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FRUIT OF THE LAND Volume 12, Number 30 | September 10 - September 16, 2020
On a cloudy Monday morning, Stephanie Meltzer of Fat City Farmers picked fruit from a Bartlett pear tree in the Roaring Fork High School Garden. Meltzer is part of the Three Forks Academy, a collaboration between the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, Fat City Farmers, The Farm Collaborative, and UpRoot Colorado founded to teach sustainable agriculture, from soil regeneration to beekeeping. Throughout the harvest season, Meltzer coordinates volunteers and students to glean fruit from local heritage trees. While part of the harvest is donated to the community, some of it is used in lessons on how to preserve the fruit, along with lessons on tree history, gleaning practices, and fruit tree pruning. Originally planned as a hands-on learning series, the pandemic has meant these lessons are being conducted in small groups and recorded as virtual lessons. Meltzer estimates that she and her volunteers have already harvested more than 400 pounds of fruit this year. Photo by Olivia Siegel
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OPINION
Bits & Pieces by Judith Ritschard
We’ve all been in a situation where someone made a racist joke or comment. Remember how some people cheered on the joker by laughing? While others stood there awkwardly staring at their drink, and when someone did speak up they got told, “Oh, you have no sense of humor. It’s just a joke.” Let’s face it, moments like these are painfully thorny. So much that I know all too well how easy it is to freeze into inaction. I later hate myself for not having the quick words or the cojones to speak up. Calling someone out on their racism is about as
Proximity doesn’t cut it fun as getting a colonoscopy. It’s necessary with a high chance of discomfort. But, like most social issues that need mending, it will be the honest, hard conversations that will help us move forward into a space of healing. And if you don’t think our country needs healing right now, I think you may live under a rock. Seeing that race is a gargantuan topic, and for the sake of staying within the 800 or so words I’m allowed in this space, I’m going to focus on the notion of proximity. What exactly do I mean by that? Here are a few examples that may clear up any confusion. “I’m not racist. All the guys who work for me are Mexican” “My housekeeper is from El Salvador. I can’t be racist.” “My wife/husband/exboyfriend/neighbor/co-worker/ friend is an immigrant.” “I have a black friend. There’s no way I could be racist.” Just so we are all on the same page, the proximity to people of color does not automatically let anyone off the hook to stop educating themselves on racial matters. Nope, not these days
when there are innumerable books, plenty of podcasts, and heaps of documentaries, just to name a few things that can help us really understand why so many people have been protesting all over our country. Frankly, with how much information we have at our fingertips nowadays there is no excuse anymore to not do the real honest (and hard) work. There is always room in our lives to at least attempt to become a better human being, and denying that there is even a problem sure is not helpful. So, my dear friends and family (yes; even you, dear husband!) please do not ever think to use the relationship you have with me or any other person of color as a “good enough” substitute for the personal work that needs to be done to educate yourself. Ask yourself if we were not in the equation — say all your minority friends picked up and moved to Timbuktu tomorrow — would you still be figuring out how to further educate yourself about racial justice? I sincerely hope so, because it really should
not be our responsibility to educate our white friends and family about race. And please try not to go into some sort of paralysis when somebody mentions race. It would be so much better to keep the conversation going while putting our uneasiness, frustrations, or guilt aside. Freezing into inaction because we think we don’t know how to make it better gets us nowhere. It’s true that we may not know exactly how to speak up, or are afraid we’re going to get it all wrong. Remember, at some point, when it comes to racial matters we all get it wrong. But, that’s why it’s our duty to constantly inform ourselves on the topic. Not necessarily because one has people of color in mind, but because at your core you (hopefully) want to become a greater version of yourself. And my wish is that this aspiration to be better individuals somehow enables us to collectively move forward into a society with more equality- a country that honors and values people from all walks of life.
LETTERS More on public access Dear Editor: In a recent Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association opinion column entitled “Defend Public Access,” I wrote of the effort to close off a well used section of river access below the Satank Bridge. The adjacent land owner, Amy Fulstone, claims ownership of the property and asserts that she has been paying taxes on this land. The owner felt that I oversimplified the ongoing ownership dispute she is involved in with the Roaring Fork Transit Authority. I acknowledge that this issue is anything but simple. The rights of way (ROW) of RFTA, Garfield County, the ditch company and a century of public use overlay each other. There can be numerous rights of way and they seem to be in dispute. I do not have the time, training or education to sort out such convoluted claims. I have deferred to the District Court's decision (Consent Order CA # 16-cv-2550-WJM-GPG and Injunctive Relief ) for clarity. They have supported RFTA in their decision. The improvements have been in RFTA’s comprehensive plan since 2005. Shortly thereafter, Garfield County Commissioner Martin said the County would make the necessary access improvement through County ROW before summer’s end. This safe access, Martin stated, was part of the County’s vision since renovation of the bridge in 2013. Neither entity has done anything to improve the access. In a most recent conversation, Commissioner Martin told me that the accord with Satank Bridge Restoration stakeholder Colorado Historical Society forbids any development in the immediate area of the
historic bridge. Development would include rustic wood or stone steps to the river. Garfield County Commissioners have voiced opposition to rail banking (railstotrails. org) as unfair. I have not seen cooperation between the County and RFTA on this issue. Complex and convoluted indeed. With all its complexities, this continuous historical public use of over 120 years is a prescriptive easement which the people must defend. John B. Armstrong CVEPA
Soto, Robinson for GarCo Dear Editor: I am writing to endorse Beatriz Soto and Leslie Robinson for Garfield County Commissioner. Both of these women are intelligent, practical, and have the strength and wisdom to represent the community as elected officials. They are willing to put in the time, energy, and effort to make sure all voices of Garfield County are heard. They will collaborate with the community to overcome the challenges we face as a county and a world. From 2013 to 2016, I served on the Garfield County Energy Advisory Board with Leslie Robinson. During that time I got to observe how she is willing to listen to all sides and educate herself on issues to make informed decisions. I was most impressed with how she spoke eloquently and patiently, yet with strength and urgency for common sense oversight of the oil and gas industry in order to protect our land, air, and water that we all depend on to survive. She has done this for decades as a volunteer, and she is more than qualified to continue such necessary work as an elected official that truly serves the people.
