Because every town needs a park, a library and a newspaper
Carbondale’s weekly
community connector
Volume 12, Number 28 | August 27 - September 2, 2020
OPEN MARKET
Carbondalians have been talking about a new City Market since almost the day the chain purchased and expanded the old Circle Soopers. When the culmination of decades of planning came to fruition, however, its fanfare was somewhat muted by COVID-19. The old store closed a couple of hours early and the new one opened as usual on Aug. 26 without any special ceremony — though at least there were big balloons. The intimidation of a vast and almost eerily well-stocked store was mitigated by all the familiar (albeit masked) faces, both among the shoppers — unusually plentiful for a Wednesday morning — and the staff. Delma Casali was right there to help one of the very first customers through the line. Photo by Sue Rollyson
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OPINION
SEEKING HIGHER GROUND By Nicolette Toussaint
White/Caucasian, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African-American or Decline to State? At first, I responded to my new optometrist's medical history form by checking that familiar first box: White/ Caucasian. Moments later, that choice began to rankle. What relevance could one's race have to double vision? The issue wasn't personal relevance. I suddenly wondered whether the checklist might be one of those pernicious, knee-jerk habits that enable systemic racism. I would have checked “white” without qualm had I not been reading Isabelle Wilkerson's book, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” Reading this book has completely altered my worldview. In this deeply-researched work, Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize winner, paints a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon: how the U.S. has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy that leaves a painful imprint on people of color. Whatever box I check won't inconvenience me. I'm packaged like white on rice, at first glance an obvious member of the “dominant caste”. But anyone checking one of those OTHER boxes — especially an African-American — might well suspect that the categorization
My role in the caste
would lead to nothing but trouble. There are some medical reasons for asking about biological background. Cystic-Fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease and Sickle Cell Anemia show up statistically more often in folks whose ancestors came from specific parts of the world. The risk of carrying a BRCA gene mutation that causes breast and ovarian cancer is 10 times greater for women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent than for the general population. A few years ago, a medical researcher was puzzled to find BRCA-1 mutations in clusters of breast cancer patients in Colorado's San Luis Valley. The patients were Catholics, women from Latino families that settled in the San Luis Valley 8-10 generations ago. They were certain they had no Jewish ancestry. But digging back, the researcher found that their families had descended from conquistadors traveling with the de Oñate expedition of 1598. Jews — who had converted to Catholicism to save their lives at the time of the Spanish inquisition — had joined de Oñate's expedition to get as far from Spain as humanly possible. They hid their Jewish roots even in the New World, even from their descendants. While the odds of getting some diseases can correlate with biological inheritance, race has nothing to do with it. Last year, scientists with the Human Genome project released a position paper noting that all humans share 99.9 percent of their DNA. They stated, “Race does not provide an accurate representation of human biological variation... Instead, the Western concept of race must be understood as a classification system that emerged from, and in support of, European colonialism, oppression, and discrimination. It does not have its roots in biological reality...”
In other words, it's not race that determines U.S. health outcomes; it's racism. For example, American Public Media's research lab recently crunched numbers to discover that in Missouri, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., AfricanAmericans are six times more likely to die of COVID-19 than whites. Blacks die three times more often than whites while giving birth. By contrast, a study of 1.8 million hospital births in Florida found that for an African-American mother, having a Black doctor cut the newborn mortality rate in half. It's not that white doctors are intentionally racist. These days, virtually no one admits to the BullConnor kind of racism, uses the N-word, or even espouses separate (but unequal) facilities. Doctors no longer believe that Black babies don't feel pain. It's been roughly 50 years since public outcry shut down the Tuskegee experiment, in which white doctors “scientifically studied” African-American men dying of syphilis while providing no treatment at all. But given this country's history, we've all grown up with an internalized ranking based on race, a caste system keyed to skin color. As Wilkerson explains, “As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance...” Caste “is about respect, authority and assumptions of competence — who is accorded these and who is not.” “Race, in the United States,” Wilkerson writes, “is the visible agent of the unseen force of caste.” Factually, I am not “Caucasian.” Visually, I'm not really white. My ancestors hailed mostly from the British Isles, not the Caucasus Mountains near Turkey. If I were a
Sherwin-Williams paint chip, I'd be Pumpkin Pie Oh My! In printing terms, I'm Pantone #7508. In this country, whiteness has been an evolving social construct, as a century-old Supreme Court case illustrates. In 1915, Japaneseborn Takao Ozawa filed for U.S. citizenship under the Naturalization Act of 1906, which allowed "free white persons" to naturalize. Ozawa argued that because his skin was a whiter shade of pale than Pantone #7508 folks like me, Japanese people should be properly classified as "free white persons". The Supreme Court turned thumbs down. Curiously, many of my ancestors were, for a time, not considered white. In the 1850's, the Irish were considered “mulattos”. The papers of Ben Franklin and other founding fathers draw a distinction between Germans and “whites”; before 1919, only Germans of Saxon lineage were considered white. I suspect that my grandfather Slusser, an attorney, the father of four and too old for the draft, enlisted to escape anti-immigrant sentiment at the start of WWI. He was the eighth generation of Slussers born on American soil. He spoke no German; his family had long since struck the bargain of dropping all traces of ethnicity to become “just white”. When asked about my own ethnicity, I have unthinkingly said, “I don't have any. I'm just white.” What that answer really reflects is the bargain historically offered to light-skinned immigrants: assimilate, act like a WASP, and you can join the dominant caste. On deeper reflection, that might be a deal with the devil. On moral grounds, I'd rather cast my lot with the human race — or at least “decline to state” participation in the evils of caste.
LETTERS Response to CVEPA column Dear Editor: John Armstrong's column in last week's paper, "Defend your public access," was factually wrong, one-sided, misleading and hurtful. The column ignored the complexity of land ownership and conflicting rights of way that exist on the east side of the Satank Bridge. It falsely stated that RFTA owns a 200-foot right of way "outright (fee simple)" — they have a “right of way” — and failed to acknowledge that I pay the taxes on the land in question and that I have legitimate concerns about liability. If you are interested in the boundaries, please refer to the publicly available Garfield County GIS map; the turquoise areas represent the Confluence Lodge land the area surrounding the Satank Bridge and the County Road 106 leading to the bridge belong to Garfield County in accordance
with their agreement with the National Historic Registry. What's most frustrating is that John has chosen to publicly shame me over a matter in which we are both stakeholders, rather than taking me up my offer to discuss it as neighbors. I will continue to work with RFTA and Garfield County to find a fair resolution to this complicated land-use situation that I inherited when I purchased the property. If anyone is interested in discussing this issue, please email me: theconfluencelodge@ gmail.com Amy Fulstone Carbondale
Be counted Dear Colorado residents: Please, if you have not yet filled out the census form call now and give your
information to a census worker by phone. It takes about 10 minutes. All census information is kept totally private for 72 years. It is for the use only of the census department who give the data on the numbers of residents by age and gender to the branches of the federal government that need the information to provide public services. The number of people in each community determines our amount of representation in the House of Representatives for the next ten years. It determines what each state and county gets for schools, roads, community hospitals, Medicaid and other public services. The census is not an issue of citizenship but of residency. ICE never sees the individuals’ information. It matters a lot that you, your family and any housemates are counted for our community well being
Continued from page 14
The views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The community is invited to submit letters up to 500 words to news@soprissun.com. Longer columns are considered on a case-by-case basis. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday. 2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • August 27 - September 2, 2020
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Donate by mail or online. P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #32 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Editor Will Grandbois • 970-510-0540 news@soprissun.com Advertising Todd Chamberlin • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Graphic Designer: Ylice Golden Reporter: Roberta McGowan Delivery: Tom Sands Proofreader: Lee Beck Current Board Members Raleigh Burleigh, President Marilyn Murphy, Vice President Linda Criswell, Secretary Klaus Kocher, Treasurer Kay Clarke • Carol Craven • Lee Beck Megan Tackett • Gayle Wells Donna Dayton • Terri Ritchie The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on second Mondays at the Third Street Center. Contact board@soprissun.com to reach them. Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young Colin Laird • Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell
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Don't you worry ... you can still shop second hand By James Steindler Sopris Sun Correspondent
more in profits than any other year on record. “Right now we’re doing our scholarships,” said Abdelall. “If you’re a high school student that is going to go to college in state we can offer you some assistance.” Due to COVID-19 this process is taking place later than usual but they nonetheless intend to assist a number of the 2020 graduates. Some recent things they’ve donated to include the town’s new pickleball courts and the Carbondale Middle School music department.
