March 24, 2011

the

Sopris Carbondale’s

weekly, non-profit newspaper

Sun

Volume 3, Number 6 | March 24, 2011

Sun shi Local solar installers buffeted by changing rebates

By Terray Sylvester Sopris Sun Staff Writer

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Cassidy Milligan, an eighth grader at Carbondale Community School, plays the Mad Hatter in the school’s Big Event, which concludes at 7 p.m. on March 24. The Big Event’s theme is “Literature Comes to Life” and features several songs, including a rendition of a Black Eyed Peas song renamed “I Gotta Keep Reading.” Photo by Lynn Burton

ocal solar electricity installers are trying to get their bearings in the wake of a set of shake-ups in a popular incentives program administered

by Xcel Energy.

On Feb. 17, the utility, which provides electricity to roughly 1.35 million Coloradoans, abruptly ended its Solar Rewards program while it negotiated new terms for the program with the state Public Utilities Commission.

The move sparked outcry from Colorado’s solar electricity industry. Some firms reported they were forced to cut jobs while others complained Xcel had weakened consumer confidence in the industry and was exercising too much power, essentially adjusting rates without the approval of the utilities commission.

Since then, Xcel has reached a settlement with solar electric industry groups, the utilities commission and other organizations establishing a new incentives structure for the program. Those new incentives went into effect this week, and local solar installers are still sizing up their effects.

Katharine Rushton, who works for Sol Energy in Carbondale, said she and other Sol employees are recalculating the finances of deals that were pending before the Xcel incentive program was cancelled.

“It had an impact because any Xcel customers that were in the sales cycle at that point got dropped,” she said.

“Now we have to pick them back up and say,‘Can we still sell them this system?’”

Under the new agreement, Xcel will reduce the size of upfront rebates available for small, customer-owned installations. In their place, the utility will offer incentives that will pay out incrementally after the system is up and running. When the Solar Rewards program was closed in February, the utility had been offering a $2.01 per watt upfront rebate for customer-owned systems smaller than 10 kilowatts. Now that rebate has been reduced to $1.75 per watt and paired with a $.04 per kilowatt-hour “performance based incentive” which will be paid over a 10-year period.

The settlement completely eliminated upfront incentives for larger systems and replaced them with a tiered series of performance based incentives which will start at $.15 to $.16 per kilowatt-hour and pay out over a 20-year period.

The new incentives structure will stay in effect for a year or until 60 megawatts have been installed through the program, whichever comes first.

Xcel argued changes were necessary because the Solar Rewards program is running into debt and distributing money inefficiently. The program is funded through a voter-approved 2 percent surcharge on all Xcel customers’ utility bills. When the program went into effect in 2006 it SOLAR REBATES page 7

C’dale loses one of its finest

Trustees discuss ex parte allegations

Gardening not just for grannies

Page 3

Page 3

Page 11

Carbondale Commentary

Setting the record straight

By Lynn Burton In the March 3 Sopris Sun, we asked readers to provide input concerning questions they have about the proposed Village at Crystal River planned unit development on Highway 133 and north of Main Street.

It turns out, input from the public indicates that some folks don’t know exactly where the 24.1-acre Village at Crystal River property is located, so here goes: The Village at Crystal River is located north of west Main Street and on the west side of Highway 133, extending about three-tenths of a mile along the highway to the vicinity of the Roaring Fork Valley Co-op (which is on the The Village at Crystal River property is the shaded east side of the highway).

The Village at Crystal area shown here. Delores Way is shown in red.

River property does not extend along Highway 133 all the way to Delores Way to the north, as some people believe. The pasture due east of the landmark Colorado Rocky Mountain School barn is not part of the Village at Crystal River property.

Delores Way is the primary road to Satank, and the intersection of Delores Way and Highway 133 includes a blue/green roof building that houses Ajax Bike & Sports.

The Village at Crystal River, presented to the town trustees in 2010, is the latest version of development proposals for that parcel that date back more than 10 years.

Through the years, newspaper descriptions of the property’s location often say “along Highway 133,” or “on the west side of Highway 133” but without specific reference to Delores Way, although there were at least two erroneous references about Delores Way bordering the parcel to the north in the Post Independent in 2002.

Bottom line? The pasture between Highway 133 and the CRMS barn is not part of the Village at Crystal River property.

Opponents and proponents of the Village at Crystal River can make of this tardy “revelation” what they will, but at least everyone from here on out should understand the location of the property the town trustees are discussing.

Art and Carolyn Ackerman mixed hometown spirit with foreign flair in Porto Parintinis, Brazil. Courtesy photo 2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011

Letters

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Letters exceeding that length may be edited or returned for revisions. Include your name and residence (for publication) and a contact email and phone number. Submit letters via email to letters@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In a coincidence, three members of The Sopris Sun’s board of directors sent letters to the editor this week.

Allyn Harvey, Trina Ortega and Jeannie Perry all serve on the Sun board. The Sopris Sun publishes letters on a first-come, firstserved basis, although we give precedence to letters that comment on current topics.

Fight for the island Dear Editor: I am fortunate to have a unique home on the east side of Red Hill that looks down on the impressive Roaring Fork River Valley.We can see for miles up the Crystal River Valley to Chair Mountain, the tip of Capitol Peak in the Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness, the top of Grizzly Run at Sunlight, and the expansive Basalt Mountain.

But most prominent are, of course, Mt. Sopris and the Roaring Fork River Valley, including the 17 acres of Carbondale-owned property that town trustees have proposed letting go for $100,000 (through an ordinance introduced at the March 14 trustees meeting).

I will never look at this river valley the same.

I am not a boater or an angler and have never floated to the island that is in dispute, so I cannot claim to know its beauty from the ground. But from a distance, and nearly every day, I admire the trees changing colors, the birds of prey circling above, and the snowfall blanketing the banks. I can hear the river’s roar during spring run-off and see the rapids wane during fall, a vigilant reminder of a precious resource.

Granted, under the terms presented by the potential private landowners, some of the conservation values would not change because they promise not to allow development on the property. However, I think there is great value to the town and citizens in keeping this land.

At a time when Carbondale is struggling to define its image and asking questions about the viable types of industries that can sustain our local economy, I think it’s important to revisit the idea of recreation, which includes angling and boating.

I stepped onto my deck again this afternoon and gazed at the river valley. I could picture my brother, who is from Denver, floating on a calm spring day. He’s casting his lines, teasing the trout, docking on the island to walk the banks. He comes here frequently to float and fish the river and he buys supplies and gas, eats at local restaurants, and patronizes Carbondale’s angling shops. I know of others who hire local guides and stay at Carbondale’s lodges and hotels.

Under the umbrella of recreation, angling and boating can be part of a sustainable and fitting economy for Carbondale (versus relying solely on spec building for second homeowners or the marijuana industry).

And if recreation is among the mix of ideas to build a future for this town, we should not give up important property, such as the Carbondale Island.

I agree with Carbondale business owner Franz Froelicher, who urged the trustees on

March 15 to “fight like the dickens for it.”

Trina Ortega Carbondale

Island deal is hinky Editor’s Note: This letter was also addressed to the Carbondale Board of Town Trustees.

Dear Editor: I only just learned of the proposed ordinance to sell the town’s property known as Carbondale Island on the Roaring Fork. I understand the buyers’ lawsuit, waiting for years for a resolution to a title dispute, and lawyers are like hounds, once you release them they’re hard to get back in. What I don’t understand is the town’s decision to sell the entire property (over 17 acres) not just the property in question, for $100,000.

