Gaining ‘Perspectives’
Carbondale Clay Center highlights works by local high school students
LGUS RICHARDSON Youth Correspondent
Last Friday, March 14, Carbondale Clay Center hosted the opening reception for a small exhibition called “Perspectives,” highlighting teen artists from Carbondale and Basalt. While including work from many students, the show heavily featured four artists, with two of them answering questions on their pieces at the event. Candace Samora, a Roaring Fork High School senior, shared some of her creative process with The Sopris Sun. She made two items featured in the show: “The Queen and The Crown,” a massive ceramic bust that she has been working on for the past eight months, and “Hovenweep,” a set of bookends she completed last year meant to symbolize the pain of the Navajo people.
Candace is an accomplished potter with five years of clay-throwing experience, but has a history in 2D art before that. “Before I was in a pottery class, I fumbled around and messed with pottery, but I wasn’t planning on making anything specific or important. But after getting an amazing pottery teacher,” Candace said, motioning towards Kim Carpenter, her instructor, standing right beside her, “I grew creatively, but also as a person.”
This show was put on by Matthew Eames, operations manager at the Carbondale Clay Center. Eames has been visiting the pottery classes at both Roaring Fork and Basalt High School to meet the budding artists and give helpful critiques on their work. As stated on their official website, his and the Clay Center’s stated goal for this show is for the students to “exhibit in a professional setting and to learn from local, working artists.”
This show will have a second artist reception on First Friday, April 4, and “Perspectives” will remain on display through April 12. The same students will return for the second reception, with the same art on display, but with two different students in the Q&A spotlight.
more information, visit www.carbondaleclay.org/gallery
Photos by Gus Richardson
Candace Samora stands beside her two pieces.
Matthew Eames listens intently as Candace Samora speaks about her work.
Basalt High School students peruse the show.
A pair of ceramic wings created by a student in the show.
Sleepless in Carbondale
My friend Lee died suddenly six days ago of a condition she didn’t know she had. I haven’t slept well since, and I’m surprised to be so affected by it.
I should probably be calling Lee an acquaintance rather than a friend. I’d only known her a few years and we never had the opportunity to spend much time together. But it would have been almost impossible to be Lee’s acquaintance. Her heart and her mouth were too big for that. Once you met Lee, she was your instant and lasting friend if she liked you. If not, you and she parted ways. But acquaintance? Unlikely! Why am I surprised to be awake, and writing at 4am for the sixth consecutive night?
OPINION
Lee’s funeral was like her life, overflowing with people. Six heartfelt, often funny eulogies helped me reflect on some of the deaths and funerals I’ve known during my 84 years. May I say “funerals?” “Celebration of life” seems to be the currently preferred term but there are differences. The dearly departed are usually present at their funeral but generally incinerated before we “celebrate.” I like having the body there, and if I loved the honoree, I don’t feel like celebrating. I prefer funerals. A memorial service a year later is nice too, but I still don’t feel celebratory. I was 15 at my first funeral and believe me, it was no celebration. My 85-year-old maternal grandmother died of a stroke on my 15th birthday. She had lived with us all of my life and had been failing for a few months. My mother and I took her for what turned out to be her last walk before I left for school that morning. She was so loved that it was the only time I saw my father cry. Her death was painless, inevitable and timely, but my mother and her sister Margaret wailed hysterically for weeks, trying to transform this sad but ordinary event into a tragedy.
The next funeral I remember was for my friend and mentor, Ken. He was a tenured young professor who could easily have coasted through life before losing his proverbial battle with cancer, but he never stopped working his ass off to make a better world. Like Lee’s funeral, Ken’s was standing room only. Unlike Lee’s, it was lavish in ways that only Roman Catholics can pull off. Then came my father’s funeral and my father-in-law’s. My mother became a recluse, so her funeral had few attendees. The weirdest funeral was my mother-in-law’s because she died during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I attended via Zoom.
MATURE CONTENT
By Ron Kokish
Grandma’s eulogy was delivered by the house rabbi at the Riverside Funeral Home, a man who had never seen her while she lived. It being my first funeral, I took everything at face value. After a few years of thinking it over, I decided that Grandma’s funeral was managed badly. People who knew and loved her should have stood up to say nice things about her. I should have stood up to say nice things about her.
Seven years later, I was back at Riverside for Aunt Margaret’s funeral. This time, I relieved the house rabbi and delivered the eulogy Margaret deserved. It was easy because Margaret had also lived with us for years at a time, was always good to me, and I loved her.
LETTERS
Methane gas ban
You’ll notice I use the term “methane gas” rather than the more familiar “natural gas.” That’s because “natural gas” is a misnomer. Out of its natural state, in the ground, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and anything but natural. It doesn’t belong on the surface.
I went to the March 11 Carbondale Board of Trustees meeting on building codes under the impression the Town was going to initiate a limited methane gas ban on new construction. Apparently, I misunderstood or read from the wrong document. There will be no gas ban in Carbondale until at least 2030.
Crested Butte became the first municipality in Colorado to enact a methane gas ban on new construction in 2022. Louisville, which experienced one of the tragic consequences of climate change with the Marshall Fire in 2021, followed suit later that year and its mayor, Ashley Stolzmann, lamented they weren’t the first. Denver has plans to go all electric in new residences and Boulder has a methane gas ban in its building codes.
The honor of being the first city in the nation to institute a methane gas ban goes to Berkeley, California in 2019. Yes, a restaurant trade group halted that ban with a lawsuit in 2024, but if we’re going to do anything about climate remediation,
Until recently, most of the deaths, funerals and celebrations of life starred members of older generations. But at 84, I’m the older generation. Lee was nine years my junior. My oldest, dearest friend, John, whose mother was my mother’s friend since their grade school years in Vienna, died of a sudden heart attack last September, nine months after Alan, my second oldest, equally dear friend. Alan wasn’t as lucky as John or my grandmother. It took him 20 years to die of Parkinson’s.
Cousin Eric died two years ago but we’d lost touch. I found out about it online, the day before Lee’s death. My cousin Caroline’s husband is dying of Alzheimer’s. Caroline told me about his diagnosis at her brother’s funeral a few years ago. His Alzheimer’s is taking its time, which seems harder for Caroline than for him. Larry’s wife died last summer, and Marty’s the winter before that. Marilyn, my wife’s grade school friend, died somewhere along the way. Sister-in-law Julie made it through a recent bout of pneumonia, a narrow and temporary escape. Aunt Trudi, the last of the older generation, died a few months ago. And let’s not forget Kristi, who chose Medical Aid in Dying and left us a film about it. (www.tinyurl.com/KriNi20)
The reason my mother gave for her late-in-life reclusiveness was that whenever she went out, she’d meet acquaintances who invariably said, “Did you hear who died?” This upset her so much that she stopped going out. I understand. It’s dizzying, feeling trapped in “Musical Chairs of Death.” I’m not exactly enjoying it, but it is strangely interesting. I’m not avoiding it and neither did Lee. I miss you Lee, and I’m grateful for this added perspective. I think I’ll sleep better tomorrow night.
Mature Content is a monthly feature from Age-Friendly Carbondale.
we’re going to need to stand up to lawsuits.
New York State became the first state to ban methane gas hookups in 2023 and California will ban the sale of methane gas furnaces by 2030. Carbondale prides itself as being a leader in the efforts to curb climate change. It’s obvious from this record, we’re falling behind.
Methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its greenhouse effect and it acts faster. For those who are only concerned with the here and now and not worried about the viability of the planet you leave your children, you might want to consider reducing methane emissions.
In addition to its negative climate impacts, methane gas is unnecessary. Your house can be heated with heat pumps and there are heat pump water heaters. Induction stoves do a wonderful job and, unlike the old electric coil ranges, heat up and cool down very quickly. Yes, the initial outlay of funds for these units is considerable, but imagine a utility bill with no gas charges.
When discussing a methane gas ban with board members, I get the sense they don’t want to piss off developers during a building boom. CLEER is vigorously doing home energy assessments hoping to get existing buildings to retrofit to all electric. A noble venture, but focusing on new construction is lower hanging fruit.
My friend and mentor Patrick Hunter told me when he proposed some climate solutions to Dan Richardson, the former mayor pointed out he was just one person and if Hunter could show that these were the wishes of a large group of Carbondale citizens, Richardson would consider it.
I’ll keep that in mind. The next time I come before the Board of Trustees with this suggestion, I’ll come armed with a petition signed by Carbondale residents. 350 Roaring Fork will be at Dandelion Day and the Farmer’s Market gathering signatures. I’ll bet we get a lot.
Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale
Competitive swimming in C’dale
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce Team Sopris will be instrumental in organizing and operating a USA Swimming swim team at the new Carbondale pool. As the head swim coach for Team Sopris, I am incredibly excited to bring our team and competitive swimming back to Carbondale. This community has a rich history of fostering talented swimmers, and we are thrilled to reignite that legacy with our program.
At Team Sopris, we provide a supportive and challenging environment for young athletes to develop their swimming
continued on page 18
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The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle invite local mothers who have welcomed a baby into their lives this past year to have a free portrait taken to run in our May 8 edition. Our professional photographer will be setting up on April 12 and May 3 at the Third Street Center and May 4 at the Glenwood Springs Library with appointments from 9am to 1pm. Please email raleigh@soprissun.com or call 970-510-3003 to coordinate. If those dates don’t work, reach out anyway and we’ll see what we can arrange.
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Researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health, the University of Southern California and Boise State University have observed that Colorado children ages 2-9 diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia were significantly more likely to live near natural gas well sites than children without the diagnosis. The study was published on March 17 in an American Association for Cancer Research journal.
