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Volume 15, Number 45 | December 14 - December 20, 2023
After 38 years, Bob and Kathy Ezra are ready for someone else to sell popcorn and run the projector. Read more on page 6
OPINION
VOICES Radio Hour By Kami Miranda
Like most huge transformations, I was only able to take notice of what was happening to me after enough time had passed for some rear-view perspective. What started out as a simple desire to lose a few pounds and gain some tools to survive menopause as gracefully as possible ended up altering every aspect of my life, from the way I engage with family, friends, co-workers and, most importantly, how I talk to and treat myself. I had no idea that my mindset was in need of such a massive overhaul and was unaware of the level to which I had been sabotaging my own dreams. Over the past year and a half, I made the shift from working out to lose a few pounds, to working out because I’d fallen in love with the process and, eventually, with myself! I confess, I’ve made fun of “gym rats” over the years, but more vicious and embarrassing was my judging of mothers who had prioritized their physical health. I was exhausted, all of my boundaries had been challenged, pushed and flat out ignored for almost two decades. I told myself I was a more dedicated wife and mom because I was willing to sacrifice myself! Ohhh, I had no idea how many BS stories I was telling myself and just how much I had to learn! It’s true, my boundaries had been trampled, but not because my family was malicious or disrespectful but instead because I had never established them. I had failed to
Un-Comfort Zone: Taking the leap stand up for myself, speak up and believed in myself, was willing to take dare to have opinions because people- a risk on myself and wanted nothing pleasing was a higher priority. Never more than to help raise other women in a million years would I have up. I celebrated the end of the program imagined all of this unpacking of by stepping further out of my comfort old, outdated stories and revealing zone and scheduled a photoshoot. The of buried skeletons would play out shoot itself was more of a two hour in a gym. I’d never set foot in a rapid-fire therapy session. I cried tears gym, never touched a barbell and of frustration and defeat as I couldn’t certainly didn’t know the first thing get out of my head and therefore out of about hypertrophy, NEAT, macros my own way. and RPEs, nor did I see why that Under the photographer's would have anything to do with selfexperienced guidance, he created a discovery. Then, I literally unraveled sacred space for me to let down my and re-wired myself under pressure, guard, explore the confines of my under the bar. preset boundaries and release my In early 2022 I started reading, own expectations of myself. He told listening to podcasts, interviews and me anyone can take a picture but audiobooks on everything related to that he was there to show me my soul menopause and female aging. and that’s eventually exactly what he I took a six week reunited me with. program and learned He captured on film about tracking dietary and showed me a macros. I lost 18 woman I’ve always pounds, was happy dreamed of being; and loosey goosey powerful, present, with my diet until feminine and yes, I began to wonder even sensual. That what else I was was the day I earned capable of. I had my self-respect and consistently made became my own Before and after. Courtesy photo inspiration. choices that led to a lifestyle I was unhappy Since that day, I keep with. What would happen if I promises to myself that reinforce consistently made another choice? I my willingness to do what it takes to applied to a 24-week transformation improve 1% every day. program and the mindset shift was I’m less afraid of failure and set in motion. Alongside my 40 more afraid of not trying. My body teammates turned sisters, we shared has changed and sure, that’s cool, weekly measurements and pictures but I ended up losing more than a of ourselves in bikinis. We started few pounds... I shed the weight of terrified but after only a few short self-doubt, self-criticism and selfweeks we all started to notice changes. sabotage. Over the course of the next six I now not only have the tools to months, as my body changed beyond strengthen my body but I discovered recognition, as I shed weight and the courage to strengthen my mind, girth, it came to my awareness that challenge my boundaries, ground I no longer cared about losing a few my soul and dare to dream big. I pounds. My outlook was altering, cannot thank my old self enough for I felt beyond supportive of my reaching out for help when she hit an teammates’ journeys, proud of their emotional bottom. accomplishments and realized that I We all have a different path to selfwas no longer judging others. discovery, I’m still shocked I found By taking care of myself, I suddenly my path in a gym.
LETTERS
Champion the Enemy's Need by Kim Stafford, former poet Laureate of Oregon Ask about your enemy's wounds and scars/ Seek his hidden cause of trouble. Feed your enemy's children. Learn their word for home. Repair their well. Learn their sorrow's history. Trace their lineage of the good. Ask them for a song. Make tea. Break bread. Illène Pevec Carbondale
Shared responsibility Dear Carbondale friends, neighbors, business owners and property managers — now that winter has finally arrived, it’s time to buck up to our shared responsibility of maintaining safe walking surfaces in our lovely little town. Are you aware that we have a municipal ordinance requiring people to remove snow from all sidewalks abutting our properties? That means not just in front of one’s doorway or gate, but
the entire length of the property adjacent to the sidewalk. Snow not removed gets packed down and becomes icy and when melting, causes ice, water and slush that refreezes, resulting in treacherously slippery walkways. Please, let’s be considerate of one and others’ well being by shoveling our sidewalks! Appreciatively, Laurie Loeb Carbondale
Postal Service I once had a Prime account with Amazon, but no more Amazon for me. Think about the impact of Amazon on small businesses trying to survive. And now, because of Amazon's contract with the Postal Service, packages pile up at post offices and take priority over delivery of first class mail. This is a national crisis. Then I read the following in the New York Review of Books (May 25, 2023): Among the most revealing sections of the book (“On the Clock”) are her (author Emily Guendelsberger) accounts of surreal (Amazon) orientations, in which she and other recent hires were given cheerful but blunt overviews of the hardships they could expect in their new jobs.
2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
continued on page 30
Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Sol del Valle Editor Vanessa Porras Contributing & Digital Editor James Steindler Editorial Designer Hattie Rensberry Advertising Designer Emily Blong Delivery Frederic Kischbaum Bartlett Hank van Berlo Proofreader Lee Beck Executive Director Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Board Members / Mesa Directiva board@soprissun.com Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke Lee Beck • Donna Dayton Eric Smith • Roger Berliner Elizabeth Phillips • Jessi Rochel Andrew Travers • Anna Huntington
The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on second Thursdays at the Third Street Center. The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to inform, inspire and build community by fostering diverse and independent journalism. Donations are fully tax deductible. Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+ Lee Beck & John Stickney Kay Brunnier • Frances Dudley Michelle & Ed Buchman Sue Edelstein & Bill Spence Deborah & Shane Evans Greg & Kathy Feinsinger Gary & Jill Knaus • Eric Smith Peter and Mike Gilbert Carly & Frosty Merriott James Noyes • Megan Tackett Patti & George Stranahan Anne Sullivan & John Colson Elizabeth Wysong • Alpine Bank Emily & George Bohmfalk Kathy & Carter Barger Sandy & Paul Chamberlin Karen & Roger Berliner Gretchen Greenwood & Lee Mulcahy Donna & Ken Riley Gayle & Dick Wells
Legacy Givers for including us in their final wishes. Mary Lilly
Donate by mail or online: P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #26-B 970-510-3003 soprissun.com/Donate The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District
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Spruce it up! Our Underwriters and Nonprofit Partners!
The Sopris Sun invites youngsters to submit illustrations for its annual Spruce Up The Sun contest. The winning image(s) will be featured on the cover of our Dec. 21 holiday issue. Contestants, or their parents, can submit scanned submissions to news@ soprissun.com or place a hard copy in the submission box outside The Launchpad in Carbondale (76 South Fourth Street). Preschoolers through high school seniors are welcome to participate. This year’s theme: World Peace. Entries are due by Dec. 17 at the latest!
Smile, you’re on camera The Sopris Sun is researching a story regarding mail thefts in the Crystal Valley that will print next week. As it turns out, thefts are occurring along the I-70 corridor and likely by the same group of suspects, according to a spokesperson with the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office. Pitkin County still has cameras available to install at HOAs along the Crystal River Road (Highway 133) in an attempt to help identify suspects. Email brad.gibson@pitkinsheriff.com for details about installing a camera.
Whooping cough
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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
The Garfield County Public Health office asks the community to be on alert against pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. There have already been multiple confirmed cases of the illness in the county. According to a press release, the disease can be severe and even fatal for infants under 1, people with higher risk factors, pregnant women or unvaccinated individuals. The most notable symptom is a cough that lasts two weeks or more. Other symptoms may include a fever, sore throat, runny nose or congestion. Nasal swab tests can determine an infection which then can be treated with antibiotics. For info, call GarCo Public Health at 970-625-5200, extension 8135.
Summit for Life The Chris Klug Foundation’s 18th annual Summit for Life had 191 racers and 45 riders ascend Aspen Mountain this past weekend after weather conditions prompted an unprecedented reschedule. Congratulations to Josh Anderson of Basalt (top male) and Jessie Young of Aspen (top female). Despite the shake-up, $122,402 was raised during the event, with fundraising continuing through Dec. 18 at www.summitforlife.org
Per tradition, Aspen Choral Society performed Handel’s “Messiah” throughout the Valley this past weekend. The choir welcomes new singers to consider joining Aspen Choral Society for their spring show: “The Drop That Contained the Sea” by Christopher Tin. Rehearsals begin Jan. 21 and performances will take place March 15, 16 and 17. Interested people can email Choral Manager Emma Leake-Parker at emma@aspenchorsalsociety.org. Courtesy photo
Holiday vandalism
Boebert bill
Vandalism affected two different areas of holiday lighting in Carbondale late last week. The electric meter that controls the downtown tree lights (not the tree by the forest service) was ripped out of its cabinet, as was the photocell that controls the street lights and garland at the roundabout.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert introduced legislation that prohibits the Bureau of Land Management from “locking up” land in Colorado from oil and gas production, a press release informed. “Joe Biden and his agency minions are making a concerted effort to undermine our energy production,” she claimed, “particularly in Colorado.” On Aug. 4, the Bureau of Land Management published a draft resource management plan for the Colorado River Valley Field Office and Grand Junction Field Office which would remove over 1.6 million acres of public lands from future oil and gas leasing.
Business costs A study by RestaurantFurniture.Net found that Colorado is the third most expensive state in which to open a new restaurant, behind California (first) and New York. This is based on a combination of factors, such as commercial space rental prices, license fees and taxes. Locals are encouraged to support their favorite establishments for taking on the risk.
Art Around Town The Town of Carbondale Public Art Commission’s annual rotating sculpture show, Art Around Town, is receiving applications through Feb. 5 for 15 outdoor pieces that will be on display from June 6, 2024 through May 15, 2025. Artists can have up to four sculptures selected with a $1,000 honorarium per sculpture. A $250 travel allowance will also be paid for out-of-town artists for delivery costs. Apply online at www.bit. ly/CdaleArt2024
They say it’s your birthday! Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Alex Curtis, Steve Keohane and Natalie Spears (Dec. 14); Ciarra Bristol, Lynn Burton, Rachel Filter, Alya Howe, Frank McGuirk, Arturo Ortiz and Anthony Ortiz (Dec. 15); Deborah Anderson and Tamarah Howard (Dec. 16); Aiden Knaus and Cooper Marshall (Dec. 17); Kathy Ezra, Daisy Tena and Ralph Wanner (Dec. 18); Shirley Bowen and Frances Lewis (Dec. 19); Linnea Fong, Terry Glasenapp, Kenzie Hill, Beatriz Soto, Tyler Thompson, Prema Trettin and Travis Wilson (Dec. 20).
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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
The Sun and el Sol get artsy with Aspen Chapel Gallery By James Steindler Contributing Editor Editor’s note: A percentage of the proceeds from the Biennial Four Rivers art show will go to The Sopris Sun. This is a call to artists to submit their pieces to be included in the Four Rivers Biennial art show in February at the Aspen Chapel Gallery (ACG). The Sopris Sun and el Sol del Valle are proud to partner with ACG for its 2024 Four Rivers Biennial. It’s the fourth iteration of the exhibit, which highlights local artists whose works the community may not yet be familiar with. ACG has been around for just about as long as the Aspen Chapel itself, which was constructed and dedicated in the ‘60s. The chapel was built by a Mennonite bishop from Denver, and was intended ever since as a gathering place not only for Christians, but other religious sects as well. For instance, the Aspen Jewish Congregation has carried out its services there for years. “When the Chapel was dedicated, the arts were included,” ACG Director Tom Ward told The Sopris Sun. So, the eventual formation of ACG aligned with the Chapel’s original mission. Initially, Ward was hired as the director of the Chapel in the early ‘80s. He came with a predisposed love for the arts, having previously
This watercolor by Larry Day was part of the 2022 Four Rivers Biennial.
operated the “Gargoyle” — a commercial gallery in Aspen. Connie Madsen, who had typically coordinated an annual show at the Aspen Art Museum, was left without that option one year. So, she suggested exhibiting a show in the basement of the Chapel instead. As it turned out, it was meant to be. The first show, a watercolor exhibit, opened in the basement in June of 1985. The rest, as they say, is history. After nearly four decades, ACG continues to operate under the nonprofit umbrella of the Chapel. This year, for the Four Rivers Biennial, “What we’re trying to do is
25YEARS
reach further downvalley,” explained Michael Bonds with ACG, “introduce new artists who haven’t had a lot of opportunities [and] introduce them to the community and to our curators.” While the entry fee is relatively modest, ACG still offers a scholarship program so artists are not hindered by finances. It takes about $8,000 for ACG to put on any given show. The gallery partners with a local nonprofit for every Four Rivers Biennial, which is given a percentage of the proceeds. Lissa Ballinger and Andrew Travers are the volunteer judges for the upcoming exhibit, and will determine who receives the $1,000 Judges’ Award. Attendees at the exhibit get to
vote for the People’s Choice Award, which comes with a $250 cash prize. All artistic mediums are welcomed, with some size constraints (it needs to fit in the space) and nudes and profanity are not allowed. It is, after all, in the basement of a chapel. “This show is totally wide open,” stated Bonds, noting that typically ACG’s curators seek out featured artists. Artists “can submit whatever they would like; whatever they’ve produced in the last three years.” Anyone residing as far as Grand Junction, and anywhere along the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers from there, can apply to be included in the show. However, the primary focus is from western Garfield County to Aspen.There’s a desire to include more Latino artists’ pieces in the biennial exhibit. That’s partly why the ACG folks reached out to The Sopris Sun and el Sol del Valle, to get a call out to artists in both languages. “We haven’t had a lot of reach into that community,” said Bonds, “so maybe this will open up some doors for us to be able to do that.” The deadline to submit a proposed piece is Jan. 19. Entry forms can be found at www.aspenchapelgallery. org, in-person at the chapel during business hours or by emailing Bonds at studiomb628@gmail.com The opening reception is on Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 4 to 7pm.
