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Spring is gradually springing and all sorts of local life is beginning to shake off the long winter. Get to know

Carbondale's arborist, Carl Meinecke, with a profile on page 5...

Photo by Olivia Emmer

OPINION

By Julie Nania and Chad Reich High Country Conservation Advocates

We know that many of you in the Roaring Fork Valley are following or involved in the federal mineral withdrawal which would protect the Thompson Divide from the effects of oil and gas drilling. The iconic massif Mt. Emmons — also known as Red Lady — towers above the Town of Crested Butte. For the past 46 years, the community, led by High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA), has successfully staved off a massive molybdenum mine which would devastate our water supply. The battle cry of this campaign is: “Save Red Lady!”

HCCA is a Crested Butte-based environmental advocacy nonprofit, much like Wilderness Workshop in Carbondale. We work together on several projects that overlap the divide. For

LETTERS

Access vs. wildlife

Greetings from Crested Butte!

example, the same mineral withdrawal that will protect Thompson Divide from drilling will also protect Red Lady from future mining leases.

Our focus is not solely on Red Lady. Our water program works on things like instream flows and collaborative planning processes that protect some water in streams for our fish. Our public lands program keeps an eye on proposed extractive projects and advocates for landscapelevel conservation. Our growing stewardship program builds climate change resiliency by bringing up the water table, restoring wildlife habitat — including that of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse — and increasing wildfire, flood and drought resiliency. And, of course, there’s the Save Red Lady campaign.

Red Lady rises from the western edge of Crested Butte’s scenic National Historic District. The sentinel massif is beyond scenic; it’s home to hiking, backcountry skiing, wildlife and a sense of “the wild” just miles from the town’s core. Red Lady has been the target of three mining proposals dating back to 1977, and we’ve successfully held off extraction of the molybdenum ore body up to

Living in a county where 83% of the land is public is incredibly wonderful. But some groups are advocating for more access. CVEPA, an association formed in 1972 to protect the environment, has changed its mission to include a vocal push for increased access on public and private lands. John Armstrong, president of CVEPA, wrote in The Sopris Sun, “CVEPA has a strong belief that the environment is not limited to wild animals or designated wilderness areas” and that increased access is needed as long as users are respectful (CVEPA Views, March 23, 2023).

The problem is not respect, but carrying capacity. A farmer’s land will only support a certain number of animals based on acres, water, soil health and weather. Likewise, there is a human carrying capacity on our wild lands above which there is a negative effect on all living things. Wildlands cannot tolerate ever increasing human recreation.

Deer, elk and songbirds are declining and stressed. Winter closures are not enough to protect biodiversity. Deer and elk are the canaries in the coal mine. But song birds and raptors, insects, small mammals and reptiles all have to be considered. Wildflowers are trampled simply by too many footprints, wiping out localized populations.

Wilderness Workshop writes,

modern times.

In order to put an end to this 46-year effort, we need to continue to work with our partners including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Mount Emmons Mining Company (MEMC), local government and other nonprofits. Through a collaborative process, our long-standing goals will finally be achieved.

The first condition is a mineral withdrawal that will protect the Thompson Divide as well as lands surrounding Red Lady. Withdrawing these lands is essential to prohibit them from being used as part of a mine’s footprint (MEMC intends to relinquish claims that they hold within this area).

Of course it’s complicated, and there are two types of mineral withdrawals currently on the table. The first is an administrative mineral withdrawal put into action by the Biden administration and currently under review by the BLM and USFS. This administrative withdrawal will give both Red Lady and Thompson Divide two decades of protection. The second is a provision in the CORE Act that would enact a legislative mineral withdrawal forever. We’re

“The rapid increase in recreation use and development is one of the most significant impacts to wildlife in our region and one of the greatest challenges facing our local land managers,” and, “No single trail can be held responsible for the declines in wildlife populations or other impacts — and yet collectively our trail systems and recreation uses are undeniably impactful.”

In July 2021, the United Nations drafted the Global Framework for Managing Nature. The goal is to conserve 30% of land and 30% of the ocean by 2030; to limit the loss of biodiversity and protect species from extinction by maintaining the integrity of all ecosystems. Both the State of Colorado and Pitkin County have passed resolutions supporting this declaration.

Pitkin County has built miles of trails to ensure everyone has access to nature, and national forest and BLM trailheads are nearby. A farmer may increase production for short-term gain, but the price is paid in loss of healthy land. There is a limit. Some wildlands need to remain undisturbed; not overrun by humans.

The challenge is to balance recreation and ensure public land actually remains biologically diverse and ecologically balanced.

Marj Perry Carbondale

pursuing both of these opportunities.

The second condition involves removing the molybdenum ore body from development. This condition will be met by implementing conservation easements and enacting a mineral extinguishment agreement prohibiting mining. MEMC will sign these documents once a federal land exchange is completed. The federal land exchange is currently under USFS review.

The third condition involves MEMC’s water rights. The company has conditional rights to a large amount of water that it would take to run the mine. Now that they no longer intend to mine, MEMC only needs enough water to perform reclamation of historic mining activities. Our ideal resolution is that MEMC keeps only the water necessary for reclamation while the remainder of their water rights remain in local waterways.

We at HCCA stand in solidarity with the Roaring Fork Valley’s efforts to protect their public lands! Please remember that your efforts are felt in our community and our headwaters as well. We’re in this together, so keep up the good fight.

Rethinking herbicides

The plan to spray the off-leash Nature Park with herbicides should be rethought for several reasons.

First is that thistle typically grows on land with poor nutrients & biome (mycelium populations). Herbicides do not help improve the soil for more compatible plants.

Second is that I have lost dogs to cancer and I have always felt that the herbicide sprays around my unfenced yard had a role in their cancers, both on their legs.

Third, birds love thistle seed and when the plant has laid down over winter, I’ve watched sparrows hopping around the seed heads, pooping on the meaty stalks which then decompose into fertilizer for the soil and biome. Thus the herbicide would be hurting the birds also while preventing the plant from becoming compost. (Spring food is important to wintering fauna.)

Fourth, I’ve had great luck with getting thistle to go away by fertilizing and resting the area. Perhaps we can try fertilizing and fencing off the areas impacted. Then planting what we want to see.

It is hard to resist the state declaration of the noxious plant of the year, but one must realize that Dow Chemical spends millions to lobby, and makes billions rendering our land monocultured, but otherwise

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Wet spring

Snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed was recorded at 144% of normal for this time of year on March 23. According to the Roaring Fork Conservancy’s weekly report, “The watershed has not seen cumulative [snow water equivalent] levels this high since 2011!”

Uinta Basin Railway

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a supplemental review of the Uinta Basin Railway Project to account for the full risks to Colorado’s communities, water supplies, environment and climate. “The EPA’s previous review focused solely on the railway’s risks to Utah and did not evaluate its potential harm to Colorado, despite as many as five, twomile-long trains of waxy crude oil traveling more than 100 miles across the state and along the Colorado River every day, if the project is completed,” explained a press release.

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COVID testing returns

Free COVID-19 PCR testing is back, based on funding acquired by Garfield County Public Health. Through July 31, without making an appointment, people can get tested at the Health and Human Services Building in Rifle (195 West 14th Street) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8am to noon; in Carbondale, testing is available in the parking lot behind Town Hall (511 Colorado Avenue) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to noon.

Accessibility and Inclusion

Garfield County Public Health, in partnership with The Arc of the Central Mountains, Mountain Valley Developmental Services and Cook Inclusive, is hosting an

Accessibility and Inclusion

Virtual Summit on April 11, from 5:30 to 7:30pm. This will serve as an opportunity for professionals and family members supporting people with disabilities and people living with disabilities to share information and ideas. Visit www.bit.ly/GarCoAccess to register.

Democracy School

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund will host its flagship education program, Democracy School, online via Zoom on April 11-12, 18-19 from 7 to 9:30pm. Democracy School takes a close look at the history of people’s movements and corporate power in the United States, as well as the structure of law in our system. Sign up at www.bit.ly/CELDFdemocracy

Pool expansion

Glenwood Hot Springs Resort announced the third phase of a multi-year plan for improvements. The East End Expansion Project will add a new swimming area with five additional pools of varying water temperatures (including a cold plunge) and a shade pergola and hearth. The area around the mother spring will be landscaped and the mineral drinking water spring will be reopened. Work is expected to be completed sometime in 2024.

Limestone quarry

The Bureau of Land Management has amended its Noncompliance Order against Rocky Mountain Industrials (RMI), operator of the limestone quarry north of Glenwood Springs. The amended order finds RMI’s actions “substantially deviate from the approved plan of operations” and determines this “a significant violation of its surface management

regulations.” RMI now has until mid-April to submit an acceptable Plan of Operations Modification or face a suspension order for all or part of its permit.

Xylazine danger

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine, a powerful sedative. The mixture places users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning.

Fireball Drop

The Carbondale Rotary Club is selling tickets for its annual Fireball Drop fundraiser. On First Friday, May 5, around 1,000 pingpong balls will be dropped from a fire truck ladder onto a field of targets in Sopris Park. Owner of the ball closest to the center target will win $5,000 with $500 each for four secondary targets. To purchase a ball, visit www. bit.ly/2023FireballDrop; all proceeds benefit high school scholarships, youth exchange programs and community and international projects.

Centennial State Park Pass

Colorado’s $14 Centennial State Park Pass, valid for 13 months at all state parks, is available to income-eligible residents via an online application ( www.bit.ly/ CentennialPassApp / www. bit.ly/CentennialSPAN) which can be dropped off at any Colorado Parks & Wildlife office or mailed to 6060 Broadway, Denver 80216.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Jorie DeVilbiss and Megan Wussow (March 30); Georgia Ackerman, Colleen Borkovec and Jane Hart (March 31); Walter Gallacher, Jake Hawkins, Dave Ritchie, Francis Stuckens and Ed Troy (April 2); Jeff Busk, Lorena Medina Jones and Terri Ritchie (April 3); Wendy Damari Avila, Dan Hardin and Marilyn Murphy (April 4); Will Sardinsky and Judy Schilling (April 5).

An assembly line of volunteers packed 400 bags with homemade cookies at the American Legion Post 100 in Carbondale on Friday, March 24. The destination for the cookies was the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass. Barbara Wallace (foreground) joined this tradition shortly after it began in 2008. Her father and father-in-law were both in the military service.

