together and make it as efficient and comprehensive as possible for the district.”

Gehring’s experience in law enforcement and education makes him uniquely qualified. “When I was in law enforcement, I was blessed that I got to do a lot of things — from general patrol to investigations, but part of that was also community outreach,” he explained. The connection with students and schools during his law enforcement days sparked a passion for working with young people. “I loved

teaching, coaching and being a mentor.”

His work now encompasses a range of safety-related responsibilities, from crisis response plans to mental health partnerships. “We drill all this stuff all the time — evacuation, lockdown, secure,” he said, emphasizing the importance of preparation. “We want to drill so we’re prepared as best we can be, and hopefully, by doing drills, we build muscle memory.”

Looking ahead, Gehring remains committed to continuously improving school safety. “We’re always looking at everything all the time,” he said, acknowledging that safety practices continuously evolve. He concluded, “It’s a fine line. I never want to get into a place where our schools feel like institutions. I want it to be as close to free learning as we possibly can be while being as safe as we possibly can be.”

Dustin Gehring became RFSD’s school safety and security coordinator in August of 2023. Photo by Jeanne Souldern

Carbondale schools reaffirm commitment to music education amid challenges

JEANNE

SOULDERN Sopris Sun Correspondent

Chris Bank, the in-school director for Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS), has stepped in to fill a critical gap in Carbondale’s music education for the 2024-25 school year.

He acknowledges that Carbondale school’s music programming is pivotal, stating, “I am now hopefully the one-year person until they can get it back on track.”

In response to this year’s challenges, Bank has been working with three Carbondale public school principals — Aimee Brockman of Crystal River Elementary School (CRES), Michael Logan of Carbondale Middle School (CMS) and Lindsay Hentschel of Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) — to stabilize the music programs. Bank emphasized the need for community support and hopes that increased enrollment next year will restore the positions and the music program to its full potential.

Bank served as CMS music instructor for the 2021-22 school year. During this time, student participation in online music classes was low, and overall enrollment at the school had decreased following COVID, with more families choosing to homeschool. Post-COVID, the middle school

saw a reduction of 30 students, which necessitated a reduction of 1.6 teaching positions. Due to a declining interest in music electives, one full-time equivalent position in the music department was initially eliminated, however, hopes are this year’s music programming will bring a renewed interest for students.

CMS music offerings this year include a beginning band program after school for fifth and sixth graders who have never played an instrument. Bank said Access AfterSchool, a nonprofit that offers youth enrichment programs from Basalt to Rifle, is assisting with that program.

Seventh and eighth-grade band classes will meet at school twice weekly in the morning. Bank will also teach modern band, an ensemble-style course, at RFHS.

It’s all about the numbers

Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) is making strides in revitalizing its music programs despite ongoing challenges with staffing and funding. RFSD Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole recently spoke with The Sopris Sun about the complexities behind the Carbondale schools’ music programming.

Cole acknowledged the broader challenges facing the district,

primarily with staffing shortages, declining student interest in music classes and the high cost of living in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Fewer students participating in classes in Carbondale schools exacerbate these issues, making it harder to sustain all elective programs. “But what is maybe more unique is recruiting educators for music, advanced math or science or special education … that difficulty is multiplied in our small schools,” Cole explained.

A letter from Hentschel, Logan, and Brockman was recently sent to Carbondale families to clarify the music curriculum for the three schools and underscore their commitment to music education. The letter highlights challenges such as declining enrollment, budget constraints, the COVID-19 pandemic and a shortage of teaching applicants that have affected the K-12 music program.

Due to difficulties recruiting a music teacher in spring 2023, CRES temporarily suspended its music program but hired a qualified instructor in mid-summer 2024.

Community partners supporting the CRES position for the 2024-2025 school year are JAS, the Carbondale Education Foundation, the CRES PTO, Alpine Bank

Rams fall sports preview

JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent

Team leadership is a big focus for the Roaring Fork High School football team coming into the 2024 season, as the Rams look to return to the varsity ranks after a one-year hiatus to rebuild the program.

Recently, 19 of the team’s upperclassmen took part in a two-day Team Leadership Breakthrough camp, held at the Spring Creeks Ranch on the Gianinetti spread.

“The camp really focuses on giving these kids the confidence it takes to be a team leader,” Rams head football coach Scott Noll said. “It’s about accountability, teaching them not to use powerless words, and talking to them about coming together as a team and showing up for your team.”

Noll is friends with the co-owner of the company that developed the camp and had been planning it since last spring when the Rams made a commitment to come back at the varsity level this season.

“It’s super powerful for the kids, and the camp ends with a big graduation where there’s a lot of enthusiasm and where they talk about how much it brought them together and created a bond, which is all I could ask for,” Noll said.

He and his crew of assistant coaches, Cody Burkholder, John Nielsen, Jon Amdur and Sam Morse, are hoping that carries over to the 2024 gridiron campaign.

The Rams return with a solid roster of around 40 players, which should provide for both varsity and junior varsity squads, Noll said.

Many of the varsity level players took last

season to develop at the junior varsity level, going 4-0 in competition, while some chose to join neighboring Glenwood Springs so that they could play varsity.

Noll will be looking to several players to carry the load, including seniors Hunter Noll, Cole Fenton and Balaram Koss, and juniors Donny Read, Eli Norris, Walker Connor and Kenny Riley on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, plus a solid core of offensive and defensive linemen.

“Some of the kids I had coached before but dropped away are coming back, and I think we have some really good talent,” coach Noll said. “I feel like we can really build some momentum coming into our conference games.”

The Rams open the non-conference varsity slate of games on the road at Ellicott on Aug. 30, with the home opener on Sept. 6 against Yuma at 7pm, and another home game the following week (Saturday, Sept. 14) against Del Norte at 1pm.

Roaring Fork opens Class 1A Western Slope League play on Oct. 4 (Homecoming/ Potato Day weekend) against Grand Valley at Rams Field, located next to Carbondale Middle School.

Rams soccer

Head coach Nick Forbes is looking at a transition year with his boys soccer team, following the graduation of several starters from last season.

“We have nine positions to fill, but we have huge numbers out for the team,” Forbes said. “We have a lot of interest and a lot of enthusiasm, and some hard-working players.”

and the Carbondale Rebekahs (Rebekah’s Lodge).

“While we are making progress, there is still work to be done,” the letter stated. “Please know there is still music in Carbondale public schools at all levels, and we are working together as a PK-12 leadership team to create a shared vision and sustainable model.”

The district’s approach involves innovative partnerships and flexible funding allocation. However, the struggle to balance resources remains a pressing concern, compounded by the Roaring Fork Valley’s high cost of living and housing, which leads to teacher turnover.

Logan said that the transition for

band students from middle to high school was an important factor, and Bank’s curriculum accommodates that. “We’re excited because this gives students the opportunity to grow as musicians and potentially continue with it into high school,” he said.

Bank, who has a long history of working with music students in the Roaring Fork Valley, drew high praises for his willingness to step up to the plate for Carbondale’s music programming this year.

“Chris really came to our rescue and is very enthusiastic about being able to do this. We are so thankful to him and Jazz Aspen,” Logan concluded.

How that translates to game day remains to be seen, but the Rams — steeped in tradition and just three years removed from a 3A state championship — are expected to compete in the 3A Western Slope League.

Roaring Fork opens its season at home on Aug. 28 against Crested Butte, with a 6pm kickoff.

Rams volleyball

Karen Crownhart returns as head coach of the Roaring Fork girls volleyball team, along with a returning cast of starters from the 2023 team who bring multiple years of varsity experience to the court.

“These girls have been working together for a long time and have a lot of comfort with each other as teammates,” Crownhart said.

Her twin daughters, Carley and Erica (now seniors), enter their fourth year as varsity starters in the setter and libero positions, respectively.

Also returning are seniors Elizabeth Fullerton and Maddie Anderson, and juniors Yaki Hernandez and Nikki Tardif, bringing some needed power to the front line.

The Rams open the season at the Glenwood Springs tournament the weekend of Aug. 23-24, with the first home match slated for 6pm, Aug. 30 against Steamboat Springs.

Hybrid teams

Formal practices also began this week for four fall sports teams that are hosted by Basalt High School, but which include athletes from Roaring Fork — girls softball, coed cross country running and boys golf and tennis. The golf team hosted its home tournament at River Valley Ranch on Tuesday (results to be reported in next week’s Sopris Sun). The Longhorn Invitational cross country meet is slated for Aug. 24 at Crown Mountain Park.

Art by Sofie Koski

Football practice is underway as the Rams build back their varsity team. Photo by Sue Rollyson

Wading into the Arctic from Carbondale

WILL BUZZERD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

For Sarah Johnson of Wild Rose Education, an environmental education program based in Carbondale, switching between the microcosm of the Roaring Fork Valley and the global scope of climate science can be perplexing.