Cancer fund
The Quality of Life Cancer Fund has a mission to improve the lives of people living with cancer in the Parachute to Aspen communities with emergency financial assistance to mitigate the financial burden that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis. Grants are administered through the Aspen Community Foundation; learn more at www.qualityoflifecnacerfund.org
Beef Sticks for Backpacks
The Holy Cross Cattlemen’s Association in partnership with the Roaring Fork Valley Coop is again taking donations for Beef Sticks for Backpacks, a nonprofit committed to distributing high-quality beef sticks to kids’ backpack programs throughout the state. Each $5 donation provides 15 beef sticks to underserved children and comes with the chance for the donor to win one of three coolers full of local meat donated by local ranchers! The event ends on April 1 with free samples of pulled pork and beef chili.
Youth In Nature
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers is accepting applications for its 12-month Youth In Nature Program open to 9-12th grade students in the Aspen-Parachute region. Prior outdoor experience is not needed and all participants will receive a $1,500 stipend to participate with a backcountry hut trip in late July and monthly Saturday sessions from September to May. Learn more and apply by April 4 at www.rfov.org/youth-in-nature
WE-cycle
WE-cycle’s midvalley system is back in operation for its 10th consecutive year following record ridership in 2024. This spring, WE-cycle will add its 100th station when the Snowmass Village System expands from two to 11 stations with an additional 80 e-bikes. Sign up for free at www.we-cycle.org
Lift-Up
The Lift-Up Board of Directors has launched a dollar-for-dollar matching campaign through April 18 to address a dramatic surge in demand for food assistance with the goal of raising $127,000. Learn more at www.liftup.org
Hanging Lake
Summer reservations to visit Hanging Lake are now available at www.visitglenwood.com/hanginglake
Nearly 100 people showed up to the layoffs of probationary federal land managers outside the White River National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Glenwood Springs on Thursday, March 13. “We’re talking people that put out campfires, we’re talking people that are in the front of the trails, keeping people safe … we’re talking people who are emptying toilets, picking up trash. So this is really going to affect the lands that people in the Roaring Fork Valley are on all of the time,” said Francis Sanzaro with Wilderness Workshop. “It’s just a matter of where and when.” Some of the protesters used the reverse side of signs from other recent protests. To that point, Susie Garrett of Aspen joked, “We’re going to need a white board.” She added, “I can’t sit and just watch TV and see it all go down silently.” The same day, two rulings out of Maryland and California challenged the layoffs and ordered the reinstatement of thousands of probationary federal employees. The Trump Administration is expected to appeal those decisions and continue with employee reductions. Photo by James Steindler
Suicide prevention training
The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Garfield County and SpeakUp ReachOut are offering a free two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshop will teach participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and how to work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. The workshop takes place April 1-2 from 9am to 5pm at the Glenwood Springs Library with lunch provided. To sign up, visit www.bit.ly/ASISTGWS
New Castle development
The Garfield County Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) voted last week to continue a rezoning hearing for a second time for Nutrient Farms, a 1,026-acre planned unit development south of New Castle, featuring an organic farm, commercial space, residences and recreational activities. Wednesday’s hearing had been continued from Jan. 29 due to the amount of public comment. The crowd in Room 101 at the county administration building in Glenwood Springs last week was once again standing-room only. Out of at least 20 testimonies, none were in favor of the development. The main concern continues to be water rights, water usage and the potential to dry up Canyon Creek. Garfield County planning staff recommended approval of the project in January with 53 conditions. The next P/Z hearing is scheduled for May 28 at 6pm.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Leigh Kauffman (March 20); Judy Bartels, Kerwin Hirro and Miles Phillips (March 21); Tanner Hawkins and Evan Piccolo (March 22); Erin Danneker (March 23); Martin Gerdan and Jammin’ Jim (March 24); Ben Canady and Alta Otto (March 25); Ruby Marker and Brian McIsaac (March 26).
Located on the Crystal River, just outside Carbondale on Hwy 133. Full-time and part-time positions available. Spend the spring and summer outdoors! Send your resume and cover letter to: info@nordicgardens.co Visit us at: nordicgardens.co
CPW pays over $300,000 for two Grand County wolf predation claims
AMY HADDEN MARSH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
“It’s a large claim,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) director Jeff Davis at the CPW Commission meeting earlier this month. He was talking about Grand County rancher Farrell Livestock’s 2024 wolf predation claim, which was originally around $400,000.
(The Sopris Sun is in the process of obtaining a copy of the claim from CPW through the Colorado Open Records Act.)
CPW’s Northwest Regional Manager Travis Black recommended that Farrell be awarded about $287,000. “That claim has various subparts, which our rules allow, for base compensation, for missing animals and decreased production weights and pregnancy rates,” he said. The second part of the claim for $112,000 for missing cattle had not been resolved.
Commission Chair Dallas May then opened the discussion to questions from fellow commissioners, instructing them to focus on the procedure and not on claim details. According to CPW’s attorney, the public was unable to comment. “That’s not something we do,” he said. “The appellate courts of Colorado have said that
public comment on adjudications is inappropriate because it exposes the claimants and the division to potential unfair prejudice that is extraneous to the record.” In other words, the commission’s decision is based only on the claim and related documents. The task at hand was to approve or deny a stipulation of just over $287,000.
“Do I have to go out again!?”
Black stated that the base compensation was for the direct loss of approximately 15 animals. Missing sheep costs came to $3,500. This year, said Black, since wolves were present in the area, the weaning weight per calf dropped by 36.5 pounds. Conception rates were down 2.7%. “We take the market
Concussions Uncovered: All About Brain Health and Recovery
This special session brings together top experts in concussion research and treatment. Dr. Micky Collins, Dr. Anthony Kontos, Dr. Anne Mucha and Ostop from UPMC Sports Medicine will share the latest facts, clear up common myths and explain how concussions can be treated.
When: Thursday, April 10 at 5:30 pm
Where: Hoffman Hotel, Mount Sopris Room, 30 Kodiak Drive, Basalt
Who Should Attend: Anyone who has experienced a concussion or is interested in brain health. Athletes, parents, coaches and the greater community — all are welcome!
FREE to our community, RSVP encouraged. Scan the QR code or visit aspenhospital.org/event/concussions-uncovered
value of a bred cow, subtract the market value of an unbred cow,” he explained, “multiply [the difference in the payment] times the number of unbred cattle.”
The payout, minus transportation costs of bringing the animals to market, came to $90,000.
“As far as pregnancy rates and the loss in weight, I can tell you for
a fact that one event on a ranch affects the entire ranch,” said May. He added that a loss of pasture can cause weight loss. “You don’t have the habitat. You don’t have the landscape,” he said. “It is a net drain on your program if you can’t use your entire ranch.”
CPW has been working with Dr. Frank Garry of Colorado State University and Veronica Yovovich, CSU extension specialist, to form a Livestock Data Working Group to standardize livestock data. Davis told the commission that this would help make future claims more efficient.
The commission approved two wolf depredation claims at the March meeting, including Farrell Livestock Inc for $287,407.63 and Bruchez and Sons LLC, also of Grand County, for $56,008.74. On Feb. 5, CPW received the first wolf predation claim of 2025 for $2,097 from a Jackson County rancher for the death of one cow.
State lawmakers allocated $350,000 for wolf depredation compensation for fiscal year 20242025 and $175,000 for the previous year. The Denver Post reports that the state has paid a total of $348,906 for wolf predation claims since reintroduction began.
Clay Center’s capital campaign expands impact
KATE PHILLIPS Sopris Sun Correspondent
An exhilarating phase is underway for the Carbondale Clay Center (CCC) as the nonprofit recently launched its Shaping the Future Capital Campaign to reimagine access to ceramic arts in the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.
“The feedback has been amazing,” said CCC’s Executive Director Angela Bruno. “Everyone is very supportive and really encouraging. The further along we get, the more optimistic I am that we are going to do this.”
Decades in the making, the legacy project will be a complete revision of CCC’s current facility. Designed by the award-winning CCY Architects, the new 8,000-square-foot facility will triple the size of existing programs to create more opportunities for connection through the ceramic arts.
“This expansion means including the people we have yet to serve,” said Bruno. “We’ve been so overwhelmed that we haven’t been able to accommodate the request for classes. I don’t want to turn anyone away ever.”
Slated to break ground in Spring 2026, the new two-story facility will feature an open layout to enhance outreach programming, functionality and a robust ceramic making process. Key features of the design will include more youth and adult classrooms, three times as many rental studios, five times the number of member rental shelves and a flexible maker space with 24/7 member access. Furthermore, the
new building will increase gathering spaces with a rooftop deck, kiln yard and pocket park while also improving upon CCC’s current ADA accessibility.
“We designed the new CCC to be more than just a workspace for artists,” CCY partner Todd Kennedy said in a recent press release. “It’s a place where the community can gather, learn and connect through the ceramic arts.”
The facility will also expand its gallery, retail and exhibition spaces to highlight local, national and international artists. Since 2000, CCC’s nationally recognized residency program has brought over 48
artists to live in the area; the expansion will foster collaboration between artist-residents while also connecting community members to world class creatives.
“For all our former residents from across the country to see this design and to know what’s happening in Carbondale feels so much bigger than Carbondale,” said Bruno. “Just the scope of what this building will mean for the national ceramic community and Carbondale is really exciting.”
While the notorious green will no longer greet visitors, the site’s storied history will live on in the new design. According to the town’s Historic Preservation Commission
(HPC), the current building is not considered a structure of merit; however, the site is within the town’s Historic Commercial Core district and was once a lumber mill adjacent to the Rio Grande Railroad, said Jared Barnes, the Town of Carbondale’s planning director.
“It was discussed during the [March 6] HPC meeting that some of the design really harkens back to the utilitarian uses that were historically on this site,” said Barnes. “The commercial activity was a little more industrial at that time, so this building fits that historical sentiment.”
Sentimentally, Bruno said the site has a celebrated history. The Clay Center’s founder Diane Kennedy secured ownership and the community has previously rallied to ensure its longevity through fundraising efforts. Bruno added that former CCC board president Will Young is the facility’s project architect and even created renderings for a new building 20 years ago.
