20230607

Arting around town

A fresh round of sculptures decorates the Town of Carbondale. This year, the Art Around Town tradition continues with 16 new pieces.

Photos by Beth White

Climbing on any sculpture is highly discouraged, however these two kiddos had permission from the artist, their father, Kyle Cunnif.

Ted Schaal was one of the artists that participated in a tour of the new sculptures on June 1.

Marsha Brendlinger caresses a bronze sculpture made by her late husband, Jack, who passed away in February 2022. Jack was active as a volunteer as well as an artist.

Cabin Fever

By James Steindler

“Being gay is not a choice” is a mantra, a drum to which I’ve danced, since I made the best choice of my life: to no longer hide my full self. It wasn’t an easy decision to make at the time, having been conditioned for the first 23 years of my life that being gay was not okay.

I’m 33 as I write this, and it seems a fitting opportunity to reflect that these past 10 years have been the best yet. That’s not to say it hasn’t been challenging. I’ve been called a “faggot” by people who were my friends, and others I don’t even know outside of our Glenwood Springs home where we proudly fly a Pride flag.

The reality is, we all are conditioned to have prejudices. Though, I know we have the capacity to learn to accept and affirm in others what cannot be changed. I made my first out transgender friend in college and, for longer than I’d like to admit, it didn’t come

LETTERS

Affirming Pride

natural for me to address her by her proper pronouns. Today, we keep tabs on one another from afar and I am happy to report that she is not living quietly, but proudly as the beautiful woman she is. I will always be grateful that she made me realize we both have a quality within us that could never be quelled at Jesus camp, or through self-ridicule. We are who we are and that’s beautiful and unchangeable.

The point is, none of us are perfect and we’re all learning. And, it’s okay to learn from people who are younger — I certainly do. We can only try our best, and take account when we offend. Some may call that “snowflaking,” others “common decency.”

Across the country, the LGBTQ community is feeling ostracized by lawmakers. Including here at home, where our congresswoman, Lauren Boebert, mocked Pride Month on June 1 with a tweet, “I’m PROUD to be an American!”

In the Valley, the Town of Carbondale seems to have led the way to affirm its LGBTQ constituents, with an annual Pride Parade that coincides with the Family Block Party, turning all of downtown into a safe-space for all ages — including those only beginning to realize their sexual identity and orientation. Without this type of support, certainly for the time being, we’ll have

Correction: We mistakenly printed that Carbondale’s Memorial Day tradition was hosted by the American Legion Post 101 (located in Anton Chico, New Mexico). It was of course hosted by Post 100 (97 North Third Street).

Holy Cross election

If you are a Holy Cross Energy member, ballots were delivered to you recently and now you have a chance to make your voice heard.

All members are eligible to vote, regardless of voter registration or immigration status — if you receive electric service from Holy Cross, you are a member and have the right to vote for who you want to represent you on the board.

In this year’s Holy Cross election

I am supporting Alex DeGolia, running in the Western District.

Alex shares my values to protect our air, climate, and water by investing in clean, affordable, renewable electricity. Over the past several years, Holy Cross has become a state and national leader in transitioning to clean energy and protecting our climate. This has helped save

scores of kids questioning if the feelings they cannot help are “normal,” resulting in isolation that can lead to the worst consequences — and certainly has.

Roaring Fork School District is undergoing changes in its curriculum and administratively to help ensure all of its students feel welcomed. While it’s been met with quite a bit of backlash, it’s reassuring to know the conversation is being had.

And, Glenwood Springs is hosting its second annual Pride event on June 10.

Glenwood Pride

Kaleb Cook of Cook Inclusive holds the reins in organizing this year’s Glenwood Springs Pride Festival. Cook, in fact, started the tradition when he was working for the city last year, a position he’s since moved on from.

The city is a main sponsor, “making the event a reality,” said Cook. “But, they’ve really given it back to the community,” he continued.

“To empower a community-led event, we have been transitioning the event organization to leaders in the LGBTQ community,” echoed a Glenwood Springs spokesperson, “so that they have ownership over the festival.”

“This year, we’re going bigger and better,” Cook

members money while ensuring a safer, better future for our families. Ballots must be returned by June 13, or you can vote online in your Holy Cross account or inperson at the annual meeting June 15. Remember, all elections are important, don’t forget to vote.

Beatriz Soto, New Castle

Forest Service building

It's hard to enumerate all the failures represented by the plans presented for replacing our quaint USFS regional office.

It's not just the site plan designed around the need for plenty of pavement so 20’ pickups towing 60’ house trailers can “pull through.“ Salida's new USFS regional center has that, but it's out on the highway at the edge of town. Could we have pull-outs next to one of our bus stops on 133? Let 'em ride the shuttle in if the rig's too awkward.

Then there is the sunbelt branch bank, or modernist junior high-inspired exterior. Can't the Forest Service find a way to clad this region's buildings mostly in wood? They did for years.

The 1995 vintage Hahn's Peak office in Steamboat has lap siding, protected by

shared. “Our big focus is getting as many people to the event as possible and making sure it’s accessible, equitable and a sensory-safe environment for all.”

It will be a trilingual event, with Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation. There are more than 30 vendors, up from last year’s 10, made up of organizations in service to the LGBTQ and disabled communities. Following last year’s event, Cook explained that the vendor organizations saw an increase in program participation, particularly among young people who were exposed to their services during Pride 2022.

“The main hope is getting more people access and opening the door to the services we have in the Valley,” continued Cook. “Use them, they’re free, they’re amazing.”

Live music starts and vendors open at 5pm. At 6:30pm, representatives from the various sponsors, including AspenOUT, the City of Glenwood Springs and REI, will give speeches followed by a speciallyrecorded statement from Governor Jared Polis. At 7:30pm the incomparable Roaring Divas drag stars take the stage.

Visit www.pflagrfv.org for a list of events up and down the Valley this month, and for resources serving LGBTQ youth and adults.

Have a happy Pride, everyone.

generous roof overhangs.

Then, despite calls from the president for an "all of government" approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there is the gas rooftop unit heating, steel stud walls, metal with plastic roof and aluminum frame windows. Those details were in a presentation a few years ago of what I assume were the same plans. Most likely the "energy design" is the minimum required by decade-plus-old national standards using the Garfield County defaults, which are based on the warmer Rifle airport weather station. Plenty of designers here could whip out efficient, electrified heating plans for a 6,000-square-foot office.

Looking at the USFS website, it seems they lost their own design team a dozen years ago, and I can only surmise they are required to use the GSA's "Public Building Standards." Sure, some of the Forest Service designs from 40 years ago used unfortunate adaptations of a traditional hip roof style. But they seemed to be improving and at least should be allowed some kind of

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AZYEP director

Aimee Yllanes has been named as the next executive director of the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment program, working with youth from diverse backgrounds to build self-confidence and leadership skills through community broadcasting. Yllanes previously worked as communications and marketing manager for Colorado Rocky Mountain School.

Missed the vote

Rep. Lauren Boebert (CD3) missed her opportunity to vote on the debt ceiling bill on June 2. Boebert claimed that her absence was a “no-show protest” and she would have voted against the bill. However, a video recorded by CNN’s Morgan Rimmer shows her running up the Capitol steps as though trying to make the vote. She entered a statement into the congressional record saying she was “unavoidably detained.”

133 update

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

The latest update on the Highway 133 culvert repair project near Paonia stated that excavation for the temporary bridge foundation has begun and parts are arriving from North Carolina. The free commuter shuttle service ended on June 2 due to low ridership. To sign up for email updates, contact CO133CulvertRepair@ gmail.com

PATH grant

FirstBank received a $1 million grant from the Colorado Health Foundation to continue its Providing Access to Homeownership (PATH) grant program, which strives to remove barriers to homeownership for Black and African American communities by providing $10,000 toward the purchase of a home. The program has already provided over $2.6 million statewide, assisting 160 families so far.

Naloxone

In an effort to reduce opioid overdose deaths, Garfield County Public Health is offering free Naloxone kits at its Glenwood Springs and Rifle offices. Naloxone is easy to use and can rapidly reverse an overdose.

Carbondale Arts is accepting applications for four fellowship opportunities, each with a $1,000 grant. These opportunities are available to artists residing within a ZIP code beginning with “816.” The deadline is June 12. Find details at www.bit.ly/ AFP2023app

Fentanyl arrest

The Garfield County Special Problem Enforcement and Response (SPEAR) team conducted an investigation into the distribution of fentanyl on June 1 which resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,300 fentanyl pills, 45 grams of methamphetamine and $2,000. Anthony Toovey was arrested for the fourth time this year by the SPEAR task force, and more arrests are anticipated. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. SPEAR can be contacted at 970-945-0453.

Meadows work

Phase 1 of the Glenwood Meadows Roadway Rebuild project began on June 5. In order to address road failures, with several sections of roadway needing to be fully replaced, Glenwood Springs City Council dedicated $2.4 million dollars in COVID relief funds along with $350,000 from the Street Tax Fund. During this first

phase, anticipated to be complete in early July, West Meadows Drive (the entrance between Target and Lowes) is closed.

Get gardening

The Carbondale Community Garden, at the corner of Hendrick Drive and Holland, has an 11’x21’ plot ready for planting with ditch irrigation. If interested, email 516kware@ gmail.com with your name, phone number and email.

Marble Museum

The Marble Museum is now open for the summer season, Thursday through Sunday from 11am to 3pm. The museum is located at the historic schoolhouse, 412 Main Street, and sells hats, shirts, books, marble crafts and more in the gift shop.

They say it’s your birthday! Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Burk Golden, Tyler Vaughan and Diane Zastrow (June 8); Jared Ettelson, Chad Knaus, Rock Leonard and Henry Ortiz (June 9); Rachael Boyle (June 10); Sophie Catto, Emmy Lerma, Ben Meckley, Lorraine Morrison, Paul Sutro and Jonathan Waterman (June 12); Riley Ames (June 13); Britney White (June 14).

Exterior work is underway at Carbondale’s historic Dinkel Building, as evidenced by a ring of scaffolding around the block and many busy workers in bright green vests. Exterior improvements will involve façade restoration, window replacements and new awnings. Interior work, including the installation of an elevator, began months ago.

Photo by Lynn “Jake” Burton

By Martha Ferguson Special to The Sopris Sun

Editor’s note: Governor Jared Polis signed a proclamation establishing June 2023 as “Dark Sky Month” in Colorado in recognition of the growing problem of light pollution.

Appropriately, the Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus is pushing for darker skies and designation within the Roaring Fork Watershed.

A little more than 100 years ago, anyone could walk outside at night, even in a city, and see the Milky Way arch across the sky like a crystalline rainbow. The ability to see thousands of stars was an absolute part of life on any given evening. But now, with more than half the world’s population living in cities, many people living in over-lit landscapes have forgotten or never experienced the wonderment of pristinely dark skies. As a matter of fact, light pollution is currently estimated to cover around 80% of the entire globe!