“It’s kind of incredible,” Johnson told The Sopris Sun. “I sit here in my office in the Third Street Center and I’ll be so lost in all of that … I’ll turn around and then, ‘Oh, there’s Sopris. I’m still here.’”

While, for a while, Johnson has been connecting to the distant north from Garfield County, one of the projects she currently co-manages has done the same.

Float Your Boat is an educational program through which polar educators can directly connect learners with the circulating currents of the Arctic Ocean. Educators can request simple, eight-inch-long wooden boats stamped with a number and a web address. Students can then decorate their boat, which are loaded onto planes and icebreakers headed for the Arctic Circle. The boats are deployed alongside tracking buoys, and after yearlong voyages at sea the boats wash up along distant shores — often in Iceland and other Scandinavian Countries — where beachcombers find and post the discovery locations online.

Through Float Your Boat, the staff

at the Rifle Library decorated and deployed a vessel that was found on July 16 north of Hjalteyri, Iceland. A boat that Johnson decorated herself deployed on Aug. 17, 2023. After a year at sea, the “USS Friends” (decorated with the names of Johnson’s friends) was found in Nuuk, Greenland on Aug. 3.

In a way, Float your Boat physically represents what Johnson has done for much of her career, connecting climate scientists. This year, she has worked to connect Colorado with the global climate science community.

Johnson has been working with a team of Colorado educators representing the state through the Earth to Sky program. Through that program, she has actively worked with NASA scientists to bring their data to education spaces.

Additionally, Johnson has been contracted with the educational nonprofit, Lyra, to develop and direct Colorado’s first ever Youth Climate Summit, coming to the Third Street Center May 2-3, 2025.

The Summit is designed to connect youth leaders with field experts, policy makers and each other to develop action plans to address climate change. Applications have opened this week, and interested youth leaders can apply online at www.coyouthclimatesummit.org

While Johnson spends much of her time creating and directing education

programs, she noted that some of her most rewarding experiences have been when the roles were reversed. She reflected on one experience teaching at a public school in Utqiagvik, Alaska — a community dramatically affected by coastal erosion.

“My style of education is so interactive, so I would ask kids, ‘What do you think? Tell me what your relationship and perception is.’ To really listen to what they know is priceless in a place that’s so new to me,” Johnson noted.

Cultivating authentic relationships is one of the touchstones by which Johnson navigates her work. Since she volunteers with the Girl Scouts of Colorado, Johnson found time to visit the farthest north Girl Scout Troop in America, and brought KDNK Community Access Radio stickers to trade with Alaska’s public radio stations.

Despite the geographical distance between Colorado and the Arctic Circle combined with the sheer scope of climate change, Johnson finds motivation in being part of a global solution.

“It’s heavy. It’s kind of intense at times. But I know that I’m contributing. Education is a climate solution,” she concluded.

Find out more about Wild Rose Education by visiting www.wildroseeducation.com For more about the 2025 Youth Climate Summit, visit www.coyouthclimatesummit.org

Last year, Sarah Johnson of Wild Rose Education exchanged climate perspectives with students at Eben Hopson Middle School in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Lloyd Pikok

Valley avian trends reflect warming climate

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

For many, if birds and climate change are mentioned in the same sentence, it conjures an image of the canary in the coal mine. These delicate, beautiful creatures are sensitive to ecosystem changes and respond to differences more quickly than we large, heavy bipeds do. These days, mining in the Roaring Fork Valley is minimal and oxygen saturation underground can be detected by handheld machines instead of songbirds. Yet birds still serve as warning signals for humans, at least to those who watch.

Some of the birds sending the clearest signal in the Roaring Fork Valley are also some of the most popular: hummingbirds and ptarmigans. Hummingbirds are a favorite for many people; some, who may do no other type of birdwatching, meticulously make note when the first hummingbird of the year arrives in their yard, and carefully maintain feeders for the tiny creatures to have consistent access to calories. Ptarmigans particularly captivate alpine enthusiasts as the smallest bird in the grouse family inhabiting treeline or higher elevations.

Increasing temperatures in the Colorado Rockies are affecting whether we’ll continue to encounter these birds. Our regional mountain valleys used to host more broad-tailed hummingbirds in warmer months than we see today. Experts and avid watchers have seen fewer and fewer of them, and not just anecdotally. This past spring, CBS Colorado covered reports from the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and the Audubon Society regarding the change.

Broad-tailed hummingbirds are adapted to cooler climates than many other types of hummingbirds. Accordingly, they are inclined toward higher elevations when food sources are available. The reports indicate that

As

ecosystems warm, ptarmigan habitat is steadily shrinking. Art by Sofie Koski

broad-taileds have experienced a population decrease of almost 50% since 1970. The population has plummeted by 30% since 2014.

The decreasing numbers of broad-tailed hummingbirds doesn’t mean we’ll say goodbye to their cousins. It may mean saying hello. Black-chinned hummingbirds, typically adapted to desert climates, have been steadily moving into our mountain ecosystems as temperatures increase. Pollinators on the whole are in danger, though. Many pollinating insect species populations are also decreasing in Colorado, which has broad implications for ecosystems’ other plants and animals.

This includes ptarmigans. The decrease in food access is just one of many stressors for these seasonal color-changing birds. Rebecca Weiss is a birding guide and naturalist who works with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado.

“Ptarmigans are decreasing and their observed range is decreasing,” said Weiss. Insect abundance related to

moisture levels is decreasing, she added, and that affects bird species. Increasing aridity and temperatures stress and reduce pollinator populations at altitude, affecting the plants available for ptarmigans to eat. Competition is a problem, too. “As other birds’ ranges expand and temperatures increase, ptarmigans lose available space,” Weiss stated.

Ptarmigans are the only North American bird species that dwell completely in the alpine zone. Like their neighbors, the adorable rodents we know as pika, rising temperatures represent a significant threat to their habitat. And mountains aren’t rising to create additional real estate for them.

Weiss wanted to reassure people that change isn’t always bad. “Locally, we are observing range expansions of birds previously only seen downvalley,” she shared. Species with expanding local ranges include great blue herons, osprey, Bullock’s orioles, Say’s phoebes, pygmy nuthatches and Lewis’s woodpeckers in addition to the aforementioned black-chinned hummingbirds. These expansions “show birds are capable of being flexible,” Weiss pointed out. “We just don’t know how far their adaptations [will] go.”

For readers interested in the science behind it, or some casual birdwatching, there are a number of opportunities in the Valley. Weiss enjoys teaching newcomers the practice through her programming at ACES. “We welcome people of all experience levels,” she said. “We cater to novices and what I call the bird-curious.”

The Roaring Fork Audubon Society also offers a variety of events throughout the Valley. Bird sightings on its field trips are carefully tallied so that numbers can be submitted to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society to help measure larger trends. If you want to take action to support stressed species that have historically called the Valley home, the Audubon Society can provide guidance on how to do so. Visit www.roaringforkaudubon. org for more information.

To help make a difference, folks can also look into rewilding their gardens by removing monocultural lawns and instead growing wildflower species and local grasses. For tips on that, visit www.fws.gov/story/how-build-pollinator-garden

BIKE BIKEBASH BASH

SCHOOL

PUBLIC NOTICE

Enhancing Your Rio Grande Trail Experience Roaring Fork Bridge CLOSURE until January, 2025

Starting on July 15th, 2024 the Roaring Fork Bridge will be closed until January, 2025. The Roaring Fork Bridge is located along the Rio Grande Trail (RGT) just west of the Carbondale Park & Ride at mile post 11.5. The Rio Grande Trail will be closed

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) and Meridian Consulting Inc. will be conducting necessary repairs and improvements to the Roaring Fork Bridge. We appreciate your patience, cooperation, and understanding as we work to enhance the bridge, ensuring a smoother and safer trail experience.

Follow All Posted Detours: The established detour route will be along Dolores Way and Satank Road and then across the Satank Bridge for trail users to navigate around the construction zone safely. Please follow all trail closures and detours for your safety and the safety of our workers.

to 11.9.

Have questions or concerns? Contact RFTA at 970.925.8484 or visit RFTA.com for up-to-date information

our valley

JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent

There’s trail running, and then there’s mountain “skyrunning,” as it’s called.

The major difference, explained Carbondale runner and member of the U.S. Skyrunning Team Joseph DeMoor, is a greater emphasis on vertical gain and navigating courses that reach well above treeline.

“Skyrunning has its roots in Europe, and that’s still the heart of the sport,” he said. “It is trail running, but with a bigger emphasis on vertical, mountaineering skills, technical terrain, scrambling across scree fields … things like that.”

DeMoor is set to join 11 other runners from across the United States, including several who call Colorado home at least part time, at the 2024 Skyrunning World Championships, Sept. 6 to 8, at the Desafío Urbión in the heart of the Sistema Central Mountains outside of Soria, Spain.

