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Sopris Sun the

Dressed for success

Carbondale Arts has done it again! All three nights of the Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza were sold out. "Mirror Mirror" was especially dialed after a three-year hiatus following 2020's cancellation the night before opening, due to COVID-19. Designers, dancers, artists and audiences mingled in a wild retelling of classic fairytales, framing 28 fantastic fashion lines with an eye toward upcycling and environmental consciousness. The major fundraiser raised a lot of fun, as always. Here, Sammy Altenau rocks a dress by Skye Barker Maa's SKYE | AIRE line.

Photo by Will Sardinsky

For more fashion-forward photos, check out page 16!

CAFCI and me OPINION

message from a guy on a chairlift after I told him we just bought a house in Carbondale.

“You must be an old hippie,” he commented. Yes!

Mature Content

By Ron Kokish

I recently read something in the Carbondale Facebook group that’s worth quoting. It’s what Eric Mitchell tries to convey to recent Carbondale arrivals.

“Welcome! Thanks for recognizing that this place is special. We think it’s special too. It wasn’t an accident. It feels the way it does to you, because we’ve prioritized connection to one another. We know each other. We support one another whenever possible. We grow opportunities for each other. And we’re fortunate to live in a place that has so many deeply knowledgeable, capable, inspiring individuals who have shared, given, volunteered and contributed in any way they can to get us to this point through every obstacle and challenge along the way. You’re here just in time to help us face our largest challenges yet. We sure do appreciate your help in facing the issues in front of us now, because they’re huge. Let’s get to work.”

Eric wasn’t available to orient me when I arrived 14 years ago, but I got the same

LETTERS

Not so icy

Hippies idealized communal life and took care of each other. Mostly. The hippie story does include much mutual caring, but it also includes lots of assimilation. Jerry Rubin became a stockbroker, Tom Hayden, a California legislator. Abbe Hoffman stayed closer to his idealism; he committed suicide at 53. Like Rubin and Hadyen though, most of us joined the once-despised establishment as political liberals. Did we give up our ideals or did we evolve them in foreseeable but unforeseen directions? Are we hypocrites or pragmatists? Both, I guess.

As an assimilated hippy, I helped start the Carbondale Age-Friendly-Community Initiative (CAFCI) in 2019. The idea was to give older people a stronger voice in policy making (aka politics) while urging them to take on more responsibility (aka work). Like the hippies, we were a somewhat maverick group, and as with the hippies, things didn’t go exactly as planned.

We learned almost immediately that older adults’ needs are not necessarily unique. People in wheelchairs like a wide, flat entryway. So does anyone with a bike or stroller. Horizontal windows are easier for older folks to open and easier for 8-year-olds too. Older people say intra-urban public transport is important

Several places in Carbondale improved this winter, especially the Promenade and sidewalks near the Recreation Center. Thank you to those whose efforts were put forth. And, flowers to the road crew who worked during those warm, melting February afternoons followed by deepfreezes overnights that create the tireshredding ice knives of road ruts if surfaces are not cleared.

J.Coursey, Carbondale

Green IS the New Black

Kudos to the folks who produced Green

Is the New Black. It was a fun, beautiful event celebrating the reuse and repurposing of all kinds of things into the things we put on our bodies. It is good to be reminded of this message. We have come a long way, learning about the importance of what we put into our bodies, but we often don’t think much about the sustainability of our clothing.

I find it very timely that this week I have been reading “Unraveling,” by Peggy Orenstein, where I have learned some amazing things. Over 60% of the garments worn on this planet are now either partly

for them. So do teenagers. So, we expanded our focus from empowering older adults to finding common ground and empowering all residents. We changed our focus from age to aging because everyone is aging, and when we build a town that works for toddlers, it works for older people too.

Soon, CAFCI took on work that needed money so, naturally, we needed a bank account. Senior Matters — a 501(c)(3) corporation — helped us with fiscal sponsorships, but if we intended to do politically controversial work, a 501(c)(3) wouldn’t always cut it. So, we formed a 501(c)(4) corporation. We learned that unity matters, so Senior Matters and CAFCI now operate with a joint steering committee under a single umbrella: “Age-Friendly Carbondale” — All Ages, All Abilities, All Included. Are corporations people? Can I be corporate and remain at least hippie-ish? And, why should you even care about this tale? That last question brings us back to Eric’s Facebook post. However long you’ve lived here, “You’re here just in time to help us face our largest challenges yet. We sure do appreciate your help ... because they’re huge.”

Next, let’s look at the Carbondale Facebook group where Eric posted. Typical of Facebook groups, most of its 8,000 members are silent but it also has many vocal members who work hard to dent those huge problems. It has members who sell stuff and promote events, and members

or entirely made up of petroleum-derived synthetics (plastics). Every time one of these garments is washed over 250,000 tiny microfilaments, too small to be caught in a washing machine filter or in a wastewater treatment facility, go straight into our waterways. That’s equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles a year — just in microfibers! Wash less often! Wear Wool, Cotton, Linen!

Today, Americans buy 60 % more clothing annually than they did in 2000. The amount of textiles we throw away has doubled in that time to 80 pounds per person, per year. That’s 5,787 pounds of textiles that are either dumped or burned every second. If you must buy, buy from second hand stores. Check out “Buy Nada Carbondale” on FaceBook. Recycle textiles at Pitkin County Landfill.

Be fashionable and be GREEN!

Kate Friesen, Carbondale

Act to restore the Upper Crystal Valley

There is a simple act you can do right now to reverse the course of the conversion of Marble and environs from a serene wilderness portal to a pit stop for assault vehicles.

who post interesting things on non-controversial subjects: wildlife pics and funny things that happened on the way to the forum. Finally, the group has vocal members who complain about Carbondale woefully without taking responsibility for anything (i.e. they whine). In short, the Carbondale Facebook group is a cross-section of Carbondale.

One whiner recently declared Carbondale utterly ruined because all our trustees “are stupid.” When asked what he could do to improve the situation he said, “Nothing, it’s too late.” I guess he doesn’t plan on living here much longer. I, however, plan on dying here, I don’t think it’s too late, and I care about the people I’ll leave behind. I dislike the many storage units being built, but that hardly means everything is ruined.

Carbondale isn’t run by hippies (anymore?), but in its nuevo-corporate way, I believe it embodies my hippie values of mutual caring and peaceful coexistence. Change is inevitable, and CAFCI is my vehicle of choice for influencing that change. If you have a different vehicle, all is good. If you don’t have a vehicle and feel frustrated by how things are going, call us at 970366-6460 or write to cafci@ agefriendlycarbondale.org

Vehicle or not, please learn more at our renovated website, www.agefriendlycarbondale.org

Mature Content is a monthly feature from the Carbondale AARP Age-Friendly Community Initiative (CAFCI)

The impact of ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) begins as soon as they arrive. Forty-feet plus dually diesels pulling trailers with multiple machines take two to three times the space as a passenger car does. This matters in the tiny town of Marble, where all space in town is taken on a typical summer weekend.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has banned parking for ATV unloading at Beaver Lake to protect parking for lake visitors. Gunnison County has banned parking on most of County Road 3, citing safety and access concerns. The Forest Service has a plan for parking, but does not consider it an immediate priority. The Town of Marble has responded to citizen concerns by banning ATV trailer parking on all town streets.

This leaves only one space large enough to accommodate ATV parking: the Marble Mill Site Park, a national historic site. Plans to continue to allow ATV use on the Lead King Loop are based on the availability of this parking.

Last summer was the centennial anniversary of the most famous project from the Mill Site Park: the Lincoln Memorial. Covenants held by the Small

on page 18

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Our Underwriters and Nonprofit Partners!

Pay as you throw

The City of Glenwood Springs approved transitioning to a single hauler collection system for residential trash and recyclables. Services will be volume-based with pricing tied to the size of your trash cart and recycling included for every household. Mountain Waste and Recycling was chosen for a five-year contract following a competitive procurement process. Enrollment is anticipated to begin in July, with services starting in November. The Recycle Center will remain open and continue with normal operations.

Bear conflict prevention

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has $1 million in grant funds available to help local communities reduce conflicts with bears. Local governments, nonprofits, HOAs, community groups, businesses, individuals and more are eligible to receive between $50,000 and $500,000 by applying at www.bit.ly/CPW_Bears before May 5.

Bonedale Flashmob

Tuition assistance

Welcome, Nancy!

RJ Paddywacks

Cool Bricks Studio

White River Books

Alpine Animal Hospital

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Nonprofit Partners

Wilderness Workshop

5point Film Festival

Basalt Library

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Carbondale Rotary

Colorado Animal Rescue

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

The Bonedale Flashmob is recruiting dancers for its newest project choreographed to the song “Northern Lights” by the Satin Jackets. The group meets at the Carbondale Library from 5:15 to 6:30pm on Fridays to learn new, original jazz dance choreography, which is then performed spontaneously at events like Mountain Fair and Our Town One Table.

Red Cross training

The West Mountain Regional Community Organizations Active in Disaster offers a free, bilingual training for aspiring American Red Cross volunteers at Colorado Mountain College’s Glenwood Center (1402 Blake Avenue) on March 21 from 10am to 3pm. To register, visit WMRCOAD.org

Cottonwood Pass

CDOT is hosting a public meeting at the Glenwood Springs Community Center on March 22 from 5:30 to 7:30pm to present proposed Cottonwood Pass safety improvements. Gathering public input and estimating costs will help Eagle and Garfield counties determine if, when and how to move ahead. Persons unable to attend can view the proposals at www. bit.ly/CottonwoodCDOT and comment through March 31.

According to Colorado Mountain College (CMC), U.S. students left some $3.58 billion in Pell grants unclaimed last year. Additionally, FAFSA application numbers in Colorado are the lowest in the country, with 44% of high school graduates completing the process. Federal loans and grants can help with tuition, book costs and even living expenses. CMC also helps with tuition for Colorado residents whose family income is below $70,000 and independent students over 24 whose income is less than $50,000. Undocumented students can also use the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid as an alternative to FAFSA. Meanwhile, the Credit Union of Colorado Foundation’s application is open through April 15 for students across the state. Ten will receive $5,000 toward tuition for the 2023/24 school year. Learn more at www.bit.ly/CUCFfunds

5Point

Passes are now on sale for 5Point’s 16th annual flagship festival, April 19-23, in Carbondale. Official art by Kessiah Carlbon has also been unveiled, depicting a heart divided into five quadrants with each correlating to an element and landscape. Check it out, along with this year’s merchandise, at 5pointfilm.org

Nancy Barnes, former director of the Bemis Library in Littleton, accepted an offer from Garfield County Libraries to serve as the director of branch libraries, overseeing all six branches, coordinating a community interview process and helping to establish a new self-check service mode at each branch.

CLEER is hiring

Clean Energy Economy for the Region, based in Carbondale, seeks to hire an operations and logistics coordinator to manage the nonprofit’s office, handle its database and support other essential functions. Applications are due by March 24 at cleanenergyeconomy.net/employment

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Dalene Barton, Hannah Burleigh, Jordan Clingan and Trae Moxley (March 16); Annie Tempest and John Foulkrod (March 17); Michelle McGrory and Dean Mercado (March 18); Matthew Eames, Sophia Higbie, Katie Hunter and Michael Schneiter (March 19); Leigh Kauffman (March 20); Judy Bartels, Kerwin Hirro and Miles Phillips (March 21); Tanner Hawkins and Evan Piccolo (March 22).

