20230726

This Week:

5 ~ WE-cycle

8-9 ~ Calendar

10 ~ Mtn Fair

11-14 ~ Español

18-19 ~ Gov't

Let it rain

Heat lightning and the resulting thunder stirred many people from their slumber in the wee hours of Thursday, July 20. Thankfully none of the strikes ignited a wildfire and the flashes were followed by a brief but heavy rain. Were the monsoons announcing their arrival, deep in the night? Dark clouds and sporadic sprinklings have since predominated afternoons in the high country, and rainbows at Mountain Fair is always a safe bet.

Photo by Doug Tucker

OPINION

By Debbie Bruell GUEST OPINION

Most of us still remember our favorite teachers. Maybe they sparked our curiosity, believed in us when others didn’t, or gave us the confidence to pursue a passion. As the mom of two graduates from our local public schools, I’m forever grateful for the wonderful teachers who guided and supported my daughters.

If we want kids growing up in Garfield County today to have those same kinds of experiences, it’s time to get engaged in the upcoming school board elections. The majority of seats will be determined this November. We need candidates focused on keeping school districts running smoothly, ensuring they are places where teachers want to teach and students can excel.

Finding good candidates is more important than ever. Across the nation, misguided school board members are dragging their communities into grueling conflicts that pit neighbor against neighbor, drain precious resources from children’s education, and create inhospitable environments for teachers to teach.

These school board members use a common playbook: they make drastic, ideologically-based decisions with little or no input from teachers or community members; then squash any discussion or debate about their policies, which they know are unpopular.

Colorado’s Woodland Park School District, where such candidates won the majority in 2021, serves as a cautionary tale. First, they approved a previously denied charter school without even listing this topic on the board agenda, as required by law. A judge determined

LETTERS

Ode to the Mountain Fair Mojito

You have been a good friend for more than 20 years and I will miss you. When the Arts Council took over the alcohol sales, we made a few good decisions, and one was to invite you to the fair.

The Fair Board had decided that we wanted a signature drink and the call went out for ideas. Within 24 hours, Dru Handy, Priscilla Dickinson and I all suggested the mojito. Flash (Felicia Trevor Gallo) also played a role as she had recently returned from a trip to Havana and was talking about the native nectar of rum, lime juice, sugar and mint. Summer in a glass.

Our first quest was to find a mix. A local guy in Telluride was selling quart jars of mojito mix that he called “Freshies.” When we called

Seeking school board candidates not looking to turn classrooms into battlefields

this to be “a conscious decision to hide a controversial issue.”

Amid growing discontent around their actions, the board has reprimanded staff who dare to speak up. Sara Lee, a 17-year veteran teacher at Woodland Park High School was involuntarily transferred out of her position after objecting to board decisions. She said teachers feel “targeted, threatened, and unsafe.”

In an email released through an open records request, one board member encouraged the use of another tactic for stifling resistance, “...if you advance on many fronts at the same time, then the enemy cannot fortify, defend, [or] effectively counter-attack at any one front. Divide, scatter, conquer. Trump was great at this in his first 100 days.”

Hostile strategies like these have enabled the Woodland Park board to ram through sweeping changes, including eliminating social work and counselor positions and controlling what teachers can teach.

Joe Dorhn, a Woodland Park parent who described himself as a staunch Republican, told NBC News, “I think they look at us as this petri dish where they can really push all their agenda[s] and theories. They clearly are willing to sacrifice the public school and to put students presently in the public school through years of disarray to drive home their ideological beliefs. It’s a travesty.”

How can teachers focus on teaching when school board members are governing as if they are in battle, and when fear and intimidation pervade the schools? At least four top Woodland Park district administrators have quit because of the board’s policy changes and nearly 40% of the high school’s professional staff plan to leave the district.

Teacher pay in Colorado ranks far below the national average. The high cost of living in our region makes retaining and recruiting dedicated

him to order a few hundred gallons of mix, he thought it was a prank call. We got him to provide the mix in buckets and he hand delivered them to the fair to watch what happened. Over the years, fairgoers have bought thousands of gallons of mojitos, and Carbondale Arts supported countless art projects with those funds.

As we turn the fair over to the next generation, they have decided not to serve mojitos this year. I did not want to miss the opportunity to thank folks from Freshies, the many fair mint donors, the years of Cantina master mixers and the hundreds of volunteers who worked to satisfy a seemingly endless demand for the cool refreshing summer drink. One part rum, three parts mix, one part soda on top, add over mulled mint and ice.

teachers even more challenging. The last thing we need is board members creating havoc in our districts.

We’re already seeing worrisome moves on the Garfield Re-2 board. Without listing it as an agenda item, the board spent over an hour at their June 14 meeting discussing the controversial topic of rejecting the state's social studies standards. The Colorado Board of Education completes an extensive public process for each set of standards they adopt. Rejecting state standards is a highly unusual move.

The Re-2 board discussed hiring the consultant who advised the Woodland Park district on switching to the American Birthright Standards, which proponents describe as the sort of work Trump's 1776 Commission might have created had it continued. Like Woodland Park, the Re-2 board is also considering opting out of state-funded mental health services for students.

Here in Garfield County we pride ourselves on being good neighbors and looking out for one another. I hope some of you will take that commitment to caring about our community one step further and consider running for your local school board.

You don’t need an advanced degree or educational expertise to serve as a good school board member. You simply need to be a good listener, team-player, and problem-solver; and you need to prioritize our students and teachers over any political ideology.

Regardless of political party, we need board members who value transparency, collaborative decision-making, and constructive dialogue.

The deadline for candidate petitions is Sept. 1. Do you know someone who might run with a little encouragement from others? Let’s find some good candidates to keep our school boards running smoothly and make sure our schools are great places for students to learn and teachers to teach.

Mojito, you were a good friend. This year, I will toast you … with a margarita.

Bob Schultz, Carbondale

Vote Andrews

I am currently running for Colorado’s Third Congressional District’s Republican nomination. My only credible opponent in the 2024 general election is Aspen’s own Adam Frisch, whose single platform plank when I announced my candidacy was to defeat Lauren Boebert. Since I plan to do just that, I believe it’s time for AspenAdam to discuss actual policy proposals.

Last year, 920 Coloradons died from opioid poisoning, along with 105,779 other young Americans of military age. That’s the equivalent

continues on page 22

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Crystal augmentation

On July 21, Aspen Journalism published a story by Heather Sackett, “Studies say Janeway site promising for Crystal River backup water supply.” The article details plausible water-replacement options at Janeway to replenish the river in the late summer and supply users during extreme drought years and critically low flows. Downstream senior water rights holders can put in a “call” to upstream junior holders to limit their use when that senior holder is not getting their quota. The last and only time a call was made was the summer of 2018. When it comes to water rights, the user with the oldest has the right to first use. Therefore, there are senior holders that even trump the Town of Carbondale. Find the full story at www.aspenjournalism.org and tune in Everything Under The Sun this Thursday, July 27 at 4pm, for a live interview with Sackett.

Forest Service advances

press release, “roughly half of Garfield County falls in the three highest wildfire risk categories,” prompting the need for the plan. “Garfield County organizations and residents can use this guide as a resource to navigate smoke events and increase awareness regarding the dangers of wildfire smoke exposure.” Visit www.bit.ly/SmokePlan to view the document.

Bustang fares reduced

The Polis administration and Colorado Department of Transportation announced that the state is cutting its Bustang fares in half for most routes in August and September, including the West Line between Grand Junction and Denver. “During the hot summer months, it is important we find ways to reduce ozone emissions,” commented Governor Jared Polis. Last summer, 50% reduced fares spurred a 77% increase in ridership across the state.

Carbondale Rec’s little league baseball team, the Yankees, defeated the Aspen Dodgers on July 20, defending their championship title! Congratulations! Courtesy photo

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

The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District announced on July 21 the opening of the construction bidding process for redevelopment of their offices in downtown Carbondale. The project is estimated to begin in early 2024 and involves demolition of three buildings. “The current facility [constructed in 1939, with an expansion in 1995] is no longer meeting the needs of the district and is not cost-effective to maintain,” stated a press release. Local contractors are encouraged to submit bids by Aug. 21. For more information, call 970846-6864.

Fire restrictions

The City of Glenwood Springs has joined Garfield County and the Bureau of Land Management in enacting Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds; no smoking is allowed except within designated areas free of combustibles; fireworks and other explosives are not allowed; burn permits are postponed; and caution is mandated for activities like welding.

Wildfire smoke

Garfield County released its Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Plan which details the potential impacts wildfire smoke can have on residents’ health. According to a

Glenwood Springs library

Garfield County Public Library District welcomes Abraham Korah as the new manager of the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. Korah grew up in Iowa but lived most of his adult life in Texas with stints in Chicago and New York City. He holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Sam Houston State University and earned his master’s in library and information science from the University of North Texas.

Buford logging

Logging operations have resumed along the Buford-New Castle Road to stimulate new aspen growth in the White River National Forest by removing conifers and older aspen trees. The project began in 2021 and has spanned more than 235 acres with another 220 acres planned for this year, in addition to 220 acres near Meadow Lake. Timber is chipped and trucked to the biomass plant in Gypsum to produce electricity.

County Fair arrest

On Saturday, July 22, Rifle police attempted to make contact with a female driving recklessly at the conclusion of the Garfield County Fair parade. The chief of police, driving an unmarked patrol vehicle, was allegedly being tailgated by 30-year-old

Diana Jean Anaya, shouting obscenities. Two officers also in an unmarked vehicle initiated a traffic stop by flashing their lights. Anaya, who had previous charges from recent incidents in the area, tried to drive away, nearly hitting an officer and striking several barriers, tables and chairs, blowing stop signs and traffic lights before being penned by police vehicles. She was placed in custody and transported to Grand River Hospital for medical clearance. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Nature Camp

Lisa Dancing-Light and Diana Alcantara are hosting the Magic Mountain Nature Camp at the Carbondale Community School, Aug. 14-18 from 9am to 3pm, for ages 4 and up. Activities include art, music, gardening, theater and yoga. To reserve a spot, call 970-274-2472 or email dianagardengoddess@gmail.com

They say it’s your birthday! Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Franz Alderfer and Vince Savage (July 27); Tom Baker and Brent Moss (July 28); Owen O'Farrell, A.O. Forbes, Randi Garcia, Sarah Kemme, Liz Phillips, Jake Spaulding, Greg Tonozzi and Jess Worley (July 29); Nancy Barnett, Debbie Bruell and Cheryl Loggins (July 31); Anibal Guevera and Sarah Uhl (Aug. 1); Jeff Dahl, Hattie Gianinetti, Catherine Masters, Maciej Mrotek and Justin Patrick (Aug. 2).

City Market’s Community Rewards program gives back

By James Steindler Contributing Editor

In this valley there is no shortage of nonprofits serving in various capacities to better the community. From Ascendigo Autism Services to the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District to this very newspaper, there’s plenty of good work being done. To keep the wheels turning, these organizations largely rely on donations.

With so many nonprofits, it can be difficult to pick and choose which to support, especially on an already fixed budget. What would you say if there was a way to support a nonprofit you love without spending a dime of your own money? Magic? No, just a corporate supermarket playing a small part to give back to the community.

That’s right, City Market will donate to a local nonprofit of your choice every time you swipe your value card. You might be asking, how does this wizardry work? Well, we’re here to tell you.