You can’t buy anything in Carbondale for $100,000. And as far as I can tell, there was no survey or appraisal done, much less an environmental impact study.

The whole deal’s hinky, if you ask me.

But I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I think the town of Carbondale should do: 1) contact the Roaring Fork Conservancy and the Colorado Division of Wildlife for their input and support; 2) hire a property lawyer to assist Mark Hamilton with the lawsuit; 3) get out yer booties and we’ll float the river to check it out for ourselves.

Thank you, Jeannie Perry Satank LETTERS page 12

To inform, inspire and build community Donations accepted online or by mail. For information call 510-3003 Co-editors: Lynn Burton and Terray Sylvester 510-3003 • news@soprissun.com Advertising: Dina Drinkhouse • 970-456-7261 dina@soprissun.com Photographer/Writer: Jane Bachrach Ad/Page Production: Terri Ritchie Paper Boy: Cameron Wiggin Webmaster: Will Grandbois Sopris Sun, LLC Managing Board of Directors: Peggy DeVilbiss • David Johnson Allyn Harvey • Colin Laird Laura McCormick • Trina Ortega Jean Perry • Elizabeth Phillips Frank Zlogar

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Sheriff investigating probable suicide

By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer

Carbondale Board of Trustees observed a moment of silence The Garfield County Sherfor Santiago before their Tuesiff’s Department investigation day night meeting. into the probable suicide of Car“It’s important to acknowlbondale police officer Nino Sanedge his (Santiago’s) enormous tiago continues. dedication to the organization, Santiago was found dead in his family and friends,” said Nino Santiago a vehicle in the parking lot Carbondale Mayor Stacey shared by the Church at Carbondale and Bernot.“I hope through this loss that we’ll Crystal River Elementary School early be able to move forward and that our on March 22, said Garfield County community will be able to heal.”

Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman The Sopris Sun was unable to confirm Tanny McGinnis. a memorial time and location for Santiago “I believe (the report of a car in the at press time. parking lot) was between 1 a.m. and 1:30 Carbondale Police Chief Gene Schilling a.m.,” McGinnis said. was unavailable for comment on WednesThe Church at Carbondale and Crystal day, but on Tuesday he said in a prepared River Elementary School are both located statement,“Santiago was a great police ofat the north end of Snowmass Drive (aka ficer and citizen. Our thoughts, prayers the old coal road) on the east side of town. and sympathy go out to his family. Please McGinnis said a coroner’s report is respect the family and fellow officers as likely the next part of the investigation to they mourn the loss of Nino.” be released and other details will be made Officer Santiago has been employed by public as they surface. the town of Carbondale since May of 2008, The sheriff’s department is investigating according to the sheriff’s department. the death due to a possible conflict of inHe was born in upstate New York, but terest if the Carbondale Police Department raised in Cidra, Puerto Rico. He joined the was in charge, McGinnis said. Colorado U.S. Marines in 1980 and was a Desert Bureau of Investigation agents from Grand Shield and Desert Storm veteran, and was Junction were also called in to assist. honorably discharged in 1992. Santiago “Preliminary findings are consistent spent three years in the Army National with what appears to be a suicide,” Guard and then joined the Air Force NaMcGinnis said. tional Guard in 2001.

Word of a death in the Church at CarHis resume included employment as a bondale/Crystal River Elementary School correctional officer for the Southern Desert parking lot spread quickly through town Correctional Facility, a prison boot camp Tuesday morning. Parents of Crystal River drill sergeant, detention officer for the Elementary School students were notified North Las Vegas Police Department, and via a phone tree that the school would be as a private investigator before being emclosed on Tuesday. KDNK radio reported ployed by the town of Carbondale. a possible suicide in the parking lot.

Santiago enjoyed working out and Garfield County sheriff’s deputies blocked sports, especially coaching and playing Snowmass Drive with their vehicles at So- baseball. He was active in little league, pris Avenue and near Carbondale Middle high school and Marine baseball. He was School. The road was reopened for traffic an all-star soccer player and collected before noon. Much later in the day, the baseball cards.

Carbondale trustees dig into ex parte allegations

By Terray Sylvester Sopris Sun Staff Writer The Carbondale Board of Town Trustees discussed potential ex parte communications involving a KDNK radio show and the Village at Crystal River development at their meeting on Tuesday.

A town attorney and a lawyer for the applicant delved into specific instances in which the development has been discussed during the “Town Trustee Report” on the weekly “Merle and Chameleon Show.”

But because the main thrust of the ex parte allegations focus on Trustee Frosty Merriott and Merriott was absent from Tuesday’s meeting, the trustees unanimously decided to continue the discussion to their April 26 meeting. The trustees decided to continue the discussion on the development itself to the same date.

Allegations of ex parte communications were first raised by Eric Gross, a lawyer for the developer, during a hearing on the Village at the trustees’ meeting on March 1. At the time, Gross asserted that Merriott has frequently discussed the development during the “Trustee Report,” which airs every Wednesday at 9 a.m. and consists of a summary of actions taken and issues discussed at the previous night’s trustees’ meeting. Gross argued Merriott’s participation on the show constituted ex parte communication and deprived the applicant of its right to a fair hearing before the town council.

Ex parte contact can occur when a trustee discusses a pending application with a member of the public. Such conversations deny due process rights to the applicants and to any opponents of the application because they cannot be present to hear, and potentially rebut, information given to the trustee. Ex parte contacts can also create an appearance of bias for the trustee involved. When trustees discuss land use issues they are required to act as “quasi judges” and follow certain protocols to maintain their impartiality.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, Town Attorney Mark Hamilton discussed information obtained by reviewing recordings of the “Merle and Chameleon Show.”

Hamilton said the Village has been discussed approximately 15 times by the trustees, but recordings of only eight of those shows were available for town staff to review. During those eight shows, two “substantive” discussions involving the Village took place.

One discussion occurred on Nov. 17, 2010, and involved not just Merriott, but also Trustee Pam Zentmyer. The other took place on March 2, the day after the applicant first raised allegations of ex parte communication. That discussion also involved both Zentmyer and Merriott.

Hamilton also determined the Village was discussed by Trustee John Hoffmann during a show on May 26, 2010, for which a recording was not available.

At Tuesday’s meeting Hamilton asked Hoffmann and Zentmyer to describe, to the best of their recollection, what had been said about the Village during the “Merle and Chameleon Show” on those dates.

He also asked them whether they would be able to consider the project impartially in the future and avoid other potential ex parte contact. Both answered “yes.”

Hamilton explained that the trustees’ options for resolving ex parte cases are relatively limited. Generally trustees are asked to disclose potential ex parte contact. But for more complex cases, town ordinances do not allow the board to force the recusal of a trustee. The board does have that option when conflicts of interest are at issue.

Despite that fact, a lawyer for the developer, Mark Grueskin of the Denver-based firm Rothgerber, Johnson and Lyons presented the trustees with a draft motion calling for Merriott’s recusal. Grueskin urged the trustees to consider how they would feel if they were defendants in a trial and heard the judge comment repeatedly on their case on the radio.

“The question is whether or not there is an appearance associated with this decisionmaking process that makes people wonder,” Grueskin said.