Sopris Sun cartoonist Brian Colley donned the emperor’s crown (and “clothes”) during the Green is the New Black fashion show. Carbondale Arts’ sultry retelling of the tale had the emperor’s nudity inspire others to join the fun. Rehearsal photo by Jane Bachrach

Sage VOICES Theatre Project begins with a kiss

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

The Sage VOICES Project is a 12-week intergenerational artistic project that combines storytelling and devised theater.

Produced by The VOICES Project, a Carbondalebased nonprofit arts education organization, the collaboration intentionally brings together stories by “sage” and youth participants.

The inspiration for MinTze Wu’s first production since joining VOICES as the executive and artistic director last November came when she and her daughters visited Sondie Reiff. Wu’s children asked Reiff, “Tell us what your first kiss was like.” She answered their query “with a beautiful story that lasted about 15 minutes,” Wu remembered.

Reiff’s story became the first episode of “VOICES Radio Hour,” a new KDNK Radio program that premiered last month, produced by VOICES and Circa 71 Productions and broadcast on the second Friday of the month from 6 to 7pm.

Wu said of the theater project and radio show, “It’s important that we continue this oral history style of sharing.”

The youngest participant is 11, and the oldest is 97 and two-thirds-years-old, Wu specified. “The youth were born in this millennium and the sages in the last, so we span two millennia,” she observed.

VOICES Education Coordinator Cassidy Willey is directing the Sage VOICES Theater Project.

When interacting with the youth, the sages naturally reflect on their childhood. “It's almost like they see the younger versions of themselves. For some, that’s going back 60, 70 or 80 years,” Wu shared.

She gave an example of a sage telling the story of living during the Great Depression. She said, “For the youth, it was like, ‘My gosh, you lived through the Great

Depression!’ They learn that it's not just an event in a textbook.’”

To facilitate the creative process, VOICES teaching artists — Kristin Carlson (theater writing), Keely Conroy (visual arts) and Jackson Emmer (music) — are offering mentorship and support for participants by employing tools like visual art, music, theater, movement and spoken word.

Conroy grew up in Minnesota and graduated from St. Olaf College last year with a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. She came to Carbondale last July through the ArtistYear Americorps program and is a Resident Teaching Artist at Roaring Fork High School.

She is teaching participants the visual arts aspects of theater production. So far, she has led the group’s art sessions, which include developing the set design.

Conroy, whose focus as an artist has been on “collaborative experiences,” shared there’s no definitive goal for what the visual aspect of the production will look like, “but instead, we're allowing it to grow as themes arise in the organic and collaborative process.”

Sage participant Sue Lavin has been directing theater since 1971. After working at a theater in Dublin, she came to Carbondale to accept a teaching position at Colorado Rocky Mountain School. In 2010, she was awarded “Adjunct Teacher of the Year” by Colorado Mountain College, where she taught ESL (English as a Second Language) for 20 years.

Eleven-year-old youth participant Camille Wray Moore is a sixth-grade homeschooler and Wu’s youngest daughter. She recently finished acting in the SoL Theatre production of “The Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Her first on-stage experience was at the tender age of 3 when she played The King in “The Little Prince.”

Lavin, who is 76 years old, said, “I knew this would be true, but experiencing the energy of the youth has been very, very fun.”

Moore was amazed by the sages’ life

experiences, saying, “For me, the surprise is how much the sages know about different things. In every session, there's always some time to tell our stories. It's very surprising to hear all of the sages, from different backgrounds, talking about their different adventures.”

Elaborating on her collaboration thus far, Lavin said, “What I’ve learned from the youth is that they're very present, and they come up with ideas and offer them unself-consciously. It's very impressive and wonderful to be attached to the present. As I've gotten older, it's easier for me to become self-conscious, whereas the kids are, ‘Let's be here and have some fun,’ and they’re right.”

Moore quickly agreed, saying, “Yeah, it is a lot of fun.”

Performances will take place April 28-30 at Thunder River Theatre in Carbondale. Tickets go on sale on April 1. For more information, visit voicesrfv.org

Camille Moore (left) and Sue Lavin (right), participants in the Sage VOICES Theater Project, spoke with The Sopris Sun about their experiences with the production's storytelling process. Photo by Jeanne Souldern

Passwords coming to local libraries March 28

By Lynn “Jake” Burton Sopris Sun Correspondent

Change is coming to Garfield County Libraries on March 28. The change: Library card holders will be assigned a password to facilitate using their cards in some cases.

Why does Garfield County Libraries feel the need for passwords? The answer, in a word, is Marmot, the Grand Junction based non-profit consortium, founded by Western Slope library directors, that allows libraries to share resources, primarily library systems, software and IT services.

“The decision to implement passwords for library accounts was reached by members of the consortium,” Marmot director Dr. Adam Murray told The Sopris Sun.

Murray continued by telling The Sun the library profession prioritizes the protection of patron privacy as a core tenant of the Library Bill of Rights. Additionally, Colorado privacy laws require that reasonable steps, such as passwords, be taken to protect personally identifiable information (PII).

“Over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in cyber crime, identity theft and

the commodification of PII,” Murray continued. “Having passwords on library accounts is a way to help keep library users’ PII and reading history private.”

Murray said within the Marmot consortium, there have been some isolated instances of stolen library cards being used to check out materials, “leaving the real patron with steep replacement fines. There haven’t been any instances of widespread identity theft, and by implementing passwords, we hope to keep it that way.”

When contacted by The Sopris Sun, Garfield County Libraries Director Jamie LaRue said that library card holders will not have to use their passwords at the circulation desk, or to log onto computers.

How it will work

In a three-page handout sent to Garfield County Libraries directors, LaRue said default passwords will first be generated by library staff. The default password will be the first three letters in the name field, followed by the last four digits on the patron’s library card barcode. So, for example, John Doe, with the final four digits in his barcode, would be: doe4321.

“We strongly recommend patrons changing their password to one that is meaningful to them. Passwords should include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters,” LaRue said in the handout.

Patrons will have until July 31 to reset their password from the default password. Once libraries close on the evening of July 31, Marmot staff will update any remaining default passwords with randomly generated passwords, “effectively locking the patrons’ accounts,” the handout continued. Patrons will have to contact the library at that point for assistance in resetting the password.

Patrons who log into Pika after March 28 using their default password will be prompted to reset their password. Once patrons are logged into Pika, they should review, update or add an email address by clicking the “Edit Account” link. “They will need a valid email in order to retrieve or reset a forgotten password,” the handout said. Library staff members can also help patrons change their passwords. Patrons who don’t have an email address will have to contact a library staff member

to help them create a password.

“This will be a minor inconvenience for people, but we think protecting your personal data is worth it,” LaRue said.

James Larson, the marketing and communications director for Garfield County Libraries, said the district didn’t send out any press releases concerning the new password requirement, but did address the change in its newsletters, on social media and in emails.

Here is what the library district posted on its website:

“ … As much as you love your libraries, we love your privacy. Reading history, your email address, phone number or home address are all things you want to keep private. Libraries have a long history of protecting the privacy of library lovers. Starting March 28 … we are implementing passwords on the library catalog to keep your information private. Each library patron will have a default password to get started, and will be prompted to reset the default password to a password of your choosing. As we get closer to March 28, we will send additional information about what your default password will be, along with instructions on how to reset your password. Library

Genevieve Smith, who was raised locally and graduated from Roaring Fork High School in 2000, is now the director of Pitkin County Library. “I hope to continue this legacy Kathy Chandler [the former director, now retired] began 44 years ago,” she wrote. Courtesy photo

staff will be happy to help any library lover get set with your new password. Just remember, we love your privacy.”

Because the password change applies to all 37 libraries in the Marmot consortium, the Basalt Regional Library and Pitkin County Library are also entering the new world of library card passwords, with the same March 28 starting date. Said Pitkin County Library Director Genevieve Smith in an email to The Sopris Sun, “We suspect it may be difficult for some to adapt at first, but the library’s responsibility is to protect patron privacy (which) supersedes this inconvenience.”

SNAP benefits return to pre-pandemic allowances

By James Steindler Contributing Editor

As of March 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were rolled back to prepandemic allotments.

“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress authorized emergency allotments to help meet food needs caused by record-setting unemployment,” reads a February press release from Pitkin County. “These emergency allotments were meant to be temporary…”

“All Coloradans who receive SNAP benefits are going to see a reduction in their monthly benefit amount after February,” the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) website echoed. “The temporary additional benefit amounts [emergency allotments] are ending due to the result of recent federal congressional action.”

According to Kristina Gonzalez, the program manager for economic security for Garfield County’s Department of Human Services (GCDHS) office, during the national public health emergency states were given the opportunity to opt into receiving additional funding towards SNAP benefits.

“Colorado was one of the states that opted in to give what we called ‘emergency allotment’ benefits,” Gonzalez stated.

Gonzalez conveyed that some households receiving SNAP benefits may notice a 50% decrease in benefits, while others will not see a decrease at all. Which begs the question, why will some see a reduction and others not so much?

Well, the emergency allotments doled out during the public health emergency period placed every household at the maximum amount possible for its size, Gonzalez stated. So, despite the overall decrease, some households will still qualify for a maximum benefit.

Gonzalez gave an example. “Say a household has three household members and they had no income and no expenses, then they would receive the maximum amount…” She explained, “If that household has three people but they have $1,000 in income and $1,000 in expenses, they may receive less than the maximum amount.”

When submitting an application for SNAP benefits, there are three components the processor looks for: monthly gross income, household size and allowable expenses.

“Whatever their pre-COVID benefit amount was is what they’re going to go back to,” added Gonzalez, “unless their circumstances have changed.”

With that said, every October the federal government does an annual evaluation and adjusts maximum SNAP benefit amounts by household size. That number typically increases year over year.

It may not come as a surprise that applications for SNAP benefits spiked during the peak of the pandemic. “In April of 2020, we received a 120% increase,” Gonzalez shared.

Currently, there are 2,216 families receiving SNAP benefits in Garfield County. Whereas, before the

Applications for SNAP benefits and Medicaid in Garfield County spiked in April 2020. Courtesy graphic

pandemic started, there were only 1,651.

Since the increased disbursements first rolled out two years ago, DHS has continually reminded SNAP clients that the extra amount will not last. Because the deadline was continually extended, it proved increasingly difficult to convey to clients that the reduction was inevitable.

“It was challenging because we kept telling people that it’s going to end and then it went on for two years,” concluded Gonzalez.

State numbers

In 2019, Colorado dispersed a monthly average of $54 million to 224,236 households, Madlynn Ruble with CDHS told The Sopris Sun.

In 2020, the monthly average jumped to $88 million for 254,819 households. The 2020 disbursements did not yet include an additional $95 benefit for families already receiving a maximum allotment — that minimum increase

continued on page 13

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“What earthy sweetness remains unmixed with grief?” asks Concertmaster MinTze Wu. The Aspen Choral Society’s spring show, “Illuminare,” invites audiences “to bring your sorrows, your pain, your conflicts and struggles, and together release them into the light of compassion and deep knowing,” she wrote. The immersive experience, with music, lighting and choreography, premiers at Glenwood Springs High School on March 17, and continues at the Thunder River Theatre on March 18 and TACAW on March 19. All shows are at 7pm; find tickets at www.aspenchoralsociety.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!

