20231005

Seeing the Forest Service for the trees

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

Construction on the new Aspen-Sopris Ranger District buildings in Carbondale is one step closer to becoming reality. The White River National Forest (WRNF) awarded a $6.3 million contract to Dare-Case Contracting Services LLC of Grand Junction on Sept. 28 — one day after WRNF Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams signed a new decision memo for the project. And, the plan to demolish the existing, 84-year old buildings

and remove landmark trees from the lot at the corner of Weant Blvd and Main has attracted the attention of local residents. Close to 100 people attended the Aug. 22 Carbondale Board of Town Trustees (BOTT) meeting where Kevin Warner, district ranger for the Aspen/Sopris Ranger District, updated the trustees about the project. Most of those who spoke after Warner were upset about losing mature trees on the property to make room for a building they said would render Carbondale unrecognizable. “We are losing what I would call a cultural landscape,” said Laura Kirk. “It is

something that has defined the character of our town as you enter on Main Street.”

The original project design included taking a wrecking ball to all buildings on the lot, pulling out seven trees, including the spruce trees facing Main Street, and staging the new building to accommodate a drive-through for large vehicles.

In May 2023, the WRNF told The Sopris Sun it will attempt to save the “community tree” at the corner of Weant and Main. continued on page

The last time I saw Rob Lowe OPINION

in a New York mood: rushed and furious. As we all watched, our valley became a magnet for urbanites who want to live a more natural, care-free life. After all, we’ve got it all: clean rivers, public lands, endless sunshine, affordable housing — err, I mean, it’s all relative. The housing in this valley seems affordable if you’re a millionaire from Manhattan, or if you’re willing to live in your car; there isn’t much available in between.

By Jeannie Perry Ps&Qs

When I was a kid, my sisters and I would ride our bikes endlessly around Sopris Village in El Jebel. Our dad lived there, and it was like sci-fi Nancy Drew because it was this suburban “village” surrounded by miles and miles of empty fields: no City Market shopping center, no Movieland, nothing to do but ride around the paved streets surrounded by fields of long grass and weeds.

There was one restaurant on that side of Highway 82, a sit-down, nicebut-not-quite-fine dining place, with white tablecloths and water glasses at each place setting. I can’t remember the name of it, but I think it started with a W, and they kept a little dish of mints at the hostess station.

At least, they did until the Perry girls rode up on our 10-speeds. It felt like a caper to ride up, run inside and grab a handful of mints, before speeding off on our bikes… Around and around we went on those paved streets in the middle of nowhere.

Nowadays, I wouldn’t tell a kid to ride their bike anywhere near that area. Mid-valley traffic rivals the shitshow that is Aspen, and everyone’s

LETTERS USFS

A big part of Carbondale’s charm is that we are more than an affordable place to stay while visiting Aspen. We have our own lives happening here: pure punk rock, Potato Day, ranching and real rodeo. By the way, now we’ll have the only rodeo in the Roaring Fork Valley, as Snowmass is tearing out their rodeo lot for — you guessed it, rent-controlled housing.

But even this past summer, we could not park our old red Ford pickup with the white wooden rails at the Gus Darien Arena. Every time I went online before noon to try to reserve a spot, they were immediately unavailable. Then my dad told me that Rob Lowe was in the truck next to him, and I thought, well, that does it… now we’ve got the aging teenage heartthrob population coming to Carbondale.

My first exposure to Rob Lowe was full frontal, at about the same age I was riding my bike around Sopris Village. In the movie “The Outsiders,” while stepping out of the shower, Rob’s towel “slipped.”

I was like 12 or 13, and all my friends and I sat up super close to the TV as we rewound that scene more than once on the VCR.

The people of Carbondale continue to ask for the Town's support and are taking every opportunity to express themselves at all local commission and board meetings. Over 1,200 community members have signed a petition requesting a pause in theU.S. Forest Service (USFS) reconstruction project.

We understand that this is federal land and outside of the Town’s purview, thus we are hoping for public pressure to put a “stay” on the project.

The Carbondale Historic Commercial Core, in which the USFS reconstruction project will occur, is not just a building or series of buildings, it is our Main Street and a corridor of our town's history.

The USFS lot is woven into that historic fabric with buildings constructed in the ‘30s surrounded by majestic old trees, the majority of which will be torn down.

While we understand the USFS requires a new facility, the people of Carbondale have been outspoken in their opinion that the proposed structure should be required to acknowledge and respect the context of our town’s Historic Commercial Core zone district which surrounds it.

At this point, people have questioned whether proper public outreach was employed. It may be that a “categorical exclusion” was invoked to allow a streamlined review process.

I and others respectfully request the project be put on hold for a review of that process to ensure that proper protocol for both public comment and environmental assessment was followed.

John S. Williams Carbondale

He and Matt Dillon and C. Thomas Howell were always on the cover of Teen Beat (the ‘80s version of TikTok) and Matt Dillon was S.E. Hinton’s pet, in much the same way John Hughes couldn’t make enough movies for Molly Ringwald to star in.

Oh, those were the days! You think you like Carbondale now, you should’ve seen it back then. In 1983 nobody was in such a hurry as to drive through town like their asshair is on fire. The only honks were audible waves because we saw someone we knew. The USFS property looked exactly like it does today* and Carbondale and El Jebel were distinctly different towns, with miles of empty land between them.

Now, the Willitsification of the mid-valley has completely obliterated El Jebel and is quickly eclipsing Carbondale. We are one construction site after another: fancy retail on the ground floor, expensive box-living above, or my personal favorite: architecture-for-the-apocalypse, cinder block-style, climate-controlled storage for the likes of Rob Lowe’s artwork. With the number of storage units going up in Carbondale, instead of a bedroom community, we’ll be a garage community for upvalleyers and all their junk. But maybe these can be the affordable housing units of our future… We could all reside in heated/ cooled comfort, with shared indoor plumbing and ADA compliant access. A little dystopian perhaps, but at least it’s affordable.

*Public forum to discuss USFS Main Street plans on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6pm at the Third Street Center.

Oh Carbondale

Oh Carbondale, “So long, it’s been good to know yuh.” (Woody Guthrie, from the dust bowl days.) These words came to mind when I looked at the rendition of the new buildings proposed for the vacant lot north of the 7-Eleven and Remax offices. These buildings resemble the new apartments across the highway. They are two-story buildings that contain another ANB Bank, ground floor commercial space, and second-floor apartments. They are applying for a change of zoning to “mixed-use.” The design description Carbondale uses for new buildings in this area is “new urbanism.”

One of the 10 principles of intelligent urbanism, as defined by Wikipedia, is “a balance with tradition.” My question here is, whose tradition? When I first saw the plans for the newly constructed apartment buildings on the other side of 133, I asked the town planner why the buildings were sited so close to the highway. They told me that was a requirement of the zoning. But, I said, the existing buildings around the roundabout were all set back with the parking in front. This moves the structures away from the highway traffic and preserves the sightlines to the surrounding hills. This preserves the “sense of place.”

If set back, the new apartments there would have a little less noise, a little cleaner air, and more privacy. A Google Map view of the north end of 133 shows most of the existing buildings set back from the highway. Likewise for the several buildings south of Main Street. The streetscape is open and airy. I’d say that is our “tradition.”

The town’s Comprehensive Plan calls for preserving Carbondale’s “small-town character.”

continued on page 30

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Big potato contest

Attention farmers and gardeners — the Carbondale Historical Society is seeking this year’s largest, locally-grown potato. Bring your biggest spud to the historical society’s booth at Potato Day, Oct. 7 in Sopris Park, anytime between 9am and 2pm. The winner will receive a special certificate (and bragging rights).

Always in fashion

The Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza is scheduled for March 7-9. Designer applications are due Nov. 30. Auditions for dancers will occur on Nov. 5 at The Launchpad from 6 to 8pm. Model auditions will be on Dec. 17, also at The Launchpad, from 6 to 9pm. Find a recording of last year’s show and designer application materials at www.carbondalearts. com/fashion-show

Swap It Like It’s Hot

Basalt Library is accepting donations of lightly-used clothing and accessories through Oct. 20 for its third annual Swap It Like It’s Hot event on Oct. 21 (at 10am). Donations can be turned in at the front desk of the library. All leftover items will go to a local thrift store. Visit www.basaltlibrary.org for more information.

Fire mitigation 101

On Oct. 8, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers will host a daylong fire mitigation training for property owners and tenants. Attendees will visit two homes near Elk Springs — one which sets a great example for what fire mitigation should look like and the other which demonstrates several opportunities for improvement and how that will be accomplished. The free training goes from 10am to 3pm with lunch provided. Visit www.rfov.org for more information and to register.

RJ Paddywacks

Cool Bricks Studio

White River Books

Alpine Animal Hospital

Nonprofit Partners

Wilderness Workshop

5point Film Festival

Basalt Library

Aspen Strong

Carbondale Rotary

Colorado Animal Rescue

Carbondale Arts

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce

Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner in 2023? Email Todd@ soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866

Cray cray

Colorado Parks and Wildlife discovered rusty crayfish in Lake Granby on Aug. 17, reported the Colorado Sun on Sept. 27. This species, previously discovered in the Yampa River, is native to the Ohio River basin and is believed to have been illegally introduced by anglers as bait. Biologists worry that without a natural predator, it will spread throughout the Colorado River basin to devastating effect.

Commissioner candidate

Rifle resident Steven Arauza has put in his name for the Garfield County Commissioner District 3 seat for the 2024 election. Incumbent Mike Sampson has held the post since 2008. For more than eight years, Arauza has been employed by the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission as an environmental protection specialist, according to a press release, implementing and enforcing environmental regulations while working in spill response and remediation. Arauza has been endorsed by State Representative Elizabeth Velasco, Roaring Fork School District board member Jasmin Ramirez, Carbondale Trustee Luis Yllanes and former Garfield County commissioner candidate Beatriz Soto. For more info about Arauza, visit www.steveforgarco.com

CARE has 8 dogs and 1 guinea pig available for adoption.

For three days last week, Bridges High School students participated in Discovery Days — earning history credits while engaging in community projects. This year, they explored Carbondale with Sue Gray and the historical society, visiting the cemetery and other landmarks and even pressing apple cider. The students also worked on a new mural in collaboration with Carbondale Arts and Brett Haynes of Bonedale Tattoo (pictured painting with a student). The mural includes six symbols chosen by the students surrounding a stylized “ninja” frog holding a diploma. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Roaring Fork Conservancy

Congratulations to Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFV) for receiving the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education’s “2023 Innovative Environmental Education Program Award” for its Watershed PenPal Program uniting Basalt students with peers in Aurora to forge relationships across the Continental Divide. Both Aurora and Basalt utilize water from the Fryingpan River, thanks to a transbasin diversion at its headwaters. In other news, RFV’s 18th annual photo contest is underway; submissions are due by Nov. 12, find details at www.bit.ly/RFVphotocontest

Fairgrounds shooting

On Sept. 24, the Rifle Police Department arrested suspect Eddy Escobar Lopez for allegedly shooting a firearm during an altercation at a private party at the Rifle County Fairgrounds. According to a press release, Lopez “intervened” by producing and discharging a firearm, but was unknown to the other men involved in the initial altercation. After attempting to elude authorities on foot, Escobar was apprehended. He was booked into Garfield County Jail on five counts of first degree assault (felony), one count of reckless endangerment (misdemeanor) and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (1-4 grams of fentanyl).

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Lisa Girardot, Morgan Neely, Jessi Rochel and Tami Stroud (Oct. 5); Bill Anschuetz, Christi Couch and Matthew Roeser (Oct. 6); Bob Burns, Iliana Rentería and Camille Vogt (Oct. 7); Jody Ensign, Lani Kitching and Bo Persiko (Oct. 8); Sarah Graf, and Melissa Nelson (Oct. 9); Charlotte Vanderhurst (Oct. 10); Brittany Biebl and Jake Kinney (Oct. 11).

Autumn

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Carbondale youth stand to make a difference

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

Last year, on Fridays after school, Delilah, Camille, Violet and Ava would meet at the Carbondale Library. These four friends are each 10 years old and in the fifth grade at Carbondale Community School. They decided that with concerted effort, they could make a difference in the world.

Initially, their ideas started big. Violet thought about endangered species like rhinos, polar bears, elephants and koalas. Camille was more broadly concerned about climate change. Delilah talked about gender disparities, the way “girls and boys are split into two different categories all the time, told they have to like certain things.”

But before they could begin, they needed a catchy moniker. The girls bounced around a few ideas for what their group would be called. “Rebel Queens” was one consideration, but eventually they settled on “the Difference Club.”

Together, they reflected on the changes they are witnessing, even in just a decade of life. For example, Violet used to have a cow pasture behind her house, and now it’s a polo field. She has also noticed changes in the way people act.

“People used to care so much more about the environment and not littering and stuff,” she said. “Now I see strangers

dropping trash on the ground.”

Eventually, they caught wind of a Town of Carbondale decision to allow herbicides to be sprayed in the Delaney Nature Park. They were introduced to Lisa DiNardo, a horticulturist/certified arborist and local advocate for the People and Pollinators Action Network.

When the Town was developing a detailed Integrated Weed Management Plan, adopted in 2019, DiNardo contributed professional holistic land management strategies. The Parks and Rec Department plan, with guidance from advisor Gwen Garcelon, places chemicals at the bottom of the list of tools for eradicating unwanted plants.

Together with the People and Pollinators Action Network, DiNardo advocates for organic land management and perennial plantings to assure insects are able to keep the cycle of life turning within their habitats.

Nine other communities in Colorado have passed pollinator protections, and DiNardo would like to see Carbondale pass a resolution with focused language and lasting intent. The Pollinator Protection Resolution would establish June as “Pollinator Month” and provide opportunities for education each May around Dandelion Day. So far, the resolution has received support from the Environmental Board, its associated Bee Friendly group, the Tree Board and Parks and Rec Commission.

Looking to make a difference close to home, the Difference Club attended that Parks and Rec meeting to back the resolution. Next, they will appear before the Board of Town Trustees alongside DiNardo and the other Carbondale Pollinator Advocates on Oct. 10 at 6pm, asking for the resolution’s official approval and adoption.

The Pollinator Protection Resolution came together with help from the People and Pollinators Action Network and Carbondale Pollinator Advocates, which includes Jillene Rector from the Bee Friendly group, Jane Hendricks from the Bee Friendly group and Environmental Board, Susan Rhea with the Parks and Rec Commission, Mark Burrows of Pollinator Chocolate, Diana Alcantara, who connected DiNardo with the Difference Club, and DiNardo herself. They’ve been drafting the language since April. One section, penned by the

Difference Club, reads: “We, the youth of our community as the future leaders and visionaries of our town, implore town leadership to exercise ecological foresight to preserve inhabitable lands with clean air and water, for people, insects, animals and all plant life in Carbondale for the coming generations.”