“It feels like a full circle moment to have Will be the architect on this project,” said Bruno. “His genuine understanding of the process and how a functional studio should operate is instrumental. This building is definitely a result of this historical connection between the center and the town.” She continued, “CCY has been such an incredible community partner. They’re doing a lot of this work in-kind and spending this amazing and thoughtful time with us. They’re hosting cultivation events for us and we’re just really fortunate to make this connection with them.”
continued
The Carbondale Clay Center is ready to shape its future. The nonprofit recently unveiled its legacy project’s capital campaign. The new facility will focus on connection, functionality, sustainability and expand the Clay Center’s global impact.
Fired Forest Service worker says cuts could impact everything from recreation management
to wildfire response
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Jamie Werner got the call from White River National Forest (WRNF) Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams on Sunday of President’s Day Weekend in February that she was among the recent new Forest Service employees being fired “for performance-based reasons” under the Trump Administration’s federal government downsizing.
It wasn’t a huge surprise.
Of the 15 WRNF workers who got the same call — a directive given to the soon-to-resign Fitzwilliams from newly installed Trump officials in Washington, D.C. — hers was the only desk job.
The rest were “boots on the ground” workers, such as recreation specialists, natural resource managers, biologists and hydrologists who are in the field managing the most-visited national forest in the United States.
“I cannot underscore enough the importance of the boots on the ground people who are out there managing these public lands, day in and day out,” Werner said.
Protesters rallied in front of the WRNF Supervisor’s Office in Glenwood Springs last week making many of the same points.
“These people represent the future of the Forest Service, and regardless of how this shakes out it’s hard for me to imagine a future where there’s the incentive for people to become civil servants,” said Werner, who did not attend the rally.
The Glenwood Springs resident was in her first year with the local Forest Supervisor’s Office, working as a program management specialist coordinating high-priority recreation and infrastructure projects.
Among them were the recently designated Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument and overseeing the Environmental Impact Statement process to develop a recreation management plan at Sweetwater Lake in northeast Garfield County.
Before joining the USFS last year, Werner worked for the nonprofit National Forest Foundation on projects including restoration of the Hanging Lake Recreation Area following the devastating Grizzly Creek Fire in 2020 and subsequent burn scar flooding the following summer.
She was recently awarded the Region 2 Regional Forester’s Award for her work.
While the prospect remains that she could be reinstated as the staffing cuts are further evaluated, Werner has been vocal in support of retaining critical workers who manage the lands that are important to the well-being of the Roaring Fork Valley and other parts of the WRNF, both recreationally and economically.
On March 4, she was invited by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo., to share her story during a Democratic Caucus press conference in Washington.
Hers is one of the many stories being shared by now-former Forest Service employees — including more than 100 in Colorado and around 3,400 nationally — about the work they felt they were performing diligently.
In addition, both Fitzwilliams and Deputy Supervisor Heather Noel opted into the deferred resignation buyout program offered to federal workers by the Trump Administration.
That further concerns Werner, who said the loss of veteran leadership, along with up-and-coming workers, squeezes the agency from both ends.
She worries the impacts could be felt across the board, from the way recreational amenities and natural resources are managed on the WRNF, to wildfire mitigation and response.
Among the probationary employees let go in Colorado alone, 67 were cross-trained to participate in firefighting operations, especially with the initial attack before outside federal resources can arrive, Werner said.
Trump officials maintain that public safety positions, including firefighters, were not among the cuts.
“Wildland firefighting positions are considered public safety positions,” the USDA Press Office said in a written response to several questions posed by The Sopris Sun to the local Supervisor’s Office about how the cuts might impact firefighting capacity and other WRNF operations.
Those questions were referred to the Washington press office.
“USDA has been actively working
continued on page 19
Jamie Werner, a local Forest Service employee laid off by the Trump Administration, was invited by Senator Michael Bennet to give remarks at the March 4 pre-Joint Address Democratic Caucus press conference. Courtesy photo
5 Point Film Festival tickets are now on sale
MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent
Tickets for 5 Point’s 18th annual flagship film festival are now live, and the festivities kicked off with a special screening of “Papsura: Peak of Evil” at TACAW on March 14. The film — with cinematography by world-class adventure photographer Blake Gordon, a Carbondale local, in collaboration with Patagonia Films — follows the story of two professional snowboarders, Nick Russell and Jerry Mark, to Papsura, a mountain in the Himalayas, as they prepare to take on the challenge of running a line which has stumped even the most seasoned professional skiers.
owner of Ragged Mountain Sports, is a seasoned event producer and strategist. She has attended the 5 Point festival since its inception. She stepped into the interim role after Luis Yllanes’s departure and is excited to take on the challenge while 5 Point looks to fill the position more long-term.
As founder of No Man’s Land Film Festival, the only adventure film festival for women and genderqueer athletes, she said she is excited to play a role in enhancing the work that 5 Point and its partners bring to big screens across the nation.
-Aisha Weinhold, interim executive director
“This film expertly tackles themes in adventure sports that are also core to our organization and programming: commitment, respect, humility, purpose and balance,” stated 5 Point Interim Executive Director Aisha Weinhold.
She continued, “In the film, when Jim Zellers is speaking about snowboarding, he says, ‘You go back to the roots of a sport that has no purpose and it’s just simple fun.’ This film articulately walks the line between the basic joy found in sport and the quest for the extreme by taking us along on the team’s huge and heartfelt undertaking.”
Weinhold, a Carbondale resident and
“Stepping into this role has been an exhilarating challenge,” Weinhold said. “For the past few years, I have been contracted as a kind of chaos manager for businesses and events. I love coming into organizations when the momentum is high and every day and decision matters. Fortunately, the 5 Point team is so dialed-in that by the time I started in early February, they’d had the ball rolling for many months.”
While the search for new leadership for 5 Point is daunting, Weinhold is steadfastly working through any and all challenges that arise in the gap.
“It’s been scary to see sponsorships and funding sources wane in response to the unknown of new leadership, but that is a mountain that I know myself and the team is more
than capable of climbing,” Weinhold expressed.
Those who plan to attend the upcoming festivities, April 24-27, are in for a treat. Weinhold was excited to share there will be a little something for everyone this year, including (but is not limited to) an obstacle course, live music from Sweet Jessup & The Dirty Buckets and The Charities (a California-based band), ice cream socials and much more to be announced along with the full program on March 25.
“All weekend long, there will be something every day for everyone to enjoy,” Weinhold stated.
Her sentiments were echoed by 5 Point Board President Keile Popovich. “Although I’ve attended the festival many times, every year brings a new rollercoaster of heartfelt, humorous and inspiring films,” she said.
“It’s a special feeling that I never get sick of, to ride that wave of programming while being surrounded by your friends, family and community. The 5 Point staff does an
excellent job curating the entire experience. I get that fresh feeling of excitement every year.”
Discussing 5 Point’s future, Popovich said the organization aims to continue offering a world-class film festival while catering to and supporting the Roaring Fork Valley community. These include a growing internship program with Colorado Mountain College, 5 Point Education Week and continuous efforts to expand 5 Point shows from Rifle to Aspen to encompass more of the community.
Additionally, she hopes that more folks will be happy to lend volunteer hands as the organization moves forward.
“It takes a village to put on a festival of this scale in Carbondale, and 5 Point is always grateful for the amazing mix of community partners and volunteers that help make it happen,” Popovich stated.
To purchase tickets or find volunteer opportunities, visit www.5pointfilm.org
This year’s 5 Point festivities saw an early start with “Papsura: Peak of Evil” screening at TACAW on March 14. Courtesy photo
With coffee prices on the rise, experts say climate change is to blame
LONDON LYLE Sopris Sun Correspondent
Coffee prices have jumped in recent months, affecting businesses and customers worldwide. The increase comes from a deadly combination of poor climate conditions in major coffee-growing countries, higher labor and production costs and global economic conflict.
Brazil produces more Arabica coffee beans than any other country in the world, but severe droughts have hurt the country’s supply in recent months. Over the past 14 months, coffee prices in Brazil have almost doubled. Arabica futures reached an all-time high of $4.30 per pound on Feb. 11, and robusta beans are also at record highs. Brazil’s farmers have no choice but to sell almost all of their stock early, leaving major suppliers with very little inventory.
“Across the board, we are seeing a significant increase in cost for coffee harvested this year. Because coffee is an agricultural product, there is a lag in the market where we are between last year’s harvest and this year’s,” said Scott Van Daalen, former Colorado-based barista and founder of Tapestry Coffee in Apple Valley, Minnesota. “This year’s coffee is set to arrive in the United States between this month and May based on the country of origin of the coffee beans, processing methods and shipping timelines.”
Vietnam, the second-largest coffee producer in the world, has also struggled
“I’ve been feeling empty lately.”
with extreme weather. Droughts and floods have lowered its coffee supply, making the global shortage even worse.
“The main factors for the rising prices of coffee come down to farming conditions and political issues. In the primary countries of origin, there have been droughts, frost and other issues that affect the coffee yield,” Van Daalen said. “For instance, Brazil, which is the highest country of yield, has had their forecasted yield lowered by 11 million bags of coffee a year over the past two years due to droughts and other factors. This creates an increase in demand as the supply drops.”
But it’s not just weather problems
or basic supply and demand to blame. The operating cost of running a coffee business has skyrocketed. In the United Kingdom, businesses are expected to raise prices because of higher wages, new packaging rules and increased taxes. These added expenses are expected to cost businesses around £7 billion per year (roughly $9 billion), which will likely be passed on to customers.
Global conflicts have also played a role in rising coffee prices. Ongoing fighting in the Red Sea region has slowed down shipping routes, making it harder and more expensive to transport coffee.
Van Daalen said these price increases
aren’t yet fully reflected in what consumers pay, but it won’t be long now. “This means the most significant price increases are still to come for many companies. At Tapestry Coffee, we are seeing a massive increase in almost every coffee,” he said. “We are sourcing the same Ethiopian coffee from the same farm as last year, yet it will likely have an increase of around $.60 to $.75 per pound as a green [not yet roasted] coffee. This will likely equate to about a $2 to $3 per pound increase to consumers.”