Dr. Clair Rummel leads a support group for caregivers of people living with Alzheimers or other cognitive impairments at the Basalt Library, today and tomorrow at 10:30am. For more info, visit basaltlibrary.org

EAGLE COMMISSIONERS

The Eagle County Commissioners hold office hours at the Basalt Library from 11am to 1pm. This is a regular occurrence on the third Thursday of each month.

BOEBERT OFFICE HOURS

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s staff visits the Rifle Library from 11am to noon to hear from and help constituents.

BOOK CLUB

The Third Thursday Book Club discusses books by Alan Furst at the Carbondale Library at 2pm. Next month, April 20, the club will discuss “The Last Kingdom” by Bernard Cornwell.

HARM REDUCTION

High Rockies Harm Reduction will be at The Meeting Place in Carbondale with fentanyl test strips available, a syringe exchange and sterile using equipment, from 4 to 6pm.

ST. PATRICK’S DINNER

St. Vincent Catholic Church in Basalt (250 Midland Avenue) serves corned beef and cabbage from 4:30 to 8pm.

HOUSE PLANTS 101

Botany Houseplant Shop in Carbondale hosts an educational talk about the basics of being a successful houseplant parent from 5 to 7pm. Registration is required by emailing botanyhouseplantshop@gmail. com or calling 970-340-4528

RIFLE GAP

Anglers and boating enthusiasts are invited to attend an in-person public meeting at Rifle Gap State Park from 6 to 7:30pm to provide input on proposed changes designed to reduce the risk of introducing aquatic nuisance species.

ARIES NEW MOON

Sheridan Semble leads a new moon ceremony and sacred aromatherapy

at True Nature Healing Arts at 6pm. Visit www.truenaturehealingarts. com for more info.

HAPPY HOUR DANCE

Alyson Boell-Marchand of CoMotion Dance Company leads a restorative class for movers to ease their bodies out of winter and into spring at The Launchpad on Thursdays at 6:15pm.

POLLINATOR DISCOVERY

The Aspen Science Center Hometown Science Café Series continues with Dr. Phillip Halliwell and “Citizen Science for Pollinator Discovery” at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm.

‘PIRATES OF PENZANCE’

Aspen High School presents “Pirates of Penzance” at the District Theatre March 16-18 at 7pm and Sunday, March 19 at 2pm. Visit www.theatreaspen. org for tickets and more info.

TENSION�TRAUMA

The Center for Human Flourishing offers a facilitated Tension/Trauma Release Exercises session at the Third Street Center at 7:15pm on Thursdays through March 23. Learn more by emailing info@tcfhf.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

ST. PATRICK’S DINNER 2

The American Legion Post 100 (97 N. Third Street, Carbondale) hosts a St. Patrick’s Day dinner, open to the public, with corned beef, cabbage, sides and dessert from 5pm onward.

JOIN THE FLASHMOB

The Bonedale Flashmob invites you to join their troupe. Weekly rehearsals occur every Friday, starting today and through July 28, at the Carbondale Library at 5:15pm.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

The Crystal Theatre screens

“Champions” tonight, tomorrow and Thursday, March 23 at 7pm, or catch an earlier showing on Sunday, March 19 at 5pm.

ILLUMINARE

The Aspen Choral Society presents “Illuminare” at the Glenwood Springs High School at 7pm. “Illuminare” will travel to the Thunder River Theatre on March 18 and TACAW on March 19, also at 7pm. For tickets, visit www.aspenchoralsociety.org

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

DANCE ASPEN

Dance Aspen’s Winter Program takes place tonight and tomorrow at the Wheeler Opera House at 7:30pm. Find tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

HEAD FOR THE HILLS

Head for the Hills performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

THE CONFLUENTS

TACAW celebrates St. Paddy’s Day with The Confluents, a local funk band, at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

YARN CLUB

Knit or crochet at Sopris Park with the Roaring Fork Yarn Club at 10am. YOUR STORY, YOUR LIFE Writers converge to support one another's written explorations at the Glenwood Springs Library every first and third Friday, from 10am to noon.

SEED PEACE

Seed Peace invites the public to volunteer at Sunfire Ranch building soil in the green houses today from noon to 4pm. To sign up, email heatherfroelicher@gmail.com

ANOTHER ROUND?

The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park hosts a family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day party from noon to 6pm — green beer included.

SOUND IMMERSION

Ildi Ingraham performs a sound immersion using singing bowls, gongs and chimes at the Carbondale Library at 4pm. The event is free and open to all. Participants are asked to bring a mat, blankets, a pillow and anything else to be comfortable.

BALLET BALL

Eat, drink and dance during the Ballet Ball, in support of the Crystal River Youth Ballet Company, at the Old Thompson Barn at 6pm. Visit crystalriverballet.com/ ballet-ball for more info.

BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT

Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait performs at TACAW at 8pm. Visit tacaw.org for tickets and more info.

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

FAMILY YOGA

True Nature hosts a playful and restoring workshop for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult from 9am to 11am. Tickets at truenaturehealingarts.com

MUCH ADO

Aspen Film shows director Simon Godwin’s rendition of “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare at the Isis Theatre at 3pm.

CEREMONIAL BREATHWORK

True Nature offers a breathwork workshop with guided meditation and music from 4 to 6pm. Tickets at truenaturehealingarts.com

MONDAY, MARCH 20

COMMUNITY KNITTING

The Carbondale Library hosts a knitting group in the Community Room every Monday from 2 to 3:30pm.

MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

Carbondale Acupuncture Center’s David Teitler presents on medical mushrooms and herbal magic at the Carbondale Library at 5:30pm. The event will also be streamed on Facebook via Zoom. Registration at www.bit.ly/TeitlerEvent

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

ASPEN WORDS

Author Geraldine Brooks presents in-person at the Paepcke Auditorium in Aspen at 6pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

OPEN MIC

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

Roaring Fork Drawing Club returns to Botany Houseplant Shop in Carbondale’s La Fontana Plaza at 6:30pm.

‘A RIVER OUT OF TIME’

Roaring Fork Conservancy presents

“A River Out of Time,” a film about an expedition which traced the voyage of John Wesley Powell through the Colorado River Basin, at TACAW at 7pm. The expedition’s leader, Dr. Tom Minckley, will be available after the film for a Q&A. Visit tacaw. org for tickets and more info.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22

BOARD GAMES

The Basalt Library invites youngsters to play board games in the treehouse at 2:30pm. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

COTTONWOOD

CDOT is hosting a public meeting at the Glenwood Springs Community Center from 5:30 to 7:30pm to present proposed Cottonwood Pass safety improvements. Persons unable to attend can view the proposals at www.bit.ly/CottonwoodCDOT and comment through March 31.

SCIENCE CAFÉ

Amanda Peterson, with FocusedKids, presents “The Life of Your Brain” as part of the Aspen Science Center’s Hometown Science Café series at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm.

SALSA NIGHT

Mezcla Socials hosts salsa nights every Wednesday at TACAW at 7:30pm.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23

BOOKS TO BIG SCREEN

This new book club compares books to their adapted films, beginning with “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman, screening tonight at the Basalt Library at 5pm. The book is now available at the library.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

BIODYNAMIC EQUINOX

True Nature celebrates the spring equinox preparing and applying a biodynamic prep at 3pm. The fun continues in the garden on March 25 at 8am.

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.

HAPPY HOUR CRITIQUE

Looking for feedback on your latest ceramic projects? Join the Carbondale Clay Center for a happy hour critique from 6 to 8:30pm. Details at www.carbondaleclay.org

SEEDS OF VANDANA SHIVA

How did the willful daughter of a Himalayan forest conservator become Monsanto’s worst nightmare? The Center for Human Flourishing screens “The Seeds of Vandana Shiva” to raise funds for Seed Peace and The Farm Collaborative at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm. Tickets at thecenterforhumanflourishing.org

STEVE’S Natalie Prauser and Marty Bush perform at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

A CALL TO ALL WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS AND BUSINESSES IN CARBONDALE AND BEYOND

Join us for Spring Into Wellness

First Friday: April 7th, 5 pm to 8 pm

Carbondale Rec Center, 567 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:

HOST A TABLE at the Rec Center to share information about your services!

DONATE A PRIZE for the Bingo Game.

BECOME A CO-SPONSOR: Includes space/table at the Rec Center, Marketing on a web page & fliers, Sopris Sun ad, and a Business location listed on a Google Map.

E-mail info@tcfhf.org and participation details will be sent to you. Spring Into Wellness 2023 is sponsored by Carbondale Parks and Recreation, First Friday Committee of the Carbondale Chamber, Smiling Goat Ranch and The Center for Human Flourishing.

We are delighted to offer you, our community, the opportunity to take advantage of low-cost blood tests. Take charge of your health and save the date! By Appointment Only.

KDNK turning 40: Anecdotes and other notes

By Lynn “Jake” Burton Sopris Sun Correspondent

Anecdote: “A short or amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.”

Well, with hundreds of volunteer DJs, dozens of board and staff members, plus numerous supporters and observers, anecdotes from the past 40-plus years are plentiful. Let’s start with the preopening night at the Crystal Theatre, on July 18, 1985.

KDNK was located in the Dinkel Building, right above the Crystal Theatre’s screen in downtown Carbondale. Pre-opening night was a grand affair, with many attendees dressed in their finest Bonedale funkwear, for an event that was more than a year in the making.

As audience members began to filter in, co-owner Bob Ezra was rushing between the stage and projection booth, dressed in work pants, faded red suspenders and barefoot. He was working on a minor last minute detail: the theater speakers were picking up rock ‘n roll from the radio station.

KDNK station manager Virginia Squier came downstairs to the rescue and met with Bob in the projection booth stairwell. After a brief negotiation, Squier agreed to take the station off

the air until the film was over, “Just this once.” Bob told me the out-of-state technician who set up the projector was “impressed with Squier’s cooperation.” (Most of this anecdote comes from a Free Weekly newspaper article from July 1985.)

Next up, Maggie Seldeen, aka Mugsy Fay, and the time about 20 years ago when her dad left her and some friends alone in the studio to spin tunes. Seldeen told me she was about 12 at the time and had substituted before. After her dad took off, she accidently played a punk rock song with “explicit” lyrics. Within minutes, her dad came “barging in” and told her she was going to be in “big trouble” for airing the F-bombs. (Note: When Virginia Squire was station manager in the early years, she told DJs not to play anything they wouldn’t want their grandmother to hear. Times have changed. These days, the FCC operates under “Safe Harbor” broadcast rules, which means DJs can broadcast just about anything between 10pm and 6am).

And then there was the time the “Jake and Jane” show went Orson Wells, as in the “War of the Worlds” scare (disclaimer: I’m Jake). This incident

took place in the mid-2000s. The band Widespread Panic was playing in Aspen, and someone started a rumor they would give a surprise show at the Ship of Fools bar/restaurant on Main Street on Saturday night (our night).

