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Volume 10, Number 32 | September 13, 2018
SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER makes me happy…
Although The Running of the Balls was the main attraction on Main Street during First Friday, Sept. 7, there was quite an interesting sideshow taking place as well at the corner of Fourth and Main where Carbondale local Kenny Reher raised some eyebrows and hackles as he and his snake, Sunshine, casually mingled with the crowd. Reher welcomed interested onlookers to either pet his “pet” or have the more distinctive experience of holding the boa constrictor. Nine year old Calvin Cannon took Reher up on his offer and obviously enjoyed letting Sunshine slink and slither around his neck and shoulders. A few more curious kids did the same while others looked on in fear and amazement. Julie Albrecht didn’t seem afraid as she decided to get up close and personal to shoot a closeup of Sunshine who showed his disdain by sticking his tongue out at her. Photo by Jane Bachrach. See page 12 for more First Friday fun.
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Carbondale Commentary
The views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to the editor or guest columns. For more information, email editor Will Grandbois at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.
Letters
The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 500 words via email at news@soprissun.com or 250 words via snail mail at P.O. Box 399, Carbondale CO 81623. Letters exceeding that length may be returned for revision or submission as a guest column; please include your name, town, and contact information. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday.
Be aware drivers! Dear Editor: This letter is meant to be a reminder, or for some readers a notification, to be aware and use caution at the traffic light at the intersection of Hwy 82 and Catherine Store. There have been many bad accidents there over the years mostly caused by drivers running a just-turned-red light on Hwy 82. Our children attend the Waldorf School which is just east of that intersection on the Old Hwy 82 frontage road. We turn left from Catherine Store onto 82 everyday at least once. We have more than once gotten the green light there to turn onto 82 and proceeded with caution to watch vehicles, sometimes large trucks, speed through their red light. If my husband and I weren’t cautious there, we would have been hit already with children in tow likely. It is frightening to think. So I write this letter to remind and inform all drivers to be aware and drive with care. (I have left the CDOT two messages in the past several months, but have yet to hear back.) Pixie Byrne Carbondale
Parades and celebrations Dear Editor: I was told the parade in New Castle was celebrating the firefighters who died at the Burnt Mountain Fire. It’s not it is just a late summer music and community festival. A wonderful community event at that. Have any of you been there? The downtown is shaping up with new sidewalks and a tourist friendly downtown. If you look at their website they have become bike friendly, it seems they are active in promoting these new bike trails, it is almost a Interstate 70 Carbondale. I take my hat off to Coal Ridge High School, they must have had half the school there. They had a band, a big band. They sounded really good too! Then the Coal Ridge cheerleading squad with the middle school cheerleaders what a smiley group. There was this taller male in the midst of the female cheerleaders as they marched and I thought wow!, a male high school cheerleader how cool is that. Not ever been to a game, so I wonder if he gets out there and does it with the rest of the squad. The floats with children were many and filled with excited children who are in a parade, the fun of the hosers, spraying the crowd with water, the candy givers. I was surprised by the horses. There was this group from the Front Range with all types of costumes at least 50 riders and horses, they had to put on one great show of daring abilities and talent. New Castle is on it! Supporting youth and bringing tourists to town to support
a healthy young community. Paramroop S. Khalsa Carbondale
Remembering Anita Dear Editor: I write this letter to honor my friend, Anita Witt, age 79, who passed away Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 peacefully in her home with family. Anita was one of the “Last Real Cowgirls In The Roaring Fork Valley.” She was one of my heroes and my happy trails will be sadder without her. Anita was a great entertainer - “A Lady and Her Guitar” with her beloved horses Whisky, Jose, and Trigger, and her loyal dogs Sadie and Spanky. For 11 years, Anita traveled with her animals between Colorado, Texas, and Arizona, entertaining children’s hospitals, schools, senior centers, private parties, rodeos, and parades. She delighted the crowd with her guitar, her singing, and her rope tricks, assisted by her partners, her horses and her dogs. Most of all, Anita must be remembered as an archivist, an historian, and a strong Western woman, who recorded the memories and stories of our ranching community and our valley’s Western Heritage. She wrote books: • “They Came From Missouri” written in 1998, was about the history of early settlers on Missouri Heights, the land that she loved. • “I Remember One Horse” told of “The Last Of The Cowboys In The Roaring Fork Valley.” Both book and DVD were produced in 2002, showing the early ranchers and their families in our valley. • “Lady Godiva Book Of Horsemanship” was a risque book with beautiful, semi-nude men and women with their horses. And then there was the Horse Calendar of the same name. Anita always had a twinkle in her eye and a little naughty streak hiding under her cowboy hat. Everyone who knew Anita understood that she was a “real go getter”. Her spirit lighted a room, and brightened our world. She was always up for adventure and a good time, and she will be greatly missed. When I see hoofprints on the trail, showing the passage of an earlier horse and rider, I will think of Anita and Whisky going ahead on another adventure. Holly McLain Carbondale
Two great losses Dear Editor: On Saturday, Sept. 8, we said our sad goodbyes to two of the area’s most beloved figures: Walt Smith, jazz man and pianist extraordinaire; and Anita Witt, the ridin’ ropin’ singin’ guitar playin’ Cowgirl from Missouri Heights. I feel so fortunate to have been a very
2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018
small participant in both their lives. They were both blessed with great talents, and they generously shared those talents almost literally until the day they died. So many times we gathered at the home of Dick and Connie McCrudden, where Walt and his group provided first-class jazz to their appreciative listeners. So many times I saddled up with Anita and rode our “ponies” around various area ranches. These are memories I will cherish! They were very different personalities, of course, but they had this one thing in common: they lived their lives to the fullest, never allowing illness or sadness or other impediments to keep them from what they loved doing. Two local legends have passed away. Our lives are better for having known them, and our lives will be poorer without them. Happy trails, Cowgirl! Later, Swing Man! Thank you for being who you were. Sue Coyle Carbondale
Diversification and diversity Dear Editor: Garfield County commissioner candidate Paula Stepp says the county needs to diversify. Twenty-five percent of Garfield County’s revenues come from oil and gas and that makes us too dependent on the industry. That’s why Stepp was making her remarks at the John Lyons Hemp Symposium in Parachute. She sees hemp production and marketing as a growing concern with tremendous potential. We’ve barely scratched the surface of the medicinal qualities of hemp,” Lyons said,”and our capacity to grow hemp is huge.” Garfield County actually has a financial surplus of several million dollars, Stepp said, sitting there doing nothing while the cities and towns are reaching into their reserves to provide essential services. She said that money needs to get moving with investments in medicine and education. “Look for tomorrow,” Stepp said,” The status quo is not good enough.” I’ll go a step (excuse the pun) farther. Garfield County not only needs diversification, it needs diversity. The old white guys currently on the commission aren’t coming up with any new ideas. In fact, one of the attendees at the hemp function suggested the county save money by cutting down to one commissioner since the three currently on the board always vote in lockstep with each other. Stepp said she actually believes the board should go to five commissioners, like Pitkin County, but the point was well taken. Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale LETTERS page 15
Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers
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To inform, inspire and build community. Donate online or by mail. 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: Carol Fabian • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Reporter: Megan Tackett Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie Delivery: Tom Sands Current Board Members board@soprissun.com Marilyn Murphy, President Raleigh Burleigh, Vice President Stacey Bernot, Secretary Barbara Dills, Treasurer Debbie Bruell • Cliff Colia Olivia Pevec • Nicolette Toussaint John Colson • Linda Criswell The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the second Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center.
Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell Send us your comments: feedback@soprissun.com The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Donations to The Sun are fully tax deductible.
Memories of Anita Witt Compiled by Charlotte Graham Special to The Sopris Sun Carbondale (especially Missouri Heights) was because of the animals. We’re both ani- get up! One of the biggest laughs we ever locals said “So long for now” last Saturday, mal lovers. My Zorro and Maggie and her had. She was a cowgirl at heart and in realSept. 9 to Anita Witt, the brightest of stars Spanky were brother and sister and looked ity. She always had old western movies on in our universe at Missouri Heights School- so much alike. She would get such a kick out television, playing in the background. The house with a reception afterwards at the of the things that the horses and dogs would last time I saw her, she said, ‘I will always Pour House Restaurant in Carbondale. The do. It would take nothing to make her laugh, love you.’ She is going to be missed by a lot of people.” – J.B. Celebration of Life party of more than 200 she had a such a gleeful laugh. “One time, when they first had Sheepdog started with a toast of her favorite cocktail – ••• Trials at Strang Ranch, a sheepdog trainer Makers Mark with a splash of 7-Up. “Our connection was local history. Anita’s life force was dynamic ‘right out [offered that] people could bring their dogs Recently, she came up to Marble with of the gate’ and overflowing with the ‘loves’ to see how they would do, and since ours her caregiver Colleen and we three drove and passions in her earthly life: her husband are half border collie, we took them over. I around in my 1929 Ford Model A coupe Don, who passed a number of years before, went first with my two and they did pretty [from another Missouri Heights resident her “babies” – the dogs, her horses, a local good at the herding thing. When it was Grace Cowen]. We had a great time laughhistory and pictorial book author, she was Spanky’s turn, she looked at the sheep and ing and driving all around town… she was a true cowgirl performer/entertainer, a bril- just lay down. Anita couldn’t get Spanky to my best friend.” – G.H. liant and often bawdy sense of humor, ••• bright red vehicles, and lipsticks to “I remember when I was with match, her quiet generous philanthroher the first time she performed with Remember py, both locally and around her TexWhiskey at Texas Scottish Rite Hosas, then Arizona winter ranches, and pital in Dallas for terminally ill chilI still ride my pony, up on Missouri Heights, … she always made time for a good dren. There was one little boy in a I try to keep away from cars and dogs, whiskey (not to be confused with her wheelchair with an IV and she told There’s bikers and there’s runners, and traffic everywhere, trick horse of the same name). him, ‘Next time I come back, you can And I pick my trail around the whole barrage. A book honoring Anita’s life is ride the horse.’ He was pretty excitalready in the making, with a worked when they wheeled him back in. I ride up by the reservoir, and I think of Harleigh Holms, ing title, “She Came from Wichita.” After, the doctor came to Anita and And how he loved to make the water flow, Instead of a traditionally-written celsaid, ‘The next time you come, that ebration of life story, we start with the little boy won’t be with us anymore.’ And I hear children laughing in the yard at Luby School, poem “Remember” she wrote, where That really got to her. That day startAnd I feel the quiet peace of long ago. she signed off “A.W.” In consideration ed her [years of] going to entertain of newspaper space, and also folterminally-ill children at hospitals all I ride by every homestead, and I see them standing there, lowing her artistic lead, all of the rearound with her ‘dog-n-pony’ show.” They wave and tip their hats and fade away, membrances below are signed off by “During her career, Anita perAnd I recall their faces, and the lives that they once lived, initials rather than individual names. formed in [cities and towns everyThose sturdy pioneers of yesterday. Never fear, everyone will be named in where including] Las Vegas, Dallas, her book, with their full stories told Chicago, and told how she used to Yes, I still ride my pony, all around up on the Heights, amid glossy photos galore. walk down sidewalks of Nashville And I see things that others just don’t see, ••• with her two companions — Patsy “What a wonderful loving person Cline and Loretta Lynn. She was But now, you’ve been there with me, she always was. She always asked, the opening act for Elvis Presley but And I hope you won’t forget, ‘How are ya,’ Honey?’ To her, it’s not she never told anybody. We knew Missouri Heights and all its history. about Anita, it’s always about you. her for probably 25 years before she – A.W. She loved everybody. The reason we said anything. formed such a close friendship initially “One time coming back from Ari-
Above left: The Thistle Sisters decked out in outlaw finery at a get together in ‘96. Photo by Fred Barta Above right: Witt specifically requested we run this photo of her with her dog, Sadie. zona, we were driving back in a bad snowstorm. It was the first of XM-Sirius radio, none of us had it, but she did in her shiny red Dodge truck, and she had on the Old Time Country channel. As we were coming over Red Mountain, Patsy Cline came on and Anita said, ‘I was in the studio when she recorded that.’ “ – D&D L. •••
“I did Anita’s hair for 28 years. My parents were having their 50th wedding anniversary and I asked her if she would write a song and she said “Absolutely!” She performed it on a cassette to give to them.” – S.P. •••
“Anita and that red car! All the parties, birthday parties and everything we had, running up and down the road in the 1930 red Ford that she called “Norma Jean.” We had a blast; going to Buffalo Valley, Los Desperados, and the Pour House of course. The “Thistle Sisters” had many memories in that red car.” – L.D. •••
“I put shoes on her horses for maybe 20 years. She had one horse that was 37 years old out in the pasture and I shoed it all the way around, and it never moved. That was a first for me. I’d sit down and have a glass of whiskey with Anita after I got done. Not only did she have a good [singing] voice, she was a good yodeler too. We’d sit around and jam, play some songs together. She was one of my most beloved customers. I’m going to miss her.” – T.A. •••
WITT page 14
The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018 • 3
Scuttlebutt
Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com.
Divided we fall
Ram it home
A legal challenge to the Bureau of Land Management’s cancellation of 18 oil and gas leases in west of Carbondale has been permanently dismissed by a Federal Court in Denver. The Sept. 4 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn is with prejudice, meaning that the oil and gas company can never again raise the same challenge. It signals the end of one of the longest brewing conflicts in the broader campaign to protect the Thompson Divide.