“I feel like people always turn to the worst solutions for things,” Delilah commented to The Sopris Sun. “Weeds are literally just these amazing plants that can do so much for everyone. We’re the ones that are just messing everything up.”

“If you destroy the plants, the bugs can’t eat. And if you destroy the bugs, then the other animals can’t eat,” added Violet. “We’re basically destroying our own kind.”

And, “If we actually speak up, we can make a difference,” affirmed Camille.

The Difference Club: Violet, Ava, Delilah and Camille. Photo by Lisa DiNardo

Crystal River augmentation study raises hopes and concerns

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

Just downstream of the confluence of Avalanche Creek and the Crystal River, a 50-acre floodplain has become a site of optimism — and controversy — among water users in the Crystal River Valley.

Early this summer, the West Divide Water Conservancy District and the Colorado River Water Conservation District published a report on a joint feasibility study conducted to examine potential strategies to augment the Crystal River. Strategies included storage at Beaver Lake, Rapid Creek Pond and Upper Basin Pond. However, among the various water storage prospects examined, none was given more attention than a potential solution at Janeway.

Janeway, a historic floodplain on the east side of the Crystal, just downstream of the Avalanche Creek confluence, was identified in the study as a site for an aquifer recharge. Such a strategy would involve hydrologically connecting the plain via an excavated channel at its southern end, around 765 feet long. Then, porous wood structures referred to as “beaver dam analogues” would be constructed to retain water. Lastly, revegetation could occur in appropriate areas with riparian species, such as willows or cottonwoods.

Flooding this area during runoff season would create a store of groundwater with lagged returns,

allowing for more stable year-by-year flows into the Crystal. Ideally, this would result in a more stable source of water for users. Additionally, the Crystal River would see the creation of an additional riparian habitat rich in biodiversity.

All of this could come at an estimated total cost of $1.5 million. The report identified various sources of grant funding, notably a 50% funding match from the Colorado Water Plan as well as a 25% funding match from the Colorado Basin Roundtable. While funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board cannot exceed 75% of the total project cost, the report determines that Pitkin County need not foot the entire bill for the project.

While this may seem like a win-win for water users and the environment, the potential recharge has its critics. Currently, Janeway sits dry, primarily populated with sagebrush and juniper, with a historic railroad grade along its western side. Dale Will of the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association wrote in a column published by The Sopris Sun in August that the site is no longer a seasonal wetland. “The whole flat is quite dry,” Will wrote, and while artificially flooding the area may technically be a “nature-based solution,” Mother Nature hasn’t flooded the plain in the past century.

Will and Pitkin County attorney Laura Makar pointed to the $1.5 million price tag of the project, arguing that it

may be more prudent to simply reduce water waste and seek cooperation between water users — especially between agricultural and residential taps.However, others in the Crystal River Valley are optimistic about the project. “It seems like an awesome opportunity,” said Howie Kuhn, a teacher at Basalt Middle School and part-time hand at Cold Mountain Ranch.

Kuhn, whose family lives off of the flows of the Crystal River, recognized the

Janeway site years ago for a potential ecological project while working at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. Now, he recognizes its potential for benefiting humans upriver.

“There are 205 houses up the Crystal that lack a senior water right,” Kuhn emphasized. “When you’re talking about [that many] houses without a legal right, conserving water just isn’t enough.”

And while the area may be dry now, introducing water isn’t necessarily destructive. Kuhn argues that many species rely on riparian areas, and if the beaver dam analogues are successful as part of this project, beavers may introduce dams on their own and sustain the floodplain as a haven of biodiversity.

However, Kuhn pointed out the need for additional studies in order to justify the project. The report states that current groundwater levels at Janeway are uncertain, and wells may need to be dug in order to determine the viability of the site as an aquifer.

What is ultimately apparent is that concerns about water supply are only rising in the Crystal River Valley. Carbondale is expanding rapidly, drought shows no signs of easing up, and after the historic Ella Ditch call in 2018, action of any kind may need to be taken in order to ensure both livelihoods and households aren’t left stranded without a drop in their taps.

“This is something that could alleviate potential fears,” praised Kuhn.

A map of potential revegetation opportunities at Janeway. Shades of green depict new riparian habitat, the three bars in white represent beaver dam analogues, while the red arc in the upper left represents a permanent barrier with controlled outflow. Courtesy graphic

At the Aug. 22 meeting, the Bioregion Visioning Circle (BVC), a local citizens’ group, began presenting an alternative design that includes rotating the new building 90 degrees and changing the east-west orientation to north-south, which would preserve the old buildings and the trees.

BVC member Candice Hart told The Sopris Sun that it puts a more welcoming front door on Main Street. “It improves wheelchair access, pedestrian access, and creates opportunities for construction-sharing with the new public pool.” The Aug. 22 presentation was interrupted by time constraints. But, the group is nothing if not determined.

Diana Alcantara, another BVC member, told The Sopris Sun that she started petitions on paper and on change.org last summer. “We threw those together the week before Mountain Fair,” she said. “And by the end of the weekend, we collected 400 signatures.” The online petition has 602 signatures as of Oct. 4.

All told, Alcantara estimates she’s given the Town close to 1,400 signatures, but she said, despite the petitions and attending three trustee meetings in August and September, neither the town nor the WRNF have paid much attention to the group’s plan. “What our take-away from the town meetings is, it's out to bid. It’s a done deal. We want the Forest Service downtown,” she said. “That has been said loud and clear by our mayor and certain town trustees.”

In a Sept. 8 email from Mayor Ben Bohmfalk to Ross Kribbs (provided to The Sopris Sun), Bohmfalk indicated that he has had enough. “I don't plan to spend any additional time on this issue in any way,” he wrote. “I apologize in advance for not responding to any additional emails or questions about this.”

Bohmfalk told The Sopris Sun that he was not speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees in the email. “I have to be efficient with how I use my time, and sometimes somebody wants to keep talking about an issue that in my mind is resolved,” he explained. “On my end, this is resolved and I'm not going to respond to

every detailed question about it going forward.”

He said he is not prohibiting the public from bringing their concerns to him. He mentioned other opportunities for involvement, including writing letters or meeting him for “coffee with the mayor” on Fridays from 8 to 9am at Bonfire. “[The BOTT] has heard it out and we've decided that we're not going to intervene and the Forest Service is going forward,” he said. “We've helped them hear feedback from our residents, so we're moving on to other things. But I'm not restricting people's ability to engage in any way.”

To its credit, the WRNF modified the design to reduce the number of trees that will be felled (Sopris Sun, Aug. 9, 2023). Nonetheless, the BVC alerted Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representative Lauren Boebert about the situation, and will host a public forum on Thursday, Oct. 5 to present the alternative plan. “We're hoping maybe this public forum will help build a better [USFS] response to the community,” Hart said. “We've asked the town trustees for [a forum] and they wouldn't do it.” Town officials, legislators and the USFS have been invited.

The BVC also questions the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process during the run-up to the final decision memo, signed on Sept. 27 by Fitzwilliams. “We're basically just asking for them to pause the project and do a better process, follow their own standards and guidelines,” explained Hart. “And not use a categorical exclusion of repair and maintenance when they're building a whole new building.”

A categorical exclusion — or catex — is arguably a legitimate part of the NEPA process. It defines categories of federal agency actions that are determined not to have a significant impact on the human environment and allows the agency to forego environmental analyses. Catex guidelines have been modified many times over the past five decades, most recently in 2020.

The initial catex for this project was signed by Fitzwilliams on Nov. 6, 2019 when the rulemaking process to change catex guidelines was already underway. On Jan. 3, 2018, the USFS announced plans

for the rulemaking. The proposed rule was published in June 2019, five months before Fitzwilliams signed the first catex. The final rule was published on Nov. 19, 2020. But, it wasn’t until three years later, on Sept. 25, 2023, that the WRNF opened a web page about the building redesign project. Fitzwilliams signed a second catex on Sept. 27, more than three weeks after the bidding process closed and two days before the construction bid was awarded to Dare-Case.

According to online USFS documents, the first catex was the best fit for the project and Fitzwilliams’ “letter to the file” was sufficient approval. But, why did he sign the first catex five months after the proposed new rule was published?

“I didn’t know the rule existed,” he told The Sopris Sun. “This new rulemaking was not something I was tracking at the time.”

He added that the WRNF is not engaged in a conspiracy, he just has more important things to do. “I worry a lot more about a community burning to the ground than ‘I don't like the entrance of a building,’” he said. “I'm sorry, but I just have a lot more concern about how to manage 18 million visitors a year and how the effects of those visitors [impact] wildlife and habitat fragmentation. These are the things that I think I get paid to do.”

Fitzwilliams also said that the Great American Outdoors Act funding, which has been portrayed as time sensitive, is limited by how much was appropriated for this project and rising construction costs. In other words, the money won’t disappear if the project is changed, but increased costs could create the need for more money than was originally allocated Fitzwilliams figures a complete redesign would cost maybe $200,000. “Then we go out for another bid, wait a year, the price is going up, and all these changes could require more money,” he said. “If I say I don't have the money to do all that, in all likelihood they're gonna move the money somewhere else.”

The BVC’s public forum is at the Third Street Center on Thursday. Oct 5, beginning at 6pm.

Rams volleyball set for final stretch after big win over Coal Ridge

By John Stroud Sopris Sun Correspondent

Roaring Fork High School’s girls volleyball team finally found a way to win a tight five-game match, and in front of the Homecoming Week crowd to make it extra special.

Hosting Coal Ridge on Sept. 26, the Rams scored an important 3A Western Slope League win, 3-2, over the Lady Titans.

As they’ve become accustomed to doing this season, it was another thriller that followed a tough but encouraging 3-2 loss to second-place Gunnison on the home court back on Sept. 21.

Rams overpower Longhorns for Homecoming crowd

By Luke Wander Sopris Sun Correspondent

In the opening 10 seconds of Roaring Fork’s Friday night Homecoming clash with the Basalt Longhorns, the Rams intercepted a pass and Jake Barlow stung the palms of Longhorn’s goalkeeper Eric Palomares. Although he didn’t open the scoring, Barlow’s attempt set the tone for the evening: offensive tenacity from the Rams and defensive panic from the Longhorns.

The game was Basalt’s third in the span of four days. A promising 2-2 draw against the Titans of Coal Ridge on Tuesday and a 5-0 thrashing of Moffat County on Thursday gave the Longhorns the momentum they needed to believe they could defeat the Rams for the first time since 2019.

By contrast, Roaring Fork had more than a week to process their 1-0 defeat to Vail Mountain School on Sept. 21. Despite controlling possession and creating numerous chances in Vail, the Rams were unable to recover after falling behind in the opening minutes.

The defeat halted an impressive unbeaten streak, and Coach Nick Forbes responded to it by giving his team the brutal honesty they needed to hear. “This is a talented team,” he admitted, “but I said, ‘If you’re not going to work, if you’re not going to put in the commitment, if you’re not going to have that desire, all the talent in the world is just going to go to waste.’”

In front of hundreds of fans and under the Friday night lights, Forbes’ words clearly had an impact. His players found the will to work hard in the opening minutes of the game, during which the ball rarely left their attacking half. The Rams pressed early and often, forcing a string of misplaced Longhorn passes. Good chances fell to Roaring Fork’s Jeffrey Candela and Foster Hays, but neither could find the target.

Twenty minutes into the game, Roaring Fork had the lion’s share of

the possession and plenty of shots on and off target, but Palomares in Basalt’s goal had done enough to keep the Rams off the scoreboard.

Relief for the Rams came in the 25th minute, as a Yusbani Duarte pass found Fernando Rodrigues on the left side of the box. Rodrigues curled a shot past the diving Palomares into the far side netting, sending the Roaring Fork bench and student section into rapture. Minutes later, Roaring Fork’s Barlow clipped a cross into the box, where Foster Hayes cleverly settled the ball in traffic and rifled it into the goal to double the lead.

In the 31st minute, Roaring Fork defender Sam Brennan’s headed effort looked goalbound, and surely would have put the game out of reach, but the ball bounced off the post and the Longhorns eventually cleared it away.

Down the other end, Basalt’s Jeffery Ramos managed to skip through the Roaring Fork back line, but in the end his angled shot made for an easy save from Roaring Fork goalkeeper Keven Cisneros.

In the second half, the Rams avoided complacency and maintained the pressure that was present throughout the first. In the 50th minute, Barlow received the ball on the left side of the box with several Basalt defenders in front of him. Moments earlier, Barlow had sent a first-time, left-footed effort high and wide. This time he took a touch, assessed his options and

made his defenders step to him.

Slaloming past one, two, then three Longhorns, Barlow arrowed a low shot with his right foot into the far corner, making amends for his miss and taking the score to 3-0. Ten minutes later, Roaring Fork’s Rodrigues, who had opened the scoring, sent in a delightful cross from the left side at the perfect height for teammate Duarte to direct a firm header into the corner.

At 4-0, the student section made their wishes known to Coach Forbes with chants of: “We want Cooper,” and he responded by giving senior Cooper Chacos 10 minutes to lead the line. By this point, the game had lost its sharpness, but the Rams did enough to maintain their shutout.

After the game, Coach Forbes was not thrilled to talk about the Vail Mountain School defeat, but he was pleased with his team’s response. “My message all week was, ‘What can we learn from this? What are we missing?’ Tonight they showed commitment and effort and everything else just fell into place.”

Up next, Basalt will have a chance to regain their momentum as they host Rifle on Oct. 5 at 4pm. Roaring Fork crushed Delta, 5-0 on Oct . 3 and will face Glenwood Springs at home on Oct. 6 at 6pm.

After the 25-16, 19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 10-15 set loss to Gunnison, the Rams stepped up in a big way against Coal Ridge, winning the game by set scores of 21-25, 27-25, 25-19, 20-25 and, most importantly, 15-13 in the tie-breaker.

Sophomore Nikki Tardif recorded 10 kills and three blocks on the evening, and fellow sophomore Yakelin Hernandez had 14 kills.

Junior Erica Crownhart had 24 digs, and twin sister Carley had 22 digs along with seven aces from the service line.

The Rams stand at six wins and seven losses on the season and are 1-2 in League play ahead of an important road contest at Basalt (7-6, 0-2) on Thursday, Oct. 5. Game time is set for 6:30pm at Basalt High’s “Big House.”

JV football update

After scoring a Homecoming Week win over North Fork, 34-6, on Sept. 25, Roaring Fork’s junior varsity football team suffered a 16-12 loss at Basalt on Oct. 2 to drop to 3-1 on the season.

Low on player numbers, the Rams made the tough call this season to scrap the varsity program and to rebuild at the JV level. Several varsity players joined the Glenwood Springs team, but a talented group of younger players are keeping the Rams spirit alive.

