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Volume 10, Number 34 | September 27, 2018
SQUARING OFF
at the Throw Down-Hoe Down
Jeff Dickinson showed up dressed as a sheriff ready to square off with anyone who tried to walk off with his favorite bowl or steal his pardner Cilla Dickinson at the Carbondale Clay Center’s annual fundraiser. A departure from Cajun Clay, the Hoe Down featured a chili cook off and some square dancin’ where the pair squared off with three other couples while a real square dance caller/instructor had them promenade ‘round the square. Photo by Jane Bachrach
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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.
Apple of the Earth By Stan Badgett
Ah, Potato Day! There’s something in the spud to think about. Fred Geis used to play a tune on the radio: “You’re My Little Potato.” Fred, a fellow poet, wrote a poem extolling Anne Holden, who always wore her hair pulled up in a bun. Fred mused that John Holden was the only one who had ever seen her with her hair down. I recall Fred wearing a tweed coat and black turtleneck at a poetry reading at the Village Smithy. A man who could spontaneously recite Shakespearian sonnets, he once told me that he had written thirty love poems in a month. My friend Jeff remembers the Potato Days rodeo in the ‘50s. Instituted by Bob Perry, among others, it was held on what is now the high school football field and featured a greased pig contest. Swarms of kids chasing a greased pig, and Jeff (aka Paige Meredith) was one of them. Why do I picture him barefoot in ragged coveralls chasing gleefully after the pig, like one of the urchins in the Winslow Homer painting? The potato song ran like this: you’re my little potato / they dug you up / you come from underground (MALCOM DALGLISH – METAMORA). This inspired me to start a radio program of conservative commentary and name it Underground Potatoes. The show featured a wide range of topics, and I had a lot of fun with it. Back in those days the Soviet Union was trampling the people of Afghanistan underfoot. Yakov Levin, a Jewish prisoner of conscience, was serving a three-year sentence in a Soviet labor camp for disseminating anti-Soviet propaganda. Incriminating evidence: picture postcards of Israel, Uris’ novel Exodus. My wife and I advocated on the radio for Natan Scharansky — nine years a KGB prisoner — who sought to emigrate to Israel. Relentlessly interrogated and charged with treason, he endured years of solitary confinement and freezing punishment cells. We deeply admired his courage and wit in defying the Soviet police state and were overjoyed when he was finally allowed to emigrate. As he was leaving Lefortovo Prison he told them, “I want my Psalm book with me.” They withheld it. At the airplane he knelt in the snow and re-
fused to leave without it. So finally they coughed it up. I marched in the Potato Day parade in 1985, wearing striped prison garb and chains to draw attention to the plight of conscientious dissenters such as Levin and Scharansky, as well as many Christian believers who were imprisoned for their faith. My friend Larry Hutson and his family dramatized the situation with a float depicting a Christian being brutalized by a Soviet prison guard. Roy Rickus swayed and played his clarinet as we passed by. The first Potato Day was held in 1909. Oldtimer John McCabe told me years ago, “That Carbondale valley raised more spuds than you can shake a stick at.” We became famous for our potatoes. During World War II we shipped out 900 plus cars a year to feed the troops. The Russet Burbank potato was developed right here in the valley. The McClure potato was named for one of our early residents, Thomas McClure. My program on KDNK public radio was eventually discontinued because listeners didn’t want to hear me talking about abortion. I was replaced by Mike Strang, a local rancher and former congressman. Up-valley sentiment tends to favor abortion. In honor of the humble Carbondale potato I published a couple of broadsides under the same name as the radio program. One dealt with the Penny Hot Springs, which had become an attraction to nudists and an annoyance to neighbors. The other was a survey conducted on the streets of Carbondale in which I sought to understand the difference between conservatives and liberals. Surprise results. Neither liberals nor conservatives believed that one race was superior to another. Some liberals associated Ronald Reagan with Hitler, but no conservatives did. Where did the big difference lie? Conservatives overwhelmingly agreed with the statement “Teenagers should be taught to abstain from sex before marriage.” Liberals strongly objected.
OPINION
Mutt & Jeff
Badgett alternates this column with fellow conservative Paige Meredith.
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.
‘Just another Thursday’ Dear Editor: The word hit my ear and it made me remember What I wanted to forget Randy “Ray Ray” Strauss Carbondale
Yes on Healthy Community Fund
Monroe “Boodro” Luther recently returned to Haiti — he helped install a water filtration system on a mission trip through The Orchard in June — to help Top Notch Academy School in Tiverny ready for the new year with the help of a Empowering Lives Together. He took The Sun with him and took a picture with the students, teachers and leaders. 2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018
Dear Editor: Those of us fortunate enough to find ourselves, by fate or choice, living in the magic of the Frying Pan, Crystal, and Roaring Fork River valleys in Pitkin County understand the difficulties as well as the blessings of that choice. The sense of place that is held by those of us who live in Pitkin County is enhanced by the assistance and opportunities provided by the Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund. We care about the activities and benefits made available to us through that fund. LETTERS page 15
Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers
for their generous, ongoing commitment of support. Jim Calaway, Chair Kay Brunnier Bob Ferguson – Jaywalker Lodge Scott Gilbert – Habitat for Humanity RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank Peter Gilbert Umbrella Roofing, Inc. Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein Greg and Kathy Feinsinger Carolyn Nelson
Thank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support! It truly takes a village to keep The Sun shining.
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.
