“The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven”

By Amy Krakow Carbondale Branch Library

Imagine life in a rickety, makeshift hut on an uninhabited fjord on the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard where four months of the year you live in total darkness; where glaciers, polar bears, and a faithful dog named Eberhard are your only companions. You have chosen this solitary life purposely due to unfortunate circumstances which have changed your life forever.

In Nathaniel Ian Miller’s debut novel, “The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven”, be prepared to immerse yourself in the masterfully woven prose of early 20th century Stockholm. This tale of adventure, solitude, unimagined love and the resilience of characters rich in personality and vitality will draw you in from the very first paragraph.

At 32, Swedish-born Sven Ormsom finds himself restless and gloomy, deploring the daily grind of life in 1920s Stockholm. Unlike his father who is content with being a tanner, Sven yearns for a life of adventure in the Arctic. But, his romantic imaginings of what this life would be is light years away from the harsh reality.

Suffocating in Stockholm and unable to hold down mundane jobs, his sister Olga suggests he find work in a mining camp in Longyear City on Svalbard. Here he meets an eccentric Scottish geologist, a bibliophile comrade as well as a patron of the arts and Scottish whiskey. Tragically Sven is caught in an underground avalanche and left disfigured, disheartened and broken.

Finding himself next as an apprentice cook in tiny Camp Morton, he meets and becomes a longtime friend of Tapio, a Finnish fur trader who mentors him in the art of trapping and other necessary skills needed to survive the brutal Arctic winters. Tapio is his only real connection to the outside world, relaying news of significant events including the Russian revolution and the Finnish civil war. Years into his isolation, with regular letters from his sister, Sven receives an unexpected visitor who extinguishes his loneliness and changes his life forever. ideas instead of 20,’” stated Kai-Higbie. “There's so much going on. It's so much fun. It is more difficult, but it's so interesting to get to do that outside of a musical.”

Hunker down, wear plenty of clothing and build a warm fire while reading this unimagined life spun from a remarkable author.

Bailes felt similarly, saying that it has been a “wonderful learning opportunity” to watch her castmates work. "It's great to have such a strong sense of artistic community,” she said. “It's the reason I'm here. It takes a while to find your home, but when we do find one, it's awesome. I love that we can see what a beautiful and healthy, happy family looks like [in this show] because we always see tension and drama. So to have loving behavior modeled was just

She doesn’t plan on leaving Carbondale any time soon — she’ll be focused in her new role as operations director for Bowden Real Estate.

"I've gotten to know Bob [Bowden] over the years, and I told him I don't know the field, but I would be honored to take it on. Business development and growth management is definitely in my wheelhouse and something I'm passionate about. He tells me, ‘I'll teach you the industry, I just want your brain,’ and I thought, ‘Okay, here's someone on a similar wavelength as me.’ But, the thing that's so wonderful to me as well, is he's in a stage of his life where he is really thinking [about his] legacy. And when it comes to strategic positioning within the community for him, that now also amazing.”

Due to the large set and slightly limited seating, director Missy Moore encouraged the community to get their tickets to the show early. Because "You Can't Take it With You" is running for three weekends, there are plenty of opportunities to come and see this show.

In the words of cast member Travis Wilson, it's a “good laugh” with a “great message.”

"If you're in need of something lighthearted and a sort of epiphany with your life, I highly recommend coming to see it," he stated.

For more information and tickets, visit www.thunderrivertheatre.com means meaningfully exploring publicprivate sector partnerships to tackle this workforce housing problem that seemingly every resort community on the Western Slope is facing.”

Now that Tackett is no longer corralling reporters and photographers, you’ll see less of her toting around a laptop, and more of her at yoga classes, out socializing, or skiing to her heart’s content.

“I'm so, so, so excited at every level,” she continued. “I feel like I'm getting paid to get the equivalent of a Harvard MBA, and I think that we have an opportunity to not create new momentum but more meaningfully leverage the momentum the community already has going in this conversation as it pertains to housing. So, between those two things it's a dream job."