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mid-valleyselfstorage.com THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 5
The Crystal Theatre, a reciprocal endeavor By James Steindler Contributing Editor On July 18, 1985, Bob and Kathy Ezra brought the Crystal Theatre on Main Street of Carbondale back to life. Nearly 40 years later, the couple prepares to pass on the torch of the fully operational, well-cared-for and beloved single-screen cinema.
A brief history
The Ezra era kicked off with "The Breakfast Club." Courtesy photo
The Crystal Theatre space, housed in the historic Dinkel Building, initially served as part of the W.M. Dinkel Mercantile store after being added to the original structure in 1912. Around 1949, the space was converted to the movie theatre we know today, and a dividing wall was constructed to separate it from the store. In September of that first year, the theatre screened “Red Stallion in the Rockies,” which was filmed in and around Carbondale with an opening shot of Mt. Sopris. The theatre promoted the film as a “SPECIAL SHOW! Carbondale’s Own Picture!” According to the April 18, 1953 edition of Motion Picture
6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
Magazine, Lloyd Greve “added the Crystal, Carbondale, Colorado, to his operations.” At the time, Greve owned theatres in Eagle, Minturn and Steamboat. The movie business took a hit with television reaching most every American home, and around 1962 the theatre closed. In the late ‘60s, the grandson of William Dinkel (the building’s namesake), Wallace “Wally” de Beque, screened films as fundraisers for the Recreation Department. In the ‘70s it was used for live theatre, the local talent show and a 16mm film series sponsored by the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities (now Carbondale Arts).
Moving in Meanwhile, on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, the Ezras were looking to make a move. After a short stint in Texas, they set their sights on Carbondale. They discovered the area by way of Colorado Mountain College’s (CMC) photography program, and Bob’s interest thereof. In 1979, Bob, Kathy and their son Bryan arrived in the Valley. Bob was a
carpenter, Kathy was a nurse, and they both had a love for film. The recession at the time nudged them to seriously consider their dream business. While living in Martha’s Vineyard, they were introduced to the Sparrow Film Society, which screened independent movies on 16mm film upstairs in a church. The model spawned the dream in Carbondale. Bob met Brad Hendricks while working on a house outside of Glenwood Springs. One day, in Hendricks’ kitchen, he suggested the Crystal Theatre as a viable option to carry out the Ezras’ vision. By that time, the space had been condemned, but that didn’t stop them from having a look. “The rest, as they say, is history,” Bob told The Sopris Sun. After meeting with the landlords at the time, Betty and Wally de Beque, the two waited on pins and needles for an answer. “We didn’t know at that point that Wally was a man of few words,” Kathy joked. Not being able to take it any longer, Bob called de Beque, who agreed over the phone that it could work.
Not having the collateral at the time, de Beque went as far as co-signing a $17,000 loan for the renovations. Bob, along with some good friends, went to work. A year and a half later, the Crystal Theatre reopened its doors once again, with a brand new marquee and all the magic of the movies. “The bottom line is: the theatre would not exist without Wally,” noted Kathy. There was no heat coming into the place at the time, because the radiators were disconnected from the original coal-fired furnace. Until that was fixed, it was a frigid job. They reduced the size of the projection booth, which initially had a “cry room" with a big EZ chair for mothers and their howling babies. The old seats in the lobby are what remains of the original 210. They bought equipment from a theatre in Minturn, including the seats, which they disassembled, buffed, painted and reupholstered before installing. There were a lot more seats in the Minturn theatre than the 125 the Crystal called for, so Kathy and Lynn Burton, a long-time friend, sat in one at a time and did a “butt check” to find the best ones.
Ch-ch-changes Nothing lasts forever. In 2014, they upgraded to the seats we see today. A buyer for the outgoing seating fell through, and they were running out of options as to what to do with them — the salvage yard being a depressing and unfavorable one. So, they put out an ad letting people know they’d be giving the seats away. As the team pulled the seats from the auditorium, “There was a line down the block,” said Bob, “and in less than two hours they were all gone.” For the first 12 years of operation, Bob and Kathy laid out a monthly calendar to distribute. People lamented seeing a note at the bottom of the final calendar stating that it would, indeed, be the last. They made up for it by making magnets with the Crystal’s phone number, and by continuing to place an ad in the Valley Journal. Today, people generally reference the internet for upcoming showings, but still have the option to call, or check The Sopris Sun calendar. Before the digital age, movies would arrive via UPS in two to three cans with three to four 20-minute reels in each can. The reels
would be spliced by hand and spun through a platter system to the projector. There were lots of moving parts, and, though an employee would be present during screenings, it was not rare for Bob and Kathy to get a call at home and have to jump on a bike to go fix a reel. In the mid ‘90s, the theatre upgraded to Dolby digital sound, but the big change to digital projection came in 2013. It was projected to be much more convenient and reliable than film, “Yet we were still kicking and screaming,” Bob quipped. And, it wasn’t going to be cheap. The Ezras even considered taking a second mortgage out on their home to meet the inevitable transition. But, the community, loving everything the Crystal Theatre had to offer, rallied to chip in. After a five-week fundraising campaign, it “was just unbelievable,” Kathy said of the community support. “It’s a responsibility that people gave us to take care of.” For any given showing, Bob and Kathy will hang out in the lobby or sit in the back row with the rest of the audience; they're always there to clean up and close the place down..
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The love between these two is palpable, and so is their love for the Crystal Theatre. Photo by James Steindler
The sale “We’re selling because, basically, I’m ready to retire,” said Kathy. “It’s as simple as that.” Although, Kathy doesn’t particularly like the term “retire” because, “there’s always things to do.” She added, “We’ve been doing this for close to forty years … and I’m just ready to move on, have some fun and see what’s out there.” The duo want to see it remain a movie theatre, and feel a responsibility to find the right buyer who will keep it so. They’re committed to help with a transition for as long as it takes and plan to be there at least until early
summer. "We're not going anywhere anytime soon," Bob assured. “We’re looking for a seamless transition with a new owner, slash owners, who are as passionate about the movies as we are,” said Kathy. “I think what people embrace about this place is that it’s about movies. I’d like to see that continue.” She concluded, “People place so much value on the theatre. It still blows my mind every night when people leave and they thank us.” In her mind, she always thinks, “If you weren’t here, we wouldn’t be here. So, it’s a reciprocal thank-you.”
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 7
Supporting new arrivals from Venezuela By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor Since early November, when Carbondale realized the presence of over 100 refugees, mostly from Venezuela, living in cars and tents by the river at the intersection of highways 82 and 133, the Roaring Fork Valley has rallied to support these newcomers through the harsh winter. There’s no easy solution for this unprecedented scenario; it’s a lot of people, all at once. As reported by the Colorado Sun, more than 27,000 Venezuelans have arrived in Denver over the past year, mostly from Texas. Some 7.7 million Venezuelans left their country in recent years due to an economic crisis attributed to the government of Nicolás Maduro (reelected in 2018) and exacerbated by foreign sanctions. The reality of average Venezuelans: there is no money. Groups began coming to Carbondale over the summer seeking to fill the labor needs and earn higher standard wages. As one Venezuelan informed The Sopris Sun, two to three hours of work here is equivalent to one month’s pay in Venezuela. For the past month, the Third Street Center has served as a makeshift shelter, allowing 60 people to stay per night in the community hall, formerly a school gym. Others sleep just outside in cars, some without registration or even license plates. A number of sympathetic churches have organized to provide breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner. As one supporter at St. Mary of the Crown Catholic Church told The Sopris Sun, “People want to be independent, whether they decide to stay here or move on… No one wants to be dependent for their basic necessities.” To that end, Voces Unidas de las Montañas is working to gain those eligible Temporary Protected Status (TPS) which requires proof of having entered
the country by the end of July 2023. TPS was expanded to include Venezuelans in 2021, and lasts 18 months with the opportunity to renew but no guarantee. This protects immigrants from deportation and allows them to pursue work authorization. The cost to apply for TPS is $545 per person, $50 for minors under the age of 14, and the process could take several months. Carbondale’s plan is to shelter up to 100 people through the end of March. Venezuela is a tropical country, very unlike Colorado’s deep winters. In addition to the Third Street Center, the Town has so far opened the Rec Center to the newcomers for use of the showers. Rob Stein, former Roaring Fork School District superintendent, is helping organize efforts to open more, smaller shelters and spread out the impact. The Town has requested $223,880 from the Department of Local Affairs to cover: immediate congregate sheltering services at various locations (est. $10,000 per month), custodial services (est. $3,100 per month), a security contract (est. $6,000 per month), utilities (est. $1,200 per month for heat, water and trash) and sanitary services (six-seat toilet trailer rental and pump out at larger shelter facility est. $4,600 per month); support for intake and initial case management and services (language services, medical care, medical supplies, behavioral health services, public health services, food, clothing, hygiene products and other incidentals, est. $80 per month per person for 125 persons); ground transportation costs for transferring refugees between shelter facilities or for relocation services (est. $20,000 for the four-month period); hiring two full-time shelter manager/coordinators at 80 hours per week for the four-month period, as well as a Response Coordinator position for approximately eight weeks at 25 hours per week, plus municipal legal expenses (est. $64,280). Age-Friendly Carbondale in association with the
Voces Unidas de las Montañas organized a legal clinic to help individuals eligible for Temporary Protected Status. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh
local Rebekah Lodge provided an abundance of winter clothing with a coat drive in November and is next hosting a “free store” on Dec. 20. Donations will be accepted at the Near New (302 Main Street) through Dec. 16 — only clean items in good condition will be accepted. The Near New is open Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 4pm. Needed: Men’s winter clothing, jackets, shirts, sweaters, base layers (small to large) boots sizes 8-10, jeans 30-36 and gloves; warm women’s jackets and boots size 6-7.5; bath towels, wash cloths, new bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo, shaving cream and deodorant. If you feel inclined to support monetarily, visit: www.bit.ly/VocesFund or to assist with food, contact your preferred faith institution and join their network.
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8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
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USFS seeks input for Thompson Divide withdrawal proposal By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent On Dec. 8, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft environmental assessment for the Thompson Divide Withdrawal. If approved, this would withdraw nearly 225,000 acres of public land from future mining and oil and gas development for a period of 20 years. The draft assessment is now open for a 30-day public comment period. The Thompson Divide area spans three counties, from Glenwood Springs all the way south to Crested Butte. The Divide is prized by hunters, ranchers and conservation groups for its spectacular mid-elevation habitat. At the same time, the area is also valuable for mining and oil development. Currently, 22 active oil and gas leases operate within the Divide, primarily due west of Redstone in Gunnison County. Additionally, a Reasonably Foreseeable Development Report stated that eight wells could
Roughly 225,000 acres of public land the Thompson Divide — as well as the scenery, wildlife and recreation therein — stand to be protected against new oil and gas claims in the draft Environmental Assessment released last weekend. Photo by Will Grandbois
potentially be developed, while 63,500 acres (28%) of the area have been identified as having high potential for oil and gas. The draft environmental assessment contains two alternatives for the public to consider. Alternative A withdraws the entire 224,713 acres from future development for the next 20 years. Alternative B takes no action and leaves the Thompson Divide area eligible for settlement, sale and leasing by the USFS and BLM.
Notably, Alternative A would not end currently active leases. However, the primary term of an oil and gas lease is 10 years, therefore extraction operations would shut down before the end of the 20-year period. In January of this year, the BLM held a 90-day comment period regarding a proposal by the Biden-Harris administration to withdraw the Divide from oil and gas leasing. Over 73,500 comments were submitted in support of the proposal. Although many of
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those comments urged for permanent protection of the Divide, the Secretary of the Interior can only establish withdrawals for a maximum of 20 years. A permanent withdrawal would require an act of Congress, and the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act is exactly that. Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper’s proposed act would permanently protect 252,000 acres of the Thompson Divide.
The CORE act has passed the House of Representatives five times with bipartisan support but has not passed the Senate, though it received a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing and mark-up in 2022 and was reintroduced this spring. Protecting the Thompson Divide, whether temporarily or permanently, would secure world-class hunting and recreation, grazing land and essential habitat for species such as the endangered Canada lynx and Colorado black bear. The neck of the Divide just west of Crested Butte splits the Raggeds and West Elk wildernesses, and securing its protection would prevent potential habitat fragmentation between these two areas. Currently, mining accounts for 2.7% of employment across Delta, Gunnison and Garfield counties. Over 20 years, 38 jobs could be generated by developing eight potential wells on the Divide — two jobs per year. The Environmental Assessment stated that these potential jobs could generate about $93,000 in direct labor income annually. continued on page 21
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 9
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10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
Development neutral programs possible solution for regional ‘housing catastrophe’ By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent April Long, program director of the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition (WMRHC), and Hannah Klausman, Economic and Community Development director for the city of Glenwood Springs, talked problems and solutions at Aspen Journalism’s housing panel on Wednesday Dec. 6. Long, an engineer by training, told the audience that she’s new to the issue, having left her 15-year position as stormwater manager and Clean River Program director for the city of Aspen in August. She remains head of the Ruedi Water and Power Authority and a member of the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. Affordable housing was actually one reason she left the city of Aspen for her new, part-time position. “I have lived [in Aspen] for 15 years,” she told the crowd. “I got out of the home ownership market at the worst time you could — early in 2020 — and got into the rental market and immediately got priced out of my community.” She couldn’t purchase a home without relocating. “And, moving downvalley meant I didn't want to work in Aspen and do the commute.” Her experience drives her passion for WMRHC. “I believe wholeheartedly that we are better and stronger if we work together and begin to see something as a region.” Klausman has been working with
Close to 70 people showed up for an informal housing panel on Dec. 6 at the Marble Distillery, hosted by Aspen Journalism. From left to right: Curtis Wackerle, editor of Aspen Journalism; April Long, director of West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition; and Hannah Klausman, director of economic and community development for the City of Glenwood Springs. Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh
housing issues since 2013 when she took a planning job in Rifle. In 2016, she hired on as a planner for Glenwood Springs and, in 2022, became director of the department. She’s also secretary of WMRHC’s board of directors. She said what was a regional housing crisis in 2018 is now a “housing catastrophe”. Regional housing studies, pre- and post-COVID, inform her assessment. Between 2019 and 2022, said Klausman, housing prices rose in
the Glenwood Springs area by 42%. “That number has increased since then,” she added. “It’s the same for all the jurisdictions within [WMRHC’s] membership.” During the pandemic, remote workers moved to the area, which bumped the amount of second homes. “The wage increase for that same time was about 16%,” she explained. “So we see prices skyrocketing and people’s affordability not matching that.”
