Because every town needs a park, a library and a newspaper
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community connector
Volume 12, Number 11 | April 23 - 29, 2020
Asher Rudow (11) collects a water sample from the Roaring Fork River. His father, Chad Rudow, is the water quality program manager at Roaring Fork Conservancy and uses his time collecting and analyzing samples for Colorado River Watch as a chance to homeschool his kids in science with some hands-on experience. Find out more on page 10. Photo by Laurel Smith
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OPINION
JUST MUTT By Stan Badgett
He took his own life in the year 2000. I knew him for 40 years. We were climbing buddies and best friends in the ‘60s, but our bond of respect extended over a lifetime. He wasn’t that easy to know: contrarian by nature, and belligerent. He bucked the tide for the sheer pleasure of it. Sometimes he angered me. I first encountered him in 1960 at York Jr. High School in Thornton, Colorado, which is basically north Denver. I’d been transferred into a new class, 8-6, reputedly for high achievers — though they made a point of not calling us 8-1. I sat at my desk that first day minding my own business, when the room erupted into a spitball fight. Guys were standing up and letting them fly all over the room. A tall figure in the back of the room zipped one all the way out the open door just in time to connect with the principal as he walked down the hall. Talk about swift justice. Mr. Wade stormed into the room and summoned the tall guy, who turned out to be Frank, to the office and a three-day suspension. So my first impression of Frank was of a tall, red-faced guy striding out the door. After his brief exile, Frank returned and the merriment continued. Our music teacher, Mr. Gibson, taught us folk songs such as “Sweet Betsy from Pike,” which we butchered by braying the lyrics like donkeys. There were
Remembering Frank Prescott chaotic scenes in the band room with eighth-grade boys clambering over seats, squeaking the clarinet, blowing the tuba, plunking the piano. Everything was ripe for parody. Everything seemed an inside joke to us. We rolled our eyes at the slightest doings. That year, we invented the Sayer language with its contrary vocabulary. Frank coined a substantial part of it. The language was an effort to establish our own identity in contradistinction to the rest of the junior high school. I still have a handful of friends from those days with whom I speak a little Sayer. Originally it was called Tieb Talk because of the word tieb, by which our clique of misfits was known. “Few tieb” meant “extra good. “Say at mah bain” meant “Admit you’re wrong.” The Sayers were juvenile cynics. We constantly found ways to mock the system. Add Frank’s booming voice to the subversive undercurrent. He didn’t snicker, he roared. Frank was a super brain. His stepdad, Gene, worked advanced math problems with him on a blackboard mounted on their living room wall. I had to go to Frank’s house to talk his parents into letting him go climbing with me. Since Frank’s parents were enlightened, educated, liberal folks, it surprised me that they weren’t more lenient. My parents, the arch-conservatives, let me do what I pleased. Frank got straight A’s in high school. He was an atheist and proud of it. Why we hit it off, I don’t know, but we did. Frank and I hitchhiked to Devil’s Tower National Monument in 1967. Established in 1906, it was the first of many national monuments. This tower, which rises elegantly above the Wyoming plains, is God’s handiwork, not the devil’s. It is revered by the Lakota, who believe its vertical cracks are claw marks made by giant bears, hence
their name Bear Lodge. Frank and I wanted to climb the Durrance route because of its classic status. We thumbed it north from Denver on I-25, loaded with ropes and climbing gear. We made a pact that we would only eat liverwurst and dry Jell-o the entire trip. Don’t ask me how we came up with that idea. On the way, we were stopped by a highway patrolman who said he didn’t want to see us when he came back up that stretch of highway. If he did, he would put us to work making little rocks out of big ones. Obstreperous Frank wasn’t going to take any of that guff. Don’t you know we have rights? He read that officer the riot act. Frank, shut up. Shortly afterward, an old farmer came by and picked us up. We rode contentedly out of there, sitting in the back of his dilapidated vegetable truck. It got dark somewhere in the middle of Wyoming, so we found a haystack and went to sleep. A tick crawled onto me that night, but I didn’t find it till a week later, so I contracted tick fever. The next morning, a middleaged couple gave us a lift in their late model car. It surprised me they’d be willing to let us ride with them, since Frank and I looked unkempt. A few miles up the road Frank said, “What would you do if I said I had a gun?” The man instructed his wife to open the glove compartment, and there, in plain view, was a pistol. Any other questions, Frank? They should have thrown us out right there, but for some reason they drove us to our next destination as if nothing had happened. We got to the tower and climbed it. Straightforward cracks made the ascent a piece of cake. The Durrance route is only 5.7 — a moderate climb. Its symmetrical columns rise 600 feet above the valley floor. You stick your hand high in a crack, make a fist, pull your body up, raise
a leg, slip your foot in sideways and twist so that it wedges. At one point, a column had fallen off and left a gap, so we jumped across the six-foot span with air under our breeches. Then we hitchhiked into South Dakota, first stopping at the Homestake Gold Mine — America’s largest — and applied for work. The personnel manager said he’d put me to work shoveling cyanide sand, but Frank was underage, so he wouldn’t hire him. I wasn’t going to work there without Frank. We drifted on to Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills, which was quiet and cold because it was the off-season. A lone caretaker said, “Pick your bunkhouse, no charge.” We found a deserted bunkhouse and plopped onto a couple of bare-wire bed frames. The next morning we picked a cliff and put up a meandering route, reveling in the freedom of moving on the macro-crystalline granite wherever we pleased. We named it Bouillabaisse. It’s not in any guidebook. A storm was brewing as we hitchhiked south that afternoon. A sand truck let us out by a farmer’s field north of Custer. As the snow blew in, we sought shelter in a nearby cave, stacked some branches around it for a lean-to, and built a fire. No sooner had we gotten cozy than a policeman showed up and arrested us for trespassing. I felt sorry for the policemen, who had to endure the stench of our B.O., our smoke-saturated clothes, and the crusty residue of liverwurst and Jello on our teeth as we sat in the back of his patrol car. We welcomed our overnight accommodation in the Custer jail. Not only did we have mattresses to sleep on, we also had a sink to wash our underwear in. But they turned us out in the morning without providing hot breakfast, which was a disappointment.
LETTERS April is Autism Awareness Month Dear Editor: It’s hard to think about anything but the COVID-19 pandemic or the economy right now, but I ask you to take pause for a moment and consider how this crisis impacts families and individuals with autism. Schools, vital behavioral, speech and occupational therapy are all cancelled. That leaves families having to bear unassisted the load of caring for their children and adults with autism. And the burden is immense. One in 54 children in the US have autism according to the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Each one of those children (and adults) is unique, with different strengths and challenges, which is why autism is a spectrum disorder. There is no one-size-fits-all therapy and no cure. Autism can cost a family an estimated
$60,000 or more a year through childhood. The overall cost of caring for Americans with autism reached $268 billion in 2015 and could rise to $461 billion by 2025. More so than parents of typical children and even those with developmental disabilities, parents of a child with autism have an increased risk for acute and chronic stress, and the resultant physical and psychological conditions. It’s estimated 500,000 teens with autism will enter adulthood over the next 10 years. We are facing a tremendous lack of resources for these young adults, and the majority of autism costs in the U.S. are related to adult services. I, like everyone else, desperately want life to return to “normal” — people go to work, kids to school, and we can all find toilet paper in the store. But I ask you to remember that the issues
facing families with autism won’t go away. We won’t be able to check the box and assume the problem is solved, particularly in a world that has reached saturation with stress, physical, financial and emotional hardships. In the last 20 years, we have seen a dramatic shift in terms of awareness, advocacy and action. Multiple national organizations have become leaders in advocating for better laws and policies and pushing for research funding. While we’ve seen significant progress with early diagnosis and intervention programs, autism remains an international health crisis. Thankfully, Ascendigo is doing what they can to help families in the Roaring Fork Valley weather this viral storm. Families can contact Ascendigo’s Outreach Team at 927-3143 to receive telehealth services from Applied Behavior Therapists, Speech-Language Continued on page 13
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 case-by-case basis. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday. 2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020
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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 Donna Dayton 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.