Jane and I went on-air at the height of the rumor mongering and thought it would be a good idea to expand upon it. Ringo Starr had a house outside Aspen at the time, so we told KDNK listeners he was also coming to Carbondale and would play at “Sleeves Guitars” (aka Steve’s Guitars). A couple of the Eagles were also in Aspen and were headed to “The Smore House” (aka The Pour House).

We came up with one or two more bands with Aspen or Colorado connections and said they were going to play at the “Blue Nugget.” Jane and I were having a great time until we got a phone call from either the mayor or chief of police (can’t remember which). He’d figured out the joke and was getting calls from people, asking if these bands were really playing Carbondale that night. I don’t remember whether we just stopped our shtick or told listeners they’d been had. Anyway, it was fun while it lasted.

From the “Department of Good News and Bad News” comes this one (as told to me by former program director Luke Nestler). A DJ who went by the name “Social” had just finished his first show. As he was leaving the studio, station director Allen Scott told him he had good news and bad news for him. “Social” opted for the bad news first and Scott said, “Three people called and hated your show.” Social sighed and asked for

EPA announces PFAS restrictions and funding

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

On March 8, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a virtual information session for EPA Region 8 (Mountain and Plains) regarding its roadmap for addressing PFAS — a chemical pollutant often found in water sources.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, are synthetic chemicals commonly manufactured and used for their water and oil-resistant properties. Since the 1940s, PFAS have been used in nonstick cookware, fast food packaging, and waterrepellent clothing. While those uses may be frightening to the average consumer, the greatest sources of PFAS pollution are industrial — mining, fuel extraction and airports (due to PFAS-containing firefighting foam) among them. PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme resistance to breaking down in the environment.

Because of their widespread use and persistence, PFAS are found all over the world and low-level human exposure is commonplace across the United States. While research is slim, various studies have shown that PFAS exposure may be linked to harmful health effects such as higher cancer risk as well as changes in immune response. Most research has been conducted for the two most common types of PFAS,PFOA and PFOS, and there exist thousands of different PFAS.

Due to rising concerns, EPA Administrator Michael Regan created the PFAS Council in April of 2021, swiftly after being sworn in. The PFAS Council then released its PFAS Strategic Roadmap in October of 2021. The Roadmap both sets priorities by which PFAS will be addressed as well as a timeline by which specific actions will be taken. Due to recommendations by the EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, one of the main priorities of the roadmap

is engaging directly with communities. As such, the EPA has been hosting listening sessions across all 10 of its regions via Zoom concerning the status of its operations.

Region 8 encompasses Colorado, North and South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 28 Tribal Nations, and is at specific risk for PFAS due to the region’s widespread mining and fossil fuel extraction operations.

Colorado in particular may have the most PFAS sites of any state in the country. The EPA currently requires industries to report PFAS use only over a specific threshold, producing or importing 10 tons of PFAScontaining material per year, which limits information about their spread. However, the EPA has stated that of the 120,000 sites in the United States which “may be using PFAS” as part of their industry, 21,000 of them are in Colorado, about 16% of the nation’s total potential sites. Of the sites in Colorado, about 18,000 — 86% of CO’s total — are associated with the oil and gas industry.

Additionally, according to EPA Region 8 Administrator KC Becker, “firefighting foams containing PFAS have impacted public water systems and private wells across Region 8. This led to additional treatment or, in some instances, wells being removed from people’s homes.”

Thankfully, according to Deborah Nagle, director of Science and Technology within the EPA’s Office of Water, “addressing PFAS is a top priority for the EPA,” and in their listening session, the EPA announced a slew of achievements since the Strategic Roadmap’s release.

In October 2021, the EPA announced its National PFAS Testing Strategy, which categorized PFAS to better direct research and policy solutions. In December of the same year, EPA finalized the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which will require testing for 29 PFAS in drinking water

the good news. Scott smiled and replied, “You’ve got listeners.”

In the station’s early days, Mike Speer and Lee Swidler broadcast a weekly show from various locations called “Mike and Manny in the Morning.” One day, they were doing their show at the old Lariat bar (now Juicy Lucy’s) and a guy from one of the senior housing facilities came in and gave them each a belt buckle with “KDNK” inscribed in big letters. “He made the buckles out of scrap copper pipe,” Swidler told me.

Notes:

- From a May 22, 1986 “Across the Fence” blurb in the Valley Journal: “This Friday from 5-7pm, Brad Hendricks will host a discussion on Carbondale’s economic future … titled “Put your money where your mouth is, a hard look at our sexual attitude toward tourists.”

- From Luke Nestler: KDNK’s original mixing board from the Dinkel building was used for the production studio board when the station moved to the old town hall building. One day, people in the KDNK offices started smelling smoke. “It was coming from the mixing board,” he said. Later, the station donated the board to a community radio station at Standing Rock Indian Reservation. “That was kind of cool.”

- Lynn says he’s still accepting KDNK related anecdotes, stories, memories and names of DJs, board members and staff, volunteers, supporters and anything else that might fit in compiling the first draft of KDNK’s history. You can send your thoughts to kdnk4lynn@ gmail.com

An interactive map created by PEER — Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility — which shows all the sites in Colorado designated by the EPA as potentially containing PFAS. The purple dots represent over 18,000 oil and gas facilities. Courtesy graphic

nationwide from 2023 to 2025. Throughout last year, EPA researchers published over 30 papers on PFAS in various scientific journals, working on methods to detect and measure PFAS in the environment. Most significantly, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provided more than $50 billion to the EPA, of which $10 billion was designated specifically for “dedicated funding for communities impacted by emerging contaminants in water, including PFAS” according to the Roadmap’s first year progress report. Of this funding, $5 billion is to be diverted to Small or Disadvantaged Communities Drinking-Water grants, $4 billion to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund with 25% reserved for “disadvantaged communities or public water systems that server fewer than 25,000 people,” and the last $1 billion to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

continued from page 15

Photo by Lee Swidler

Sol del Valle

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

Volumen 2, Número 3 | 16 de marzo de 2023 - 22 de marzo de 2023

Educadores de primera infancia se adaptan a la brecha de cuidado infantil en la región

Por Laurine Lasalle Aspen Journalism

Traducción por Edgar Barrantes

Nota de la editora: Esta historia es la segunda de una serie de dos partes que examinan el panorama del cuidado infantil en los valles de Roaring Fork y Colorado River. La Parte 1 analiza el panorama desigual de la primera infancia en toda la región y su limitada capacidad con licencia. Puede leer la historia completa en el sitio web de Aspen Journalism.

Rebecca Fuller dirigía una peluquería en Glenwood Springs hace 14 años cuando quedó embarazada. Pensó que podría llamar cuando estuviera lista para volver al trabajo y conseguir un lugar de cuidado infantil para su hijo recién nacido, pero eso no fue lo que sucedió.

“No tenía idea de que era tan difícil encontrar cuidado de niños. Así que empecé a quedarme en casa, no volví a mi carrera de estilista,” comentó Fuller. “Me quedé en casa y estaba viendo a los hijos de un par de amigos que también habían trabajado en la industria, y luego llegué al punto en que pensé, bueno, mejor obtengo una licencia y lo hago legalmente.”

Luego obtuvo la licencia a través del estado y realizó varios cursos previos a la licencia. “Después de unos meses resultó que realmente disfrutaba estar en casa con los niños,” dijo. “Así que fue realmente un cambio sorpresivo de carrera. No lo planeé. Sucedió debido a la falta de opciones de cuidado infantil para mí.”

Fuller, una proveedora de cuidado infantil en el hogar con sede en New Castle, es uno de los 30 proveedores familiares con licencia ubicados entre New Castle y Parachute incluidos en el Informe de Datos de la Encuesta de Proveedores con Licencia, publicado el mes pasado por Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition (CECE). Este informe se basa en un cuestionario distribuido por CECE entre junio y septiembre a los 71 proveedores de cuidado infantil autorizados en ese momento con el estado de Colorado entre Aspen y Parachute. Todos respondieron excepto un proveedor. Los resultados de la encuesta mostraron que hay aproximadamente un lugar con licencia disponible para cada dos niños en toda la región. Como exploramos en la primera parte de esta serie, el panorama del cuidado infantil es desigual en el valle y la capacidad difiere. Los bajos salarios de los maestros y el alto costo de vida en los valles de Roaring Fork y Colorado River son los factores principales que inducen a la falta de lugares para el cuidado de niños.

Aunque el hijo de Fuller ahora está listo para ingresar a la escuela secundaria, ella aún se preocupa por los pequeños. Su cuidado de niños en el hogar tiene licencia para nueve niños. No cuenta con otros empleados, pero su esposo y su hija adulta le ayudan de vez en cuando.

Con el aumento de los precios de la vivienda en Roaring Fork Valley, más y más familias se han mudado más al Valle del Río Colorado en los últimos 10 a 20 años.

El Estudio de Vivienda de la Región Roaring Fork del 2019 señaló que casi el 40% del crecimiento de la población de la región entre el 2001 y el 2017 ocurrió en el área comprendida entre New Castle y Parachute. “Están apareciendo muchas viviendas, pero no necesariamente más cuidado infantil,” afirmó Kelly Esch, directora de Early Childhood Network.

Fuller ha sido testigo de este cambio. Ha ampliado su horario de atención desde que abrió: El horario, que antes era de 8 a.m. a 5:30 p.m., es ahora de 7:30 a.m. a 6 p.m. “La gente vive más lejos y tiene que viajar tanto que he tenido que cambiar mi horario para acomodar a las familias para que tengan tiempo de ir y regresar del trabajo.”

También dijo que está recibiendo más llamadas de padres que quieren estar en su lista de espera mientras piensan en tener un bebé en lugar de buscar opciones de cuidado infantil cuando se reincorporan al trabajo.

Fuller agregó que algunas familias han estado en esa lista durante dos o tres años. A veces, cuando es su turno, no necesitan el lugar para el niño que registraron inicialmente, sino para el hermano menor de ese niño.

Sally Boughton, directora de desarrollo y comunicaciones de Valley Settlement, una organización sin fines de lucro de servicios sociales con sede en Glenwood Springs, dijo que ha visto a familias desplazadas valle abajo y al oeste en los últimos años— especialmente durante el apogeo de la pandemia. “Nos hemos movido con esa gente y los mantuvimos inscritos en nuestros programas siempre que pudimos,” afirmó Boughton.

El preescolar de Valley Settlement, El Busesito ofrece cuidado infantil a familias latinas desde Basalt hasta Glenwood Springs. El entorno es diferente al de proveedores de cuidado infantil tradicionales, que normalmente se encuentran en un solo lugar. El Busesito es un autobús que recorre varios barrios y brinda educación

preescolar bilingüe gratuita a 96 niños. Entre el 2011 y el 2012 la organización descubrió, mediante entrevistas con su base de clientes, que menos del 1% de los niños en edad preescolar en familias latinas de bajos ingresos en el valle estaban inscritos en preescolar, principalmente debido al costo, falta de cupo, barreras del idioma y carencia de transporte.

Pero a medida que más familias, incluidas las latinas, se mudan al oeste del condado de Garfield, Valley Settlement busca en los próximos años desarrollar asociaciones potenciales en ese lado del condado para brindar servicios y cuidado infantil adicionales.

