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This Week:

7 ~ Wolves

8-9 ~ Calendar

11-13 ~ Español 14-15 ~ Arts

All tied up

Photos by Sue Rollyson Roaring Fork Conservancy hosted its seventh annual Iron Fly Competition together with the Roaring Fork Valley Fly Fishing Club at The Tipsy Trout in Basalt on Feb. 11. This year, 14 adults competed as well as 14 youth. The youngest of all was Beau (bottom-left), a fifthgeneration Basaltian who’s father (bottom-right), Brandon Soucie, is a fly fishing guide with Taylor Creek Fly Shop. Beau’s sister, Bristol, is seen peeking over her father’s shoulder as he focuses on tying a fly.

Over the hill and out to lunch? Not really! OPINION

County began offering me free lunches. Fred Meyer offered me monthly senior discounts. Piggly Wiggly offered them weekly and Denny’s, daily.

Mature Content

By Ron Kokish

I’ve always believed that deeds define us and respect must be earned. As a lad, I didn’t understand why I was expected to defer to older people. At age 82, the shoe is on the other foot, and I’m still puzzled. By 70, we’ve taken nearly 588 million breaths and experienced over 2.5 billion heartbeats. But it’s what we’ve done during all this autonomic, cardiovascular activity that, in my opinion, ought to determine the deference we deserve. Like anyone, I appreciate being treated courteously, but until you know something more of me than my age, I do not deserve or expect any special deference.

Society apparently disagrees with me. Having achieved the requisite breaths and heartbeats, I began receiving a constant stream of information about older people losing money to online scammers. At markets, people began urging me into line in front of them. Uncle Sam lowered my income tax bill and Colorado lowered my property taxes. Garfield

LETTERS

Dog manners

When I exit places where I’ve taken advantage of my discounts, my juniors now rush to open doors, lest I become unduly tired on the way back to my bicycle. If I stop said bicycle to admire trailside scenery, odds are that, within 60 seconds, someone will slow down and ask, “Is everything all right, sir?”

I’ve not been knighted, but strangers under 50 now regularly address me as “sir.”

If I mention being 82, I often hear, “You don’t look a day over [insert disingenuous number of your choice].”

In short, too many people 15 or more years younger than me seem strangely prone to protecting me, reassuring me, giving me stuff, and generally sucking up. And that, my friends, is ageism; something I dislike almost as much as racism and sexism.

Ageism is a set of preconceived beliefs about people based on their age. And worse, these beliefs often determine how we treat them. I’m neither proud nor ashamed of my age, and I don’t mind looking it. I wish people would simply compliment my admittedly stunning appearance without referencing age. Fawning over wrinkles is ageism.

People who hold doors for me based on the mistaken belief that I am less able than they

The human population explosion in Carbondale has also created a dog population explosion. Truth be told, many of us prefer dogs to humans. After all, it’s the irresponsible humans who are now causing almost daily altercations at both the Nature Park and Hendrick Ranch dog parks.

Both areas have signs outlining the laws and rules of the park, but they are printed in small print on signs away from the entrance. They also offer no information for reporting aggressive dogs and, often, their even more aggressive owners. Letters last summer to the Parks and Recreation Commission — followed up in September with an in-person plea which suggested updated language for park rules — have changed nothing. Currently, the signs state:

“Aggressive dog behavior is not permitted within the park area. If your dog(s) can’t play without causing dog fights or attacking other dogs while playing, you may be asked to refrain from bringing your dog inside the park. Any dog owner / handler who believes a dog brought into the park does not exhibit appropriate social interaction with other dogs, can ask that owner/handler to remove his / her dog from the park. If this situation persists,

are to manage doors, these are the same people who decline to hire me based on the equally mistaken belief that I will take more time off because of my failing health. In fact, workers in the 20-30 age group miss significantly more days of work than those over 60, according to reporting at vantageaging.org

And those warnings! I was online years before the internet became publicly available, and I have never been scammed. Nor am I unique. Contrary to popular belief, people ages 2029 fall prey to online scammers more than twice as often as people over 65 (as reported by the New York Times in 2021).

Nor are older people uniquely in need of discounts and tax breaks. While people over 65 have lower annual incomes than entry-level workers (www.bankrate.com), we have had five or more decades to save, and many of us have.

Median net worth for households headed by someone under 35 is less than $14,000 dollars. For households headed by a 70-year-old, it exceeds $266,000. By 75, however, it decreases by $12,000, indicating that older Americans spend their accumulated wealth to supplement their relatively modest incomes (www. nerdwallet.com).

The poverty rate for Americans under 17 is 15.7%; for those over 65, it’s 10.3%. People over 65 represent 17.9% of Americans, but are only about 3% of the homeless population. As a group, older

the owner / handler who brings their aggressive dog(s) inside the park can be cited for a violation of the municipal code ordinance 7-6-180.”

The signs do not clarify what qualifies as “aggressive behavior.” At the dog parks, aggressive behavior may present itself as a dog that constantly harasses, nips at, humps and fights other dogs. When called out on these behaviors, their owners are more likely to end up in a screaming match than offer to leave the park. I’ve witnessed owners threaten to “bring a weapon next time” and have heard of physical brawls and violence taking place. Still, stupidity prevails, with owners of aggressive dogs who bite and harass claiming, “He’s just playing.” Frankly, responsible owners are disgusted. The bullies are winning.

Many issues are a result of a new trend to refrain from neutering dogs until two years of age. A plea to local vets to warn dog owners of aggressive behaviors when these dogs reach adolescence around six to nine months has been met with either silence or, you guessed it, blaming the police department for not monitoring the parks. I prefer the police department to handle more important issues rather than spend their time parked outside the dog parks, don’t you?

Americans are not particularly poor. If age-based discounts, tax breaks and freebies make sense at all, they make more sense when applied to young families with children than to older people.

Older Americans are active and productive, often well into our 80s and even 90s. We are 17.9% of the population and pay over 18% of federal income tax. According to one extensive study, in 21 of 50 states, including four of the five most populous states, people over 65 contribute more to their state’s economy than we use in services. In Colorado, our economic contribution is 7% more than our usage (seniorliving.org). We pay our way, and then some.

In closing, though I’m writing about ageism from the perspective of someone over 65, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that elders are not ageism’s only targets. Think about an older person meeting their new, 30-something doctor. It isn’t hard to imagine them wondering if such a young person could really be medically competent and, perhaps, not following their medical advice. If ageism shouldn’t keep us from seeing the person behind the wrinkles, it shouldn’t keep us from seeing the person behind the acne either.

Mature Content is a monthly feature from the Carbondale AARP AgeFriendly Community Initiative (CAFCI)

It’s simple, if you refuse to neuter your dog when it displays these behaviors then walk it on a leash outside of the parks. I was recently bitten by a dog and ended up with eight puncture wounds and damaged tendons in my hand. I was met with a complete lack of concern from the dog’s owners and a refusal to provide vaccination records so that I could get appropriate care at the emergency room. They accused me of trying to grift them, and it took a police report and intervention to get the records. I was shocked that their first reaction was to act irresponsibly and threateningly.

The Parks and Recreation Commission needs to launch an information campaign regarding unacceptable dog behaviors, revamp their signs and placement and set up a method for reporting these bullies and any injuries at the parks. Without mitigating what is becoming an endemic issue in Carbondale, more serious altercations are inevitable.

Denise Moss, Carbondale

Thanks!

Thank you for supporting Crystal River Elementary School by sponsoring “Rams Run.” Because of Rams Run, we

continued on page 19

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

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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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Our Underwriters and Nonprofit Partners!

Dog days

The Garfield County Commissioners approved a land use change permit for Alpine Animal Hospital to expand its dog day care and boarding facility. The expansion increases its maximum capacity to as many as 120 dogs. Approval came with some conditions, including that the kennel is not to exceed current noise standards for residential zones. “Their mitigation steps include smaller group size, bringing barking dogs inside and making sure that staff is appropriately trained in dealing with dogs who are barking,” explained Garfield County Senior Planner Phillip Berry.

Avian Flu

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has identified several cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in freeranging wildlife. In addition to thousands of wild birds recently killed by HPAI in the country, a black bear from Huerfano County was affected by the disease in October, a skunk from Weld County tested positive in November and a mountain lion that died in Gunnison County was confirmed to have the disease in January. Other mammalian wildlife species have been affected in the country including marine mammals.

Supporting survivors

RJ Paddywacks

Cool Bricks Studio

White River Books

Alpine Animal Hospital

Novus Glass

Nonprofit Partners

Wilderness Workshop

5point Film Festival

Basalt Library

Aspen Strong

Carbondale Rotary

Carbondale Animal Shelter

Carbondale Arts

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce

Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner in 2023? Email Todd@ soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866

Childcare for recovery

The Meeting Place (TMP) in Carbondale is pleased to offer free childcare during two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings each week — Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m. TMP is dedicated to lowering the barrier to achieving recovery. Please pass the word along to parents and caretakers who may be looking for this support.

Limestone quarry

Work is now on hold at the limestone quarry operated by Rocky Mountain Industrials (RMI) after a large rockslide on Jan. 18. According to the Glenwood Springs Citizens’ Alliance, “state and federal regulators … temporarily shut down mining operations while they investigate possible permit violations.” Thankfully, no injuries were reported. RMI’s permit revision process with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will also be delayed due to “changed conditions” stated Larry Sandoval with the BLM’s Colorado River Field Office.

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) has devoted $1.15 million toward its new Sexual Violence Services Project to increase aid to survivors of sexual violence. The project will be managed by CDHS’s Domestic Violence Program. Sixteen anti-sexual violence organizations statewide will receive funding to support their programming and the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault will provide no-cost trainings and technical assistance. Coloradans in need of support can visit www. youhavetherightco.org

Airbag recall

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles is sending letters to 66,000 vehicle owners to warn them of defective airbags. The letter directs the recipient to schedule immediate repair at a local dealership at no cost. According to a press release, there have been 24 deaths nationwide as a result of the malfunctioning airbags and hundreds of injuries. Nineteen vehicle manufacturers have been affected. Vehicle owners can visit www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter their vehicle identification number to check for pending recalls, or contact their local dealership.

Clean habits

Raising a Reader Aspen to Parachute is partnering with Delta

Sunlight Mountain Resort hosted alpine events for special olympians from across Western Colorado on Feb. 10. Competitors from as far as Durango met for two days of competition with Nordic events at Argonaut Farm on Feb. 11. Courtesy photo

Dental to bring oral hygiene into its Bolsitas Rojas and 123 Let’s Read programs. This month, all students will receive an age-appropriate, bilingual oral health book and a toothbrush, toothpaste and guidance for parents. Together these programs reach some 700 children and their families, including 120 children not enrolled in preschool.

Equitable access

Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District's website, like its newsletter, is now available in Spanish. “This has been a long-sought feature,” described a press release. Check it out at espanol.carbondalefire.org

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Cody Lee, Tristan Mead, Jen Moss, Jessie Murillo and Dale Will (Feb. 16); Emma Scher and Jade Wimberley (Feb. 17); Tom Paxton and Jess Pedersen (Feb 20); Pati Edquist, Wyatt Farris, Max Herriott-Frank, Mike Lemmer and Collin Stewart (Feb. 21); Libertad Lee Rico Bustillos, Lucas Leone and Yesenia Silva-Estrada (Feb. 22).

Tuition-free preschool gets started

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

Beginning this fall, all Colorado 4-year-olds and some 3-year-olds will be eligible to receive 10-15 tuition-free hours of preschool per week. If families meet certain eligibility factors, then they could receive up to 15 additional free hours so long as there are enough providers signed on. Eligibility factors include: belonging to a low-income family (270% of 2023 federal poverty guidelines), a dual-language learner, having an individualized education plan (special education), being in foster or non-certified kinship care or without stable nighttime housing.

