20230104

Have a happy news year!

From all of us at The Sopris Sun, we wish everyone a Happy New Year, and hope to bring to you all a Happy News Year.

Because the last few years have been challenging both locally and globally, we begin 2023 on a positive note. So, from the ice skating/hockey rink at the Gus Darian Arena to witnessing a love-at-fi rst-sight moment at the Carbondale Dog Park; and from kids giggling to dogs chasing them as they raced down the sled hill at RVR, here are some Happy News Year images that we hope will make you smile!

Photos and text by Jane Bachrach

and Qs

By Jeanne Perry

On Christmas day, my brother-in-law saw the Grinch getting arrested. He lives in a city much bigger than our Whoville-sized Carbondale, and he said a crowd watched as the police handcuffed and loaded the Grinch into a patrol car.

“And you didn’t get a picture?!” I exclaimed when I heard about such holiday shenanigans. “What a great Christmas card that would make…”

Incidentally, guess how old the Grinch was when he stole Christmas? Fiftythree. Yep, I’d say 53 years is just about how long it takes for the sparkle of the season to start to tarnish. I’ll be 53 this year and I am working harder than ever to stay positive and see the good in people. I am also fighting like mad to

LETTERS

R.I.P. Ed

The Grinch is going to jail

stop my body from taking on the actual shape of the Grinch’s: spindly arms and legs with sloped shoulders and a bulging belly. Super attractive — all I need now is some Manic Panic Electric Lizard hair dye.

This year we went to dinner with friends on Dec. 25 and sat around the table with everyone answering the questions from our wee crackers — fun holiday party favors that pop when you open them to reveal a paper crown and a random question. The best present was spending time with friends, laughing out loud. When asked what we would do if we could do anything risk free, the answers were varied and highly entertaining: rob a bank, free solo climb, go into space, mess around with Jim… the sky was the limit because dangerous consequences were not a factor — kind of like that mob at the capitol a couple of years ago.

No, we are not going to let it slide, because lack of accountability is a slippery slope, ending at the bottom of one of those Dr. Seuss-sized mountains. The Grinch may steal our presents, our ribbons and

bows, even our roast beast, but there is one thing we can’t let him take — okay, two things: our joy, sure, but also our rule of law.

The rest of the stuff can be replaced (if it was even necessary in the first place), but without integrity this country will not be the same. Even the Grinch can find his way back by remembering that integrity doesn’t mean always being right, it means righting our wrongs once we realize what we’ve done.

I have this wonderful fantasy that Trump has done everything he can think of to bring the GOP to its knees; that his whole presidency was a farce, and his true intention is to bring about “big changes, the best changes.” I picture him sitting at Mar-a-Lago, wearing a Santa hat and no pants, exasperated by the responses to his attempted treason and thinking to himself, “What will it take for these guys to cut me loose…?” Whether intentional or not, Trump has changed the Republican party irreversibly and if they don’t make a sharp turn, they will find themselves going over the edge of the snow-covered cliff.

In these first fresh days of the year, I am focused on remembering to step out of the curmudgeonly routine and daydream about trying something new. Instead of resolutions, I am looking for meaningful motivations to bring me back to my inner child; singing and dancing around Woody Creek in the 1970s (talk about growing up in Whoville).

So far, I think I’m doing pretty well with my Life Goals List. I have already found true love, been skydiving, and swum with a penguin. I haven’t been to Antarctica or seen the Northern Lights, but just entering my 50s, it feels like I still have some time.

A bucket list full of joy and adventure is the perfect way to start this January, and whether it’s jumping out of a plane or jumping out of a cake to serve someone a subpoena (I really hope this is how they’ll get him), the beauty is in the imagination. For my grand finale goal of 2023, I will find a Grinch costume that fits a 6’3” man and convince my brother-in-law to jaywalk in front of a cop — watch for the consequences on next year’s Christmas card!

With the recent untimely demise of veteran Ed “Mex” Pfab, in an accident at home, the Aspen Mountain patrol lost one of its beloved brethren.

A couple of vignettes: One time Ed and I partnered doing avalanche control work in the Bear Paw Glades. He kept telling me that “two Eds are better than one!” When I kicked off a foot-deep slab, it knocked me off my feet and took me for a ride. As I picked myself up, Ed casually skied over. “I had you in sight the whole time!” he assured me.

“You know the worst thing about getting killed in an avalanche?” he continued.

I confessed I had no idea.

“You lose your overtime for the whole week!”

Ed and a few other vets on the patrol were getting a little long in the tooth. This is inevitable when a bunch of ski bums land the greatest job on Earth. They don’t ever want to leave.

You obviously can’t do this job forever, but you don’t want to retire before you get in all your turns either. So it’s a conundrum. Ed was already deep into his 60s when he summed up his retirement plans: “I figure the first time I walk into the patrol room, and it goes dead silent, I’ve got five more years.”

Now he’s gone. Among his coworkers, the grief is palpable. I won’t

rehash the accolades. But he was a rock. He did it all. He was the one you wanted to team up with on a bad wreck, or any other patrol job. Now may he rest in peace.

Ed Colby, New Castle

Egg shortage

The next shortage is here, healthy eggs.

Eggs are a staple in many American diets, but there is a problem here. People who have been eating caged eggs and buying cheaper eggs have not been getting the nutrition they expected. Caged chickens lay eggs without many nutrients free-range eggs have, and may be even almost unhealthy for humans.

Colorado legislators put into law an end to caged laying chicken eggs sold in Colorado, starting on Jan, 1, 2023. Most of the bill requires farmers to meet specific space requirements per bird to give chickens an opportunity to be happy laying hens. We as citizens will benefit from healthier eggs.

This shortage is due to a couple of different reasons. Before today in Colorado, only 20% of eggs sold were cage-free. Today, producers have to demonstrate a ratio of one square foot per hen to become certified and sell eggs in Colorado.

Plus, the avian flu has shut down farms and they must raise new chickens

from eggs, which usually takes six months for these chickens to begin laying eggs. This new law sets new standards which require big farmers to change their present systems and give chickens a better life.

Ultimately, citizens will be paying the price, as eggs could go to almost a dollar a piece by the end of the year. This will also have an effect on all the products we eat with eggs as part of the ingredients.

MANA Foods, which carries many sustainable products, has only carried free-range eggs since opening, with all their other organic foods. MANA Foods is aggressive in getting cage-free eggs, they have been able to secure eggs from additional farmers in our region to help make up for the increased demand, and you can expect higher prices.

Happy egging, Roop Khalsa, New Castle

What about Pat?

The banning of Pat Milligan, the Sandwich Board Lady, is an entirely new level, even for SkiCo. History is full of stories of the rich being clueless to the suffering they inflict on others, specifically elderly women like the Sandwich Board Lady or what Vail is doing to Daniel Herrick. Their stories highlight SkiCo and Vail's abuse of power in our Colorado communities. Dan and Pat represent the common man

Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com

Contributing Editor James Steindler

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The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on second Thursdays at the Third Street Center.

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In late December, an egg shortage became apparent in the Roaring Fork Valley with grocery stores first limiting the number of cartons per customer, and later posting signs to announce they’re “completely out.” The shortage is attributed to recent outbreaks of avian influenza, though House Bill 1343 coming into effect could contribute to higher costs amid ongoing shortages. The new Colorado law requires that egg producers provide at least one square foot of space per laying hen with a commitment to be completely cage-free by 2025.

Ticket to ride

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) reported that its ticket vending machines will not accept credit card payments through the month of January “due to an unexpected change in RFTA’s credit card processing vendor.”

Riders can continue to use cash to purchase bus passes at RFTA’s vending machines, buy passes at local sales outlets or use the RFTA Mobile Tickets app to purchase tickets electronically.