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Kirk Wilson selected as finalist for Police Chief By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff Rifle Police Sgt. Kirk Wilson is Town Manager Jay Harrington’s pick to lead the Carbondale Police Department into the future. The final decision, as to whether he’s a suitable successor to longtime Chief Gene Schilling, will come before the board of trustees on April 28. While he isn’t going to celebrate until then, Wilson seemed relieved not to have to keep the conditional job offer under wraps anymore. “I’m incredibly excited and terrified all at the same time,” he said. “It’s a tremendous amount of responsibility, and I just hope that I’m up to the task.” He’ll have a chance to ease his way into the role, overlapping with existing leadership before Lt. Chris Wursmith’s summer departure and Schilling’s September retirement — at which time Wilson will have a chance to choose his own second in command. “I have a tremendous amount of time to listen to them and learn from them,” he said. He added tat the selection process — which included both public and private vetting just before social distancing measures took effect — has also been enlightening. “I learned a lot about myself and areas of my professional career I need to work
on,” he said. “I’m just so honored to have been selected for this. That was some stiff competition.” Wilson’s own background in law enforcement stretches back to his childhood in Phoenix, Arizona. His aspirations of a military career were dashed by a type-one diabetes diagnosis, but he still wanted a way to serve. “I worked at a pool in a rough part of town, and we had constant contact with law enforcement, and I was just in awe,” he recalled. After graduating from Arizona State University, he briefly worked for the Department of Corrections, but found it wasn’t for him. When his parents moved to Grand Junction, he enrolled in the Delta/ Montrose Police Academy and applied for positions around the Western Slope. He received a job offer from the City of Rifle, where he has stayed for the last 17 years in capacities ranging from K-9 officer to community policing specialist to allhazards response team medic. “It’s a dangerous job, an incredibly stressful job, but also such a rewarding career,” he said. His confidence was shaken in February 2016, when his brother-in-law, Derek Gear, was killed in the line of duty in Mesa County. But instead of cashing out, he
Wilson (right) mingled with trustees and other community members in a meet-and-greet last month. Photo by Will Grandbois built on his then-role as head of the field training program and pursued a Masters in Public Administration. He graduated at the end of last year, just as the search for a new Carbondale chief was ramping up. As Wilson’s own chief pointed out, the job description seemed like a great fit. “The more I read it, the more I felt like I could do that. I’m gonna do that,” he said. There are some bittersweet aspects to the move. It’s a tough time to try to get to know a new community or buy a house — to say nothing of the connections he and his family will be leaving behind. “I certainly have roots here in Rifle, but it’s not far away and it provides a lot
of new opportunities to share the things that I’ve learned,” he noted. “When you’re placed in a position of authority, you can use it to benefit you or use it to benefit the department and the community. I’ve chosen to follow a servant/leadership style.” Assuming trustees give him their blessing, Wilson will begin transitioning into his new role on June 1. “I am excited about Kirk’s acceptance of my offer, we had four very strong candidates and Kirk excelled during the process,” Harrington said. “The future of the Carbondale Police Department is bright with strong leadership, talented officers and staff.”
Ballots Have Been Mailed Ballots for the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District Board of Directors election have been mailed.
Se han enviado por correo las boletas para la eleccion de la Junta Directiva del Distrito de Proteccion Contra Incendios Rural y Carbondale.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are requesting that voters either mail their ballot back or drop it off in the ballot drop-off box at outside of Carbondale Town Hall. Please do not drop ballots off at any Carbondale Fire station.
Debido a la pandemica de COVID-19, estamos pidiendo los votantes que envien por correo su boleta o la dejen en la caja afuera del Ayuntamiento de Carbondale. Por favor de no dejar boletas en la Estacion de Bomberos en Carbondale.
If you need a replacement ballot, please contact Jenny Cutright at 970-963-2491 or cutright@ carbondalefire.org and we will coordinate getting a ballot to you. Please do not come to the fire station until arrangements have been made.
Si necesita una boleta de reemplazo, contacte a Jenny Cutright al 970-963-2492 o cutright@carbondalefire.org y nos coordinaremos para dejarle una boleta. Por favor de no venir al estacion de bomberos hasta que hayan hecho una cita. THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020 • 3
COVID-19
Banks roll out financial support By Kate Phillips Sopris Sun Correspondent Ask any local banker how they are managing the current economic crisis, and you will most likely hear the same thing: it’s like building a plane while flying it. On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law to help individuals and small businesses financially during the pandemic. Included in the CARES Act is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to specifically support employees. Overseen by the Small Business Administration, the government allocated $349 billion in forgivable loans that were distributed amongst small businesses nationwide based on payroll and business costs (e.g., rent). The loan can be forgiven if employers provide documentation that the money was used for qualifying expenses — most notably 75 percent of the funds must be used for employee payroll. (Visit www.sba. org to learn more.) The PPP went live April 3, and by April 16, the fund was exhausted. While Carbondale banks await the next round of PPP funding — estimated to be $300 billion — they are encouraging small business owners, nonprofit organizations, and independent contractors to get ready. Additionally, each bank has suggested that general banking customers take advantage of the many COVID-19 financial relief programs being offered right now.
Alpine Bank After processing well over 10 times their normal monthly amount in just 14 days, Alpine Bank rolled out the Payment Deferral Program for eligible accounts, according to Regional President Ian Bays. For credit card accounts, customers can defer payments due between May 27 and July 25. The accounts will not be considered late or reported to the credit bureau, but interest will continue to accrue on the unpaid balance. At the end of the period, a minimum payment — plus any additional fees and interest — will be due. Alpine Bank is also offering a loan deferment program where customers can defer their loan for up to 90 days and pay back through the term of their loan. If the loan matures before the 90 day time frame, Bays suggested that customers contact their loan officers to rewrite the loan to create some flexibility. “There’s no one size fits all plan for finances. We’re going to try and help [customers] in the best way possible,” Bays said. “We want to find a way that truly helps them whether that’s a deferment or interest rate change.”
FirstBank Within 72 hours, FirstBank processed over 15,000 PPP applications company-wide and are ready for the next round, according to Roaring Fork Market
President David Portman. For the second installment, Portman suggested that small business owners prepare their applications now in order to be included. If for some reason they miss this round, Portman said businesses can call FirstBank to learn about other government sponsored small business programs. For loan and credit card accounts, FirstBank initiated the Customer Relief Program. Loan holders have the option to defer up to three installments of a residential mortgage loan, home equity installment loan, and consumer installment loan. Payments would renew on the fourth installment, and the loan is paid back over the life of the loan. Regarding credit card accounts, FirstBank is offering 0 percent interest rates for one month. Customers will continue to pay a minimum monthly payment, but the money is allocated to the principal amount. Notably, FirstBank employees have received a remarkable amount of COVID-19 support. According to Portman, FirstBank has an Emergency Sick Leave Policy for employees who are infected, atrisk, caring for someone who is atrisk, or unable to work due to school/ daycare closures. This includes a full paid leave for up to two weeks with an extension option. Employees also received a $2 per hour pay increase, waived copays for telemedicine appointments, and extensive HR support for coping during the pandemic.
A customer takes advantage of the drive-through at FirstBank in Carbondale. Photo by Laurel Smith
ANB Bank ANB Bank has lent $250 million regionally through the PPP loan, and consequently, has saved a significant amount of jobs, Bank President Tony Spires said. Currently, ANB is still accepting PPP applications, and will begin processing once the next round of funding begins. To support general customers, ANB created a Loan Deferral Program. Specifically, all consumer and commercial term loans that require a monthly and principal and interest payment may defer up to three months of payments. For interest only and short term loan customers, ANB is reducing the prime borrowing rate and temporarily dropping interest rate floors through Dec. 31 to help lower interest rates. ANB stresses that there is no requirement to prove need or
impact to receive these benefits. With community outreach already implemented into ANB’s culture, Spires said they will continue to do as much as possible to help the community navigate these challenging financial times.
Wells Fargo At this time, Wells Fargo is offering its customers mortgage and home equity account support through a loan forbearance for three months. When the short-term suspension period ends, customers may choose to continue suspending the loan for up to six months, pay back in one lump sum, apply for a deferment, create a loan repayment plan, or refinance the loan. For general banking customers, Wells Fargo suggested customers call their branch to discuss options for fee waivers, credit card assistance, and payment deferrals.
On with the show — local theatre groups going remote By Roberta McGowan Sopris Sun Staff Yes, you can still go to the theatre, but not quite in the format you’re used to. Bonedale is now primarily a virtual world as the COVID-19 crisis continues. Having in-home internet access solves a number of entertainment problems, but not all. For theatre goers, online streaming and brandnew performances can be quite satisfying. Check out the upcoming special offerings by Thunder River Theatre Company (TRTFC) and Stage of Life (SoL) Theatre Company.