Why should we care, you may ask? Well… the rhythms of life on Earth have been orchestrated for millennia by the consistent diurnal/ nocturnal patterns of light and dark, day and night. Disruption

Reveling in our dark night

via simple means — smart lighting! We aim to be the first community in the Valley to earn IDA International Dark Sky Community designation (www.darksky.org), joining other Colorado communities like Ridgway, Crestone and Norwood.

Turning off lights, the use of simple tools such as light shields or down-lit fixtures, informed selections for light bulbs/LEDs, the use of timers — all of these help to reduce light pollution. Another piece of the puzzle is to understand and embrace local lighting ordinances that provide safe lighting at night while curtailing ill-considered or badly placed night fixtures that invade neighboring homes as well as local wilderness areas and the night sky.

to these patterns — beginning around 1880 with the advent of electric light bulbs — has impacted the ecological balances of almost every living creature. Humans, animals, birds, insects... even coral have been negatively affected by too much light.

The human species has developed a myriad of issues linked to the disruption of our ever-important circadian rhythm. The wild kingdom is experiencing survival

challenges and extinctions at an alarming rate because, in part, age-old patterns to ensure survival have been interrupted with new and bright light patterns erasing cloak-of-night protections many depend upon. Light pollution has become a pervasive issue the world over, with glare, light trespass and skyglow stemming predominantly from the excessive use of outdoor artificial lighting. We are quickly turning our nights into

day, 24/7.

Old Snowmass has spearheaded an initiative within our community in Pitkin County through an international group helping many cities, towns, communities, preserves and national parks to put the brakes on light pollution. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) oversees a rigorous program for interested places on the planet to address light pollution

The Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus is endeavoring to hold to our current darkness levels and stem any further light pollution in our neck of the woods — maybe even reducing current levels down a notch. This will happen through education and awareness campaigns and thus we are planning some fun and interesting activities and programs open to all!

For example: information on how to buy the right LED bulbs

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2023 Sunday Summer Concert Series in Sopris Park

Jen Hamilton will share the stage with Mitt Spicy and the Blues Bandits.

The Cartwright Brothers will share the stage with Cruz Contreras (formerly of The Black Lillys)

Presented by The Town of Carbondale with generous contributions from Sopris Liquor and Wine, Alpine Bank, Sopris Sun, Amore Realty, Roadside Gallery, KDNK and Steve’s Guitars.

The Milky Way spills over Capitol Peak and Mt. Daly. Photo courtesy of Pete McBride

Crystal River Restoration Project hits another snag

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

For years, the Crystal River Restoration Project (CRRP) has been a topic of conversation. In 2016, a section of the river south of Crystal Bridge Drive in Carbondale was identified by the Roaring Fork Conservancy as “unsustainably impaired” due to its wide and shallow channel, which can trap fish in warm waters during low-flow. In addition to in-stream work, the project grew to encompass improvements at Riverfront Park as well as replacement of the Weaver Ditch headgate with the potential for automation.

Riverfront Park is a half-mile, outand-back trail acquired by the Town of Carbondale in 1994 with approval for the development of River Valley Ranch. The park is closed for bald eagle nesting every winter and dogs are excluded yearround. It’s a quiet spot for bird watching, with nesting boxes and low visitation. A stone cairn sits beside the trail near its entrance. This “apacheta,” an earthhonoring altar, is intended to connect visitors with nature through offerings of flowers, feathers and prayers.

In 2019, residents of Carbondale were invited to comment on conceptual designs for the CRRP. More drastic alternatives were set aside for an approach that focuses impacts on the first 315 feet of the park, installing a wheelchair-accessible ramp and an outdoor classroom feature there while mostly leaving the existing trail as is. Portions will be repaired, interpretive signs replaced and weeds mitigated. Four angler access points will also be installed to curtail riverbank erosion due to “bandit trails.”

After two years of fundraising, it was announced to the Board of Town Trustees on May 23 that work would begin within two weeks. This ruffled feathers at Roaring Fork Audubon (RFA), sensitive to the presence of 36 confirmed bird species that nest in Riverfront Park.

“This particular area is so narrow and so packed with such a great diversity of breeding birds, there is no way to escape the damage to the bird species that this disturbance will do, causing birds to completely abandon their nests, and therefore lose the eggs and young for this year,” wrote Mary Harris, chair of RFA.

According to Cornell University, the

population of North American birds declined by nearly 30% between 1970 and 2019. With many factors driving this trend, protecting every breeding season is a priority. American dipper populations, a local indicator species for water quality, declined by 27% between 1998 and 2016, the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas estimated.

Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger responded to RFA’s concerns by delaying work and consulting with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist on June 6. “They will be sending us a letter of recommendation of construction start times, which will be after July 15,” he wrote. According to RFA, any work prior to July 15 would violate the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The challenge, Brendlinger informed The Sopris Sun, is that in-stream work must be completed by Sept. 30 so as not to interfere with spawning fish, as directed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Significant run-off may also prevent that work from beginning until midJuly. “We don’t want to harm the fish and we don’t want to harm the birds,” Brendlinger assured. “We’re here to benefit the ecology, not to hurt it.”

The installation of a fence and gate will make bald eagle closures easier to enforce, he continued, and the no-dog policy will remain. No heavy equipment will be used upstream from the outdoor classroom installation, only hand tools. Later, channel and bank work will be performed from within the river with access from the Weaver Ditch headgate.

Harris clarified that RFA is in favor of curtailing invasive vegetation and “improving any stream that needs tending to in the proper season.” However, “sometimes the best path is to leave parts of our surrounding natural habitat as it is — supporting the wildlife that lives here.”

“I think this project will truly benefit the birds in the long run,” insisted Brendlinger, hoping that new interpretive signage can educate park users on how to behave, especially during more sensitive times of the year.

The CRRP began as a partnership between Aspen Valley Land Trust, Roaring Fork Conservancy, American Rivers, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Public Counsel of the Rockies and Trout Unlimited.

What wonders await? Riverfront Park's trail has for years provided a wild getaway within Carbondale. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Homeless collaborative receives massive grant

By James Steindler Contributing Editor

The Valley Alliance to End Homelessness (VAEH) is made up of a group of organizations with a mission to do just what its name implies: end homelessness in the tri-county area.

West Mountain Regional Health Alliance (WMRHA) was awarded $2,743,690 through the Transformational Homelessness Response Grant Program (THRGP), within the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing, to go toward VAEH’s collective mission. The award represents the second largest grant amount in Colorado for the first round of the THRGP, according to a press release.

VAEH is composed of public and private organizations including: Garfield and Pitkin County Human Services, Eagle County Homeless Services, Catholic Charities of the Western Slope, Mind Springs Health, Recovery Resources and Salvation Army. WMRHA acts as the coordinating organization.

“The VAEH regional collaborative exists to institutionalize best practices in three areas: policy and procedure development, strategic planning and consolidated regional funding, to achieve a sustainable regional response for ending homelessness,” the press release stated. “The THRGP grant will provide up to three years of collaborative funding to expand the continuum of care for the region to transform homelessness response.”

The collaboration began somewhat informally in 2019. Then, their cooperation was put to the test during the pandemic which prompted working together to keep people safe and housed. The core members later decided to formalize VAEH, developing a strategic plan and working on collaborative fundraising. This, quite literally, paid off. It’s often said that addressing homelessness is not

a one-size fits all approach. “All of these organizations are doing a piece of what we call the ‘continuum of care,’’' Cristina Gair with WMRHA told The Sopris Sun. “It’s a complex challenge to serve those who are experiencing homelessness, whether they are individuals or families.”

Of course, the level of need varies. While some people are faced with becoming unhoused, others in the Valley are considered chronically homeless, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The whole idea is that you look at each person, or each family, and say, ‘How do we get those individuals housed?’” said Gair. “We believe a regional continuum of coordinated and accessible resources, guided by a shared housing-first approach, is the foundation for ending and preventing homelessness.”

The fact that it’s a regional grant is pertinent, she explained, “because we know that people experiencing homelessness are not concerned with jurisdictional lines.”

Regional collaboration is not easy, she said, “but this group of people has worked together to figure out how to actually make it happen, and WMRH has just been supporting and convening that process because we know we’re better together.”

She mentioned two specific challenges when it comes to housing people in the area: capacity and resources. “This grant will address both,” she stated.

Preventing someone from becoming homeless is better than losing housing and having to start over. Therefore, the collaborative also serves people on the verge of becoming homeless.

The housing market, as she put it, “is extremely, extremely tough,” which makes it more difficult for people to stay housed. “There are programs that can pay for housing for individuals and families, but it’s not

This visual represents data collected by VAEH as of April 2023 for the tri-county area. Note, the number of “total unhoused individuals” includes the nine “unhoused Veterans,” but only the heads of household from the 16 “unhoused families.” Chart by James Steindler

at the market rate that rents are going for right now.” VAEH’s strategic plan includes an intent to one day offer permanent supportive housing options in the area. Gair described permanent supportive housing as a “proven model,” that has had success in more urban areas, including Denver.

In fact, the “Denver Social Impact Bond Initiative,” a 2021 study which focused on chronically homeless individuals who cycle in and out of jail, saw that 77% of those clients aided with permanent supportive housing remained stably housed after three years.

In the Valley, people identified as chronically homeless are primarily individuals, not families. “With someone who’s experienced chronic homelessness, it’s a more involved process,” Gair shared. “You not only need affordable housing, but you also need supportive services attached.”

Gair concluded, “We want to thank our state partners, because they believe in what we’re trying to do as a region. We’re showing that this is really possible.”

When You Have Unexpected Medical

Of property taxes and a new services provider for the county jail

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

“Affordable housing starts with affordable property taxes,” said Glenwood Springs resident Craig Amichaux at Monday’s regular meeting. Amichaux spoke to the commissioners (BOCC) ahead of the agenda, starting with price increases over the last few years. “Twentyfour percent increase in electricity, 24% increase in lunch meat, 33% in flour, 48% increase on gasoline, and first quarter real wages are down 4.3%,” he said, acknowledging that the BOCC does not control inflation. “But, you do control the county budget,” he added. “You do control the mill levy and you do control the taxes.” Amichaux explained that, according to his recent Garfield County property tax assessment, he owes $44,000 for one property, up from $18,000. “That’s a 230% increase,” he exclaimed. “Please do something.”

Commission Chair John Martin told Amichaux that the county mill levy is 13.66. “That’s all we control,” he explained. “The rest of the mill levies are controlled by the special districts — 66% of that is the school districts and we don’t control school districts.” Martin added that the BOCC asked Colorado Mountain College to consider reducing the overall mill levies “so that your taxes remain the same overall in reference to collection.” He invited Amichaux to Tuesday’s BOCC work session, which included discussion about the property tax process and the temporary mill levy credit

GCPLD REPORT

option for Garfield County.