Thrifty finds are making a comeback and it’s a good thing because their customer base has apparently been chomping at the bit to get in on the action. Though it may seem counterintuitive to shop second hand — as far as passing along germs goes — local merchants are easing such concerns and doing their darndest to keep thrifters safe.
The Rebekahs (Near New Store) The Near New, or The Rebekahs, as locals know it, re-opened its doors in the last month and it’s funneling folks in one door and out the other — literally. When you walk in the door you’ll see directional arrows pointing out the one way route through the store. After taking the loop and having the opportunity to peruse each section the path culminates at the register and back out the opposing door. Anna Abdelaal, a young Rebecca herself as well as a board member, is glad the store is conscientiously propping its doors to welcome the public again. “All of our people are just super happy that we’re open — they love coming here,” Abdelall said of their clientele. According to Abdelall, the board’s decision to reopen was unanimous, though some members didn’t feel in as big of a hurry. Ultimately, the group wanted to get back to it so they could continue to fundraise for specific causes and scholarships. Prior to re-opening, the Rebeccas board continued to meet at Friendship Park (which they also own) adjacent to the store to devise reopening strategies and decide on fundraising options. “That is where we decide what we want to do with the finances that we’ve gained; since we are volunteers we’re not profiting,” said Abdelall. As it is a non-profit the incentive of reopening is not for the good of any proprietor but rather for various causes the organization contributes to as well as the community at large by providing the most affordable dressups in town. During the closure, Abdelall was happy to report that donors were kind enough to not fill their stoop with knickknacks and various sized bags of clothes. Now, as was always the case, donors can only drop off during store hours. Furthermore, and this is new, people will have to bring their donations to the side door at the corner of the building, across from the Village Smithy. “We are accepting only two containers of things at a time from a
LuLu’s Thrift Shoppe
Anna Abdelaal runs the show at the Near New on Fridays. With much to be done during open hours, Anna and her fellow volunteers have little time left over for a dull moment.
family or individual,” said Abdelall. Once items are admitted they are quarantined for a week before volunteers break into the bags and organize what they’ll put on the shelves and set aside what will be recycled as textiles at the Pitkin County Dump. Not to say they will not still be multitasking — they will — but this does mean you will not see the ladies sorting in the front of the store like the good old days. “A lot of our volunteers are over the age of sixty five but not all of them — and that’s why we’re open now,” Abdelall explained. “We’re just doing what we can with the people who are willing to work at this moment, and that’s why we have limited hours.” Currently, the Near New is only open from noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays instead of its previous four weekdays. “We’re hoping to be opening back up on Thursdays within the next few weeks — that’d be great,” said Abdelall. Abdelall is the Friday manager. While working the counter someone motioned to her to inquire about the price of something bright, folded and sealed in its packaging, “What is it... a t-shirt, pantyhoes, tights?” Abdelall asked. The patron just shrugged their shoulders and Abdelall replied and laughed, “Okay, one dollar.” The general vibe has not changed much, and while they’re not making the same numbers as before it appears things have not slowed too much on the days they are open. That said, last year the Near New raised
DR. REBEKAH REED TO OUR TEAM!
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Estefany Guevara trains new hire Diana Carsten on the register at Miser's Mercantile. Photos by James Steindler
Miser’s Mercantile Do not be deterred by the dark plastic draping the interior of the old storefront windows. Just walk to the side door and you’ll see the same Miser’s sign hanging above the new entrance to this timeless thrifty destination. Business owner Bertha Eubank is excited for the community to see Miser’s new look. Its previously frequent shoppers will notice one not so subtle difference: that the front of the store is no longer accessible. Rather, when entering — and upon noticing the new paint and dashing interior — the initial space seems small. However, in the corner a stairwell leads to the basement which still has ample room for incoming apparel. Eubank says they are also remodeling the front of the building and plan to rent the space out eventually. When it first reopened on Aug. 11, people were confused because of the new entrance,
SEPT SPEAKERS
WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME
Dr. Andrew Nardecchia Dr. Rebekah Reed
Eubank said. Overall though, she said, “We’re seeing a really good response from people.” Miser’s business hours have also been reduced from seven to five days a week. In order to drop off consignment someone must call and make an appointment first. Eubank is offering 20 minute intervals between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. To Eubank it is important that people, “Stay safe and healthy — health for the community, myself and my employees,” she stated.
“We opened on May 4,” said Deborah Herrell proprietor of LuLu’s Thrift Shoppe in La Fontana Plaza, “It was the first day that they allowed us to reopen.” Herrell shut down the store by choice before retail businesses in the state were required to do so. Therefore the business had been closed for about two months. “We’re right back on track though,” Herrell said, but with some differences. “We’re limited to 10 people maximum in the store — including employees,” said Herrell and “When we first reopened we took some old sheets, bleached them and then cut them into bandana size pieces so if anyone didn’t have a mask we could give them one.” Herrell has received a lot of calls regarding donations but said, “We have actually really limited the amount coming in through the front door.” She added that the bulk of the store’s items come from providers around the state and that those commodities, “Have already been in bags in storage units for a month or more,” before arriving at LuLu’s. Though it is a for-profit business, Herrell was proud to say, “We complete the circle and we donate ten to twenty percent of our gross sales forward every month.”
Back Door Consignment Store (BDC) BDC was not available for comment for this story. The business is open, albeit under new ownership — Huertas Brothers. The previous owner, Dessrie Bartelt, was sued by a consigner, Ray Meeks. Garfield County Court Judge Paul Metzger ordered that Meeks be paid reparations totalling $3,010.05. However, the case was reopened after Meeks filed a “Motion and Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court” against Bartelt for not settling up. Metzger granted the motion and a citation was issued for Bartelt to appear on Sept. 3.
Looking to have fun and give back? Come join us at Rotary every Wednesday at 7am - visit rotarycarbondale.org for details. Guest Speaker Maddie Diaz Rotary Youth Exchange Student back from Germany September 2, 2020
Guest Speaker Mike Pritchard Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association September 16 , 2020
All are welcome! RSVP to Ed Queenan (401) 465-4276 queenan.edward@gmail.com
THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • August 27 - September 2, 2020 • 3
SCUTTLEBUTT Don’t drink and drive As Coloradans prepare to celebrate the end of summer over Labor Day weekend, statewide law enforcement officers are preparing for the Labor Day DUI enforcement period from Aug. 21 – Sept. 8. The Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are teaming up to increase law enforcement patrol, protecting Colorado roadways from dangerous, impaired drivers. Fatal crashes due to DUI on Colorado roads between January and July rose from 28% of fatalities in 2019 to 30% in 2020. This increase is more of a concern, considering there were fewer vehicles on the roads due to the pandemic.