Universal preschool was part of then-candidate Jared Polis’ gubernatorial campaign in 2018. The bill was signed into law in April 2022, ahead of his reelection, with funds coming from the state’s existing preschool program, which serves children with certain risk factors, and from proceeds of a nicotine tax voters approved in 2020, as reported by Chalkbeat Colorado.

On Jan. 17, the state launched an online application for families (upk.colorado.gov). Roaring Fork Schools will instead host in-person registration events at all elementary schools beginning Feb. 22 at Riverview School. These events will also include enrollment for early childhood programs serving children from 12 months to 3 years old. Families are asked to bring a copy of their child’s birth certificate and immunization records, as well as proof of income to qualify for additional hours. On Feb. 22, an online application for Roaring Fork Schools will be online at www.rfschools. com/enrollment

The Sopris Sun spoke with Stacy Petty, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Council to learn more about this universal preschool locally. Petty explained that the council has existed for close to three decades, and previous to universal preschool, their focus has been implementing other

state initiatives, as well as identifying needs and gaps and searching for collective collaborative solutions among providers and partners.

With universal preschool launching, the council is now the local coordinating organization (LCO) working closely with the state and providers in Pitkin, Garfield, western Eagle and Lake counties. “As an LCO, it is our job to coordinate and implement universal preschool in our LCO region,” said Petty. This entails working with providers to get them to opt in so as to create as much capacity as possible. At the time we spoke, 18 providers had published their application sites and another 20 were “getting close,” while others were just getting started. “Programs can join at any time,” assured Petty.

Universal preschool is voluntary. No provider is required to participate, and neither are families. Providers can include public classrooms, child care centers, churches or licensed homes. To be considered for the program, they must adhere to a state-approved, evidence-based curriculum. Families are required to show proof of date of birth and residency, as well as income if applying for additional hours.

It’s estimated the program will save families an average of $4,300 per year on child care. Because space is limited at this time, completing an application does not guarantee a child’s position in any program. Roaring Fork Schools will give priority to applications received before March 15.

Families needing hours of child care on top of what the state will fund are encouraged to pay their providers directly. The Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Council will also help match families with wrap-around services, such as after-school care and nannies, for additional support while capacity grows.

When and if families and providers enroll, per pupil funding is given by the state and varies by location. “It should not be compared to the K-12 system,” warned Petty. “They are different numbers; they are not subject to the school finance formulas.” The program also

funds quality improvement efforts including increased teacher salaries and professional development.

“We wish we had had a little more time,” admitted Petty. “This has felt like it has been on a very quick timeline, but we’re hanging in there.” Nonetheless, “We’re very excited to see this happening, to see some sustainable funding come through for providers. We know there is a lot to learn, there is a lot to figure out. Over the next several months, we expect a lot of additional questions to be answered.”

Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Council is working daily with providers as the program evolves, and is available to help families, too. Find them at rmecc.org

For more information about universal preschool in general, visit upk.colorado.gov Roaring Fork Schools preschool and toddler programming registration:

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 8am-4pm at Riverview School

Monday, Feb. 27, 4-6:30pm at Crystal River Elementary

Monday, March 6, 4-6:30pm at Sopris Elementary

Wednesday, March 8, 8am-4pm at Basalt Elementary

Saturday, March 11, 8am-12pm at Glenwood Springs Elementary

An online application will be available online at www. rfschools.com/enrollment beginning Feb. 22. For more information, contact 970-384-6006 or frodriguez@ rfschools.com

Courtesy photo

Tuesday Foods is worth the squeeze

By Kate Phillips Sopris Sun Correspondent

Tuesday Foods, the Roaring Fork Valley’s premier meal delivery service, is taking some stress off peoples’ plates by bringing enticing culinary experiences to their doorsteps — one soul nourishing meal at a time.

For co-founders and owners, Kelly Hollins and Lisa Cohen, nourishing our bodies through food is an essential act of love — especially for people living an active mountain lifestyle.

“To live this healthy lifestyle that we aspire to, we have a desire for fast, easy, really well-made organic food. We find it’s really hard to find that in the Valley, especially on the fly,” Hollins told The Sopris Sun. “We’ve designed our offerings around what we are looking for, and what we want more of.”

Founded in 2019 as Good Clean Food Delivered, before rebranding to Tuesday Foods in 2021, Cohen and Hollins combined their extensive health and wellness backgrounds to curate dynamic vegan and gluten-free menus. Alongside a team of local chefs, Hollins, a vegan chef and accredited health coach, and Cohen, a certified nutritionist and fitness instructor, have created meals that feature an array of organic, seasonal and locally-sourced produce.

Clients can personalize their deliveries by choosing from three meal plans: 1) “Signature,” 2) “Signature 4 Weeks” and 3) “Let’s Do Lunch.” The

best selling Signature option includes enough food to feed one person over the course of five days. To accommodate bigger appetites and families, add-ons are available.

Through a vibrant selection of salads, soups, buddha bowls, smoothies and treats, there are also ready-to-eat meals — wholesome entrees like teriyaki tempeh fried rice and the sweet pea pesto noodle bowl — plus decadent sweets like oatmeal cookie chia pudding and their “Good Clean Almond Butter Blondies.”

The deliveries arrive every Tuesday in sustainable glass jars and packaging. The glass jars are returned and sanitized to be reused for future deliveries; the rest gets composted — living up to a zero-waste business model.

“It’s such a feel-good effort,” said Hollins. “To get a week’s worth of food and literally create no trash is not an easy feat. It’s not without effort, but it’s always been a big piece of the puzzle to us.”

“When we first started this business, one of the things people told us was that they liked meal kits but they hated the waste,” added Cohen. “So we’ve been very committed to it from the start. It definitely comes from the heart.”

Clients are taking notice of these core values and Tuesday Foods’ success is gaining momentum. Recently, the duo purchased a commercial kitchen in Carbondale, and, with a second kitchen in Boulder, the business serves clients

throughout the Roaring Fork and Vail valleys, Denver and Boulder.

The new kitchen is situated at 1150 Highway 133. Both Hollins and Cohen said the space gives them a sense of “freedom” and “home”; a place where they can creatively explore new culinary endeavors.

“This gives us the foundation so we can now build off of all our ideas,” said Cohen. “We just didn’t have that wiggle room in a rented space.”

Tonic Juicery

With business on the rise, a unique and very fitting opportunity arose for the team: the acquisition of Carbondale’s beloved Tonic Juicery.

Lisa Cohen of Tuesday Foods shows off the new equipment at their production facility in Carbondale. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Kelly Hollins pulls some fresh juices from the fridge. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh continued on page 14

CO insurance rates on the rise

By James Steindler Contributing Editor

At year’s end, The Sopris Sun was contacted by an insurance spokesperson from ValuePenguin — an affiliate of LendingTree — notifying the local newspaper that health insurance premiums in Colorado were set to increase at a larger rate than most states in 2023.

To be precise, ValuePenguin’s report indicated that Colorado rates would increase by an average of 19.56%, just behind Georgia’s 20.3% increase. The bulk of the data collected for ValuePenguin’s reports comes from the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to its website, “Average costs per state were calculated from silver plans for 40-year-olds.”

The Sopris Sun turned to Valley Health Alliance (VHA) for some local insight. VHA’s communications person, Allyn Harvey, was quick to point out, “We do apparently have [some of] the highest premium increases in the nation, but as a state overall, Colorado remains below the national average.”

In fact, a chart delivered along with ValuePenguin’s initial email did indicate that Colorado is ranked as the 36th “most expensive” state for premium costs. Wyoming’s premium costs are estimated to be the highest.

While there were likely multiple factors that drove Colorado’s overall rate increase, according to VHA Executive Director Chris McDowell, he hypothesized there to be two significant ones. The first being inflation and the second, an “unintended consequence” of Colorado's public option.

The intention behind Colorado’s public option is to require insurance companies — UnitedHealthcare, Rocky Mountain Health Plans and Anthem, locally — to provide plans with lower premiums, yet more offerings. “In that, there was some cost shifting that went on, so I think that had an impact on it as well,” McDowell stated.

Beginning in 2014, VHA served six large local employers with self-funded insurance plans. Those employers assume the risk of their employees’ — and their families’ — healthcare costs as an insurance company would, and promote a value-based healthcare model. The Valley Health Alliance member organizations include Aspen Skiing Co., City of Aspen, Pitkin County, Aspen Valley Hospital, Valley View Hospital and Grand River Health Centers. Mountain Family Health Centers, all five local Chambers of Commerce, and regional primary care practices are also on the VHA Board of Directors.

Value-based healthcare diminishes the fee for service model and focuses on a patient developing a relationship with their primary care provider. Because, oftentimes, peoples’ medical visits are reactionary and they go straight to a specialist or the emergency room, and it ends up costing significantly more than

a visit to their physician, according to McDowell. In the long run, the intention is that value-based care should lower costs for the insurer and the insured.

“This has been shown to improve outcomes and lower costs for patients and payers,” Harvey explained. “The benefits of this work extend beyond the VHA member organizations to the larger community.” This is because lower medical costs overall should result in lower insurance rates.

Furthermore, “Being uninsured or underinsured, which a lot of us are, really increases the total cost of care for everyone,” McDowell added. “There were two things the ACA [Affordable Care Act] was trying to accomplish. One was building a risk pool big enough to reduce the total cost … and the process and outcome of value-based care.”

In recent years, VHA saw a need to address rising health insurance costs for individuals between Aspen and Parachute who purchase their own health insurance (8-10% of residents) as well as for small businesses. They worked with Rocky Mountain Health Plans — a Grand Junction based insurer owned by UnitedHealthcare — which subsequently began offering individual plans for 2021 on the Connect for Health Colorado exchange. Additionally, United began offering coverage for businesses and nonprofits with up to 99 employees.

CPW ups compensation for livestock killed by wolves

Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

“We’re nervous. We’re scared,” Meeker resident Ann Marie Scritchfield told the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission at a public meeting in Rifle earlier this month. Scritchfield is the owner/ operator of Sable Mountain Outfitters, a 24-year, family-run business in Rio Blanco County.

Scritchfield joined close to 300 ranchers, outfitters, ecologists, and wolf proponents at the Colorado Mountain College campus in Rifle to comment on the draft plan for wolf reintroduction, hammered out over the past year and a half by a 19-member Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) and a 17-member Technical Working Group (TWG).

Scritchfield pretty much summed up the concerns of the outfitters and livestock growers in the audience. “Everyone’s fearful of losing their livelihoods,” she said. “I fully support the efforts of the SAG and support their plan,” she added, urging the Commission to support the plan too. (Both groups have made recommendations to the Commission, which will ultimately make the final plan decision.)

Outfitters are worried that wolves will kill or disperse big game, such as elk, deer and bighorn sheep, that drive business. Dale Coombs, co-owner of D & G Horses and Outfitting in Rifle and Meredith, said that outfitting has been the family business for almost five decades. “It has always been my hope that someday I could pass this business on to my children and grandchildren,” he told the Commission. “But that dream is fading fast due to the fact that all indications are that the area in which we operate may very well be Ground Zero for wolf releases.”

CPW will not disclose exactly where wolves will be released and there are a few criteria and restrictions determining the release sites. Wolves will be released

on state and private lands in two zones on Colorado’s Western Slope, 60 miles from the Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico borders. The northern zone encompasses the I-70 corridor between Glenwood Springs and Vail, and extends down the Roaring Fork Valley. The southern zone covers the Highway 50 corridor between Monarch Pass (east of Gunnison) and Montrose. Firstyear releases will occur only in the northern zone. Cattle and sheep ranchers seem to want two outcomes: to be fairly compensated for livestock loss due to wolf predation and the ability to kill depredating wolves. Moffat County Natural Resources Director Jeff Comstock told the Commission that “all the tools must be in the box” to manage wolves. That includes the 10(j) Rule, downlisting the reintroduced wolves from “endangered” in Colorado to “threatened” thereby

No, these wolves are not dead. They were tranquilized by CPW in North Park, Colorado on Thursday, Feb. 2, and fitted with new tracking collars. The new collar was the second one for M2101 (right foreground). His first collar was missing a battery pack. CPW reported that M2010 slipped the new collar by Sunday, Feb. 5. Photo courtesy of CPW

opening the door to lethal control.