In the U.S., coffee prices have already been creeping up quite a latte, with imported coffee now costing 65% more than in 2021. Retail coffee prices have also gone up by 20% since last year and analysts predict prices could climb another 10-25% soon.
Italy is also feeling the effects of rising coffee costs. At a well-known cafe in Milan, an espresso now costs €1.90, which is well above the country’s average of €1.18. Many worry that prices could soon hit €2. In the past, Italy had some of the lowest coffee prices in the world due to government regulations, but the rising cost of coffee beans has made it harder for businesses to keep their prices low.
With coffee prices showing no sign of going back down any time soon, businesses and customers are bracing for the worst. While some cafes are trying to absorb the extra costs, many have no choice but to raise prices. For now, it might be wise for coffee lovers to give tea a fighting chance.
Rifle Climbing Center elevates community
KATE PHILLIPS
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Jason Marshall saw a community hold and reached for it when he opened the Rifle Climbing Center (RCC) earlier this year.
“[Rifle realtor] Adam Whitt showed me the space and I immediately thought this could be so much more than a climbing gym or a place to workout. I saw the potential for kids programs and a place where climbers can gather,” Marshall told The Sopris Sun. “The vision came through and I jumped on it!”
Situated at 139 West 3rd Street in downtown Rifle, RCC is a state-of-the-art climbing center that appeals to beginners and experts alike. Boasting 8,000 square feet, RCC features general and climbing-specific training equipment such as hangboards, pinchboards and Lattice’s MXEdge, four training boards — Kilter Board, Tension II Board, Moonboard and So iLL board — and a 650-square-foot bouldering zone with a wall height under 12 feet. Oh, and did we mention they have a slide?
“Our kids wanted a slide, so I thought, well, we needed one,” laughed Marshall. “I want people to come in here and think, ‘this is for me,’ that they belong here.”
Marshall emphasized that he envisions RCC to be a place where climbers can connect, share information or simply relax. Bilingual employees are available to answer questions, remote workers can access the gym’s lounge area and travelers can freshen
up with the facility’s showers and laundry by the summer. Marshall added that at RCC’s extensive gear shop climbers can purchase all the necessary equipment and latest guide books for outdoor climbing.
As an avid climber, Marshall has been visiting popular Rifle spots for years. In 2003, he first climbed in Rifle Mountain Park while on a 6-month, post-military road trip with a friend. Some years later, he met his future wife, Karissa Dunbar, in Portland, Oregon, and Rifle trips became more frequent.
“Over the years we kept coming back to Rifle,” Marshall said. “Every year of COVID, while living on the road, we’d come back to Rifle, stay at an Airbnb, climb and hang for about two months. We then moved [to New Castle] in 2022.”
The move’s timing proved serendipitous. Just one year later, Carbondale’s Monkey House closed, leaving a sizable hole in the climbing community, and an opportunity for Marshall.
“I used to climb there, and when I heard Fabrizio [Zangrilli, former owner of Monkey House] bought [Grand Valley Climbing] then that must mean he’s doing just fine,” said Marshall. “That was one of a series of things to give me a confidence boost.”
RCC officially opened its doors on Jan. 5, and so far the community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Having opportunities for kids — and adults — to keep the body active is great,”
said Matt Rowe, recreation manager at Rifle Parks and Recreation. “They showed us the climbing wall, and the technology is pretty incredible. You can set up your own route, and everything is on an app. I had no idea this even existed. To share this with our community is pretty amazing.”
The two organizations have partnered together and will be offering kids programming this spring to offer a safe learning environment for kids. Over Spring Break (March 24-27) RCC will host a Youth Climbing Camp for K-6th graders. Then, starting on April 4, kids in third to sixth grade can register for a four-week Climbing Level 1 course. For adults, RCC currently offers a beginner class taught by Dunbar to learn about shoe fit, basic board use and technique tailored
to individual needs. Marshall is also planning for future board specific introductory courses, birthday parties and a recurring social hour for moms on Tuesdays.
“I’m trying to create a place for the people to make it what they want and need,” Marshall concluded. “I want people to come here and feel welcomed all day. You can spend your whole rest day here and never feel like you’re going to get kicked out or overstay your welcome.”
Rifle Climbing Center membership rates, event bookings and more can be found at www.rifleclimbingcenter.com
To register for the kid climbing classes, visit www.rifleco.org/862/ Rifle-Climbing-Center
Fundraising in progress to support GlenX’s vision for continuing education
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Once upon a time, the building that stood near the base of Sunlight Mountain Resort was just an unassuming ranch house. Before skiing became popular recreation in the Roaring Fork Valley, the far ends of Four Mile Road hosted homestead ranches, one of which belonged to Joseph Perko, who built his home there in 1907. Some six decades later, in the 1960s, a new building was raised on that space, the Sunlight Mountain Inn, to serve as lodging for the newly established commercial resort.
In recent years, the rustic hotel gained a new name, the Gnarly Inn, under the ownership of Valley entrepreneur Altai Chuluun. Long interested in finding creative ways to serve community, Chuluun is further transforming the building. He has been helping connect Valley youth with career opportunities for nearly a decade; over 20,000 local youth have attended the GlenX career expos Chuluun organized. In 2017, he helped launch what is now Coventure in Carbondale. The cowork space helps to bring young professionals together and foster entrepreneurial endeavors.
Chuluun’s latest goal is to transform the Gnarly Inn into a hands-on, experiential learning vocational school. The concept keeps his long-favored name for community empowerment projects: GlenX. His vision is to renovate and convert the
building over the spring and summer, so that the GlenX School can be operational by autumn 2025.
Chuluun’s team is approaching this goal via several tactics. One aspect is to keep the inn partially running even during conversions. In addition to renting rooms to ski tourists visiting the resort mountain, the Gnarly Inn also offers long-term room rentals to Valley locals in need of housing on a month-to-month basis. Though the lodge is almost half an hour outside of Glenwood Springs, the close-to-nature location is beautiful and an attractive option for outdoor enthusiasts.
The GlenX team launched a fundraiser earlier this month to start the school. The
first threshold goal they hope to meet is $6,500, but the total fundraising goal is $100k, to cover staff and related expenses. One expense is providing a stipend for accepted students. One of Chuluun’s frustrations with existing education opportunities is the cost.
Post-secondary education almost always comes with a price tag, and trade apprenticeships can have low pay. Chuluun envisions a program somewhere between university learning and apprentice study, where participants in their early 20s can combine academic study with hands-on experience, while receiving a living stipend that allows them to focus on learning.
Chuluun sees this educational vision as
filling a gap in the learning ecosystem in the U.S. and even around the world. With the GlenX School, he hopes to better bridge the disconnect between young students and young professionals in a variety of careers. By adding in this specific type of applied learning and growth, Chulunn hopes to further strengthen the Roaring Fork Valley community. The GlenX School is an option for connecting the empowerment local teens can access from career expos to the creative opportunity of cowork spaces for established professionals.
The grand vision, once the GlenX School is up and running, is to expand the program. Chuluun aspires to eventually grow the program into full operations for Sunlight Mountain Resort, facilitating hands-on skill development for students applying business management, operations work, hospitality, logistics and more. For now, though, he is holding the nearterm vision of launching the GlenX School.
Chuluun and the GlenX team will post updates on their gofundme website: (www.gofundme.com/f/glenx-school). The fundraiser aims to help cover costs for setting up the new 501c3 and hiring initial staff for the young adult educational resource. Community members interested in getting involved with this project as student mentors or advisors or as GlenX School board members can contact Altai Chuluun by scheduling a meeting on Calendly: www.bit.ly/GlenXCalendly
climbing gym all day! Photo courtesy of Rifle Climbing Center
THURSDAY, MARCH 20
BASALT ELEMENTARY TOUR
Prospective Longhorns and their families are invited to tour Basalt Elementary School from noon to 12:45pm.
SENIOR ART
The Art Base in Basalt invites senior artists to create pastel hummingbirds at the Eagle County Community Center in El Jebel from 12:45 to 2:15pm.
BOOK CLUB
The Carbondale Library’s Third Thursday Book Club invites you to discuss “The Lost Girls of Willowbrook” by Ellen Marie Wiseman at 2pm. For more information, call 970-963-2889.
NATIONAL SCHOOL WALKOUT
Roaring Fork School District and Aspen School District schools will participate in a national walkout action protesting education funding reductions. Colorado faces a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, which could result in nearly $150 million in cuts to education. Parents and community members are invited to join demonstrations before and after school and wear red in solidarity. Calling and writing to legislators is also encouraged.
CLIMATE FILMS
Join 350 Roaring Fork for a free screening of three short documentaries at the Carbondale Library beginning at 5:30pm. The films will focus on climate heroes: astronomer Carl Sagan; the first director of the Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot; and Native American environmentalists John Trudell and Oren Lyons.
2pm. Sign up to donate blood at www.bit.ly/sopris-blood
PET ADOPTION
Journey Home, the animal shelter in Rifle, will have dogs and cats available for adoption at the Rifle Library from 11am to 1pm. For more details, call 970-625-3471.
ASPEN CHORAL SOCIETY
Catch the Aspen Choral Society’s spring show, “Children of Eden,” at Glenwood Springs High School tonight at 7pm, the Wheeler Opera House tomorrow at 7pm and/or at the Basalt Middle School on Sunday at 7pm. Find details at www.aspenchoralsociety.org
LOCAL DJ NIGHT
TACAW presents Ryan Golbus, Goreteks and Shtylah for a night of electronic dance music beginning at 8pm.
SATURDAY, MARCH 22
MIDLIFE & MENOPAUSE
True Nature hosts a retreat for women navigating midlife and menopause, where like-minded women engage in an interactive and educational approach to ease anxieties, restore balance and rejuvenate mind, body and spirit, from 8:30am to 5pm. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
LIAR’S CONTEST
Spellbinders’ annual Liar’s Contest takes place at the Aspen Elks Club (501 East Hyman) from 4 to 6pm. For more info, call 970-379-2224.