Amichaux mentioned that the tax on property he owns in another (unspecified) county, which has a paved driveway, curb, gutters, fiber optics and utilities, is $266. He compared that to a vacant, unimproved property he owns in Glenwood Springs, assessed at $4,800. “We don’t want to be Los Angeles County here,” he said.

Before moving on to agenda items, Martin said that 800 property tax protests had been filed with the county assessor’s office by the end of last week. Jim Yellico, county assessor, told The Sopris Sun that those numbers jumped to a little over 900 by Tuesday. The deadline for appeals is Thursday, June 8.

Other business

The BOCC approved a letter to the USFS about the proposed Thompson Divide Withdrawal, highlighting that the proposed withdrawal does not include methane capture, a key reason behind their support for the CORE Act. The letter requests that this be replaced in any decision made about the withdrawal.

After approving a liquor license for Glenwood Canyon Resort, the Board began a discussion with Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario and administrative commander Cathy Dalla about a supplemental budget request for $318,075 for inmate medical, mental health and withdrawal services for the next six months. Vallario explained that the current provider’s contract is up on June 30 and that a new provider, CorrHealth, has been chosen. But, he added, “We have to have the funds before we can award the contract.” Vallario said that the supplement request is to “augment the difference for the remaining six months of the year.” The BOCC approved the request and went on to approve most of the consent agenda before returning to a discussion about the CorrHealth selection process.

Vallario and Dalla reviewed inmate health cost increases, including nursing and insurance. Dalla said that what the county budgeted for this year and what came from state grants totaled $1.7 million, up $636,000 from 2022. But, services so far this year have cost over $2.3 million. Ultimately, the Board approved

Library board meeting draws

a crowd

By Lynn “Jake” Burton Sopris Sun correspondent

The June 1 Garfield County Public Libraries District (GCPLD) board meeting in Carbondale attracted more than two dozen members of the public and several had comments. Library board meetings are at 2pm on the first Thursday of each month, rotating around the various library branches from Parachute to Carbondale.

Why did so many folks turn out at this meeting? Well, you must backtrack to at least two board meetings earlier this year, where members of the public objected to content, placement and other concerns over library materials, many related to LGBTQ issues.

At the May board meeting, one member of the public said she was concerned that a member of one branch’s staff “appears to be transgender.” At the same meeting, another speaker told the board the libraries have “inappropriate” and sexual content that is “sexualizing” children.

At the Carbondale meeting, GCPLD Executive Director Jamie LaRue said that transgender people are “part of the community” and they are “human beings” deserving of “dignity and respect.” His comments drew enthusiastic claps from the audience, the first of several rounds of applause for speaker remarks.

Ten of 11 people who addressed the board gave support for what some consider objectionable materials, and also support the Carbondale Library staff for making those materials available.

New Castle resident Janean Nutter started the meeting’s public comment portion by telling the board that 40 years ago she was new to a town and her boyfriend confided that he was gay. She said she felt alone, so went to a library and “set out” to educate herself and learn “the real truth.” Those books “were an enormous comfort to me,” she said, and people today need the same access to such books as she had 40 years ago. She concluded by saying there’s no excuse for banning books, “none.”

Neal Pollock was the voice of dissent for the day. He started his remarks by saying his pronouns are “citizen, veteran, boater and taxpayer.” Among his wide-ranging comments, which were crammed into the three-minute public comment part of the meeting, he said there are two genders: ovulators and inseminators. After the meeting, he told The Sopris Sun he objects to such books as “How to be a Girl,”

CorrHealth's contract for $2,342,760, which will be included in next year’s budget.

The BOCC also heard detailed updates on the county’s oil and natural gas scene from industry liaison Kirby Wynn and on the state of the Colorado River from Lindsay DeFrates and Melissa Wills of the Colorado River Water District.

Wynn reported three active natural gas rigs in the county. Laramie Energy and Chevron want to drill later this year. Public complaints have decreased at Energy Advisory Board meetings, which Wynn said may be due to a decrease in drilling as well as better practices by industry. Based on survey results, April’s Energy and Environment Symposium was a success. Garfield County and the Western & Rural Local Governments Coalition continue to work on state rulemakings. Wynn also mentioned, among other things, that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is now the Energy and Carbon Management Commission, and has regulatory authority over deep geothermal and underground natural gas storage.

DeFrates' presentation included the Colorado River crisis, cutbacks and the complexities of water use agreements among the Upper and Lower Basin states, and how water managers around the West have set their sights on reducing water loss from evaporation and transit.

which is part of June’s Pride Month display at the Carbondale Library.

Carbondale resident Debbie Bruell was up next. Reading from a prepared text, she said she supports a “robust collection” in the library and “it’s important” for teens to see themselves represented in books, that libraries are more important than ever but they are under attack, which brought more applause.

Illène Pevec, also of Carbondale, complimented the Carbondale branch staff, saying she feels lucky for the service they provide, and the “great job” they did during COVID.

Bryan Alvarez-Terrazas greeted the board with “Happy Pride Month ya’ll” (received with claps). They called the push to ban certain books “homophobic” and said, “we’re not going to disappear” (more claps).

Carbondale resident Luis Yllanes concluded public comments about LGBTQ books by referring to “creeping fascism” and said, “I’m glad we have the strength not to allow that.”

During her monthly report to the board, Carbondale Branch Library Manager Tracy Kallassy wrote that Lauren Harutun is the library’s new youth services director. Harutun has “breathed new life” into “Storytime,” she said, with a visit from firefighters and special “Dia del Niño” celebration. She is fluent in Spanish and “has used her skills to connect with many of our Spanish-speaking patrons.”

Additionally, Rae Quiroz has been promoted to full-time library specialist. She is also fluent in Spanish.

“Our team is full of smart, creative, and talented people, and they are working hard every day to serve our patrons and make our library and our community a better place,” Kallassy’s report concluded.

"Tiny homes are not exempt."

Garfield County library board meetings rarely draw more than a handful of members of the public, if that many. The June 1 meeting at the Carbondale Branch Library attracted just over two dozen. Photo by Lynn “Jake” Burton

Open 5:00 p.m. Slack 5:45 p.m.

Grand Entry 7:30 p.m.

Admission: Adults $15

Children 10 & under Free w/Adult

Fence parking $50

On-site vehicle parking $10

Shuttle bus from town FREE

Reduced price tickets available at Roaring Fork Valley CO-OP

Gus Darien Arena

1 mile East of Carbondale on Catherine Store Road

PRESENTED BY EAST COAST ASSET MANAGEMENT MIKE CONNOLLY, ASPEN

1 MILE FUN RUN 5K

37th annual

Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a casual walker, we’ve got a race for you!

Join us for a day of community, friendly competition, and supporting the Buddy Program.

REGISTER TO RACE AT buddyprogram.org/boogiesbuddyrace

Aunque seas un corredor con experiencia o un caminante casual, ¡Tenemos una carrera para ti! Acompáñanos para un día de comunidad y competencia amistosa para apoyar al Buddy Program.

REGISTRATE PARA LA CARRERA buddyprogram.org/boogiesbuddyrace

5 MILE

FAMILY AND PET FRIENDLY!

Demonstrators lined Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs on June 3 to protest the Uinta Basin Railway, which would bring 350,000 barrels of highly viscous crude oil per day through Glenwood Canyon. These protests, organized by 350 Roaring Fork, will continue on the first Saturday of each month.

Courtesy photo by Julie Wille of Women for Wild Lands

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

DREAM YOGA

Andrew Holecek leads a five-day lucid dreaming yoga retreat at Beyul Retreat, today through Monday, June 12. Visit www.beyulretreat. com for more info and to register.

MARBLE MUSEUM

The Marble Museum is open Thursdays through Sundays 11am to 3pm. The museum is housed in the historic Marble schoolhouse, located at 412 Main Street.

LEGO CAMP

Help build a lego display at the Basalt Library that will stand for “years to come” today at noon.

RODEO

MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY

The Josefina Mendez Quintet plays some jazzy tunes at the Basalt Library at 5:30pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic fixings to enjoy during the show.

CONSCIOUS LIVING

True Nature co-founders, Deva and Eaden, shed light about yoga, lifestyle and spirituality at True Nature at 6pm.

HAPPY HOUR CRITIQUE

Join the Carbondale Clay Center’s “Happy Hour Critique” to receive feedback on your latest ceramic projects from 6 to 8:30pm. Sign up at www.carbondaleclay.org

‘THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT’

Thunder River Theatre presents “The Lifespan of a Fact” tonight at 7:30pm. The show continues Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm through June 24. Matinees are Sundays at 2pm through June 25. Visit www.thunderrivertheatre. com for tickets and more info.

MEET US AT

JULY 4 WAGNER PARK, ASPEN

RUN TO BENEFIT

Scan to register Escanee para inscribirse

SPONSORED BY:

The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo kicks off at 5:30pm every Thursday through Aug. 17 at the Gus Darien Riding Arena (County Road 100). Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Roaring Fork Valley Coop. A free shuttle runs from 6 to 10pm between the rodeo and The Orchard (110 Snowmass Drive). Limited onsite parking is now $10 per vehicle.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

The Crystal Theatre shows “You Hurt My Feelings” tonight at 7:30pm and Saturday, June 10 at 5pm, “Spider-Man Across the Spider Verse” on June 9, 10, 14 and 15 at 7pm, and a one-night-only viewing of “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90” on Sunday, June 11 at 5pm.

PARKER MILLSAP

Renowned folk-rock artist Parker Millsap performs at TACAW at 8pm. Visit www.tacaw.org for tickets.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

GEM & MINERAL SHOW

The increasingly popular Marble Gem and Mineral Show kicks off today and lasts through Sunday, June 11. Visit www. marblegemshow.com for more info.

DRAWN TO THE SURFACE

The Carbondale Clay Center’s newest exhibit, “Drawn to the Surface,” opens and continues through July 8 with a First Friday reception scheduled for July 7 at 6pm. Gallery hours are from 10am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, and from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays.

HOLDEN�MAROLT HOEDOWN

The Aspen Historical Society celebrates 60 years at its annual Holden/Marolt Hoedown at the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum at 4pm. Visit www.aspenhistory.org for more info.

FRINGE FEST

The 15th annual Aspen Fringe Festival at the Wheeler Opera House begins at 7:30pm and continues on June 10 at 7:30pm. Find details at www.aspenfringefestival.org

BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS

TACAW screens the documentary “What the Hell Happened to Blood Sweat & Tears?” at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

DANI JEAN�BAPTISTE

James Barrs, Delaney Meyers and Rai Omri perform as Dani JeanBaptiste at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

RFOV

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers work at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus from 9am to 3:30pm. All volunteers will receive a coupon for The Cocoa Club in Carbondale. Sign up at www.rfov.org

SEED PEACE

Seed Peace welcomes volunteers at Sunfire Ranch Mondays from 8am to noon, and Fridays from noon to 4pm. PRIDE

The City of Glenwood Springs hosts its second annual Pride Festival in Bethel Plaza, with music, familyfriendly activities and a special video address from Governor Jared Polis. It starts at 5pm and all are welcome.