While serving as a Carbondale Trustee from 2014 to 2016, I also got to witness Beatriz Soto’s leadership, intelligence, and communication skills, firsthand. Beatriz has used her beautiful Latina history and impeccable bilingual skills to bridge the Spanish and English speaking sectors of our community to increase education and outreach on the importance of protecting our land, water, and natural resources that make Garfield County so special. Not only is she qualified to be Garfield County Commissioner, she deserves it. And our rich and vibrant Hispanic community, which comprised 29% of Garfield County’s population in the 2010 census, deserves to be represented proudly. Local government is where real change can be made and it is time to get the representation we deserve for Garfield County with Leslie Robinson and Beatriz Soto. You can learn more about each of them from their websites: leslierobinson2020. net and beatrizforgarfield.com. With urgency, vote! ¡Con urgenci, vota! A.J. Hobbs Canmore, Alberta
Voter Paradise Reading about the hundreds of ways that we can impede voting or form districts to institutionalized known outcomes for elections, I am grateful to live in a unique state where the people have produced a system of voting that encourages and facilitates the ability of folks to vote. We only need to encourage young and old alike to learn the issues and vote for people who will work for family interests! John Hoffmann Carbondale
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 • September 10 - September 16, 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: Crystal Tapp 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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Local runner brings the spirit of Boston to the valley By Kate Phillips Sopris Sun Correspondent Running enthusiasts, mark your calendars and get set to cheer on Ascendigo’s Life Enrichment Program Manager Justin Garrard as he attempts to run a speedy down valley marathon on Sunday, Sept. 13 to raise awareness for Ascendigo. On May 5, 2019, Garrard ran an impressive time of 2:45 at the Lincoln Marathon, effectively qualifying him for the 2020 Boston Marathon. As the world’s oldest annual marathon and one of the six World Majors, Boston requires a qualifying time, thus making it a “unicorn” event for most marathoners. For non-qualifiers, Boston is an opportunity to witness some of the world’s greatest road marathoners compete alongside dedicated ameauter athletes. Unfortunately, this year — for the first time since its establishment in 1897 — the Boston Marathon was postponed and eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many athletes to wonder how they will test their fitness this season. “I remember that I couldn’t believe it,” Garrard said when he first heard the news. “The tough thing about that is knowing that if Boston is canceling then that means there’s probably not going to be any races coming up, and there’s not going to be any opportunities to get out and compete which is one of my favorite things to do.” With the race season in flux, Garrard knew he still wanted to commemorate his Boston qualifier and not let all of his training go to waste. Within days of hearing the news he quickly pivoted and decided to organize and
race his own marathon. As a veteran marathoner — who happens to boast a personal record (PR) of 2:32 — Garrard is no stranger to the hard work that goes into marathon training. Considering this was his first marathon cycle at elevation he began teetering with the idea of racing at sea level to help facilitate a faster time. However, as more friends and family members expressed interest in helping, he realized that he wanted to make this race more than just a speed attempt — he wanted to use it as an opportunity to rally the community around a worthwhile cause: raising awareness and funds for Ascendigo. “If you know anything about Ascendigo, we are pretty much doing something that no one else in the world is doing,” Garrard said. “By combining adventure activities and extreme sports with individuals on the spectrum, we help increase independence and help with behavioral goals that they have.” For his marathon, Garrard will be supported by his brother and two friends who will bike alongside him. He also hopes that fans are encouraged to come out and cheer and help recreate the energy and spirit of the Boston Marathon. “While my greatest goal is to connect the community with Ascendigo,” Garrard said. “I am looking forward to mobilizing the city of Carbondale and connecting with all who have a passion for this great place we call home.” Garrand intends to leave the Aspen Airport at 6:30 a.m. on Sept 13 and hopes to arrive at the Fourth Street Plaza in Carbondale around 9 a.m., where there will be a donation-based breakfast for fans to enjoy — masked and socially distanced, of course.