Dried up With a heat wave and sustained wildfires confronting the valley and much of the West, 350 Roaring Fork is kicking off a municipal divestment campaign. An online workshop, “A Fossil-Free Roaring Fork Valley: Municipal Divestment 101,” promises to give activists the tools to advocate for ordinances extricating town, city, and county funds from the coal, oil and natural gas companies most responsible for the greenhouse gases warming the climate, leading to the worsening droughts and wildfires. The campaign also includes the major banks and insurance companies
financing and insuring fossil fuel development. It will be held safely via Zoom, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31 — visit tinyurl.com/350rfvdivest to register.
Where’s the fire? Senator Cory Gardner has launched a new webpage (gardner. senate.gov/wildfires) to provide the latest wildfire news, information, and resources for Coloradans. Gardner’s new wildfires web page provides information on fire bans and restrictions, road closures, resources to prepare for wildfires, and federal programs where Coloradans can receive assistance, which includes resources for farmers and ranchers who may be impacted by lost rangeland. Meanwhile, the National Forest Foundation has launched the White River National Forest Restoration Fund (support. nationalforests.org) to support critical restoration work on the forest including areas recently burned by the Grizzly Creek Fire. Donated funds will be available to the White River National Forest and its partners to implement a variety of projects to help restore the landscape as well as repair important infrastructure for public access. The White River National Forest expects restoration work to begin in 2021 after the fire is out and restoration needs are identified.
Come on down! The Aspen Chapel’s Pay it Forward campaign culminates in a unique twist on its annual celebration: Kundalini Raising: An Interactive Game Show. A cross between a game show and a telethon, the live Zoom event takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 and is hosted by Chapel minister Nicholas Vesey. Participants are invited to bid on their favorite local musicians — Mack Bailey, Scott MacCracken, Susan Nicholson, Dan Sheridan, Ellen Stapenhorst, and Jessica Vesey — to perform live for the event. The audience can also enter a bidding war to have Nicholas Vesey sing or not sing. Amid other opportunities for interactive participation and chats with Chapel program directors, the amount raised will be tracked by a special Kundalini chakra-meter. Admission is free, but visit aspenchapel.org to register.
There was plenty of fowl poop at the Chicken Sh*% BINGO for Thunder River Theatre at Beer Works. With Dolly and Loretta flapping at the flock of attendees, each placed their droppings on only a few numbers with a cluck here and a cluck there. Photo by Ylice Golden
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Tommy Sands, Mason Frisbie and Joanne Howard (Aug. 27); JoEllen Maynard and Phil Maynard (Aug. 28); Tyler Treadway (Aug. 29) ; Barbara New, Lauren DeAre, Elizabeth Henry and Lynn Kirchner (Aug. 30); Chloe Shirley, Sean Jeung (Aug. 31); Ella Yeats, Veronica Smith (Sept. 1) and Lori Haroutunian (Sept. 2).
Blake Leonard challenged Jason and Emily White's record for tallest sunflower. Unfortunately for him, while his 10' 9" specimen tops the record from earlier this month, the Whites now have a monster well over 11' tall. Still, Leonard's overall display deserves plenty of love. On the subject of competitions, there are still some open dates in our snow-on-Sopris competition, including Sept. 15, 21, 25 and 27. Email news@soprissun.com or text 510-0540 to cast your bet and help us avoid a tie!
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SCUTTLEBUTT
Meet the Hubbells — it’s all in the family
By Roberta McGowan Sopris Sun Staff
a schoolhouse, a post office and widening and paving the road.
The following Q&A comes from a recent interview with the Crawford/ Hubbell family, who own the El Jebel area under Crawford Properties, LLC. Participating in the discussion were Adele Hubbell (the daughter of Floyd Crawford and widow of Carl Hubbell) her two sons, Robert Hubbell and Prentice Hubbell.
Sopris Sun: How do you feel now about the community your family has built? Adele: I am so proud of what El Jebel has become. All the people who live here are like family. They are hard-working people who mostly commute to Aspen and are employed in businesses including restaurants and lodges. The mobile home park was created in the early 1960s to help provide affordable housing for workers on Ruedi Reservoir and the surrounding area.
Sopris Sun: The first question many people ask is “Where does the name El Jebel come from? Adele: The name was given by an earlier owner of the 1280 acre property — Henry Gillespie. The name changed to the El Jebel Shrine in 1888 and is home to the Shriners fraternity which has included Arabic influences. El Jebel means mountain in Arabic. Sopris Sun: Please relate the history of Crawford Properties and how it’s tied to the Hubbell family. Adele: My dad, Floyd Crawford bought El Jebel Ranch, then a farming and ranching operation In 1961. Crawford wanted “to keep the town in harmony with its site,” according to the website. Crawford made significant improvements including better water and sewage utilities, adding a fire department,
Sopris Sun: How large is El Jebel and how many residents live here? Robert: It runs from Blue Lake to Highway 82 and then across El Jebel Road to include the shopping center, now leased by restaurants and other businesses. The vintage large white house and the pond are now owned by another branch of the family. The community has between 1,000 and 1,500 residents. Sopris Sun: What about the elk ranch? Robert: Crawford Properties owns the 180-acre section, but the elk herd is owned and managed by my uncle Noel Crawford.
Sopris Sun: How did the newly developed modular home section develop? Prentice: We started to explore expanding our El Jebel Mobile Home Park home park in 2015. It took a year of planning and cost analysis to see if we could afford to build it. This is the only product that would fit the price point we needed to be at in order to keep rents affordable. Today the average cost to build in the Mid-Valley is well into $300+ per square foot. We were able to install infrastructure and place these homes for roughly one third of that. That expanded area added 46 to the previous total of 289 residences. Sopris Sun: What are the demographics of the area? Robert: The population of the mobile home park is about 60 percent Hispanic, and most are married. We really have embraced their culture. We’ve extended a hand out. Sopris Sun: We don’t want to forget about June Park, named for your grandmother, June Crawford. How did this come about? Robert: It definitely “took a village.” Our support came from five local organizations plus 172 volunteers who came from Aspen to Parachute to help. The design was aided by a group of 20 kids who related their choices
Adele Hubbell and her son Robert are proud of having built El Jebel's new June Park. Photo by Roberta McGowan
at a community meeting and wanted to include an area for adults while the youngsters enjoyed the playground.
Metropolitan District. We've already upgraded the ballfield,which gets a lot of use.
Sopris Sun: Any future plans? Robert: We’re looking at improving the infrastructure and amenities of the area, including switching from private sewagetreatment to the Mid Valley
Sopris Sun: Do you have any vacancies? Robert: No. The demand for the space is high. We probably get one to three people per day looking for a place to rent. We have a long waiting list.
THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • August 27 - September 2, 2020 • 5
A tale of COVID and clay It takes a lot more than just clay and a kiln to thrive in hard times
By Tom Mercer Sopris Sun Correspondent According to Angela Bruno, Carbondale Clay Center’s Executive Director, “Things are going well,” and considering the impact that COVID-19 has had on businesses and educational entities in Carbondale, that’s remarkable. Carbondale Clay Center is in its 23rd year of existence, and Bruno says the Clay Center is already serving the second generation of some families in the community: They have adults now that took classes at the Clay Center when they were little kids. I looked at the Clay Center’s class offerings online and saw only one remaining space for anyone interested in taking any of their classes. I asked Bruno about only having room for one more and she replied, “I think that class is also full.” She went on to say that “Things are going really well. We had to close from March 15 through June 1. There was so much uncertainty and alarm. You know – everybody went through it. We ended up running our spring session during the summer, but with modifications to the class sizes so we could adhere to the social distancing restrictions. The classes went for eight weeks
without a hitch. We were really pleased and surprised.” The Carbondale Clay Center’s mission statement says that they “exist to enrich lives through the ceramic arts,” and after touring the studio, the Artist in Residence exhibit, and the hundreds of ceramic offerings in The ArtStream trailer, it’s apparent that the Clay Center is living up to their mission statement. The Clay Center also continues to offer classes and sponsor fund-raising events that are bound to interest anyone that appreciates one-of-a-kind artwork. Bruno pointed out that Clay Center fund-raisers are a big part of their programming. This year, their Fall Fundraiser will be ‘going virtual.’ The fundraiser will run Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, and it will be called “Settings – Limited Edition.” The event will feature collaborativelycreated table settings. The idea was inspired by the collaborative efforts of everyone in Carbondale that worked on getting the Main Street corridor closed off, arranging the placement of the street-side tables, and the creating the street murals. Bruno thought “How cool would it be to have a set of plates made by a great local potter and painted by a local artist?” Steven Colby and Stanley Bell, who did the work
on Main Street’s mural, will both be working on the place setting designs. Photos of the settings will be available for viewing at Batch and Alegria, and then the creations will go up for auction online. “So, it’s different,” Bruno noted, “and hopefully it will still generate some excitement. We’re actually looking forward to the national aspect of the online auction - I’ll be able to promote these more – it’s an opportunity to reach people on the national level, so they can see what we’re doing here in Carbondale.” Bruno was particularly pleased with the Center’s new summertime “Family Clay Play” program, where the parents would come work with their kids, while the instructor remained at a safe distance. Bruno says, “The summers are so fast and exciting, and the kids are all over… It’s fun and messy, and it’s the best! Kids can come and get dirty, and make these cool things, and hose each other off afterwards! It’s a totally different atmosphere here in the summer.” Passersby on Main Street have undoubtedly noticed the aforementioned AirStream trailer in the front yard of the Clay Center. The trailer is now known as The ArtStream and it serves
Works by current Artist in Residence Jen Arnold. Photo by Petr Wiese
as a travelling gallery that sells ceramic works that both capture the imagination and please the eye. NCECA (The National Council on Educational Ceramic Arts), which is a large ceramic conference that takes place once a year, is one of the stops for The ArtStream when it’s on the road. Bruno says that “It’s a pretty big honor to be able to show your work there. Allegheny (the owner) has let us borrow the ArtStream this year to use as a pop-
up gallery, and it has been a Godsend. This is a great place to come and be a ceramic artist.” I asked where the clay that Carbondale Clay Center uses comes from, and I was told that it comes from Minnesota. When asked if the clay varies in quality, Bruno replied that “The color can be different, but there’s no better or worse clay. Some people around here like to find their own clay. Continued on page 14
COLORADO ANIMAL RESCUE PRESENTS
DRESSED DOWN FOR THE K9S
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Silent Auction & Fundraiser Livestream Event Kickoff Multimedia Entertainment Thumper Fund Story Animaltarian of the Year
6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • August 27 - September 2, 2020
On the path to elevated senior living
By Tom Mercer Sopris Sun Correspondent
Anyone that has recently walked or ridden their bicycle on the Rio Grande Trail between Second and Fourth streets has seen it: A dusty lot on the North side of the trail is sprouting two large buildings that are scheduled to be completed prior to the end of 2020. These buildings will become Sopris Lodge – Carbondale, housing 74 apartments that the development’s Executive Director, Mike Luciano, says are designed for “elevated senior living.” One of the two-story buildings has been designed with a dual purpose, with one floor reserved for Memory Care residents, and the other floor reserved for Assisted Living residents. Both levels of the second building will be dedicated to Independent Living residents. Each building has been carefully designed to meet the needs of their intended residents. Of the 74 apartments, 27 will be reserved for Independent Living residents, 24 are intended for Memory Care residents, and 23 are intended for Assisted Living residents. Both buildings have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate the comfort, safety and limitations of their intended residents. For example, the building that will house the Memory Care and Assisted Living apartments will feature a central, open-air courtyard where residents can safely enjoy being outdoors. The Independent Living building will feature apartments with complete kitchens, outdoor patios and small decks. The owner/developer, WellAge Communities, has even included onsite storage units, as well as 30 covered parking spots for residents with vehicles. But, vehicles may not be necessary for some residents, as
Architectural rendering of the finished facility. Courtesy graphic.
Sopris Lodge is within easy walking distance to Carbondale’s downtown restaurants, parks, and the Crystal Theatre. All residents will enjoy a full range of appropriate services, including house cleaning, laundry and linen service. Transportation will be provided for doctor or dentist appointments, and the resident Life Enrichment Director may even schedule field trips to local festivals or performances around the Valley. A Wellness Director will also be on-site to address residents’ healthcare needs. Other features will include the aforementioned courtyard, a garden area, and full dining room for the Memory Care residents, and an impressive collection of notable amenities for the Independent Living residents, including a full dining room, hot tub, bistro, fitness room, library, game room, salon,
spa, Wi-Fi, and a pet service area – yes, a dog or a cat can continue to live with their owner in the Independent Living building. The Executive Director at Sopris Lodge – Carbondale is Mike Luciano, who has been a Roaring Fork Valley resident for over 25 years. Mike offered that everyone from the Town of Carbondale to local shop owners and residents have been “very supportive,” and describes local feedback on the project as positive. He went on to note that there have not been any significant delays in the project. During the construction phase, Mike can usually be found (weekdays) in his temporary office space at 265 Main Street in Carbondale. Mike reports that prospective Independent Living tenants are already putting priority reservation deposits down for apartments in Sopris Lodge, which will hold
their place and give them a choice of available rooms in the finished project. He noted that he had received one such deposit on the day that I visited his Main Street office. Mike also pointed out that one of the major benefits of the Carbondale location is that current Valley residents will be able to sell their current home, downsize, travel if they wish, and still have a home here in the Roaring Fork Valley. On the whole, once completed, Sopris Lodge is likely to benefit the Valley in a number of ways: It is estimated that it will provide up to 20 new jobs in Carbondale, and it will have almost no impact on town parks, schools or roads. When completed, Sopris Lodge’s street address will be 295 Rio Grande Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623.
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • August 27 - September 2, 2020 • 7
Bear interactions concerning for forest health By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy Aspen Journalism
Each summer, news reports in Aspen and across Colorado’s high country detail conflicts between black bears and people: bears in trash cans, homes, campsites and more. As these conflicts continue to increase, more bears are killed — and local experts say that raises red flags for forest health. Adam McCurdy, forest and climate director at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), oversees the nonprofit’s Forest Health Index, which tracks drivers of forest health, including bear mortality, for all watersheds in Colorado. Bear deaths have been rising steadily since the mid-1990s, particularly in the northwest region as defined by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. That region stretches from the Roaring Fork and Eagle river valleys to the Utah and Wyoming borders. “If we’re seeing more humanbear conflicts, there are multiple drivers that all say bad things for forest health,” McCurdy said.
Increasing trend is clear The number of bear deaths varies from year to year, but the increasing trend is clear. The Forest Health Index uses bear mortality data, excluding bears killed by hunters, from CPW. The numbers include all bears killed or found dead, including roadkill and bears killed by state or federal wildlife officials and landowners. Outside of hunting, bear deaths in northwest Colorado in the 1980s numbered in the single digits; no bear death was recorded by CPW in 1988. Over the past decade, bear kills in northwest Colorado that were not part of the hunting harvest ranged from a low of 77 in 2010 to a high of 329 in 2014. In 2019, there were 179 bear deaths in the region.