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Mountain Pearl debuts with spring edition

By James Steindler Contributing Editor

Mountain Pearl, the local quarterly publication formerly known as Mountain Parent, brought readers its first rebranded edition this March. The spring edition can be found at various distribution sites up and down the Valley.

Mountain Parent was first published almost 20 years ago by Sarah Shook and carried on for a few years, but was shelved in 2008 during the Great Recession. Lauren Suhrbier relaunched it in the fall of 2016.

Kathryn Camp took over as the editor of the magazine in 2019 and later assumed the responsibility of publisher as well, following the departure of Suhrbier last year. Camp realized relatively early on that Mountain Parent’s readership was not merely relevant to its namesake, albeit part of its targeted audience — parents.

Camp mulled over the name-change and, while cross country skiing with her dog one night, she couldn’t help but notice the magnetic pull of the luminous moon. A pearl in the sky. And that’s when it dawned on her.

“In this first year, you’ll see the moon on every cover in a different phase,” Camp explained, while pointing out the “new moon” in the upper-right corner of the current edition’s cover.

Mountain Pearl’s publisher/editor has a background which, as a matter-of-fact, includes working as an ad sales person for The Sopris Sun!

From early on, however, Camp had a knack for journalism, having participated in her high school journalism program and going on to study publishing at the University of Alabama where she got a job on the editorial board of the university’s newspaper right out

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The Orchard Church, 2nd floor 110 Snowmass Drive Carbondale, CO 81623

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Be sure to also check out our FREE exercise classes in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. To view a complete list of exercise classes, please visit our website.

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The Spring 2023 edition of Mountain Pearl is out now. Notice the new moon in the upper-right corner, and keep an eye out for its developing cycle on Mountain Pearl's next few covers. Art by Elana Royer

of the gate.

After graduating from college, she drove a friend to Aspen and, like many, ended up sticking around. There happened to be an opening at the Aspen Daily News in its ad-creation department, and she jumped on it. Camp has always had an affinity for storytelling. “That impulse to write journalistically was always rooted in wanting to tell other people’s stories,” she stated.

When she took over as publisher for Mountain Pearl, Camp laid out her short-term goals. “The first year was to survive and, now, the second year is to

MISSION:

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

Hosting live, hybrid and online recovery meetings.

thrive,” she stated.

Part of the joy of running the magazine for Camp is giving local writers an opportunity to apply their trade and get paid. “I love it that I get to support other writers in getting their stories onto the page,” she said.

Furthermore, it means a lot to Camp to have a business model that allows paying a fair rate to freelance writers. “It’s a professional service, and it takes a lot of skill,” she said. “I think we should be elevating what journalists are paid.”

The editorial team gets together at the beginning and end of each 13-week publication cycle to have a roundtable discussion, reflecting on the recent issue and planning for the next.

Since the spring of 2019, the magazine has included articles from student-writers who are paid a stipend for their contributions. In the current issue, a Colorado Rocky Mountain School student and 5Point Dream Project recipient, Jacob Sam, writes about his endeavor to learn Navajo — the language of his ancestors. An Aspen High School student, Beau Toepfer, writes about pickleball.

For the past five years, the publication has held a student writers contest. All school-aged children can participate. This year, the winner of the high school category, “In My Humble Opinion,” will receive a $500 scholarship. All contestants are treated to a free “old fashioned” milkshake at Honey Butter. The deadline to submit entries is May 1. Visit www.mountain-pearl. com for more information.

Mountain Pearl is all for highlighting resources in the community and participating when it calls for it. In fact, the publication is hosting a presentation on how to become a licensed in-home childcare provider — a means to address the increasingly high demand thereof — at the Helios Center in Carbondale on April 11 at 6pm. The Early Childhood Network will also be present. Turn to page 45 of Mountain Pearl’s current issue for details.

“Pearls are made with grit, and it takes grit to live here,” Camp concluded.

Composing community

By Geneviève Villamizar Sopris Sun Contributor

“I’ve flowed in and out of trees and music my whole life,” says Lubbock, Texas native Carl Meinecke. “My dad was the orchestra director at the high school. My mom sang at church. I grew up around music.”

As Carbondale’s newest town arborist, Meinecke brings richness and drive to his dream career, which was to work outside in nature, in a governmental capacity, which “forces me to find a public middle ground,” he says. “There are a lot of different opinions and there are people from all across the board. I know what my standards are, what the laws and ordinances are, but we still all have to work together. That challenge is appealing to me.”

At times, though, he feels the public can’t see past the uniforms of service workers in the public.

Doffing his vest, Meinecke recently put his 28-year love affair with standup bass into play with Natalie Spears and Ellie Barber. Both shows at Steve’s Guitars sold out.

“When I arrived in Carbondale two and half years ago, I didn’t know anyone,” says Meinecke.

Previously working with the Bureau of Land Management in Gunnison County, he was the bassist for Free the Honey, a bluegrass band through which he met Lizzy Plotkin (currently of Plotkin & Spears).

“I knew Lizzy. She knew Natalie — we actually saw each other on the street and I yelled out, ‘Hey, I’m a friend of Lizzy’s!’” he laughs. “That shows the inner workings of musicians and how that community is this small, connected thing.”

Carbondale’s own small, connected thing reverberates off the worn brick walls of Bonfire Coffee as Meinecke traces his life story through jazz, classical and R&B music.

Becoming saturated in that music, Meinecke craved time outdoors by his 20s. Lacking experience, he volunteered for a week of trail and forestry work in Washington. It changed his life.

“I didn’t realize you could work outside,” he says, “that you could make a living doing it!”

He continued, “When COVID hit, I was in Tucson, Arizona for the winter, working with a gentleman, Rod, who designed, built, and maintained Japanese Zen gardens,” reinterpreted through an arid, desert lens.

Deliberate and thoughtful, Meinecke seems to live through song and story, beyond labels — beyond the vest — which comes out in his selfless conversation around Rod.

“A very complex person,” Meinecke begins, “a vet, Special Forces-turnedhumanitarian. He was a fascinating person!

“One of the houses we maintained belonged to the family of Linda Ronstadt. We’re driving up in Rod’s old Dodge truck. He still listened to tapes.

Patty Phelan

He knew I liked music, so he brought his box of tapes and he had ‘The Best of Simon and Garfunkel.’ He put that thing in, and he’d just be singin’ to that. He was just the greatest character!”

Working in Zen gardens and their maintenance-intensive particularity, paired with what Meinecke saw as “a time of immense social and political turmoil and division.” The draw to working in government and public spaces was a siren song. He came across the position here in Carbondale, applied, and has stewarded our public spaces since.

As a landscape technician, Meinecke exemplified dedication. His love for trees, plants and community was obvious as he tended beds throughout town and interacted in a genuine, warm way with the public.

What was Meinecke's reaction when the role of town arborist opened?

“Oh, man. If this could work out, that would blow my mind,” he smiles. “This is what I’ve wanted forever … Public spaces are something everyone can enjoy.”

As the new arborist, Meinecke began assessing the larger trees in the older parts of town to develop priorities and a management plan. “This work is ongoing and ever evolving,” he says, and will expand into the entirety of public town trees.

“I’m also excited to update our tree inventory which hasn’t been updated since 2010,” he says. “This will help me analyze data about our community trees and aid in planning and maintenance decisions for the future.” The public

can view our current inventory online at www.cotreeview.com and find our community on the map.

Through Meinecke’s Adopt-a-Garden program (to be featured in next week’s Sopris Sun), citizens can sink their hands in public garden soils, stewarding them back to balance and beauty.

“Another big project I’ll be working on in the next few years is taking an in-depth look at our trees downtown along Main Street. Some of these trees are starting to decline to the point of needing to be removed and replaced,” he says, with community envisioning and input.

So when you see him on the street, or any of the town land stewards wearing blaze and reflective safety vests, be sure to introduce yourself. Share your thoughts. Give a high-five and “thanks.”

As a composer of land and music, Meinecke would love to meet the public touched by his department's endeavors.

Volunteers Needed!

CASA of the Continental Divide guides volunteer advocates who ensure a child’s safety, best interest and well-being are at the forefront of legal proceedings. We believe that every child should be given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home. Change a child’s story by volunteering with us today! Apply to volunteer at mtncasa.org or call us at 970-513-9390.

When You Have Unexpected Medical Needs

Our After-Hours clinic provides a convenient, cost-effective way to receive the compassionate care you deserve without a visit to the ER. No appointment necessary, walk-ins welcome!

Weekdays: 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Weekends: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Carl Meinecke, photo by Olivia Emmer

RFSD approved to build 50 employee housing units

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

Mayor Pro Tem Erica Sparhawk took the gavel at Tuesday’s regular meeting. The agenda was relatively light, consisting most prominently of a public hearing related to the Roaring Fork School District’s Meadowood Housing Project.

First, the consent agenda was approved including accounts payable (extra hefty this month with computers replacement at $11,937, plus $57,411 for a commuter van and $64,551 for a F350 truck purchase), minutes, a county-wide intergovernmental agreement for mosquito control, two contracts related to financing the new pool, a retail marijuana license renewal for Tumbleweed, a special event liquor license for Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association April 29 film screening and authorization for Town Manager Lauren Gister to apply for grant funding toward the Town Center project.

During general trustee comments: Lani Kitching and Chris Hassig spoke to formally opposing the Uinta Basin Railway which prompted trustees to unanimously approve signing a letter drafted by the Environmental Board on the topic; Marty Silverstein lamented the mass shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, urging responsible gun owners to “speak up now” for sensible regulations; Colin Laird touched on the housing summit hosted by Habitat for Humanity last week, as well as Senate Bill 23-213, a statewide land-use policy that would overrule municipalities; Luis Yllanes

BASALT REPORT

expressed dismay at the presence of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the career expo organized by Youthentity; Sparhawk announced that the former City Market was removed as an option for Pitkin County’s regional food hub prospects.

Next, KDNK received approval for a special event liquor license for Dandelion Day, May 13.

Then, April Long, Ruedi Water and Power Authority executive director, returned for a continued discussion around baseline watering standards for the Valley (originally presented on Jan. 24). Public Works Director Kevin Schorzman sat beside her, proposing that trustees consider adopting the baseline standards when watering restrictions are in place, but not mandatorily year-round. This way, Carbondale could still participate in education and outreach.