DeMoor was the lone U.S. representative at the biennial world championship event in 2022, held in northern Italy. He’s the captain of this year’s team.

“I’m excited to be going back with a full team,” he said. “We have a variety of people who’ve been on various other teams and who have experience in the different disciplines.”

Runners will compete in either the Vertical, a 1,050-meter (3,445 foot) climb over 4.8 kilometers (just shy of 3 miles); the Sky Ultra, which covers 43.5 miles (70K) and features 14,272 feet (4,350 meters) of vertical gain; or DeMoor’s event, a classic 23-mile (37K) Sky race featuring 8,333 feet (2,540 meters) of vertical gain.

DeMoor was a gold medalist at the 2022 World Championships, alongside women’s Sky champion Maude Mathys from Switzerland.

“After 2022, I knew that in order to get a team together for 2024 that I would need to take on more of a recruiting role,” he said. “Unlike what a lot of countries do, which is to have qualifying races, we based our selections on an application process and race results.”

Most of the mountain trail races in the U.S. take place at ski areas and barely top out at treeline. Staging events above treeline, which often involves protected wilderness areas, takes extra permitting and is less common, DeMoor explained.

Treeline in western Europe is also much lower in elevation than in the Rocky Mountains. For instance, in the Alps of Switzerland, France, Austria and northern Italy, the mountain peaks are around the same elevation as Colorado’s mountain valleys. Spain’s Sistema

Mountains top out at about 8,500 feet — roughly the same as upper Snowmass Village.

Ryan Kerrigan is the executive director for U.S. Skyrunning and is currently living in Italy where he has been leading youth camps to help develop young skyrunners.

“Skyrunning is that sweet spot between trail running and mountaineering,” Kerrigan said. “Most events include some elements of alpinism, such as scrambling, via ferrata, ropes, ladders, scree, snow … If you’re not using your hands at some point, it’s not skyrunning.”

Due to permitting and insurance requirements, it’s harder to put together races, let alone a whole series in the U.S. with the appropriate technicality and vertical gain to earn the title of “skyrunning,” he said.

Having a full squad at the World Championships can help to build that culture back home, he added.

“With each passing championship I feel more encouraged with the level U.S. skyrunners are climbing to, but the whole world seems to improve as well,” Kerrigan said. “It’s encouraging not only to see the growing strength of the sport within countries that have traditionally taken part, such as Italy and Spain, but also many new countries building organizations to grow the sport

Joseph DeMoor of Carbondale races in the 2022 Skyrunning World Championships in northern Italy, in which he claimed a gold medal. He will lead a full US Skyrunning Team in this year’s biennial World Championships event in Spain next month.

Courtesy photo

Outgoing Ascendigo CEO aims to emBOLDen disability community

MYKI JONES

Sopris Sun Correspondent

On July 25, Ascendigo Autism Services announced that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dan Richardson, who has been with the organization for more than six years, will be stepping away to pursue a new business venture. This latest venture, called BOLD: Empowering People and Property, will specialize in property management services for adults with disabilities.

Ascendigo announced that it’s looking to fill the position. Richardson is proud to be leaving such a solid team that continues to evolve to meet the needs of its clients.

“One of my greatest accomplishments, I’d say, was helping to grow and be part of a pretty amazing team that’s evolved over several years,” Richardson told The Sopris Sun.

it helps us inherently understand ourselves better when we understand someone with autism better.”

In his time with Ascendigo, Richardson accomplished a lot, including the purchase and renovation of the building that will eventually be the organization’s home base, establishing an affordable housing program that meets the needs of 45% of its staff and the completion of Ascendigo’s strategic plan, among other successes.

It helps us inherently understand ourselves better when we understand someone with autism better,

-Dan Richardson

Asked if he has any sage wisdom for Ascendigo’s next CEO, he encouraged that they always put people first and maintain flexibility. Looking back, Richardson recounted when he first joined the nonprofit.

“It really piqued my interest. The organization was innovative and dynamic enough where I thought, ‘I want to be part of that,’” he recalled. “I completely shifted careers from an engineering firm to autism. It was that dedication to people and dedication to innovation in the field of autism that kept me there for so long.”

He added, “What I see in autism is that it illuminates some of the challenges that all people have with communication and social interaction. In my opinion,

“I would be remiss if I didn’t share my gratitude for the community — the Carbondale community and beyond — for fundraising and support of Ascendigo,” Richardson added. “That has been critical and humbling.”

Through BOLD, he hopes to marry his love of buildings with the empowering work he has been doing with Ascendigo. With a background in architecture, he said that this step is the perfect evolution of his path.

“I went to school to be an architect. I love taking care of buildings,” he explained. “Through Ascendigo, I realized that that is yet another unmet need for people with disabilities, people aging in place or anybody who needs additional support [in] their homes.”

Richardson hopes to bridge this business with Ascendigo to keep facilitating growth opportunities and meeting the needs of people living with disabilities.

“I want to stay involved with Ascendigo and practice what I preach now, about businesses employing people with disabilities,” Richardson stated. “Part of the longer term vision is to build [such] a workforce

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for BOLD … and to increase housing opportunities for people with disabilities.”

Richardson will carry out his current role as CEO until the end of the year, according to a press release, and will assist in the onboarding and orientation of the new CEO.

“Dan brought compassion, thoughtfulness, wisdom and a tireless work ethic to his time at Ascendigo,” stated Ascendigo founder Sallie Bernard. “He will be greatly missed. His successor will have big shoes to fill, but we are excited and confident in finding our next outstanding leader and the next chapter in serving our community.”

Dan Richardson poses with his sign at the Ascendigo team picnic for Autism Awareness Month. Courtesy photo

Today!

Community Classes Starting Next Week

YOGALATES FOR ADULTS

Mon/Wed, 1-1:50pm, 8/19-10/9

MEMOIR WRITING WORKSHOP

Mondays, 6-8pm, 8/26-10/7

ACRYLIC PAINTING WORKSHOP

Tues, 1:30-4:30pm, 8/20-10/8

SEWING

Thurs, 6:30-9:30pm, 8/22-10/10

SWING DANCE

Weds, 6:30-8:30pm, 8/28-9/18

ZUMBA Thurs, 6:30-7:30pm, 8/29-11/21

CULINARY ADVENTURES AT THE ASPEN CAMPUS

Wednesdays, 5-8pm, Min age 18, Reg closes 48hrs before class

FARM MARKET FRESH 8/28

MEDITERRANEAN 9/4

COMMUNITY ED REGISTRATION . . .

Credit Classes Open to Community

BEG & INTEMEDIATE ESL - CB (English as 2nd Language)

M/W, 5:30-7:50pm, 9/4-11/20

GED PREP

M, 6-8:20pm, 8/26-11/18, CB W, 10am-12:20, 8/28-11/20, Basalt

ADULT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

W, 6-8:20pm 8/28-11/13, CB Th, 10am-12:20pm, 8/29-11/14, AS

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS W, 6-8:30pm, 8/26-12/2, CB

BUS COMM & REPORT WRITING T, 6-7:50pm, 8/27-12/3, CB

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH Levels l, ll, lV starting 8/19, CB

GEOLOGY FIELD TRIP TO UTAH CANYONLANDS 9/4, 9/7, 9/10-9/15, 9/19

ACTION SPORTS INDUSTRY AT THE ASPEN CAMPUS

GARMET SEWING & DESIGN T, 5:30-8:30pm, 8/20-12/3

UPCYCLING & REPAIR Th, 4-5:15pm, 8/22-12/5

SOFT GOODS DEVELOPMENT Th, 5:30-8:30pm, 8/22-12/5

Senior Grant Tuition Rate: 50% off tuition charge for in-district residents who are 62 years old or older. For more information on Credit Classes call 970-963-2172

PAWTERY PAWLOOZA

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

ASPEN ARTS

The Red Brick Center for the Arts and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association host a Summer Arts and Culture Celebration at the Red Brick Center from 4 to 6pm. More info at www. redbrickaspen.com

THEATRE ASPEN

Performances of “Come From Away” continue almost daily at the Hurst Theatre in Aspen through Aug. 24. Thursdays include two opportunities to see it, 4pm and 7:30pm. For tickets, visit www.theatreaspen.org

BREAD BAKE

The Carbondale Community Oven, located behind the Third Street Center, hosts a bread bake and potluck at 5:30pm. Bring ready-to-bake dough, a potluck dish and your own beverage. For more info, search Carbondale Community Oven on Facebook.

WILD WEST RODEO

The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo continues every Thursday through Aug. 22 with a free shuttle to the Gus Darien Riding Arena from both The Orchard and 4th and Colorado (across from Town Hall) between 6 and 10pm. Gates open at 5pm, slack is at 5:45pm and grand entry at 7:30pm.