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

Long Story Short

By Sofie Koski, Carbondale

Clarissa‘s heart pounded. She scrolled with a certain propensity through the articles and blogs; her eyes searching. Her hack program ran listlessly on the split screen. She tugged nervously on her camisole, her face the sole illuminated surface in the obscurely screen-lit room.

The news articles displayed carefully worded headlines, proclaiming in almost an ecclesiastical way, “Edification for the Tasks! Rectitude in the Tasks!” The manipulation in their tone was almost unbearable, and Clarissa flicked past them with umbrage.

Tasks had only been implemented nationwide for nine months, but the effects had been all too evident. Clarissa spotted a link that looked promising. She moved her cursor toward it. Her hack “glitched” and a title bar suddenly appeared, blocking her view.

“Hey there! Looks like you’re a little off track. Need a reminder for your next task?”

Clarissa decided the rumors about the new spying software were true, and kept her philippic curse to herself.

“Oops! Totally forgot,” she muttered. She closed the pop-up, and it redirected her back to her feed. A new headline appeared: “Tasks CEO Cory Melli Issues New App Function Edict Prohibiting Users from Ever Closing their Browsers.”

Clarissa felt the dread creep into her stomach.

That’s strange, we were just discussing that yesterday, she thought. She clicked the headline, the weak, carnal part of her hungry with intrigue. The clock on the far wall ticked, keeping pace with the speed in which she devoured the words.

“We aren’t sure what’s coming next, but the backlash is sure to be fierce, especially from some like —”

The screen went black. “No, no, no…”

All of Clarissa’s clacking would not bring the article back. She slumped in her chair, which responded with a creak. Clarissa felt disgusted that she let the story’s inflection get to her. It was just a stupid article.

She sat in the dark, the clock ticking much slower now. A phone ringing made her jump. She fumbled to pick it up and put the speaker to her ear.

“Hey Ellie.”

Music at the Library: Four Hands on Keyboard

Fri, Feb. 10, 5:30-6:30PM

Featuring pianists

Susan Nicholson and David Dyer.

Date Night: Mocktail Hour

Sat, Feb. 11, 5:30-6:30PM

Local bartenders explore what makes a good non-alcoholic drink!

Comparte tus proyectos creativos aún en proceso con nuestros lectores. Puedes enviarnos un correo electrónico con tus ilustraciones, creaciones literarias y poesía a fiction@soprissun.com

“Clarissa! What the heck was that? You were supposed to get back to me an hour ago!”

“I know I know,” Clarissa mumbled, fiddling with her computer as it restarted. Ellie used to speak in much more obscene language, but recently the Tasks were even less lenient about cursing. It still put Clarissa on edge, but she wasn’t being paid for nothing.

“We need that link by tomorrow night, you know?” Ellie rasped.

“Yeah, I know.”

There was a moment of silence and neither of them spoke. Until, “Hey, did you see that article… about the new rule?”

“No. What are you talking about?”

Clarissa stopped fiddling, and sat up straight.

“You didn’t see it? It's the newest one.”

“Clare, I’ve been scouring the feed for hours, I think I would have seen it.”

The cogs in Clarissa’s mind began to turn. Ellie knew her well. “Hey Clare, what are you thinking?” she probed.

“Oh, nothing.” This seemed to appease Ellie and she moved on quickly.

“Hey, you want to hear something funny? Mark said his vocabulary recommendation for the day was ‘impedimenta.’ What kind of stupid word is that?”

“Uh-huh.” Clarissa was not listening. Her laptop was up and running again and she was searching in vain for the article.

“I mean, who the heck do these people think —”

Ellie’s words were drowned out by a ringing in Clarissa’s ears. She could not find the article anywhere, but there was an even newer one, from just two minutes before.

“John Lebo Involved in Altercation with Tasks Employee Angered about Company Habiliments.”

She clicked on it, but the screen went black, followed by yet another pop-up.

“Hey, Ellie, I have to go.” She hung up without waiting for a response.

“Clarissa! Please refrain from using your computer the rest of the day. Drink some water and go on a walk. If you use your computer again, you will be suspended for a week,” the pop-up read.