Youth leadership

Holy Cross Energy supports continuing education for teens in our community and offers travel-based leadership opportunities for youth. Applications for two programs are open through Jan. 13: the first for a trip to Washington, D.C. in June and the second for a leadership camp in Steamboat Springs in July. Find details at www.holycross.com/youthleadership-programs/

McClure closure

McClure Pass closed for several days, Dec. 31-Jan. 3, due to high avalanche danger caused by heavy, wet snow. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued an avalanche warning for the Grand and Battlement Mesa areas, as well as western portions of the Elk Mountains and Flat Top Wilderness.

Safe passage

Following the passage of a bipartisan bill, Safe Passage for Colorado Wildlife and Motorists, signed into law over the summer, the state has allocated $5 million from the general fund to prevent collisions with wildlife. The state chose seven mitigation projects statewide to fund, including $750,000 for Interstate 25 at Raton Pass, $750,000 for Interstate 70 at East Vail Pass and $500,000 for US 550 north of Ridgway. Additionally, $250,00 will go to the Colorado Wildlife and Transportation Alliance for operating funds and $1.275 million will be used as matching funds for federal grants.

Car chase

A car chase on the afternoon of Dec. 30 led to the discovery of a large quantity of suspected fentanyl pills along with other suspected narcotics. Driver Dylan Thomas Zweygardt, age 37, was contacted by a Garfield County Sheriff’s Office deputy for reportedly driving recklessly. An attempt to elude the deputy led to the deployment of spike strips on Interstate 70 which successfully halted the westbound vehicle near the Garfield/Mesa County line. Zweygardt was arrested on multiple charges and taken to the Garfield County Jail.

Scam alert

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office reported a phone scam making the rounds locally. According to the agency, a scammer pretends to be a law enforcement officer and tells the answering party that they’ve failed to pay a fine — or to show up to court or for jury duty — and that a warrant will be issued should they not pay a fee over the phone. The sheriff advises that if someone believes a similar call may be legitimate to ask for the agency’s name, hang up and call the listed number for that agency to confirm whether the call was indeed official.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Logan Doherty, JP Bauer and Rachel Orosz (Jan. 5); Taylor Faczak and Peter Lamort (Jan. 6); Corby Anderson (Jan. 7); Stephen Paul (Jan. 8); Anne Hillmuth, Rick Holt, Kay Jacobson and Jim Mitton (Jan. 9); Lorraine Escue, Mary Finley, Will Masters, Ron Razzore, Erica Sparhawk and Jake StrackLoertscher (Jan. 10); Kim Anne, Emily Goldfield, Crystal Holley and Nick Penzel (Jan. 11).

By James Steindler Contributing Editor

Amélie Ogilby swims for the local club swim team, Team Sopris, or the Sopris Barracudas as their fans know them. Recently, the 17-year-old athlete made her way to the Junior Nationals in Austin, Texas — a historic accomplishment for the Barracudas.

From an early age, Ogiliby, now a junior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS), realized she loved being in the water. Her parents — knowing the same — signed her up for Team Sopris at the age of 6. “I’ve been on the same team ever since,” Ogilby told The Sopris Sun.

Ogilby’s great-grandfather, Trahern Ogilby, was a swimmer and her grandpa, Chuck — who competed in college — loves jumping in the pool to swim laps with his granddaughter.

“What I didn’t really realize was how much of a history my family has in the sport,” Ogilby continued. “Being able to appreciate that in the last couple of years has been really cool.”

In fact, her great-grandpa, Trahern, broke the national high school record in the

200-meter freestyle. For Ogilby’s recent birthday, Chuck gifted her her greatgrandfather’s trophy from that record-breaking meet. “It’s really special to have that with me,” she shared.

“We have three generations of swimmers now; because my dad will come swim with us and my grandpa. It’s a family affair,” she laughed.

Regarding the Barracudas, Ogilby said she wouldn’t rather swim with any other team. “They’re my people, my family,” she stated. “It’s so cool to be a part of this team … and to be able to represent at these bigger meets.”

Ogilby credits much of the team’s success to its head coach, Steve Vanderhoof, who recently traveled with the young athlete to the Junior Nationals in Texas. “He’s been there for every single athlete in the way that he’s been there for me,” she said of her coach. Fittingly, back in 1970, Vanderhoof was part of the first-ever Team Sopris swim team at the age of 12.

Last summer at a meet in California, Ogilby achieved a “cut” time and earned a spot at the Junior Nationals — a goal she’s had but previously assumed she’d have to wait another year before achieving.

The Junior Nationals meet was the biggest Ogilby has yet to attend, where she swam with some of the country’s top contestants. “Watching them was so humbling and such an amazing experience … to witness national records dropping, junior world records dropping,” she exhaled. “It was crazy.” Ogilby placed 14th in the mile race with a time of 16:49.

While the opportunity was one for the books, Ogilby missed her teammates and is looking forward to swimming alongside her fellow Barracudas at upcoming meets. “It’s so fun to see everyone come together, be a team and support each other,” she reflected.

During Junior Nationals, she particularly missed her training partner, Bennet Jones, a senior at CRMS and Ogilby’s best friend who she says is just as “insane” (in a good way) as she is. Jones, also a Barracuda, is up at 5:30 a.m. every morning to train with Ogilby. “She’s my training partner, best friend, partner in crime, whatever you want to call it,” Ogilby summarized.

Clearly, Ogilby is not the type of athlete to hoard her success; says she wouldn’t be where she is without the camaraderie between her and

Jones, plus the support of her parents and Coach Vanderhoof. “They are the main reason I could get to this meet,” she declared.

“The thing about that meet [Junior Nationals] was that she was swimming against Olympic swimmers — people who broke American records — and we were right there with these people,” said Vanderhoof. Next, according to her coach, Ogilby needs to qualify for summer Junior Nationals, then Olympic trials. “That’s her goal: to go to the Olympic trials, and we’re not very far away,” he added.

According to Coach Vanderhoof, Ogilby and Jones push each other and motivate the younger swimmers. “One of the things that’s so great about

these two girls is that they’re developing the whole team just by being in the pool,” he said. Jones is signed on to swim at Pomona-Pitzer beginning in the fall.

Her mile-time at Junior Nationals qualified her for the TYR Pro Series where she’ll have the opportunity to compete against professional swimmers like Katie Ledecky, her dad proudly pointed out to The Sopris Sun. He added that Ogilby is but a couple of seconds from hitting the timestandard for the 400-meter individual medley to qualify for the US Open.

To keep up with Team Sopris and for a schedule of upcoming meets, visit www. teamsopris.org

Amélie Ogilby (center, right) with her family and Coach Vanderhoof (center, left) at the Junior Nationals in Austin, Texas. Courtesy photo

speaks a writer’s language

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

Ernest Hemingway, arguably one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, once said of his craft: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

It’s not quite as melodramatic as Hemingway suggests, but you get the gist of his message. Being a writer can, at times, be frustrating and seem like a futile venture.

Over the years, the Aspen Writers’ Network has grown and expanded its program to become one element of Aspen Words, the literary arm of the Aspen Institute.

Mark Tompkins, a member of the Aspen Writers’ Network steering committee, said the group has met “in various forms” since January 2011. In February 2022, they began hosting monthly meetings at Carbondale’s Bonfire Coffee at 433 Main Street (on the third Thursday at 6:30 p.m.).

Aspen Words “has always considered it important to support writers, Valley-wide. It was a matter of working out exactly how best to do that and how to give them the resources they needed,” Tompkins said.

Deciding to take “the writing life” more seriously, this reporter attended a weekend-long Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference in Aurora last September. No matter the topic of the workshop, one message came through loud and clear — find yourself a writer’s community.

By its very nature, writing is a solitary endeavor. It’s you and a laptop or notebook. The blank screen or page can be intimidating, and lonely. Writers speak a different language — literally — with terms like “agent pitch meetings” and “query letters.” Finding a community of others striving for similar goals, can bring some reassurance that you are not alone.

