Land conservation as an act of philanthropy

open land.

As a technical matter, when people like the Biers donate land to a conservation organization, they simply execute a deed to a conservation entity. But, on a deeper level, they free the land from the tyranny of selfish control. Ecosystems predating our own species become self-willed. It is an emancipation.

Given the ecological and social importance of open lands, it is fortunate that our friends Jeff and Janette are not alone. One of the first conservation easements in Colorado occurred in the Crystal Valley in 1981 when George Stranahan donated his Flying Dog Ranch development rights to Aspen Valley Land Trust.

Over the ensuing years, many others have quietly followed George’s example; Ginny Parker’s donation of a conservation easement on Happy Day Ranch in Emma, and Tom and Rose Rupert’s donation of a conservation easement last year in Old

Snowmass come to mind. Owners who have worked with open space departments and land trusts to preserve open lands rarely achieve the private gain that might have occasioned development.

My gratitude extends also to the anonymous 2018 donation of several key parcels to the town of Carbondale. One of those parcels is now known as Chacos Park.

CVEPA strives to promote a land ethic in the management of both private and public lands (see www.cvepa.org). We hold in high esteem those individuals who place the common interest above their own, and value open and wild lands. The emancipation of one’s own land from the sole dictates of the self is perhaps one of the most lasting legacies an individual might achieve. Thank you, Jeff and Janette.

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

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Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Carbondale Chamber Business of the Year Awards: Alpine Bank (for-profit) and Aspen Valley Land Trust (nonprofit). Pictured, left to right: Andrea Stewart (Carbondale Chamber), Erin Quinn and Suzanne Stephens (Aspen Valley Land Trust), Garrett Jammaron (Alpine Bank) and Katie Montie (Carbondale Chamber). Courtesy photo mom of three girls ages 3-9. In this day and age, parents in the United States are faced with the real fear of school violence and shootings. Every time I am at the Carbondale Library after school, there are about 10 elementary and middle school boys playing violent shooting video games for hours, talking about the people they’re shooting and killing. Not only can everyone see the shooting games in the center of the library, but it seems inappropriate for the Carbondale Library to facilitate this. I’d be curious if other parents support this type of computer use or if they’d agree that it would be worth changing the use of the computers to something other than teaching kids to normalize gun violence and make a game out of shooting people.

Anne Buchanan, Carbondale

Safe passage

I write in support of the work being done by the Watershed Biodiversity Initiative (WBI) and Roaring Fork Safe Passages (RFSP). Wildlife has been under tremendous pressure for many years. We have expanded the human footprint in ways that make wildlife's effort to survive and thrive more difficult. By developing natural landscapes into human spaces,

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El Sol brillando

The Sopris Sun, together with seven other local media organizations, received a $35,000 grant from the Colorado Media Project toward continuing efforts to enhance the quality of, and access to, representative news in Spanish for our region. In all, 27 grantees from across the state received more than $350,000 in 2023 to support projects aimed at advancing equity in local news.

Welcome Dr. Marshall!

Glenwood Springs City Council appointed Dr. Beverli Marshall as its newest city manager. Marshall currently serves as the general manager of the Valley Sanitary District in Indio, California. She has 25 years of experience working with local governments. “Drawing from my introductory conversations with community members, it is clear to me that there is a lot of passion and opportunity to work collaboratively for the present and future of Glenwood,” said Marshall. She signed a two-year contract for the position and starts on March 20.

Volunteer in fashion

Carbondale Arts is seeking volunteers for the biggest — and most renewable — fashion show in the Valley: Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza, opening March 9. Volunteers get to see the show for free and get a complimentary drink ticket for a beer or a glass of wine. Visit www.carbondalearts. com/fashion-show for more details.

Giving Network

Every year, Aspen Community Foundation donates pooled funds from local philanthropists to organizations through its Cradle to Career Giving Network. This year, the Giving Network allocated $420,000 to nonprofits that support mental health from Parachute to Aspen. Learn more at www.aspencommunityfoundation.org

Road tragedies

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, 745 lives were lost on Colorado roads in 2022. That is the highest number of roadway deaths recorded since 1981 and is a 57% increase from just 10 years ago. A third of the deaths were people outside of a vehicle — pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.

Open for business! Cocoa-spirators Mark Burrows and Crystal Colantino welcomed guests into The Cocoa Club for coffee and chocolate on Jan. 19-20. Carbondale’s new dessert lounge will indulge another “soft opening’ on Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. before beginning in earnest Jan. 30, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. serving bonbons, truffles and much more. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Wild and Scenic feasibility

The Wild and Scenic Feasibility Collaborative recently announced that Denver-based Wellstone Collaborative Strategies and Loveland-based P2 Solutions will facilitate a community engagement and stakeholder process that will assess the feasibility of federally designating the Crystal River, within Gunnison and Pitkin Counties, as wild and scenic. The cost for the project — both monetary and in-kind contributions — will be shared by the town of Marble, Gunnison and Pitkin counties, the Colorado River District and American Whitewater.

Thompson Divide comments

During the recent 90-day public comment period regarding the federally proposed 20-year administrative mineral withdrawal of the Thompson Divide — which would prevent oil and gas leases from being issued on 225,000 acres thereof — the Bureau of Land Management received more than 73,500 comments in support of the proposal. Next, the Forest Service is to conduct a National Environmental Policy Act analysis which will also include a public meeting and comment period.

Noxious weed advisory

The Colorado Noxious Weed Advisory Committee is seeking nominations to fill six vacant positions and craft solutions concerning the designation and classification of noxious weeds, management plans and techniques for eradication, containment and suppression. Applications are due by Feb. 1 at www.bit.ly/COWeeds

Public solar

The Bureau of Land Management is exploring renewable energy development on public lands. A public scoping meeting will take place in Grand Junction on Feb. 9 from 3 to 7 p.m. to solicit feedback on a recently announced programmatic environmental impact statement (www. bit.ly/AcceleratedEnergy) for utilityscale solar energy planning on public lands. The meeting will take place at the Grand Junction Convention Center (159 Main Street) and parking is complimentary for attendees. A virtual meeting will be hosted on Feb. 13 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. with registration at www.bit.ly/Feb13BLM

Cars, bikes and drugs

The Rifle Police Department was assisted by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Department and the Special Problem Enforcement and Response team with a search warrant south of Silt. Six people were arrested on charges ranging from outstanding arrest warrants to possession with intent to distribute and assault on a police officer. Additional warrants are pending, according to the press release. The agencies allegedly discovered three stolen vehicles, three stolen motorcycles, seized four firearms and more than one pound of methamphetamine and nine pounds of marijuana.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Kitty Bearden, Brian Colley, Alli Powell, Kat Taylor and Arick Zeigel (Jan. 26); Laura McCormick Grobler and Elizabeth Ritchie (Jan. 27); Greg Albrecht, Sharill Hawkins and Carly Rosenthal (Jan. 28); Molly DeMarr and Noah Scher (Jan. 29); Ami Maes and Luca Rio Phelan (Jan. 30); Joani Lubrant (Feb. 1).