KEVIN NEALON
Famous comedian Kevin Nealon performs at TACAW tonight at 6pm and 9pm. The 6pm show is sold out. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
Opening Thursday March 20
SPRING HOURS
Thursday 4-8 PM
Friday-Sunday 11-8 PM
Closed Mon,Tues & Wed
Sessions,” a strength-based course in living with resilience and wisdom, beginning today at 6pm and continuing on Thursdays through April 17 with inperson and online options. Find more details at www.mindfullifeprogram.org/
lease screening of “Banned Together,” a new documentary about book bans and curriculum censorship in schools, at 6pm. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with the film directors. Popcorn will
oot Colorado for a community potluck and a free screening of “The Gleaners and I,” a documentary by French filmmaker Agnés Varda with English subtitles, at the Glenwood Springs Library at 6pm. Attendees are requested, though not required, to bring a dish to share and their own reusable cutlery and dishware. To RSVP,
Catch “Black Bag,” a spy drama, atrow, Saturday and March 26-27 at 7pm. This Sunday’s show is at 5pm and captioned. The March 27 show is like-
Steve’s Guitars hosts Comedy Night featuring Beth Brandon, Ryan Honey, Don Chaney, Eric Gile and Miller Ford. The show starts at 8pm, find tickets at
PINK TO BLACK
The El Dorado/Thunder River Theatre Company “Pink to Black” concert series returns with Tatanka at 9pm and local opener Beep Bop Boop at 8pm. Tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 23
THIS IS THE WAY
A Spiritual Center hosts John and Kelly Field honoring the light and the darkness at A Spiritual Center (room 31 of the Third Street Center) from 10 to 11:30am.
WELCOME WRITERS
Jessica Amber Barnum leads a writing workshop for all ages at the Basalt Library from 3:30 to 5pm.
WOK THIS WAY
Sopris Lodge hosts an interactive cooking session with Emily Stanton, teaching how to prepare chicken and vegetable stir-fry with rice, from 3 to 4pm. This class is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required by calling 970-456-8764.
MONDAY, MARCH 24
‘MULHOLLAND DRIVE’
Aspen Film screens “Mulholland Drive” by David Lynch at the AF Isis Theatre at 7pm. Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org
COKER & SCOTT
Duncan Coker and C. Scott perform at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
TUESDAY, MARCH 25
MORTALITY CONVERSATION
ge in Carbondale hosts the Vitalant Bloodmobile from 10:30 to
True Nature welcomes Akaljeet Khalsa for a conversation on mortality from 4 to 5:30pm. Registration is not necessary.
FROSTBITE FRIGHTS
The Basalt Library screens “A Quiet Place” with popcorn and beverages at 4:30pm. This scary movie is rated PG-13.
DRAWING CLUB
The Roaring Fork Drawing Club heads to Qdoba in Carbondale at 6:30pm.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
SAT PREP
Basalt Library hosts an SAT prep series tailored for Spanish-speaking, first-generation and low-income students on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30pm. Tonight’s optional session is a full practice test from 1 to 4pm.
RITUAL SPACE
True Nature hosts “Nourish Your Nervous System” with Rachelle Anslyn from 5:30 to 6:45pm. Register online at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
PILATES
Alexandra Jerkunica teaches a free pilates class at the Carbondale Library from 5 to 6pm.
HISTORY RESEARCH
Basalt Library offers a class on navigating online databases to study local history and heritage from 5 to 6pm.
SOPRIS SUN BINGO
Carbondale Beer Works hosts a bingo fundraiser for The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle beginning at 6pm.
EASY HONEY
Steve’s Guitars presents Easy Honey with Angie Flores at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
THURSDAY, MARCH 27
SENIOR ART
The Art Base in Basalt invites senior artists to paint an acrylic trout at the Eagle County Community Center in El Jebel from 12:45 to 2:15pm.
ENERGY SAVINGS
Garfield Clean Energy sets up at the Silt and Glenwood Springs libraries to teach about financial aid programs to help residents save energy and money from 4 to 8pm. Tomorrow, the same will be offered at the Rifle Library and Grand Valley Rec Center from 4 to 7pm.
The Aspen Jewish Congregation in partnership with downvalley Jewish families and friends celebrated Purim at the Third Street Center on Thursday, March 13 with a Wizard of Oz theme. Most Purim celebrations involve a humorous and dramatic presentation of events from the Book of Esther, when Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai stood up to Haman, a king’s advisor who plotted against the Jews in ancient Persia. For this skit, Dorothy represented Esther, the Scarecrow Mordecai and the Wicked Witch of the West stood in as Haman. Courtesy photo
COZY HOUR
Teens and young adults are invited to “cozy up” at the Basalt Library from 5 to 6pm with board games, warm drinks, a sweet treat and a craft.
SPIRIT MESSAGES
Evidential medium Becky Hesseltine delivers messages from departed loved ones, “offering undeniable proof that their love endures beyond physical death,” at True Nature from 6 to 7:30pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
RINCÓN LITERARIO
Basalt Library’s Spanish-language literature club discusses “Mujer de Luz” by Kali Fajardo-Anstine from 6 to 7pm. Free copies of the book are available at the circulation desk while supplies last.
THE ROCKETZ
All the way from L.A., The Rocketz perform rockabilly music at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
CHANGEMAKER SERIES
The Wheeler Opera House Changemaker Speaker Series continues with adventure photographer Cory Richards and “The Color of Everything” at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
COMEDY FILM
TACAW screens “Thank You Very Much,” a film about comedian Andy Kaufman, at 8pm with an Epicure Catering Supper Club option at 6pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
WELLNESS RETREAT
Five heart-centered facilitators lead a wellness retreat at 13 Moons Ranch (6334 Highway 133) from 1 to 5pm with cacao, connection exercises, an ecstatic dance, sound bath and more. Find tickets at www.bit.ly/harmonizeretreat
THE WORKSHOP
Thunder River Theatre Company’s “The Workshop” series, bringing together playwrights and audiences to discuss new works, features a reading of “We Are Going Nowhere” by Matthew Schneck at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com
ONGOING EVENTS
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
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
MOMMY MEET-UP
The Glenwood Springs Library hosts a “mommy meet-up” on Mondays from 11am to 12:30pm for mothers and their babies ages 0-3. There will be play items provided for the little ones and coffee and conversation for the moms.
IN STITCHES
The In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 1:30pm.
AIKIDO
Crystal River Aikikai offers aikido training at 13 Moons Ranch for adults and teens on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30pm and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Kids classes are on Mondays from 4 to 5pm and Wednesdays from 4 to 5pm. Get your first class for free with an RSVP at www.crystalriveraikikai.com
YARN GROUP
Basalt Library hosts a weekly yarn group on Tuesdays at 5pm. All are welcome.
BIKE PROJECT
The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps people repair their bicycles on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm on the east side of Third Street Center.
SENIOR LUNCH
Every Wednesday at noon, Garfield
UKRAINIAN EGG DECORATING
Decorate eggs with colorful patterns using beeswax resist. Saturday, 10am-3pm, 4/12
OPEN PAINTING STUDIO
Bring ongoing work or start something new in our studio. Tues, 1:30-4:30pm, 3/25-5/6
TREE PRUNING TECHNIQUES
Covers timing, techniques, and different styles. Tues, 4-7pm, 3/25- BASALT
HISTORY OF CONCERT POSTER
Learn about the art form, bands, artists, history and the industry. Thurs, 6-7:30pm, 4/3
County Senior Programs provides a nutritious meal for seniors at The Orchard. To reserve a place at the table, call 970-665-0041.
SPANISH CLUB
Practice Spanish and enjoy specials at Bodegón in Carbondale every Wednesday from 5 to 7pm.
CANCER CARE
The Calaway-Young Cancer Center at Valley View Hospital offers yoga for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers at 9:15am on Thursdays. Then, the Walk and Talk cancer support group meets at 11am at the chapel in the cancer center.
GROUP RUN
Independence Run & Hike leads a weekly group run on Thursdays departing from the store’s location, next to the Carbondale City Market, at 6:30pm.
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.
NATURE JOURNALING
Anyone interested in creatively documenting nature is invited to a Nature Journaling workshop at the Carbondale Library every first Friday from 1 to 2:30pm.
NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION
Talia Starwood is offering Nonviolent Communication in Action on the last Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8pm. To RSVP, text 970-309-1120. Donations will be gratefully accepted.
KIDS’ CLASSES
TUMBLE, BALANCE AND BREATH Movement and fun to develop basic tumbling and social skills. Wed, 4-4:45pm, 4/2-4/23
COOKIES FOR EASTER AGE 8-16
Cookies and decorating supplies provided. Wednesday, 3-4pm, 4/16 Community & Kids Class Registration...
*CREDIT CLASSES
Senior In-District Tuition Discount Applies.
*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
SOFT GOODS MANUFACTURING INFO MEETING
Learn about the Soft Goods Sewing & Design program courses, projects, and opportunities with Q&A. ONLINE - Wednesday, 5:30pm, 3/26 Zoom link...
RFHS spring sports seasons underway
JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent
High school spring sports began in earnest this past week, with most of the pre-Spring Break action on the road away from Carbondale.
The Roaring Fork High School baseball team was at a tournament in Denver on Friday and Saturday, March 14-15, where they fell to Kent Denver 8-5 and to Colorado Academy 2-0.
During the Clay Center’s construction period, Bruno said community members are already planning to help the nonprofit. Cate Tallmadge, CCC board member and owner of Main Street Gallery and The Framer has offered to host CCC’s gallery while different organizations and schools will host educational opportunities.
“We’re still going to have a Main Street presence,” said Bruno. “Everyone is willing to help where they can during this interim period. It’s going to be an amazing community effort.”