LOUNGE SESSION

Join HeadQuarters for journaling and discussion related to “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk at 6pm.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

The Crystal Theatre shows “Twisters” tonight at 7:30pm.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

COMMUNITY CLEANUP

Basalt Library invites you to build community and learn about environmental responsibility by stopping by to help pick up trash around the neighborhood from 10 to 11am.

STORYTIME

The Carbondale Library offers “Storytime” for young children and their accompanying adults from 10:30 to 11am. Basalt Library offers storytime with movement at the same time, intended for ages 3 and under.

LAUNCHPAD OPENING

Carbondale Arts hosts a double feature art opening at 5pm for “A Love Letter to Indian Creek” by local Clarissa Fortier and “Patterns of Consumption” by Denver-based artist Kalliopi Monoyios.

LIQUID GOLD

El Dorado celebrates its one-year anniversary with a dance party featuring DJ Romina from 7 to 10pm. The costume theme is “gold.”

‘MOMENTUM’

Dance Aspen premiers “Momentum” at the District Theatre in Aspen at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

JOHN LENSING

Steve’s Guitars welcomes John Lensing for a show at 8pm. Tickets at www. stevesguitars.net

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

RFOV

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers invites folks to help remove fencing at Snowmass Falls Ranch, recently acquired by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, from 8am to 3pm. Registration and more info at www.rfov.org

DOG DAY 5K

The annual Dog Day 5K, a Colorado Animal Rescue fundraiser, starts and ends at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs from 9am to noon. Snacks will be provided to racers and dogs alike. Learn more at www.coloradoanimalrescue.org/event-directory

UPLIFT

HeadQuarters partners with Roaring Fork CrossFit for a free workout incorporating mental fitness at 9am. To register, visit www.headq.org/support/events

WOODYSTOCK

Folks are invited to enjoy live music and family games at the Woody Creek Open Space Park from noon to 6pm.

REDSTONE MUSIC

Redstone’s Magical Moments concert series concludes with Delta Sonics playing at 6pm.

MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN Louie and the Lizards perform alongside Valley Legends for the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Music on the Mountain series. The fun begins at 6pm and proceeds benefit Ascendigo Autism Services.

DIRTY TURKEYS

The Dirty Turkeys perform at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

BIG RICHARD

The all-women bluegrass band, Big Richard, performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18

SUNDAY MARKET

The Basalt Sunday Market runs from 10am to 2pm through Sept. 29 at 101 Midland Avenue.

MONEY JUICE

Megan Janssen from “Money Juice” shares financing strategies at the Glenwood Springs Library at 3pm today, and at the Carbondale Library on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 6pm. Visit www.gcpld.org for more info.

SUNDAY SESSION

KDNK DJ Stu Huck spins classic and Brazilian jazz at El Dorado from 4 to 7pm with a portion of drink proceeds benefiting KDNK.

BIKE BASH

Coal Basin Ranch hosts a Back to School Bike Bash, complete with a barbecue and live music by Hand Turkey, from 4-6pm. For more info, search Coal Basin Ranch Community Trail System on Facebook.

SOPRIS MOUNTAIN BOYZ

The Handlebar in RVR presents the Sopris Mountain Boyz, a local bluegrass/folk band, performing from 5 to 7pm.

ECSTATIC DANCE

Alya Howe guides an ecstatic dance, along with musical guest DJ Lydia Bain, from 6 to 8pm at 13 Moons Ranch. For more info, email alyahowe@me.com or call 970-309 -2582.

EDDIE 9VOLT

Eddie 9Volt returns to Steve’s Guitars for a show at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

MONDAY, AUGUST 19

AIKIDO

Crystal River Aikikai hosts aikido classes at 13 Moons Ranch on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30pm and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30am. Learn more at www.crystalriveraikikai.com

SoL Theatre Company welcomes you to opening night of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Thunder River Theatre Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7:30pm. The show continues its run on Aug. 17, 21, 23 and 24 at 7:30pm. Catch a matinee on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 2pm. Tickets and more information can be found at www.soltheatrecompany.org Photo courtesy of SoL Theatre Company

CPR TRAINING

Michael Hutton, a Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers founder, offers First Aid and CPR Training sessions at the Third Street Center on Aug. 19 (6-8pm) and 20 (either 4-6pm, or 6-8pm).

There’s no time to waste as those interested must register in advance. To register, visit www.rfov.org

MEDITATION

Roaring Fork Insight hosts a meditation group with a dharma talk at 13 Moons Ranch beginning at 7pm.

JON LAWTON

Steve’s Guitars presents Jon Lawton performing at 8pm. Tickets at www. stevesguitars.net

FULL MOON CRUISE

Grab your bike and meet on the west side of Sopris Park for a 9pm jaunt around town!

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20

RFOV

Join Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers for a Red Hill work day from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Volunteers will pull remaining tumbleweeds and other invasive plants. To register, visit www.rfov.org

BUDGET AND SAVE

The Savings Collaborative teaches a two-part bilingual workshop on budgeting and savings at the Glenwood Springs Library on Aug, 20 and 27 at 6pm.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21

FARMERS’ MARKET

The Carbondale Farmers’ Market runs from 10am to 3pm through Sept. 27 at 4th and Main.

STEM

The Basalt Library partners with the Aspen Science Center to offer afterschool STEM activities with kids ages 5-11 from 2:30 to 3:30pm.

(RE)UNION OPENING

(RE)UNION, a mixed media exhibition, opens at the Aspen Chapel Gallery with a reception from 4 to 7pm. The exhibit will be up through Sept. 25. More info at www.aspenchapelgallery.org

BASALT MUSIC

Spanish rapper Jon Rubio opens for Lost Mocochetes at the Basalt River Park at 5:30pm.

BROTHERHOOD CIRCLE

Kyle Jason Leitzke guides this month’s Sacred Brotherhood Circle, themed “Leadership,” at True Nature at 6pm. More info at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22

CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

Clean Energy Economy for the Region and partner organizations present “Energizing Climate Solutions,” a day filled with keynote speakers, expert panels and afternoon work sessions focusing on climate friendly infrastructure and energy advancement, at the Doerr-Hosier building at Aspen Meadows from 8am to 5pm. Registration and more info at www.cleanenergyeconomy.net

POWER OF PERSPECTIVE

Basalt Library hosts a writing and discussion workshop exploring how simple word shifts can alter our perception. The workshop will be led by a certified peer support specialist from 5 to 6:45pm.

RVR MUSIC

The Handlebar at The Homestead RVR hosts Rodrigo Arreguin for live music from 5 to 7pm.

RIVERSIDE YOGA

Shianne Wright guides a yoga session at Riverside Park in Basalt from 7 to 8pm. This is a donation based event with 15% of proceeds benefiting Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers.

FINAL RODEO

The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo concludes its summer season today. A free shuttle to the Gus Darien Riding Arena passes by The Orchard and 4th and Colorado (across from Town Hall) regularly between 6 and 10pm. Gates open at 5pm, slack is at 5:45pm and grand entry at 7:30pm.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

MUSIC AT WILLITS

Sweet Jessup and the Dirty Buckets perform at Triangle Park in Willits at 5:30pm.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

HANNAH ROTHSTEIN

An art opening for renowned millennial artist Hannah Rothstein’s exhibit at the Aspen Collective starts at 6pm. More info at www.aspencollective.com

MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN

The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park welcomes Mitt Spicy and the Blues Bandits for a concert from 6 to 9pm with proceeds benefiting Garfield County Search and Rescue.

SALSA AT TACAW

Mezcla Socials hosts Salsa Night at TACAW featuring Conjunto Colores. A salsa tutorial starts at 8pm followed by the social at 9pm. Tickets and more info at www.tacaw.org

Garfield County Democrats Annual Picnic

Sunday, August 25 4:00 - 7:00 pm from

Enjoy some great food, live music & gorgeous views

Trustees consider parking future

RALEIGH BURLEIGH

Sopris Sun Editor

All Carbondale trustees were present at the regular meeting on Aug. 14 with Christina Montemayor joining via Zoom.

A simple consent agenda, quickly approved, included liquor license renewals, reappointment of Heather MacDonald to the Historic Preservation Commission and accounts payable.

During general public comments, Sue Zislis, an advocate for the new on-demand microtransit Downtowner service, brought forth the issue that parents with a child under the age of 2 are unable to take the Downtowner because the company’s insurance would require them to utilize a car seat. Zislis announced Age-Friendly Carbondale’s willingness to address this by purchasing two car seats for each of the three vans. “We would like to do that now or yesterday,” she said. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk suggested she connect with Town staff.