BOTANICAL DYE

Katie Brown leads a botanical dye workshop at the Tiny Pine Bistro at 5pm. Visit www.box-eleven. com to register and for more info.

SOUND IMMERSION

Ildi Ingraham presents “June Sound Immersion” at 7 p.m. at the Carbondale Branch Library.

SHANE TORRES

Comedian Shane Torres performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

MEXICAN RODEO

The first family-friendly Jaripeo Ranchero rodeo of the season begins at 2pm at the Gus Darien Riding Arena with Banda Rafaga headlining the music.

BARN MARKET

Find local artisans’ works and more at the Old Thompson Barn Market today from 3 to 6pm at the Old Thompson Barn in River Valley Ranch.

SUMMER CONCERT

Carbondale’s free Second Sunday Concert Series in Sopris Park kicks off with Mitt Spicy and the Blues Bandits and Jen Howard beginning at 3pm.

ASPEN FILM

Aspen Film shows “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90” tonight and tomorrow night at 7pm. Visit www.aspenfilm.org for tickets.

ECSTATIC DANCE

Celebrate the full moon with an ecstatic dance at 13 Moons Ranch, south of Carbondale, from 6 to 8pm. No RSVP necessary, just show up!

MONDAY, JUNE 12

FAMILY CAMP

Beyul Retreat hosts its Family Camp, where families can get away from the hustle and bustle for a few days, starting at 3pm today and through the morning of Thursday, June 15. The second Family Camp opportunity at Beyul starts immediately after, June 15-18. Visit www. beyulreatreat.com for more info.

‘THE PUBLIC’

Carbondale Library shows

Emilio Estevez’ 2018 film, “The Public,” tackling issues of homelessness and mental health, at 5:30pm. All adults are welcome. The free screening will repeat at the Glenwood Springs Library on June 13 at 6pm.

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

PROFESSOR PROTON

Garfield County Libraries presents the educational and entertaining Professor Proton for an all-ages show at the Carbondale Library at 11am and Glenwood Springs Library at 2pm.

DANCE ASPEN

Watch Matthew Neenan develop a new dance piece live at the Aspen Art Museum at 3:30pm. Visit www. danceaspen.org for more info.

CLIMATE ACTION

CORE’s climate action event series kicks off with a free talk at The W in Aspen (550 South Spring Street) from 5:30 to 7:30pm regarding lessening carbon emissions in the kitchen. For more info, visit www.aspencore.org/events

DRAWING CLUB

The Roaring Fork Drawing Club kicks it at The Cocoa Club for social doodling at 6:30pm.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

CARBONDALE MARKET

It’s time to get some fresh veg at Carbondale’s farmers market, Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm through Sept. 27!

GROUP MEDITATION

True Nature hosts guided meditations in the Peace Garden every Wednesday and Thursday from 12:15 to 1pm.

BIKE PROJECT

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

SURVIVORS CELEBRATION

In celebration of National Cancer Survivor Month, the CalawayYoung Cancer Center at Valley View hosts a tribute with live music and sweet treats in Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs from 4 to 6pm.

CMC EXHIBIT

Colorado Mountain College’s Aspen campus hosts an opening reception for “Terrene,” an exhibit featuring the work of two local artists Leah Aegerter and Mila Rossi, at 4pm.

‘REEL ROCK 17’

Don’t miss a screening of “Reel Rock 17,” which includes three new films featuring climbing adventure stories based in Pakistan, France and Palestine, at the Carbondale Library at 7pm.

RIVER SPELL

Steve’s Guitars presents River Spell (with locally-born drummer Zack Ritchie) at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

BOOK CLUB

The Third Thursday Book Club discusses "House of Rain" by Colorado author Craig Child at 2pm at the Carbondale Library.

NEW MOON CEREMONY

Sheridan Semple leads a new moon ceremony at True Nature at 6:30pm. Visit www.truenaturehealingarts. com for tickets and more info.

FRIDAY, JUNE 16

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

STRAWBERRY DAYS

Glenwood Springs celebrates its 126th Annual Strawberry Days today through Sunday, June 18. Friday’s music features Cody Jeffryes at 4:30pm, Highway 82 Band at 6pm and Funkihpino at 8pm in Two Rivers Park. Find the full lineup and peripheral events at glenwoodchamber.com

MEMORY SCREENING

Roaring Fork Neurology in Basalt offers free memory screenings from 8am to 4pm. Email shelby@rfneurology.com for more info. Walk-ins are welcome.

LOS MOCOCHETES

Denver-based “Xicanx/funk” band Los Mocochetes performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

YARN CLUB

The Roaring Fork Yarn Club convenes at Sopris Park at 9am.

STRAWBERRY PARADE

The Glenwood Springs Strawberry Days parade begins at 14th Street and Pitkin Avenue at 10am, moving north toward 7th Street with free strawberries and ice cream served by the Kiwanis in Two Rivers Park after the parade.

FREE - CONSCIOUS LIVING

Join True Nature’s Co-founders Deva and Eaden to learn how yoga, lifestyle, and spirituality can support your personal growth and deepen community connections.

Friday 6-7pm 6/9 at True Nature

CREATIVE WRITING

An online class to hone writing skills and expand self-expression with creative writing and/or poetry.

Wednesdays 6-8pm 6/14-7/12

PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Get off the automatic settings on your DSL camera in this beginner to intermediate class.

Saturdays & Wednesdays 9am-1pm 6/18-7/5

MORE SWING DANCE

Build on the basics of Jitterbug (East Coast) Swing with Charleston, Lindy Hop (West Coast) basics and expand your dance knowledge.

Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm 6/28-7/26

EXPLORE COLLAGE

Express your creativity through the art of collage, and create fun and sophisticated compositions with this versatile medium. 2D or 3-D.

Fridays 10am-2pm 7/7-8/4

NOTE: this is a 1-Credit course. Call 970-963-2172 for registration info.

KILN GLASS

Join Linda Halloran in this series of five hands-on classes to create small plates or coasters and a large (10”) plate or bowl in glass. No prior experience necessary.

Sat/Sun 1-5pm 8/5-8/19

Are You Worried About Your Memory?

Friday, June 16th 8AM-4PM

,

(970) 927-1141 Ext: 6 EMAIL:

YOU A INVITED SUNscriber Soiree

June 21, 5-8pm

Celebrate The Sun with a free, family-friendly, yard party-potluck at the Community Bread Oven behind the Third Street Center on Wednesday, June 21 from 5 to 8pm.

We will provide pizza dough and non-alcoholic beverages, you can bring special toppings or a side dish to share, a lawn chair, lawn games (think croquet, bocce, cornhole, frisbee toss, etc.), family and friends!

Game On!

WHEN: Wednesday, June 21, 5 to 8pm WHERE: 3rd St. Center Bread Oven

Please let us know you are coming! Send an RSVP to Todd@Soprissun.com

Sol del Valle

Por Leo y Annette Voices Radio Hour

Se acerca el día del padre y con él, una oportunidad de reflexionar en el impacto que tiene esa figura paterna en nuestros niños, en su visión del mundo y su día a día. Le pregunté a mis hijos ¿qué significa para ellos? Y he aquí una ventana a sus corazones. ¡Gracias y feliz día a todos esos padres que con intención y concienzudamente lo dan todo, sobre todo su corazón! Tal vez no lo escuchan todo el tiempo, pero su presencia y su amor hacen de su hogar un lugar seguro para crecer, y pleno para ser feliz. -Intro de Iliana Rentería

Leo, 11 años: El día de los padres es un día muy especial en donde celebramos a mi papá por ser un padre, pero, ¿cuáles son las cosas que hace? Trabaja duro para que nosotros podamos divertirnos y hacer las cosas que nos gusta hacer. Él nos hace sentirnos bien cuando nos sentimos mal o nos hemos lastimado. Él siempre va a estar con nosotros no importa lo que pase, y cuando tenemos un evento importante él siempre viene a echarnos porras.

Lo que hace mi papá es un trabajo que solo un papá puede hacer. Él me cuida y me hace feliz, y él me lleva a que juegue deportes.

Mi papá siempre nos hace reír, y si hay algo en lo que necesito ayuda, él siempre me enseña como hacerlo.

Mi papá es muy fuerte, y muy valiente y si alguien necesita ayuda él los va ayudar. También es muy amable, respetuoso, e inteligente. Si le pido que me ayude en cosas como las matemáticas él me enseña

como hacerlo. Mi papá también me enseña sobre muchas cosas y siempre se asegura que me vaya bien en las cosas que yo hago.

Si hago un error él siempre me corrige y me dice lo que hice mal y cómo mejorarlo.

Mi papá me compra cosas porque siempre me quiere ver feliz. Mi papá hace todo lo que puede para que yo me divierta. Mi papá se asegura de que yo tenga una educación buena y que yo aprenda muchas cosas.

Entonces, eso es por lo que festejamos a los padres en el Día de Los Padres: Por todo ese gran trabajo que mi papá hace. Por todo ese esfuerzo. Porque hacen todo lo que pueden para hacer a su familia feliz.

Annette, 16 años: ¿Cómo describir a un padre? Es algo bastante difícil, como lo sería con cualquier otro familiar. Es más fácil describirlo por emociones que por definición, pues aún los diccionarios más avanzados fallan en describir (con la profundidad debida) cómo es un Padre.

Pues, entonces, ¿qué emociones son las que un padre debe hacer sentir? Yo misma no lo sé, pues no tengo a todos los padres del mundo, ni siquiera a un número lo suficientemente considerable como para hacer un reporte adecuado sobre todos los padres.

No es que haya una profesión especializada en el estudio del comportamiento de los padres…

De cualquier manera, es curioso que haya miles de libros entrenando a Padres y Madres sobre el comportamiento de sus hijos y sobre consejos para mantener la armonía familiar pero ninguno para los hijos, ¡como si los adultos no fueran igual de completos casos de misterio para los niños! ¡tal como

los niños son para los adultos!

En cualquier caso, creo que por lo menos, yo soy una experta en mi propio padre. De este conocimiento yo hablaré:

Un padre es relajado y divertido, pero a la vez serio cuando es necesario.

También son amorosos y alegres, firmes en su posición, pero a la vez buenos y amables. Un padre también es noble y protector, y tiene una manera peculiar, pero bastante eficaz de hacer que el hogar se sienta seguro.

Un extraño fenómeno ocurre con los padres al respecto a los animales, puesto que los animales del hogar se inclinan ante un padre, aún cuando dicho padre no quería mascotas.

Finalmente un padre es un buen hombre, un buen esposo, y un buen miembro de la comunidad. Sé todo eso, pues lo aprendí del mío, mi querido Papá.

Para Samuel, de su familia que le ama y agradece sus infinitos esfuerzos por vernos reír.