Matrícula costosa con salarios bajos

“El verdadero costo de la atención en el mundo de la primera infancia ... es realmente alto, por lo que los padres están pagando mucho dinero para enviar a sus hijos a un lugar si pueden conseguir uno, pero en el otro extremo, los proveedores no están haciendo mucho dinero,” dijo Katie Langenhuizen, quien se desempeñó como directora de CECE hasta fines de febrero. “En realidad se siente como si fuera un modelo de negocio en el que todos pierden de muchas maneras.”

Según la encuesta, la matrícula mensual promedio desde Parachute hasta Aspen es de $1.300 para bebés, $1.277 para niños pequeños y $1.115 para niños en edad preescolar, según el informe de CECE. Estas cantidades a menudo levantan una barrera financiera para las familias.

Adele Melnick, directora del centro de cuidado infantil Growing Years en Basalt, expuso que los centros de cuidado infantil no cuentan con los fondos que tienen las escuelas públicas. En cambio, tienen que depender de la matrícula y las subvenciones. “Lo triste es que la matrícula por sí sola nunca cubre el costo de administrar un centro de cuidado infantil de alta calidad,” comentó.

En Colorado, la financiación pública—que incluye el Programa de Asistencia para el Cuidado Infantil de Colorado (CCCAP, por sus siglas en inglés), el Programa Preescolar de Colorado (CPP), la Educación Especial Preescolar y Head Start/Early Head Start—cubre aproximadamente el 28% de los costos del cuidado infantil, de acuerdo con un estudio del Bell Policy Center publicado en enero del 2022. El resto está cubierto por los costos de matrícula.

Melnick estimó que aproximadamente el 70% de la matrícula se destina a salarios, mientras que el otro 30% se destina a servicios públicos, como electricidad, o el plan de estudios y otros servicios que brindan a cada niño.

“Así es como mantenemos las puertas abiertas,” dijo Melnick. “No tenemos a nadie más que esté complementando el cuidado infantil.” La matrícula cubre alrededor del 75% del costo total de atención.

Colorado se encuentra entre los 10 estados más caros en cuanto a costos de cuidado infantil. El Bell Policy Center reportó que el costo anual promedio del cuidado de un niño de 4 años en Colorado alcanza los $12.095 en un centro y $9.953 en un hogar de cuidado infantil familiar. Los promedios nacionales son de $8.672 y $7.148, respectivamente.

Aunque las tasas de matrícula son altas, el salario medio por hora en la región de Parachute a Aspen es de $23.50 para un maestro principal y $18 para un maestro asistente, lo que genera escasez de personal. Los salarios son más altos que el salario medio por hora en todo el estado para los trabajadores de cuidado infantil de $14.50 en el 2021, según el Departamento de Trabajo y Empleo de Colorado, y el salario medio nacional de $11.43 por hora.

El informe de CECE indicó que durante el año escolar 2021-22, 104 miembros del personal de educación temprana se fueron, citando como razones mejores salarios y reubicación. (La encuesta no contó el número total de empleados). “Cuando se les preguntó si habían pensado en dejar la profesión, el 56% de los proveedores dijeron que sí. Las principales razones fueron los bajos salarios, trabajar muchas horas y estar agotado por el nivel de estrés y el papeleo,” según el informe.

Fuller dijo que recibió una subvención de estabilización federal para proveedores de cuidado infantil durante la pandemia y ofreció descuentos y becas para ayudar a las familias a compensar algunos de los costos, pero antes de eso, no recibió ninguna subvención significativa.

También dijo que, con la inflación, los proveedores que preparan comidas para sus hijos tuvieron que aumentar sus tarifas debido al aumento en los costos de los alimentos. “Simplemente estamos tratando de hacer lo que hacíamos antes y ofrecer los mismos servicios, como comidas y similares, que hacíamos hace unos años", señaló Fuller.

Aspen Journalism es una organización de noticias sin fines de lucro e independiente. Para obtener más información, visite www.aspenjournalism.org. Para la versión en español completa, visite www.soprissun.com

El uso inadecuado de los antibióticos es nocivo para tu salud. ¡No los consumas en exceso!

Se critica a los médicos por recetar en exceso los antibióticos y a los pacientes por exigirlos. Aun cuando los virus no responden a los antibióticos, la mitad de los que se recetan son por infecciones virales como gripe y resfriado.

El Dr. Feinsinger dice que no siempre es fácil diferenciar entre una infección viral y bacteriana. Por ejemplo, la neumonía bacteriana es una infección grave en los pulmones que generalmente se asocia con un aumento de las células blancas en la sangre y una imagen de parche blanco en

¿Es mucho antibiótico para tu infección?

una radiografía del tórax- el pecho. Pero hay excepciones, la regla general es que si el paciente tiene fiebre alta, escalofríos, y otros signos de infección grave como dificultad para respirar y ritmo cardíaco acelerado, posiblemente podría ser causada por una bacteria y debería tratarse con antibióticos.

Por lo tanto, no vaya a ver a su médico para pedirle antibiótico por síntomas de un resfriado como dolor de garganta, secreción nasal, dolores musculares y tos leve. Es mejor dejarle saber que prefiere no tomar antibióticos a no ser que sea verdaderamente necesario. Lo más fácil para un doctor es darte una receta para antibiótico y hacer que te vayas, pero un proveedor consciente se tomará el tiempo para explicarte por qué un antibiótico no es necesario, si en verdad no lo necesitas.

Hay varios organismos que causan daño e incluso la muerte en humanos y animales. Como bacterias, virus, hongos y parásitos. Y

los antibióticos son activos contra las bacterias ya que evitan su crecimiento, reproducción y desarrollo. Antes de la era de los antibióticos, miles de personas morían cada año a causa de enfermedades infecciosas.

Algunos ejemplos son la neumonía, una infección grave en el pecho, meningitis, una inflamación de la capa que envuelve al cerebro, tuberculosis, una infección en los pulmones, infecciones en tejidos blandos como las amígdalas donde las bacterias estreptocócicas llegan al torrente sanguíneo y de ahí pueden irse a cualquier parte del cuerpo causando enfermedad en los huesos conocida como fiebre reumática.

En 1928, al examinar en un petri el moho, un hongo verde, Alexander Fleming descubrió que este impedía el crecimiento de bacterias. Este descubrimiento lo llevó al desarrollo de la penicilina, la cual fue producida por primera vez como medicamento a principios de la década de 1940.

A menudo escucho a los pacientes que no quieren tomar medicamentos, pero claramente los antibióticos pueden salvar vidas. Deberíamos sentirnos afortunados de vivir en una era en la que muchas causas de muerte y discapacidad de la era anterior a los antibióticos pueden tratarse y prevenirse.

Sin embargo, es cierto que los antibióticos tienen inconvenientes. En primer lugar, pueden provocar efectos secundarios como el sarpullido, náusea, diarrea, infección por un hongo, incluyendo reacciones alérgicas severas que pueden llevar a la muerte. En segundo lugar en parte debido al uso indiscriminado de antibióticos, las bacterias se están volviendo resistentes a los antibióticos lo cual es un gran problema.

Cuando usted tiene síntomas de una infección, por ejemplo en la garganta, y decide tomar un antibiótico sin ser recetado por un doctor para sentirse bien y continuar yendo a trabajar, lo típico es que al tercer día se siente mejor y lo deja de tomar. Pero esto no es suficiente tiempo para haber matado a la bacteria que causó esta infección, la mayoría de

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Hattie Rensberry

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Emily Blong

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Jacquelinne Castro y Dolores Duarte

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Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke

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Andrew Travers • Juanma Cespedes el Sol del Valle agradece por su apoyo a:

MANUAS, FirstBank y Alpine Bank

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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.

Por Maria Judith Alvarez

Desde La Clínica

OPINIÓN

Volver a lo Esencial

Por Triny Rochin

El rol de la mujer en el hogar y en la sociedad en general ha sido un tema de debate desde hace mucho tiempo. Tan solo unas décadas atrás, se consideraba que el papel de las mujeres era exclusivamente realizar tareas domésticas y cuidar de la familia, históricamente ella ha sido responsable del cuidado de su hogar y de la crianza de los hijos. En los últimos años se ha visto un cambio en esta situación, cada vez más mujeres trabajan fuera del hogar y aunque en la familia sigue cumpliendo con este papel, ahora está acompañado de otros roles o facetas que le permiten crecer y desempeñarse en otras funciones.

Sin embargo, incluso si trabajan fuera de casa, las mujeres suelen seguir siendo las principales responsables de las tareas domésticas y del cuidado de los hijos. Esto ha

El cuidado del hogar

provocado que la mujer sufra la llamada “doble jornada”, en la que tiene que hacerse cargo del desarrollo de su actividad laboral y además, encargarse de la realización de las tareas domésticas y familiares. Es decir, en la mayor parte de las familias la mujer sigue siendo la principal responsable de las tareas tradicionalmente vinculadas con el cuidado del hogar, como la limpieza, el cuidado de la ropa o la preparación de comidas, mientras que los hombres se dedican más al trabajo en el exterior, como cortar el césped o sacar la basura. Esta característica del uso del tiempo de los hogares indica una asimetría en el tiempo comprometido de hombres y mujeres.

Los tiempos definitivamente están cambiando y pese al interminable debate entre hombres y mujeres en cuanto a las responsabilidades de los quehaceres domésticos una cosa es cierta; nuestras viviendas son refugios donde mantener a la familia cuidada. Es un lugar donde se cumplen las necesidades y los gustos de los que habitan en casa y todos los integrantes de la familia debemos colaborar porque ese hogar sea un lugar limpio y ordenado donde la familia viva en armonía.

En realidad, más allá de

CHISME DEL PUEBLO

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Paga lo que tiras

La ciudad de Glenwood Springs ha aprobado el cambio a un sistema de recogida de un solo transportador para basura y reciclables residenciales. Los servicios se basarán por volumen con precios dependiendo del tamaño de su basura y reciclaje incluido para cada hogar. Mountain Waste and Recycling fue elegido para un contrato de cinco años después de un proceso de adquisición competitivo. Se anticipa que las inscripciones comenzarán en julio, con servicios comenzando en noviembre. The Recycle Center se mantendrá abierto y continuará con operaciones regulares.

Prevención de conflicto

Los Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado tienen fondos de subvenciones de $1 millón disponibles para ayudar a comunidades locales a reducir los conflictos con los osos. Gobiernos municipales, organizaciones sin fines de lucro, HOAs (asociación de propietarios), grupos comunitarios, negocios, individuos y otros grupos más son elegibles para recibir entre $50,000 y $500,000 solicitando en www.bit.ly/CPW_Bears antes del 5 de mayo.

Bonedale Flashmob

Bonedale Flashmob está reclutando a bailarines para su nuevo proyecto para la canción “Northern Lights” de Satin Jackets. El grupo se reunirá en la biblioteca de Carbondale de 5:15 a 6:30 p.m. los viernes para aprender una coreografía de baile de jazz nueva y original, la cual será presentada espontáneamente en eventos como el festival Mountain Fair y Our Town

habitar, debemos hacer todo posible por convivir en armonía, que nuestros hogares sean refugios seguros donde volver al final del día y desde donde recargamos fuerzas para salir a luchar con el mundo de afuera cada mañana.