Long explained that Snowmass has adopted the standards except with the watering schedule divided between “north and south” as opposed to “even and odd;” Glenwood Springs “gave a nod during a work session” and will vote in a public meeting; Basalt already has this schedule for April to October, but not year-round; Aspen staff “is supportive” and the Midvalley Metro District “wants to hear where everyone else is at.”

Schorzman suggested other approaches may be more effective at curtailing water use, such as tiered water rates, a turf buyback program and removing irrigation from certain places. He highlighted that Carbondale is meeting and exceeding its water

efficiency plan goals from 2015. No action was taken.

Briefly, a contract was approved for the Crystal River Restoration and Weaver Ditch Efficiency Project at $1.99 million with Redoubt Restoration. No timeline was provided.

And finally, Robert Schultz presented the RFSD Meadowood Housing Project for 50 housing units available to district employees at the corner of Meadowood Drive and the Roaring Fork High School access road. The project was designed to preserve Roaring Fork High School’s practice fields, with the possibility to expand as necessary. It consists of eight studios, 10 one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom units, a large common space and bulk storage that exceeds the Town’s requirements. The buildings will be all-electric, with no gas hook-ups, and include six electric vehicle charging stations with a conduit for 33 more.

Schultz explained that the property was once envisioned for a Carbondale Community School campus and artist village, then acquired by The North Face for its headquarters, later donated to the Carbondale Council on Arts and

Humanities and eventually traded to RFSD in exchange for the Third Street Center land and Carbondale Arts gained a lot on Second Street later sold to create an endowment.

The proposal came with requests for rezoning (from Community Arts, an obsolete zone district, to Residential High Density) and alternative compliances for a parking reduction from 93 to 90 spaces (considering the high school’s large parking lot in close proximity), streetscaping (to continue rather than realign the sidewalk) and smaller private balconies for the studio units to accommodate a larger common space.

With unanimous approval, the plan is to break ground in May and have the units ready on-time for the 2024 school year.

Update on thistle: Katrina Blair’s company, Bee Happy Lands, was contracted by the Parks and Rec Department to provide organic land stewardship at the Nature Park on May 12. The Town will still get staff trained and certified to conduct chemical-based herbicide treatment, but will not necessarily use that tool.

Town reassures businesses amid construction concerns

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

On Wednesday, March 22, the Town of Basalt held a pair of work sessions for Midland Avenue business owners and residents to inform them of the current plan for Phase II of the Streetscape Project, answer questions about the potential process and receive feedback for creative solutions to keep businesses afloat for what may be a tumultuous summer.

The meeting was led by Mitzi Rapkin, a communications consultant employed by Basalt specifically for the Streetscape Project. Rapkin presented how Midland Ave will look upon completion, stating that, first and foremost, parking on central Midland Ave would be converted into parallel spaces, the Midland Spur’s increased spaces would compensate for this loss. Additionally, although the northern sidewalk would be significantly expanded for outdoor seating, a center lane would be preserved for business deliveries.

Construction will generally occur Monday through Saturday from 7am to 5pm, though sometimes it may continue

until 7pm. Furthermore, while parking will be impossible, the sidewalks will remain open at all times, and central Midland will be reduced to one lane of flagged traffic. Noise and dust will occur as a result of construction, but representatives from Stutsman-Gerbaz, the main contractor, assured business owners of their dedication to mitigating these as much as possible, stating that many of their team are members of the Basalt community.

Currently, the Town plans on maintaining a shuttle between Midland and school parking lots. Additionally, the Sunday Market will occur this summer on the Midland Spur along with live music in Basalt River Park upon its amphitheater’s completion — the Town is hopeful that these events will stimulate commerce. Business owners suggested best times for the shuttle, as well as suggestions for other ways to keep up business like signage communicating that Midland Ave is still open.

On Tuesday, March 28, Town Council held a very brief regular meeting, largely to exchange comments about the Streetscape Project.

One member of the public reiterated concerns about how construction will affect summer revenue. Another attendee repeated that businesses strongly request construction be paused for the summer.

Mayor Bill Kane offered a response: “When you say we should be talking to the people on Midland Avenue, we talk to them every day … We are very familiar with their concerns, we know their business plans very well, we’ve had years of experience accommodating them for outdoor dining.” He continued, “It’s been a long, cooperative process, and we think we have a good sense of the community relative to Midland Avenue … We’re going to constantly evaluate the schedule, the timing, the calendar, and we’re going to do our damnedest to ensure that access is preserved.”

Councilor Glenn Drummond added that Stutsman-Gerbaz was named 2022 Contractor of the Year by national construction magazine Equipment World, emphasizing the skill and professionalism of the team.

Councilor Angela Anderson offered her own reassurances: “We’re not in an

ivory tower, we’re not bureaucrats, we’re not politicians … We hear all of you that are going to be impacted, and if we could do this without impacting anyone, that’s what we would do, because we’re community members just like you guys.”

Finally, Town Manager Ryan Mahoney addressed the possibility of delaying Phase II, stating that staff has been preparing documents for putting this phase out to bid. This would allow the Town to evaluate the cost of delaying construction. “We’ve been hearing that pulling off a project is expensive, and we believe that to be true, but … we do want to see what is possible as far as the schedule.” Mahoney added that the process of receiving bids would take several weeks and if they received a cost which made delaying for a month financially favorable, it would be presented to council.

With the conclusion of public comments, Kane briefly reported on his attendance at last week’s Housing Summit in Aspen, stating that it was greatly informative, and many ideas were offered to address what he described as “the enormous deficit we have of housing.”

A three-story building is set back behind two two-story buildings. Courtesy graphic

Proposed RV resort dominated town talk in 1985

By Lynn “Jake” Burton Sopris Sun Correspondent

In late 1985, it didn’t take long for the old Valley Journal to speculate about the impacts of a possible RV resort at the south-end of town.

“Maybe we’ll get a clothing store that sells white belts and white shoes,” wrote Valley Journal editor Michael Paludan. “Maybe we’ll get a Furr’s Cafeteria … Carbondale’s out-of-control stray cats will be chased out of town by the massive influx of Chihuahuas.”

Here is what prompted Paludan’s speculation: a seasonal RV resort for Arizona-based snowbirds, consisting of up to 2,100 spaces on about 400 acres with a golf course and other amenities. “Snowbirds” were expected to spend about eight months in Arizona, then roll their RVs to cooler summer climes, such as Colorado.

The possible RV resort would be built on the former Gray Ranch on Highway 133 (now River Valley Ranch). At a Planning and Zoning meeting held before a packed house at the fire station, the crowd seemed evenly divided on whether the project, to be phased in over 10 years, would be good for the town. Discussions ran from August 1985 until the developers pulled the plug without submitting a formal application in January 1986.

A page-three headline in the Valley Journal first caught everyone's attention. The “major” recreational vehicle resort could bring thousands of new people to town for several months. The newspaper reported that, traditionally, the residents are senior citizens, and the resort would be similar to ones that house thousands of

senior citizens in Arizona cities such as Mesa. “It’s not like the KOA in Basalt,” town planner Davis Farrar told the VJ.

A junket, paid for by the developers, consisting of town officials, staffers and the press, flew to Mesa RV resorts later in August. Regarding their fact-finding mission, trustee Hank Busby asked whether the trip could take place in December, while trustee John Foulkrod said the trip was fine “as long as they don’t end up in a bar.”

The junketeers learned that RV resorts differ from RV parks because their amenities often include golf courses, game rooms, swimming pools, laundry facilities and more. An RV report promoter and developer, Bob Falls, compared the RV resort experience to a cruise ship. “They are in it for the socialization,” Falls told the VJ. “That includes light recreation, games, pot luck dinners and the like.”

As of the P&Z meeting in late August, the developers — local businessmen Mike Deer, Ross Jeffery, Bill Bolitho, Richard Stephenson and David Walker — hadn’t submitted a proposal but had discussed the possible project with staff. KDNK aired the public meeting, which kicked off with a 45-minute presentation by local landscape architect Ron Liston. In the public discussion that ensued, one supporter from Marble said the RV resort would be “one of the greatest things that has hit Carbondale.” It could turn Carbondale into a tourist town, with a “Western village theme.” An opponent noted the town’s quiet atmosphere would be disrupted and that traffic impacts would “congest the downtown area.”

A week after that meeting, the president of the Carbondale Economic Development Corp. suggested the RV resort would bring positive and negative impacts to the town. In concluding his opinion piece in the VJ, he envisioned a summer-time Carbondale with hundreds of RVs cruising around town all day and taking up parking spaces, plus hundreds of RV owners who’d bring their regular vehicles to town. He

The Crystal River runs through River Valley Ranch. Almost 40 years ago, Glenwood Springs developers envisioned an RV resort that would include “park model” RVs which typically cover about 400 square feet and resemble miniature manufactured housing. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

concluded, “many Carbondale residents would likely experience four months of frustration every year.”

By the fall of 1985, a Valley Journal headline read: “RV resort application delayed.” The primary reason for the delay, according to a developer’s spokesman, was the fact “ … most of the partners don’t have experience in developments and need to understand the process and costs involved.”

A later VJ headline read: “RV resort chances lessen, decision comes next week.” In the article, developer Mike Deer said he and his partners had already spent $60,000 on the project with another $50,000 expected. He also pointed out that even if the town trustees approved Crystal River Ranch Resort, there was no guarantee a citizen referendum wouldn’t overturn the approval.

The final VJ headline read: “RV resort dies under fears of citizen referendum threat.” The article added some new information. Readers learned the developers had been in negotiation to buy the property from Chicago-owner Richard Gray, who already had the zoning to build 1,100 units on the property (granted in 1982) and wasn’t willing to risk it. “There really isn’t any more story to tell,” Deer told the Valley Journal.

Taking a regional approach to housing crisis

By James Steindler Contributing Editor

It was a snowy morning in Aspen on March 22. Drivers parked single file along the street, many going to the same place. Someone muttered, “Funny place for a housing summit.”

I couldn’t help but agree, having just made the drive to Aspen from Glenwood Springs and sitting stagnant in traffic for 45 minutes between the Airport Business Center and Maroon Creek Bridge. It was not lost on this reporter that many travel more than twice that distance on a daily basis to and from work.