But, there is a catch. The 10(j) Rule is part of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must engage in a rulemaking process, which involves the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This process can take months to complete. If the reintroduced wolves arrive in Colorado before the NEPA process is complete, they will remain protected as an endangered species. “Imagine if the

continued on page 14

The northern and southern zones of release in CPW's draft plan for wolf reintroduction. Courtesy graphic

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Dr. Clair Rummel, a board certified geropsychologist, leads a caregiver support group for individuals caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias or other forms of cognitive impairment. Basalt Library hosts the group from 10:30 am to noon.

BOOK CLUB

The Carbondale Library hosts “a lively book discussion” from 2 to 3pm.

SAFE SPACE

Basalt Library offers a safe space for teens to access self-care resources, counseling and more, from 4 to 5pm at the conference room to the left of the main entrance.

HRHR

ROOT DOWN TO RISE UP

WORKSHOPS

February

Looking for recovery?

MISSION:

CLAY ON THE BRAIN

Creating pottery is known to be therapeutic, allowing for self-expression and self-discovery while offering stress relief and relaxation

This workshop is limited to six people Registration is required

To provide a safe and supportive location for meetings, fellowship, educational activities, and social events for people, families, and friends in recovery.

Hosting live, hybrid and online recovery meetings.

High Rockies Harm Reduction will be at The Meeting Place in Carbondale every third Thursday from 4 to 6pm to provide syringe exchange, using equipment and Narcan services.

RIVER TALK

Alex Hager, Colorado River Basin and water reporter at KUNC, presents “Where Do We Flow From Here?” at the Basalt Library from 5 to 6:30pm. Register online at www.roaringfork.org/events

AROMASTROLOGY

Honor the Pisces New Moon with an aromatherapy ceremony guided by Sheridan Semple at True Nature from 6 to 7:30pm. Tickets at www. truenaturehealingarts.com

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

GERIATRIC DENTISTRY

Dr. Connor Rivers discusses best dental practices for seniors at the Sopris Lodge at 2pm. Register for this event by calling 970-456-6817 or by visiting www.soprislodge.com/events

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Anderson Ranch hosts an opening reception from 5 to 6pm for an exhibition featuring special prints by world-renowned artists. The show remains on display through March 10.

ACOUSTIC MOOSE

Acoustic Moose performs during Friday Afternoon Club at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park from 5 to 8pm.

MUSHROOM MEDICINE

The Western Colorado Mycological Association, Hamilton’s Mushrooms and Legacy Mushrooms host a free public forum about Prop 122, “The Natural Medicine Health Act” at the Glenwood Community Center at 5pm.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

Colorado Mountain College’s New Space Theatre hosted historian-actress Becky Stone (center) portraying world-renowned performer Josephine Baker in honor of Black History Month. Assistant Dean of Instruction Adrian Fielder (left) and KDNK Music Director Cody Lee (right) complemented the presentation by curating film clips and music.

by Raleigh Burleigh

22-23 at 7pm. The Sunday show is at 5pm and “A Man Called Otto” shows on Feb. 18 at 4:15pm.

TRTC PREMIER

“You Can’t Take It with You” opens at the Thunder River Theatre at 7:30pm and continues Feb. 18, 23, 24, 25, March 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30pm and Feb. 19, 26 and March 5 at 2pm. Tickets at thunderrivertheatre.com

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS

Paul Hoffman (phoffman) — singer, songwriter and mandolin player for Greensky Bluegrass — performs at the Wheeler Opera House at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

HONKY TONK

The Hugh Phillips Band performs at TACAW at 8:30pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

LINOCUTS WORKSHOP

Curt Carpenter teaches an intermediate relief printmaking class at The Art Base today and tomorrow from 9 to 3pm. Registration at www.theartbase.org

YARN CLUB

The Roaring Fork Yarn Club meets up at Sopris Park at 10am.

MARDI GRAS

The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park celebrates Mardi Gras with Cajun foods, live music, a costume contest, tarot readings and more. Access is included with any park admission.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT

Families are invited to the Basalt Library for an evening of board games and snacks from 5 to 7pm.

ASCENDIGO BLUE ASPEN

Ascendigo Autism Services hosts its 12th Annual Ascendigo Blue Aspen fundraiser at the St. Regis from 6 to 10pm. The night includes a performance by country music stars Hayes Carl and Allison Moore. Tickets are available at www. ascendigo.org/ascendigo-blue-aspen

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

CLAY BRAIN

www.aspenstrong.org

www.meetingplacecarbondale.org

The Crystal Theatre shows “80 for Brady” tonight, tomorrow and Feb.

Aspen Strong collaborates with the Carbondale Clay Center for “Clay on the Brain”, a pottery workshop from 10am to 12:30pm. Sign up at aspenstrong.org

Photo

CREATIVE WRITING: SELF LOVE

Fifth through 12th graders are invited to a creative writing workshop that encourages self love at the Basalt Library at 2:30pm.

RANDOM CONVERSATION

The Lost Art of Random Conversations returns with a session tonight and on Feb. 26 at the Carbondale Library from 6 to 7:30pm. No registration is necessary.

MONDAY, FEB. 20

DEATH CAFE

Amy Maron and Death Doula

Akaljeet Khalsa host “Death Cafe,” where people can discuss topics related to death and dying in a safe and relaxed space, at the Sopris Lodge from 3 to 4pm. Register by calling 970-456-6871 or visiting www.soprislodge.com/events

FRISSON ENSEMBLE

As part of its 75th anniversary season, the Glenwood Springs Community Concert Association brings the classical group Frisson Ensemble to the Mountain View Church. The show starts at 7pm. Visit www.gsconcertassn. org for tickets and more info.

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

RURAL ACTION PROJECT

Roaring Fork Leadership is hosting a series of community conversations beginning tonight with “Identifying Our Community Assets and Needs” and continuing on Feb. 28 and March 7. Each session will be hosted at the Third Street Center from 5:30 to 8pm. RSVP at www.rfleadership.org

DRAWING CLUB

The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets at Mountainside Sewing in Basalt at 6:30pm. BYO-drawing supplies (and beignets).

ASPEN LAUGH FEST

The Aspen Laugh Festival kicks off with Sydnee Washington opening for Zainab Johnson at the Wheeler Opera House at 7:30pm. Find tickets to this and other acts through Feb. 25 at aspenshowtix.com

BLUES SHOW

Steve’s Guitars presents Eddie 9V at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22

CODING CLUB

The Aspen Science Center teaches coding for 7th-10th graders at Basalt Library today and Carbondale Library tomorrow from 4 to 5pm.

NATURALIST NIGHTS

Professor Jason LaBelle presents what’s known about indigenous inhabitants of our region beginning some 10,000 years ago. The presentation is at 6pm at the Third Street Center and repeats tomorrow at Hallam Lake in Aspen. Register online at www. wildernessworkshop.org

UNREDACTED

“The Unredacted” is a documentary about men trained by al-Qaeda who are transferred from Guantanamo to the world’s first rehabilitation center for “terrorists.” Catch it at the Isis Theatre at 7pm. Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org

THURSDAY, FEB. 23

FOOT CARE

Garfield County Public Libraries and Senior Matters present “The Importance of Foot and Ankle Care” with Dr. Noel Armstrong, online 4pm. Register at www.bit.ly/Feb23FootCare

HOMETOWN SCIENCE

The Aspen Science Center kicks off its Hometown Science speaker series at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm with Sarah Johnson of Wild Rose Education discussing her 2022 trip to the Arctic.

FRIDAY, FEB. 24

MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR

Mountainfilm on Tour presents “Indomitable Spirit: Stories of Impact” at the Basalt Library, with dinner at 5pm and the film at 6pm. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

RUMOR IS...

Rumors performs during Friday Afternoon Club at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park at 5pm.

MARTIN SEXTON

Martin Sexton performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

FLASHMOB ON THE SLOPES

The Bonedale Flashmob will appear at The Collective at Snowmass Base Village at 4pm. The performance will benefit Challenge Aspen.

MILLENIUM MANIA

The Roaring Divas are back with a drag show at TACAW at 8pm celebrating the top hits of the early 2000s. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

MONDAY, FEB. 27

NAVIGATING SOCIAL MEDIA

Mike Jones, former chief executive officer of MySpace, discusses social media, the effects it has on kids and tips to help parents navigate their child’s usage at the Waldorf School at 6pm. Visit www.bit.ly/MikeJonesParentTalk to register for this event.

ONGOING

OPEN MIC

Axkawa in Carbondale hosts an open mic night from 6 to 8pm every Tuesday.

WOMENS’ HEALTH

Every first and third Tuesday, the Mobile Health Clinic will be parked on Gisella Way in Basalt from 10am to 2pm, providing free ultrasounds, STI testing and more. More info is at www.pregnancycolorado.org

BIKE PROJECT

The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps people repair their bicycles on Tuesdays from 2 to 6pm and Thursdays and Sundays from noon to 6pm at the Third Street Center.

SENIOR LUNCH

Every Wednesday at noon, Garfield County Senior Programs provides a nutritious meal for seniors at The Orchard. To reserve a place at the table, call 970-665-0041.

SALSA NIGHTS

Mezcla Socials hosts salsa nights on Wednesdays at TACAW at 7:30pm. No experience or partner needed, sign up at www. mezclasocialsdance.com

GROUP RUN

Independence Run and Hike leads a weekly group run on Thursdays departing from the store’s new location, next to the Carbondale City Market, at 6:30pm.

COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR

Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk posts up at Bonfire every Friday from 8 to 9am and everyone is welcome to stop by to chat.

RECOVERY YOGA

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

Valley Settlement’s Parent Mentor Program meets a need

By Hector Salas-Gallegos Sopris Sun Contributor

"Before, we didn't have anything like this," recalls Araceli Bautista Ochoa's oldest son, referring to her involvement in the Parent Mentor Program offered through Valley Settlement. Bautista Ochoa volunteers her time to support kindergarten students in her assigned classroom by working collaboratively with the teacher, following the agenda and providing support to students in need.

The Parent Mentor Program was established to bridge the gap between Latino families and public schools in the Roaring Fork School District. With the help of volunteers like Bautista Ochoa, the program provides around 15,000 volunteer hours to elementary classrooms each year and offers opportunities for personal and professional growth through weekly training sessions.

“There was a gap between the Latino community and the involvement of our parents in schools,” says Marlin Gonzalez Rojas, adult-focused program manager at Valley Settlement. “That’s why the program was adapted, presented to the district and approved.”

People become involved in the program through word of mouth, as well as through Valley Settlement's door-to-door outreach efforts. It’s not uncommon for participants of other Valley Settlement programs to join additional programs like Parent Mentor.

Before volunteering, Bautista Ochoa, like all new parent mentors, received an orientation that covers the role of the mentor, the mission of the program, expectations and requirements. They also learn about the school system and its norms. Once their orientation is complete, Valley Settlement gives them a tour of the schools to familiarize new volunteers.

"It's a beautiful program," says Bautista Ochoa. "Latino kids see someone who looks like their mom or dad, and they feel confident enough to start opening up. Even if they're shy at first, the volunteer is there to help them grow and provide a sense of security."

Then comes the exciting part. Pairing mentors with teachers.

“In the end, all the teachers don’t have a volunteer, only the ones that apply and let us know of that need,” says Yessica Lasso Ledesma, volunteer coordinator at Valley Settlement. “Then, we start pairing [teachers to volunteers].

We look for a volunteer for a specific teacher then we continue the induction process.”

The parent mentors who volunteer their time and skills report a significant decrease in perceived stress, an increase in their sense of parenting competence and an overall greater sense of engagement with their community. A survey conducted by Valley Settlement found that teachers who have parent mentors in their classrooms report increased one-on-one support for their students and feel calmer overall.