First, in order to sign up for City Market’s Community Rewards program, you must have an online account and a value card. You can create an online account at www.citymarket.com and link your value card to it. Once your account is set up, scroll to the bottom of the page where it says “Community,” and beneath that click on “City Market Community Rewards.” Or simply navigate to www.citymarket.com/i/community/ community-rewards

Search for the nonprofit you wish to support, select it and voilà — you’re donating while also saving money by using your value card number. Generally, it’s just a matter of cents for each transaction, but that adds up and, taking it from someone who shops as little as this reporter,

can reach the double digits in just three months. Twenty dollars in three months equates to more than $5 a month — KDNK Community Radio’s base membership level.

“Any transactions moving forward using the Shopper’s Card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program, at no added cost to you,” the City Market website plainly states.

Nonprofits that have not opted into this program, can do so by visiting the same link above and filling out an online form.

Not all Kroger stores participate in the program, but the division that covers our area,

King Soopers-City Market, does. The division includes 152 stores, predominantly in Colorado, with two in Wyoming and one in Utah.

While nonprofits certainly could not get by on this income alone, it’s a great way to boost one’s support, and at no extra cost; free money, if you will.

The Sopris Sun will have a table set up in the lobby of the Carbondale City Market the mornings of Sunday, Aug. 13 and Sunday, Aug. 20, to show people how to sign up for the value card benefits, and, if they wish, how to become a SUNscriber. Perhaps, we’ll see you there.

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

Beginning First Friday, Aug. 4, Carbondale commuters will have a new way to get around. For months, anticipation has been building for WE-cycle’s expansion into one of the Valley’s most bicycle-friendly towns. Stations have already appeared at 17 locations and soon 80 wellmaintained bikes, each with a basket and pedal-powered light, will be docking between them. What’s more, half of the inventory will be electric (e-bikes).

WE-cycle is a nonprofit (founded locally in 2013) that operates bikeshare programs in Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, El Jebel and Willits in partnership with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA). In November of 2022, Carbondale trustees approved a Memorandum of Understanding with RFTA pledging $210,688 toward the project, which covered 20% of the infrastructure costs and 100% of direct local operations. RFTA covered the remaining 80% of infrastructure costs at $492,294 as well as other costs including $17,977 for anticipated replacement and maintenance of equipment.

Anyone registered with WE-cycle can take a bicycle from any dock or up

to 30 minutes per ride for free. Fees begin to incur beyond that time limit to encourage riders to keep their trips short. For pedal bikes, the fee is 50 cents per minute. For an e-bike, the fee is $5 per minute.

Unique to Carbondale, each station is adorned with art by Bailey Haines (www.pinestreetprints.com). Haines, an artist living in Satank, was commissioned by Carbondale Arts using unanticipated funds from Alpine Bank — $10,000 donated during the Carbondale-founded bank’s 50th anniversary celebration in January.

“When I read initially about the project, I was really excited that WE-cycle was coming to Carbondale,” Haines told The Sopris Sun. “I feel like the pace of life is so fast, and giving more people more opportunities to get out of their cars or out of the bus to travel at a slower pace, it allows us to absorb the beauty that is happening all around us.”

Inspired by the landscape, Haines composed rolling waves of red and orange to represent Red Hill, intersecting with softer blues that evoke our rivers. The stations also feature a small dandelion, Carbondale’s town flower, and Haines designed a decal for five special e-bikes featuring other local flora.

“I can’t say enough good things

about Carbondale Arts and WEcycle,” she said. “I feel like they did an incredible job of managing the project from all sides.”

Every station is solar-powered and two in Carbondale have larger Skyhook solar panels to charge the e-bikes: one at the roundabout and one at Town Hall. “We’re grateful whenever a rider can dock an e-bike at a solar-powered charging station,” said Program Manager Annie Bricker.

When e-bikes lose their juice or bikes otherwise accumulate at one station, Bricker explained that it is the job of a “reblancer,” part of the field operations team, to redistribute them using an electric car or e-bike pulling a trailer. As evidenced, WEcycle is committed to keeping fossil fuel emissions as low as possible.

Artist Bailey Haines was commissioned by Carbondale Arts to give WE-cycle’s Carbondale stations special flair. Photos by Sarah Overbeck

AVLT to purchase Marble Outward Bound campus

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

On July 17, conservation organization Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) announced that it signed a contract to purchase the historic Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) Marble Base Camp. This purchase of 42 acres of open land, wildlife habitat and COBS’s historic campus is scheduled to close on Oct. 3. Although under contract, AVLT is searching for investors both to assist in the purchase and to restore the campus so that it can continue to educate future generations of youth about coexisting with the great outdoors.

AVLT is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to the permanent conservation of land in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Primarily through conservation easements and the purchase of land, over the past 56 years AVLT has worked with both public offices and private owners to conserve over 67 square miles of land. Earlier this year, AVLT celebrated multiple landmark conservation achievements on the Roan Plateau and on ranchland in the Capitol Creek valley, signing easements and preserving important wildlife corridors in perpetuity.

Even those unfamiliar with their work are likely familiar with the land they’ve preserved. In 2017, AVLT purchased the current gateway at the base of Red Hill, ensuring community access to its extremely popular trails for all time.

However, AVLT’s efforts are not limited solely to land preservation. The organization also hosts events for like-minded conservationists as well as outdoor education programs at Coffman Ranch in Carbondale.

Outward Bound, for those unaware, is a network of international outdoor education organizations originally founded in the United Kingdom in 1941. Since its inception, Outward Bound has been guided by principles of experiential learning in the outdoors.

Founded in 1962 by Josh Miner, the campus in Marble was the first Outward Bound campus in America. In COBS’s first year, 80 students attended the school. In the 40 years since, more than 600,000 have participated in Outward Bound programs across the U.S. — all stemming from that one place in Marble.

Currently, COBS’s primary basecamp is located in Leadville. The Marble campus hosted programs since its inception and through 2019. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in its shutting the gates. Since then, COBS has decided that the best solution for the historic space would be to sell it

to a local organization driven by the same goals of outdoor learning.

“We are thrilled to be entrusting the Marble Base Camp to AVLT, who shares our commitment to outdoor education and preservation and will help make this dream a reality,” stated COBS Executive Director Laura Schmidt.

The campus is currently equipped with bunks, a dining hall, kitchen, bathhouses and staff housing. However, the infrastructure is in need of restoration, and AVLT hopes to attract investors to provide the financial resources to make this historic space usable for education programs for future generations of youth.

“This project is not one that AVLT seeks to do alone. It will take a village to save this special place, invest in its permanent conservation and safeguard its future use for outdoor education,” AVLT’s website states.

In addition to partnering with possible investors, AVLT will also continue to host COBS programs on the property for part of each summer, preserving a bit

A view of the dining hall at the Marble Outward Bound Campus. Though the facilities have sat empty since 2020, AVLT hopes that with support from investors the campus will soon be restored to its former glory. Courtesy photo

Meadowood teacher housing project breaks ground

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

On July 24, with the hot sun beaming down, about 20 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of what has become informally known as the Meadowood teacher housing project.

The 50-unit staff housing initiative is between North Face Park on Meadowood Drive and Roaring Fork High School. It adds to the district’s current inventory of 66 Basalt and Carbondale units occupied by Roaring Fork Schools teachers and staff.

The project’s timeline dates back to 2015 when Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) voters approved a bond issue for initiating a staff rental housing program.

Kendall Reiley has been there since the beginning, serving as a district housing committee member since its inception in 2016. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Reiley, also Crystal River Elementary assistant principal, said, “This has been some of the most complicated and messy work that I've done in my career so far, being a part of this housing committee and working on the guidelines about who was going to get to live in the units [through the district’s housing lottery], but it's also been some of the most rewarding work that I've done.”

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, RFSD Superintendent Dr. Jesús Rodríguez acknowledged the project's lengthy history. “As many of you know, this has been a labor of love for a long time … so I want to say thank you to all of the taxpayers for investing in this work and believing in this vision. It's critical that we figure out housing for all of our staff.”

In his remarks, Rodríguez also recognized former Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jeff Gatlin, who left the district in May for the same position in the Jefferson County School District, and the new COO, Ben Bohmfalk, for their efforts in advancing the project.

While the Meadowood housing will alleviate some of the current housing woes for RFSD staff, Rodríguez shared, “I believe that our approach to housing has to be multifaceted, that we have to continue to explore and expand on the rental units that we have available to our staff, but we also have to explore other opportunities like pathways to homeownership.”

Aaron Ladner, lead architect on the project working under principal architects at Boulder-based Jv DeSousa Architecture and Design, said the firm’s primary focus is affordable housing projects. They also designed the 20unit district housing project adjacent to the Third Street Center, which opened

for occupancy in August 2018.

Ladner said, “One of the main concerns the school district had with this project was making sure that while this housing stays affordable, it stays livable and is a place where people will be happy and comfortable to come home to. We've prioritized natural light, views of Mt. Sopris, outdoor spaces, and then lifestyle, with bulk storage and bike racks to ensure storage space for gear for all the various outdoor activities around here.”

The Meadowood project will include eight studios and 10 one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom units. It is an all-electric project, meaning there is no natural gas line. While that was not required by the Town code, RFSD decided to make the investment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The housing project will also have on-site parking with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and the potential for more EV stations in the future. The targeted completion date is August 2024.

Carbondale Town Manager Lauren Gister, who attended the ceremony, said, “The more we can do to keep people in this valley and to allow them to make Carbondale their home — a real home, not just someplace they have to go to work — the better off we are.”

On July 24, RFSD staff and project partners spoke to those assembled for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Meadowood teacher housing project.

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Programs Coming Soon at Basalt Regional Library

Scholastic Book Fair at the Library

July 24-31, during library hours

Shop the Scholastic Book Fair with cash, card, or your hard earned book bucks!

Music at the Library: Aspen Music Festival and School Student Chamber Music Concerts

Thursdays through Aug. 17, 5:15-6:15PM

Hear the inspiring freshness and joy of tomorrow’s stars perform.

The full schedule of events can be found at basaltlibrary.org/events-calendar

Paintings by local artist Denise Henley will be displayed for sale at Thunder River Theatre this weekend, from 5 to 8pm on Friday, 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 2pm on Sunday. “I want to get my work back out there,” Denise said, “but I also want to get rid of it all so I can be unburdened and paint all the new things my heart desires.” Courtesy image

THURSDAY, JULY 27

EAGLE COMMISSIONERS

Eagle County Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry will be at the Basalt Library for this month’s office hours, from 11am to 1pm.

FREE NARCAN�TEST STRIPS

High Rockies Harm Reduction distributes Narcan, fentanyl test strips and more (no questions asked) at The Meeting Place, 981 Cowen Drive in Carbondale, from 4 to 6pm.

ART OF ARCHITECTURE

As part of its Climate Action Series, the Community Office for Resource Efficiency hosts “State of the Art Architecture,” where visionaries in the industry will showcase various designs and advancements at the Aspen Art Museum at 4pm. Learn more and register at www.AspenCORE.org/events

MICHAEL WISNER

Learn about ceramic artist Michael Wisner’s journey and process at the Ann Korologos Gallery from 5 to 7pm.

CHAMBER MUSIC

Hear Aspen Music and Festival School students perform at Basalt Library at 5:15pm.

RODEO

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 on-site parking is now $10 per vehicle.

EAGLES TRIBUTE

The Boys of Summer, an Eagles tribute band, performs at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue at 6pm. Tickets are sold-out, but there is a waitlist. Details at www.gvrshow.com

FRIDAY, JULY 28

BASALT HIP�HOP

MOON HOOCH

Following their performance at Mountain Fair, Moon Hooch will rock out at Steve’s Guitars. The show is sold-out, but dancing in the streets is likely, along with music at other Carbondale venues like Beer Works and The Black Nugget.