The organizers of the summit were fully aware of the irony. In fact, as part of her opening remarks, Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley President Gail Schwartz made note of it.

A key phrase during the summit was “taking a regional approach.” At one point, Schwartz asked the crowd if anyone remembered having to dial long distance when making a call from Aspen to Basalt, noting that issues at the time were often addressed hyper-locally. In contrast, she stressed that tackling the housing crisis must be a regional effort.

The summit lasted through the day, and most speakers noted there was plenty more to be said once they concluded. There were five sessions, including a presentation during lunch by Cheri Witt-Brown, executive director of Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity, about Hope Springs — Colorado’s

largest Habitat for Humanity project to date. The other four sessions included: 1) Framing the Housing Crisis, 2) Defining the Housing Need and Challenges, 3) Scalable Solutions Speaker Series and 4) Activating Our Region.

Framing the Housing Crisis

The 2018 Greater Roaring Fork Regional Housing Study, brought up during the first session, indicated that, at the time, there was a shortfall of 4,000 housing units in the region. Furthermore, that number was projected to grow to 6,827 by 2027.

“This is actually what started us down the path of creating the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition [WMRHC],” said Hannah Klausman, director of economic and community development for Glenwood Springs.

To gauge the effects of the pandemic on the housing crisis, the West Mountain Regional Housing Needs Supplement report was completed in 2022. A follow-up study indicated that the average sale price of a home increased by 42-71%, the average rent increased 40%, non-local buyers increased by 80% and mortgage interest rates increased by 100%. Meanwhile, average wages increased only by 15-35%.

“We were calling it a housing crisis when we did the first study,” said Klausman. “We’re still there, and it’s an even bigger housing crisis with those numbers.” Then, she added the ringer, “The number that I showed you of the shortfall expected for 2027, we’ve likely

surpassed that.”

Klausman’s fellow panelist, Matthew Gillen, executive director of Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority (APCHA), said that of the 18 homes APCHA had up for sale last year at categories three and four, there were 900 bids. “If you do 900 divided by 18, that is 50 bids per unit,” Gillen laid out. “So, that is 50 different households trying to get that unit … which I think really shows the demand for affordable housing in Pitkin County.”

Panelist Jeff Tripp, economic development coordinator for Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, chimed in with some additional statistics. He noted that the unemployment rate in Garfield County is around 3%, “which is not significantly bad,” he stated. “The issue is that 40% are commuting outside of the county for work.” He acknowledged it’s not just Garfield County residents making the daily trip, but residents from as far as Grand Junction.

Klausman added to Tripp’s point that Aspen certainly imports workers, but so does Glenwood Springs. She shared a story when the City of Glenwood Springs’ snow plow drivers were unable to clear the city’s roads due to issues on I-70. “Because they lived so far away, they weren’t able to get to their job to do that very critical service of clearing the roads,” she said.

Activating Our Region

The summit concluded with a session called Activating Our Region. David

Myler and Heather Henry, representing WMRHC, spelled out the mission of the organization and its vision for a regional approach.

WMRHC is a nonprofit made up of regional partners, including the Valley’s five municipalities as well as Pitkin and Eagle counties. Garfield County has yet to join, and Myler suspects it’s because the county is taking a “wait-and-see approach.”

The nonprofit received a $50,000 grant from the state’s Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for strategic planning. The group later received a $100,000 grant from DOLA’s Innovative Housing Planning Grant Program which will be used to conduct a detailed inventory of housing and resources that are already in place. WMRHC plans to launch three programs: a buy-down program, a rental assistance program and an accessory dwelling unit fund for current homeowners interested in creating longterm rentals.

When the summit concluded, attendees were asked to put their name tag in one of three baskets labeled with a sub-working group they’d be interested in participating with: public/private partnerships, regional government policy or philanthropic engagement/ grant funding.

“We are a region, from Aspen to Battlement Mesa,” Myler stated. “There are obvious economic differences and there are certainly political differences; but, we’re all connected by a very mobile workforce and we’ve got to figure out how to house that workforce as best we can.”

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

THURSDAY, MARCH 30

CRYSTAL THEATRE

“Champions” shows at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm tonight, tomorrow and Saturday and on Sunday at 5pm. “Living” shows with captions on Saturday at 4:45pm. “AIR” will screen April 5-6 at 7pm.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

UPHILL BREAKFAST CLUB

Wilderness Workshop hosts the Morning Uphill Breakfast Club at the Cliffhouse Restaurant at the top of Buttermilk from 8:45 to 10am. The event is free, but participants must have a valid Aspen Ski Company uphill pass.

VOICE�S

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

RAILWAY PROTEST

350 Roaring Fork protests the potentially disastrous Uinta Basin Railway with a rally beginning at Centennial Park (Ninth and Grand) in Glenwood Springs at noon.

ASPEN ROCKS

Six student finalists will perform Aspen Rocks, an Inspire Aspen Foundation competition, at the Wheeler Opera House at 6pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

ASPEN ART MUSEUM

Today is your final chance to see three of Aspen Art Museum’s current exhibits. Visit www. aspenartmuseum.org for more info.

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

GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics classes for young ones at Bridges High School starts today and continues every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:45pm. Call Tanell Lavender at 970-379-7397 to register.

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 for 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.

HARM REDUCTION PARTY

High Rockies Harm Reduction and Aspen Strong host a “Pre Apres Narcan Distribution Party” at The Sterling in Aspen, 301 East Hopkins Avenue, at 6pm.

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 incorporating music, video and more tells the story of a 1000-year-old Douglas Fir tree on Vancouver Island at Basalt Library at 5:30pm. Visit www.basaltlibrary.org for more info.

Green-thumbs traded seeds ahead of a film screening hosted by Seed Peace/The Farm Collaborative and The Center for Human Flourishing at the Third Street Center on Friday, March 24. Missed out? A largerscale seed exchange is planned for Dandelion Day, May 14.

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

BRIDGE CLUB

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

LES FEMMES

Aspen Chapel Gallery hosts an opening reception for “Les Femmes,” an exhibition of female artists, from 4 to 7pm. The show will remain on display through May 24 with proceeds benefiting Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

LIBRARY AT HOME

Learn more about the library’s online resources at Basalt Library at 5pm. This is a bilingual event.

SPRING LECTURE SERIES

Garfield County Libraries will host a free lecture series at the Glenwood Springs Library every Thursday in April from 5:30 to 7pm. The first in the series will feature a panel on local veteran history with the Western Slope Veterans Coalition.

REDSTONE BINGO

The Redstone Inn hosts bingo night at 6:30pm.

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

A-BASIN SKI DAY

The Colorado Mountain College Alumni Association offers discounted lift tickets and lunch at Arapahoe Basin. Visit www. conta.cc/3JOyodf to register.

SPRING INTO WELLNESS

Carbondale’s First Friday celebrates wellness with individuals and organizations in the industry presenting at the Rec Center from 5 to 8pm.

HEALING HOOF IT

Smiling Goat Ranch’s sixth annual Healing Hoof It, raising awareness about autism and PTSD, involves a 5K run/walk, one-mile race and animal parade, all departing from the Carbondale Rec Center at 5:30pm. Register online at www.smilinggoatranch.com

ZIKR DANCE ENSEMBLE

The critically acclaimed Denverbased ZIKR Dance Ensemble performs at The Ute Theater in Rifle at 7:30pm. Visit www. utetheater.com for tickets.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

WHERE MY PEEPS?

Carbondale Parks and Rec hosts the Where My Peeps At? Scavenger Hunt for teams of two to six people beginning at 9:30am. The Little Peeps Hunt for kids 7 and under begins at 10am.

NYALA HONEY

Local teen author Nyala Honey talks about her newest novel, “The Silent One,” at the Carbondale Library at 3pm.

ANNUAL LIARS CONTEST

Roaring Fork Valley Storytellers invites you to a night of storytelling, where judges and audience members do their best to determine which tales are true and which are false, at the Mt. Chalet in Aspen at 4pm. Call 970-379-2224 for more info.

DREAM OF FLYING

Local filmmaker Jem Moore screens

“A Dream of Flying,” his documentary about hang gliding, paragliding and the freedom of flight, at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm. Tickets at www.bit.ly/DreamofFlying

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

RANDOM CONVERSATIONS

The Lost Art of Random Conversations returns at the

Carbondale Library tonight and April 23 at 6pm.

MONDAY, APRIL 10

MOUNTAIN FAIR DEADLINE

Design concepts for the 52nd annual Mountain Fair poster/t-shirt are due today, along with three work samples emailed to brian@ carbondalearts.com or delivered to The Launchpad. This year’s theme is “Where the Wild Things Grow.”

YOUTH IN FILM

Aspen Film hosts a youth forum at Aspen District Theatre at 1pm. More info at www.aspenfilm.org

DONATE LIFE

The Chris Klug Foundation hosts an informal, friendly and frank discussion about organ, eye and tissue donation at Sopris Lodge at 3pm. The event is free and open but an RSVP is requested by calling 570-456-6871 or visiting www.soprislodge.com/events

ORGANIZATION 101

Learn tips on how to stay organized at home at the Basalt Library at 5pm.

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

SHORTSFEST

Aspen Film’s 32nd annual Shortsfest kicks off with a reception from 5 to 6:30pm at the Public House in Aspen (328 East Hyman Avenue). Programs continue through Friday at the Wheeler Opera House. Learn more at www.aspenfilm.org

BILINGUAL BOOK TALK

Spanish and English speakers discuss “Woman of Light”/”Mujer de Luz,” by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, Colorado Mountain College’s common read of the year, at the Basalt Library at 5:30pm. Spanish and English copies are available at the library.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

ART MAKERSPACE

Kids seven and up are invited to create art projects in the Treehouse at the Basalt Library at 2:30pm.

TEEN FLY TYING

The Roaring Fork Conservancy teaches teens to tie their own flies at the Basalt Library at 3pm today, and again on April 12 and April 26 at the same time.

CELEBRATE SPACE

Discuss and celebrate space exploration at the Basalt Library at 5pm. Dinner and drinks will be provided. This is a bilingual event.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

LEGAL CLINIC

Basalt Library hosts a free legal clinic for parties with no attorney from 2 to 5pm. To sign up for a slot, call 970-927-4311 or email info@basaltlibrary.org

AUTHOR TALK

Preethi Fernando will present her book, “17 Women Who Shook the World,” at the Carbondale Library at 2pm. The event will repeat tomorrow at the Glenwood Springs Library at 5pm.

