2009 11 26

Sopris Sun THE

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 42 • NOVEMBER 26, 2009

The blue trim and welcoming gate belong to Hector Bailon, who has lived in Carbondale’s Garfield Court trailer park for 15 years. Just a block away from the Victorian homes and mining cabins of old town Carbondale, the trailer park feels like a different world. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Home Sweet Home Trailer parks are key to local affordable housing, but are vulnerable to the whims of the real estate market

By David Frey Special to The Sopris Sun

few months ago, Jacob and Becky Coski, like all their neighbors, were afraid they’d be kicked out of their home. Actually, they’d be able to keep their homes. It was the land underneath they’d be losing.

The owners of their Mountain View Mobile Home Park, behind the Red Rock Diner on Highway 133, received an offer to sell the 62-trailer park they had owned for decades. The deal seemed too good to pass up, and the residents got the message: get ready to move.

“We were going to pull our trailer off and put it somewhere else,” Jacob said.“I was looking at trailer parks in Boulder.”

The owners ended up rejecting the offer – because they wanted to protect the tenants – but it served as a reminder.

The mobile-home parks that have served

A

as some of the Roaring Fork Valley’s most affordable free-market housing for decades are disappearing.

Just three trailer parks remain in and around Carbondale, and of them, Mountain View nearly sold and Garfield Court, off Snowmass Drive, has been on the market for two years. Two others have been razed for redevelopment, one of which was for the Town Center project, which replaced the trailer park with million-dollar lofts.

Some see trailer parks as an eyesore the town would be better off without.

Others see them as home, and one of the most affordable ways to get into the valley’s housing market.

“The people down there work here,” said John Cooley, of Aspen, who manages and co-owns Mountain View and

convinced his partners to keep from selling the property. “Honest to God, where would they go? I think there are people who never think about it. They just think about the money. They just say, ‘let them fare for themselves.’ But there’s no place they can fare for themselves. They’d have to leave the state.”

Cooley said concerns about his tenants prompted him to convince his partners to reject the sale. When the offer came in, he countered with a higher number. When the buyers were willing to match it, he insisted they give tenants some two years to find another place to live. When the buyers balked, the deal expired. Then they agreed and came back to the table. But Cooley hedged again.

PRESSURE page 13

Carbondale Commentary

A time machine fit for a queen

I believe there’s a little Mary, Queen of Scots in all of us. The part that just wants to lie around all day eating brie and grapes while listening to classical music or, in Carbondale’s case: jerky and cheddar while listening to Merle Haggard. The entrance to town is perfect just the way it is — a little bit country, a little bit rock and granite. Carbondale is, after all, a working man’s town, and so it’s entirely appropriate that it doesn’t look like much from the inside of a Hummer going 70 miles per hour on Highway 82. The fact that you have to exit the highway and travel a mile or two to actually get to the town part of town has undoubtedly helped protect any historical integrity that remains.

The most recent threat to protecting Carbondale’s history strangely comes from the town itself. The Thompson house is unique, not only to Carbondale, but to the entire Roaring Fork Valley. When you walk through the house it’s as if you climbed into Doc’s DeLorean and traveled through time. The house is chock-full of relics, transporting your imagination back to the lives our ancestors led. Anyone with even a passing interest in the history of this valley and its people will find themselves engrossed in the rich story of our past, and those of us who love history can actually find ourselves lost in time.

As Lew Ron Thompson put it, “We have a turn-key museum, just sitting there all ready to go.”

As you may or may not know, I am the president of the Mt. Sopris Historical Society (at meetings I try to get them to call me El Presidente, but so far no luck.) While wearing my concernedcitizen-and-columnist hat, I can assure you that being a nonprofit with the main focus of preserving Carbondale’s history,

By Jeannie Perry the Historical Society is dedicated to keeping this house in good repair and intact for future generations. Carbondale doesn’t have a classy old hotel, or for that matter any suitable fancy* place to have get-togethers that are bigger than the round table at The Pour House. The Thompson house would be the perfect place to host picnics and parties while preserving our town’s history. Eventually it would pay for itself and then some. I am not the only one in this town who doesn’t prefer the shiny new penny in the fountain.

I’m not pro-development any more than I’m pro-mosquito borne illness, but everywhere I go in the world, there it is. Unless a stray count or the reincarnation of Osgood suddenly shows up, that county island is going to be developed. I’m not saying I want to see RVR Juniors running amok out there, but it beats the heck out of empty commercial buildings.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but “for rent” signs in empty storefronts are tipping the vibrancy scale of our town. (Of course, it could also have something to do with the serious lack of affordable housing, by which I do not mean million-dollar homes.)

