Puzzle and Pie Night seems to get more and more popular each year. There were 67 registered teams at the event held at the Carbondale Rec Center on Sunday, Feb. 23, each racing to piece together a stellar photo of the town and Mount Sopris taken by Shawn Tolle. Countless heads looked down intently, some equipped with magnifying glasses and others with headlamps. It’s a bit more serious — and certainly more competitive — than taking days or weeks to complete the like at home. Team Piece, Love and Happiness came in first, finishing at 61 minutes and 14 seconds; silver went to the Puzzle Pundits, 61:34; and the Button Masters took bronze at 66:11.
Photo by Will Sardinsky
‘A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!’*
*Leigh Mercer coined this palindrome (the phrase reads the same backwards and forwards) in the Nov. 13, 1948 issue of the Oxford quarterly journal “Notes & Queries.”
From The Glenwood Post, Oct. 30, 1924:
“Mrs. Frank Sweet gave a delightful dinner Tuesday evening in honor of Mrs. Hattie Holland and her guest, Miss Clark. Mrs. Holland and Miss Clark leave Friday for New York. They will go to Los Angeles, going from there by boat through the Panama Canal and the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic Coast to the big city. Mrs. Holland will not return before next spring.”
When 58-year-old widow Hattie (Thompson) Holland left her home in Carbondale to embark on a Central American adventure, the Panama Canal had only been in operation for 10 years. The American government, having financed and built the canal, was in charge of its operation. The American people rightly felt pride and admiration for the monumental engineering accomplishment, so long dreamed of by the world’s shipping enterprises. In addition to providing a convenient shortcut for ships traveling around the world, the invention and construction of the canal’s intricate lock system fascinated the curious mind. And Mrs. Holland had a curious mind.
road to Gatun, and add to the zest and variety of the drive.”
We don’t know if Mrs. Holland and Miss Clark hired a car or drove themselves. Either way, it appears they had a pleasurable experience traveling through the Panamanian jungle.
Another of the commercial photos, showing French cruiser Jeanne D’Arc in Pedro Miguel Locks, belies Hattie’s interest in the mechanics of the canal, as she wrote the facts she’d gathered on the back:
OPINION
“Pedro Miguel Lock sometimes familiarly spoken of as Pete McGill. It is similar to Gatun lock and lowers a ship 30.5 feet to Mira Flores Lake, which is a mile wide. From this point the canal continues eight miles to the Pacific Ocean.”
HISTORIOGRAPHY
By Sue Gray
Contained in the Carbondale Historical Society’s Thompson/ Holland archives are souvenirs of Hattie’s journey to Panama. From these few items, we can glimpse the mind and personality of this turn-of-the century pioneer woman.
Her interest in the construction of the canal is represented by an 8”x6” hardbound book with a cover of tan woven cloth, titled “The Panama Canal” and subtitled “Pictorial View of the World’s Greatest Engineering Feat, Linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, With a Brief History and Description of the Gigantic Undertaking,” by Thomas H. Russell. The book was copyrighted by the Hamming Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, in 1913, a year before the opening of the canal.
Mrs. Holland also purchased a set of labeled black-and-white photographs of the canal during construction and in operation, taken between 1910 and 1923. On the back of one showing a dirt road lined with tropical trees and foliage, titled “Canal Zone Roads, Gaillard Highway,” is a description written in pencil in Hattie’s hand:
“After leaving Colon on this highway for Gatun, you pass Mount Hope Cemetery, sometimes known as Monkey Hill, where multiplied thousands of the victims of the yellow fever scourge lie buried. Old Cristobal, Fort Randolph, France Field which is an aviation station, Caco Solo; a naval station, and Fort Davis; a military station near Gatun, are all passed on the
LETTERS
Re: Nearly homeless
Very interesting article about the “nearly homeless” situation.
There are differing numbers as far as reported income levels. The Sopris Sun article claimed average Carbondale income in the 2022 census was just over $40,000.
It may be important to note that was at the end of COVID, so some folks would not have been working full-time — or at all. Updated numbers are being reported by Colorado Mesa University economics professor Dr. Nathan Perry. “Garfield County’s median household income rose from $57,364 in 2013 to $86,566 in 2022 and $94,696 in 2023,” according to a Feb. 14 Post Independent article. Please note that is median income, not average income.
Garfield County per capita income (total income divided by total population) has consistently increased from 2016 ($52,232) to 2023 ($71,629), according to the Post Independent article.
Chris McG
Garfield County
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Sopris Sun reference in the Feb. 20th article was based on individual income rather than household income.
Being a successful businesswoman and banker in Carbondale, Hattie’s documentation of canal facts included its commercial operations. On a single page of her Pleasant View Ranch stationary, she transcribed from an unknown source:
“More and more Panama is becoming a repair and supply center. Its coaling stations contain a maximum of 700,000 tons of coal, with facilities for loading 500 tons an hour, while 1,440,000 barrels of oil can be stored in its great tanks. The canal tariff for laden freight ships is $1.20 per net ton. In 1924 the tolls on each ship averaged $4,600; 25,704 commercial vessels have passed through the canal carrying about 43,000,000 tons of cargo; $24,290,963 was received during the year ending July 1, 1924, a clear profit above maintenance of about $17,209,572. The cost of the canal was $373,000,000 including the forty million paid to the French canal company. It is the greatest engineering feat in world history, a tremendous work dwarfing all other undertakings of human skill and labor. America can build anything the world wants and has the men and money to do it.”
Though the operation of the canal was eventually turned over to the Panamanian government in perpetuity, its construction will always remain one of America’s great sources of pride.
The original lock gates are still in use, and today’s tourists can experience the canal in the same way Mrs. Holland did 100 years ago. During my recent visit to the “Canal Zone,” I traced Hattie’s steps to some of the places she visited, and though much has changed, Panama is still just as full of wonder and adventure as it was in her time.
Sue Gray is a Carbondale historian and volunteer archivist for the Carbondale Historical Society. She is planning a public presentation called; “Following Hattie to Panama,” date and location to be announced.
A portend of the future?
Saturday night, I saw the film “I’m Still Here” at the Crystal. It’s a true story about the suffering of a very loving family after the establishment of a military junta in Brazil in 1969. Before the show, I was reading about Trump’s purge of the military in this country. The film scared the hell out of me.
On Friday, Trump fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the vice chairman of the Air Force, the chief of Naval Operations and all of the top judge advocate generals after previously dismissing the Coast Guard commandant. They’ll all, no doubt, be replaced by acolytes who’ll swear allegiance to Trump rather than the Constitution.
The chairman was Black, and the naval operations chief and the Coast Guard commandant were women. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth referred to at least one of these military leaders as DEI hires.
After the movie, I went home, jumped in bed and couldn’t sleep. I kept imagining there were armed men in uniform at my door waving copies of my letters to the editor.
Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale
Reliable news
Putin’s orange minion has become a fire hydrant of mis-, dis- and DE-information. We can believe exactly nothing of the official proclamations coming from Washington. Fortunately, National Public Radio (NPR) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) are reliable sources of fact-checked information and corrections to the official U.S. word.
They reliably dispense U.S. and world news. We are lucky to have Aspen Public radio faithfully putting forth their accurate information. It is noticeable that by the time one goes into West Glenwood, and farther west, that a news desert is evident. Don’t be a fool to this administration, seek out the truth — www.aspenpublicradio.org lets you stream good fact-checked NPR and BBC information when you are out of KAJX’s (88.9 FM) broadcast range.
John Hoffmann Carbondale
Fighting extremism
My father, John Lawyer, was in Naval Intelligence in World War II in Brazil. What
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Mountain Fair 2025
The 54th annual Carbondale Mountain Fair poster design contest is now underway! This year’s theme is: “Let’s Dance! ¡Bailemos!” Artists are encouraged to submit a well-developed concept (vertical or square preferred over horizontal) along with three work samples to brian@carbondalearts.com by April 1. The jury-selected winner will receive $1,000 and five shirts!
GWS detox to close
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After opening its doors in June of last year, the Glenwood Springs Withdrawal Management Facility, managed by Mind Springs Health, will admit its last walk-in patients on Monday, March 10. In an email to The Sopris Sun, Mind Springs cited financial challenges and “upcoming regulatory changes in the behavioral healthcare industry” as reasons for the upcoming closure. “The 3.7 Medically Monitored Withdrawal Management program in Glenwood Springs will close with the intention of evaluating community needs and repurposing the facility,” the email continued. The Sopris Sun will follow up with Mind Springs for more detailed information.
Teacher of the Year
The Colorado Department of Education is inviting community members to recognize exceptional teachers by nominating an educator for the 2026 Colorado Teacher of the Year. The nomination window closes March 17 and the application closes April 23. For more information, visit cdeinfo.org/toy
Chris Klug nominations
The Chris Klug Foundation is soliciting nominations for its awards honoring three people within the organ transplant and donation community. The Hero Award recognizes a donor, the Bounce Back Give Back Award honors someone who has received a transplant and does something to pay it forward and the Community Champion is someone within a caregiving or community advocacy role. The winners will be honored guests at the foundation’s annual Wine & Dine gala on Aug. 22, with all expenses paid. Nominations close on April 1. Visit www.chrisklugfoundation. org/ckf-awards for more information and to nominate a hero.
Eagle County land use
The Eagle County government is revising its existing land use regulations and the public is invited to weigh in. “Encouraging high-quality development is one of the goals of this project,” said Eagle County Commissioner Matt Scherr. “Equally important is
was extended multiple requests to meet
Representative Hurd declined to respond to those requests as well as invitations to the town
and gave no statement. The theme of the event became “Musk or Us?” with a caricature of the congressman replacing him on stage. Courtesy photo by Lee Gelatt
considering development impacts in the context of our strategic goal of protecting our mountain ecosystem.” Find the first module at www.bit.ly/EagleCodes and comment by emailing ECLURproject@eaglecounty.us
Three Meadows Ranch
On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Eagle County, Pitkin County Open Space & Trails and Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) completed the purchase of Three Meadows Ranch, 4,251 acres of wildlife habitat along Cottonwood Pass in Missouri Heights. This single acquisition has increased the land protected by AVLT in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys by nearly 10%. The Eagle County Open Space fund contributed $12.5 million, Pitkin County gave $7.7 million and the Wexner family (via AVLT) made a $7.5 million donation toward the final purchase price of $27.7 million.