Fortunately, at that conference, I happened upon fellow Roaring Fork Valley writers, Lindsay DeFrates and Andrea Chacos, who told me about the Aspen Writers’ Network monthly meetings in Carbondale.

Tompkins emphasized, “Primarily, we provide community. They say writing is hard — it’s not coal miner hard, but it’s kind of an emotional hardness, especially if you plan to put [your work] out. Whether you're writing short or long, fiction or nonfiction, you need a community of like-minded souls to gather and support each other.”

“One of the keys to success this year was Bonfire being willing to donate their space on a regular basis, so that we have a home people can count on,” he added of the mid-valley meeting location in 2022.

The Aspen Writers’ Network steering committee consists of Tompkins, Chacos, DeFrates and Lisanne Rogers. Tompkins said they seek input from group members to determine what kind of presentations are of interest and events are then scheduled accordingly.

Essential organizational support comes from Ivy Chalmers, Aspen Words program coordinator, who provides assistance with, for example, the logistics for bringing in an agent or author to give a presentation to the group.

“It’s a very friendly, supportive and diverse group,” Tompkins shared, and the first meeting is at no charge to decide whether or not it is right for you. The next step to join is to become a member of Aspen Words, whose annual membership fee is $150. However, Tompkins emphasized, financial assistance is available if someone is unable to pay.

Another eccentricity of many writers is starting writing projects, but being unable to make it across the finish line. “Without that community, it's hard to get through writing projects on a regular basis,” Tompkins explained.

He noted that they do not facilitate writing review groups. He said, “That is something that

requires a commitment to both read and provide work on a regular basis. Review groups are better when they’re small, but we do help people start those if anybody wants to start one.”

For me, by joining the Aspen Writers’ Network, I have found “my writer peeps,” which, to some degree, brings me the peace of mind to face the blank computer screen, knowing I have colleagues who speak the same language of writing.

For more information about the Aspen Writers’ Network, visit www.aspenwords.org/programs/ aspen-writers-network

Some monthly Aspen Writers' Network meetings feature presentations from literary agents, editors and authors. Courtesy photo

THURSDAY, JAN. 5

KNITTING CLUB

In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library at 2 p.m.

DUCT TAPING

Fifth through 12th graders create accessories with duct tape at the treehouse behind the Basalt Library at 2:30 p.m.

LOWER BASIN PERSPECTIVE

Doctor Kathryn Sorensen, director of research and professor of practice at the Kyle Center for Water Policy of the Morrison Institute at Arizona State University, discusses how water shortages affect cities, tribes and agriculture in central Arizona at 5 p.m. Visit basaltlibrary.org to register and for more info.

GLENWOOD MANAGERS

The three finalists for the city manager of Glenwood Springs position meet with the public and answer questions in a casual setting at the Community Center at 6 p.m.

YOGA OF THE HEART

True Nature hosts a Bhakti Yoga event with story, breathwork and kirtan (devotional chanting) at 6:30 p.m. Tickets at www. truenaturehealingarts.com

CRYSTAL THEATRE

“Empire of Light” shows at 7 p.m. “The Fabelmans” shows on Jan. 7, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. and on Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. A captioned screening of “Empire of Light” on Jan. 7 is at 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 6

SKIER APPRECIATION

Sunlight Mountain Resort’s 38th annual Skier Appreciation Day kicks off at 9 a.m. with $25 lift tickets for all.

A donut-eating contest for kids begins at 10 a.m. and a “Back to the Future” costume contest occurs at 2 p.m. Proceeds from the day will be donated to United Way Battlement to the Bells.

COFFMAN COFFEE WALK

Beginning today, and continuing every first Friday of the month at 9 a.m., Aspen Valley Land Trust guides an educational walk to the river at the Coffman Ranch. Visit www.avlt.org/ coffman for more info and to register.

FEEDING GIANTS

Feeding Giants performs during Friday Afternoon Club at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park at 5 p.m.

LIBRARY ART SHOW

Artwork by Garfield County Public Library District staff and their families will be on display at the Glenwood Springs Library through February. A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m.

RECOVERY YOGA

The Meeting Place hosts a free yoga session for people in recovery on Fridays at 6 p.m.

FIRST FRIDAY

Carbondale’s annual Family Ice Skate Party takes over the Fourth Street Plaza with a hot chocolate booth by the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program and marshmallows and hot dogs to roast courtesy of the Parks and Recreation Department.

SATURDAY, JAN. 7

INTENTION POWER

Four local women offer a day-long retreat at True Nature to begin the year with powerful intentions, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

Local saxophonist Liam Laird and the Way Out West-Tet perform at Steve’s Guitars on Friday, Jan. 13. Courtesy image

GRAB & GO

Artists can create with a grab and go kit, picked up from The Art Base anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. every first Saturday of the month.

NAIL ART

Fifth through 12th graders are invited to the treehouse at the Basalt Library to paint their own or fake nails in all sorts of creative ways at 2:30 p.m.

YOUTH ART

The Aspen Chapel Gallery presents “6 X 17”, art from six Roaring Fork Valley high schools. Although the artwork is not for sale, patrons can “adopt” a piece for $25, 75% of which will support the high school art departments. Meet the artists with a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. The show will remain on display through Feb. 11.

SUNDAY, JAN. 8

CHAKRA STRETCH

True Nature hosts a “chakra system” workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. with essential oils and gentle yoga. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

T�SHIRT PRINTING

Fifth through 12th graders can bring a plain t-shirt and have an image of their choosing printed on it at the Basalt Library at 2:30 p.m.

RANDOM CONVERSATIONS

The Lost Art of Random Conversations returns at the Carbondale Library from 6 to 7:30 p.m. No need to register, just show up!

MONDAY, JAN. 9

RETRO FILM

The Aspen Historical Society screens “The Beginning of a Love Affair” (1976) and “Video Postcard: Aspen Snowmass” (1987) at the Limelight Hotel at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the door.

WINTER WORDS

Author Patrick Radden Keefe kicks off the Winter Words speaker series at the Paepcke Auditorium in Aspen at 6 p.m. Find tickets and more info about the series at www.aspenwords.org

GHOSTLY PHENOMENA

Clarisa Vazquez, founder of the Colorado Coalition of Paranormal Investigators, leads a four-part series about investigating paranormal activity beginning today at the Carbondale Library and continuing Jan. 16, 23 and 30. Each session begins at 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 10

TEACHER APPRECIATION

Teachers at RE-1 and RE-2 school districts are invited to ski for free at Sunlight Mountain Resort. For students, lift tickets are only $25.

CRMPI HEARING

The Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute’s final meeting with Eagle County is scheduled at the El Jebel courthouse at 3 p.m.

YARN GROUP

The Basalt Library hosts a yarn group from 5 to 7 p.m.

BOOK TALK

Mary Fox leads a discussion about Anthony Ray Hinton’s book, “The Sun Does Shine”, at the Basalt Library at 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11

STORYTIME

Join Kara for storytime and some all around fun at the Basalt Library at 10:30 a.m.

SNOW SCIENCE

Aspen Science Center teaches snow science at the Pitkin County Library from 2 to 3 p.m. The presentation repeats at Basalt Library on Jan. 18 at 2:30 p.m.

FLY TYING CLUB

Fifth through 12th graders learn to tie their own flies and about aquatic life in the Valley’s rivers at the Basalt Library at 3 p.m. This program is offered in partnership with Roaring Fork Conservancy. Participants will have the opportunity to compete in the Iron Fly Competition on Feb. 22. Visit www.basaltlibrary.org for more info.

CODING CLUB

Is fly fishing not your cup of tea? Teens are also invited to Coding Club at the Basalt Library at 4 p.m. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW

Mountain Chamber Alliance hosts a 2023 Legislative Session Kickoff Town Hall from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register online at www. bit.ly/2023MCAtownhall

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Matt Shetzer, a Carbondale local and professional photographer, teaches an introduction to nature and wildlife digital photography at the Carbondale Library at 6 p.m. Visit www.gcpld.org for more info.