If we don’t protect the thread to our past, how on Earth will we form a strong cord to our future? As they say, those who don’t learn from the past are forced to repeat it. Well, I for one think the pioneer days looked really friggin’ hard, and I don’t want to wear a bonnet. I’d much rather dress up like Mary, Queen of Scots, for a murder mystery dinner party at the Thompson house. If we don’t make a concerted effort as a community to protect key pieces of our history then I fear that, just like Mary, we won’t know what we’ve lost until it’s gone.

Ps & Qs

*I’m sure you understand,“fancy”in Carbondale just means you take the time to clean the cow pies off your boots before heading out to join in the festivities.

Letters

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Submit letters via email to letters@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623.

Thank you, good souls of C’dale Dear Editor: At this time of traditional Thanksgiving, I would like to express how much gratitude and appreciation I feel for this outstanding community.

Yes, it has grown and changed and some would say, “It’s not the same.” Change is the only constant and stagnation comes without it.

I can’t effectively express how truly embraced and supported our family has felt by you all. You know who you are and you are the backbone of this valley. I want you to know how grateful and proud I am to be a

part of outstanding conglomerate of souls.

Have a great holiday season and remember the best presents are hugs and expressions of your love!

Donna Liston and family Carbondale

Thank you, from Novel Tea Thank you, thank you, thank you from Novel Tea Books to Bob at the American Legion.

I had almost given up when I couldn't locate any fold-up chairs in town to help me with my book signing (which went very well).

Correction Due to an error in a press release, we incorrectly stated in our Nov. 19 edition that RFTA's Woody Creek shuttle will begin service Dec. 12. It will actually begin operating today, Nov. 26.

In our Nov. 19 edition we incorrectly listed local sculptor Barry Sheehan's Web site as www.barrysheehan.com. It is actually www.barrywsheehan.com. The Sopris Sun regrets the error.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009

Bob, you came through for us and we want you to know that it meant the world to the store and the success of the signing.

Also, Alice Laird, thank you for taking the time to try to help me out as well.

Lori and Jennifer Novel Tea Books

Light up downtown Dear Editor: This is an urgent call for your help for tree lighting during the month of December in the Main Street corridor.

As you all probably are aware, our Town Hall’s budget is in a financially restrictive mode right now. No monies were available this fall to run electric power to some new trees that were planted along west Main Street this summer and fall.

We’re calling on you businesses and you property owners along Main Street, especially in the east and west parts of Main Street, to try and take it upon yourselves to put lights on one or two bushes and/or trees in front of your business or property for the month of December.

If some of you could commit to doing this in December, with the lights Tony Coia, the town lighting specialist, has been busy installing for our community, our Main Street could look dazzling for the holidays! After this latest storm passes there will be some tolerable days to string your lights, but it’s not necessary to plug them in until December.Thanks for all your help with this friendly request.

Happy holidays!

Ron Robertson, Chris Chacos Carbondale Downtown Preservation Association

Thank yous for “Morrie” Dear Editor: Last weekend, Nov. 20, 21 and 22, the Carbondale Rotary Club brought a great event to the valley: the production of “Tuesdays with Morrie,”directed by Wendy Moore and starring Bob Moore and Jon Whitfield.

Both the production and the venue, the Church of Carbondale and its Gathering Center, received rave reviews from all who attended. All the proceeds of the event will go back into the community through the Club’s special community service activities.

Special thanks go out to all who contributed to its success: Alpine Bank for helping to sell tickets, KDNK, The Post Independent, The Aspen Times and The Sopris Sun for great publicity, Church of Carbondale and its staff for being a most generous host, CMC Spring Valley New Space Theater, RFTA, Mandy Moore, Aspen Stage, Sopris Liquor and Wine and City Market for beverages.

Thank you as well to the caterers who contributed to the Friday pre-party event: European Catering, Upper Crust, Smoke, Big Mama’s Catering, Avalanche Cheese Company, The Pour House, Desert Sky Creative Catering and PJ’s Backdoor Catering.

Once again, The Carbondale Rotary Club brought a great event to the community while continuing to raise funds for individuals and nonprofits throughout the Valley, fulfilling its mission of “service above self.”

Thank you to all the Carbondale Rotarians who worked so hard and to all the attendees throughout the community who made this a great and successful three-day event.

Jody Ensign, Carbondale

Ghoulish gratitude

Dear Editor: Roaring Fork Family Resource Centers, Children for a Better World, Dancing Colours Studio and the town of Carbondale Recreation Department want to thank all the participants and supporters of the Halloween Happening in Carbondale. All the preschool kids who attended the kids’ fair had a great time. The grand prize winner of the pumpkin carving was Gary Brown of Carbondale, who won two tickets plus a parking pass to see the Avalanche play in Denver, compliments of Alpine Bank.

