20 04 02

Because every town needs a park, a library and a newspaper

Carbondale’s weekly

community connector

Volume 12, Number 8 | April 2 - 8, 2020

Eat local!

By Kathleen Shannon Sopris Sun Correspondent Perhaps nothing calls us to strengthen our immune systems more fervently than a spreading pandemic. Thankfully, regional farmers have already been at work cultivating the season’s most nutrientdense greens, with more local variety on the way.

Alongside newborn calves in the fields, passersby may notice another new fixture at Sustainable Settings: a farm stand parked at the ranch’s entrance. The farmers covered all their COVID-19 bases by naming the new hub “Sustainable Settings Ranch Flatten the Curve Social Distancing Sheltering in Place Farm Stand Pick Up Station.” Customers can call or email to choose from a variety of offerings including produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and medicinal products — all grown and raised in sight.

Local food can also be found in Carbondale at Mana Foods, which has seen business triple and quadruple in a few recent days, according to store clerk Natalie Rae Fuller. Regular deliveries of greens, milk, and eggs come from the North Fork Valley and Denver on Tuesdays.

“Eating local and supporting that makes a stronger food system” said Dalene Barton, the manager of Skip’s Farm to Market in Basalt. She’s been placing orders with farmers and distributors every day to keep up with demand and has also implemented a curbside pickup system for customers. Many new customers have been shopping, too, which Barton attributes to the storefront’s small size and peaceful feel.

Highlights from Skip’s wide selection include Colorado-raised meats and butter, mustards from Hotchkiss, and locally made breads and tortillas. Though she has contracted Valley farmers to keep produce supplies up this season, Barton said “there’s kind of a food shortage in the sense that we need to rethink how we do food and eat.”

Customers can start rethinking their part in the food system at the newest rack in Skip’s: the High Desert Seed and Gardens display. To learn more about sowing seeds and contribute to food security, turn to page 8.

Farmers and ranchers are about as essential as it gets, and the Nieslaniks certainly haven’t been taking time off during calving season.

Photo by Sue Rollyson

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The end of the party

OPINION

Ps & Qs

By Jeannie Perry Turns out I am an introvert.

I like staying home, and there’s nothing like a little self-quarantine to get that spring cleaning started.

I’ve been busy: clearing out drawers and closets, sorting through old photographs and papers, binge watching classics like Knight Rider.

Best of all, I’ve worn nothing but loungewear for weeks! When this catastrophe does end, and we get to (have to) leave the house again, don’t be surprised if I come out looking like Mrs. Roper.

The real question is what will our government look like?

Nothing like a pandemic to shine a light on the true heroes: nurses, truckers, grocery store clerks,

waste management employees. Not so much our president — bumbling and lying through a real disaster — nor the senators — who dropped stock faster than they drop their pants in a five-star hotel room. What is up with the blind faith practiced by today’s so-called Republicans?

As our parents used to say, if Trump jumped off a bridge, would they follow him? And can we try it?

Cory Gardner has voted in alignment with Trump 90 percent of the time. And he missed the vote on COVID-19 financial relief entirely.

I think Sen. Gardner will see some repercussions in November, and he won’t be alone. This lack of solidarity with their constituents could lead to a lemming-like end of the mighty GOP as we know it.

And when Trump finally dumps us off on the curb, with our empty bag in our hands, the skeletal Republican Party will be looking for a new guru, something in the line of a 2.0 post-Hollywood Ronald Reagan. I believe Biden is just that guy. In much the same way that green is the new black, and 50 is the new 40, Biden can be the new Republican. With his cream cheese good looks, private school vernacular, and bluer-than-a-blue-

blood sports coat collection, he fits the mold perfectly.

Let’s face it, today’s Democrats are not what they used to be.

They’ve mellowed with age — as have we all. Except Sanders; as old as he is, he’s still ahead of his time.

Unfortunately, the word ‘socialism’ wears rag-like clothing and eats cold soup in the can, conjuring images of The Dark Ages Before Capitalism, so Bernie makes the older Dems shudder to think. Even though, all he’s really pushing is for corporations to pay their taxes, (on all the money we spent, good little consumers that we are) because then we can afford to take care of ourselves (preventive healthcare) and our planet (more of a triage situation, actually.)

The millennials get it. They’ll be damned if they’re going to work harder/enjoy less than the guy who’s a legacy simply on luck of the draw. Let’s face it, rich white people have had a good gig going for a long time in this country. And the opportunities afforded to older generations are gone. For example, making payments on a house/car, buying groceries, paying for utilities, and taking a vacation each year was doable on one middle-class income in 1970. Not so today. Even with

two incomes, the middle-class is sliding into debt each year just trying to get by.

Which is why strict party alliance, i.e., Blue No Matter Who, won’t cut it anymore. We’re into new party shades of such different hues these days, that I barely recognize old-school Democrats anymore.

And I certainly don’t recognize these deficit-bloating, damn-the-workingclass, Trump-culture Republicans.

We don’t have any more time for an alliance that robs the people of our own public lands, that legally keeps women second-class citizens, that claims to abhor government subsidies — until said subsidies go to the corporations which benefit their personal portfolios.

So, if the Republican party implodes, and Old Blue takes up the relay, then we can birth a new party from the left to be the change we want to see. A progressive party that will work for all of us, to keep us healthy, housed and fed.

See, I told you I was staying busy during quarantine; between cleaning out the fridge shelves and trying on everything in the costume box at the back of the closet, I found something positive in the end of the good ol’ days.

Sincerest thanks to our

Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+ Email marilyn@soprissun.com for more information.

Jim Calaway, Honorary Chair Kay Brunnier Scott Gilbert – Habitat for Humanity RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank Peter Gilbert Umbrella Roofing, Inc. Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein Greg and Kathy Feinsinger Carolyn Nelson Jim Noyes True Nature Healing Arts Nicolette Toussaint Jill and Gary Knaus Megan Tackett Ken & Donna Riley Michelle & Ed Buchman CoVenture

Legacy Givers for including us in their final wishes.

Mary Lilly

And all our SunScribers and community members for your support.

LETTERS Evictions proceedings suspended Dear Carbondale Community: The State of Colorado made important and necessary decisions to limit the spread of COVID-19 by enacting a stay-at-home Executive Order, which has and will continue to significantly impact our economy. The Town of Carbondale stands with the members of our community who are impacted by these policies, including those who have lost their income. We recognize that many people may be unable to pay rent and utilities and are afraid of losing their homes or businesses.

This is the time to communicate with your landlord or your mortgage lender if you anticipate problems paying your rent or mortgage. I advise property owners to talk directly to their lenders and mortgage companies to request relief. If you are a landlord or property manager with renters, I respectfully request compassion in this time of sudden uncertainty. I urge landlords to pass on any financial relief from lenders or government relief funds to their renters.

Please be assured that, during this time of crisis, while the eviction process has not been suspended, at least until June 1, 2020 court proceedings for evictions have been suspended by the 9th Judicial District, unless there is a threat to public safety. No law enforcement agency, including Garfield County Sheriff or Carbondale Police Department, will facilitate evictions without a legal order from the 9th Judicial District. If you receive any kind of eviction paperwork, seek legal advice.

We are fortunate to live in a community where our advocacy efforts are not in vain. The broader Roaring Fork Valley community rallied around the need to suspend evictions and Judge James

Berkley Boyd, Chief Justice of the Colorado 9th Judicial District responded. Through my conversation with Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario, I have confidence that his priorities align with the communities to provide a muchneeded respite for struggling renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also spoken to many property managers and landlords to request understanding and flexibility and I’m pleased to report that the ones I spoke with didn’t need any convincing. While the Town has no jurisdiction over evictions or rent relief, we will continue to advocate for the community.