TRTC The theatre’s highlighted May event is ExtravaGala!, a Virtual Variety Show to help support TRTC through its upcoming 25th year. The event will be live streamed at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 7 through ThunderStream, TRTC’s free online entertainment channel. Corey Simpson, TRTC executive artistic director, explained, “Within just a few weeks of the COVID situation becoming a concern we had transferred our programming online and made it accessible for free to anyone with internet access.” Performing artist Board of Directors member Mike Monroney described his participation in the event as “spoonerisms.”
Wikipedia characterized this as errors in speech in which corresponding consonants or vowels are switched between two words in a phrase.. For example, Monroney said, “Took a photo being changed to fook a toto.” Monroney, a member of the Crystal Palace performing group, noted he included spoonerisms in those shows. Monroney noted that many people from out of the area watch TRTC’s entertainment, which recently included 'Literature Out Loud " This joint project with the Pitkin County Library included Jeannie Walla and Janice Estey discussing the wit and wisdom of Nora Ephron from her literary gems. Other gala performances will include Consensual Improv! comedy troupe, cabaret singers, musicians and other family-friendly acts. While attendance to the TRTC ExtravaGala! online event is free, the theatre is accepting pledges and gifts prior to the event. To donate, visit thunderrivertheatre.com, email info@ thunderrivertheatre.com or call 963-8200.
SoL
SoL is joining with KDNK Community Radio to broadcast a pre-recorded audio performance of “The Little Prince,” at 4 p.m. Friday, April 24. SoL Executive Director Jennifer Johnson noted the goals of the eight-yearold organization include “Building a healthy community and nurturing our youth to their
4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020
greatest potential through the performing arts.” In 2015, Jennifer wrote, directed and produced the original musical The Giving Tree, based on the Shel Silverstein story of the same name, with Carbondale recording artist Matt Haslett. “We want to help children develop confidence,” she added and explained that SoL works with children and young adults ages six to 19 to provide new levels of competence, selfesteem and confidence. SoL offers year-round classes plus a mid-June acting camp. “The Little Prince” follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love and loss. Of the nearly dozen characters in the performance, two are the 11-year-old Stryker twins, Atreya playing the Prince, and Asha playing the Snake. When asked, the twins’ mother Gina enthusiastically said about the organization, “SoL helps kids find friends who are close to their interests, especially artistic and quirky children.” “My kids are really enjoying the freedom to create what they want to create,” Stryker said, “They love the opportunity to express themselves.”. The children attend Carbondale Community School, and, Stryker said, they were devastated when their school closed in
March.. But, now, she added, they are so excited about the SoL program. Asha enthusiastically exclaimed, “I like playing the snake. It is mysterious, casts spells, and is big and green and brown.” Artreya enjoyed playing the adventurous Prince, and said, “I feel like I have a good group of friends” with SoL. Both children have participated in other SoL productions including “The Little Mermaid” and “Cirque de Sopris.” Listen to “The Little Prince” at 4 p.m on KDNK at 88.1 in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, 88.3 in Glenwood Springs, 88.5 in Basalt and Redstone and 94.9 in Thomasville,on the FM dial. Also, go to kdnk. org for additional access.
Among the ThunderStream offerings is PuppetPlays, a workshop series with Kristin Carlson.
COVID-19
Gunnison County stretches to enforce rules on its fringes
While lines on a map often don’t reflect real social or geographic boundaries, even the smallest administrative divisions can create real impacts on the people within them. Case in point, the town of Marble and its surroundings, which lie a three-hour drive from the county seat in winter with half a dozen courthouses closer to hand. Nevertheless, as Gunnison County enacts some of the strictest regulations in the state, the rules still apply. Sheriff John Gallowich said that his deputies are following the same procedures throughout the county. A portable sign has been set up on County Road 3, advising passerby of the standing Public Health Order. That order went through its sixth revision on April 11, allowing people to come into the county for work or other essential needs, such as grocery shopping. The same holds for those needing to leave the county for the same reasons and return, he said. The greatest enforcement problem, Gallowich said, relates to trailhead activity. Recently nonresident recreationists had entered Gunnison County to go snowboarding, he said. They were informed of the ban and asked to leave. “Our first approach is to educate people coming into the county who may not know,” Gallowich said, indicating that the deputy will check to see if people have a legitimate reason to be in the county. “(If not) they will be told to leave the county. The next step is to give a written warning.” Northern Gunnison County is a popular area for nonresidents in the summer. Gallowich said he received a letter from a second homeowner in Marble which he described as “positive,” but noted the man said he was hoping to arrive in the area in July. “We’re going to be concerned about an influx of people, but we’ll monitor it,” Gallowich said. If we need to send an additional car over there, we will.” Bottom line, Gallowich said his goal is to keep people safe and gain compliance. “We want to get people to comply before issuing a citation,” he said. The responsibility of enforcement falls almost exclusively on the shoulders of Deputy Scott Leon. In addition to the Marble area, he patrols Somerset — where the West Elk Mine, deemed essential, employs quite a few out-of-county
residents — and an array of vacation cabins off of McClure Pass. “My biggest thing right now is just responding to complaints,” he said. “I don’t actually go out and hunt down people for being out-of-towners.” Any traffic stops have been prompted by other violations, he reported, and he’s also been doing his best to educate folks about regulations over the phone — although that can be challenging in an area without cell service. “I’m not just the average officer in the city where I can go take care of a call in five minutes,” he said. “It could take me 45 minutes to get to a landline.” As for how folks tend to respond to his remonstrations… “Some say we’re violating their rights and others understand,” he said. “I also get appreciated and thanked a lot.” Marble Town Clerk Ron Leach belongs to the latter group. “The Deputy Sheriff comes over almost every day and we appreciate that very much,” he said. “Just that law enforcement presence is welcome.” Leach reached out to Gunnison County officials after the fifth Public Health Order revision, which contained a clause requiring residents to quarantine even from their families after leaving the county — such as to visit the nearest grocery store in Carbondale. “I was told that people in Marble need not worry about being cited by the county by having to go to Carbondale for supplies,” Leach said. Beyond that, he believes the majority of residents are behind the regulations. “Anything to kind of restrict the flow of people, this community likes right now,” he said. “If you don’t reside in Marble, Gunnison County wants you to not come to Marble — and so does the Town of Marble.” Indeed, following an old-fashioned conference-call meeting on April 2, the Town shuttered its recycling facility, public restrooms and campground. Still, Leach said, they’ve seen a steady trickle of visitors hiking in the Crystal area or, more concerning due to the rescue risks, backcountry skiing in the Yule Creek drainage. We wouldn’t even notice it if this wasn’t going on, but I expect that to increase steadily as we get through April and into May,” he said. “There’s a certain cabin fever. People want to come to the mountains.” He characterized the area’s mood as “concerned but not panicked,” and praised Gunnison County’s efforts to keep its residents safe, even if the orders don’t cover every corner perfectly. “This is all uncharted territory,” he observed.
C
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By Will Grandbois The Sopris Sun And Chris Rourke Gunnison Country Times
O
N
ATULAT R I G
— NAMED —
Colorado Communication Center of the Year This award is presented to the Communications/911 Center that has exemplified outstanding professionalism, leadership, and innovation to the community it serves, as well as to its region and state. “Our 911 dispatchers are our first, first responders and critical to our emergency response in this region.” JOE DISALVO, PITKIN COUNTY SHERIFF
The flashing sign at the base of CR3 required multiple exposures to parse. Photo by Sue Rollyson THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020 • 5
SCUTTLEBUTT Mother of invention It has been apparent for some time that our traditional set of photo shoots for Mother’s Day wasn’t going to be possible. But with restrictions easing, we’re hoping to find a solution that produces great portraits while still allowing for fresh air and distance. As such, we’d encourage any moms who had babies in the last year to call or text 379-4581 to get involved!
The shirt off their back Have you heard about Inkswell Screen Printers’ new #roaringforrecovery project? They’re offering nonprofits — like us — a chance to print T-shirts with no overhead and keep a bit of the profits. Visit inkswellprinting.com/store/soprissun to represent and support The Sun all at once! And be sure to check out all the great offerings from their other partners while you’re there.