As evidence that such a taint exists, Grueskin presented an affidavit from former town planner Mark Chain asserting that inaccurate information has been conveyed during the show, and that hosts Jeff Dickinson and Bob Schultz, who are knowledgeable about land use issues, have influenced Merriott. During a show“last fall”Merriott and the hosts discussed employee housing in the Village proposal in a “somewhat negative” light, stated the affidavit.

Members of the public packed the meeting room during the hearing. Juan Grobler of Carbondale gave the trustees a petition calling for Merriott’s recusal signed by 159 people.

Grobler said many of the signatures came from local business people who became frustrated after Merriott spoke disparagingly of Gross, the applicant’s attorney, during the March 3 show. Grobler argued it is inappropriate for a trustee to mock someone who appears before the board at a public hearing.

Chain, who provided the developer’s affidavit, urged the trustees to tread carefully and minimize the town’s exposure to potential lawsuits.

Other members of the public criticized the developer for attempting to remove Merriott from the board, characterizing the effort as a vote-manipulating maneuver aimed at Merriott because he has been a relatively outspoken critic of the Village.

Next Steps:

The Penny Hot Spring north of Redstone attracted soakers from Finland and Telluride earlier this month. Note the Tellurider in the background who is doing what might be the first documented “endless pool” swim at the spring. Photo by Julie Albrecht

The Carbondale Board of Town Trustees will continue the public hearing on the Village at Crystal River Development, and related allegations of ex parte communications, during their meeting on April 26 at town hall, 511 Colorado Ave. For more information, call 963-2733.

THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011 • 3

News Briefs

Cop Shop

The Weekly News Brief The Sopris Sun and the KDNK news departments team up to discuss recent news from the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. Catch the Brief on KDNK between 7:30 and 8 a.m. and between 5:30 and 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Local students tackle tough topics Juniors in Ben Bohmfalk’s Fundamentals of American Democracy course at Roaring Fork High School spent a semester researching some regional and local issues as part of an endeavor named Project Citizen. Then they drew up some potential solutions and, at Carbondale Town Hall on Monday, presented their proposals to a panel that included Town Trustees Elizabeth Murphy and John Hoffmann, among others. The students tackled topics that ranged from the death penalty to Colorado’s higher education budget, and from medical marijuana advertising to elk habitat loss. The students who pull together the top proposals have a shot at presenting their solutions in the state capitol later in the spring.

Ditch cleaning under way As of March 1 town crews began cleaning and burning irrigation ditches throughout Carbondale. There may be smoke in neighborhoods where crews are working. Town staff advise Carbondalians not to block access to ditches near their homes and to inspect ditches and remove any debris or plant growth that has accumulated since last year. Ditches will probably be turned on by April 15.

In preparation for this year’s irrigation season, residents are also asked to adjust their pump intakes to allow for low flow conditions that appear toward the end of the season.

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011

Carbondale ordinances allow residents to divert water from the ditches, but that privilege can be revoked and residents are not entitled to legal water rights on the ditch water.

Town rules also prohibit restricting the flow of water in the ditches, polluting ditches or obstructing access to them. For more information, call the Carbondale Utility Department, 963-3140.

Alpine Legal Services gets grant The nonprofit organization Alpine Legal Services has been awarded $35,000 from the Aspen Community Foundation.Alpine Legal Services is a unique resource in the Roaring Fork Valley, providing legal assistance to seniors, the poor and victims of crimes in Garfield, Pitkin and western Eagle counties.

Alpine Legal Services also collaborates with other local nonprofit groups. Many residents of the Roaring Fork Valley need, but cannot afford, legal assistance to obtain health care and housing and to deal with custody, safety or other issues. For more information, visit alpinelegalservices.com or call 945-8858.

Gary Hart to speak in Carbondale Former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart will discuss current events and foreign affairs in Carbondale on April 2 as part of the Roaring Fork Cultural Council’s annual speaker series.

Since serving in the Senate, Hart has been a

prolific writer, authoring 19 books, including a memoir that compares his journey to that of Ulysses. In the late 1990s, he co-chaired the Hart-Rudman Commission on national security, which lays claim to warning of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Hart has also been a teacher, corporate advisor and lecturer. He is currently Scholar in Residence at the University of Colorado and Distinguished Fellow at the New America Foundation.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Thunder River Theatre, 67 Promenade. Tickets are $15 and will probably sell out. For more information and tickets, visit roaringforkculturalcouncil.com or call 987-4492. The annual speaker series is a collaboration between the Roaring Fork Cultural Council, the Thunder River Theatre Company and Colorado Mountain College.

Don’t chase moose The Colorado Division of Wildlife reminds the public that it’s a bad idea to chase moose with snowmobiles. In a press release, wildlife officials state they have seen too many videos of such activities on the Internet.

“Moose don’t behave like deer or elk,”said Lyle Sidener, a wildlife manager with DOW. “You can’t ‘shoo’ them off a trail. Moose don’t see people as threats and they will stand their ground or possibly attack.”

Although DOW officials have struggled to

The following events are drawn from incident reports of the Carbondale Police Department.

FRIDAY March 11 At 1:25 a.m. police responded to a loud party on Wheel Circle and asked the partiers to keep it down.

TUESDAY March 15 At 5:44 p.m. an officer assisted a driver with a broken down vehicle at the intersection of Highway 133 and Village Road.

TUESDAY March 15 At 7:43 p.m. officers responded to a disturbance at the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets where two men were arguing. Police separated the men and told them to stay away from each other. identify where the videos were filmed, at least one was taken in Grand County. The video shows a snowmobiler chasing a moose at high speeds. At one point the moose appears to charge the rider before fleeing again. DOW officials are concerned such behavior will result in injured animals – moose as well as humans.

The animals have shed their horns this time of year, but that doesn’t necessarily matter because their hooves are their primary defense and they are wicked kickers and stompers.Although attacks are rare, several people in Colorado have been injured by moose including one fatality in 2005. Aside from the danger, it is illegal to harass wildlife. For more information visit wildlife.state.co.us.

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Crystal River Elementary School gets grant Sopris Sun Staff Report Crystal River Elementary School has received an $83,000 grant from the Colorado Health Foundation to help fund the school’s new playground, a student-designed project that will be built completely by volunteers in the last week of April.

The Colorado Health Foundation’s mission is to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation by increasing the number of Coloradoans with health insurance, ensuring they have access to quality, coordinated care and encouraging healthy living. Promoting healthy schools is one of the foundation’s seven funding strategies, according to the website, coloradohealth.org.

“That focus of the foundation emphasizes that children be physically active every day, that they play outside for recess, and that schools build structures necessary for physical activity,”said Kira Kearsey, one of the parents who submitted the grant with assistance from the Western Colorado Preschool Cooperative.

“They want to make sure Colorado children are healthy and active, so they asked a lot of questions about how much time the children get at recess, and whether the students have physical education,” Kearsey said.

“Fortunately, those aspects of healthy living are valued here, and this playground will only increase those opportunities for all youngsters in the Carbondale community.”

Kearsey noted that individual donors, local businesses and other grant-making organizations (including the Carbondale Ro-

with a design consultant from the New York firm Leathers and Associates, who met with the students last year to design the playground.

“The playground will increase play, social interaction, possibly break down any language barriers students might have among each other, and stimulate minds and bodies for increased learning and concentration in the classroom,” PTO President Mandy Brennan said.