Old friends and new come together to put on Potato Day By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff
They may not be officially in charge of the event anymore, but the Gianinettis are still heavily invested in the success of Potato Day. In addition to their involvement with the meal, the folks at Gianinetti Spring Creeks Ranch put up a matching donation to encourage local restaurants to donate gift certificates as prizes for the parade. It’s all part of patriarch Ernie Gianinetti’s plan to kickstart the whole event. “A grand parade is pleasing to a lot of people from the little ones up,” he said. “If they’re going to come for a day I want them to have a pleasant day.” The parade heads down Main Street at 10:30 a.m. Oct 6; folks planning floats should sign up by Oct. 1 forms are available at the Chamber office, Rec Center and at carbondalerec.com. With more than $800 in gift certificates already lined up from the Village Smithy, Red Rock Diner, Mi Casita, Rooster’s, White House Pizza, The Way Home and The Pour House on top of the cash prizes that typically come out of the entry fees, there’s certainly no shortage of motivation to participate. “The eating is good in Carbondale,” Ernie observed. “It’s amazing the quantity and variety of food the town has to offer and they’re willing to put food where their mouth is.” Election years also tend to boost the parade, and Ernie urges folks to keep it civil. “Don’t be booing, be voting,” he said. “I don’t mind you being for somebody, but negativity just isn’t necessary. We need to congratulate people for running and making it a good contest.” He’s also hoping to draw spectators by offering some of the gift cards to the first person to answer some potatothemed trivia — so be sure to stand close to the stage if you think you have what it takes. Certainly, Ernie himself would be a top contender if he chose to participate. His father was one of the original ranchers in the area and oversaw potato production during the heyday. “We were selling over 1000 railroad cars of potatoes at 320 100-pound bags per car,” Ernie said. Ernie and his wife Carol continued to produce a car or two worth for years, but as mechanization took over, small, irregular rocky fields were at a disadvantage. “It’s a helluva lot of work,” he noted. Instead, he managed to get himself saddled with the work of organizing the festival. It all started when he was out cleaning the ditch that runs through Sopris Park back in 1968. The folks in charge of the barbeque were having trouble getting the fire started in the pit, so Ernie went home to get his new torch. “That one helping hand turned into years of Potato Days,” he chuckled. It was a labor of love.
The Carbondale Historical Society has already started work on its steampunk-themed float. Courtesy photo “Way back when, there wasn’t a celebration every day,” he added. “It was Carbondale’s big event. The potatoes were in, the cows were off the range, and it was time to celebrate. Everything stopped and we made it to Potato Day. I’ve never missed one in my life.” He compared it to a mix of Thanksgiving and the County Fair, with dancing, produce, “new friends, old friends and long-established friends.” The lunch was free until crowds began to overwhelm the food supply. The Gianinettis did make a few changes after taking over in the ‘70s, which stuck when a pair of sororities took over and will likely endure with the new committee. “We used to give potatoes to everybody to twicebake,” Ernie explained. “Some came back delicious, some came back on the terrible side and some didn’t come back at all.” Now they’re all cooked in a pit like the meat, which is both more consistent and more efficient. They also introduced themes, although at first it was mainly a way to honor specific members of the community like teachers or ranchers. “Our heroes have always been cowboys,” Carol said.
Spirit week
Don’t want to wait until Saturday to dress up? Feel free to join in on RFHS’s costume themes for Oct. 2-5. Monday: Dress your best Tuesday: Tacky tourist Wednesday: Greek Thursday: Twins Friday: Blue and gold
Run, don’t walk For the second time, Ross Montessori is timing its Marmot Mile and 5K race to coincide with the event — replacing the now-defunct Tater Trot. It starts at the school at 8 a.m. and winds through River Valley Ranch; register beginning at 7 a.m. for $20 or visit rossmontessori.org for more information. “It worked out that it’s a good day for us, and how great for us to be involved with a bigger community event,” explained Development & Enrollment Director Tricia Williams. “Afterwords, everybody hangs out and has some pancakes, then we all go over to the parade.”
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Scuttlebutt
Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com.
Stoppers stops
or to learn more about the practice go to pmclinic.org or call 927-8563.
A non-profit program run by a citizens board of volunteers, it has provided a viable and trusted link for residents and witnesses to provide information and tips to law enforcement while remaining anonymous. It’s usefulness, however, no longer justifies its operational cost and volunteer time in an area of phone cameras and social media. Henceforth, if you are wishing to pass on information that might otherwise be useful to law enforcement in Garfield County, call the non-emergency number for Dispatch at 625-8095 — and stick with 911 in an emergency.
Same wavelength The Andy Zanka Youth news team over at KDNK recently put together a show with local perspective on changing forms of media — check it out at kdnk.org/post/ andy-zanca-youth-news-team-pondersmedia. Next up, AZYEP is planning a live broadcast of their youth radio celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 30 complete with music from Let Them Roar. Tune in!
White lace and promises
The write stuff If you’re looking for something a bit more competitive than The Sun’s monthly telephonic story, it might be worth checking out Alice the Magazine’s writing challenge. Finish the story shared on at Facebook.com/byforandaboutrealwomen, give it a title and email it to alicethemag@yahoo.com by Oct. 22 for a chance to win a trophy and some homemade chocolate brownies. The top selection will be featured in the magazine’s autumn issue.
Test the water Carol Shure recently shared a warning to Frying Pan Spring water gatherers in the Roaring Fork Swap Facebook group that she has twice found live worms of some sort in the source. She’s switched to reverse osmosis to clean what she uses.
It was a beautiful fall evening on the deck of the Pan & Fork restaurant as the local chapter of 100 Women Who Care gathered to nominate and pick the recipient of their collective donation — $8,900 to the Roaring Fork Family Resource Center. Photo by Jane Bachrach
Blue book
Practice makes perfect
The Roaring Fork Conservancy has compiled another Voters’ Guide to Water Issues in the Roaring Fork Valley and Beyond for the 2018 election. RFC asked candidates in local, state, and federal races for their responses to two water related questions. This pamphlet presents a endorsementfree forum for candidates to express their qualifications and platforms on water issues affecting the Roaring Fork Watershed and the state of Colorado. Check it out at www.roaringfork.org.
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Business Experience for Today & the Future
PIÑ ATA S
SIC MU J D
Since we published her engagement picture when she was just a freelancer, we should probably mention that Sopris Sun Reporter Megan Tackett tied the knot with Carbondale native Aaron Luttrell on Sept. 22. They’ll be taking off on their honeymoon pretty soon, but we’ve got a great lineup of freelancers to fill in the gaps. Best wishes to them both!
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another year of life this week include: Peggy DeVilbiss, Linda Fleming, Kate Comer, Renee Ramge and Susan Cheney (Sept. 27); Felicia “Flash” Trevor, Kristin Stewart, Andrew McMichael and Madeleine Dameron Dahl (Sept. 28); Mark Grice and Mike Waski (Oct. 1); Bill Rice, Josh Behrman and Meddi Shaw (Oct. 2); Shannon O’Gara, Kevin Steuben, Cole Fenton and Daniella Stanley Kline (Oct. 3).
Be election ready!
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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018
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We don’t know the context of this photo from the presentation, but it certainly fits.