SULLIVAN FORTNER

TACAW presents jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner at 8pm. A buffetstyle Supper Club meal will be served at 6pm for ticket-holders. Get the details at www.tacaw.org

BARE AS YOU DARE

All bodies are welcome in the fourth annual clothingoptional bicycle ride departing from Thunder River Theatre around 9:45pm.

SATURDAY, JULY 29

FUN RUN

Independence Run & Hike hosts a family-friendly, four-mile race from Prince Creek Road to Mountain Fair. The shuttle from Sopris Park departs at 9am. Sign up in person at Independence Run & Hike, or online at www.bit.ly/MtnFairRace

MARBLE CHORUS

The Bogan Flats Choral Symposium

Singers performs a free concert at the Marble Community Church at 4pm. This ensemble of 15 voices consists of Sonoran Desert Chorale members that gather annually to camp in the Bogan Flats Campground.

RAMS REUNION

The Roaring Fork Rams Class of 2013 celebrates its 10 year reunion, but all RFHS alumni and their partners are invited, at 689 Main Street in Carbondale from 5 to 9pm. This is a private BYOB event.

POTTERS THROWDOWN

The Town of Basalt presents

Summer Concert Series BASALT

Neil McIntyre, an award-winning hip-hop musician and educator, presents at the Basalt Library at 2pm. Rumor is he’ll be at the Mountain Fair drum circle at 4pm.

MOUNTAIN FAIR

Carbondale’s annual, three-day festival begins with the drum circle at 4pm followed by The Confluents performing at 5:15pm and Moon Hooch at 7:45pm. The fun continues all weekend, and volunteers are still being sought. Check out the program in this week’s edition of The Sopris Sun, for all the details.

EAGLE COUNTY SONG

The public is invited to hear the debut of Al Maul’s “Eagle County” song commissioned in honor of the county’s 140th anniversary at Riverwalk Backyard in Edwards at 6pm.

Carbondale Clay Center’s Potters Throwdown Clay Relay returns under the Mountain Fair Judging Canopy at 6pm. Teams of four can sign up at www.carbondaleclay.org

MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN

Titonic, an eight-piece funk/ soulR&B band from Fort Collins, performs at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park from 6 to 9pm. Gondola proceeds benefit Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers.

SUNDAY, JULY 30

BIKE RACE

Aloha Mountain Cyclery and Stomparillaz Creative Cycling Collective present the Porcupine Group Bike Race, with obstacles and mandatory costumes, meeting on Weant Boulevard at 7:45am. Get details at the Mountain Fair Information Booth.

INTERSECT ASPEN

Art collectors and lovers converge at Intersect Aspen, based at the Aspen Ice Garden, for a week of artist talks and events, today through Saturday, Aug. 5. Visit www. intersectaspen.com for more info.

MONDAY, JULY 31

GRAVEL CAMP

Steve Denny and Aspen Expedition Gravel Bike guides host several days of high-altitude riding, fine dining and rest and recovery at Beyul Retreat. Find details at www.beyulretreat.com

CRITICAL DIALOGUE

Anderson Ranch in Snowmass Village presents “Critical Dialogue - Art and the Environment: Considering Climate Change” with artists Alan Michelson and Mary Mattingly in conversation with Climate Museum director Miranda Massie from 10am to 12:30pm. Tickets at www.andersonranch.org

COGNITIVE THERAPY

Dr. Terry Bordan will provide an overview of the principles behind cognitive behavioral therapy at 10am at the Sopris Lodge. Visit www.soprislodge.com/events for more info and to register.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

After taking Mountain Fair weekend off, the Crystal Theatre picks up with “Barbie” showing tonight through Thursday at 7:30pm.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1

YARN GROUP

Basalt Library’s yarn group meets from 5 to 7pm.

ASPEN ARTWEEK

Aspen ArtWeek kicks off with a welcome party at the Aspen Art Museum at 5pm and wraps up Friday, Aug. 4 with the ArtCrush Gala at Buttermilk at 6pm. Visit www.aspenartmuseum.org/ calendar for additional events taking place through the week.

NANCY’S PATH

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers invites you to help connect Nancy's Path to Glassier Open Space's existing equestrian trail this evening at 4pm, and again on Aug. 8, also at 4pm. Visit www.rfov.org for more info.

WEDNESDAY,

LOST LANDS

AUGUST 2

Check out artist Chris Erickson’s installation, part of Kairos Futura’s ongoing series highlighting local issues, at the entrance of the Intersect Aspen event (held at the Aspen Ice Garden), on display today through Saturday, Aug. 5. Visit www.kairosfutura.org for more info.

TOWN CENTER

Join Carbondale Town Center project planners for an ice cream social at Fourth and Main from 10am to 3pm, or 5 to 7pm. Jeffreezz will provide the treats while you learn about the project and how to get involved. For more info, visit www.artspace.org/towncenter

BOOK CLUB

The Basalt Library book club gets together from noon to 2pm.

A BAND CALLED ALEXIS

Taylor Shae opens for A Band

Called Alexis at the Basalt River Park at 5:30pm.

NIA DANCING

Join Steve Alldredge for Nia dancing at the Basalt Library from 5:30 to 6:30pm.

HAND HEALTH

Michael Potter, MD, orthopedic hand surgeon, presents “Common Hand and Wrist Conditions and Treatment Options,” a virtual discussion at 6pm. Visit www.bit.ly/ HandHealth101 for the Zoom link.

KALETA & SUPER YAMBA

In case you missed Kaleta & Super Yamba Band at Mountain Fair (Sunday at 4pm), know they’ll play at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs tonight at 6:30pm.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3

STORYTIME IN SPANISH

Children up to 6 years old and their guardians are welcome to storytime in Spanish at the Basalt Library at 10am.

APRENDO A

Basalt Library invites the community to a bilingual review of library resources from 5 to 6pm.

FX MAKE�UP

FX artist Brian Weller is teaching a make-up class for teens to learn how to create monsters, ghouls, zombies and fantasy characters, Aug. 3, 4, 10 and 11 from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Glenwood Springs Community Art Center. Sign up at www.bit.ly/glenwoodrec-arts

BEE FRIENDLY

Join the Carbondale Bee Friendly Initiative for a garden workshop at Sopris Park at 6pm.

FIRST FRIDAY, AUGUST 4

BABY GYM

Children 3 and younger and their guardians are invited to get the wiggles out at the Basalt Library from 10:30 to 11:30am.

NATURE JOURNALING

Adults interested in exploring and documenting nature are invited to join a group of novice and experienced sketch book writers and artists meeting every first Friday from 1 to 2:30pm at the Carbondale Library.

BRIDGE

Bridge players of all experience levels are invited to meet at the Basalt Library from 4 to 6pm.

CANDID CONVERSATION

Dance Initiative and Mezcla Socials co present a candid conversation about racism in Colorado led by MANAUS’ Bryan Alvarez-Terrazas at 5:30pm. The evening will conclude with dancing and drinks. Tickets at www.danceinitiative.org

WE�CYCLE

Celebrate the debut of Carbondale’s new bike-share service with a party at KDNK (76 South Second Street) beginning at 6pm.

DOUG CASEBEER

Carbondale Clay Center welcomes Doug Casebeer for an exhibit of new works called “Sense of Place” on display through Aug. 12. There will be a reception tonight from 6 to 8pm.

SOUND BATH

Danielle Klein leads a Cosmic Energy Sound Bath in True Nature’s Kiva at 6pm. Tickets at www. truenaturehealingarts.com

RENT

Theatre Aspen presents “Rent” on weekday evenings this month at 7:30pm with several matinees sprinkled throughout. Find tickets at www.theatreaspen.org

LVDY

Steve’s Guitars presents a Coloradobased duo composed of Kathleen Hooper and Aubrey Mable, performing with special guest Carly King, at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

BUSINESS & COMPUTERS

Fundraising Fundamentals

Quickbooks Pro

ART

Sculpture

Monotype Printing

Drawing

Oil Painting

Watercolor Painting

Drawing with Soft Pastels

Mixed Water Media

Intuitive Painting

Open Painting Studio

Paint the RF Valley in Watercolor

Perspective Drawing I & II

Sketchbook Workshop

Cell Phone Photography

Botanical Printing Workshop

Felted Bag Workshop

Sewing

Hand Woven Baskets

WINE TASTING

Burgundy

Champagne

Northern Rhone

Rioja and Ribera del Duero

HUMANITIES

Fiction Writing Workshop

Memoir Writing Workshop

Film Studies

Apocalypse 101 Surviving a Long Emergency

Fire Cider and Tinctures

Local Berry and Acorn Walk

Seed Saving

Vegetable Gardening 101 FITNESS AND DANCE

Swing Dance

Adult Ballet

Qigong

Pilates Matwork

Intro to Reformer Pilates Blend

Toddler and Me Yogalates

u Fall classes start as early as 8/21 and registration is open now. Watch for the printed class schedules from Aspen/Carbondale and Glenwood Springs Campuses in your mailbox.

Wed, August 2 10am-3pm

Mountain Fair turns 52

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

“The hugging season is about to seriously begin,” Chief of Operations Deborah Colley told The Sopris Sun in anticipation of the 52nd annual Mountain Fair.

It’s also the season of thunder, lightning and monsoonal rains, unofficially celebrated with the threeday, rainbow-laden gathering in Sopris Park. This year, the festivities are dedicated to the late Wick Moses, a man who performed music at the very first fair and played a role building it up, along with KDNK Community Radio. As always, KDNK will live broadcast the event from beginning to end.

The theme is “Where the Wild Things Grow,” in adoration of all the untamed beauty among us and within us. Freelance designer Riley Hutchens of Basalt created the poster design, which will be available on cups and clothing in an array of color pallets and styles.

The stage is once again being set by Loren Wilder of Conscious Entertainment. “Considering the theme,” she wrote, “I worked toward a cosmic Garden of Eden concept with a goddess presiding over the affairs of man.” Wilder received help from Corey Summers and Pika Woodshop to bring

her elemental, mythic vision to fruition.

Expect to see giant puppets among the crowd, created by Soozie Lindbloom, and a rainbow trout named Bubbles over from Paonia. Bubbles, a symbol of Pride, resembles a Chinese parade dragon with seven sections each operated by a person. It was created by The Learning Council with recycled materials, including 4,000 aluminum cans and salvaged camping tents.

Costume themes are back: Animal Kingdom on Friday, Plant/Fungi Kingdom on Saturday and Fantasy Kingdom on Sunday (think unicorns). Orrin Wing will give the opening blessing at 4pm on Friday, followed by the Rhythm of the Heart Community Drum Circle.

Whereas the fair had spilled onto Main Street in recent years, it is now returning to the confines of Sopris Park with the entrance at Euclid Avenue restored. The perimeter will also expand past the ditch to allow for a food vendor alley along Seventh Street, while the cantina remains under the central pavilion.

Carbondale Arts’ Art, Ecology + Stewardship Camp has constructed statues of Rocky Mountain fauna which will be hidden throughout the park for a scavenger hunt. Find a clue card at the Oasis. Also in the family-friendly Oasis, enjoy acts by: the Cowboy Corral, polynesian dancers, SoL Theatre Company, local singer-songwriters and more. The Oasis is also a place to do crafts and generally relax.

Other changes include Dance of the Sacred Fire now on Friday night along with Sopris Soarers aerial silks. Also, Palisade Pedicab will operate a donations-based transportation service based around the pool from noon to closing on Saturday and Sunday.

“As the community changes, our traditions might shift and change, but that always, always, always reflects the joys and passions of our community,” said Colley.