A snapshot of resources will be updated regularly on the The Carbondale Emergency Task Force website, and I encourage everyone to use these resources if they are in need.

We are in this situation together and will help each other through this crisis. We are Carbondale Strong.

Dan Richardson Mayor of Carbondale

Silverstein’s retirement Dear Marty (C/O The Sopris Sun): We, like many others in the Roaring Fork Valley, were hoping to give you a giant good-bye complete with balloons, marching bands, special proclamations and keys to Carbondale upon your retirement from the United States Postal Service.

Because of circumstances surrounding Carbondale and its citizens due to COVID-19, all we can now do is a simple wave when we see you — at a distance of six feet — and a few personal words. Perhaps, in the near future, when all this craziness has left us, we can all join together once again in celebration of life and in celebration of your retirement.

The views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The community is invited to submit letters up to 500 words to news@soprissun.com. Longer columns are considered on a caseby-case basis. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020

Marty, we can’t begin to tell you what your friendship, professionalism, concerns about family, friends and your candy basket has meant to all of us whose lives are daily touched by our local post office. The USPS’s loss is our loss too.

But how wonderful to have Kathy by your side as you begin a new and exciting chapter in both your lives.

It is a life richly deserving of rest, travel and new adventures. Enjoy it all!

Our very best wishes to you and, again, congratulations on a job well done. We'll see you around Main Street.

Janet and Arvid Johnson Carbondale

Continue to participate Dear Editor: As we go through this difficult time, let us all remember to take our civic responsibility seriously.

We have a local election with a tax issue on the ballot. No matter what your opinion of the issue is, please vote. You can mail in your ballot or drop it off at Town Hall. Everyone should also take part in the census. The census tells us about ourselves as a community; it also is the basis for federal funding.

While we are keeping our distances and self isolating, we can still take part in the census.

Remember you might be alone at home but our community as a whole is here for you.

Please go to the town website CarbondaleGov. org for more information.

Marty Silverstein Carbondale Continued on page 13

Correction

Colin Wilhelm was mislabeled in last week's sidebar on Democratic preference poll frontrunners.

It truly takes a village to keep The Sun shining.

Donate online or by mail.

P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #32 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Editor Will Grandbois • 970-510-0540 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Todd Chamberlin • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Graphic Designer: Ylice Golden Reporter: Roberta McGowan Delivery: Tom Sands Current Board Members board@soprissun.com Raleigh Burleigh, President Marilyn Murphy, Vice President Linda Criswell, Secretary Klaus Kocher, Treasurer Kay Clarke • Carol Craven Megan Tackett • Gayle Wells The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m on second Mondays at the Third Street Center.

Contact board@soprissun.com to reach them.

Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Donations to The Sun are fully tax deductible.

Beginning the end Taking the confusion out of how to plan your last wishes Living wills

By Jennifer Johnson Sopris Sun Correspondent Full disclosure: I started writing and researching this piece well over a month ago, before Covid-19 had taken hold. At the time, it seemed like a good idea to shelve any talk of endof-life decisions. Now, in a world where so much seems out of our control, it seems appropriate to talk about the things we can prepare for.

One of the things we really don’t like to talk about in this vibrant, lively Valley (in this country, really) is the end of our lives. Because of that, so many of us who are prepared for any kind of outdoor activity in any kind of weather, are woefully unprepared for the one adventure we are all destined to go on from the time we are born.

About two months ago I got a phone call that reminded me of that fact. One of my dearest friends had a massive stroke, was in surgery and they weren’t sure he was going to make it. So many things happened all at once for me — the thought that he was one of the healthiest people I know, that he had gone climbing and snowboarding the day before the stroke and, one fact that sat heaviest, that he was a year younger than I am. And, in the next few days, I made another discovery — he had no will, living or otherwise, in place.

In the weeks that followed, and my friend started his recovery, I started my research on end of life options and living wills, of last wills and testaments, Colorado being a right-to-die state, and what you can do to relieve your loved ones of the burden of decision making in the event of your death or a debilitating accident.

I have personally had a will since I got married 14 years ago, and updated it when I divorced five years ago. It is a simple enough process, and there are several options available. All you need for your will to be legal is two witnesses to you signing it — though in most states, they must be people not named in the will itself. And yet so many people that I spoke to about wills said the same thing: “I’ve been meaning to do that. I should really get that done.”

Yes. Yes you should. You can make your intentions clear to those around you in as many conversations as you like — everything from designating a god-parent for your child to what you want done with your remains. But unless you have the details in writing, you legally designate the state to oversee your estate, from who your heirs will be, to who will be executor.

Let’s start before the ending. Living wills are documents that tell people what you want done in case of medical situations that render you unconscious or unable to communicate your wishes. According to the Colorado Bar Association, a living will “covers the administration, withholding, or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures when you have a terminal condition and are unconscious or otherwise incompetent.” While it does not serve as a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order, it can outline how you feel about certain medical procedures being performed.

Do you want to be on feeding tubes? How do you feel about respirators to keep you breathing?

Do you want to donate your organs after you die?

The Five Wishes form is a popular document for this purpose, and is being offered free during the COVID-19 crisis — visit fivewishes.org/fivewishes-covid-19 to download a copy.

A more straightforward option is having someone designated with your Medical Power of Attorney (MPA). Someone whom you trust who knows all your medical wishes would act as your, well, living living will. The risks involved with this include not being able to reach this person in times of medical crisis, or the unfortunate scenario where they are also incapacitated.

For the record, if you have a living will and an MPA, your MPA will be overridden in a crisis.

This can be good (think, your MPA having a change of heart about a procedure you don’t want done for personal/emotional reasons) and also bad (think your MPA knows your most recent wishes, which differ from your living will that you have not had an opportunity to update). It comes down to a personal choice, once you know what your options are.

Advanced directives are made up of several documents – your living will, DNR, medical power of attorney, and any information you may want doctors to have about previous medical conditions. It’s the most comprehensive way to cover all potential scenarios. And while it can be hard to think about these things, it will take the decision off the shoulders of your loved ones.

A last will and testament This is the document that gets down to the nitty gritty.

A will can cover a wide variety of wishes, and should: what you want done with your remains,

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As morbid as it seems, any extra downtime you might have is an opportunity to get your affairs in order.

Photo by Jennifer Johnson who you want to be your child’s guardian(s), who will inherit your assets, who will care for your pets…the list goes on and on. It is important to understand the legal ramifications of your decisions, and is therefore advisable to involve an attorney if you have large assets with many disbursements. You’ll especially need to get some legal advice if you still owe money on a house or car you’d like to leave to an heir.

One of the first and most important things your will should name should be the executor (see above). The executor of your will will make sure your wishes are followed in the event of your death. This can be a close friend or family member, or trusted advisor. They can be named in the will, as it does not create any legal conflict — they are simply following through on the things you have outlined.

In Colorado, while having your living will, medical power of attorney, do not resuscitate order, and last will and testaments notarized is highly recommended, it is not necessary to make them legal. All you need is two people willing to witness you signing the documents, who are willing to sign as well and who are not related to you or named in your will. Templates of the documents are readily available online, and more advanced documents can be purchased for relatively small fees — it is no longer something

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Personally, I have a dear friend as executor, my dog is accounted for, several sentimental items are distributed among friends and family, and remaining assets not used to pay off any final debts are given to family and friends.

Simple, to the point, and I printed the form myself and had it witnessed by co-workers.

The sense of relief when I handled these things was pretty powerful — knowing that I’d relieved my loved ones of the stress of figuring everything out for me after I’m gone.

And in a time when nothing seems certain, I am comforted to know that this, at least, is in my power to control.