Big-game licenses
Hunters hoping to draw a big-game license in 2025 are urged to review the changes in licenses, seasons and fees prior to the March 1 opening of the primary draw application period (closing April 1 at 8pm). Find all the relevant information at cpw.state.co.us/ hunting/big-game
Conservation over oil
Colorado College released findings from its 15th annual State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll, which showed that many Coloradans prefer conservation over oil and gas development. “The poll, which surveyed the views of voters in Colorado and seven other Mountain West states … found Coloradans prefer public land conservation over oil and gas development at the highest margins measured in the poll’s 15 year history,” stated a press release. According to the poll, 76% of Coloradans wish for policy makers to prioritize clean water, air quality and wildlife habitat, while 22% would like to see expanded energy development. For a detailed breakdown of the poll, visit www.tinyurl.com/CCconservationpoll
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Jeremy Dwiggins, Gaby Mata Serafin and Sara Tymczyszyn (Feb. 27); Junior Ortega (Feb. 28); Cole Buerger, Emma Duke, Pusa Vhrin and Robert Weinhold (March 1); Sean Jeffries (March 2); Barbe Chambliss, Bella Frisbie and Judey Kess (March 3); Kurt Trede, Jr. (March 4); Kelly Field, Amy Hadden Marsh and Meg Plumb (March 5).
Local Indivisible groups hosted a town hall at the First Congregational Church in Grand Junction on Feb. 22 with around 400 people in attendance, some having driven from as far as Durango. Congressman Jeff Hurd (Colorado District 3) was back in the district he represents for a “District Work Period” and
with his constituents.
hall
Conservative play for library board worries former librarian
AMY HADDEN MARSH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) will listen for a second time to candidates for the Glenwood Springs position on the Garfield County Library Board of Trustees. And Jocelyn Durrance, who served as a trustee representing Carbondale for five years, is worried.
“I think there is a group within Garfield County who is making huge efforts to stack the board with trustees who represent an ideology that is not consistent with the mission of public libraries,” Durrance told The Sopris Sun. “And, unfortunately, what’s happening in Garfield County is merely a microcosm of what’s happening nationwide.”
Her concern stems from a two-year effort by a few western Garfield County residents to change library policy, beginning with a persistent campaign against Japanese manga books at the Silt Library. This, she said, led to a series of events that ultimately resulted in last year’s BOCC resolution to take control of the library trustee appointment process.
“The [BOCC] would make the final appointment and the library board did not have a vote in that appointment,” she explained. “That’s when it became so clear that there was an agenda behind this.”
That agenda was writ large at the February library board meeting when New Castle resident May Gray presented a copy of a
Facebook post by Trish O’Grady, an administrator of the Garfield County Patriots page, encouraging people to apply for the Glenwood Springs library trustee position.
“If the commissioners appoint a conservative person, we just may have a majority [of] four to three. Then real changes can happen like terminating their liberal Executive Director Jamie LaRue,” the post reads.
“Are you guys being directed to [fire Jamie LaRue] and is this why the BOCC is really trying to take over the Board?” Gray added.
Durrance attended that meeting along with Susan Use, a former library board member who re-applied for her Glenwood Springs position late last year. At the time, Commission Chair John Martin was on sick leave and Commissioners Tom Jankovsky and Mike Samson were making the appointments. They were split — Use was Jankovsky’s choice but not Samson’s — and the process started over.
At the February library board meeting, Use said the Facebook post was a surprise. She wanted to know where O’Grady got her information. “We have a majority of four to three.That means [O’Grady] is saying that, on the board, three of you are extremely conservative. Is that true?” she queried. One member of the board said they do not respond to public comments. Use wished the board good luck. “This should be front and center with the board,” she warned.
O’Grady said during the meeting that she stands by what she put in the post. “I’m
surprised that you’re surprised that that’s [what] I would personally like to do is find a new director, which is in the purview of the board itself,” she said to Use.
Durrance told The Sopris Sun that she has more than 30 years of local public library experience. “What I saw was that this group basically wanted to have a very strong say in what the events and material on the [library] shelves were,” she said. “I saw this as a violation of my rights.” She added that she wants library users to have access to a variety of viewpoints and come to their own conclusions via critical thinking. “If you limit the information available, that cannot happen,” she said.
She also believes the library is not a babysitting service and that it is the responsibility of the parent or caretaker to accompany young children. “If they don’t want their young children being in certain parts of the library or being exposed to certain materials, then it’s their responsibility to steer them in the direction of what they’d like their children to be exposed to,” she said.
Durrance knows why she was not re-appointed to the library board. She said Jankovsky told her during a personal phone call that she was behind “groupthink” on the library board. She wasn’t clear on what he meant by groupthink. “He said [something to the effect of], well, it just seems like the library board doesn’t listen to other viewpoints,” she recalled to The Sopris Sun.
In a Feb. 18 email to The Sopris Sun,
inquiring what his reasons were for not reappointing Durrance, Jankovsky wrote, “I wanted to see more diversity of opinion, robust discussion and less groupthink on the library board.”
This reasoning varied from what he said at the Dec. 16, 2024 meeting, when his choice for the Glenwood Springs position differed from that of Samson. Jankovsky opted to reappoint a sitting library board member. “I felt Susan Use [was] the correct
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This post appeared on the Garfield County Patriots Facebook page and was discussed during the February Library Board of Trustees meeting. continued on page 18
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New ‘Muddy Meter’ aims to mitigate erosion of Red Hill trails
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
The Red Hill trail system, just off of the Highway 82 and 133 intersection, is one of the most popular and convenient recreation areas in the Valley. How popular? Well, the trailhead receives around 75,000 visitors each year. That is about three-times as many hikers annually compared to the state’s most popular 14,000-feet peaks. It breaks down to an average of 200 people a day using the trails.
The Red Hill Council, an all-volunteer nonprofit, has collaborated with other local entities like the Town of Carbondale and Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) to increase trail maintenance and signage. But trail work, and even new trail construction, can only do so much considering the high levels of foot and bike traffic.
Earlier this winter, the council introduced a new tool: a bilingual Muddy Meter. The meter, located at the base of the trail system, is meant to help visitors avoid muddy and delicate sections — especially typical this time of year. Red Hill Council President Chris Brandt shared more in an interview with The Sopris Sun. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. How did the idea for the mud meter come about?
We [researched] how other trail stewardship groups handle overuse pressures during mud season. There aren’t many examples that don’t include closure gates. Breckenridge has one novel approach that
relies upon trail users to interact with a movable slider arrow, communicating to other users the current conditions.
Our bilingual Muddy Meter includes a trail map identifying Zones 1-3. On a sunny day, Zone 1 might be dry at certain times of the year while other zones are muddy … At other times of the year Zone 1 might be melting into mud while other zones are still snow covered or frozen solid.
Many trails located in other regions are seasonally closed by land managers when mud conditions are present. Red Hill has always been managed as open year round and it would be highly controversial if we were ever to consider a seasonal closure. With current resources, our ability to enforce such a closure would be like trying to stop a tidal wave with a paper towel.
How much time is spent maintaining and protecting the trails?
[Red Hill Council’s eight board members] invest 400-600 hours of our personal time each year, not including all of the additional volunteers helping on trail work days. Almost everything our community loves about Red Hill is possible thanks to the many volunteers. Organizing trail work parties requires extensive planning to gather larger volunteer groups at the scale needed to effectively tackle regular trail repairs. We have grown heavily reliant upon partner organizations like RFOV to make this happen. With RFOV, we have a big project planned in the sage meadows of Blue
Ribbon Trail this spring 2025 — largely to repair damage caused by mud season use that has been gradually increasing.
[When] including the Red Hill Council, RFOV staff and community volunteers, Town of Carbondale adopt-a-trail sponsors, Roaring Fork Mountain Biking Association trail agents and private working groups, we estimate 2,000 to 3,000 volunteer hours are utilized to maintain Red Hill annually. According to the Bureau of Land Management’s valuation of volunteer labor (roughly $32 per hour), this contribution to Red Hill is equivalent to $64,000 to $96,000 annually.
What else has the council done to help reduce muddy trail use?
We know that the majority of our trail users are locals. Many visit Red Hill like a daily ritual, unaware that they may be damaging this special place. We’d love to see more responsible users, visiting the trails only when conditions are appropriate. We are promoting a culture where bikes and shoes aren’t getting covered with red mud.
We have invested time and limited
The Muddy Meter divides the
trails into different zones based on sun exposure and slope angles. Trail users can slide the status marker for each zone to help other hikers and bikers evaluate whether the trails are usable on a given day.
financial resources towards community messaging via social media, radio, local newspaper ads, posters, trailhead banners and in-person conversations on the trail. We would welcome more interactions with local schools and youth groups, hopefully inspiring the next generation of land stewards.
It would be tremendously helpful if local tourism tax dollars could be utilized. Red Hill is heavily marketed as an attractive asset, luring visitors and new residents who support local businesses.
What is your favorite thing about Red Hill?
What is there not to love about Red Hill? I love the many technical challenges available for mountain biking. There are incredible views from Mushroom Rock overlooking the convergence of the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers, with scenic Mount Sopris in the distance. The spectacular red sandstone cliffs are dappled with lush pinyon-juniper forest, numerous cactus species and an ever-changing display of native wildflowers. The air smells fresh and is invigorating.
State funds help businesses explore worker ownership
KATE PHILLIPS Sopris Sun Correspondent
A bustling Main Street is a beautiful sight for rural business owners. Customers meandering into shops, tourists frequenting restaurants and locals chatting over coffee brings a town to life, while also bolstering its financial health. Without a doubt, local businesses are a vital component for any small community. Now, as economic uncertainty looms and typical business owners are aging, the need to sustain rural businesses is becoming more apparent. Denver-based nonprofit Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center (RMEOC) is ready to take action.
Founded in 2012, RMEOC builds sustainable and equitable economies by providing dynamic services to help rural business owners convert to an employ ee-ownership model. According to RMEOC, less than 20% of businesses put on the market are sold and only 15% are passed onto family members. Furthermore, the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 Annual Business Survey, reported that more than half of U.S. business owners are 55 or older, including 22.8% who are over 65. Between lack of sales and retiring owners, businesses are faced with questionable futures; however, an employee-ownership model may help reduce closures since workers are already invested in the company and owners can easily negotiate with workers in a fair and transparent process.