The law won Local attorneys extraordinaire Beth Klein and Carrie Frank have both been selected to the LawDragon Top 500 in America. The honorees range from coast to coast, counseling grieving family members, finding pathways to justice for those who have been harmed or killed.
Masks for all Thanks to an AARP grant, CAFCI is expanding its maskmaking project in hopes of supplying one to every senior in town. The group has hired Carbondalenative Katie Browne to churn them out,
Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com.
and started giving them out through the Rec. Center and Valley Meals and More programs on April 22. Donations to Senior Matters are welcome with a memo to the mask project, while you can reach out niki@ agefriendlycarbondale.org to request a mask or for more information.
some great discussions among book lovers in our various communities. Its first virtual meeting will take place at 5 p.m. April 23 and ask participants what books they have been reading while sheltering at home. Visit www. gcpld.org/news-and-events to connect.
Get schooled
5Point Unlocked — a virtual offering in three parts — is unfolding live on Youtube in three parts. The first one took place at 7 p.m. April 22, with the next at the same time on April 24 and the final installment at 3 p.m. on April 26. Visit 5pointfilm.org to watch!
Blue Lake Preschool has filed a preapplication with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, for financial assistance to acquire and develop 55 N. Seventh St. as a replacement for its rented space at 744 Merrill Ave. A virtual meeting regarding the proposed project will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at zoom. us/j/9422838890 or by dialing (301) 7158592 and entering the number at the end.
Paper Tweets Introducing a new take on the old postcard — with enough room for a handwritten message on one side and a timeless image by a local artist on the other. Postage is pre-paid, so there’s no need to search the house for a stamp. They come in packages of six or 12 and sell for $12.95 and $24.95, respectively. Artists include Amber Sparkles, April Crow and Jim Ryan, Jane Bachrach, Mark Burrows and Carol Craven. Visit pollinatorchocolate. com to see the selection and get yours!
Library lovers Garfield County Libraries, Basalt Regional Library, and Colorado Mountain College's Quigley Library are teaming up for
Take your pick
Who you gonna call? Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center (PCREDC) 911 Dispatchers were recently awarded the 2020 Colorado Communication Center of the Year for leading the way in advancing their status as first responders, for innovation in the technology used to serve their citizens, and for maintaining the high level of professionalism and skill that has defined PCREDC for years.
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Rosemary Dewers (April 23); Holly Tullar and Dick Gibson (April 24); Stephen Shapiro and Hope Sontag (April 25); Lee Ann Eustis, Susan Jordan and Gayle Embrey (April 26); April Crow-Spaulding, Sloan Shoemaker, Wewer Keohane, Rachel Gillespie, Donni Cochran (April 27); Wes Boyd, Julia Morton, Julie DeVilbiss and Judy Welch (April 28) Luis Yllanes and Diana Sirko (April 29).
A few months ago, handing toilet paper across a fence (photo by Jane Bachrach) or putting a mask on a sculpture (photo by Mark Burrows) would have seemed quirky. Now, it's all part of a strange new normal.
Better care for patients. Better health for all – wherever you are in the Roaring Fork Valley. At Aspen Valley Primary Care, our physicians are available Monday – Friday to provide comprehensive medical care and answer questions you may have about your health—especially during these uncertain times. Telemedicine consultations are now available from the comfort of your home.
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Aspen | 0401 Castle Creek Road Basalt | 1460 East Valley Road, Suite 103 Call 970.279.4111 to request a telemedicine visit or to make an appointment with one of our physicians.
NEW PATIENTS WELCOME!
RESPIRATORY TENT
If you are experiencing COVID-19related symptoms, you can receive a referral to visit our respiratory evaluation tent outside the AVH Emergency Department from either your primary care doctor or one of our Aspen Valley Primary Care physicians by calling 970.279.4111.
HOURS OF OPERATION Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 4:00 pm Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm; 1:00 – 3:00 pm
This is not a COVID-19 testing site, it is for evaluation of COVID-19-like symptoms in a safe environment. Appointments are available every 30 minutes. You will receive a follow-up call within 24-48 hours of your appointment.
ASPEN VALLEY PRIMARY CARE ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL
aspenhospital.org | 6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020
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Animal shelters empty while folks at home adopt By Kathleen Shannon Sopris Sun Correspondent My life during the stay-at-home order took a sudden turn when I adopted a 6-month-old puppy last week. What better way to fill unexpected downtime? In fact, I’m writing this article between bursts of puppy energy, lots of pets, and periodic exchanges of things that shouldn’t be chewed for things that should. I’m not the only one adapting to a new, furrier flavor of busy. Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE) based in Glenwood Springs usually houses 20-40 cats and up to 20 dogs in its shelter at any one time. Jacquelyn Tinsman, Adoptions and Intake Coordinator at CARE, said those numbers have decreased to the low single digits since the start of the state’s stay-at-home order. The suddenly empty halls at the shelter are due to higher foster and adoption rates at a time when people are stuck at home. Whereas CARE typically sees about four applications for pets per week, that count rose to about 100 in mid-March. These numbers reflect a trend happening across the country. Tinsman said some adopters have been inspired by celebrities including young music superstars Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus, who have spearheaded the movement on Instagram. The adoption and fostering process has looked a bit different in the age of social distancing. CARE has been admitting visitors into the shelter by appointment only and it’s increased its social media interactions. More information has been exchanged over the phone — like animal medical and behavioral conversations — before candidates even meet the animal in question. Though this could perhaps be a hindrance to normal adoption practices, Tinsman said “people have been understanding and are willing to work with us.”
The author is not afraid to show off her cutest new friend: Zuki. Photo by Kathleen Shannon An additional complication is that spay and neuter operations are considered non-essential by state definitions and have been suspended during the stay-at-home order, though Governor Jared Polis may be adjusting that suspension as early as next week. This non-essential definition has nothing to do with animal operations but rather with personal protective equipment (PPE). After donating some of its materials, CARE reported its PPE inventory to the state so it can be retrieved for medical workers if necessary. Tinsman said that one of CARE’s goals is to ensure that animals who go through the facility receive one of these operations. For now, people adopting pets must sign a contract promising to get the procedure done when it becomes available.
Current conversations between shelters and adopters must also include the unique and potentially fleeting nature of present living conditions. What is now a schedule wide-open for pet training and attention could shift back to one filled with work, outings, and other activities at any time. This is one of CARE’s biggest concerns with the COVID-onset adoptions. “Most people have been receptive,” Tinsman said about these discussions. “Some people have said ‘great point’ and reconsidered adopting.” Despite these complications, CARE has had no problem finding good matches for fostering and adoption. Community members reached out to CARE to offer help right at the onset of COVID-19 and Tinsman said “we appreciate
everything the community has done for us during this time.” This is not the first time that CARE’s animal populations have had a correlation with current events. The Lake Christine Fire in 2018 brought in extra pets as people were forced to evacuate their homes. During COVID-19, Tinsman said CARE hopes to keep populations low in an effort to save space for emergency animal housing. “Unfortunately, when people are losing their jobs, income, or housing,” Tinsman said, “pets are one of the first things to go.” Pet populations will also stay down at CARE as the movement of adoptable pets across or between states has been mostly suspended. It is common practice for shelters to partner up and exchange pets with partner organizations. CARE has partners in southern Colorado and Utah, but pets are mostly staying put for now. Though CARE does receive some funding from Garfield County, it relies heavily on donations from the public to stay in operation. CARE typically hosts several annual events to raise money, but its team members are working with alternative ideas this year. They are currently running a Paint Your Pet contest through Sunday to raise funds and interact with animal lovers stuck at home. Indeed, there are many animal lovers in Carbondale and multiple shelters throughout the valley that help match pets with their “forever homes.” I adopted my new pup through Aspenbased Lucky Day Animal Rescue which, in turn, took her in from an organization in Arkansas, where there are simply fewer adopters. When all the t’s were crossed and the i’s dotted, Lucky Day sent out an email to all the individuals involved in my dog’s adoption: a dozen people. For every rescued cutie you see in the park or on social media, there are many individuals that have worked behind the scenes to get her there.