“Although we’re small in numbers, we are very strong in talent,” coach Scott Noll said this week. “This group of boys are going to be the successful future of Roaring Fork Football. We plan to return to varsity next year, and I’m very committed to see this program grow and succeed.”

The Rams’ JV squad is on the road at Meeker Oct. 9 before closing out the season Oct. 16 at home against Glenwood Springs. Game time will be 7pm.

Cross country

Competing at the Delta Pantherfest XC Invite at Confluence Park in Delta on Sept. 29, several members of the combined Basalt/Roaring Fork cross country team scored top-20 finishes in their respective varsity races.

For the boys, senior Owen Lambert placed fourth overall with a time of 17 minutes, 17.5 seconds over the 5-kilometer distance. Sophomore Towler Scott was 10th in 17:36.1.

And, in the varsity girls 5K race, junior Isabella Moon placed 15th with a time of 21:03.9, followed by junior Morgan Fink in 16th (21:10.2) and Caroline Cole in 19th (21:17.7).

The team is next scheduled to run at the Rifle XC Invitational on Oct. 10 at Rifle Creek Golf Course. Girls toe the start line at 4:40pm, followed by the boys race at 5:20pm.

Yusbani Duarte and Foster Hayes work their way past the Basalt midfield.

Photo by Sue Rollyson

Yakelin Nunez Hernandez jumps high to spike the ball, supported by teammates Carly Crownhart, Nora Lindgrenand and Ruby Denning. Photo by Sue Rollyson

Disagreement builds over potential development

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

At this week’s Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, a series of funding actions in the morning was followed by a contentious public hearing regarding a potential development at Flying M Ranch.

The meeting opened with a reading of Governor Polis’ proclamation that 4-H week has begun nationwide.

First on a tall list of action items were a pair of funding requests from Paula Stepp of the Middle Colorado Watershed Council. The first request was for $10,000 for continued annual financial support, and the second was $5,000 to match state funding for postfire restoration at Grizzly Creek. Both items were approved.

Garfield County Finance Director Jamaica Watts presented a summary of the allocation of $11.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding. County revenue loss due to COVID-19 from 2020-23 totaled $21.7 million. In 2021 and 2022, $833,000 was directed to Criminal Justice Services, $1.9 million to the Broadband Middle Mile Project, and $3 million to maintain government services. The remaining $5.8 million for 2023 has now been directed to the County’s general fund, along with an additional $1.9 million from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund. Watts remained at the table to

redirect $1 million collected in the Traffic Impact Fund to the Road and Bridge Fund.

After the action items, Substance Use Disorder Director Traci Harris presented an update on the new withdrawal management unit, currently under construction on Grand Avenue. The 8-bed unit will be medically monitored and is targeted to be complete at the end of the first quarter of 2024, depending on construction.

Flying M Ranch

In the afternoon, the meeting hall saw a fully housed public hearing for a development at Flying M Ranch.

Flying M Ranch is a 33.91-acre property located at a bend in the Roaring Fork River, 5.5 miles south of Glenwood Springs along Highway 82. The PUD application proposes the construction of 154 market rate rental townhomes, four affordable rental townhomes, 12 townhomes to be used exclusively by Roaring Fork School District employees and, critically, a 12-bed hospice home as well as two worker dwelling units for the home’s employees.

This is the BOCC’s second vote on this proposal, with changes from the previous proposal including: reduced density, architectural modifications to better fit in with the surroundings and provisions for affordable housing in order to comply with Article Eight.

Additionally, the applicant, Eastbank LLC, is proposing that 10% of the multifamily units will be deed restricted — not counting the 12 additional units dedicated to employees of the School District. Many attendants opposed the development at Flying M Ranch. Citizens in and around the area preferred that the local rural character be preserved, and that development should be limited to already dense areas.

Citizens in opposition also pointed to lack of roadway improvements as part of the development plan, which they argued would result in increased traffic and danger in an area already burdened with traffic impediments. Many asked for a more in-depth traffic

study, and others argued that increasing traffic around a school area is bound to lead to a disaster.Others argued that for-sale units are more important to address housing than temporary rental units, citing that the cost of rent — listed as ranging from $3,500 to $4,000 — requires an income far greater than most Garfield County citizens are capable of reasonably affording.

Supporters lauded the possibility of increased hospice care as well as housing for Roaring Fork School District employees. Many citizens cited the shortage of hospice care in the Valley and its importance for family members in their last months of life, arguing that current hospice professionals need more resources in order to provide their necessary service.

Homecare and Hospice of the Valley — a partner of the developer — also appeared in support for the same reasons. Other supporters cited that valley development can’t be stopped, and the best way to proceed is to make the effort to develop in a way that meets the needs of current and future citizens.

The applicant, after over two hours of public comment, requested to respond to questions and comments in a continuation of the hearing on Monday, Nov. 13 at noon. This will be held after a second site visit on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 10am by the board, to which the public is invited to but will not be permitted to comment at that time.

"Shoulda joined 4-H."

School board candidates, District C

By Jeanne Souldern, Sopris Sun Correspondent

The Sopris Sun is publishing responses to questions posed to candidates running for the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) Board of Education. This is our final installment of candidate questionnaires. Moving forward, The Sun will be covering candidate forums. Phillip Bogart and Lindsay DeFrates are candidates in District C, which encompasses the south and east sections of Glenwood Springs, Spring Valley and western Missouri Heights.

I look forward to working with the district and other school board members to pursue all possible options for funding. I also believe that our budget should be student-centric, and expenses can be managed at the district level to ensure we meet our objectives.

Background and Motivation:

Motivation:

My four children are my primary motivation to run for the school board. I want to invest my time in ensuring they receive a quality education in a safe environment and feel that I can have the greatest impact on our schools as a part of the school board. I feel that all kids deserve the same, and that my efforts will have a positive impact on all kids in our school district.

I have been in the hospitality and lodging industry for over 18 years. During this time, I have made a career of leading people towards goal achievements in order to ensure the success of my company. I oversee budgets and monthly financials while ensuring that our guests and owners are happy with our performance. All of these practiced skills and experiences have prepared me well to serve as a school board member.

Educational Vision and Priorities:

We need to ensure that our teachers have the support that they need in order to provide quality education. They should be focused on the core curriculum and held accountable according to our students’ test scores and grades, as well as classroom observations. I will work with the other board members to ensure we have effective policies in place to accomplish the goal of increasing student success and will work through the superintendent to ensure we meet or exceed our goals.

I will advocate for quality history and civics curricula as well as math and English curricula proven to improve understanding and scores. I am also committed to moving away from the “Rights, Respect, Responsibility” sexual education curriculum that was recently adopted.

Budget and Fiscal Responsibility:

Our budget review process should be completed during school board meetings as opposed to work sessions. We must ensure the full budget review process is recorded and proper meeting minutes are kept and available for community member review. Keeping this information from our parents and other community members is contrary to Colorado’s open meetings law.

Community Engagement and Communication:

I would like to proactively send out school board meeting minutes so parents and community members do not need to search for this. I also plan to host regular community feedback sessions where I can invite community members to share their thoughts and opinions with me, in-person, directly and without time restraints. I also would like to keep community members informed of committee involvement opportunities.

Equity and Inclusion:

All students should have an equal opportunity to quality education through our school district. We should partner with parents and caregivers, as well as other community members, to provide any support needed. Bullying and harassment cannot be tolerated and should be dealt with quickly and effectively. Understanding and empathizing with others is key, as is allowing dissenting opinions without persecution for nonconformity. Free speech and differing convictions should be celebrated.

I would seek to help develop an effective tutoring program that is easily accessible to all students in any home situation, and after-school programs that allow students to interact with each other, volunteers and potential employers. Offering assistance through these programs will help students plan for and prepare for successful futures.

Superintendent Accountability, Evaluation and Housing:

I feel that the superintendent should be held accountable for the district’s testing results as well as the terms of his contract. The district’s adherence to our budget and the effectiveness of expenditures in relation to student success also play a role in the success of a superintendent.

The superintendent’s salary should be evaluated to ensure that he or she is receiving a fair and appropriate wage. It is important that the superintendent understands our community’s concerns by being a part of this community. We should focus on expanding available affordable housing for teachers and allow the superintendent to take advantage of this benefit if necessary.

Learn more about my campaign at: www.phillipbogart.com

I've called this valley home for 18 years, dedicating six of them to teaching at Carbondale Middle School. My passion for our schools, educators and invaluable support staff runs deep. As a mother to three children currently thriving at Sopris Elementary School, I'm invested in the future of our school district. As your representative, I will commit to fostering transparency between the Board of Education and the community, ensuring equity in student achievement and enacting teacher retention strategies.

Phillip Bogart Lindsay DeFrates

As a seasoned educator and a parent navigating the challenges of this valley, I know what it will take to be in this position for the long haul. I am running because I believe it is the best way to serve the community I love.

Vision and Priorities:

My top educational priority is to focus on student achievement by keeping qualified and experienced teachers in every classroom. I plan to attract and retain qualified teachers by…

• Filling support staff positions, including substitute teachers and paraprofessionals, as well as transportation, nutrition and building maintenance staff. Teachers who do not have to play 10 different roles a day can focus on rigorous and differentiated lesson plans and supporting students’ learning.

• Increasing opportunities for teacher and staff housing. Many different organizations are already seeking creative solutions for workforce housing that do not depend solely on building more units.

• Respecting teachers as professionals in their own classrooms and offering them a voice in any decisions that will directly impact their working conditions and the expectations for their position. Feeling valued and secure will help teachers see RFSD as a positive place to work.As a former teacher with a degree in Secondary Education, I will evaluate any curriculum and classroom materials adoption with a critical eye. We need to work harder to improve student achievement by having curriculum resources that align with state standards, build on educational best practices and, most importantly, challenge our students to be active learners in a quickly changing world.

Fiscal Responsibility:

The operating budget of the school district must provide equitable access to high-quality education for all students, and it must do this in an open and transparent manner. The voters of the Valley have repeatedly demonstrated their support for, and belief in, the value of public education through the passage

of a mill levy override for teacher salaries and bond issues for capital and building improvements. As a school board member, I take that trust very seriously, and I recognize that as a board, we must make responsible financial choices that best reflect the values of the community.

Community Engagement:

One of the first things you learn as a teacher is that just because you said something doesn’t mean anyone heard you. While some strides have been made in the district, we acknowledge room for improvement. Drawing on my experience as deputy director of public relations at the Colorado River District, I'll assess existing strategies and outreach platforms. We need to make sure that all voices are heard and that any actions taken by the board are done in full view of the community we serve.

Equity and Inclusion:

Recent assessments reveal a widening achievement gap between our white and Latino students post-pandemic. This trend is unacceptable. Equity means providing timely access to essential resources for all. While advancing accessibility to early childhood education is pivotal, I will also assess strategies for reaching students currently in middle and high school. No one should slip through the cracks; the system demands our attention. Drawing from successful models in similar districts and consulting experts, I am committed to finding solutions to support our beautiful and diverse student community.

Superintendent Accountability:

I believe that our district needs clear and decisive leadership, which values being a part of the community they serve. Most parents and families who live here face daily struggles when it comes to the cost of living, housing availability and support for their families. As a school district, we must have leadership that understands the complexities of these realities. I appreciate the extensive work of the volunteer task force on the issue of superintendent housing. I support either the first or second option proposed by the task force: to buy or build a home rented to the superintendent in correspondence with staff housing guidelines but whose ownership remains with RFSD.

Lindsay DeFrates, her husband, Casey, and their three children. Courtesy photo

Phillip Bogart, his wife, Morgan, and their four children. Courtesy photo

School board candidate interview, District B

they are different from you.”

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Contributor

Alan Kokish is a candidate in District B, which consists of the areas west of Highways 133 and 82 from Carbondale to Glenwood Springs, including Ironbridge/West Bank and Four Mile. Betsy After’s responses were published in last week’s edition.

Background and Motivation:

I’ve lived and thrived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 1992. I'm a father, husband, son and small business owner.

Many of my values were formed at an early age. At the age of 3, our family adopted a young African American girl, my sister Karyn. In 1971, we loaded up the Ford Falcon and camper, my dad with his bushy beard and my mom with her flowing blouses. We traveled from Pennsylvania and settled in a small town in northern California.

Growing up, it was common for kids to use homophobic slurs as insults to other boys. When I was 7, my dad heard me call another boy “you f**.” He pulled me aside and asked if I knew what it meant. I’m not sure if I did. He explained and said, “Our friend Mark is gay, and that is a horrible insult. Would it be ok for someone to call your sister n*****? People are different; never insult or condemn someone because

This has always stuck with me. Today, my parents live in Carbondale and proudly fly an American flag with a rainbow flag beneath it. I have been raised with diversity, inclusion and acceptance as core values my entire life.

I first became interested in running for this position because of my objections to the newly adopted LGBTQ sex education curriculum the district has adopted. The curriculum is intended to be a beacon for diversity and inclusion. The curriculum misses the mark badly. It is neither diverse nor inclusive. It is one group’s idea of gender, how to teach it and when — at a very early age. Much of the material is controversial. If elected, I will work to adopt a more inclusive and ageappropriate curriculum for our ENTIRE community.

Educational Vision and Priorities:

We need to close the gap between English and Spanish-speaking students. I would rely greatly on people within that community, like Alex Sanchez and Jasmin Ramirez, seeking counsel from those who know more on this topic than I do. Also, increasing opportunities for concurrent enrollment for our high school students and emphasizing vocational training and entrepreneurial education.

We should strive to make learning fun. While test scores are an important

metric, it is equally important that your kid comes home excited: “Mom, Dad, guess what I learned today?” Eagerness to learn and engagement will lead to higher test scores.

Budget and Fiscal Responsibility:

My small business has grown every year since 2005, with the greatest growth during financially challenging times. Obviously, I’m financially responsible. Our school district is neither small nor a business, and district finances are probably not where I would make my greatest contributions.

Community Engagement and Communication:

Too often, people are not engaged until they’re angry. Can we incentivize parent participation on the front end? Too often, we hear from the same group of people. Quarterly town halls would be a valuable forum for parents and faculty to voice concerns and raise awareness on important issues. We should announce topics, agenda

thought of as marginalized who are being alienated, but rather a broader swath of our community. We should not embrace one member of our community while shunning another. Diversity, inclusion and tolerance should encompass our entire community. These terms have been hijacked and twisted; they do not belong to one group alone!

Our educational system was developed by English speakers for English speakers. We need to look at the system as a whole and shift certain

S e r e s t a u r a n t s & s p i r i t s , f r e e l i v e m u s i c i n C h a c o s P a r k , c o m m u n i t y

b o o t h s , f r e e f a c e p a i n t i n g , a n d m o r e !