“This model prevents the company from shutting down, which means a lot of jobs lost and also services that are no longer accessible,” said Marion Champoux-Pel legrin, RMEOC’s rural employee ownership director. “For worker-owners, it can provide a higher income which often
increases their ability to afford to keep living in their location. A lot of mountain towns are so expensive, but we feel a lot of people stay in their position longer, they feel more challenged, engaged and connected to the work with a worker-owned model.”
Owners, however, are initially deterred because they lack support and experience difficult negotiations, extensive paperwork and an average cost of $30,000. To combat these challenges, the nonprofit is providing critical statefunded scholarships to help offset the cost and burden of
implementing an employee-ownership model.
“For any kind of small business, especially rural businesses, every dollar counts,” said Champoux-Pellegrin. “We’re asking people to think about a new way to do things. It’s work, and there’s an indirect cost associated with this, but we want to alleviate that stress. Selling your business is not easy, but the alternative is that the business shuts down, which would be a shame for everyone involved.”
“It’s all yours now.”
The funding itself comes from Colorado’s portion of the American Rescue Plan Act and is administered by the state Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). Qualified owners receive a 50-100% scholarship to access RMEOC’s technical assistance, a step-by-step program that ensures a smooth transition. RMEOC’s technical assistance is already available on a sliding scale based on a business’s revenue, but coupled with the scholarship and available tax credits, businesses can receive high quality assistance for little to no cost. Champoux-Pellegrin estimates that 12-20 rural businesses can receive the scholarship.
To be eligible, the business must be located in a rural county, can certify COVID impact, have three or more employees and be willing to sell 20% or more of their business.
“Owners don’t have to apply directly; they can just call or meet with us to get free consultations and we’ll tell them more about it and get them on the path to employeeownership,” said Champoux-Pellegrin. “We’ll talk about costs, what
Courtesy photo continued on page 18
Red Hill
GWS transportation safety survey closes March 7
JAMES STEINDLER
Contributing Editor
The City of Glenwood is in the midst of a public outreach campaign regarding transportation safety and is soliciting input from residents and regional commuters. The process will wrap up at the end of next week, with an online survey closing on March 7.
Lee Barger is the transportation engineer for the City and has been in that position for about a year and half. His department kicked off the process to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan in the summer of 2024, having hired consultants from Consor Engineers and Alta Design and gathering public insight.
That initial outreach garnered 500 hits on an online interactive map, where people could identify specific areas in need of safety enhancement. The corresponding survey saw about the same number of responses.
Over the last few weeks, the team has gone to various schools and other public places around town to present proposed solutions, drawn up as a result of that initial round of outreach, and ask for additional input on said solutions. Overall, attendance
has been low, with the biggest turn outs being at a Glenwood High School basketball game in mid-February and at the 27th Street Park and Ride. Spanish interpretation is provided.
“The first phase was harvesting that input from everybody of, ‘Where do you not feel safe?’” explained Barger. “This second round our consultants have a whole number of different solutions … in certain locations or wholistically, throughout town.”
Wholistic possibilities include instituting no right turns at red lights, installing red light and speed enforcement cameras, enhancing crosswalks, improving lighting, “all kinds of different things,” Barger continued.
He said that they have discovered there’ve been lots of incidents involving pedestrians and vehicles making right-hand turns. “There’s two sides to it,” he said. “Right turns on red was instituted a long time ago when we were trying to produce less idling in downtown cities … but there’s that conflict if there’s a pedestrian right there.”
Not too surprisingly, most of Highway 82 (Grand Avenue) — where more than 27,000 vehicles traverse daily — and a section of
Highway 6 were deemed “high injury networks” by the consultants. Some areas where there are schools, bus stops or other public gathering places are considered “high-risk networks,” which also takes into account accident data. These networks are identified in red (high injury) and blue (high risk) on the online map.
The current interactive map goes a step further and inquires which types of suggested solutions might be appropriate at any given area. There have only been 42 contributed pins on the current map. The map is color coded, and easy to use.
And it’s not just Glenwood Springs residents who are invited to complete the survey. “We’re hoping you can get the word out to the folks in Carbondale and up in that part of the Valley, so we can get some more responses,” he suggested to this reporter. People commuting from Parachute, Gypsum, etcetera are encouraged to participate.
Some improvements, of course, would be more affordable than others. Adding signage or enhancing crosswalks is not very costly, compared to a whole roadway makeover — from narrowing streets to enlarging sidewalks.
Barger foresees getting to the lower-cost items, which could still have a significant impact, pretty quickly once the plan is approved.
The intention is to have the
plan in front of city council by June. A finalized plan will give staff direction when prioritizing and planning out future projects, and chasing the necessary funding. There are two final chances to participate in person before the survey will be closed. The planning team will be at Glenwood Springs Elementary School on March 4, 5 to 7pm, and at the Community Center on Midland on March 5, 4 to 6pm. What direction staff takes when presenting to city council, will depend on what matters to the people participating in the process.
For more information and to complete the survey and drop a pin on the interactive map, visit www.gwssafetysurvey.com
Attendance at the public meetings has been relatively sparse, as evidenced in this scene from the Feb. 24 event at Glenwood Springs Middle School. The final two in-person opportunities are March 4 and 5. Courtesy photo
Laken Riley Act looms over immigrant communities
LONDON LYLE Sopris Sun Correspondent
On Jan. 30, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 29/S. 5, known as the Laken Riley Act. The legislation has led to significant debate over undocumented immigrants and public safety. The bill had bipartisan support, with 46 democrats joining their Republican colleagues to vote in favor.
The law is named in memory of Laken Hope Riley, a 22-yearold nursing student from Georgia who was tragically murdered on Feb. 22, 2024, while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Her attacker, José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who had entered the United States illegally, was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Riley’s death instantly garnered attention online and even led to politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene to call on then-President Joe Biden to “say her name” during his State of the Union address in March. Ibarra had prior arrests and was released before being taken into federal custody, a major point for those in favor of tougher immigration laws.
In response to this incident, the Laken Riley Act was introduced,
with proponents arguing it would prevent similar tragedies by enforcing stricter immigration mandates. The law requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain all undocumented immigrants residing in the United States who are arrested for crimes such as burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting, regardless of conviction status.
The act also gives state attorney generals the right to sue the federal government if they deem them to have failed their duties in immigration enforcement.
A number of advocacy groups have spoken out against the legislation, arguing that it sows fear and division, promotes xenophobic policies under the guise of public safety and undermines basic constitutional rights. The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
(CIRC) expressed concerns that the law could lead to the incarceration of immigrants based solely on accusations, directly undermining the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” while further criminalizing communities of color.
“While we all want to live in safe communities, we know this law will not make our communities safer,” said Nicole Loy, policy and campaigns manager with CIRC. Loy emphasized that the legislation could erode trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, leading to fewer crimes being reported and, consequently, making everyone less safe, according to a press release.
Critics, like the American Immigration Council, also highlight that the act could significantly increase the number of individuals held in
detention facilities, many of which are operated by private for-profit prison corporations. Estimates suggest that the law could result in a 250% increase in immigrant detention, with an additional 110,000 people detained. Additionally, the law will cost taxpayers approximately $86 billion over three years, according to CIRC. The potential for a massive increase in inmates is seen by some as a move that directly benefits private prison companies profiting off of mass incarceration.
The legislation has also been criticized for its potential to strip immigrants of their due process rights. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argued that the law mandates the incarceration of individuals who pose no risk to their communities, potentially for years, based on past accusations
of nonviolent offenses like petty theft. This approach, according to the ACLU, fails to consider the complexities of each case that makes its way through the immigration system and could lead to extended periods of incarceration for folks who haven’t been fairly tried.
In Colorado, there is a strong commitment to opposing federal overreach and policies perceived as xenophobic. Our state has implemented measures to keep families together, regardless of immigration status, created pathways for undocumented immigrants to seek healthcare, driver licenses and other social services without fear of deportation and to ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Immigration advocates are urging local leaders, elected officials and residents to reject measures that vilify and criminalize immigrant communities and to support policies that reflect shared values of safety, justice and opportunity for all.
The right vehemently denies weaponizing Laken Riley’s murder for political purposes; rather, they consider it a form of retroactive justice in her honor. However, the Laken Riley Act might be likened to burning down an entire forest to kill one tree.
NATURALIST NIGHTS
A sign in front of Saint John’s church in Washington, D.C. advocates for loving thy neighbor. Photo by London Lyle
Aspen Skiers prove their namesake with double State Championships wins at home
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Thursday and Friday, Feb. 20-21, saw a triumphant end to this winter’s Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) downhill skiing race season for Aspen High School (AHS). The Aspen teams hosted this year’s championships for the first time in nine years. The final races also marked a major shift: every prior year, the Skiing State Championships were determined by the results of both the alpine and cross-country ski teams. In 2025, the disciplines prove themselves on separate weekends, with separate points.
Head coach Jennifer Morandi-Benson spoke with The Sopris Sun about hosting the championships and about her athletes’ performance this winter. When any town hosts CHSAA downhill races, local parents and coaches step up to the plate.
There are 13 teams in the CHSAA alpine competition, including Aspen High School. Each of those teams has at least two coaches, and more adults travel to each race location to help as race crew, technical support and to administrate the events for the state agency. That means some 70 adults and 100-150 teen athletes traveling to an area on any competition weekend.
“Logistically, [States] is similar to a regular season race, but doubled since both disciplines [slalom and giant slalom] compete,” said Morandi-Benson. “We were in talks starting last season to prepare for these races.” She noted that parent
volunteers are crucial and that the Aspen team is grateful for support from Aspen Skiing Company, Romero Group, the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club and other local organizations.
Around 60% of Aspen’s athletes qualified for this year’s State Championships. The team is smaller than usual, just 26 skiers compared to an average of 40. But their overall performance level is high. Having 15 athletes in the championships is more than double the 25% statewide average; in normal season races, skiers must finish in the top quarter of the field to qualify for the final races. Some athletes only qualify for one discipline, slalom or giant slalom, while others qualify for both.