According to NOLO, the online legal library, if you die without a will in Colorado, your property will be distributed to your closest relatives, beginning with your spouse and children. If you have neither a spouse nor children, your grandchildren or your parents will get your property. This list continues with increasingly distant relatives, including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. If the court exhausts this list to find that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property.

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020 • 3

COVID-19

School board grants emergency powers Carbondale

By Debbie Bruell Sopris Sun Correspondent

On March 18, Governor Polis signed an executive order suspending in-person learning in all schools starting March 23, and administrators of the Roaring Fork Schools found themselves in uncharted territories, trying to figure out how to provide instruction without classrooms, serve school lunches without lunchrooms, and respond to a host of employees, such as custodians, whose regular responsibilities have ceased to be needed.

The Colorado Association of School Boards recommended that school boards across the state pass a resolution granting temporary emergency powers to their superintendent, allowing actions without school board approval in order to respond quickly to the evolving crisis. The school district called a special video-meeting on March 25 which included a vote on this resolution.

The temporary powers listed in the resolution included allowing the superintendent to adjust the curriculum, modify the school calendar, change employee work schedules and assignments, limit access to school properties, and enter into contracts to purchase necessary materials related to the COVID-19 situation.

The idea of granting the superintendent sole decision-making power in some of these areas struck

a nerve with many parents and teachers, as evidenced by a slew of emails and phone calls that school board members reportedly received.

Communications to board members included fears about the possibility of the superintendent making unilateral decisions such as extending the school-year through the summer, preventing teachers from accessing their employee housing, reducing teacher pay, and requiring teachers to work regular school hours during this time that their school-age children are also at home.

Numerous parents and teachers provided public comment at the virtual school board meeting questioning whether it was truly necessary or prudent to grant these special powers to the superintendent.

As parent Amy Connerton stated, “If we can meet now in this way, through this electronic means, I see no reason to hand over emergency powers to Dr. Stein at this time.”

Other than decisions directly related to “emergency health and wellness,” Connerton said, board oversight is essential. “We need different voices...checks and balances.”

Similarly, teacher Megan Talbott suggested that there be “some mechanism for gathering input on upcoming decisions that would be given to Rob Stein to make.”

Board member Jasmin Ramirez agreed that “there are valid

concerns.” However, she explained, she supported the resolution since it is only designed to be used for emergency decisions and it is set to expire in mid-April.

Board member Jennifer Scherer relayed her concerns about what she called “the mistruths and speculations (being) thrown around.” As she told The Sopris Sun after the meeting, there was “a frenzy of thinking that summer was going to be taken away,” among other fears. At a time like this, she said, “we need to work together... and not feed the paranoia about things that are not going to happen.”

“I understand the concern that comes with far-reaching power,” Scherer said, “but we need to start from the assumption that people’s intentions are good.”

Superintendent Rob Stein reiterated the examples listed on the meeting agenda regarding the “powers that will likely be utilized during the crisis,” including: providing meals to children without complying with food distribution guidelines; providing teachers with some days of professional development and planning time in lieu of direct student contact; and continuing payroll and benefits for staff who have not logged the required hours.

“I appreciate that people have strong confidence in our elected board and a desire to keep those checks in place,” Stein said. “I understand the concern about things like the calendar, and we have no plans for changing the calendar.. .but

Colaborates

Superintendent Rob Stein. we already have cancelled five days of instruction, and we’ll continue to make those kinds of decisions with or without this resolution.”

Stein recommended making some amendments to the proposed resolution, including: a stipulation that the district will not change the end or start date of the approved school calendar without board approval; allowing a simple majority vote of the board to rescind the superintendent’s temporary emergency powers, rather than the recommended twothirds vote; and putting a cap on the amount of any contracts related to health and safety materials or services that the superintendent can enter into without board approval.

Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent Shannon Pelland suggested a limit of $100,000 total for such contracts.

The board unanimously passed the resolution with the suggested amendments. At the April 22 school board meeting, board members will vote on whether or not to extend the temporary emergency powers resolution beyond that date.

The Town of Carbondale has established the Carbondale Emergency Task Force — a group of volunteers and organizations from across the community — to provide support and guidance in key areas of potential impact from COVID-19. The task force will be overseen by the Mayor Dan Richardson, and Town Manager Jay Harrington. Also involved are the Carbondale Chamber and Carbondale Tourism, Carbondale Arts, Carbondale Police Department, several community volunteers with identified skill sets, and the newly-formed Carbondale Mutual Aid Group.

The group identified eight lines of effort: health, economy, strategic communications, human capital, finance, technology, advocacy, and crisis response.

The task force is also recruiting volunteers to work directly under Valley Meals and More, a local nonprofit that provides meals to seniors, so that operations can expand during the crisis.

Additionally, the task force is promoting the service operated by Carbondale Rec. Center staff, who are providing similar errands and care calls. Runners are needed to make deliveries and other errands for the high-risk population, care callers to check on their well being or just to say hello and specialists to contribute specific skills.

Visit www.carbondalegov.org for more information or to get involved.

To request help, complete the assistance request form online or contact mary@ valleymealsandmore.com 274-2632.

If the City Market aisles could talk News analysis by Peter Mertz Special to The Sopris Sun The Ides of March, 2020, will be a date long remembered in Carbondale lore. After that fateful day, the town would never be the same.

COVID-19 has hit America hard – from two deaths at a Seattle nursing home on Jan. 26 - to 2,597 deaths and 144,280 infected one month later. It got the Roaring Fork Valley early on: Monday, March 9: the Aspen Times reports that 13 Australians were in state-ordered isolation in Aspen after being exposed and showing symptoms.

Tuesday, March 10: Cases reported in Eagle, Arapahoe and Gunnison counties — 17 total statewide.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declares state of emergency.

Wednesday, March 11: Statewide cases doubled, with nine confirmed in Pitkin County alone.

Thursday, March 12: Eagle County takes state lead with 11 infected; Denver and Aspen declare states of emergency. Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties restrict gatherings to 50 people or fewer.

Friday, March 13: First Colorado death; 72 now infected statewide; President Donald Trump declares a U.S. National Emergency.

Saturday, March 14: Gov. Polis closes all Colorado ski resorts, gyms, rec centers — tens of thousands of workers impacted; restaurants brace for closings as well.

Sunday, March 15: The Ides of March.

Carbondale was surrounded by Colorado’s first outbreak of the deadly virus.

The virus had found one of the most protected, remote places in America — far from the madding crowd — or so we thought. The stage was set.

Before dawn, some 50 or more Carbondale residents gathered outside the only grocery store in town. To the east and west were other grocers, located some 15 miles away. But up the long Crystal River Valley, 28 miles to the tiny town of Marble, hundreds of locals rely on the Carbondale City Market to survive.

The store was supposed to open at 6 a.m. as usual, but management bumped the opening time back an hour. The week had been turbulent, and across the country, everybody was cutting back. Outside, the locals, unaware of the change until seeing a sign posted on the big glass doors, had been standing in the chilly dark for an hour. Some were getting grumpy.

Inside, the Sunday openers were worried. They heard clamoring outside, and, just as the seventh hour

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020

struck, they heard banging on the glass to open up. All they could see outside was a sea of faces.

The on-duty manager quickly grabbed the biggest staffer there — a mature, polished, valley kid who graduated from Roaring Fork High - studying criminology in college - to open the big glass doors – to slow the incoming tide.

He and several other City Market employees later described the ensuing half-hour that morning as, “chaotic, “crazy,” and “pure bedlam.“ The same young man later showed a video of the first moments after the doors were opened, with a handful of people running into the store, and then, a fairly orderly wave of people swept into sight pushing carts.