NATURALIST NIGHTS

The annual Naturalist Nights speaker series kicks off with “Birds of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley” at the Third Street Center at 6 p.m. (registration at www.wildernessworkshop. org) and repeats at Hallam Lake in Aspen on Jan. 12 at 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

LITERACY OUTREACH

Literacy Outreach is hosting an information session at the Carbondale Library from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to recruit new volunteers. Learn more by calling 970-945-5282 or by emailing programs@literacyoutreach.org

LEGAL CLINIC

Basalt Library hosts a free legal clinic from 2 to 5 p.m. Space is limited, call 970-927-4311 to join the queue.

CREATE

A ROBOT

Teens program and assemble a selfwatering robot at the Carbondale Library at 4 p.m. Visit www.gcpld. org for more info and to register.

TEEN LIBRARY COUNCIL

Teens meet in the treehouse behind the library at 4 p.m. and have the chance to share what books, resources and so forth they’d like to see at the Basalt Library. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

MINDFUL WRITING

In partnership with Aspen Strong, the Basalt Library hosts “The Power of Perspective”, a mindfulness writing workshop, at 4:30 p.m. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

BETSY CHAFFIN

A reception for local artist Betsy Chaffin exhibit “Begin Again” takes place at Anderson Ranch at 5 p.m. Visit www. andersonranch.org for more info.

ASPEN HISTORY 101

Aspen Historical Society kicks off Wintersköl™ with a double feature at the Wheeler Opera House: “Aspen History” at 5:30 p.m. and “Aspen Extreme” at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are at www.aspenshowtix.com

UPHEAVAL

Aspen Film presents “Upheaval: The Journey of Menachem Begin” at the Isis Theatre at 7:15 p.m.

AROMATHERAPY

Homsted in Glenwood Springs hosts “Aromatherapy: A Guide to Relaxation”, a workshop where participants learn how essential oils affect the brain and body, at 7:30 p.m. Presented in partnership with Aspen Strong.

Making magic with The Art Base’s new director

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

Taking the executive director role at The Art Base is a full-circle moment for Lisa DeLosso. After moving to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2017, she became “intimately involved” with the Basalt nonprofit community arts center by attending exhibitions, workshops and the annual fundraising gala. She added, “Art is really important to me, and supporting my community is very important to me.”

Starting in her new capacity on Jan. 3, DeLosso leaves Aspen Public Radio, where she spent the last three and a half years, most recently as the director of development and strategic partnerships. Previously, she spent two years as the Aspen Art Museum’s development director before moving into the chief development officer role.

DeLosso’s predecessor Skye Skinner was appointed executive director at The Art Base in 2020 after serving two years in the interim position. Skinner notably led the organization’s move from its former Basalt Library digs to its current spacious location on Midland Avenue.

Acknowledging that Skinner leaves behind a solid organizational foundation, DeLosso observed, “She's done such an incredible job over the past few years, she deserves to have a wonderful next chapter.”

Growing up in a southern coastal community in New Jersey, DeLosso received her undergraduate degrees from Pennsylvania State University in art education and art history and earned a master's degree in art education from the University of Texas at Austin. She also taught art to kindergarteners and created a science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) curriculum for summer camp participants.

Her move to Colorado came at a time when she was ready for change. Motivated by a love for the outdoors, she wanted to live where access was more readily available. “When I started looking into Colorado, I was delighted to be able

to end up on the Western Slope. I don't think I would have been nearly as happy in a place like Denver or Fort Collins, and that is no dig to the Front Range communities.”

What The Art Base does very well, DeLosso said, is provide “a wonderful space for people of all ages to create, experiment and explore.”

Their five-month-long Claudette Carter ARTMentors program pairs young artists with an experienced local artist, culminating in an exhibition at The Art Base. “You're teaching students who are considering what their career is going to look like; that the arts can actually be a career for you, and how to create a space that's viable to make that profitable and meaningful in somebody's career development. It's huge and important. It's very near and dear to my heart,” DeLosso said.

Breaking down barriers to accessibility, The Art Base offers scholarships for programs and camps: no one is turned away because of an inability to pay.

An artist herself, DeLosso will be exhibiting work at Carbondale Arts’ 44th Annual Valley Visual Art Show, which opens at The Launchpad on Jan. 20. Her primary mediums are watercolor drawing and acrylic painting, but she has started getting into linocuts (linoleum printmaking) “so that I can train my brain to think in that kind of negative space,” she explained.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DeLosso said she needed to reconnect with her creative side. Time spent creating art allowed her “to mitigate the scary news constantly coming our way. I got into my flow state by practicing art, and I've learned as well to let go of the perfection aspect of it and to understand and embrace the imperfection.”

A self-professed dog lover, DeLosso’s rescue pup, Trudy, is a pug-dachshund mix, who she described with a laugh as “kind of hilarious.” Growing up, she raised guide dogs for the blind, stating that “accessibility is very important to me.”

Carrying forward The Art Base’s mission to “foster creative expression in the visual arts for

Shortest meeting of the year, so far

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

A new face graced the first Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting of 2023 on Monday. Jackie Harmon in her new seat as county clerk and recorder-elect joined relative newcomers Bentley Henderson, deputy county manager, and Heather Beattie, county attorney, at the meeting. Newly-elected officials will be officially sworn in during a special ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 10. According to the commissioners, re-elected county treasurer Carrie Couey was sworn in last week.

All commissioners were present for Monday’s short meeting. Commissioner Tom Jankovsky arrived slightly late, stating that he got stuck in a “CDOT blockade.” He added that he thought the Colorado Department of Transportation is doing a good job taking care of the roads.

The board listened to a suggestion from a county resident to purchase a “long track” vehicle for Garfield County Search and Rescue, stating that it would be cheaper to have the vehicle than to pay for expensive helicopter rescues in the backcountry. Commissioners then approved the consent agenda and set a Feb. 6 public hearing date for a liquor license transfer for Fireside Lanes in Rifle. They also approved a 120-day temporary liquor license for the bowling alley.

County Manager Fred Jarman reviewed the board’s January calendar, including a meeting with the Bureau of Land Management about the greater sage grouse, a Sweetwater Lake State Park meeting in Gypsum, a legislative call with the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, a virtual meeting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about wolf reintroduction, a meeting at the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Jan. 21 with the Holy Cross Cattlemen’s Association to discuss wolf reintroduction, an awards ceremony on Jan. 23 and the Federal Mineral Lease District banquet on Jan. 26. Henderson will attend an internal working group meeting this week about safety improvements on Cottonwood Pass.

A retirement party for former county clerk and recorder Jean Alberico is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room (108 Eighth Street, Glenwood Springs). Alberico is retiring after almost four decades with the county.

And, that was it. Twenty-two minutes after the meeting began, it ended with adjournment.

In other news, remember the final BOCC meeting of 2022? The one during which Robert K. Weidner, contract lobbyist for the county, gave commissioners an update on his work and then Commissioner Mike Samson asked Weidner to help set up a meeting with Joe Manchin, the Democratic

soprissun.com • Jan. 5, 2023 - Jan. 11, 2023

Lisa DeLosso said, in connection with nature, “I have found that flow state that I mentioned with art; I get a very similar flow state from being outdoors, so when I can connect those two, I find inspiration there as well.” Courtesy photo

all ages and abilities,” DeLosso explained her advantage “to see it from the outside and now being on the inside, which will inform a lot of my work.”

DeLosso said The Art Base team is “highly competent, and they're great people. I already feel very welcomed by them.” She added, with an air of excitement in her voice, “I think we're going to create a lot of magic together.”

senator from West Virginia? Fred Jarman responded to some of the questions posed by The Sopris Sun about Weidner (see last week’s report), but when it came to meeting with Manchin, Jarman said to ask Samson.