SEPTEMBER
How do we keep them from walking away?
This Mountain Life
By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff
5:30pm
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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018
Carbondale is likely to lose its creatives if it doesn’t find a way to offer them affordable housing and studio space, but who’s going to spearhead it and who’s going to pay for it? That’s the big question left lingering after ArtSpace unveiled the results of its market study survey in a presentation to trustees on Sept. 25. Of 342 respondents, 269 were interested in some sort of space, with most of those favoring some sort of live/work community. They expressed particular interest in spaces with natural light, internet access and sustainable design. Moreover, 68 percent of interested Carbondale residents have considered leaving, and of those all would be encouraged to remain for the kind of project for which the Minneapolis-based nonprofit is known. “When we saw how many people would leave town, it was really striking,” said Senior Vice President Wendy Holmes. “We think you have a lot to offer your creative people here and motivate them to stay. We really want to see the character of a community and what makes it unique preserved.” Unfortunately, the demographics here aren’t quite the same as Trinidad, where 41 live / work units and 20,000 square feet of community space are expected to open in late 2019 in one of ArtSpace’s flagship projects. Low-income housing
tax credits accounted for 56 percent of that project’s budget (the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) was the next biggest share with 11 percent, the city kicked in 10 percent, followed by federal and state historic tax credits and private philanthropy). By contrast, only 28 percent of Carbondalalians surveyed would qualify for such credits. So while ArtSpace concluded that the market could support up to 42 housing units and 11 private studio spaces, a different funding model would be necessary. “I think the most important conversation to have is with DOLA. They are very much partners in all of our work so far in Colorado,” Holmes said. “It’s not an impossible task, it just takes longer. You need to find the right connection and right special sauce.” Carbondale Arts Director Amy Kimberly was optimistic. “There were times when I thought it might be impossible, but I really believe that we have made things happen in this town,” she said. She wasn’t willing to lead the charge alone, however, and neither was Mayor Dan Richardson. “I think ultimately if it’s going to succeed, it’s a 50/50 partnership between the Town and the creative community,” he said. Regardless, it will take action and not just talk. As KDNK Director Gavin Dahl pointed out, the exodus has already begun.
Chamber’s Business Confluence gives local state of affairs By Megan Tackett Sopris Sun Staff The Chamber of Commerce asked locals what they wanted out of a business confluence, and the survey answer was clear: Carbondalians want to be informed about what’s happening in their community. At the Sept. 19 event, the chamber delivered. In a seemingly rapid-fire, 90-minute series of “conversation streams,” the audience heard about the state of the community — which included presentations from Garfield County Manager Kevin Batchelder, Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky and Carbondale Mayor Dan Richardson — regional and state demographics, healthcare in the Roaring Fork Valley and the discussions about generational shifts in the workplace. “Things are hot here,” Richardson said to the about 50 people in attendance. “Year-to-date since August, median home price is up 20 percent since last year. Our sales tax, we’re up 9 percent year-to-date. We have at least four new restaurants in town that are hopping; lodging tax is up… things are happening right now, and that’s a great thing.” But, he acknowledged, there will be hurdles in the future in sustaining that kind of growth — challenges that Jankovsky also brought up. For instance, median household income in Garfield County was $71,000 in 2007. Today, it’s $61,000. “That’s about $10,000 per household,
you times that times that by 22,000 households, it’s about $220,000 less in income than we had,” he said. “Housing, health insurance cost, transportation and also child care. Those are going to be very important for the future.” Those projections aren’t all doom and gloom. Even when presenting about the costs of healthcare — perhaps on par with housing costs as residents’ highest concerns, according to the chamber’s survey results — the message was one of hope in the end. Mountain Family Health Development Manager Garry Schalla didn’t have any illusions about the difficulty in conveying that message, though. “I want to remind you, I’m just the messenger. I have nothing to do with health insurance costs,” he said to laughter from the audience. After several slides of daunting statistics (between 1999 and 2015, health insurance premiums increased more than 203 percent, for instance), he pivoted to some of the solutions local industry leaders are actively exploring. “What’s come out of these sessions that we’ve had is a number of really good ideas,” Schalla said. “There are models that we’re trying to follow. We hope that with some of our county partners, our hospital partners, VHA… that through all that collaboration, we can roll out a product — we hope at the very least June of next year — what we call a permonth, per-member amount that would be sustainable for us and affordable for all of you.” Chamber Executive Director Andrea Stewart concluded the speaker series with a selfie from stage at the business confluence. It’s a little blurry, which is fitting, since one of the topics was about softening the seemingly hard lines and divisions between generations in the workplace. Photo by Andrea Stewart
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Male and Female nudity. May not be appropriate for children under 18.
The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018 • 7
Town Report The following items are drawn from Town Manager Jay Harrington’s weekly report to staff, trustees and others. BEST IN SHOW for the Carbondale Public Arts Commission’s Art Around Town went to Johana-Mai (Sunny Bright Flower) by Kasia Polkowska and Kyle Cunniff of Alamosa (at The Launchpad). CPAC is currently taking applications for new commission members; visit carbondalegov.org for info. GATEWAY RV PARK closes for the season on Oct. 1. MARKETPLACE development continues, with Highway 133 expected to remain obstructed for crossing construction and paving. A temporary traffic light was is use but has since been removed. DITCH SURVEY needs have inspired a request for proposal by the Town to help identify placement for future monitoring. Proposals are also being sought to repair the South Nettle Creek air intake line. A SENIOR FIELD TRIP to the Grand Junction Arts Festival is scheduled for Oct. 5; register by Sept. 28 for $10. PICKLEBALL COURT location discussions continue, with repurposing two existing courts viewed as one potential offer. INTRO TO CLIMBING for ages 6 to 8 starts in October and runs 3:45 to 5 p.m.; pre-registration required at carbondalerec.com. Upcoming climbing clinics for adults include Rock Climbing for Ladies on Oct. 9, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 and Lead Climbing Certification on Nov. 13. and Dec. 11. COOKING CLASSES with the CSU extension continue with Pies for the Holidays on Oct. 29; register by Oct. 26 for $10. A SPANISH CLASS at Town Hall drew Officers Rodgers and Rupp as well as law enforcement from several other area agencies.