It was a Ducky Derby. With shopping carts. Apparently, more than 100 people entered the store at 7 a.m. or soon thereafter on Sunday morning, before the crack of dawn.

Also apparently, a scuffle broke out in the toilet paper aisle. That’s right — the damned toilet paper aisle of all things.

However, whether it was over toilet paper, paper towels, or sani-wipes we may never know — it was resolved quickly. Two City Market staff members confirmed the unfortunate

Debbie Bruell remarks on the scarcity of paper products on March 14. Stock has actually largely improved since then. Photo by Ken Pletcher incident. Although unconfirmed, it was also reported that one man was called out — for taking too many supplies — by another man, and some shoves and grabbing occurred.

Aftermath The next day, the unrest sparked by the event – and the reaction of those needing immediate or excessive supplies — was revealed. Many shelves in the store stood bare.

But just as things emptied during the day and night, City Market elves were busy restocking items, and each day, by mid-morning only a few, sporadic shortages were seen.

But also — for the first time in the

store’s history — many short-term shortages occurred. Paper towels, toilet paper, sani-wipes, sanitize cleaners, have been low or sold out consistently.

The first important staples to disappear were eggs, bread, chicken, bottled water, rice, sugar and flour.

Pasta sauces have been limited for the past week.

But all agree, things have settled down at the friendly neighborhood grocer. And most staple items have returned to the shelves Ironically, the return to calm was predicted and explained by City Market from the start. “Trucks are coming every day, our supply chain Continued on page 13

COVID-19

Roaring Fork Family Physicians plans for pandemic

By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff Dr. Chad Knaus wrapped up his tour of critical access hospitals and disaster zones and rejoined his Roaring Fork Family Practice just in time to apply some of those same skills right here in Carbondale.

“I had about three weeks of getting back into the rhythm before we had sort of had to shift how we think about providing care on an individual, clinic, hospital and general public health basis,” he said.

“It’s a disaster, and we’ve been trying to respond in a similar fashion. It’s a terrifying and fascinating thing to be doing that in your own hometown.”

There are, of course, differences.

There’s no physical devastation, although Knaus has seen some of the same human responses under such circumstances. And while he also doesn’t have somewhere safe and unaffected to supply backup, he’s surrounded by colleagues — including his father, Gary, a fixture at the clinic for decades — instead of being out on his own.

“What I’ve really enjoyed is the collegiality and everyone pitching in to provide what’s needed under really challenging circumstances,” he said.

He praised the leadership and

Knaus has worked in field hospitals before, but usually not with this much PPE. Photo by Laurel Smith support provided by Valley View Hospital, which runs the practice.

“I think they’re doing a fantastic job with planning,” he said. “It’s super complex and there’s thousands of moving parts, and I’ve been super impressed.”

Roaring Fork Family Practice is asking patients to call ahead (9633350) so they the right treatment approach can be found for their circumstances, Practice Director

Hilary Drummond explained.

Non-essential visits, like adult wellness checkups, have simply been postponed. Many mental health appointments are being handled via telemedicine, and the tool is also useful for following up or vetting symptoms before making an inperson appointment.

“We wanted to do this anyway, it just made us make it a priority sooner,” Drummond noted.

Folks with acute injuries, abdominal pain or the like, meanwhile, will have a fairly normal experience, although they’ll be greeted by a locked door and asked to call in and wait outside to allow for social distancing. The practice is also working on limiting the number of on-site staff.

“We’ve had such a great open door policy, and we’ve had to close that down,” Drummond observed.

“It’s all to protect the patient and our staff.”

Perhaps the most dramatic level of protection is the tent set up outside for respiratory cases. While the setting and protective gear worn by the doctors might seem alarming, Drummond feels coverage of the national situation has helped prepared people.

“The community has been great,” she said. “They understand and have been thankful for the changes that we’ve made.”

There were quite a few requests for testing early on, she added, but that isn’t something the clinic can offer currently. Similarly, while the doctors have the personal protective gear they need for now, they’re certainly not in a position to give out masks.

“All that stuff is being tracked to make sure we have what we need,” Drummond said. “There’s always concern that if we see a big surge we won’t have enough of that stuff.”

In the meantime, Knaus and his colleagues are committed to continuing to care for the community.

“People don’t stop having heart attacks. People don’t stop having car crashes,” he observed. “It’s gonna be a marathon, certainly, not a sprint.”

Retired pulmonologist answers the Coronavirus call

By Roberta McGowan Sopris Sun Staff ”The pneumonia vaccine, although it won’t reduce the risk of getting coronavirus, could lessen the incidence of bacterial pneumonia, a critical complication.”

That is the professional opinion of Dr. Clifford Zwillich, a pulmonary disease and internal medicine specialist who lives in Missouri Heights with his wife, Judith. He retired three years ago from the University of Colorado hospital system and was also affiliated with the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System-Denver.

Zwillich contacted the Valley View and Aspen Valley hospitals after considering all options and decided how best he could help.

Both facilities responded he would be called if either became overwhelmed.

“If called, I could work on telemedicine and screening patients for COVID-19 and pneumonia.” Zwillich explained.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the novel coronavirus is a respiratory illness that causes pneumonia in severe cases with some patients having pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure and sadly, death.

In addition, the CDC reports some studies have found that one in seven patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has acquired a dangerous secondary bacterial infection, and 50 percent of patients who died had such infections.

According to the CDC, pneumonia generally sends more than 250,000 people in the United States to the hospital and kills about

50,000 each year.

“My strong recommendation for the overall community is to get the 2020 flu shot if they haven’t done so already. It’s not too late,” Zwillich stressed.

He added everyone over 65, those with conditions that weaken the immune system, people with a cerebrospinal fluid leak, a cochlear implant and smokers between 19 and 64 should also get the pneumonia vaccine.

Zwillich said he has worked with other epidemics, including influenza, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), also known as camel flu, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Pneumonia was the most common cause of death with these diseases.

Michael Niederman, M.D., clinical director and associate chief of pulmonary and critical care at Weill Cornell Medicine, suggested people should talk to a doctor about which of the two pneumonia vaccines they should get.

Neiderman emphasized all adults should get the vaccine known as PPSV23, or Pneumovax, at age 65; some should also get PVC13, or Prevnar 13.

Zwillich agreed, adding that the vaccine protocol includes two injections. He also said the “Vaccines are effective for life.”

But Niederman cautioned that diagnosing pneumonia right now may be more challenging than usual, because of the logistics of taking X-rays in people suspected of having COVID-19. That’s because imaging equipment used for someone who may have it requires extensive disinfecting afterward, and various people and areas of the hospital or health center may be exposed before, during and afterward.

Retired pulmonary specialist Dr. Clifford Zwillich said he wants to help with COVID-19 medical efforts.

Photo by Laurel Smith

How and why did COVID-19 begin?

The coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China in 2019.

In that region wild animal sales sit right next to domesticated animal sales,” Zwillich reported.

Initially, scientists traced the virus to diseased bats which were consumed.”

But just recently, Zwillich reported, the Journal of the American Medical Association instead considers the pangolin the prime source of the virus. The pangolin, an anteater primarily found in northern asia and southern China, is considered a delicacy in that region.

“We call this a zoonotic virus that comes from animals,” he said.

Experts concur the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes and by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

In 2009, the CDC concluded the 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu), during which 22 million Americans were infected and 4,000 died, is now a regular human flu virus and continues to circulate seasonally worldwide.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020 • 5

SCUTTLEBUTT

Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com.