Es triste decirlo pero, en muchas familias el cuidado de la casa y sus quehaceres se ha vuelto un motivo de constantes fricciones y pleitos. La mayor parte de las responsabilidades recaen sobre una persona, usualmente la mujer. A decir verdad, alguien ha de llevar la batuta, pero no indica que esa persona ha de hacerlo todo sola. Distribuir las responsabilidades hará una gran diferencia, incluso les dará más tiempo para disfrutar de otras actividades recreativas como familia.

Una casa es más que los materiales que la componen, como madera, vidrio y decoración. La palabra “hogar” se refiere a las cosas inmateriales, como las relaciones y la atmósfera familiar. Aunque no nos demos cuenta, cada hogar tiene una atmósfera que los demás pueden palpar.

Uno puede trabajar mucho y gastar una fortuna combinando tonos y colores para que nuestro hogar se vea muy bonito, puede incluso obsesionarse por tenerlo impecable pero quizá le falten esos ingredientes tan

importantes que harían de la casa un hogar y que impiden que estar en familia sea un deleite.

Entonces, independientemente del tamaño de nuestra casa o lo lujosa que esta sea, tenemos que comprometernos a trabajar la familia unida para hacer de ese lugar un hogar acogedor. ¿Pero qué es lo que hace que una casa sea un hogar? Sin duda deben de ser relaciones sanas, una atmósfera cálida y acogedora.

El amor que nos une debe alentarnos a procurar de todas las maneras posibles a colaborar por un hogar lleno de armonía donde habitar en familia. La colaboración de todos será el factor positivo necesario para tener un buen hogar.

Se dice que “una casa se compra, un hogar se construye” y no tiene tanto que ver con el tamaño de la casa y la decoración, puede ser humilde, lo importante es que sea espacio limpio y acogedor, un lugar donde al final del día y de todos los retos que allá afuera se uno enfrenta, sea grato regresar y reunirnos con nuestros seres queridos.

Para evitar que se nos caiga la casa encima como comúnmente decimos, podemos organizarnos, distribuir las responsabilidades incluyendo a los niños, y comprometernos como familia a hacer de nuestra casa un hogar. Los beneficios emocionales hacen que bien valga la pena todo esfuerzo.

los tratamientos son de 7 a 10 días dependiendo de la infección.

Por semanas podrá sentirse bien, pero los síntomas tienden regresar y en ocasiones más fuertes y al querer tomar la misma medicina o alguna diferente recetada ahora por un doctor pero de la misma familia de antibióticos tardará en hacerle efecto o simplemente no funcionara poniendo en riesgo su vida. Entre más fuerte es el antibiótico para matar una bacteria también es más agresivo para su cuerpo.

Entonces evite automedicarse y acuda con un doctor, si no tiene un médico puede venir con nosotros que ofrecemos consultas médicas gratis, para una cita llame a Isabel Almeida al 970-948-1072. Donde nuestros doctores le atenderán conscientemente y le dirán si necesita un antibiótico o no.

One Table.

La Cruz Roja

El grupo West Mountain Regional Community Organization Active in Disaster ofrece un entrenamiento gratuito y bilingüe para voluntarios aspirantes de la Cruz Roja en Glenwood Center de Colorado Mountain College (1402 Blake Avenue) el

21 de marzo de 10 a.m. a 3 p.m. Para inscribirse visite WMRCOAD.org

Carretera Cottonwood

CDOT organiza una reunión pública en el centro comunitario de Glenwood Springs el 22 de marzo de 5:30 a 7:30 p.m. para presentar la propuesta de mejoramiento de seguridad en Cottonwood Pass. Recolección de aporte público y estimación de costos ayudarán a los condados de Eagle y Garfield en decidir cuándo y cómo avanzar con el proyecto, las personas incapaces de asistir pueden ver las propuestas en www. bit.ly/CottonwoodCDOT y hacer comentarios hasta el 31 de marzo.

Asistencia en colegiatura

De acuerdo con Colorado Mountain College (CMC), los estudiantes en Estados Unidos dejaron alrededor de $3.58 mil millones en becas sin reclamar el año pasado. Adicionalmente, el número de solicitudes para FAFSA en Colorado son las más bajas del país, con el 44% de estudiantes graduados de la escuela secundaria completando el proceso. Préstamos federales y becas pueden ayudar con colegiaturas, costos de libros e incluso costos de vivienda. CMC también ayuda con colegiaturas para residentes de Colorado cuyos ingresos familiares son menos de $70,000 y estudiantes independientes mayores de 24 años cuyos ingresos son menos de $50,000. Los estudiantes indocumentados también pueden usar Colorado Application for State Financial Aid como una alternativa para FAFSA. Mientras tanto, las solicitudes de Credit Union of Colorado Foundation están abiertas hasta el 15 de abril para los estudiantes en todo el estado. Diez recibirán $5,000 para la colegiatura del año escolar 2023/24. Para saber más visite www.bit.ly/ CUCFfunds

Antibiótico desde

la página

Saturn in Pisces: Trauma, healing and metaphor OPINION

By Whitney Will Sun Signs

Metaphor is the champion of intersecting realities. What a nifty tool, to be able to capture the essence of something by peripheral association. It speaks to the paradox of seeing things more clearly by not focusing on them too intently. I have faith in metaphor because it is a great synthesizer of the world, the connective tissue between feeling and appearance, this and that, color and memory. Metaphor is a simple tool that allows everything to relate to everything. As a therapist, I spend a great deal of time thinking about relationships and reality, and as an astrologer,

I have a beautiful model for archetypal balance and equilibrium with fate. In many ways, both psychology and astrology are metaphorical models for the same thing: the sometimes ordered, sometimes chaotic, inner workings of humans and the reflection of these inner structures on the reality around them. The reflection of the cosmic in the interpersonal and intrapersonal can be expressed through metaphor.

I have been contemplating the shift of Saturn from the sign of Aquarius (March 21, 2020 - March 7, 2023) into Pisces last week (March 7), where he’ll remain for the next several years. Saturn is wrapping up a five-year stint of being empowered in his significations: limitation, loss, scarcity and hard consequences. Saturn is the harshness of existentialism, giving the feeling of insignificance in the face of hard truths of life. He also signifies old age, isolation and the relentless march forward of time. Cheery indeed.

The past five years have certainly seen collective hardship and social isolation. So what does Saturn’s time in Pisces portend? In Pisces, Saturn is traveling through a water sign ruled by Jupiter. This sign is decidedly softer and, like all water signs, emotive. It is the sign of letting go, and the holy longing for the divine. Here we need a little metaphorical assistance. Saturn in Pisces is the thaw of spring after winter, and the pain and the relief of trauma recovery. It is the reckoning of things in a frozen state regaining feeling. This transformation is painful because to return to vitality requires that all the pain that was avoided through psychological and emotional immobility be felt and re-integrated. Aquarius, where Saturn has been since the beginning of the pandemic, is the sign of the super-rational, retreating to the more analytic parts of the mind to avoid the chaotic awkwardness of emotions, the weight of grief, and the

TRE leads the body home

By Melina Laroza Special to The Sopris Sun

Being on the healer’s journey for years has led me to explore how holistic healing differs from Western medicine. Particularly it focuses on four levels of health — mental, emotional, physical and spiritual — rather than just the physical body.

Many people are surprised to learn of a probable connection between the mind and the body. When our emotions and our spirits get thrown into the mix, dealing with our health becomes extremely complex, yet vastly more intuitive. In fact, if you could choose one layer of healing to peel down to and focus on, tapping into your own intuitive guidance would change everything.

This sounds a lot easier than it is; today’s colonized world has disconnected most of us from our roots and wholeness, and we falsely view ourselves as separate from other beings and compartmentalized within our own bodies. I’ve suffered from this dilemma too.

A godsend, Rita Marsh, director of The Center for Human Flourishing, invited me to participate in an introduction to TRE (tension/trauma release exercises). After just four sessions, I felt supported to let go of my old story of overwhelm, grief from losing my children in a nasty custody battle, and PTSD from abuse and neglect in my childhood. All of this was more than I could bear, so I closed up so that I didn’t shatter — a common response to trauma, as TRE has illuminated for me.

Arriving at my first session at the Third Street Center, I did not know what to expect. Jacquie Wheeler and Betsy Bowie, demure and grandmotherly, greeted participants at the door. Both took turns explaining TRE and what the session entailed.

I would have been nervous except that we were in the kindest and gentlest of hands. They then guided us through a series of strenuous exercises with the daunting end goal of inducing tremors. We laid down on yoga mats in a variety of positions that made our legs and sometimes different body parts shake rapidly or wobble more slowly. The practitioners said the size and speed of the tremors depended on how trusting your body felt to release trauma, and where it was located.

According to Dr. David Berceli, engineer of the TRE program, painful incidents get held in our bodies through very deep muscle contractions as a protective response. Observing animals shake after a violent scare taught Dr. Berceli what the human nervous system is supposed to do. He posits that people are too led by their minds, or a need to dissociate, to allow this natural shaking to release the problematic tension. So many of us are walking around in a daze of overwhelm and PTSD, stuck in our mind’s stories and body-held tension and do not know how to let go.

limbo of ambiguous loss. All this to say, the return to a water sign, especially Pisces, will involve grief as part of the process. This grief is the bridge between worlds, just as Pisces season is the bridge between winter and spring. The presence of the grief is heavy, but this heaviness is full of vitality as floodwaters destroy structures but themselves are rich with fertile ingredients. We are feeling at an emotional level what has been transformed or lost over the past several years.

Saturn is a builder as well, and the materials that Pisces provides for construction are dubious in their materiality. Pisces is the sign of fantasy and the connection to altered states, both holy and chemical. Sometimes we need a little of the numinous to inspire our worldly work.

Saturn looks to restore our faith through the careful use of doubt. Saturn provides discernment about what can become real, and what is mere delusion. Part of trauma recovery

involves sorting out the narrative from a foggy place of overwhelm into a simple story. This process restores our faith in our own powers of discernment, and our ability to tell what is real from what is being fed to us. The purpose of therapy is to expand our capacity to tolerate ambivalence and ambiguity and maintain existential equilibrium. The purpose of natal astrology is to bring a little light and order to our experience of qualitative time and our little selves within it, and the purpose of metaphor is to help us feel how everything is connected. Pisces is the wisest of connections, and Saturn builds things to last. I wish you the forging of lasting connections while Saturn swims in those waters.

If you would like a more personal look at Saturn in Pisces in your life, I am available for birth chart and year-ahead readings at starhearthastrology.com

These tension release exercises hold the key by being a body-led healing process that can help us to get out of our minds, and therefore our stories. What’s next is a coming home to our true selves, or stepping back into our bodies. This can look different for everybody.

Bowie is so fascinated by all the different bodily reactions and says, “nothing needs to be fixed, tremoring just allows our body’s coming back into wholeness and feeling alive.” Some people just let their bodies do the work and feel better with no or minimal processing. For me, this feels like not thinking about my choices and actions, but rather feeling what to do. TRE helped me get out of my own way.