Annie, Leo & Lilys

Annette y Leo Bernal llegaron de México a los 10 y 5 años, respectivamente, para iniciar una nueva vida en familia en este valle. Annette ama la actuación, y ha tomado clases con el Barron Group de Nueva York, y clases de periodismo. Leo ama el deporte, e inició un grupo de intercambio en su biblioteca local. Ambos aman la lectura, dibujar y crear y tienen grandes sueños que de la mano de sus papás, un día van a alcanzar.

Volumen 2, Número 15 | 8 de junio de 2023 - 14 de junio de 2023

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

comunidades

Lo que Día de los Padres es para mí

Samuel Bernal junto a sus dos hijos Annette y Leo. Foto de cortesía

Desde siempre los seres humanos viajan o se desplazan. En todos los grupos sociales y civilizaciones ha pasado que unos se van y otros se quedan. En este espacio hablaremos de dos ejemplos clásicos plasmados en la literatura, que ayudarán a ver la importancia de las narraciones contadas a partir de las ausencias y los regresos.

“Viajar es regresar”, nos dice Michel Onfray en su ensayo, “Teoría del Viaje: Poética de la geografía". En uno de sus capítulos destaca la diferencia entre ser turista y ser viajero. El primero va de un lugar a otro con prisas y capturando imágenes para

subirlas a las redes sociales, confía más en el mundo digital y en las superpoderosas aplicaciones que, en lo que sus ojos están viendo y sus sentidos sintiendo.

El segundo, el viajero, abre todos sus sentidos a ese lugar, hace anotaciones a mano o bocetos en un cuaderno, se guía por su olfato y su curiosidad al siguiente destino. Experimenta en su cuerpo lo que le rodea y gesta un recuerdo que querrá relatar en una narración a sus conocidos, a sus familiares o vecinos.

Cuando el viajero regresa a casa contará estos recuerdos a los que se quedaron, y así mismo, los que se quedaron le contarán lo que pasó en su ausencia. Dependerá cómo se cuenten estas experiencias, para que haya valido la pena y se cree un diálogo que los identifique, y que, con los años, se convierta en un relato fundacional, en su historia común.

Un ejemplo que ha sido contado, millones de veces, es el regreso de Odiseo una vez que Troya ardió en llamas. Lo más bello de esta épica es que el narrador, Homero, deja a la imaginación del lector cómo se cuentan entre marido y mujer esas experiencias de 20 años de ausencia.

Hacia el final de este largo canto, Odiseo ya se deshizo de todos los pretendientes de su esposa,

su hijo Telémaco, que ya es un adulto, se encargará de todo el tiradero. Mientras él, ya aseado con ungüentos, se retira a la habitación conyugal y es aquí cuando Penélope le exige a su esposo antes que nada, le cuente todo lo que pasó durante esos 20 años de ausencia. Homero solo nos dice que se pasaron horas abrazados mientras cada uno se contaba lo que había pasado esos largos años hasta que los rosados dedos de la aurora entraron por la ventana cerrando los ojos de ambos quedándose dormidos.

“Wakefield,” es otro ejemplo muy peculiar, escrito por Nathaniel Hawthorne a mediados de los 1800. Es el cuento de un hombre londinense de clase media que un día, sin mayor explicación, decide ausentarse de su hogar. Se va a vivir a la calle de enfrente de su casa y mira por la ventana las consecuencias de su ausencia. No hay aventuras ni peripecias. Su viaje es inesperado, surge de un impulso que ni siquiera él mismo planeó. No sabe cuando será el regreso, pero está decidido a ser un anónimo y apátrida.

Después de 20 años, su esposa y su hija ya se acostumbraron a su ausencia. Wakefield camina bajo la lluvia justo enfrente de su casa anterior, mira por la ventana el fuego de la chimenea y a su mujer sentada tejiendo con su frazada de siempre.

Decide regresar, abre la puerta sin tocar y entra. Aquí acaba el relato.

Estos dos viajeros son completamente diferentes: Odiseo lleno de aventuras y peripecias, Wakefield un fracasado al cual, parece que no le pasó nada. Ambos se ausentan 20 años de sus seres queridos y de sus casas. Ambos y ambas tienen la gran oportunidad de ser unos héroes de sus propias vidas; dependerá de cómo y qué cuenten a su regreso. A su vez, las esposas, las que se quedaron, también tendrán mucho que contar para darse a conocer y tejer la historia de su comunidad.

Seamos los viajeros o los sedentarios, inmóviles en el mismo lugar; la invitación es aprender el arte de narrar, de contar las sensaciones y experiencias de tal manera que sea una memoria colectiva maravillosa.

Por Angélica Breña

Sopa de Letras

Arte de Jacquelinne Castro

Esquina Legal

Por Tony Mendez

Los límites personales son las líneas que una persona hace para separar su espacio personal, sus sentimientos, necesidades, y responsabilidades. El comunicar los límites personales a alguien más es definir que es aceptable para uno y que no lo es.

La autora Nedra Glover Tawwab, en su libro “Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself” o “Pon límites, encuentra la paz: Una guía para recuperarte a ti mismo,” explica que existen seis diferentes tipos de límites: los límites físicos, significando los límites de nuestro cuerpo y espacio personal; los limites sexuales, el tratar de limitar los temas de conversación inapropiados, las bromas de contenido sexual y otros comportamientos que no estamos dispuestos a

Creando, comunicando y respetando los límites personales

tolerar; los límites intelectuales y emocionales, cuales existen para que nuestras opiniones y nuestros sentimientos sean respetados por los demás aunque desaquerden con nosotros; los límites materiales, que indican cómo los demás pueden usar nuestras posesiones; y los límites de tiempo, que aseguran que los demás entiendan el valor de nuestro tiempo.

Aunque muchos de los límites están integrados dentro de la fábrica cultural, algunos ocupan ser comunicados para ser mejor entendidos. Aun después de comunicar los límites personales, los límites pueden ser porosos, o sea sin retención o seguridad, rígidos sin importar la situación, o saludables.

Un límite poroso es aquel que no se impone o que la otra persona puede ignorar o desobedecer fácilmente. Una persona con límites rígidos se cierra o amuralla para que nadie pueda acercarse a él/ella, ni física o emocionalmente. Esto suele ocurrir cuando alguien ha sufrido abusos físicos,

CHISME DEL PUEBLO

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Para Mi Madre

“Para Mi Madre” es una exposición con jurado que se inaugura este otoño en Carbondale Arts y que invita a artistas latinos a crear una representación visual de una carta de amor o una oda al concepto de la madre. Todos los artistas latinos que residan en el estado de Colorado y sean mayores de 18 años son bienvenidos. Los ganadores se anunciarán en la recepción inaugural de octubre y recibirán $600 dólares en premios. Para aprender más, visite a www.carbondalearts.com/ exhibitions/para-mi-madre

Directora de AZYEP

Aimee Yllanes ha sido nombrada como la siguiente directora ejecutiva del programa Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment, trabajando junto con la juventud de orígenes diversos para construir habilidades de autoestima y liderazgo a través de transmisión comunitaria.

Votación perdida

La representante Lauren Boebert (CD3) perdió su oportunidad de votar en el proyecto de ley de límite de endeudamiento el 2 de junio. Boebert reclamó que su inasistencia fue una ”protesta de ausencia” y que hubiera votado en contra del proyecto de ley, sin embargo, el video grabado por Morgan Rimmer de CNN muestra cómo ella corre por los escalones del Capitolio como si tratara de hacer el voto. Ella ingresó una declaración en el registro del congreso diciendo que ella fue “inevitablemente detenida”.

Actualización de la 133

La actualización más reciente del proyecto de reparación del puente de alcantarillado de la carretera 133 cerca de Paonia declaró que la excavación de la

emocionales o psicológicos. Los límites saludables son aquellos que permiten que cada persona de una relación o familia comunique sus deseos y necesidades, respetando al mismo tiempo los deseos y necesidades de los demás.

En contexto de relaciones domésticas, los límites personales aparecen en todos lados. Cada individuo en una relación tiene límites, tanto adultos como niños. Los límites físicos, sexuales, intelectuales, emocionales, materiales, y de tiempo de cada persona deben ser comunicados y respetados. Cuando hay niños involucrados, los padres también tienen la responsabilidad de crear, enforzar, enseñar, y emular los límites de los niños.

Muchas veces, el divorcio es solicitado porque uno de los individuos, o quizás ambos, han llegado a un punto en que la relación ya no funciona para los deseos, o límites, establecidos.

Este punto de quiebre, probablemente, es causado porque un límite debe haber sido comunicado y/o

respetado tiempo antes, y porque no fue respetado o comunicado, la relación se rompe irremediablemente.

Lo interesante es que en Colorado la corte no considera la mala conducta de ninguno de los cónyuges a la hora de conceder el divorcio o adjudicar bienes o manutención conyugal. La única base legal reconocida para el divorcio es que el matrimonio está irremediablemente roto. Sin embargo, si hay niños involucrados, el tribunal aplica una diferente ley al tema de custodia, conocida como el mejor interés del menor, que permite tomar en cuenta los hechos de una persona cuando se trata del mejor interés del menor.

Comprender nuestros propios límites, e incluso escribirlos, es el primer paso para establecerlos. El segundo paso es comunicar esos límites. Si el límite, o la relación, es saludable, se respetará. De lo contrario, puede que sea el momento de replantearse el tipo de relación que uno quiere tener con la otra persona si el límite no se respeta.

base del puente temporal ha comenzado y piezas están llegando de Carolina del Norte. El servicio de transporte gratuito concluyó el 2 de junio debido a un bajo número de pasajeros. Inscríbase para recibir correos de actualización contactando a CO133CulvertRepair@gmail.com

Subsidio PATH

FirstBank recibió una subvención de $1 millón de parte de Colorado Health Foundation para continuar el programa de ayuda económica “Proporcionado Acceso a Propiedad de Vivienda” (PATH por sus siglas en inglés), el cual se esfuerza en eliminar barreras para comunidades afroamericanas al proporcionarles acceso a propiedades de vivienda y ayudan a proveer $10,000 hacia la compra de un hogar. El programa ya ha proporcionado más de $2.6 millones en todo el estado, ayudando a 160 familias hasta la fecha.

Naloxona

En un esfuerzo de reducir muertes por sobredosis de opioides, la Salud Pública del Condado de Garfield está ofreciendo equipos de naloxona gratuitos en sus oficinas de Glenwood Springs y Rifle. La Naloxona es fácil de usar y puede revertir rápidamente una sobredosis.

Arrestos por fentanilo

El equipo de Respuesta y Ejecución de Problemas Especiales del condado de Garfield (SPEAR por sus siglas en inglés) han conducido una investigación en la distribución de fentanilo el 1 de junio el cual resultó en la confiscación de aproximadamente 1.300 pastillas de fentanilo, 45 gramos de metanfetamina y $2,000. Anthony Toovey fue arrestado por cuarta vez este año por la fuerza especial SPEAR, y más arrestos se han anticipado. Todos los individuos son considerados inocentes hasta que se demuestre lo contrario.