While ACES does not include hunting data in its analysis of bear mortality, those numbers are also increasing. CPW data shows hunters killed 1,367 bears in Colorado last year, compared to 506 bears in 1995. Regional data is not available because some hunting units cross region boundaries. “The forest as a functioning ecosystem is a really complex concept,” said Elise Osenga, community science manager with the Aspen Global Change Institute, which partners with ACES on the Forest Health Index. “Bear mortality is indicative of natural causes, but also human causes.”
Bear deaths reflect natural — and human — food availability Much of the year-to-year variability in bear mortality can be attributed to the availability of natural food sources. When late-spring frosts or drought kill off berries and acorns, there’s an “absolute increase” in bear deaths, said Mark Vieira, CPW’s top biologist on bears. “When bears are pressed in terms of natural food sources, they turn to human-related food sources,” Vieira said. “That leads to more conflicts with everything from hobby livestock and agriculture to conflicts with bears in neighborhoods and people’s garages.” When natural foods aren’t abundant, bears are forced to move around more, searching for calories. This makes bears more vulnerable to hunters, and it also leads to an increase in roadkills and conflicts in developed areas. “We expect, as the climate continues to warm, that we’re going to have more and more food failure years, so we can expect mortalities to go up too,” said Julie Mao, CPW biologist in the Aspen area.
A bear rummages through trash outside an Aspen office building in July 2016. Bear mortality in the region, as well as statewide, is increasing as the animals gain greater access to human food sources and climate change makes natural food failures more likely. Photo by Brent Gardner-Smith
But the increase in food failure and human conflict doesn’t correlate to a decrease in bear population. Instead, Vieira says bear numbers across the state are growing alongside increases in human population. CPW estimates there are between 17,000 and 20,000 bears in Colorado, up from about 12,000 in the 1990s. Studies near Aspen and Carbondale from 2009-2011 show that bear density in the area is close to one bear per square mile. “The human food sources are a significant component in increasing bear densities,” Vieira said.
Humans and bears increasingly share highcountry habitat It’s clear that human activities can impact forest health, but McCurdy said that tracking that impact can be challenging, since population data, particularly in areas with high tourism, doesn’t tell the whole story. “There aren’t great use numbers for trails, for example,” McCurdy said. “Census data doesn’t tell the number of people impacting the landscape (through recreation).” But data on bear mortality helps to fill out the story. “Bears are quick to react to the increased presence of humans, and we see that increase in conflict,” McCurdy said. Also, in the mountains, areas
Chill on a Hot Summer Day
ripe for development tend to also be prime bear habitat. CPW wildlife manager Kurtis Tesch points to many Aspen-area homes that are built into hillsides rich with serviceberry and gambol oak, key natural food sources for bears. “Even if (bears) are feeding naturally on the oak, it’s still drawing them to those homes, and they smell somebody’s barbecue grill or somebody’s trash that they left out,” Tesch said. It only takes one unsecured trash can or open window to teach a bear to rely on human food sources, Tesch said, so communities need 100% compliance with trash ordinances and other bear-aware practices, including locking doors and windows. “It’s human negligence that causes a bear to be a problem bear,”
Tesch said. CPW officials will try to relocate nuisance bears that get into trash cans, but “once they enter a home, that’s our threshold to put down. They’ll never revert back to natural forage,” he said. As the changing climate makes forest food availability less reliable, people living and recreating in bear habitat will probably have more run-ins with the large mammals. “Forest health and human health and safety are actually really closely tied together because we’re living in some cleared-out spaces from that forest,” Osenga said. “It’s important for us to remember that our actions are directly tied to forest health.”
A bear cub crosses Gibson Street in Aspen’s east end in August 2019. Increasing conflicts between bears and humans has lead to growth in bear mortality over the past two decades. Photo by Flynn Stewart-Severy
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Reclaiming the canyon
Photos by Laurel Smith
Tim McElhenny stands in front of a pile of brush ready to be chipped. The brush was removed to mitigate fire risk of residences that have been evacuated due the nearby Grizzly Creek Fire. Many evacuations have since been rescinded, and both Interstate 70 and Cottonwood Pass are expected to be open intermittently — pending fire behavior and mitigation efforts — moving forward.
A helicopter drops off supplies to linemen replacing electric poles that were damaged in the Grizzly Creek Fire. Air support has been an essential part of the strategy to contain the Grizzly Creek Fire. Because the fire was the nation’s number one fire priority, resources like helicopters have been readily available. But as the fire decreases in priority, much of the air support resources will be diverted to other fires.
A controlled burn takes out fuel in order to contain the Grizzly Creek Fire and protect nearby structures in Glenwood Canyon.
Firefighters ignite a controlled burn in efforts to contain the Grizzly Creek Fire and protect structures at the nearby Bair Ranch.
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • August 27 - September 2, 2020 • 9
RECIPES / RECETAS
Water is a valuable resource and your efforts are required to conserve water supplies and maintain the health of our waters.
Tips on Conserving Water: Avoid wasting potable water such as washing hard surfaces and avoid over-watering and watering in windy conditions. Set timers to avoid overwatering, and cut your lawn no shorter than 3 inches to reduce soil moisture loss. Avoid planting trees and sodding new lawns during the drier, hotter months. Plant native grasses and shrubs, or a drought tolerant species. Check for leaks and consider replacing showerheads and or toilets with a low flow option. Toilets are the main source of water usage inside a home, they account for nearly 30% of indoor water use — more if your toilet
tank is leaking into the bowl. Flows in the Crystal River above Avalanche Creek and at the Fish Hatchery gauging stations have been receding to below 100 CFS and 20 CFS respectively. This low flow condition is expected to continue to the end of the irrigation season. Flow into the town’s ditch system and South Nettle Creek follows this pattern, thus the levels in the ditches and South Nettle Creek will be flowing at minimal levels. We have been able to maintain flows throughout the ditch system, however, they are minimal. It is suggested that all users conserve water and
users of the ditch system install low level cutoff switches on pumps to protect pumps from running dry. Water conservation efforts at this time may delay or eliminate the need for mandatory water restrictions during the next several months. Everyone’s voluntary conservation efforts are appreciated.
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Th e BE ST De al s ar e H ap pe ni ng N OW BUY ONLINE AT SUNLIGHTMTN.COM QUESTIONS? 970-945-9425 10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • August 27 - September 2, 2020
You're invited to join KDNK's virtual bilingual community dinner, Our Town One Enchilada, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30. This bilingual dinner will include games, music, and more broadcast live at kdnk.org and 88.1 FM.
Estás invitado a sumarte a nuestra cena virtual y comunitaria, Nuestro Pueblo Una Enchilada, el domingo 30 de agosto de 6 a 9pm. Esta cena bilingüe incluirá juegos, música y más transmitido en vivo por KDNK.
Black Bean Lasagna
Lasaña de Frijoles Negros
From Megan Tackett
De Megan Tackett
What you’ll need:
Lo que necesitarás:
•
1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
•
1 taza de cebolla picada (1 grande)
•
1 medium green pepper, chopped
•
1 pimiento verde mediano, picado
•
4 cloves minced garlic
•
4 dientes de ajo picados
•
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
•
2 cucharadas de aceite vegetal
•
28 ounces canned tomatoes, crushed
•
28 onzas de tomates enlatados, triturados
•
1 ½ teaspoons of salt
•
1 ½ cucharadita de sal
•
1 ½ teaspoons of chili powder
•
1 ½ cucharaditas de chile en polvo
•
1 teaspoon ground cumin
•
1 cucharadita de comino molido
•
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
•
1/8 cucharadita de pimienta de cayena
•
15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
•
Lata de 15 onzas de frijoles negros, enjuagados y escurridos
•
1 cup of canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
•
1 taza de frijoles pintos enlatados, enjuagados y escurridos
•
15 ounces of part skim ricotta cheese
•
15 onzas de queso ricotta parcialmente descremado
•
1 egg white, beaten
•
1 clara de huevo batida
•
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, minced
•
2 cucharadas de perejil fresco picado
•
1 tablespoons of jalapeno pepper, chopped and seeded
•
1 cucharada de chile jalapeño, picado y sin semillas
•
2 cups of low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
•
2 tazas de queso cheddar rallado bajo en grasa
•
4 medium flour tortillas
•
4 tortillas de harina medianas
What you’ll do:
Qué harás:
In a large saucepan, sauté the onion, green pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in tomatoes, salt, chili powder, cumin and cayenne. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir in the black beans and pinto beans. Heat through.