Cop Shop From Sept. 14 through 20, Carbondale Police handled 245 Calls for Service. During that period, officers investigated the following cases of note: FRIDAY Sept. 14 at 1:23 a.m. A possible sex assault was reported and is under investigation. SATURDAY Sep. 15 at 1:22 a.m. Police received a call about a man with a warrant at a local bar. The 37-year-old was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. SATURDAY Sept. 15 at 1:19 p.m. A speeding stop turned up no driver’s license, an uninsured and unregistered vehicle and fictitious plates. The 27-year-old driver was arrested and released on a summons. SATURDAY Sept. 15 at 8:03 a.m. After stopping a juvenile driver for a busted tail light, police issued a summons for driving under the influence per se. SATURDAY Sept. 15 at 11:11 p.m. Police stopped a car without its lights on and arrested the 38-year-old driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. SUNDAY Sept. 16 at 12:43 a.m. An officer on foot patrol recognized a 33-year-old man with an outstanding warrant and arrested him. SUNDAY Sept 16 at 2:15 a.m. A traffic stop for speeding and weaving led to the arrest of the 54-year-old driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. SUNDAY Sept. 16 at 2:02 p.m. Following a traffic stop for no visible plate, two men were arrested for possession and intent to distribute more than 50 pounds of marijuana. MONDAY Sept. 17 at 6:35 p.m. The driver of a motor home that caught fire was issued a summons for an unsafe vehicle. TUESDAY Sept. 18 at 1:51 a.m. A domestic violence call led to a warrant. TUESDAY Sept. 18 at 6:17 p.m. Three people were summoned for disorderly conduct following a disturbance in Glassier Park.
8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018
Hot, big fires are here to stay By Jon Nicolodi Special to The Sopris Sun
there are the types of fires that have maintained our western forests for thousands of years: low fuel, low temperature, Local and regional wildfire experts gathered at The and low height. “We have a fuels problem, with around Changing Face of Wildfire forum Sept. 25 at The Tempo- forty times the stocking rate of wildfires fuels, through rary to reflect upon the Lake Christine Fire, and to discuss downed trees or beetle kill stands, than we did in Colorado if, across the West, communities should begin to shift their 150 years ago”, said Scott Fitzwilliams, White River Naperspective and be prepared for larger, devastating fires tional Forest Supervisor. “And regardless of what you atmore often. tribute climate change to, all the experts and the models are “We might have a reprieve of one year or three years, but showing that we live in hotter, drier times, which will drive the experts are modeling that fire wildfires. It was tragic and terrifyseasons like this one are the new ing, but the Lake Christine Fire normal,” said Gary Ferguson, rewas not a random, unpredictable nown National Geographic scievent. The cause was a mistake, ence writer and author. avoidable, but the event itself was Scott Thompson, Basalt and Snowmass Fire Chief, reflects Megafires, classified as being not random.” greater than one hundred thouA devastating side-effect of this upon the Lake Christine Fire and future wildfire mitigation. sand acres in size, were rare ocnew era of hot fire is the steriliza- Photo by Jon Nicolodi currences in the previous century. tion of the soil. After a low tem“Since 2000, the U.S. has perature fire, aspens, lodgepole, said Jim Genung, Upper Colorado River Zone Fuels Spehad more than a dozen megaand understory growth immedi- cialist. “If your house is now completely surrounded by fires,” Ferguson said. The Spring ately begin growing again. The burnt acreage, those fuels are mitigated and so is the risk. Creek Fire in southern Colorahigh temperature, raging fires of But no, nearly all of the region still butts up to unmitigated – Gary Ferguson do joined that list. “Our western today burn the plant matter and fuel sources, and so the risk of wildfire impinging on your ecosystems are adapted, even sometimes dependent upon, the soil to such a crisp that nothing will take root for some home is definitely still there.” wildfires,” Ferguson continued. time, and water cannot permeate the surface of the soil. Performing controlled, prescribed burns are the best Without the decompositional moisture and rates of the The once-welcomed rain sits on top of the soil and runs off, tool experts have against fire mitigation continued Genung, Northwest or Northeastern U.S., the fire in our region does magnifying the wreckage by causing a mudslide. but there is too much acreage to control everything. Scott that role, burning downed and dead trees, returning their This fire season isn’t over yet, despite being into the fall: Thompson, Basalt and Snowmass fire chief, offered his nutrients to the soil to be used again. Ponderosa trees have one of the planned speakers, Alison Richards of Upper thoughts: “You’ll hear us push for stricter building codes, thick bark to protect them against understory fire and they Colorado River East Zone Fire Management, cancelled her and you should too: no more cedar fences, no cedar roofs, shed their lower branches as they grow so that fire cannot appearance because a new fire started in her region Tuesday built in fire breaks.” use them as a ladder to get into the high canopy. Lodgepole afternoon. Garfield County, the BLM, and the USFS rein“Be kind to yourselves, and take care of each other,” said pines produce mostly serotinous cones, which only open up stated stage 1 fire restrictions last week. Ferguson, acknowledging the hardship that wildfire affectand seed when they are heated by a wildfire. One audience member asked if the Basalt region was ed communities go through. But the overwhelming message However, all of these natural adaptions assume that now at a lower risk after the Lake Christine Fire. “Sure,” of the forum: don’t let your guard down, and get used to it.
“We might have a reprieve of one year or three years, but the experts are modeling that fire seasons like this one are the new normal.”
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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018 • 9
Community Calendar THURSDAY Sept. 27
SKI WORLD OPENING • Check out Vintage Ski World (1676 County Road 100, Unit N-2) — a vast vintage collection of skis, boots, poles, posters, memorabilia, clothing, and more — while enjoying food, drinks, and live music with an “old school” ski song sing along from 4:30 to 9 p.m. BOOK SIGNING • Local author Catherine O’Connell will sign copies of her psychological thriller, “The Last Night Out” from 5 to 6 p.m. at Bookbinders Basalt (760 E. Valley Rd.) CINE CLUB • “We, the Poor” — a cinematographic masterpiece from Mexico’s golden age of film — screens at 7 p.m. at KDNK (76 S. Second St.). MONASTIC STORIES • Venerable Thubten Semkye returns to share her experiences at Sravasti Abbey in a bydonation event at 7 p.m. at the The Third Street Center (520 S. Third Street). You can also participate in a weekend retreat or private sessions; more information and registration at wocdharmacenter.org.