Si eres miembro de Holy Cross Energy, de seguro recibiste las boletas electorales para su mesa directiva, hoy tienes la oportunidad de hacer oír su voz. Todos los miembros son elegibles para votar independientemente de su estado de inmigración o su registro electoral: si recibe servicio eléctrico de Holy Cross, es miembro y tiene derecho a votar por quién quiere que lo represente en la mesa directiva.

En la elección de Holy Cross de este año, estoy apoyando a Alex DeGolia, que se postula en el Distrito Oeste. Alex comparte mis valores para proteger nuestro aire, clima y agua al invertir en electricidad limpia, accesible y renovable. Durante los últimos años, Holy Cross se ha convertido en un líder estatal y nacional en la transición a energía limpia y la protección de nuestro clima. Esto ha ayudado a ahorrar dinero a los miembros al mismo tiempo que garantiza un futuro mejor y más seguro para nuestras familias.

Las boletas deben devolverse antes del 13 de junio, o puede votar en línea en su cuenta de Holy Cross o en persona en la reunión anual del 15 de junio. Recuerda, todas las elecciones son importantes, no olvides votar.

Construcción de Meadows

La fase 1 del proyecto de reconstrucción de la carretera de Glenwood Meadow comenzará el 5 de junio. Para resolver las fallas en la carretera, con varias secciones de la carretera necesitando ser completamente reemplazadas, el consejo municipal de Glenwood Springs dedicó $2.4 millones de dólares de fondos de ayuda de COVID junto con $350,000 de los fondos de impuestos de carretera. Durante esta primera fase, con anticipo de conclusión a principios de julio, la calle de West Meadows (la entrada entre Target y Lowe's) está cerrada.

Beatriz Soto, New Castle

"Sincronías" parte 27, por Leonardo Occhipinti

River Spell makes its Carbondale debut

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

River Spell, a Colorado-based band, will make their Carbondale debut at Steve's Guitars on June 14. As a part of their summer tour, they will be traveling all over the state and will eventually circle back to Carbondale to perform at The Black Nugget on Sept. 1.

Officially formed in 2022, the band consists of lead vocalist and acoustic guitar player Grant Livingston, Ben Maillaro on the electric guitar, Jake DeMarco on bass, and Carbondale local Zack Ritchie on the drums. Together they make a sound all their own with an eclectic mix of folk, bluegrass, jam, funk and rock.

Since the band's inception, they have performed at Belly Up Aspen, Boulder’s Fox Theater, Your Mom's House (Denver) and The Larimer Lounge (also in Denver). Steve's Guitars will be a memorable moment for the bandmates, especially for Ritchie.

"We're really excited! This is our first time playing a hometown show or in the stomping grounds of a bandmate,” said Livingston. “We hope to evoke emotions of all sorts, but, generally speaking, we want to have a lot of fun. We'd like to get a dance party going and let people feel alive, help people come alive, and help ourselves come alive. We're just excited to get out there and celebrate."

Livingston was living in Northern California before making his way to Colorado, and has been a songwriter and musician for several years. Initially playing music on his own, he released “Grant and Friends” in 2021. He explained that this album featured an alternating cast of characters as he searched for bandmates. He would eventually meet his current colleagues and has been playing with them ever since.

Ritchie grew up in a family where music was always playing, and they frequented shows. He said that when

he finally got to middle school and was granted the opportunity to play instruments, he was drawn to the drums.

"My parents were very gracious and supportive and braved the early years of me just banging on stuff," he stated. "In my formative years with music, I saw a lot of music at Steve's Guitars. I have always wanted to go back there and have the opportunity to play from that stage. … It's a bucket list venue for me."

During his college years, studying music at the University of Colorado Boulder, Ritchie floated around freelance drumming for various bands. Ritchie eventually found his way to River Spell and has been performing with them ever since.

"It was a perfect fit right off the bat,” he said. “The way they play matches how I play well, and it's just a fun approach to music.”

Livingston said that while he and his bandmates find inspiration from the musical talents of the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the outdoors inspires a good amount of the songwriting.

"We try to get out on a trailhead, take a backpack

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and a guitar and keep walking until we feel inspired and come back with something new," he said.

Along with this, Livingston said that he and his bandmates practice a lot of improvisation both in the studio and on the stage, meaning that each audience is in for a unique show.

The band is currently piecing together their first EP, which they hope to release this summer. They also hope to release a full-length live album from their upcoming performance at the Black Box Theatre in Boulder, later in June.

While River Spell’s music is not yet on any streaming platforms, “Grant and Friends” is available to stream on Spotify, and videos of their past performances are on their website. For updates, visit www.riverspellmusic.com

For tickets to the Steve’s Guitars show on June 14 at 8pm, visit www.stevesguitars.net

WWTF Digester Building HVAC Improvements

Sealed bids for the construction of the WWTF Digester Building HVAC Improvements will be received from invited Bidders by the Town of Carbondale (“OWNER”) at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave, Carbondale, CO 81623, until 1:00 PM on June 27th, 2023, at which time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The MUA Replacement project consists of the removal and relocation of an existing Digestor Building MUA to the Upper Mechanical Building, and the installation of new duct work to an existing exhaust fan located on the Upper Mechanical Building roof. The work also includes the installation of a new MUA on the Digestor Building (pre-purchased by owner), installation of three new exhaust fans, and removal and installation of duct work to all HVAC equipment.

Bids will be received for a single prime Contract. Bids shall be on a unit price basis as indicated in the Bid Form. Bidding Docu ments will be provided to prospective Bidders as electronic PDF files.

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is Roaring Fork Engineering (RFE), 592 Hwy 133, Carbondale, CO, 81623 (Contact: Maggie McHugh, PE (614) 256-4714, MaggieM@rfeng.biz). Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issu ing Office on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8 AM to 5 PM and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below.

Bidding Documents are available as electronic portable document format (PDF) files Alternatively, printed Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office via in-person pick-up, for a non-refundable charge of $75 per set. Checks for Bidding Docu ments shall be payable to Roaring Fork Engineering. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered the date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.

A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at 1:00 PM on June 13, 2023 at the WWTF located at 0101 Highway 133, Carbondale Ave in Carbondale, CO.

A 5% bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Bidders shall submit proof of qualifications to perform the Work as described in the Instructions to Bidders.

River Spell at a recent performance: Ben Mallaro (far left) on electric guitar, lead singer Grant Livingston (Middle), Jake DeMarco (right) on bass and Zack Ritchie (back) on drums. Courtesy photo

Carbondale Library strikes a chord with youth programming

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

When Lauren Harutun, youth services coordinator at the Carbondale Branch Library, began asking parents and teens what they would like to see for youth programming, she said, “Far and away, the answer was ‘music.’ I heard the call and said, ‘I'm bringing in music for the kids.’”

The first offering of youth music programming is a six-part series of ukulele lessons led by Aspen Music Festival instructor Mateo Sandate. Classes will meet on Tuesdays from 3 to 5pm from June 20 to Aug. 1 at the Carbondale Library at 320 Sopris Avenue.

Many locals know Sandate as a guitarist and vocalist for Let Them Roar, a beloved band that played their final show at Mountain Fair’s 50th anniversary in 2021. And, as coincidence would have it, he is a former employee of the Carbondale Library.

Harutun said enlisting Sandate as the class instructor was a stroke of good fortune. “He's one of those souls that everybody knows, and is such a calming, wonderful presence. You just feel better for being in his presence,” she said.

Accolades for Sandate are only matched by his willingness to share his talents. “I love the library and what it offers the community,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to call Carbondale home for many years, so it’s an honor to give back to this community I love.”

The Garfield County Public Library District has purchased 10 ukuleles, allowing each student to keep their instrument. Harutun excitedly said, “They're all under my desk, and it’s amazing right now — it looks like Christmas morning!”

While the goal of the class is for students to gain some proficiency on the ukulele, Sandate’s teaching philosophy focuses on enjoying the experience. “There’s no better way to learn than ‘play’ when it comes to learning anything, including an instrument. I hope we have a lot of fun and play a lot of songs,” he said.

Harutun hopes the library’s music offerings will expand to other options, such as adult-child music classes and a Día de los Muertos-themed class. Another of Harutun’s goals is to increase the library’s inventory of musical instruments (which now includes one ukulele) available for checkout.

Along with music programming, Harutun would like to the library to start a maker-space, a creative hub for hands-on learning for patrons to create projects like 3D printing or wool-spinning among others. Illustration by Sofie Koski

Looking ahead, a visit from the local Celtic band, Oran Mor, will have kiddos moving and grooving to the beat on July 15 at 10:30am. As Harutun shared, “I bought a bunch of blocks and spoons and things, and [band member] Bobby Campbell will teach kids about rhythm, music and movement.”

No previous musical experience is necessary for the ukulele class, which is limited to 10 students. Registration is required and graduates are scheduled to perform a song or two onstage at this year’s Mountain Fair, garbed in, Harutun hopes, tie-dyed Garfield County Public Library District t-shirts.

Anyone interested in contributing to youth programming can make a monetary donation online by clicking on the “Give Back” icon on the branch’s homepage. If you would like to donate to a specific library program, you can email Branch Manager Tracy Kallassy at tkallassy@gcpld.org

Register for the free ukulele class — meeting Tuesdays from 3 to 5pm from June 20 to Aug. 1 — by stopping by the Carbondale Library or calling 970963-2889. For more information, go to www.gcpld.org

CARE has 6 dogs and 11 cats available for adoption.

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What a guy! 4-year-old BIFF is a snuggly, social boy who loves treats and car rides. He is full of love and eager companionship, and is great with other dogs, cats, and older kids! What more could you want? Contact us for his details!

By asking “How are you, really?” you can show your support and compassion for the mental health of others. For mental health resources visit AspenStrong.org/GetHelp.

Bryce Pizano finds strength in challenge

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

Q: Please introduce yourself…

A: I’m Bryce Pizano. On Memorial Day weekend, I started as a seasonal, part-time firefighter EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) with the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District. I'm lucky enough to live at Station 82 in Redstone. There are apartments at the Redstone, Carbondale and Missouri Heights stations offered to people who want to volunteer or work for the fire department.

Q: How did you start with the fire department?

A: In January 2022, I started as a volunteer and took an EMT class. Then I took a wildland firefighting course and a swiftwater rescue class.

Q: What’s involved with swiftwater rescue?

A: This year, we're looking at a big season for whitewater rescues. I was lucky enough to train rescue last year, but there’s a big push to get as many people as possible in our department certified this year. It’s probably the most intimidating of all of the things that we do. Being in the water and throwing yourself into that is definitely scarier than a lot of the things I did during fire academy.

Q: It's pretty unpredictable in the water, isn’t it?