During trustee comments, Ross Kribbs praised the work done at Riverfront Park and suggested signage leading to the park, making known that it’s public. Jess Robison noted that school is starting again and pedestrian safety should be top of mind; she also suggested that Downtowner promotional fliers carry the service’s dispatch number (970-504-0054) and not just QR codes. Colin Laird said the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition’s Good Deeds buydown program (www.wmrhousing.org/ gooddeeds) is getting started with “a bunch of people lined up to try to purchase units.” Erica Sparhawk gave kudos to Carbondale Arts for another great Mountain Fair. Chris Hassig mentioned a draft of the Mobility and Access Plan was reviewed by the Bike, Pedestrian and Trails Commission. Bohmfalk applauded the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo team for mitigating concerns with parking on Country Road 100 and neighborhood streets. Montemayor announced that April Long will be executive director of the Ruedi Water and Power Authority for another year.

Town Manager Lauren Gister’s report began by acknowledging a Siberian elm on the pool property came down “and it wasn’t supposed to” according to the tree protection plan. She attributed the action to a miscommunication between the contractor and subcontractor and said what’s left behind that will be protected are two locust trees which the contractor will transplant, an oak and a large pine tree. An offer was accepted by a new finance director who is coming from Granby in September.

Bohmfalk asked about camping under the bridge at the 82-133 intersection. Gister explained that some of the property belongs to Carbondale, some to Garfield County, a portion is within the Colorado Department of Transportation’s right-of-way and the remainder is under Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s jurisdiction. She said efforts are underway to coordinate with other agencies to clean up the area and install a fence. Following up on a vote from early July, Robison asked about the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the new pool construction. Gister explained that value engineering the masonry and getting final comments from the plan reviewer are holding it up. According to Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger, it will be another four to six weeks before the Guaranteed Maximum Price returns for a vote.

The meeting proceeded with a few action items. First, Kade Gianinneti and Brendlinger presented on behalf of Potato Days. This year’s theme is “Mr. McClure Goes to Hollywood” celebrating the 75th anniversary of “Red Stallion in the Rockies” — filmed in Carbondale in 1949. Festivities will begin with a screening of the film at the Carbondale Library on Thursday, Oct. 3. A “barn dance” will again be hosted

continued on page 13

BASALT REPORT

More rentals go condo

WILL BUZZERD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Prior to the regular meeting, the Basalt Town Council held a public work session with private financial consultant Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS), which performed a rigorous housing assessment for the Town of Basalt and presented its findings and recommendations to the council.

In 2023, EPS found that the median sale price of a home in Basalt was $1.3M, with only 11% of sales since 2021 sold at below 150% area median income (AMI). For Basalt residents, EPS found that housing ownership is a top priority. Of the citizens EPS interviewed, 19% intend to retire within the next 10 years and 20% plan on remaining in Basalt.

Because of the demand for single family homes — particularly among people 60 years and older — EPS recommended that the Town broaden its income categories in its inclusionary housing ordinance to go above the current Category 3 at 120% AMI to a new Category 4 (121150% AMI) and Category 5 (151-200% AMI). These categories would provide an avenue for Basalt’s primary home-buying demographic to have greater access to the market and fill the gap between the lower-income affordable housing market and free-market homes generally costing millions. According to Mayor David Knight, the Town is currently drafting programs with a similar goal in mind as EPS’s recommendation.

Mayor Knight and council member Ryan Slack asked EPS representatives what a reasonable goal for affordable housing would be based on their findings. Concerns were raised as to the geographical limitations of creating new developments in Basalt. While EPS did not offer a number for how much housing is possible, its reps pointed out that the ideal strategy for maximizing affordable housing would be to convert existing units instead of relying on new development.

Basalt’s 2020 Master Plan outlined a goal of 400 deed-restricted units. Currently, there are 273 units — 127 units below the mark. “It’s pretty aspirational with what

we have left,” Mayor Knight noted. “But it would be good to sharpen the pencil and see what it actually looks like.”

Apartments to condos

The council returned for its regular meeting shortly thereafter, during which a public hearing and second reading was held to condominiumize units at the new development on 133 Emma Road.

Developed by Fork Front Basalt, LLC, the twelve-unit residential apartment building was approved by council on Jan. 25, 2022, with three of the units proposed as deed-restricted.

More recently, the developer applied to amend the previous plan. While the units themselves will not change physically, the developer intends to change the units to condominiums and permit them to be sold.

At the first reading of this proposal on July 23, council approved the condominiumization plan on the condition that the number of deed-restricted units be increased from three to six, designating half of the complex as affordable housing.

Councilor Slack at the opening of this second reading voiced similar concerns to the ones he had for a similar plan to condominiumize the units coming to Basalt Center Circle (the complex coming to the location of the now-empty Clark’s Market), namely criticizing developers for changing their plans after initially approved.

Aaron Ward of Fork Front Basalt, LLC stated that the new proposal will simply offer his organization additional flexibility in how the units will be managed. While the units can be made available for purchase, Ward stated that the units can still be offered on a rental basis.

“This gives me the flexibility to sell the deed restricted units and hold onto the free-market units for rental,” Ward said, adding that he could make the units available to purchase for teachers, hospital staff and other workers necessary for the community.

The new plan was approved 5-1, with Slack dissenting. Councilor Angela Anderson abstained from the vote due to a conflict of interest.

With the exception of a sign advising passersby about the public hearing, Lot J at 133 Emma Road currently sits empty. Fork Front Basalt, LLC intends to construct 12 units at the site recently approved to become condominiums. Photo by Ana Buzzerd

The John M. Fleet pool is no more. According to Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger, demolition is three weeks ahead of schedule. Photo by Lynn “Jake” Burton

Discretionary grants awarded, clean audit for 2023 financials

AMY HADDEN MARSH

Sopris

Sun Correspondent

Monday’s meeting was short and to the point. All discretionary grant requests presented last week were awarded, including $5,000 for the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program, $1,000 for the Roaring Fork Conservancy, $1,450 to Valley Senior Center for a new hot water heater, $5,000 to Garfield County Search and Rescue, $5,000 to YouthEntity and $5,000 to the Glenwood Springs Arts Council.

Commissioners (BOCC) approved a request to split landfill fees with the City of Rifle for the City’s fall clean-up in September, a remote communications site utilization agreement with Pano AI and an amendment to a commercial hangar land lease and operating agreement with Atlantic Aviation to expand a lease parcel

at the county airport. Atlantic Aviation said the hangar is built and planes are in it but they need to relocate parking and make a path to safely land Flight for Life helicopters.

The BOCC also heard from auditing firm McMahan and Associates about the county’s 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Matt Miller began with a brief description of the auditing process, which includes planning, fieldwork and the report (145 pages this year). He said it took about two months to finish the fieldwork and the report, which included reading the minutes of every 2023 BOCC meeting.

The county received a clean audit opinion for 2023. The upshot is the general fund balance is “healthy” at $42 million and the county has no outstanding debt, which Miller said is “very rare for any government of actual size.”

“Funny, you don’t look like a hot water heater.”

County investment funds are at $111 million with $54 million in the Colorado Trust that the county can access at any time. The county brought in $700 million in property tax from oil and natural gas activity. The financial report is available at www.garfieldcounty.com/finance/financial-reports

The BOCC also approved a request from

Budget, First and Last Mile Mobility, employee support

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

The Aug. 8 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board of directors meeting saw quick approval of several resolutions. The group unanimously passed resolutions on adopting a proposed zero-emission fleet transition plan, RFTA’s new Climate Action Plan and authorizing First and Last Mile Mobility (FLMM) reserve grants. There was more discussion around the 2024 Strategic Plan which was presented at the July meeting. After slight adjustments suggested by Carbondale Trustee Colin Laird, the Strategic Plan was duly adopted.

Presentations and action items

Director of finance Paul Hamilton shared highlights on RFTA’s financial sustainability and current focuses. A top priority for RFTA in the coming months is aligning the budget with strategy outcomes. In response, the finance department is working with other departments to draft a 2025 transit service plan based on 2024 data and establish departmental operations budget estimates.

Hamilton highlighted a few items, including the quest to secure additional funding for Iron Mountain Place employee housing improvements and ongoing projects to fund battery electric bus transitions. Another focus for RFTA is finalizing cost estimates for employee healthcare, the price of which is split between the authority and employees. RFTA anticipates that healthcare costs will continue to increase and intends to minimize premium increases. The board had a short discussion on this, including mention of the Valley Health Alliance and its resources as a point of reference.

Mobility coordinator David Pesnichak then shared details on RFTA’s role in regional FLMM efforts. A popular aspect of FLMM in the Valley has been bike-sharing services. RFTA invested in WE-Cycle as a founding partner in 2013 and became its primary funder in 2022. Current RFTA contracts for contributing funds extend through 2028. Planned WE-Cycle expansions include a 2025 project for Snowmass Village and a 2026 launch in Glenwood Springs.