En una cacerola grande, sofría la cebolla, el pimiento verde y el ajo en aceite hasta que estén tiernos. Agregue los tomates, la sal, el chile en polvo, el comino y la pimienta de cayena. Llevar a hervir. Reducir el fuego; cocine a fuego lento, sin tapar, durante 10 minutos. Agregue los frijoles negros y los frijoles pintos. Calentar.
In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg white, parsley and jalapeno. Spread 1/3 bean mixture into greased 13x9x2 in. baking dish. Top with half of the cheddar cheese, tortillas (cut side against the sides of the dish) and ricotta mixture. Repeat layers. Spread remaining bean mixture over the top.
En un tazón grande, combine el queso ricotta, la clara de huevo, el perejil y el jalapeño. Unte 1/3 de la mezcla de frijoles en una fuente para hornear engrasada de 13x9x2 pulgadas. Cubra con la mitad del queso cheddar, las tortillas (con el lado cortado contra los lados del plato) y la mezcla de ricotta. Repite las capas. Extienda la mezcla restante de frijoles por encima.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 3035 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting. (If you’re sensitive, use rubber or plastic gloves to protect your hands when cutting or seeding hot peppers. Avoid touching your face.)
Cubra y hornee a 350 grados durante 3035 minutos o hasta que burbujee. Deje reposar 15 minutos antes de cortar. (Si es sensible, use guantes de goma o plástico para protegerse las manos al cortar o sembrar pimientos picantes. Evite tocarse la cara).
CALENDAR TUESDAY SEPT. 1
FULL MOON HIKE Join Wilderness Workshop for a distanced 5:30 to 9 p.m. jaunt into Hay Park. Visit wildernessworkshop.org to register.
FRIDAY SEPT. 4
ART OPENINGS Carbondale Arts (76 S. Fourth St.) opens two exhibitions with a 5:30 p.m. outdoor artist talk. Up to 10 masked visitors will be allowed inside at a time. “Parallel” represents the long-term creative friendship of mixed media artists Wewer Keohane and Andrew Roberts-Gray “Self-Reflected Universe” is a solo exhibition by Brian Colley, whose artwork ranges from contemplative to imaginative, often with an undulating current of humor running throughout. Both exhibitions will be on display through Oct. 2.
SATURDAY SEPT. 5
FUNK Rhonda Funk performs from 7 to 10 p.m. at Heather's Savory Pies & Tapas Bar (166 Midland Ave., Basalt)
MONDAY SEPT.7
LABOR DAY PARTY Aspen 440 performs from 7 to 10 p.m. at Heather's Savory Pies & Tapas Bar (166 Midland Ave., Basalt)
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 9 BLOOD DRIVE The St. Mary’s Bloodmobile will be parked outside the Rec. Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — visit stmarysbloodcenter.org to sign up for your time slot.
THURSDAY SEPT. 10
FALL BIRDING Learn about our feathered friends in the expanse of the North Star preserve with a free 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. walk. Visit aspennature.org to register. LEGAL CLINIC Volunteer attorneys will assist you with your legal matters, one-on-one via a phone call for up to 15 minutes. Sign-up by calling 9274311 or emailing info@basaltlibrary.org before the day of the clinic. GAELIC Oran Mor performs from 7 to 10 p.m. at Heather's Savory Pies & Tapas Bar (166 Midland Ave., Basalt)
FRIDAY SEPT. 11
BALLOON FESTIVAL The Snowmass Balloon Festival celebrates its 45th anniversary a little differently, with guests encouraged to watch the eclectic display of balloons from afar. WILD WALK From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., join ACES Director of Naturalist Programs, Jim Kravitz, on this rare opportunity to discover the far side of the North Star Preserve, which is otherwise closed to the public. Visit aspennature.org to register.
SATURDAY SEPT. 12
DISC GOLF OPEN Merle and Chameleon host KDNK's third Frisbee Golf Tournament beginning at 10 a.m. at Gianinetti Park. Teams of no more than four can register for $25 per person or $100 per team by calling 963-0139. JAZZ Josefina Mendez performs from 7 to 10 p.m. at Heather's Savory Pies & Tapas Bar (166 Midland Ave., Basalt)
MONDAY SEPT. 14
SEED HARVESTING Specialist Denyse Schrenker will talk about the how-tos of seed saving and what to do to prep soil now for next spring from 4 to 5 p.m. virtually through the Basalt Regional Library — info atcclick@basaltlibrary.org or (970) 927-4311 ext. 1000.
Visit soprissun.com to submit events.
TUESDAY SEPT. 15
SMUDGE, SMOKE, FIRE Learn the tradition of fire in herbal medicine and mysticism with help from Megan Miller and Sarah 'Sunny' Morehouse from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at True Nature (100 N. Third St.). Visit truenaturehealingarts. com to register. $50 fee.
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 16
CLIMATE OF LOVE Roaring Stories told by six Roaring Fork Valley locals and curated by Alya Howe, drinks from Marble Distilling and — new this year — the opportunity to bring your own picnic to enjoy at your personal hay bale table come together 5:30 p.m. Rock Bottom Ranch (2001 Hooks Spur Rd., Basalt). Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/ y5bya74a and run $80 per table of four. FENCE REMOVAL Celebrate National Public Lands by helping remove old barbed wire the Sutey Ranch from 8:30 a.m. p.m. with Wilderness Workshop. wildernessworkshop.org to register.
Day from to 4 Visit
TESTIMONIAL
“Trudi has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the market in the Roaring Fork Valley. She was always listening to what I was looking for in a property, and made a consistent and determined effort to help me find it. She educated me on the ins and outs of buying a home in the current market, and offered many helpful suggestions during the process. She consistently went above and beyond to make sure that the process was as easy as it could be. She is very detail-oriented. In addition, she is a very caring, patient and considerate person who treats everyone with respect. We had a lot of laughs during the process, and it helped to reduce the stress of such a big decision. I highly recommend her for your real estate needs! - Seth Davis, Glenwood Springs Closed May / 2020
SATURDAY SEPT. 19
CONCERT FILM TACAW and Crown Mountain Park are keeping the drive-ins going with a 7 p.m. screening of “Soul Power” — a backstage pass to the legendary "ZAIRE 74" music festival in Kinshasa which accompanied the Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman
THURSDAY SEPT. 24
BOOK TALK In “How to Be An Anti-Racist”, bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas. Read the book and then join a virtual discussion facilitated by Garfield County Libraries Executive Director Brett Lear from 2 to 4 p.m. — visit gcpld. org to register. JAZZ QUINTET Lenore Raphael, piano, Steve Hobbs, vibes, Hilliard Greene, bass, and Jesse Simon, drums, will play tunes from the Great American Songbook including blues, ballads, and up tempo classics for a 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. broadcast on Grass Roots TV.