Morandi-Benson expressed pride in the AHS Skiers’ strong performances on their challenging home terrain. While the athletes have more experience on these slopes than their visiting competitors, “Highlands is a challenging pitch and terrain,” Morandi-Benson explained. And no racers get to do training runs on the course, the way pro North American and World Cup skiers do. The teen athletes get to do inspections of the courses, slowly side-slipping the terrain to mentally prepare. In the races, they get two runs per discipline. If an athlete crashes on a run, it affects their points, and if they crash on both runs, they won’t receive any points at all.
Crashes nearly took the AHS boys team out of the running for the championships. Four out of the seven qualified local skiers
were not able to complete both runs on Thursday’s giant slalom course. For team results, each school must have a minimum of three athletes finish their runs for that discipline.
Morandi-Benson praised the girls team for a come-from-behind consistency. She said they had steadily improved throughout the winter; last weekend, that paid off with many top-ten individual finishes. “Girls won both days’ giant slalom and slalom. The girls were so rock solid, steady and consistent. It was great to see that,” Morandi-Benson said. It was also exciting, she shared, “to see the boys come from behind to move from Thursday’s thirdplace team standing into first.”
Morandi-Benson also noted particularly strong individual accomplishments. Among these, she cited Matthew McDermott’s 2nd place finish by one-hundredth of a second and Joshua Stephen’s 2nd and 3rd place finishes over the weekend. On the girls side, Darienne Kenny and Rocksy Kroeger were All-State Giant Slalom and Slalom winners. Their strong results all winter also earned them the Colorado Cup for overall top points in both disciplines.
Joshua Stephen and Thomas Robinson also won All-State Giant Slalom and Colorado Cup, and Stephen and Matt McDermott won All-State Slalom.
Morandi-Benson is the chair of AHS social studies, in addition to being head coach, and lives in Glenwood Springs. She appreciates getting to work with the athletes
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inside and outside the classroom. “As a coach that is also a teacher at the high school, this is the most rewarding for me.” She gets to see teens in a non-academic setting and learn “the whole child” by seeing them in different environments. She sees big benefits for her athletes from the necessary balancing of priorities and travel for competitions, citing that the Skiers have strong executive function transfer from the time management required to keep up with their academics during competition season.
Full results from the competitions can be found on the CHSAA website: www.bit.ly/CHSAAski
This weekend, athletes from the CRMS will compete in the Nordic Skiing State Championships in Steamboat.
The Aspen Skier girls celebrate their sweep of the Alpine State Championships on home terrain. The Aspen School District is the only district in the country to use “Skiers” as a mascot. Courtesy photo
the Care the
Roaring Fork boys take center stage in bout with 5A Eagle Valley
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
It was all about the boys on Saturday, Feb. 22, as Roaring Fork High School basketball hosted 5A Eagle Valley in a game that tested the talents of the Rams, who remain undefeated in the 3A Western Slope League.
After taking another step toward the outright league title with a 65-39 win at Cedaredge on Friday, the Rams (15-6 overall, 10-0 in league), had a chance to boost their RPI power rankings against the 17-6 Devils.
Eagle Valley looks to share the 5A WSL title with Glenwood Springs, with both teams finishing at 5-1 in league play and headed into the regional playoffs this week.
While the Rams were still in it, down just four points 39-35 at halftime against the Devils, they were outscored 38-28 in the second half of play to take the 77-63 loss.
“We missed a few easy buckets that could have made the game more interesting,” Rams Head Coach Jason Kreiling said. “We played well, but there are
definitely some things we can clean up for the final two games of our regular season.”
Junior Lucas Carballeira had 16 points on the afternoon, including four three-pointers.
We played well, but there are definitely some things we can clean up for the final two games of our regular season.
- Coach Jason Kreiling
Juniors Ethan Wilson (three threes) and Kiko Pena and sophomore Quentin Galbraith each had 11 points.
“Cedaredge was a good league win,” Kreiling said. “Sometimes, going on the road it’s about what team shows up, and we showed up ready to play.”
Carballeira had 18 points in that contest, and Pena had nine points to go along with his nine rebounds.
The Rams find themselves ranked No. 19 among 3A teams in the latest Colorado High School Activities Association poll, with two games left — Thursday at home for senior night against Grand Valley (7pm), and at Gunnison on Saturday.
With no district tournaments for 3A teams this year, the Rams expect to be on the road for the first round of regionals next week, with pairings and regional hosts to be announced on Sunday.
Lady Rams
Meanwhile, Roaring Fork’s girls basketball team nearly flipped the script at Cedaredge on Friday night.
The Rams had a chance to redeem themselves against a team that beat them by 38 points back in January, and looked well on their way to doing just that early on.
Up by six points at halftime against the Lady Bruins, the Rams got bit by the turnover bug in the second half and saw the lead slip away, ultimately falling 40-37.
“The old turnover bugaboo
caught up with us again and they took advantage of it,” head coach Mike Vidakovich said.
Sophomore Riley Bevington led all scorers with 24 points, while junior Nikki Tardif had eight points and 11 rebounds.
“She really did a nice job of helping us keep up with them in the rebounding department,” Vidakovich said of Tardif.
Now at 19-2 overall, 10-2 in league and ranked No. 9 among Colorado 3A teams, much rides
on the final two league games of the season, Thursday at home for senior night against Grand Valley (5:30pm) and at Gunnison on Saturday.
“We still have a chance at hosting a regional, if we can pick up two wins this week,” Vidakovich said of the new 3A rules that award a regional host site to the top eight teams.
As with the boys, regional pairings and locations will be known on Sunday, March 2.
Quentin Galbraith (5) makes a shot attempt in the first half of RFHS’ game against Eagle Valley at home on Feb. 22. Photo by Kai Kanzer
Check Out What’s Happening at Your Carbondale Branch Library
The Art of Conversation
Sunday, March 2 at 6 pm
A community-building event filled with meaningful conversations among strangers. Thought-provoking questions allow you to connect deeply with whomever is sitting next to you.
Move from Your Center
Wednesday, March 5 at 5pm
Explore classical Pilates exercises to activate your core and articulate your spine from your center. All fitness levels welcome.
Nature Journaling with Words and Drawings
Friday, March 7 at 1pm
Adults who wish to explore, observe, and creatively document nature are invited to join a group of novice and experienced sketch book writers and artists.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27
MENOPAUSE EXPLAINED
As part of its Women’s Health Series, Valley View presents “Menopause Explained,” a webinar with Elizabeth Cruse, MD, at noon. Register at www.vvh.org/WomensHealthSeries
BLACK INVENTORS
Basalt Library’s Teen Innovators Lab celebrates Black inventors throughout history from 4 to 5:30pm. Registration is recommended at www.basaltlibrary.org/events-calendar
RINCÓN LITERARIO
Basalt Library’s Spanish book club, Rincón Literario, discusses “Solito,” an autobiography by Javier Zamora, at 6pm. Free copies are available at the circulation desk while supplies last.
WOMEN’S GROUP
HeadQuarters in Basalt hosts Common Roots Women’s Group from 6 to 7:30pm. This month’s topic: “Not enough-ness.” Register at www.headq.org
ECSTATIC DANCE
Dustin Eli offers a new moon ecstatic dance experience at 13 Moons from 6 to 8pm.
CRYSTAL THEATRE
Catch “The Brutalist” at the Crystal Theatre tonight only at 6:30pm. “Nickel Boys” will open tomorrow and continue Saturday and next Thursday at 7pm. The Sunday matinee is at 2pm.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
YouthZone presents immigration lawyer Jennifer Smith for an informational session about the intersection between court involvement and immigration status from 6:30 to 7:30pm at 136 East 12th Street in Rifle. Dinner will be provided, as well as transportation and childcare by contacting squintana@youthzone.com or 970-945-9300.
‘TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS’
It’s your last chance to catch Thunder River Theatre Company’s production of “Tiny Beautiful Things” tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm. Sunday’s show is at 2pm. Tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28
ECONOMIC BLACKOUT
Activists around the country will protest the current administration by refusing to spend money (except on local businesses) for 24 hours. Participants are also encouraged to abstain from social media.
COZY HOUR
Young adults and teens (ages 14 to 35) are invited to enjoy “a cozy hour” at the Basalt Library after hours, with board games, a craft and more, from 5 to 6pm.
GONG BATH
Dr. Zachary and Krista Chasin offer a sound journey in True Nature’s Kiva at 6:30pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
CONNOR GARVEY
Catch Connor Garvey at Steve’s Guitars tonight at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
CONSENSUAL IMPROV
Consensual Improv performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
ROOFTOP KARAOKE
The Aspen Art Museum hosts “Rooftop Karaoke” marking the closing of its current exhibit, “Shuang Li: I’m Not” on display through March 2, from 8 to 10pm. Register at www.aspenartmuseum.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 1
SHARE YOUR LIGHT
Meghan Gilroy offers a daylong retreat for following your soul’s yearnings from 10am to 4pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
TYPICAL GHOST
Typical Ghost, a local band, plans to bring down the house at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. More info and tickets at www.typicalghost.com
POKEY LAFARGE
Cicada Rhythm opens for Pokey LaFarge at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
MONTHLY MEDITATION
The Carbondale Meditation Circle of Self Realization Fellowship meets on the first Sunday of every month from 9 to 10:30am in the meditation room at True Nature.
EMBRACING ELDERHOOD
Deanna Jenné and Lisa Dancing-Light present an introductory talk on embracing elderhood, embracing wisdom and living strategies to navigate aging at the Third Street Center (Room 31) at 10am. A six-week series for men and women of all ages will begin on March 12. RSVP at www.lisadancinglight.com
RANDOM CONVERSATIONS
The Art of Random Conversations series continues at the Carbondale Library tonight from 6 to 7:30pm. “Push your comfort zone and follow thought-provoking questions that allow you to connect deeply with whomever is sitting next to you.”
BREATHWORK
Pathfinders offers a free breathwork meditation journey led by Allison Alexander at True Nature from 6 to 7:30pm. Registration is required at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
COSMIC COUNTRY
TACAW presents Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
MONDAY, MARCH 3
BASALT ELEMENTARY
Basalt Elementary School hosts an in-person registration day from 7:30am to 4pm. Guardians should bring copies of their child’s birth certificate, immunization records and proof of address. More info at www.bes.rfsd.k12.co.us
MOVE WITH ME
Eighteen-month to 3 year olds and their guardians are invited to move to the groove of music at the Basalt Library from 10:30 to 11:30am.