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Athletes take to the trails As races across the nation continue to be canceled, many runners in the valley have decided to conquer personal projects or strive for a Fastest Known Time (FKT) on local routes throughout the valley. Gaining more popularity this season, FKTs have become a great way for runners to satisfy their competitive spirits amidst empty race schedules. In order to qualify, routes must be notable and worthy of repeating and the athlete must be either running or hiking. Athletes must also verify their time via GPS tracking throughout the entire duration of the event. Notable local performances from this season include: Joe DeMoor who ran FKTs on Capitol Peak (3:25), Mt. Sopris (2:25), and Grays & Torreys (3:23). Sean Van Horn who ran the second FKT on Nolan’s 14 (45:57). Zoe Rom who ran the FKT on Capitol Peak (5:37). Kevin Hadfield who completed the Ultra Trail Maroon Bells (100 miles). Seth Howland who accomplished the Triple Sopris Challenge (100 miles).
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • September 10 - September 16, 2020 • 3
SCUTTLEBUTT Undivided A Federal District Court in Colorado has ruled that numerous oil and gas leases in the Thompson Divide properly expired nearly a decade ago. The ruling confirms that more than 8,500 acres of oil and gas leases no longer exist in the Divide — a complex of inventoried roadless areas on the White River National Forest that provide important habitat, unique opportunities for hunting and backcountry recreation, and water sources that sustain local communities and local agriculture.
Stop in the name of love The Center for Human Flourishing (a.k.a. Davi Nikent) recently hosted the Carbondale stop for the Caravan of Unity 2020. The program included themes of spirituality, evolving consciousness, indigenous wisdom, the value of art and taking care of Mother Earth and her inhabitants. Visit youtu.be/ VMBGBWQf JNc to check out the literal high point of the trip, with the caravan now headed on to St. Louis, Chicago and ultimately Washington, D.C.
Two to tango Carbondale Arts’ ongoing concert series at the Thompson House continues from 4 to 5 p.m. Sept. 18 with the dynamic guitar/violin duo dives into the
sound and groove of traditional Brazilian choro, samba, bossa nova, Argentinian tango, folk and classical music. The show is free to attend but limited to 50 “pods of two people, so visit carbondalearts. com to register. Masks and social distancing will be enforced.
Art school The 44th Annual Emma Schoolhouse Bazaar will go on, outside in the schoolyard, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 — one day only. Catch perennial favorites like Dorothy Hutchinson’s pottery and jams, Rebecca Hodgson’s natural skincare products, Stace Yater-Wallace's adorable children's clothing and the Matthews clan’s cutting boards. Also returning this year are the amazing Martin Gerdin, a local with a real talent for glassblowing, Annie Burch and her Tabletop Creations, D.D. Gerdin with creative beadwork, Dennise York with fused glass, Judy Nordhagen's dramatic scarves, and Wendy Glassier's potholders. New this year are Mike Petrie's birdhouses, Kimberly Trenchard's StarLuxJewels, Shae Singer's eclectic goodies and Mark Burrows' chocolates, Isabel's baby clothes, Meghan's bottle jewelry, and the locals from Made In Basalt.
The meter is running The Garfield County “Coronameter” (tinyurl.com/
garcorona) is a new tool designed to help the community “gauge” where the County is at in terms of coronavirus spread. The meter uses a colorful visual graphic and a summary of key metrics to paint a comprehensive picture of not only the virus, but factors associated with containment and mitigation. The Coronameter will be updated mid-day on Tuesdays and Fridays alongside a list of current public health regulations in place and key indicators that are important to understanding the magnitude of COVID in the community. Pitkin and Eagle counties have similar systems in place.
New school Roaring Fork School District has determined the health risk is still too high to return to in-person learning, which means a distance-learning model will continue through at least Oct. 5. “Even though many students, staff, and parents have shared how distance learning is going better so far this year, we’ve also heard from many who are frustrated by being apart and having to do school remotely,” a release read. “We understand that even our improved distance learning model falls short of in-person learning — especially for our youngest students — which is why our second guiding principle notes that we prefer face-to-face learning over distance learning whenever it is safe to do so.”
4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • September 10 - September 16, 2020
When 15-year-old Corbin Carpenter found out the Colorado League would not hold races for 2020 due to COVID-19, he set out to complete an “Everest” — climbing and descending the same hill over and over to accumulate a summit's worth of elevation gain. He began at 6 a.m. Aug. 29 and rode until 2:30 a.m. Aug. 30 for 32 laps totalling 197 miles and 30,720 feet — in the rain, no less. Courtesy photo
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: John Colson, Casey Piscura, Brian and Brent Perkins (Sept. 10); Aaron Garland and Debbie Crawford (Sept. 11); Julie Paxton (Sept. 12); Dominique Jackson, Chrissie Leonard, Allyn Harvey, Adam Carballeira and Andy Bohmfalk (Sept. 13); Rebecca Young and Matt Lang (Sept. 14); Kathryn Camp, Corey Simpson and Nina Pedersen (Sept. 15) Eaden Shantay and Al Draina (Sept. 16).