“It gives me a lot of joy to serve the community,” says Bautista Ochoa. “The community has given me so much. And now I can somewhat return all that my kids were able to benefit from in the Valley.”

One of the most important contributions that parent mentors make is the support they provide to Englishlanguage learners (ELL). In a school district where over one-third of students are ELL, the extra support that parent mentors provide in Spanish is critical to increasing the teachers' effectiveness and promoting a positive learning environment for all students in the classroom.

“It’s a new beginning for [the students]. They see a person that speaks the same language that they speak at home and I feel that the kids are more comfortable,” says Bautista Ochoa. Though parent mentorship may seem to benefit only the students, these types of programs intend to get parents involved in their children’s education and therefore their community as a whole.

“Something that we want to highlight is the importance of parents who are involved in school, not only because they’ll learn more about the education system, but also because they'll be able to better support their kids at home,” says Lasso Ledesma. “They can leave a legacy with their kids and that’s something they can do that’s very positive in their lives. It’s contributing a grain of sand or a bit of your time to the community.”

Mentorship plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting intergenerational success. Programs like this provide students with positive role models, resources, and support, helping to ensure the next generation of Latino leaders in the Roaring Fork Valley have the tools they need to succeed.

Cada vez que usas tu tarjeta de débito Loyalty*, Alpine Bank dona diez centavos a las causas comunitarias que son importantes para ti.

*Las tarjetas de débito de Alpine Bank están disponibles sin cuota anual para personas con una cuenta de cheques de Alpine Bank.

tu tarjeta hoy mismo!

Courtesy photo

Sol del Valle

Programa de Padres Mentores de Valley Settlement llena un nicho

Por Hector Salas-Gallegos Sol Contribuyente

“Antes, no teníamos esto", recuerda el hijo mayor de Araceli Bautista Ochoa, refiriéndose a su participación en el Programa de Padres Mentores ofrecido a través de Valley Settlement. Bautista Ochoa ofrece su tiempo como voluntaria para apoyar a los estudiantes de kindergarten en su salón de clases asignado trabajando en colaboración con la maestra, siguiendo la agenda y brindando apoyo a los estudiantes que lo necesitan.

El Programa de Padres Mentores se estableció para cerrar la brecha entre las familias latinas y las escuelas públicas en el Distrito Escolar Roaring Fork. Con la ayuda de voluntarios como Bautista Ochoa, el programa brinda alrededor de 15.000 horas de voluntariado a las aulas de primaria cada año y ofrece oportunidades de crecimiento personal y profesional a través de sesiones de capacitación semanales.

“Había un vacío en la comunidad Latina y el involucramiento de los padres en las escuelas. Por eso el programa se adaptó, se presentó al distrito y se aprobó,” dice Marlin Gonzalez Rojas, Gerente de programas enfocado en adultos en Valley Settlement.

Las personas se involucran en el programa a través de boca a

boca, así como también a través de los esfuerzos de alcance de puerta en puerta de Valley Settlement, donde miden el interés en todos sus programas. No es raro que los participantes de otros programas de Valley Settlement se unan a programas adicionales como Padres Mentores.

Antes de ser voluntaria, Bautista Ochoa, como todos los nuevos padres mentores, recibió una orientación que cubre la misión del programa, las expectativas y los requisitos. También aprenden sobre el sistema escolar y sus normas. Una vez que completan su orientación, Valley Settlement les da un recorrido por las escuelas para familiarizar a los nuevos voluntarios.

“Es un programa muy bonito,” dice Bautista Ochoa, “Más que nada, brinda ayuda a los niños latinos que ven a una persona latina como mamá o papá en la casa y sienten confianza para abrirse un poquito. A veces se cohíben con la maestra pero uno está allí para ayudar a los niños que también se sientan más seguros.”

Luego viene la parte emocionante. Emparejamiento del mentor con el maestro.

“Al final, no todos los maestros tienen un voluntario, solo los que aplican y nos avisan de esa necesidad,” dice Yessica Lasso Ledesma, Coordinadora de voluntarios en Valley Settlement. “Entonces, nosotros hacemos el

emparejamiento. Buscamos un voluntario para ese maestro y de allí continuamos con el proceso de inducción.”

Los padres mentores que ofrecen voluntariamente su tiempo y habilidades informan que hay una disminución significativa en el estrés percibido, un aumento en su sentido de competencia como padres y un mayor sentido general de participación en su comunidad. Una encuesta realizada por Valley Settlement encontró que los maestros que tienen padres mentores en sus salones de clase reportan un mayor apoyo individual para sus estudiantes y se sienten más tranquilos.

“Me da mucho gusto servir a la comunidad", dice Bautista Ochoa. “A mí me ha dado tanto la comunidad. Yo ahora puedo devolver un poquito de lo que mis hijos han aprovechado del valle.”

Una de las contribuciones más importantes que hacen los padres mentores es el apoyo que brindan a los estudiantes que están aprendiendo el lenguaje inglés. En un distrito escolar donde más de un tercio de los estudiantes están aprendiendo el idioma inglés, el apoyo adicional que brindan los padres mentores en español es fundamental para aumentar la eficacia de los maestros y promover un ambiente de aprendizaje positivo para todos los estudiantes en el salón

de clases.

“Es un comienzo para ellos,” dice Bautista Ochoa. Siguen viendo a una persona que habla el mismo idioma que se habla en la casa y siento más seguridad en los niños.”

Si bien la tutoría de los padres puede parecer que beneficia solo a los estudiantes, este tipo de programas tienen el objetivo intencional de involucrar a los padres en la educación de sus hijos y, por lo tanto, en su comunidad en general.

“Algo que quisiéramos resaltar es la importancia de que los padres se involucren en las escuelas no solo porque van a aprender más sobre el sistema de educación y van a poder apoyar más a sus niños en casa,” dice Lasso Ledesma. “Pero también pueden dejar un legado para sus hijos y es algo muy positivo que pueden hacer en sus vidas. Es aportar un granito de arena o un poco de su tiempo para la comunidad.”

La tutoría juega un papel crucial para romper el ciclo de la pobreza y promover el éxito intergeneracional. Programas como el programa de Padres Mentores brindan a los estudiantes modelos positivos a seguir, recursos y apoyo, lo que ayuda a garantizar que la próxima generación de líderes latinos en Roaring Fork Valley tengan las herramientas que necesitan para tener éxito.

Volumen 1, Número 51 | 16 de febrero de 2023 - 22 de febrero de 2023

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

Una voluntaria del programa Padres Mentores ayuda a una alumna en su salón de clase. Foto cortesía de Valley Settlement

La enfermedad cardiaca en la mujer OPINIÓN

Desde La Clínica

Por Maria Judith Alvarez

Aquí les presento una historia clásica basada en la vida real, del libro, “Beat The Heart Attack Gene”, del Dr. Brad Bale y la enfermera Amy Doneen. Doneen, una mujer de 37 años, se apresuraba a alistarse para ir al trabajo por la mañana. De repente sintió un dolor intenso y agudo en su pecho irradiando hacia su brazo derecho, acompañado de falta de aire, sintió náusea y luego colapsó en el piso.

Su esposo la llevó a la sala de emergencias y después de una larga espera, se le realizó un electrocardiograma el cual es normal. Le diagnosticaron ansiedad y neumonía bacteriana y le prescribieron azitromicina- un antibiótico que ha demostrado triplicar la mortalidad cardiovascular.

Ella continuó teniendo síntomas durante la noche y a la mañana siguiente su esposo la llevó a un centro de atención de urgencias. Allí, el doctor ordenó un análisis de sangre de enzimas cardiacas las cuales estaban muy

elevadas, indicando daño en el miocardio- el músculo cardíaco.

El médico quería llamar a una ambulancia pero la paciente estaba muy preocupada por el costo de esta. Su esposo la llevó a la sala de emergencias, en la que tuvo que esperar 2 horas hasta que pudieran evaluarla. Se le realizó otro electrocardiograma que era normal, pero sus enzimas cardiacas estaban por el cielo.

Finalmente se le diagnosticó un ataque cardíaco y comenzó el tratamiento apropiado. Fue muy afortunada de poder vivir toda esa odisea, considerando que en el 20% de los ataques cardíacos el primer síntoma es el último- muerte súbita.

Esto es lo que tiene que saber acerca de las mujeres y la enfermedad cardiaca:

El ataque cardíaco es la tercera causa de muerte en las mujeres entre 35 a 44 años de edad. Es la segunda causa de muerte en las mujeres entre 45 y 85 años de edad y la primera causa de muerte en las mujeres mayores de 85 años de edad.

Las mujeres tienden a desarrollar enfermedad cardiaca en una década después de los hombres, pero al igual que estos, la enfermedad cardiaca es el factor principal de muerte en las mujeres.

En hombres y mujeres,

el proceso que ocasiona enfermedad cardiaca es el mismo: daño en el revestimiento endotelial de las arterias a lo largo de los años, que luego da como resultado la formación de la placaendurecimiento de las arterias. En los hombres, la enfermedad carioca suele afectar las arterias coronarias- del corazón- más grandes, mientras que en las mujeres las arterias más pequeñas son afectadas esto es llamado enfermedad microvascular.

En los hombres, síntomas clásicos de ataque cardiaco son dolor intenso en el pecho, a menudo irradiado hacia la mandíbula o brazo izquierdo, dificultad para respirar, náusea, mareo y sudor. Las mujeres suelen tener síntomas más sutiles, como dolor moderado en la parte alta de la espalda, hombro, cuello o algunos de los brazos; ansiedad y fatiga inusual.

Cómo saber si tiene enfermedad cardíaca y se encuentra en riesgo de sufrir un ataque cardíaco o accidente cerebrovascular.

Los factores de riesgo en hombres y mujeres son similares: fumar, antecedentes familiares, presión arterial altamayor a 120/80; colesterol o triglicéridos altos: bajo el HDL,

colesterol bueno. Médicos especializados en prevención de ataques cardíacos recomiendan un GIM que es un ultrasonido no invasivo de las arterias carótidas del cuello que no necesita usar radiación y que en este mes de febrero Compass Peak Imaging en asociación con el Dr. Greg Feinsinger está ofreciendo un Ultrasonido de la arteria carótida a un precio reducido de $150.

El Dr. Caldwell, autor del documental Forks Over Knives y del libro Prevent and Revert heart Disease, dice que cualquier persona que consuma la Dieta Americana Estándar puede asumir que tiene enfermedad cardiaca.

La enfermedad cardiaca puede prevenirse y hasta revertirse con modificaciones en el estilo de vida, que consiste en ejercicio regular y una alimentación integral y natural, basada en plantas y sin sal, azúcar o aceites integrados. La clínica del pueblo estará ofreciendo 5 clases de cocina saludables gratis. Platillos ricos, económicos y saludables sin azúcar, sin sal y sin aceite. Empezamos el 24 de Febrero el día Viernes a las 5:30pm en el centro de la calle tres para más información llama a Isabel Almedia (970) 948-1072.

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

Hank van Berlo

Executive Director

Todd Chamberlin • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com

Miembros de la Mesa Directiva

Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke

Jessi Rochel • Lee Beck

Gayle Wells • Donna Dayton

Terri Ritchie • Eric Smith

Roger Berliner • Elizabeth Phillips

Andrew Travers

el Sol del Valle agradece por su apoyo a:

MANUAS, FirstBank y Alpine Bank

The Sopris Sun, Inc. es una 501(c)(3) organización benéfica sin fines de lucro. Contribuciones financieras son deducibles de impuestos.

¡ESCRÍBENOS!

Para contribuir ideas y contenido al Sol del Valle, escribiéndonos a: sol@soprissun.com

Para comprar espacio publicitario en español, inglés, o ambos, mándanos un correo electrónico a: adsales@soprissun.com

También se puede contactarnos llamando a 970-510-3003.