C a r b o n d a l e A r t s G a l l e r y O p e n i n g & A r t i s t T a l k , P a r a m i M a d r e : 5 - 8 p m o p e n i n g r e c e p t i o n , a r t i s t t a l k a t 5 : 3 0 p m E v e n t i n c l u d e s l i v e j a z z m u s i c b y J o s e f i n a M e n d e z a n d f r i e n d s a t 6 p m , T a q u e r í a e l Y a q u i f o o d t r u c k , P e o p l e ' s C h o i c e A w a r d s , a n d m o r e !

F r e e a n d o p e n t o t h e p u b l i c

P o t a t o D a y C o n t r a D a n c e : 6 - 1 0 p m a t C a r b o n d a l e R e c r e a t i o n & C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r $ 1 0 e n t r y , f o o d & d r i n k s f o r p u r c h a s e ; d a n c e l e s s o n 6 - 7 p m , d a n c i n g w i t h d a n c e c a l l e r 7 - 1 0 p m ; l i v e m u s i c b y W o o d N i c k e l S t r i n g B a n d

C a r b o n d a l e C l a y C e n t e r G a l l e r y O p e n i n g R e c e p t i o n , P a r t i a l N a r r a t i v e s : 6 - 8 P M P a r t i a l N a r r a t i v e s i s a t w o - p e r s o n e x h i b i t i o n f e a t u r i n g t h e s c u l p t u r a l c e r a m i c w o r k o f H e a t h e r K a p l a n & U n d i n e

B r o d , o n d i s p l a y O c t 6 t h - N o v 3 r d

Alan Kokish, courtesy photo

SATURDAY

11am-2pm,

at Rock Bottom Ranch

Tickets available

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5

ADDICTION SYMPOSIUM

A Way Out hosts a bilingual addiction symposium at TACAW from 8am to 12:30pm. More info at www.awayout.org

STORYTIME IN SPANISH

Practice, play and enjoy storytime in Spanish for children 6 and under at the Basalt Library from 10:30 to 11am.

ALTERNATE PLAN

The Bioregional Visioning Circle, a Carbondale citizens group, invites the public to a forum about an alternative plan for the U.S. Forest Service buildings in Carbondale at 6pm at the Third Street Center.

COMMON ROOTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

POTATO DAY PROPER

Carbondale’s 114th annual Potato Day celebration starts with a pancake breakfast by the Carbondale Rotary Club at Chacos Park from 8:30 to 10:30am, Ross Montessori’s Tater Trot fun run departing from Chacos Park at 9am, the annual Main Street parade starting from KDNK on 2nd Street at 10:30am and music, barbecue, an outdoor market, games and cowboy coffee in Sopris Park from 9am to 3pm.

LATINX ARTS

CARVING

September 25, 2023 at aspennature.org

$12 tickets

HeadQuarters sponsors Common Roots, a monthly men’s peer support gathering (for ages 18 and up) at 23400 Two Rivers Road in Basalt from 6 to 7:30pm.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

“Stop Making Sense” shows at the Crystal Theatre tonight, tomorrow, Saturday and Oct. 12 at 7:30pm. The Sunday, Oct. 8 show is at 5pm and captioned.

FIRST FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

NATURE JOURNALING

The Carbondale Library hosts

“Nature Journaling” for adults who wish to explore, observe and creatively document nature on the first Friday of each month from 1 to 2:30pm.

OPENING RECEPTION

Carbondale Arts presents a curated and juried group exhibition featuring Latino artists through Nov. 3. Join the opening reception tonight from 5 to 7pm at The Launchpad with an artist talk at 5:30pm and jazz performance by Josefina Mendez at 6pm.

HIGHWATER FARM TOUR

Highwater Farm in Silt hosts a tour and shares its research on experimental practices to mitigate the effects of extreme climate from 5 to 6pm. Visit www. highwaterfarm.org for more info.

‘MATERIALS OF BELONGING’

Anderson Ranch (Snowmass Village) hosts Maria De Los Angeles and Ronald Rael for “Materials of Belonging,” a presentation by visiting artists from 5:30 to 6:30pm.

Celebrate First Friday and Potato Days by stopping by the Rec Center in Carbondale between 6 and 10pm. Food and drinks will be provided by The Painted Pig and Aquila Cellars and live music will be performed by the Wooden Nickel String Band. All proceeds benefit the Carbondale Historical Society.

The Carbondale Clay Center hosts a First Friday opening reception for “Partial Narratives,” an exhibit with works by Heather Kaplan and Undine Brod, at 6pm.

POLLEN PARTY

Steve’s Guitars hosts live music from The Queen Bees in collaboration with Pollinator Chocolate and Alya Howe at 7pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

BOMBINO

Luminary guitarist and Tuareg folk hero Omara “Bombino” Moctar presents his new album, “Sahel,” named for his home region of Africa, at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

Local teachers and community leaders are invited to take miniworkshops with Latinx visiting artists at Anderson Ranch (Snowmass Village) from 10am to 4pm. The day will conclude with a panel moderated by Beatriz Soto of Protégete/ Conservation Colorado at 4pm.

JEREMY HEIMAN MEMORIAL

Friends of Jeremy George Heiman of Glenwood Springs are invited to a celebration of life in his honor from 11am to 3pm in Veltus Park in Glenwood Springs. Bring memories, a potluck dish and a chair.

RAISING A READER

The Glenwood Springs Library hosts a free arts and literacy festival for children ages 8 and under with activities and prizes from 2 to 5pm.

TUPPERWARE PARTY

Thunder River Theatre Company presents “A Tupperware Party with Dixie Longate” kicking off with drinks at 5pm followed by a performance and auction and concluding with dinner at The Painted Pig (689 Main Street) at 7pm. Tickets at www. thunderrivertheatre.com

PUMPKIN JAZZ

Basalt celebrates Pumpkin Jazz with free live performances at Triangle Park (Good Trouble, 5 to 7pm), Keating Galley (Josefina Mendez Trio, 5 to 7pm) and TACAW (Frank Todaro Jazz Trio, 5:30 to 7:30pm, Mark Johnson Organ Trio, 7:30pm to 9pm, Pumpkin Jam, 9:15 to 11:30pm).

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

RIDE THE RANCHES

Carbondale Tourism presents “Ride the Ranches,” a 50k race departing from Colorado Extreme (2340 County Road 100) at 9am. Register in-person beginning at 8am or online at www.carbondale.com/events

GYMKHANA

The Sopris Gymkhana Club presents a youth rodeo at the Gus Darien Arena from 10am to 2pm.

FIRE MITIGATION

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers hosts a fire mitigation training from 10am to 3pm. The location is yet to be determined, sign up at www.rfov.org

PARTY IN THE PASTURE

Aspen Valley Land Trust hosts Party in the Pasture, a familyfriendly fundraiser with music and games, from 11am to 2pm. Tickets at www.avlt.org

HIKING CLUB

The Roaring Fork Youth Hiking Club hosts a fundraiser benefiting Protect Our Winters at Sunlight Mountain Resort beginning at 2pm.

Raising a Reader hosts its second annual Children’s Arts and Literacy Festival on Oct. 7 at the Glenwood Springs Public Library from 2 to 5pm. The afternoon will include storytelling, arts and crafts and music exploration (all geared toward children 8 and under) for free. Local authors will be present to read their children’s books and every child will receive a book to take home along with other swag. Courtesy photo from last year’s event

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY

There will be a gathering at Sopris Park acknowledging Indigenous Peoples’ Day, from 3 to 5pm, where attendees will circle up and share stories and more. All are encouraged to bring drums and rattles. The circle will be followed by a potluck at the Third Street Center at 5:30pm, and screening of films depicting indigenous experiences in the Valley.

ISSUES AND ANSWERS

The Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Post Independent and KMTS present a candidate forum featuring the RFSD and CMC board races, plus a Proposition HH debate, from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Glenwood Springs City Hall (101 West 8th Street). The event will be live streamed. Visit www.glenwoodchamber.com/ issues-answers for more info.

GLAZE GLAZE GLAZE!

The Carbondale Clay Center hosts a one-night glazing workshop with Anne Goldberg from 6 to 8:30pm. Details at www.carbondaleclay. org/adult-workshops

ENERGY REVOLUTION

Learn about the global aspirations of Rocky Mountain Institute from a panel of energy experts moderated by Aspen Journalism's Elizabeth Stewart-Severy at TACAW at 7pm. The event is free with registration at www.tacaw.org

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10

MUSICALLY ME

Middle and highschool students and their guardians are invited to #MusicallyMe, a musical education and workshop event hosted by Jazz Aspen Snowmass and Berklee College at the Glenwood Springs High School at 5pm. Visit www. jazzaspensnowmass.org for more info.

BOOK TALK

Discuss Colorado Mountain College’s Common Reader, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” at the Basalt Library at 5:30pm.

INTEGRATION CIRCLE

The Aspen Psychedelic Resource

Center hosts a community integration circle from 6:30 to 8pm at A Spiritual Center in the Third Street Center (Room 31) from 6:30 to 8pm.

ASPEN WORDS

Journalist Miles Griffis, a writer in residence with Aspen Words, speaks with local writer Daniel Shaw about queer ecology and birding at TACAW at 6:30pm. The event is free with registration at www.tacaw.org

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11

FOSSIL TALK

Celebrating National Fossil Day, Professor A. B. Heckert of Appalachian State University will talk about Colorado’s Covert Cretaceous, the vertebrate assemblage of the Williams Fork Formation, from noon to 1pm. Zoom in for free at www.bit.ly/ FossilZoom (passcode: 131181)

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION

Valley View hosts “Girls Night Out,” a skin cancer prevention and educational event, at Roaring Fork Family Practice at 5:30pm. All (including males) are welcome. Register by emailing events@vvh.org

SIPS, BITES & MENTORSHIP

Have a drink and a snack while learning about the Buddy Program and what it takes to be a youth’s mentor at Carbondale Beer Works at 5:30pm.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12

EAGLE COMMISSIONER

One of the three Eagle County commissioners will be holding office hours at the Basalt Library from 11am to 1pm.

LEGAL CLINIC

People can get 15 minutes of free legal advice at the Basalt Library today between 2 and 5pm. Sign up for a consultation by calling 970-927-4311 or emailing info@basaltlibrary.org

BRIDGE

New and experienced competitors play Bridge at the Basalt Library at 4pm.

AUTHOR TALK

Local author Larry Gottlieb presents his book, “Hoodwinked,” at White River Books in Carbondale (65B N. 2nd St.) at 6pm.

MASTERING CELL PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Sandy Kaplan will show you how to get the images you want, and enjoy making photos with your phone.

Mon/Wed, 9am-12pm, 10/16-10/25

MONOTYPE PRINTING

Join Ellen woods to explore creative, and experimental ways to make unique images on paper with additive and subtractive techniques.

Mondays, 6-9pm, 10/16-11/20

PILATES BLEND

A full-body workout based on the principles of Pilates. Improve balance, coordination, and strength.

Monday/Wednesday, 10/16-12/6 12-12:50pm OR 1-1:50pm

ADULT BEGINNER BALLET

Classical ballet fundamentals at the ballet barre and center work in a fun and positive environment.

Tuesdays, 9-10am, 10/17-12/5

PERSPECTIVE DRAWING I & II

Learn all about drawing in 1-point and 2-point perspective and complete an interior and outdoor scene in each of these two courses.

Tuesdays, 9am-12pm

Perspective Drawing I, 10/17-10/24

Perspective Drawing II, 10/31-11/7

MEMOIR WRITING WORKSHOP

New and current writers will explore the genre of memoir writing and identify the key features of a great narrative.

Wed’s, 6-8:30pm, 10/18-11/22

HAND WOVEN BASKETS

Learn the basics of basket weaving while creating a functional “Bean Pot” basket with wire handles.

Wed-Thurs, 9am-1pm, 10/25-10/26

DRAWING WITH SOFT PASTELS

Create drawings while learning about drawing techniques, value and structure, and color theory.

Thursdays, 6-8:30pm, 10/26-12/7

BEGINNING SCULPTURE

Learn how to think and design in 3-D, or “in-the-round” and create 2 sculptures for your home/garden.

Fri/Sat, 10am-3pm, 10/27-11/4

BEGINNING SCULPTURE

Learn how to think and design in 3-D, or “in-the-round” and create 2 sculptures for your home/garden.

Fri/Sat, 10am-3pm, 10/27-11/4

SEED SAVING

Techniques to save seeds and money on veggies and flowers.

Wednesday, 6-7:30pm, 11/1

Sol del Valle el

Entrevistas a candidatos a la junta escolar, Distrito C

Por Jeanne Souldern Traducción por Dolores Duarte

El Sopris Sun está publicando respuestas a las preguntas formuladas a candidatos que se postulan para la junta educativa del Distrito Escolar de Roaring Fork (RFSD). Esta es nuestra última entrega de los cuestionarios para los candidatos. De aquí en adelante, The Sun cubrirá los foros de candidatos.Lindsay DeFrates y Phillip Bogart son candidatos en el Distrito C, que abarca las secciones sur y este de Glenwood Springs, Spring Valley y el oeste de Missouri Heights.

Lindsay DeFrates

Trayectoria y motivación:

He nombrado este valle mi hogar durante 18 años, dedicando seis de ellos a la enseñanza en Carbondale Middle School. Mi pasión por nuestras escuelas, educadores y el valioso personal de apoyo tiene profundas raíces. Como madre de tres hijos desarrollándose en Sopris Elementary School, estoy dedicada al futuro de nuestro distrito escolar. Como su representante, me comprometo a fomentar la transparencia entre la junta escolar y la comunidad, garantizar la equidad en el rendimiento estudiantil y la promulgación de estrategias de retención de maestros. Como educadora con experiencia y madre de familia que navega los desafíos de este valle, sé lo que se necesitará para permanecer en esta

posición a largo plazo. Estoy participando porque creo que es la mejor manera de servir a la comunidad que amo.

Visión y prioridades educativas:

Mi principal prioridad educativa es centrarme en el rendimiento de los alumnos manteniendo en cada aula a maestros calificados y con experiencia. Tengo previsto atraer y retener a maestros competentes mediante lo siguiente:

• Cubrir los puestos de personal de apoyo, incluidos los maestros sustitutos y los para profesionales, así como el personal de transporte, nutrición y mantenimiento del edificio. Los maestros que no tienen que desempeñar 10 funciones distintas al día pueden centrarse en planes de clases rigurosos y diferenciados y en apoyar el aprendizaje de los alumnos.

• Aumentar las oportunidades de alojamiento para maestros y personal. Muchas organizaciones diferentes ya están buscando soluciones creativas para el alojamiento del personal que no dependan únicamente de la construcción de más unidades. El distrito escolar de Roaring Fork debe participar activamente en estos esfuerzos.

