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8-9 ~ Calendar

10-11 ~ Español

12 ~ RFSD

A future so bright they have to wear blindfolds!

Spring weather brings thoughts of baseball for some, but here in the Roaring Fork Valley, many athletes also dream of lacrosse. The Roaring Fork Girls Lacrosse Team, in its fourth year, is true to that name, with girls from Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt and Colorado Rocky Mountain School. This year it boasts 10 seniors in a roster of 21 Varsity players, as well as a full JV team with great young talent.

This team is part of the CHSAA Mountain East League, which includes arch rivals Aspen and Battle Mountain. The 15-game schedule also includes out-of-league teams from the Front Range, Durango, Fruita and Telluride.

Last year’s record — nine wins and six losses — took the team to the state playoffs where they made it to the second round before losing to Thompson Valley, who made it to the finals. It was a huge achievement for a third-year team. The forecast for this year’s team, according to coach Chelsea Robson, is to win their league. And they are off to a good start, beating Durango 9-5 in their first game.

Although the lacrosse team is district-wide, it is only partially funded by Roaring Fork High School’s Athletic Department which provides transportation. This year, the senior players raised $10,000 in community and business sponsorships thanks to the generosity of sponsors like Roaring Fork Engineering, who has supported every year, and also Roaring Fork Oral Surgery, Roaring Fork Swarm Lacrosse Team, Smith Immigration, Village Smithy, Aspen Barbershop and Xen Technologies. Additionally, local businesses like the Redstone Inn and Propaganda Pie provide discounts for visiting teams that have to stay overnight.

“Community and Business Sponsorships have allowed us to continue to grow and pay for everything from equipment to coaches’ salaries. There is no way we would be as successful as we are without the community behind us,” said coach Robson. The team also gives back by volunteering at places like WindWalkers and the Booster Club Snack Shack.

Home games are played on the football field at Carbondale Middle School, if you would like to come out and support these talented and dedicated athletes.

The girls are already busy honing their skills, even by practicing in blindfolds!

2023 RFHS Girls LAX Schedule

April 4, vs. Steamboat @ Home- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

April 10, vs. Aspen @ Home- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

April 11, vs. Summit @ Home- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

April 15, vs. Castle View @ Home- 10am V only

April 18, vs. Battle Mtn @ Home- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

April 20, vs. Fruita @ Away- V 4pm, JV 5:30pm

April 21, vs. Eagle Valley @ Home- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

April 25, vs. Steamboat @ Away- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

April 27, vs. Summit @ Away- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

April 29, vs. Thompson Valley @ Home- 9am V only

May 2, vs. Battle Mountain @ Away- JV 4pm, V 5:30pm

May 5, vs. Telluride @ Home- 5pm V only/Senior Night

May 6, vs. Aspen @ Away- JV 11am, V 1pm

Photo and text by Sue Rollyson

Respect: The price of admission OPINION

or if we drive for three hours. Are we disturbing wintering elk or nesting waterfowl as we seek the road less traveled?

were debated by the board before we voted to narrowly lend our conditional support.

By John Armstrong

“Since when is public access part of the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association [CVEPA] mission?”

An old friend asked me this recently. It is certainly a valid question, and one that has been discussed at length amongst our board.

Whenever we leave our homes to recreate on public lands — or go anywhere for that matter — we bear the onus of our environmental impact. Without making ourselves crazy or living in a bubble, we weigh whether we can take the bus or bike, drive a Prius or an F-350 truck (if we even have those choices) and whether we hike, ski or seek wildflowers locally,

CVEPA has a strong belief that the environment is not limited to wild animals or designated wilderness areas. The human component of the environment is respected and must be respectful. As we the public go forward in search of what enriches and feeds “the wild” in us, can we exercise the restraint necessary to protect and preserve our natural environment?

CVEPA involvement in public access is a timely question given that the Redstone to McClure Pass Trail just received preliminary authorization from the U.S. Forest Service. The CVEPA board discussed unregulated human access versus the proposed seasonal closure to protect ungulate habitat, the intrusion of man and canine in a secluded area and the value of restoring the continuity of the historic route with the specter of trail proliferation in a sensitive area. The pros and cons of the trail development

Public access is no simple question when we look locally at entry’s cause and effect.

The access to Filoha Meadows Nature Preserve (Dorais Way or the Wildrose Trail) has been closed by neighbors, illegally we believe. The right of way to this historic route will now be decided by a judge.

The Filoha public access agreement was a long and sometimes emotional public process in which CVEPA was involved. CVEPA remains committed to this tempered access as a public amenity and a privilege. We support the efforts of Pitkin County in reopening the road. Unfettered year-round access is not appropriate with respect to wintering wildlife, nor should access on the age-old road be only for the financially privileged. Both reasons justify CVEPA’s scrutiny.

A recent petition for access through the reclaimed Coal Basin mining area is an incredibly complex example of the sensitivity of access to public lands.

The Coal Basin Methane Group seeks access to the Basin in order to ascertain locations and quantities of escaping methane with the ultimate aspiration of mitigating the effects of the

LETTERS

prolific gas. Evaluating the balance between mitigating the climate-threatening methane and protecting the restored land, water and wildlife habitat, this could not be more in-line with CVEPA’s ethos.

The mission statement of “protection and preservation of the natural environment and its scenic resources; responsible enjoyment and protection and restoration of the natural environment” was carefully articulated in the recentlyrenewed mission statement of CVEPA.

As our valley grows in popularity and population at an unprecedented rate, the onus is clearly on us personally, as a community and as members of CVEPA, the only organization solely dedicated to the environmental defense of the Crystal Valley, to engage in issues of public access. Scenic values are important to us all, but it is naive to think that our naturalist soul could be fulfilled from the window of an automobile. Public access to public land is not just a right but it is a privilege that comes with responsibility.

“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people have ever received and each one of us must do his part if we wish to show the nation is worthy of its good fortune.”

-Teddy Roosevelt

To learn more about CVEPA and to support our mission, visit cvepa.org

Democracy in peril

It’s beyond offensive to see a failed, twiceimpeached former president, Donald Trump, campaigning again for an office he so thoroughly disgraced. It’s shameful he’s even allowed to seek the presidency again considering his attempt to stay in power after losing the 2020 election, by lying about nonexistent massive voter fraud and orchestrating an insurrection/coup — and now acting as if the events of January 6, 2021 never happened. If 10 additional Republicans in the Senate had voted for conviction during Trump’s second impeachment trial for incitement of insurrection, he could have been disqualified from ever seeking office again. But they couldn’t muster the courage to do what should have been done to safeguard our democracy.

If Trump isn’t brought to justice for his many “high crimes and misdemeanors” against our nation, then the rule of law isn’t really a thing, is it?

JM Jesse Glenwood Springs

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.

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CVEPA Views

Our Underwriters and Nonprofit Partners!

Avalanche danger

Heavy spring snows settling on top of weakened layers has resulted in dangerous avalanche conditions this spring. Over the weekend, the lives of two skiers were claimed; the first near Marble and the second in Maroon Bowl just outside the boundaries of Aspen Highlands resort. Stay informed at avalanche.state.co.us and remember to hug your loved ones often.

Celebration of life

Friends and family of Joel Shute, born in Glenwood Springs, will be hosted at Leonard’s Lookout on Sunlight Mountain Resort on Sunday, March 26 at 1pm. A later, “more civilized story-telling fest” is scheduled for April 22 at the base lodge.

Safe Passages

Valley Settlement’s Family, Friends and Neighbors (FFN) Mobile Resource Vehicle is ready to hit the road. The repurposed Winnebago brings professional development and early childhood education opportunities directly to in-home childcare providers. Kenia Pinela, Valley Settlement’s director of programs and innovations, and Sherri Goodwin, a sponsor of the mobile resource vehicle, cut the ribbon at June Park in El Jebel on March 13. Visit www.bit.ly/APRValleySettlement for coverage by our friends at Aspen Public Radio (APR). Photo by James Steindler

Calls for artists

RJ Paddywacks

Cool Bricks Studio

White River Books

Alpine Animal Hospital

Novus Glass

Nonprofit Partners

Wilderness Workshop

5point Film Festival

Basalt Library

Aspen Strong

Carbondale Rotary

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

Roaring Fork Valley Safe Passages, a citizen advocacy group, has raised funds to commence a study to identify priority highway segments for reducing wildlifevehicle collisions and improving permeability of wildlife movement on Highways 82 and 133 in the Roaring Fork Watershed. Mitigation plans will then be created for three highpriority road segments. Learn more at roaringforksafepassages.org

Working together

State Representative Elizabeth Velasco (HD-57) and State Senator Perry Will (SD-5) released a joint, bipartisan letter in support of the proposed Thompson Divide Administrative Withdrawal which would protect 225,000 acres of the Thompson Divide from future oil and gas leasing, as well as mining, for 20 years. “I am proud to join with Rep. Velasco in support of the proposed Administrative Withdrawal, which has brought together people from different vocations, walks of life, and political philosophies,” wrote Will.