Long’s 2022 numbers were grim. The median income of a two-person household in Garfield County was $75,000. Pitkin County teachers made $54,000. Construction workers earned $57,000 and food industry workers, $40,000. “They could afford a $1,900 mortgage,” Long explained. “And, a $1,900 mortgage at 2022 interest rates gave you a $273,000 home if you spent 30% of your income on your housing.” At the time, there were eight houses on the market under $275,000 from Parachute to Aspen, she said, none of which was in the mid or upper valley. The median home price in Rifle jumped from $250,000 in 2015 to $440,000 in 2022. “If you work and make an income in this area, you cannot afford the home prices that we have seen,” she said. Klausman said working together throughout the region is the best way forward. “I know a lot of fingers get pointed, like, that’s upvalley’s problem or that’s downvalley’s problem,” she explained. “But, it’s bigger than all of us.”
Where is GarCo? WMRHC’s nine members include Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt, Snowmass Village, Aspen, Eagle and Pitkin counties, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and the Colorado Mountain local college district. Conspicuously absent is Garfield County. continued on page 21
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D e c k t h e WA L L S winter farmers market don’t miss this 2-day-only event
SATURDAY DEC. 16 10am-4pm
SunDAY DEC. 17 11am-3pm
holiday breads • kimchi & chutneys Seasonal produce • pies/cakes/etc Sunshine & Moons • open sesame bagels the flower & the bean • himalayan yogini hamilton’s mushrooms • dooley creek farm in season catering • toadstool traditions
don’t delay, the early bird gets the kefla! (vendor stock is limited and batched locally)
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 11
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Visit soprissun.com to submit events THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14
RING THE BELL The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring the donations bell outside of Carbondale City Market. Shifts start at 11am. Call 970) 948-5360 or email tim@ whitsittlawoffice.com for more info. EAGLE COMMISSIONERS Have a question for Eagle County? Commissioners will hold office hours at Basalt Library from noon to 2pm. LEGAL CLINIC Volunteer attorneys are available to assist with legal matters on a oneon-one basis for 15 minute sessions from 2 to 5pm taking place via Zoom at the Basalt Library. Sign up in advance by calling 970-927-4311 or by emailing info@basaltlibrary.org ASPEN ART MUSEUM Tour the Aspen Art Museum’s winter exhibitions with an opening reception from 5 to 7pm. NEW MOON CEREMONY Sheridan Semple guides a ceremony incorporating aromatherapy at True Nature from 6 to 7:30pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com CONSENSUAL CHRISTMAS The Valley’s famous Consensual Improv troupe performs tonight and tomorrow night at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
BOOK FAIR Free books for babies, kids, teens and adults will be given away at the New Castle Community Center (423 W Main Street) from noon to 5pm, along with school supplies, holiday cheer and hot cocoa. PHOTOS WITH SANTA The Carbondale Police Department hosts Santa at the Launchpad. Kids are invited to take a photo with Mr. Claus and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. Proceeds will benefit the Shop with a Cop program. Call 970-963-2662 for more info. KIDS HOLIDAY SALE Kiddos on a piggy-bank budget are invited to shop for priceappropriate gifts at the Carbondale Clay Center from 3:30-5:30pm. The kids sale repeats on Dec. 20 at the same time and same place. RECOVERY YOGA The Meeting Place in Carbondale hosts a free yoga session for people in recovery Fridays at 6pm and Tuesdays at 8am. For a list of 24 unique weekly recovery meetings, visit www.meetingplacecarbondale.org SOUND JOURNEY Dr. Zachary and Krista Chasin lead a sound journey in True Nature’s kiva from 6:30 to 8pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com CRYSTAL THEATRE The Crystal Theatre shows “Maestro” at 7pm tonight, tomorrow and Dec. 21. The Sunday show, Dec. 17, is at 5pm. DARK NIGHT The 15th Annual Dark Night Solstice Show, a magical evening of storytelling, art, music and more, featuring author Craig Childs and guests Greg Istock (musician) and Uche Ogbuji (poet), takes place tonight and tomorrow night at the Paradise Theatre in Paonia at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.paradiseofpaonia.com SONGWRITERS ROUND Olivia Pevec, Mugsy Fay and Rai Omri perform music at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
SNOWSHOE SHUFFLE Sunlight Mountain Resort’s Snowshoe Shuff le is a 6-8k race through Babbish Gulch on snowshoes benefitting Colorado Animal Rescue. Registration begins at 9am and the race starts at 10am. For more info, visit www.bit.ly/snowshoes2023 FARMERS’ MARKET The Launchpad hosts a popup holiday farmers’ market from 10am to 4pm today, and 11am to 3pm tomorrow. SAWLIDAY The Studio for Arts + Works (SAW) hosts its annual SAWliday Open House, when the community is invited to browse and purchase artwork from more than 25 different local artists, from 11am to 5pm. COOKIE EXCHANGE The Redstone General Store hosts its Third Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange today at noon. To participate, bring three dozen cookies divided into six containers. MORE COOKIES Decorate cookies at the Basalt Library from 1:30 to 3pm. All are welcome! THE NUTCRACKER Crystal River Youth Ballet Company and the Crystal River Ballet School present “The Nutcracker” at Basalt Middle School today at 2pm and 7pm and tomorrow at 2pm. Find tickets at www.crystalriverballet. com/performances ARTIST TALK Artist Cauleen Smith and geologist Ryan C. Clarke talk about a current exhibition, “Mines to Caves,” at the Aspen Art Museum at 3pm. RSVP at www.aspenartmuseum.org HOLIDAY JAZZ The Josefina Mendez Quintet presents whimsical and poignant takes on well-loved holiday classics at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17
XMAS BIRD COUNT ACES invites you to help count birds in the Aspen area for the 124th Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the longest-running citizen science survey in the world, from 7:30am to 3pm. Registration and more info at www.aspennature.org JINGLE BELL 5K Independence Run and Hike hosts its annual Jingle Bell 5K, starting and finishing at its shop in the City Market Plaza. The race starts at 11am. There will be an award for the ugliest sweater after the race. Register at www.bit.ly/IRHJingleBell5K PEACE MARCH A silent march calling for a ceasefire in Gaza departs from the Cowen Center (980 Cowen Drive) at noon. Drums are welcome. Find details at www.bit.ly/rfvpeacemarch ORNAMENT MAKING WindWalkers hosts an ornament making party from 1 to 3pm at 1030 County Road 102. Warm drinks and mini horses will be present. ‘ELF’ TACAW screens a holiday favorite, “Elf,” at 4pm. All ages are welcome to this free event, but space is limited. RSVP at www.tacaw.org
Have you heard…..
The Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork
is a ‘no-tech’ school?
Reality: we are a ‘slow-tech’ school and we encourage placing value on the intention behind technology use and the ways in which it works as a critical tool in our modern world. Our Cyber Civics curriculum prepares students to be ethical, digital citizens and teaches them to leverage the power of technology. Our alumni speak to the value of an education that values human connection Þrst and technology as a tool. Explore our school’s unique approach to technology & discover how ‘slow-tech’ can support your student’s development and your family as a whole.
Carbondale Clay Center’s annual cup auction was moved to the Third Street Center’s round room over the weekend. Organizers and participants noted that the space worked surprisingly well and possibly better than the community hall, which is currently sheltering refugees. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh
SENSORY-FRIENDLY SANTA Santa, trained in sensory-friendly practices, will greet anyone and everyone from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Bluebird Café in Glenwood. Sensoryfriendly Santa will then be at The Collective in Snowmass Village on Dec. 21 and 22 from 5 to 6pm. GITNB AUDITIONS Model auditions for the annual Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza take place at the Launchpad from 6 to 8pm. WHEELER OPERA HOUSE Allan Harris sings “A Nat King Cole Christmas” at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18
QUEEN BEES The Queen Bees perform at the Carbondale Library as part of its Holiday Concert Series at 6pm. PLANT-BASED POTLUCK The Center for Human Flourishing hosts a potluck for plant-based consumers from 6 to 8pm. There will also be a special film screening. Details at www.tcfhf.org
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Anderson Ranch hosts a holiday market-style open house from 4:30 to 6:30pm, followed by a fundraising dinner and live auction. Find details at www.andersonranch.org ACADEMY SCREENINGS Aspen Film’s 31st Academy Screenings kicks off with “The Color Purple” at the Isis Theatre at 7pm and continues through Dec. 23. Find the full program at www.aspenfilm.org CHRISTMAS THEATRE Theatre Aspen provides dinner and a holiday show nightly through Dec. 23 at 7pm at the Hotel Jerome. From Dec. 21 to 23, there will also be a Kids Apres Show at 4pm. Tickets and more info at www.theatreaspen.org
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
FUNGI FILM FEST The Fungi Film Fest, featuring 20 films from nine different countries, including the premiere of Hamilton Pevec’s new film, “GONE GOOD,” starts at 6:30pm at Bow Tie Cinemas Movieland Seven in El Jebel. Tickets can be purchased at the door starting at 5:30pm. More info at www.wcmycoassociation.org/forays
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21
BOOK CLUB The Third Thursday Book Club discusses “Love and Ruin” by Paula McLain at the Carbondale Library at 2pm. SOLSTICE OFFERING True Nature hosts “We Walk but Towards the Stars: A Journey from Grief to Peace” from 6 to 7:30pm. This event is by donation. RSVP at www.truenaturehealingarts.com SWEET ROOT Redstone General Store celebrates the solstice with Sweet Root, performing from 6 to 9pm. There will be soup and cocoa. Donations are requested. SOLSTICE CELEBRATION The Center for Human Flourishing celebrates the solstice with cacao, breathwork, a guided meditation and sound journey at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm. Tickets at www.tcfhf.org
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22
FAMILY SOLSTICE True Nature hosts storytime, crafts and yoga for all ages from 4 to 6pm. Details at www.truenaturehealingarts.com GARRETT YOUNG Steve’s Guitars presents the Garrett Young Collective at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23
ECSTATIC DANCE Alya Howe and DJ Dustin Eli host an ecstatic dance at 13 Moons Ranch, south of Carbondale, from 6 to 8pm. Questions; contact alyahowe@me.com
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 13
Rinkof Dreams Photos and text by Sue Rollyson Sopris Sun Correspondent
The saying “build it and they will come” certainly held true the evening of Saturday, Dec. 9, for the First Annual National Hockey League (NHL) Outdoor Alumni Classic, hosted by Colorado Extreme on their outdoor rink outside of Carbondale. The event was filled with fun, festivity and fundraising. Enthusiastic youth hockey players, ages 3-12, filled the rink, rotating through skill stations alongside the NHL alumni, including many famous players such as Henrik Lundqvist, John-Michael Liles, Milan Hejduk, Kyle Quincey, Paul Statsny, Ben Scrivens and Darren Helm. The rink was then prepared for a friendly competitive game played by the alumni and Colorado Extreme coaches. An impressive fireworks display started and ended the game. Following the match, people swarmed the rink for photos and autographs. Food and merchandise was sold, and there was an auction for hockey and non-hockey items — all went towards the nonprofit youth hockey program. Tickets to an adult after party with the players were sold out. Colorado Extreme’s mission is to foster an accessible and inclusive youth hockey community in the mid-valley — although, it recently opened a rink at the Rifle Fairgrounds as well. The program provides complimentary equipment, gear, expert coaching and more. If you have a child who is interested in trying hockey, go to www.coloradoextreme.org
Patinando con los profesionales Fotos y texto de Sue Rollyson Traducción por Vanessa Porras
El dicho "constrúyelo y vendrán" se hizo realidad la noche del sábado 9 de diciembre en el Primer Clásico Anual de Antiguos Alumnos al Aire Libre de la Liga Nacional de Hockey (NHL por sus siglas en inglés), organizado por Colorado Extreme en su pista al aire libre en las afueras de Carbondale. El evento estuvo lleno de diversión, fiesta y recaudación de fondos. Jugadores de hockey juvenil entusiasmados, de edades entre los 3 y los 12 años, llenaron la pista, tomando turnos por las estaciones de habilidad junto a los antiguos alumnos de la NHL, entre los que se encontraban muchos jugadores famosos como Henrik Lundqvist, John-Michael Liles, Milan Hejduk, Kyle Quincey, Paul Statsny, Ben Scrivens y Darren Helm. A continuación, se preparó la pista para un partido amistoso de competición entre los antiguos alumnos y los entrenadores del Colorado Extreme. El partido comenzó y terminó con un impresionante espectáculo de fuegos artificiales. Tras el partido, la gente se juntó en la pista para tomarse fotos y firmar autógrafos. Se vendió comida y artículos de merchandising, y hubo una subasta de artículos de hockey y de otro tipo, todos ellos destinados al programa de hockey juvenil sin ánimo de lucro. Se agotaron las entradas para una fiesta de adultos con los jugadores. La misión de Colorado Extreme es fomentar una comunidad de hockey juvenil accesible e inclusiva en el valle medio, aunque recientemente también ha abierto una pista en el recinto ferial de Rifle. El programa proporciona equipo gratuito, equipo, entrenamiento de expertos y mucho más. Si tienes un hijo o hija interesado en probar el hockey, visita www.coloradoextreme.org para obtener más información.