Volver a lo Esencial

Por Triny Rochin

Si te preguntaran, qué necesitas o que te gustaría tener para ser feliz ¿Qué responderías? Un estudio realizado por la Universidad de Harvard llegó a una simple pero profunda conclusión; Buenas relaciones interpersonales resultan en salud y felicidad. ¡Está comprobado! Hay una conexión determinante entre tener relaciones significativas y el bienestar general de una persona.

En 1938 la Universidad de Harvard inició lo que hoy se conoce como el estudio más grande de la historia. Este fue conducido por el Psiquiatra Robert Waldinger. Inició con 724 participantes, hoy en día se sigue estudiando a más de 2.000 individuos que van desde la adolescencia hasta la vejez.

La llave de la felicidad

El enfoque del estudio es, la importancia que las relaciones interpersonales tienen en la vida, y cómo estas contribuyen al bienestar de un individuo. Se pretendía también encontrar que clase de relaciones benefician la salud y la felicidad de una persona y cómo poder identificar y fortalecer las relaciones de manera que contribuyan a nuestro bienestar en general.

Los investigadores entrevistaron periódicamente a los participantes del estudio, recolectando de ellos información respecto a su salud física y sus relaciones sociales. Esto con la esperanza de encontrar la clave de la felicidad y descubrieron que las relaciones sólidas predijeron con mayor precisión la felicidad de las personas a lo largo de sus vidas.

Los resultados probaron que las personas que tienen relaciones sociales significativas se mantienen más saludables que aquellos que no las tienen, aún sus cerebros son más sanos, no solo eso, probaron también que una persona se puede recuperar más rápido de una enfermedad cuando está

CHISME DEL PUEBLO

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Carta a la editora

Les doy las gracias a todos en la comunidad de Carbondale que apoyaron a la escuela Crystal River Elementary School. Estoy muy feliz que nos hayan apoyado para tener muchas experiencias y conocer muchos lugares de Carbondale. Me sentí muy feliz cuando fuimos a hacer skiing, acampar y ice skating. Les doy muchas gracias por todo su apoyo a la escuela de Carbondale CRES.

Vannia, Crystal River Elementary School

Expansión

de Alpine Animal Hospital

El comisionado del condado de Garfield aprobó el permiso de cambio de terreno para Alpine Animal Hospital para expandir su guardería para perros y su instalación de albergue. La expansión incrementará la capacidad máxima a 120 perros. La aprobación tiene algunas condiciones, incluyendo que la perrera no exceda los estándares actuales de ruido para zonas residenciales. “Sus medidas incluyen un tamaño de grupo más pequeño, llevar a los perros que ladran adentro y mantenerse asegurado que el personal está entrenado apropiadamente en el trato de los perros que ladran,” explicó el planificador superior del condado de Garfield, Phillip Berry.

Acceso equitativo

El sitio web de Carbondale y del Distrito de Protección Contra Incendios Rurales, igual a su boletín informativo, ya están disponible en español. “Este ha sido un elemento largamente esperado,” dijo el comunicado de prensa. Échele un vistazo en espanol. carbondalefire.org

correctamente relacionada con otras personas.

El estudio probó que toda interacción social por pequeña que sea contribuye a nuestro bienestar. Todos las relaciones contribuyen a nuestro bienestar, no solo la pareja sentimental o familiares cercanos, en realidad todos aportan y nosotros a su vez contribuimos al bienestar de nuestro prójimo. Familiares, amistades, compañeros de clase, de trabajo, vecinos, la persona que nos atiende en el supermercado, en fin, cada persona con la que interactuamos.

Dicho sea de paso, somos muy afortunados de vivir en esta comunidad tan amigable, probablemente el idioma sea una barrera para algunos, pero no dudemos en dar una sonrisa, un saludo, un cumplido a las personas que están alrededor nuestro siempre que tengamos la oportunidad.

La pregunta es ¿Cómo retroalimentar nuestras relaciones? Aquí algunos consejos prácticos:

En lugar de estar a solas en un aparato dispositivo, sal a caminar, busca a una persona con quien necesites reconectar e invítale a dar

Gripe aviar

una caminata juntos. Haz una visita a ese familiar con el que tan poco tienes contacto.

Puede también ser una llamada si la persona con quien deseas conectarte está lejos. Puedes ir a tomar un café con un viejo amigo a quien no has visto en algún tiempo. Un grupo de amigas en una clase en el gimnasio es otra excelente manera de fortalecer relaciones sociales. Salir a comer con un compañero de trabajo. Haz algo nuevo, escala una nueva montaña. Puedes ofrecerte de voluntario en la comunidad o en tu iglesia. Haz algo productivo que te conecte a personas que posiblemente compartan intereses similares a los tuyos, jardinería, cocina etc. Procura tener conversaciones casuales con las personas mientras estas en una línea de espera, hay un sin fin de cosas que podemos hacer para relacionarte con diversas personas.

Piensa en alguien con quien te has desconectado por un tiempo, envía un mensaje de texto, déjale saber que estás pensando en ella. Toma iniciativa, no esperes a que otros te busquen o te llamen, hazlo tú, te sorprenderá lo que las personas responden.

El estudio probó que las

Los Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado han identificado varios casos de gripe aviar altamente patógena (HPAI) en la vida silvestre. En adición a miles de aves silvestres que recientemente han muerto debido a HPIA en el país, un oso negro del condado de Huérfano fue afectado por la enfermedad en octubre, un zorrillo del condado de Weld dio positivo en noviembre y un león de montaña murió en el condado de Gunnison el cual fue confirmado tener la enfermedad en enero. Otras especies salvajes mamíferas han sido afectadas en el condado incluyendo mamíferos marinos.

Cantera de caliza

El trabajo se ha puesto en espera en la cantera de caliza operado por Rocky Mountain Industrials (RMI por sus siglas en inglés) después de un deslizamiento de rocas el 18 de enero. De acuerdo con la Alianza de Ciudadanos de Glenwood Springs, “reguladores estatales y federales… cerraron temporalmente las operaciones mineras mientras se investiga posibles violaciones de permiso”. Afortunadamente, no se reportaron heridos. El proceso de revisión de permiso de RMI con la Oficina de Administración de Tierras (BLM por sus siglas en inglés) también se retrasa debido un “cambio de condiciones” declarado por Larry Sandoval con la oficina River Field de BLM.

Contra la violencia sexual

El Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Colorado (CDHS por sus siglas en inglés) ha dedicado $1.5 millones hacia su nuevo proyecto de servicios de violencia sexual para incrementar la ayuda para sobrevivientes de violencia sexual. El proyecto será

personas que desarrollan relaciones significativas son más felices y cuando llega la vejez o no se enferman o se enferman en menor grado que aquellos que no cuentan con relaciones saludables.

Para una persona que ha sido herida, o ha tenido malas experiencias relacionales, resulta mucho más cómodo aislarse, evita esa tentación. Guarda los audífonos y el teléfono celular, atrévete a iniciar una conversación.

Algunos pueden pensar que el éxito en la vida consiste en acumular riquezas, obtener reconocimiento o ciertos logros. “No es que el logro no sea importante y satisfactorio. Lo es”, dice Waldinger. “Pero cuando sacrificamos nuestras relaciones, es cuando terminamos arrepintiéndose y viviendo una vida que no es tan buena como podríamos tener”.

En realidad, somos seres relacionales y al final de la vida lo que realmente valoramos son las relaciones que hicimos con las personas que nos rodean. Nunca es demasiado tarde para mejorar sus relaciones, podemos hacer nuevas relaciones o fortalecer amistades que hemos descuidado. ¡Esa es la llave para la felicidad!

administrado por el programa de violencia doméstica de CDHS. Dieciséis organizaciones contra la violencia sexual en todo el estado recibiran fondos para apoyar su planificacion y La Coalación Contra Agresiones Sexuales de Colorado proporcionara entrenamientos y asistencia técnica sin ningún costo. Los residentes de Colorado que necesitan ayuda pueden visitar: www. youhavetherightco.org

Bolsas de aire

La División de Vehículos de Motor de Colorado está enviando cartas a 66,000 dueños de vehículos para advertirles de bolsas de aire defectuosas. La carta dirige al recipiente que programe una reparación inmediata a un concesionario local sin costo alguno. De acuerdo con el comunicado de prensa, han habido 24 muertes en toda la nación como resultado del mal funcionamiento de bolsas de aire y cientos de heridos. Diecinueve fabricantes de vehículos han sido afectados. Los dueños de vehículos pueden visitar www.nhtsa.gov/recalls y escribir el número de identificación de vehículos para revisar retiros de productos pendientes, o contactar a su concesionario local.

Habitos limpios

Raising a Reader Aspen to Parachute se ha asociado con Delta Dental para traer limpieza oral a sus programas Bolsitas Rojas y 123 Let’s Read. Este mes, todos los estudiantes recibirán un libro bilingüe de edad apropiada de salud oral y un cepillo de dientes, pasta dental y orientación para padres. Juntos estos programas alcanzan alrededor de 700 niños y sus familias, incluyendo 120 niños no inscritos en la preescolar.

TACAW expands educational programming for youth

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

The Arts Campus At Willits (TACAW) is once again partnering with the New York International Children’s Film Festival’s (NYICFF) “Kid Flicks” national touring program, which will host 4th-grade students from Crystal River Elementary School (CRES) on Feb. 23.

NYICFF is the largest film festival for kids and teens in North America. According to their website, it presents “lively collections of short animation, live action and documentary films [that] reflect NYICFF’s commitment to storytelling and diversity and are sure to spark meaningful conversations.”

Art Williams, TACAW’s education and community partnership coordinator, said Carbondale Middle School students will visit TACAW on Apr. 4 for a Latinx-centric film program called "¡Hola Cine!" Basalt Middle School students will visit later in April.

Teachers will distribute curriculum guides to students in preparation for the TACAW visit. After the film, a short discussion will focus on introducing them to the world of cinema, Williams shared.

Williams explained that these programs “are to get kids to not only have a day outside of school and to be interacting at TACAW, but also to learn a little bit more about storytelling and how that medium works.”

TACAW board member and landscape architect Julia Marshall was involved in the first discussions about the development of Willits as a live-work community. She participated with Michael Lipkin and David Warner, of Lipkin Warner Design and Planning, in drawing up plans for the Willits subdivision.

The TACAW performance space honors Colorado’s historic opera house circuit. Old West opera houses served as arts and cultural centers. “Even at the time [of planning Willits], we had drawn in the performing arts parcel because we believe, like many towns in Colorado that had an opera house, that TACAW is the new version of the opera house,” Marshall shared.

Wanting to take TACAW’s educational youth programming beyond “the field trip element,” Williams said, “we asked ourselves, ‘How do we introduce the arts into kids’ daily lives and routine in rhythm with our community?’”

The answer came with the creation of TACAW’s Youth Art Pass, underwritten by FirstBank. The Youth Art Pass provides 7th- and 11th-graders from Basalt and Carbondale public schools two free tickets to any age-appropriate eligible shows, throughout the year, for them and one guest.

On Feb. 28, TACAW, in partnership with the Aspen Art Museum’s “Art in the Field” teen program, presents the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s (CSF) Violence Prevention Program. The seated show is free, open to the public and recommended for ages 11 and up. A 45-minute abridged performance of “The Merchant of Venice” will be followed by a discussion, led by CSF actors, examining the play’s themes and will offer strategies that youth can use to navigate conflict in their daily lives.

On March 9 at 8pm, Americana and Roots singer-songwriters Jake Blount and Kaia Kater will perform an all-ages seated show. Blount is also a scholar of Black American music, and Kater, of Grenadian-Canadian ancestry, made genealogical discoveries that led her to new creative expressions.

Marshall added, “[TACAW] is a very unique family that offers students a way to see themselves in the world, but you have to nurture it. That’s why I'm so happy that Art [Williams] is now full-time and that we will continue to build our educational

continued from page 5

“We were interested in the juicing business and how we could bring that into Tuesday Foods,” said Cohen. “We reached out to Lindsay and Micah Mills [the former owners] to see where they were with their equipment. Once we started the conversations, we realized this could be a great merger for us. We are very honored to bring this back into the community.”