A: Totally. You go in with a dry suit, helmet and life preserver, and you think you're prepared, and as soon as you hit that water, you get your breath taken away, and you know you just gotta go for it. I was never a strong swimmer, so it took a lot for me to figure out how to push myself, but that was part of why I did it. Now, I'm much more confident and prepared.

Q: Have you always liked to challenge yourself?

A: Absolutely, and maybe to a fault. I am very competitive and always was in school sports, but I was way more competitive with myself than with anyone else. I learned to be a good sport and tamp down the negative side of being competitive. I like to push my own boundaries as far as I can, but never imagined I'd be a firefighter.

Q: You'll be in community events like parades and see young girls standing on the sidewalk watching you go by on the fire truck. What would you say to them about becoming a firefighter someday?

A: To be confident in themselves. I've already been able to have this conversation with a few young women who say they're interested but worried. I tell them that, especially here, we have so many supportive people that want everyone who wants to be able to be a firefighter, to be able to and feel comfortable doing it. They're here to make sure you succeed.

And yeah, it's gonna be hard. It's the hardest thing I've ever done — getting through the fire academy and all these trainings — but I felt so good when I was done. Maybe I had to work a bit harder to meet those physical requirements, but I did, and it feels super great, so don't think you can't.

Q: This fire district seems like a good fit for you.

A: Our department is so supportive of a career that's traditionally been only for men. I feel very lucky to be in this area. Our entire region is pretty “equality forward,” but I've felt so welcome and appreciated in Carbondale, and that's awesome. We all have to count on each other. And in the worst-case scenario, when we're all

going in together, we know we can rely on each other. Not only do you want to make sure that people around you are like that, but I also want to make sure I'm capable. You push yourself, and it's great to say that I'm a woman doing this, just a person doing this.

Q: Very good. Anything else?

A: Yeah, become a volunteer. [A big smile and laugh.] Seriously, it's fun. We’ll supply you with all the knowledge you need, and it feels good to help your community. Volunteering takes some time, but it doesn't take much more than that … and heart.

Last year, Bryce Pizano and a junior firefighter tested their hose-handling skills at Redstone's Fourth of July celebration.

Photo courtesy of April Crow-Spaulding

CRMS grads walk

Graduation season wrapped with 44 Colorado Rocky Mountain School graduates receiving the customary leather diplomas on a gorgeous spring day, June 3. Every student has been accepted into a four-year university with five receiving the Colorado State Seal of Biliteracy.

COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCHOOL CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023

The University of Alabama

Arizona State University

University of Arizona

Barnard College

Boise State University

Boston University

Brown University

Cal Poly San- Luis Obispo

Cal Poly - Humboldt

California State University-Sacramento

University of California-Santa Cruz

Champlain College

Chapman University

Clarkson University

University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado College

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado State University

University of Denver

Elon University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Florida Institute of Technology

University of Florida

Fort Lewis College

Franklin University Switzerland

Georgetown University

Gonzaga University

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii Pacific University

Ithaca College

University of Kentucky

Lake Forest College

Lewis & Clark College

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago

Marist College

University of Miami

Montana State University

The University of Montana

Northeastern University

Northern Arizona University

Oregon State University

Oregon State University - Cascades

University of the Pacific

Pitzer College

Pomona College

Pratt Institute

University of Puget Sound

Purdue University - Main Campus

Reed College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Ringling College of Art and Design

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design

Roger Williams University

San Diego State University

University of San Diego

University of San Francisco

Santa Clara University

Savannah College of Art & Design

The University of the South Suffolk University

Syracuse University

The George Washington University

The New School

University of Oregon

University of Utah

University of Vermont

VERTO Ltd

Warren Wilson College

Washington State University

Western Colorado University

Western Washington University

Westminster College - UT

Wheaton College - MA

Whitman College

Willamette University

Photo by Renee Ramge Photography

Makai Yllanes, Lewis Cooper Photography

Mayan Schmidt, Montana Jacober, Aya Tesoro and Penelope Brabeck, Lewis Cooper Photography

Jeff Leahy, head of school, and Luke Batez, Lewis Cooper Photography

Estelle White and Maya Menconi, Lewis Cooper Photography

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High water levels are creating potentially dangerous conditions. Always check conditions before going on the water.

DANGEROUS CURRENTS

Debris and trees create invisible and dangerous underwater currents

COLD WATER

Cold water can result in potentially fatal hypothermia

UNSTABLE RIVER BANKS

Riverbanks can erode and break away without warning

LIFE JACKET

Always wear a life jacket while boating, paddleboarding or jet skiing

BOAT SOBER

Boating while impaired can be deadly

BOAT WITH FRIENDS

Never boat alone. Let someone know where you are going and when you will return

PROPER EQUIPMENT

Use equipment designed for the river or lake. Pool toys will not keep you safe

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NETTLE CREEK MICRO-HYDRO PROJECT

Issue Date: 5/23/2023 | Closing Date: 6/13/2023

Public Works Department

Town of Carbondale 511 Colorado Ave Carbondale, CO 81623

Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference: 6/6/2023 @ 9:30 at Project Site

Sealed bids for the construction of the Nettle Creek Micro-Hydro Project will be received from invited Bidders by the Town of Carbondale (“OWNER”) at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave, Carbondale, CO 81623, until 1:00 PM on June 13th, 2023, at which time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The Nettle Creek Micro-Hydro project consists of the installation of a micro-hydro plant located next to South Nettle Creek and the Nettle Creek Water Treatment Facility. The scope of work includes the construction of a micro-hydroelectric powerhouse and required existing pipeline modifications to operate the plant. Additionally, grading and drainage improvements will be part of the site work.

Bids will be received for a single prime Contract. Bidding Documents will be provided to prospective Bidders as electronic PDF files.

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is Roaring Fork Engineering (RFE), 592 Hwy 133, Carbondale, CO, 81623 (Contact: Maggie McHugh, PE (614) 256-4714, MaggieM@rfeng.biz). Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8 AM to 5 PM and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below.

Bidding Documents are available as electronic portable document format (PDF) files. Alternatively, printed Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office via in-person pick-up, for a non- refundable charge of $75 per set. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to Roaring Fork Engineering. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered the date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.

A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at 9:30 AM on June 6, 2023 at the project site located next to the Nettle Creek Water Plant. Contractors should plan for 2-3 hours for the site visit. See the project manual for more details about the mandatory pre-bid conference. Attendance at the pre-bid conference is mandatory.

A 5% bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Bidders shall submit proof of qualifications to perform the Work as described in the Instructions to Bidders.

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: Roaring Fork Engineering (RFE), 592 Hwy 133, Carbondale, CO, 81623 Contact: Maggie McHugh, PE (614) 256-4714, MaggieM@rfeng.biz).

Public Works Department Town of Carbondale

A Public Service from Your Pitkin County Public Safety Council

The 1493 Doctrine of Discovery: An interview with Steven Newcomb, Shawnee/Lenape

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

Editor’s note: The 1493 Doctrine of Discovery has formed the basis of Western expansion and oppression of original peoples globally for more than 500 years. In March 2023, Pope Francis repudiated the Doctrine. This is the first in a series of interviews with Indigenous leaders about the Doctrine of Discovery and the implications of the Pope’s announcement.

Shawnee/Lenape (lehNAH-peh) scholar Steven Newcomb’s introduction to the 1493 Doctrine of Discovery was the book “God is Red” by the late Standing Rock Lakota lawyer Vine Deloria Jr., which Newcomb read as a teen. Later, while attending the University of Oregon, he studied the 1823 Johnson v McIntosh ruling in a federal Indian law course. He had a hunch that Johnson and Deloria’s book were connected, which sparked a lifelong investigation into Vatican decrees, U.S. Federal Indian Law and Policy, and international law.

Newcomb is the director of Original Nations Advocates. His book “Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery'' was the basis of the film “Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code.” He has visited the Vatican twice, calling upon the Pope to revoke the Papal Bulls. He worked closely with the late Birgil Kills Straight, traditional ceremonial man of the Oglala Lakota Nation, from 1992 until Birgil’s passing in 2019. Together they founded the Indigenous Law Institute.

He spoke to The Sopris Sun in April. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

For those who may not be familiar with the Doctrine of Discovery, what is it?

What's typically been called the Doctrine of Discovery, at one point was called the Right of Discovery. The idea behind it is that the first Christian people to locate lands inhabited by natives, who were heathens back during the 15th and 16th centuries, supposedly had a right to assert ultimate dominion or a right of domination over those lands, despite the fact that original peoples had been living there for thousands and thousands of years.

It became incorporated into United States law in 1823 in the Supreme Court ruling Johnson v McIntosh. This is the 200th year since that ruling. [Johnson] is premised upon ideas and patterns that are expressed in a number of 15th century Vatican documents, called Papal Bulls or papal decrees, that were directives issued to monarchs, particularly the monarchs of Portugal and Spain. The patterns found within those documents, particularly in the Latin version and the English translation, exhibit what I call a claim of a right of domination over everyone and everything.

So, the context is the original free existence of our nations and peoples, extending back to the beginning of time through our oral histories and traditions, contrasted with the system of domination brought by ship across the ocean and imposed on everyone and everything. Once we have those two sides of that contrast, then we have a view from the shore of our ancestors looking out at those invading ships sailing toward them, and a view from the ship moving toward our ancestors with the intention to establish domination where it did not yet exist. That sets up the context for all of these conversations and patterns that we see manifesting today across the planet, not just for Indigenous nations and peoples, but for everyone and everything.

How is it possible that U.S. policy and federal Indian law is still based on something that was written in the 15th century?

If you purchase a house or a property, invariably there will be a title search all the way back to the origin of the title of that property. The United States has something called organic law or fundamental law, and it's based upon a title search. When you go into certain books published by the United States government, such as federal and state constitutions, colonial charters, and other organic laws of the United States, the reference to organic laws means the origin of the title.

The colonial charters — Papal Bulls, the prerogatives to Columbus, the charters to John Cabot and his son, to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Sir Walter Raleigh, the Virginia Charters — those are all originating documents of the framework of the United States. The Johnson

v McIntosh ruling is a reference to that origin. It's a creation story of the United States — the origin story, once upon a time. But they don't say “once upon a time”. They say “on the discovery of this vast continent, the great nations of Europe were eager to appropriate to themselves so much of it as they could respectively acquire.”

So they're telling you a story that goes back to those ancient Vatican documents because that's the origin point of the entire international world order. We usually hear about the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the drafting of the Constitution in Philadelphia, all these various documents. But the average person is not aware of these other subtleties of the historical and legal and political record. The Doctrine of Discovery/ Domination is interwoven into the roots of the United States. It's the conceptual roots of the United States, the patterns of ideas and behavior.

When you go into those documents and you read the Latin and the English, you begin to see the patterning. You get into some of the fundamental concepts of society, such as the word “civilization”, the word “state” or “sovereignty”, “descendancy”, “dominion”, “property”, “empire.” These seven terms of domination are the threads of the entire political and legal system of the United States. They're the strands of meaning, and each and every one of those terms goes back to “domination.”