So, we did.

Samson told The Sopris Sun in an email, “Given [Manchin’s] history on not supporting President Biden on his energy policies — I’m wanting to thank him.” Samson added, “I also wanted to visit with [Manchin] concerning natural gas. I think we have a common interest.”

Manchin is chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. In exchange for his support of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Manchin tried (and failed) to garner support for a controversial amendment last year that would have fast tracked the permitting process for energy projects, including the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline in his home state. The amendment was not included in the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

According to The Guardian, “Manchin’s legislation would weaken environmental safeguards and expedite permits to construct pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure while restricting public input and legal challenges.” Open Secrets, a political finance watchdog group, reported that Manchin was the top senate recipient of oil and natural gas-related campaign contributions in the 2021-2022 election cycle, receiving close to $741,000 from the industry.

Sol del Valle

Holy Cross Energy y L’Ancla unen fuerzas

Por Vanessa Porras Editora Contribuyente

Al final del año, Holy Cross Energy (HCE por sus siglas en inglés) organizó el primer recorrido bilingüe en su campus para los miembros Latinos en colaboración con L’Ancla, una organización de codiseño comunitario equitativo. El recorrido fue el resultado de una investigación hecha por HCE que comenzó en el año 2021 para obtener más información sobre cómo mejor proveer servicios para los residentes de las comunidades de las montañas a las que sirve.

El recorrido inició en la sala principal del edificio con una breve introducción a la historia de HCE. Establecido en el año 1939, HCE es diferente a otras compañías de electricidad ya que es una cooperativa eléctrica sin fines de lucro. Entre los presentes, estuvieron Brian Hannegan, presidente y director ejecutivo de HCE y Janina Fariña, fundadora y directora ejecutiva de L’Ancla.

La cooperativa es única porque pertenece a la comunidad a la que servirven, para HCE es importante promocionar electricidad sostenible, limpia y confiable. Como socio y miembro de HCE, también es dueño de la cooperativa, y puede votar por los miembros de la junta directiva que representan Eagle Valley y Roaring Fork Valley.

“Una cooperativa le pertenece a los miembros, todas las personas que están aquí de habla hispana son miembros y son dueños. Qué [pasaría]… si el 5% de toda nuestra comunidad en esta región dice, ‘yo soy dueño, soy miembro y quiero involucrarme’, muchas cosas pueden cambiar”, dijo Fariña.

Jessica Rosa, representante de HCE, explicó los diferentes tipos de programas que ofrece HCE para apoyar a sus miembros. Entre ellos Peak Time Payback, Round-up Foundation y otros servicio como Weatherization Assistance Program que a través del estado de Colorado también pueden brindarle asistencia para ahorrar dinero, mantener un pago fijo y conservar energía. Los miembros pueden aplicar para estos programas dependiendo de sus ingresos.

Beatriz Soto, directora de Protégete en Conservation Colorado, preguntó sobre los miembros que tienen trabajos informales como el de limpiar casas o construcción, “¿Cómo podrían ellos demostrar sus ingresos para calificar para estos programas?”

Maisa Metcalf, coordinadora de alcance comunitario de HCE, contestó diciendo que una carta firmada por el empleador es suficiente. Otra pregunta importante para uno de los participantes fue sobre la ciudadanía estadounidense. Metcalf, aseguró que no era necesario para un miembro comprobar su estatus legal para recibir ayuda de HCE. Para más detalles sobre estos programas, puede contactar a una de las

Blanca Mendez, representante de Holy Cross Energy, es una de varias representantes bilingües que están disponibles para ayudar a miembros de habla hispana. Foto cortesía de Holy Cross Energy

representantes bilingües que están disponibles.

Siguiendo la introducción, el grupo fue guiado hasta el centro de despacho donde nos recibió Jeff Huber, supervisor de operaciones del sistema. Huber explicó la función del despacho donde monitorean problemas de calidad de energía usando un sistema de control llamado, control de supervisión y adquisición de datos (SCADA por sus siglas en inglés).

SCADA y los dispositivos inteligentes ayudan a aislar problemas y fallas. Una falla, como lo explica Huber, es un cortocircuito. El dispositivo inteligente es un interruptor que se comunica con la estación y se coordinan entre sí. Es un sistema de gestión de corte de energía que provee retroalimentación con la intención de encontrar las fallas que impiden la entrega de energía lo antes posible para que los equipos de línea puedan solucionarlo. Los miembros también pueden llamar al despacho que está abierto las 24 horas del día para reportar un apagón.

Durante la presentación, Soto preguntó sobre circunstancias de emergencia como los fuegos silvestres u otros desastres naturales que pudieran impedir la entrega de energía y cómo respondería HCE. Hannegan reflexionó sobre el incendio del 2018 de Christine Lake. “Estuvimos a un poste de perder la habilidad de mover electricidad hacia Aspen y de regreso, eso nos obligó a pensar en la posibilidad de otro evento de emergencia”, dijo.

Desde ese incendio, HCE ha desarrollado un plan B en caso de que plan A falle. Es por eso que han acudido a la comunidad de Roaring Fork para aprender qué es lo que más importa. “Si no hay energía, otras cosas no están disponibles. No podríamos haber bombeado gas, no podríamos haber tratado el agua. No podríamos apoyar a los socorristas. Hay servicios que dependen de la electricidad que no podríamos proporcionar”, agregó Hannegan.

A pesar de que HCE ha invertido en otros tipos de conservaciones de energía para mantener resiliencia, Hannegan también sugiere que la comunidad debe tener su propio plan B en caso de una emergencia y ellos pueden asistir con ese plan.

HCE, está desarrollando un plan para tener su sitio web traducido al español en los próximos meses y crear un sistema de comunicación para mantener a la comunidad hispanohablante informada. Este recorrido es el primero y habrá más oportunidades en el futuro para que la comunidad Latina aprenda más sobre HCE y el esfuerzo de L’Anlca para codiseñar una comunidad más equitativa.

Para más información se puede contactar a Maisa Metcalf en: mmetcalf@ holycross.com

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

Críticas

“A veces puedo escuchar mis huesos esforzándose bajo el peso de todas las vidas que no estoy viviendo”.

–Jonothan Safran Foer

Hubo un tiempo en el que me avergonzaba de ser del valle de Roaring Fork.

Me parecía que conforme crecíamos, había quienes les molestaba tener eso en común. Durante la secundaria y la preparatoria, nadie mencionó cuánto odiaban este lugar. Era como si un día hubiese llegado a la escuela y todos los niños estaban ansiosos por irse. O al menos así se expresaban . Pudo haber sido estimulado por las altas expectativas que surgieron sobre nosotros de repente.

Odio hogareño

Al final de la escuela secundaria fue cuando nos dimos cuenta de que no todos teníamos un plan determinado para el futuro.

A algunos niños les gustaba fingir y hablaban de la universidad todo el día. Becas en el Este. Mudarse a tal o cual ciudad. Hablaban de grandes sueños para dejar el valle y realmente empezar a vivir sus vidas. Otros no decían ni una sola palabra sobre el asunto, pero de cierta forma decían lo mismo. Con respecto a nuestro futuro, algunos de nosotros estábamos seguros y otros no. Odiábamos el valle porque no podíamos esperar el día en que nos iríamos y lo maldecimos porque aún no podíamos. De cualquier manera, fue el pobre valle el que provocó la ira de todos.

Veíamos las posibilidades de lo que podría ser. Las circunstancias de todos los demás eran como gemas que brillaban un poco más que la humilde roca que nos habían dado.

Me gustaría informarle que a las personas que no son de nuestro valle les gusta burlarse de eso. Digo que soy de Rifle y hay un momento

en que se ríen y esperan que lo maldiga. Casi se disculpan por tal crianza.