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020 • 7
School District ranks first in English Language Development By Debbie Bruell Sopris Sun Correspondent Roaring Fork School District’s English Language Development program is ranked number one among the 55 districts in the state with similar percentages of students who are in the process of learning English. Carbondale Middle School teachers Grace De La Sala and Mary Hernandez spoke with The Sopris Sun about what has made their program so unique and effective. Since this interview was conducted, all classes now operate through distance-learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hernandez recently identified two major challenges to their ELD program as they’ve made this shift. First, when a student is trying to learn another language, “nothing can take the place of face-to-face dynamics and routines.” Second, many students have been unable to participate in the distance-learning program because their families don’t have access to the internet. The district has been working with a team of bilingual volunteers led by Aspen Skiing Company to address this problem. They’ve successfully resolved internet issues for over 200 families and estimate that another 200 families still remain without internet access. In spite of these challenges, Hernandez and De La Sala are doing their best to continue the key elements of their program. One of the most essential aspects, De La Sala explained, is “putting kids before academics, knowing their stories… knowing when they’re not having a good day.” Kids need to feel safe and like they belong before they can fully focus their attention on their school work. The teacher-student relationship is key. Part of teachers’ ability to connect with students includes understanding the underlying reasons why a student may be misbehaving. When a student in an ELD
classroom misbehaves, the teacher sends them to the “refocus area” of the classroom, “a comfortable, cozy area with ‘fidget toys’ where kids can go to de-escalate,” De La Sala said. “It’s not a punitive place.” The student is also asked to fill out a form which asks them to describe what happened, how their behavior is affecting others, and whether they’re feeling angry, hungry, lonely, and/or tired. “Often, they check all four,” De La Sala noted, and reviewing their responses with the teacher “really helps them process why they’re acting out.” Another fundamental aspect of the ELD program is using culturally-relevant texts for instruction. “We searched for texts where the kids could see themselves reflected in the literature,” Hernandez explained. “The typical curriculum uses literature that is written by white people about white people with middle class values and priorities.” Many of the students simply could not relate to these characters or their experiences. When the district made the switch, Hernandez saw a dramatic shift in her students’ level of engagement. One such text is “The Improbable Rise of Paco Jones,” about an eighth grade Latino boy attending a school with predominantly white, wealthy students. Each year, Hernandez assigns an essay about how Paco’s identity crisis is developed through narrative elements in the book. She has been continuously impressed with both the students’ level of motivation in writing the essays as well as the depth of their analyses. Another important dimension of their approach, De La Sala explained, is “getting kids talking...rather than listening to teachers talking all the time.” Teachers provide the students with structures and tools to help them learn how to talk about books, how to generate and express their
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own ideas, and how to listen and respond to other students’ ideas. “Translanguaging — leveraging the student’s first language to access their second language,” is also central to their program, Hernandez said. By encouraging students to read and think in their first language, students are more able to access the content being taught in math, social studies, etc., as opposed to falling behind in learning the content simply because their comprehension of the English language is limited. Translanguaging is now encouraged in all classes at the school. “It’s one more way that our district now validates and celebrates bilingualism,” Hernandez said. Amy Fairbanks, Director of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, spearheaded the process for creating the district’s unique ELD program. Starting about five years ago, she organized committees to create grade-level units across the district. While research had demonstrated the effectiveness of certain practices, there was not one program that pulled them all together into a curriculum that covered Colorado’s learning standards. Fairbanks and the ELD teachers set out to create a curriculum of their own. This ambitious task took years to complete, but has definitely paid off. Students’ rising test scores, increased level of engagement, and fewer incidences of behavioral problems have been clear indicators of the program’s success. Echoing their comments about the importance of respecting and valuing their students’ perspectives, Hernandez and De La Sala also noted how respected and valued they have felt as teachers by both CMS and the ELD department, and the impact that has had on their effectiveness as teachers. “These past five years, I’ve felt extremely validated as a teacher,” Hernandez said. “I feel so supported by these two communities and I’ve grown a lot as a teacher because of them.”
“As teachers, we’re the ones in our schools who know these kids the best, and we’re the ones who know what’s best for them,” De La Sala added. “I really appreciate the flexibility of the program...It allows us to use our individual discretion and honors our judgement as teachers.” Having outstanding teachers to implement the program is likely to be contributing to the program’s success at CMS as well. Hernandez was awarded Colorado ELD Teacher of the year in 2017 and De La Sala received this same honor in 2019. The two teachers were selected this year to give a joint presentation about the district’s program to ELD teachers and administrators across the state at last February’s annual Colorado Association for Bilingual Educators conference.
Mary Hernandez and Grace De La Sala. Courtesy photo
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CARBONDALE 970-510-3065 304 HIGHWAY 133 9:00AM–7:00PM
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OUTSIDE THE ‘BOX’ Family finds fun and games at home Photos and text by Jane Bachrach Sopris Sun Correspondent Being at home is a relaxing and welcome respite from the harried pace of everyday life. But these days, enjoyable family time is mixed in with the stresses of home-schooling and working from home. This local family, the Marchands, welcome the opportunity to be at home together and make “play” a priority by taking regular breaks to partake in outdoor activities. Both parents are teachers so they have some creative ideas for games and activities that others may not have thought of. Activities such as jump-rope, baseball, biking over obstacles and climbing trees.
Stay-at-home loosening, schools stay closed
While Governor Jared Polis’s latest order will take some of the teeth out of social distancing requirements beginning April 27, school closures have been extended into the summer, leaving Roaring Fork School District online through June 4.
A district-wide committee is working on creative approaches to milestones like graduation — keep an eye out in an upcoming issue for more on what the situation means for high school seniors. As for the “safer-at-home” approach starting next week, expect a slow rollout,
not a grand reopening. First up are elective surgeries, personal services and the like, with retail slowly phasing in beginning May 1 and and the potentials for bars and restaurants to reopen in Mid-May. Visit covid19.colorado.gov for up-todate information on what’s allowed.
THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020 • 9
Monitoring spring flows for water quality Photos and text by Laurel Smith Sopris Sun Correspondent Roaring Fork Conservancy continues to monitor water quality in the Roaring Fork Valley, taking over for volunteers that were unable to participate during the stay-athome order. According to Roaring Fork Conservancy water
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quality program manager Chad Rudow, typically “we have pretty high-water quality primarily because we live so close to the source — the snowpack.” The water quality monitoring is part of the Colorado River Watch program which generates baseline data that can be used to identify when a river or stream is showing
signs of problems upstream. The Roaring Fork River, as of April 21, is running at 122 percent of average. Dry soils from last fall may soak up some of the marginallyabove-average snowpack, but it’s still too soon to truly estimate peak streamflow, which typically doesn’t hit until the end of May or beginning of June.
Bridger (7) with Chad Rudow bush whack down to the water sampling site near Old Snowmass on the Roaring Fork River. Rudow and his wife are both working full time and have had to find creative ways to homeschool and provide childcare for their two sons. “My field work has been one way it has worked out. I can spend time outside with my boys and talk about science,” said Rudow.
AFTER-HOURS MEDICAL CARE ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL
For Information & Reservations call 970-945-0667 • yampahspa.com Spa Open 9-9 Salon 9-7 • Just One Block East of the Hot Springs Pool 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.