Organizers estimate they need dozens of volunteers to show up for the project but Kearsey says it will be a“rewarding experience”to work so intensely for five days then watch as the kids race to play on the structure on the last day. In addition to physical labor, volunteers can help with childcare, tools, team captain, food, volunteer check-in and more. Free food and childcare will be offered to all volunteers.

“We need community members. They don’t need to be skilled; we have something for everyone. Like our construction consultant says, ‘If someone shows up and she’s 95 years old, I’ll find something for her to do,’” Kearsey said.

Oswaldo Mendoza (in green) and friends play on the current playground at Crystal River Elementary School. Photo by Terray Sylvester tary, Aspen Thrift Store and Thendara Foundation) have contributed to the project.

According to school officials, those monies can only be used on the playground and other Parent Teacher Organization expenses, and cannot fund faculty or staff positions within the school.

During a time of deep budget cuts in public education across Colorado, this type of grant funding will help the parent organization support special programs, Kearsey said.

“The larger grant along with the other donations toward this project will make it pos-

sible for the PTO to support other initiatives – field trips, supplies and materials, sports equipment, books, special programs.”

The PTO now has turned its efforts to recruiting a range of volunteers from throughout the community to help with building the playground over the course of five full workdays from April 27 through May 1. On the evening of the final day, the children will be invited to christen the new structure, which will incorporate a mastodon (with a slide for a trunk), Carbondale’s history and original art by local artists. The school has been working

Next Steps:

The construction at Crystal River Elementary School will take place during the last week of April. To volunteer for a variety of jobs, contact Kira Kearsey, kirakearsey@q.com or 7041745. Spanish speakers may call Betsy McMichael at 618-6785. For more information about the Colorado Health Foundation, visit coloradohealth.org.

Carbondale, Colorado

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS for LANDSCAPE DESIGN SERVICES

Carbondale, Colorado March 14, 2011

The Town of Carbondale is soliciting proposals from qualified professional landscape architects/designers to assist the Town with the design of landscaping for the reconstructed intersection of Main Street/Snowmass Drive/County Road 100.

Sealed proposals will be received at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado 81623 until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, 2011. Any proposals received after this time will be returned to the proposer unopened.

The Town of Carbondale desires landscaping at this location be designed using drought tolerant plants and grasses. A site map may be obtained at Town Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Questions should be directed to Larry Ballenger, Director of Public Works at 970-963-2733 or by email at lballenger@carbondaleco.net.

The Town reserves the right to award to the best bid based on a consideration of cost, designer’s qualifications and experience. The Town reserves the right to reject all or portions of any or all proposals; to waive irregularities and technicalities; to re-advertise or to proceed to provide the service in the best interest of the Town. The Town of Carbondale may, at its sole discretion, modify or amend any and all provisions herein.

THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011 • 5

Scuttlebutt

Send your scuttlebutt to Scuttlebutt@SoprisSun.com.

Another sign of spring

Nordic news

Warm temperatures of late have loosened up the wet dirt, allowing silver-dollarsized hollyhock leaves to unfurl in the alley on the south side of the Village Smithy.

When the ’hocks (aka “alley orchidsâ€?) reach their peak in July or August, there’ll be 40 to 50 feet of six and seven foot stalks, dotted with hundreds of pink, yellow, white and red owers lining the Smithy’s 100year-old brick wall.

On a related note, does anyone out there know when to plant Red McClure potatoes? One of the Sopris Sunners didn’t get his Red McClures in until mid-June last year and ended up with several buckets of tasty but small (about golf ball sized) spuds. Please send these and any other Carbondale-centric planting tips to news@ soprissun.com.

Dawn Barton was recently recognized as a Worldloppet Master Skier by the Worldloppet Ski Federation after completing 10 cross-county ski marathons in Central Europe, Scandinavia, Canada and the United States. The Worldloppet Ski Federation (Worldloppet) is an international sports federation of cross-country skiing marathons.

Meanwhile, at the Coureur des Bois Nordic race north of Steamboat Springs on Saturday, four Carbondale folks put in a showing. Nick Brown took ninth overall in the men’s 45-kilometer skating event, Morgan Williams ďŹ nished 25th, and Alex Perkins sailed in just a couple minutes behind him in 29th place. The competition was tough, the weather was windy and the ďŹ eld was a deep one, with over 85 contestants in the men’s 45K. The men’s 90K skate event was well-attended as well, with about 55 participants including Olympian Johnny Spillane from Steamboat Springs, who fought his way onto the podium in Vancouver last winter. Terray Sylvester of Carbondale ďŹ nished 26th in the 90k.

Creer shows ďŹ lm A short ďŹ lm by Bridges High School student Loren Creer is included in the Wild & Scenic Film Festival hosted by the Independence Pass Foundation at the Wheeler Opera House at 7 p.m. on March 25.

Creer’s documentary features local aerial acrobatics skiers Torin Yater-Wallace of Basalt and Aidan Sheahan of Carbondale.

Creer is the grandson of Carol Craven.

Fast times at RFHS Roaring Fork’s Taylor Browning won the 100-meter dash at last weekend’s Delta

Spring Creek Land & Waterscapes With Spring just around the corner it’s time to start thinking about getting those spring start-ups scheduled, be sure to get your Sprinkler Systems & Waterfeatures up and running for that first spring BBQ!

The Sopris Sun’s every-now-and-then mystery photo features this sign. Where was it taken and what rock ’n’ roll band logo is in the middle? Send your answer to news@soprissun.com. The ďŹ rst correct respondent gets his or her name in the paper.

Photo by Lynn Burton Invitational with a time of 11.24, while his brother Zach won the 200 (22.9) and 400 (50.61). Taylor ďŹ nished second in the 400.

A celebration-of-life for the late Roine “Ro� Rowland will be held at Bumps restaurant at the base of Buttermilk in Aspen from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on March 30.

Appetizers and spirits will be served. Row-

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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011

Cache Ranch names manager Carmen Andrews has been named manager of Cache Ranch and Performance Horses on Missouri Heights. “Although we specialize in reining horses, we are open to all disciplines,� said Andrews, who is also a trainer. “We train and give lessons in both English and Western disciplines.� She can be reached at 963-6400.

Welcome aboard New members in the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce include: Diamond J Ranch (Meredith), Floyd’s of Mayberry barbershop (Carbondale), Encore Collection (ďŹ ne consignment clothing, shoes, accessories and home decor in Carbondale), Memories by Design photography (Glenwood Springs), Winn’s Pro Carpet Cleaning (Glenwood), and COLLAGE Creative Collections and Handmade Gifts (Carbondale).

Happy birthday St. Andre celebration slated

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land passed away on Nov. 8. She was the ďŹ rst female ski patroller hired by the Aspen Skiing Co.

Birthday greetings go out to Hank van Berlo (March 28), Stacy Bernot, David Hayes and Bob Schultz (March 29), Jorie DeVilbiss (March 30) â&#x20AC;Ś and Skip Ackerman, who turns the big six-oh on March 25.

Solar rebates

continued om page 1

was designed to cover 50 percent of the price of a solar installation, said Xcel spokeswoman Michelle Aguayo. But by the beginning of 2011, as a result of declines in the cost of solar equipment and other factors, Solar Rewards was paying for about 75 percent of each project it covered.

Aguayo stated that the program has also been spending more money than it has been earning from the surcharge.

“The program had really gotten out of balance,” she said. “We were spending well into the future.”