OPEN HOUSE YouthZone welcomes all for drinks and bites at 413 9th Street in Glenwood Springs from 4 to 6pm. To RSVP, call 970-945-9300.

‘MAMA MIA’

Roaring Fork High, Carbondale Middle, Basalt High and Basalt Middle School students open “Mama Mia” at the Basalt Middle School Auditorium tonight at 7pm. The show continues April 14 and 15 at 7pm and Sunday, April 16 at 2pm. Tickets are at the door or online at www.bit.ly/MamaMiaRFV

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.

June 1 & 2

ASPEN

Aspen Valley Hospital 0401 Castle Creek Road

June 3 & 4

BASALT El Jebel Community Center 20 Eagle County Dr, El Jebel

April 10–16, 2023

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We are also always looking for general volunteers to help with distribution, Training is provided for those who have an interest. For more information, please contact:

Sopris Sun correspondent

A bushy apricot tree neighboring the Rio Grande trail was abuzz with chatter and the snap of pruning shears. A group of mostly Carbondale residents had assembled to learn about caring for fruit trees. Hosted by Colorado State University (CSU) Extension, Colorado Edible Forest, UpRoot Colorado and Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (PCOST), the organizers hoped to empower local residents to maintain both new and historic fruit trees.

Vanessa Harmony is one of the instructors at these events and the owner/operator of Colorado Edible Forest, a nursery that specializes in edible trees and shrubs for our region’s climate. As Harmony explained, “Pruning fruit trees will maximize the size and the quality of the fruit, and the health of the tree.” Excess branches can stifle air flow through the tree which can lead to disease. It also means the tree spreads its resources through more branches, growing smaller fruit. Harmony advises pruning fruit trees in the spring before they bloom.

The event on March 25 was one of a series of workshops planned between Silt and Emma. At the Carbondale event, approximately 10 community members gathered, including a Pitkin County Open Space and Trails board member, a local farmer and several homeowners and renters with fruit trees in their yards.

The series of workshops was born from necessity. Last year, members of these organizations met at the Emma Orchard hoping to pick apples from the trees for UpRoot Colorado. Harmony explained that since the trees hadn’t been pruned regularly, the apples weren’t suitable for harvest.

UpRoot Colorado is a nonprofit that harvests and redistributes surplus, nutrient-dense foods. This process, called gleaning, saves produce that might go to waste and diverts it to hunger-relief agencies. Locally, UpRoot partners with entities like Lift-Up, the Garfield County Senior Nutrition Program and Valley Meals and More.

Rita Mary Hennigan, UpRoot Colorado’s co-director, said that while 30-40% of the food produced in the U.S. goes uneaten, at the same time, “one in three Coloradans don’t have enough nutritious food to feed themselves and/ or their families.” Hennigan hopes to “create opportunities for more Coloradans to actively engage with the sources of our food and to participate in our food system.”

Fruitful labor We don't charge for obits

UpRoot works with both agricultural producers and individuals to source food. Community members can enroll in UpRoot’s Fruit Tree Registry and the nonprofit will organize a team of volunteers to harvest the tree. The crop is then split between the property owner, the volunteers and donations. UpRoot hopes that if more folks know how to maintain local fruit trees, that there will be more good harvests to go around. Also facilitating the workshops is Drew Walters, who joined PCOST as

Linda Giesecke of Carbondale practices pruning a fruit tree as part of a free workshop. Pruning fruit trees can lead to larger fruit, as the plant sends its resources to fewer branches.

its agriculture specialist in April 2022. Approximately 20% of Walters’ time is earmarked to serve as the county’s CSU Extension representative. Across the state, counties have agriculture specialists through this program to aid farmers, ranchers and backyard growers. According to the PCOST website, Walters “is the first consistent Extension presence in Pitkin County in a decade.” Extension specialists can help identify pests and diseases, assist with soil testing and more.

“Before fruit was widely available in grocery stores, settlers needed to have

apples for cider or vinegar or baking. So people brought their prized fruit trees with them and planted them — a lot of those historic trees are still living and still producing fruit,” explained Harmony. “But we also have a lot of volunteer fruit trees that have popped up along railroads, like the Rio Grande trail, and along trail sides.” Harmony propagates some of these more than 100-year-old trees for her nursery in Spring Valley, ensuring that these heritage fruits are available in the future.

At Saturday’s event, the group pruned a tall apple tree and a bushy apricot tree growing along the Rio Grande trail, one on each side of the Roaring Fork River near the Carbondale Park and Ride. Keep your eye out come spring to see these trees in bloom and again in fall, when they’ll hopefully be producing large, juicy fruit.

The final event in the series, on Saturday, April 1, is sold out, but the organizers hope to host workshops again next year.

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Photos and text by Olivia Emmer

Vanessa Harmony of Colorado Edible Forest stands in front of an unmaintained apple tree along the Rio Grande trail in Carbondale. Harmony was there to teach community members how to prune fruit trees.

Several participants in a fruit tree pruning workshop collaborate to prune an apricot tree growing next to the Rio Grande trail in Carbondale. The workshop was hosted by CSU Extension, Colorado Edible Forest, UpRoot Colorado and PCOST.

Sol del Valle

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

Perfil del Sol: Lizbeth Ávila sube una montaña de arena

Por Angélica Breña Sol Contribuyente

Cuando una mujer se embaraza antes de los 20 años de edad, su camino de la vida se vuelve tan difícil como subir una montaña de arena con una mochila de 20 lb. No es que sea imposible subir esa montaña, pero se convierte en un desafío, a cada zancada, te hundes y no puedes medir que tanto avanzas o te acercas a la meta. Lizbeth Ávila ha logrado subir esa movediza montaña y ha sabido encontrar por medio de la educación un sendero más firme.

Actualmente, es una madre orgullosa de sus dos hijos adolescentes y junto con su esposo, ha logrado formar una familia unida con un estilo de vida digno. A sus 30 años, tiene planes para graduarse con el diploma de Administración de Empresas en la Colorado Mountain College (CMC por sus siglas en inglés) y seguir subiendo. Hoy por hoy, Ávila trabaja en Aspen Institute, una organización no gubernamental reconocida.

Ávila llegó al Valle Roaring Fork

cuando tenía cinco años. A los 11 años conoció al que ahora es su esposo en el baile folclórico del Aspen Santa Fé Ballet. Fueron novios a los 14 años de edad y cuando ella cumplió 16, nació su primer hijo. Muy pronto formaron una familia de cuatro miembros: mamá, papá, hijo e hija. Tanto ella como él, provienen de familias mexicanas. Cuando llegaron a los Estados Unidos no sabían inglés, ni la cruda realidad de conseguir trabajo para poder pagar la renta y las cuentas.

La trayectoria de Ávila en sus inicios de madre joven, no es muy diferente a las muchas mujeres latinas del Valle que trabajan limpiando casas, de meseras, o de lo que ofrezca, ganando muy poco y siempre insuficiente. Lo que le hizo cambiar de rumbo fue haberse percatado de que era necesario estudiar y adquirir conocimiento teórico, además de la experiencia que iba acumulando.

En 2017 decidió educarse formalmente para obtener las credenciales necesarias y competir con salarios mejor remunerados. A la vez que estudiaba Educación,

consiguió entrar a la Escuela Primaria de Crystal River, como asistente, lo cual implicaba hacer de todo y luego fungió como maestra sombra a los niños de Educación especial.

Es aquí donde se dio cuenta de la importancia de observar, asimilar las técnicas y conocimientos de los maestros experimentados y aplicarlos también a sus hijos.

El trabajar dentro de una escuela le permitió estar cerca de sus hijos y le dio herramientas para organizar mejor su hogar, poner límites y horarios a los niños para que como padres de familia, pudieran encontrar tiempo para desarrollarse y crecer.

Ávila desempeñó varias tareas administrativas y contables en su trabajo pero no le reconocían estas labores en su paga. Ahora, ella se propone saber más teoría de contabilidad y administración porque un “Diploma” refuerza mucho su propia experiencia adquirida y es un título que la legitima dentro del mercado.

Hace dos años vio el periódico y leyó un anuncio de vacante del Aspen Institute, hizo la solicitud y semanas después la contrataron. En su primera junta, se sorprendió al darse cuenta de que la mayoría eran mujeres que eran directas al expresarse y ejecutivas en sus acciones. “Fue como una explosión, yo no había estado expuesta a un ambiente ejecutivo como el del Instituto”, dijo, “mis trabajos eran de servicio a los niños, a mis maestros y a mis patrones”.

El Instituto le ha abierto los ojos

de lo que es el ambiente de negocios, la política y el mundo ejecutivo. Se convenció, una vez más, de la importancia de estar bien preparada, de echar mano de los conocimientos que da la educación superior. Para desempeñar cargos importantes a nivel internacional hay que tener las competencias.

Ella ha observado como se desenvuelven sus colegas del Aspen Institute y lo que más le ha llamado la atención es que resuelven las cosas con una clara comunicación. “La forma en que se expresan refleja su alta preparación”, dijo Ávila. “Es por eso que yo seguiré preparándome y estudiando”.

Desde que los hijos de Ávila nacieron, ella y su marido han trabajado incansablemente y se han apoyado mutuamente. Ahora sus dos hijos van a la escuela y también participan en el mismo baile folclórico donde ella y su esposo se conocieron.

“No pierdan el tiempo”, aconseja Ávila, “aunque no sepan bien qué camino tomar, estudien en la Community College. Se sorprenderán de los diversos programas que ofrecen”. Mientras caminaba a su oficina en medio de los troncos de los aspens pelones, dijo convencida, “Para subir las montañas de la vida hay que tener fuerza interior y humildad para observar y aprender de los demás”.

You can find the English translated version of this story at: www.soprissun.com

Volumen 2, Número 5 | 30 de marzo de 2023 - 5 de abril de 2023

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.