THU Sept. 27 – SAT Oct. 13
EQQUS • Thunder River Theatre Company (67 Promenade) presents the award-winning Broadway sensation about a passionate but disturbed young man and the therapist trying to save him. This gripping performance, due to dramatic themes and a scene of nudity, is for adult audiences only. Season and individual tickets available at 963-8200 or www.thunderrivertheatre.com.
To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.
FRIDAY Sept. 28
RAM CLASSIC • A golf tournament to benefit Roaring Fork High School athletics tees off at 9 a.m. at River Valley Ranch (303 River Valley Ranch Dr.). $100 per person or $400 per team; call 618-4054 or rfbball08@yahoo.com to register. UNITE THE VIBE • The Black Nugget (403 Main St.) hosts world touring artist Nat Hancock and featuring many special guests from 9 a.m. ‘til the wee hours of the morning.
FRI-SUN Sept. 28-30
ASPEN FILMFEST • The Crystal Theatre (427 Main St.) hosts select screenings with “The Mountain Life” 5:30 p.m. and “Everybody Knows” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, “3 Days, 2 Nights” at 5:30 p.m. and “The Sisters Brothers” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and “The Price of Free” at 5:30 p.m. and “Momentum Generation” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $20 at aspenshowtix.com.
MARIA MULDAUR • The singer famous for “Midnight at the Oasis” performs the music of New Orleans blues legend Blue Lu at 8 p.m. at The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits). Tickets are $30 in advance at tacaw.org or $35 at the door.
IN THE ROUND • Six songwriters take turns performing original music at 7 p.m. before Jodee Lewis performs a complete set at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.). $15 suggested donation
SUNDAY Sept. 30
ASCENT SHOWCASE • Celebrate teams of dancers and musicians from Aspen to Rifle with a 6 p.m. event at The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits) and support them on colorado gives.org.
FRI Sept. 28 & SAT Sept. 29
THE OTHER PLACE • The Sopris Theatre Company at CMC’s Spring Valley Campus comes home (3000 CR 114) with the production that won awards for production, director, actress, set design, supporting actor and excellence in theatre at the Colorado Theatre Festival. Curtain at 7 p.m. both nights; admission is free though donations are accepted.
CUBAN PIANO • Harold López-Nusa shows off his classical training, jazz continuum and latin roots with a 8 p.m. performance at The Temporary (360 Market St.). $17 in advance at tacaw.org or $22 at the door.
MONDAY Oct. 1 SAT. Sept. 29
SUPERHERO RUN • Support CASA (Court Appoint Special Advocates) of the Ninth with a 5k race ($30) and one-mile kids’ run ($10) with registration beginning at 8 a.m. at Crown Mountain Park. BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS • Bring your pet (or a photo of them) to Colorado Animal Rescue (2801 CR 114) for a 10 a.m. multi-faith blessing. FOLK ROCK • Indie duo You Knew Me When plays at 7 p.m. at Batch (358 Main St.).
2018
DAM FILMS • Dance, Art, & Music (DAM) Films continue at 8 p.m. at The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits) with “Bad Reputation” — a wild ride through the ‘70s punk scene with Joan Jett. $11 in advance at tacaw.org or $14 at the door.
WED & THU Oct. 3-4
MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre (427 Main St.) presents “Three Identical Strangers” (PG-13) at 7 p.m.; closed Oct. 1 and 2.
WEDNESDAY Oct. 3
BOOKS ON SCREEN • Basalt Regional Library (14 Midland Ave.) presents the film adaptation of “A Dog’s Purpose” at 5 p.m. CALENDAR continued on page 11
ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL Book Your Blood Draw TODAY! aspenhospital.org/ health-fairs
Health Fair
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH! Lab Tests Offered MIDVALLEY HEALTH FAIR
Changing Together
We believe that in this interconnected existence the well-being of one cannot be separated from the well-being of the whole, that ultimately we all spring from the same source and all journey to the same ultimate destiny.” – David Bumbaugh. As we dive deep into the topic of making change, let’s share all the ways we make changes as a collective — hopefully, for the better! With Rev. Shawna Foster.
Join us Sunday, September 30, 2018- 10 a.m. Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist (TRUU) @ Third Street Center, Community Room
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 8:00 – 11:00 AM El Jebel Community Center
Blood draw*, flu shots and FREE additional screenings and information stations. Please bring proof of insurance or cash for flu shot.
SENIOR HEALTH FAIR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 8:00 – 11:00 AM Aspen Valley Hospital
Blood draw*, flu shots and FREE additional screenings and information stations.
Age 60+ Only
• Health Fair Profile - $65 • Cardio CRP - $35 • PSA - $35 • Vitamin D - $45 • Colorectal Cancer Screening Kit - $25 Book online today. Payment accepted at the event, CASH OR CHECK ONLY Full test descriptions at aspenhospital.org/health-fairs
*Please arrive at least an hour prior to closing
www.tworiversuu.org
Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist
Music with Jimmy Bryne, Religious Exploration with Ana Chynoweth, Preschool with Justice Bouchet
10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018
0401 Castle Creek Road, Aspen, CO 81611 | 970.925.1120 aspenhospital.org | AspenValleyHospital
Community Calendar
continued from page 10
Ongoing
PARENT CHILD CLASSES • Waldorf on the Roaring Fork hosts musics, movement and merrymaking for kids and caregivers under 5 at 9 a.m. Mondays; sweetness, self care and singing for the under 1.5 crowd at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and pals, play and puppetry for ages 1.5 to 4 at 9 a.m. Fridays. More information and registration at www.waldorfschoolrf.org. BLUEGRASS JAM • Bring the instrument of your choice or just your voice for a weekly jam session first and last Sundays at 6:30 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.) and all other Sundays at the Glenwood Springs Brew Garden (115 Sixth St.) 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 over 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.
Further Out 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.). 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 (379-5718). On the first Monday of the month, catch a powerpoint presentation by Dr. Feinsinger about the science behind plant-based 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. 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). 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. SENIOR RADIO • Diane Johnson talks about senior issues and services on KDNK
at 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. BOOK CLUB • Join friends and fellow readers to discuss great books at Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month; call 963-2889 for this month’s selection. WRITERS GROUP • Wordsmiths of all experience and abilities gather at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. STORY ART • Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.), in partnership with the Aspen Art Museum, invites kids to learn about artists and create masterpieces of their own at 4 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month. YOUR STORY, YOUR LIFE • A free facilitated workshop for adults, writing your personal history, one story at a time. Facilitated by Shelly Merriam, historian/ writer/genealogist. First and third Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library, (815 Cooper Ave.). Info at 945-5958 or gcpld.org. STORYTIME • Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) hosts stories songs and more for ages four and up at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays and three and under at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.