In these uncertain times , I am always available to answer any questions you may have concerning real estate throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. Please reach out to me whenever you are ready! 0295 Badger Rd. Carbondale, CO | 970-309-6200 | www.trudiwj.com
And
MAIN STREET GALLERY THE FRAMER
Open By Appointment to Safely Serve You
Call 963-3775 or Email: mainstreet399@gmail.com
SATURDAY SEPT. 26
VIRTUAL RUN Court Appointed Special Advocates puts a twist on its annual fundraiser by inviting you to submit your own race time for 5K, 10K or one mile following a 9 a.m. Facebook Live kickoff.
ONGOING
YOUR STORY YOUR LIFE Shelly Merriam facilitates a Zoom workshop for adults about writing your personal history, one story at a time, from 10 a.m. to noon on first and third Fridays. Email sjmerr22@gmail.com to register for free. OUTSIDE STORYTIME Children ages 3 to 5 will enjoy stories, songs, and action rhymes on the front lawn of the Basalt Regional Library (14 Midland Ave.), weather permitting. Bring your own seating arrangements and be prepared for social distancing with masks required for anyone older than 10. WALK UP CONCESSIONS The Crystal Theatre offers popcorn, candy and drinks from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visit crystaltheatrecarbondale. com for pricing and virtual film offerings. TRUE NATURE Visit truenaturehealingarts.com for info on a wide array of connected events, including a “Build Your Own Apothecary” series on Tuesday evenings, a free Color Circle on Wednesday afternoons and a new yoga group.
Fine Art & Museum Framing for 35 Years
399 MAIN STREET, CARBONDALE, 963-3775
THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • August 27 - September 2, 2020 • 11
TOWN REPORT LIVE SPANISH TRANSLATION was made available via Zoom for the first time at the Aug. 25 Board of Trustees meeting.
GRASS SEED has been spread along the soldiers of Highway 133 and is being watered in.
REZONING was approved for Carbondale Center Place, LLC.
BLIGHT afflicted some apple trees at the Nature Park, prompting their removal.
THE COMMUNITY HERO AWARD was presented to the board and staff at Crystal Meadows.
GUS DARIEN ARENA is available as a temporary holding area for animals evacuated from the Grizzly Creek Fire.
CLOSURES are being enacted for pool programs and outdoor fitness classes whenever the Air Quality Index gets over 100 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) based on a monitoring station at Alpine Bank. A MINI GRANT request for $25,000 will be submitted to the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District to install a 1,500-square-foot accessible safety tile surface at Gianinetti Park playground. GATEWAY RV PARK will be open through Oct. 10. HIGHWAY 133 is slated for a closure — with a detour down Eighth Street — the weekend of Sept. 11 to install a manhole. TUTORING through Summit 54’s program will continue at local park picnic shelters through Oct. 15. YOUTH BASKETBALL through GameOnCamps will take place at Giannetti and Miners Parks on Wednesdays. 2021 BUDGET planning is underway, pending end of 2020 estimates.
PLANNING & ZONING will continue a public hearing for the Eastwood Annexation on Aug. 27. In addition, a county referral for the Hipa Hipa Marble Production Facility proposed to be located at the Planted Earth property is on the agenda. WATER PRODUCTION remains at around 1.55 million gallons per day. In addition to encouraging water conservation by residents, the Town has reduced irrigation of parks and open spaces. SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER Gretchen Bell is ramping up her efforts as classes resume. A ZTEX class provided Officer Paul Lazo with new skills on acquiring forensic evidence from cell phones. Meanwhile, Executive Assistant Anna Ramirez completed an open records training and a driver’s testing refresher course. RED HILL work continued with finish work on the upper and lower lots complete, guard rail installation in progress and wildlife fencing work starting.
12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • August 27 - September 2, 2020
Cop Shop From Aug. 7 to 20, Carbondale Police handled 412 calls for service. During this period, officers investigated the following cases of note: FRIDAY Aug. 7 at 9:58 a.m. Someone filed SUNDAY Aug. 16 at 6:47 p.m. Police a fraud report. stopped a 52-year-old for driving erratically MONDAY Aug. 10 at 12:44 p.m. Police took a theft report in an alley off Main Street.
and issued a summons for driving under the influence.
SUNDAY Aug. 16 at 8:48 p.m. A 42-year-
TUESDAY Aug. 11 at 7:40 p.m. Officers were contacted in regard to a custody order.
old was summoned for petty theft from City Market.
WEDNESDAY Aug. 12 at 4:37 p.m. Someone’s bike was reported stolen.
SUNDAY Aug. 16 at 9:38 p.m. Police
SATURDAY Aug. 15 at 9:39 p.m.
met with a 27-year-old about a warrant and transported him to jail.
Following a traffic stop for driving without tail lights, the 29-year-old driver was arrested on a warrant.
TUESDAY Aug. 18 at 8:16 p.m. A 37-year-
SUNDAY Aug. 16 at 1:51 p.m. A traffic
TUESDAY Aug. 18 at 8:39 p.m. Officers
stop for expired registration led to the warrant arrest of a 32-year-old.
old failed to stop at a stop sign and ended up summoned for driving under the influence.
summoned three people for disorderly conduct after a fight on Merrill Avenue.
Glenwood stages comeback
Glenwood Springs is awarding $100 in Glenwood Gold certificates to the first 1000 people who book a qualifying stay in a local hotel or motel. Visitors who directly book at least two nights in Glenwood Springs through Nov. 30 are eligible to receive $100 in a new community currency — a year-round “buy local” stimulus program introduced by the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association. The certificates work like cash when redeemed, and the program reimburses participating businesses 100 percent of the face value of the currency. The list of participating businesses continues to grow, but already includes a great mix of restaurants, shops and attractions. Face coverings are currently required in downtown, within businesses and at restaurants before being seated. Advance reservations are advisable for some attractions and activities as social distancing protocols have reduced capacities.
Basalt council approves church addition By Roberta McGowan Sopris Sun Staff
For more than 30 years, St. Vincent’s Catholic Church has stood as a major downtown Basalt gathering space. But, three decades of wear and tear and the need for more space brought the church to Town Council with plans for a 2,400 square foot addition for a Parish Multipurpose Hall. The proposal will move education classes from the basement to the first floor. As Pat McMahon, representing the parish, explained, the location is accessible only by a staircase and only a few emergency exits are there now. In addition, he said people with mobility issues have trouble getting to and from classes. “We want to create a safer environment,” said McMahon, and a more flexible space for people to chat casually and also discuss important issues. “We have approximately 300 parishioners coming to our three weekend services,” said McMahon. Worship is conducted in English or Spanish. McMahon stated space is at a premium now, especially when it comes to parking. This addition will also add overflow seating. St. Vincent and the Diocese of Denver are requesting a
rezoning from C-2 (downtown business district) to P (Public) Zone District which allows for a waiver on required community housing mitigation. Ordinance 17, which includes rezoning, site plan review and modifications to existing parking requirements, was approved unanimously on first reading with conditions. Basalt Planning and Zoning reviewed and approved the application in early August and recommended town council approve the development review requests, subject to conditions. Basalt Affordable Community Housing (BACH) Commission also recommended approval. Town council’s second reading and public hearing is set for
Tuesday, Sept. 8. The project will demolish the existing rectory building — McMahon noted the building is in very poor condition right now — and also tear down a garage used just for storage. Storage Items will first be moved to the soon-to-be vacated basement area. “We don’t anticipate any real change in our operation,” said McMahon. Parking will be reconfigured as the new addition will move the church 10 feet closer to the street. Although St. Vincent does not have bats in the belfry, a colony of these beneficial insect eating animals do live in the rectory. All council members agreed the bats need to be saved. The plans
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call for one way exits for the existing bats, and, importantly, new nearby bat housing. Bat experts emphasize that without somewhere to go, they will be forced into a nearby building or house where they could face displacement, extermination or a pre-existing colony. If the colony is killed or forced out of the area, it will directly impact the local bat population. According to James Lindt, assistant planning director, the applicant previously applied for a similar expansion in 2007 and received sketch plan approval, but the sketch plan approval lapsed and expired. That plan included the potential to operate a small
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daycare and was in the approvals. While not in this new proposal, town staff has included a draft condition providing authorization for the P&Z to review a future special review application for a daycare in the event that the church ever desires to operate an accessory childcare out of the church facilities. Additional conditions include saving and protecting several large trees, being sustainable with a “green” building — solar panels will be on the addition’s roof — and working with neighbors to finalize privacy fencing concerns. Lindt noted the height of that type of fencing is limited to eight feet. In other business, council approved wildfire mitigation regulations affecting new developments including other provisions from the Colorado State Forest guidelines. Planning Director Susan Philp reported the entire town is considered in a hazardous fire zone. Philp noted these changes require structure hardening and will prevail over Home Owners Association covenants. Council member Glenn Drummond emphasized, “There are certain things we need to do as homeowners.”