By the sinister tone in the text, she could tell she had stumbled across something she was not supposed to see. She checked her phone, opening the Tracks app. In the span of five minutes, she had climbed from number 12,568,021 in suspicious activity to number 6,807 for the whole state of Illinois. She slammed her laptop shut, pocketed her phone and was out the door before the office chair hit the desk. She walked briskly down the hall of the office.

Maybe I should take a walk, she thought.

Book Talk: Little Fires Everywhere Tues, Feb. 14, 5:30-6:30PM

Mary Fox will lead a discussion on the book by Celeste Ng.

Skating and skiing at CRES

As an outside observer, I can share how delighted I was to see how much these kids helped each other, from latching down skates, getting boots into bindings, pushing each other on chairs, helping each other up, etc. Just seeing how much most of them enjoy being outside and moving and playing, without the rules of a sport and the freedom to pursue the activity in any way they choose… it was such a delight!

Some were completely locked into the physical activity (like one hockey player) and others were more social. I did not hear one complaint about snow or cold! Marty has done so much to make this available to our K-4 kids and, by my observations, it is a beneficial program on so many levels; not only the physical movement but cooperation, determination, perseverance, etc.

REQUEST FOR 2 PROPOSALS (RFP)

Town of Carbondale invites quali ed rms to submit a proposal for:

1. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES (for design & engineering) OR

2. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK (CMAR/CMGC) SERVICES (for the general contractor/construction of the)

Carbondale Aquatics Center.

Proposals are due by March 7, 2023 to:

Owner’s Representative-Wember, Inc. c/o Sarah Hoover 453 Mediterranean Way Grand Junction, CO 81507 For more info: 970-871-1998 or e-mail:shoover@wemberinc.co

RFP is available for download at www.carbondalegov.org and hard copies are available at CarbondaleTown Hall an online cooking and nutrition class with licensed Food For Life instructor Laura Van Deusen

Letters

way of life (especially in America) is just too precious and beautiful!!! We simply can’t let it be destroyed! Please, now is the time to loudly make ALL our voices heard. Contact everyone you know to speak out to their public officials. Do whatever you can to push our politicians toward finding diplomatic solutions to end the war in Ukraine! It may be “now or never,” so don’t delay!

Jackie Chenoweth, Carbondale

Public lands

Tim McMahon, an Avon citizen employed at Beaver Creek, was fired and banned from skiing for putting a sign in the national forest (public lands) in front of a snow stake. The sign was critical of Vail Chairman Rob Katz suddenly giving employees 10 days to vacate Vail/ Beaver Creek employee housing during the pandemic. (“Vail Resorts employee who posted sign in front of snow stake cam says protest got him fired,” Summit Daily, April 20, 2020)

Recently, Tim was arrested for protesting in a chicken suit carrying a sign that said “Vail Resorts informing J1’s by email that there is ample housing in the valley should be criminal.” Both cases may be headed to trial soon and are a waste of citizens' hard earned money paying for nonsense trials. The privatization of public lands is not acceptable. Neither is using a town’s police forces as political stormtroopers which, sadly, smacks of Russia or China. (“Chickensuited demonstrator cited for trespassing in Vail,” Vail Daily, Jan. 3, 2023)

The multinational industrial corporate ski duopoly of Vail and Aspen is not conducive to liberty and freedom. Company towns where groupthink thrives overreach way too often. Consequently, these corporate behemoths want to silence their critics, like Tim McMahon. We should all be grateful to people like the Chicken Man, as well as Michelle Siemer, Dan Herrick and Aspen's Sandwich Board Lady for standing tall in the face of corporate bullying. And we should call continued from page 2 for the resignation of the captured supervisor of the White River National Forest, federal bureaucrat Scott Fitzwilliams, who allows this oppressive “white terror” designed to erode our civil rights.