Roaring Fork High School is hosting the Ram Classic Golf Tournament to benefit RFHS athletics at 9 a.m. on Sept. 28 at RVR in Carbondale. This tournament will entail 18 holes and several contests. The cost to participate is $100 per person or $400 per team. Hole sponsorships are available. To register, Call Larry Williams at 355-4554; Marty Madsen at 319-5994; or Jade Bath at 618-4054 or send an email to rfbball08@yahoo.com.
Steampunked
If you were interested in the FarmRX class we featured last week but missed the deadline, have no fear! You have until Sept. 18 to register, and the class itself will start on Sept. 20. Contact the Carbondale Rec. Center for more information.
Need more thyme?
Artists, Crafters, Customers and Makers are getting together at 4 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Thompson House to create the Mt. Sopris Historical Society’s Potato Day Parade entry: Steampunk Spud. Not sure what steampunk is? Imagine the aesthetics and technology of the 1800s extrapolated until you have a brass clockwork android wearing goggles and a corset while piloting a dirigible.
Love hurts Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, a 12 step group will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Holland Hills United Methodist Church (167 Holland Hills Rd. Basalt).
Young leaders More than 10,000 votes have already been cast in Sunlight’s Mini-Mayor campaign, with incumbent Colby Rogers, 6, of Rifle leading by more than 2,000. There’s still plenty of time for the other candidates, including 2016/17 Mini-Mayor Gabby Noyes, 10, of Silt, to catch up, however, or even for new candidates to join the race. Cast your vote through Nov. 6 at www.mini-mayor.com.
The Roaring Fork High School volleyball girls are 5-2 for the season after beating Rifle 3-0 on Sept. 4 (pictured) and Olathe on Sept. 8, but falling to Aspen and Coal Ridge. They’ll travel to Cedaredge on Sept. 15 before hosting Basalt on Sept. 18. The soccer boys, meanwhile, are 5-0-1 and will host CRMS on Sept. 14. Photo by Sue Rollyson
Get a job Although it is still officially summer, the Colorado Department of Transportation is beginning its search to hire both permanent and seasonal full-time and part-time highway maintenance workers and snowplow drivers for the upcoming winter and beyond. Most positions begin in November, with a starting hourly pay of $18.47.
2018
Permanent positions offer full benefits and promotional opportunities. Temporary seasonal positions generally last up to nine months. All require a Colorado Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and heavy equipment operator and heavy labor experience. Interested individuals can apply at bit.ly/CDOTcareers2018.
Pretty pickle Carbondale Pickleball Tournament winners include: Barb Vezakis and Anna Goetz (3.0 Women’s Doubles), Charlene Darst and Taren Frazier (3.5 Women’s Doubles), Dan Mitchell and Larry Martin, RFPA (3.0 Men’s Doubles), Gold – Doug Coffman and David Snearly, RFPA (3.5 Men’s Doubles) Bryan Anderson and Joel Karr (4.0 Men’s Doubles), Staci Dickerson and Larry Martin, RFPA (3.0 Mixed Doubles) and Charlene and Jimmy Darst (3.5 Mixed Doubles).
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another year of life this week include: 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); Sarah Smith Blanchard, Ken Olson, Vanessa Anthes, Bob Stein and Lori Meraz (Sept. 17); Coral Eva Froning, Frosty Merriott and Nancy Payne (Sept. 18) and Kenny Hopper (Sept. 19).
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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018
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State Treasurer candidate on fixing PERA and divesting from gun makers By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent “Now, that’s the way to pin down a politician!” exclaimed Colorado Representative Dave Young at an evening meet-and-greet last week at the Smiling Goat Ranch when a ranch dog decided to stand on Young’s foot. The event was casual and friendly. The small crowd of about a dozen people didn’t seem to dampen Young’s spirit. He’s a congenial man and a good sport; he realized that maybe voters aren’t used to a campaign stop from a candidate for State Treasurer. “If everything’s going well in the Treasurer’s office, there’s not a lot of excitement there,” he said. After seven years representing Evans, Garden City, and part of Greeley in the state house, Young, a Democrat, is running for State Treasurer against Republican businessman Brian Watson. The job is now held by Republican Walker Stapleton, who is challenging Democrat Jared Polis for the Governor’s office. Young doesn’t have political roots. He was a middle school math teacher and education association president before he was appointed in 2011 to fill a vacancy in House District 50. “What really got me into being a state representative is my sister, who is intellectually and developmentally disabled,” he explained. “I saw that she wasn’t getting the care she needed and I figured there were others that were probably in the same boat.” So, after researching the issue, he ran for office because he didn’t believe the system was taking care of that population. Young seems to have taken to politics like a duck to water. During the last legislative session, he was primary sponsor of 19 bills, fifteen of which were signed into law. He’s served four years on the Joint Budget Committee and chairs the House Appropriations Committee, which have given him a new perspective on the Treasurer’s office. “At the end of the day, you want to know that the taxpayer’s money is being safely, transparently, and productively invested and that’s certainly a skill set that I think I can oversee,” he said. He’s also a Big Picture problem-solver. “I like to start at the desired outcome and work backward,” he said. Young got more specific, during a conversation with The Sopris Sun, about some issues he’ll take on as State Treasurer.
Colorado State Representative Dave Young (second from right) is the Democratic candidate for State Treasurer. He was in Carbondale at Smiling Goat Ranch on Friday for a fundraiser. Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh
Divesting state monies from gun manufacturing “We’ve had an ongoing debate across the nation and in Colorado about gun safety. A small amount of PERA [state and public employee pension fund] money is actually invested in gun manufacturing equities and stock. There’s a conversation that can be had around does that reflect what the PERA membership in the state of Colorado thinks is a wise investment. The Treasurer is just one voice out of 16 on that [PERA] board. The Treasurer does not control the portfolio of PERA. But, I’m certainly going to raise a number of issues around what reflects our Colorado values. “Can we actually invest in things that move the state forward and move PERA into solvency and reflect the values of the state? Why are we going outside the state to make these investments? If you look just at the strict numbers on return of investment, maybe you go outside the state and maybe outside the country to get a higher rate of return. “We know when we invest in Colorado, there’s a multiplier effect as a result of that money coming back into the economy. Maybe the actual number return on the investment is a little lower, but when you factor in the multiplier effect from investing in Colorado’s economy, we actually get a better return on investment. These are pragmatic discussions about where we need to invest our money and I think people want to see it right here in Colorado.”
‘Fixing’ PERA “Around 1970, PERA was funded at about the level it is now. If you look at the non-partisan graph, you can see
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the funding of PERA climb and climb and climb, through recessions, up to the year 2000. Then, some bad decisions were made in the year 2000 and you can see a real dropoff back down to the level we were in 1970. We got up to 105 percent funding in the year 2000, which sounds to me like the place where we wanted PERA to be. “The bad decision was that the administration at that time wanted to downsize government and they did it by offering people the opportunity to early retire. That threw the balance [of income and outflow] out of whack. We know that PERA can manage if we don’t make it partisan, if we work to say we want to be fully funded. “As long as we agree that we want a sustainable, defined benefit plan for our public servants in Colorado, I think we’ll get there. I also take a step back and say take a look at the bigger picture of “total compensation”. You can’t just look at PERA in isolation. You’ve got to look at the big picture of this.”