Una de las preguntas que siempre me asombra es, “¿de dónde eres?” Me gusta decir Phoenix porque nací allí y al mismo tiempo me distancia de Rifle, donde crecí. Como si fuera mi desgracia acabar allí.

Antes estaba dividido. Conozco los caminos aquí. Los mejores lugares para comer. Donde vivían mis amigos. El lugar y la vez donde esto y aquello sucedió. En Phoenix, sólo sé que... hace calor.

No fue hasta un trabajo o dos después de la universidad que comencé a aceptar de dónde soy. Por trabajo, iba a los eventos de la comunidad. Construí relaciones con gente que ha estado aquí mucho más tiempo que yo. Solía tener la sensación de que me estaba arraigando cada vez más en la región. Como si nunca fuera a escapar.

Pero con el tiempo, mi temor de comprometerme por completo se esfumó. En la gente de el Roaring Fork encontré resiliencia. Tenacidad y coraje. Dolor y agotamiento. Honestidad.

Adaptabilidad. Duelo. Fortaleza.

Es algo hermoso hacerse un adulto en el mismo lugar donde fuiste un niño. Vi la complexión de mi valle por primera vez el verano pasado. Era hermoso e imperfecto. Conocí gente, escuché historias. Aprendí sobre el aliento de nuestro valle. Ayudado aquí y allá. Para mejorar. Para construir. De vez en cuando manejo hasta Rifle y veo las hermosas montañas que lo rodean. Pienso en lo afortunado que soy al haber sido criado en su cuna. El Roaring Fork siempre será parte de lo que soy. No porque no pudiera escapar, sino porque pude abrazar su espíritu. Accedí a ser parte de su imagen y al hacerlo, sentí un abrazo cálido que me permitió dejar caer la vergüenza y reemplazarla con un sentimiento de poder. De vez en cuando, me encuentro con alguien de la secundaria. Nos miramos asombrados, o al menos así los miro yo . Me alegra saber que no fui el único que se quedó para darle vida a este increíble lugar.

To read Hector's column in English, visit: www.soprissun.com/opinion

Donaciones por correo o en línea P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com

Editor Raleigh Burleigh • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com

Editora Contribuyente Vanessa Porras

Directore Artístico Hattie Rensberry Diseñadora de anuncios Emily Blong

Traductoras Jacquelinne Castro y Dolores Duarte

Distribucion Frederic Kischbaum Bartlett

Executive Director

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Miembros de la Mesa Directiva

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el Sol del Valle agradece por su apoyo a: MANUAS, FirstBank y Alpine Bank

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Valley View is proud to announce the opening of After Hours Urgent Care. From nasal congestion to a sprained ankle, our walk-in clinic is here to treat you. Thanks to its convenient location inside Valley View next to the Emergency Department, you get to decide the right level of care for you at the right price.

Open evenings and weekends for same-day, walk-in care in Glenwood Springs. Learn more at vvh.org/urgentcare or call 970.384.7315.

PeopleCare. That’s Valley View.

Por Hector Salas

En Movimiento

Por Geraldine Pichardo

Crecer en Sudamérica, específicamente en la parte caribeña del continente, limitó mi experiencia con la nieve y la vida en las montañas. Crecí con idas a la playa, vacaciones a la isla de Margarita y en el llano o la sabana Venezolana, con salidas a casa de mi abuela y su vista frente al malecón. Siempre esa temperatura caliente, constante y vital de un verano perpetuo.

No fue, sino en mi etapa de adulta que me encontré con la vida de invierno. Esa nieve que encapsula todo sonido y recubre los pinos alrededor, y con esa misma nieve, la vida del esquiador. Un deporte que en mi fase de adaptación me ha demostrado que tan capaz soy a mi edad de aprender cosas nuevas.

Tengo ya dos años practicándolo. Digamos que el primer año, fue más el pánico

Anécdotas de un esquiador amateur

y el miedo apoderándose de mí, que no dejo que mi cuerpo se soltara y fluyera con la montaña. Aturdida por los otros esquiadores con mayor experiencia y los senderos bien afincados, mi cuerpo se paralizaba, mi mente se apoderaba de mis emociones y no dejaba que mi cuerpo se soltara y aceptara el desafío. El poder tan fuerte de creer que no podía lograr la meta me dejó, al final de ese primer año, con fatiga, cuestionando si debía o no regresar a las pistas.

Según dice mi madre que siempre quise estar rodeada por la naturaleza. Como todo desafío en la vida, mis ganas eran más fuertes, y decidí retornar y ver cómo conseguía bajar la montaña esquiando en un ida continua y simple.

El primer día fue un desastre total. En conjunto con un grupo de amigos, nos fuimos a Snowmass y tomamos la ruta llamada Elk Camp. Si tomas la ruta desde arriba, está categorizada como azul, es decir un nivel intermedio. Yo no me sentía tan temerosa así que dije, “¿por qué no?”

Pero todo lo que sube…tiene que bajar.

No solo sentía la angustia de hacer esperar a las personas

CHISME DEL PUEBLO

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Escasez de huevos

A finales de diciembre, una escasez de huevos se volvió muy aparente en Roaring Fork Valley con las tiendas primero limitando en número de cartones de huevos por cliente, luego publicando letreros que anunciaban que los huevos se habían “agotado”. La escasez se atribuye a los brotes recientes de influenza aviar, aunque el proyecto de ley 1343 que entrará en efecto podría contribuir a costos altos en medio de la continua escasez. La nueva ley de Colorado requiere que los productores de huevos proporcionen al menos un pie cuadrado de espacio por gallina con el propósito de convertirse en libre de jaulas para el 2025.

Boleto para el viaje

La Autoridad de Transporte de Roaring Fork (RFTA) reportó que sus máquinas expendedoras de boletos no aceptarán pagos con tarjetas de crédito a lo largo del mes de enero “debido a un cambio inesperado del proveedor de procesamiento de tarjetas de crédito de RFTA”. Los pasajeros pueden continuar usando dinero en efectivo para comprar pases de autobuses en las máquinas expendedoras de RFTA, pueden comprar pasajes en todos los puntos de venta locales o en la aplicación de teléfono RFTA Mobile Tickets.

Tránsito seguro

que estaban conmigo, sino la incapacidad que tenía de moverme. Como antecedente ya me había tardado unos 45 minutos en una ruta que normalmente tardaba 10 minutos en bajar. El miedo me consumió y me dejé llevar por el mismo. En los últimos 50 pies a la llegada del Camp Base un patrol del resort tuvo que llevarme en la motonieve, el snowmobile como muchos lo conocen, hasta la base.

Pero la vida es fortuita y cuando te quiere mostrar algo que es necesario para ti, busca formas de empujarte hacia ello. Regresé a la montaña al día siguiente, sola, con la idea de que tenía que superar el miedo.Y tuve la gracia de encontrarme con un amigo muy querido. Tengo mucho que agradecer a él por ese día. Su paciencia y su manera de explicarme cómo deslizarme usando mi cuerpo y mis esquís entre las capas suaves del piso blanco, hicieron que bajara un sendero azul por primera vez sin pánico.

Me caí muchas veces, y de esas caídas aprendí a levantarme y a montarme en los esquís con posición paralela a la montaña. Y aunque sigo en práctica, aprendí a utilizar los

Después de la aprobación de un proyecto de ley bipartidista, Tránsito Seguro para Vida Silvestre y Motoristas de Colorado, firmado en ley en el verano, el estado ha asignado $5 millones de los fondos generales para prevenir colisiones de vida silvestre. El estado ha elegido a siete proyectos de mitigación en todo el estado para proporcionarles fondos, incluyendo $750,000 para la interestatal 25 en Raton Pass, $750,000 para la interestatal 70 en East Vail Pass y $500,000 para US 550 al norte de Ridgway. Adicionalmente, $250,000 irán hacia Colorado Wildlife and Transportation Alliance para fondos de operación y $1.275 millones serán usados como fondos complementarios para subvenciones federales.