Public lands are public. Tim McMahon’s ban and arrest at Vail is a continuation of the political crackdown on all American citizens’ freedom of speech and expression and another intimidation of civil society. It will contribute toward more mistrust of our corporate government and hostility in society. Tim’s GoFundMe is here: www.gofundme.com/f/2zgtzgmaterials-parking-and-lawyer-fees

Lee Mulcahy, Basalt

Crystal Trail

I am disheartened to read that the Forest Service has proposed construction of a “nonmotorized recreation trail” on a historic wagon road and Old McClure Pass Road between Redstone and McClure Pass. At some point, we need to acknowledge that we are one of many species in these valleys, and that these corridors are critical to the longevity of the ecosystems we live here for and love.

In the spring, you can walk the Old McClure Pass Road and find multiple rocks overturned by bears coming out of hibernation and hunting for grubs, in addition to white hillsides covered in blossoms which produce the berries bears feed on before hibernation. In the winter, you will find elk bedded on this east-facing trail, saving energy by catching the first rays of a winter sunrise. How can the Forest Service say a developed trail has “no significant impact”? At this point in history, any wildlife habitat is critical wildlife habitat.

I question the development of more “non-motorized recreation trails.” These “trails” already exist. Let’s be honest, “non-motorized recreation trails” is a misnomer for “bike path.” Once this becomes a bike path, grandparents will not be walking it with their grandchildren and citizens will not be walking it with their dogs. Bikes will monopolize the trail. Grandchildren, elk, bear, moose, bobcats, and hikers will leave. Multi-use?

The trails and wagon roads as they currently exist are available to all and require no ownership of equipment. I question the equity of developing a bike path and wonder what percentage of our population is able to afford such a bike?

The new McClure Pass road is already wonderful for cycling. What happened to the Option A (keep the trail in the highway corridor) / Option B (build new trails) conversation? This feels like the initiation of the non-highway corridor option which, if continued, will include 13 river crossings with irreparable impact to the Crystal River and species, including us, who are dependent on it!

The Crystal River Valley continues to be wild and scenic. We need to keep it this way!

Please come to the public open house at Third Street Center on Wednesday, Feb. 15 to voice your concerns.

Heather Froelicher, Crystal Valley

Letter policy: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Letters of 500 words or less stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content. Please include your name and place of residence. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.

Correction:

In The Sun article "CSQ strikes 'gold' in Marble" (Feb. 2), it was incorrectly stated that Colorado Stone Quarries was ordered to restore the original Yule Creek streambed. The Sun regrets the error.

Legal

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission for the purpose of considering a combined application for a Major Site Plan Review, Minor Plat Amendment, Rezoning Application, and Alternative Compliance to allow the construction of a 50-unit residential development. The property is located at Lots 2A and 2B, North Face Base Camp Subdivision (East of the Meadow Wood Dr and High School Access Road intersection). The property is approximately: Lot 2A - 3.439 acres (149,781 sq. ft.); Lot 2B 23.822 acres (1,037,672 sq. ft.) and is zoned Community Arts (Lot 2A) and Commercial Business Park (Lot 2B).

The Applicant is Robert Schultz Consulting LLC

The Owner is Roaring Fork School District

Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO at 7:00 p.m. on March 9, 2023. Copies of the proposed application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application may also be reviewed on the Town’s website at www.carbondalegov.org

Jared Barnes, Planning Director

Adverteyes in The Sun

Eagle County planning staff, planning commissioners, owner representatives and some 40 members of the public visited the proposed site of the Twin Acres Riding Stable and Boarding Stable, a proposed development for a commercial 50-horse boarding and riding facility at 623 Fender Lane in Missouri Heights. While the property has been historically used as a small working ranch, and is partially protected by a conservation easement with Aspen Valley Land Trust, the proposal includes constructing a new 20,000-square-foot riding arena and 25-stall stable. After the site visit, attendees reconvened at the Eagle County building in El Jebel where a special use application was heard by the Roaring Fork Regional Planning Commission. Fifteen members of the public spoke out against the application, basing their concerns on issues ranging from the project's scale and character to impacts on wildlife and water resources, views traffic, noise, etc. Nonetheless, the commission voted to recommend approval of the application, which will next be sent to the Eagle County Commissioners for a final decision. A public hearing will be scheduled for later this winter. Photos by Will Sardinsky

For more information contact Todd Chamberlin adsales@soprissun.com or 970-510-0246