• Respetar a los maestros como profesionales en sus propias aulas y ofrecerles voz en cualquier decisión que afecte directamente sus condiciones de trabajo y las expectativas de su puesto. Sentirse valorados y seguros ayudará a los maestros a ver el distrito escolar de Roaring Fork como un lugar positivo para trabajar. Como exprofesora con un título en educación secundaria, también evaluaré con ojo crítico cualquier adopción de planes de estudio y materiales para el aula. Tenemos que trabajar más duro para mejorar el rendimiento de los estudiantes obteniendo recursos curriculares que se alineen con las normas estatales, aquellos que se basan en las mejores prácticas educativas y, lo más importante, desafiar a nuestros estudiantes a ser aprendices activos en

un mundo que cambia rápidamente.

Presupuesto y responsabilidad fiscal:

El presupuesto operativo del distrito escolar debe proporcionar un acceso equitativo a una educación de alta calidad para todos los estudiantes, y debe hacerlo de una manera abierta y transparente. Los votantes del valle han demostrado repetidamente su apoyo y creencia en el valor de la educación pública a través de la aprobación de un aumento de impuestos para los salarios de los maestros y la emisión de bonos para mejoras de capital y edificios. Como miembro de la junta escolar, me tomo esa confianza muy en serio, y reconozco que, como junta, debemos tomar decisiones financieras responsables que mejor reflejen los valores de la comunidad a la que servimos.

Participación y comunicación

Una de las primeras cosas que aprendes como maestro es que solo por el hecho de que hayas dicho algo no significa que te hayan escuchado. Aunque se han hecho algunos avances en el distrito, reconocemos que aún se puede mejorar. Basándome en mi experiencia como subdirectora de relaciones públicas del distrito de Colorado River, evaluaré las estrategias y plataformas de difusión existentes. Tenemos que asegurarnos de que todas las voces sean escuchadas y de que todas las medidas adoptadas por el consejo se hagan a plena vista de la comunidad a la que servimos.

Equidad e inclusión:

Evaluaciones recientes revelan una brecha de rendimiento cada vez mayor entre nuestros estudiantes blancos y latinos después de la pandemia. Esta tendencia es inaceptable. Equidad significa proporcionar a todos un acceso oportuno a los recursos esenciales. Si bien el fomento de la accesibilidad

a la educación infantil es fundamental, también evaluaré las estrategias para llegar a los estudiantes de secundaria y bachillerato. Nadie debe quedar al margen; el sistema exige nuestra atención. Basándome en modelos de éxito en distritos similares y consultando a expertos, me comprometo a encontrar soluciones.

Responsabilidad, evaluación y vivienda del superintendente:

Creo que nuestro distrito necesita un liderazgo claro y decidido, que valore formar parte de la comunidad a la que sirve. La mayoría de los padres y familias que viven aquí enfrentan luchas diarias cuando se trata del costo de vida, disponibilidad de vivienda y apoyo para sus familias. Como distrito escolar, debemos tener un liderazgo que entienda las complejidades de estas realidades. Aprecio la extensa labor del grupo de trabajo de voluntarios sobre la cuestión de la vivienda para el superintendente. Apoyo tanto la primera como la segunda opción propuesta por el grupo de trabajo: comprar o construir una casa alquilada al superintendente en correspondencia con las directrices de vivienda del personal, pero cuya propiedad sigue siendo del distrito escolar de Roaring Fork.

Quiero invertir mi tiempo en asegurar que reciban una educación de calidad en un ambiente seguro y siento que puedo tener un mayor impacto en nuestras escuelas al ser parte de la junta escolar. Siento que todos los niños merecen lo mismo y que mis esfuerzos tendrán un impacto positivo en todos los niños de nuestro distrito escolar.

He trabajado en la industria del alojamiento y la hospitalidad durante más de 18 años. Durante este tiempo, he hecho una carrera liderando personas hacia el logro de metas para asegurar el éxito de mi compañía. Superviso presupuestos y finanzas mensuales a la vez que me aseguro de que nuestros huéspedes y propietarios estén satisfechos con nuestro rendimiento. La ejecución de todas estas habilidades y experiencias me han preparado bien para servir como miembro de la junta escolar.

Visión y prioridades educativas:

Tenemos que asegurarnos de que nuestros maestros tengan el apoyo necesario para proporcionar una educación de calidad. Deberían enfocarse en el plan de estudios básico y rendir cuentas de acuerdo con los resultados de las pruebas y las calificaciones de nuestros estudiantes, así como las observaciones en el aula. Trabajaré con los otros miembros de la junta para asegurar que tenemos políticas efectivas para lograr el objetivo de aumentar el éxito estudiantil y trabajaré por medio del superintendente para asegurar que cumplimos o superamos nuestros objetivos.

Phillip Bogart

Trayectoria y motivación:

Mis cuatro hijos son mi principal motivación para postularme a la junta escolar.

Abogaré por un currículo de calidad en historia y civismo, así como por planes de estudios de matemáticas e inglés que han demostrado mejorar la comprensión y las calificaciones. También me comprometo a dejar a un lado el currículo de educación sexual "Derechos, Respeto, Responsabilidad" adoptado recientemente.

continúa en la página 18

Lindsay DeFrates, foto de cortesía

Phillip Bogart y su esposa, Morgan. Foto de cortesía

Volumen 2, Número 32 | 5-11 de octubre de 2023

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

OPINIÓN

Me encantaría empezar siendo lo más honesta posible. Esto no ha sido escrito con la intención de animar a otros a tomar la decisión que yo tomé, mucho menos a llenarte de dudas si es que decides tomarla. En este mundo es complicado encontrar algo tan simple como lo es la honestidad.

A mi me cuesta ser honesta la mayor parte del tiempo, sorprendentemente, eso es lo más sincero que he dicho hoy. Quiero ser lo más transparente posible contigo y que sepas que lo que has llegado a sentir en algun momento no es algo fuera de lo normal, tampoco es algo tonto, es un sentimiento tan real como lo somos nosotros.

Hoy quiero hablarles sobre, emigrar, pero, ¿qué es

Emigrar: algo hermoso y aterrador

emigrar? ¿Irte de tu país para convertirte en un extranjero en uno completamente diferente? No, emigrar es algo mucho más complejo. Es decir, ¿cómo no podría serlo? Una decisión tan grande como esa viene atada a muchos sentimientos intensos.

Tenemos la emoción la cual se encuentra en la idealización de la palabra, miedo, tan temeroso como siempre, se esconde detrás de los sueños (le teme a la intensidad de la emoción). Pasión aparece en nuestro camino a los sueños, la confusión recorre nuestros pensamientos llenándolos de preguntas sin respuesta, nuestra querida amiga esperanza nos visita junto a sus mejores aliadas, la fe e ilusión. Depresión (gigante criatura) te consume cuando todos estos sentimientos se apoderan de ti.

Aquellos sentimientos no siempre vendrán en ese orden, tal vez, cuando se manifiesten ni siquiera tengan un orden en lo absoluto, tal vez solo exploten y reaccionen unos contra otros. Algo que simplemente podría acabar con cualquier persona, entonces, ¿cómo podemos estar preparados para esa oleada de emociones? La

respuesta es, no hay manera, sin embargo, puedes escuchar, ver y aprender de muchas otras historias. Desafortunadamente, tal vez no encuentres tu historia en la de otros, pero encontrarás una gran comunidad de personas que se han sentido igual de perdidas que tú en algún momento. Encontrarás comodidad en otras culturas, encontrarás carcajadas en chistes que nunca habías escuchado antes en tu tierra, descubrirás colores que jamás hubieras podido imaginar de no haber tomado aquella decisión.

Emigrar, tan dolorosa decisión pero emocionante a su vez. Lo fácil que es querer dejar todo atrás para tener un nuevo comienzo, “una vida mejor”, pero no se habla de lo difícil y aterrador que es dejar todo atrás y olvidarte de esas personas que en algún momento significaron todo para ti, despedirte de los domingos familiares.

Dejar atrás esas reuniones con tu grupo de la infancia, despedirte de los que amas porque tal vez nunca los vuelvas a ver y aunque se te dé la oportunidad de hacerlo, entonces ya no serán los mismos, solo te

queda irte aceptando que ya no sabrás tanto de su vida como en este momento.

Emigrar es algo hermoso y aterrador, la soledad te invade aunque trates de evitarlo, entonces caerás en cuenta de que ya no eres la misma persona que fuiste al tomar aquella decisión. Soy consciente de que no lo hago sonar tan prometedor como la gente suele hacerlo ver, pero una cosa que emigrar te enseña, es a ti mismo.

Al entrar en aquella inevitable soledad solo te queda conocer a la única persona de la cual no te percataste antes, ese misterioso ser que se encuentra atrapado en un espejo, el emigrar te invita a descubrir qué es lo que hace de ti ser tan humano porque al final del día somos quienes somos. Sí, tengo un acento porque fui criada por personas que adoran cantar al hablar, enfatizando el sonido tan rico de la “rr”. Sí, me considero una persona apasionada, mentes limitadas prefieren llamarle “intensidad”, algo que fácilmente hace dos años pudo mandarme a mi cama a llorar, cuestionando el ¿porqué tengo que sentir tanto?, esa

siempre fue la palabra clave a la cual no le presté mucha consideración, “tanto”.

Claro que siento tanto, porque siento mis emociones a profundidad, yo no sé sentir a medias, eso no es algo que mis tías me hayan enseñado. Ellas solían reír a carcajadas, ya saben, de esas que te dejan sin aliento, esas buenas carcajadas. También recuerdo cómo gritaban al estar molestas porque necesitaban sacar todo de sus sistemas, y al tocar la puerta buscando perdón ellas ofrecían las más sinceras disculpas provenientes de un corazón cálido.

Amo ser apasionada porque recuerdo cuando mis tías gritaban de emoción al disfrutar de un buen vino tinto contando sus anécdotas de cuando eran jóvenes o como diría mi tía Sandra, “chibolas”. Así que gracias emigrar, fuiste una decisión difícil y aunque muchas veces no tuve la opción de escogerte, me presentaste a mi compañera más leal, quien me enseño lo hermoso de admirar y conocer otras culturas, yo misma.

Por Brisa Farfan Fernandez

VOICES Radio Hour

Ask a Broker

Por Giovanna O. Kennedy

Pregunta: ¿Cuáles son las opciones para los hispanohablantes que quieran invertir en negocios y buscar bienes raíces comerciales?

He recibido llamadas casi todos los días de hispanohablantes que quieren abrir negocios en el valle. Nuestra comunidad hispana está creciendo y las nuevas generaciones quieren echar raíces y quieren construir negocios para mantener a sus familias. Desafortunadamente, no hay muchos recursos para bienes raíces comerciales o información sobre cómo iniciar un negocio disponible

Guía del sector de bienes raíces comerciales para hispanohablantes

en español, pero estamos trabajando muy duro para cambiar eso.

Hago todo lo posible para guiar a estos clientes a través del proceso y brindarles orientación sobre los pasos que deben seguir para lograr sus objetivos. No quiero mostrarles bienes raíces comerciales a menos que esté segura de que los ayudaré a tener éxito. Mucha gente me llama y quiere invertir sus ahorros en un nuevo negocio (los restaurantes son los más populares), pero no puedo hacerlo a menos que estén preparados y entiendan todo lo que se requiere para crear, establecer y tener éxito en un nuevo negocio. Soy alguien que cree que todo es posible, sólo necesitas las herramientas adecuadas, y eso es lo que intento ofrecer a mis clientes.

Lo primero que sugiero es que mis clientes tengan a mano un plan de negocios bien investigado. Desafortunadamente, hay muy pocos recursos en línea disponibles en español sobre

CHISME DEL PUEBLO

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Candidatos para comisionado

El residente de Rifle Steven Arauza ha postulado su nombre para el puesto del distrito 3 del Comisionado del Condado de Garfield para la elección del 2024. Por más de ocho años, Arauza ha sido empleado por Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission como un especialista de protección ambiental, implementando y haciendo cumplir las regulaciones ambientales y al mismo tiempo trabajando en la respuesta y reparación de derrames. Arauza ha sido apoyado por la representante del estado Elizabeth Velasco, miembro de la junta del Distrito Escolar de Roaring Fork Jasmin Ramirez, el fideocimisionario de Carbondale Luis Yllanes y la previa candidata comisionada del condado de Garfield, Beatriz Soto. Para más información acerca de Arauza, visite www.steveforgarco.com

Tiroteo en el recinto de ferias

El 24 de septiembre, el departamento de policía de Rifle arrestó al sospechoso Eddy Escobar Lopez por presuntamente disparar un arma de fuego durante un altercado en una fiesta privada en el recinto ferial del Condado de Rifle. Segun el comunicado de prensa, Lopez “intervino” al producir y disparar un arma de fuego, pero desconocido por los otros hombres involucrados en la altercación inicial. Después de intentar eludir a las autoridades a pie, Escobar fue aprendido. Él fue ingresado a la cárcel del condado de Garfield en cinco cargos de asalto en primer grado (felonía), un cargo de imprudencia temeraria (delito) y un cargo de posesión ilegal de una sustancia controlada (1-4 gramos de fentanilo).

cómo redactar un plan de negocios, pero existen algunas herramientas locales que pueden ser útiles.

COVENTURE es una organización sin fines de lucro en Carbondale cuya misión es ayudar a las personas a cultivar soluciones comerciales y ofrece muchos programas excelentes y tutorías para la comunidad. Pero nuevamente, hay una preocupante falta de recursos en español, y eso es algo con lo que me comprometo a ayudar a cambiar.También es muy importante que mis clientes comprendan que necesitan suficiente capital para los dos primeros años. Mucha gente supone que todo lo que necesitan es dinero para lanzar el negocio, pero la mayoría de las empresas nuevas necesitan tiempo para volverse rentables, y dos años es una estimación conservadora. Hay muchos costos imprevistos, especialmente cuando se trata de bienes raíces comerciales en el Valle de Roaring Fork.

Nuestro inventario está

Concurso de patata grande

Atención a todos los granjeros y jardineros – la Sociedad Histórica de Carbondale está buscando la papa más grande cultivada localmente este año. Traiga a su papa más grande al puesto de la Sociedad Histórica en el Día de la Patata el 7 de octubre en Sopris Park a cualquier hora entre las 9 a.m. y las 2 p.m. El ganador de este año recibirá un certificado especial (y los derechos de fanfarronear).