The legacy project’s proposed budget is $6 million, and once again vigor is apparent as the nonprofit has already raised $3.6 million. Bruno said she is excited to start the cultivation phase and looks forward to connecting with residents and potential donors from across the Valley and nation. A project of this magnitude will amplify CCC’s impact to create a more inclusive ceramic arts community, something Bruno is thrilled to lead.
“A big thing for me is the relationships that form in the studio — the students among each other, the staff, community members and the residents,” concluded Bruno. “I love how it seems like after every session a whole new friend group forms or a new group of people start volunteering with us. It grows and it’s so amazing.”
To make your mark shaping the Clay Center’s future, visit www.carbondaleclay.org/ shaping-the-future
Aspen Choral Society sings to universal themes in ‘Children of Eden’
MYKI JONES
Arts Correspondent
This weekend, March 21-23, the Aspen Choral Society will welcome local audiences into the world of “Children of Eden” by Stephen Schwartz with a concert-style performance. The show, which first premiered in 1991, is popular among theater enthusiasts despite a lack of commercial success after plans to take the production to Broadway were scrapped. The story is based on the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament with Act 1 telling the story of God, who is called “Father” in the show, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. Act 2 portrays the story of Noah and the great flood.
“I believe he’s called ‘Father’ in this script because this is a point of view of looking at this deity as a parental figure, first and foremost, not just as this omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent being,” mused Travis Dean Wilson, the actor portraying God. “This is also, first and foremost, a parent.”
At the core of this story are themes which every audience can relate to, including generational suffering, loss, family dynamics, consequences of the choices we make and, probably the most important theme, redemption.
“It’s a very important show to see because it is not a simple retelling of the Book of Genesis. It is not just a reiteration of biblical stories,” Wilson elaborated. “It is an excellent observance of what familial relationships look like, how they intertwine, what is healthy or unhealthy, and how you carry on with your life, knowing the ancestors you had and what you came from. Are you supposed to carry it with you your whole life? Do you let that define you?”
Along with 60 members of the Aspen Choral Society, performers stepping into lead roles include Micha Schoepe — who is also serving alongside his husband, Paul Dankers, in a directorial capacity — portraying Adam/Noah, Katie Hone Wiltgen as Eve/ Aysha, Maureen Jackson as Momma/Snake, Claire Svedberg as Cain/Japheth, Dean Gautreau as Able/Ham/Snake, Darrell Smith as Seth/Snake/Shem, Beth Noble as Aphra/Snake, Erin Riccio as Yonah/Snake, Kurt Wiltgen as Young Cain and Holmes Hinkle as Young Able.
Dankers expressed great vulnerability and excitement while discussing this production with The Sopris Sun. He has carried a deep appreciation for the material for roughly three decades and is looking forward to bringing it to the Valley in this way.
“I had wanted to see a production of it here in the Valley, but it hadn’t materialized. I don’t have any control over any of the theater groups, so I thought, ‘Well, let’s just do a concert version of it with Aspen Choral Society rather than a fully-staged version,’” Dankers said.
He continued, “The music and the story are so powerful that I believe the story carries even without all the set and the costumes. You pull it all away, and the story telling itself is just incredibly powerful.”
Dankers described how the retelling of myths, when done well, can help audiences see their own humanity and learn from the raw and poetic portrayal of universal themes.
“I think that was the original intent of myths as they were invented: to tell the human story in a resonant and truthful way,” Dankers said. “Myths often showcase our raw, darker sides and the bad choices we make and the consequences of those choices. This show in particular hits on how it can happen.”
His sentiments were echoed by Schoepe, who said this production brings a level of humanity to the biblical figures it presents by drawing out human experiences like grief, loss, parenthood and rebellion.
“I think everyone will take something different from this show since there are so many big, universal themes hidden in it,” Schoepe explained. “I think one person will be deeply touched by one moment, while another person will resonate with the next. I think everyone will find moments where they’re reminded of experiences they’ve had and choices they’ve had to to make. I hope it will reach people on a deep level, and maybe allow for some resolution.”
TRTC reactivates its black box with Pink to Black
MYKI JONES
Arts Correspondent
Pink to Black, the new concert series made possible by a partnership between Thunder River Theatre Company (TRTC) and El Dorado, is gearing up for two more acts — a perfect kick-off to the changing seasons. Denver-based reggae group Tatanka will grace the black box on March 22 with groovy, island-inspired sounds. Local opener Beep Bop Boop will warm the audience up and the space will be activated with lush jungle decorations to transport audiences somewhere far from winter.
Pink Fuzz, a Boulder-based desert rock punk band consisting of brother and sister Lulu and John Demitro and drummer Alec Doniger, follows on April 5. Expect to see people moving and shaking as summer creeps around the corner. Good For Now, a local punk band based in Rifle, will open for Pink Fuzz. For the layout of this show, the team has a vision of pure unbridled grunge.
After hearing feedback from the inaugural Pink to Black showcase, TRTC Executive Artistic Director Missy Moore and El Dorado’s Chris Rullet returned to work with their creative team to reimagine ways to best utilize the space. The partnership’s goal is to bring a new element to the live music scene of the Roaring Fork Valley.
“In the feedback I received after the first show, the community was really thrilled,” Rullet stated. “We also heard some things that we have to grow with, but we’re not gonna know everything the first time out of the box.”
He continued, “After Triptides sold out, we had to see if it was going to work. This new phase of planning is where we’re at. The community responded and we wanted to evolve and we will always evolve.”
IN A NUTSHELL
What: Children of Eden
Where & When: Friday, March 21 at Glenwood Springs High School; Saturday, March 22 at the Wheeler Opera House; Sunday, March 23 at Basalt Middle School. All performances are at 7pm.
Website: For more info., visit www.aspenchoralsociety.org
“We’re really excited to be part of the series,” John Demitro expressed. “We’re looking forward to getting out and playing in Carbondale. I’ve been through there a few times but haven’t been able to play a show there yet. We’re excited to bring some original music to the theater.”
When he spoke with The Sopris Sun, Demitro shared how he and his sister have been bringing their drummer, who joined the band roughly three weeks ago, up to speed and how he has been non-stop integrating with the band’s memorable harmonies, vocal melodies and heavy sound.
Discussing what he hopes audiences will take away from their performance at TRTC, he said, “We’re high energy, so it’ll be a rocking time. There is usually a mosh pit at our shows, although I don’t know if that will happen in the theater, but we take a lot of pride in our live performances and want everyone to have a good time.”
His sentiments were echoed by Moore, who said she is committed to growing the concert series and finding out what does and does not work. An example she provided of what did not work with the inaugural concert was the lighting design of the floor, which quickly became full of patrons who could not see the designs explicitly curated for the Triptides show.
“It’s been a big learning curve,” she admitted. “If you had asked me around this time last year if I would be producing concerts, I would have said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ It was a learning experience from Triptides, and we will continue learning, growing and figuring out what works and doesn’t work for this series.”
One of the series’ new trials involves implementing set pieces left over from theatric showcases. For the upcoming performance of Tatanka, the set of Junie B. Jones will be converted into the series’ newest feature: a V.I.P. lounge featuring a private cocktail and charcuterie service. The lounge will seat roughly 24 people at cabaret-style tables elevated above the dance floor.
For more information, to purchase tickets or volunteer, visit www.thunderrivertheatre.com
Sister-brother duo Pink Fuzz will turn it up with some punk tunage at TRTC on April 5. Local opener Good For Now will help to set the stage for a rare night of grunge rock in Carbondale. Courtesy photo
Aspen Choral Society singers during a recent rehearsal, from left to right: Katie Hone Wiltgen, Dean Gautreau, Beth Noble. Courtesy photo
‘Yes’
‘no’
to tax district for early childcare needs,
to ballot measure to repeal wolf reintroduction
AMY HADDEN MARSH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
It was a short Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting Monday, all done before lunch, including a county tax abatement for $19,081 for a lot in Aspen Glen. Two special event liquor licenses were approved as was the consent agenda, which included a letter against the proposed ballot initiative that would repeal grey wolf reintroduction. Commissioners did not mention the letter until the end of the meeting, after they approved it, so we’ll get to that later.
The BOCC also gave a thumbs up to an amended service plan for the Confluence Early Childhood Development Service District (CECD-SD), a special tax district to help fund early childcare development services. According to a summary by county attorney Heather Beattie, early childhood development service districts were authorized in 2019 under HB19-1052.
If the service plan, which includes a 0.25% sales tax, is approved by voters of Garfield, Pitkin and the Roaring Fork portion of Eagle County, the CECD-SD would be the first such special tax district in Colorado. It would also mean that residents within the district would be eligible for financial assistance for childcare.
The Confluence Early Childhood Coalition, which is spearheading the district, talked about how childcare costs in the area can be equal to or more than a mortgage and kids are sometimes at risk for abuse. Struggling parents are also at risk. ”Low income families need systemic relief,” said Dana Peterson, workforce and development officer for Mountain Family Health. “One day off to take care of a child could cost them a job.” The BOCC unanimously approved the district. The coalition now takes the proposal to Eagle and Pitkin County commissioners.
The BOCC proclaimed March as American Red Cross
RFTA REPORT
Month, approved $277,700 in discretionary funding for Colorado Animal Rescue and committed to providing close to $25,000 in monetary and in-kind support to the Garfield County Hazard Mitigation Plan. They also approved Bureau of Land Management access through the county landfill with the caveat that the access does not include the public. The county Department of Human Services requested and received approval to promote a candidate from within the agency to fill the position of fraud investigator.
Back to the letter about the proposed ballot issue to repeal grey wolf reintroduction, John Swartout, political consultant and former director of Colorado Counties, Inc, crafted the letter, which is signed by commissioners from five Western Slope counties — six including Garfield — and several livestock groups. He sent it to Patrick Davis, another political consultant and founder of Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy, who is writing up the measure.