OUR TOWN
If you know of someone who should be featured in “Our Town,” email news@soprissun.com or call 510-3003.
Foley’s fervor for farming
By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff The Sopris Sun is conducting a series of interviews with folks you may not have seen in the paper before – a sort of introduction to your neighbors. This week, we caught up with Mariah Foley, the vegetable lead for the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) Rock Bottom Ranch — and a familiar face at local farmer’s markets. Q: Where are you from and how did you get into agriculture? A: I’m original from just south of Denver. Pretty early on, I started hearing more and more about food systems and the way that we can be stewards of the earth through our daily choices. Environmental problems are big and overwhelming, but there’s a lot in the day-to-day tangibility of farming I really like. Q: When did you really get hands on with it? A: I started farming full time right out of college and lived in very rural Appalachian Pennsylvania for a few years. It was very beautiful and a good job, but a hard place to live… Kids that went to college never came back and people that went to the city never came back so it was weird to be a college educated person from the city
and move there. There was a little bit of very valid distrust. People would tell me I was just hanging my hat there for a bit, and I’d be like, “no!” but it ended up being the case. I had a lot of pull to be back closer to my family. Q: So how did you end up here? A: After working on the Front Range for a year, I remembered the reasons I moved away from the city. I kind of always was a little bit aware of Carbondale. I have friends and family that live in the area, and I grew up exploring the mountains. This valley is just rural enough. It feels a little Goldilocks-y. There’s more going on than you’d think with a town this size. Q: What does your role with ACES entail? A: I’m part of a team of about six women that do all the vegetable and livestock production. It’s nice to farm with the support of a nonprofit, being able to keep that production mindset with a little less worry about the financial bottom line. I can take some time and visit with guests and answer questions. If we can lead others to growing their own food, that’s awesome. Q: Do you get any pushback from the for-profit farmers? A: There are some really amazing
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growers in this valley and the North Fork Valley, and I try to be aware of other people’s prices and try not to undercut them. My favorite thing to do, if we don’t have something at market, is being able to refer them to a local farm. I think everyone knows it’s hard to farm here and there’s a sense of collaboration and support. Q: How has your affordable housing experience been? A: ACES provides housing to most of its staff members, which is in itself a wonderful perk. When I took the job I knew this house would be built thanks to a donation from Kim Stacey, and that there would be chickens and gardens, so that was really exciting. Definitely COVID has changed our plans for taking care of the space as everyone’s priorities shifted. Q: Does farming leave you time to take advantage of the outdoors? A: I ask myself that every season. I used to take three weeks and do something really cool. It has been a bit of a shift to recreate on a smaller time scale. I’ve also gotten way more into winters and I’ve been trying to make time to run on farm days so I have the energy to explore on the weekends. There’s also this trade off that it’s really easy with agriculture to get to know one particular place deeply— observing the
Foley bundled up to feed the chickens at ACES' Carbondale employee housing, as a cold front moved through. Photo by Will Grandbois same deer family all season and figuring been thinking about — do I have a out which wildflowers bloom when. personality outside of farming or is Q: Anything else people ought to that all I am now? I like to eat and I like know about you? to cook, which goes hand in hand with A: That’s another thing I’ve farming and running.
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Fall travel may present challenges By Tom Mercer Sopris Sun Correspondent Traveling in the mountains has always presented challenges, and this autumn season will be no different on Colorado’s Western Slope. The best a traveler can do is plan ahead in the hope of avoiding delays, closures, cancellations, and natural disasters. With that in mind, here’s a “heads-up” for traveling in our immediate region over the next few months. Where specific dates are given, be advised that, in some cases, they represent the “best guess,” or the scheduled time of completion as of the date of this publication. The experienced traveler will always confirm times, cancelations and other conditions that may affect his/her travel plans, and Sopris Sun readers are advised to do the same. Experienced air travelers are aware that their flight travel plans are subject to availability of seats, bad weather, and other factors. However, in the case of Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (a.k.a. Sardy Field) in Aspen, we must now include the closure of the airport on Sept. 14 through 18 as a reason for not flying. Chris Padilla, Air Traffic Controller at Aspen’s airport, said the “closure is necessary in order to complete required runway maintenance.” This is no small matter. In 2019, the airport handled an average of 114
flight operations every day. Here’s a surprise that surfaced recently: AMTRAK’s passenger rail service schedule for the California Zephyr reveals some serious changes. Marc Magliari, AMTRAK’s Media Relations Representative for our region, confirmed that schedule changes would take place beginning the week of Oct. 5. At that time, westbound AMTRAK passenger trains will only come through Glenwood Springs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Eastbound passenger trains will stop in Glenwood Springs on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Also, there may be delays due to work being performed in the Moffat Tunnel. According to AMTRAK’s web-based Fact Sheet for Fiscal Year 2018, 44,430 travelers either boarded or got off the train in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. As residents of the Roaring Fork Valley know, the sight of a Colorado Mountain Express van on Highway 82 was once common. The shuttles transported travelers directly from Denver International Airport to Aspen and other destinations in Colorado’s mountain region – often for ski vacations. Well, the company has a new name: Epic Mountain Express, and their shuttle services have been suspended for some time. In response to my questions about Epic’s future operations, an online reservation
representative for the company told me that “they expect to resume operations in mid-November.” That brings us to bus transportation. Not counting privately-owned buses, the Roaring Fork Valley’s intercity bus transportation is provided by Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA), the Bustang, and Greyhound. All have websites that include routes, costs and schedules. Sopris Sun readers are undoubtedly familiar with RFTA bus services: These buses have contributed much to keeping our local economy rolling. Bustang, which is operated by The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), also provides valuable transportation services that include cities and towns along both the Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 mountain corridors. There are 19 Bustang coaches. Although each bus can accommodate 51 passengers, only 22 are allowed at this time due to COVID-19 concerns. Bustang features include restrooms, free WiFi, 110-volt outlets, USB sockets, and bike racks. In addition, the Bustangs are wheelchair accessible. Go to ridebustang.com for more information. The Greyhound bus line still serves Glenwood Springs, picking up and dropping off passengers at a RFTA bus stop bench near the mall in West Glenwood Springs.