The transition from legislator to State Treasurer “There’s a reason why the Treasurer’s position is an elected position. You represent people in the State of Colorado so you’re making sure you’re reflecting the real needs of the people. When I served in House District 50, my focus was narrow often because I was really representing just that core group of constituents up there. When I got on the Joint Budget Committee, I realized that we were making decisions that affected everybody in the state. And, that’s really the situation you see in the Treasurer’s office as well. You want to be sure that the people’s interest is protected.”
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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018
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No Man’s Land will expand until the need is gone By Megan Tackett Sopris Sun Staff
“Superior Ice” takes viewers to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, home to some of the best ice climbing in the country. Courtesy Photo
“Fall Impressions” follows Sarah, a mountain biker and painter who follows the flow in all she does. Courtesy Photo
Even as a teenager going to the beloved 5Point Film Festival, Aisha Weinhold recognized a gap in representation on the big screen. It’s one of the driving reasons she founded the No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) in 2014 — to create a platform that featured women in the outdoors. “I grew up going to 5Point and I love 5Point — I love that whole family — and there were no films about women,” Weinhold recalled. But the “ah-ha moment” didn’t happen for her until the first time there was a film featuring women. “It blew my mind,” she continued. “It was the reason I chose to sail. It was a catalyst for so many things in my life. I was like, ‘I need this.’” So, she created it. The inaugural NMLFF debuted at the Carbondale Community School, where Weinhold went to middle school. “It was a full mom-and pop production,” she laughed. “My mom took tickets, my dad did beer. The principal gave me special permission. It was very sweet.” Since then, however, the three-day event has grown to much more than a film festival: by partnering with organizations like Fat Girls Hiking and Flash
Foxy, NMLFF offers representation for people of color, the LGBTQ community and women of all body types. “You come to Carbondale, and you have this awesome event, and the audience is primarily white and middle class and you’re like, ‘I really want to do more,’” Weinhold said. “I really want to engage the rest of the Carbondale population.” That’s why all of the NMLFF online materials are translated in Spanish and why she’s aiming to ensure all future printed materials are available in Spanish, as well. It’s also why this year may be the last for the flagship event being held in Carbondale. “As our mission develops and it’s more about accessibility, we’ve been talking a lot about is Carbondale the place for us? Maybe our time in Carbondale is out,” Weinhold said. “We’ve been thinking a lot about moving to Denver or Salt Lake, where we can have more of an impact because Carbondale is so fortunate already.” That doesn’t mean Carbondale wouldn’t host an NMLFF — the festival tours around the world already, and Carbondale would remain on that schedule. But this may be the last opportunity for
locals to enjoy multiple days of speakers, panel discussions and workshops that accompany the films. “I hope people go to all the activities around the films,” Weinhold said. “We have some of I think the most influential women in the outdoor industry right now that are here and sharing their stories… or leading a workshop in photography or graphic digital design. I hope people go to those, because they are amazing. To have the speakers and all that, these are real people interacting with real people.” And for attendees aspiring to see their own works featured in a festival one day, there’s the Pitchfest Thursday afternoon from 2-5 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars, where two winners’ ideas will receive $2,500 in funding and guaranteed film premieres at next year’s NMLFF flagship event. It’s a small way for the festival organizers to continue spreading their message of female empowerment through outdoor recreation — though Weinhold admits she hopes the industry evolves in such a way that NMLFF is no longer necessary in its current manifestation. “I do hope that in 10 years, No Man’s Land won’t need to exist,” she said, adding that she believes women are “the new face” of the outdoors. “The way that I see us growing is eventually, we grow into
something larger.” Weinhold, who co-owns Ragged Mountain Sports with her husband and teaches skiing in the winters, is an avid outdoorswoman. And while she’s certainly active, she’s also an activist at heart, even if she didn’t use the word specifically. “I have it very well,” she reflected. “I was born middle class, I grew up in Carbondale, and my mom is brown and I came out white with this really nice tan. I face so few obstacles. I’ve gone down that path more and more, which I think is one of the reasons why I want No Man’s Land to be so much more. I’m not even scratching the surface, and I’m doing a disservice to the entire community by saying ‘I’m changing the world.’ You are putting on a really good band-aid.”
No Man’s Land Film Festival When: Thursday, Sept. 13 - Sunday, Sept. 16. See full schedule at nomanslandfilmfestival.org/annual-festival Cost: $20-35. Tickets at filmfreeway.com/ NoMansLandFilmFestival/tickets Bonus: “If you buy a ticket for Saturday night, Alexis Krauss from Sleigh Bells is coming to perform a DJ set,” Weinhold revealed.
A screenshot from “Fat Hiking Club,” a documentary about traditionally marginalized women in the outdoor communities that will premiere at No Man’s Land Film Festival this weekend. Courtesy photo
Embracing Risk
In order to change, we need to take a risk, a leap of faith that the course of action we’re about to take is a good one. How can we spiritually grow our capacity to risk? With Rev. Shawna Foster Join us Sunday, September 16, 2018- 10 a.m.
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Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist
Music with Jimmy Bryne, Religious Exploration with Ana Chynoweth, Preschool with Justice Bouchet
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www.tworiversuu.org
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Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist (TRUU) @ Third Street Center, Community Room
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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018 • 7
Town Report The following items are drawn from Town Manager Jay Harrington’s weekly report to staff, trustees and others. THE STREETS CREW the streets crew will be doing a repair to a culvert crossing in the middle of Main Street just east of the Third Street/Main Street intersection on Sunday, Sept. 16. Main Street will be closed east of Third Street, but the Third Street intersection will be open. The closure will last until 6 a.m. Sept 17.
have been extended to Sept. 14. Parade application and fees deadline is Monday, Oct. 1. For more information, email Sue Gray at g.suzanne@rocketmail.com or Eric Brendlinger at ebrendlinger@carbondaleco.net. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT raised mower heights from 2.5” to 3.5”-4 “ and cut the irrigation times on all park systems in half to achieve the 50-percent reduction in water use required by the Town of Carbondale’s water restrictions and fixed irrigation in the Fourth Street Plaza Park from tent stake damage.