GOLDEN LIGHT MEDITATION
Lisa Mckenzie leads a golden light meditation at The Meeting Place (981 Cowen Drive) from 5 to 6pm. Donations appreciated.
MYCOLOGY CLUB
The Western Colorado Mycological Association presents Dr. Sophia Ben-Hamoo on “Exploring the Clinical Landscape of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy” at the Carbondale Community School (1505 Satank Road) from 6 to 8pm. This talk is free and open to all.
‘BLUE VELVET’
Aspen Film celebrates David Lynch with Monday screenings in March. “Blue Velvet” kicks it off at the AF Isis Theatre tonight at 7pm. Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org
ONGOING EVENTS
GROUP RUN
Independence Run & Hike leads a group run on Thursdays departing from the store’s location, next to the Carbondale City Market, at 6:30pm.
WIGGLES OUT
Toddlers get their wiggles out at the Carbondale Library on Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:30am.
CRIBBAGE
Whether you’ve played for years or are looking to learn, stop by the Carbondale Rec Center from 4 to 5pm Tuesday nights. Bring snacks or non-alcoholic drinks to share! Visit www.carbondalerec.com for more info.
YARN GROUP
Basalt Library hosts a weekly yarn group on Tuesdays at 5pm. All are welcome.
IN STITCHES
The In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 1:30pm.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
TUESDAY, MARCH 4
BIRDING CLUB
Middle schoolers interested in the avian world are invited to the Basalt Library today and next Tuesday, March 11, from 3:45 to 5pm, for the final Middle School Birding Club gatherings in this series.
TAMARA DE LEMPICKA
Aspen Film and the Aspen Art Museum present a screening of the documentary “The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival” at the AF Isis Theatre at 5pm followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker, Julie Ruibio, and Marisa de Lempicka. Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org
SUNNYSIDE BURN
The Roaring Fork Wildfire Collaborative hosts a community meeting to discuss the 900-acre Sunnyside Prescribed Fire this spring near Aspen. The hour-long meeting will take place at Aspen’s downtown fire station at 5:30pm and it will be recorded and posted online in English and Spanish.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
INDIE SHOWCASE
Aspen Film’s Indie Showcase presents “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story” at the AF Isis Theatre at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org
UTE HISTORY & CULTURE
Skyler Lomahaftewa, a Northern Ute Tribal Member, integrates music, history and dance in an interactive presentation about Ute ancestors and contemporaries at the Basalt Library from 2:30 to 3:30pm. The presentation is ideal for elementary and middle school students.
FLY TYING CLUB
Roaring Fork Conservancy guides the Teen Fly Tying Club at the Basalt Library every Wednesday at 3pm through March 19.
DEATH CAFÉ
Sopris Lodge offers a safe, relaxed space to explore topics around death and dying with meaningful conversation led by End-of-Life Consultant Akaljeet Khalsa from 3:30 to 5pm. To RSVP, call 970-456-8764.
PILATES
Alexandra Jerkunica teaches a free pilates class at the Carbondale Library on Wednesdays from 5 to 6pm through April 2.
DRAWING CLUB
The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets at the Carbondale Rec Center for a sneak peek of the Carbondale Arts Fashion Show at 6:30pm. BYO art supplies!
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
Michael Feinstein performs “Because of You,” a tribute to his friend Tony Bennett, at the Wheeler Opera House at 7pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
ADVENTURE FILMS
TACAW hosts the Women’s Adventure Film Tour beginning at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
THURSDAY, MARCH 6
WRITERS FESTIVAL
Ordinary Fellow Winery in Palisade (202 Peach Ave) hosts “Warblers, Howlers & Minstrels,” a four-day festival for writers with performances, workshops, discussions and more. Find the lineup and tickets at www.bit.ly/ PalisadeWriters
GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB
Carbondale Library hosts a graphic novel club for ages 9 to 12 discussing “The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes” by Kate Hannigan at 3:30pm. Call 970-963-2889 to sign up and claim your copy of the book. Peppino’s pizza will be served.
MEN’S GROUP
HeadQuarters hosts the Common Roots Men’s Group focusing on this month’s theme, “Inflammation,” from 6 to 7:30pm. Register at www.headq.org
STEVE’S GUITARS
Dan Rodriguez performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
FIRST FRIDAY, MARCH 7
GUSS UP!
Whether you scored tickets to the Carbondale Arts Fashion Show or not, this month’s First Friday theme is “Get Gussied Up!” A Community Glam Cam will be stationed at Chacos Park (4th & Main) as well as several food trucks.
The Meeting Place in Carbondale (981 Cowen Drive) offers “Hole in the Donut AA,” Monday through Saturday at 6:45am, plus “Daily Reprieve” at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Find a full schedule at www.meetingplacecarbondale.org
ENGLISH IN ACTION
Volunteer English tutors and developing learners meet for informal conversational practice at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 6:30pm. Interested in becoming a tutor? Email angela@englishinaction.org or call 970-963-9200.
MONDAY MEDITATION
Roaring Fork Insight guides a weekly meditation group meeting at the
COMMUNITY CLASSES IN CARBONDALE
SCULPTURE
Learn 3-D design, materials and processes to create sculptures. Thursdays, 1-5pm, 3/13-5/1
INTRO TO BUSINESS OF ART
Learn to create business plans, market and show your art. Mondays, 5-7pm, 3/17-4/21
AIKIDO (Try it for Free 3/18-3/20)
A non-violent way to re-direct, neutralize, or avoid an attack.
Tues/Thurs, 6-7:30pm, 3/18-5/8
MICROSOFT EXCEL WORKSHOP
From basics to formatting, printing, formulas and functions, charting, and tables.
Tues, 5:30-8pm, 3/25-5/6
TREE PRUNING TECHNIQUES
Covers timing, techniques, and different styles. Highlights pruning for tree’s “natural” form. Tues, 4-7pm, 3/25- BASALT
WINES OF SOUTHERN FRANCE
Wine tasting classes use the deductive tasting method, and are appropriate for novice to experienced wine tasters as well as very useful for those in the food & beverage industry. Friday, 6-8pm, 3/28
Third Street Center (Room 31) from 7 to 8:30pm.
BIKE PROJECT
The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps repair people’s bicycles on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm on the east side of Third Street Center.
BASALT BOOK CLUB
The Basalt Library hosts its Regional Book Club discussing favorite new releases and more every first Wednesday at noon.
SENIOR LUNCH
Every Wednesday at noon, Garfield County Senior Programs provides a nutritious meal for seniors at The Orchard. To reserve a place at the table, call 970-665-0041.
COSECHA TEXTILES
Textile enthusiasts are invited to a workshop at Cosecha Textiles (95 Red Dog Road) every first Wednesday from 4 to 9pm. Register at www.cosechatextiles.com
CLUB DE ESPAÑOL
Practice Spanish and enjoy specials at Bodegón in Carbondale every Wednesday from 5 to 7pm.
TEEN LIBRARY COUNCIL
The Teen Library Council convenes every first Thursday at the Basalt Library at 4pm.
UNDER THE SUN
Join Sopris Sun correspondents and guests for “Everything Under The Sun,” airing every Thursday on KDNK at 4pm.
COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR
Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk posts up at Bonfire every Friday from 8 to 9am, and everyone is welcome to stop by to chat.
KIDS’ CLASSES
TUMBLE, BALANCE AND BREATH
Movement and fun to develop basic tumbling and social skills. Wed, 4-4:45pm, 4/2-4/23
BUILD A FAIRY GARDEN
Get creative and build a your own fairy garden. Saturday, 10-11:30am, 4/5
BUILD A BOTTLE BIOME
Learn about the water cycle, climate, life, and recycling. Sunday, 10-11am, 4/6
COOKIES FOR EASTER
Get creative with the Pastry Chef Lab. Cookies and decorating supplies provided. Instructor is bilingual. Parents welcome. Wednesday, 3-4pm, 4/16
Community & Kids’ Class Registration...
*CREDIT CLASSES
*WATERCOLOR - ASPEN Wed, 5:10-8:45pm, 3/26-4/30
*CPR FOR PROF. - CARBONDALE 8:30am-5pm, 3/26
*FIRST AID & CPR - CARBONDALE 8:30am-5pm, 3/27
*WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER - SV 8:00am-5pm, 4/14-4/27
This collage by Rachel Becker will be on display at The Launchpad as part of her “Cosmic Compost” exhibit, accompanied by Kirstie Steiner’s “Where the Wild Things Live” exhibit, through April 4. An opening reception for both will be held this Friday, Feb. 28, from 5 to 7pm. Courtesy art
International Guitar Night comes to the Valley
KEN PLETCHER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Roaring Fork Valley residents are in for a treat on Friday, March 7, as International Guitar Night (IGN) plays at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen as part of its 25th Anniversary North American tour.
The IGN is the brainchild of guitarist and poet Brian Gore. A longtime performer in the San Francisco Bay area (now living in Portland, Oregon), he came to notice what he told The Sopris Sun was a “desert of interest” on the part of music presenters, who tended to book only one genre of musician. He wanted to stage concerts with musicians who were “a little different,” on the assumption that this would attract a larger audience.
Gore had been influenced by the instrumental music being offered by artists like William Ackerman and Michael Hedges at Windham Hill Records and decided to put together programs that featured himself and other acoustic guitarists with varying styles. The first years were challenging, but interest in and the popularity of IGN has been “steadfastly growing,” said Gore. “[We’re] keeping our audiences and venues,” adding, “Most dates on the tour are sold out, or mostly so.”
Noted guitarists like Windham Hill’s Alex De Grasse have participated in IGN tours, but Gore has also focused on finding upcoming and lesser-known but highly regarded artists from throughout the world to showcase their talent.
“We’re actually working with the most
respected players in their subgenres,” he said. While musicians have participated in more than one IGN, Gore pointed out that “There are always new people on every tour.”
Indeed, three of the four musicians this year are new: classical guitarist Alexandra Whittingham from Great Britain; guitar virtuoso and singer Niwel Tsumbu from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and guitarist and storyteller Sönke Meinen from Germany.
A notable exception is the fourth artist, tour leader Lulo Reinhardt, also from Germany. This is his eighth North American IGN — always as leader — and he has also led about 10 of the European counterpart Nacht der Gitarren (Night of the Guitars) tours in the fall. Gore said that when Reinhardt did his first IGN, in 2010, that he “really got it and changed the way IGN operated.”