14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
Sol del el
Conectando comunidades desde 2021
Valle
Volumen 2, Número 42 | 14 de deciembre - 20 de deciembre de 2023
El valle se moviliza para apoyar a los recién llegados de Venezuela Por Raleigh Burleigh Traducción por Dolores Duarte Desde principios de noviembre, cuando Carbondale se dio cuenta de la presencia de más de 100 refugiados, en su mayoría de Venezuela, que vivían en autos y tiendas de campaña junto al río, en la intersección de las carreteras 82 y 133, el valle de Roaring Fork se ha movilizado para apoyar a estos recién llegados durante el severo invierno. No hay una solución fácil para este escenario sin precedentes; fueron de pronto, muchas personas. Según informó el Colorado Sun, más de 27,000 venezolanos han llegado a Denver en el último año, en su mayoría procedentes de Texas. Unos 7.7 millones de venezolanos abandonaron su país en los últimos años debido a la crisis económica atribuida al gobierno de Nicolás Maduro (reelegido en 2018) y agravada por las sanciones extranjeras. La realidad del venezolano promedio: no hay dinero. Los grupos comenzaron a llegar a Carbondale durante el verano buscando cubrir las necesidades de mano de obra y ganar salarios estándar más altos. Como informó un venezolano a The Sopris Sun, dos o tres horas de trabajo aquí equivalen a un salario mensual en Venezuela. Durante el último mes, el Third Street Center ha servido de albergue improvisado, permitiendo que 60 personas se refugien durante la noche en el salón comunitario, antiguo gimnasio de una escuela. Otros duermen fuera en sus autos, algunos sin matrícula vehicular e incluso sin placas. Algunas iglesias solidarias se han organizado para ofrecer desayunos, comidas y algunas cenas. Como dijo a The Sopris Sun un colaborador de la iglesia católica Santa María de la Corona: "La gente quiere ser independiente, tanto si deciden quedarse aquí como marcharse... Nadie quiere depender para poder cubrir sus necesidades básicas".
Miembros de la iglesia San Estefan de Glenwood Springs sirvieron espagueti, tamales, puré de papa y ensalada durante una de estas tardes. Foto de Raleigh Burleigh
Con ese fin, Voces Unidas de las Montañas está trabajando para que las personas elegibles obtengan el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS por sus siglas en inglés) la cual requiere mostrar el haber entrado al país a fines de julio de 2023. El TPS se amplió para incluir a los venezolanos en 2021, y tiene una duración de 18 meses con la oportunidad de renovar, pero sin garantía. Esto protege a los inmigrantes de la deportación y les permite buscar una autorización de trabajo. El costo para solicitar el TPS es de $545 dólares por persona, $50 dólares para menores de 14 años, y el proceso podría llevar meses. El plan de Carbondale es albergar hasta 100 personas hasta finales de marzo. Venezuela es un país tropical, muy distinto de los inviernos profundos de Colorado. Además del Third Street Center, la ciudad ha abierto
hasta ahora el Rec Center a los recién llegados para que utilicen las duchas. Rob Stein, ex superintendente del distrito escolar de Roaring Fork, está ayudando a organizar los esfuerzos para abrir más refugios pequeños, y repartir el impacto. La ciudad ha solicitado $223,880 dólares al Departamento de Asuntos Locales para cubrir: servicios inmediatos de albergue en varios lugares (aprox. $10,000 dólares mensuales), servicios de conserjería (aprox. $3,100 dólares mensuales), un contrato de seguridad (aprox. $6,000 dólares mensuales), servicios públicos de calefacción, agua y basura (aprox. $1,200 dólares mensuales) y servicios sanitarios (alquiler de un remolque sanitario de seis plazas y bombeo en el albergue más grande, aprox. $4,600 dólares mensuales); apoyo para la admisión y gestión inicial de casos y servicios
(servicios lingüísticos, atención médica, suministros médicos, servicios de salud conductual, servicios de salud pública, alimentos, ropa, productos de higiene y otros imprevistos, aprox. $80 mensuales por persona para 125 personas); gastos de transporte terrestre para trasladar a refugiados entre los centros de albergue o para servicios de reubicación (aprox. $20,000 para el cuatrimestre); contratación de dos gerentes/coordinadores de albergue a tiempo completo por 80 horas semanales durante el cuatrimestre, así como un puesto de Coordinador de Respuesta durante aproximadamente ocho semanas a 25 horas semanales, más gastos legales municipales (aprox. $64,280 dólares). Age-Friendly Carbondale, en asociación con la local Logia Rebekah, proporcionó abundante ropa de invierno mediante una campaña de recolección de abrigos en
noviembre y organizará una "tienda libre" el 20 de diciembre. Las donaciones se aceptarán en el Near New (302 Main Street) hasta el 16 de diciembre; sólo se aceptarán artículos limpios y en buen estado. Near New está abierta de miércoles a sábado, de 12-4 p.m. Se necesita: Ropa de invierno para hombres, chaquetas, camisas, suéteres, interiores térmicos (pequeño a grande), botas tamaños 8-10, jeans 30-36 y guantes; chaquetas y botas de mujer tamaños 6-7.5; toallas de baño, toallas para lavarse, barras de jabón nuevas, botellas pequeñas de champú, crema de afeitar y desodorante. Si tiene el deseo de apoyar monetariamente, visite: www.bit.ly/VocesFund Para ayudar con alimentos, póngase en contacto con su institución religiosa preferida y únase a su red.
OPINIÓN
Sopa de Letras Por Angélica Breña
Ya entramos al ambiente decembrino, me gusta resaltar algunas tradiciones típicas de nuestras culturas de origen. En esta ocasión hablaré de una festividad ancestral y muy divertida que se sigue dando en el estado de Oaxaca, México. Tengo la esperanza de sembrar una idea que nos conecta con la tierra, además de una novedosa manera de hacer decoraciones navideñas en los hogares de las familias. La Noche de Rábanos. ¿Quién iba a decir que un humilde tubérculo, cuyo sabor es inolvidable y que cataliza el pozole divinamente, podía ser materia prima de un festival que viene celebrándose
Noche de Rábanos, una tradición fabulosa desde hace más de un siglo? La Noche de Rábanos, una festividad que atrae a miles de turistas y visitantes a la Plaza mayor de Oaxaca, se celebra cada 23 de diciembre. El origen de esta tradición fue en el año 1897, cuando los marchantes y campesinos estaban muy preocupados, pues la venta era muy baja la víspera de esa navidad y entonces idearon decorar sus puestos con figuras talladas de rábanos y otros vegetales para hacerse más visibles y atraer compradores. Desde entonces las autoridades promovieron un festival con premio al puesto más original, de ahí se ha venido dando una tradición única, una verdadera fiesta que ha atraído a miles de turistas y visitantes. Los rábanos provienen del bosque El Tequio y son de dimensiones enormes; les llaman a esa clase bartender y champion, además del de bolita que es el más conocido. Sus formas son caprichosas y desde que los están cosechando el día 20 de diciembre las y los hortelanos comienzan
a imaginarse cómo va a ser su escultura. “Es el tubérculo que nos habla y nos da la guía para hacer la representación, nosotros solo colaboramos con la tierra para darle forma a nuestra creación”, me contó Valeria Mercado cuando estuve en Oaxaca. Consiste en tallar y moldear los tubérculos, rábanos enormes de tamaño, aprovechando el rojo magenta brillante de su exterior y la esponjosa blancura de su interior, la consistencia de su pulpa se presta muy bien para dar rienda suelta a la imaginación de las manos que los tallen. La esencia de la Noche de Rábanos radica en la habilidad artística y la destreza manual de los participantes. Los rábanos, que nunca han sido presuntuosos, se transforman en verdaderas obras maestras talladas a mano. La Plaza Mayor de Oaxaca se llena de esculturas detalladas que representan desde escenas bíblicas hasta figuras mitológicas y tradiciones locales. Es un desfile de
16 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 14 de deciembre - 20 de deciembre de 2023
imaginación y habilidad, una explosión de creatividad que deja a los espectadores maravillados. Es fusionar el arte, la cultura y la horticultura de una manera sostenible y vibrante. Vale la pena visitar la Ciudad de Oaxaca precisamente el día 23 de diciembre para ver la exposición detalladamente y conversar con los hortelanos y artesanos. Yo estuve ahí hace dos años y quedé maravillada de tantos mundos imaginativos que hacían solo con los tubérculos, un expositor me contó que armaron entre los tres colegas todo un escenario de la extracción del mezcal en 24 hrs. Elisa Mercado junto con sus dos hijos de 13 y 16 años instalaron un Nacimiento bellísimo. Se me ocurre que en el valle hay hortelanos apasionados, conocen el valor de cultivar y apreciar lo que la tierra nos brinda. La Noche de Rábanos, en su esencia, celebra la humildad de estos pequeños tubérculos, transformándolos en obras de arte efímeras. ¿Qué mejor manera de
honrar la tierra que con una tradición que utiliza productos orgánicos y compostables para expresar la creatividad? Sería un puente que une a dos mundos aparentemente dispares. Propongo que nuestra comunidad abrace la Noche de Rábanos como una celebración anual que no sólo iluminará nuestras mesas en la cena de navidad, sino que también resaltará nuestro compromiso con la sostenibilidad y la conexión con la naturaleza. Al celebrar la Noche de Rábanos en Colorado, resaltaremos nuestro compromiso con la sostenibilidad. No solo estaríamos creando obras de arte efímeras, sino que también estamos promoviendo prácticas respetuosas con la tierra sin generar basura y evitando el plástico y el consumismo. Los rábanos, productos orgánicos y compostables, se convierten en la manifestación de nuestra conexión con la naturaleza y nuestra responsabilidad de preservarla para las generaciones futuras.
OPINIÓN
Espacios sin límites Por Víctor Zamora
Caminan para ver algo mejor, no se imaginan que es igual aunque diferente, se mueven entre diferentes estratos de tierra, hay hermosos paisajes que no pueden ser notados ya que el hambre marca más la sensación a notar que un placer mental por medio de la visualización de ese paisaje. El agua no es problema en algunos lugares y en otros es el mayor deseo, todo depende por donde van, hay inquietudes que solamente ellos saben. Dejaron atrás un hogar, una madre, padre, hijos, amigos, esa novia y la otra novia
La cruzada mental seria. El olor es lo que más van a extrañar, pero aun no lo saben por qué será melancólico cuando por fin tengan eso que pensaban que era todo y claro que habrá días que tienes todo y otros que falta lo que ya tenias que era todo, un caldo de gallina, los elotes frescos y el maíz en mesa. Allá no hay nada pero acá tampoco, las calles vacías y grises entre paredes altas de edificios vacíos y unas calles anchas entre cada río, el mural moderno para que toque el alma, la Mirada ajena que te busca el alma y allá a lo
Arte por Jacquelinne Castro
lejos se escucha un chillido ha de ser un niño con los mocos fríos, esa imagen indigna cuando llega el frío. Por acá no hay flores solamente sitios, el taxista cholo y la verde idea de un bosque bueno aquí solo hay viento y un aire seco, allá hay agua y un ruido bueno. Dejamos de estar allá para estar acá y refreír frijoles con un comal que encendido está. Por allá hay que estar seguros es como el comal inseguro por la casa de cartón con elegante pintura, se asusta uno por que la tradición no puede ser la misma aunque el ladrillo no se quema con el comal encendido entonces por eso no se apaga al tener el maíz listo para el siguiente platillo. Cuántas veces tendremos que cruzar para sentir derecho, cuánto más estará el no derecho en las calles grises del hermoso desierto que no se ve y menos se siente porque la percepción cambió hace algunos sueños. Como camino sin sentir miedo en la tierra de nadie pero con los vientos fuertes que suben al norte.
Sara Porter, habitante de Carbondale y miembro del personal de Carbondale Middle School, celebró recientemente su 40 cumpleaños yendo a ver a Taylor Swift a Río de Janeiro. Se aseguró de llevar el Sol de Valle para leer un poco por encima del Copacabana. Foto de Jessi Rochel
¡Hagamos que esté cubierto!
Eventos de inscripción para seguro médico 5 de noviembre 12 de noviembre 19 de noviembre 3 de diciembre 17 de diciembre 14 de enero
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Biblioteca de Glenwood Springs, 9am – 1pm Edwards Mountain Family Health Centers, 9am – 1pm Centro de la calle tercera / La Clinica del Pueblo, 9am – 1pm Biblioteca de Rifle, 9am – 1pm Centro de la calle tercera / La Clinica del Pueblo, 9am – 1pm Biblioteca de Glenwood Springs, 9am – 1pm
Mountain Family Health Centers es un sitio de assistencia certificada por Connect for Health Colorado. Cubriendo a TODOS los Coloradenses amplía el acceso a la cobertura médica - incluyendo a los que no tienen documentación y los beneficiarios de DACA. Llamenos al 833-273-6627 o 970-945-2840 para agendar una cita Correo electrónico: EnrollmentHelp@mountainfamily.org
Recompensas de la Comunidad Una forma fácil de ayudar a financiar The Sopris Sun/ El Sol del Valle Sin coste alguno para usted Cada vez que compre alimentos con el Programa de Recompensas de la Comunidad de City Market
Paso 1: Crea tu cuenta digital de City Market Paso 2: Elija The Sopris Sun/ El Sol del Valle como su organización sin fines de lucro preferida Paso 3: Compre como lo hace normalmente City Market hace una donación a The Sopris Sun/ El Sol del Valle
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Se Habla Español.