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10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020
aspenhospital.org |
AspenValleyHospital
Find yourself a sit spot or two
OPINION
BRANCHING OUT By Geneviéve Joëlle Villamizar Barefoot, I step quietly through waves and drifts of green. I can hear heavy birds scratching in the underbrush. With one wary eye at a time, they peer about, swiping their beaks back and forth through the decomposing duff. Concealed within a filagree of aspen leaves, I finally spot them. Angry chatters fill the air and a male squirrel launches spread-eagle from an apple tree, and tears off through a clearing. Another one chases him, practically shaking its fist. Chuckling, I slowly drop to the earth, settling into fragrant Timothy grass. My “sit spot.” It’s the golden hour, and like one squirrel after the other, shadows are chasing the sunlight up a stand of creamy aspen. A beetle by my right knee falters and stumbles within the anatomy of a dandelion — silky stamens, pistils,
petals are a small cosmos. Pollen dusts his legs and antennae. After a minute or so, he chills. Is he making camp for the night, I wonder? Dusk deepens in my thicket. Crickets have kicked in, a summer anthem. Water burbles from myriad pockets and holes, swirls around and over boulders. Negative ions bathe and cool the outward breath of leaves and grass. I shiver, tucking my knees and hands into my shirt. The last rays of warmth retreat with the sun as it ducks beneath lavender, violet and purpleshadowed ridges… Vrrrrrrrr! It’s a hummingbird blur; too fast to see. The air shifts though, and anticipation prickles my scalp— my nostrils flare and there it is: musk and urine. The dark silhouette of his antlers swing and sway, low over the grass and clover. He’s back! Grazing, he steps noiselessly from our sage thicket, nose wet from our ditch. Oh, wait — you thought I was camping? No way; this is my backyard. Three unruly lots that I’ve come to love dearly these last few years, but especially now, sheltering in place. The bonanza of flora and fauna makes loneliness impossible, and solitude? Cherry. A sentimental sort known to commune with trees (and elves), my housemate has been planting and tending to his Eden for two decades. Each sapling and tree, is a kindred spirit. His hedgerows are rich with lilac, honeysuckle, chokecherry, and sandcheriesy. He’s planted crabapple and canyon maple, rabbitbrush and
sage. The aspen, spruce and mountain ash are not long for this world, with climate change happening. Weedy elm, sweet Russian olive, water-pig Populus spp.. Box elder thrives under a downspout. He even believed enough to plant for the future, three species of Quercus: mossycup, gambel and ‘fastigiate’ oaks. He went nuts on the fruit trees: A Jerome pear, several varieties of apples, apricots that seldom happen, two kinds of cherries; even Concord grapes. And evergreens, of course: junipers, lodgepole, pinyon and black pine. “Especially special,” as my daughter would say, is a 40-50-year old ponderosa. I cleared the pokey branches up along the trunk, so we could climb to the top. You can take in most of Carbondale. At 30-40 feet tall, it’s breathtaking — and not necessarily because of the views. The extensive canopy disperses rain showers, improving water infiltration, which replenishes soil moisture, instead of running off, taking the soil with it. The annual and perennial rooting below ground improves water percolation, which recharges the groundwater. And yes, his trees store and sequester carbon, but even better, they produce a microclimate of clean, oxygenated air. Species meander and self sow, increasing habitat, forage, and cover for the multitude of creatures we thrill at witnessing. Fruiting plants bring our feathered friends, who in turn, further disperse the verdancy, via digestion-stratified seed. Squirrels and field mice stash caches underground, aerating the soil and
adding to wild-sown new plants. Deer, skunks, and raccoons come and go, sometimes with chicken mortality. The bears shit copious piles of chokecherry seed. We’ve even been graced with wild turkey. She spent a few days hanging with our hens before returning uphill to the Nieslaniks. And let’s not forget all the creatures on the wing, and the six-leggeds, and eight-ers. Even those with no legs — writhing garter snakes, red wigglers and earthworms. Hornets, wasps, puff balls and the mycorrhizae: all intrinsic to our feral fiefdom And feral it is. From April to November, we might mow… four times? The catch-bag is slowly moldering under the juniper bushes, unneeded. We strive for closed loops and cycle the clipping nitrogen back into the soil: feed the bacteria, microorganisms. It’s a feast for roly polies and earwigs, who in turn are consumed by our hens, and robins. We like our lumpy, blowsy “lawn.” We set the blade deck at its highest. The longer grass simply lays over, cooling and shading its soil and roots and retaining moisture. I mow clearings in this untamable ocean of grass. I circle the rogue hollyhock, the bonny stands of penstemon, flax so blue it captures the sky, and the wild tangles sweet pea vine, come June. These painterly swathes of ‘lawn’ are my deep breaths in the landscape. In my admitted compulsion to control just a little, I mow rhythm into my space: calming islands of lawn against swooping skirts of tall grass, and mowed pathways spill through thickets of trees, claiming
several sitting areas, a tree house, a trampoline, and the chicken yard. The compositions bring flow and life that simply would not be if we prioritized turfgrass. So we restrain ourselves (how unAmerican!) leaving Nature to her ways. Moseying about, we lend an artists’ hand, tucking a blowsy bit here, guiding a branch there. Grass, dead branches, autumn's leaves and dessicated seed pods often remain from previous seasons. Harvesting seed last year from a biennial primrose, I instead found pupae. I learned that “plume moth” larvae chow their way in, feast on omega-3-rich seeds, and pupate, safe within their winter shelter of “dead stuff.” Come spring, a dusty, frilly moth crawls out. Incredible miracles every day. We have no clue. My summer sit spot is out back, on the sun-warmed steps of my concrete stoop. From spring to autumn, I air-dry in the sun, wrapped in a towel or robe, the sun so delicious on briefly-clean skin. I linger over coffee, cherishing “slow” and “pause.” I marvel at the entirety of what we choose to do on this patch of Earth. We grow food to nourish our bodies. We manage trees, leaves, sticks, dirt and stone for the sake of untold cycles, lives, and creatures. “Finished” and “fancy” be damned. From my perch above this yard, I half close my eyes, the sunlight pink and gold in my lashes, my body with the swallowtail, the hawkmoth, and the robin, attuned to possibility and discovery, winging through the lifefilled air between me and the ravens… way up yonder.
a L D E n P O L a b R z a a C of Carbondale
It is difficult for a small business to survive in the best of times…. This is the worst of times…. Our Tenants are struggling, working hard. Fighting to not lose all. Tenants and Landlords need each other to survive. But we cannot survive on our own. We need the support of our whole community. We depend upon you, our customers. We also depend upon those among us who keep us safe, and keep the wheels of our society turning. The Carbondale Plaza is proud to stand by Subway of Carbondale and The Patina Bar and Grille to distribute gift certificates for a meal to the following entities:
Carbondale Fire Department
Carbondale Post Office
Carbondale Streets and Utilities
Carbondale Police Department
Carbondale Parks Department
Roaring Fork Family Practice
These are just a few of the organizations that deserve our thanks. Please support our community heroes along with all of Carbondale’s small businesses. Most important of all, stay safe!
WITH YOUR HELP WE WILL SURVIVE THIS.
The following people helped with the logistics of this effort: Jay Harrington
Gene Schilling
Marty Silverstein
Mike Wagner
Susan Kelly
THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020 • 11
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How to plant ......................‹
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Not so fast. If you want a successful first garden experience, there are three basic things every beginning gardener needs to know: what to plant, when to plant and how to plant. The secret is in the seeds — actually, the seed packet. The back or inside of the seed packet has all of the information you need to know to grow. If you’re shopping online or from a catalogue, the info should be listed under the vegetable description. But for the novice, it may be difficult to decipher these instructions. So here are some tips to help understand what the seed packet info means, and how to use it. First, you must know the frost dates for your area. There are many online sources of graphs and charts to help figure that out, but for the Carbondale area, the “average last frost” in spring is June 10. It’s a few weeks later upvalley and earlier downvalley, because of altitude differences. In our area, the “average first frost” in fall is Sept. 20. This is an average — either could come much earlier or later. Finally, every gardener must keep an eye out for frost warnings throughout the season. A “frost” occurs when the temperature dips below 32 degrees. Some plants can take a frost and others will die. If it’s Aug. 21 and there is a frost warning, you need to be prepared to cover your
Do not ignore this directive. Peas, beans, corn, and sunflowers have a very low tolerance for root disturbance, so transplanting will likely result in loss of those seedlings you’ve spent weeks caring for in your house. Tomatoes, peppers and winter squash can be direct sown, but planting them indoors is best, because it gives them a head start on our short growing season. Some plants don’t tolerate heat well, so they’re best sown in early spring or late summer. Lettuce and spinach will bolt, which means they will produce flowers and seeds trying to complete their life cycle before the heat kills them. This makes the leaves bitter and unpalatable, so plant them early. Same with peas, which should be planted outdoors in late April or early May for optimum yield before the heat. A common rookie mistake when planting seeds is putting them too deep into the soil. The seed will sprout and grow, but it will never reach the surface of the soil and will rot and die. The seed packet will tell you how deep to plant the seed, but a good rule of thumb is to plant no deeper than twice the size of the seed. For example, lettuce seed about 1/8 inch in size, should be planted about 1/4 inch deep. Bean seeds may be as large as 1/2 inch and should be planted one inch deep. Some seeds, like carrots, just need a light dusting of soil over the top. Get a good book or go online for further information on how to care for and harvest your vegetables. Excellent sources are The Old Farmer’s Almanac and CSU Extension web pages on vegetable gardening.