FALL HOURS at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center started Sept. 7. The center is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. The fall recreation brochure and online registration are available and online at carbondalerec.com. CRCC IS HIRING climbing instructors and customer service representatives. Contact Jamie Wall, jwall@carbondaleco.net or 970-510-1214, for more information on those positions. CRCC is also seeking group fitness instructors and Silver Sneakers instructors. Contact Margaret Donnelly at mdonnelly@carbondaleco.net or 970-510-1276. A TRAIL ASSESSMENT will take place next week to determine an opening date for Red Hill Trails and to allow for signage to be finalized and placed at the new trailhead. THE POTATO DAY COMMITTEE is seeking volunteers for Saturday, Oct. 6 in Carbondale, as well as sponsors and vendors. The sponsorship and vendor forms and parade applications are available at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center or online at www.carbondalerec.com. Deadlines for sponsorship and vendor application and fees
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GATEWAY RV PARK, located on County Road 106 directly above the Bob Terrell State Wildlife Area and the Carbondale Boat Ramp, closes for the season on Oct. 1. SALES TAX for the month of August 2018 was 14.1 percent above tax collected in August 2017. For January through August of 2018, revenues are 9.6 percent above revenues for the same period of 2017. THE TOWN BOARD will be reviewing projected revenues for the 2019 Budget on Tuesday, Sept. 11. The final budget will be adopted on Dec. 11 at the Town of Carbondale Board of Trustees meeting. PLANNING STAFF prepared an orientation packet for the newly appointed Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment members. The orientation session is scheduled for Sept. 13 and will range from introduction to the Comprehensive Plan and UDC to conflicts of interest and ex parte communication.
Cop Shop From Aug. 31 through Sept. 6, Carbondale Officers handled 245 calls for service. During that period, officers investigated the following cases of note: FRIDAY, Aug. 31 at 10:19 p.m. A failure to yield led to an arrest of a 40-year-old man for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a valid drivers license. FRIDAY, Aug. 31 at 1:19 a.m. Officers arrested a 30-year-old man for DUI after driving the wrong way around the Main Street roundabout in Carbondale. SUNDAY, Sept. 2 at 2:11 a.m. Police arrested a 34-year-old man for DUI after weaving on Cowen Drive. The man could not produce proof of insurance and an open container of an alcoholic beverage was found in the car. SUNDAY, Sept. 2 at 9:42 p.m. An unconscious man received attention from responding police officers until emergency services arrived at the scene at the man’s residence. WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 at 11:59 a.m. A reported fight at the 7-11 turned out to be a vehicle accident with no injuries — and no physical altercations.
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Historic house preserved as part of 689 Main rezoning By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff The Weant House — built in 1913 and known also as the Lappala House, 689 or, most recently, The Way Home — will stand for at least another 20 years as part of an agreement between the owners and the Town of Carbondale. The property came before the Board of Trustees for rezoning from a custom Planned Unit Development (PUD) to Historic Commercial Core (HCC) on Sept. 11, with several stipulations. The Town has a policy to reduce PUDs, so Mayor Dan Richardson characterized it as a win for both parties. “We’re getting rid of a PUD, we’re potentially preserving a historic structure,” he noted. Added Town Planner Janet Buck, “I think they’ve done a great job of upgrading that building, cleaning it up and giving it some TLC it really needed.” In return for preserving the building, Mark and Anne Gianinetti of AMG Properties LLC will receive a waiver of certain fees on potential future construction on the northern part of the lot, which is currently occupied by a large tent. The staff initially recommended a three year waiver, while the Gianinettis requested the full 20 years, inspiring Trustee Lani Kitching to propose a compromise of seven years with an option to renew. That said, planner Mark Chain noted that “there is no plan right now for developing the north side of the property.” While Trustee Ben Bohmfalk was in support of the project itself, he couldn’t get behind an agreement to waive parking requirements in exchange for work AMG has already done to reclaim and improve public parking along Seventh Street. “I think we could do a better job as a Town of reclaiming our own right-ofway,” he said. “I don’t know that that amount of investment warrants 14 spaces of credit.” His fellow trustees weren’t convinced, however, and Bohmfalk was the sole dissenter in the vote to direct staff to proceed.
Other BOT action Daycare is officially an industry, at least as far as Carbondale zoning is concerned. Trustees opted to go a step further than Planning and Zoning recommendations in an amendment to the Unified Development Code intended to help meet the demand for childcare by allowing it as a use in industrial areas — which has been allowed before. “It’s not necessarily a comfortable fit when you think about it, but … looking at the reality of the land developed in Carbondale, eliminating Industrial… eliminates some of the easiest developable land for childcare,” Blue Lake Preschool Board Member Angela Loughry told the board during public comment. “It’s allowed in the residential districts, but it’s really hard
The original brick building is only a small section of the lot, leaving plenty of room for future development. to find that much space.” Added fellow Board Member Kristin Davis,”We’re just asking for a place to put our children.” The trustees were amenable to their pleas, with Erica Sparhawk in particular noting that, “I don’t think… the current industrial we have in Carbondale… is the kind of industrial I would have a problem next to where my kids were going to school.” One use that could have caused hangups is marijuana-related manufacturing, which is currently subject to distancing requirements from schools. As such, the board opted to waive that with respect to daycares in industrial zones. Somewhat ironically, Bohmfalk also pushed for a reduction in parking requirements, the only other tweak before the recommended amendment was approved unanimously. Without a crystal ball, the board bases budget planning on Finance Director Renee Gustine’s best estimate of the next year’s income. Traditionally, she’s been pretty conservative, with sales tax incomes for 2018 currently more than 9 percent ahead of budget. That figure is expected to fall closer to 7 percent by the end of the year, which is the figure Gustine will use to calculate an additional 3 percent increase in 2019 — the rate trustees are willing to bank on. Observed Marty Silverstein, “We’d rather… be pleasantly surprised than to get a nasty surprise at the end of the year.” The public was not permitted to be present for a land acquisition discussion, which was held in executive session under C.R.S. Section 24-6-402(4)(a). The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018 • 9
Community Calendar THURSDAY Sept. 13
BLUEGRASS • The Bill Monroe Band, Cadillac or Grascals and the Smuggler Mountain Boys set your feet tapping at 5:30 p.m. at the Basalt Regional Library (14 Midland Ave.) ART TALK • The Art Base (99 Midland Spur) hosts a free chat with Laurie Doctor at 5:30 p.m. dealing with timeless truths. FORM & VOID • Carbondale Arts presents simultaneous exhibitions at the R2 Gallery (76 S. Fourth St.) — the light explorations of abstract artist Mary Conover beside Jim Johnson’s charcoals and Vicki Lee Johnson’s written sculpture — with a 6 p.m. opening. CONTRA DANCE • “Grab yer partner” and head to Rock Bottom Ranch (2001 Hooks Spur Rd., Basalt) for Aspen Center for Environmental Studies’ annual fundraiser with a 6 p.m. happy hour and dinner followed by 7 p.m. music and dancing with a live caller. HEALTH SCAN DEMO • Laurie Nathe shows off a blend of traditional Chinese medicine and biofeedback to remove energetic blockages and promote healing in a free event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.).