Liderazgo juvenil

Holy Cross Energy apoya a la continuación de la educación para adolescentes en nuestra comunidad y ofrece oportunidades de viaje de liderazgo para la juventud. Dos inscripciones están ahora disponibles hasta el 13 de enero: primero para un viaje a Washington, D.C en junio y el segundo para un campamento de liderazgo en Steamboat Springs en julio. Encuentre más detalles en www.holycross.com/youthleadership-programs/

Geraldine esquiando el Funnel Bypass sendero hacia Snowmass Village en la última sección. El desafío, ¡ir más rápido que la góndola! Foto por Alex Brown

esquís de tal manera que las vueltas se volvieron como untar mantequilla a un pan. Con esa práctica y las ganas de seguir esquiando, un día me encontré bajando la montaña sola, con la soltura de alguien entregado al momento, sin miedo a caerse, cruzar o ir más rápido.

Fue ahí cuando, por primera vez, entendí la nobleza de este deporte. Un deporte que tiene niveles técnicos y estrategias de cómo continuar mejorando con la medida del tiempo y de tus

habilidades. El punto es lograr que los esquís te lleven y tu solo estas flotando como un pájaro entre nubes blancas.

Todavía queda mucho por aprender, y estoy cada vez más entusiasmada con la idea de mejorar. No por una competencia conmigo, pero un desafío de ver mi crecimiento tangiblemente en algo que comencé de cero. Al final, la vida siempre te va a llevar a lugares incómodos para transformarte.

Y seguimos en movimiento.

Persecución de carros

Una persecución de carros en la tarde del 30 de diciembre condujo al descubrimiento de una gran cantidad de unas píldoras sospechosas de fentanilo junto con otros narcóticos sospechosos. El conductor Dylan Thomas Zweygardt, de 37 años de edad, fue contactado por un oficial de la oficina del alguacil del condado de Garfield por presuntamente conducir de una manera imprudente. Un intento de aludir al oficial llevó a la utilización de barrera de clavos en la interestatal 70 el cual detuvo exitosamente al vehículo cerca de la línea entre condados de Garfield/ Mesa. Zweygardt fue arrestado en varios cargos y fue llevado a la cárcel del condado de Garfield.

Alerta de estafa

La oficina del alguacil del condado de Garfield reportó una estafa por medio de teléfono la cual merodea

localmente. Según la agencia, el estafador pretende ser un oficial de la ley y le dice a la parte que responde que han fallado en pagar una multa — o aparecer en la corte o servicio de jurado — y que una orden será emitida si no hacen el pago por teléfono. El alguacil recomienda si alguien cree que alguna llamada parecida ocurre que pidan el nombre de la agencia, corten la llamada y llame al número listado para que la agencia confirme si la llamada es oficial.

Cierre de McClure

McClure Pass cerró por varios días comenzando el 31 de diciembre debido a un peligro alto de avalancha causado por nieve pesada y húmeda. El Centro de Información de Avalancha de Colorado emite una advertencia de avalancha para las áreas de Grand y Battlement Mesa, además de varias porciones occidentales de Elk Mountains y Flat Top Wilderness.

Carbondale’s 2023 events take shape

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

A new year in Carbondale means a fresh take on the many of the signature events that are closely tied with the town’s identity. On Dec. 6, 2022, the Special Events Task Force (SETF) met to review the calendar and talk about changes. The SETF was established in 2013 to resolve scheduling conflicts and open a line of communication between event organizers and neighbors to town event sites.

In all, the 2023 calendar features 97 event days on town-owned properties. “We’re not lacking on the vibrancy side,” remarked Eric Brendlinger, director of the parks and rec department.

Among many familiar happenings, two pickleball tournaments are on the schedule. “Demand will be shocking,” organizer Trevor Cannon told the SETF, with upwards of 350 participants anticipated. Another new addition is the Nuche Powwow which will commemorate Indigenous People’s Day on Oct. 9. Recommendations by the SETF are set to be approved by the Board of Town Trustees at their first meeting of the year on Jan. 10. Other topics of discussion included a rate hike for renting the town-owned stage, which requires town staff to set up and take down. Events with more than 500 participants will trigger new security requirements like an emergency operation plan and contracted guards. The Chamber of Commerce is in dialogue with Main Street businesses to explore the establishment of an “entertainment district” allowing for common consumption downtown during First Friday festivities. And, finally, measures are being considered to improve the Wild West Rodeo parking situation, such as a shuttle service.

Niki Delson, representing the Age-Friendly Community Initiative, disseminated a hand-out requesting event organizers to provide information about accessibility in their promotional materials. Specifying, for example, the availability of lighting for evening events, sign language interpretation, terrain descriptions, advice for sensory-challenged folks, handicapped bathrooms and large-print brochures.

“Even sharing information about a lack of accommodations can earn public respect,” states the document, “because it indicates that the planners thought about the challenges of inclusive participation.”

Here is the list of 2023 events on town-owned property*

*details are subject to change

First Friday Family Skate Night - Jan. 6 - Fourth Street Plaza

First Friday “Love is a movement” - Feb. 3 - Downtown Puzzle and Pie Night - Feb. 26 - Rec Center

First Friday Creative District Focus - March 3 - Downtown Green is the New Black - March 9-11 - Rec Center

First Friday Healing Hoof It / Animal Parade - April 7 - Downtown

“Where My Peeps At?” Scavenger Hunt - April 8 - Rec Center

5Point Film Festival - April 19-24 - Rec Center and Sopris Park

Rotary Club Fireball Drop - May 5 - Sopris Park

First Friday Family Block Party - May 5 - Downtown Dandelion Day - May 13 - Sopris Park

Bonedale Bike Week - May 15-21 - Various locations

Art Walk - June 1 - Town Hall

Wild West Rodeo - Thursdays, June 1-Aug. 17 - Gus Darien Rodeo

First Friday Art Around Town - June 2 - Downtown

Wilderness Workshop Community Party - June 2 - Sopris Park

Farmers’ Market - Wednesdays, June 7-Sept. 21 - Fourth Street

Tri for the Sun - June 10 - Pool

Gymkhana - June 10, July 15, Aug. 12, Sept. 17, Oct. 8 - Gus Darien Rodeo

Mexican Rodeo - June 11, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 24 - Gus Darien Rodeo

Summer Concert Series - June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10 - Sopris Park

Pickleball Tournament - June 16-18 - Courts

Festival Las Americas - June 24 - Sopris Park

Independence Parade and Pool Party - July 4 - Downtown and pool

First Friday Community Celebration - July 7 - Downtown

Mt. Sopris Music Fest - July 7 - Fourth Street Plaza

Mountain Fair - July 28-30 - Sopris Park and Main Street

First Friday Car Show - Aug. 4 - Downtown

Our Town One Table - Aug. 20 - Fourth Street

Cowboy Up - Aug. 25 - Fourth Street Plaza

First Friday - Sept. 1 - Downtown

Pickleball Tournament - Sept. 8-10 - Courts

Ranch Roping - Sept. 8-10 - Gus Darien Rodeo

Settings fundraiser - Sept. 16 - Carbondale Clay Center

First Friday - Oct. 6 - Downtown

Potato Day Barn Dance - Oct. 6 - Rec Center

Potato Day - Oct. 7 - Sopris Park

Nuche Powwow - Oct. 9 - Sopris Park

Farm Fest - Oct. 13-15 - Fourth Street Plaza

First Friday Día de los Muertos - Nov. 3 - Downtown

Turkey Trot - Nov. 23 - Rio Grande Trail

First Friday Light Up Carbondale - Dec. 1 - Downtown

Jingle Bell Run - Dec. 17 - Independence Run & Hike

Community calendar event submissions are always welcome to news@soprissun.com

soprissun.com/espanol/ • 5 de enero de 2023 - 11 de enero de 2023

BOOK REVIEW

‘Buttons: Dreams Do Come True’

By Jamie LaRue Garfield County Libraries

“Most people don't remember the day they were born. I remember it all.” So begins the children's book “Buttons: Dreams Do Come True” by longtime Glenwood Springs resident, Rachael Windh.