The California Zephyr climbs into the mountains. Photo courtesy of AMTRAK Finally, there is the option of traveling in your own vehicle. In recent weeks, residents of the Roaring Fork Valley have learned that driving on Western Colorado’s back roads and highways cannot be taken for granted: fires burn, rocks fall, and passes close. Elise Thatcher, the Region 3 Communications Manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation, confirmed that two-way (head-to-head) traffic exists on the lower deck of Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon. The upper deck remains closed for resurfacing and minor repairs. She said that “no major damage” had occurred to I-70 as a result of rockfall. She added that drivers on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should understand that there is no stopping
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allowed while driving through the canyon, and that the rest areas (and Hanging Lake) are closed. Thatcher also reported that there might be “safety closures” in Glenwood Canyon if moderate or heavy rain is likely, and that such closures might occur “at a moment’s notice.” She recommends allowing an extra 20 minutes for your trip through Glenwood Canyon on holiday weekends, and to have alternate routes in mind in the event that I-70 closures occur. Given all of the above, unless you absolutely must travel in the next month or two, it would be well worth your time to plan ahead, examine the various options, and double-check your reservations, current weather, and road conditions … and maybe cross your fingers.
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How fire agencies join forces Sometimes, it takes more than one village
By Roberta McGowan Sopris Sun Staff
When summer winds howl brisk and dry, area fire departments go to alert mode. Fortunately, regional fire departments had already finalized mutual aid agreements in the spring, as is done annually. Rob Goodwin, chief at the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, explained, “We work with the federal, state, county and local agencies. Each reacts as swiftly as we need..” Goodwin explained Carbondale has mutual aid agreements with Garfield County, Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Fire Rescue which comprises Basalt, Meredith, Snowmass and Snowmass Village and coordinates with Aspen and Pitkin County. The organizations concurred on a variety of issues such as resource availability and cost sharing. As Goodwin quipped, “Everyone plays well together in the sandbox.” He pointed to the recent Red Canyon Fire started Aug.19 by a dry lightning strike near the High Aspen and Coulter Ranches, both in Missouri Heights. The Carbondale team was first on the scene but soon realized more support was urgently needed. The department then mustered up help from the other wildland agencies. Shortly, Goodwin reported, slurry bomber planes and helicopters zoomed in and were critical to the fire staying under 50 acres and is now considered extinguished. “Our goals are to keep small fires small, and nobody dies,” he stressed. Local 911 calls go directly to Carbondale fire district “no matter the type of incident,” Goodwin stated. The district covers a 300-square-mile area including Redstone in Pitkin County and Marble in Gunnison County, extends to County Road 115 (Red Canyon Rd.)
near Glenwood Springs and ends at El Jebel. David Boyd, public affairs officer at the White River National Forest, Supervisor's Office in Glenwood Springs, explained, “Fires are classified as Types 1 to 5. Type 4 and 5 are small fires handled by the locally based resources and do not require an overhead management team. Type 3 teams are also locally based. The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire and Aviation Management Unit has a Type 3 team it calls on for Type 3 fires. That team has local, state and federal members.” Boyd continued, “Type 1 and 2 teams are organized regionally through geographic coordination centers. They are under a national organization called the National Interagency Coordination Center. These centers help organize and prioritize resources.” If this sounds complicated, that’s because it is. The alphabet soup of so many organizations could perplex people not involved in setting up and implementing each segment. Goodwin clarified that whichever fire department goes in first depends on where the blaze started and which is the closest. Private land fires go initially to the county. The Grizzly Creek Fire in Garfield County, ignited on Aug. 10. It has been a difficult and complex fire to fight and is still considered a Type 1 incident. The updated Facebook page noted 603 firefighting personnel are working to contain the 32,464-acre blaze (presently at 82 percent). Regardless of the situation, “It’s a really big team effort that collaborates globally,” said Eric Coulter, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Information Officer stationed in Grand Junction for this incident. “It’s an inherently risky thing firefighters do,” Coulter said, “Our first priority always is to keep everyone safe.” The Pine Gulch Fire started July 31 on BLM land, so that agency was first to respond. It is located in the remote Bookcliffs area 18 miles from Grand Junction, Coulter reported. In total, the blaze has so far consumed 139,007 acres but is 83 percent contained. Plus, only minor injuries have been reported. He announced at no time is a local fire district left without enough
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The Grizzly Creek Fire drew folks from all over, including Gabe Harry, a smoke jumper from Boise, who's well aware of the local context. “This particular area has a lot of history in it over time," he observed. "We have South Canyon right down the road. Several firefighters died in that." Photo by Laurel Smith personnel. Right after the first response team arrives, “We determine who can replace the local unit.” Coulter said the network is similar to the military setup, “It is an integrated national and worldwide system to share resources and personnel, focusing on those who have wildland- fire- experience.” “We specifically work through a geographical area coordinator under the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center.“ Coulter stressed. In the daily report of Sept. 3 for 2020 year-to-date, 387,825 acres from all unplanned fires in the area have been lost.