City Market Community Rewards Program™
el Sol del Valle • Conector de comunidad • 14 de deciembre - 20 de deciembre de 2023 • 17
The Sun y El Sol se ponen artísticos con Aspen Chapel Gallery Por James Steindler Editor colaborador Traducción por Dolores Duarte Nota del editor: Un porcentaje de los ingresos de la bienal de arte Four Rivers se destinará a The Sopris Sun. Este es un llamado a los artistas para presentar sus obras y ser incluidas en la exposición de arte de la Bienal Four Rivers en febrero en Aspen Chapel Gallery (ACG por sus siglas en inglés). The Sopris Sun y el Sol del Valle se enorgullecen de asociarse con ACG para su Bienal Four Rivers 2024. Es la cuarta iteración de la exhibición, la cual destaca a artistas locales de cuyas obras la comunidad puede aún no estar familiarizada. ACG ha existido casi por tanto tiempo como la Aspen Chapel, la cual fue construida y dedicada en los años sesenta. La capilla fue construida por un obispo menonita de Denver, y desde entonces ha sido un lugar de encuentro no sólo para cristianos, sino también para otras sectas religiosas. Por ejemplo, la Congregación Judía
de Aspen ha celebrado allí sus servicios durante años. "Cuando se dedicó la capilla, se incluyeron las artes", dijo Tom Ward, director de ACG, a The Sopris Sun. Así, la eventual creación de ACG se alineó con la misión original de la capilla. Inicialmente, Ward fue contratado como director de la capilla a principios de los años 80. Llegó con un amor predispuesto por las artes, ya que anteriormente había dirigido "Gargoyle", una galería comercial en Aspen. Connie Madsen, quien solía coordinar una exposición anual en el Museo de Arte de Aspen, se quedó un año sin esa opción. Así que como opción sugirió hacer una exhibición en el sótano de la capilla. Y ya como predestinado, se inauguró la primera exposición en el sótano, una muestra de acuarelas, en junio de 1985. El resto, como suele decirse, es historia... que continúa hasta hoy. Después de casi cuatro décadas, ACG sigue funcionando bajo el amparo no lucrativo de la capilla. Este año, para la Bienal
Four Rivers, "lo que intentamos, es llegar más allá", explica Michael Bonds de ACG, "presentar a nuevos artistas que no han tenido muchas oportunidades [e] introducirlos a la comunidad y a nuestros curadores". Aunque la cuota de inscripción es relativamente modesta, ACG ofrece un programa de becas para que los artistas no tengan obstáculos económicos. ACG necesita unos $8,000 dólares para organizar una exposición. En cada Bienal Four Rivers, la galería colabora con una organización local sin fines de lucro, a la que entrega un porcentaje de los beneficios. Lissa Ballinger y Andrew Travers son los jueces voluntarios de la próxima exposición y determinarán quién recibe los $1,000 dólares del Premio del Jurado. Los asistentes a la exposición podrán votar por el Premio del Público, el cual consiste en $250 dólares en efectivo. Todos los medios artísticos son bienvenidos, con algunas limitaciones de tamaño (tiene que caber en el lugar) y no se permiten desnudos ni
Arte de Amy Beidleman que formó parte del '22 Four Rivers Biennial
groserías. Después de todo, es en el sótano de una capilla. "Esta exhibición es totalmente abierta", declaró Bonds, señalando que normalmente los curadores de ACG buscan artistas destacados. Los artistas "pueden presentar lo que deseen; lo que hayan producido en los últimos tres años". Cualquiera que viva tan lejos como Grand Junction, y en cualquier lugar a lo largo de los ríos Colorado y Roaring Fork, puede aplicar para ser incluído en la exposición. Sin embargo, el objetivo principal es desde el oeste del condado de Garfield hasta Aspen. Existe el deseo de incluir más obras de artistas latinos en la exposición bienal. En parte, esa es la razón por la
cual el personal de ACG se puso en contacto con The Sopris Sun y el Sol del Valle, para hacer un llamado a los artistas en ambos idiomas. "No hemos llegado mucho a esa comunidad", dijo Bonds, "así que quizá esto nos abra algunas puertas para poder hacerlo". La fecha límite para presentar una propuesta de obra es el 19 de enero. Los formularios de inscripción se encuentran en www. aspenchapelgallery.org, en persona en la capilla durante horas de oficina o por correo electrónico a Bonds studiomb628@ gmail.com La recepción de apertura es el miércoles, 7 de febrero de 4 a 7pm.
Santa, estará en su camión de bomberos especialmente decorado, visitará los vecindarios este fin de semana!
¡Santa’s Holly Jolly Truck-Mas! Puede ver a Santa y su equipo en Crystal Bridge Drive, County Road 109, Westbank, Ironbridge y Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park el viernes 15 de diciembre y en el pueblo de Carbondale el sábado 16 de diciembre. Cada vez que usas tu tarjeta de débito Loyalty*, Alpine Bank dona diez centavos a las causas comunitarias que son importantes para ti. ¡Solicita tu tarjeta hoy mismo!
Se publicará un enlace para rastrear a Santa Claus y su camión de bomberos en www.carbondalefire.org y www.facebook.com/CarbondaleFireDistrict t o d a s l a s noches alrededor de las 5:00 p.m.
*Las tarjetas de débito de Alpine Bank están disponibles sin cuota anual para personas con una cuenta de cheques de Alpine Bank.
INDEPENDENCIA • COMUNIDAD • COMPASIÓN • INTEGRIDAD • LEALTAD ES.ALPINEBANK.COM • MEMBER FDIC
18 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 14 de deciembre - 20 de deciembre de 2023
Santa saldrá de la estación de bomberos de Carbondale a las 5:00 p.m. en su ruta Holly Jolly Truck-Mas. Puedes encontrar los mapas de ruta de cada noche en https://bit.ly/SantaTruck23
Harvest for Hunger ayuda la gente al recuperar alimentos no vendidos Por Kaya Williams Aspen Public Radio Traducción por Global Language Services Cada viernes por la mañana, en los puntos de entrega de las tiendas de comestibles y en el estacionamiento afuera de las panaderías desde Aspen hasta Carbondale, Gray Warr aparece para llevarse los alimentos sobrantes: Verduras, pavos, pan de molde y zumo de frutas, además de tartas de cumpleaños, baguettes, galletas y rompope, transportados a su camioneta a montones. Su misión, como fundador de la organización sin fines de lucro Harvest for Hunger, es "rescatar" los alimentos no vendidos y redistribuirlos a través de bancos de alimentos y despensas móviles. Desde 2021, con la ayuda de un empleado a tiempo parcial y una pequeña cuadrilla de voluntarios, Warr ha recolectado más de 250,000 libras de alimentos. Un solo recorrido puede totalizar más de 1,500 libras un viernes, y de 200 a 500 libras en una ruta diferente los martes. "Me sorprendió. Me quedé estupefacto. No tenía ni idea de que hubiera tanto desperdicio", dijo Warr mientras esperaba las donaciones en una reciente mañana de viernes en el City Market de Aspen. "Hay mucha comida en el vertedero, que ya no está ahí. Es realmente asombroso". Las estadísticas de la organización de lucha contra el hambre Feeding America muestran el alcance del desperdicio de alimentos en todo el país: Casi el 40% de todos los alimentos de Estados Unidos se quedan sin vender o sin comer, mientras que 44 millones de personas se enfrentan a la inseguridad alimentaria, con dificultades para poder comprar alimentos. El rescate de alimentos aborda ambos problemas a la vez, evitando que los artículos acaben en la basura a la vez que ayuda a alimentar a las personas necesitadas. Y
Un grupo de personas clasifica una selección de alimentos gratuitos en una entrega de Harvest for Hunger en Snowmass Village el viernes 24 de noviembre de 2023. La organización sin fines de lucro recolectó alrededor de 1,300 libras de alimentos de tiendas de comestibles y panaderías, y luego las aumentó con casi 500 libras de artículos no perecederos recolectados en una reciente colecta de alimentos. Foto de Kaya Williams/Aspen Public Radio
va mucho más allá de lo básico como frijoles enlatados y pasta seca. Warr se asocia con organizaciones de bancos de alimentos como LIFT-UP y el Food Bank of the Rockies, que aumentan su suministro de alimentos no perecederos con comestibles "rescatados" y otros artículos comprados a proveedores. "Los bancos de alimentos están diseñados para ayudar a la gente a sobrevivir", dijo Warr. "Y el rescate de alimentos, en mi opinión, está diseñado para ayudar a la gente a prosperar". Aquí, en el valle de Roaring Fork -donde la economía turística conlleva un precio más alto para todo, las despensas locales de alimentos atienden a miles de personas anualmente y la necesidad sigue creciendo
cada año- hay mucha gente que necesita ayuda tanto para sobrevivir como para prosperar. "Si tenemos en cuenta el coste de la vida, muchísima gente de aquí vive por debajo de lo que se denomina 'índice federal de pobreza'", explica Katherine Sand, que dirige el centro local de recursos Aspen Family Connections. "Así que en esa situación, ya sabe, la inseguridad alimentaria es una realidad absoluta". Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, Sand ayudó a dirigir una despensa móvil de alimentos, en la que Gray Warr era una de los voluntarios. Warr ayudaba en la despensa de alimentos en su tiempo libre, cuando no trabajaba como instructor de snowboard. Y tuvo la idea de aumentar los suministros de alimentos existentes recolectando los comestibles que los turistas dejan tras sus vacaciones. "Creo que lo que Gray entiende es que no se trata sólo, más o menos, de comida y nutrición, y de 'aquí hay una lata de frijoles'", dijo Sand. "La gente también tiene que sentir placer con la comida". Sand pensó que la premisa inicial de Warr era una buena idea, pero que tenía que pensar más en grande y rescatar la comida en desuso de las tiendas de comestibles en lugar de los condominios de esquí. Warr aceptó su idea y pasó de recolectar 30 o 40 libras de comida en varias paradas a recolectar cientos de libras de comestibles en una sola tienda. Aprendió cómo establecer una organización sin fines de lucro en YouTube, dijo; su experiencia anterior de trabajo en respuesta y gestión de emergencias probablemente también le ayudó en lo que respecta a logística. El reto no es conseguir alimentos de las tiendas de comestibles, dijo Warr, sino hacerlos llegar a las personas que podrían utilizarlos, porque el hecho de ir a un banco de alimentos a veces implica un cierto estigma. continúa en la página 21
CONVOCATORIA DE CARBONDALE
JUNTA DE SÍNDICOS NOMINACIONES Elecciones ordinarias Ciudad de Carbondale
La ciudad de Carbondale celebrará elecciones municipales ordinarias el 2 de abril de 2024. Se eligen tres asientos de la Junta de Síndicos (todos los términos son de cuatro años). Aquellos que deseen postularse para Síndico pueden recoger una Petición de Nominación a partir del 2 de enero de 2024, lunes-viernes 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. de la secretaria del ayuntamiento, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO. Requisitos: Todos los candidatos deben ser un elector cualificado de la ciudad, un ciudadano de Estados Unidos, tener al menos 18 años de edad y haber residido en la ciudad de Carbondale durante un año consecutivo inmediatamente anterior a la fecha de la elección. Las peticiones deben devolverse a la secretaria del ayuntamiento antes de las 5:00 p.m del lunes 22 de enero de 2024. La ciudad de Carbondale es un organismo gubernamental local no partidista, por lo que no existe designación de afiliación partidista. Para más información, póngase en contacto con la secretaria municipal Jessica Markham en el 970-510-1206 o en jmarkham@carbondaleco.net el Sol del Valle • Conector de comunidad • 14 de deciembre - 20 de deciembre de 2023 • 19
CHISME DEL PUEBLO Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro
Sonríe, estás en cámara The Sopris Sun está investigando una historia acerca de robos de correo en Crystal Valley que será impresa la siguiente semana. Como resultado, los robos siguen ocurriendo a lo largo de la I-70 y seguramente por el mismo grupo de sospechosos, de acuerdo con un portavoz de la oficina del alguacil del condado de Pitkin. El condado de Pitkin todavía tiene cámaras disponibles para instalar en HOAs a lo largo de la calle Crystal River (Highway 133) en un intento de identificar a los sospechosos. Envie un correo a brad.gibson@ pitkinsheriff.com para más detalles acerca de instalar una cámara.
Tos ferina La oficina de Salud Pública del condado de Garfield le pide a la comunidad estar alerta en contra de la tos ferina. Ya han habido varios casos confirmados de esta enfermedad en el condado. De acuerdo con el comunicado de prensa, la enfermedad puede ser severa o fatal para los infantes de menos de un año de edad, las personas con factores de riesgo más alto, mujeres embarazadas o individuos no vacunados. El síntoma más notable es tos que dura dos semanas o más. Otros síntomas pueden incluir fiebre, dolor de garganta, goteo nasal o congestión. Pruebas salsas pueden determinar una infección lo cual puede ser tratado con antibióticos. Para más información, llame a la oficina de Salud Pública del Condado de Garfield al 970-625-5200 con la extensión 8135.
Vandalismo a festividades El vandalismo ha afectado a dos áreas diferentes de luces festivas en Carbondale la
semana pasada. El medidor de electricidad que controla las luces de los árboles del centro (no el árbol cerca del servicio forestal) fue arrancado de su gabinete, incluyendo la fotocélula que controla las luces de las calles y la guirnalda en la rotonda.
Costos de negocios Un estudio de RestaurantFurniture.Net encontró que Colorado es el tercer estado más caro para abrir un restaurante, después de California (primero) y Nueva York. Esto es basado en una combinación de factores, así como precios de renta de espacio comercial, costos de licencias e impuestos. Se alenta a los locales en apoyar a sus establecimientos favoritos por tomar el riesgo.
Arte Alrededor del Pueblo El espectáculo de escultura rotando anual de la Comisión de Arte Público del Pueblo de Carbondale, “Art Around Town”, está recibiendo inscripciones hasta el 5 de febrero para 15 piezas al aire libre que serán mostradas del 6 de junio del 2024 al 15 de mayo del 2025. Los artistas pueden tener hasta cuatro esculturas seleccionadas con un honorario de $1,000 por escultura. Costos de viaje de $250 también serán ofrecidas para artistas fuera del pueblo para cubrir sus envíos. Inscríbase en línea en www.bit.ly/CdaleArt2024
El vertedero de Pitkin El Centro de Residuos Sólidos del condado de Pitkin está ajustando sus tarifas comenzando el 1 de enero como sigue: residuos sólidos municipales a $70 por tonelada, residuos reciclados a $40.50 por tonelada, residuos de construcción/demolición no clasificados que contienen más del 10% de materiales desviables a $107 por tonelada y otros residuos no clasificados a $245 por tonelada. El costo de compost, tierra vegetal y tierra abonada
"Sincronías" parte 52, por Leonardo Occhipinti
costará $55 por tonelada y el costo de grava filtrada de una pulgada y base de carretera de tres cuartos de pulgada estará a $35 por tonelada. Si el material no está en la lista, no habrá cambios para el 2024. “Entendemos que los cambios de costo impactarán a sus negocios, y estamos comprometidos a trabajar en colaboración con usted en esta transición", dijo la gerente Cathy Hall. “Por favor no dude en llamarnos al 970-4292882 si tiene alguna pregunta o preocupaciones”.