Judge Neiley

John F. Neiley has been appointed to serve as chief judge of the 9th Judicial District (Garfield, Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties), replacing James Boyd, who will retire in July after serving as chief judge since 2006.

The deadline to submit a Mountain Fair poster/t-shirt design idea is April 3! This year’s theme is “Where the Wild Things Grow” and three work samples along with a well-developed concept can be emailed to brian@carbondalearts.com along with any questions. Meanwhile, the state’s Behavioral Health Administration is seeking new designs from a diversity of artists for its Recovery Cards Project, celebrating recovery from addiction. Applications are due by April 2 at bit.ly/ CORecovery

Campground prospectus

The White River National Forest is soliciting proposals from parties interested in a special use permit to operate and maintain a variety of government-owned recreation facilities for the 2024-2029 seasons, including 52 campgrounds and 13 day-use sites (bit.ly/3TiuduD). Applicants are encouraged to attend a two-hour question-and-answer session on July 7 from 10am to noon; RSVP by emailing paula.peterson@usda.gov

Chief Ferber

The City of Aspen hired Kim Ferber as its next chief of police, following “a comprehensive, nationwide selection process.” Ferber brings more than 27 years of rural, suburban and state law enforcement experience with her, working most recently as operations commander at the Sterling Police Department. She was chosen from a pool of five finalists,

Working Together For Pets And Their People 2801 CR 114 Glenwood Springs, (970)947-9173CO

CARE has 6 dogs and 9 cats available for adoption.

including two internal candidates, Linda Consuegra and Bill Linn.

Summer Advantage

Summer Advantage USA is offering a free five-week program, June 19 to July 21 from 8am to 2:30pm on weekdays, with Summit54 and Roaring Fork Schools. The program will help children from kindergarten to fifth grade catch up or accelerate their learning, with free bus transportation, a healthy breakfast and lunch daily and fun activities. Learn more at summeradvantage.org or by calling 1-866-924-7226.

Lumberyard housing

Aspen’s 11.3-acre, 277-unit affordable housing project, Lumberyard, received recommended approval from the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission and will come before City Council with public hearings later this spring. The site is next to the Airport Business Center and was purchased over several years. The proposal includes three 100% accessible four-story buildings with solar panel rooftops.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Erin Danneker (March 23); Martin Gerdan and Jammin’ Jim (March 24); Ben Canady and Alta Otto (March 25); Ruby Marker and Brian McIsaac (March 26); Shea Courtney and Drea Marsh (March 27); Hank van Berlo, John Field and Damon Scher (March 28); Stacey Bernot, David Hayes, Lucy Perutz, Bob Schultz and Jesse Terrell (March 29).

RJ PADDYWACKS offers a “C.A.R.E. package” for new adoptive families, including a “Paws for Points” plan and a first time 15% discount for your new pet.

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The Crow & Key welcomes collaboration

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

The Crow & Key hosted its grand opening at 443 Main Street on March 3, as part of Carbondale's First Friday celebration. This family-owned home decor and gift store is operated by Amber Frisbie and her husband, Ted. They work closely with local and small business owners, as well as local and international artists, to stock the shelves with all kinds of home goods, clothing and artwork.

They strive for the business to be a welcoming and comfortable place where everything you can purchase online from major outlets can be found, made and purchased locally. “The inspiration for the shop, or the vibe, is very much like our family,” said Amber, “welcoming everyone in.”

She is originally from northern Michigan and came to Colorado as a teacher. She first moved to Telluride, where she taught skiing for a year, before taking a job at a middle school in Vail. She moved to Carbondale in 2005 to teach at Crystal River Elementary School and met Ted, a Carbondale Community School teacher and musician with the Hell Roaring String Band, which played at the grand opening.

Amber told The Sopris Sun that her inspiration for the shop came from two things; the first being the prevalence of diverse artistry in our community, and the second being her family’s collaborative input.

“The naming of the store started with our family sitting around the table and throwing out different ideas. At the time, I didn't have a space in town yet, and it was something that I was looking to find. I thought that would happen in a year or two,” Amber explained. “My family and I were talking about how crows are all around

Carbondale, and they are very curious and mischievous, which I feel represents our family. Then my son said, ‘Well, what about The Crow & Key? You could use keys to unlock wonderful things and curiosities.’”

Soon after that conversation, the space opened up. “So it moved a little more quickly than I had thought to start the shop,” she said. Alyona Vitrinista, a Ukrainian artist, did the logo art for The Crow & Key through a commission from her online Etsy shop.

Amber also expressed that business owners on her stretch of street, including HANDMAKERY, Flowers on Main and Bonfire Coffee, acted as huge advocates for the new business and helped at every new turn.

“The business community here has just been nothing but supportive,” said Amber. “It is impressive to have such a welcoming community, a family of business owners down here.”

Although the business is new, Amber said she has ambitions for her store to become a place where people feel comfortable hanging out and conversing. Since the opening, school children have gathered to sit at the large table in the middle of the shop to chat, do their homework and relax after school.

“I have been asked if the store can be used for different events, which I honestly had not thought about until we opened,” admitted Amber. “I'm open to providing the space for other opportunities for community building. Whatever that may be, I am open to whatever comes my way.”

The Crow & Key is located at 443 Main St, between Flowers on Main and Bonfire Coffee. The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 11am to 5pm. If you are or know a local artist or small

The Mount Sopris Nordic Council would like to thank everyone who participated in our 31st Annual

Ski forSisu

business that would like to collaborate, Amber encourages hopefuls to drop by during business hours or to call the store at 970-471-9475.

For more information, follow The Crow & Key on Instagram, @thecrowandkey, or visit crowandkey.com

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

ALPINE BANK, BERTHOD MOTORS, MOUNTAIN CHEVROLET, COLD MOUNTAIN RANCH, THE MAGNOLIA FOUNDATION, BIGHORN TOYOTA, GU & PITKIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS.

Thanks a million to our volunteers!

Thanks to KDNK & The Sopris Sun for their support of the event.

Thank you to these local business for donating prizes & auction items: Big Fish Collective, Independence Run & Hike, Bristlecone Mount Sports, Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs, Aspen SkiCo, Mountain Flow Eco Wax, Phat Thai, Backbone Media and Ace Hardware. A special thank you to Crystal River Meats for donating burgers for the BBQ picnic!

AGreatCommunityDeservesaGreatSkiArea!

AGreatSkiAreaDeservesaGreatCommunity!

Amber Frisbie and Sparky, "the welcome party," stand ready to greet visitors at The Crow & Key on Main Street, Carbondale. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Carbondale prepares to spray at Nature Park

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

On Feb. 14, Carbondale Trustees unanimously approved limited use of herbicides at the Carbondale Nature Park — a popular place for off-leash dog walking — in the early spring and late fall for two or three consecutive years. As its name implies, the 33-acre Nature Park is also home to many wild species, including 134 bird species counted by the Roaring Fork Audubon Society and the native western painted turtle, Colorado's state reptile.

Application will be targeted and the sprayed areas will be fenced for about two weeks while the chemicals dissipate. Also approved for herbicide use were North Face Bike Park and the roundabout and bulb-out gardens on Highway 133.

It’s not a proposal that the Town came to lightly. “We didn’t necessarily want to do this,” said Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger, whose employees are receiving training for the spot treatment. Carbondale’s Integrated Weed Management plan, developed over several years and adopted in 2019, places the use of chemicals at the bottom of its list of strategies for eradicating plants labeled “noxious” by the state.