Many traditions will return, of course, including the pie and cake contests on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. It’s not necessary to sign up in advance, but any submissions are due by 10:45am each morning. As always, all coveted judging spots are spoken for, however slices will be sold to commoners beginning around 1:30pm.

Peripheral happenings abound, like African drumming at Fourth and Main

continued on page 20

The Art, Ecology + Stewardship Camp hosted by Carbondale Arts decorated a number of wild animals to hide throughout the Sopris Park during Mountain Fair. Find a clue card for the scavenger hunt at the Oasis. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Sol del Valle

Mapa bilingüe de tierras públicas se estrena

Por Caroline Llanes Aspen Public Radio Traducción por Global Language Services

A Trini Rochin y a su esposo Jaime Lopez les encanta recorrer el sendero de Rio Grande, cerca de su casa en Carbondale. Y en esta despejada mañana de un sábado, están listos para irse de excursión a Mushroom Rock, en el área recreativa Red Hill en Carbondale.

Les encantaría que sus amigos los acompañaran, pero a menudo van solos porque sus amigos no se sienten a gusto recorriendo los senderos sin contar con información en español.

“Pienso que tal vez, el no saber dónde están, qué tan difíciles son”, dijo.

Y muchas veces, sus amigos hispanoparlantes y otras personas de la comunidad latina no tienen tiempo ni energía para ponerse a investigar por su cuenta.

“Y también el trabajo: mucha gente hispana trabaja muchas horas, y cuando llegan, ya están cansados y no quieren salir a hacer ejercicio”, comentó.

Estos tipos de problemas son lo que un nuevo mapa creado por el grupo de apoyo Defiende Nuestra Tierra —parte de Wilderness Workshop con sede en Carbondale— espera abordar.

“El Camino Latino” presenta 19 áreas en tierras públicas en los valles de Roaring Fork y del río Colorado. Asimismo, incluye información acerca de las actividades que se pueden hacer ahí, como senderismo, ciclismo, acampar y hacer picnics, así como acerca del nivel de dificultad de los senderos y si el área tiene letreros bilingües.

Red Hill es una de las áreas con letreros bilingües. Esos letreros al comienzo de la senda incluyen información acerca de las reglas y pautas del sendero y los principios de “No dejar rastro”, así como antecedentes del ecosistema de las formaciones de rocas rojas.

Ese detalle la hizo el lugar perfecto para que Defiende Nuestra Tierra entregara las primeras copias del mapa al público.

Omar Sarabia es el director. Ha estado trabajando en el mapa durante poco más de un año y alentando a organismos como el Bosque Nacional White River a traducir al español los letreros del sendero.

“Y la intención de esto es generar cultura de la caminata... al aire libre, sobre todo después de COVID, que todo el mundo estaba encerrado y que ahora mucha gente dice “a dónde salgo” y “no sé” pues este mapa lo agarras y dices “ok, tengo 16 opciones, a dónde puedo ir?”

De izquierda a derecha: Jaime Lopez, Trini Rochin, Omar Sarabia, Vanessa Porras y Carlos Cornejo sostienen El Camino Latino, un mapa bilingüe de las tierras públicas, así como una banderola publicitaria del grupo de apoyo Defiende Nuestra Tierra. El grupo fue de excursión a Mushroom Rock, en el área recreativa Red Hill en Carbondale, el 14 de junio de 2023. Foto de cortesía

Sarabia creció en Chihuahua, lejos de los parques nacionales de México. Afirma que la idea de tierras públicas como las que existen en Colorado es un concepto nuevo para muchos inmigrantes.

“No hay muchos lugares para hacer senderismo [en Chihuahua], porque muchas de las tierras son privadas, así que hay que buscar lugares en los que no se vaya uno a meter en problemas por andar ahí, pero es difícil”, comentó.

De vuelta en el sendero, Trini Rochin está entusiasmada con el mapa, los letreros bilingües y lo que esto podría significar para ella y sus amigos. Comenta que ahora pueden emprender camino en los senderos con más confianza y menos temor a perderse.

“Porque a veces hay mapas en los lugares y los latinos no pueden entenderlos, o no podemos, y tenerlo en tu idioma va a ayudar mucho a que la comunidad latina puede ir con confianza a los lugares, sin temor a perderse.”

La caminata también fue una valiosa oportunidad para que Sarabia recibiera opiniones sobre qué más podría incluirse en futuras versiones de El Camino Latino.

Por ejemplo, otro excursionista, Carlos Comejo, señaló que las personas agradecerían tener información sobre los animales salvajes con los que podrían toparse, como los osos.

“Yo no sé por qué, pero en general la comunidad tiene mucho miedo a los osos. Dicen: “va a haber osos aquí, va a haber osos allá”, ¡ya ves osos en todos lados!” “¿Tienes información sobre eso?” Porque a veces son mitos, pero por miedo las personas no salen”.

Este es el tipo de cosas que los amantes de la naturaleza angloparlantes dan por sentadas en el valle de Roaring Fork: cuentan con información sobre la vida salvaje del lugar. Y, en una cultura tan centrada en las actividades al aire libre, eso puede aislar a los hispanoparlantes que viven en la comunidad.

Para Rochin, esa es otra función importante que cumple el mapa: ayudar a su comunidad a no sentirse ajena a los senderos de Colorado.

“Y sentirnos parte de… vivimos aquí, y tenemos total libertad a salir y disfrutar, y oxigenarnos… sí”.

Volumen 2, Número 22 | 27 de julio de 2023 - 2 de agosto de 2023

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

El Rincón del Sargento

Por Carlos Cornejo

En el oscuro mundo del tráfico humano, uno de los aspectos más desgarradores y alarmantes es la trata de niños. Este fenómeno criminal es una epidemia global que afecta a miles de menores indefensos en todo el mundo. Es nuestra responsabilidad como sociedad y como padres proteger a nuestros hijos de este flagelo. En esta columna, exploraré la prevalencia del tráfico de niños y brindaré consejos sobre cómo detectar los peligros y mantener seguros a nuestros seres queridos.

La prevalencia de la trata de niños:

La trata de niños es una

Los peligros del tráfico humano

realidad aterradora y un delito extremadamente lucrativo para los traficantes sin escrúpulos. Según informes de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), se estima que más de 1.2 millones de niños son víctimas de tráfico humano cada año. Estas cifras sólo representan los casos reportados, y se cree que muchas más víctimas permanecen ocultas, sin acceso a la ayuda que necesitan desesperadamente.

Aunque vivamos en un lugar pequeño y aparentemente seguro, es esencial comprender que la trata de niños no está limitada a grandes ciudades o regiones lejanas. Los traficantes son oportunistas y operan en diversas comunidades, incluidas las más pequeñas. La globalización y el fácil acceso a la tecnología han permitido que este delito traspase fronteras y llegue a lugares antes considerados a salvo. Es crucial no subestimar la posibilidad de que la trata de niños ocurra en

ARTE

nuestra propia comunidad, ya que la prevención y la conciencia son la clave para proteger a nuestros hijos y mantenerlos fuera de peligro. Mantenernos informados y alerta nos permite ser más efectivos en la lucha contra esta plaga, sin importar el tamaño de nuestro entorno.

Detectando los peligros en nuestros propios hijos:

Proteger a nuestros hijos comienza con la conciencia y la educación sobre las señales de advertencia. Aquí hay algunos consejos para detectar los peligros del tráfico humano en nuestros propios hijos.

1. Comunicación abierta: Mantener una línea abierta de comunicación con nuestros hijos es fundamental. Hablemos con ellos sobre los peligros potenciales y la importancia de confiar en nosotros si se sienten incómodos o amenazados por cualquier persona o situación.

2. Cambios de comportamiento: Prestemos atención a cualquier cambio inusual

en el comportamiento de nuestros hijos, como aislamiento, cambios extremos en el estado de ánimo, bajo rendimiento académico o pérdida de interés en actividades que antes disfrutaban.

3. Uso Responsable de la tecnología: Supervisar el uso de la tecnología es esencial en la era digital. Asegurémonos de que nuestros hijos comprendan los riesgos en línea y no compartan información personal con extraños.

4. Conocer a los amigos: Conozcamos a los amigos de nuestros hijos y sus padres. Tener una red de apoyo sólida puede ayudar a identificar comportamientos extraños o preocupantes en su círculo social.

5. Participación en actividades extraescolares: Incentivemos a nuestros hijos a participar en actividades extracurriculares y deportivas en un ambiente seguro y estructurado. Estas actividades pueden ayudar a mantenerlos alejados de situaciones peligrosas.

6. Establecer protocolos de seguridad: Enseñemos

a nuestros hijos a no irse con desconocidos, incluso si dicen ser amigos o familiares. También debemos establecer protocolos para situaciones de emergencia y cómo contactar a la policía o a nosotros en caso de necesidad.

La trata de niños es una tragedia inimaginable que afecta a miles de vidas inocentes. Es imperativo que estemos atentos y preparados para proteger a nuestros hijos y a los niños de nuestra comunidad. Al estar conscientes de la prevalencia de este crimen y al aprender a detectar los signos de peligro, podemos tomar medidas para evitar que más niños caigan en las garras de este oscuro y perturbador delito. Unamos fuerzas como sociedad para erradicar el tráfico humano y garantizar un futuro seguro y brillante para todos los niños. La protección de nuestros hijos debe ser siempre nuestra prioridad número uno.

Únase a nosotros para socializar con un helado y aprender sobre el Town Center Project, un proyecto de “Space to Create”con el objetivo de construir viviendas asequibles para trabajadores y creativos, además de espacio comercial para las artes y organizaciones culturales.¡Participe en la discusión y aprenda cómo se puede involucrar!

miércoles 2 de agosto

10am-3pm Y 5pm-7pm

Puesto de Farmers’ Market de Carbondale

Calle 4 y Main

¡Cupones GRATIS para el puesto de helados Jeffreezz de al lado! *mientras

reservas*

Para más información: www.artspace.org/towncenter

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

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

La lengua está viva y sigue cambiando OPINIÓN

académica. Hace unos meses atrás, Chaparro animó un taller llamado Linguistic Justice, Justicia lingüística, organizado por Manaus Fund Equity Speaker Series Symposium. Su presentación abrio con una cita por la activista y feminista chicana Gloria Azaldúa:

Al No Artista

Por Vanessa Porras

A pesar de ser esta una columna con temáticas sobre el arte y la creatividad, me parece importante abordar el tema de la justicia lingüística, ya que nos afecta a todos. Más allá de los que vivimos en un mundo bilingüe, hay un cierto nivel de orgullo por nuestra lengua natal que todos compartimos, como si fuera la bandera misma que llevamos envuelta para representar nuestra cultura.

Sofia Chaparro es profesora de Educación para la diversidad cultural y lingüística de la Universidad de Colorado en Denver (CU Denver).

Chaparro es Doctora de filosofía en educación y obtuvo un máster en educación con especialización en la enseñanza a estudiantes de inglés como lengua extranjera.

Originaria de El Paso, Texas, Chaparro ha vivido en carne y hueso la diversidad cultural y lingüística aparte de su experiencia profesional y

“Así que, si quieres hacerme daño de verdad, habla mal de mi lengua. La identidad étnica es piel gemela con la identidad lingüística: yo soy mi lengua. Hasta que no pueda enorgullecerme de mi lengua, no podré sentirme orgullosa de mí misma”.

Chaparro recuerda su propia crianza cuando de niña navegaba en un mundo transnacional, como ella así lo llama, donde se hablaba inglés y español por igual y donde ambos idiomas se valoraban entre la frontera de El Paso y Ciudad Juárez. Con un padre bibliotecario y su madre en educación bilingüe, Chaparro recuerda que hablar ambos idiomas era algo que se enfatizaba en su hogar y se fomento al cruzar la frontera de Juárez a El Paso a diario para asistir a la secundaria y preparatoria.