Employees at Sol Energy say that although the re-designed incentive structure may result in significant payments over the life of a project, it may be harder for installers to sell some systems without the upfront incentives.

For instance, Rushton explained that the upfront incentives would previously have paid for about 35 percent, or roughly $50,000, of the price of a 25-kilowatt system.

Now a corporation or municipality planning to install such a project will face the system’s entire cost – potentially about $140,000 – right off the bat.

“If you don’t have anything to soften the blow of the upfront costs then a lot of the customers are going to be left out of the mix,” said Ken Olson, owner of Sol Energy.

Scott Ely, who owns Sunsense Solar Electric in Carbondale, said he too has yet to discover just what effect the new incentives will have on business. Sunsense does a significant portion of its trade in larger, municipal-scale installations. Ely doesn’t know whether developers of larger systems will find projects

attractive without the upfront payments.

“We don’t know if these developers are going to bite on this yet,” he said. “We don’t know if it will fit their business models.”

On the positive side, Ely pointed out that the new Solar Rewards structure will promote quality solar installations because incentives will be distributed based on the actual performance of a system over the course of its lifetime.The previous system was based, in part, on predicted performance.

“It’s encouraging people to design and build good quality systems that will produce a lot of power for a lot of years,” Ely said.

Although Ely and the workers at Sol were quick to acknowledge there were good reasons for re-working the incentives. They were frustrated at the instability Xcel had sown in the industry with the sudden rebate cut last month.

“The recession really slowed things down for all of us and then for Xcel to make this unilateral action really froze us up,” Olson said.“So now [with the latest incentive structure] we’re getting a little bit of a reprieve.”

“Our bottom line is that we want to build a sustainable business and we feel we’ve been doing that successfully,” Ely said. “We don’t like the way [Xcel] just pulled it in one day and it was gone.That’s not sustainable. … It’s the uncertainty that is the hardest part.”

To some extent, local solar firms are buffered from the Solar Rewards changes because Xcel isn’t the only utility that operates in the region.Although the majority of Sol’s business currently comes from relatively largescale projects for Xcel customers, the firm also

tix on sale now

works with clients of the other utility in the region, Holy Cross Energy. Sunsense’s gridtied clientele is split about 50/50 between Holy Cross and Xcel customers, Ely said.

In some areas on the Front Range served exclusively by Xcel, solar businesses are more likely to live and die by Xcel policy, said Ely, who served seven years on the board of the Colorado Solar Energy Indus-

SEI bound for new digs Staff at Solar Energy International say they plan to relocate entirely to the Third Street Center within the next year.

The nonprofit organization is currently leasing two classrooms in the Third Street Center and is on the waitlist for a third, but its main offices are located at 76 S. Second Street in a building SEI co-owns with KDNK community radio.

SEI Director Johnny Weiss said that after about 10 years in the Second Street location, the nonprofit is looking for more room for classrooms and more space to better serve its clients. “[The Second Street] space has worked for us, but it’s a very tight fit,” Weiss said.

The Third Street Center offers“more space and more of the type of space that we need the most.”

SEI will “migrate” to the Third Street Center gradually as it remodels its new home, and as the organization makes arrangements with KDNK. “We’re determined to create a win-win scenario,” he said. “KDNK has been a tremendous partner in this building.”

tries Association (COSEIA).

“When Xcel pulls the plug it hurts us in certain areas, but not nearly as much as the people on the Front Range who bank on Xcel,” he said.

A clause in the recent settlement between the utility and the utilities commission prohibits Xcel from making similar unilateral cuts to the program in the future, Aguayo said.

SEI provides a wide range of renewable energy classes and currently offers courses in many states and a handful of countries.

SEI also operates an “eco-campus” and photovoltaic lab in Paonia. The organization has grown steadily since it was founded in 1991 and operates on a roughly $3.5 million annual budget. The economic downturn took some of the wind out of its sails, but Weiss said the organization is “maintaining” and has not had to make cutbacks.

SEI was one of the original tenants to move into the Second Street location in 2001, when the building was converted from Carbondale’s former town hall into a nonprofit center, Weiss said. KDNK was also an original tenant of the building.

Weiss said now he’s looking forward to merging SEI more thoroughly into the mix at Carbondale’s new nonprofit center.

“It’s a very exciting and interesting space over there,” he said. “Having a very vital pool of nonprofits [nearby] is certainly going to be to our advantage and hopefully we can contribute to that as well.” ~Terray Sylvester

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.

T.S. Eliot ......................................................................................

Come learn and share with us what it means to Draw the Circle Whole. goodbye mandima

love at first sight

This Sunday, March 27, 2011, 10 A.M.

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Jimmie Byrne THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011 • 7

Community Calendar THURS.-SAT. March 24-26 THEATRE â&#x20AC;˘ Colorado Mountain College presents the one-act plays â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Picassoâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wildwood Parkâ&#x20AC;? at the Spring Valley campus New Space Theatre at 7 p.m. Both plays are for mature audiences. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $10 for students, seniors and CMC staff and faculty.They can also be reserved at 947-8177.

THURSDAY March 24 ART FILM â&#x20AC;˘ The Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities presents the documentary â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who Does She Think She Is?â&#x20AC;? at the Third Street Center at 7 p.m.The ďŹ lm focuses on ďŹ ve women artists, each radically different in background, race, religion and choice of artistic ďŹ eld. Donations are suggested. Info: 963-1680.

BIG EVENT â&#x20AC;˘ Carbondale Community School presents its annual Big Event at the school at 7 p.m. The night includes the student body singing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gotta Keep Reading,â&#x20AC;? (which is adapted from the Black-Eyed Peas â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Gotta Feeling.â&#x20AC;?)

LIVE MUSIC â&#x20AC;˘ White House Pizza on Main Street presents Greg GifďŹ&#x201A;er and Doble Dub (South American reggae).

LIVE MUSIC â&#x20AC;˘ The Last Minute String Band performs its unique blend of jigs, polkas, waltzes and old time American music at the Bluebird CafĂŠ (730 Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs) from 7 to 10 p.m. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no cover. Info: 945-0350.

NATURALIST NIGHTS â&#x20AC;˘ The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies presentsâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Mountain Lions: Natural History and Research on Col-

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Saturday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted. For up-to-the-minute valley-wide event listings, check out the Community Calendar online at soprissun.com.

oradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Big Catsâ&#x20AC;? at 7:30 p.m. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free. Info: 925-5756.

FRI.-SUN. March 25-27 POETRY FESTIVAL â&#x20AC;˘ Thunder River Theatre Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural Karen Chamberlain Poetry Festival takes place on March 25-27. Events include a recorded interview with the late Karen Chamberlain on KDNK, workshops and performances.

Info: thunderrivertheatre.com.

FRIDAY March 25 MOVIES â&#x20AC;˘ The Crystal Theatre presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blue Valentineâ&#x20AC;? (R) at 7:30 p.m. March 25-31; â&#x20AC;&#x153;True Gritâ&#x20AC;? (PG-13) at 5 p.m. on March 26 and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Fighterâ&#x20AC;? (R) at 5 p.m.

March 27.

LIVE MUSIC â&#x20AC;˘ Steveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guitars, located in the old part of the Dinkel Building, presents Pastor Mustard and his National Swing Band.

Info: 963-3304.

LIVE MUSIC â&#x20AC;˘ Carnahanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the Dinkel Building presents Missed the Boat at 10 p.m.