THURSDAY Oct. 4
REFUGEE LECTURE • The University of Colorado Boulder’s Peak to Peak Lecture Series comes to the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 6 p.m. with a free presentation from CU Boulder Professor Beverly Weber titled “Refugees: Sanctuary, Hospitality and Solidarity.” AMBASSADOR • Christopher R. Hill — author, Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Ambassador to Iraq — speaks at 7 p.m. at The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits). $20 in advanace at tacaw.org or $25 at the door.
FRIDAY Oct. 5
FIRST FRIDAY • Celebrate the harvest with myriad evening events downtown, including a late farmer’s market. HOMECOMING • Spirit week — complete with powderpuff, a truck rally and drive-in movie — culminates in a soccer game against Aspen at 6 p.m., with royalty crowned at halftime.
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.”
Register Now
for Upcoming Classes
`` CARBONDALE: Business Plan 101 .............................. 9/29 (S)....................... 9am-1pm
To benefit the Annual Fund - Supporting students in the classroom today with materials, program enrichment, technology.
Business Financials 101 ..................... 10/3 (W) ..........5:30pm-9:30pm
SCHEDULE
Intro to Singing ................................ 10/1-10/29 (M)..................7-9pm
7:00AM Registration 7:00 to 10:30AM Pancake breakfast
NSewing ............................................. 10/1-12/3 (M)....6:30pm-9:30pm
8:00AM 5K start
Funding Your Business ..................... 10/6 (S) ....................... 9am-1pm
N
8:05AM Marmot Mile start
Beaded Amulet Bag.......................... 10/6 (S) ................. 9:30am-4pm
9:30AM Prizes and Wrap up
Intro to American Sign Language .... 10/8-11/26 (M) ............ 6pm-8pm
10AM Join Potato Days Parade in downtown Carbondale
Creative Writing Workshop ............. 10/15-11/12 (M) ........... 6pm-8pm Intro to Songwriting ......................... 10/19-10/21 (F).......6pm-8:30pm Beginning Excel ................................ 10/24 (W)........12:30pm-3:30pm Integrative Yoga for Recovery .......... 10/30-12/11 (T) ........... 6-7:30pm
Saturday, October 6, 2018
NIntegrative Yoga for Recovery .......... 11/2-12/14 (F) ......... 11:30am-1pm Investing 101 ..................................... 10/30-11/20 (T) ..... 6pm-7:30pm
Entry fee $20 Day of event entry fee $30 Fundraise - Raise $50, entry is free Prizes for top fundraisers Volunteers needed – route marshalls, food service, set up, clean up, photographers, face painters, balloon artists Register online as a race participant or volunteer: www.RossMontessori.org
Intro to Glass Lampwork & Fusing ... 11/17 (S) ..................... 10am-2pm Basic Salve & Cream Making ........... 11/29 (Th) ................... 6pm-9pm
Visit rossmontessori.org for more information or to donate today!
`` BASALT:
Thank you to our sponsors:
Indoor Cycling.................................. 10/1-12/12 (MW) 5:30pm-6:15pm
asalt oncrete, LLC
Weight Training ................................ 10/1-12/12 (MW) 6:15pm-7:00pm Physical Conditioning ...................... 10/9-12/14 (TF) . 8:30am-9:50am
Carbondale Lappala Center • 690 Colorado Ave. • 963-2172 More classes and online registration available at www.coloradomtn.edu
Thank you to our donors: KIWANIS, Aspen Snowmass Ski Co, Carbondale Clay Center, Marble Distillery, Handmakery, The Yellow Canary, Bow Tie Cinemas, Peppinos Pizza, Independence Run & Hike, Carbondale Creamery, Bristlecone. Lulubelle
The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018 Fund Run Sopris Sun ad.indd 1 9/11/18 • 9:3611 AM
Signs speak louder than words By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff
While many classes at Colorado Mountain College put people’s passions into play, the upcoming continuing education course on American Sign Language at the Carbondale campus is particularly personal. Instructor Valerie Rose is deaf in one ear and was raised by totally deaf parents alongside one hearing brother and three deaf foster sisters. ASL was her first language, and she’s been an ambassador between the two worlds as long as she can remember. “I’ve always had to go back and forth. When I meet people I’m always telling them about it,” she said. “It’s something that not a lot of people have exposure to.” Indeed, many people are under the misapprehension that ASL is just a nonverbal form of English. In fact, it’s actually more closely related to French sign language, and a lot of things don’t translate exactly with any spoken language. While you can spell your written name, the sign you identify yourself is unique. Rose’s own name is based on the sign for “where” — apparently she had a habit of wandering off. Her mother is one of the few fully deaf people who knows what her name sounds like out loud — it’s the one word she can remember before the fever took her hearing. Deafness is genetic on her father’s side, and oddly seems to coincide with an abundance of freckles. They don’t see it as a disability, though the treatment of the deaf community by others was rough historically and continues to be problematic, particularly abroad. Technology is making long-distance communication easier and generally removing a lot of limitations. “Deaf people can do anything but hear,” is an emerging mantra, with new role models to back it up. She plans to include plenty of that context in the class.
Valerie Rose — artist, ambassador and now teacher. Courtesy photo
Learn to sign
What: Intro to ASL (ASL-901-CB01) Where: Lappala Center (690 Colorado Ave.) When: 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays Oct. 8 - Nov. 26 How much: $117, noncredit Info and signup: coloradomtn.edu Editor’s note: Valerie Rose encountered some health issues after our interview, but hopes to have the class. Stay updated at gofundme.com/valerie-rose-surgery-in-honduras.
PARADE APPLICATION INFORMATION
Theme: “Taters Take Flight,” in recognition of the first airplane landing in Carbondale 100 years ago.