How to help

On your own

Get in the zone

They say it’s your birthday

We urge folks to support efforts by organizations like Roaring Fork School District, Garfield County Senior Programs and Lift-Up in their efforts to provide food to those who are struggling — see the back cover for more information or visit endhungerco. org to contribute on a statewide scale. Also, if you happen to have masks or other personal protective equipment you don’t need, you can drop off donations from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in a box in front of the Valley View Hospital cancer center.

White River National Forest has begun closing developed recreation facilities including rental cabins, toilets and group sites.

This management action intends to protect public health and safety and align with state and local measures already in place to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Closures will be in effect until at least April 30. Most backcountry access points and trails remain open. The Forest Service will be adjusting management to best meet social distancing direction and keep group sizes small. Visit fs.usda.gov/whiteriver for current information.

Nonprofits require a steady hand at the helm, a strong supporting staff and the right person in place to lead development. YouthZone’s new Development Director Carol Wolff intends to make sure sustaining efforts are continued to financially support this regional nonprofit. Her next few months will be an intense relationship building endeavor. She looks forward to engaging with all the communities the organization serves and the number of people who already support their services.

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Dave Ritchie and Walter Gallacher (April 2); Terri Ritchie, Jeff Busk and Lorena Medina Jones (April 3); Marilyn Murphy and Dan Hardin (April 4)’ Judy Schilling (April 5); Adam Rudd and Mark Wolfe (April 6); Paula “Sam” Hunter (April 7); Anais Tomezsko, Sonja Linman, Cassie Cerise, and Beth Simonetti (April 7); Cait Kennett and Trish Anderson (April 8).

Sharing is caring Garfield County Public Health has launched two new online tools to collect data from the community on COVID-19.

If you are experiencing manageable COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, fever, or shortness of breath, public health would like you toto visit garfield-county.com and share this information. Also located on the Garfield County Covid-19 testing page is the social distancing feelings check-in form for everyone — with or without symptoms — to track how our community members are feeling during this time of isolation and social distancing practices.

Fake news We couldn’t completely let April Fools Day pass without a couple of phoney stories on our website — although we stopped well short of the “Sopris Sin” wrap that went out on the print edition in 2010. Our website will be back to normal by the time we hit print, but you can still find the content through our Facebook page.

The winds of freedom blow Roaring Fork High School senior and student trustee Diego Valdez recently received news that he was admitted into Stanford University! Way to go, Diego!

Chambers in concert As many businesses have been justifiably anxious about how to keep their businesses afloat during this time of COVID-19, the Basalt Chamber of Commerce — along with over 80 chambers and business associations across the nation — created the Save Small Business Coalition (SSBC) to address exactly that concern. The SSBC believes that with a federally funded backstop to cover the business continuity expenses through defined grants to business owners impacted, insurance carriers and agents could potentially act as a distribution center for funds and likely help define the terms of the grants based on their experience as claims payors and policy writers.

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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020

Head out on the highway The Colorado Department of Transportation is asking Interstate 70 Glenwood Canyon travelers to plan for additional travel time beginning April 2, when the head-to-head detour between Hanging Lake Tunnel (mile point (MP) 125) and No Name Tunnel (MP 117.6) is scheduled to begin, weather permitting. Westbound traffic will be shifted onto the lower, eastbound traffic deck where one lane of traffic will be open in each direction. Significant delays are anticipated through the detour route.

The show must go on Beginning this week, Thunder River Theatre Company will offer ThunderStream, a new, online series of free virtual performances, including skits by the Consensual Improv! comedy troupe, minisalons by singers from the Diva Cabaret series, a virtual playwriting camp for students and parents, play readings, and a special selection of content from Davi Nikent, Marble Distilling, Jackson Emmer, Batch, The Carbondale Clay Center, Beer Works, 5Point and others for First Friday.

Visit thunderrivertheatre.com to see them all!

You heard about the toilet paper shortage, but how about paint? Ace has seen something of a run on the stuff, as the Strouds discovered when they came in for another can and were told their home improvement project would have to wait another day. Courtesy photo

C VID Health Alert: CORONAVIRUS DISEASE

19

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

You have traveled to a country with an outbreak of COVID-19 and are at higher risk.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person.

Stay Home

Symptoms

Stay home for the next 14 days and monitor your health.

Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and watch for symptoms.

Illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure.

If you feel sick and have symptoms:

Symptoms can include:

• Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.

Fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher)

• Tell the doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.

Cough

• Avoid contact with others.

Shortness of breath

• Do not travel while sick.

Visit the website for more information on monitoring your health and how to contact local public health officials. Visit: www.cdc.gov/COVIDtravel

CS 315649-B February 29, 2020 4:15 PM

For information about COVID-19 and how to monitor your health after travel, open your cell phone camera and scan this code:

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Для получения информации о COVID-19 и о том, как контролировать состояние вашего здоровья после путешествия, включите камеру на вашем мобильном телефоне и отсканируйте этот код:

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Pour obtenir des informations relatives à COVID-19 et à la manière de surveiller votre santé après un voyage, ouvrez la caméra de votre téléphone portable et scannez le code suivant : ‫دجتسملا انوروك سوريف لوح تامولعم ىلع لوصحلل‬ COVID-19 ‫رفسلا دعب ةيحصلا كتلاح ةبقارم ةيفيكو‬، ‫اًيئوض زمرلا اذه حسماو يولخلا كفتاه اريماك حتفا‬:

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www.cdc.gov/COVIDTravel THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020 • 7

Victory Gardens see revival during stay-at-home order

By Kathleen Shannon Sopris Sun Correspondent While emptying shelves in the grocery store seem to be filling shoppers’ supply of anxiety, backyards are starting to look more like opportunities.

Echoes of WWII’s Victory Garden initiatives are ringing through the chambers of social media outlets and garden supply phone lines during COVID-19, nationally and locally. The historical movement encouraged teamwork and community efforts to expand the nation’s food supply, but the recent resurgence in gardening has a different look.

Self-isolated folks are navigating outdoor recreation with the awkward caveats of doing so close to home and away from others. For those with yards, constructing gardens is a utilitarian way to fill time at home. Those without access to gardening spaces may choose to explore Carbondale’s community options.

There are 15 plots available at Demeter’s Garden (located at the Third Street Center) at varying sizes and costs. “If you know how to treat the soil, you can grow as much as you want,” said Elizabeth Cammack who, with Tami Stroud, has managed the garden since spearheading its construction seven years ago. Cammack noted that she still has a good supply of last year’s fall harvest — garlic, onions, carrots — as she favored growing vegetables that store well.

Stroud said that the garden has good ditch water access and a dedicated community herb plot with a nod to the nearby bread oven. Though the garden maintains some rules such as adhering to organic standards and barring some plants

from cultivation, it is a community setting meant to bring people together. “Really one of our goals is to build bridges between different people of different backgrounds and walks of life,” said Stroud. “I have been so much better for it.”

Demeter’s Garden is on Town property and those applying for garden plots should do so by contacting the Town. Those interested can preview available plots at the garden; they are marked with stakes and orange flags.

Carbondale Community Garden in Hendrick Park is also on Town land and has two plots available. Interested folks should contact Terry Lee at tlee@rof.net for more information.

Eric Brendlinger, the Director of Carbondale’s Park and Recreation, said that the Town gardens remain accessible to gardeners as food cultivation is considered an essential service. Gardeners should maintain social distancing practices and bring their own tools, as all Town community tool sheds are currently inaccessible.

The Good Seed Community Garden is owned by the Orchard Church and stands north of it on Snowmass Avenue. About 60 plots of varying sizes are currently available. With some soil amendments and perhaps a facemask for those who have been sick or are at higher risk, those interested are welcome to apply for a plot by messaging the Good Seed Community Garden Facebook page.