He is a member of the renowned Reinhardt musical family — his great uncle was Django Reinhardt — who are of Sinti origins.
The Sinti are part of the Roma (pejoratively, “Gypsy”) tradition, who originated in India and have lived in Germany for hundreds of years. Roma peoples were among those severely persecuted during the Holocaust. Reinhardt told The Sun that his father, then a child, “survived five concentration camps,” the last being Auschwitz, where, “The Russians opened the gates just before he was to be shot.”
That legacy has informed and shaped Reinhardt’s life. Throughout his career, his music has been dominated by the Sinti musical
traditions of Django and the rest of the family, popularly known as “Latin swing.” He played in bands with his uncles and father for years before forming his own group in 2002.
Reinhardt seeks to give “Sinti and Roma influence and exposure to a wider audience,” with his performances under the label “freedom and peace.” He continued, “I always have a Gypsy flag onstage,” intending to promote “positive provocation.”
Gore stepped back from performing on IGN several years ago. However, he still curates and oversees each tour except booking, which is handled by a talent agency. This year, being the 25th anniversary, he admitted that the agency “pulled out all the stops,” scheduling 42 performances between Jan. 18 and March 23, ranging from Alaska to Massachusetts.
Most of the time, the artists drive themselves from venue to venue. Reinhardt shared that the pace can be “challenging,” where you start to feel “half human, half robot.” However,
Gore pointed to IGN’s “overall team spirit,” adding, “Everybody helps each other out.”
Asked how long he would like to continue IGN, Gore responded that he is “hoping to be doing it for 40 years,” noting the “huge backlog of performers” he would like to get on the tour.
The tour is relatively new to Aspen. Gore said, “I have always had reverence for the Wheeler and wanted to get IGN in there,” adding, “It’s a place the IGN should be going.”
For more information on IGN, visit www.internationalguitarnight.com
IN A NUTSHELL
What: International Guitar Night
Where: The Wheeler Opera House
When: March 7 at 7:30pm
Tickets: www.wheeleroperahouse.com
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MYLO says hello! This 7-year-old girl has a super cute meow and a sensitive sweet heart to match. Eager to chill in a calm, quiet home, Mylo would love to relax and watch birds from your window all day!
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The 2025 International Guitar Night artists (left to right) Lulo Reinhardt, Sönke Meinen, Alexandra Whittingham and Niwel Tsumbu when the tour was in Alaska in January. Photo by Ammon Swenson, Alaska Public Media
Tamara de Lempicka: Diamond bracelets and resilience
MYKI JONES
Arts Correspondent
The late art deco icon Tamara de Lempicka’s life has long been shrouded in mystery. When describing her — a Polish, Jewish, bisexual, self-made and sought-after painter — one of her quotes comes to mind: “I live on the fringe of society, and rules of normal society have no currency for those who live on the fringe.”
Recent recognitions of her works, including a traveling exhibition (which will be hosted at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from March 9 through May 26), have reintroduced her creative genius and reached the American zeitgeist. Additionally, a documentary about her life, “The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival,” has been making its rounds in the film festival circuit since its premiere at the 2024 Mill Valley Film Festival.
Julie Rubio, who also serves as the president of Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area, directed, produced and wrote the film. For many years, she worked closely with Lempicka’s family to illuminate the artist’s story, who, in the face of the Third Reich, lost everything and rebuilt herself multiple times.
“What was surprising to me was the depth of her strategic thinking,” Rubio told The Sopris Sun. “She wasn’t just creating her art, she was creating a brand and a legacy at a time when women were often overlooked, especially in the arts.”
Marisa de Lempicka, the artist’s great-granddaughter, said that the film strives to reach the core of who her great-grandmother was — who she called “Cherie.”
“She painted until the day she died. Her most famous paintings were from the ‘20s and ‘30s, but she did paint until the end,” Marisa shared. “One day she told me, ‘Marisa, when we had to flee from St. Petersburg, we had to leave everything and start all over in Paris. So I decided I was going to become the most sought after portrait painter in Paris and eventually the world.’”
Marisa said her Cherie shared with her that after selling a painting she would buy herself a diamond bracelet — many
of which she was adorned with, from wrist to elbow, as she spoke with her great-granddaughter. She didn’t don her bracelets simply as a fashion statement, but as insurance in case she ever had to flee and leave everything behind again.
Actress Barbra Streisand provided Rubio’s team with high-resolution images of her collection of Tamara’s work. Anjelica Huston, who portrayed Tamara in the off-broadway production of John Krizanc’s “Tamara,” lent her voice as the film’s narrator.
The idea for the documentary came over 20 years ago, after Rubio debuted a short film about famous impressionist painters and was invited to The Weinstein Gallery in San Francisco, where Lempicka’s family would be.
“Once I met her family, they instantly started telling me stories,” Rubio recalled. “I set out on a journey. With their approval, I started writing this narrative and began to dive deep into her and her work. I was gathering insight from what the history said and information the family was giving me — which they were finding in their garages. I started to realize this was an important story.”
The film will be on the big screen of the Aspen Film Isis Theatre on March 4 as a result of a collaboration between the Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Film and Marisa.
“The film has been selling out everywhere it goes and I am hoping that the theater is going to be full,” stated Marisa.
Rubio said her film serves messages which hold relevance to the lived experiences of marginalized people — namely women, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s a roadmap to surviving horrific things that happen to all of us, and how to make it through, how to thrive and to enjoy life and find the beauty in your pain,” she stated. “When you watch it you realize history is repeating itself again in so many ways and that we need to get to a place where we stop trying to just tolerate one another, but to accept and love each other as a society. I think that’s important.”
For more information on the film. visit www.tamaradoc.com/home
GET GUSSIED UP !
March 7 th | 5-9pm
Chacos Park | 4th Street Plaza
Food Trucks | Community Glam Cam KDNK DJ's spinning live
The Launchpad
Sewing The Seeds of Fashion Activism with MtnBio, a community conversation & creative project
Cosmic Compost by Rachel Z. Becker and Where the Wild Things Live by Kirstie Steiner
On Main Street
Pre-fashion show festivities and after parties at local Main Street businesses for all!
full details at carbondalearts.com
*Main Street will be closed to thru traffic from 5 to 9pm between 3rd Street & Weant Blvd.
Photo courtesy of Heather Sharf
IN A NUTSHELL:
What: Tamara de Lempicka film
Where: AF Isis Theatre
When: March 4 at 5pm
Tickets: www.aspenartmuseum.org
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Julie Rubio holds a collection of books about artist Tamara de Lempicka, the subject of her new documentary.
Trustees go forward with Complete Streets policy and new software
RALEIGH BURLEIGH
Sopris Sun Editor
Tuesday’s regular meeting, Feb. 25, was relatively short with only two action items and no public comments. All trustees were present. A Carbondale Police Department ceremony honoring the promotion of Paul Lazo to patrol sergeant was postponed due to illness.
The consent agenda consisted of a special event permit for the Carbondale Arts Fashion Show, March 6-8; a special event permit for Crystal River Ballet’s Ballet Ball at the Third Street Center on March 21; accounts payable and meeting minutes for a Feb. 18 work session. Trustee Colin Laird requested a clarifying adjustment to the minutes.
Before getting into action items, trustees and the town manager gave updates. Ross Kribbs mentioned that the Ruedi Water and Power Authority will be convening a summit
for constituencies on May 15, discussing (among other things) invasive species like the quagga and zebra mussels as well as the golden mussel, a larger species now spreading in California waters. Kribbs said the Tree Board looked at the planting plan for the new pool and has concerns about the effort it will take to maintain. He also said the Tree Board expressed grievances about not being consulted after a Siberian elm was accidentally removed by the contractor at the corner of Main and 7th Street.
Laird fought back tears expressing condolences for everyone impacted by the death of Mark Johnson, a 66-year-old Glenwood Springs resident who died tragically in a car accident on Feb. 15. “He brought a lot of joy to many people through his music and impacted thousands of students through his teaching and mentorship and he’s going to be deeply missed.”
Erica Sparhawk said she attended the most recent Parks and Recreation Commission meeting which included a review of the Integrated Weed Management Plan and “big changes” that will come before the trustees later in March. Jess Robison attended the Carbondale Chamber meeting and announced a website update will be launched in March.
Christina Montemayor toured the state capitol with the Colorado Municipal League.
Mayor Ben Bohmfalk said the search process for a new town manager is underway beginning with reviewing request for proposals responses from four hiring firms. For her update, Town Manager Lauren Gister said there will be an update on the new pool at the first meeting of each month beginning in March.
OpenGov
The first of the two action items involved a presentation
by OpenGov, “an end-to-end, cloud-based platform designed specifically for local government operations,” explained the memo. Greg Hansen, Carbondale’s new finance director, advocated for the upgrade in light of a new state law requiring budget documents to be ADA compliant. Plus, he experienced inefficiencies with the Town’s historic reliance on spreadsheets and PDFs to draft its budgets.
After researching solutions for several months and getting quotes, Hansen identified OpenGov as the best option with a unified suite for budgeting and planning, permitting and licensing and tax and revenue. The cost to implement OpenGov is around $147,300 in 2025 including a $94,000 one-time setup fee, then $66,244 in 2026 — a difference of some $27,410 compared with current software the Town uses, GovOS and MuniRevs. According to the memo, “the Town can utilize vacancy savings for multiple unfilled positions in 2025” to fund the one-time setup cost.
Mayor Bohmfalk noted this is a significant cost outside the normal budget cycle, but also the former finance director was pushing for an upgrade. Gister
mentioned that the Town is obligated to honor software for short-term rentals licensing (until the end of this year) and building and planning permits (for “a few more years”). It will take up to six months to migrate to the new platform, which would put Carbondale on track to utilize the new software for the next budget cycle.
With unanimous approval, the contract will be further negotiated and signed by the town manager. The software would make Town documents available in 130 languages with integrated data pulling from the Town’s financial system for up-to-date numbers. Permit and license applications would include real-time updates.