ENTRY DEADLINE IS MONDAY OCTOBER 1ST Applications: Town Hall, Chamber, www.carbondalerec.com Fees :$40 per entry payable at Town Hall Come join the fun! Parade entries will be judged for prizes. Check-in time on 2nd street is 9:30 a.m. The parade begins promptly at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 6th, 2018
For more info e-mail: info@carbondalehistory.org or ebrendlinger@carbondaleco.net
12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018
“For me it’s important that you should also learn about the other part of it as well,” she said. It’s not just history; it’s a culture. “Deaf people are very animated,” Rose explained. In the hearing world, the sound of our voice indicates how you feel. In the deaf world, we have to use our facial expressions as the tone.” “You can’t whisper,” she added. “You can see someone singing across the room, so we’re very forward with our questions.” It’s hard to say exactly how much that one facet of her life led to who she is now. While she got to blast her music at home, she was pretty quiet at school. Her creative outlets are largely visual, and she’s beginning to integrate signs into her art. The overlap seems natural. “You can make something and someone on the other end of the world looks on it and feels the same way,” she noted. “If you were to invent a universal language, I think it would have to be a sign language.” Indeed, she thinks everyone can benefit from learning sign language. Babies can learn to sign before they learn to speak (Rose herself started at six months), and there are plenty of studies touting the advantages of multiple languages. “You’re working your brain,” Rose said. “It’s rewarding in ways you may not know yet. It’s a beautiful language.” And even if you don’t have a need for it now, folks who know how usually find themselves seeking out places to sign. The Aspen Deaf Camp is just up the road, and there are plenty of other folks just waiting for someone to pierce their isolation. “Sign language is life changing,” Rose said. “It brings people together and bridges gaps.”
Colorado company keeps you connected By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff It’s hard to get much done without the internet these days, as a series of outages in recent years — most recently on Sept. 24 — underscores. Most communication in, out and within the Valley relies on a couple of main lines which can be disrupted by a single misplaced excavation. And when Comcast or CenturyLink service goes down, so often do cell providers that contract with them, credit card machines and points of sale and even 911. “There’s a level of technology going on in our our daily operations you wouldn’t think of unless they’re not working,” noted Town Manager Jay Harrington. But most municipal buildings (with the exception of the Rec. Center) weren’t affected by the latest outage. That’s partially because their main internet provider, Cedar Networks, contracts with CenturyLink and it was the Comcast lines that were cut — this time. Coincidentally, however, the Durango-based fiber company is in the process of installing a redundant line from Glenwood to Carbondale so that its customers can be confident of reliable service long-term. “Sometimes they’re within a block of each other, but they’re never in the same trench,” explained Chief Business Development Officer Chris Stebner, who works out of the Carbondale office. “We’re basically playing hopscotch on the other side of the road. It would take coordinated incompetence to break it now.” The Valley is actually somewhat ahead of the curve in fiber access, thanks in part to some forward thinking when the Rio Grande Trail went in. Cedar has furthered that edge by taking advantage of the Town’s “dig once” ordinance. Basically, it means
that when a contractor spending the time, money and creating the inconvenience of excavating, they’re obliged to allow other interested parties to put in conduit. That doesn’t make much of a difference where the lines are still above ground, but the demand has been high enough to justify expanding service to most of old town. For folks in those areas, a $100 installation fee could bring up to 300 Mbps for $60 a month, plus a landline for an extra $10. Many big customers are already on board. “If you’re in a town in Garfield County, there’s nothing competitive,” Stebner noted. “We have the majority of the anchor institutions throughout the county — schools, fire, police…” The Crystal River Marketplace project is already connected to the system, as is the Habitat for Humanity Project in Basalt. But the new main line is Cedar’s biggest project. With 36,000 feet of fiber intended to handle 10 TB per second, it carries a half-million dollar price tag, but is expected to support 20 years of expanding use. Other communications companies would have the opportunity to contract with Cedar to build their own redundancy, just as Cedar plans to keep its existing contracts. It helps that maintenance on fiber lines is minimal, freeing up funds to continue investing in new infrastructure. Indeed, negotiations are already underway to expand the new line down Catherine Store Road and Highway 82 to Willits — an area without current fiber access at all. Meanwhile, Cedar continues to assess the commercial viability of adding service to specific neighborhoods or subdivisions based on requests from potential customers. Find out more at cedarnetworks.com.
After School Classes Available!
BLESSING OF THE
ANIMALS SEPTEMBER 29
Crews have been out digging trenches and unspooling fiber optic cable on the back road to Ironbridge. Photo by Will Grandbois
To register for outstanding after school classes taught by area certified teachers and industry experts in Carbondale please go to:
10
www.accessafterschool.com/ROSS
AM
BRING YOUR ANIMALS!
Classes are open to all middle school students attending any school. THIS COMMUNITY AD SPACE DONATED BY COOL BRICK STUDIOS.
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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018 • 13
Thompson Divide fight turns 10 From the archives of the Roaring Fork Valley Journal Sept. 28, 1978
Oct. 1, 1998
After seven years of meeting around kitchen tables, the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities opened its first office in the Dinkle Building. The space was intended to serve as a hub for information and tickets to local events, and a resource center for folks involved in the arts. (CCAH, now Carbondale Arts, later moved into the old Post Office building that now houses Carbondale Beer Works, then was a founding tenant of the Third Street Center before finally moving to its current location at The Launchpad.) In other news… A disco dance marathon was planned as a March-of-theDimes fundraiser.
Carbondale Trustees rejected bids for a planned bike path along Highway 133 from Weant Boulevard to Main Street. The lowest bid came in at $150,000 compared to the budgeted $70,000, due mostly to unexpected requirements by the Colorado Department of Transportation that the path be 10 feet wide with two foot shoulders. There were hopes that postponing the project until spring might give some time to cut costs and put aside funds. The paving of a previously dirt trail through Roaring Fork Village, however, was expected to go ahead as planned. In other news… Carbondale Mayor Randy Vanderhurst’s wrongful termination suit against Colorado Mountain College went to trial in Denver.
Sept. 29, 1988 The first round of public hearings took place on a proposal to rezone and annex 46 acres west of the Emma Bridge as part of the Highway 82 bypass project. The developers had plans to develop 138,000 square feet of commercial space and 84 apartment units on the property. Alpine Liquor Store Owner Ted Lupe urged trustees to move forward and “make good” which local real-estate mogul Frank Traverna thought they ought to hold off until there was a better indication of how much the town of 1,000 was going to grow. In other news… A reward was offered for the “toilet terrorists” that had been trashing public restrooms.