FILM FESTIVAL â&#x20AC;˘ The Independence Pass Foundation hosts the Wild & Scenic ďŹ lm festival at Aspenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wheeler Opera House at 7 p.m. The festival features 11 short documentaries. Tickets are available at the door and online at aspenshowtix.com.

SATURDAY March 26 LIVE MUSIC â&#x20AC;˘ Steveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guitars, in the old

MONDAY March 28

part of the Dinkel Building, presents Christabol and the Jons. Info: 963-3304.

LIVE MUSIC â&#x20AC;˘ Carnahanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the Dinkel Building presents Pineapple Crackers at 10 p.m.

JAM SESSION â&#x20AC;˘ Carbondale Beer Works on Main Street presents an old-time country/bluegrass jam session every other Monday night.

WEDNESDAY March 30

SUNDAY March 27 POETRY â&#x20AC;˘ Jazz Poetry, a collaboration of the Aspen Poetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Society and the Aspen Writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Foundation, is presented at the Hotel Lenado in Aspen. Guests include musician/vocalist Chris Bank and poet David J. Rothman. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also be an open mic for poets. Info: 970-379-2136.

Further Out

LIVE MUSIC â&#x20AC;˘ White House pizza on Main Street presents All the Pretty Horses (alternative country).

NATURALIST NIGHTS â&#x20AC;˘ The Wilderness Workshop and Aspen Center for Environmental Studies present the PBS documentary â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom,â&#x20AC;?followed by a Q&A with the ďŹ lmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writer/producer, at the Third Street Center at 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY March 31

ROTARY â&#x20AC;˘ GarďŹ eld County Library Board member Bill Lamont speaks at the Mount Sopris Rotary Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting at Mi Casita at noon.

April 1

April 2

OPERA â&#x20AC;˘ The Jim Calaway Honors Series at Colorado Mountain College offers a night of opera, featuring bass-baritone Keith Miller, soprano Kara Guggenmos and pianist Debra Ayers. All three performers live or have lived in the state. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. in the New Space Theatre at Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley campus between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students 17 and under, and are available at the door or by calling 947-8367.

RFCC â&#x20AC;˘ The Roaring Fork Cultural Council presents an evening with former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.) at Thunder River Theatre on April 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at roaringforkculturalcouncil.com or at 987-4492.

April 5-10 SHORTSFEST â&#x20AC;˘ Aspen Film presents its annual ShortsFest at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen and the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale. Info: aspenďŹ lm.org.

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Ongoing S.A.W. SHOW • S.A.W. presents new sculpture by Bayard Hollins. He’s a painter, sculptor and current S.A.W. studio/Carbondale Clay Center artist. S.A.W. is located at 978 Euclid Ave. Info: 963-0201 or bayardhollins.com.

CMS ART • Carbondale Middle School art students are included in the Valley Kids Exhibit at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts through April 11. The center is located across the street from the Hot Springs Pool (next to Yampa Spa) and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p .m. and on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

“Untamed and Reclaimed” continues at TSC Center offers bridge every Wednesday. Info: 945-7094.

ZINGERS SING • The Zingers singing group gets together at the Third Street Center every Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. Info: 945-7094.

ACOUSTIC CARNAHANS • Singer/songwriter T Ray Becker hosts an acoustic music night with new musicians every week from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at Carnahan’s Tavern.

Info: 963-4498.

OPEN MIC • Dan Sadowsky hosts open mic sessions at the Limelight Lodge in Aspen from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.every Sunday.Info: 925-3025.

MAYOR’S COFFEE HOUR • Chat with Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Village Smithy, located at 26 S. Third St.

OPEN MIC • Jammin’ Jim hosts open mic nights at Rivers restaurant in Glenwood Springs from 8 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday.

Tacos are a buck.

VAUDEVILLE • The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue presents its winter show at 901 Colorado Ave. through April 23. Tickets are $22 for adults and $16 for kids. Info: 945-9699 and gvrshow.com.

HISTORIC TOURS • The Aspen Historical Society offers free historic ski tours of Aspen Mountain Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (a lift ticket and intermediate skiing ability is required). Meet at the information kiosk on top of the mountain. Info: 925-3721.

LIVE MUSIC • Defiance Stringband plays the Limelight Lodge lobby every Friday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.The band features Don and April Paine, Don Kaufman and John Sommers. Info: 925-3025.

JAZZ • Steve’s Guitars presents jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month. Info: 963-3340.

CASTLE TOURS •The historic Redstone Castle (aka Cleveholm Manor) is open for guided tours Saturdays and Sundays. Info: 963-9656.

BRIDGE • Senior Matters in the Third Street

MUSEUM EXHIBIT • The Aspen Historical Society’s “Out of Your Mind, Body and Spirit: Voices of Aspen, 1975”continues at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum in Aspen. The hours are 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Info: 925-3721.

GROUP RUN • Independence Run and Hike at 995 Cowen Drive leads group runs Saturdays at 8:15 a.m. rain or shine. Info: 704-0909.

AL-ANON MEETS •Al-Anon for friends and families of alcoholics meets at the Church at CarbondaleTuesdays at 7 p.m.Info: 963-3514.

Garfield County Human Service Commission

Humanitarian Service

Sopris Sun Staff Report “Untamed and Reclaimed,” featuring the work of seven local artists, continues at the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities’ R2 Gallery in the Third Street Center through the month of March.

The artists – Linda Drake, Gena Hawkins, Kathy Honea, Wewer Keohane, Terry Muldoon, Janet Nelson and Susan Obermeyer-Strauss – have been producing art together for years, said CCAH Director Ro Mead.“All the art in the show is created from reclaimed parts,” she said.

Each artist shows one collaborative piece made up of identical parts. The artists also contributed eight pieces of “something” that their “untamed” creativity took over to produce.

“The Roaring Fork Valley is already familiar with recycling and reclaiming, as are the artists. However, when asked what ‘untamed’ meant to them, the answers were as varied as the art,” said Mead, who curated the exhibit.

To Drake, “untamed” is doing the art you love, and Janet Nelson’s not being concerned about what others think it should “Venus de Junko.” be. “Unleash the creative soul for the pure joy of doing,” she said.

Hawkins said, “Untamed to me is not something that has been caught and domesticated. It is not the undoing of something learned. It goes deeper into the spirit; more primal.”

Added Keohane, “Untamed equals authentic.”

Honea said her goal is to manifest what she sees in her imagination as art.

Muldoon said she gives herself permission to create when and how she desires, no rules, no boundaries, no “gotta-do’s;” just she and her imagination “beyond the social containment of predictable thought and action.”

Nelson said she enjoys work that is driven by impulse and intuition with few boundaries or restrictions.

To Obermeyer-Strauss,“The freedom of my creativity is transcended from rules and restrictions.”

The R2 Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. For more information, call 963-1680 or visit carbondalearts.com.

Enjoy Spring in the North Fork Valley with a 20% discount on a stay of two or more nights at the

Bross Hotel B&B 312 Onarga Avenue Paonia

Awards Dinner

970-527-6776 HONORING HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES: Volunteer nominees Don Kaufman Lynn Kirchner Donnalyne LaGiglia Kem Piccinati Pam Szedelyi Staff nominees Cynthia Fleming Marie George Judy Martin Corrine Merritt

Young Adult nominees Landon Churchill Brandon Langenhuizen Mariah Martin Senior nominees Dr. Carter Jackson Carol Klein Bill Lamont the late Ed Perregaux Sandy Sekeres Dr. Robert Spuhler Ajka Wallace

Monday, April 11, 2011 • 5:30 p.m.