Lizbeth Ávila les aconseja a los jovenes que no pierdan tiempo y tomen todas las oportunidades que aparezcan en su camino. Foto por Angélica Breña

SANA: La alianza de nutrición segura y abundante

Por Judith Alvarez-Quiroz Sol Contribuyente

La coalición llamada SANA que por sus siglas en inglés significa, Safe and Abundant Nutrition Alliance, está dirigida por tres mujeres líderes latinas integradas en la comunidad. La coalición ve de primera mano la necesidad urgente de abordar la inseguridad alimentaria que afecta de manera desproporcionada a las comunidades de la región. Sus principales funciones son brindar apoyo voluntario y de implementación a los sitios de alimentos en los condados de Eagle, Garfield y Pitkin. Asegura servicios culturalmente apropiados, mientras construye el liderazgo y el poder de los más impactados por la inseguridad alimentaria. SANA modela la justicia del lenguaje brindando interpretación y publicando comunicaciones bilingües.

Historia de SANA

Dana Wood, quien es una persona clave en la creación de SANA y actualmente trabaja en Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger dice, “La Alianza de Nutrición Segura y Abundante, fue un comité directivo impulsado por la comunidad

que se formó originalmente en 2017 a raíz de una Cumbre de Seguridad Alimentaria organizada por los Servicios Humanos del Condado de Pitkin”.

Para coordinar los esfuerzos regionales para combatir el hambre, SANA amplió la membresía a organizaciones y miembros de la comunidad de los condados de Garfield y Eagle en 2019. Dana tuvo el honor de guiar y apoyar el trabajo de la coalición para reformar la membresía del grupo y desarrollar estrategias para co-crear mejores soluciones con la comunidad. SANA es una de las 8 coaliciones en todo el estado que están financiadas a través de Colorado Health Foundation, cuyo trabajo se alinea con mejorar el acceso a los alimentos de la comunidad, una meta del Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger. La gente de SANA, también sirven como miembros del Consejo de Gobierno, como líderes de equipos de proyectos y miembros de grupos. “Estos roles son muy importantes porque aportan experiencias rurales y de campo a este esfuerzo de impacto colectivo en todo el estado que trabaja para erradicar el hambre en Colorado”, dijo Wood.

CHISME DEL PUEBLO

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Fresca primavera

La nieve acumulada en las cuencas de Roaring Fork fue registrada al 144% de lo normal para esta época del año el 23 de marzo. De acuerdo con el reporte semanal de Roaring Fork Converscancy, “las cuencas de agua no han visto niveles acumulativos (equivalente a agua de nieve) tan altos desde el 2011!”

Ferrocarril

El senador de los Estados Unidos Michael Bennet le pide a la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA por sus siglas en inglés) que lleve a cabo un análisis adicional del proyecto Uinta Basin Railway para tomar en consideración los riesgos a las comunidades, suministros de agua, ambiente y clima de Colorado. “El análisis previo se enfocó únicamente en los riesgos del ferrocarril en Utah y no evaluó en peligro potencial a Colorado, a pesar de que alrededor de cinco trenes, de dos millas de largo cargando petróleo crudo viajando a más de 100 millas a lo largo del estado y a lo largo del Río Colorado todos los días, si el proyecto es completado”, explicó el comunicado de prensa.

Mina de piedra caliza

La Oficina de Administración de Tierras ha modificado su orden de incumplimiento contra Rocky Mountain Industrial (RMI), operador de la mina de piedra caliza al norte de Glenwood Springs. La orden modificada encuentra las acciones de RMI “sustancialmente diferentes del plan aprobado de operaciones” y determinó que esta “es una violación significante en sus normas de manejos”. RMI tiene hasta mediados de abril para entregar una Modificación de Plan de Operación o enfrentan una orden de suspensión por todo o parte del permiso.

En el 2022 SANA realizó más de 700 entrevistas, organizó 120 reuniones de grupos de trabajo, 18 reuniones del Consejo de Gobierno, 586 evaluaciones/encuestas y 24 conversaciones comunitarias/ foros abiertos para compartir información y aprender. La estrella norte que ha guiado su trabajo ha sido el espectro de participación pública: Informar, Consultar, Involucrar, Colaborar y Empoderar. Actualmente, la coalición está trabajando con entidades gubernamentales que supervisan y administran programas de asistencia alimentaria en la región como el Departamento de Servicios Humanos y Departamentos de Salud Pública. Organizaciones

de seguridad alimentaria que se encargan del rescate y distribución de alimentos como LIFT-UP, UpRoot Colorado, Food Bank of the Rockies y otras más incluyendo Universidad Estatal de Colorado Extensión y West Mountain Health Alliance.

Sean Dollard, Oficial de Programas de Colorado Health Foundation dijo, “SANA adopta un enfoque comunitario único para el trabajo de cambios de sistemas, guiado por los miembros de la comunidad que se ven directamente afectados por los problemas de la inseguridad alimentaria que tratan de hacer frente, posicionando de manera decisiva a esta coalision, para crear la base de una manera que logra la justicia alimentaria”.

Un sistema alimentario más equitativo y la justicia racial es lo que enorgullece a Colorado Health Foundation al ser un socio de SANA. “El enfoque de SANA forja relaciones significativas y profundas con los miembros de la comunidad, para que puedan tener la voz y el poder para volver a imaginar un sistema alimentario que funcione a su favor”, dijo Dollard.

Durante los próximos años

continua en la pagina 15

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Vanessa Porras

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Hattie Rensberry

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Traductoras

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Roger Berliner • Elizabeth Phillips

Andrew Travers

el Sol del Valle agradece por su apoyo a:

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Pruebas de COVID

Las pruebas PCR gratuitas de COVID-19 han regresado, basado en fondos adquiridos por la Salud Pública del condado de Garfield. Hasta el 31 de julio, sin tener que hacer una cita, las personas pueden hacerse la prueba en el edificio de Servicios Humanos y Salud de Rifle (195 West 14th Street) los lunes, miércoles y viernes de 8 a.m. a mediodía; en Carbondale, habrán pruebas disponibles en el estacionamiento detrás del ayuntamiento (511 Colorado Avenue) los martes y jueves de 8 a.m. a mediodía.

Expansión de la alberca

Glenwood Hot Springs Resort anunció la tercera fase del plan plurianual para mejoras del centro turístico. El proyecto de la expansión del lado este añadirá una nueva área para nadar con cinco albercas adicionales con temperaturas variadas de agua (incluyendo una piscina fría), una pérgola y una fogata. El área alrededor del manantial principal será ajardinado y la fuente de agua mineral será reabierta. Se espera que la construcción concluya en el 2024.

Pase de Centennial State Park

"Sincronías" parte 17, por Leonardo Occhipinti

Peligro de Xilacina

La Administración de Control de Drogas de los Estados Unidos le está advirtiendo al público de un fuerte aumento de tráficos de fentanilo mezclado con Xilacina, un poderoso sedante. La mezcla de estos pone en alto riesgo a los consumidores de intoxicación fatal de drogas.

El pase de $14 de Centennial State Park, válido por 13 meses en todos los parques estatales, está disponible para residentes dependiendo de ingresos por medio de una inscripción en línea (www.bit.ly/ CentennialSPAN) el cual puede ser entregado en cualquiera de las oficinas de los Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado o enviado por correo a 6060 Broadway, Denver 80216.

Foto de James Steindler

Sopris Theatre Company brings Frankenstein to life

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

Sopris Theatre Company, a community theater operated through Colorado Mountain College (CMC), will bring to life an original musical based on the life of Mary Shelley and her famous tale of fiction. “Frankenstein: The Monster/The Man?” premieres on April 7 and continues through April 23 at the Spring Valley campus’ New Space Theatre. This will be Sopris Theatre Company’s first musical production since 2018.

The show was created by Carol Weiss in 1993 and was performed for the first time by the Long Beach Civic Light Opera’s teen program where director Brad Moore, now theatre operations manager at CMC, was teaching the young thespians. It was then performed as a staged reading with Moore, Weiss, and Scott Harlan at Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House in 1995. Weiss will attend this latest premier, which Moore said is something to look forward to.

The performance will feature an operatic soundtrack, directed musically by Dori Light, and will follow a band of characters digging into themes of human nature, grief, prejudice, isolation and despair, all from the perspectives of Mary and Percy Shelley, Dr. Polidori, Mary’s sister Claire, and other titular characters from the classic novel. It will also be "visually interesting," said Moore, with works by Tom Ward, who has taken on student Alexis Rehorst as

a protege to help design the minimalist set.

The ensemble includes veteran talents from the Valley as well as theater newcomers. The Sopris Sun’s very own Hattie Rensberry will play Mary Shelley/Elizabeth Lavenza, Travis Wilson portrays Percy Shelley/Victor Frankenstein, Gerald DeLisser is The Monster, Mitch Kucera is Dr. Polidori/ Henry Clerval and Morgan Walsh plays The Blind Woman. The remaining cast includes Michael Banks, Jess Bowler, Courtney Lindgren, Jay Edmonds, Bostyn Elswick, Lindsey Hamilton, Lydia Mitchell, Ashley Sprenger, Christopher Wheatley, Pax Wild, and Ben Williams.

Moore and cast members sat down to discuss what they are most excited about for this production and why its messages are prevalent to human nature and society. Moore stated that working with the cast and the crew has been “beneficial, energetic and giving” as they bring this show to life.

“There is a certain sense of awe of working on a new piece,” he said. “Several people that are in the show have done musicals in high school or have done musicals with a community theater or whatever, but they have done things that they know, the music, the storyline, they know the characters and now they're having to start from ground zero.”

The cast had much to say about building a new story from the ground up, all statements seeping with nervous

excitement. Kucera revealed that this is his first time doing theater as an adult. He said that it is exciting to see how a production like this differs from what he experienced in high school.

“It's less silly than the things I have seen done, and I appreciate that,” he said. “It's a whole new experience. The worst case is you come away from it saying, ‘I don't want to do that again.’ But so far, it has been nice. I’ve been able to meet several nice and talented people and learn something new from them with each rehearsal.”

The rest of the cast shared the sentiment of hoping that audiences resonate with the themes of companionship, community, acceptance and recognizing and unlearning prejudices. Elswick told us, “Everybody is just on it, developing their characters and actively making such strong choices. It's just really coming alive.”

Walsh chimed in, “The obvious thing about prejudice is about how you look, whether in regards to color, disability, clothing style or whatever you can think of. That is all exterior stuff, and what matters is what's going on inside.”