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Sept. 25, 2008 Numerous natural gas leases totalling six square miles had been issued in Coal Basin, Thompson Creek and Four Mile. When exactly drilling might begin seemed uncertain, with Bureau of Land Management Public Information Officer David Boyd pointing out that companies may sit on a lease for up to 10 years before starting production when the market was right. Opposition was already forming, however, with Wilderness Workshop Executive Director Sloan Shoemaker calling it “Carbondale’s backyard.” (The area would later become known as The Thompson Divide thanks to a fairly successful preservation Coalition of the same name.) In other news… The Bus Rapid Transit system cleverly known as VeliciRFTA was slated to go before voters on election day.
OPEN THE LATEST
It’s easy to forget that our office in the Third Street Center was once a classroom, but all it takes trip through the Valley Journal photo archives to remind us of Carbondale Elementary School that was.
The Town of Carbondale is currently
seeking volunteer members RETAIL MARIJUANA | 21 +
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE
for the following Boards & Commissions: Bicycle, Pedestrian, & Trails Commission 3 openings anticipated (meets quarterly on the 1st Monday of the month @ 6 p.m.)
Carbondale Public Arts Commission 2 openings anticipated (meets 1st Wednesday of each month @ 5:30 p.m.)
Tree Board 3 openings (meets 3rd Thursday of each month @ 6 p.m.)
CHASING
FALL COLORS SOIL GROWN | LONG CURED | HAND TRIMMED 730 MAIN ST • SILT | EXIT 97 OFF I-70
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844-420-DANK(3265) | www.HighQRockies.com 14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018
Historic Preservation Commission 3 openings (meets 2nd Thursday of each month @ 6:30 p.m.)
Parks & Recreation Commission 1 alternate opening (meets 2nd Wednesday of each month @ 7 p.m.)
Questions? Call (970) 510-1215 Applications are available on the Town of Carbondale website homepage.
www.CarbondaleGOV.org
Letters from page 2 Our sense of community and our need to protect the values of our communities are supported by that fund. Rather than asking for a donation each year (as the many non-profit organizations are forced to do) to support the agency’s operation, Pitkin County supports the many faceted fund via our property tax. This allows more discussion, more review, and more responsible planning and implementation. I urge your support of our special community values. Vote yes for the Ballot Issue Dedicating Property Tax for the Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund. Dorothea Farris Crystal Valley
No on Amendment 74 Dear Editor It’s becoming commonplace to have many initiatives on the ballot and this year is no exception. For the large majority of initiatives, a reasonable argument can be made for ‘yes’ and ‘no’ arguments. Not so for Amendment 74. I would argue it’s the most reckless proposed constitutional amendment I’ve ever read and I implore you to vote NO. It’s a pretty safe bet when you have Club 20, environmental groups, homebuilders associations, realtor associations, the Denver Post, the Grand Junction Sentinel and many more very diverse groups all agreeing that this amendment must be defeated. My read is that this amendment is nothing more than a vindictive grudge against amendment 112. I don’t support amendment 112 either but this atrocious quid pro quo approach amounts to carelessness with our state constitution and is inexcusable. Crafted and supported by a few powerful out-of-state oil & gas interests (fronted by the Colorado Farm Bureau), Amendment 74 would cripple local communities. This amendment is intended to expand existing law regarding property value ‘takings’ in a way that would prevent local government (and therefore its citizens and businesses) from doing just about anything without a barrage of lawsuits. By design, it’s written with such incredible ambiguity that even basic municipal functions could be portrayed as a ‘taking.’ Please vote no on Amendment 74 and help send the message that Colorado’s constitution is not a playground for special interest issues, regardless of who they represent. Dan Richardson Carbondale
Weiser for Colorado Attorney General Dear Editor: As a relatively new resident of Colorado, it has taken time to research candidates running for office. No small task, but a necessary one. Having attended an information session held by Phil Weiser and having reviewed his credentials and issue positions, it is clear that he would be a great attorney general for Colorado. His proposed actions on environmental protections are important as the federal government’s overreach
Unclassifieds begins to erode the safeguards that keep our water, air, and public lands safe. Phil knows that it is easier to prevent damage to our environment than it is to repair it. Phil’s responses to questions on the opioid crisis were important – citing the litigation needed to stop harmful promotional practices by drug companies. He understands the incredible toll that addiction takes on our citizens, their families and our communities. It is an epidemic of frightening proportions that requires a diverse set of solutions, ones that Phil Weiser had the courage to lead. While his experience working with everyone from rural communities, students, Supreme Court justices, and Presidents is impressive, it is his positions on issues that capture my vote. From women’s rights to education, health care, immigration and common sense gun safety, he cares about issues that affect all Coloradans. Having spent my adult life in New Hampshire state government, working for seven governors, both Republicans and Democrats, and serving two terms in the State Senate there, it has become easy to determine the ‘doers’ from the ‘talkers’. It is clear to me that Phil Weiser is a ‘doer’ and the person we need as our Attorney General. Kathleen Sgambati Carbondale
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Parting Shots
Broken promises Dear Editor: It’s shameful the way Colorado political candidates have broken their promise to run positive, issue-oriented campaigns. In some of the ads we’re seeing, the candidates don’t even identify themselves. It’s my opponent’s a bum and they leave it at that. How’re we supposed to make a choice when they tell us nothing about their beliefs and proposals? Gubernatorial candidates Jared Polis and Walker Stapleton are particularly guilty of this. As for the issues, Stapleton’s fundamental problem with Polis seems to be where he goes on vacation. Is that the most pressing concern in Colorado, Walker? Denver television treats us to the battle between Sixth Congressional District candidates Mike Coffman, an ex-Marine, and Jason Crow, an ex-Army ranger. Which one really cares about our veterans? Is it possible they both do? Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale
Polis is an open book Dear Editor: Despite what the glossy flyer says Jared Polis has been totally transparent about his finances and taxes. His repug opponent would have him look like a tax cheat while fully supporting a tax cheat and liar in the White House. We call that two faced and yeah you can make this stuff up. John Hoffmann Carbondale
When this little guy arrived at the Carbondale Clay Center for this year’s fundraiser, he was simply a small kid. However, by the time he left, he looked like an exhausted little dog. Photos by Jane Bachrach
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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2018 • 15