For participant Renee Womack, being vulnerable in this group setting seemed to be a gateway for true healing. During the first session, she emotionally expressed her disconnect from her body and general unhappiness. After the tremors did their work and we returned to a seated position, Womack shared, “I feel more at home and acclimated in my body than I have since I was a dancer. It felt like an electrical current rebooted my entire system and now my body is a sacred space that no one else can go into.”

Just one session opened this door for Womack, but Wheeler recommends doing several with a guide before trying it at home. The last session is March 23 at 7:15pm and more will be offered later this spring. Find more information about TRE at traumaprevention.com

TRE class in the Roaring Fork Valley. Courtesy photo

Colorado legislature lends focus to youths’ mental health

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

Mental Health Colorado (MHC) President Dr. Vincent Atchity spoke with The Sopris Sun recently about bills before the Colorado legislature focusing on “a strong start for all children.”

MHC is a Denver-based mental health advocacy nonprofit whose work Atchity describes as “looking at the health of the mind across the lifespan for everybody. When we talk about lifespan, it’s birth to death, with mental health being a feature throughout our lifetime.”

While quality mental health care for all may seem overwhelming, Atchity said MHC continues to educate elected officials, the public and voters about Colorado’s mental health concerns.

Atchity explained, “No single bill is going to solve our problems.” However, he added, “We've got a complicated situation, so it takes a whole raft of things, and in any given year it's still not going to do the trick, but we make some incremental progress.”

MHC has championed several bills in this legislative session which advocate for children.

The first bill, “Access to Behavioral Health Services” (SB23-091), addresses access to behavioral health services for Medicaid recipients under the age of 21 experiencing a qualifying risk factor that influences their health. The bill, if passed, would broaden access for care and “also create a greater understanding that there’s a whole bunch of circumstances that young people experience that makes getting some care and support worthwhile and necessary for the best outcomes,” Atchity said.

The bill has been fashioned after one that became law in California, “Although, the bill has been modified, so it's more uniquely Coloradan,” he added.

Currently, Medicaid requires that doctors assign a DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) code to a child’s diagnosis in order to qualify for a reimbursement.

“There are all kinds of different things that kids go through, where behavioral health support would be valuable, and a diagnosis is no help at all,” Atchity continued. If the bill became law, it would eliminate the DMS coding requirement and “simply make care available for kids.”

The DSM coding requirement “is problematic because, on the one hand, diagnosing a three-year-old who needs support and care is not helpful in many cases and can have an impact beyond that child's development,” he stated. “It's not always helpful to be diagnosed and labeled with some kind of a condition when you're only three, especially a condition that may not be completely understood.”

Another bill supported by MHC is “Protections for People with an Eating Disorder” (SB23-176). Eating disorders are among the deadliest of mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose.

According to statistics from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 35-57% of adolescent girls engage in crash dieting, fasting, selfinduced vomiting, diet pills or laxatives.

Atchity shared, “Currently, access to care for eating disorders has been tied to BMI, or Body Mass Index. This means that access to care can be too limited to be helpful, because insurers or other payers require this BMI threshold to be met. That means people who are outside that threshold are not able to access reimbursable care, even though they're living with a condition that is potentially life-threatening.”

The bill would eliminate the BMI requirement and also make the sale of diet pills to minors illegal without a prescription.

He added, “What motivated us to bring the bill forward were stories from patients about poor standards of care, discrimination and mistreatment in care settings.”

Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City) is the lead sponsor for the “School Mental Health Assessment” bill (HB23-1003), which creates a mental health assessment program that offers annual mental health check-ups at public schools for sixth to 12th-grade students.

According to the 2021 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, nearly 40% of high school students said they experienced symptoms of depression last year. In 2021, Children’s

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was instituted in 2021.

In 2021, which included the $95 increase, the monthly average jumped to $132 million for 265,785 households. In 2022, the monthly average was $138 million for 282,161 households.

There is a difference between maximum allotment and emergency allotment, added CDHS SNAP Director Karla Maraccini. From April 2021 through February 2023, households would receive a minimum $95 emergency allotment. During that time, households with a calculated benefit already at the maximum would still receive the additional $95.

“For 2021 to 2022 the max allotment

was roughly 30% of the total issuance amount monthly,” Ruble added. “So, the 2021 max [allotment] was attributed to $39 million monthly of the $132 million, and, for 2022, it was about $41 million of the $138 million issued monthly.”

Resources

People experiencing food insecurity in Colorado can visit the CDHS website, www.cdhs.colorado.gov/snap, to find out more about, or apply for, SNAP benefits.

In the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, people can also visit www. tinyurl.com/AspentoParachuteFood for a list of pantries and distribution sites.

Hospital Colorado declared a state of emergency when it came to youths’ mental health.

The language in the “Prohibit Corporal Punishment of Children” (HB23-1191) bill “prohibits a person employed by, or volunteering in, a public school, a state-licensed child care center, a family child care home or a specialized group facility from imposing corporal punishment on a child.” It further defines "corporal punishment" as the willful infliction of, or willfully causing the infliction of, physical pain on a child.

According to Colorado Public Radio, Colorado is one of 22 states that still allows corporal punishment of students. In 2017, a similar bill passed the House but did not pass the Republican-controlled Senate at the time.

Atchity added, “I don't think it's [corporal punishment] widely used out there, but we’re still on the books as allowing that.”

The bills outlined here are a small sampling of many bills currently before the Colorado legislature. For more information on mental health-related bills, go to www.mentalhealthcolorado.org/2023legislation

On another mental health care front, the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration released its three year strategic plan outlining key priorities and strategies focused on behavioral health care reform. The six key areas of focus are: improving access to behavioral health care, making behavioral health care more affordable, bolstering the behavioral health workforce, promoting accountability, uplifting lived experience and improving whole-person care.

You can read the full text of the strategic plan at www.bit.ly/CBHAstrategicplan

"I'm feeling better already."

SNAP benefits

One year in, Trustees begin to refine STR regs

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

Tuesday’s meeting saw all trustees in attendance for a standard agenda capped with a lengthy executive session “for a conference with the Town Attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions.” Presumably, this pertains to a mediation which took place on March 9 between Michael Francisco and the Town of Carbondale and its police department following a questionable arrest that occurred on Dec. 24, 2020.

During the public comment portion, resident Richard Vottero spoke to the issue. “I’m imploring you to be very compassionate, which I know you are,” he said. Vottero also spoke to a Feb. 14 decision authorizing the use of chemical herbicides at the Nature Park. “The upside for us if that is the way we choose not to go is we can integrate ourselves into a tradition of Sopris Park being an organic place … we can advertise that as the way we dealt with a natural area that included people, kids and dogs.”

During comments by trustees, Marty Silverstein announced that the Chamber of Commerce will relinquish managing First Fridays at the conclusion of 2023, and the Creative District will step into that role.

Luis Yllanes mentioned that the Parks and Rec Commission is looking to initiate a capital campaign to cover the funding gaps for building a new aquatics facility.

Chris Hassig, with great sadness, announced the passing of Julia Marshall, a mother, landscape architect and “a really wonderful woman and friend of mine,” he said. “Another string of really great members of our community we’ve been losing recently. I just want to give my thanks to her for all of her contributions to our community over her life, her compassion, sense of purpose and integrity as a person.”

Town Manager Lauren Gister, during her

comments, highlighted that the most recent affordable housing lottery in Carbondale yielded 99 applicants for a single unit, a record number. Which “tells you where we are,” she said, regarding the need for housing. Gister also announced that WeCycle acquired an office and shop on Buggy Circle and will initiate its bike share service in July or August, depending on the availability of parts. Lastly, the aquatics facility construction and replacement of the Aspen-Sopris ranger district station are likely to coincide, which “will be easier for both projects if done in concert.”

Moving along, trustees issued a proclamation honoring April as National Donate Life Month. Jessi Rochel, executive director of the Chris Klug Foundation, stated that an average of 17 people die everyday waiting for an organ transplant. The purpose of National Donate Life Month is to encourage people to register at donatelife.net

Yllanes recused himself as 5Point Film Festival came before the trustees for a special event liquor license. This year’s festival, April 19-23, will include free music outside the Rec Center from 4:30 to 6pm, Thursday through Saturday. There will be two bars activated outside the Rec Center as well as one inside. Trustees approved the license as well as a waiver for use of the town stage, considering the free and public nature of the concerts.

Colorado Animal Rescue received a special event liquor license for the 11th annual Family Block Party event on First Friday, May 5. This tradition is organized by several nonprofits, includes a Pride parade and will coincide with Cinco de Mayo. The license was unanimously approved.

Also approved was a modification of premises for Plum Manufacturing, 500 Buggy Circle, to allow for a catering business to share the medical and retail marijuana facility’s space.

Finally, the meat of the public meeting consisted of revisiting short-term rental (STR) regulations and

Fears amid Midland Ave construction

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

On March 14, Basalt Town Council held a well-attended meeting to discuss, among various things, the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project. The meeting opened with impassioned public comments concerning Midland specifically. Complaints were reiterated by business owners along Midland — especially restaurants — that the construction would occur during their busiest seasons. Without the high summer traffic, many business owners fear that they will not be able to survive the year. Several requested that Council shift the construction time to the fall as to lessen the negative impact.

In response, Mayor Bill Kane announced that Town Council would host two work sessions on March 22 specifically for the Streetscape Project. Town Manager Ryan Mahoney elaborated that the sessions, held in both the morning and the evening, will inform local businesses about the hard details of the construction project and obtain feedback from concerned parties.

However, Council made no indication that a shift in timeline for the construction would occur. Additionally, Mahoney addressed concerns about the Sunday Market, stating that it would still be held this summer. However, some business owners remained concerned that their needs would not be met, and the damage would be irreversible.

Public comments concluded with Kane calling order to the meeting. Moving into Council Reports, Mahoney announced that the Community Police Academy will be held soon. The Academy will offer classes on every other Saturday at Basalt High School from April 8 to September 2, and more information can be found on Basalt PD’s Facebook page. Mahoney also updated Council on Lightning Bolt project — construction on the Midland bridge — stating that lanes on the bridge were open and likely to remain open due to work now occurring off the main roadway.

Up next was a presentation by Town Planning Director Michelle Thibeault on the Stott’s Mill Daycare Building, a 4,000-square-foot space near Basalt High School which currently lacks potential operators. Previously, the developer of Stott’s Mill requested that the space be converted into four deed-restricted housing units, but Council directed staff to pursue developing the space as either a youth center or a daycare.

Staff published a Request for Proposals (RFP) that yielded at least half a

enforcement. Gister recommended using GovOS, an additional feature of the MUNIrevs software already used for tax collection, with a $18,000 price tag after negotiations. The program will “scrape” 30 different websites twice a week to see that properties are not listed that don’t have a license. Gister estimated this could save more than 100 staff hours and the contract was approved unanimously.

Erica Sparhawk recognized that the fee for licenses should come close to covering the cost, without dipping into STR tax revenue designated to go toward affordable housing. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk concurred that the license fee can be adjusted to directly pay for the service.

One year after the first regulations were put in place, Trustees are looking to receive feedback about how it’s going and what changes need to be made. The first round of regulations was meant to gather data, grandfathering in all existing STRs, and now all licenses are set to expire at the end of 2023.