Pesnichak then elaborated on RFTA’s vehicle microtransit history. Aspen’s Downtowner on-demand bus service started in 2016 to alleviate congestion and address unmet worker and tourist needs. Snowmass Village’s on-demand service differs in model; the broader village shuttle fleet fills requests, unlike Aspen’s discrete on-demand vehicles. Basalt’s Downtowner program has been popular, and is still 50% funded by RFTA. Carbondale’s brand-new on-demand program is modeled on that 50/50 funding split. On-demand planning microtransit for Glenwood Springs is expected to start soon.

The FLMM seed funding program started in 2021. RFTA intends for this money to initiate programs and get them

functional for the first three years. The funding source for these seed initiatives comes from 10% of RFTA’s surplus in a given year. Because surplus is not stable year to year, it is difficult to set hard timelines for multi-year projects.

The board responded enthusiastically to this report and in favor of potential e-bike additions to WE-Cycle from Aspen, Snowmass and Carbondale. Colin Laird noted to the group that Carbondale’s current share of FLMM investment is 5% of the town’s entire budget. 10% (what it would be without RFTA contributions) is not feasible.

CEO report

Outgoing CEO Dan Blankenship formally addressed the board for the very last time. Those convened expressed gratitude for Blankenship and emphasized that he will be missed before he proceeded with the report.

A Sales Tax Exemption request had been denied by the State of Colorado. RFTA purchased materials for renovations of the 42-unit Iron Mountain Place employee housing complex and requested tax exemption for the project. RFTA is appealing this decision to convince state government of the necessity for employee housing. The process is ongoing.

The board feels passionately that employee housing is essential. They expressed hope that the appeals process succeeds, as well as disbelief that RFTA is not exempt from sales tax when school districts are. Blankenship was glad that there is energy around this appeal. “It just makes sense,” he said. “We don’t know why the Department of Revenue has been so slow and reluctant on this.”

After a quick operational department update from Kurt Ravenschlag, RFTA’s next CEO, the meeting entered into an executive session for “CEO succession planning.”

Agendas, which include minutes and Zoom links for upcoming meetings, are available at www.rfta.com/board-meetings

Traveler’s Highland Public Improvement District for road repair and drainage work near Parachute, which the County Road and Bridge Department will oversee.

Commissioners have yet to set a meeting date with the Garfield County Library board about a proposed agreement for onboarding library board trustees.

CARBONDALE from page 12

at the Rec Center from 6 to 11pm on Oct. 4. New this year, local spirits, beer and wine will be sold in Sopris Park on Potato Day proper, Oct. 5. A traditional gymkhana and activities at Coffman Ranch will take place the following day. All application materials were unanimously approved.

An ordinance approving seven units including two deed-restricted units on 12th Street was approved along with an 18-month extension for the developer because the ordinance took so long after a major site plan approval in December of 2022. The project now has until June 13, 2027.

A similar ordinance approving a combined application for the new Aquatics Center was unanimously approved. But first, Kribbs gave more detail for his “no” vote on the application on May 14. He spoke to project documents quantifying around 25% of people who “didn’t care” about the pool’s location being weighed toward keeping its location in Sopris Park, giving that choice the appearance of equal support, whereas around 50% of people surveyed said they didn’t want it in Sopris Park. Kribbs concluded, “Hopefully going forward we are exceptionally transparent, exceptionally forthcoming and exceptionally accurate in how we describe projects.”

The final item of the night was a discussion around off-street parking requirements for housing projects using Town Center as a case study. Trustees were told by staff that to reduce parking requirements would entail an extensive public process. Ultimately, it was decided that the remaining five of 23 total parking credits at the Town Center property should apply the first stage of that project to help it receive Colorado Housing and Finance Authority tax credits by including as many affordable units as possible.

The full discussion can be reviewed at www.bit.ly/CdaleParking

Outgoing RFTA CEO Dan Blankenship addressed the board of directors for the last time in that position on Aug. 8. Photo by John Stroud

Hank Spaulding: A Carbondale original

KEN PLETCHER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Soft-spoken, self-effacing Henry (Hank) Spaulding is a third-generation Carbondale native with a ready smile and laugh. He is also a skilled stonemason with Gallegos Corporation and an avid outdoorsman. He recently sat down with The Sopris Sun.

Sopris Sun: Both sides of your family have been here for quite some time, at least since the beginning of the 20th century?

Hank Spaulding: My dad is from here, and my grandfather [Spaulding] was born in Meeker, and he [later] came here. My great-grandpa had a cabin up on Bulldog Creek above Avalanche Creek. He would spend the summers up there and winters down here at the Dinkel Building. He was a prospector. My mom’s dad ran cattle up the Fryingpan. I grew up right where my mom still lives on Highway 133.

Sun: You went to school here?

HS: Yeah, grade school, high school, everything.

Sun: What are some other childhood memories?

HS: Dad used to be a core driller for the government, and we would take a trailer and stay up at Ashcroft for the summer. He drilled for Mid-Continent too, so they would know where the coal was at. He drilled Ruedi to see if it would hold water. I worked at Aspen Highlands for a couple of years when I was going to school. We’d park cars, and then we’d get a pass to go skiing. I started skiing when I was three years old. My dad worked at Buttermilk. He’d take me to work and put me in a class. So, I skied all the time, but I don’t anymore.

Sun: Did you ever work for Mid-Continent?

HS: Yes, I was on a maintenance crew called Pitkin Iron. We had a machine shop, [and I did] ironwork and metalwork for the coal mine — a lot of maintenance. I went down [into the mines] a few times for maintenance; nothing I really wanted to do.

(970)947-9173CO

Sun: At some point you got into stone masonry.

HS: I was working for Sutherland Construction. They would hire us in the summer, and we’d go up to Aspen and build these big houses. We did everything except the plumbing and electricity. My dad was working for them too, and [with the Sutherlands] all of us were fathers and sons working together. My dad got into more of the stonework instead of the carpenter work; he said you can’t do stonework if it’s freezing. So, I started doing stonework. We did some of the first dry-stacked granite [stonework] in Aspen – no mortar in between the stones, only on the sides and back. We’d pick the stone from Penny Hot Springs.

Sun: When did you start working for Gallegos?

HS: In 1992. After Gallegos began using tents and heaters around stonework projects during the winter, I started working year-round.

Sun: Any projects stick out in your mind?

HS: I worked on Prince Bandar’s place when I first started with Gallegos. I worked on the pools at Snowmass Club and the Snowmass Rec Center. I helped restore the community church in Aspen down by Clark’s Market. We took almost every stone out and replaced it with new mortar. Most recently, I worked on the remodel of Glenwood Hot Springs.

Sun: One of your projects won an award?

HS: Willow Court home in Aspen. Gallegos won the 2021 Pinnacle of Excellence award from the Natural Stone Institute. The home took about eight months; dry-stack construction.

Sun: I hear you have an ingenious way of moving big slabs of rock around.

HS: If you put golf balls underneath [the stone], it will roll in any direction you want it to. My dad came up with that, and it works very well.

Sun: Do you have a favorite hunting spot?

HS: We’ve hunted up in Coal Basin since I was 14.

Photo by April Crow-Spaulding

[Where we go is] a really deep ravine, and if you don’t know where the trails are, you can get in a lot of trouble.

Sun: Is there a hunting story that stands out?

HS: Me and my buddy went bow-and-arrow hunting. I saw something moving in the trees and got real close, and out walks a bear. I lifted that bow and thought, “Oh, I don’t think this is going to be very good.” So, I put it down and started throwing rocks at the bear. The bear was as scared as I was, and he took off running. My buddy was backed up to a tree by a sow and cub, and I started screaming and scared them away.

Sun: Do you have a favorite fishing spot?

HS: Up on the Flat Tops. My dad tied this fly, and I tie it now. Not many people have ever seen it. There’s nothing in the water that looks like it, which is weird, but I can catch fish when no one else is.

Our Town features introduce you to neighborly folks. Have a suggestion for someone we should spotlight? Email news@soprissun.com

Valley View celebra 15 años de éxito con su programa para enfermeras

JACKIE RAMIREZ

Sol del Valle

En 2008, Valley View, un hospital comunitario sin fines de lucro, le dio la bienvenida a un programa primero de su tipo de residencia de enfermera. Recientemente el programa celebró su 15o aniversario desde que su primera clase se graduó. El programa de residencia de enfermería reconoce la necesidad de que los graduados recientes de enfermería tengan una transición estructurada de la escuela a ser enfermeros en Valley View.

El programa, que dura un año, da oportunidad a residentes para poner en práctica sus conocimientos en aceptan a estudiantes de todos programas acreditados y es uno de los programas más prestigiosos del estado, reconocido como Programa Acreditado de Transición a la Práctica con Distinción por la Comisión de Acreditación del Centro de Credenciales de Enfermería de Estados Unidos, el cual es el único programa acreditado en la región del Western Slope.

“Es realmente un programa que es una excelente base para que los enfermeros puedan trabajar al lado del paciente en cualquier departamento o especialidad que elijan”, dijo Dawn Sculco, la directora de

enfermería en Valley View, quién ha estado con el hospital por 11 años.