The Noxious Weed Act (C.R.S. 35-5.5), signed into law in 1990 and amended in 1996, declares that “noxious weeds pose a threat to the natural resources of Colorado,” and requires

municipalities adopt a Noxious Weed Management Plan for all lands within their jurisdiction.

Carbondale’s plan requires the use of chemicals remain a last resort and receive approval from the Environmental Board and Trustees. This is the first time since the plan’s adoption that such a request was made, said Brendlinger.

The impetus is Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense, a persistent perennial that Brendlinger was told could take over the park. Over the course of several years, the Town has attempted controlled burns when possible, manual pulling of the thistle, applying a rust fungus supplied by the Palisade Insectary (which was effective but is no longer available) and natural methods developed by a consultant (which proved minimally successful). Goats were considered too indiscriminate of eaters, cost prohibitive and a poor mix with the loose dogs at the Nature Park.

Garfield County Vegetation Manager Steve Anthony has worked with the county’s program since 1999. He said that a patch of Canada thistle can double in five years and could get out of control if left unmanaged. Canada thistle has a tenacious, rhizomatic root system, which tends to spread when the plant is disturbed. The thistle also grows a head of tiny flowers which become seeds with fluffy wings.

Brendlinger assured The Sun that soil testing will be conducted before and

after applying herbicides, which could begin as soon as April and would require 48-hour notice. Key to this strategy, as prescribed by Anthony, is to introduce native grasses to outcompete the thistle after it is knocked back with Opensight in the spring and Milestone in the fall. Both contain Aminopyralid, a chemical known to spread through the manure of foraging animals and persist in soils with a life-life ranging from 32 to 533 days.

According to Katrina Blair, author of “The Wild Wisdom of Weeds” and founder of Bee Happy Lands in Durango, the qualities that make Canada thistle so challenging to eradicate are beneficial to both the soil and humans. Thistle is an ecological succession plant, she explained, adapted to disturbed soil conditions. Thistle remediates the earth, aerating and shading compacted soil, providing nectar to pollinators and keeping away animals with its prickly leaves.

Blair intentionally allows patches to grow for harvest at her Turtle Lake Refuge. She will juice the alkaline stems and leaves, make milk from the seeds and chai tea from its mineral-rich roots, claiming benefits for the liver and kidney.

“The very problem is that we look at them [noxious weeds] as a problem,” she said. “As human beings, what if we interacted with our environment differently? What if we didn’t have to control it but actually saw it as an ally, a life force and a teacher?”

Aspen approves Sustainability Action Plan

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

On February 24, the City of Aspen announced that the City Council had approved the Aspen Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP), replacing the previous Climate Action Plan and setting new goals for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the next five to seven years.

Aspen’s previous initiative for sustainability, penned in 2017, set the primary goals of reducing total GHG emissions 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. ASAP is more ambitious, setting a goal of reducing emissions 63.4% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, theoretically reaching a point of net-zero GHG emissions within three decades.

The document repeatedly emphasizes the need to move quickly and effectively in order to combat the causes of climate change. According to the plan, “The average number of consecutive frost-free days in Aspen has increased by 46 days since 1940 and by 30 days since 1980, representing the loss of more than a month of winter in less than a lifetime.”

ASAP targets five different high-impact sources of CO2 — energy supply, buildings, aviation and airport, transportation, waste — providing recommendations to reduce emissions in each sector.

In terms of energy, two of Aspen’s main providers of electricity — Aspen Electric and Holy Cross Energy — are proving successful in their endeavors to decarbonize. Aspen Electric’s energy is 100% renewably sourced. Meanwhile, Holy Cross Electric receives about 48% of their energy from renewable sources but has set a goal to reach 100% by 2030. ASAP sets goals in this sector for generally providing support for state and federal initiatives to reduce emissions, as the City of Aspen is well ahead of the game in its energy sourcing.

Within the broad sector of “buildings,” ASAP intends to address energy and water efficiency in newly

constructed buildings, making them fully electric when possible and ensuring utility costs are properly scaled to equitably handle decarbonization among lower income community members.

This sector also addresses “embodied carbon,” which identifies the carbon emissions of a building not by its day-to-day consumption of energy, but by all the emissions relating to its construction — including the extraction, manufacturing and transportation of all its materials to the job site. The combined embodied carbon and “business as usual emissions,” which are a functional space’s GHG emissions, form 57% of Aspen’s total GHG emissions.

In 2022, the City of Aspen issued 531 building permits, representing a significant quantity of emissions for each project. Of ASAP’s “building” objectives, one of the most radical is to mandate no- to low-carbon standards for new construction. Such a mandate could significantly improve sustainability in the face of frequent demolition and construction.

“Waste” presents a significant issue in Aspen as well as the whole of Pitkin County — whose landfill is steadily coming closer to capacity. As ASAP states, “Once the Pitkin County Landfill closes, solid waste will have to be transported out of the Roaring Fork River Valley, increasing the miles traveled for disposal.” Furthermore, of all the waste that Aspen produces, constituting 16% of total emissions, 78% results from construction and demolition waste. Therefore, ASAP aims to phase out demolition in favor of deconstruction, which will enable the reuse of building materials and slow the closure of the landfill.

Likewise, transportation issues in Aspen are no different from the rest of the Valley. In Aspen, 96.5% of roadside emissions come from on-road gasoline and diesel, with only 3% from mass-transit. ASAP prioritizes both a shift away from single-occupant vehicle driving as well as a push for mass transit and electrification of vehicles. The plan states that Aspen

Asked what she would do for the thistle in Carbondale’s Nature Park, Blair said the flower heads could be manually removed before going to seed, which would tax the roots and diminish the plant’s energy underground. Compost, mulch, amendments and seeds should then be applied to nourish the earth, “adding fertility and stability to the land.” She warned that disturbing the soil by spraying “is just going backwards, even if it feels like a quick fix.”

“With an integrated weed management plan that works, you’re being a good neighbor,” said Brendlinger, acknowledging the pastures that neighbor this park. “You don’t want to be a bad neighbor and not control your noxious weeds.” He admitted pessimistically, “They’re really good at what they do.”

will incentivize ride-sharing, as well as support bicycle infrastructure in order to reduce emissions, hopefully reducing traffic as well.

Within the bracket of transportation, Aspen Pitkin County Airport accounts for 58% of total transportation emissions in 2020 — over 25,000 metric tons of CO2. The airport also presents difficulty for the 2050 goal of zero emissions, considering there are no electric commercial passenger planes in regular flight. Until such aircraft are commonplace, ASAP only states that Aspen will encourage reduction of GHGs via use of electric vehicles for ground support and shuttling.

Notably, the plan allows for some leeway in its goals and methods, prioritizing communication with Aspen citizens and staying up-to-date with evolving science and climatological data. The City also publishes a sustainability report, which will document ASAP’s policies as they occur each year and can be found with the plan on the City of Aspen’s website, www.aspen.gov

Light blue markings on this map indicate the presence of Canada thistle. Courtesy graphic

A graph formed with data from Aspen's 2020 GHG report shows the sources of over 179,000 metric tons of CO2. "Transportation" contains emissions from both on-road vehicles and aviation, and both "Buildings" sections include the gases emitted from construction. Courtesy image

Carbondale Rodeo changes, wastewater treatment upgrades in Glenwood Canyon

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

Garfield County Commission

Chair John Martin was absent from Monday’s meeting. Chair Pro-Tem

Tom Jankovsky filled in. Jankovsky and Mike Samson barreled through the first several agenda items, including approval of minutes from regular meetings, dating back to 2019. County attorney Heather Beattie wants to see the Board approve minutes at every meeting in the future. The Board okayed the consent agenda, including approval of the Fussner minor subdivision on Missouri Heights and excluding a subdivision plat in Rifle due to a lack of information.

Three area nonprofits provided updates. Julie Olson, director of Advocate Safehouse, thanked the Board for the $30,000 grant for 2022, stating that it provided 476 nights of emergency shelter for Garfield County residents. She added that her staff worked with 661 people in 2022, including 614 domestic violence survivors and 47 sexual violence survivors. She expects to see more sexual violence survivors this year due to a grant focusing on that issue.

Marian McDonough, director

of Catholic Services, based in Glenwood Springs, told the Board that the $25,000 grant helped provide emergency assistance for 1,335 people, including help with rent. The organization also worked with 92 immigrants dealing with wage theft.