Descubra 80 increíbles organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro que hacen un gran trabajo. Campamento de verano para niños
Aprende sobre aves y naturaleza en un campamento de naturaleza de una semana
VER LA GUIA
Solicite una beca hoy mismo y vaya GRATIS “On the Wing” de Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 20 al 28 de junio, edades de 15 a 17 años “Camp Colorado” de American Birding Assoc. 22-30 de junio, edades de 13 a 17 años
VISITA COLORADO GIVES
“Taking Flight” de Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 7-12 de julio, edades de 12 a 14 años
2023/2024 Guía de donaciones a Eagle, Condados de Garfield y Pitkin. Para obtener más información y presentar su solicitud en línea
RoaringForkAudubon.org
Al final sólo conservaremos lo que amamos; sólo amaremos lo que comprendemos; y sólo comprenderemos lo que nos han enseñado - Baba Dioum
Mountain West Gives
Mountain West Gives
20 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 14 de deciembre - 20 de deciembre de 2023
Mountain West Gives
Thompson Divide Conversely, tourism accounts for 28.6% of employment in Gunnison County, and roughly 17% in Garfield County. According to a 2013 study by BBC Research and Consulting, recreation in the Thompson Divide supported 138 jobs and generated $12.6 million in annual economic output — $17.2 million with 2023’s inflation. Conservation groups are excited by the chance to protect this valuable landscape. “The Thompson Divide is a special place for people and communities not just on the Western Slope, but across Colorado,” said Will Roush, executive
Housing Long said GarCo is taking a waitand-see approach, but warns that things aren’t getting any better. “Garfield County will begin to understand that the problem has fully shifted into their area,” she said. “Housing prices will continue to increase, which will create a worse problem for them in the future.
Solutions Audience members seemed to hold their collective breath, particularly when it came to discussing new housing developments in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. But, WMRHC has ambitious plans, such as a buydown program, which Long expects to launch in 2024. Similar to Eagle County’s Down Payment Assistance Program, WMRHC would fund a down payment on an existing home for qualifying buyers. “That home would then become deedrestricted," she told The Sopris Sun. “So should you choose to sell it, then the next buyer would have to qualify [with WMRHC]. That means it’s forever an affordable home.” Other programs include renters assistance and accessory dwelling unit assistance. All programs are development neutral. WMRHC hopes to get locals into homes close to where they work without building more rental housing that
Harvest for Hunger "Creo que hay más comida de la que podríamos conseguir, y me preocupa que no podamos llegar a tanta gente como quisiéramos", dijo Warr. "Quiero empezar a centrarme, no sólo en ayudar a la gente que está desesperada, sino también a la que vive al día". Para ello, Warr va a abrir una despensa de alimentos en Snowmass Village, donde vive y trabaja. El concepto fue aprobado oficialmente por el Consejo Municipal de Snowmass el 4 de diciembre, y es probable que abra a finales de año en el ayuntamiento. La despensa estará abierta cinco días a la semana, y la gente podrá simplemente pasarse y llevarse lo que
continued from page 9
director of Wilderness Workshop. “The breadth and depth of support for long-term protection of the Divide is incredibly inspiring and the draft [environmental assessment] directly reflects that.” Those wishing to voice their opinions on the draft, and thus play a part in determining the fate of 225,000 acres of local forest, can do so online at www.bit.ly/TDcomment until Jan. 8. The USFS and BLM will also host an informational virtual meeting on Monday, Dec. 18 from 6pm to 7pm; register at https://bit.ly/4878ZFV
continued from page 11
isn’t affordable. “We are not in the market of building anything or buying land,” explained Long. “We are simply taking homes that exist and bringing them into the affordable market.” But, funding is a challenge. Long told The Sopris Sun that membership dues provide the primary funding. Next year, each WMRHC member will contribute $20,000 but she hopes additional funding can come in the form of state or federal grants. Former Pitkin County Commissioner Michael Kinsley was in Wednesday’s audience. He said the housing problem is a political problem. “When somebody proposes a 200 unit condominium project and they say it's going to have 30 units that are affordable housing, that has no value to the community,” he explained. “It creates a lot more jobs than it does affordable housing.” He added, “What you need is purely affordable housing projects.” And that, he said, requires money from various jurisdictions and involvement from elected officials and communities. The 2019 regional housing study is at www.bit.ly/2019HousingStudy The 2022 WMRHC housing data update is at www.bit. ly/2022DataUpdate
continúa en la página 19
quiera, sin hacer preguntas. "Están intentando que las cosas sean menos burocráticas, ya sabe, que no tenga que rendir cuentas ni hablar de sus ingresos, ni decir cuántas personas hay en su familia", dijo Sand. "Si necesita comida, tenemos mucha comida. ... Creo que le debemos a todo el mundo en esta comunidad compartir tanto como sea posible". Warr está de acuerdo. Quiere que la despensa de alimentos esté "libre de estigmas", que sea una forma de ayudar a "cualquiera que necesite un empujón". "Creo que todo el mundo debería tener (la) oportunidad (de comer bien) - la comida debería ser un derecho", dijo.
THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 21
Spring Gulch aglow with new Nordic trail amenities; capital campaign continues By John Stroud Sopris Sun Correspondent
Carbondale’s shiniest wintertime gem, the Spring Gulch Nordic Ski Trail System, has been busy polishing its bright shine for the past couple of years. The new cross country season officially began with the cutting of a ribbon at the new Marion Gulch parking lot and trailhead on Dec. 5. The event was followed by the Mount Sopris Nordic Council’s season kickoff party at El Dorado on Dec. 6, including a status report on the organization’s ongoing $750,000 capital campaign and implementation of an ambitious capital improvements plan. The buffing actually started prior to last season, when several new trails were fashioned into the hillside just south of Marion Gulch, taking advantage of the better-protected snow coverage in the upper reaches of the now more-than 28-kilometer winter trail system. Spring Gulch is situated in Jerome Park, which is held by the North Thompson Cattlemen's Association and serves as grazing land in the summer. Spring Gulch is operated through a long-standing partnership with the cattlemen’s group dating back to 1986. Shortly after the 2022-23 season, the
Nordic Council named longtime board member Rachel Bachman Perkins as its very first paid executive director. “We’ve always been a volunteer working board, but with the scale of all that we’re taking on the board decided to have someone in the official capacity to keep all the wheels turning,” Perkins said in a recent interview. Perkins skied and ran cross country at Clarkson University in northeastern New York where she grew up, and it was Nordic skiing that brought her to the Roaring Fork Valley during the winter of 2012-13 when she began coaching for the Aspen Valley Ski Club. She moved to Carbondale in 2015 when she took a job as a math teacher and Nordic coach for Colorado Rocky Mountain School. That same year, she joined the Nordic Council board as a way to support the home venue for the CRMS Nordic team. She married husband Alex Perkins in 2017. He’s now the head Nordic coach at CRMS, and they are parents of two girls, ages 1 and 5. “Spring Gulch is probably my favorite thing about Carbondale,” she said. “I’m up there almost every day in the winter, and I just love the character of the trails and all the people who have been involved to shape it into what it is now.”
22 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
New Mount Sopris Nordic Council Executive Director Rachel Bachman Perkins gets ready to set out for another lap from the new Marion Gulch parking lot and trailhead at the Spring Gulch cross country ski area west of Carbondale earlier this week. Photo by John Stroud
Perkins penned an article for the Winter 2023-24 edition of Mountain Pearl magazine, tipping a hat to the founders of Spring Gulch — Chris Landry and the late Paul Lappala and Bob Perry. The spread includes a large map of the expansive trail system, including new additions like Tipple, Clim’It, Orion’s Belt and brand new this season, Heja! Pronounced “hi-ya,” the name translates to “hey” in Swedish, according to the Mountain Pearl article. Opening day also happened to coincide with Colorado Gives Day.
The Nordic Council, as a first-time participant in the nonprofit giving day, took in over $7,000 in donations, Perkins reported at last week’s social. The capital improvements plan aims to accomplish two primary goals. First is to build resilience into the trail system to adjust for the effects of climate change, she said. That involves the new upper parking lot and trails. The original lower lot and trailhead on Thompson Creek Road is also now open, but in recent years continued on page 28
Some Marble history available at the Carbondale library By Lynn “Jake” Burton Sopris Sun correspondent As a Depression-era kid growing up in Marble, George Baumli had a pretty-good gig. There were only two telephones in town; one at the Yule Colorado Marble Company and one at Milt Campbell’s drug store on Main Street. Young George would hang around the drug store waiting for the phone to ring. The call was usually for a Marble resident. So, when the phone rang, Mr. Campbell would tell George something like, “Go get Mrs. McManus.” George would run at full speed to and from Mrs. McManus’ house, and upon his return to the store was rewarded with a dime. He almost always gave his money back to the store in exchange for two candy bars — usually a Pecan Feast or Nutty Fagan, and sometimes one or two of his very favorites: a Baby Ruth, Mr. Goodbar or Butterfinger. That’s one story from the book “George’s Story.” The 202-page work chronicles George’s life in his own words. It begins with his birth in Marble in 1929 — 17 years after the Colorado Yule Marble
a bandana. “Her little house was creepy and so was she,” George detailed. The book contains dozens of stories about Marble and the surrounding area, and quite a few from when the Baumli family moved to Glenwood Springs in the early 1940s, after marble operations were shut down.
Vignettes of Marble
Main Street in downtown Marble as it appeared before two mudslides in the early to mid 1940s wiped out most of it. There were no reported injuries or deaths. Photo courtesy of the Marble Historical Society
Company’s heyday. The book is one of at least two at the Carbondale library that paints pictures of the small town made famous by the marble quarries outside of it. The Baumli book devotes 30 pages to his Marble years and his Tom Sawyer-like experiences, such as: • Galloping horses bareback through backyards. • Riding an eight-person bobsled, starting on the Mansion Road and hitting Main
Street at a high rate of speed. “Luckily, no one got hurt.” • In the summer, after supper, many men would congregate on Main Street at Milt Campbell’s drug store, Brook’s grocery store or the Premore pool hall. The men would eventually retreat to the pool hall to play pool or poker. “My buddies and I were always on hand to look and learn,” George wrote. • George’s dad worked at the quarry. On occasion,
CALL FOR CARBONDALE
BOARD OF TRUSTEE NOMINATIONS Regular Election Town of Carbondale The Town of Carbondale will hold a regular municipal election on April 2, 2024. Three Board of Trustee seats (all four-year terms) are up for election. Those wishing to run for Trustee may pick up a Nomination Petition beginning January 2, 2024, Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. from the town clerk, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO. Qualifications: All candidates must be a qualified elector of the Town, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, and must have resided in the Town of Carbondale for one consecutive year immediately prior to the date of the election. Petitions must be returned to the town clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 22, 2024. The Town of Carbondale is a non-partisan body of local government, therefore, there is no party affiliation designation. For more information contact Town Clerk Jessica Markham at 970-510-1206 or jmarkham@carbondaleco.net
George and Johnny Petrocco would take their lunch and hike to the quarry, then carefully make their way down the 100-foot escape ladder to the quarry floor where men were working. “It was scary,” the author recalled. If they were lucky, they’d get to ride the trolly to the mill with the workers after their shift. • The town had its share of characters. One woman, Abbey Levitt, wore dresses that came to the ground, and
The other library book, in the reference section, is “Historical Vignettes of Marble, Colorado: A Source Book of Marble History” by the late Oscar McCollum, Jr. In his 162-page selfpublished book, McCollum, who helped start the Marble Historical Society and Marble Museum, mixes vignettes with hard history dating from the late 1880s to contemporary times. For example, he referenced the May 1980 issue of Marble Chips, which reported that “Much of the remains of the old Williams Brothers General Store building collapsed last winter.” In 1910, the Colorado Yule Marble Company was near its peak production. The town’s population was 787, according continued on page 28
Celebrating Darkness In this solstice-themed service, we will reflect on the turning of the year toward a time of hibernation and germination, a time of rest and recovery. How can we best care for ourselves and each other during the cold and quiet of the season? How can we embrace the darkness and honor the rhythm of our annual journey around the sun?
Live in-person service. Live music by Jimmy Byrne.
Sunday, November 17th, 10am at Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist Community Room @ Third Street Center in Carbondale or via Zoom Join Zoom Meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82605258305 Meeting ID: 826 0525 8305 - Passcode: chalice
On the second and third Sundays of each month, we are very pleased to be joined in-person at the truu.org 3rd Street Center by Aaron Brown. Aaron Brown received his Master’s in Theological Studies from Iliff School of Theology. He develops coaching and leadership programs for a global consulting firm and has spoken intermittently over the last 12 years at TRUU. He is the father of two teenagers, one who recently started college, the other in 10th grade. He is delighted and honored to be joining the congregation this year as a guest speaker.
THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 23
LIBRARY REPORT
GCPLD board ending year down a member By Lynn "Jake" Burton Sopris Sun Correspondent
Garfield County Public Library District (GCPLD) will go into 2024 short a board member. That was the decision of the trustees at their monthly meeting in New Castle on Dec. 7. The board took the recommendation of GCPLD executive director Jamie LaRue to wait until next year to nominate another trustee after he, board president Adrian Rippy-Sheehy and attorney Kim Seter met in a Zoom meeting in November to discuss the issue. In an email to the Sopris Sun, LaRue said the Zoom meeting lasted about 15 minutes. “We met because the county commissioners departed from a longstanding tradition to deny a board member the trustees had chosen,” LaRue explained. “If that’s an attempt at unilateral changes in the appointment process, it’s definitely worth looking at through a legal lens.” LaRue said they were touching base to make sure they were preserving and correctly interpreting evidence of Garfield County commissioners’ actions. “Will that result in legal action? It kind of depends on what happens next time [GCPLD presents to the commissioners a trustee nomination for approval]”, LaRue said. The Garfield County commissioners surprised library officials and others earlier this year when they unexpectedly denied the nomination of applicant Hanna Arauza. The commissioners said they didn’t think Arauza represented Rifle (whose board seat was vacant). “I have no idea what they meant by that. She is indeed a resident of Rifle,” LaRue said.
The board will probably advertise for a candidate in February. Although the library district’s bylaws say it’s preferable for each of the six branches’ geographic areas to have their own representative, in the event of an on-going vacancy they can nominate a candidate from anywhere in the district. In other news from the Dec. 7 meeting, the trustees approved the 2024 budget that calls for $14.8 million in revenues and $11.3 million in expenditures. The budget predicts a $21 million general fund surplus in 2024 — an increase for at least the third year in a row — which breaks down as $13.2 million (actual in 2022) and $17.5 million (estimated for 2023), according to the budget. When asked why the district is carrying such a hefty surplus fund balance, LaRue said it’s because the district relies heavily on oil and gas tax revenues, which are expected to decrease in 2025. With a $21 million surplus, hopefully the district won’t be forced to lay off employees in case of a revenue downturn. The trustees also certified the 2024 mill levy, which breaks down this way: 2.5 mills total, with 1.5 mill permanent and 1 mill for building and operating six libraries; the 1 mill levy expires in 2027. LaRue said that, by law, the Garfield County commissioners must certify the levy. A majority of GCPLD revenues come from oil and gas properties (55.8 percent), residential properties (21 percent) and commercial properties (13 percent). The board approved closure dates for 2024. Holidays are: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
CALL FOR ARTISTS 2024-2025 Art Around Town
The Town of Carbondale Public Art Commission’s annual rotating sculpture show, Art Around Town, call to artists is LIVE on CAFÉ’. Visit the link for the call information:
The link is also available on the “Town of Carbondale, CO Public Art Commission” Facebook page and the Town website.