The acquisition was a seamless fit considering Tuesday Foods previously offered Tonic’s nut mylk as an evening treat for seasonal cleanse clients.

“We were using their product in our own product anyway,” Hoillins chimed in. “And, when we brought add-on juices to our delivery options, people really responded to that.”

Now rebranded under Tuesday Foods, the pair have purchased Tonic Juicery’s recipes, equipment and its extensive customer list. Production will take place from Tuesday Foods’s Carbondale kitchen using a hydraulic cold-press method to maximize nutrient extraction.

Clients can choose from many cleansing options featuring original Tuesday Foods and traditional Tonic Juicery recipes — like the Golden Sunrise, which is packed with citrus fruit and carrots to support eye, skin and joint health while combating inflammation.

Delighting in the many benefits of juicing, Cohen said, “We really feel like we have more energy. Our skin is lighter, brighter and clearer…we feel better all around.”

As Hollins and Cohen look toward the future, they’re looking forward to offering a walk-up service at their Carbondale kitchen.

“Both of us feel that when you are sharing food, you are sharing love,” concluded Cohen.

Ready to revamp your approach to healthy eating? Visit www. tuesdayfoods.co to purchase your next meal plan or juice cleanse.

program. We want to be an educational force, and I love that we're partnering with other people to do that.”

Williams added to that sentiment saying, “The more kids that are in here taking in the arts, the better.”

To register for a Youth Art Pass, go to www.tacaw.org/the-youth-art-pass

For more information on TACAW events and programming, go to www.tacaw.org

Wolf Meeting

wolves were put on the ground and [the rule] wasn’t in the plan,” said Comstock. “We’d have fully protected wolves under the ESA and flexibility would be completely minimized.” In other words, without the 10(j), lethal control would be off the table.

Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, told the Commission that the best available scientific data does not support lethal control of wolves, citing 30 years of wildlife and livestock studies from western states and Alaska. “There’s been a lot of lethal control but there hasn’t been a lot of reduction in livestock losses,” he said. ”There is no scientific data that supports that we should be hunting wolves or lethally controlling wolves to increase game populations.”

The Commission agreed to increase livestock loss compensation amounts in the plan from $8,000 to $15,000 per animal; although no one knows how the plan will be funded.

Many who spoke up at the meeting acknowledged the efforts of the SAG

continued from page 7

and TWG committees to reach a compromise on many issues, urging the Commission not to throw out the recommendations. But not everyone had an open mind. “How many kids are going to be killed by the wolf? How many families are going to be disemboweled by these wolves?” asked a rancher from Coulter Mesa. “Why don’t you name the one you collared [in North Park] ‘Satan’ or ‘Lucifer’ because it is the devil!”

You can find CPW’s draft wolf reintroduction plan at www.bit.ly/ WEGwolves

The public comment period for the draft wolf plan is open through Feb. 22. The next public meeting is online on Feb. 16 from 5:30 to 8:30pm.

Past Commission meetings are available on CPW’s YouTube page: www.youtube.com/@ ColoradoParksandWildlife

Students raise their hands during a brief Q&A session following a performance. Courtesy photo

After a theater performance, Art Williams asks students about their experience. Courtesy photo

Tuesday Foods

Aspen Laugh Festival gives us permission to laugh

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

After what we’ve sloughed through the last few years, don’t we all deserve a few side-splitting belly laughs? The comics of Aspen Laugh Festival will gladly tickle your funny bone with nightly performances from Feb. 21-25 in the historic and intimate Wheeler Opera House.

Following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Wheeler executive director Lisa Rigsby Peterson said in a recent press release, “I’m excited to help relaunch Aspen Laugh Festival, an Aspen tradition that we know so many have missed.”

The festival showcases today’s best and brightest comedic talents and kicks off on Feb. 21 with Zainab Johnson, who grew up in Harlem as the fifth child in a family of 13 kids.

She explained that living in a house filled with children “gets you socialized very fast. Like how most people send their kids to daycare or school to get them socialized, but when you have 12 siblings, it is going to happen, whether you like it or not, at a much more rapid pace than [for] most kids.”

When The Sopris Sun asked if the comedic gift ran in her family, she said, “I'm the only working comedian. I can assure you there are about three people that, believe me, are funnier than me.”

After college, she moved to Los Angeles to begin an acting career, but a friend convinced her to audition for a reality prank TV show. Shortly after booking the gig, she took improvisation classes and eventually found herself trying stand-up comedy.

Johnson is also an actress and writer and lauded as one of Variety

magazine’s 2019 “Top 10 Comics to Watch.” When interacting with the audience, she said, “I never converse with anyone — strangers or friends or whatever — intending to piss them off, make them feel bad, unworthy or self-conscious. When you converse with people, naturally funny things happen because that's life.”

When asked about the disparity between men landing more highlypaid appearances than their female counterparts, Johnson explained, “We are definitely living in a patriarchy, and we are definitely inundated with ‘male-first’ and ‘male-mostly,’ and comedy is just a subset of that, so it's going to be reflective of our society.”

On the other hand, Johnson agrees that women in comedy have shown themselves to be funny and successful, but added, in addition to issues about gender, “ethnic makeup, your economic status — all of those things play a part in marginalization — and comedy is no different.”

Pete Lee, raised in Janesville, about 40 miles southeast of Madison, Wisconsin, now at the age of 45, has been part of the comedy scene for 25 years. He will perform on Feb. 23.

By the time Lee was attending the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, he was already a selfprofessed comedy scholar and fan. He and his roommates went to an open mic night at a nearby comedy club and, unbeknownst to him, his roomies signed him up for a standup slot that night.

He recalled, “I had been writing jokes for forever.” With a mere hourand-half to cobble together a bit, he scoured his notebook for jokes and ended the evening by delivering three minutes of material onstage.

Lee’s comedy was formed by “being raised by divorced parents and a 19-inch television.” He added,

In his act, Pete Lee riffs on "midwestern nice" saying, “I'm a very kind person, but being kind is hard. It sucks. All of us go through our day and we want to be nice and we want to be kind but we get frustrated and that's relatable to people all across the country.” Courtesy photo

“I've been marinated in the Midwest, and I wouldn't even know how to bleach it from my soul.”

Having appeared many times at the Wheeler, Lee shared, “Aspen is a town that I've spent a lot of time in because it seems like every time I go there, I get stuck because of a snowstorm. On several different occasions when I've gone there, I've actually had to stay like three to seven more days, so I feel like, in a way, I've lived there,” he said with a hearty laugh.

Lee films his shows and posts them on social media. He observed, “When I'm editing, I feel like I'm watching a different person. I'm going, ‘Man, this guy's funny!’ I don't totally understand how it all happens so quickly on stage. And I'm not that quick of a person, so maybe it's the adrenaline of the stage, or maybe I just give myself permission to be funny.”

With her laid-back demeanor, Zainab Johnson said, "I have discovered, and it's been proven time and time again, that as long as I am very honest in my conversation when I'm on stage, most times something either funny or beautiful will come of it.” Courtesy photo

All performances start at 7:30pm. Tickets and passes can be purchased online or by calling the Wheeler Opera House Box Office at 970.920.5770. For a full schedule of performances, go to aspenshowtix.com

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.

LIFE

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

Valentine's Day with municipal gov

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

On Feb. 14, commercial romance took a backseat as not a single trustee was absent at their regular meeting. This included several important actions: approval of updated security requirements for special events; adoption of an updated disposable bag fee ordinance; approval of the town’s Integrated Weed Management Plan which will resort to limited use of chemical herbicides in the Nature Park (popularly used for off-leash dog walking).

The meeting began with student of the month awards, followed by approval of the consent agenda: accounts payable, minutes, a liquor license renewal for La Fogata, appointment of Carly O’Connell to the Environmental Board, acceptance of a grant from the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority for $105,344 toward the We-Cycle bikeshare program, a contract with SAFEbuilt Colorado for remote plan review until the town fills its chief building official position, town stage fee waiver criteria, adoption of new special events security requirements policy.

With Chief Kirk Wilson present, some conversation ensued around new security requirements for large events. In 2023, 25% of the required security personnel can be met with trained volunteers. After year one, event promoters may increase that percentage if the previous year was deemed successful. In order to replace hired security, a volunteer must complete

two free online Incident Command Systems courses, a CPR course and a one-day training with the local police department.

Next, Dan Sullivan, owner of The Green Joint, received a transfer of ownership from Colorado Product Services (Double Black) for a retail marijuana store at 655 Buggy Circle. Sullivan, a resident of Missouri Heights, opened his first marijuana retail store in Glenwood Springs and owns several throughout the Valley.

Two special event liquor licenses were approved: the first for Carbondale Art’s fashion show, March 9-11, and the second for the Aspen Science Center’s Hometown Science Cafe Series at the Third Street Center beginning Feb. 23. Requests for security reductions at Carbondale Marketplace and Carbondale Center Place (Hayden Place) were also approved.

Trustees then reviewed the weed management plan for 2023 with Parks & Rec Director Eric Brendlinger. While integrated techniques are showing success in some places, there are challenging parks including the Nature Park (a popular dog park) where a Canada thistle outbreak is “winning the battle,” said Brendlinger. With a certain sadness, he requested and received approval for using a chemical herbicide in isolated areas as a last resort.

Trustee Colin Laird encouraged Brendlinger to first consider goats or a concerted effort for volunteers to manually pull the weeds. The town will actively communicate use of herbicides, likely this spring for two weeks and also

Construction to begin on Midland Ave

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

Though admittedly not the most romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day, Basalt Town Council convened on the evening of Feb. 14 to discuss a series of minor ordinances. Notably, Mayor Bill Kane was absent, and instead the meeting was presided over by Town Councilor David Knight. As might be expected on Valentine’s Day, the meeting proceeded with little public participation.

Knight in his opening remarks thanked Billy Grange and Pitkin County Open Space for the experimental cross country skiing trail west of the Grace Shehi Bike Park. The trail is not a permanent fixture, and is in place to test how the soil and the snowpack will react to continued use.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to Town Manager Ryan Mahoney’s report. To begin, Mahoney presented a letter to council in response to Governor Polis’s recent State of the State address, in which he criticized local government regulations for exacerbating Colorado’s affordable housing crisis. Some of Polis’s proposals in the address included state preemptions over local zoning policies and ordinances specific to affordable housing.

The letter stressed that the town has already placed consistent focus on the housing crisis, and that the best support for local resolution of the crisis would be providing financial resources, not overriding control. The letter also argued that if the state took control over local development, the values outlined in Basalt’s Master Plan would likely be endangered.

“These things for us are ones that we want to take seriously, have a seat at the table in the conversation, and make sure that if things are coming that they’re well thought out and the legislature isn’t just making broad brush strokes that have serious consequences,” Mahoney said. The letter was informally approved by the council to be sent to Polis.

Mahoney also announced that sewer line construction will begin around the Midland Avenue bridge next week. The project, led by the Sanitation District, will take place from Feb. 20 to April 5 — 6 weeks of construction in total. The construction on the sewer line will close the section of Midland Avenue

the fall, with fencing around the treated areas.

Next, an ordinance was adopted updating the town’s bag ban in light of new statewide legislation. Despite pushback when the town considered expanding its plastics ban back in 2019, no concerns were received regarding this proposal to expand the 20-cent bag fee to all retail stores, whereas it previously impacted only City Market. By 2024, no plastic bags will be allowed, with the exception of restaurants.

Last and certainly not least, Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) representatives Zuleika Pevec and Heidi McCollough joined the trustees to present Garfield Clean Energy goals for the county looking toward 2030 (available for review at www.garfieldcleanenergy.org/actionplan). Carbondale joined New Castle as a county municipality adopting the plan, which has not yet been presented to the other municipalities for adoption.