Thanks to Alpine Bank and The Colorado Women’s Foundation for sponsoring our event. Also, big thanks to: Dominos, Ace Hardware, Casual Culture, Misers Mercantile, Russets, the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, Dos Gringos, Peppino’s, Phat Thai, The Village Smithy, the Downtown Preservation Association, Aspen Recreation Center,Artists’ Collective,White House Pizza, Blue Salon, Grana Bread Co., Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Two Leaves and a Bud, High Tails, Paradise Art Glass, Kellie Ulrich, Advanced Bodyworks, Skin to Soul Holistic Massage, Salon Sublime, Aria, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, CCAH, City Market, and RFTA. Muchas gracias to our Spellbinder Storytellers: Merrilee Hindman, Jane Jenkins, Richard Lyon, Joanna Rodden, and Sylvia Wendrow and to our judges, Judy Benson, and Laurie Loeb. Thank you to our set designers and gracious helpers: Velma Brown, Pat Henry, Debbie Bruell, Katie Soden, Janet Earley, Nancy Ball, Gary and Jo Ann Brown, Beth and Michael Mulry, Jenny Lindsay, The Dancing Pickle, and Jeff, Cathy and Camy Britt.

All the proceeds from this event will help The Roaring Fork Family Resource Centers with their mission of connecting families, schools and communities to improve health, wellbeing and academic achievement.Thanks to all of you who braved the cold to show off your costumes and play some fun games.

Katie Marshall RFFRC

Sopris Sun THE

The Sopris Sun is an LLC organized under the 501c3 nonprofit structure of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation, Editor: Terray Sylvester • 618-9112 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Anne Goldberg • 379-5050 anne@soprissun.com Reporters: Trina Ortega • Jeremy Heiman Photographer/Writer: Jane Bachrach Copy Editor: Lynn Burton Ad/Page Production: Terri Ritchie Ad Production: Becky Young Paper Boy: Cameron Wiggin Sopris Sun, LLC • P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 www.soprissun.com Visit us on facebook.com

Demand for charity keeps climbing Li-Up service up over 800 percent in Carbondale

By Terray Sylvester The Sopris Sun

As the Roaring Fork Valley rings in the holiday season, some of its neediest residents continue to struggle, and local charities are working hard to keep up – especially in Carbondale, where demand for some services is higher, and has grown more quickly, than in f nearby communities.

Demand began to boom in the middle of last year as the area began to feel the effects of the recession, and according to the staff of Lift-Up, one of the Roaring Fork Valley’s f largest providers for those in need, it has only continued to climb.

Michael Powell, Lift-Up’s director, said that overall, the nonprofit has increased its total services by about 300 percent since the beginning of the year.

Lift-Up provides a variety of services from bus passes and gas vouchers to assistance with prescription medicine, but its staff works hardest to provide food. The nonprofit operates food pantries in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Aspen, New Castle and Parachute, and a soup kitchen in Glenwood Springs.

In 2008, Lift-Up gave away a total of 11,932 sacks of food. So far this year, the nonprofit has handed out more than

Lift-Up volunteer Kathy Buchanan helps patrons at the nonprofit's Thanksgiving food giveaway on Nov. 23. Photo by Terray Sylvester 22,000, Powell said.

And a disproportionate amount of that was distributed in Carbondale.

According to a recent newsletter, between January and October of 2009, LiftUp’s food pantry on Second Street

distributed 800 percent more food than during the same time period in 2008. None of Lift-Up’s other pantries have ramped up service to the same extent.

The food pantry in Parachute saw the next largest increase. Workers at that loca-

tion gave out 307 percent more food. Distribution from the Glenwood Springs pantry increased by 210 percent, stated the newsletter.

Debi Boyle, who coordinates the Carbondale pantry, shook her head in surprise at those numbers, though she has seen the increase first hand.

Boyle said that until the 2008 holiday season, the Carbondale pantry had been serving 10 to 15 families per week. She estimates that she now serves between 15 and 35 families per day, in spite of the fact that a single family is allowed to stop by the food pantry only four times per year.

To explain the high demand in Carbondale, Powell points to a stand-by culprit: Carbondale’s vulnerable population. Carbondale is generally acknowledged to be the home of laborers and service workers who work elsewhere in the valley. When the economy began to tank and the construction industry dried up along with it, these people were the first to feel the hit, and have been hit the hardest.

But the recession has affected others as well.

Cody Foulk, a worker at the Feed My Sheep shelter in Glenwood Springs, said that

LIFT-UP page 17

Teachers see P&Z decision as a sign of support

By Trina Ortega The Sopris Sun

Last Thursday’s decision by Carbondale’s Planning & Zoning Commission to recommend approval of the Roaring Fork School District teacher housing project was more f than a zoning consideration; some local teachers say it was a show of support for their work in the community.