“Desde siempre me identifico mucho con ser mexicana, con hablar español y siempre me encanto la educación”.

Atribuye su amor por la educación y el aprendizaje al ejemplo de sus padres, ambos

CHISME DEL PUEBLO

Traducción por Jacquelinne Castro

Restricciones de fuego

La ciudad de Glenwood Springs se ha unido junto con el condado de Garfield y la Oficina de Administración de Tierras para promulgar las restricciones de fuego de etapa 1. Las fogatas solamente son permitidas dentro de áreas designadas para fuego en campamentos desarrollados; no se permite fumar excepto dentro de las áreas designadas libres de combustibles; fuegos artificiales y otros explosivos no están permitidos; permisos para quemar han sido pospuestos; y una precaución está bajo mandato para actividades como soldadura.

Precios de Bustang reducidos

La administración de Polis y el Departamento de Transporte de Colorado han anunciado que el estado ha reducido los precios de Bustang a la mitad en varias rutas en agosto y septiembre, incluyendo su Ruta Oeste entre Grand Junction y Denver. “Durante los calurosos meses del verano, es importante que encontremos maneras de reducir las emisiones del ozono”, comentó el gobernador Jared Polis. El verano pasado, el 50% de precios reducidos impulsó un incremento del 77% en el número de pasajeros en todo el estado.

Campamento de naturaleza

Lisa Dancing-Light y Diana Alcantara organizan Magic Mountain Nature Camo en la escuela comunitaria de Carbondale, del 14 al 18 de agosto de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m. para edades de 4 años y mayores. Las actividades incluyen arte, música, jardinería, teatro y

educadores, y por la experiencia que tuvo en la primaria en una escuela Montessori en Ciudad Juárez. “Creo que esas dos pasiones, por el aprendizaje y por el idioma, me llevaron a querer ser maestra”, dijo Chaparro.

Pero en contraste a su experiencia personal en un área del país donde se celebraba el bilingüismo, y la habilidad de hablar el español “bien”, su primera experiencia como maestra bilingüe fue en las escuelas públicas de Boston donde la cultura valoraba el idioma de forma diferente. “Los niños migrantes llegan con este gran regalo, este gran don, este gran talento de su idioma, su cultura, sus tradiciones y ¿por qué en las escuelas se los quitamos? ¿Por qué les robamos ese regalo?”

Al contrario, Chaparro piensa que hay que desarrollar ese talento, fomentarlo y valorarlo. “Me fui dando cuenta de adulto que no todo mundo había tenido una experiencia tan positiva como yo”. Fue esta realización la que impulsó a Chaparro a hacer algo más. Se convirtió en su misión personal hacer el cambio y tener un mayor impacto en el sistema educativo para que su experiencia no fuera única. Esto la llevó al doctorado en Philadelphia, esta experiencia fue el punto crucial donde profundizó

su conocimiento del idioma. Se expuso a puntos de vista más críticos hacia el mundo y a analizar la inequidad en las escuelas que antes como maestra no veía. Como la diferencia entre los privilegios que gozaban sus estudiantes blancos que hablaban español, o sus niños como ella les dice, a comparación a sus niños latinos que hablan inglés a pesar de ser una escuela de inmersión.

“Hay una ideología muy fuerte, [que dice] aquí estamos en los Estados Unidos, aquí se habla inglés”. Chaparro hace referencia al movimiento, English Only, Solamente inglés, que tiene una larga historia desde principios de los 1900 con el presidente Theodor Roosevelt y que aún continúa. En 1998, la proposición 227, hizo ilegal la educación bilingüe en el estado de California a pesar de que se esperaba un incremento en la población latina de 83% entre los años 1990 a 2010 de acuerdo a 1998 Cal Facts California’s Demographics.

Chaparro dice que desde estos movimientos, los programas bilingües se convirtieron en programas de transición. Es decir, ¿cómo podemos acelerar el proceso para que aprendan inglés lo más pronto posible? En vez de preservar y fomentar el idioma que ya existía.

“Recuerdo que me atraparon hablando español

yoga. Para reservar un espacio, llame al 970-274-2472 o envíe un correo electrónico a dianagardengoddess@ gmail.com

Tala de Buford

Las operaciones de tala se han resumido a lo largo de la carretera Buford-New Castle para estimular el crecimiento del álamo temblón en White River Narional Forest al remover árboles coníferos y álamos temblones viejos. El proyecto comenzó en el 2021 y se ha desplazado a más de 235 acres con otros 220 acres planificados para este año, en adición a 220 acres cerca de Meadow Lake. La madera es picada y transportada a una planta de biomasa en Gypsum para producir electricidad.

Arresto en la Feria del Condado

El sábado 22 de julio, la policía de Rifle intentó hacer contacto con una mujer conduciendo imprudentemente después del desfile de la Feria de Condado. El jefe de policía, conduciendo un vehículo de patrulla camuflado, fue presuntamente seguido de cerca por Diana Jean Anaya de 30 años de edad, gritando obscenidades. Dos oficiales también en un vehículo camuflado iniciaron una parada de tráfico parpadeando sus luces. Anaya, quien ya había tenido cargos previos por un incidente reciente en el área, intentó huir, casi golpeando a un oficial y golpeando varias barreras. Ella fue puesta en custodia y fue transportada al Grand River Hospital para una revisión médica. Todos los sospechosos son considerados inocentes hasta que se demuestre lo contrario.

en el recreo - que era bueno para los tres golpes en los nudillos con una regla afilada. Recuerdo que me mandaban al esquina de la clase por "contestarle" a la profesora anglosajona cuando lo único que intentaba era decirle cómo pronunciar mi nombre. "Si quieres ser americano, habla 'americano'. Si no te gusta, regresa a México, donde perteneces", escribe Anzaldúa en Borderlands: La Frontera en 1987.

Durante su presentación, Chaparro compartió su investigación; transcripciones de entrevistas en forma de poemas con madres de hijos en programas bilingües. Pero incluso dentro de estos grupos, a pesar de que habían madres que querían preservar el idioma, también habían mujeres que preferían que sus hijos perdieran su lengua natal completamente para así asimilarse mejor a su nuevo hogar.

El trabajo de Chaparro continua, pero como hispanohablantes y anglófonos nosotros también tenemos la decisión de preservar nuestro idioma, nuestra cultura, o modificar el idioma al espanglish que muchos ya navegamos y nos ayuda a deslizarnos de una cultura a la otra. Porque el español es tan mío como es tuyo, y el inglés es tan tuyo como lo es mío.

"Sincronías" parte 33, por Leonardo Occhipinti

Llegó el jaripeo al valle

Por Hector Salas Gallegos Sol Corresponsal

El 16 de julio, la arena Gus Darien de Carbondale fue sede de su segundo jaripeo. Organizado por Artmarban y Sonador Promotions LLC, promotores de eventos con más de una década de experiencia, un jaripeo trae al valle el auténtico sabor del rodeo mexicano. Este estilo tradicional de rodeo se originó en Michoacán, México, y las iteraciones modernas muestran a los jinetes agarrándose a los toros de reparo hasta que el toro se canse o el jinete es tumbado.

Anteriormente, estos jaripeos se llevaban a cabo en Longmont, pero al ver que muchos habitantes del valle manejaban más de tres horas para ver el espectáculo, los organizadores pensaron que sería buena idea llevar esta tradición al valle.

"Es una tradición mexicana que nunca antes se había presentado aquí en el valle. Aquí se han presentado rodeos de ocho segundos. Esto es totalmente diferente, esto es más mexicano," comenta Eduardo Esparza de Sonador Promotions LLC.

Dado que este estilo de rodeo difiere de lo que la mayoría de los jinetes de rodeo estadounidenses están acostumbrados, los rodeos de jaripeo son hechos por jinetes latinos alrededor del país. En su espectáculo del 16 de julio, jinetes desde Utah mostraron sus habilidades. Jinetes de Minnesota, Texas, California también han presentado con orgullo su arte para el público del valle.

"Es una emoción que sienten al traerles un pedacito de lo que vivieron en su tierra, traerlo aquí en los Estados Unidos. Queremos volver a repetirles, esto no es fácil. No es fácil montar un toro," expresó Esparza.

El drama está presente durante mucho del jaripeo. Para los ganaderos, el objetivo es que sus toros ganen reputación como los más fuertes y desafiantes del corral. Tal notoriedad se traduce en un orgullo y ganancia financiera.

Al mismo tiempo, los jinetes desean dominar al toro y demostrar sus valores. La habilidad de un jinete influye directamente su compensación, ya que su maestría y reputación atraen oportunidades mejor pagadas.

"Afuera del ruedo, jinetes y ganaderos son amigos. Adentro del ruedo son enemigos", comenta Arturo Marban de ArtMarban.

Organizar un evento de esta magnitud viene con sus propios retos, hasta para promotores experimentados como Artmarban y Sonador Promotions LLC. Llevar un

pedazo de México y traerlo al valle no es algo fácil.

Para obtener la aprobación de realizar el jaripeo, Artmarban y Sonador Promotions LLC se han comunicado con diversas autoridades, incluyendo la ciudad de Carbondale, la policía local, el departamento de bomberos e incluso los vecinos del evento que escucharían las festividades todo el día.

"Esto no es de tener la idea hoy y hacerlo la semana que viene. Llevamos aproximadamente dos años trabajando en permisos, en todos los requisitos que nos está pidiendo la ciudad," dice Esparza.

Y no hay duda de que estos eventos representan una inversión financiera masiva. "Estamos hablando de un gasto de más o menos aproximadamente unos $80,000 que hay aquí y si no sale, pues uno tiene que [poner de su] bolsillo", dijo Marban.

Ante esto, surge la pregunta: ¿por qué enfrentar todos estos desafíos? La respuesta es sencilla: por pasión. Para los organizadores, la alegría y satisfacción que obtienen al realizar jaripeos supera ampliamente los retos. Ver a las familias reunirse para divertirse y saber las emociones únicas que solo un jaripeo puede evocar, es porque lo trajeron al valle.

Los organizadores han recorrido un largo camino para presentar este espectáculo. Ahora han llegado al punto en que senadores, alcaldes y sheriffs han sido parte del diálogo mientras trabajaban incansablemente para llevar los jaripeos al valle.

"Es algo que nunca pensamos llegar. Nunca imaginamos estar ahí y estar sentados en esa mesa. Somos importantes porque somos comunidad latina. Nos toman en cuenta", dijo Esparza.

Con estas relaciones recién establecidas, Artmarban y Sonador Promotions LLC esperan mantener su impulso. Para ellos, reinvertir en la comunidad tiene una gran importancia, ya que es el lugar que ellos llaman hogar. Aunque los jinetes y los toros son la gran atracción, Esparza y Marban dejan en claro que su objetivo es entretener a todas las audiencias y hacer del jaripeo un evento familiar. Bailes, comida y música en vivo están planeados para que todos puedan encontrar algo que hacer.

"Yo le invito a la gente que se tome un día al mes para convivir con su familia. [...] más que nada, pues que se diviertan, porque estas cosas no vienen seguido", dijo Esparza.

El próximo jaripeo se llevará a cabo el 20 de agosto en el Garfield County Fairgrounds en Rifle. Arturo y Eduardo prometen que será el mejor hasta ahora. Obtenga más información en las respectivas páginas de Facebook de Artmarban y Sonador Promotions LLC.

¿Cansado de estar atrapado en el tráfico durante tu trayecto a Aspen?