A change in the program allows an artist to be considered for up to four sculptures, at an honorarium of $1,000 each. A $250 travel allowance is also included for out-of-town artists. DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FEBRUARY 5, 2024.
24 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
A recent snowy day at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. Like the Carbondale Library, Glenwood Springs has several meeting rooms which are available to the public at no charge. Photo by Lynn “Jake” Burton
The board meeting dates for 2024 are as follows (all at 2pm): Jan. 4 in Rifle, Feb. 1 in New Castle, March 7 in Rifle, April 4 in Glenwood Springs, May 2 in Parachute, June 6 in Carbondale, July 11 in Glenwood Springs, Aug. 1 in Parachute, Sept. 5 in Carbondale, Oct. 3 in Rifle, Nov. 7 in Silt and Dec. 5 in New Castle.
Santa, on his specially decorated fire truck, will be visiting neighborhoods soon!
Santa’s Holly Jolly Truck-Mas! You can see Santa and his crew on Crystal Bridge Drive, County Road 109, Westbank, Ironbridge, and Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park on Friday, December 15, and in the Town of Carbondale on Saturday, December 16. A link to track Santa and his fire truck will be posted on www.carbondalefire.org and www.facebook.com/CarbondaleFireDistrict each night around 5:00 p.m. Santa will be leaving the Carbondale Fire Station at 5:00 p.m. on his Holly Jolly Truck-Mas Route. You can find each night’s route maps at https://bit.ly/SantaTruck23
GARFIELD COUNTY REPORT
Cleaning costs at half a million, 2024 budget and reduced mill levy approved By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent Agenda items for Monday’s Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting began with a liquor license approval for a Jan. 27 fundraiser in Battlement Mesa. The BOCC also approved the consent agenda, but not before Commissioner Tom Jankovsky commented on Item F — a $495,444 contract with Four Branches, Inc dba Cardiff Cleaning for county custodial services. “I just want to get this on the record that we're paying almost half a million dollars for cleaning of the facilities,” he said just before offering a motion to approve the contract. According to the results of a records request made by The Sopris Sun, Cardiff Cleaning out of Glenwood Springs provided the lowest of four bids. Denver-based Kleen-Tech’s bid was $809,429, Fruita-based US Cleaning Professionals’ bid was $674,609.85 and New Castle-based Breeze Properties’ bid was
"We'll have half a million by the time we reach the top floors!" $1,085,099.73. The winning bid also successfully fulfilled other criteria. Next the BOCC approved Supplement #4 to the 2023 budget and appropriation of funds, which included an increase in supplemental revenues of $8,818,088 and an increase in supplemental expenditures of $3,736,483. Commissioners also adopted the final 2024 budget and appropriation of funds. County Finance Director Jamaica Watts and County
Manager Fred Jarman expressed relief after six months of work to get a balanced budget to the finish line, and gratitude to the BOCC for direction throughout. Budget details can be found at www./bit. ly/2024GarCo The upshot is that revenues are projected to be $128,250,332 with projected expenditures coming in at $131,375,734 and a projected end-of-2024 fund balance of $86.8 million, without
factoring in the mill levy reduction. Commissioners approved that reduction in the form of a temporary mill levy tax credit, which will lower the county’s mill levy from 13.655 to 13.155 mills. “We’re 13 mills out of 80,” said Jankovsky. “We have no control over 67 mills. It’s up to those boards to make decisions on their own mills.” Those boards include school, fire, sanitation and library districts.
According to the county website, the mill levy reduction will be extra relief on top of reductions from SB 23B-001, passed in a special November session of the Colorado General Assembly. Commissioners approved a permit for Tyler VanAllen’s food cart in front of the courthouse, the county Emergency Communications Authority budget, a fee waiver for the Farm Bureau’s annual dinner at the county fairgrounds, a $1,000 discretionary fund request from the Middle Colorado Watershed Council, a $20,000 matching request from the Rifle Regional Economic Development Corporation and updated Livestock Marketing Committee bylaws. The Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation District and the county’s Cooperative Mosquito Program provided their annual reports. Commissioners extended a land use change permit for the 12th time since 2009 to High Mesa RV Park south of Parachute.
CALL FOR ENTRIES DEADLINE IS January 19, 2024
at the Aspen Chapel Gallery in partnership with The Sopris Sun Carbondale, Colorado
The Aspen Chapel Gallery’s 4 Rivers Biennial Exhibition is seeking Roaring Fork Valley artists to submit work for the juried show. Jurors Lissa Ballinger and Andrew Travers will pick the $1000 Judges Award and a $250 People Choice Award will be chosen by attendees. Three ways to get an entry form: aspenchapelgallery.org, pick up an entry form at the AspenChapel Gallery, or contact Michael Bonds at studiomb628@gmail.com. Submissions deadline is Friday, Jan.19, 2024.
How to Enter: • Complete the entry form and mail it with your non-refundable entry fee before January 19 to: The Aspen Chapel Gallery, Attn: 4 Rivers Biennial, 77 Meadowood Drive, Aspen, Colorado 81611 • Email original digital images as jpeg attachments (5 megabytes or less) to: studiomb628@gmail.com by Friday, January 19. Entries will NOT be reviewed until payment is received. THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 25
CARBONDALE REPORT
Venezuelans, Town Center and pool top the agenda as budget is approved By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor The Board of Town Trustees met with a packed agenda on Tuesday, ranging across many topics. Luis Yllanes was absent, and no students were present to receive Student of the Month awards. The consent agenda consisted of accounts payable, a snow removal contract, marijuana and liquor license renewals, approving revisions to the employee handbook and a letter of support for the Historic Preservation Commission's grant request to History Colorado for help with design guidelines to add qualitative standards for residential development in the Historic Commercial Core (HCC) in addition to quantitative standards. During public comments Michael Gorman spoke on behalf of Wilderness Workshop, asking for a letter of support for the U.S. Forest Service’s draft environmental assessment pausing oil and gas drilling on the Thompson Divide. Trustee Lani Kitching added there will be a virtual meeting on Dec. 18 at 6pm, www.bit.ly/4878ZFV Town Manager Lauren Gister reported that she and Rob Stein are locking down additional locations for night shelters for the new arrivals from Venezuela. It was decided the Town Hall meeting room would be divided in half to receive 20 people per night, and boards and commissions could move their meetings to school spaces. All unregistered cars will be transported to the town-owned parking lot across from Town Hall, where police are close and bathrooms are directly accessible. The DOLA request for funds was submitted, has been expedited and
may return within a week. Pitkin and Eagle counties were also asked for supplemental support. Next, Colin Laird, Third Street Center director and town trustee, gave his report. “We need a lot more help than we have right now,” he said bluntly. “We still have 60 people over there, and now we have COVID.” One refugee tested COVID positive on Dec. 11 and was brought to a hotel in Glenwood Springs thanks to the Salvation Army. The State Department is coming to offer up to six vaccinations at once. “People are going to be sore and tired after this,” Laird remarked. “We’re at a breaking point,” he continued. “We need security, we need extra staff.” Kitching asked if reactivating COVID testing would be useful. “We’re going to need to be testing people throughout the rest of winter,” responded Laird.
Town Center Artspace, joined by Ramsey Fulton and JV DeSousa, presented the composition of units in Phase 1 of the Town Center design. This includes 39 apartment units: three studios, 13 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, four three-bedroom and around 2,000 square feet of commercial space. Four of these units will be available to people earning 30% of Carbondale’s average median income (AMI), 27 for people making 60% ($41,000 for a single person or $60,000 for a family of four — or people working full-time for about $20 per hour) and eight non-restricted units. Next, the architects showed off their designs for Phase 1 surrounding the southwest portion of the property and continuing the promenade from Main Street to Thunder River Theatre. The Park and Ride stop at Colorado and 6th is sheltered by an amenity
Phase 1 of the Town Center project is depicted in green; Phase 2 in yellow. Courtesy graphic
space for the apartment above. Overhead cables create magic on the promenade with dangling lights, flags and textiles. To begin Phase 1, Artspace will lease the ground beneath lots 1-8 and 13-16 for $1 per year for 60 years — allowing access to tax credits with the IRS. The current design adheres to Carbondale’s height code, at under 35 feet, though the trustees voiced support for a taller building if that enhances it. “I would be willing to raise the height limit in the HCC tomorrow,” stated Mayor Ben Bohmfalk. The architects responded they don’t want it to be a point of contention. “We don’t want to have polarized issues come up on this project,” said Ramsey. “I’d love to see a study, what it looks like, demarcate different options,” said Laird. “We don’t want our current codes to get in the way.” A study “would help to inform for other projects,” agreed Trustee Erica Sparhawk. “If you come across a code you would like us to think about, please show it to us,” concluded Bohmfalk. continued on page 28
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BASALT REPORT
Midland underground construction wrapped up for 2023
By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent
This week, Basalt Town Council discussed potential affordable housing developments over the next several years, provided a final update on Midland’s construction for the year and signed agreements for updates coming to the town’s trails and parks. Prior to their regular meeting, Town Council convened for a work session with Basalt Affordable Community Housing (BACH) to discuss various housing development opportunities on existing Town properties. BACH identified three locations to potentially construct new units at Stott’s Mill, a parcel adjacent to TACAW and another parcel beside the Willits rugby fields, totaling 22-28 potential new units. While these areas have been scoped out by BACH, site plans have not been completely drawn up for each one, and grant funding needs to be secured for construction. According to Planning Director Michelle Thibeault, state grants are only available for “shovel-ready” projects. “It’s a little bit tricky in that we’re not able to confirm when one of these would be built due to funding,” said Thibeault. “We have to go through the process and say we have a project ready because we’re competing with other affordable housing developments throughout the state.” However, Thibeault stated, because
the properties are already owned by the Town, there is low risk associated with continuing to prepare site plans. Construction could begin whenever funds become available. In any case, ground isn’t likely to be broken next year at each of these sites. After the work session, the meeting began as usual, beginning with a motion to continue the public hearing and first reading of the Jadwin/Black Mountain development at Emma Road until Jan. 9. So far, the public hearing for this contested development has been delayed multiple times, and citizens wishing to appear before Council and offer their opinions should stay attentive to agendas, in case this hearing is delayed again. Town engineer Catherine Christoff presented briefly on the massive construction push last weekend, highlighting the volume of work done to minimize the service shut-off time. “The project’s largely wrapped up for 2023,” said Christoff. “There’ll be some clean-up work here and there, but the heavy impacts are done for this year and we’ll pick up again in late February.” Some of that clean-up work will include paving and addressing the potholes already forming on Midland, but the road won’t be fully repaved, and citizens can expect a rougher drive down the main drag this winter. “It’s a balance of making sure it’s good enough but also knowing we’re not investing too
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Mayor Bill Kane inspects the final push for construction with the StutsmanGerbaz crew. Last Thursday and Friday saw a team of over 60 workers digging into the night to install the final valves and complete underground work for Midland Avenue. Photo courtesy Town of Basalt
much money knowing it’s going to get torn out in February/March.” Christoff also announced that after the new year, Town staff will present to Council a more robust work schedule for 2024.After the presentation, Town Council interviewed eight-year resident Sean Satterfield to serve on the Basalt Green Team for a three-year term. Satterfield has experience in architecture and sustainable building practices and was unanimously appointed.
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Council also signed a professional services agreement for the construction of new playground equipment at Arbaney Park, costing roughly $480,000. The current playground equipment will be removed in early spring, and the new equipment — which includes a climbable trout — will be installed some time prior to June 1. The final item of the night was another services agreement signed with Alta Planning + Design for the Willits Lane Connectivity & Town Wayfinding Plan. Because Basalt is broken up into several neighborhoods, staff noted what can feel like a disconnect between those areas and sometimes a misunderstanding as to what neighborhoods are or are not within town limits. The Wayfinding Plan will introduce new trail connections and additional signage between Basalt’s neighborhoods to improve the experience for cyclists and pedestrians, and ideally aid in the reduction of vehicle emissions by encouraging eco-friendly commuting. The public arts commission has also voiced their interest in adding art installations along the trail system, similar to Carbondale’s ARTway on the Rio Grande Trail. While this isn’t part of Alta’s contract, changes along the trail may be taken as an opportunity to bring more beauty to your daily dog walk.
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New Support Group in Carbondale! 1st Tuesday of the month 1:00pm The Orchard Church, 2nd floor 110 Snowmass Drive Carbondale, CO 81623
City Market then makes a donation to the Sopris Sun
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Be sure to also check out our FREE exercise classes in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. To view a complete list of exercise classes, please visit our website.
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 27
Spring Gulch hasn’t had enough snow until later in December or early January. Reforestation along parts of the trail system to replace drought dieoff is also part of the plan. The other primary focus of the improvement plan seeks to enhance general operations, like providing high-quality, consistent grooming. The Nordic Council plans to build a new maintenance building next summer to house its grooming and other equipment. “We’re looking to increase the versatility and capacity in our grooming to make sure, regardless of what winter throws at us, we can make the most of what we can offer at Spring Gulch,” Perkins said.
Marble to that year’s federal census, to which McCollum devotes 17 pages. Other information gleaned from the 1910 census included statistics such as: • Persons born outside the U.S.: Italy (150), Austria (43), Russia (19), Sweden (14), Greece (14), Germany (13) and other countries (47). • Persons who only spoke their native language: Italian (87), Polish (7), Greek (6) and German (3). • Demographics of residents of the village at the marble quarry (Quarry Town): 44 men, nine women and 13 children. • Residents at the Strauss Quarry on Yule Creek: 16 men and one woman. McCollum reported that in 1911, Marble had at least 32 lodges , such as The Woodmen of the World, and clubs. The Marble Booster newspaper reported in its June 24, 1911 issue that “ … membership in the local lodge [Woodmen] is growing fast.”