“We help them recoup those funds and keep them in their homes,” said McDonough. Some immigrants are seeking asylum and others are trying to reconnect with families. Catholic Services also found homes for 35 homeless families in 2022.

Lift-Up executive director Ivan Jackson and development director Sheila Mara talked about how the organization spent a $45,000 county grant last year, stating that Lift-Up continues to work toward ending food insecurity and hunger from Parachute to Aspen. Lift-Up supports six food pantries, including nine drive-through pantries, thrift stores, a Meal Monkey school lunch program in the RE-2 District, the Extended Table in Glenwood Springs, 72-hour emergency food bags and senior meals. Mara said that drive-through pantry use has increased by more than 300%. “It reduces the stigma [of needing food assistance] because people don’t have to get out of their

cars,” she said. Lift-Up employs 15 staff and more than 250 volunteers.

In 2019, Lift-Up partnered with 23 local farmers and ranchers for meat, dairy and produce. Now, the organization has $120,000 in prepaid contracts. Mara added that LiftUp no longer has to order produce from outside the community and that the food they provide is culturallyrelevant. Jackson added that one in 10 adults and one out of every six kids in Colorado are food insecure. He’s concerned about what will happen when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits end this month. “For some people, that’s 40% of their benefits,” he said. (You can contact Lift-Up at www.liftup.org)

In other news, the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo (CWWR) requested “No Parking” signs from the county, signaling some big changes ahead for the popular event. Parking has been a big problem at the rodeo, said Mike Kennedy, CWWR Association

president. The rodeo is in its 18th year and Kennedy said attendance has increased by 20-30%. He added that parking overflow extends for about a half-mile in either direction on County Road 100 and is unsafe. “It’s out of control,” he said.

So this year, on-site parking will cost $10 per vehicle. Parking will be prohibited on County Road 100 and restricted to one side of Daisy, Willow and Rose Lanes. “We will have at least two free shuttle buses from town,” said Kennedy. Plus there’s always a pleasant walk or bike down the Rio Grande Trail; CWWR plans to have plenty of bike racks. Rodeo fans will also have to fork over $15 to get in and leave the booze at home. You can see a list of all changes at www. carbondalerodeo.com

Commissioners also approved upgrades for wastewater treatment facilities at the Bair Ranch, Grizzly Creek and No Name rest areas in the Glenwood Canyon.

Gray wolves paw their way back into Colorado

By Elizabeth Key Sopris Sun Contributor

Reintroducing the gray wolf to Colorado has produced conflict among humans. On March 15, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies hosted an educational event called “Living with Wolves: Coexistence in Colorado” at the Wheeler Opera House. The presentation aimed to bring collaboration and awareness to the divided packs of scientists, conservationists, ranchers, journalists and communities. The event engaged the audience with a multimedia presentation of short films, a panel discussion and a performance by Lost Walks music and dance troupe.

The northern hemisphere once had a prolific wolf population, but in the 1940s, the last gray wolf in Colorado was slaughtered. Wolves were among the first animals added to the Endangered Species Act in 1973. According to a recent United Nations report, we are experiencing an accelerated extinction event, with 1 million of some 8 million terrestrial species identified by science as on the brink of extinction.

In a continuation of Manifest Destiny, development and recreation have humans encroaching on wilderness territories, increasing encounters between wildlife, pets and people.

Carnivores beware — as the apex predator, humans have a long history

of plucking the competition from ecological webs. Consequently, without predators, a biodiversity crisis exists, with prey species running rampant across the plains and suburbs. Colorado currently has some of the largest deer and elk herds in the United States. Overpopulated ungulates lead to overgrazing, disease, starvation and the destruction of river beds, crops and gardens.

In December of this year, as required by voters’ approval of Proposition 114, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will release 10 to 15 gray wolves, followed by annual releases of similar numbers for the next two to four years. The Colorado wilderness provides ample roaming opportunities for the gray wolf, which can roam 40 miles in a day. As packs develop, they will range from two to 30 wolves. Initially, wolves will be monitored by radio collars with the goal of maintaining two collars per pack.

As rewilding campaigns gain traction in Colorado, there is heightened fear of the unknown. Panelist Dr. Joanna Lambert, professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, said, “We have lost what it means to live in landscapes with other species in this predator guild.”

As the gray wolf repopulates in Colorado, the prevalence of different species will change. Dr. Lambert said, “Chances are that coyote numbers are going to go down in areas where wolf numbers are going up … in areas

where coyote numbers go down, you tend to find more red fox around.” She continued, “There are interesting intraguild interactions among the canids. There may very well be some competition at kill sites. We might see wolves chasing a lion off the kill and sometimes vice versa, depending on how many wolves are in the pack.”

Ranchers are apprehensive about livestock loss with the reintroduction of the gray wolf. CPW is responding by reimbursing livestock owners for losses due to wolf depredation. Panelist and rancher Lenny Klinglesmith expressed unease about wolves pushing ungulates in search of safety onto private land. He said, “We have orchards in the Grand Valley. What are elk going to do with 12 months of predation?”

Hunters express concern over competition from wolves. Wolves are expert prey pruners according to panelist Gary Skiba, wildlife program manager at the San Juan Citizens Alliance and a former CPW employee. He said, “One of the reasons they [wolves] take weak, injured and in some way impaired animals is because it is safer for them. Getting kicked in the head by an elk is not a good thing.” With an overabundance of ungulates in the state, wolves should leave the healthy prize bucks to the hunters.

Communities contemplate safety. The most significant potential for conflict is off-leash domestic dogs. It is illegal to have dogs off-leash in many areas because they chase wildlife.

Panelist Karin Vardaman is director and co-founder of Working Circle, an organization dedicated to ensuring wolves, livestock and people can coexist and thrive long-term on shared lands. She advises responsible pet ownership by keeping dogs close. “In terms of a livestock guarding dog that can stand up to a wolf, the wolf is going to win,” she said.

Addressing community safety concerns, panelist Matt Yamashita, CPW’s Area 8 wildlife manager, said, if encountering a wolf in the wild, “People should back away slowly, make noises and give the animal an escape route.” For more information about the reintroduction of the gray wolf to Colorado, go to cpw.state.co.us

A packed house gathered at Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House for a presentation regarding the upcoming reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado. Photo by Elizabeth Key

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How did the willful daughter of a Himalayan forest conservator become Monsanto’s worst nightmare? Seed Peace, The Farm Collaborative and The Center for Human Flourishing screen “The Seeds of Vandana Shiva” at the Third Street Center on March 24 at 7pm. A seed exchange will begin at 6:30pm. Courtesy image

THURSDAY, MARCH 23

BOOKS TO BIG SCREEN

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

BIODYNAMIC EQUINOX

person

Rev. Norris reflects on the hallmarks of those ways of living in fullness..

Rev. Norris reflects on the hallmarks of those ways of living in fullness..

by Rev A.G Norris Live Music by Jimmy Byrne. Live in-person service (and online via Zoom)

Sunday, March 26, 10am

Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist Community Room/Third St. Center in Carbondale

Join Zoom Meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82605258305

A 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 available at the library.

HOME OF THE BRAVE

Aspen Film presents “Home of the Brave: When Southbury Said No to the Nazis” at the Isis in Aspen at 5:30pm.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

“Champions” shows at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm tonight, March 24, 25 and 30, and on March 26 at 5pm. “Living” returns on March 25 at 4:45pm.

REST & DIGEST

Jacqui Edgerly, a functional nutritionist, leads a workshop for digestive health at True Nature from 5:30 to 7pm. Register online at truenaturehealingarts.com

TENSION�TRAUMA

The Center for Human Flourishing offers a facilitated tension/trauma release exercise session at the Third Street Center at 7:15pm. Learn more by emailing info@tcfhf.org

ALIVE

masks for in

Aspen Shakti presents “The Well Kind of Nightlife” at TACAW with “dance, sweat, DJ, glitz and breath” from 7:30 to 9pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

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.

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

SOUND JOURNEY

Dr. Zachary Cashin leads a sound journey with singing bowls, tuning forks and more at True Nature from 6:30 to 8pm. Tickets at www. truenaturehealingarts.com

STEVE’S

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

CAPTAIN POW!