The letter urges Davis to suspend his efforts to repeal wolf reintroduction in 2026 for various reasons, including lack of consultation with primary stakeholder groups and concerns that Davis will not be able to secure enough resources to succeed. “Any failed effort could potentially impact subsequent policy efforts currently underway, both administratively and legislatively,” the letter reads, “as well as undermine recent public opinion support that the landowner community has received.”
Davis told The Sopris Sun that he received the letter on Monday but that the text of the ballot initiative has changed. It is no longer asking for what he calls a “blanket repeal” of grey wolf reintroduction. “My guess is that these commissioners are working off of old information,” said Davis. “[The new language] puts an end date on grey wolf reintroduction
into December 2026 and [includes] the prohibition of anybody importing grey wolves from outside Colorado.” Davis did not say if he is willing to suspend the ballot initiative. He said the new language goes in front of the Colorado Title Board on March 19. If it is approved, he and his campaign staff will begin collecting signatures.
Mobility committee reports early analysis and recommendations
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
The March Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting occurred fully online and remote. There were no public comments, board comments or changes to the agenda.
Consent agenda
The board quickly reviewed three resolutions. The first authorized applying for $10.5 million in federal funds to purchase six new diesel-hybrid buses and seven new diesel buses for the RFTA fleet. Even with recent changes to the Federal Transportation Administration, RFTA anticipates submitting this application in April. If the grant is authorized, staff anticipates ordering the buses in early 2026 and receiving them in 2027.
The second resolution authorized a related application for $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending funds to offset the cost of one of those diesel buses. This application would follow a similar timeline if federal funds are granted. The third resolution authorized RFTA CEO Kurt Ravenschlag to execute an Underground Electric Utility Easement with the City of Glenwood
RFTA is exploring ways to continue supporting microtransit solutions with a mind to costs and program sustainability. Courtesy photo
Springs Electric Department. The easement will help finalize Iron Mountain Place Employee Housing for occupancy approval and use. All three resolutions passed without discussion.
Microtransit services
Mobility Coordinator Mary Harlan presented an update on the First and Last Mile Mobility (FLMM) reserve grant program. Three meetings between December and March evaluated the status of RFTA’s microtransit program and options for improving the offering. These meetings analyzed the Town of Basalt as a case study, explored digital resource options to make
the program more accessible to communities and determined allocation plans for once communities exceed RFTA’s three-year seed funding limit for microtransit.
Some recommended digital resource improvements are a microtransit-focused digital app and integrating a detailed microtransit map with the existing digital map of bus routes. The team sees these changes as increasing the visibility of gaps and redundancies in the system.
Harlan shared data on bikeshare and microtransit trips to and from RFTA trunkline stops. The numbers shared, observed in December 2024, show notably
higher use of microtransit and bikeshare resources from Basalt and Carbondale locations than Aspen locations. Of all trips, the percentage of riders from trunkline locations (primary stops including park and rides), both midvalley locations observed bikeshare use in the 50% range and microtransit use at 23% and 33% respectively. Aspen data showed bikeshare use at just below 37% and microtransit use at around 5%.
The mobility team recommended that after the initial three-year seed funding for microtransit in member communities, RFTA offer funding that reduces by 10% each successive year. Harlan shared data observations demonstrating that a gradual shift in jurisdiction funding results in a more manageable funding curve for member communities to take over the costs.
Board Chair Greg Poschman prompted the digital assembly for questions. Hearing none, he inquired whether there had been discussion in the third meeting about electrification of the fleets to further mitigate costs. Aspen’s mayor, Torre, responded that the committee did not examine cost differentials between electric
and diesel vehicles specifically, but that the group assumed that electric options would be more cost-effective longterm.
Carbondale trustee Colin Laird weighed in, thanking the group for their participation. Poschman then asked CEO Ravenschlag if the board could anticipate regular updates as the process continued. Torre added that during the FLMM meetings, the committee focused heavily on identifying underserved segments of the community and that research on that is ongoing. The board then discussed service gaps and potential for microtransit electrification.
Public hearings and CEO report
RTA Finance Director Paul Hamilton shared details for two supplemental budget appropriation resolutions. Both items concerned carrying over unexpended 2024 budget items into 2025 to ensure fiscal integrity and continue moving projects in progress forward. This shifts approximately $12.7 million from 2024 allocation to 2025.
During the CEO report, Ravenschlag shared a statement published on March 7,
From premises to conclusion in the Age of Misinformation
from accessing inappropriate sexual content in libraries and bookstores, the law will only achieve that end at the expense of everyone else’s First Amendment rights. The law deputizes librarians and booksellers as the agents of censorship; when motivated by the fear of jail time, it is likely they will shelve only books fit for young children and segregate or discard the rest.”
Moreover, the court found that parts of Arkansas law requiring any material that might be “harmful” to minors be shelved in a separate “adults only” area as “unconstitutionally overbroad.”
Kudos to a judge who follows both law and logic. At this writing, 30 states have similar bills seeking not only to criminalize books, but the people who provide access to them. Two of them are still lingering in the current Colorado legislative session.
The first, HB1158, is sponsored by a chapter
LITERATE LIFE
By Jamie LaRue Garfield County Public Library District
head of Moms for Liberty (whose “liberty” again comes at the expense of yours). It makes the unsupported claim that library databases, like those offering the full text of magazine articles, are riddled with pornography so we need to eliminate all advertisements and external links. Advertisements — for insurance companies, clothing and bikes, for instance — is how magazines stay in business. External links would include an automotive website referred to by a Consumer Reports
article on new cars. In other words, the database would have to purge the content necessary to their survival and eliminate related information you came to the database to find. Failure to eliminate ads and links would result in contract cancellation or penalties. Together, this anti-business legislation makes the whole point of the database — efficient research by topic — almost worthless. It also further impoverishes already strapped school libraries.
The second bill, HB1231, is now postponed indefinitely. But it aimed to make the first offense of checking out a book with any sexual content to a minor punishable by a $10,000 fine. The second offense would get you up to two years in jail.
As a librarian, I predict a rising tide of flat out falsity in our society: solutions to problems we don’t have in order to advance the power of people we can’t trust.
Some days it’s hard to be philosophical.
Immigration attorneys encourage undocumented residents to have a plan, and a lawyer
YESENIA BENAVIDES BURGOS Youth Correspondent
Hector Gonzalez, an immigration advocate who is licensed to practice immigration law through the Department of Justice, was recently interviewed on La Nueva Mix, a Spanish-language radio station in Glenwood Springs. He had many answers to questions posed by Bianca Godina, editor of Sol del Valle, myself and Axel Contreras, La Nueva Mix’s program director. Gonzalez’ immigration office, Connect Immigration, is based in Gypsum.
At a later date, I interviewed Jennifer Smith, an immigration lawyer based in Glenwood Springs, to ask some follow-up questions.
The radio interview began with Gonzalez telling us how the laws that govern Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and those for police departments are different. For instance, police in Colorado are not supposed to ask about someone’s immigration status or arrest them for that reason. Also, ICE can’t just pull someone over. If ICE is present at a traffic stop, local law enforcement must have initiated the stop.
Gonzalez said it is important to stay calm when approached by either an ICE officer or a police officer. Even though there should always be a legal reason for why ICE is detaining someone, Gonzalez noted that a first impression can influence whether or not someone is detained. This is because ICE agents are able to use their discretion. However, he said that it is anyone’s constitutional right to remain silent, and he suggested not oversharing information.
Godina asked about “red cards.” These are small cards that undocumented residents can carry with them which state their constitutional rights. Gonzalez mentioned that if someone does have such a card, it is very crucial that the information is correct.
Red cards can be beneficial for undocumented residents to carry with them, agreed Smith. However, a red card could be used for ICE encounters but not necessarily with local law enforcement. When stopped for a traffic violation, for example, drivers are always required
to present their driver’s license, proof of insurance and registration.
Gonzalez advised that it’s important to know who to call in case someone ends up in ICE custody, and it’s important that that contact is a licensed immigration attorney. It’s also very important to tell your lawyer the full truth, so they aren’t surprised to learn new information later in the courtroom. He said that people are often taken advantage of by “notarios” — people who might help fill out documents but are not real attorneys.
Gonzalez and Smith agreed that people need to be cautious with social media and when offered assistance from people who are not licensed attorneys. Many people fall for such scams and lose their money without getting any results. Under the current executive orders, people can face removal proceedings once an application is denied, according to Smith.
Crossing the border without permission is a civil violation, not a crime. However, criminal charges are possible for people who reenter the
United States after being removed.
The government has to bring civil charges against someone in order for a person to go to immigration court. “The government, theoretically, has the discretion to do that to every person, but it also has the discretion not to,” said Smith. Meaning, sometimes people are not given the chance to argue their case before being deported.
For instance, if someone previously entered the country and was already issued a return order, they could be in jeopardy of “reinstatement of removal,” which allows the government to remove someone based on the previous order without a court hearing.
“There’s also something called expedited removal, which, as of today, basically applies to anybody anywhere in the United States who’s been here less than two years,” said Smith. Expedited removal was expanded on Jan. 21 — the day after President Donald Trump took office — and puts people at risk of being removed without the chance to see a judge first.
Generally, when someone is
picked up by ICE they are first taken to a processing center where their fingerprints and biometric information are recorded, according to Smith. From there, someone would be taken to a detention facility, most likely in Aurora if detained in Colorado. Generally, once someone is detained they have the right to request a bond and go in front of a judge to explain why they should be released in the United States while their court proceedings are happening.
The judge might consider if a person is working and other connections they have in the United States. The bond cost varies depending on a person’s case and if a judge feels that the person will be accountable for showing up to court hearings.
In addition to having an attorney on speed dial, Smith said people should have a plan. First, they should know whether or not they will give any information to ICE. Again, people do not have to give information to ICE, including their birthplace or immigration status. However, someone can decide to explain if they are in the process of obtaining status or how long they have been in the United States. It’s good to designate someone who knows where important documents are kept and for parents to have someone their children can call in case they are detained.