DeLisser stated, “I think there are a lot of people right now who feel, even if they aren't monsters, rejected by society, like outcasts. There haven't been a lot of adaptations I've seen where my character is an intelligent being, which is how he's portrayed in the original. Hopefully, people can see themselves a little bit in there.”

Rensberry shared that sentiment, stating, “Whatever is bothering you, whatever you want, you'll find that in these characters. It won't solve your problems, but you'll find companionship in them. Which is what art is about and what theater is for. We like reflections of ourselves and reflections of the people we love and respect.”

Wilson piggybacked on that statement, saying that folks should see the show if they want “a good examination and explanation of the human mind and how we can be so loving, selfless and resilient” while, at the same time, “so shallow, cavalier and cruel.”

Tickets for “Frankenstein: The Man/ The Monster?” and updates about upcoming productions can be found at www.coloradomtn.edu or calling the box office at 970-947-8177.

Gerald DeLisser portrays a more complex version of Frankhenstein's monster than audiences may be accustomed to seeing. Courtesy photo

Analysis by Antoinette Braiser Youth Correspondent

The state-wide swatting incident on Feb. 22 scared scores of locals and Colorado residents. Panicked parents texted their children, students hid in classrooms and, perhaps most notably, some wondered whether or not it was a real threat at the time.

Swatting is a term for when someone makes a false report to law enforcement to elicit a significant police response to a certain area. On Feb. 22, several swatting incidents were reported throughout Colorado.

An occurrence like that can affect people in very different ways. Some may fear for their loved ones, others may cry and others may simply just sit and wait.

It’s interesting, because

Swatting mocks a very real problem

some Gen Z’ers believe they’re the first generation to experience so many school shootings and threats. While that may not be entirely the case, there has been a noticeable spike during their lifetime, and ever since the pivotal tragedy at Columbine High School in 1999.

According to Education Week, an independent news organization that covers secondary education, there have already been 13 shootings on school grounds in 2023 which have resulted in injury or death; this includes the terribly recent tragedy at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Furthermore, Sandy Hook Promise, a research organization, reported that an average of 12 children are victims of gun violence in America every day.

We all wonder, what causes somebody to commit such an act. What is going on in their world that would compel them to shoot a child?

These statistics are scary and surprising on their own. When a threat happens within your school district — or somebody you know is in

5Point gets youth to Dream big

By Gus Richardson Youth Correspondent

Last semester, this reporter spoke with fellow Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) student, and senior, Julia Gressett. I met her outside of the school auditorium, and it took us an embarrassing amount of time to realize we were waiting on one another — as this was the first time we’d met. Anyhow, when we did finally interact, she explained why she was one of this year’s recipients of the 5Point Dream Project’s micro-grants

For those of you who don’t know, 5Point Adventure Film Festival facilitates an annual teen outreach program called the “Dream Project.” This year is the 13th iteration.

It supports high school students, from Aspen to Parachute, to complete a project of their design “that they believe will make a difference in the lives of others as well as their own,” as stated in a press release from 5Point.

While a handful of students, six to be precise, received $2000 each to go towards their proposed projects, even fewer (three students this year) were awarded $500-$1000 each in microgrants. Gresset was one of these three students.

the school — it really sinks in. Some young people think of these scary situations in schools as a new thing — perhaps because they are becoming more and more frequent. But, according to The Washington Post, in 1840, The Richmond Enquirer reported the country’s first on-campus shooting at the University of Virginia. One person, a professor, was killed.

School shootings in America were indeed an issue before the 2000s. Perhaps not as prevalent and devastating as nowadays, but still all too frequent.

While the nation’s first recorded on-campus shooting resulted in the death of a faculty member, senseless acts of school violence have been increasingly indiscriminate as far as the ages of victims.

So, while it may seem like school shootings are a relatively new occurrence, from a high schooler’s perspective, they have, in fact, been going on for far too long.

I believe an important distinction however, is that mass shootings are becoming

more commonplace. Perhaps this is because guns have become increasingly more sophisticated and deadly as the years go on.

The highest death toll of a school shooting in the United States was 32; a tragedy that occurred at Virginia Tech in April 2007. Thirty-two people were killed in a place where they were supposed to be learning. Instead, they were murdered.

The situation in school districts throughout Colorado a few weeks ago alarmed many — especially families with children. Although it turned out to be a swatting incident, and everybody was safe in the end, it still led us to wonder, what if it were real? Are we safe from school shootings in the Valley? And, what if these swatting calls keep happening?

Obviously, people are grateful that the Feb. 22 reports were bogus. But, considering the frequency of these false reports, it leaves this student to wonder, may there be a risk of a cry-wolf scenario if and when people are indeed in danger?

SANA, en colaboración con la comunidad, se centrará en mejorar la salud general en la región de los tres condados mediante la mejora de la seguridad alimentaria. Estos esfuerzos promoverán la autosuficiencia, así como el bienestar individual y comunitario a través del acceso a alimentos sanos y nutritivos.

SANA ayuda a las familias a inscribir a programas de nutrición como Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP, por sus siglas en inglés), Programa Especial de alimentos suplementarios para Mujeres, Bebés y Niños (WIC, por sus siglas en inglés), entre otros. También ampliará su trabajo a la alimentación saludable y la vida activa, como la jardinería, la educación nutricional, las clases de cocina y las actividades de vida al aire libre y promoverá estrategias que ayuden a fortalecer la salud mental en la comunidad. Para más información sobre SANA puede contactar a Brenda Sandoval Coordinadora de Participación Comunitaria al 970-355-9559.

group’s trip to Africa last summer; Taia Nykerk, a junior at Glenwood Springs High School, used the capital to invest in her school’s Outdoor Education Club to make it more financially accessible; Jacob Sam, a junior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS), is taking Navajo language and government classes so he can apply for the Chief Manuelito Scholarship; Jaxson Borich, a junior at Yampah Mountain High School, is to refurbish a dirt bike to give to his neighbor who can then use it for nearby transportation; Kai Young, a senior at CRMS, is making a short documentary on climate change from a rancher's perspective; and, finally, Edgerrin Aulik, a sophomore at GSHS, hopes to attend the Berklee College of Music’s summer sessions for jazz guitar.

The micro-grant Gresset was given was for $500, and she put it towards…drum roll… creating a piano competition here in Carbondale. She has a deep interest in piano and has been playing for the past 10 years. Her goal with this project was “to bring some joy and an experience to at least a few kids in the Valley,” she told The Sopris Sun.

But, see, Gresset had a predicament. She wanted to bring together the local pianist community — both kids and adults — but the closest competitions were in Denver or Dillon. So, she created her own: the

“Sopris Piano Competition.”

She decided to use the funds as prize money for the local competition. The Sopris Piano Competition was held at the Third Street Center on Nov. 5, 2022. Eleven people competed, with six of them receiving prizes. Julia says she hopes that this becomes an annual event, even if she isn’t around to continue it herself. She will be graduating this year, after all.

The winners of the $2000 Dream Project grants included: Abigail Campos, another RFHS senior, who is making a short film, along with fellow McBride interns, about the

The other two students who received micro-grants were Ava Lerner-Sprunt, a senior at CRMS, who dreams to teach English to children in Costa Rica; and Gineescia Vazquez, a sophomore at Yampah, who is using the grant to buy a camera and further her passion for photography.

In the past 13 years, 5Point has awarded $104,000 in Dream Project grants to 74 students.

The nine Dream Project recipients and their projects will be featured during the 16th Annual 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale, which takes place April 20-23. Visit www.5pointfilm.org for more information.

SANA desde la pagina

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

Nyala Honey, a local teenager residing in Basalt, recently published her second novel, “The Silent One,” on Dec. 21, 2022. Her debut novel, “Coven of the Silver Moon,” was published on Feb. 19, 2022. She recently turned 14 and started writing her first novel when she was 11. She will speak at the Carbondale Library on April 8 at 3pm to discuss “The Silent One,” which tells the story of four teenagers in a post-apocalyptic nation known as Astlen, formerly Washington State, as they seek to reveal the truth and seek justice for those who have been senselessly murdered nightly in this dystopia.

The Sopris Sun sat down with Honey to discuss her newfound career as an author, what it is like doing what she does at her age, and how she hopes her work can inspire others to follow their dreams.

Honey said she can remember inventing stories at the age of 3 and has always loved reading and writing. As she got older, she and her cousins would write plays and perform them for her family. Needless to say, the art of storytelling is something she grew up with that forms a big part of her life. Her novels are full of exciting elements, such as magic, drama and

crime, tied into real-life issues.

“When I was 11, I decided I wanted to write a novel,” she said. “It was a lot more difficult than I realized it would be. Leading up to that, I never really dedicated myself to a certain project. I had done lots of little things before, but it was a lot of hard work that gave me the work ethic that I am grateful to have today. I spent about eight months writing [Coven of the Silver Moon].”

Honey explained that her grandmother was a huge help editing the novel. It was this collaborative effort, often using FaceTime to meet virtually, where Honey learned a lot of grammatical and technical things related to writing a book.

Her second novel came about when her friend told her about National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, a U.S.-based nonprofit that promotes creative writing among youth worldwide. Their annual competition begins at midnight every Nov. 1 and ends at midnight on Nov. 30, during which participants are encouraged to write a 50,000-word novel.

“I thought that sounded super cool because I had published my first book. I tossed some ideas around for a sequel, but I wasn't feeling super inspired,” Honey shared. “Nothing was hitting me. So I thought, ‘You

know what, how about I sit down and dedicate myself to this project? I'll write every single day, it doesn't matter if I hit the goal, but just have the goal.’ I started with no idea of what I wanted the story to look like, then the ideas started coming to me and I got them onto paper. There was a lot of rewriting, but once I had the idea, it just poured over.”

Honey also has talented friends who helped her create the cover art for her first novel. After contacting multiple agents and getting rejected several times, she decided she wouldn't give up. She submitted her works through Amazon, where both novels are now available.

“I was more confident in the selfpublishing process,” stated Honey. “Publishing both my books has taught me a lot about persevering and not giving up on my dreams. That might sound a little bit stereotypical, but I feel like it has been my mantra. Don't give up on your dreams and you can

make them happen.”

Honey offered sound advice to other young writers who want to publish books, saying that outlines and lists may work well. “If you have an idea, it is important to trust yourself and get the ideas on paper,” she said.