Cdale Report Settlement
The topic of a recent executive session surfaced: a settlement with Donna Burkett over a property at the northern entrance to town, across from the park and ride. Burkett’s property encroached on what was formerly part of the Town of Carbondale’s sanitation district and the old railroad track now owned by Roaring Fork Transportation Authority. The businesses operating there in worn buildings may soon be vacated, as the land was put up for sale and there’s a buyer under contract. The property is listed at $1,370,000, and Carbondale settled the dispute for a payment of $100,000 within the year.
Aquatics Facility
28 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
New design sketches for the Aquatics Facility presented a six-lane pool for lap swimmers that shared a climbing wall and diving board. The nearby entertainment pool is shallower and warmer. The property extends further into Sopris Park than the current pool, and the building has many solar panels. There’s a “spa” hot tub with its own dedicated heat pump. Within budget, it’s the best case scenario for granting every wish with
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To date, a combination of public and private donations, including a $250,000 grant from Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, with a challenge match pending, and $20,000 from the Town of Carbondale, has the Nordic Council well on the way to its goal. Another $130,000 is needed to complete the match, Perkins said. She said the efforts to date would not be possible without the efforts of people like Mike Uncapher, owner of Western Vegetation Management, who built the new trails and parking lot at cost, and board member Matt Annabel, who has logged some 800 volunteer design hours.
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Leap forward to 1980, the February issue of Marble Chips reported that “Kudos are due to John Darien for the excellent way he kept the roads open this winter … Many times he worked most of the night to have the road [Gunnison County Road 3] passable for the school bus early in the morning. Most residents suffered little inconvenience on the road.” The May 1980 issue of Marble Chips also reported that a work party hauled two large loads of marble and placed them around the abutments of the Crystal River bridge so the expected high water would not damage it. Participants included: Pete and Marty (sic), Dan and Chad Bontrager, Clayton Kuhles, Oscar McCollum and Ed and Carol Schwab. In the book’s bibliography, McCollumn cites 32 sources. The index covers 28 pages and ends with Henry and Mary Zwaanstra (page 68). continued from page 26
$8 million borrowed through bonds. Trustees asked Eric Brendlinger and the Parks and Rec folks to consider not having a diving board, or not having the spa. Maybe a slide.. “We came up with a dream pool,” said trustee Marty Silverstein. “Everyone wants that dream pool, but we don’t have the funds.” “We’re going to miss the summer construction season very soon,” said Bohmfalk, urging action. The trustees voted for a schematic design to return within two months. Anyone wishing to help fund the pool can contact cynthiacolebrook@aol.com
Budget approved With that, trustees discussed the $1.6 million, 10% of the total general fund, going toward the pool project and whether that sum should instead come from the Rec Department’s $2.3 million in reserves. Rec money can only be spent on rec projects, while the general fund is more flexible. The move will be delayed until a more detailed fund balance policy is discussed. With that, the budget (www.bit.ly/ Cdlae2024Budget) was approved.
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
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
One Night Before Christmas By Tom Mercer Forever Carbondalian It was “that time of year again.” To Santa and Mrs. Claus, it seemed only weeks had passed since the previous Christmas, but both knew that as the days grew shorter it meant that Christmas was just around the corner (although there were no actual street corners in the couple’s neighborhood). As they sat together on their comfy sofa near the fireplace, both Mr. and Mrs. Claus thought about the hectic days that lay ahead. Gift assembly plans needed to be discussed with the elves in the manufacturing center, an inventory of raw materials was necessary for the construction of toys, the reindeer team would have to pass their final flight check, the sleigh had to pass inspection and Santa’s delivery routes needed to be approved and finalized for his Christmas Eve rounds. Long-range weather forecasts for the “Big Day” looked promising, but Santa knew from experience that weather forecasts were rarely dependable. As he sat by the fire with his wife, Santa thought about the events that led up to accepting his current position. Throughout his life, nothing had brought him more joy than the simple, happy smile of a child … any child … anywhere. So, when certain spirits heard about Santa’s mortal disposition, they made him a job offer that he could not resist. The pay was negligible, but the joy of bringing happiness to so many proved to be irresistible, despite the considerable workload that the job entailed. He would be responsible for toy manufacturing plans, caring and feeding of reindeer, the management of occasionally cantankerous elves, scheduling, team meetings, weather tracking and the development of flight plans. The duties necessitated working year-round with only two weeks off for Santa’s annual Caribbean vacation. In addition, Santa felt the pressure
of having to live up to his reputation. Santa hardly differed from major corporate executives, except that he earned no salary, and he made millions of children happy. Of course, he still had to wear a suit on workdays. After years in the field, Santa heard rumors about some people not believing in his existence. This notion puzzled Santa. He knew that he existed, and he had a mirror to prove it! Still, he realized that the non-believers were probably adults who had become hardened and disillusioned as they had aged. Santa was sorry that the disbelievers had allowed magic to completely slip out of their lives. He knew that their disbelief represented a kind of “spiritual starvation.” He thought that some cookies might help, but he had not yet tested his theory. Mrs. Claus also harbored some concerns. Mainly, she worried about her husband traveling by air in the dark of night. What if he was mistaken for a threat and targeted by a missile? What if foul weather forced Santa’s sleigh down in a land that did not acknowledge Santa’s very existence? She was likewise concerned for the safety of the reindeer, of course, who she had cared for deeply since the time of their first Christmas Eve flight. The reindeer just thought of Mrs. Claus as “Mom.” They didn’t receive Christmas cookies from Mrs. Claus, but the entire team clearly felt her love. Over the years, Santa sometimes quietly wondered what it would be like to retire from his demanding job. Fortunately, the musings were generally short-lived. Santa knew how fortunate he was to be able to bring so much happiness to a world that often had to deal with war, disease and a loss of faith in the potential goodness of all humankind. So, Santa ruled out early retirement and plotted the route for his next flight plan. “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
A few weeks before Santa’s arrival each year, the Vickers family adorns the trees next to their house with bright, sparkly Christmas decorations. It’s a fun, family tradition which also has a purpose. They want to make sure that Santa and his reindeer spot their house from above on Christmas Eve, making it easier for them to land and deliver lots of presents! In this photo, Rae Vickers patiently waits for the cue from her mom, Carrie, to hand over the ornament so she can place it up high on one of the trees. Photo and text by Jane Bachrach
Programs Coming Soon at Basalt Regional Library Cookie Decorating Sat, Dec. 16, 1:30-3PM Get creative and eat your art during Cookie Decorating! Bring the family or friends for decorating, hot chocolate and lots of fun.
Magic the Gathering for Teens Mon, Dec. 18, 4-5:30PM Unleash your inner mage and step into a realm of epic battles, mindbending strategy, and endless adventure! Whether you’re just starting off or you’re an expert, we’ll duel and explore magical worlds.
14 Midland Avenue | Basalt Colorado 81621 | 970.927.4311 | basaltlibrary.org
THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 29
LETTERS
“Another day in paradise!” begins her Amazon trainer, a recent immigrant from Cuba and a former warehouse worker himself. After explaining that employees will be on their feet for eleven hours per day, he describes the draconian attendance policy. Workers accumulate points for being slightly late or missing shifts. Six points and you’re fired. “Let’s say it’s Saturday, 4pm. You’ve been working since Tuesday. You think you cannot make it anymore, your feet are killing you, you want to go home. And you’re free to go home!” Without pay, and at the cost of a point, of course. This luxury can’t be indulged too often, because, as the trainer explains, there are very few exceptions to the six-point rule: “I have a doctor’s appointment, I have court — it has to be more serious than that.” When he discusses the importance of rest, he seems to veer off script: “The funny thing about it is that, where I come from, they talk about this country as the American Dream. Then we come here and we find out we cannot sleep!” Jim Bell Rifle
CKF thanks
30 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023
The Chris Klug Foundation would like to humbly thank everyone involved with Summit for Life 2023 — both the original scheduled for Dec. 2 and the rescheduled one on Dec. 9! We are deeply appreciative of the kind and gracious support of our participants, sponsors, volunteers, fundraising donors and vendors. With 450 registered participants overall, we are happy to report almost 250 still showed up on the new date! Thank you to our sponsors: The Aspen Times, Paradise Bakery, Aspen Square Hotel, Aspen Snowmass, The Little Nell, Aspen Valley Hospital, Duck Company, Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty, Kahtoola, the Brodsky Family, Alpine Bank, Donor Alliance, Clark’s Market, WCR Legal, Deep River Snacks, Ute Mountaineer, ObermeyerWood Investment Counsel, Aspen Sojourner, Whiting-Turner, Land+Shelter, Timberline Bank, Bank of Colorado, Top Dog Repair & Towing, New York Pizza, Corbeaux, Nite Ize, Osmia, Mantis BBQ, Yerba Mate, Bobo’s Bars and the 28 businesses that provided prizes! Special shout outs to Joey and Natalie with Aspen Snowmass, Taylor and Chef Matt with The Little Nell, Mark and Dyan with Paradise Bakery, Midnight Lightning, Joe with Six Productions, Cath and John with CJ Timing, Adam with Brooks Production, Michael Bond, Todd and Melissa with Mountain Creative, Zach Hooper, Aspen Ski Butlers and DJ Natty Spice. Endless thank yous to our volunteers. We absolutely could not pull off this event without them: Kayla, Christine, Kirsten, Ned, Bryce, Ben, Hunter, Colton, Sara, Kate, Debbie, Donna, Ellen, Leary, KK, Temple, Heather, Peter, Leslie, Jessica, Barb, Mary, Kylie, Charlie, Dylan, Chase, Olivia, Maya, Kathy, Lewis, Thomas, Justin, Debbie, Jared, Christian, Tristin, Allan, Quinn,
continued from page 2
Olive, Trevor, Rachel, Kip, Kevin, Joe, James, Sienna, Kristin, Warren, Katherine, Rosemarie, Kerrie, Christy and Stephanie. We were honored to present the Michael Wells Inspirational Award to Cat Mellum from Kahtoola! As of Dec. 11, Summit for Life 2023 fundraising totals over $120,000! Fundraising is open until Dec. 18, so there is still time to donate! We are grateful for this community and its tireless support and commitment to organ, eye and tissue donation awareness. See you Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 for our 19th annual Summit for Life! With respect and gratitude, Anna, Chris and Jessi Chris Klug Foundation
Democrat dilemma I feel sorry for Joe Biden as an abused elderly victim of the D.C. swamp. But then I recall that for almost half a century, Joe was a willing incubator of our present-day political cesspool, and my empathy fades. Sadly, Joe Biden now is a puppet who can't complete a full sentence sans teleprompter. Obama used Joe as a conduit to white votes and money. Biden used Kamala as a bridge to minority and women's votes. It's identity politics from opposite ends of the spectrum. The liberal mainstream media let Joe campaign and hide in his basement. With their help and big tech suppression of facts, Biden eked out an electoral college win with a grand total of 44,000 in three states. With this questionable "mandate,” Joe turned the USA and his approval ratings upside down. The '24 election has Dem political identity chickens coming home to roost. His negative polling has the DNC's lap dogs making all kinds of negative media noise. He's too old, Bidenomics sucks, Hunter, the border, crime, wars; lions and tigers and bears, oh my! What to do? Normally, the VP would be on deck if Joe abdicated the throne ala LBJ. But Kamala's less popular than a root canal. Greasy Gavin from the Peoples' Republic of Californacation? Hochel, the scourge of NY state? Michelle, as a third-term front for Barack? It makes little difference who the party with a jackass as a mascot chooses. People vote with their wallets and two-thirds of voters are living paycheck to paycheck. An immaculate recovery is not on the menu. So, let us cheer on those chickens coming home while I revel in my schadenfreude. Bruno Kirchenwitz Rifle Letters policy: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters 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.
PARTING SHOTS
Corrections: The “Free-for-All Book Fair” on Dec. 15 was mistakenly listed on last week’s calendar to take place at the Carbondale Library. It’s in fact being hosted by the New Castle Community Center (423 West Main Street). Also, Domingo Sausage’s new Carbondale restaurant, Bodegón, will be opening later than anticipated — stay tuned for details!
The Jewish community in the Roaring Fork Valley celebrated the eight nights of Chanukah among family and friends. Clockwise from top to bottom: More than 100 people from the downvalley Jewish community gathered to celebrate Chanukah at the Carbondale Fire Station, courtesy photo; friends celebrated the sixth night with Morrissey the Cat, photo by Will Grandbois; and a mother and child light the candles of the Menorah, photo by Sue Rollyson. The world Jewish community celebrated the final evening of Chanukah 2023 on Dec. 14.
LEGAL
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT NOTICE is hereby given that on December 21st 2023, at 12:00 p.m., final settlement will be made with NORTHPEAK Inc., 305 Main Street, Suite A., Grand Junction, Colorado, 81501 by the TOWN OF CARBONDALE, 511 Colorado Ave., Carbondale, Colorado, on a contract for labor and materials for a project known as TOWN OF CARBONDALE WWTF DIGESTER BUILDING HVAC IMPROVEMENTS and that any person, co-partnership, company, association of persons, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against NORTHPEAK Inc., or its subcontractors, for labor and materials, may, at any time, up to closing of business the last work day prior to final settlement, that is, by December 20th, 2023, file a verified statement of the amount due with the TOWN OF CARBONDALE (Attn. Kevin Schorzman kschorzman@carbondaleco.net)pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended. Failure on the part of the Claimant to make such verified statement, prior to the final settlement on the contract with NORTHPEAK Inc., will relieve the TOWN OF CARBONDALE from any liability for such Claimant’s claim. PUBLISHED BY THE ORDER OF TOWN OF CARBONDALE.
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1010 Garfield Ave. Carbondale, CO 81623
THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • December 14 - December 20, 2023 • 31
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your incredible support! From November 1 to December 5, a total of $842,836 was generously donated to local nonprofits, marking a substantial increase of $197,351 compared to last year's contributions. For those who may have missed the opportunity to contribute, there's still ample time to make a diff fference. Take a moment to explore The Sopris Sun's Giving Guide, where you can discover and support organizations that deeply resonate with your values and aspirations.
Your involvement can bring about meaningful change in our community.
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32 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • December 14 - December 20, 2023