Complete Streets
Next, trustees reviewed a resolution brought forth by the Bike Pedestrian and Trails Commission (BPTC) approving the creation of a Complete Streets policy “for all transportation and land-use planning based on Complete Streets principles.” Complete Streets is a nationally-recognized philosophy championed by Smart Growth America that prioritizes safety and accessibility for all
continued on page 19
Town adopts new hazard and emergency plans
WILL BUZZERD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
This week, Basalt Town Council convened to approve new hazard mitigation and emergency operations plans local to Pitkin and Eagle Counties. In addition, council reviewed a request by Colorado Mountain College (CMC) to purchase nine deed-restricted units at Basalt Center Circle to be built at the site of the now-demolished Clark’s Market.
Emergency plans
The Town of Basalt has adopted three new disaster plans: the Eagle County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP), the Eagle County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and the Pitkin County EOP. HMP’s identify natural hazards local to a community and develop mitigation strategies. Every five years, these documents are required to be updated and approved by the State of Colorado and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
While HMP’s are preventative, EOP’s instead are designed to address disasters while they are happening. EOP’s outline training and exercises as well as pre-plan allocation of personnel and resources during emergency situations.
The HMP and two EOPs before Council had already been approved by their respective county commissioner boards, the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA. In accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, all municipalities must adopt these plans to remain eligible for pre- and post-disaster grant funding.
Although not included in the ordinance, the Town of Basalt currently utilizes the Pitkin County HMP, which will be updated in 2028 and set for approval in 2029.
Police Chief Greg Knott and Municipal Attorney Harper Powell participated in the drafting process for these plans, which were developed as a collaborative effort among all agencies and special districts willing to participate.
Councilor Richard Stevens asked Chief Knott to describe Basalt’s potential evacuation strategies. Knott stated that Basalt’s emergency services currently utilizes the Genasys notification program, which provides real-time updates during disasters and delineates evacuation zones approved by local emergency service agencies.
Both Eagle and Pitkin Counties are now utilizing Genasys for emergency response planning and will be training their first responders on the new system in the coming weeks.
CMC housing
Last year, council approved Ordinance No. 9, which authorized the condominiumization of individual units at Basalt Center Circle, as well as the sale of 17 deed-restricted units to local employers to rent to their employees. Ordinance No. 9 prioritized units to nonprofits and emergency services.
Basalt has already contracted to sell 8 of the 17 units to local employers, including Roaring Fork Conservancy, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and the Town of Basalt. CMC wishes to purchase the nine remaining units for the use of
both its employees and its students working or studying in the Roaring Fork Valley. In addition to this request, CMC has also requested to have the option to resell the units to individual CMC employees before offering the units back up to employers listed in Ordinance No. 9.
The Basalt Affordable Community Housing Commission (BACH) reviewed CMC’s request and is supportive of the purchase of the units. However, BACH was not supportive of CMC’s request to be able to resell its units.
CMC elaborated on its reselling strategy by stating that, should an employee
ROARING FORK SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT
Budget and strategic plan updates, recognition of Black History Month
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
A notable section of the month’s first Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) board of education meeting on Feb. 12 was Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole’s report. Her presentation focused on the district budget, with analysis of internal factors, external challenges, the revised current-year budget and the draft budget for the next school year.
Internal identified factors leading to last autumn’s budget shortfall included delayed and sporadic financial reconciliations, inadequate training for budget managers across the district and a rushed approval process that overlooked numerous recurring expenditures. To address these issues, the district has established new contract execution processes and is working to hire a budget analyst, add training and new calendar practices for the finance team and provide accountability team training for staff across the district over the next three years. Identified external challenges discussed were declining enrollment, rising costs of healthcare and concerns about complexity and accessibility of state and federal-level education funding. The district is budgeting conservatively and closely watching enrollment projections. On healthcare, board members are working with district staff, insurance providers and regional partners to identify best-fit options. The processes for addressing funding concerns overlap with the solutions in progress for the internal factors.
Dr. Cole was happy to announce that for the 2024/25
school year, no staffing cuts were needed and the district was able to avoid use of its “rainy day” reserves in the short-notice revisions. For the 2025/26 school year, RFSD’s priorities are maintaining salary schedules, providing cost-of-living increases to employees and maintaining school-specific budgets and resource use to protect academic quality.
During the public comment period, the board heard a parent query plans for protecting LGBTQ+ students in the district and a regional advocacy group director asked for language adjustments in a guidance policy for disciplining students with disabilities.
Near the end of the meeting, the board introduced a resolution formally recognizing and honoring February as Black and African American History Month.
Feb. 20 meeting
Dr. Cole’s superintendent report focused on strategic plan updates, with color-coded rankings of district status on plan subpoints. The deans of district schools evaluated the district as “on track” with the plan’s top priority, Students First, in both student leadership and school social culture. For the second priority, Rigorous Instruction for All, the district chief academic officer evaluated schools to be mostly “on track,” with a note that one point focused on expanding lesson design centered on emerging bilingual students is in development.
The third priority, Operational Excellence, has room for improvement. District administrative officers evaluated just one subpoint of this strategic priority as “on
purchase a unit, CMC would provide the down payment and maintain the deed-restricted status. Should that employee leave CMC, they would have 24 months to vacate the unit, after which equity would cease and CMC would transition the unit either to a new CMC employee or to another local employer.
Council agreed that with additional refinement and more explicit language in the request, this would become a positive collaborative effort between the Basalt and CMC. Council unanimously approved a second reading and public hearing for CMC’s request on March 11.
track,” with the rest postponed. However, priorities four and five, Student-centered Partnerships and Thriving Team, were both evaluated to be “on track.”
District leadership is working on communication materials like posters for schools, targeted communication for Spanish-speaking members of the district and a bilingual online data dashboard for parents and community members to peruse and understand the strategic plan. The paper materials are ready for distribution and the data dashboard is live. Dr. Cole then presented the results of the Winter Panorama Student Survey. The survey evaluated student sentiment from grades three to 12. For more details, slides are available via the RFSD meetings page. Additionally, Dr. Cole announced that an initiative to develop a ten-year housing plan for district staff is underway.
During the public comment period, two district employees provided feedback. A teacher noted surprise and unhappiness that bereavement leave is not separate from paid time off and sick leave, which she noted was a policy change she had not been aware of. Another employee expressed frustration about the negotiation process between the district and the Roaring Fork Community Education Association.
At the end of the meeting, the board heard a resolution supporting the application for a grant from the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District and the completion of a school-based health center at Roaring Fork High School.
The next RFSD board meeting is scheduled for March 12 in the Colorado Room at the Carbondale District Office at 6:15pm. These meetings are typically every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The board uploads agendas before each meeting, and the meetings can also be viewed via livestream.
The Town of Basalt has approved three new county-wide hazard and emergency plans to keep the community prepared in the event of a disaster. Photo courtesy of Eagle County
Between belonging and affiliation
DANIEL TORRES Sol del Valle
“The discovery of ourselves manifests as knowing ourselves to be alone; between the world and us, an intangible, transparent wall opens: that of our consciousness.”
- Octavio Paz
During one of my visits to the Carbondale Public Library I happened to find a book that caught my attention, due to its provocative title: “Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino’” written by the Guatemalan-American sociologist and journalist Héctor Tobar. Those skilled in writing say that short titles are preferable, but provocative ones are memorable, and Tobar’s work falls into this category.
Immediately after borrowing the book, I began to flip through it. Each page was more revealing, full of personal experiences from the author — of his parents as undocumented migrants who settled in Los Angeles, fleeing a bloody war — and stories of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, language, physical appearance, economic status and much more.
Today, being discriminatory is, to say the least, an act of total ignorance. From the perspective of biology and anthropology, all human beings belong to the Homo species. Within this genus, we can speak of approximately eight species, including Homo sapiens — modern humans, all of us, from the inhabitants of the most remote islands of Asia to the tip of Patagonia to the rural United States. We are all human beings.
The physical differences between us, such as skin color, eye color, hair and height, due to adaptations to a variety of climates and food conditions, are a result of our survival as a species and our vast cultural, linguistic wealth and more.
Insisting upon these clarifications, however, is justified by the resurgence of what Julio Ortega called “defensive neurosis,” fueled by the discourse widely spread by the executive power in the
United States and the apparent victory of the far-right in parts of Europe and the Middle East. This neurosis brings with it “stereotypes, hatred and violence,” and as Ortega adds, “The paranoia of racism is a disease of the national body,” a regrettable mindset of modern human beings.
Among the many reflections that Tobar discusses in his book, I will elaborate a little more on two that seemed revealing and of great importance for the political context at all levels.
First, the mutual need of the immigrant and the American for the advancement and sustainability of the country’s wealth, where the contagious perfectionism of American culture and the permissiveness of banking and trade laws help immigrants navigate through the turbulent waters of the world’s largest economy.
At the same time, the contradictory immigration laws put millions of people against the wall, who live their day-today lives immersed in this dichotomy; almost like a social antinomy, where leaving the system means either returning to their country or living in constant paranoia.
Examples of this contradiction are Florida laws SB-2C and SB-4C, which have been signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. SB-4C establishes an automatic death penalty for any undocumented individual found guilty of capital crimes, such as murder or armed kidnapping.
SB-2C establishes greater collaboration between state law enforcement and Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, creating a new state-level crime for any individual who enters or is living in Florida without documentation. In addition, state benefits for migrants will be eliminated in almost all social areas, from the judicial to the educational, and students at public universities will lose access to tuition reductions starting in July 2025.
Another absurd example is a bill proposed in Mississippi, which seeks to enable bounty hunters to track down undocumented individuals for a reward of $1,000 in state funds.
Both examples of the U.S. politicized legislative system pave the way for increased social polarization, not only from the American towards the immigrant, but vice versa. This could risk falling into “cultural autism” or, even worse, “regional endogamy.” What is the purpose of this rejection? Why is the persecution and hunting of human beings still a subject of discussion in a place that calls itself the most advanced country?
The interconnections, diffusions and necessary coexistence which the American and Latino share across the country can create an impressive cultural blend. At the macro level, this can be reflected in language, religious beliefs, festivals and more. At the micro level, we see alliances and associations between the American and the Latino — from the immigrant child interacting with the children of Americans to the owner of a construction company hiring Latinos for being “hard
workers,” or the one who entrusts the management of a property to their Latino worker because “he does everything” and “is honest.” These interconnections and diffusions are discussed by Octavio Paz in his work “The Labyrinth of Solitude,” specifically regarding the figure of the Pachuco. “He has lost — the Pachuco — his place of belonging, but he builds his space of affiliation,” he wrote. This loss of belonging is negative for the Mexican writer, and this affiliation of American culture with Mexican traits is rejected by Paz. However, and contrary to him, I believe that this affiliation is necessarily essential and results in the cultural richness mentioned earlier.