Burlingame Ranch

La Autoridad de Vivienda de Aspen-Pitkin County está aceptando paquetes de calificación hasta el 11 de agosto para las primeras dos rondas de unidades de propiedad disponibles en Burlingame Ranch. Actualmente se están aceptando ofertas, y se llevarán a cabo sorteos en septiembre. ¡Ahora es tu momento de actuar!

Este proyecto desarrollado por la Ciudad de Aspen es un vecindario familiar ubicado detrás de Deer Hill, frente al área de esquí Buttermilk, con vistas espectaculares. Ofrece una variedad de tamaños de unidades y niveles de ingresos. Sé parte de una comunidad próspera y diversa.

Ingresa a apcha.org o www.apchahometrek.org para obtener más información.

Foto por Elvis Estrada

Tired

Burlingame Ranch

The Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority is accepting qualification packets until Aug. 11 for the first two rounds of ownership units becoming available at Burlingame Ranch. Bids are currently being accepted, with lotteries to be held in September.

Now is your time to act! The City of Aspen-developed project, a family-friendly neighborhood nestled behind Deer Hill across from Buttermilk ski area with spectacular views, has a range of unit sizes and income levels. Be part of a thriving, diverse community.

Log onto apcha.org or www.apchahometrek.org for more information.

Mexican rodeo moves to Rifle

By Hector Salas Gallegos Sopris Sun Correspondent

On July 16, Carbondale’s Gus Darien arena was home to its second jaripeo, a Mexican bull riding tradition brought to life in the Valley. Thanks to ArtMarban and Sonador Promotions LLC, experienced event promoters with over a decade of expertise. This traditional rodeo style originated in Michoacán, Mexico, and modern iterations see riders holding on to bucking bulls until the bull tires out, or the rider is knocked off.

Previously, these jaripeos took place in Longmont, but after seeing that many Valley folk traveled over three hours to see the show, organizers thought it was a good idea to bring the tradition over the mountains.

“It’s a Mexican tradition that’s never been presented here in the Valley. Here, there’s only been eight-second rodeos. Those are totally different. These are more Mexican,” said Eduardo Esparza of Sonador Promotions.

Since this style of rodeo differs from what most American rodeo riders are accustomed to, jaripeo rodeos are performed by skilled Latino riders from across the country. At their July 16 show, riders from Utah displayed their talents. Riders from Minnesota, Texas and California previously performed proudly for Valley audiences.

“It’s a lot of emotions that they feel when they bring a small slice of what they live through in their homeland, bringing it here to the U.S. We want to repeat, this is not easy. It’s not easy to get on top of a bull,” Esparza said.

Drama is baked into bull riding. For

the ranchers, the goal is to have their bulls gain a reputation as the toughest and most challenging in the pen. Such notoriety translates into a bigger purse, making it a matter of pride and financial gain.

On the flip side, riders want to break the bull and prove their skills. Their level of riding mastery influences their compensation, as their prowess and reputation draw higher-paying opportunities.

“Outside the rodeo, riders and ranchers are friends. Inside the rodeo, they’re enemies,” said Arturo Marban of ArtMarban.

Though thrilling, putting on an event of this magnitude comes with its own set of challenges, even for experienced promoters like Artmarban and Sonador Promotions. Taking a slice of Mexico and hauling it over to the Valley is an organizational challenge.

To get approval to have the jaripeo, Artmarban and Sonador Promotions spoke with many authorities, including the Town of Carbondale, local police, the fire department and even neighbors of the event that would hear the festivities go on for hours.

“It’s not as easy as having the idea and then doing it the week after. We’re going on approximately two years working on these permits, in all the requirements that the city asks of us,” said Esparza.

And make no mistake. These events are a massive financial undertaking.

“We’re talking about a cost of around $80,000 here, and if it doesn’t do well, we have to put up our own money,” said Marban.

This raises the question: why go

through all this trouble? Simply put, for the passion and enjoyment. For the organizers, the joy and satisfaction they derive from hosting jaripeos outweigh the challenges. Witnessing families coming together to have fun, experiencing the unique emotions that only a jaripeo can evoke, brings immense fulfillment to the promoters.

The organizers have come a long way to put on this show. Now it’s to the point where senators, mayors and sheriffs have all been part of the dialogue as they worked to bring jaripeos to the Valley.

“It’s something that we didn’t think would come. We never imagined that we’d be seated at those tables. We’re important because we are the Latino community. They take us into account,” said Esparza.

With these newfound relationships, ArtMarban and Sonador Promotions hope to continue their momentum. For them, reinvesting in the community holds immense significance, as it is the

place they and countless others call home — a place where their families were raised. Though bull riding is the main attraction, Ezparza and Marban make it clear that their goal is to entertain all audiences and make their jaripeo a family-friendly event. Dancing, food and live music are all just as planned out as the bull riding, so that there are many things happening during the event.

“I invite people to take a day and enjoy time with your family. [...] and above all, have fun because these things don’t come often” Esparza concluded. The final two jaripeos of the season have been moved to the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle due to concerns by the neighbors about traffic and noise. The next one is on Aug. 20. Esparza and Marban promise it will be their best one yet. Find more information on ArtMarban and Sonador Promotions’s respective Facebook pages.

Company guides local businesses toward IT solutions

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

Sigil Solutions, a new and growing information technology (IT) company based in Glenwood Springs, is focused on building connections and working closely with local clientele.

"There's nothing more frustrating than having your tools not work for you,” Chief Executive Officer Ben Williams told The Sopris Sun. “Making any sort of meaningful difference for a real person, living a real life with real challenges and real problems is so important.”

Founded in January 2023, with the help of Chief Technology Officer Cliff Galiher and Chief Strategy Officer Nate Williams (Ben’s brother), the team felt compelled to create an IT company that is suitable for businesses in the community.

"There’s a necessary shift happening that businesses are not given a lot of choice in, one they may not know how to navigate securely. They don't know how to protect themselves and the nature of their business. There will be some people who are not comfortable with that shift … Though, I think the proactive businesses will be the ones that find the most success,” Galiher explained.

There are three deficiencies Ben noticed where businesses were seeing major gaps in IT services. The first was straightforward solutions; the second was the amount of local help; and the third was the need for a technology partner when running a business.

"Technology isn't something that you want to think about for the most part, and often when you are, it's because it's either not solving your needs or you're trying to figure out how to make it solve your needs," he stated. "It is exceedingly difficult to be an effective partner in all spaces of technology, whether that's running computers or managing software. A lot of times, you have to work with multiple different people across multiple different companies and industries."

The Williams brothers have been in the technology space for nearly a decade, and the creation of Sigil Solutions came from Ben's observations. The siblings have met and built a team of individuals who Nate described as “top tier.” Additionally, Galiher has been in the IT space for nearly four decades.

"We're fortunate to have built up fantastic skill sets … What we want to do, and why I find the world of IT so compelling, is to solve real problems," Nate stated.

One example the brothers provided

is their professional relationship with YouthZone and the changes they’ve delivered to further the nonprofit’s needs, goals and IT efficacy.

"[Youthzone] has so much to gain from technology, but they need someone who will not just sell them things but guide them, understand their budget and find where they can add the most value for their employees and, by extension, their incredible mission," Nate stated. "It's been such a pleasure meeting that team and helping them identify solutions.”

Regarding their goals as a company,

Galiher said he hopes to help businesses struggling to navigate changes spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because he works remotely from Montana, he regularly communicates with the Williams to meet their clients’ needs and provide accessible cyber security.

"I'm leaning into what [the Williams] are seeing and giving the technical advice and guidance on where we're taking the company to meet those needs,” Galiher said.

For more information about Sigil Solutions, visit www.gosigil.com or call 970-822-8084.

The rider uses all his strength to stay on a bucking bull until one of the two tires. American bull riders strive to endure for eight seconds (with one free hand), while jaripeo riders stay on as long as possible. Photo by Elvis Estrada

Drag is for everybody, say the notorious Divas

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

Editor's note: For privacy, the Divas’ stage names will be used throughout this piece.

The Roaring Divas, a drag performance troupe in the Valley, has been making waves since its inception in February 2022. The group, created by the talented Ramona Chingona and Zen Fatale, the queens’ stage names, has performed many times up and down the Valley and shows no signs of slowing down.

Other performers in the troupe include Thelma Thunder Thighs, Zaddy Addams, Zamora and Sapphire Gem. Each Diva has a niche style. For example, Zamora is a character that disregards the gender binary and has adopted a more androgynous look for their performances.

"My look is more like a non-gender alien,” Zamora explained. “I'm not necessarily a queen or a king. I do more creature-ish looks. The music I lip-sync and dance to is from lesser-known artists that have spoken to me in the past.”

Chingona, who identifies with she/ they pronouns, started the Roaring Divas due to noticing a lack of intersectional LGBTQ+ spaces in the Valley. They grew up in an immigrant

household in the Valley and shared that, in tandem with being in the closet until their later teen years, they didn't feel supported in their sexual orientation or identity.

"I went through a time here in the community in the closet, not feeling supported or encouraged to be my authentic self, to embrace who I am," Chingona told The Sopris Sun.

After graduating college and moving back in with their family for some time, Chingona felt they had moved back into the closet — which took its toll for three years. During that time, they began to feel inspired to create something to support queer adults and youth in embracing themselves.

"I hit a breaking point while I was watching all of these different drag shows that inspired me. I saw how fearless and confident the performers were in who they are and what they are doing. That was what motivated me to try to do the same,” they stated. “To say, ‘I owe it to myself to allow myself to be who I am.’”

Things picked up quickly for the Divas. They have partnered with Gay for Good Rocky Mountains and PFLAG as event collaborators, performed at the Glenwood Springs Pride Celebration two years in a row and Aspen’s inaugural Pride festival this year, plus they host drag story hours and more.

"We're starting to see more spaces

for our community. For me, it's been important to both embrace my queer identity and also my Mexican-Latino identity, all while trying to create a space for both to come together and coexist," Chingona said.

Zen Fatale, who identifies as nonbinary, is the troupe's drag mother. They say that the group has provided not just the Divas, but the local queer community as a whole, a space to be themselves without the fear of judgment. Fatale says the audience's energy is one of their favorite aspects.

"The energy from the audience is one of my favorite things, because drag is not easy on the body. We are cinched,

corseted, hot all the time and very uncomfortable. But when you're on the stage and the audience is receiving you, that all goes away," Fatale explained.

When asked how performers handle backlash from being a drag queen, Fatale said, "We try not to focus on that, and turn that focus toward the love and warmth we get from our audiences. Because, for every person that spews hate at us, there will be three people in our corner."

With laws in the country targeting queer communities, and specifically drag story hours and drag performances in general, Fatale is dedicated to

When You Have Unexpected Medical Needs

From left to right: Thelma Thunder Thighs, Ramona Chingona, Zaddy Adams, Sapphire, Zen Fatale and Zamora. Courtesy photo

Chris Klug Foundation award recipients encourage organ donation

By John Stroud Sopris Sun Correspondent

One was a teen mom when her 5-week-old son died, and she agreed to donate his heart and liver so that two other children could live.

Another was given the gift of continued life as an adult when his brother-inlaw offered to donate part of his liver through a unique procedure that allows people to be a living donor.

And the third has a teenaged daughter who will eventually need a kidney transplant due to an Alport Syndrome diagnosis when she was 4 years old.

All have become champions of the organ donation cause, and are on a mission to raise awareness and encourage people to help save lives by signing up to be an organ donor.

Katrina Fountain, Dave Galbenski and Maria Fernanda Filizola are the 2023 recipients of the Aspen-based Chris Klug Foundation’s (CKF) “Hero,” “Bounce Back, Give Back” and “Community Champion” awards, respectively.