Siempre en moda

El espectáculo El Verde es el Nuevo Negro esta programado para el 7 al 9 de marzo. Las inscripciones de diseñadores están siendo aceptadas actualmente (hasta el 30 de noviembre). Las audiciones para bailarines ocurrirán el 5 de noviembre en The Launchpad de 6 a 8 p.m. Las audiciones para modelos serán el 17 de diciembre también en The Launchpad de 6 a 9 p.m. Encuentre grabaciones del espectáculo del año pasado, junto con materiales de inscripciones para diseñadores en www. carbondalearts.com/fashion-show

Como si estuviera caliente

La biblioteca de Basalt está aceptando donaciones de ropa y accesorios ligeramente usados hasta el 20 de octubre para su evento anual Cambialo como si sstuviera caliente el 21 de octubre (a las 10 a.m.). Las donaciones pueden ser entregadas en la recepción de la biblioteca. Todos los artículos que sobren serán enviados a la tienda de segunda mano. Visite www.basaltlibrary. or para más información.

Mural de Bridges

Durante tres días de la semana pasada, los estudiantes de Bridges

mejorando, pero es probable que sea necesario modificar la propiedad para adaptarla al negocio que requerirá algunos costos de construcción. Todos sabemos que cuanto más bajes en el valle desde Aspen, más asequibles serán las propiedades. Finalmente, deben comprender el esfuerzo que implica y cuánto tiempo y esfuerzo se necesita para iniciar su propio negocio.

También trabajaré con ellos en financiamiento y he desarrollado una relación con un banco local que trabaja con hispanohablantes para asegurarme de que comprendan los términos de su préstamo y lo que se requiere y ayudarlos a calificar. Una vez que tengan un plan de negocios y estén preaprobados para un préstamo para pequeñas empresas, podemos comenzar a buscar propiedades para ver qué hay disponible basado en su presupuesto. Una vez que encuentren la propiedad que desean, puedo ayudarlos a negociar los términos que

ayuden a que la transacción sea más asequible. Ya sea que eso signifique negociar con el banco una tasa de interés más baja, financiamiento del propietario, arrendamiento con opción a compra o solicitar las mejoras necesarias, he descubierto que esta es la parte del proceso en la que realmente puedo marcar la diferencia. He descubierto que la gente de esta comunidad apoya mucho a los hispanohablantes que quieren iniciar un negocio, incluso si no son hispanos, y eso ha sido muy emocionante y alentador.

La Cámara de comercio de Glenwood Springs me pidió recientemente que fuera parte de su recién formado Consejo asesor de empresas hispanas, y tengo la esperanza de que pronto podamos ayudar a proporcionar más recursos para nuestra comunidad hispana. Se necesita desesperadamente y estoy muy emocionada de trabajar en este comité para ayudarnos a llegar allí.

"Sincronías" parte 43, por Leonardo Occhipinti

High School participaron en Discovery Days – obteniendo créditos de historia mientras se involucran en proyectos de la comunidad. Este año, ellos exploraron Carbondale con Sue Gray y la sociedad historia, visitando el cementerio y otros puntos de referencia e incluso preparando sidra de manzana.

Los estudiantes también trabajaron en su nuevo mural en colaboración con Carbondale Arts y Brett Haynes de Bondale Tattoo (en la foto con un estudiante). El mural incluye seis símbolos escogidos por los estudiantes relacionado con una rana “ninja” estilizada sosteniendo un diploma.

Entrevistas a candidatos a la junta escolar, Distrito B

dijo: “Nuestro amigo Mark es gay, y eso es un insulto horrible. ¿Estaría bien que alguien llamara a tu hermana n****? La gente es diferente; nunca insultes o condenes a alguien porque es diferente a ti”.

Esto se me quedó grabado para siempre. Hoy, mis padres viven en Carbondale y ondean orgullosos una bandera estadounidense con una bandera arco iris debajo. Toda mi vida me han educado en la diversidad, la inclusión y la aceptación como valores fundamentales.

Alan Kokish

Por Jeanne Souldern Traducción por Dolores Duarte

Alan Kokish es un candidato en el Distrito B, el cual consiste en las áreas al oeste del Highway 133 y 82 desde Carbondale a Glenwood Springs, incluyendo Ironbridge/West Bank y Four Mile. Las respuestas de Betsy After fueron publicadas la semana pasada.

Antecedentes y motivación:

He vivido y prosperado en el valle de Roaring Fork desde 1992. Soy padre, esposo, hijo y propietario de una pequeña empresa.

Muchos de mis valores se formaron a temprana edad. A los 3 años, nuestra familia adoptó a una joven afroamericana, mi hermana Karyn. En 1971, cargamos el Ford Falcon y un camper, mi padre con su barba poblada y mi madre con sus blusas vaporosas.

Viajamos desde Pensilvania y nos instalamos en una pequeña ciudad del norte de California.

Al crecer, era habitual que los chicos utilizaran insultos homófobos contra otros niños. Cuando tenía 7 años, mi padre me oyó llamar a otro chico “tú p***”. Me llevó aparte y me preguntó si sabía lo que significaba. No sé si lo sabía. Me lo explicó y me

Me interesé por primera vez en postularme a este puesto debido a mis objeciones al plan de estudios de educación sexual LGBTQ recientemente adoptado por el distrito. El plan de estudios pretende ser un faro para la diversidad y la inclusión, pero no da bien en el clavo. No es ni diverso ni inclusivo. Es la idea de un grupo sobre el género, cómo enseñarlo y cuándo, a una edad muy temprana. Gran parte del material es controvertido. De ser elegido, trabajaré para adoptar un plan de estudios más inclusivo y apropiado a la edad para TODA nuestra comunidad.

Visión y prioridades educativas:

Necesitamos cerrar la brecha entre los estudiantes de habla inglesa y los de habla hispana. Me apoyaría mucho en personas dentro de esa comunidad, como Alex Sánchez y Jazmín Ramírez, buscando el consejo de quienes saben más que yo sobre este tema.

También, aumentar las oportunidades de matrícula simultánea para nuestros estudiantes de high school y hacer hincapié en la formación profesional y la educación empresarial.

Debemos esforzarnos para que el aprendizaje sea divertido. Aunque los resultados de los exámenes son una medida importante, es igualmente

importante que tu hijo vuelva a casa emocionado: “Mamá, papá, ¿adivina qué aprendí hoy?”. El afán por aprender y el compromiso conducirán a mejores resultados en los exámenes.

Presupuesto y responsabilidad fiscal:

Mi pequeña empresa ha crecido cada año desde 2005, sobre todo fue así en épocas de dificultades financieras. Obviamente, soy responsable desde el punto de vista financiero. Nuestro distrito escolar no es ni pequeño ni un negocio, y las finanzas del distrito no son probablemente donde yo haría mis mayores contribuciones.

Participación y comunicación con la comunidad:

Con demasiada frecuencia, las personas no participan hasta que se enfadan. ¿Podemos incentivar la participación de los padres desde el principio? Con demasiada frecuencia oímos hablar al mismo grupo de personas. Las asambleas trimestrales serían un foro valioso para que los padres y el profesorado expresaran sus preocupaciones y sensibilizaran sobre cuestiones importantes.

Deberíamos anunciar los temas, el orden del día y las propuestas de adopción de planes de estudios al menos dos semanas antes de las reuniones del consejo escolar, en lugar de 72 horas, como lo hace la política actual.

Equidad e inclusión:

Defiendo la inclusión, la diversidad y la aceptación de toda nuestra comunidad. Últimamente, no son los grupos tradicionalmente considerados marginados los que están siendo aislados, sino una franja más amplia de nuestra comunidad. No debemos acoger a un miembro de nuestra comunidad y rechazar a

otro. La diversidad, la inclusión y la tolerancia deben abarcar a toda nuestra comunidad. Estos términos han sido apropiados y tergiversados; ¡no pertenecen a un solo grupo! Nuestro sistema educativo fue desarrollado por angloparlantes para angloparlantes. Tenemos que considerar el sistema en su conjunto y cambiar ciertos paradigmas desde una edad temprana. Francamente, no son las ideas de los angloparlantes las que resolverán este problema. El actual consejo escolar lo ha convertido en una prioridad, y espero contribuir en lo que pueda, pero sinceramente, mi mayor contribución será el ceder poder a líderes latinos.

Responsabilidad, evaluación y vivienda del superintendente:

El éxito del superintendente debe medirse por los resultados de las pruebas académicas y el crecimiento. Una métrica igualmente importante que a menudo se pasa por alto es el entusiasmo de nuestros estudiantes hacia el aprendizaje y la felicidad en general. Una sociedad educada es aquella que continúa creciendo y aprendiendo durante toda la vida. Este valor se inculca a una edad temprana. El retraso en el aprendizaje no es necesariamente trágico; renunciar a aprender sí lo es. Por muy importantes que sean las habilidades académicas básicas, hacer que el aprendizaje sea divertido es igualmente importante porque conduce al aprendizaje permanente. Apoyo la recomendación del comité de construir una casa modesta en una propiedad del distrito donde podamos alojar al superintendente con un alquiler razonable. Es crucial cambiar la política que restringe a los empleados alojados en el distrito la posibilidad de invertir en bienes inmuebles. No es razonable limitar a nuestros empleados de esta manera.

Bogart continúa de la página 15

Presupuesto y responsabilidad

fiscal:

Nuestro proceso de revisión del presupuesto debe ser completado durante las reuniones de la junta escolar en lugar de durante sesiones de trabajo. Debemos asegurarnos de que todo el proceso de revisión del presupuesto se registra y las actas de las reuniones se mantienen y están disponibles para revisión por los miembros de la comunidad. Ocultar esta información a nuestros padres y otros miembros de la comunidad es contraria a la ley de reuniones abiertas de Colorado.

Espero trabajar con el distrito y otros miembros de la junta escolar para buscar todas las opciones posibles para

financiamiento. También creo que nuestro presupuesto debe estar centrado en el estudiante, y los gastos pueden ser administrados a nivel de distrito para asegurar que cumplimos con nuestros objetivos.

Participación y comunicació:

Me gustaría enviar proactivamente las actas de las reuniones de la junta escolar para que los padres y los miembros de la comunidad no tengan que buscarlas. También tengo previsto organizar sesiones periódicas para que los miembros de la comunidad compartan sus ideas y opiniones conmigo, en persona, directamente y sin limitaciones de tiempo. También me gustaría mantener informados a

los miembros de la comunidad sobre oportunidades de participación en los comités.

Equidad e inclusión:

Todos los estudiantes deben tener las mismas oportunidades de recibir una educación de calidad a través de nuestro distrito escolar. Debemos asociarnos con los padres y tutores, así como con otros miembros de la comunidad, para proporcionar cualquier apoyo necesario. La intimidación y el acoso no pueden tolerarse y deben tratarse con rapidez y eficacia. Comprender a otros y empatizar con ellos es fundamental, como también lo es permitir las opiniones discrepantes sin que se acose por inconformidad. Hay que

aplaudir la libertad de expresión y las convicciones divergentes. Yo buscaría ayudar a desarrollar un programa eficaz de tutoría que sea fácilmente accesible a todos los estudiantes en cualquier situación familiar, y programas extraescolares que permitan a los estudiantes relacionarse entre sí, con voluntarios y con posibles empleadores.Ofrecer asistencia a través de estos programas ayudará a los estudiantes a planificar y prepararse para un futuro exitoso.

Evaluación y vivienda

del superintendente:

Creo que el superintendente debe ser responsable de los resultados de las pruebas del distrito, así como de los términos de su contrato. La

adherencia del distrito a nuestro presupuesto y la eficacia de los gastos en relación con el éxito de los estudiantes también juegan un papel en el éxito de un superintendente.

El salario del superintendente debe evaluarse para garantizar que él o ella reciben un sueldo justo y adecuado. Es importante que el superintendente comprenda las preocupaciones de nuestra comunidad al formar parte de ella. Deberíamos concentrarnos en ampliar la disponibilidad de viviendas accesibles para los maestros y permitir que el superintendente aproveche este beneficio si es necesario. Conoce más en www. phillipbogart.com

Alan Kokish, foto de cortesia

Kokish continued from page 11

Superintendent Accountability, Evaluation and Housing:

The superintendent’s success should be measured by academic test scores and growth. An equally important metric that is often overlooked is our

students’ enthusiasm toward learning and overall happiness. An educated society is one that continues to grow and learn throughout life. This value is instilled at an early age. Delayed learning is not necessarily tragic; giving up on learning is. As important as basic academic skills are, making learning fun is equally important

¡ALEJE LA GRIPE –VISITE NUESTRAS CLINICAS!

Clínica Abierta Sin Cita:

Salud Publica del Condado Garfield

2014 Blake Avenue, Glenwood Springs

Miércoles, octubre 11, 9 am - 4 pm

Miércoles, octubre 18, 9 am - 4 pm

Miércoles, octubre 25, 9 am - 4 pm

(NOTA: De las fechas anteriores estarán cerrados de 12 pm -1pm)

Biblioteca Sucursal de Carbondale

320 Sopris Avenue

Sabado, octubre 28, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

$15/niño, $25/adulto | Vacuna de dosis alta disponible para mayores de 65 años. El spray nasal antigripal está disponible.

Medicare Parte B, Medicaid, CHP+, RMHP, BCBS y seguros médicos de UHC

Salud Publica: Rifle 970-625-5200 ext. 8116

Glenwood Springs: 970-945-6614 ext. 2030

Llame para agendar una cita para una fecha diferente.

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because it leads to life-long learning.

I support the recommendation of the committee to build a modest home on district property where we could house the superintendent at a reasonable rent. It is crucial to change the policy restricting districthoused employees from investing in real estate. It is unreasonable to limit our employees in this manner.

FIESTA DE LA COSECHA

en el Rock Bottom Ranch

SÁBADO 14 DE OCTUBRE

11am-2pm, o 2pm-5pm

TALLADO DE CALABAZA

MÚSICA EN VIVO

COMPETENCIA DE PASTELES

JUEGOS CAMPESTRES

ACTIVIDADES DE ARTE

PASEOS EN CARRETA

COMIDA PARA LA VENTA

CERVEZA Y VINO

A LA VENTA

2001 Hooks Spur Road, Basalt, CO 81621 970.927.6760

Boletos est án disponibles a partir del 25 de septiembre en www.aspennature.org

Boletos $12 por persona

Niños de 3 años y menores entran gratis

MÁS INFORMACIÓN

*No hay parqueo disponible en el Rock Bottom Ranch. Se puede venir en bicicleta por el camino de Rio Grande, o por transporte gratis desde el Basalt Park & Ride o Grace Church en Emma.

www.reesehenry.com

Before apartments and a blooming arts scene, Carbondale was a place for growing potatoes. Happy Potato Day! Historic photo courtesy of Denver Public Library Antes de apartamentos y una vibrante escena de arte, Carbondale fue un lugar para cultivar papas. ¡Feliz Dia de la Patata! Foto histórica cortesía de Denver Public Library

Photos and text by Jane Bachrach

Spectators “flocked” to the National Sheepdog Finals at Strang Ranch last weekend to catch the final rounds of the competition, which began on Tuesday, Oct. 3 with the preliminary rounds. The relationship between dog and handler is a key to success when competing in sheepdog trials. Being able to observe the loving relationship between dog and handler is quite touching, and it’s obvious that the dogs are family members and treated and cared for that way. The event, which is held at the ranch every two years, attracts handlers and their dogs from mainly Western states, but also from around the country. This year, profits are being donated to Colorado Animal Rescue whose volunteers were at the event all week handling the parking.According to one of the handlers entered in the competition, “This event is one of the best trials held in the country, especially because it’s so well-organized.”