TACAW presents “The Climate Change Challenge, Captain Pow vs. Pollution,” a 45-minute, two-person show for young audiences, at the Thunder River Theatre at 10am. Tickets are free at www.bit.ly/TRTCPOW

COMMUNITY CONSTELLATION

Carol Shure guides a “Healing with the Ancestors” session at the Third Street Center from 10am to 4pm. To register, email communityconstellation@gmail. com or call 831-218-5770.

LA LOBA

Paonia’s Singing Bone Medicine Show performs “La Loba,” a magical puppet show inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ “Women Who Run with the Wolves,” at True Nature at 1pm. Register online at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

VENUS

Sheridan Semple teaches about venus and the Sacred Feminine at True Nature from 3 to 5pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET

The Paul Taylor Dance Company performs at the Aspen District Theatre at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

IAN JONES

Seattle-based singer-songwriter Ian Jones performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

SUNDAY,

MARCH 26

WAKE THE VOICE

Liat Rochas believes we can heal through our voice. She teaches therapeutic singing at True Nature from noon to 3pm. Register online at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

MONDAY, MARCH 27

SPRING BREAK CHILDCARE

Rocky Mountain Kid CLUBS takes kiddos out on adventures from 8:30am to 4pm daily, March 27 through March 31. Email rockymountainkidclubs@gmail. com for more info and to register.

VEGAN POTLUCK

The Center for Human Flourishing hosts a plant-based whole foods potluck at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm. Questions? Email info@tcfhf.org

BOOK SIGNING

Lori Lynn Spencer presents “Leaving Pain Behind with M.I.R. Touch Technique” at the Third Street Center from 6:30 to 8pm.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

VOICES

Artist Sahra Motalebi hosts a community workshop at the Aspen Art Museum for her collaborative project, VOICE/S, at 5pm. Registration is required at www.aspenartmuseum.org

WALKING WITH SISTERS

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Center for Human Flourishing welcomes Laura Kirk and Bonte Lane for a walking meditation and sound journey at the Third Street Center from 6:30 to 8pm. To reserve a spot, email info@tcfhf.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

ART, TO GO

Teens can pick up a grab-and-go art kit at the Basalt Library between 10am and noon. Instructions come in English and Spanish.

CRAFTY KIDS

Kindergarten through third graders, and their accompanying adults, are invited to play and create with Carbondale Arts at 10:30am at the Carbondale Library. Call the library at 970-963-2889 to register.

BREATHWORK

Lisa Wilson and Nick Nicholson facilitate a Neo-Shamanic

Breathwork workshop at the Third Street Center from 9am to 6pm (with lunch and dinner included). To reserve a spot, text Lisa at 970-274-6726.

BIODYNAMICS 101

Sustainable Settings teaches the history of biodynamics, significance of the nine preparations and how to work with the planets to enhance land stewardship. The class runs from 10am to 4pm and includes lunch. Register by calling 970-963-6107 or emailing rose@sustinablesettings.org

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

ECSTATIC DANCE

Alya Howe hosts a full-moon ecstatic dance at 13 Moons Ranch, south of Carbondale, from 6 to 8pm.

MONDAY, APRIL 3

ENGLISH TUTORS

English in Action holds open hours with English-speaking tutors on standby at the Basalt Library at 6pm.

MUSICAL HISTORY

The Cowboy Corral shares stories and songs from the Old West at the Carbondale Library at 6:30pm.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

FINAL BIRD CALL

Join fellow birders at Hallam Lake for the final bird watchers outing of the season there from 8 to 11am. Visit www. aspennature.org for more info.

UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA

Woo Bandel, community engagement manager from the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, presents “Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors” at Sopris Lodge from 2:30 to 4pm. RSVP to attend for free at www.soprislodge.com/events or by calling 970-456-6871.

YARN GROUP

Stitch alongside fellow yarn workers at the Basalt Library at 5pm.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB

Discover new-release books and discuss others you’ve read at the Basalt Library at noon.

“FOR THE TREES”

A multimedia production, one that incorporates music, video and more to tell the story of a 1000-year-old Douglas Fir tree on Vancouver Island, starts at 5:30pm at the Basalt Library. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

MUSICAL STORYTIME

Ms. Holly leads young children in a spring-themed musical storytime at the Carbondale Library at 10:30am.

BRIDGE CLUB

Come learn to play, or to kick some butt, at “The Library Bridge Club” at 4pm at the Basalt Library.

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

SPRING INTO WELLNESS

Carbondale’s First Friday celebrates wellness. If you are a wellness practitioner, health coach or business that would like to have a booth in the Rec Center, email info@tcfhf.org

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Sol del Valle

OPINIÓN

necesarios para que se haga fértil y me de una buena cosecha? De cierta manera, con el azadón en mano, este es el proceso de como empezar de cero en el camino hacia la creatividad.

Al No Artista

El mes pasado escribí sobre la germinación de ideas. En esa columna expresé mi frustración sobre la creación en aras de producción. Les confese a ustedes, mis lectores, que estaba cansada y aunque no me retiraba del arte, necesitaba cuidar de la tierra donde las semillas de mis ideas se cultivarían.

Irónicamente, pienso que desde este lugar, me puedo relacionar mejor con ustedes los que se dicen no ser artistas o personas creativas. El último mes he reflexionado mucho, y he llegado a preguntarme ¿dónde empiezo?, ¿cómo es que cuido de esta tierra y le regreso los nutrientes

OPINIÓN

El sistema de alarma de tu casa o negocio no siempre te mantendrá seguro. Hay varios factores que pueden afectar el sistema de alarma de tu hogar que debes considerar antes de salir y gastar cientos de dólares. Los sistemas de seguridad son omnipresentes, pero no todos están hechos de la misma manera. Hoy vamos a explorar varios factores importantes.

Los sistemas de alarma más comunes incluyen sensores de movimiento, video, y magnetismo. La mayoría de estos sistemas están conectados al internet y te envían una

La verdad es que a pesar de que el arte siempre ha sido parte de mi vida, han habido temporadas donde me bloqueo, donde dejó de crear, donde no le veo el sentido a lo que estoy haciendo. ¿Por qué y para quién? El crear es un proceso muy personal que muy fácilmente se puede convertir en un proceso autodespreciativo.

He dedicado gran parte de los últimos seis años a ser educadora de arte. He motivado a mis estudiantes a crear y permitirse ser creativos. Creo firmemente en el poder que el arte tiene para la autoexploración y su potencial en sanar ciertas heridas invisibles. Esas heridas emocionales de las que solo nosotros nos podemos librar.

Sin embargo, como educadora, me retiré de ser estudiante y dejé de explorar mi propia creatividad. Exploté

el pozo de mis ideas y permití que se secara. Mi cansancio se convirtió en coraje. Sentía coraje hacia el arte, como si este me hubiera fallado.

Fue en ese momento cuando se me vino a la mente una entrevista con la cantante mexicana, Carla Morrison en el podcast, No Backup Plan de Nathaniel Drew. A pesar de sus muchos logros y premios, Morrison fue muy sincera cuando le platico a Drew que hubo un tiempo cuando ella había culpado a la música por su depresión y frustración. Cuando en realidad era un llamado desde adentro que sonaba las alarmas y que ella había ignorado.

Me pareció aún más interesante que en esta entrevista, Morrison platicara sobre la creatividad y que mencionara a Dios a pesar de no ser religiosa. Morrison dice que ella le reza a Dios por una buena canción, especialmente cuando la creatividad no fluye por sí sola. Habla de esta conexión como un lazo entre el universo pero también, un lazo entre las personas que escuchan su música y empatizan con su creación.

Drew añadió, “el mundo parece abrirse a ti, cuando tú te abres al mundo”, algo que parece ser muy espiritual y difícil de articular. La autora del libro, “El camino del artista”, Julia Cameron también menciona un vínculo con la espiritualidad y la creatividad. Electricidad espiritual por así decirlo. Su libro ha ayudado a un sinfín de artistas de varios medios a desbloquear su creatividad y cultivar una relación que mantenga este flujo de ideas.

Para una persona como yo que a pesar de ser una soñadora, soy bastante escéptica, la idea de involucrar a Dios en mi arte me causa cierta resistencia a pesar de que hay muchos artistas que comparten este pensamiento. Me gusta que las cosas hagan sentido de forma científica, pero también puedo reconocer que hay mucho de la vida y del universo que aún no conozco ni entiendo.