CLEER then received approval for its 2023 scope of work plan (at $78,000) with goals for: 1. Energy Savings in the Built Environment, with updated codes, a home energy score pilot project beginning with 100 free assessments, an electrification plan for town-owned buildings, exploration of a Net Zero District utilizing ground source heat and a “Thermalize-style” heat pump plan to launch in 2024; 2. Carbon-free Electricity, assessing the community’s overall progress and opportunities; 3. Clean Mobility, supporting Go EV City efforts by the Environmental Board and bicycle-commuting incentives;

4. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, with an updated analysis of Carbondale-

Tuesday was Jessica Markham’s first meeting as town clerk in training. Her husband, Nathan, grew up in Carbondale and is now the chief financial officer for Roaring Fork Schools. They bought Nathan’s parent’s home in 2019 with the desire to be immersed in community. After working in title insurance and real estate, Jessica is well versed in legal processes though this is her first foray in government work. “Jessica is rockin’ it,” commented Cathy Derby, who looks forward to traveling the world and doing “whatever I want” post-retirement. “Just rockin’ it. She’s a fast learner.”

specific emissions and replacement of gas-powered lawn care equipment; 5. Clean Energy Economic Development and Jobs, publicizing Carbondale’s leadership on sustainability and promoting ongoing innovations.

“Here’s our sustainability manager,” commented Mayor Ben Bohmfalk. “It’s a whole team of people … I think we have a really good system in place for achieving these goals.”

between the Basalt Regional Library and Two Rivers Road from 7am to 5 pm on weekdays. Outside of this time frame, the section of road will be restricted to one lane of light-controlled traffic. Though disruptive, the project is timesensitive as it anticipates the larger-scale development that will occur on Midland Avenue later this year.

The first official motion from the council was the interviewing and unanimous appointment of longtime Basalt-area resident Ligia Bonilla to the position of Parks, Open Space, and Trails (POST) commissioner. Bonilla is currently involved with the Roaring Fork Leadership Academy and spoke to her dedication to being a voice for the Latino community in POST. Congratulations to Bonilla on her new position!

Up next was the second reading of an ordinance that would approve a subdivision of a property on East Sopris Drive into three different lots. The ordinance also included provisions to improve the driveway into the properties, and just as it was in the previous meeting, the application was approved unanimously.

The last order of business was to repeal and replace the town’s Personnel Code and Employee Handbook. One notable change was the removal of the term “unlawful” in the sections previously titled “Unlawful Harassment”, as the town wants to make it clear that no harassment is to take place of any kind. Next, the town eliminated the voluntary annual sick leave buy back program, instead replacing it with a total reimbursement of all unused sick time upon termination of employment. With this new policy, every four hours of unused sick time will yield one hour of pay. Additionally, paid vacation time was updated, both shortening the brackets on how many years of service yielded what level of vacation time accumulation, and increasing vacation time in all brackets by a minor degree.

The biggest new item added to the handbook was the Spanish Proficiency Stipend, adding to the pay of any town employees who aren’t required to speak Spanish, but might be asked for assistance with translation on the job. Most other changes to the document were generally minor, many being date and page updates. These new updates passed unanimously.

Though perhaps not a record time, the meeting was very brief, ending in just about an hour. With any luck, all council members made it home in time for candlelit dinners.

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Stories of the American West

By Tom Mercer Sopris Sun Contributor

“Stories of the American West, Volume 1” by author Daniel Parliman provides the reader with a detailed description of commercial group trail rides and hunting expeditions on Colorado’s Western Slope over a period of many years. The detailed accounts of the group rides and hunting trips are rich with the flavor of the times in which they took place, which gives today’s reader a better understanding of Western Colorado’s past. As I read through this book, I was reminded of a story told to me by longtime Glenwood Springs resident (and one-time ranch worker) Buzz Busby. Buzz is no longer with us, but I was fortunate enough to hear some of his stories about working on ranches in Northwestern Colorado. My favorite story was one that described his experience riding the range on a particularly cold winter day. His horse stumbled a few times on the trail, and upon inspecting his mount, Buzz realized that it was because his horse’s eyes had frozen shut. Those were challenging times.

“Stories of the American West, Volume 1” doesn’t include that degree of drama, but it does give the reader a detailed picture of everything that was involved in the planning and execution of the commercial trail rides and hunting expeditions that were so popular in Western Colorado during the 1930s and after. The book offers day-today descriptions of a number of expeditions, and gives the reader a genuine feel for the times. One such account of a typical trail ride includes the

continued on page 20

John Nieslanik passed away on Feb. 9 at 7:50pm, while listening to the rosary with his loving wife at his home on his ranch in Carbondale. In his final days, he was surrounded by his loving family.

John was born to John Sr. and Mary Nieslanik on March 15, 1932 at home in Spring Valley, Glenwood Springs. He served in the Korean War and was a member of the 5th armored division. He served as a foot soldier on the front line. When discharged, he was a sergeant with honors.

After returning home, he married Cecile Linda Letey on June 9, 1956. Together they had four children.

John was an honest, hardworking lover of the land, always happy and willing to help others. His faith meant everything to him. He was a staple in Carbondale and the Roaring Fork Valley. He served on many boards and committees, his most recent being senior housing in Carbondale. He and his family have ranched on the east mesa since 1956 to the present.

His first loving wife, Cecile, passed away on Sept. 28, 1994. On March 23, 2002, he married Theresa M. Smith. Theresa is truly a saint in the way she took

John Nieslanik

March 15, 1932 - February 9, 2023

You are invited to join the family —

Monday, Feb. 20

6pm viewing

6:30pm for a rosary

Farnum – Holt Funeral Home, GWS

Tuesday, Feb. 21

10am viewing

10:30am rosary

11am – memorial mass Saint Mary of the Crown Catholic Church, Carbondale

care of our dad, and we are truly grateful to her.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bernard and Bob, sisters, Betty, Beasy, Dorothy, Adeline and Katie, and his stepdaughter, Melinda Smith.

He is survived by his brothers, Paul (Celia), Ray (Elaine) and Jim (Sharon), sister, Francis Mattivi, and children, Mark, Marty (Jerilyn), Mike (Lisa), Matt (Heather), stepdaughter Erica Chadwick (Rama) and sons, Manaia, Kurai and Manakurai, six grandchildren, Parker (Cara), Johnny, Nate, Maddie, Meg, Kaid, as well as two greatgrandchildren, Colby and Karson.

Interment to follow mass at Hillcrest Cemetery; reception to follow the mass and/or interment at The Orchard, 110 Snowmass Drive, Carbondale.

Memorial contributions can be sent in John’s name to:

Saint Mary of the Crown (religious education for youth and adults)

397 White Hill Road Carbondale, CO 81623

Carbondale Housing Authority

1250 Hendrick Drive Carbondale, CO 81623

When You Have Unexpected Medical Needs

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Ross students flex their art muscles

By Sopris Sun Youth Reporters

Ross Montessori hosted an all-ages art show on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The Sopris Sun sent its youth correspondents to snap some photos and interview participants.

“I am proud of all of these children, who create all the fun, wonderful art,” said organizer Mitzi Brasier (mother of one of our youth journalists). “This is the inaugural art show at Ross Montessori, and we hope to do it every year,” she said.

LETTERS

were able to do fun things such as ice skating during physical education, plus a fourth grade camping trip and adventure to the bookstore. The camping trip was fun because we got to sleep with our friends and go to the museum. We all loved camping and I will always remember the camping trip. I will especially remember when we heard coyotes at night. Also the bookstore was fun because we got to pick out a book and buy it.

Elouise, Maya, David, and Melanie, CCRES

A Fun Weekend

In a recent speech on the floor of Congress, our representative, Lauren Boebert, attacked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in order to defend her “right” to bring her gun to work. She said that alcohol, tobacco and firearms are described by the statement: “in Western Colorado, we call that a fun weekend."

Another kind of fun weekend happens all summer and fall in the tiny town of Marble, which is also a result of attitudes which place “rights” before responsibilities. Off highway vehicle (OHV) users overwhelm the town and surrounding forest, using two to three times the parking spaces as other visitors for their truck/ trailers. They bring noise at unhealthy levels, fumes, trail damage from erosion, and dust. They drive on and destroy living plants and intimidate less powerful visitors with aggressive driving.

Almost all the OHV users are from “Boebert

Country” and many are packing firearms to enforce their “rights.” These “rights” are announced by the display of Trump, Confederate and American flags on their machines. Attempts to protect public or private property through education programs often result in confrontations and threats of violence. Physical barriers are necessary to protect any natural area from being destroyed.

Alcohol is another “right” exercised by this user group, while driving these powerful machines on trails shared by pedestrians.

Tobacco use is an actual right, but recent legislation demands responsibility in its use. The damaging effects of secondhand smoke are now recognized by prohibition of smoking where it impacts others.

The Gunnison County commissioners have erected signs in Marble stating that use of OHVs on the county road is a privilege, not a “right.” They are now considering extending this privilege at the expense of the “rights” of their constituents, both human and natural, to peace, quiet, protection of property values, and freedom from exposure to toxic substances.

But to be perfectly honest, these “rights” are also not real. Rachel Carson wrote the landmark book “Silent Spring” in 1962, where she states: “If the Bill of Rights contains no guarantees that citizens shall be secure against lethal poisons … it is surely only because our forefathers, despite their considerable wisdom and forethought, could conceive of no such problem."

During the same time period, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas began the movement to protect the “rights” of humans and nature from harmful acts by others. The movement has continued with an Ecological Bill of Rights adopted by Pitkin County and Aspen decades ago and more recently by Carbondale.

Should Gunnison County also adopt this policy to address these concerns in every environmental decision they make, including the fun weekends in Marble? Wisdom and forethought are no longer required, the problems are there for anyone to see.

Alex Menard, Marble

USPS

In June 2020, the Trump administration appointed Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General. He is a UPS and FedEx investor according to the United States Postal Service (USPS) website. He then sabotaged USPS prior to the first nation wide mail-in ballot election ever. Dejoy’s first act was to remove hundreds of drop boxes in democratic states. That created long lines and longer distances to travel for poorer voters. Then, down budgeting and uninstalling automatic sorters — along with personnel reductions — decimated this once proud federal service.

The USPS has bound together our society, economy

continued on page 22

580 main street, carbondale, co 81623

(corner of main and weant blvd)

(corner of main and weant blvd)

tuesday - saturday 10:00 - 5:00 ph. 970-963-5991

tuesday - saturday 10:00 - 5:00 ph. 970-963-5991

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Josephine, sixth grade, at the art show.

Photo by Kayla Kaufman

Ross middle schoolers ran bake sale to raise funds for a trip to the sand dunes. “It’s a really fun process that we love to do,” said Hank, eighth grade.

Photo by Kayla Kaufman

Photo by Gus Richardson

KDNK turns 40 on April 15

By Lynn “Jake” Burton Sopris Sun Correspondent

In the spring of 1982, Carbondale Community Access Radio (C-CAR) organizers started remodeling a 500-square-foot space upstairs in the northwest corner in the historic Dinkel building for use as its office and studio. The drafty space overlooked the alley below, through wavy window panes. The station manager’s desk eventually took up one corner. A door across from the station manager desk led directly to the small studio, equipped with two record turntables, an eight-track for playing announcements and a basic control board with a volume gauge and maybe six black “pods” to twist left and right. (I don’t remember exactly what they did, other than one was the volume control.) A few hundred donated record albums stood side by side in wood shelves.

After two years in the making, nonprofit radio station KDNK-FM started broadcasting at 90.5 from its Dinkel building transmitter at 5:30pm on Friday, April 15. The station that started in the Dinkel building is now housed in Carbondale’s former town hall at 76 South 2nd Street.

Beginning with a pair of organizers (Pat Noel and Wick Moses) tag teaming the station manager position, the station now employs five full-time and two parttime employees. From broadcasting 16 hours a day in 1982, KDNK now goes 24/7.