Once garden space is established, it’s time to shop for seeds. Carbondalians have easy access to seeds bred specifically for the local high desert climate from Wild Mountain Seeds, just south of town on Highway 133. The farm carries a wide selection of organic seeds, including those for early spring crops such as spinach, kale, peas, arugula,

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8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020

Cammack and Stroud arrange the first plots at Demeter's Garden in 2013. File photo by Lynn Burton lettuce, carrots, beets, and even fava beans. They make social distancing easy by delivering seed orders via mail.

Owners Kirsten Keenan and Casey Piscura have always supported community involvement in the local food supply, but “it feels more important now than ever to empower people to grow their own food,” said Keenan.

Wild Mountain Seeds typically does a lot of business on Dandelion Day selling warm-season crop seedlings, but Keenan said “this year could be different than ever before.” The farmers recognize they may have to get creative in distributing seeds and crops this year and they encourage readers to stay updated by following their farm on Instagram.

They’ll also be selling potting mix from Paonia Soil Company and providing free seed packets at the food bank when it fully reopens.

The pair maintain a focus on educating farmers and community members, and Piscura encouraged greenhorns to “educate yourself as best as possible on how to garden” before throwing yourself in the soil.

Keenan and Piscura hope to host volunteer work parties later in the season, though they’ll have to wait for social distancing measures to change. Until then, Colorado State University’s Extension website is a great resource for gardening topics from basics to diseases.

Gardeners can also turn to Eagle Crest Nursery in El Jebel for supplies ranging from tools and water attachments to mulches, composts, and potting soils to fill raised beds with. Though manager Diana Mundinger said the store is usually most fully-stocked in the first week of May, they are starting to receive deliveries of seed potatoes, seed onions and seedling plants this week. They are currently taking orders over the phone and have designated hours for pickup.

In 1919, the National War Commission published a pamphlet that stated gardening’s “peace-time value will fully equal its war-time worth.” Perhaps those turning to gardening in the face of COVID will, too, see (and taste!) its value for seasons to come.

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Through the looking glass

By Kate Phillips Sopris Sun Correspondent Take a moment, right now, to look up from this article and peer out of the nearest window. What do you see? Perhaps, if you are privileged enough, you have an expansive view of Sopris; or maybe, you just witnessed a neighbor enjoying a brief moment of respite outside with their dog.

Whatever the scene may be, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) believes those views present a window of opportunity for children to experience the outdoors through art — even with pandemic restrictions.

In its 25th year of operation, RFOV remains true to its original mission: to promote outdoor stewardship through community engagement; and on March 30, that mission was put into action with the at-home initiative “My Window, Our World”.

With the intention of encouraging resilience, community, and outdoor curiosity for K-8 children, “My Window, Our World” focuses on artistic expression as a means for students to interact with nature and their neighbors while safely abiding by current shelter-inplace orders.

Since 2012, RFOV has been bringing the outdoors

into classrooms from Aspen to Parachute.

Utilizing experiential learning, RFOV has integrated two key outdoor education programs into curriculums: a general Outdoor Education program and the Outdoor Careers Internship program.

In these experiences, students receive first-hand knowledge and opportunities that help them engage with the outdoors. In the general classroom program children learn how to plant gardens, identify animal tracks and snowshoe, according to Communications and Outreach Coordinator Jacob Baker.

With this established presence, RFOV has been able to seamlessly adjust when physical distancing orders were mandated.

“We are interested in adapting our programs as creatively as possible,” Baker said. “We thought that a bit of art outreach would be a simple, but effective way to reach kids who are now spending more time at home than they usually might be.”

In collaboration with Carbondale Arts, The Art Base in Basalt, The Red Brick in Aspen and the corresponding chambers of commerce, RFOV is encouraging students to draw, sketch, paint, or construct what they see outside of

their windows and to share their creations via social media.

The point?

To create a positive memento during a difficult time, according to Baker. In these precarious times, he said it can be easy to fall into individualistic thinking patterns. He adamantly believes, however, that the “My Window, Our World'' initiative will ignite a child’s curiosity to look beyond themselves and toward their surrounding environments.

“While nobody had imagined that we would spend March and April under these ongoing pandemic restrictions,” Baker said.

“It doesn't necessarily mean that we cannot adapt in creative ways to still enjoy ourselves, and to still find value in the time that we spend together.”

Each week, RFOV intends to keep students engaged with prompts, tailored to specific age groups, that will narrow down the broader themes of stewardship.

Baker also hopes these dynamic topics will encourage families to bond through these challenging times.

In the upcoming days, RFOV, in partnership with The Project Shop, Carbondale Arts, and the Red Brick, will also be releasing simple instructional videos for students to continue growing

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers believe that art can be an excellent guide to experiencing nature when stuck inside. Courtesy photo throughout the initiative.

This experience is meant to be a process, according to Baker.

While the students will build their window diaries during this pandemic, the skills they gain can be carried over to other facets of their lives such as school, relationships, the community, and of course the outdoors.

In time, when the physical distancing measures are lifted, the artwork will be showcased in the windows of participating Main Street businesses to prolong the sense of community gained during COVID-19.

“We hope that kids are reminded that a negative experience doesn’t need to cloud out the possibility of positive experiences,” Baker said.

Already, a third of Carbondalearea schools have expressed interest and plan to inform their students of this opportunity.

RFOV is also working on an inclusive venture to distribute free art supplies alongside the free lunches provided by the schools.

However, this enterprise is still currently in talks as RFOV wants to distribute supplies as safely as possible.

Students that are interested in the “My Window, Our World” initiative can submit their finished artwork directly to Jacob Baker at jbaker@rfov.org or upload to Instagram and tag @rfovolunteers to be showcased. For more details check out Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers on Facebook.

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However, you can still celebrate and cultivate wellness in the comfort and safety of your home!

From 5-8pm, virtually explore Home Art Tours with valley creatives, enjoy live-stream music, art demos, cocktail + mocktail recipes from local Craft Drink Makers, and more.

Visit www.facebook.com/CarbondaleCreativeDistrict/ for the Virtual First Friday experience!

Learn More: www.Carbondale.com/FirstFriday

PC: Michelle Smith

This Community Ad Space Donated By Cool Brick Studios

THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020 • 9

Watching is for the birds

By Roberta McGowan Sopris Sun Staff If you’re itching to take a walk on the wild side, look no further than your own backyard, for that’s where you’ll find the fascinating world of birding.

It’s spring, so birds are coming back from their winter vacations down south and are eager to return to start a new family.

The Roaring Fork Valley is a mecca for bird watchers. From tiny chickadees to magnificent bald eagles, your avian neighbors are drawn to the many of the same things people are: mountains, rivers, high desert, red rock cliffs, deep gorges, lakes, high tundra above treeline and thick forests.

All these can total eleven different life zones, each rich with a variety of birds to observe.

Roaring Fork Audubon Society board member and conservation chair Mark Fuller, explained the best ways of attracting birds.

“Put out bird feeders — most species enjoy black oil sunflower seeds — in protected areas safe from squirrels, cats, large birds and other threatening critters,” he said.

Birdfeederhub.com gives tips for backyard birding with a specific page on how to get started feeding wild birds.

Fuller recommended planting shrubs like serviceberry, chokecherry. crab apple trees and sunflowers. He also encouraged the recipe for hummingbird food: four cups water and one cup sugar.

Many species enjoy chomping on insects, mulch and leaves. Flowers with nectar also draw insects, which will keep the birds happy with full bellies.

“Please,” Fuller stressed, “Don’t forget water, year-round if possible. A shallow pan or plate will work just fine.”

He added a heated birth bath would be terrific.