That arresting beginning has an immediate twist. The narrator is ... a book. It's a book by a book about being a book.

After being pressed into existence, “Buttons” begins its journey. First, into a shipping box. Next, to a shelf in a bookstore. Then, to a young girl's home as a birthday gift. Then, “Buttons” is regifted to a neighbor.

Then, to school, then to a library, then, after many uses, to a library book sale, then, at last, to the adventure “Buttons” had always longed for — travel!

I realize that I have just given a complete spoiler for the book, but I found it charming. People don't return to children's books because of surprising plot developments. They return because a book captures some important feeling or discovery. In this case, the illustrations are lovely, and the story is touchingly told. The point — dreams can indeed come true — is a good one.

But more to the point, “Buttons” nails something usually only librarians think about: books do indeed have many lives. And like some people, they want to be loved, and they want to get around in the world.

(In libraryland, we refer to the travels of a book as "circulation.")

Getting to a library is just one part of a book's journey. Ideally, it passes through many hands, many lives. Those additional lives increase its chance of finding its readers.

In talking with the author, I learned that she actually wrote the book 23 years ago, and has been submitting it for publication ever since. That's a familiar story for many authors. Writing the book isn't necessarily the hard part. It's getting it published — one of the reasons that so many authors turn to self-publishing.

The next challenge is getting the book noticed. And that's what this review is about. All around us, people are quietly engaged in acts of creation. It's worth celebrating.

“Buttons: Dreams Do Come True” is available from the Glenwood Springs Branch Library.

“Recommended Reading” is a collaboration between The Sopris Sun and Garfield County Libraries, highlighting important literature available at local libraries.

Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com

The Resourceful Elf: Part Two

By Tom Mercer Former Carbondalian

Continued from Dec. 22, 2022 Work in Progress page

Snuffles the Elf was at a loss. He was no longer one of Santa’s helpers due to an error he had made on a needed sleigh repair. The repair — which had gone awry — forced Santa to make an emergency landing in a frozen Indiana cornfield. Santa’s delivery schedule was seriously impacted, which resulted in Snuffles dismissal.

And, suffice to say, opportunities were limited for unemployed elves. Snuffles was concerned about his prospects for future employment. He had spent most of his life performing various maintenance tasks at The North Pole, but he knew that his skill set was hardly appropriate for the world-at-large. Nonetheless, Snuffles the Elf decided to search for employment in a warmer climate, while his beloved wife remained at their home near the top of the world. He began his job search in sunny Los Angeles, California.

Every successful job hunt begins with a plan. So, soon after Snuffle’s arrival in Los Angeles, he sat down and made a list detailing his interests and skills. The list was short. Sleigh maintenance and repair had been his primary function in the frozen North, but he feared that particular skill would not be valued in The Golden State. He knew enough that no one commuted to work on a sleigh in Los Angeles.

Snuffles created a second list that focused on jobs suitable for an elf, but that list was painfully short as well. It included toy making, sleigh maintenance, jingle bell tuning and sleigh runner repairs — frankly, none of which would be marketable in Los Angeles. So, Snuffles made a third list comprised of alternative employment possibilities and it included the following:

1) Writing a book titled “Memoirs of an Elf.”

2) Teaching a course focused on wooden toy design and productio n.

3) Landing a role as a munchkin in a “Wizard of Oz” production.

4) Getting a job at the local “Santa Land” theme park.

5) Writing a newspaper column called “Short Person in a Tall Wo rld.”

Unfortunately, Snuffles had no experience in the entertainment industry nor as an author. Even worse, he had no “paid” employment history of any kind. Snuffles became discouraged (not a desirable quality for an elf) and he started visiting the reindeer at the local zoo where he would talk to them at length about his predicament. The reindeer were clearly sympathetic, but they were unable to offer any helpful advice. Still, Snuffles tried his best to maintain a good elf-attitude.

Then, one day, as Snuffles was leaving the zoo after talking to the reindeer, a man approached him with an incredible proposition. The man was a talent scout and he was searching for a “side-kick,” late-night television host. He believed Snuffles would be a “good fit” and asked the elf if he would be interested in the position. Snuffles spent all of 10 seconds considering the offer, after which he agreed to audition for the role.

To make a short story even shorter, Snuffles landed the side-kick job

and that same week he joined the Screen Actors Guild, signed a two-year employment contract, made arrangements to bring Mrs. Snuffles to Los Angeles and rented a nice apartment overlooking the beach. Things were “looking up” — just as they always seem to do for diminutive elves — and anyone wishing to see a happy elf (with a great sun tan) only n eeds to tune into the right late-night TV show.

Art by Benny Blue

LETTERS

among us. Pat loves her community and had a decades-long agreement with SkiCo. She's the last one left in Colorado.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death now in America. Dan experienced the suicide of two his closest friends and moved to the mountains for solace. He was honest with his employer about his depression, his friends' deaths and about waking up every morning wanting to kill himself. Instead of empathy when he asked to be transferred within the company, he was met with abuse from the corporation. The problem for Vail was that the abuse didn't stop with his firing. Dan and Pat represent the marginalized in our communities and we should throw sunlight on their bannings.

Lee Mulcahy, Basalt

Mentoring Month

In honor of National Mentoring Month, I’ll shed light upon several Buddy Program (BP) offerings. Whether you’re a parent, volunteer, or community partner we hope one of the following avenues of mentorship speaks to you.

Ten years ago, I moved to the Roaring Fork Valley (RFV) and transitioned from Outward Bound instructing to teaching. I quickly observed that outdoor recreation, albeit ample in the RFV, wasn’t accessible to all per its cost. Subsequently, I began volunteering with the BP, as they offer group-mentoring programs free of charge. Through the LEAD Program,

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middle and high school students participate in activities including; backpacking, canyoneering, rock climbing, snowshoeing, etc.

The BP’s traditional forum of mentorship, community-based pairings, partners mentors with mentees. Over the past five years, my buddy, Sonia, and I have had the opportunity to share our hobbies, watch one another’s families grow, support each other through difficult times and celebrate each others’ successes. Having a little buddy has enriched my life immensely. I recommend this route of mentorship for anyone looking to expand their sense of connection within our community.

Peer to Peer mentoring is another facet of BP mentorship in which I’ve been involved. This program connects high school mentors with elementary mentees for afterschool activities. It’s a meaningful way for high school students to give back to their community.

Aspen HospitaValley l

Whitcomb Terrace

If these offerings pique your interest, visit www.buddyprogram.org to learn more. We’d love to have you join our community of mentors and mentees!

Meg Ravenscraft, Carbondale

Letter policy: Please limit your letters to 500 words. We are committed to including all perspectives in The Sopris Sun. If your letter does not appear, it may be because of space limitations in the paper or because other letters we printed expressed the same idea or point of view. Letters are due by noon on the Monday before we go to print.

Dominique Wojcik, a resident of Aspen, and her siblings skinned up Aspen Mountain to watch the fireworks and welcomed the new year.

Courtesy photo by Dominique Wojcik

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CASA of the Continental Divide guides volunteer advocates who ensure a child’s safety, best interest and well-being are at the forefront of legal proceedings. We believe that every child should be given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home. Change a child’s story by volunteering with us today! Apply to volunteer at mtncasa.org or call us at 970-513-9390.

Under the blanket of snow, we sometimes fail to see the connection of beginnings and ends. As we begin our month of “wintering”, Rev Norris shares what may come… after the pregnant pause.

EVA