What to plant
(100 days or less)
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It’s easy right? Just buy some seeds, plant, water, watch them grow, then harvest your bounty.
frost-sensitive plants or risk losing them. The seed packet will tell you which plants are frost-tolerant and which aren’t. Here in the valley, the time between our last frost in spring and our first frost in fall is about 90-100 days. That’s not long enough for certain vegetables to mature. Watermelon, okra, and some tomato, corn and winter squash varieties are a few examples of vegetables that are difficult to grow here without some expertise. Instead, choose fast-growing crops like lettuce and other greens, peas, beans, carrots, beets, summer squash, and cherry tomatoes. To find out if a vegetable variety is suitable for your growing season, look on the seed packet for “days to maturity.” If it’s over 100, don’t buy it. Chances are you will never get a single ear of corn or big ripe pumpkin, because a frost will kill the plant before maturity. There are ways around that, but those are best left to experienced gardeners. Some seeds can be planted directly in the garden. Some need to be planted indoors and then transplanted into the garden. Some seedlings hate being transplanted and will wilt and die. How do you know which are which? The seed packet will tell you. “Direct sow” means to plant the seed directly in the garden. It will also say when. For example; “two to four weeks before the last frost” or “after all chances of frost have passed.” “Start indoors” means you must plant the seeds in small pots or trays and keep them in a sunny window or under a grow lamp until the time is right to transplant into the garden.
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By Sue Gray Sopris Sun Correspondent
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Vegetable Gardening 101
When to plant Having trouble getting seeds this year? The Basalt Seed Library is partnering with Skip's Farm to Market and Mana Foods.
Beginner gardeners Tris and Tag Speaker planted carrot seeds in their vegetable garden in 2018. Courtesy photo Sue Gray is a professional gardener specializing in organic vegetables, and the volunteer creator and caretaker of the Carbondale Historical Society Heritage Gardens.
Located at MANA Foods / HWY 133 & Sopris St
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Dandelion Day & MANA FooDS C o m e p i c k u p o r g a n i c p l a n t s ta r t s f r o m l o c a l v e n d o r s ! D a n d e l i o n D ay m i g h t b e c a n c e l e d , b u t w e w i l l k e e p t h e spirit alive, and kick off spring with our annual plant sale! Working together with MANA Foods, we are hosting a PopUp Plant PickUp shop out front of their local food s t o r e o f f H W Y 1 3 3 . W e w i l l h o s t 1 v e n d o r p e r d ay, f o r 3 weeks, bringing the local pLants to you!
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12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020
C r ys t a l C o l a n t i n o ( H P ) Juno Farm (FDG) W i l d M t n S e e d s ( AGS ) E r i n ’s Ac r es ( AGS ) J a n e l l To g n o ( AGS ) C RM P I ( AGS / P GS ) E r i n ’s Ac r es ( AGS ) C O Pe a r E d i b l e La n d s c a p e N u r s e r y ( P GS )
LETTERS
From page 2
Pathologists and Recreational Behavioral Therapy or for other helpful resources. So, what can you do to make a difference? First and foremost, stay healthy and be kind. If you know a family or individual dealing with the challenges of autism who is struggling to get through the stay-at-home ordinances, give them a call. We are all feeling isolated, but it’s exacerbated for families who bear the extra burdens of managing behaviors, trying to provide structure or are just desperate to sit down. Additionally, push yourself and others to always accept and include everyone who is unique — whether they have autism or not. Kristina and Steve Tober Denver
Other food options Dear Editor: Lift-Up’s Carbondale location has been distributing food in a safe and convenient manner every Monday and Thursday. Everything is given freely, without a complicated application process or questioning need. We (CAFCI) are informed that on several occasions over the past few weeks, Lift-Up exhausted its inventory for that day before everyone could be served. Certainly and understandably, needs have increased considerably during this crisis. And, with its thrift stores closed, Lift-Up’s resources have decreased. We are hopeful grants (including $100k from Garfield County) will help. The last thing CAFCI wants to do is discourage anyone from getting food, but please consider other resources along with Lift-Up. For people over 62, there are many. If you can pay you order groceries and sundries from El Jebel City Market (963-3360) and pick up outside the store at a scheduled time, several days out. If pickup is problematic, The Carbondale Rec. Center (379-1810) has people to help with deliveries and other needs. Valley Meals & More (274-2632) offers similar help. Most local restaurants are open for pick-up; some deliver as well. Garfield County Senior Services offers a substantial cold lunch each Wednesday (order 48 hours in advance at 665-0041; a $3 contribution is requested but not required).
So please, if you are 62 or older consider these possibilities to make sure your needs are met while allowing Lift-Up’s resources to reach more people who may not have as many options as we older folks. Ron Kokish Carbondale Age-Friendly Community Initiative
Comment on mountain lion plan Dear Editor: Wolves were eradicated from the Colorado landscape in the 1930s for ranchers and hunters and by State Wildlife Services. Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) and all of the above are all on a campaign to stop the reintroduction of wolves to Colorado which is on the 2020 ballot for the people to decide the fate of these endangered predators. Now they are on a rampage to eradicate our beautiful cougars. CPW is a State Agency paid for by the State....yes Colorado taxpayers not just licensed hunters and ranchers. You have a voice in this! Once again, wildlife is being used as a money-making commodity, inhumanely and brutally slaughtered for sport, trophy and recreation as well as to protect private livestock who do not belong on our Public Lands and Wild places. Hunting cougars with up to nine coon dogs is inhumane — not fair hunting or for meat. Now, they will introduce the lion call and expand cougar hunting into big game hunting season. How do you hunt big game and predators at the same time? Cougars need to be with their moms for a year or more to learn the ropes on how to survive, fend for themselves and avoid humans. When mothers are slaughtered, young kits will starve and die inhumanely and uneducated juveniles will be unable to fend for themselves and avoid human conflict. Matt Yamashita stated himself that CPW has no idea how many mountain lions live on the Western Slope and that there have been zero human fatalities by a cougar in Colorado. So how they are basing their percentages for managemen, it is not with science. Ranchers and hunters have stated that they never saw mountain lions and now they do, so something has to be done about it. What a rare privilege to actually see one of these
magnificent large cats who stay strictly hidden. They also blame the predators for the reduction in elk and deer populations, and nothing can be further from the truth. Man is the culprit with further encroachment on wildlife territory, development, recreation, hunting and livestock for slaughter. The only reason they want large big game herds is so they can kill them. The big game and wildlife habitat belong to the predators, not the sportsmen or private ranchers who take up residence in cougar territory! Please be their voice and submit your comments to dnr_cpwcommission@state.co.us by April 30! Pamela Lynn True Carbondale
In honor of Earth Day Dear Editor: Let’s take a moment to feel gratitude for this amazing planet that provides us all with such a beautiful, awe-inspiring playground! Think of how relieved she must be to have this reprieve from all the noisy, disruptive and polluting human activities that constantly go on around her globe. Who would have guessed that something good could come from all this turmoil? Now the question is… how do we keep the environmental momentum going and make this current “reset” count for something more than just another bailout for the big corporations? Here’s an idea. While we have the time, let’s all make it our mission to communicate to our U.S. Senators and Representatives that they immediately need to become co-sponsors of Bill, H.R. 3652, the “Hemp for Victory Act”, introduced by U.S. Rep., Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). This bill lays a comprehensive and equitable foundation, providing a solid framework for the industrial hemp industry to become both an economic and environmental game changer for all Americans. So, why not blanket the politicians (and any other power brokers) with social media messages, letters, calls, anything you can think of to respectfully get their attention? Do a search and go to VoteHemp.com to get started. These people will respond (we’ve proved that with federal legalization), but it’s up to us to relentlessly impress upon them the vital importance Continued on page 14
JUNE HEALTH FAIR Vote for Sydney! FSM proudly endorses Sydney Schalit for
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
Elected officials are
Due to the current COVID-19 healthcare crisis, Aspen Valley Hospital is postponing our June Health Fair. Please visit ASPENVALLEYHOSPITAL.ORG/HEALTH-FAIRS to stay up to date with rescheduling information.
accountable to the
people and Sydney is
truly of the people. She is a dedicated community
0401 Castle Creek Road, Aspen | 970.925.1120 | aspenhospital.org
member who represents
what we most appreciate
Want to grow your own veggies this summer?
about Carbondale Fire: commitment,
equity, professionalism, compassion, efficiency.