The society is helping catalog bird species especially during spring and fall migration, winter residence and summer breeding. After recording the type, numbers, time, date, altitude and locations, the society encourages people to send their observations to info@ roaringforkaudubon.org as part of this citizen science project.

Allison Holloran, regional executive director and a national vice president for the Audubon Society, recommended the tools a birder needs. She said a normal pair of binoculars (nothing too expensive), a good bird guide and a notebook are all someone needs for basic watching and recording.

Other options include a closeup scope and a camera.

The online site ebird.com, managed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, also tracks sightings around the country and the world.

Ebird also provides a wealth of interactive information and other resources.

Which birds are you most likely to see here? The list is long and includes over 500 different species in Colorado.

Colorado Field Ornithologists at cobirds.org posts about Garfield County birds specifically. These include bald and golden eagles, black bird, red winged blackbird, black tern, bluebird, canada geese, crane, crow and raven, falcon, hawk, heron, house wren, hummingbird, mallard duck, mourning dove, owl, sage grouse, swan, great

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A Lewis Woodpecker alights on a local birdfeeder. Send your backyard bird pics to news@soprissun.com and we'll try to publish some of them! Photo by Sue Rollyson blue heron, wild turkey, turkey vulture, owl, robin, sage grouse and many more.

The American Birding Association (ABA) has published the ABA Code of Birding Ethics, starting with always bird and report with honesty and integrity.

Respect the interests, rights and skill levels of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other outdoor activities.

Freely share your knowledge and experience and be especially helpful to beginning birders.

Additionally, avoid stressing birds and their nests or exposing them to danger and minimize habitat disturbance.

With the skyrocketing interest in birding you may want to take a look at local groups organizing birding field trips (many have been cancelled for 2020).

To help set up your own group outing when the pandemic subsides, check out “Bird Watching for Dummies.” But remember that if you’re not sure what experience your friends have, assume they are all beginners.

As Peter Dunne, author of many birding books, said,“ The difference between a beginning birder and an experienced one is that beginning birders have misidentified a few birds. Experienced birders have misidentified thousands.”

Mother’s Day Photo Shoot Reservations

Now’s the time for moms with babies born within the last year to schedule portraits for our special spread in the May 7 Sopris Sun. Social distance friendly!

Ahora es el momento para que las mamás con bebés nacidos en el último año programen retratos para nuestra difusión especial en el Sopris Sun del 7 de mayo. Distancia social amigable!

Call or text Mark Burrows 970-379-4581 When you have unexpected medical needs, After-Hours Medical Care is here for you. We are staffed with doctors and nurses to answer your medical questions and treat minor injuries and illnesses, including: sprains, simple fractures, lacerations, UTIs ...and more.

If you have respiratory symptoms, fever, sore throat, or flu/COVID-19-like symptoms, we can arrange a telemedicine consult for you by calling 970.544.1250.

970.544.1250

234 Cody Lane, Basalt Monday - Friday 3:00 – 11:00 pm Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm aspenhospital.org |

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10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020

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www.A2PCensus2020.com THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020 • 11

If 3 get hooked, 1 dies early.

A higher cigarette tax could save them.

1 in 3 kids who get hooked on tobacco will die prematurely from it.

And as more Carbondale kids become smokers every year, the numbers add up fast.

But we can do something about it by increasing our cigarette tax by $4 per pack. It might not stop every child from smoking, but it will stop many of them. And that’s worth a lot more than 4 dollars.

Vote Yes on Ballot Issue A

Paid for by Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund, Jodi L. Jalving, registered agent. Not authorized by, coordinated with, or controlled by a candidate.

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020

City Market from page 4 is intact, we have more food coming in soon.”

Meanwhile, other things tightened up more.

Carbondale’s restaurants, bars and coffee shops went to carry-out only. Residents were ordered to stand six feet apart. The Town declared a state of emergency. All meetings — of any size — were curtailed, and, by the end of the week, the governor had imposed a “stay home” lockdown - necessary travel only.

The rules at City Market also changed. Limits on purchases of toilet paper, paper towels, bread, eggs, chicken, beef, pork, sanitizing cleaners and wipes, and milk and water were imposed.

Senior hour was introduced, between 7 and 8 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and by week’s end the store was limiting occupancy to 50 people inside at a time.

On March 16, the day after the micro-burst, City Market staff were still shaking their heads and chuckling. So “un-Carbondale.” But some shelves were still empty.

Across Carbondale, volunteers and helpers were getting busy. One woman started a food delivery

service to bring groceries to high-risk residents. Linda Pierson added more senior and disabled clients to her daily caregiver route. Dave Reed started a bulletin and a Carbondale Covid Facebook Help Group page.

People around town were mobilizing.

On St. Patrick’s Day, I made three Facebook posts to update inventory — one exclaiming that eggs and bananas were back after a three-day hiatus — which attracted 200 likes and 82 comments.

Buoyed by a comment that I was performing “a community service,” I continued daily inspections of the contents of the primary food supplier for Carbondale’s 7,000 residents.

Now, some two weeks later, the daily “updates” include a list of some 40 items and a dozen pics and have been liked by more than 1,235 people and received 580 comments.

This hybrid effort – providing food inventory and information — will be obsolete, maybe tomorrow, with an app that will tell you exactly what is at any store at any time, at any location at the touch of a button.

LETTERS

COMMUNITY RESPONSES Hoarding: “For all of the people buying all of the toilet paper you are accomplishing nothing but doing a real good job of pissing us off! If you had stuck to what you normally do this would not be a problem!” – Keith Olson The need for masks: “I lived in Japan for two years and in Asian culture, wearing a mask, when you are sick, is a sense of duty for themselves and their family.” – Lynn Kirchner The updates themselves: “They bring a sense of calm to know that the shelves are not empty and people do not need to rush out or hoard stuff,” — Trina Ortega “I think this has helped a lot of people from doing random grocery visits to get our lists fulfilled,” — Erin Hillman “I do not think anybody should be going to the store unless they absolutely have to,” — Katrina Byars “Ideally, City Market staff should do this task,” — Sloan Shoemaker Biggest thanks: “…to the C’dale CM employees… so many have been there for so long, and are even pleasant in these times. You rock folks,” – Susan Darrow.

Coping tip: “The challenge now is to shift your mindset, and get your body to relax. The brain is very helpful in boosting your immune system.” – Lynn Kirchner.

Overall lessons: (1) Personal, daily hygiene — wash your hands, (2) stay out of the public domain if you can — you could be a carrier and (3) get the facts.

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Carbondale should raise tobacco tax Dear Editor: Carbondale voters have an exceptional opportunity to improve the Town’s health and economy by supporting Ballot Issue A, which will increase the tobacco tax. This critical action will prevent kids from smoking, prompt smokers to quit, save lives and reduce health care costs substantially.

The need for this initiative is clear.

Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death and disease in Colorado, killing 5,100 residents each year and sickening many more. The vast majority of these smokers started as kids. Despite progress in reducing smoking, Colorado leads the nation in e-cigarette use amongst our kids. And within Colorado, Carbondale and its neighboring communities have some of the highest rates in the state.

Reversing this trend is critically important. With COVID-19 occupying our resources, our hearts and our minds, it has never been more important to protect our lungs. The coronavirus attacks the lungs, and behaviors that weaken the lungs put individuals at greater risk. There is conclusive evidence that smoking increases the risk for respiratory infections, weakens the immune system and is a major cause of a number of chronic health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and diabetes. In addition, there is growing evidence that vaping can also harm lung health. These factors put @rockymountainhighq

Continued from page 2 smokers, and in all likelihood vapers as well, at greater risk when confronted with the coronavirus.