That Mexican-American urban tribe marked the beginning of a cultural transformation that has influenced and given rise to some of the most relevant urban tribes, such as the cholo or the chicano. This influence can be
Leonardo Occhipinti’s
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
Dream Well: Crystal threat
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
Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she will analyze someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting: www.dreamhealings.com
Dream
I had a crazy dream that this girl I didn’t know flashed a crystal bracelet in front of my face and showed me that she absorbed something from me into the crystals. It was a threat. She kept the bracelet just in case I ever did anything wrong. She could use my energy stored in the bracelet to do something bad to me. I felt scared and like there was no way to make things right with her, which is what I’m good at with people if there’s conflict between us.
Interpretation
This dream is like a pendulum swing, gathering worry on the ends that fuels the movements back and forth. This dream is about your power being taken away by worry itself. The crystal isn’t the weapon but instead the threat of the crystal is the weapon. In this way, the crystal has no actual power until given power by you. When the crystal does become powerful is when it’s used as a syphon of your energy — not at the beginning
of the dream, as it first seemed, but at the end after the anxiety of the dream fed it. This becomes real upon waking by bringing the anxiety, or worry of that dream, into waking life.
The character of the girl in your dream could be anyone, and may even be someone whom you care for. Take a moment to think about who in your life right now you feel like you are giving energy to just by worrying about your relationship with them. However, the dream is not focused on the girl or character she is representing, but the crystal and the worry this holds over you. This is important to distinguish because it changes the message that your subconscious is trying to relay. This is indicated when we see that the girl does not actually harm you. So, the message your subconscious is giving you here is that you do not need to worry. Worry itself is the true problem here. If you drop the worry, drop the anxiety, the power in the crystal will be useless. This is the idea your
subconscious is offering with the gift of this dream.
Even our uncomfortable dreams are gifts because they are opportunities to release something that we are holding onto, that our body and subconscious deem unnecessary. We dream of these things when we are not taking the steps to let go or move on in waking life. Our subconscious then steps in by giving us the signs, symbols and metaphors to implant into our minds in hopes we will take that first needed step towards healing.
To honor your dream and open the gift, if you will, try for a moment to imagine dropping all your worries and anxieties. Would life still go on? What would change? What would stay the same? Notice if there is any resistance. Become aware of where in your body this is coming from. Breathe into that space. Ask, why are you here? Thank this energy for what it has shown you and tell it it is no longer needed.
Imagine releasing this unneeded energy out of your
body as you physically tap that space. Feel your body decompress as it leaves you. Allow all that is leaving you to dissipate, like steam dissipates into the air with its particles, becoming smaller and smaller until they cease to exist altogether. Repeat words of release and empowerment.
Keep doing this all over your body where anything feels stored that doesn’t need to be there. Remembering as you do this, that everything answers to your command. Remember, you choose what energy you want to keep and what energies you want to let go of.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome
LARRY DAY Sopris Sun Correspondent
For February, Black History Month, Sopris Sun illustrator Larry Day highlights an influential African American each week, accompanied by an illustration. This is the final installment of the 2025 series.
One of the essential priorities for a children’s picture book is it’s got to be something that a child would love over and over and etch itself into that curious and open mind.
My guess is that’s at the top of the list for picture book makers Lesa Cline-Ransome, poet and author, and her husband, James Ransome, illustrator. Their books take subjects often more known to adults, thus enlightening children. Stories such as that of African American Negro League pitcher Satchel Paige, the first African American to pitch in a World Series; or about America’s great musician Louis Armstrong in “Just a Lucky So and So: The Story of Louis Armstrong”; or “Overground Railroad” where a young girl journeys by train from cotton fields to New York’s Penn Station wherein Lesa and James weave story and art with the writings of Frederick Douglass. Their inspiring story of Harriet Tubman, “Before She Was Harriet,” won a Coretta Scott King Honor.
Lesa’s recent work, “One Big Open Sky,” received a 2025 Newberry Honor. Other awards included an American Library Association Notable Book award for “Satchel Paige” and the 2025 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award for “They Call Me Teach: Lessons in Freedom.”
Lesa received a New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Legacy recognition for her impact in children’s literature. She is also a MacDowell Fellow and has received numerous honors and awards including an NAACP award and Kirkus, New York Public Library and School Library Journal Best Book awards.
James, an illustrator of over 50 books, is also an award magnet. The Children’s Book Council named James as one of 75 authors and illustrators everyone should know. Among many, he’s received an International Board on Books for Young People accolade, the NAACP Image Award for Illustration and a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year recognition.
“It’s better to read in the library. Sitting at my favorite table by the window reading and listening to the sound of other folks turning pages makes me feel like I’m in a house full of company I don’t have to talk to.”
-Lesa Cline-Ransome
was the U.S. Navy doing in Brazil when the war was in Europe and Asia? Food grown in South America was shipped out of Santos, Brazil, the continent’s largest Atlantic port, to our troops in Europe. Our troops were fighting the Nazis. German submarines were sinking the American supply ships. How did the submarines know what ships carried food for American troops? Naval Intelligence discovered a radio operator was in the bell tower of a Catholic church that was on the street parallelling the oceanfront, and from there received a clear view of every ship leaving port as well as radio signals about which ships carried food for our troops. Our Navy stopped that and saved
My father became a lawyer after the war and also a Carbondale Judge. He taught
How can Vice President Vance criticize Europe for banning pro-Nazi hate speech? How can an American Vice
President lend his official support, on behalf of all of us, to the far-right German AfD (Alternative for Germany) party (members of which have been accused of being neo-Nazi sympathisers)?
How can Trump send Musk to Europe to represent the U.S. and have this “representative” do a video conference with the AfD?
After World War II, many of the young men who fought with the 10th Mountain Division to liberate Italy from Mussolini’s Italian Fascism came to our valley to live along with Jewish refugees and members of the French Resistance who risked their lives skiing over Europe’s mountains to deliver information to the Allies. They developed the ski industry here. These people liberated Europe from Nazi hatred and oppression.
Read what the American Bar Association said about Trump’s actions and their illegality at www.tinyurl.com/LawyersTrump
Illene Pevec Carbondale
The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, no smearing, 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.
LIBRARY
from page 4
person for that,” he said at the meeting. “She is a current library board member. I felt that it would be important to have some consistency on the board and have that depth of her being there.”
Durrance cannot explain why Jankovsky made his choices but she feels strongly that if the BOCC is trying to stack the library board with politically conservative members, the library and the community are in trouble. “That is not the mission of a public library,” she said.
She now focuses her efforts on educating the Garfield County public and researching national conservative groups and agendas such as Project Blitz and Project 2025 and their influences on
kind of discount percentage they might receive and the supplementary tax credits.”
Champoux-Pellegrin emphasized that while aging owners are strongly encouraged to reach out, this scholarship is for all business owners because it is never too early to have a plan in place.
“We want everyone to know about this option so that when the time is good for them they know who to reach out to and what it is going to look like,” she elaborated. “We all benefit from the hard work of farmers,
SOL DEL VALLE
from page 16
seen today in the “oversized” aesthetic, an inseparable characteristic of the Pachuco that has made its way to international fashion runways in places like New York or Paris — in part, thanks to designer Willy Chavarria, son of a Mexican and Irish parent.
This influence is not limited to fashion but has also passed through the music industry, where danzónes and Mexican regional music have collaborated
libraries and legislation.
“When I talk to people about what’s going on, they’ve heard about the book banning but they don’t realize that there is a lot of underground operation pushing this effort,” she said. “I was a career librarian for over 30 years and I feel a responsibility to our community to find out how this is coming to be and help people understand why it is so important.”
The Garfield County Commissioners conduct candidate interviews for the Glenwood Springs seat on the Garfield County Library Board of Trustees Thursday, Feb. 27, at 9am at the county administration building, 108 8th Street in Glenwood.
grocery store clerks, auto body technicians, baristas and everyone who contributes to the comfort of our daily life. I think they deserve to build wealth and comfort, too, and that’s what we’re working toward.”
Visit www.rmeoc.org/funding/funding-for-rural-businesses to learn more about Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center and the technical assistance scholarship. Ready to begin? Call 303-351-2003 for your free consultation.
extensively with seemingly different genres like hip-hop or pop. A clear example of this is rapper Kendrick Lamar’s collaboration with mariachi singer Deyra Barrera on three songs from his latest album, a timely and circumstantial example since he performed as the halftime-show artist at the Super Bowl. These mutual exchanges have led to the blending of cultures and values, of belonging and affiliation, in a country marked by massive migration since its founding.
Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle supporters filled the Thompson Barn on Feb. 20 for a “Sweet 16” birthday celebration and wine-tasting fundraiser! Downtown Liquors on Main Street hooked us up with some excellent vendors providing delicious samples of a wide variety of wines while El Dorado supplied the “bug juice” mocktails. Small bites were provided by Plosky’s, Himalayan Cuisine, La Raza, Honey Butter, Peppino’s, Itzy Bitz Catering and the City Market Bakery, while Garcia’s topped it all off with two tres
leches cakes. A big thanks to all who attended and contributed to our auction, as well as Ken Pletcher and Rob Dasaro for serenading us with classic tunes. Last, but certainly not least, our board of directors deserves a round of applause for throwing yet another great party!
Photos by Klaus Kocher
CARBONDALE REPORT
from page 14
road users, as well as sustainability and livability.
Carbondale’s Comprehensive Plan and recently adopted Mobility & Access Plan both declare the intention for adopting a Complete Streets policy. However, “I was a little surprised this was at a resolution stage,” stated Gister. “It feels a little premature.” She suggested instead adopting a “fully-baked” resolution once a plan has been drafted.
Nonetheless, the Board of Trustees agreed with the language and intention behind the resolution, approving it unanimously with support from BPTC and Age-Friendly Carbondale. The one exception was removing binding language from the bottom of the document. The policy will be crafted with input from staff, boards and commissions and the public to return with another resolution. There is no deadline.