They were in Snowmass Village on June 21 for CKF’s

annual Wine and Dine gala event to share their stories and further spread the word.

Founded in 2003 by Olympic snowboarding bronze medalist Chris Klug of Aspen — who at age 27 received a liver transplant, just 18 months before he competed and won his medal — CKF works to promote lifesaving organ, eye and tissue donation.

The stories

Katrina Fountain’s son,

Jaleel, would have been 23 this year. It wasn’t until 2021 that she could say his name again.

That release came when she reached out to the LiveOn organization in her home state of New York looking for a way to honor Jaleel’s legacy, and the lives his organs saved — a young boy and girl who received his heart and liver, respectively.

Fountain is now a life coach specializing in grief, helping others who’ve lost

loved ones but paid it forward through organ donation as a member of LiveOnNY’s Aftercare Department. Her father, who was reluctant at first to have his dying grandson’s organs donated, is also now a volunteer with the organization.

“He didn't even realize that he needed this type of healing until recently when he started becoming a volunteer,” she said of that sometimes very long grieving process.

Fountain’s 18-year-old son

has also now come to know his big brother through the family’s awareness efforts, she said. “He's never met him, but he still feels so connected to him. We go to his gravesite and he just gets so emotional, and it’s just so amazing that he has that connection.”

Dave Golbenski of Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, was diagnosed in his 40s with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare autoimmune disease that required a liver transplant for him to survive.

He was placed on the waitlist on Feb. 14, 2019 (National Organ Donor Day), but with the dire statistic of 7,000 individuals dying each year while waiting for a transplant, his brother-inlaw, Mark Dybis, stepped up to the plate. He donated his left liver lobe which, when transplanted into Dave, regenerated and became his new liver.

“It’s really amazing,” Golbenski said. “It regenerates to full size usually within about eight weeks.”

He uses a baseball analogy,

continued on page 22

Chris Klug Foundation 2023 Award recipients at the Snowmass Club where the annual CKF Wine and Dine gala took place. From left to right: Dave Galbenski, Maria Fernanda Filizola and Katrina Fountain. Photo by John Stroud

Little Blue's wish comes true

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

After months of meetings with Planning and Zoning, Little Blue Preschool received approval from the trustees for a rezoning that will allow them to double the number of children they care for at their Carbondale location on Seventh Street. The public hearing for that project predominated Tuesday’s meeting.

But first, a consent agenda was approved that included accounts payable, a special event liquor license allowing Aspen Valley Land Trust to host events at 689 Main Street through September, boards and commissions code changes for greater uniformity and a pledge of up to $100,000 toward the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition’s buydown program.

During trustee updates, Marty Silverstein spoke about the July 20 Tree Board meeting focused on emerald ash borer (now archived on the Town’s YouTube channel). “We are going to lose trees, that’s just what’s going to happen,” he said. As for treatments, “It’s going to be a big budget item, not just for the Town but for members of our community as well.”

Erica Sparhawk announced that she testified with Colorado Communities for Climate Action on behalf of the Town at a Air Quality Control Commission hearing regarding Regulation 7. These new rules would impact how much methane leaks from industrial sources.

Town Manager Lauren Gister then delivered the unfortunate news that Carbondale’s new building official, for personal reasons, bailed on the job before beginning work on Monday.

The good news, she continued, is that Town staff is training on new software to streamline agendas and minutes and make those resources more accessible.

Action items

Before jumping into the Little Blue Preschool discussion, trustees approved a special event liquor permit for Cowboy Up! scheduled for Aug. 25 at Chacos Park (Fourth and Main) from 6 to 10pm.

They also approved an extension to Wember’s contract as the owner’s representative on the Town’s aquatics facility project. The original agreement covered services through May 2024. Construction has since been delayed with an estimated completion date of May 2025.

“Hopefully we can hit that,” said Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger. “It’s a construction schedule on paper.” Wember’s contract originally accounted for a longer timeline scenario with $59,000 additional costs for services, but this extension exceeds that at $118,000.

“We see this project ballooning before our very eyes,” responded Mayor Ben Bohmfalk. “We’re committed, we’re going to keep moving forward, but I anticipate this is the first of many moments where we are asked to find more and pay more and maybe extend schedules as we go forward, so that’s tough.”

Child care

The bulk of the meeting was dedicated to Little Blue Preschool’s proposed expansion. Along with improvements to their existing property on Seventh Street, the child care nonprofit sought to unify its zoning,

Three Rivers Little League state champions stopped by the meeting on Tuesday to let trustees know they’re headed to Texas for regional tournaments, which could carry them on to the Little League World Series. The team is requesting donations (www. bit.ly/3riversbaseball) to help cover travel expenses.

which was split between Commercial/ Transitional and Residential/Medium Density. Due to eased parking restrictions that will allow for more playground space, Little Blue asked the trustees for Historic Commercial Core (HCC).

Planning and Zoning, in a 5-2 vote, supported that zoning, while Town staff recommended Commercial/Transitional which would have required another process to potentially share parking spaces with Colorado Mountain College. As explained by Town Planner Kelly Amdur, no other properties were zoned HCC on that block — however HCC is found across the street at 689 Main Street.

Little Blue will reorient three parallel parking spaces in the public right-of-way to head-in, creating five additional spaces to account for some parking eliminated in the alleyway. This reflects other parking arrangements on Seventh Street. The expansion will also come with an improved sidewalk and the removal of three mature Siberian

Free money for Midland shopping

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

On Tuesday, July 25, the Basalt Town Council convened for a very brief meeting consisting mostly of a presentation updating both the council and the public on the status of the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project, as well as the new Midland Money program currently circulating the streets of Basalt.

In the public comments portion, the streetscape project was criticized for not increasing the amount of parking spaces on and around Midland Avenue, with one citizen arguing that there is already a significant lack of parking and the project won’t adequately address this issue.

During councilors' reports, Mayor Bill Kane stated that the Town has received a positive response hosting the Sunday markets in Basalt River Park, and that the Midland spur opening with 92 parking spaces will help support the market even further. Town Manager Ryan Mahoney agreed, but added there is still some streamlining to do, especially with safety and efficiency concerns with having some vendors on the other side of Two Rivers Road.

Returning to the point of parking on Midland, Councilor Elyse Hottel said that adding parking spaces would conflict with Basalt’s climate goals, and keeping

the quantity of spaces limited will encourage citizens to use alternative forms of transportation. Hottel added a quick reminder about the Midland Money vouchers currently circulating.

Distributed by the Town to encourage commerce this summer, these small tickets are worth $20 at participating businesses up and down Midland Avenue — essentially, a free appetizer at some of your favorite restaurants. Midland Money is distributed at the free Wednesday concerts, the Sunday Market, other public events this summer and even at Town Hall at any hour. Between now and September, a total of 2,500 vouchers will be distributed to citizens and visitors alike for use at over 20 businesses around Midland. A list of all the participating businesses and more information can be found at www.basalt.net/midlandmoney

Mahoney emphasized the long-term vision of Midland’s overhaul in his report, stating that there are necessary changes to be made beyond just updating utilities. “The idea has been: deliver a project that is going to last for 50 years plus, that addresses things that are important like ADA access,” Mahoney said, adding that he’d observed the challenges of navigating the street with a wheelchair, cane or walker. Mahoney also said the improved storm drainage system will help control the flow and contents of runoff into the rivers, as well as prevent pooling and safety issues from frozen

elm trees, to be replaced by two trees selected to grow large.

All trustees voted in favor with the exception of Silverstein, who preferred to trust the judgment of Town staff.

“I do support some semblance of a waiver of fees,” said Sparhawk, regarding another request. “We’ve waived fees for affordable housing and I do feel like child care is right up there in supporting our working families.” Staff was directed to return with a sense of fees that could reasonably be waived.

Other business

Lastly, trustees took a preliminary look at budget priorities for 2024.

Mayor Bohmfalk is available to meet informally at Bonfire on Fridays from 8 to 9am.

And on Wednesday, Aug. 2, the Town Center design team will host an ice cream social on Fourth Street from 10am to 3pm and 5 to 7pm. See artspace.org/towncenter for more information.

water in the winter.

Next up on the same topic, Dave Detwiler of Wember Inc. presented the monthly Midland Avenue Streetscape update. In terms of construction progress, the curb and gutter installation is still ongoing, but the spur should be open to public access by mid-August. Then, Phase II will begin — from the spur uphill to Xin Yu Massage. However, the waterline is the only part of Phase II to be installed this summer and should be complete before winter. The more controversial surface improvements in Phase II will begin in the early spring of 2024, according to the current schedule.

The timeline change was caused in part by a project team decision to order and install specialized valves and connectors in order to prevent a complete water shutoff along the north side of Midland. This installation added weeks to the schedule, and while shutoffs will still occur this summer, the change should allow project managers to limit water disruptions and keep commerce flowing above ground.

An ordinance and a resolution formed the only two council actions for this evening. The first was a second reading and approval of an ordinance to disallow parking in the cul-de-sac at East Cody Lane so emergency services can turn around in case of an emergency situation. The second action was to allow a patio at CC’s Cafe to encroach upon the Town’s right-of-way on Midland, which has changed as part of the construction. With that approved, the meeting was adjourned.

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

RFSD welcomes new COS/PIO

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

Jonathan Landon moved to New Castle in September 2022, when he was still working remotely as executive director for City of Hope, a world-renowned comprehensive cancer treatment and research center in Duarte, California.

The move to Colorado came after he and his partner, Shannon, who lives in Carbondale, decided the long-distance arrangement wasn’t for them.

He recalled that, after the move to Colorado, “I was hopeful that I'd be able to find a job in the general area of where I live now. I wasn't sure if that would be possible, so I was exploring diverse possibilities.”

That job search would lead Landon to become the newly-hired chief of staff (COS) and public information officer (PIO) for the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD). His first day on the job at RFSD offices in Carbondale was Monday, July 24.

When asked what drew him to the RFSD job, Landon said, “My initial attraction was the ability to engage in the community in making a difference in students’ lives. Then, when I came across the district’s mission statement, it resonated with me: ‘To ensure that every student develops the enduring knowledge, skills and character to thrive in a changing world.’” Landon, by the way, quoted that mission statement verbatim.

He has a bachelor of science in business management and marketing from the University of Phoenix. While working in the corporate world, he served as a police chaplain for 20 years with the Monrovia Police Department in

California and as a volunteer counselor with various hospice organizations.

Those experiences of helping people move through challenging situations are fundamental to who Landon is as a person. He said, “I was deeply engaged in the community when I did that work, in addition to the work that I did in my career in corporations. I was hoping to find something that would meld together that type of experience, where there was deep meaning and the ability to drive change. I've seen the great work that's taken place so far in the school district, and I'm looking forward to taking that to the next level.”

Colorado is a definite change for Landon, who was born and raised in California and spent his career working in the Greater Los Angeles area. Previously, he worked as a chief of staff for executives at Amgen, a biopharmaceutical company, and City of Hope.

Three of his four adult children live in Southern California, while his oldest child lives with her husband in Las Vegas. An avid hiker, he grew up trekking the densely-populated foothills around Los Angeles and appreciates the open surroundings on Colorado trails.

In a July 14 announcement about Landon’s hiring, RFSD Superintendent Dr. Jesús Rodríguez stated, “Members of the review and interview committees noted some of Jonathan’s strengths as having a clear grasp on strategic planning. He emphasized the importance of defining success and having measurable goals while providing several great examples, and he shared a very clear, tentative timeline and communication plan for our upcoming strategic planning process. He is a trained and experienced

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project management professional, and we are excited to tap into his expertise.”