Y son precisamente personas científicas como el físico teórico, Albert Einstein que dijo, “la creatividad es inteligencia divirtiéndose”. Werner Heisenberg, uno de

los pioneros de la teoría de la mecánica cuántica también hizo una conexión con algo más grande, “El primer trago del vaso de las ciencias naturales te convertirá en ateo”, dijo Heisenberg, “pero en el fondo del vaso te espera Dios”.

Cameron le pide a sus lectores mantener una mente abierta al proceso de crear un vínculo con algo más grande, llamémosle Dios, para fomentar la creatividad, “no necesitas entender la electricidad para usarla”. Similar a lo que dijo Drew, Cameron dice que cuando nos movemos en fé hacia el acto de la creación, el universo es capaz de avanzar a través de nosotros. “Es un poco como abrir la compuerta de la parte superior del sistema de riego de un campo,” dice Cameron. No se trata de cambiar mi creencia y aceptar a un Dios, pero tal vez el primer paso en el proceso para convertir esta tierra fértil, es abrirme la posibilidad a una conexión y desbloquear aquello que está en el camino y así permitir que el agua fluya hacia el campo.

Alerta: Tu sistema de alarma no siempre funciona

alerta a tu teléfono. Esto lleva a la primera pregunta. Cuál es la capacidad de tu sistema para conectarse durante cortes de electricidad. Ya sea que se deba a un clima adverso o a una actividad maliciosa, si tu sistema se cae por falta de electricidad o conexión a Internet, puede fallar muy fácil.

Si usas principalmente cámaras de seguridad. Busca la opción que tenga recarga solar o de batería. También te recomiendo que tengas una opción de guardar el video en una memoria local; o sea en la cámara. Ya que si está basado en la popular Cloud, tal vez no rescates las grabaciones que necesitas después para una investigación.

Muchos sistemas vienen con la opción de una suscripción la cual alerta a la policía y/o bomberos cuando se activa una alerta del sistema de alarma.

Ten en mente lo siguiente: Si alguien se quiere meter a robar a tu casa y se activa una alarma, la compañía de alarma te va a tratar de llamar

primero. Después de hablar contigo o si no contestas, van a llamar al despacho de policía. La información entonces pasa de la operadora tomando la llamada y el operador de despacho policial quien en turno notifica a un oficial.

Las llamadas de alarmas, al menos que sean de un banco, no son de alta prioridad, ya que la mayoría de alertas por alarmas resultan ser falsas. Así que si el oficial está ocupado, no atenderá la llamada de alarma al instante. Y aun cuando el oficial está desocupado, debe manejar de manera normal desde donde se encuentra hasta tu casa o negocio. Esto puede tomar por lo menos unos 10-15 minutos. En ese tiempo ya se llevaron hasta tu televisión donde veías el fútbol.

Pienso que el dinero en suscripciones es mal invertido. Mejor, encuentra un sistema que cuando se active tenga un altavoz ruidoso. Que todo mundo sepa que algo anda mal en tu casa y que te despierte si estás dormido.

Un ladrón no quiere llamar tanto la atención y seguro huirá al momento. Si te alcanza, pues compra los dos, el altavoz y la suscripción. Pero si tu presupuesto no lo permite, mejor opta por el altavoz. Si tu sistema de alarma está compuesto por cámaras. Sé preciso en la ubicación de la cámara. Si el presupuesto no es un problema, coloca una cámara que capte toda el área y otra que capte las entradas de una forma más cercana. Si puedes, coloca las cámaras donde puedan distinguir placas y caras, es lo mejor.

La calidad del video es muy importante. He trabajado varios casos donde claramente se ve que se meten a robar dentro de un vehículo, pero la calidad del video es tan baja que jamás se distinguirá la persona o el vehículo en el que se fueron.

Ilumina bien el área donde la cámara estará grabando. No confíes en la visión nocturna de las cámaras. Cuando se activa la visión nocturna de las

cámaras, el infrarrojo cambia por completo la percepción de los colores y hace muy difícil distinguir si los sospechosos llevan una chamarra roja, negra, o azul.

De hecho, está comprobado que el iluminar bien el área alrededor de tu casa y remover arbustos donde se pueda esconder una persona, reduce en gran parte el riesgo de que alguien se quiera meter a tu casa.

Recuerda que los sistemas de seguridad también son para darte un poco de paz. Así que no se te olvide poner una cámara en la parte “ciega” de tu casa. Donde no se puede ver con facilidad desde adentro. Así cuando escuches un ruido raro en la noche, puedas abrir tu teléfono y ver que todo está bien.

Al final de cuentas, tu sistema de seguridad solo será una herramienta para ayudarte a mantener tu hogar más seguro solo si lo instalas bien. Asegúrate de escoger el correcto.

Volumen 2, Número 4 | 23 de marzo de 2023 - 29 de marzo de 2023

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

¿Puede ser la creatividad una experiencia espiritual?

Por Vanessa Porras

Por Carlos Cornejo

El Rincón del Sargento

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Peligro de avalancha

Fuertes nevadas de primavera que restan encima de capas débiles de nieve ha resultado en peligrosas condiciones de avalanchas esta primavera. Durante el fin de semana, se cobraron las vidas de dos esquiadores; una cerca de Marble y la segunda en Maroon Bowl justo a las afueras de los límites del centro turístico Aspen Highlands. Manténgase informado en avalanche.state.co.us y recuerde abrazar a sus seres queridos más a menudo.

Llamando a los artistas

¡La fecha límite para entregar una idea de diseño para cartel/camisetas para el festival Mountain Fair es el 3 de abril! El tema de este año es “Donde Crecen las Cosas Salvajes” y se deben entregar tres ejemplos de obras junto con un concepto bien desarrollado, los cuales pueden ser enviados por correo electrónico a brian@carbondalearts. com junto con alguna pregunta. Mientras tanto, la Administración de Salud de Comportamiento del estado está buscando nuevos diseños de artistas diversos para su proyecto de Tarjetas de Recuperación, celebrando la recuperación de la adicción. Las aplicaciones deben ser entregadas el 2 de abril en bit.ly/CORecovery

Safe Passages

Roaring Fork Valley Safe Passages, un grupo de defensa ciudadana, ha recaudado fondos para comenzar un estudio para

identificar zonas de carreteras que requieren prioridad para reducir colisiones entre vehículos y la vida silvestre y también mejorar la permeabilidad del movimiento de la vida silvestre en las carreteras 82 y 133 en la línea divisoria de Roaring Fork. Planes de mitigación serán creados para tres zonas de carreteras de alta prioridad. Para saber más visite roaringforksafepassages.org

Trabajando juntos

Representante estatal Elizabeth Velasco (HD-57) y senador del estado Perry Will

(SD-5) publicaron una carta bipartidista en apoyo del retiro administrativo de la división Thompson el cual protegerá a 225,000 acres de la división Thompson de futuro arrendamiento de petróleo y gas, así como la minería por 20 años. “Estoy muy orgulloso de unirme con la representante Velasco en apoyo de la propuesta del retiro administrativo, el cual une a personas de diferentes vocaciones, oficios y filosofías políticas”, escribió el senador Will.

Ventajas del verano

Summer Advantage USA está ofreciendo un programa gratuito de cinco semanas, del 19 de junio al 21 de julio de 8 a.m. a 2:30 p.m. durante los días de semana junto con Summit54 y las escuelas de Roaring Fork. El programa ayudará a los jóvenes desde el kinder hasta el quinto grado a ponerse al día o acelerar su aprendizaje, con transporte de autobús gratuito, un desayuno y un almuerzo saludable y actividades divertidas. Para saber más, visite summeradvantage.org o llame al 1-866-924-7226.

Vivienda Lumberyard

El proyecto de vivienda asequible de 11.3 acres con 277 unidades de Aspen, Lumberyard, recibió aprobación recomendada del comisionado de planeamiento y zonificación de la ciudad y será recibido por el consulado de la ciudad con audiencias públicas más tarde en la primavera. El sitio está ubicado al lado del Centro de Negocios del Aeropuerto y fue comprado a lo largo de varios años. La propuesta incluye tres edificios de cuatro pisos completamente accesibles y con paneles solares en los tejados.