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • September 10 - September 16, 2020 • 7 RECIPES AVAILABLE:
TOWN REPORT
Drawn from the town manager's report to staff, trustees and others.
ASPEN VALLEY LAND TRUST took input from the Town to guide priorities for the coming years. As part of that process, they have done an extensive mapping analysis of natural resource values across the region (e.g. wildlife habitat, agricultural lands, etc.) and have undertaken a series of community listening sessions.
A PRIVATE WEDDING is slated for 1:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Sopris Park picnic shelter. CARBONDALE ROTARY donated funds to help the police department purchase a new defibrillator.
SEWER WORK planned for Colorado Avenue has been postponed until spring.
SALES TAX revenues were down 3.8 percent in August compared to 2019 — likely due to a limited Mountain Fair — but are up 2.1 percent overall for the year.
CONDO PLATS for the first five affordable housing units in Thompson Park are being recorded.
A SANITARY SURVEY was performed at the Gateway RV park water system, with no reported problems.
Board backs pump back Carbondale’s efforts to provide water system redundancy now extend beyond town limits, following trustee approval of a pump-back system on the Nettle Creek water line. While the Town itself can usually run on any two of three water treatment plants, numerous homes along the Crystal River rely solely on one line. The design proposed by MPA Consulting Engineers would allow municipal well water to be pumped back up to them. “We realized how important this project was when we almost had a call on the river and would have had to turn off water taps to the folks who made this line possible many years ago,” Mayor Dan Richardson noted at the board's Sept. 8 meeting. “To me, this is a pretty exciting project. It’s allowing us to pursue our goal of adapting to the changing water environment as well as hopefully producing renewable energy.” As an added bonus, trustees opted to include a turbine which will provide a small amount of power when the line
OFFICER LAZO finished a class on forensic evidence retrieval from cell phones. EXPANDED HOURS at the Rec. Center run from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The pool is open for 85-minute reservations from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday until Oct. 3. P&Z will consider conditions of approval and findings for the Eastwood Annexation proposal for the self-storage facility along Highway 133 on Sept. 10.
is flowing normally. The additional cost of roughly $65,000 should be covered by selling power back to Holy Cross Electric over the course of the next decade. “I’ve got a really strong sense that this is going to be a quality project for the Town,” observed Utilities Director Mark O’Meara. “It meets a lot of goals.” The Town is also in the final permitting stages of a separate hydroelectric project near the Nettle Creek Water Treatment Plant.
In other action, trustees… • Presented the Community Hero Award to Andrea Stewart
of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. • Proclaimed September Library Card Sign Up Month in
Carbondale. • Approved the CARES Act Recovery for Carbondale business application. • Postponed discussion of an ordinance prohibiting marijuana delivery into town. • Conducted a glowing review of Town Manager Jay Harrington.
Cop Shop From Aug. 21 through Sept. 3, Carbondale Police handled 831 calls for service. During this period, officers investigated the following cases of note: SATURDAY Aug. 22 at 10:50 a.m.
Following a call from Glenwood Springs Police regarding a pair of suspects in a theft, officers arrested a 32-year-old for driving with a revoked license and possession of drug paraphernalia and a 22-year-old for paraphernalia and a warrant.
SATURDAY Aug. 22 at 2:09 p.m. A
mattress was reported stolen from the front porch of a home along Highway 133.
MONDAY Aug. 24 at 11:05 a.m. A reported runaway returned home.
WEDNESDAY Aug. 26 at 10:04 a.m. Police took the first of several bike theft reports.
THURSDAY Aug. 27 at 9:21 a.m.
Someone removed the Black Lives Matter signs in front of Carbondale Arts. SATURDAY Aug. 29 at 10:36 a.m. A local gas station had someone leave without paying.
SATURDAY Aug. 29 at 8:43 p.m. After
reportedly causing a disturbance at the grocery and dollar stores, arrested a 36-yearold on a felony warrant.
SUNDAY Aug. 30 at 7:39 a.m. A trespass call led to a summons for a 37-year-old.