Sculco explica que el apoyo durante la transición de estudiante a enfermera es muy importante por lo que uno enfrenta y maneja durante su carrera como enfermera.

“Trabajas con personas y pacientes, enfrentado las pruebas y tribulaciones, y a veces los peores, o con suerte los mejores momentos en la vida de las personas y eso puede traer muchas emociones”, dijo.

“También una de las cosas es si eres una nueva enfermera y tal vez estás trabajando por la noche, esa también es una transición diferente que tienes que hacer. Tienes que ver a qué hora del día tienes que dormir y cómo te vas a mantener despierto en la noche. Normalmente todo esto necesita bastante apoyo para figurar cómo lo vas a manejar”.

Juana Garcia, la directora de clínica y educadora de servicios quirúrgicos, fue parte del programa de residencia de enfermería y ha estado en Valley View por 12 años. Garcia mencionó que el programa le ayudó facilitar la transición de estudiante a enfermera.

Cuando tenía 6 años, sus padres la trajeron de El Salvador a los Estados Unidos. Su interés de atención médica

vino después de que su padre estuvo en el hospital y había una barrera de idioma. Eso la animó a buscar una carrera de enfermería y usar su conocimiento de inglés y español para ayudar a los pacientes.

“Siento que el hecho de ingresar a un hospital es una situación muy aterradora, ¿verdad? Y cuando no conoces el idioma, se vuelve 10 veces peor. Así que poder comunicar tus necesidades de manera segura a alguien que te entienda tiene un impacto enorme en tu atención”, dijo Garcia. “Poder brindar ese sentido de seguridad a nuestra comunidad de habla hispana ha sido muy gratificante. Se siente muy bien poder estar ahí para nuestra comunidad”.

El programa continúa buscando maneras de cómo servir mejor a la comunidad hispana y a otras comunidades para recibir la atención médica adecuada que necesiten. Valley View ofrece un programa donde el personal puede convertirse en intérpretes calificados.

“Siento que el hospital

realmente intenta acercarse a nuestra comunidad aunque puede ser un poco difícil. Sabes, hay mucha gente en nuestra comunidad que piensa que, si no tengo nada mal, ¿porque voy a ir al doctor? Así que creo que el hospital intenta dar a conocer la información en nuestro idioma para alentar a las personas a que realicen su atención preventiva lo antes posible”, dijo Garcia. A lado de que el programa continúa a crecer dando diferentes oportunidades dentro el hospital para las nuevas enfermeras, y celebra su acreditación, la cual Sculco describió como un sello de un programa altamente funcional. Otra manera que el hospital y su programa satisfaga las necesidades de no solamente la comunidad, sino también de los enfermeros, es tomar estudiantes de diferentes lugares, Colorado Mountain College siendo uno, y dar oportunidades para que enfermeros compartan sus experiencias del trabajo.

“Es para que nosotros, como cuerpo de enfermería, aprendamos qué podemos mejorar. Tienen un foro en el que pueden dar retroalimentación a personas que ya están allí, como líderes”, dijo Sculco. “Así que tienen la oportunidad de compartir lo que está funcionando y lo que no”.

Todo es hecho en el esfuerzo de dar la adecuada atención médica en Valley View.

“Si no sabemos la respuesta de inmediato, trataremos de obtener la respuesta y dirigirnos a los canales adecuados”, dijo Garcia.

ASPEN

Aspen Daily News

Mi Chola

Aspen Valley Hospital

Snowmass Market

The Aspen Store

Box on Hyman Avenue

Pitkin County Library

BASALT

Basalt Quick Lube

Basalt Regional Library

The Basalt Store

Alpine Bank Basalt

Timbos

7/11

Jalisco Grill

Big O Tires

CC Cafe

WILLITS/EL JEBEL

El Jebel Mobile Offices

Midvalley Surgery Center

El Jebel Laundromat

Eagle County Courts

City Market

Skotties

El Korita

Box on San Miguel

Casa Tequilas

TAC Fitness

ANB Bank

CARBONDALE

Catherine Store

Garcia’s

City Market

Alpine Bank

Box at La Perla

Box at “Main St.”

Recreation Center

Carbondale Library

CMC in Carbondale

3rd St. Center

Valley Meats

La Roca

LiftUp

7/11

Jalisco Grill

Mi Lindo Nayarit

La Fogata

Gloria’s Boutique

GLENWOOD SPRINGS

7/11 West Glenwood

Post Office

Hospital Valley View

Recreation Center

Mountain Family Health

Welcome Center

GWS Library

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

Post Office

Taquerina Elias

New Castle Library

City Market

SILT

Silt Library

Silt Laundromat

Kum & Go (Main St.)

Silt Roundabout

La Placita 2

RIFLE

Tapatio’s

Kum & Go

Taugenbaugh

Jalisco Grill

Box at City Hall

Rifle Library

Tutty Frutti Full

Box at 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

Enfermeras de Valley View, Michelle Cusimano (izquierda) y Juana Garcia (derecha). Foto cortesía de Valley View

Crystal River update: Wild and Scenic Downvalley schools see early enthusiasm for hands-on learning models

The upper Crystal River is one of the last “free-flowing” rivers in the state of Colorado — unrestrained and connected to its headwaters, without dams or out-of-basin diversions.

As with all water issues in the West, it’s easy to find conflict, but communities along the Crystal River all agree the river’s free-flowing condition is unique and something worth protecting for the future. That’s why the stakeholder group known as the Crystal River Wild and Scenic and Other Alternatives Feasibility Collaborative Steering Committee has been working over the past year and a half to find durable protections for the Crystal River, so the river can remain wild and free. With an ongoing drought and climate change impacts escalating, demand for the Crystal’s water will only increase.

GUEST OPINION

By Michael Gorman, Lea Linse and Hattie Johnson

Last fall, there was a series of public presentations on the various methods available to protect the Crystal. One of those methods was a Wild and Scenic designation, which protects a river’s free-flowing condition and “outstandingly remarkable values.” Our community has been discussing a Wild and Scenic designation for over 40 years and now we’re taking this opportunity to sit down together, regardless of opinion on Wild and Scenic, to hash out how to develop a proposal that could best incorporate our shared values.

The public heard from experts about how a Wild and Scenic designation works as a tool to safeguard those values. We also learned how a Wild and Scenic designation can be adapted to fit a community’s specific needs, and so we spent time gathering input to identify what those needs look like for our community. We agreed that these needs ought to be addressed for any approach to move forward. In March, the Steering Committee reached consensus on a recommendation to form subcommittees on options that have generated community interest and each will take a deeper dive into possible interim or alternative protection tools, specifically an in-stream flow right, Wild and Scenic designation or local government agreement.

As part of this ongoing second phase, the Wild and Scenic Subcommittee is researching how a Wild and Scenic proposal could be specifically tailored for the Crystal River. Each month our subcommittee looks closely at a value or topic we’ve identified through public input and determines how it could be incorporated in a proposal. We are looking at examples from other Wild and Scenic bills, and speaking with Forest Service staff and other experts with experience who can provide perspective and interpretation of policy and legislation. Our goal is to develop a draft Wild and Scenic proposal that would protect the Crystal River while making every attempt to address the group’s questions, values and any additional reservations identified along the way. We intend to bring this proposal back to the larger Collaborative and the broader community for discussion. While we’d all like answers sooner than later, this collaborative process is complex and we are moving at the speed of trust.

Our subcommittee is made up of Steering Committee members from up and down the Valley with different backgrounds, political leanings and opinions on the best ways to protect the river, but we are connected by our shared values and appreciation for the Crystal. The dedicated members of this group have volunteered countless hours of their time and sat down with each other over hundreds of slices of pizza to work on a vision for a future where the Crystal River remains free flowing. For many in the room, this effort comes on the heels of previous decades of involvement, and as co-chairs we often reflect on our gratitude for the commitment and expertise embodied in this group and the willingness to listen to others’ opinions.

Hattie Johnson, Lea Linse and Michael Gorman are co-chairs of the Wild and Scenic Subcommittee which generally meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 5pm at the Third Street Center in Carbondale. Community members are welcome to listen in on these meetings in-person or on zoom. For questions, more information or to provide input, email michael@ wildernessworkshop.org and visit www.thecrystalvalleyecho. com/wild-scenic-stakeholder

Introductory-level environmental education has become a staple for Valley elementary schools. Each year, Basalt Elementary, Crystal River Elementary and Aspen Elementary welcome full-time educators from Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES). This program, which started at the Aspen schools in 1975, is a cherished facet of elementary education for many local children and adults who went through the program. It has also been steadily expanding.

At Aspen, Basalt and Crystal River all elementary students have environmental studies once every week. In addition, all grades at these schools have two ACES field trips every year.