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

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

Editora Contribuyente

Vanessa Porras

Directore Artístico

Hattie Rensberry

Diseñadora de anuncios

Emily Blong

Traductoras

Jacquelinne Castro y Dolores Duarte

Distribucion

Frederic Kischbaum

Bartlett

Hank van Berlo

Executive Director

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

Miembros de la Mesa Directiva

Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke

Jessi Rochel • Lee Beck

Donna Dayton

Terri Ritchie • Eric Smith

Roger Berliner • Elizabeth Phillips

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

MANUAS, FirstBank y Alpine Bank

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

¡ESCRÍBENOS!

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

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

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

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

Left: A camouflaged great horned owl tends to its nest.

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

Today is a day

By Davis Cowles

Well, there's no way around it: today is a day. The sun came up and here we are. This day, today is not, however, just any day. Today is a day for movement, and stillness. Today is a day for simple conversations with neighbors. This day is for whistling back at birds and suspending our disbelief just enough to remember that we are indeed communicating. Today is a day for bringing ourselves alive, in celebration of the world's aliveness. Today is a day to write our own stories. Today, we are grateful. Today is a day to bask in the lean beauty of our essential aloneness. Today, there is nothing in between us. Today is a day for walking in the woods, for thinking about trees, for rubbing leaves in our palms and smelling what they have to say. This day of today is a special day, for today we feel the Earth beneath our naked feet as if for the first time. Today is for feeling. Today is for dancing. Today is for paying attention. Today is a day for sharing half, or maybe a little more. Today is a day for bicycle cruising through the golden hour. Today is a day for living. After all, we might have to do it again tomorrow.

Photo by Tommy Sands

Right: A bighorn sheep stops in its tracks in the Glenwood Canyon. Photo by Tommy Sands

"Sincronías" parte 16, por Leonardo Occhipinti

Breaking ground on the rumor mill

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

I cover the school board beat for The Sopris Sun, and a couple of weeks ago, I started hearing some buzz coming through the community grapevine. As a reporter, if you cover any type of government entity, there is always speculation of some sort. That’s why you attend meetings, make requests for interviews and go to the source to get the facts.

What I was hearing, a few days before the March 15 school board meeting, had a different tone with accusatory social media posts, far-reaching group texts and an opinion column in a local newspaper with harsh criticism directed toward Superintendent Rodríguez and school board members.

The outrage was accompanied by misinformation. A couple of board members received texts saying things like, “Hey, we heard you're buying the superintendent a house. I can't believe you're doing that!”

The grains of truth were that board members were looking into possible solutions to secure housing for Dr. Rodríguez and future Roaring Fork Schools superintendents.

One option the board put forward was downpayment assistance of up to $500,000 for the superintendent to purchase a home within the district. In the interim, the board would talk to people and solicit feedback, knowing that people would have opinions, and use that to inform the board.

On March 17, I spoke with Roaring Fork Schools Board President Kathryn Kuhlenberg via telephone and she assured me that the number was not pulled out of a hat.

Last spring, the firm that conducted the nationwide superintendent search made it clear to the board that they needed to seriously consider housing assistance

for the superintendent because of the extremely high cost of living in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Currently, buying a home here for most people is an unattainable dream. When will the area’s housing bubble burst? At the moment, it seems to be fashioned from impenetrable titanium. Last year it became clear, with housing prices climbing, that solutions would be complex, but the intention — then and now — is that the board look into ideas for how housing could be secured for a superintendent in the future.

One piece of grist for the rumor mill last week was that Rodríguez asked the board for housing. According to Kuhlenberg, this is not true. Throughout this time, the board made an intentional effort to exclude Rodríguez from their conversations, noting that any potential beneficiary of a housing program should not have undue influence, one way or the other.

Ahead of the March 1 school board meeting, Kuhlenberg included a memo in the board packet. She admits it was somewhat broad and vague because the board wanted the specifics of a housing proposal to come from district staff and community input.

The misinformation rollout that had gained momentum a few days before the March 15 meeting became unstoppable.

On March 14, the day before the board meeting, an op-ed by a district parent appeared in a local newspaper. The author referenced “a $500,000 handout for down payment assistance to the superintendent” as if it was a done deal.

Kuhlenberg commented on March 15 that among written public comments from community members, “there were a lot” of racist comments about Rodriguez’s Latino heritage that she described as “disturbing and disgusting.”

Honestly, is this really who we want to be as a community? And in a public school district where half of our students are of Latino heritage? For me, the

most troubling question is: What message does that send to all of our students?

Kuhlenberg acknowledges that messaging and communications from the board to the community could have been handled better and that there's work to be done around messaging, communications and transparency. She also shared that she received many supportive responses from community members saying they understand how difficult it is to hire leaders in this Valley.

A March 22 housing summit held in Aspen and led by Habitat for Humanity President Gail Schwartz worked with other community partners to find collaborative solutions for housing in the Roaring Fork Valley.

A lingering question for me is how do we open dialogue with one another about community and inclusion for all? Let’s work on that too, please.

Dr. Jesús Rodríguez, Roaring Fork Schools superintendent, was left out of board discussions exploring the possibility of down payment assistance to retain and attract strong leaders in his role.

Photo by Jeanne Souldern

Mark McElroy was born in Flagler, Colorado, on Oct. 27, 1953, to Lawrence and Eunice McElroy and a loving family of nine. Brothers and sisters include Mickey (Gene) Hase, Margaret (Gary) Hanagan, Patricia, Charlotte, Larry (Nancy), Mike, Lester (Diane) McElroy and Kristy (Tony) Ornelas. Nieces and nephews are too numerous to list, but loved deeply.

To encapsulate in a few short paragraphs an amazing husband and father is a daunting task. Each of our sons from our blended marriage has contributed to this notice.

Noah McElroy (Amie), our oldest, said, “Dad was always willing to try something new, diving headfirst into a new hobby.” Caleb McElroy, our middle son, interjected this, “He never gave up on the people he loved.” James Molde (Amanda), our youngest son, added “Mark… a great husband, father, and man. I will love you always, Mark. Thank you for the amazing memories.”

Finally, words from Maureen McElroy, Mark’s wife. “For 27 beautiful

Mark McElroy Julia Marshall

Local architect and artist Julia Marshall passed away unexpectedly Sunday afternoon, March 12, after a day of skiing with friends. Julia was born and raised in Carbondale and spent most of her life living and working in her hometown.

Julia received a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and spent five years teaching and working on her art before she enrolled at Harvard University and obtained a master's degree in landscape architecture in 1988.

After Harvard, she returned to the Valley to establish her firm, Mt. Daly Enterprises, LLC. At the same time, she began working in leadership positions on various impactful projects throughout the Valley.

She was instrumental in designing the art park at the Rio Grande field along the Roaring Fork River in Aspen. She served on the Aspen Snowmass Council for the Arts and was a vital force in establishing the Red Brick Center for the Arts in 1992. She was a member of the Carbondale Citizens Committee from 2006-2008 to design and build the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center, a vital community hub, and served on the Carbondale Tree Board and the Highway 133 Citizens’ Advisory Committee.

Julia was integral in the growth of Basalt’s nonprofit visual arts organization, now known as The Art Base, and was a driving force behind the conception and realization of The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW). She continued to be an active member of the TACAW Board until her death.

Professionally, Julia contributed to many important Valley institutions and private properties through her tremendous talents as a landscape

years, Mark enriched and challenged mine. He fed my soul with his passion for life, nature, adventure, keen intelligence, and humor. His spirit will illuminate my soul forever. He was truly a gift to all who knew him.” Funeral arrangements are being handled by Ballard Funeral Home, Cody, Wyoming.

Ian Jones comes to Steve’s Guitars on March 25

architect. She has enhanced the experiences of visitors attending the Aspen Center for Physics, Aspen Music Festival and School, Anderson Ranch, the Aspen Historical Society, Carbondale Community School, Red Brick Center for the Arts, Yellow Brick School and TACAW.

Julia was an outstanding friend who never missed an opportunity to celebrate a special occasion or a milestone. She was generous with her time, her gifts, her wisdom and her love. Her quick and warm-hearted laugh will be missed by a wide circle of friends. She loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hiking, biking and skiing. It’s fitting she died while sitting in the shadow of Mt. Daly and looking out at the peaks she loved so dearly.