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•

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• Kids activities and more!

New Garfield Clean Energy campaign highlights home energy audits, coaching

By Dave Reed CLEER Communications Director

Garfield Clean Energy is teaming up with local electric utilities to launch an energyefficiency campaign to help residents save money by saving energy in their homes. As part of the Get Your Home Ready for Winter campaign, Garfield County customers of Xcel Energy, Holy Cross Energy and Glenwood Springs Electric will be able to get a full-service home energy audit for $100. For those who meet income qualifications, the audit is free. The campaign runs through the month of October.

“We really want to encourage people to get a home energy audit because it’s the best first step to making your home more comfortable and saving money,” says Zuleika Pevec, clean energy program manager for CLEER, the nonprofit that runs Garfield Clean Energy’s programs.

A home energy audit (or assessment) is a comprehensive evaluation of a home's energy

use by a professional home energy analyst. It typically entails a full inspection of the house and mechanical systems, as well as a blower door test and thermal imaging to reveal where air is leaking. Afterwards, the homeowner gets a written report with recommended actions.

“A home energy audit is an incredibly good investment because it identifies which measures are appropriate for your particular situation, and which will provide the best bang for your buck,” Pevec says.

“And on top of that, having the audit done opens the door to rebates that will help pay for improvements, which in turn will lower your monthly bills for years to come.”

But the upfront cost can be a barrier, she notes. “That’s why we’re partnering with the utilities to lower the cost of audits, and we’re working with other partners to offer free audits to income-qualified residents,” says Pevec.

She adds that she hopes that a successful campaign this fall will unlock more funding for the program next year.The details of the October promotion vary

by utility. For example, Xcel Energy customers must sign up through the company’s Home Energy Squad program, and appointments are available only during the weeks of Oct. 16 and Oct. 23. Holy Cross and Glenwood Springs Electric customers must sign up for the audit before the end of October, but they can schedule it for anytime through Dec. 31.

Pevec urges interested residents to start by signing up for free energy coaching through the GCE website, www. garfieldcleanenergy.org, by calling 970-704-9200, or by attending one of the events.

Garfield Clean Energy coaches can help residents schedule their home audit and can also determine if they qualify for financial aid based on their household income.

Mountain Fair

Garfield County residents whose household income is less than 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) can qualify for a free home energy audit and potentially thousands of dollars’ worth of energy-efficiency upgrades. Most people are eligible for aid, Pevec notes.

In Garfield County, 150% AMI corresponds to annual

household income of $148,800 for a family of four, or $104,250 for a single person.

Those whose income falls in the 80-150% AMI range qualify for GCE’s ReEnergize Garfield County program, while those earning less than that will be referred to state or federal programs. However, there are waitlists for all these programs.

Energy coaches can also help residents prioritize the measures recommended by the home audit, which Pevec says depends a lot on the financial aid, utility rebates and tax credits that they qualify for.

“There’s a ton of really great rebates available for everything from LEDs and programmable thermostats to big-ticket things

like heat pumps,” she says. “But they depend on which utility territory you’re in, and they change a lot, so we walk people through their options.”

Meanwhile, a raft of new state rebates and federal tax deductions became available this year, and yet more federal rebates authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act are expected to launch in 2024. Says Pevec: “Making energy upgrades to your home is so worthwhile in the long term financially, and it can make such a difference to your comfort too. But figuring out what to do first, and how to pay for it, is kind of a complicated art. That’s what energy coaching is all about.”

Blower door tests are part of the full inspection an audit entails.

Photo by Sierra Jeter

Clay Center gives thanks

The Board and Staff at the Carbondale Clay Center (CCC) would like to express our genuine gratitude to all of the incredible volunteers, businesses, individuals and makers who made Settings: The Potter’s Table a successful event!

Thank you, Pan & Fork Supper Club for the delicious meal, Shanti Mae Gruber & Friends for the lovely music, Sifted Measures for providing such delightful desserts and to Carbondale Beer Works, Mountain Heart Brewing, Marble Distilling Co. and El Dorado for keeping us quenched.

We were honored to have sold out the event; over 160 guests were in attendance. Over 200 dinner

bowls and cups were created by local CCC potters exclusively for this event, allowing guests to dine on and take home a piece of CCC at the end of the night.

We are humbled by the continued support of our community here in the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every person who supports us in our mission of “enriching lives through the ceramic arts!”

If you missed out on a handmade Settings dish, there are still a few dinner bowls, large serving bowls and handmade cups available for purchase at the Clay Center, 135 Main Street.

Left: Dishes for the event. Top: CCC staff and the board of directors. Above: Potters Chase Carter, Sam Mitchell, Maggie Guinta. Photos by Andrew Denaro

ValleyOrtho introduces new pain treatment

By Ken Pletcher Sopris Sun Contributor

This summer, ValleyOrtho announced that Tomas Pevny, MD, had begun using an analgesic technique with the trade name iovera° to treat pain associated with total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. ValleyOrtho, based at Valley View Hospital (VVH) in Glenwood Springs, also has branch clinics in Aspen, Willits, Eagle and Silt. Dr. Pevny, who has been an orthopedic surgeon since 1995, is the first physician in the region to begin using the treatment.

As described in a VVH press release, iovera° is “an FDAapproved, non-surgical, nonopioid osteoarthritis knee pain treatment that uses extreme cold to temporarily stop nerves from sending pain signals.” It went on, “Administered with a non-surgical handheld device, iovera° is an innovative cryoanalgesia technology that allows healthcare providers to block pain for immediate and long-term relief by delivering precise cold therapy to a targeted nerve.”

In a discussion with The Sopris Sun, Dr. Pevny explained that iovera° treatment has been around for “about 10 years, but only in the past three or four years” has it been used to treat pain. Prior to that, the technology was used principally for cryoablation (tissue destruction using extreme cold), typically utilizing liquid nitrogen. The difference in the newer application is that it uses “warmer” liquid nitrous oxide (N2O) to temporarily damage nerves that will then grow back.

Nitrous oxide “boils” at about -88° C (-127° F), which is cold enough to block targeted nerves

but not permanently destroy them. During the procedure, liquid nitrous is introduced into a closed-ended needle, where it is converted to gas and works with the body’s fluids near the point of the needle’s insertion to precisely freeze that specific nerve. No gas is injected into the body.

As Dr. Pevny explained, the treatment lasts “about three or four months,” during which time the nerve slowly grows back. He noted that the procedure targets only sensory nerves (those delivering pain signals to the brain) and “not motor nerves.” He went on to tell The Sun that although iovera° is being used increasingly to treat chronic pain in knees and other joints, he is “focused on surgery, especially TKR.”

“The first two weeks [after the surgery] can be uncomfortable for some patients,” he explained, and traditionally doctors have prescribed opioids, “with all of the negative aspects of that treatment.” He began doing research on alternatives to opioids and came upon iovera° and became “very interested” in it. He was quite surprised, however, that it “hadn’t become mainstream yet.” One reason for this, he suggested, was that the procedure takes some time (about half an hour) and may “disrupt the flow” of consultation schedules.

Over the past several months he has been administering an iovera° procedure about two weeks prior to the surgery, thus preemptively stopping the patient’s pain. After surgery, the patient then undergoes “multimodal pain management” that minimizes opioid use. Because the motor nerves are not targeted by iovera°, rehabilitation therapy is not affected. He noted that patients often “don’t even know it” when the nerves

CHASE AWAY THE FLUES - VISIT OUR CLINICS!

Walk-in flu clinics:

Garfield County Public Health

2014 Blake Avenue, Glenwood Springs

Wednesday, October 11, 9 am - 4 pm

Wednesday, October 18, 9 am - 4 pm

Wednesday, October 25, 9 am - 4 pm

(NOTE: dates above closed from noon - 1 pm)

Carbondale Branch Library, 320 Sopris Avenue

Saturday, October 28, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

$15/child, $25/adult | High dose vaccine available for 65+. Flu mist available.

Medicare Part B, Medicaid, CHP+, RMHP, BCBS and UHC insurances

Public Health: Rifle 970-625-5200 ext. 8116

Glenwood Springs: 970-945-6614 ext. 2030

Call to make an appointment for other dates.

garfield-county.com

Above: Tomas Pevny, MD.

Center: Hand-held probe, called a "Smart Tip" by the manufacturer, used during the iovera° treatment process. Courtesy photos

grow back; at that point they typically are pain-free. So far, some 40 TKR recipients have gotten the procedure. Dr. Pevny and his colleagues are doing follow-up studies on them and future patients. He explained, “If we get good data, our goal will be to write a publishable peer-reviewed paper” in a medical journal. He noted that there are not many studies yet; “Anything we can contribute to the study [of iovera°] to make other physicians aware of it would be good.” He added, “We are on the leading edge [at VVH] with robotic technology, and we’re happy to support what we do in the OR [operating room] with technology like iovera°.”

The bank of Crystal River is a significant location for our business. It’s where the mountains meet the river and nature flourishes. Our guests travel here to flyfish the Crystal, which is a natural free-flowing river, rich with an abundance of fish. There is no other place in Colorado to experience the beauty of the White River National Forest and this pristine river. It is a gift to be shared and protected.”

Voices

Rob Hunker & Lisa Wagner Owners, Crystal Dreams B&B, Redstone

Skin cancer prevention event promotes being sun-safe

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

Valley View, a nonprofit health system based in Glenwood Springs, is taking a proactive approach to ensure the residents of the sundrenched Roaring Fork Valley keep their skin cancer-free.

On Oct. 11, from 5:30 to 7pm, it will host a “Girls Night Out” skin cancer prevention event at Roaring Fork Family Practice, 978 Euclid Ave. in Carbondale.

Dr. Alexandra Donovan, an oncologist at Valley View’s Calaway-Young Cancer Center, will present information to educate the public about the causes and symptoms of the different types of skin cancer, measures you can take to reduce sun-exposure risks and scheduling followup skin cancer screenings at Valley View’s dermatology department in Glenwood Springs.

The event will offer free skin cancer screenings, which can help identify potential skin cancer concerns in their early stages, enabling prompt intervention. Donovan assures that, despite the event’s title, all are welcome to attend. Skin cancer impacts men and women equally, she said.

Colorado is in the top three states in skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which manifest in various ways.

“While fair-skinned people are more likely to develop skin cancer, it does not discriminate and can affect any skin tone,” said Donovan, adding, “Sun exposure early in life can appear as skin cancer 20 to 40 years down the road.”

“Most [types of skin cancer] are not fatal. The most deadly

is melanoma, but the others are much more prevalent and morbid — meaning they have a lot of side effects resulting from the treatment because surgeries can be disfiguring,” Donovan shared. “Keeping track of your own moles is helpful, and if you notice something is changing, you should have it evaluated because the earlier you tend to something, the better to minimize the risk of a big surgery, and if we can catch things early, hopefully, we can save lives as well.”

If you love mountains, sunshine and an outdoor lifestyle, you’re in the right place, but it may be a bit of a double whammy for your skin health. While the Rocky Mountains offer scenic views, a bluebird-sky climate and a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, Donovan said the ozone layer — which protects our skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV) — is thinner in high altitude regions. Colorado has 300-plus sunny days a year, second only to Florida. We can still enjoy all the fun and beauty this place offers, but Donovan suggests we take precautions to reduce our skin cancer risks. Donovan made these recommendations for people of all ages, regardless of skin tone:

• Sunscreen: Applying sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) rating of at least 30 and reapplying to exposed skin every two hours or after swimming.

• Clothing & eyewear: Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and polarized-lens sunglasses. Exposure to UV radiation can harm the eyes and is associated with conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and

long-legged pants to shield the skin from the sun or wearing UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing or swimwear.

• Conditions & timing: UV rays can penetrate clouds and reflect off of snow and sand. Avoid time outside when the sun is at its strongest between 10am to 2pm.

•Self-monitoring: Know your skin, and if changes in the size, shape, color or texture of moles are detected, consult a dermatologist.

• Tanning beds: They emit UV rays and should be avoided. Donovan said several states have implemented restrictions or regulations on their use, particularly for minors.

• Screenings: Regular screenings and early detection improve treatment outcomes

• Education: Severe sunburns, especially early in life, can result in skin cancer later in life. Educate yourself and your family on protecting your skin for a lifetime.

More information about Valley View’s skin cancer event can be found at VVH.org/ GNO. The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP emailed to events@vvh.org is required for a free skin cancer screening appointment.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and applying sunscreen are two ways you can reduce your risk of skin cancer. Illustration by Sofie Koski

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

Sopris Theatre Company, a student and community theater enterprise of Colorado Mountain College (CMC), will open its 2023-2024 season with Lauren Gunderson’s 2018 one-woman monologue show, ‘Natural Shocks,’ on Oct. 13-14 at 7pm. The show is directed by CMC’s Theatre Operations Manager and Artistic Director Brad Moore and stars talented Glenwood Springs local Bostyn Elswick as Angela, the sole character.

Thanks to an arts and culture grant from the City of Aspen and sponsorship from U.S. Bank, ‘Natural Shocks’ will be touring the state. One of the most notable stops is the Colorado Theatre Festival, dates and venue to be determined.According to Elswick, the show is an introspective, deep and hardhitting look into Angela's life which touches on individual and collective traumas.

“[The show] deals with domestic abuse and how that ties in with gun violence and other issues that are super

present in today's society, unfortunately. It gives us a space to share a story about how those things can manifest,” Elswick explained. “The last thing that Brad, myself or any of the team wanted was for it to sound preachy. It's more just sharing a woman's story.”

Elswick has been involved in the Valley's theater community for nearly a decade. Starting as a freshman in high school, she has appeared in productions by Defiance Theater Company and Thunder River Theatre Company and as a frequent talent for Sopris Theatre, having recently appeared in its productions of “Frankenstein: The Monster/The Man?” “The Voice of the Prairie,” “Silent Sky” and “The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong.”

Moore has collaborated with local organizations for this production, including Advocate Safehouse Project in Glenwood Springs and the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy. These organizations have been actively involved in the rehearsal process and will be present for talk-back sessions featuring trauma-

informed workers supporting Elswick, the crew and the audience.

Moore explained that he felt the show needed to include experts on domestic and gun violence. “We wanted to make sure that we were honoring, understanding and delivering the material in an authentic and deliberate way,” he said. “I want to make sure we are not missing any of the nuances.”