The nation’s top public health authorities — including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Surgeon General — agree that increasing tobacco taxes is one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking, and to keep kids from ever starting this deadly addiction.

There has never been a better time for smokers to quit and for individuals to protect their health by avoiding use of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

Colorado spends more than $1.89 billion a year on health care costs directly caused by smoking, including $386.3 million from Medicaid.

We applaud the foresight of the Carbondale Town Council for leading the way to protect Carbondale’s kids by raising the age of sale on tobacco, enacting tobacco retail licensure, and for referring this critical public health measure to Carbondale’s voters.

We are hopeful that Carbondale voters will also vote to protect future generations and the health of their community by supporting Ballot Issue A. Jodi L. Radke, Regional Director Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Tax tobacco Dear Editor: As a retired thoracic surgical oncologist who spent years treating lung cancer patients and seeing first-hand the detrimental effects of smoking, I have Continued on page 14 Retail Marijuana| 21 +

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020 • 13

LETTERS been closely following the Town’s admirable work under Mayor Dan Richardson.

Carbondale has recently instituted a flavor ban for tobacco products.

Now, on April 7, there will be a vote on the Town Council’s Referral of Ballot Issue A to increase taxes on tobacco products.

It is a public health principle in tobacco control that substantially raising the price of tobacco products will cause a decrease in youth initiation and use and in adults who will quit.

Raising the price through taxation is one of the strongest public policy methods to decrease youth uptake and increase adult cessation. Carbondale is also to be admired in that the tax revenue will be used to help tobacco education and cessation programs.

Continued from page 13 I went into medicine to help fewer people die from tobacco use — currently greater than 5,000 people per year in Colorado (bigger than some counties or towns in Colorado).

Now we must also be concerned over the pulmonary illnesses and deaths caused by COVID-19. Tobacco inhalation — cigarettes or electronic cigarettes — will damage the lungs.

While we don’t have the science yet of COVID-19 infections in e-cigarettes users, we already know that people who smoke cigarettes are at increased risk.

Please pass the increased tax on tobacco products. You will be saving lives and improving the health of our youth and adults.

Carolyn Dresler Ouray

Tempest Dear Editor: Fierce crashing thunder Wailing winds drive sideways rain Hunker down, down low JM Jesse Glenwood Springs

Advice for online learning Dear teachers (C/O The Sopris Sun): As you go back to school (virtually) this week, you are facing something you probably would have never even considered to be a reality in your career — an unnatural way to be interacting with your students. You are away from your classroom and only communicating with your students from a distance.

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14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020

Teachers dream about the snow days and vacation days and having just one morning to sleep in and get a break. But now, all you want to do is dive into your classroom and wrap your arms around each and every student who you have given your heart and soul to for the past seven months.

I know for me, as a former teacher, the more I taught, the more my love and compassion grew for my students and their families. So how do you navigate this new system that you are forced to adopt? How do you give that unconditional love to your students who you will at best be connecting with through a computer screen? Here is my advice to you: Step 1. Get up every morning and find your routine. Now is your chance to make your morning yours. Find

that routine and own it. Whether it's as simple as getting up, brushing your teeth, and taking a long hot shower or rising and getting out for a morning jog or walk before the busyness of the day starts. You will be most successful in the rest of the stress and unknown if you commit to you.

Step 2. Get creative. The district is going to give you guidelines to follow, but now is your chance for all of your natural teaching instincts to come alive. You won't be getting observed, and state standards are far off in the distance now, so let the best teacher inside of you get fun and creative. You can keep yourself alive and feeling good by doing the things that make you- you.

Step 3. Connect with your Continued on page 15

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LETTERS students. Your students need you, they want you.

Children all over the country right now are scared and unsure about what is going on. You can still show up for them and show them you care. Make a list of ways that you can connect with them during this time of uncertainty. A few of my favorites: write letters to them, set up Zoom sessions to bring your class together, pick up the phone and call them or — better yet — FaceTime them. Video yourself talking to them, or reading a story and send it out. You can ease their mind by seeing that you are still out there!

Step 4. Keep in touch with colleagues. You guys are all in this together. Be there for each other. Share your successes, and don't be afraid to cry. You've got this. And remember, number one, before you can take care of anyone else and show up for anyone else, you have to show up for yourself.

Amanda Petersen, Program Director FocusedKids, Basalt

Glenwood Canyon and Dick Prosence Dear Editor: It was sad to hear of the passing of Dick Prosence, the outstanding engineer and leader of the construction of so many highways in our area, especially I-70 in Glenwood Canyon — one of the top 10 roads in all of America. I spent many good years associated with Dick on that extraordinary project and on occasions visiting him during his retirement in Meeker.

I first met Dick in the late 1960s. This was after a new four-lane highway was constructed into

By Suzie Brady

PARTING SHOTS

Continued from page 14 the Canyon from Glenwood to the first tunnels.

Objections to the design of that highway began to build since it represented a considerable disruption of the river and canyon walls.

A dramatic solution to subdue this controversy came from a joint resolution of the Colorado Senate demanding that the State Highway Commission appoint a citizen’s advisory committee to participate in the planning and design of a highway that would insure that “to the fullest possible extent, the wonders of human engineering will be tastefully blended with the wonders of Nature.” This newly appointed committee was fired after its very first formal meeting when it said “look elsewhere,” not the Canyon.

A new chief engineer for Colorado was then appointed and in essence he said “enough with a citizens committee,” we’ll proceed with absolute care to design the highway on our own. Dick was the one that ultimately stood alone telling his boss “no; the politics are so intense we absolutely must have a second committee.” Dick’s warning was accepted and a second Citizens Advisory Committee was appointed in 1976. I was fortunate to have been a member. The Grand Opening of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon was held on Oct. 14, 1992.

Dick never wavered in his support of our Advisory Committee and their task to help reach a public consensus on the highway’s final design.

He absolutely understood the care and respect the canyon deserved. We called him “The Father of Glenwood Canyon.”

Floyd Diemoz Glenwood Springs

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 2 - APRIL 8, 2020 • 15

YOU ARE CARBONDALE Your friends and neighbors at Alpine Bank are thinking of you during these uncertain times.

We have been in Carbondale since 1973 and are here for you now.

We are all in this together.

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Grab-N-Go Meals to Students During School Closure The Roaring Fork School District will continue to provide nutritious meals to students during the closure of schools in several locations throughout the Roaring Fork community. Beginning Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 17, RFSD will provide FREE meals on weekdays for ALL children (18 years of age and under). Each child will receive one breakfast and one lunch per day.

Los niños pueden recibir comidas en cualquiera de los lugares a continuación, independientemente de dónde asista el niño a la zescuela. Hay dos formas de obtener comidas: 1) Vaya a la ubicación indicada para recoger comida a la hora prevista O 2) Acuda a un autobús de entrega en la ubicación / hora especificada en el programa a continuación.

Visit https://bit.ly/3azkmcD for more information, or call a family liaison via phone and email: 970-384-9500 or email familyservices@rfschools.com.

Visite https://bit.ly/3azkmcD para obtener más información o llame a un enlace familiar por teléfono y correo electrónico: 970-384-9500 o envíe un correo electrónico a familyservices@rfschools.com

Take-out meal service available for seniors Volunteer Hotline: 970-456-2804 Carbondale Food Distribution: Monday & Thursday at 2 p.m. Third Street Center Visit www.liftup.org for other distribution locations and times and to make financial donations.

ITEMS NEEDED: Non-perishable (no glass) food items & new reusable grocery bags or boxes to distribution locations.

Garfield County Senior Programs is offering take-out meal services from Carbondale Parachute For times and locations visit: www.garfield-county.com/human-services/senior-services/ or call the food line at 970-665-0041