“Writing can be intimidating, but it is all about getting started. I know there are so many different types of people and ways that people thrive differently, but everyone is capable of creating something that will make people feel something, which is always the goal. Age, gender and skin color should never be a barrier. You shouldn't feel like you have any barriers against achieving your dreams.”

Honey is hoping to publish another novel by the end of this year. To hear more about her books and what she has planned next, stop by the Carbondale Library on April 8. at 3pm or check out her website: www.nyalahoney.com

Author Nyala Honey and a wall of books! Courtesy photo

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

Singing ‘La Loba’ to life

By Melina Laroza

Imagine a gypsy caravan traveling through the Rockies, popping out a puppet theater and handmade wares to tell a magical story, old as time. Bonnie Barker, Sami Akert, Jacquie Hill and Heather Jameson make up the Paonia-based Singing Bone Medicine Show that presented at True Nature on Saturday, March 25. Each woman has a special gift that together immerse the audience in a powerful, sensory tale: a shadow puppet show like no other; Waldorf aesthetic meets “Women Who Run with the Wolves” rhetoric to create a setting that both haunts and delights. The theater itself is a work of art, wrapping the audience in a winter bruja forest of author Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ imagination.

Song and story, guitar and fiddle, interwoven with English and Spanish to create a show suitable for babies, children and the child within each of us. I sat in utter awe and fascination as the story of an old woman who had been forgotten and forgot herself, sang us back to ourselves by digging up bones she found around her house in forgotten woods. Assembling them became her instinct-driven mission while singing

an ancient song of wild wolves and women. Over time, a wolf appeared before her — its wholeness completing something in me. This adaptation of “La Loba” from “Women Who Run with the Wolves” is medicine for the soul. If you get to see this show, let it speak to you. Let the memory of your inner wild woman, or wild women you love, come alive in your love for your children. With the theater and nature-inspired accouterments packed away, melodious harmonies echoing in our heads still, the four mamas headed to their carefully-crafted booth. Here they joyfully answered questions, let the children see the puppets and sold their herbal medicines, once again tethering the audience to La Loba’s bones from Mother Earth’s soil.

The Singing Bone Medicine Show from Paonia performed the story of "La Loba," based on the book "Women Who Run with the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés It is about a mythical woman who collects bones of once sacred animals, particularly those of the wolf. The legend, which originated in Mexican folklore, was told through beautiful harmonic music and storytelling, and the visuals of shadow puppets. Their next performance in the Valley is at the Basalt Library on April 29 at 2:30pm.

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

Photo by Sue Rollyson

LETTERS

uninhabitable and sickly, where only “weeds” will grow. Resist we must. “Noxious” is their word to make us fear the environmentally beneficial plant.

John Hoffman Carbondale

Howdy!

Carbondale’s own singin’ cowpokes, the Cowboy Corral, would like to thank the Carbondale Library for hosting our concert, “Songs and Stories of the West,” this Monday, April 3 at 6:30pm in the library’s community room. We hope lots of people take advantage of the free event, where traditional cowboy songs help tell the history of the West, along with lots of humor and a couple of poems. It’s a familyfriendly event, and we think you’ll learn a thing or two along with enjoyin’ our (usually) outstandin’ harmonizin’. Hope to see you there!

Pecos Pete (Peter Westcott) & the rest of the Corral

Thistle Day

A recent decision by the Carbondale Board of Trustees has got me wondering. That, coupled with the viewing of a fantastic film about the activism of Vandana Shiva and her life's work to take on Monsanto in her home country of India, has inspired me to speak up about the recent decision to spray the thistle in the Delaney Nature Park, also known as “The Dog Park.”

We have very knowledgeable farmers and plant experts in the Valley who know how to work with nature to mitigate certain plants. I'm sure they could offer alternative solutions to spraying with chemicals. I wonder if anyone consulted with Katrina Blair of Durango, author of “The Wild Wisdom of Weeds”? She was so inspired by Carbondale's celebration of the dandelion, that Durango now has a similar celebration. The thistle is one of the plants she highlights in the book, as a beneficial plant for the environment, and for its nutritional value for juicing and for eating.

I say, Yay! PRAISE for the THISTLE! Thistles are a transition plant and soil regenerator. They have a very important job in nature. Their deep tap roots bring up minerals deep down in the ground to the surface to regenerate disturbed and compacted soil. Over a few years, the soils will improve, and new generations of native plants will return.

Knowing Carbondale, we may just create another festival in honor of this regenerative and restorative plant!

Diana Alcantara Carbondale

Connecting the dots

I read with interest Debbie Bruell's latest column in the Post Independent on workforce housing. I have to admit to a certain amount

of NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) about affordable housing. But this article helped me connect the dots, that being NIMBY is NOT in my best interest.

Specifically, if the local workforce cannot be housed locally, we will 1) suffer lower service levels as local businesses and governments cannot staff positions, and 2) suffer from higher costs of living as these same businesses and governments have to pay higher and higher wages to attract and keep a workforce. Add to this creeping higher property taxes as the property values go up. Even those of us that already have housing are at risk of being eventually priced out of living here due to the everrising cost of living.

Our county commissioners have expressed NO support for any affordable workforce housing initiatives. It's time for them to make these same connections, that having affordable workforce housing is in EVERYONE's best interest.

Jerome Dayton Carbondale

Re: Democracy in peril

Mr. Jesse's letter sadly proves TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) is still alive and festering in woke liberals.

After two and a half years of real collusion between the liberal media and the far left controlled Dems, the sham Mueller probe withered in the light of truth. Trump triumphed over two fake impeachments and a Jan. 6 Hollywood production that puts kangaroo courts to shame.

Under the Donald, our borders were secure, inflation wasn't a problem, Russia dared not invade our allies, gender fluidity and drag shows weren't promoted in grade schools and we fought crime by supporting law enforcement instead of defunding cops.

Shallow minds chose style over substance. Mean tweets are "unpresidential" and sound bite voters don't mind being lied to as long as the lies come with a politically correct smile.

President Trump put Americans first. The compromised puppet president now in the White House is the real and present danger to American democracy.

Bruno Kirchenwitz Rifle

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

YouthEntity held the annual career expo at Glenwood Springs High School on Tuesday, March 22. YouthEntity took over for GlenX which organized the event in years past. This year’s keynote speaker, Kayleen McCabe, showed off her “purse,” clearly influenced by her career in construction. Aspen High School juniors (from left to right) Chloe Feeman, Montana Flynn and Kira Locke prepared for a photo in Habitat for Humanity’s photo booth. Photos by James Steindler

Editor’s note: YouthEntity and the Roaring Fork School District received some backlash due to the presence of U.S. Border Patrol as one of the expo’s exhibitors this year. This was addressed briefly during last week’s episode of Everything Under The Sun on KDNK.

DIRECTORY

Corrections: In the GarCo Report, Lift-Up Development Director Sheila Maurer’s last name was misspelled. In “Carbondale prepares to spray at Nature Park,” the word “half-life” was mistakenly written as “life-life.”

Spring Into Wellness

April 7, 2023, 5-8PM

Two Featured Locations: Carbondale Recreation Center at 567 Colorado Avenue and participating businesses, restaurants up and down Main Street & just off Main.

Showcasing wellness practitioners and businesses.

Collaboratively we are raising awareness of all the wellness opportunities available in Carbondale and beyond!

SPONSORS

PLAY Spring Into Wellness BINGO WIN PRIZES

How to play BINGO: Pick cards up at Rec Center front desk or from display tables. Visit any of the tables at Carbondale Rec Center and introduce yourself. Strike up a conversation by telling the person why you chose to stop at their table. Check out the special offering they have for this event. Ask the business representative to initial your Bingo Card. When all squares are filled drop the card in green box in the Gym or at the Front desk. Be sure to include your name and contact information on the card. Your completed card will be eligible for the gift drawing. You will be notified by e-mail to phone to pick up your prize at the Carbondale Recreation Center.

PRIZES PROVIDED BY : MARBLE DISTILLERY • PEPPINO’S PIZZA • BONFIRE COFFEE • IZAKAYA • HONEY BUTTER • VILLAGE SMITHY RESTAURANT AND MORE!

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce and First Friday Committee • Carbondale Parks and Recreation Department • The Center for Human Flourishing • Smiling Goat Ranch sponsoring Healing Hoof It Awareness Walk

CO-SPONSORING BUSINESSES: Hilary Back, ND, LAc Back to Balance

• Shasta Bacon Live Your Balance

• Anafer Barrera, MPH, RD Dietician & Intuitive Eating C ounselor

• Laura D. Barton Infinity Water

• Cindy Buck Atomic Wellness

• Davis Cowles Moon and Back Coaching

• Lyn Byars Byars Reiki

• Bel Carpenter White Horse Yoga

• Siam C astillo Satori Crafted

• Avalon Guarino Mindful Life Program

• Greg Feinsinger Center for Prevention and Treatment of Disease thr ough Nutrition

• Kathy Flanigan Pura

Simple

• Laura Kirk Labyrinth Expert

• Angelique Fowler Wake Up Reiki

• Gabrielle Greeves Windwalkers Therapeutic Riding Center

• Adam Hutchinson Lumen Acupuncture and Light

• Jennifer Johnson Healing Hands Massage

• Dia Lynn S pirit of Wholeness

• David Teitler Carbondale Acupuncture Center

• Hamilton Pevec Hamilton’s Mushrooms

• Jess i Rochel Chris Klug Foundation

• Michael Sailor Michael Sailor Insurance, Inc.

• Anne Van Druten Colorado Community Acupun cture

• Lisa Wilson, author Radically

Authentic You

• Sally Nicholson Roaring Fork Reflexology • Lisa Paige, RDN • NBC-HWC Red Runner Coaching • Josh Dominick Wise-B ar

For more information scan QR code above or e-mail info@tcfhf.org

You can help Colorado communities continue to shine. In 2023, it’s Alpine Bank’s golden anniversary. Use your Alpine Bank Loyalty Debit Card and help us raise funds to support Colorado environmental nonpro ts in 2023. Learn more at alpinebank.com/50YearsYoung.

*Alpine Bank debit cards are available with no annual fee to individuals with an Alpine Bank checking account.

DAY IS APRIL 22!