ACES received funding several years ago to support work with RE-2 schools through Great Outdoors Colorado. This kicked off their programming for the RE-2 schools. Since 2018, ACES has facilitated multiple field trips, as well as in-class lessons, per year for RE-2 schools.

While the field trip program was initially based at sites in the Roaring Fork Valley, including the Hallam Lake campus in Aspen and Rock Bottom Ranch near the Emma Hooks rural neighborhood, it continues to adapt. ACES educators are mindful of the power of place and value of children learning about the ecosystems close to them. Says ACES education director Andrea Aust, “In the last few years, our field trip locations have expanded to Rifle Falls State Park, the Silt River Preserve, East Elk Creek and more.” Programs differ per season, too. In the winter, classes visit Aspen Mountain and Sunlight Mountain Resort on snowshoeing field trips to learn about winter habitats and animal adaptations, a complement to the autumn or late spring trips.

Aust emphasizes how programs resonate with children. In her experience, participant enthusiasm is consistently high in both the schools with regular programming and the schools newer to the opportunity with only the twice-ayear field trips. “We don’t see any differences in engagement with the younger age groups. All kids are excited to play and learn outside.”

Aust reports no family or parent resistance to these programs. In fact, for many of the RE-2 schools, there has been positive feedback about how kids are excited to share what they’ve learned with their parents on family outings. “We have more interest in field programs than capacity all the way down to Rifle,” Aust says, noting that ACES hopes to continue offering more field and in-school

education programs.

The ACES team is excited to be able to create this early introduction to our surroundings. “We’re connecting students with local natural phenomena and helping them to learn about things they

GUEST OPINION

By Annalise Grueter

see outside,” Aust explains. Helping forge those connections has myriad benefits. Among those benefits are self-esteem boosts and enjoyment of the learning process. “Something we see with the younger students is that the students who struggle with classroom settings really thrive in outdoor hands-on learning situations.”

ACES is working on establishing regular part-time programming with additional elementary schools in the Valley.

After elementary years, though, the presence of environmental and experiential education depends on the school. Basalt Middle School’s annual experiential education programming looks very different

from Aspen school programming or private and charter school programs in the Valley (discussed in the third installment of this series). Yet Basalt has more structured ex-ed than some other secondary schools. In upcoming installments, we’ll examine what has gone into building the Basalt programs, as well as the reasons they are more limited than other middle and high schools with established ex-ed.

For kids and families who are interested in having experiential learning experiences together, Aust and ACES’s public relations rep Katherine Roberts recommend a few upcoming events.

“For the first time ever at Rock Bottom Ranch, we’ve been hosting a regular all-Spanish yoga class this summer,” shares Roberts. It is donation-based participation, so technically free. The final session for the year is next Monday, Aug. 19. One-hundred percent of donations at that class support ACES general education programs. While a date has not been set yet, ACES generally hosts its annual Harvest Party at Rock Bottom Ranch in the fall. The lively event includes locally-sourced food, environmentally-themed games and live local music. It is a family-friendly opportunity.

More about these events and ACES’ work in the human and ecosystem communities of the Roaring Fork Valley is available at www.aspennature.org

The Roaring Fork River, pictured near Aspen, is often featured in ACES’ elementary classroom programs. Photo by Annalise Grueter

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

Lucky Charm

By Karen M. Greenwood May 2,

2024

I must have one, right?

A lucky charm to keep me from harm? I must have one ...

For I do not live in a country war-torn

A place where gangs rule

Where those unlucky live in fear

Where children and women are abducted Tortured, and raped

I must have one right?

For I can turn on lights, heat my house, access fresh water And dispose waste

I must have one …

For I can vote, grow and buy food, love my post office and libraries I can visit my physician to help regulate my body, working together for health and wellness I must have one right?

A lucky charm that keeps me from harm? Or …

move, the BOCC shot down the appointment. Steven had already announced his candidacy for commissioner, so it was likely a political decision to stir up a culture war. Hanna isn’t a book-banner and that’s what the BOCC is looking for in a GCPLD trustee.

“As a parent,” Steven said, “I believe that parents and guardians are the ones that get to decide what is suitable for our children. We shouldn’t be chipping away at the First Amendment in a feigned effort to protect kids.”

I recently read an article in our local paper that involved climate change issues and various ways to approach these problems. I volunteer with 350.org to provide education and activities to help people understand climate change and what we can all do to

To provide education and conversation, we have organized a movie series with knowledgeable people present to discuss facts and provide answers to questions we all probably have. It will be educational, enter-

As I looked through titles and topics and viewed the videos that might be appropriate, I realized how much I did not know about many of these related subjects. In some cases the information was almost frightening, but it is a good feeling to know more and understand why it is important to do certain

It might surprise you to look up “small” information about something like cattails and find why these pretty plants might cause problems. Then try another “larger” subject like permafrost and see what you find. You

The upcoming documentary showing will be on Aug. 24 from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Carbondale Library. The series will continue every Saturday for eight weeks — same time and place. Learn what we need to do to care for each other and the planet. We will be much stronger when we all work together. Hope to see you on Aug. 24 at 4:30pm.

Here it comes again. Just when we were hoping for road ease as summer tourists

On our geographically constrained roadways from Rifle to Aspen, expect over 12,000 students, faculty and staff Thursday, Aug. 15 and beyond. Students will be on the roads for morning commutes, during the day looking for lunch and to and from after school activities. Take a Minute, think about everyone who

SKYRUNNING

from page 8

in their own countries and share those athletes on the world stage.”

He said DeMoor is the ideal runner to help champion the sport.

“Through the organization process, Joseph has shown enthusiasm, doggedness and inclusiveness,” he said. “He’s not only a great athlete but a great person and spokesman for the sport.”

The other U.S. Skyrunning team members are: Ultra — Mercedes SiegleGaither of Westfield, Wisconsin, Dan Button of Boise, Idaho, Jeffrey Stern of Mill Valley, California, Travis Lavin of Centralia, Illinois, and two Colorado runners, Erin Thorn of

we share our roads with, drive focused and Slow Down in Town!

Diane Reynolds Take a Minute/ Slow Down in Town

Vote like our libraries depend on it

VOTE to protect YOUR First Amendment right to speak, publish, READ and view what YOU wish, worship (or not worship) as YOU wish, associate with whomever YOU choose and gather together to ask the government to make changes in the law or to correct the wrongs in society.

VOTE to keep our county commissioners OUT of library governance and focused on their stated objectives and goal policy initiatives: infrastructure and investment, public health and human services, community outreach and transparency, economic development, federal, state and local policy and organizational, core and internal services.*www.garfield-county.com/ board-commissioners/policy-directives

VOTE to keep the variety of community offerings at all of OUR Garfield County libraries.* www.gcpld.org/events

Carolyn Howard Carbondale

Why support a sexual predator?

Really? How could you bring your little girl to stand on the street and cheer for a man who has bullied, assaulted and demeaned women his entire life? His words, “Grab ‘em by the [expletive]. You can do anything.” He has been accused of assault and/or inappropriate sexual behavior by dozens of women in multiple incidents dating back to the ‘70s. For years he has lied or bought his way out of lawsuits. But now he is a criminal, finally convicted by an impartial citizen jury for sexually assaulting a woman in a dressing room. How low could Donald go?

Longtime locals well remember when Trump brought his mistress to Aspen for his family’s ski vacation. That was when he was cheating on his first wife. He’s also cheated on the other two. Are these the family values you are hoping to pass on to your daughter?

Almost every woman I know has been in a situation of having to deal with inappropriate sexual behavior and/or sexual assault. Don’t support this liar, this cheat, this lecherous, disgusting old man. Take the time to really listen to him. He lies and lies and lies. He’s a misogynist would-be dictator who doesn’t care about you or your daughter’s future. Luckily we now have a better choice for our future president. Take this opportunity to put your energy behind a woman of integrity.

Annette Roberts-Gray Carbondale

Thornton and Marisa Watson of Salida; Sky and Vertical — joining DeMoor are Michelle Merlis of Monterey, Massachusetts and Laurel Moyer of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Morgan Elliott of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, Joshua Taylor of Wasilla, Alaska, and Stephen Kerr of Sutton, Massachusetts. The team is also raising funds to help support their participation in the World Championships, for things like team kits, accommodations, race fees and team meals. They’ve set up a Givebutter page (www.givebutter.com/skyrunning2024) with a goal to raise $15,000.

To learn more about skyrunning, visit www.skyrunning.com/about-skyrunning

…except on holidays and weekends. It’s time to put away the skateboards, saddles, scooters and other fun toys and games, and break out the paper, pens, computers and books ‘cuz summer has come to an end and the school year is starting.

Summer is over and you must go to school.

No time to play or swim in the pool. You’re in class all day so it won’t be much fun, ‘cuz you can’t leave the house ‘til your homework is done.

Photos and text by Jane Bachrach