The topic will return in May to consider including other zone districts within the allowance for new licenses (currently limited to Historic Commercial Core and primary residences), continuing to grandfather in existing STRs that didn’t meet initial requirements, allowing one owner to operate several units and a possible cap for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that can operate as STRs.

dozen requests with final proposals from interested parties due April 10 at 4pm. Additionally, a committee will be assembled of daycare and youth care professionals in Pitkin County to review the proposals.

Next up, Senior Planner Sara Nadolny announced the introduction of a new E-Bike Rebate Program to kick off at some point in mid-April. The program, initiated because transportation is the second largest source of carbon emissions in Basalt, will provide $250 to 250 Basalt residents for the purchase of an e-bike in partnership with local bike retailers. Additionally, the Town will ask recipients of the rebate to take a commuter oath to replace three vehicle trips per week with an e-bike trip.

Moving forward, the first in a series of actions were interviews for positions in the Basalt Affordable Community Housing (BACH) Commission and the Basalt Public Arts Commission (BPAC). Affordable housing project manager Perry Kleespies and financial professional Dave Portman were unanimously appointed to BACH,

A long-standing tradition, students of the month are honored with certificates at the first regular meeting of each month. Congratulations to (left to right) Juniper Mullett, Juliet Irigoyeh, William Pinkham IV, Adrian Barraza and Israel Castillon! Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

An overhead mock-up of the total Midland Ave Streetscape Project by construction administrators Connect One Design. Phase I, slated to begin demolition next week, will increase parking along the Midland Spur to the west. Courtesy graphic

Airport tug-o-war, Trout Unlimited request delayed

Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9am in Rifle Monday at the Sheriff’s annex near the Rifle Garfield County Airport (RIL). The airport was one of the longer discussions during one of this year’s shorter meetings.

Commissioners approved the revised 2023 Airport Development guidelines and then went right into a discussion about, wait for it, airport development.

Private equity firm Dark Horse Aviation (DHA) requested approval of a concept plan for increased development at RIL, namely lots A-2, A-5 and A-6. Development would cost more than $5 million but DHA told commissioners that funding has been secured. The company would lease the property from Garfield County for $83,000 annually.

According to a March 8, 2023 letter to the BOCC, Jon Wenrich, DHA managing partner, stated, “[O] ur financial backing is 100% secured and not dependent on a loan for this development.“ There was a caveat, however. The letter also stated: “Our Capital Partner may withdraw its funds for investment in [the Garfield County Airport] should this Concept Plan not be approved at this meeting.”

Commissioner Mike Samson voiced excitement at DHA’s concept plan, stating that the Garfield County Airport

and art instructor Colleen Irvin unanimously appointed to BPAC.

Next, Council approved a $3.5 million contract with Stutsman-Gerbaz Earthmoving for the construction of Phase I of the Midland Ave Streetscape Project, which includes deep utility work on the Midland spur as well as increasing that area’s parking spaces from 61 to 96. Additionally, Phase I is slated to begin demolition next week and be completed by June so the Sunday Market can still be held in this area. Funding will come from a total $12.8 million devoted to the entire Streetscape Project.

Continuing with the theme of

is a major economic driver for the county. “This is where we see investment come in,” he said.

Lots A-5 and A-6 were approved for local hangar service company Rifle Aviation in May 2022. On July 6, a Request for Proposal (RFP) concept plan was presented to the BOCC, but Rifle Aviation soon pulled out. DHA was second on the list for the lots. Since they have become available again, Brian Condie, airport manager, reasoned that DHA should have them. “Dark Horse made the commitment long before we even considered an RFP,” he explained. He added that DHA presented a request on A-5 and A-6 but was 24 hours behind Rifle Aviation. “If [Rifle Aviation] didn’t make that request, DHA would have the lots,” he said.

But, Jenna Pollard, general manager for Atlantic Aviation’s Rifle office, urged the BOCC not to approve DHA’s concept plan. “These parcels were originally contemplated to be offered through an open and fair RFP process so that other intended, qualified, financially strong candidates had the opportunity to showcase their commitment to the airport, to the county as well as the surrounding community,” she told the Board.

Atlantic Aviation has been RIL’s primary fixed base operator since 2007, providing aviation services such as fuel, parking and hangar space. Pollard said that Atlantic Aviation was interested in

construction, the next resolution was to approve a $213,000 contract with GMCO LLC for the Crack and Chip Seal Project, designed to repair cracked road surfaces across Basalt in June. The primary areas of repair include Elk Run, Sopris Drive and Ridge Road, along with some repair around Basalt High School.

Back to Midland, the next two items were authorization of materials testing and special inspection by Ground Engineering Consultants, Inc. for the whole project, costing up to roughly $128,000. Another contract was signed for $589,500 with Connect One Design to oversee

the two lots but thought the application process was closed. “I urge the BOCC to reconsider this motion and allow for the RFP process to be undertaken to ensure the best possible partnership for developing such a vital community asset,” she said.

Dan Guggenheim of Garco Premier Hangars told the Board that DHA wanted to buy its hangars for “pennies on the dollar,” which he said did not make sense for his company. “So we continue with our plan to support the single engine turbines, the small jets, the privately-used hangars and keep that option available to the general aviation community,” he said. He urged the Board not to lose sight of the benefits of working together and to protect small, private units at the airport. Condie said that even though corporations are coming to RIL, locals are still being served. The Board unanimously approved DHA’s concept plan for lots A-2, A-5 and A-6.

Earlier, the Board delayed a request by Trout Unlimited to act as the Category A partner in an application to the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSmart-Environmental Water Resources Project for work on Elk Creek and Canyon Creek. The projects are part of the Middle Colorado Ag Collaborative, which has worked on other projects in the county to modify in-channel infrastructure, such as head gates, to allow fish passage.

construction for the project. Both were unanimously approved with the exception of Council member Elyse Hottel, who recused herself from all Midland-related actions.

The evening closed with two second readings of ordinances to update marijuana and liquor licensing. The first ordinance would change marijuana licensing to operate under the same timeline and review as liquor licenses, and the second would create a new type of local festival permit extending from wine to liquor and beer, which requires holding a liquor license already. Both were unanimously approved.

Commissioner Tom Jankovsky said he needed more information before approving a Category A partnership, stating that “some ranchers are not happy with the [Middle Colorado Watershed Council].” Commissioners voted unanimously to sign a letter of support for the MCAC. They will make a decision about whether to become more involved in the project at the next regular meeting on March 20.

Commissioners approved all items on the consent agenda plus a liquor license for the Rifle Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet next month. Samson and Fred Jarman updated the Board about a recent call with the Colorado Department of Transportation, concerning community broadband tie-ins along the I-70 corridor. Samson stated that CDOT was “nice” on the call and willing to work with the county on the projects.

After an executive session to discuss litigation in the High Lonesome Ranch federal case as well as the lease of county water rights in Ruedi Reservoir, the meeting was adjourned.

Looking forward, the EPA has announced a proposed National Drinking Water Standard which limits PFOA and PFOS. This is currently in review before its release for public comment. Additionally, the EPA has proposed to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA — better known as Superfund. This designation will expedite PFAS treatment efforts in critically affected communities.

While EPA in its listening session did not

thoroughly elaborate on how these nationwide changes would affect Region 8 specifically, Administrator Becker announced that this summer, EPA will begin sampling wastewater on selected sites located on tribal reservations.

In general, the EPA has focused its first year on developing an adequate body of understanding on this new, highly-persistent pollutant before taking significant action on remediating its presence in the environment.

PFAS continued from page 8

Basalt report continued from page 14

Tom Jankovsky by Larry Day

'Mirror Mirror' in photos

Jessica Owings in "Skye | Aire" by Skye Barker Maa

Sam Stableford dances with Rochelle Norwood in Norwood's "Land of Peace"

Models wear clothing by Laura Stover made from decommissioned tents

Annabelle Stableford during the preshow aerials

Wes Boyd and Emma Martin in Ira Sherman's metallic lingerie

Flaco Flava from Fort Collins shares their hip hop dance moves (Top of page) Photos by Jane Bacharach (Bottom of page) Photos by Will Sardinsky

Caitlin Evans as Snow White and Jen Campbell as the Wolf

Leah Swan in "Occult Alliance" by Dena Barnes

Julie Divilbiss rocking a mohawk by Yoli Laguerre

Delia Bolster (left) and Caroline Iles (right) in their line, "Slutty Baby Goes West (on I-70 for Playtime)"

Sammy Altenau (left) walks with Rachel Gillespie (right) in Hoohah's line

Bruce Somers

April 19, 1950 – March 11, 2023

Bruce, a 27-year resident of Carbondale, passed away peacefully after battling a long illness.

Born and raised in Denver; he moved to the Valley in 1996. Bruce loved Carbondale and was an active member of the community for many years. He hosted the “BS Jazz Hour” on KDNK for several years. He was an avid skier and hiker in his early years and enjoyed sharing his beloved Carbondale with out-of-town company.

Because he spent many, many hours at the Smithy, there will be a celebration of life in his honor at the Smithy on March 21, 2023 from 5 to 7pm for all who knew Bruce and want to share stories. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

LETTERS

Business Administration (SBA) protect the park's historic value. The covenants were included in the deed which transferred ownership of the park to the town of Marble, stating that the park was to be managed only for historic preservation and park visitors.

Provision of parking at the Park for an offsite user group with great impact is a violation of the covenants. This has been recognized by the SBA and the TOM attorney, but the town has continued to violate the covenants for many years. This violation was recognized by the Gunnison County commissioners, one of whom stated that the problem needs to be addressed. The mayor of Marble has contacted the SBA in an attempt to amend the covenants to allow parking for ATV unloading.

The amendment of the covenants is governed by the National Historic Preservation Act ( NHPA), which states that when a federal agency licenses or permits an activity that affects cultural resources, that agency must consult with the state historic preservation officer. The federal agency here is the SBA, represented by William Gery. The state historic preservation officer is the state archeologist, Holly Norton of History Colorado. The process is called a Section 106 Review. Gery acknowledged that he had been contacted to amend the covenants and suggested that interested parties contact the state archeologist to express their concerns.

In response to citizen concerns, the Gunnison County commissioners have

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agreed to sunset the provision which allows ATV use on County Road 3, and revisit the decision annually. Last season they reapproved the ATV use within a few days of expiration. At this point, they have not reapproved the ATV use this year. They may be waiting to see what happens regarding parking.

So, here is what you can do. Write one short and simple email and send a copy to each of these parties:

William Gery, SBA : william.gery@ sba.gov

Holly Norton, History Colorado, State Archeologist : holly.norton@state. co.gov

Laura Puckett Daniels, Gunnison County Commissioner: ldaniels@ gunnisoncounty.org

Liz Smith, Gunnison County Commissioner: eksmith@ gunnisoncounty.org

For further information, call me at 970-234-7632 or email menardalex02@ gmail.com

Alex Menard, Marble

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.

HANS is a friendly, outgoing, one year old male cat who started using a stranger’s dog door to make some new friends. After checking with all the neighbors to see if he already had a family, he was brought to C.A.R.E. to find a new home where he would be spoiled rotten. Scan the code to find out more about this great cat!

Carbondale Community School students recently had a chance to see their work displayed side-byside with the art that inspired it — the Powers Art Center's collection of prints by Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol and others. Photos by Will Grandbois

YEARS YEARS

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