She cherished her role as a mother and grandmother. She is survived by her son, Thorne Warner, daughter-in-law Andrea, and grandson Thorne David of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; brothers Tom Marshall (Kathy) of Grand Junction, David Marshall (Dixie) Troy of Missouri and sister Betsy Brownlee (Michael) of Booneville, Arkansas. A celebration of life is planned for June 3 on the Listening Lawn at TACAW at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, Julia would prefer that you go out and plant some.

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

On March 25, Washington state artist Ian Jones will perform at Steve’s Guitars to promote his upcoming album, “Results Not Typical,” which will be released on April 7.

Jones has been writing music since before high school; he has played for over 30 years with a variety of bands, The Livingroom Allstars most recently, and has been releasing music as a solo artist for the past decade. Although his sound is inspired by a myriad of genres like country, folk, blues and rock, he has blended the whole of each to create a sound that is entirely his own.

When Jones spoke with The Sopris Sun, he had just returned home from playing several shows in and around Nashville, Tennessee, and Luckenbach and Austin, Texas. Having lost his wallet during the travels, he did not lose his spirit and excitement for upcoming tour dates. Delving a bit into his performance in Luckenbach, a revived ghost town, he said it was a “magical” experience in a place with a rich, infamous history.

His official biography states that Jones “grew up in the shadow of Mount Rainier,” and was raised by a single mother and a record player. He credits his mother as a “supermom” having raised him and his siblings after his father left the family behind. His “other parent,” so to speak, was cranking out the works of some of his biggest musical inspirations: David Allen Coe, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, The Mamas & the Papas, Joan Baez and Jim Croce.

“If we didn't have the records, I didn't know anything about anyone, which has come up from time to time in my story,” Jones shared. “I met a friend later in life who introduced me to Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, David Bowie,and some of that late ‘70s punk rock. My base, however, was already in the roots of folk and things like that.”

Jones explained that if he could pick anyone, dead or alive, to have a jam session with, it would be Warren Zevon, Tom Petty, James Taylor or Sir Paul McCartney, and he would love to hang out with either Willie Nelson or Keith Richards.

Elaborating on his process for writing his songs, he said that those who have had the most interesting lives tend to be some of the best writers. He also joked that “about 85%” of his writing comes to him all at once.

“My life was pretty interesting growing up, and based on how my life was growing up, that's where my writing comes from. It's like putting your heart on a platter now as opposed to trying to be clever. I think a majority of songs are already in existence and floating around in the universe as some form of energy, and if you're lucky enough to be one of those people that can interpret that energy and be open to it, they come in,” Jones stated. “And then it's your job to interpret it, polish it up and then put it out!”

As for coming to Steve’s Guitars, Ian Jones said that he is excited for many reasons, from hoping to score a 12-string acoustic guitar to adding memories to his travels.

“I'm here to have fun and play my music,” Jones said. “I'm excited to play for new people and turn them on to my music. I hope that they like it, and I hope that they come up afterward and ask me questions about it, because I love talking about it.”

For more information about Jones’ upcoming album, tour dates and new projects, check out www.ianjonesmusic.com

For tickets to the show at Steve’s Guitars, visit www.stevesguitars.net

Ian Jones performs at Steve’s Guitars on Saturday, March 25. Courtesy photo

Food…?

GUEST

OPINION

By Miley Stuart Carbondale Middle School

Oxford Languages defines “food” as: “any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth.”

Humans rely on food, but we never give that much thought to it aside from buying and eating it. So, how is our food made? It may surprise you, but the food we have come to rely on isn’t as good as we’ve been led to believe. It harms not only our bodies but also the Earth and the nonhuman animals involved.

The most relied upon source of food for most Americans comes from the industrial food system. The industrial food system is a collection of businesses and corporations that produce a large portion of our food. They do everything from raising animals and crops to processing the food and selling it. They grow the vegetables you find in the grocery store and raise the meat of your hamburger from the fast food restaurant, and everything in between. This system has made food cheap and affordable for many Americans, but at what cost?

Michael Pollan wrote in the young readers’ edition of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”, “When food is abundant and cheap, people will eat more of it.” The extra calories found in our food have led to “three of every five Americans [being] overweight; one of every five is obese.” Children also face obesity because they are raised in a time where food is plentiful and the amount of physical activity is limited.

And that’s not all. The production of our food releases more than 25% of the gasses that cause global warming and is also the leading cause of water pollution. Pollan estimated his family’s meal from McDonald’s burned 1.3 gallons of oil during production. Do you know why agribusinesses started using fertilizers? After World War II, the government had a surplus of weapons and decided to spread them over crops because they were high in ammonium nitrate which boosts plant growth. Similarly, the use of pesticides began because of the poison gasses leftover from war.

These chemicals eventually wash into the water where they cause more harm. They can promote algae growth that takes the air out of the water and suffocates fish and makes the water unlivable. While the impacts of fertilizers and chemicals indirectly harm nature, the treatment of animals on industrial farms is inhumane and hard to imagine. Cows are fed things

such as “chicken manure, cow manure, chocolate, stale pastry, cement dust, molasses, candy, urea, hooves, feathers, meat scraps, fish meal, pasta, peanut skins, brewery wastes, cardboard, corn silage, pesticides” and corn, according to Pollan. Cows are herbivores which means they evolved to eat plants and not meat, so when they’re fed the scraps of animals they get sick. Corn is also bad for cows because it causes them to bloat. Nevertheless, they are fed corn because it’s cheap and makes them grow faster. As a result, cows bloat to the point a hose has to be pushed down their throat to release that gas in their rumen (the stomach of the cow), or else they will choke and die.

The treatment of laying hens is equally if not more terrible. Pollan wrote, “At a factory egg farm, the laying hen spends her brief life jammed into a wire cage with six other hens.” Even worse, “When [companies] egg production begins to drop, the hens will be ‘force-molted’ — starved of food, water and light for several days in order to stimulate a final spurt of egg laying before their life’s work is done.” As this evidence proves, animals on industrial farms suffer the majority of their lives to provide food for us humans.

So, if this food system is so bad for us, what can we do? Buy organic food instead? The industrial organic food system runs practically the same way as the industrial food system, minus chemicals, pesticides and antibiotics. The energy to produce food is equal, cows are still forced to eat corn, but it’s organic, and the animals are raised almost identically.

Fortunately, there is a solution. Most local farmers don’t use as many chemicals, and if they do it's not even close to the same scale. This makes the food better for both you and the environment. Organic food may seem more expensive, but, as a local sustainable farmer in Virginia, Joel Salatin, claims:

“Whenever I hear people say clean food is expensive, I tell them it’s actually the cheapest food you can buy … Then I explain that with our food, all of the costs are figured into the price. Society is not bearing the cost of water pollution, of antibiotic resistance, of food-borne illnesses, of crop subsidies, of subsidized oil and water — all the hidden cost of the environment and the taxpayer that make cheap food seem cheap.”

In addition, the food doesn’t travel as far. On Salatin’s farm, the furthest his food traveled was 150 miles instead of across the country or even the world, which means fewer fossil fuels were burned to get food. And most importantly, it’s more natural. Salatin’s animals aren’t kept in cages or pens but are allowed to roam and graze in addition to not having to take antibiotics because they don’t get sick from their diet. They get to take their time and live their lives on grass instead of being rushed to the finish line like industrial animals.

And lastly, there is one more food chain Micheal Pollan discusses in his book: the hunted, gathered and gardened meal. In this food chain, you

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Food...?

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find your own food. It’s probably the least realistic food chain for many, but it is also considered the shortest because the food goes directly from living to being your meal. There is no business between you and your food and you are aware of exactly where your food comes from.

By finding alternatives for the industrial food chain, we can find and consume food that is healthier for us, the environment and nonhumans. So, what do you think? Is food just something we get from the store to eat when we are hungry or is it something more? Is food something that we need to educate ourselves about so we can make healthy choices for ourselves and the future of our earth? At first, it may seem a hassle to be so concerned about the impact of what you eat. But, in the end, it will make a difference in the overall health of humans, nonhuman animals and Earth.

(Above-Left) A spring flicker, spotted on a snowy day.

(Above) Farewell Jack Frost, springtime is coming (as symbolized by this giant cloud-like butterfly).

Photos by Sue Rollyson

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