On your mail-in ballot, vote for Sydney Schalit.
footstepsmarketing.com
970.510.5233
AspenValleyHospital
/
Carbondale, CO
There are garden plots available at Demeter's Community Garden located behind the 3rd St. Center. Call the Carbondale Rec. Department at 970-510-1290 to reserve one. THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020 • 13
LETTERS of making the switch from a fossil fuel based economy to a hemp based one that will give us the “raw material” we need to make thousands of different Earth Friendly products; from compostable plastic throw-away utensils, to food, clothing, medicine, paper products, etc., while at the same time actually cleaning and sustaining our precious home. Gotta do it, folks! We’re here to help. ColoradoHempEd. org. Jackie Chenoweth Carbondale
What to do when life gives you lemons? Dear Editor: As the YouthZone Restorative Justice Coordinator, I found myself with a huge pile of lemons when COVID 19 stay at home orders restricted our ability to conduct in-person conference circles essential for restorative justice (RJ). We had 21 youths waiting to take part in these interactive conferences. If we couldn’t do it face to face, I needed to devise a virtual circle as quickly as possible. My first action was to reach out to the amazing group of volunteers who are part of YouthZone’s RJ program to let them know I needed help. Within a week, seven volunteers helped me devise a way to offer RJ through the internet. We learned to navigate Zoom and created electronic versions of the paperwork. They gave, and continue to give, hours of their time. In the past two days, we have hosted restorative justice conferences for five young people and we have scheduled the other conferences to be completed by the end of April. The deep care and belief these volunteers have for these youth shines through the screen, making the essence of RJ come alive. By supporting the youth who
Continued from page 14 have made a mistake, these volunteers help them to grow and learn, support healing for those who have been hurt, and the repairing of relationships with-in the family and community members. The experience is powerful! I want to send a heartfelt thank you to Tish Filiss, Russ Criswell, Roy Davidson, Judie Banchard, Linda English, Joyce Jenkins and Emily Abderle. It is abundantly clear that without them, I would still be left with a bunch of lemons instead of lemonade. Karen Barbee Restorative Justice Coordinator Glenwood Springs
By Suzie Brady
SUZOKU
Thanks to trails Dear Editor: Our houses may be separate, but we share one mountain home. And our outdoors are the best backyard anyone could imagine! The staff, volunteers, students, civic groups, businesses, and land managers that make up Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers are now, more than ever, grateful for our Rocky Mountain riches. Thanks to trails, we’re surrounded by natural beauty. Thanks to trails, we’re stimulated by exercise. Thanks to trails, we’re calmed and enlivened and inspired to confront the challenges of life. In this season of uncertainty, there’s nothing more reliably satisfying than getting outside. We’re thankful for the opportunities our community has worked so hard to create, to sustain, and to enjoy! Join us online by sharing your outdoor gratitude with the hashtag #ThanksToTrails. Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers
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LEGALS
PARTING SHOTS
NOTICE PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF COLORADO HIGH Q SOPRIS, LLC has requested the licensing officials of the Town of Carbondale to grant a transfer of ownership of their retail marijuana store license to sell retail marijuana and retail marijuana products at: High Q Sopris, LLC 922 Highway 133 Carbondale, Co 81623 HEARING ON APPLICATION TO BE HELD AT: Carbondale Town Hall 511 Colorado Avenue Carbondale, Colorado DATE AND TIME: May 12, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. DATE OF APPLICATION: March 27, 2020 BY ORDER OF: Dan Richardson, Mayor APPLICANT: Renee Grossman Information may be obtained from, and Petitions or Remonstrance’s may be filed with the Town Clerk Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission for the purpose of considering a Special Use Permit to operate a Retail Marijuana Infused Products Manufacturing Facility and a Medical Marijuana Infused Products Manufacturing Facility. The property is located at 500 Buggy Circle, Units LL 3&4 and Units UL 2&3, Carbondale, CO. The applicant is Plum Manufacturing LLC. The Owner is Renee Grossman. You may watch a live streaming of the meeting on May 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. on You Tube. Search Town of Carbondale Planning Commission May 14, 2020 meeting. Please be aware that you will experience a 1530 second delay while viewing the meeting. If you would like to submit comments regarding this application, email your comments or letter to HYPERLINK "mailto:msikes@carbondaleco.net" msikes@carbondaleco.net by 4:00 pm on May 14, 2020. This email or letter will be entered into the record. If you would like to comment during the meeting, email HYPERLINK "mailto:msikes@carbondaleco. net" msikes@carbondaleco.net with your full name and address by 4:00 pm on May 14, 2020. You will receive instructions on joining the meeting online prior to 7:00 p.m. Also, you may contact msikes@carbondaleco.net to get a phone number to listen to the meeting, however, you will be unable to make comments. Wi-Fi will be available in the lobby of Town Hall and a phone will also be available in the lobby for the public to listen to the meeting. Please email Janet Buck at jbuck@carbondaleco. net or call 970/456-3036 by 4:00 p.m. the date of the public hearing if special accommodations are necessary to participate in the meeting. Copies of the proposed application are available on the Town’s website at www.carbondalegov.org. Please contact msikes@carbondaleco.net if you are unable to view the application on the Town’s website and would like to request an alternate method of review. John Leybourne, Planner
Peter Westcott and Kate Friesen have found an array of ways to stay busy, from spinning wool and knitting with it — a great survival skill — to practicing the harp and marimba. Courtesy photos
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission for the purpose of considering a Special Use Permit and a Minor Site Plan Review application for the purpose of constructing a Single-Family Detached Dwelling with an ADU above the garage. The property
is in the Old Town Residential (OTR) zone district. The property is located at 415 Sopris Avenue. ORIGINAL TWNSTE CARBONDALE Block: 17 Lot: 7-8 E. 10 FT. OF EVEN WIDTH OF OUTLOT 8, BLOCK 17. ORIGINAL TOWNSITE AKA: PARCEL B, GENE FENDER LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT PLAT, RECEPTION # 831717 6600 SQUARE FEET The Applicant is Chris Beebe. The owner is Michael Wagener. You may watch a live streaming of the meeting on You Tube at 7:00 p.m. on May 14, 2020. Search for Town of Carbondale Planning Commission May 14, 2020 meeting. Please be aware that you will experience a 1530 second delay while viewing the meeting. If you would like to submit comments regarding this application, email your comments or letter to msikes@ carbondaleco.net by 4:00 pm on May 14, 2020. This email or letter will be entered into the record. If you would like to comment during the meeting, email msikes@carbondaleco.net with your full name and address by 4:00 pm on May 14, 2020. You will receive instructions on joining the meeting online prior to 7:00 p.m. Also, you may contact msikes@carbondaleco.net to get a phone number to listen to the meeting, however, you will be unable to make comments. Wi-Fi will be available in the lobby of Town Hall and a phone will also be available in the lobby for the public to listen to the meeting. Please email Janet Buck at jbuck@carbondaleco.net or call 970/456-3036 by 4:00 p.m. the date of the public hearing if special accommodations are necessary to participate in the meeting. Copies of the proposed application are available on the Town’s website at www.carbondalegov.org. Please contact msikes@carbondaleco.net if you are unable to view the application on the Town’s website and would like to request an alternate method of review. John Leybourne, Planner
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Carbondale Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance No. 3 Series 2020: AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A FRANCHISE BY THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASIGNS, THE RIGHT TO FURNISH, SELL AND DISTRIBUTE ELECTRCITY TO THE TOWN AND ALL PERSONS, BUSINESSES, AND INDUSTRY WITHIN THE TOWN AND THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, LOCATE, MAINTAIN, OPERATE AND EXTEND INTO, WITHIN AND THROUGH SAID TOWN ALL FACILITIES REASONABLE NECESSARY TO FURNISH, SELL AND DISTRIBUTE ELECTRICTY WITHIN THE TOWN AND THE RIGHT TO MAKE REASONABLE USE OF ALL STREETS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES AND PUBLIC EASEMENTS AS HEREIN DEFINED AS MAY BE NECESSARY; AND FIXING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF. will come before the Board of the Town of Carbondale for further consideration as to its adoption and passage, as provided by law. Said ordinance was introduced and read for the first time at the regular meeting of said Board held on February 25, 2020. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO Dated at Carbondale, Colorado April 2, 2020
SERVICE DIRECTORY We are hanging in there with you! If the current situation prompting you to…
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OPEN AT 11 AM. CLOSED TUESDAYS. 970 510 5343 | 568 HWY 133, CARBONDALE | 450TEPPANYAKI.COM THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 23 - APRIL 29, 2020 • 15
Carbondale’s community supported nonprofit newspaper
We will get through this together!
Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com