According to Elswick, she was approached by Moore to read for the role of Angela, and things fell into place from there. She expressed both nervousness and excitement for the production.

“My favorite aspect is the levity that this character has, the levels of her personality that shine through are incredible. She's so funny and incredibly intelligent, which I love to see in a woman's role,” Elswick said. “The hardest part, at least for me, has been the emotional aspect of the show. As I mentioned, it deals with some very dark themes, and they’re all real in a sense. So it’s a little exhausting to have to work on some of those scenes, night after night.”

Elswick said she feels she is growing as an actress with this production and also praised Moore’s guidance and ability to empathize with her. She said he has gone above and beyond to make the rehearsal process feel like a safe space. Asked what audiences are in store for, Elswick said they should be prepared to go on a “wild ride” that will hit close to home. “I think everybody will be impacted in a different way,” she stated. “I just hope people will be open-minded. When you deal with a hard subject matter, it can get really political or targeted, but I want everybody to witness it and feel however they feel.”

She also expressed hope for those in attendance to walk away with more knowledge about domestic abuse and gun violence and empathy for the people impacted. Moore echoed, “My hope and goal as the director is to present strong and thought-provoking theater. There are moments of absolute hysterical laughter, and there are moments of deep, painful exploration. It's going to be a powerful piece. Audiences need to be prepared.”

To get tickets for “Natural Shocks” and for updates on Sopris Theatre Company’s 2023-24 season, visit www.bit.ly/CMCtheater or call 970-947-8177.

"Natural Shocks" promo photo by Scot Gerdes

Mountain Heart brews with mountain culture

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

Did you hear about the new brewery on Dolores Way? Mountain Heart opened casually on Sept. 1, trusting word-of-mouth to bring in a steady trickle of customers. The brewery features all in-house taps on rotation, with a few consistent “core” beers.

Josh Lange, decided to start this venture after recently moving to the Valley with his 4-year-old son, Kauri. Lange attended Colorado Rocky Mountain School and started a successful juice company, Just Squeezed, at the age of 22. Later he also started a coffee company that travels to festivals and has a cafe called La Luz in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He hopes that Mountain Heart will be good for his family, and for the community. “Being a father is absolutely number one for me,” he told The Sopris Sun. Lange attributes his earlier years in the Roaring Fork Valley to “developing into a good human” and learning the necessary “grit” to be successful in business. He looks forward to Kauri growing up in the same mountains, experiencing Carbondale’s exceptional community.

The building, located at 1831 Dolores Way, formerly served as Roaring Fork Beer Company’s production facilities. Many locals will remember a Roaring Fork Beer

Company tap room nearby prior to Batch opening downtown.

Chase Engel, former brewmaster and CEO of Roaring Fork Beer Company, put Lange in touch with Patrick Sullivan, a brewer from Ohio that specializes in IPAs, sours, lagers, pilsners and stouts.

Sullivan was introduced to home brewing at an early age by his aunt and became “obsessed with the process,” he said. He later studied chemistry specifically to master brewing. Sullivan also previously

lived in the Roaring Fork Valley and worked at Aspen Brewing Company, which is how he met Engel.

“I feel like there’s been tons of synchronicity for me coming back to the Valley and being open to opportunity,” Lange said. “I want to be part of the community and do something I feel we’re missing a little, especially with Batch and Silo having closed.” He admitted, “I don’t come from a background of selling alcohol.”

He hopes Mountain Heart will retain a coffee-shop, family-

friendly vibe, where all people feel comfortable. There will be juices for sale and other soft beverages like fresh-squeezed lemonade, teas and kombucha on tap. “A place where you can get any kind of drink, homemade and delicious,” Lange said, “that’s the plan.”

Mountain Heart is already donating beer for local nonprofit functions and looks forward to further supporting the community in that way. They also have more than a dozen accounts with bars and restaurants in the Valley to which they distribute kegs for beers on tap. The plan for now is to also sell their specialty beers in cans at the tap room, brewed with Crystal River water delivered by the Town of Carbondale.

“This space is created to be able to hang out with friends, but also, if you want to come in with a laptop and work, have a beer or a juice. It’s a comfortable space,” Lange said, pointing out that every seat has a cushion. “We did a lot of this stuff on our own, and we’ll continue to improve it as time goes on.”

Mountain Heart is currently open Thursday through Sunday, from 2 to 9pm, but plans to be open daily in the near future. They will soon start hosting open mic nights and live music in the space and, eventually, Lange aspires to bring in daily food trucks, too.

Patrick Sullivan (left) and Josh Lange (right) aspire to make Mountain Heart an inclusive space where everyone feels at home. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Wheels on the bus go round and round OPINION

what cost?

By Elizabeth Key

During the past few years, Roaring Fork School District children have circled the Valley on ever-lengthening bus routes. After years of the pandemic-inspired “mommy bus,” I recently returned to the school bus system. I was shocked to discover that a seven-minute car ride can take up to two hours on the bus. I imagined my children living on the bus, sometimes sitting together and other times apart, the metronome of their lives ticking with the bumps and stops along the way.

As a working mother, I can see these extended bus routes as an answer to the childcare crisis, the bus safely and affordably transporting my children home to arrive at the end of my workday, but at

My children’s bus driver, Gene Schilling, has been driving a school bus for the past 41 years. He retired as the Carbondale police chief in 2020 after serving the force for 37 years, working both jobs in tandem. He currently finds driving his grandkids to and from school the highlight of his long bus driving career. He also has lasting associations with many locals, which he attributes to his public service.

“The original reason I started bus driving, many years ago, was because of the police. I wanted kids to see the police in a different light,” Schilling said. He often sees those kids around the community, and some are now as old as 58. “When I was in the police, I used to have them come to talk to me when there were problems within their family unit.

Schilling’s mornings begin with waking up at 3:30am to leave the bus barn by 5:30am. His 71-seat, K-12 bus takes two loops up to Marble and Redstone and then does a Carbondale loop. In the afternoon, Schilling sometimes doesn’t get home until 6:30pm. He said that Carbondale and

FAIR RODEO

&

Basalt used to have five bus drivers, but now it is just him and his brother.

“In Basalt, there are places where they used to provide bus service, but they are no longer able to provide that bus service because of the shortage of drivers,” Schilling said.

Jared Rains, Roaring Fork School District transportation director, graduated from Roaring Fork High School in 1994 and had Schilling as his bus driver. He recognizes the acute staffing deficit and said the district is sensitive to communities’ needs.

“When we’ve had to cut service,” Rains said, “we look at that neighborhood closely and think, are these students that don’t have another way to get to school besides the school bus, or are they living in a neighborhood with more resources where a family might have multiple cars and be able to drive those students to and from school?”

Rains stated that the district used to hire drivers part-time with a single route, offering less than four hours of work per day. Due to the driver shortage, they have combined activity and bus drivers to provide employees

with full-time hours and access to health insurance and affordable housing benefits. Even with the augmented pay scale and benefits, hiring dedicated school bus drivers remains challenging. In 2019, there were 27 bus routes.

Now, “We have nine routes out there,” Rains said. “I feel I could double that and still have at least half our people working full-time and be able to provide more service to more neighborhoods, which would mean shorter routes.”

As the children of the Roaring Fork Valley ride on this merry-go-round of a bus system, the district strives to make their commute more productive. Certain routes, such as Marble and Missouri Heights, lack cell service, leaving technology-driven students in the dark to do their homework on the lengthy remote routes.

“We have also looked at technology improvements we could add, piloting putting wifi on some of our buses and seeing what that could add to the capability for students to log in to their programs and do their schoolwork,” Rains said.

Turning buses into mobile virtual learning labs

can undoubtedly provide opportunities for children to complete homework, if not distraction from monotony. Still, it doesn’t compensate for the lost time with families. The precious few “witching hours” parents get to bond with our kids should not be stripped from us at the end of each day. Loss of family time comes at its own social, emotional and intellectual price.

“We need more drivers,” Rains said. “That would change everything. Every single person we add to this small team changes our capabilities tremendously. If there are people that want to answer that call and drive school buses, that would make a huge difference.”

Colorado ranks low in educational funding, and Rains encourages the public to talk to their state and federal representatives about augmenting educational budgets. While the Roaring Fork School District pays drivers competitive wages, the cost of living in the area outstrips many salaries. A multi-pronged approach and innovative solutions are needed to shorten our kids' commutes.

Royalty contest 2023-2024

The Garfield County Fair & Rodeo Royalty Program invites young ladies of Garfield County who have a passion for horsemanship and leadership to compete in the Royalty contest for 2023-2024. Royalty tryouts are scheduled for three consecutive Mondays, November 6, 13, and 20 at the Garfield County Fairgrounds.

The Royalty Program bylaws, application, and more information are online at garfieldcountyfair.com/royalty

Deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m., October 27, 2023

presenting sponsor est.

Guest Opinion

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

Potato Days 2023

By Just Jim

Leaves are falling

Potatoes are surfacing

It must be that time…

For well over a century

Carbondale rediscovers its roots

Blooming the parade down Main

Blossoming potatoes, meat and corn

From pits beneath the park

This year at 11:15am October 7, sharp

Much has changed

Away went the fat baby contest

But, the biggest potato remains

Thomas smiles on Potato Days 2023

The Red McClure having come out of hiding

To find a home in Hattie’s heritage garden

Feel like starting a day early?

Wrap potatoes at the Thompson House

Thursday afternoon, Oct. 5 at 2

Sway in sync this First Friday eve

At the Community Contra Dance

Hosted at your friendly Rec Center, 6-10

Come early Saturday morn

For cowboy coffee

From 9 on, till it’s gone

The old Bareback Bonanza rodeo

Gave way to the Gymkhana

So, Sunday see the youth ride

Turn to page 14, you’ll find…

A list of tubular details

For this 114th annual spud days

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

the Sheep and Wade the Shepard

Sheepdog Finals! Photo by Claire Noone

Bringing the “city” to Carbondale (new urban) ain’t that. Interestingly, the recent growth in Carbondale has brought many new people who mainly come from cities. So for these folks, the new buildings and heavier traffic are the norm. Those of us who have been around for a few decades aren’t so accepting.

Patrick Hunter Carbondale

Yard waste thanks

As we wind up summer and put our abundant, beautiful gardens to bed, I send a formal open declaration of gratitude to the Town of Carbondale for sponsoring the yard waste program every other Saturday through the summer. Town of Carbondale partners with the folks at EverGreen ZeroWaste and every other week my car would be filled with a minimum of 10-15 bags of trimmings, weeds, etc. that otherwise would go to the landfill. Our town needs this program and supports its continuation for next year. It takes a lot of energy, time and money to keep our town, our yards and our parks beautiful.

Thank you to all the local gardeners and Town Maintenance folks for a beautiful summer and for keeping Carbondale the beautiful place we all love to live!

Thank you EverGreen ZeroWaste and Town of Carbondale for making this possible.

Lisa Dancing-Light Carbondale

MANA thanks

After what I would call an epic summer, welcome to the fall of 2023. The big question I have is, will this winter be nearly as good as last winter or even better?

There was a group last week at MANA Foods adding their energy to the nature spirits blessing on Carbondale this past equinox. We did this by reading a sacred yoga text non-stop for three days. The people who read for an hour added strength to the Health Portal supported by the Adi Shakti Ashram.

This nonprofit believes a healthy mind, body, and spirit contribute to a healthy environment supported by all the unseen forces that bring Carbondale some of the finest weather on the planet. After watching the news this summer, with all the wild weather across America, this equinox had special meaning for me.I was surprised that several people read four or more hours, with one of those traveling from Meeker to participate. Making our community sustainable and healthy was the thread that brought all these committed people together.Thanks to all the readers and those supporting MANA Foods during our celebration.

For those who have not been in MANA Foods yet, come and see the healthy, local, sustainable foods this team has for your family. We strive to be the complete grocery store for those who believe eating healthy is the reason to put nutrition in the body along with enjoying some healthy snacks.

Kudos

Pollinator Chocolate is proud to know Chef Barclay and Bosq. Congrats for their recent Michelin star win! Best of luck in everything, Barclay, even though we know you don’t need it.

Mark Burrows Carbondale

Vote for Betsy

I believe Betsy After is the ideal person to help address the challenges facing the Roaring Fork School District today, while also setting the district on a more positive strategic trajectory for the long-term. She uniquely possesses the qualities and capabilities needed to ensure our schools serve students, attract, and retain high quality teachers, and reflect our community’s values in a fiscally responsible manner.

I’ve known Betsy for 15 years personally and professionally and have admired her passion, attention to detail, and effective leadership style. Working together at Rocky Mountain Institute, I witnessed Betsy’s ability to harness the unique skills and perspectives of the teams she manages to achieve great results. She’s a leading fundraiser for the organization and has helped fuel their impressive growth.

Amid this professional success, she also constantly gives of herself to her community and family. Betsy has served on boards like the Basalt Regional Library and Mt. Sopris Montessori School, all while helping run a local business and raising two awesome kids. (She’s a great mom, not that this should factor into decision making, but it’s something I really respect about her!)

For these and many other reasons, when I fill out my ballot, I’ll be checking the box next to Betsy After’s name. For the future of our district, the students it serves, and the staff it employs, I hope you’ll do the same!

Kelly Vaughn Basalt

Ever After

I am writing in support of Betsy After’s candidacy for District B of the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education. I had the pleasure of serving on the Mt. Sopris Montessori School board during Betsy’s tenure as the board president. I found her to be an engaged, knowledgeable, and effective leader. She successfully steered the school through the academic and financial challenges of COVID and a corresponding leadership change.

I recently spoke with Betsy about her candidacy for the school board and was impressed. She demonstrated deep knowledge of the district’s most urgent challenges (i.e. teacher retention, fiscal responsibility, improved communication) and the skills and motivation to address them. She is eager to utilize her strengths to serve students, teachers and our broader community. With two young children in district schools, she is

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Khalsa New Castle

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LETTERS

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committed to serving the district over the long-term. The Roaring Fork School District needs balanced, thoughtful leaders like Betsy to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education. I will be voting for Betsy on Nov. 7 and encourage my fellow parents and community members to do the same.

Clair Rummel

Carbondale

Letters policy: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun. com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.

SERVICE DIRECTORY

LEGAL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Board of Trustees, acting as the Carbondale Liquor Authority, for the purpose of considering a New Liquor License Application.

The property is located at 568 Highway 133 Suite 104105, Carbondale, CO.

The applicant is Jalisco Grill III, LLC

Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO at 6:00 p.m. on October 10, 2023, and via Zoom.

Copies of the proposed application are on file in the town clerk’s office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

By order of Ben Bohmfalk, Mayor

Left: Homecoming Monarchs Foster Hayes (left) and Avery Shook.

Above and right: Spirit week featured a bonfire for the first time in years, thanks to parents who sponsored the event.

Photos by Sue Rollyson