THU to SUN Sept. 13-16
NO MAN’S LAND • The flagship fourth annual film festival featuring world-class female athletes takes over The Crystal Theatre and downtown with screenings, adventure meetups, panels, workshops
To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.
and more. Tickets start at $20; more info at nomanslandfilmfestival.org.
FRI to THU Sept. 14-20
MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre (427 Main St.) showing “No Man’s Land Film Festival” presented by No Man’s Land on Sept. 14-15 at 5:30 p.m., encore at 8 p.m. and on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. and “Eighth Grade” (R) at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 19-20. Closed Sept. 17-18.
FRIDAY Sept. 14
SECOND FRIDAY • Basalt’s monthly art walk includes a 5 to 7 p.m. reception for Object, featuring nationally exhibited Carbondale-based artist, inventor, furniture, and product designer/maker Brad Reed Nelson, at the Art Base (99 Midland Spur). SOCCER • The Roaring Fork Rams host the Colorado Rocky Mountain Oysters at 6 p.m. SOL STOMP • Jeff Rice of Whiskey Stomp and Katie Houchin of Sol Patrol come together as The Low End from 9 p.m. ‘til the wee hours of the morning at The Black Nugget (403 Main St.). 21+; no cover.
SATURDAY Sept. 15
DRESSED TO THE K9S • Lively entertainment, music by Valle Musico, a silent auction food and libations come to the
One Big Birthday Bash September 15, 2018 When you’re 125 years old you know how to throw an all Day Party!
Carbondale Rec. Center at 5 p.m.; $85 tickets at coloradoanimalrescue.org help fund CARE. COMEDY NIGHT • Laugh along with some stand up at 8 p.m. at Marble Distilling (150 Main St.).
SUNDAY Sept. 16
LEAD KING LOOP • Marble Charter School and Independence Run & Hike team up for a series of charity races ranging from 2.5k to 25k beginning at 7 a.m. at Thompson Park in Marble. Info and registration at ultrasignup.com/ register.aspx?did=5617. SACRED MUSIC • Offering — a women’s ensemble with cello and autoharp — performs in the True Nature kiva (100 N. Third St.) at 6 p.m. followed by kirtan (chant). Donations accepted.
MONDAY Sept. 17
SERENITY SCRAMBLE • Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Ironbridge Golf Club (430 Ironbridge Dr.) hosts a tournament benefiting A Way Out, local non-profit helping people in drug and alcohol crisis find treatment. DAM FILMS • Dance, Art, & Music (DAM) Films continue at 8 p.m. with “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda.” $11 in advance at tacaw.org or $14 at the door.
TUESDAY Sept. 18
VOLLEYBALL • The Roaring Fork Rams host the Basalt Longhorns at 6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Sept. 19
BUSINESS CONFLUENCE • The Carbondale Chamber presents a new interactive and education event with presentations from local and state-wide experts, followed by an interactive business expo, and networking with food and beverages from 3:30 to 7 p.m.; $30 for members and $40 for others. MOVIES THAT MATTER • “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” screens at 5 p.m. at the Basalt Regional Library (14 Midland Ave.) WEAVING • Kerstin Bendl helps you stay current with contemporary art trends at 6 p.m. at The Art Base (99 Midland Spur, Basalt). $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers; $25 supply fee for loom and tools to keep — or bring your own. WILDCRAFTING • Learn to identify your own food and medicine for $25 in a 7 to 10 p.m. class at Colorado Mountain College’s Lappala Center (690 Colorado Ave.) TALK LIKE A PIRATE • Discover your pirate name, make your own eye patch and give your best “Argh, Matey” to any staff member at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) to receive a prize. CALENDAR continued on page 11
BLESSING OF THE
ANIMALS SEPTEMBER 29
10 AM
brating 12 5 Years Cele
8am-10am RotaryPancake Breakfast (7th Street under the Bridge) 10am Family Parade across Pedestrian Bridge (to the front of Hotel Colorado, Main Stage) 10:45am Ute Blessing 11am Kid’s Concert with Dr. NOISE 12pm Magic Show
1pm Presentation of Dignitaries 1:30pm Ute Tribal Presentation 3pm Glenwood Vaudeville Revue 4pm FREE Cake and Ice Cream Social 5pm SKYWAVE 6pm Chris Daniels and the Kings.
BRING YOUR ANIMALS! W E LO V E L L A M A S , A D O R E A L PA CA S , B L E S S BULLS, CHEER ON CHICKENS, DOTE ON DOGS, MARVEL AT MICE, AND ARE CAPTIVATED BY CATS, HAPPY WITH H E D G E H O G S , I G N I T E D B Y I G U A N A S …W E LOVE ALL ANIMALS! BRING YOUR PET (OR A PHOTO OF YOUR PET) TO CARE FOR A M U LT I - FA I T H B L E S S I N G O N S AT U R DAY MORNING!
CARE, 2801 CO RD 114 G L E N W O O D S P R I N G S , C O L O R A D O, 8 1 6 0 1 M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N : FAC E B O O K . CO M / T W O R I V E R S U U
10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018
Community Calendar
continued from page 10
Ongoing
FARMER’S MARKET • Sample wares from a small, eclectic blend of local farmers, producers and artisans Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fourth Street Plaza. HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION • Free opportunities include… One-hour consultation about heart attack prevention, plant-based nutrition, other medical issues. Call retired family doctor Greg Feinsinger, M.D. for appointment (3795718). The first Monday of every month catch a powerpoint presentation by Dr. Feinsinger about the science behind plantbased nutrition, 7 to 8:30 p.m., boardroom Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). Fourth Monday of every month, plant-based potluck 6:30 p.m. Calaway Room, Third Street Center. All events supported by Davi Nikent, Center for Human Flourishing. More information at www.davinikent.org. HIGH NOON • Bring your compliments, complaints and ideas to Sopris Sun Editor Will Grandbois at 12 p.m. Thursdays at the Pour House (351 Main St.). EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN • Staff and sources talk about this week’s paper and more at 4 p.m. Thursdays on KDNK (88.1 FM). OPEN MIC • Take the stage at Riverside Grill (181 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt) from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays . Food and drink specials. Free.
KARAOKE • The Black Nugget (403 Main St.) and Sandman bring you more than 30,000 songs to choose from and a quality sound system to release your inner rockstar at 9 pm. every Thursday. LET’S JUST DANCE • Feel great, have fun and dance Tuesdays at The Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). Catch a free lesson at 7 p.m., then from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. it’s open dancing with two-step, swing, waltz, line dance, salsa and more. No partner or experience necessary. $8/ person; $14/couple. Questions? Call 970366-6463 or email billypat4@gmail.com. WORLD DANCE • Learn rhythms from various countries and cultures for $12 per class from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Carbondale Community School (1505 Satank Rd.). YAPPY HOUR • Colorado Animal Rescue’s Yappy Hour at the Marble Bar (150 Main St.) takes place at 5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. Sip on handcrafted cocktails and meet a C.A.R.E. dog, with $1 from every drink donated to C.A.R.E. Bring your own dog along as well. RUN AROUND • Independence Run & Hike hosts a run around town Saturdays at 8 a.m. Meet at the store 596 Highway 133 (in La Fontana Plaza) and run various distances, with different routes each week. Info: 704-0909.