Lee Swidler, the original C-CAR/ KDNK organizer, got the ball rolling in March of 1981 when he told the Valley Journal (VJ) newspaper he was exploring the possibility of starting a nonprofit, community-sponsored radio station based in Carbondale, like stations operating in Paonia (KVNF) and Telluride (KOTO).

“We wish him luck,” the Valley Journal concluded, in its “Across the Fence” section. Later, Swidler held an organizational meeting at his Valley Lock & Key office in the old Berry’s Garage building on Main Street. In attendance were Bruce Stolbach, Bill Phillips (who would become C-CAR’s attorney of record), Brian Vancil and Rick Bergman.

The next “Across the Fence” blurb said music buffs interested in becoming volunteer DJs were invited to a meeting

at the library. In September 1981, an interim C-CAR board of directors was named that included Swidler, Phillips, Vancil, Rick Berman and, later, Brenda Buchanan.

Buchanan’s appointment came after the VJ ran an “Across the Fence” item about C-CAR desiring a more diverse board, as it had no women. “We (the VJ) note that Swidler is single,” the blurb concluded.

An aside at this point: The FCC awarded C-CAR the “KDNK” call letters because of the 40 that were initially applied for, only a few were available which included KDNK, according to the VJ at the time. “DNK” refers to the “Dinkel” building, of course.

C-CAR was at first financially fueled by about 70 individuals, couples and businesses that donated $100 each (almost $300 in today’s dollars). A “Founding Patrons” plaque in a KDNK office lists the donors, which includes: Alpine Bank, the Village Smithy, Lee Beck, the Carbondale Lion’s Club and a guy named Blackjack Daniels.

C-CAR held fundraisers from early in its existence, including a dunking booth at the 1982 Mountain Fair, whose dunkees included John Foulkrod, H.P. Hansen and Madam Moiesel Kimberly (a former elephant trainer, the VJ said). Early financial support was key because the FCC required applicants to have $30,000 in cash or pledges before it would accept a community radio application, an organizer told me.

When KDNK first went on the air, most of its funding came from memberships, fundraisers, donors and grants. The station didn’t start selling underwriting to augment those sources until well after it went on-air. “(Selling) underwriting was tough,” Swidler said. Underwriting didn’t begin to take off until KDNK started broadcasting Roaring Fork High School football games, featuring Manny Goldberg and Mike Speer. “Football (underwriting) kept us afloat at times!” Swidler joked.

If you’re wondering why KDNK changed its original 90.5 frequency to 88.1, here is a brief version of the deal. Denver-based Colorado Public Radio (CPR) for years had tried to gain a foothold in the Roaring Fork Valley. It’s complicated — because the deal has to do with transmitters, translators, frequencies, FCC regulations and other

factors — but on more than one occasion KDNK and KAJX had to scramble to hang onto their broadcast range. (Note: Max Wycisk was the CPR founder and board president, according to published accounts.)

In 2003, KDNK, KAJX and CPR reached an agreement where they would share the cost of a new transmitter on Sunlight Peak, which would allow KDNK and KAJX to keep their coverage areas, and allow CPR to increase its Roaring Fork Valley presence. Today, KDNK has multiple translators (that relay the transmitter signal), to bring its programming to: Carbondale, Glenwood

Book Review

continued from page 18

following:

Springs, Basalt, Aspen, Old Snowmass, Snowmass Village, Thomasville, Rifle “and beyond.”

Thanks to the World Wide Web, listeners can tune into KDNK around the globe. As John Denver might say, “Far out.”

Editor’s note: Lynn “Jake’ Burton is collecting information on the history of KDNK. If you have something you’d like to pass on — especially names of DJs and their shows names, staff and board members — you can send them to kdnk4Lynn@gmail.com

Insurance

continued from page 6

“Following the departure of the trail ride guests, the camp becomes a scene of activity unequaled by anything except the moving day of a tent circus.”

TICKETS GO ON SALE VALENTINES DAY, FEB 14TH

COMMUNITY RADIO

KDNK's 40th Anniversary Birthday Bash April 15th at the Third Street Center Dinner, Storytelling, and Music by the Magic Beans www.kdnk.org for tickets and info

The book mentions a number of expedition planners by name, and some of those family names will be familiar to current residents of the Western Slope.

As an added feature, the author has included two unpublished fictional short stories by Rich Roy Thomson — a very successful rodeo cowboy in the early 1900s. Thomson’s non-fiction account of how he and his family organized successful trail rides during the ‘30s and ‘40s is also included.

All in all, the book captures an important period in Colorado’s transition from “The Old West” to the state that we are familiar with today, and it will be appreciated by all who value an understanding of Colorado history and possess a love of the Western lifestyle, past and present.

“On the individual exchange, Rocky came in with very competitive and even lower premiums than Anthem for the 2021 insurance year. In 2022, Rocky lowered its premiums nearly across the board and captured a significant share of the Aspen to Parachute market,” Harvey continued. “This year, premiums went up but remain lower than the national average by quite a bit.”

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

Song for the Times

When you hear the news

How more people have died

And you think there are clues

To what could have been tried

To stop the hand of anger

Cool the fire of hate

That puts us all in danger

And can’t separate Politics from humanity. And all the world seems to Shriek with its profanity. And, what can one person do?

And the wind sighs, Am I broken?

Can I carry this load?

Are words unspoken

That could ease this road?

Cry out the voices

No one seems to hear. Who makes the choices?

Does anyone care?

All over the world are

People crossing borders

From places afar

To escape the disorder

Of violence and terror

For a better life without Oppressors or hunger

And yet people shout

How dare you come here. You don’t belong, you Must return there.

And, what can one person do?

And the earth cries, Am I broken?

Can I carry this load?

Are words unspoken

That could ease this road?

Cry out the voices

No one seems to hear

Who makes the choices?

Does anyone care?

Waves of sorrow

Crash against the cliffs. Cascades of torment

Fall into the abyss. Souls ashamed and Souls afraid to be That cannot stand Alone yet cannot plea For help from others While they go through Nightmares under cover.

And, what can one person do?

And the waters rise, Am I broken?

Can I carry this load?

By Kitty Riley Spring Haipu

by Deborah Holt Williams

Such a little dog

But a warm spring day reveals A great poo-nami

Are words unspoken

That could ease this road?

Cry out the voices

No one seems to hear

Who makes the choices?

Does anyone care?

Smile at a stranger

Keep an open heart

Become a changer

And do your part

Speak out against hate

Stand up for what’s right

And try to create

A world that just might

Be that better place.

And vote for those who

Kindness embrace.

That is what one person can do.

Let the light shine.

Am I broken?

Can I carry this load?

Are words unspoken

That could ease this road?

Cry out the voices

No one seems to hear

Who makes the choices?

Does anyone care?

Does anyone care?

"Umbrella," a concrete poem by Larry

"Looks like Spring is coming early."

LETTERS

and communications since its inception and is much more worthy than any private corporation that must make a profit for its investors. Its mission, “to provide the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service,” is meant to serve and strengthen the abilities and voices of the American people.

DeJoy’s actions show he would shut that down if he could. Trump lost to President Biden that November, but his postal scourge lives on.

Judge Emmet Sullivan wrote in his 65-page opinion Thursday Oct. 6 2022, “The evidence demonstrates that [the states and localities] suffered harm by impeding their ability to combat the spread of COVID-19, impeding their ability to provide safe alternatives to in-person voting and by imposing costs and administrative burdens on state and local governments.”

The solution is a public call to retire DeJoy and refund our precious postal service, restoring its ability to serve America as it is meant to.

John Hoffmann, Carbondale

Re: Crystal Trail

This is in response to Heather Froelicher's letter on Feb. 9. I want to reiterate her response to the Forest Service's approval of the Crystal Valley Trail from Redstone to McClure Pass. I objected to their decision many months ago and filed an objection again this month. Scott Fitzwilliams' decision to approve the trail never addressed my original objection.

A census of all wildlife, not just a select few, needs to be taken before any decision is made, to get a baseline on the health of all species that will be impacted. It is commonly known that the fragmentation of wildlife habitat and corridors impedes migration and produces inbreeding, resulting in defects that can lead to death. This trail will only further reduce our already dwindling deer and bighorn sheep populations. We won't know what other populations will be impacted until all populations in the proposed trail route are counted and

studied over a period of years.

The decision imposes a seasonal closure of nearly five miles of the trail above Highway 133 during the winter to protect elk and, if elk calving activity is detected, the closure will be extended until June 30. The problem with seasonal closures is that officials note a decline in compliance. Phil Nyland, a wildlife biologist from the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District is quoted in an article from the Nov. 29 Aspen Daily News about the seasonal closures of Avalanche Creek as follows: "Since we first implemented the closures in 1996, both the human population in the region and winter activity in the Avalanche Creek has grown, while the big game populations have declined. As more people use the area, compliance with the closures has decreased, particularly involving dogs. It's clear to me that the presence of dogs in the closed area contributes to the lower numbers of big game, as does the amount of people."

Further, Mr. Fitzwilliams' decision states that "long term management and enhancement projects aim to make areas more useful for winter elk" and "increasing visitor use would be managed." The elk don't need management and enhancement projects. They need to be left alone! How would increasing visitor use be managed? This trail is a terrible idea and needs to be rejected.

Melissa Waters, Crystal River Valley

Balsa wood

In last week’s Sun, Commissioner Jankovsky is quoted making disparaging statements about the balsa wood used in wind turbine blades, but it’s actually old news. Most balsa wood comes from longstanding sustainable plantations in Ecuador. However, during and around 2020, balsa wood prices tripled. During that period “wild” balsa was logged illegally along some rivers there, but nothing like the scale of deforestation for other resources. Since then, balsa prices and demand have fallen. A representative of the

continued from page 19

Wampis tribal nation recently stated, “Ecuadorians no longer come for balsa; we managed to eradicate that.” Fortunately, balsa trees regrow extremely quickly.

Wind power manufacturers have substituted foam cores for balsa cores in many blade components, reducing demand and prices. The balsa still used comes from Ecuador’s plantations. These supply most of the world’s needs from 75 square miles. By comparison, Alabama has 9,000 square miles of pine plantations.

Opponents of renewable energy seem better at getting their stories to “go viral.” Many progressives and environmental activists are now hesitant to support renewable energy, citing multiple “concerns” about these power sources. How many reports about Mojave solar farms have noted that desert tortoises and their forage are thriving in the shade under the panels of some existing solar farms there?

On my Christmas trip to Santa Fe, I went 100 miles further south to get up close and personal with the 400 turbines at the country’s largest recent wind project. Since the turbines are on New Mexico state land, one can cruise in and stand under the spinning blades. Ranching continues right up to the towers. On average over a year, each generates power for a thousand typical houses. When the generators wear out, they will be “repowered” to keep producing sustainable power. If the tower fatigues, it will be scrapped at Pueblo into recycled steel. Try that with a mile of drill pipe down to a depleted gas shale formation.

Fred Porter, Carbondale

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.

The Rams girls and boys Varsity basketball teams recently played their final home games for the regular season; and, as is tradition, the seniors were celebrated for their dedication and hard work after the games.

(Top left) Boys Varsity basketball seniors (from left to right) Eddie Hernandez, River Byrne, Diego Loya, Ryan Metheny, Eliot Carballeira and Gabe Serson wield congratulatory flowers. (Right) Ram Carley Crownhart keeps her eye on the basket during a Feb. 7 match against the Aspen Skiers. The Rams won, 44-20.

(Bottom left) Girls Varsity seniors (from left to right) Katie Grijalva, Corey Bollock and Aleyda Loya don big smiles after winning their final home game.

The girls and boys Varsity teams play their final league games at Grand Valley this Friday, Feb. 17. The girls play at 5:30pm and the boys hit the court at 7pm. On Tuesday, Feb. 21, both teams will play the first round of districts. The boys will play a home game at 6pm and the girls will be traveling — the opposing teams have yet to be determined. If the boys win on Feb. 21, they will advance to the district tournament at Grand Junction Central on Feb. 24-25.

Photos by Sue Rollyson

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