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Carbondale Town Ordinance: Sec. 7-3-60 (b) No person, including but not limited to an owner, occupant, lessee, person in possession or control, homeowners’ association officer, property manager or agent of a given premises, shall place any refuse or garbage container in any street, alley or other public place or upon any private property, whether or not owned by such person, within the Town, except in proper containers for collection, as provided in Section 7-3-50 above. No person shall place any such refuse or garbage container in any public street right-of-way for trash collection purposes by the Town or a private trash hauler, except for on the day collection occurs. For purposes of determining compliance with this requirement, refuse and garbage containers may be stored in a public street right-of-way only between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Placement of refuse or garbage containers outside of this time period shall result in the levying of fines, pursuant to Subsection (g) below. Except for between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day of collection, and except in the instance that a refuse or garbage container is bear-resistant, as defined in Section 7-3-10 above, all refuse and garbage containers must be stored in secure enclosures when not out for collection.
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BRANCHING OUT
By Geneviéve Joëlle Villamizar Yvon Chouinard’s favorite quote about entrepreneurship is “that to understand an entrepreneur, you should study a juvenile delinquent. They’re both saying “this sucks and I’m going to do it another way.” You have to break the rules and prove that your way works.” My entrepreneur spirit and naturalist’s mind have to ask, what really sucked about the old City Market? Parking was easy, close. I bumped into so many friends and colleagues that shopping was a happy hour. What I couldn’t find at City Market, I bought at Mana Foods. The “building” itself ? Was a non-thought to me. City Market’s buying policies though? Total puke. Twentysome varieties of hummus. Could
Ruminations on consumption
some of that shelf space support another nutritious product? And the bacon thing. I’ve seen too many Concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) videos of animals losing their minds in metal cages to purchase cruel meat. In 15 years, City Market never carried a certified humane bacon among its 26 choices. Justina and Ted Potter raise pigs (cattle, chickens, and eggs) on Missouri Heights. I buy Potter Farms bacon at the Roaring Fork Co-op, instead. Chouinard also drives old cars, believing the impact of “new” is worse than driving an older model. Will a new building on former open space — that had marmots, deer, foxes, nesting geese and meadowlarks, redwings, birds of prey — change corporate buying policies? The old City Market carried four varieties of masa harina, none of them organic, all from the same mill in Texas. I tried to special order organic masa — a treated corn flour we use in Colombian arepa and tamales — the order was never fulfilled. I never got a phone call saying, “Come and get it, Babe!” The shiny new store? Six varieties of masa...none, organic. We all have these stories about our favorite foods here. Yvon (he’s my homey, I can call him that) thinks that “a company
has the responsibility to not wait for the government to tell it what to do, or wait for the consumer to tell it what to do, but as soon as it finds out it’s doing something wrong, stop doing it.” The interior fixtures at the old store could have been upgraded: closable doors on chilling units. Significant bulk options to reduce packaging. Support more locally produced foods. Shade trees to reduce ambient heat. Solar arrays for energy, etc. But they didn’t do any of that. Nor have they changed their buying policies. As a community, we’ve worked so frikken hard to retain a quality of life and sense of place reflecting our values. We shot down several proposals for that land. What stands on that land now is not us, and it effing sucks to lose an ecologically rich piece of dirt that contributed immensely to our lives. The Nature thereupon let us breathe. It encompassed stunning, humbling, uplifting views down a scenic river valley to the expansiveness of the Flat Tops. On paper at least, I was a juvenile delinquent. Definitely a black sheep. A lot about our modern nation sucks. I break alotta societal “rules” (grammatical ones, too) to do something better with our unguaranteed time on the planet. I think you do too, and
The further displacement of wildlife by development gave rise to renegade art on Highway 133. Photo by J. Sanderford that’s why Bonedale is your home and the very town we love. When I stepped outside after my two and half hour tour of the food inside, I was overwhelmed. I saw a lot of shit processed foods in there. And a few things I was pleased to purchase. Cart in hand, brooding, I stood next to a security guard (!?), absorbing the massiveness of it all: the sea of asphalt; so many cars, RVs, campers, Sprinters. The generic, cheaply constructed gas station canopy. The dearth of trees. Overhead, strung from light pole to light pole, vinyl red, white and blue grand opening flags flapped frenetically. It was an odd
scene straight out of “Napoleon Dynamite.” I dropped in on a friend to share a drink and recover. “Who are businesses really responsible to?” Yvon asks. “Their customers? Shareholders? Employees? We would argue that it’s none of the above. Fundamentally, businesses are responsible to their resource base. Without a healthy environment there are no shareholders, no employees, no customers and no business.” I would have much preferred we ballsy, enterprising Bonedalians Continued on page 10
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • September 10 - September 16, 2020 • 9
OPINION
Sun Signs
By Whitney Will At 4:22 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, Mars will come to an apparent halt and begin retrograde motion. For just over nine weeks, Mars will appear to move backward in the sky, before stationing again on Nov. 13 and renewing forward motion. Mars is the final planet in the astrological pantheon to go retrograde in 2020, and in many ways is the headliner as Mars retrogrades portend contests of will and crises of personal and collective power. Mars spends less time in retrograde motion than any other planet, only about 10 weeks every 27 months, as compared to Pluto which is retrograde roughly 40 percent of the time, or Mercury who turns about face three times per annum. The last Mars retrograde took place over the summer
An impending Mars retrograde of 2018 in Aquarius, whereas 2019 did not host one at all. Mars retrogrades signal times of crisis for the warrior in each of us, and can manifest as times of struggle to accomplish one’s goals, physical lethargy, or feelings of fighting a losing battle. In the collective, Mars retrogrades can herald both major human rights violations and atrocities, but also their rectification in the forms of new legislature or reparitive movements. Mars retrogrades challenge progress of both individual and collective aims, prompting the question, “what is worth fighting for?” This week’s retrograde takes place in the sign of Aries, which Mars itself governs, and where it can accomplish mission driven tasks and impulsive undertakings easily. Athletic and brazen, it is no accident that Aries is the most martial sign, its significations explicitly battle-oriented. Mars retrogrades in the sign of Aries rarely, an event only occurring three times in the 20th century. These periods saw such significant events as the beginning of the siege of Leningrad, the first experimental use of the gas chambers for mass execution (1941) and the end of the Iran-Iraq war and the execution of 50,000 Kurds (1988). The 1909 retrograde saw the more athletic version of Mars retrograde significations in a controversy over two explorers who each claimed to have been the first man to reach the North pole.