Landon said of his predecessor Kelsy Been’s tenure, “Kelsy was great in paving the road, so to speak, for me to hit the ground running. She did great work and advanced this role, starting as the PIO and taking on the chief of staff role.”

A few months after Landon moved here, he did a very Colorado thing — he got a dog. She is a Goldendoodle named Daisy, who is now 8 months old and “is just a crazy bundle of joy,” he said. Recently, he and Shannon picked up a companion for Daisy; an 8-week-old kitten named Quincy. The pup and kit are scheduled to have their first playdate soon.

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Jonathan Landon, RFSD's chief of staff and public information officer, started in the position on July 24. Courtesy photo

Jeremy George Heiman

May 5, 1949 –June 24, 2023

Jeremy George Heiman, 74, of Glenwood Springs died June 24 at Valley View Hospital (VVH) from complications of multiple myeloma. His wife, Pat Trauger, would like to thank the staff at the VVH Cancer Center, ICU, Emergency Department and Palliative Care for the excellent care Jeremy received.

A celebration of life will be held from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Veltus Park in Glenwood Springs. Friends are invited to share memories, bring a dish for the potluck meal and a chair.

Jeremy was a writer, photographer and a lover of words. He was passionate about the environment and climate issues, actively pursued hiking, fishing, gardening and birding, and spent his best days telemark skiing and road bicycling.

He earned a BA in music and studio art from Illinois State University and an MS in journalism from the University of Colorado.

Jeremy moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1976 and led a diverse

Mountain Fair

professional life that included running a silkscreen shop, working as a cartographer and freelance photographer, serving as a staff editor for Rocky Mountain Institute, reporting for the Glenwood Springs Post Independent and the Sopris Sun and launching the first (and only) pedicab business in Glenwood Springs.

Jeremy was born to Daniel E. and Florine (Feulmer) Heiman in Mendota, Illinois.

He is survived by his wife, Pat Trauger of Glenwood Springs, brother and sister-in-law, Daniel F. and Jineen Heiman of Libertyville, Illinois, and by a stepdaughter from his previous marriage, Corinne Pitman, and her children, Jonathan, Harper and Thaddeus of Grand Junction.

continued from page 10

on Friday and Saturday nights, or the nude bike ride, a tradition which began in 2020, departing from the Thunder River Theatre at 9:45pm on Friday.

The fair is brought to life thanks to some 500 volunteers, and every volunteer that works four hours or more earns a special t-shirt and will be entered into a raffle for two fashion show tickets. Chances are, if you stop by the volunteer booth during the fair, you’ll still be able to sign up to help out!

Some simple rules: no pets of any kind (snakes included), no glass or outside alcohol, no weapons of any kind, no soliciting (even for a good cause). “We don’t really recommend that people bring even an emotional support or service dog into the park, because it’s a very stimulating place,” said Colley. She added that there’s a new system for shade zones: groups can set up a spot at 3pm on Friday but need to take it all home at the end of each night to set up again the next morning.

She recommended checking out the many artisan booths for “Christmas shopping in July,” and to keep an eye out for a bilingual survey to share your opinion on how the fair can be improved.

Find the full program in this week’s edition of The Sopris Sun.

Roaring Divas

breaking down some misconceptions.

continued from page 16

"When you take who I am and make it a political issue, I have no option but to become political myself. We want to perform, bring joy, be funny and wear outrageous outfits heavier than our souls,” they said. “We deserve to be exactly who we are.”

Zamora piggybacked on that sentiment, saying, "Drag is for everybody regardless of age, regardless of socio-economic status or anything. Drag is an art form that anybody can do.”

The Roaring Divas are proving to be a major staple in queer spaces within the Roaring Fork Valley and are open to bringing in anyone interested in pursuing drag. To any aspiring performers looking to get involved or to get updates for upcoming performances, check out The Roaring Divas on their Facebook page or follow their Instagram @theroaringdivasco

WE-cycle continued from page 5

“We’re trying to make sure that our bike trips and our balancing of bike trips are remaining sustainable as well,” she said.

Also unique to Carbondale, WE-cycle aims to keep the program going yearround. Assisting this goal and general maintenance of the Carbondale fleet, the organization procured offices and shop space at 695 Buggy Circle.

Downloading the app may be the easiest way to use the service, but this does not preclude people without a smartphone from participating. Bricker explained that anyone can acquire a physical keycard to be scanned at each station for accessing bikes. Sign-up does require a credit card, which will be charged if someone goes above the allotted 30-minute limit. The minimum age for using WEcycle was recently lowered from 16 to 14, and Bricker anticipates the station near Roaring Fork High School will be quite popular.

WE-cycle continues to expand its services in Aspen and the midvalley and intends to grow in Carbondale, too. For now, data will be collected to inform the team of demand, gaps, etc. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for this First Friday at Town Hall at 5:30pm, followed by a celebration at KDNK (76 South Second Street).

Sign up now and learn more at www.we-cycle.org

AVLT continued from page 6

of its history.

The COBS campus is also conveniently located adjacent to the Chapin Wright Marble Basecamp, a 47-acre homestead already in use by AVLT for youth outdoor education programs.

The Chapin Wright Basecamp was purchased in 2016 with both community support and grants from Great Outdoors Colorado and the Flatirons Foundation. Although AVLT provides access and group gear, the organization doesn’t host its own programs, and instead schools, nonprofits and youth groups of all types reach out to AVLT in order to utilize the space free of charge from July to mid-October. However, the Basecamp is only equipped with fairly basic amenities — outdoor kitchen, backcountry toilets and two large tents for a maximum of fifty people — so the potential restoration of the COBS campus represents a major step up in infrastructure, accessibility and program capacity.

Notably, the 42 acres of land in Marble are also sensitive elk habitat, and the purchase of the campus is not only a win for experiential learning but for wildlife conservation as well.

Currently, AVLT is still seeking investors, and those interested can learn more at www.avlt.org

“This is an incredible opportunity to protect this region’s history, wildlife and future of outdoor education and relationship to conservation,” said Suzanne Stephens, the executive director of AVLT.

Summer Advantage's free academic and life enrichment program graduated 600 elementary students on Friday, July 21. The opportunity was available to all elementary-aged children living in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. In its 12-year history, the program benefitted close to 8,000 local kids with literacy and math tutoring, nutritious meals and enrichment opportunities. Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

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

Lost at Sea

JM Jesse Glenwood Springs

Flip-flop incident

One seized by a rising tide

Now it’s flip flip flip

Fair in the air

By Just Jim Glenwood Springs

The last weekend of July Means one thing around here: Mountain Fair

Cool mornings and hot days

Misted at the foot of the stage

After 52 years of history

Last night is still a mystery

Lots has changed

But a feeling stays the same

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

NOW

Hiring personal care assistant/CNA/Home health aid. Individuals who are compassionate and are service oriented to care for others. Assist with activities of daily living including bathing, dressing, toileting, and running errands.

BENEFITS:

Working hour discount

Flexible schedule

Time schedule: 5 hours per day

$30 per hour

Email Andy for more details about the caregiver job: andyctrangegrading@gmail.com

Mountain Fair photos from Valley Journal archives

LETTERS

of 35 9/11-style terrorist attacks … every year. I have a close friend whose son perished after he attempted to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to an acquaintance who had just swallowed fentanyl.

Some 90% of the chemicals used to manufacture synthetic opioids are sold to two Mexican cartels by Chinese chemical manufacturers. I have a fourfold solution.

First, seal our southern border by completing “The Wall.”

Secondly, implement massive, escalating tariffs on both Mexico and China until seizures and deaths decline significantly. Consider 50% tariffs on both countries that double every three months. After a year, tariff levels could reach as high as 800%. Would you pay $360,000 to buy a $40,000 car assembled in Mexico?

Third, apply the harshest penalties possible to drug dealers who sell poisons that kill our kids.

Finally, triple legal immigration based upon merit. Last year we allowed 1.13 million immigrants to legally move to our country. Joe Biden has allowed 5.5 million unskilled, illiterate, illegals into our country since taking office. We’ve checked that box! Let’s invite doctors, (no lawyers), nurses, code writers, etcetera to enjoy the freedoms found in America.

I am curious where Aspen-Adam stands on these (and many other) issues.

Russ Andrews Carbondale

Vote Withrow

I am a normal working stiff from Southern Colorado. I, along with many others in our District, recognize the need for a change in representation in the U.S. House of Representatives away from Lauren Boebert. I also recognize the vast enthusiasm gap between her and the

continued from

person she defeated in 2022. The honest fact is, the majority of the votes he got, mine included, were votes AGAINST her and not FOR him.

I do not believe Adam Frisch can or will win the general election in this district.

Since my mid-20s, people have been asking me to run for this House seat, some of whom were highly influential business owners, and others regular working people like myself. This cycle, I have caved into the pressure. Instead of coming across as though I have the answers to all of our problems or presenting myself as a full-blown partisan zealot, I'd like to practice a little true Democracy as our representative. When major issues come up, I want to contact local experts and stakeholders, and I'd also like to survey the citizens of the district at large for their direct input.

I would like every city council and town board to have a vote on what I will vote for while in the House. If the citizens in the towns stay engaged, it's possible for us to work together on what OUR word is on all legislation that passes through the House.

I'll be coming to your town to pay a visit as soon as it is feasible, and when I do, I hope you'll be there. In the meantime, you can go to www.bit.ly/ AdamWithrow to chip in and help me get to you.

Adam Withrow Colorado

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.

“double play,” to describe the beauty of live organ donation. “You not only save the life of the recipient, you free up a space on the waitlist so that someone else can benefit from the deceased organ registry,” Golbenski said.

He and his wife, Lynn, took the baseball connection a step further, hosting Living Donor Awareness Nights at professional baseball games, including Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds games this year. They also founded the Living Liver Foundation and were successful in having April 11 designated as National Living Donor Day.

“It’s about honoring the living donors for their courage and compassion, and about educating the public on the power and possibilities of living organ donation,” he said.

Portland, Oregon resident Maria Fernanda Filizola ’s ex-husband had to have two kidney transplants as a result of

Alport Syndrome. Their daughter, Nevaeh , is now facing the same fate.

“I had just come from Mexico, and I didn't know anything about transplants or donation or anything like that, so it was hard,” Filizola said.

Information wasn’t available in Spanish, and no one was able to interpret for them.

She later became involved with Donate Life Northwest, where she began an outreach campaign within the Latino community. She now works as the organization’s official Latino outreach coordinator and the community engagement manager.

“She's really good at what she does,” said Nevaeh, whose kidneys are starting to fail and who had to miss her junior year of high school to deal with her medical situation. “The moment I get my transplant, I'll have my life back,” she said. “So I just think it’s really important to teach people how important this gift really is.”

Chris Klug Foundation continued from page 17

Challenge Aspen's annual music and dance camp showcase event, "Ticket to Ride!" was performed at The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) on July 21. It follows the adventures of a group of goaldriven teens aiming to attend a Beatles concert in their town, brimming with disappointments and joys. The audience sang along to the cast's rendition of Beatles tunes, with lyrics projected on a screen above the stage. The Beatles-inspired musical, written and directed by Michael Schoepe, featured vibrant '60s costumes designed by Ashley Ryan. Above: The full cast sings "All You Need Is Love" in their closing number. Right: To open the performance, Chad DeVilbiss plays "Michelle" on the piano while stage manager Chris Wheatley looks on.

Photos by Jeanne Souldern

Correction:

On page two of last week’s Sopris Sun, Mature Content columnist Ron Kokish’s name was misspelled.

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