They are created by people who know how to use words and ideas to create reality. The creation of reality through words is a form of magic; it's casting spells. These people have skill in being able to use these terms in a manner that creates meaning and reality for themselves to their own benefit and to the detriment of everyone else. They're working on maintaining the reality they already have. And we're trying to change that reality. That's where the conflict comes in.

Talk about how the Doctrine of Domination, as you call it, has impacted every Indigenous person in the world who has gotten in the way of European conquerors, and how it continues to impact indigenous lives today. I would say examples include the Catholic

schools that have taken indigenous youth over the decades, the Willow Project, Oak Flat and Rio Tinto, and the Nevada Nuclear Test Site.

Well, all of those are excellent examples. Murdered and missing Indigenous women for 500 years. That's not a recent phenomenon. The destruction of our languages and cultures and spiritual traditions, the theft of our children and putting them in those so-called schools — indoctrination institutions — to hammer “civilization” into them, which is really just the patterning of domination.

And, the ecological systems of our nations and peoples, our lands and territories, and the way in which our sacred sites have been devastated or taken over, the way in which all the place names have been projected by people from across an ocean. They said, okay, we're gonna claim it by naming it. Their metaphorical overlay is on everything that we have thousands of years of experience with.

So I would say that not only every Indigenous person, but all peoples, all nations, all ecological systems, all waterways, every single part of the planet has been negatively, destructively impacted by these patterns that we're talking about. The claim of a right of domination has been made into the organizing principle of the planet by way of these Vatican documents.

What are the implications of this socalled repudiation?

It gives the issue visibility. If enough pressure has been applied to budge the Vatican, a 2,000-year institution, the modern day manifestation of the Church of the Roman Empire, that's pretty significant. The fact that we can have a conversation like this one as a result of what's called a repudiation, I think that's terrific.

So it assists us in raising the kinds of insights and understandings that we want to put forward. It’s a new paradigm. We need a paradigm that's not premised upon domination, but is premised upon life, that accentuates and heightens life and beauty and love and all those things.

These are the knowledge and wisdom systems that the world has been deprived of as a result of the war against [Indigenous] wisdom systems, against our languages, cultures, and spiritual traditions. That war is still ongoing because there's nothing that the domination system hates more than that which is fundamentally at odds with itself, especially if it's able to model something beautiful and positive and true.

Listen to an extended version of this interview with Steven Newcomb on KDNK this Thursday, June 8, at 4pm during Everything Under The Sun. The archive will be posted at KDNK.org

Portrait of Steven Newcomb by Larry Day

Dad means ‘love’

VOICES Radio Hour

By Vianne Camara

When I think of the word “Dad” I get a mental image of him smiling. I don't know why, but it takes me down memory lane to hear the word. I go back to when I was 3 years old and would make my dad pick me up and put me in a tree so I could be with my sister. I remember staying home with him when we were both sick and watching Netflix shows. I remember him teaching me how to dance, and going out every other Saturday. He means the world to me.

Dad is just another way of saying “always” or “love” or “forever.” If you search up the definition, it’s: “one's father.” If you ask me, they deserve much more than two words. The definition of “dad” should be: “one's father that is always by your side and always protects and loves you. One’s father that treats you right and gives you the world. One’s father that doesn't give up on you and makes you smile. One’s father who drives you to college and gives you away at your wedding. One's father who loves you.”

Dad means everything.

What is your favorite memory of him?

I remember one time on my way to school, I got super sick so my dad took me back home and we spent the day watching Netflix shows, because neither of us could get up. I also remember both of us finishing dinner on Thursday nights, and there were tango classes across the street. Or, every time I've gone with him to Mexico, or even when we would go on mini motorcycle trips, just the two of us, up and down the Valley. Really, anytime I've gone anywhere with my dad has been my favorite trip.

The truth is, every memory with my father is my favorite.

What lessons has he taught you?

I once saw a quote: “Thank you, dad, for teaching me how to be a man, even though I am your daughter.”

My dad taught me how to drive, how to speak Spanish, play cards, dance salsa, and also how to just have fun. I have learned what I can't and can do, but I have also learned all I need to know about being a parent from him. Sometimes, I get mad at him and don't understand the why or what, but I know that what he does is for me.

And my dad has taught me many lessons not just by really teaching me them, but also by me just watching him live.

What would you like to say to your dad?

Thank you. Straight up, thank you. I seriously could not have gotten this far without him.

I have so many memories with him and so much I still want to do with him. I want to go on more road trips on the motorcycle, go dancing, stay home and do nothing. I want to have new experiences and more jokes shared between us. I want to thank him for everything he has done for me. I have had some of my best memories with him and I want to make more.

I want him to know that I am always here for him whether he's going through something emotional or physical. I hope he knows that. I love him with everything I have.

I could not have asked for a better dad and he means the world to me. Everything I've done with him has made me who I am and I can't wait to continue to grow with him by my side. My dad has a very special place in my heart that carries all of our memories, and plays our favorite songs on repeat.

Tune in for VOICES Radio Hour, a collaboration with Circa 71 Production, on KDNK this Friday, June 9, at 6pm. This month’s episode features youth voices from SoL Theatre Company sharing a “Portrait of Dads.” Visit www.voicesrfv.org to listen to archives.

Vianne Camara with her father, Oscar Israel Cámara Sepulveda. Courtesy photo

Here in Carbonda-le where the artists are, There’s a man whose flamin’ talent makes him such a star, He’s the nicest, funnest one by far, He’s Wildcat Brian Colley!

Got his name from singin’ in The Cowboy Corral, He can play the ukulele really swell. He paints dinosaurs and spaceships too, smilin’ all the time.

He always paints, Purty pictures that we love, And as he paints, He smiles and jokes and shares his love

Wildcat Brian Colley

And sings a song

While he strums the ukulele

There is such a crazy feelin’

When you know that he is bein’ Such a friend, Such a givin’ sort of fella And all of us sure know, He’s an oh-by-golly, very jolly, Brian Colley from Carbondal-le, Our Wildcat Colley, Brian Colley, Come to Brian’s Colleywood Show!

The Cowboy Corral sang this tune to Brian Colley at his "Colleywood" debut on May 12. It goes to the tune of "Ragtime Cowboy Joe.”

Comic by Sofie Koski, a youth mentee of Brian Colley

LETTERS

identity based on forest products. Not just for image; using wood products sequesters carbon instead of emitting greenhouse gasses while making steel.

But it's probably 10 years late for the replacement of those buildings. So this is what us Boomers leave the kids when we allow our public lands services to be repeatedly defunded via "limits on discretionary spending."

Fred Porter, Carbondale

Kudos

The “Protect the Dolores Film Tour” at TACAW was very well attended on Wednesday, May 31. If you have not hiked or rafted the Dolores River Canyon country, you are missing a stunningly beautiful country!

The Dolores River is in Southwest Colorado and is over 170 miles long. It is the only red rock river canyon in Colorado. It runs from high alpine country above 12,000 feet, all the way to the desert, meeting up with the Colorado River.

As one of the speakers, Regina LopezWhiteskunk of the Ute Mountain Ute, said: this is my home and heart, and we need to protect this area for all future generations! I couldn’t agree more.

It will take all of us to help protect the Dolores River Canyon and the time is now! Please consider signing the petition located at this website: www. protectthedolores.org/take-action

For more information on the Dolores River: www.americanrivers. org/river/dolores-river

Richard Walker, Carbondale

Smoky haze

The smokey haze from wildfires that has been lingering over Western Slope skies for the past two weeks is a reminder that our own beetle-kill fueled fire season is upon us.

The 2020 Colorado State Forest Service Survey presented the following statistics on beetle-kill:

More than 834 million trees destroyed by beetle-kill are rotting in Colorado forests.

Over 22% of standing trees in Colorado forests are dead.

continued from

Since the mid-1990s, mountain pine beetle has affected 3.4 million acres of ponderosa-lodgepole pine in Colorado, while the spruce beetle has killed 40% of Colorado’s Engelmann spruce forests. In total, beetle-kill has ravaged some 5.1 million acres of forest in Colorado.

Wood products created by logging store carbon.

While beetle kill has resulted in a significant amount of dead trees, there are options for use of the trees after they are killed. Beetle-kill harvesters and woodworkers are using beetle-kill lumber for siding, furniture, framing lumber, cabinetry, paneling, and finish molding.

The Forest Service charges beetlekill harvesters $20 to remove two cords of wood here in Colorado. Rotting trees increase greenhouse gasses in forest ecosystems by 25%.

With more than 834 million dead trees moldering away in our forests here in Colorado, we need to compensate people to harvest that decaying fuel, and we need to incentivize producers to sell beetle-kill products free from federal taxation.

The next congressman from Congressional District #3 needs to introduce legislation to pay people to harvest beetle-kill lumber from our forests, and to eliminate federal income taxes on products sold that are made with at least 51% beetle-kill wood. Language needs to be included to expedite logging road approval from the Department of Interior.

Russ Andrews, Carbondale Editor’s note: Andrews is running against Lauren Boebert for the GOP nomination in Colorado’s Third Congressional District.

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.

Dark skies continued from page 4 for specific locations and uses (with light spectrums, lumens, kelvins and all those other confusing terms explained). We will be sponsoring a Van Gogh-style Starry Night Star Party in the near future with experts helping us connect to the celestial night using telescopes and the naked eye. We will offer astrophotography and moon gardening classes with local masters. We will invite speakers and environmental leaders up- and downvalley and on national levels to educate and excite us about the simple benefits that come with darkness, including the summer song of crickets and hoot of the owl, moonshadows and starlit snow… or simply listening to the silence of the dark. How about a good night’s sleep? Wonderful essentials in our world can easily disappear.

Nearly all U.S. national parks, monuments, as well as many other destinations, playgrounds and even small little towns who value their darkness, have done the work of curtailing excessive light pollution and achieving IDA designation, permanently protecting starry nights overhead. We are working to join them, protecting our own favorite backyard in Old Snowmass and encouraging other communities in our valley to look into and become involved as well.

More information can be found at www.darksky.org or soon on our website, which is being populated with local information under the Dark Sky heading, at www.snowcapcaucus.org

Many people braved the storm to enjoy June's First Friday in Carbondale, and they were rewarded with a spectacular rainbow. Between Wilderness Workshop's Community Party (above), Tuesday Foods' new kitchen opening at 1150 Highway 133 (top-right) and an artist reception for "Stone Entropy" at The Launchpad, plus many other happenings, there was no shortage of fun to be had. Photos by Raleigh Burleigh

Are you looking for meaningful work protecting our public lands?

Colorado Wild Public Lands

IS HIRING!

We’re looking for a new Director to carry our organization through the next chapter.

More information at coloradowildpubliclands.org/careers.html

SERVICE DIRECTORY

-The 52nd

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