With many professional sports struggling to navigate both a pandemic and racial unrest, together with a historically volatile election, both the athletic as well as the political and martial significations will play out this fall. Part of the heavy-handedness of this retrograde comes from the squares Mars makes to Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn — all in the sign of Capricorn — throughout the period of the retrograde. Astrologers have attributed many of the challenges faced during 2020 to these three planets and their copresence in the sign of Capricorn. Capricorn is the sign that represents the establishment, institutions, and those with consolidated political power. One could say that in Capricorn, Saturn is the general of the army and Mars in Aries the star warrior gone rogue. Both are quite powerful, making their positions at cross-purposes quite volatile. However extreme previous Mars retrogrades have been, the precedents of humanitarian outcomes should not be ignored. A previous Mars retrograde in Aries that took place in the fall of 1862 saw the bloodiest day in the history of the United States, the Battle of Antietam. The battle, despite crippling Confederate forces, failed to prove a decisive victory for the Union given the cautiousness of General McClellan, a crisis of martial courage indeed, and one that ultimately lost
him his post when Mars moved direct that November. However, while tactically a draw, the Union was able to claim a strategic victory that turned the tides of the war, giving president Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation that would ultimately free more than 3.5 million slaves. Several years later, during another Mars retrograde in January 1865, the 13th Amendmant would achieve the critical two thirds majority to pass in congress and upon ratification end slavery in the United States. Astrology gives us the foresight to maintain emotional equilibrium despite upsets and crises, personal and collective. But this coveted equilibrium cannot come from a place of avoidance if it is to shift life and society towards a more empowered and just society for all. The knowledge of such a transit shows where to throw our collective weight, while warning that progress may be slow and hard. When looking for examples of this dedication to progressive work, one need only look to the retrograde in the fall of 1941, wherein a politician was born who, though failing to triumph in presidential contests, continues to work toward humanitarian ideals. Happy birthday to senator Bernie Sanders, born Sept. 8, 1941, and best of luck to all of us during this fall’s Mars retrograde in Aries.
Rumination from page 9
vote in a mill levy to raise money for our community than have what we have now. A mill would cost far less than the value of what we’ve lost. I’ve followed the conversations of Peter Mertz on the Carbondale Facebook page. It’s a mixed bag. Community influencers are pretty stoked with our shiny new baubles. No one mentions climate change, or the environment, or the crunchy thought that this didn’t “need” to happen. There was no dire “necessity” for a new big box. Another writer has asked, “What if our feverish pursuit of individual happiness [comfort, ease, pleasure] causes us to neglect the communities that, in reality, make us happy?” These seemingly “harmless” changes are the very events stacking up so grossly that our planet is flipping us the bird. I’m not against development or change (both are inevitable) but — dare I say this? — Just stupidity and greed. Could Bonedalians have generated something far more worthy for that spot, had we the patience? The faith? Without a healthy environment within town limits, easily accessible to all — not just those who can bike, run, or drive elsewhere — what will we have?
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10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • September 10 - September 16, 2020
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It's probably safe to consider our sunflower contest settled thanks to sleet and snow, but Holly Buell deserves at least an honorable mention — both for reportedly having a handful over 11 feet tall and for taking the time and effort to put eyes on them. Courtesy photo
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • September 10 - September 16, 2020 • 11
Want to advertise your business, but fear you might have to shut down? The Sopris Sun is here to help! If you advertise with us and your business is shut down or an event is canceled due to Covid-19 after the paper is published (between Thursday and Wednesday), we will credit you with a new ad when you reopen. No questions asked. Todd Chamberlin Advertising Manager 970-987-9866 adsales@soprissun.com Deadlines, Rates and SpeciďŹ cations: www.soprissun.com/advertise/