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • August 27 - September 2, 2020 • 13
LETTERS over the next 10 years. Our founding fathers put the requirement for a census every 10 years into our constitution in order to know how to allocate funds to each state for its residents’ needs. Census workers are going around our communities now to knock on doors to ask the Census questions. We wear masks. But sometimes no one is home or a person does not want to answer the questions. Please answer for your own sake or call now and give your information quickly and easily to the census worker on the phone. COVID-19 has cut our ability, by several months, to collect census information so please help us all and Call: English: 844-330-2020 Spanish 844-468-2020 Illène Pevec Census enumerator
Vote for Soto Dear Editor: John Martin, our "county commissioner-forlife", is wasting $1.5 million dollars of Garfield County money to fight against common sense oil & gas safety measures designed to prevent tragedies like the 2017 home explosion in Weld County that killed two people. That's $1.5 million dollars that could be spent diversifying and strengthening our weakened economy, protecting our health, or lifting up those in need. Instead he's shoveling it into the maw of a big Denver law firm to sue the state and let big oil keep poisoning and endangering us. We've had enough of dirty crony capitalism from Washington on down to our own backyard! Please join me in voting for Beatriz Soto. This is just one of many reasons to support her! Chris Hassig
Continued from page 2 Carbondale
Marble Mayhem continues Dear Editor: Thank you for the opportunity for expression, just 12 days ago in my opinion piece, "Motorized Madness in Marble.” I am not writing to restate what I said there. In fact, a new and unbelievable development has occurred in this short period of time. My column outlined how Marble has been invaded by crowds of motorized users whose impact includes: loud machine noise heard a mile and a half away, dust clouds rising hundreds of feet into the air, the scaring away of our wild animal neighbors, trampling and killing our native flowers, and racing fast down the roads and trails intimidating pedestrians. Could there be anything worse? Here it is. Since writing the column, I have observed seven ATVs with large super bright lights added overhead. These are not just spotlights or even a whole bar of spotlights. They seem to be large panels of very bright lights. The first groups with these lights I observed driving down from the Lead King Loop several hours after dark. The daytime impact of these machines is bad enough, but now pedestrians can't even plan late afternoon/ evening quiet-time trips. But don't feel bad for me, what about Mr. Moose? How long does he have to hide out on that dry hillside before he feels safe enough to come down and drink at the creek? Attention CPW: Our wildlife needs protection. Marble is seeking Dark Sky Community designation and these lights are not part of the plan. My latest encounter with the glaring lights was in the afternoon
Your Big Backyard IV
by Stan Badgett
Across 3. Symbol for gold. 4. Location of Deep Lake 6. _____ Mead, a major figure in the Carbondale arts scene for thirty years. 9. Ranch southeast of Carbondale. Source of premium grass-fed local beef. 11. You Know Me, ___. Baseball novel by Ring Lardner. 12. Means of navigating the Roaring Fork River. 13. Fisherman 16. Yellow _____, step in processing uranium. 17. All terrain vehicle. 19. Rickus, jazz connoisseur. 20. Marble sculptor. 23. Mayor of Carbondale. Down 1. Abbreviation for mountain. 2. Joining of two rivers 3. Wood for the shaft of an ice axe. 4. Tim ____, trumpet player and keyboardist. 5. The cruelest month, according to T S Eliot. 7. Walkway. 8. Wilderness in the San Juans. 10. Abbreviation for creek. 11. Jean _____, Garfield County Clerk. 14. Full service grocery store and cafe in the AABC. 15. Structure at CRMS. 18. Home of the Green Mountains. Postal abbreviation. 21. Phil _____, folksinger and prolific songwriter. 22. Gumbo ingredient. Ask Mark Gray how he likes it prepared. 24. The Cornhusker state. Postal abbreviation.
14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • August 27 - September 2, 2020
on the Quarry Road where the approaching lights were so bright that I actually had to cover my eyes. It was like staring into the sun. The invasion of these “Mad Max” machines to our quiet town reminds me of the invasion of Pepperland by the Blue Meanies in the Beatles movie 'Yellow Submarine' . Pepperland was drained of its color and all music was silenced by these invaders. John Lennon fought back by singing "All You need is Love". But the ATV invaders would probably not respond to that song. They are either very insensitive to their impact on others or very selfish. George Harrison expressed this in his song "Piggies": "In their eyes there's something lacking." Alex Menard Marble
Disassembling the PO Dear Editor: Republican dismantling of the machines of efficiency, in all American post offices, with the stated purpose of disrupting voting, proves we have no platform or philosophy outside of the pure attainment of power at any cost. John Hoffmann Carbondale
Some A Team Dear Editor: How long could you work for a dishonest narcissistic bully? I guess these record-setting numbers tell the story. Donald Trump’s “A Team” (65 positions) turnover rate is 91 percent, with nearly 40 percent experiencing multiple turnovers. Annette Roberts-Gray Carbondale
Clay from page 6
They are the purists. A former board president likes to make his own glaze from soils he finds here in the Valley. He calls it ‘Roaring Fork Red,’ and it’s beautiful!” I asked if an artist’s search for perfect clay introduced a spiritual element to the process, and Bruno said that it does. Then, I asked staff member Matthew Eames, the Gallery & Studio Manager, to describe the general experience of working in a tactile medium like clay, and he offered that when he works with clay, it is therapeutic in nature. He said, “When you’re sitting at a wheel with the spinning motion, you become ‘locked in’ – you create a rhythm within yourself. I really find that clay can be so expressive in that way, so visceral and physical, and that action is both relieving and fascinating.” Matthew freely admits that he has fallen in love with the clay medium, and he encourages more people to try it. Savanna LaBauve, the Clay Center’s Programming and Marketing Manager, offered that there is something meditative about working with clay. “It makes you slow down, and It’s really responsive to your touch.” Bruno added that her appreciation for clay is also the functional element that you don’t really get with twodimensional pieces, and that she feels we interact with three-dimensional objects on a more intimate level. I know that to be true, based on always reaching for my favorite coffee cup.
PARTING SHOTS
A fire near the Fisher Creek Cemetery prompted alarm and evacuations on Aug. 19, but the cavalry came riding — and flying — in, with both local crews and federal resources from the nearby Grizzly Creek Fire responding. In the end, around 30 acres were scorched but the fire was halted on the doorstep of human habitation. Photos courtesy of Carbondale and Rural Fire
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • August 27 - September 2, 2020 • 15
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