For more information about Connect Immigration, visit www.connectchurchcolorado.com/ es/immigration
For more information on Jennifer Smith’s law office, visit www.smithknudson.com
Hector Gonzalez, Yesenia Benavides Burgos and Bianca Godina at La Nueva Mix radio station in Glenwood Springs. Photo by Margarita Alvarez
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
Empty Theologies
By Daniel Torres, Carbondale
Beloved be poetry, blessed be the poet Oh my dear beloved!
Hail poetry! Solomon wrote. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Wrote the one who loved Him most. In the end was Babel, and the Word was not with God, and the Word was never God. Wrote the heretic that I am. And life is the Word for those who deny the end. The god of Babel has died from his envy and selfishness! The god who gave us the Word is the god of poets, is a poet.
Do not grant me forgiveness for what I write. I only capture my thoughts in empty theologies, in poems of death, of love for the Word.
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
His Music Can Be Magic
By Taylor Liebmann, Carbondale
The music he sends out into this world,
It’s heard by the visitors, who on chairs most are curled.
See this man who is here in a philanthropic way,
Now sits at his piano, so for all he can play.
His musical gift brings peace to this room,
The message he sends, like a flower in bloom.
Yes, he comes to this place where most are in need,
His genius abounds, and their hearts he does feed
His fingers on keys, as the wind takes a feather,
The blacks and the whites, fuse harmoniously together.
If you close your eyes, you’ll be transported somewhere, And when you arrive, you’ll have not a care.
Yes! A moment’s escape for these visitors is best,
Most are worried or ill and drained of their zest.
And for each stranger attracted to his melodious flows,
In their faces you’ll see, some warm smiling glows.
So at Valley View Hospital, Dr. Michael’s the MAN!
He can raise anyone’s spirit… he’ll surely make you a FAN!
skills, build confidence and achieve their goals. The new Carbondale swimming pool offers state-of-the-art facilities that will enable us to train our swimmers effectively
We look forward to welcoming new and returning swimmers to the team, and we are committed to helping each athlete reach their full potential. Together, we will create a vibrant and thriving swimming community in Carbondale. Let’s dive into this exciting new chapter and make waves together! I encourage everyone to contribute to the “Let’s Make a Splash” campaign today! Steve Vanderhoof Head Swim Coach,
I love our community! I am so grateful for everyone involved in my recent film screen-
In October, I am running the Chicago Marathon as part of the ALIVE Rescue charity team, supporting a no-kill animal shelter. On March 12, I hosted a sold-out showing of “Flow” at the Crystal Theatre, and after theater/film rental expenses, raised upwards
Many thank yous are in order. First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Bob and Kathy Ezra for making the whole event possible, and for being such kind and
Secondly, thank you to Juliana O’Clair with the Post Independent for covering my story and helping me sell out the event. Thirdly, thank you to my good friends, Nick Kilbourn, Allan Porter and Christine Helling, for assisting at the door and with the
Fourthly, thank you to the following businesses, organizations and people who donated prizes for the giveaway: Cari and Kula Yoga, Darin and Pedal and Stitch, Cooper and OUTPST, Sara Bestie Porter, Julia and Lobitos and Sarah and Sunshine
Finally, thank you to everyone who bought tickets and attended the show (or bought tickets and gifted them back for others to attend), bought tickets for the prize giveaway and donated to the fundraiser in general. You are making a difference for rescue animals, and helping give our furry
Support your local animal shelters. Adopt don’t shop because rescue is the best breed money can buy. My rescue kitty is from Colorado Animal Rescue (and Journey Home in Rifle before that) and brings incomparable joy and love to my life every day.
Jessi Rochel & Bergi the Cat Carbondale
Eagle County planning
Eagle County has openings for alternates on the Roaring Fork Valley Regional
RFTA REPORT
from page 14
clarifying RFTA’s position on bus lane availability to general traffic. “RFTA has never agreed to opening the RFTA bus-only lanes during peak hours for general traffic. Historically, RFTA has agreed to allow the use of the bus-only lanes in rare emergency situations,” the statement explained. Ravenschalg also reiterated the statement’s clarification that the authority on
Planning Commission (RFVRPC). This is a great opportunity to participate in discussions about the future of our county. To qualify, applicants must be Eagle County residents for a minimum of one year and a registered voter. The RFVRPC makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding land use within the Roaring Fork Valley, Missouri Heights and Frying Pan Road areas of unincorporated Eagle County. The RFVRPC meets on the first and third Thursday of every month at 2:30 p.m. Applications are available online (www.eaglecounty.us/planningapplication). Applications are due no later than March 31. For more information or to obtain a hard copy of the application, contact Jill Ragaller at 970-328-8751.
Justin Patrick Eagle County
New normal?
What in the ever-living-hell was that all about!? Why, how and who made money on it? Those are my questions. The strongwilled tapped their resilient nature and pushed on. Did they ever un-tap? Did we remove ourselves from that survival mode we went into years ago? I am slowing again, just now, five years after. Scary part is, it feels like I’m doing so against society’s norms and against family expectations. I’m letting go because I have to.
I feel like I awoke from a bad dream. I look around, and it is anything but the reminiscent ways I recall from years past. Now, suddenly, an unaffordable, single-use culture pulsing at its finest... Is this the new normal? It’s not mine. Will others ever have their eye-opening moment? Will it just be panic and fear until the pearly gates swing wide for our arrival?
Diet and exercise, they say, that’ll clear the mind. But even my stroll into the gym has me walking amongst zombies. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe I need to take a puff of Colorado’s finest. Unfortunately, I’ve been monitoring this situation with a clear mind — false masking unnecessary at this time. This plot is rich enough as it exists. So, I watch, and I make sure to get enough sunlight. Beyond that, I wait for people to revert into a society. It’s all I can do. It’s that, or go absolutely crazy in public while blowing a loud whistle.
Ben Kruse Carbondale
LETTERS POLICY: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, 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.
designated bus-lane use lies with the Colorado Department of Transportation. The full statement is available on pages 49 and 50 of the March board packet linked to on RFTA’s board webpage.
The next board meeting will occur April 10 at 8:30am in Carbondale. The public is also able to join via Webex. More details will be available on www.rfta.com a week ahead of the meeting.
PARTING SHOTS
Honey Butter patrons have about a week left to enjoy that Carbondale business’ fried chicken and specialty breakfast items. Additionally, “We are doing a couple promotions to show gratitude,” stated co-owner Stephen Horner. The first is “Milkshakes for Memorabilia” — every t-shirt sold comes with a free milkshake. The second is “Blue Plate Special” — if your meal is presented on a blue plate, randomly scattered in with the rest, it’ll be comped at no cost. Lastly, the “Brunch Blowout” buffet on March 30 will aim to use up all the remaining food with merriment including live entertainment and “lots of champagne.”
Executive Director of Glenwood Springs Historical Society and Frontier Museum
INSPIRE. LEAD. PRESERVE.
Closes April 4, 2025.
Submit to Jamie LaRue, Board President, jlarue@gcpld.org
Are you a passionate leader with a deep appreciation for the history and culture of Glenwood Springs and surrounding area? The Glenwood Springs Historical Society and Frontier Museum is seeking an Executive Director who is experienced in nonprofit work, hiring and managing staff, and both a visionary and a collaborator, dedicated to fostering strong connections with volunteers, donors, and the community.
Horner and his partners, who own the land, have sold the building to a local restaurateur who currently operates the Daily Bread in Glenwood Springs and Casa Tequila in El Jebel. Honey Butter, meanwhile, will be reimagined as a new mobile concept called “Morning Buzz” by the same team behind Slow Groovin BBQ and Propaganda Pie.
Photos by Raleigh Burleigh
FOREST SERVICE
from page 6
with OPM [U.S. Office of Personnel Management] on its wildland firefighting positions,” the statement read. “Protecting the people and communities we serve, as well as the infrastructure, businesses and resources they depend on to grow and thrive, remains a top priority for USDA and the Forest Service. We are incredibly proud of our firefighters, and we will ensure they have the training, tools and resources they need to work alongside our state and local partners, as well as private landowners, to continue the work to protect lives and livelihoods.”
At the same time, “Secretary (Brooke) Rollins fully supports the president’s directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies and strengthen USDA’s many services to the American people,” the statement read.
It also cited temporary Inflation Reduction Act funding under the Biden Administration as one reason for the release of 2,000 “probationary, non-firefighting employees” whose retention was not supported by long-term funding.
Third District Congressman Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction — who was elected last November to replace former Rep. Lauren Boebert after she moved to Colorado’s 4th Congressional District and was subsequently elected
there — addressed the federal workforce reduction during a telephone town hall meeting with constituents on March 11.
Hurd said he shares constituent concerns about the way cuts have affected land managers on the ground.
“I support the efforts to find efficiencies,” he said. “We just need to make sure that it’s being done in the right spots. It’s not the land managers on the ground in western and southern Colorado who should be cut. It should be the bureaucrats in Washington who should be getting cut.”
That concern extends to potential impacts on firefighting capabilities, Hurd said. “While it is my understanding that firefighters have not been cut, some support staff has been cut,” he said. “That is concerning to me. We have six national forests here in the 3rd District, and especially with the dry winter we are having, it’s absolutely critical to have those resources in place.”
Hurd said he has formally asked the White House to take his and Colorado constituent concerns into consideration as staffing cuts are reevaluated.
He is also co-sponsoring legislation to ensure that any probationary workers who were fired and are reinstated do not lose their time earned toward seniority.
When You Have Unexpected Medical Needs
Our After-Hours clinic provides a convenient, cost-effective way to receive the compassionate care you deserve without a visit to the ER.
No appointment necessary, walk-ins welcome!
Weekdays: 2-10 pm | Weekends: 8 am-5 pm 234 East Cody Lane, Basalt |
MOTHER’S DAY IS RAPIDLY APP A ING
The Sopris Sun is a 501c3 Nonprofit Community organization publishing the Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle weekly newspapers. Our mission is to inform, inspire and build community by fostering diverse and independent journalism.