MEDITATION • Free silent meditation sessions are held at the Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.) from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Additionally, The Monday Night Meditation Group meets from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at True Nature (100 N. Third St.) and offers instruction in the Buddhist practice of Vipassana. Also at True Nature, everyone’s invited for SRF meditation from 10 to 11 a.m. on the first Sunday of the month. DHARMA • The Way of Compassion Dharma Center holds a Dharma talk and meditation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and a silent meditation and Buddha of Compassion practice at 8 a.m. Saturdays at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). MINDFULNESS • The Mindful Life Program in the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.) offers group sessions Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation and registration is not necessary. Info: mindfullifeprogram.org and 970-633-0163. COMMUNITY MEAL • Faith Lutheran Church (1340 Highway 133) hosts a free community meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Info: 510-5046 or faithcarbondale.com. Carbondale Homeless Assistance also has its meeting on the fourth Tuesday of each month. ROTARY • The Carbondale Rotary Club meets at the Carbondale Fire Station (300
Meadowood Dr.) at 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays. The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at White House Pizza (801 Main Ct.) at noon every Thursday. HISTORY MUSEUM • The Mt. Sopris Historical Society Cabin Museum and Pioneer Heritage Garden (located at the corner of Highway 133 and Weant Boulevard) is open on Wednesdays 3-6 p.m. and Fridays 12-3 p.m. through September 2018. YOGA • Get a donation based introduction to Hatha Yoga Tuesdays from 8 to 9 p.m. at The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.). MAKERSPACE • Children and teens are invited to design, create, tinker, and play with art and technology to design and create with 3D Pens, make stop-motion animation films, engineer duct tape creations, build their own video games, and more from 2 to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.). SENIOR RADIO • Diane Johnson talks about senior issues and services on KDNK at 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.
Save the Date SATURDAY Oct. 6
POTATO DAY • Carbondale’s oldest festival returns with a parade, picnic in the park, games music and more all under the theme “Taters Take Flight.”
EXTRA! EXTRA! Sign up for Fall productions & classes! CLASSES IN ASPEN, BASALT & CARBONDALE
AUDITIONS SEPTEMBER 22ND
Dance • Acting • Singing Storytelling • Podcasting Improv • More! For Grades K-12 and Adults
Premier Show Choir for Grades 8-12
AUDITIONS OCTOBER 4TH - 5TH
The Musical 2018 Winter Conservatory, Grades 7-12 For more info visit TheatreAspen.org/Education or call 970.925.9313 The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018 • 11
The new ‘Happening’ is a BALL!
Instead of ‘The Happening’ this year, Carbondale Rotary teamed up with Mt. Sopris Rotary for the ‘Running of the Balls.’ The event drew large crowds to Main Street and raised around $30,000 for scholarships, community projects and international programs. The festivities started with a kids’ race in which they were chased by giant balls a la “Indiana Jones” — Gabriel Dolores emerged the winner. Then came Rotarians with high powered fans to propel smaller balls, kicking up plenty of dust in the process. There were more tickets than balls, so it took a bit of math after the finish to determine that John Schumacher had won the $5,000 grand prize. Photos by Jane Bachrach
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12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018
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‘Turtle meat tastes pretty good’ From the archives of the Roaring Fork Valley Journal
to the Wheeler Opera House! WOMEN'S ADVENTURE FILM TOUR
North American Premiere Sept 14 | 6:30 PM A celebration of fantastic women doing extraordinary things! Featuring special guests pro-surfer Brianna Cope and Director Katie Walsh from the film Surfing to Cope.
THE HUNTS Sept 15 | 7:30 PM
Sept. 14, 1978
Sept. 17, 1998
Phone service went out throughout Carbondale for almost 24 hours after a computer tape foul-up at the Mountain Bell facility. A backup master tape had to be shipped from Chicago to reprogram all the listings, with 700 customers still without service at press time. Ma Bell planned to make restitution to those affected. In other news… Marble sculptor Greg Tonozzi crafted a pair of lions — based on the Osgood crest — to flank the driveway to the Redstone Castle.
Carbondale Libertarian Barry Maggert wasn’t invited to join incumbent Rep. Scott McInnis and challenger Reed Kelly at a debate in Grand Junction. Host Club 20 was unapologetic, with President Greg Walcher citing the slippery slope of allowing third party candidates. “Only one candidate is going to win, and it’s not going to be him,” Walcher said. In other news… McInnis called for President Clinton’s resignation, calling him “a quarterback with a broken arm.”
Sept. 15, 1988 The staff of the Journal turned to Division of Wildlife Officer John Seidel for guidance on why anyone would trap a snapping turtle — though the article didn’t mention what sparked the discussion. “Turtle meat taste pretty good,” Seidel told them. Other unusual game cited as tasty and usually legal to hunt were rattlesnakes (which he said tastes like chicken, though this Sun staffer thinks crocodile is a better comparison) and porcupines (which are apparently often riddled with parasites). In other news… Colorado Mountain College parted with the condemned Glen Theatre for $7,000.
Sept. 11, 2008 The Colorado Relay was scheduled to finish in Carbondale for the first time after a long haul from Georgetown. The event was organized by Outward Bound, which had its very first camp in Marble. The site was, in fact, still in use for Youth Discovery courses — a fortnight of ropes courses, climbing, backpacking and more in the Lost Trail Creek area. In other news… Dave Weimer was named Man of the Year, at least partially thanks to his involvement in the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo.
Witt from page 3
“She had some fabulous one-liners. She is the one that told me that they never cry when you cut up an accordion.” – L.R. •••
This indie-folk-alternative band is perfect for fans of Birdtalker, Johnnyswim and The Lone Bellow. Aspen Laugh Fest Presents
MATT BELLASSAI Sept 20 | 7:30 PM
“She was always so upbeat, no matter what she was going through at the time, she always had a smile. I was struck how devoted to her animals she was. They were such a big part of her life. She was so energetic and just full of ‘good spirits’. “She’d come in and had her Wild Turkey and lunch or dinner with her friends and family. It was 32 years I was down there and she was always there. She is immortalized on the Pour House Cowboy Wall of Fame with her girlfriends, the “Thistle Sisters” in a picture by the fourth booth on the left. I’ll not forget Anita real soon.” – S.B. •••
Comedian, author, social media personality and former star of Buzzfeed's Whine About It!