Hotel Colorado • Glenwood Springs Tickets $20 • Advance payment required by Friday, April 1 Call (970) 456-8135 for reservations

www.paonia-inn.com Offer Good April 1 through May 15, 2011 when ad is presented at check-in.

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For Information & Reservations call 970-945-0667 `HTWHOZWH JVT 6WLU +HPS` HT WT 4HQVY *YLKP[ *HYKZ .PM[ *LY[PÄJH[LZ (]HPSHISL THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011 • 9

Join us

in supporting t he Su n Chris and Terry Chacos thought something was lost when the old Valley Journal closed its doors a few years ago and Carbondale was left without its own newspaper. “We missed the connections with the community,” Chris said.

Now that The Sopris Sun has filled the void, the community connection has returned. “We enjoy the columns, the pictures, the stories,” Chris continued. “We appreciate the role the Sun plays in the community. We hope it’s around for a long, long time.”

Chris and Terry Chacos Cut out the form below and mail it with your donation to: Sopris Sun, P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623 or bring it by the Sopris Sun offices at the Third Street Center at 520 3rd Street, #35 in Carbondale.

Community Briefs Sports clinic needs volunteers Volunteers are needed for the 25th annual Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass on March 27-April 1. Veterans will ski, snowmobile, swim at the Hot Springs Pool, shoot skeet and more. Volunteers are needed to assist at the Aspen/Pitkin County airport during veterans’ arrival and departure. For details, call 945-2286.

Storytellers needed Spellbinders holds a workshop for prospective storytellers at the Aspen Historical Society from 9 a.m. to noon on March 25 and 28. The workshop is $50, but is refundable for those who become Spellbinders volunteers. During the 2009-2010 school years, Roaring Fork Valley Spellbinders volunteers told stories to 3,562 students in 138 classrooms from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. For more information, go to spellbinders.org or call 923-1230.

PitCo library joints Prospector The Pitkin County Library has joined the Prospector Library System. That means Prospector’s catalog of academic, public and other library holdings in Colorado and Wyoming are available to Pitkin County Library card holders, according to a press release.

There are 27 academic, public, and special libraries in the Prospector System including: Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University and others.

“Your Pitkin County Library card can now do 10 times more for you than it could a month ago,” said County Librarian, Kathy Chandler. “There are 10 million unique titles with 20 million copies including printed

books, ebooks, journals, movies, music and many other items. We want everyone to know how easy it is to request items.”

DD still needs a logo Dandelion Day is still accepting logo designs that represent the theme “celebrate spring, celebrate sustainability.” The winning design will be featured on event posters and reusable grocery bags for sale at Sopris Park the day of the event (May 7).

The entry deadline is April 11. They can be dropped off at town hall or e-mailed to Candace Goodwin at goodvelts@yahoo.com.

Adult softball deadline nears The deadline to register for the Carbondale Recreation Department’s adult softball leagues is May 13. Coed registration is $540 and the men’s league is $650. All fees are due at sign up. Coed games are Monday nights and men’s league games are Tuesday nights.

For details, call 704-4190.

Calling all turkey hunters The Colorado Division of Wildlife offers a turkey calling seminar in Grand Junction at 711 Independent Ave. from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on March 30. The Colorado Division of Wildlife reintroduced wild turkeys in the Carbondale area in the late 1980s and elsewhere around the state and the birds’ numbers have grown. The seminar will be taught by experts. “Turkey hunters are a close, tightknit group and these long-time hunters are eager to share their knowledge with those just getting into the sport,” said DOW spokeswoman Kathleen Tadvick. For details, call (970) 255-6144.

Send in your contribution now Three easy ways to support the Sun

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DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE The Sopris Sun, LLC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit subsidiary of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation. Sopris Sun, LLC #26-4219405

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 24, 2011

The weather was cold and sleety but spirits were high at the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade down Main Street on March 17. The parade started at Sopris Park just after 4 p.m. and concluded at the American Legion Post 100 about nine minutes later. Vern and Jane Holmes (shown here) were king and queen. That’s Dave Gayley driving the car (a 1965 Pontiac LeMans). Photo by Lynn Burton

Gardening ain’t no granny sport A garden is a terrible, fantastic territory edges a problem and offers a solution. We for the hardy and courageous, for pioneers do it because a rose became too large – and manifesters. No time of the year shows damn those thorns. The lambs ears melting this better than the muddy, cold gray days out in the middle want new digs to roam of early spring: transplanting season. around in. Evan, the blue mist spirea has to I wouldn’t blame you if you found gargo – too many bees around your little baby dening intimidating; it’s certainly no granny girl! Neighbor friend, transplant those 4sport. When people see a gardener rip plant foot spruce now before the roots tangle tops in half or drag a razor up and down the around the electric wires and make it imroot ball, they’re stymied. Tell them to do it possible. too and they cringe: Won’t it die? It all Second, this is the perfect time of year. seems so destructive. Moving plants from Just do it. Do it while leaves and spring one place in the garden to another is an art flowers are still curled up inside all those that only experienced tenders of earth and buds. Do it while sleepy roots are barely greenery have the balls to attempt. just waking, not really stretching into new When you move a mature bush or tear

by Geneviève Joëlle soil quite yet.

Villamizar up a 10-year old patch of daylilies, it’s so Third, can you say: “Cure for spring messy, like taking three steps backfever?” When I was 15, the cure was wards. The status quo of the genteel chasing a boy. At 20, climbing a rock did garden gets rocked. Decomposing and it. By the time I was 30 and working, it settled layers of soil are blown open. took a shopping spree in the world of Thick, far-reaching roots are wrenched fashion. A few months shy of 40 now, from the planet’s surface, laid bare, the very real power of controlling the life shining and white in the light of day. of a living organism in a positive manner The guts and sinew of a garden lie just really blows my skirt up. about in disarray as daring souls define I love a cool day with warm chinew destinies for species that never nooks, bending over in the gardens quite found harmony. wreaking havoc. Armed with a garden You know what I’m talking about if you’ve moved a time fork and shovel, my hot pink tool belt locked ‘n’ loaded, I or two. It’s draining and stressful – dare I say traumatic? Just love to hit it hard. The immediacy of popping 27 clumps out the thought of touching every item you own and organizing of the ground, moving some here, some there, tamping them it into a whole new life elsewhere is daunting. Of course, to in, smoothing the soil and making it look as though nothing a novice the notion of moving a plant that took years to get ever happened – knowing when the green sprouts come and to where it is today hardly inspires confidence. the blossom buds form, that it’s a whole new energy that’ll Get over it. define moments in our summer – well that, to me, just brings First off, transplanting is good. It’s healthy! It acknowl- a delirium of satisfaction.

Getting Grounded

Moving a plant that took years to grow to where it is today hardly inspires confidence.

Get over it.

Welcoming by design...

What’s your plan?

Roaring Fork senior Jake Strack-Loertscher (shown in the center) was named 3A Western Slope League basketball player of the year, while senior Dalton Handy and sophomore Trae Moxley were also named to the first team. Earning honorable mentions were sophomore Dakotah Grett and junior Clay Gross.