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970.920.5770 wheeleroperahouse.com 14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018
“We moved to Missouri Heights in late ‘90s, and went to a fundraiser event at the schoolhouse. We thought we could meet people there. No one seemed interested to strike up a conversation, no one spoke to us, so, we thought ‘well … ,’ and got ready to leave. We turned the corner and there was Anita, with her big cowboy hat, and a big smile on her face, and that was it! That was the start of our friendship!” – L&M A. •••
“I was her sound man for a number of years and my wife was a “Thistle Sister.” When we first met, I thought Anita was a cowgirl’s cowgirl. I watched her play classical guitar by Segovia and ‘The Tennessee Waltz’! I had no idea then what a rewarding and lifelong friendship we’d both come
Witt specifically requested we run this photo of her with her dog, Sadie. to know. I miss her alright. I know we all do. I miss her songs. I miss her voice. I miss her guitar. I miss her smile. I miss her jokes and her wit. I miss her compassion and her courage. But I gotta tell you, whenever I see a rainbow now, I’m reminded of Anita’s love. Yeah, something about that just goes on and on.” – J. R. •••
“First you were my landlord, then we were friends, and next we were Thistle Sisters to the very end. You were one hell of a woman and gave us all some of the strength you had when it was needed for us in our own despair. I can’t thank you enough for being in my life. You made me a better woman, and cowgirl too.” – C.Z. •••
“Anita said when she got to where she was going, she’d send a rainbow.” – L.K.
Letters from page 2 Lake Christine Fire foretells future Dear Editor: The Basalt Mountain Fire is a harbinger of the new world we are living in. Science is telling us that higher average temperatures, coupled with reduced moisture, has caused at least half of the wildfires of the last few decades. These climate conditions are caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Our relationship with the “forest” has evolved. The forest was feared because it was inhabited by dangerous animals. Mankind became dependent on agriculture and forest was cut to provide more acreage. Forest provided fuel and the materials for shelters. Some 25 percent less area is now forest in the U.S. compared to pre-European. But much of that is different in kind due to cutting and replanting. The construction of structures in the forest-urban interface continues to increase. That is likely to change as fires like Basalt’s engulf homes. The edge of forest landscapes is becoming much more dangerous. Insurance companies will balk. Forests were on a natural burn cycle of 100 to 300 years apart. Fires are now occurring in the same locations in less than 30 years. More frequent fires are already changing the types of species in those ecosystems. The types of plants and wildlife is changing. Additional change is also due to higher temperatures and less moisture. The current theory for mitigating this trend is for prophylactic “low-intensity” fires that “remove fuel” that would sustain a higher intensity fire. Good luck trying to use this policy across millions of acres. Others talk about “resilience” that involves different land use policies and increased education of the population. Massive amounts of money, that will escalate from tens of billions into the hundreds, will be needed for rebuilding, firefighting and forest maintenance. Right now, there is no national budget set aside for wildfires. Multiple jurisdictions, agencies and research facilities create “stove piping” that prevents better understanding and control. Local jurisdictions are becoming more careful regarding the juxtaposition of structures and forest, and are creating fire restrictions at the most dangerous times. Living in valleys surrounded by forest we should have fire high on our list of concerns. We saw the South Canyon fire jump railroad tracks, the Colorado River, I-70 and the U.S. 6 frontage road. On the larger front, are the inhabitants of this valley making a fair share effort to reduce the effects of global warming? Only the
reduction of greenhouse gases can stop the increase in temperatures. To pick on one local issue: how does enlarging the Aspen Airport to accommodate 737s and the largest new business jets reduce carbon emissions? Unfortunately, it seems the prevailing attitudes are “business as usual”. Let those “other people” do what’s necessary to stem the tide. Locally, let’s do what’s best for us; for now. Patrick Hunter Carbondale
Running of the Balls thanks Dear Editor: Carbondale Rotary’s first-ever Running of the Balls last Friday was even better than we imagined. Locals of all ages came out for First Friday and lined Main Street to watch.
We had a kids’ fun run for ages 3-6, a great parade and lastly the main event when 89 of our big rubber balls got blown down the street by giant fans and leaf blowers. We had perfect weather and amazing crews of volunteers to make it all happen. The vision of our hard-working event architect, planner and chairman Jack Brendlinger truly became a reality. Huge thanks goes out to our title sponsor Ace Hardware of Carbondale for helping us to get the balls rolling. Alpine Bank and Heartland Environmental Services also stepped in with key support. Other sponsors included John & Judy Craig with End Poverty Now, ANB Bank, Dick & Shirley Hunt, Robin Tolan, Bonfire Coffee, Brendlinger Enterprises, Herschel Ross DDS Family Dentistry, McDonalds, Modern Day Media,
Parting Shot
Legal Notice NOTICE
PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR LAWS OF COLORADO LEGERDEMAN, INC. DBA THE BLACK NUGGET 403 MAIN STREET CARBONDALE, CO 81623 HAS REQUESTED THE LIQUOR LICENSING OFFICIALS OF CARBONDALE TO GRANT A TRANSFER OF A LIQUOR LICENSE TO SELL MALT, VINOUS, AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISE AT 403 MAIN STREET CARBONDALE, CO 81623 THE HEARING FOR THIS APPLICATION WILL BE HELD AT: CARBONDALE TOWN HALL 511 COLORADO AVENUE CARBONDALE, COLORADO DATE AND TIME: OCTOBER 9, 2018 AT 6:00 P.M. DATE OF APPLICATION: SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 BY ORDER OF: DAN RICHARDSON, MAYOR APPLICANT: JAN BALAS
A rare sunrise rainbow graced Carbondale on Sept. 6. Photos by Paul Luttrell
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RJ Paddywacks Pet Outfitter, SGM, Sure Thing Burger, Whitsitt Gross Rowberry Attorneys LLC, Willits Main Street LLC and Ron Wolff. Thank you to our event partners the Town of Carbondale Parks and Recreation Department, The Town of Carbondale Public Works Department and the Carbondale Chamber. Our generous in-kind sponsors pitched in with their expertise, manpower and equipment to make it all come together: Beth Hoff Blackmer and Aspen Rent-All, Will, Megan and everyone at the Sopris Sun, Gavin and the team at KDNK, John Stroud and the Post Independent, Larry Giroux, Aspen Digger, Inc., Riverstone Real Estate, FX West-Denver for their fans, Candace Reeves and everyone at City Market Carbondale, Skyline Excavation, June Bug Farms and Juan Cervantes and 3 Man Landscaping. Thanks also to Jaywalker Lodge for the extra volunteers, Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, Carbondale Police, Mt. Sopris Rotary Club of Carbondale, Aspen Rotary and Tom Clark Jr., and Carbondale Mayor Dan Richardson. Lastly, many thanks to all of you who bought tickets from us, YouthZone and Ascendigo, and helped us raise funds for all our community service projects, scholarships and grants. We are grateful to be a part of this wonderful community. Alan Cole President, Rotary Club of Carbondale
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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2018 • 15