Larry Williams was named coach of the year. For the girls’ side, sophomore Megan Gianinetti was named to the all-league first team. The choices were made by league coaches. Photo by Jordan Hirro (jordanhirro.zenfolio.com)

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Letters continued om page 2 Grow up, Carbondale Dear Editor: Thank you for wanting input on the Village at Crystal River. I appreciate your questionnaire and have decided to write.

I would like to see Carbondale grow up.

We live in the most beautiful, sunny, desirable valley, let’s make the most of it and be a viable town with an assortment of businesses that bring in tax money, which is essential.

I personally shop in Glenwood, Basalt and El Jebel and would like to shop at home. Our City Market wants to build; don’t hamper them with size. Have a large market with gas available. People will then shop at home and save gas money. One outstanding store brings others.

Ruth B. Perry Carbondale

Time for the town to step up Dear Editor: Village at Crystal River attorney Eric Gross’s attack on Carbondale Town Trustee Frosty Merriott is clearly a vote-counting scheme aimed at giving his client the advantage with the trustees. Gross is trying to shove one of our trustees off the board with weak legal arguments covered with bombast and threats. In doing so, the developers of the Village at Crystal River and Gross are attacking democracy and representative government in Carbondale.

Gross is arguing that our elected trustees are not allowed to utter a single word or listen to their constituents’ thoughts about the Village at Crystal River, or any other development application for that matter, unless they are in a noticed public hearing. This interpretation of the law is designed to maximize his client’s advantage by limiting public discussion on this very large, important proposal to develop 25 acres in town with a shopping mall and residential development.

The idea, argued by Gross, that our elected representatives shouldn’t speak with their constituents except in a controlled setting is farcical and unrealistic, and directly threatens important lines of communication that help foster open, thoughtful government in Carbondale. Frosty is a regular participant on the Trustee Report on Wednesday mornings on KDNK, and Mayor Stacey Bernot meets with the public on Tuesday mornings at the Village Smithy. The fact that both Frosty and Stacey regularly share news of the trustees with the public, and that Stacey goes a step further by listening directly to their concerns, makes Carbondale a better place.

But if Gross and his clients prevail, it appears neither Frosty nor Stacey will be able to continue their important outreach. For surely if Frosty and the other trustees can’t share news about a public meeting regarding town business on the radio waves, which are open to all with an FM radio

Legal Notices NOTICE

PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR LAWS OF COLORADO

ERIC BRENDLINGER CARBONDALE RECREATION COMMUNITY CENTER 567 COLORADO AVENUE CARBONDALE, CO 81623 HAS REQUESTED THE LIQUOR LICENSING OFFICIALS OF CARBONDALE TO GRANT A SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE TO SELL MALT, VINOUS, AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISE AT BONEDALE BIKE WEEK ~ KICK-OFF PARTY 567 COLORADO AVENUE CARBONDALE, CO 81623 HEARING ON APPLICATION TO BE HELD AT: CARBONDALE TOWN HALL 511 COLORADO AVENUE

Unclassifieds

CARBONDALE, COLORADO

DATE AND TIME: APRIL 12, 2011, 6:30 P.M. DATE OF APPLICATION: MARCH 17, 2011 DATE OF EVENT: MAY 18, 2011

BY ORDER OF: STACEY BERNOT, MAYOR APPLICANT: ERIC BRENDLINGER

Information may be obtained from, and Petitions or Remonstranceʼs may be filed with the Town Clerk Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623 Published March 24, 2011 in The Sopris Sun. NOTICE

PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR LAWS OF COLORADO

The CARBONDALE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD

or Internet service, then Stacey can’t speak more privately with individuals and groups about town business at the Village Smithy.

Our mayor and town attorney need to step up and defend open communications between elected officials and the people of Carbondale.

The somewhat quiet, timid response from Town Attorney Mark Hamilton is worrying. So far, the developers and their attorney have made lots of noise with accusations and threats but provided no evidence that Frosty has done anything wrong. It’s time for Hamilton to push back and protect the right of the trustees and the people of Carbondale to manage our town business.

Allyn Harvey Carbondale

Eat locally for food independence Dear Editor: If we want to ensure access to nutritious and sustainably produced foods for ourselves, our families and our communities, we need to eat as close to home as possible. Our food security is not guaranteed when we rely on an industrial agricultural system that uses obscene quantities of fossil fuels to grow, raise, process, package, transport and refrigerate foods originating on massive, commercial farms located thousands of miles away from our homes. As the price of gasoline continues to rise, so too will the price of these long distance foods.

What we need to do is find sources of lo-

511 COLORADO AVENUE CARBONDALE, CO 81623

HAS REQUESTED THE LIQUOR LICENSING OFFICIALS OF CARBONDALE TO GRANT A SPECIAL EVENTS PERMIT TO SELL MALT, VINOUS, AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISE AT SOPRIS PARK HEARING ON APPLICATION TO BE HELD AT: CARBONDALE TOWN HALL 511 COLORADO AVENUE CARBONDALE, COLORADO DATE AND TIME: APRIL 12, 2011, 6:30 P.M. DATE OF APPLICATION: MARCH 17, 2011

BY ORDER OF: STACEY BERNOT, MAYOR APPLICANT: CANDACE GOODWIN, EVENT MANAGER

cally grown foods to supply us with the ingredients for our daily meals. This could mean shopping at a downtown farmers’ market, searching for the Colorado Proud label at the grocery store, joining a CSA (community-supported agriculture) farm and getting a weekly box of fresh produce, patronizing restaurants that source their ingredients from local farms and ranches, tending a plot at a community garden, raising chickens in the backyard, tearing out part of the lawn and planting a home vegetable garden, maintaining a few fruit trees, learning how to can, dry, freeze, and preserve the seasonal harvest, baking loaves of homemade bread, cooking meals from scratch, stocking the pantry with bulk items purchased at a food co-op or visiting a local farm to learn how our foods are grown and raised.

The only way to know that we are eating healthful, environmentally friendly foods is to get them from people in our own communities or else to grow and raise them ourselves.

We need to return to the concept of “know thy farmer, know thy food,” instead of walking blindly into the supermarket and purchasing whatever seems most convenient. In the end, supporting local farmers truly is the most dependable and sensible way to put food on the family dinner table.

Melissa Sidelinger Marble

Information may be obtained from, and Petitions or Remonstranceʼs may be filed with the Town Clerk Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623 Published March 24, 2011 in The Sopris Sun. NOTICE

PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR LAWS OF COLORADO ENGLISH IN ACTION PO BOX 4856 BASALT, CO

HAS REQUESTED THE LIQUOR LICENSING OFFICIALS OF CARBONDALE TO GRANT A SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE TO SELL MALT, VINOUS, AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISE AT THE CHURCH OF CARBONDALE

110 SNOWMASS DRIVE CARBONDALE, CO

HEARING ON APPLICATION TO BE HELD AT: CARBONDALE TOWN HALL 511 COLORADO AVENUE CARBONDALE, COLORADO DATE AND TIME: APRIL 12, 2011, 6:30 P.M. DATE OF APPLICATION: MARCH 17, 2011 DATE OF EVENT: JUNE 11, 2011

BY ORDER OF: STACEY BERNOT, MAYOR APPLICANT: LARA BEAULIEU

Information may be obtained from, and Petitions or Remonstranceʼs may be filed with the Town Clerk Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623 Published March 24, 2011 in The Sopris Sun.

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HELP WANTED: The Sopris Sun seeks volunteer columnists.

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