At the Nov. 22 public hearing, P&Z voted 4-1 in support of changes to the school district’s planned unit development, which was originally approved two years ago. RFSD came back in front of P&Z this fall requesting an increase to the number of housing units (from 89 to 120) and to add a community library at the site, among other changes.

P&Z also approved the conceptual development plan at the meeting.

Carbondale Middle School teacher Diana Alcantara said P&Z’s action infers a “certain level of respect and recognition by a nonschool entity.”

“It is a validation of how hard teachers work, their importance to the community, and that we really do need some assistance to be able to afford housing,” Alcantara said.

Alcantara does not own a home and is in her second year at CMS. Like many other teachers, she and her husband are keeping a close eye on the housing market right now.

However, she said that even though prices have leveled, she and her husband still would have to take out a loan with a higher interest rate in order to get a house.

“We have met with a lender, only to find out that we would not even qualify for a loan amount to purchase a house right in Car-

bondale proper, where we most would like to live,” she explained.

As a result, Alcantara is very interested in the teacher housing project. She is hopeful that the Carbondale Board of Trustees — which opens its public hearing on the development on Dec. 8 — will approve the project.

Among some of the more contentious issues likely to be carried into the public hearing with the trustees are open space, parking, traffic impacts, and density, which were also some of the concerns for P&Z member Lorey Esquibel, who cast the dissenting votes.

Designer Chuck Perry of the Denver-based Perry Rose LLC has proposed 120 units on the 15.8-acre site that sits between the Bridges and Third Street centers. Currently, the site includes a district bus barn and a recreational sports field that the RFSD says will be replaced elsewhere in town.

Perry and RFSD Superintendent Judy Haptonstall have said they need the increased dwelling units in order to make the project affordable – on the construction end and for the final price tags.

“We can’t afford to do the project if we can’t put more units on there and that’s really what it came down to,” Haptonstall said.

She added that the P&Z process has made the project better and is confident the trustees will see the merits of the development. Also, the neighborhood will be a “place anybody would love to live,” she stated.

“Our intent was to make sure that whatever we were able to create was a place that any of us would want to live in, as well.”

Although Esquibel acknowledged that the town’s comprehensive plan identifies the area

as high density, she felt the number of units was too high, stating: “While the comp plan might heavily suggest that more density go into center of town, the question is: How much density? … For me, it’s not a question of whether or not it meets the comp plan but is this amount of density appropriate?”

“It is a validation of how hard teachers work, their importance to the community, and that we really do need some assistance to be able to afford housing.”

Diana Alcantara Teacher, Carbondale Middle School

Commissioner Bill Spence said the discussion really is about the health of public schools.

“Without the continuity of excellent teachers in our school system, because they can’t afford to live here, we’re disadvantaging ourselves,” he said.

The project will provide housing on a priority basis for RFSD teachers and staff who

work in Carbondale, Basalt and Glenwood Springs; Garfield County employees and town employees. Housing then would be open for purchase by the wider community.

Garfield County employees are on the priority list because the county recently committed just under $1 million to the project.

Teacher Alcantara and colleague Lisa Dameron of Crystal River Elementary School believe the project is essential to helping teachers stay in the valley.

Dameron, a third-grade teacher, has been struggling to find affordable housing for a long time. She currently rents an apartment in Carbondale but because the recession has forced prices down, she said she might finally be able to find a reasonable condo in town.

“Although there are rental opportunities in the valley, teachers are looking to permanently settle here,” Dameron said.

Without employee housing, she believes the district would be looking at a “neverending wave” of new teachers. However, “veteran teachers are integral to the longterm success and achievement of students,” she said.

“Living in the same community where I teach makes me feel more invested in the process of educating its youth. I like to envision my students as future citizens that will be continuing to help Carbondale thrive long after I’m retired,” Dameron said.

And Alcantara said it’s also about making sure teachers can be rooted, too.

“A part of feeling connected and rooted in a community is the ability to own your own home. It is an investment in yourself and your family's future,” she said.

THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 3

News Briefs The Bonedale News Brief The Sopris Sun and the KDNK news department team up each week to discuss recent news from the Roaring Fork Valley. Catch the Brief on KDNK at 7:50 a.m. and at 5:50 p.m. on Thursdays, or find it online at KDNK.org.

Clay Center names interim co-directors The board of directors of the Carbondale Clay Center announced early this week that they have selected Sarah Moore and K Cesark as interim co-directors of the Center.

A press release stated that Moore and Cesark will share administrative duties at the Center. Both are ceramic artists and former board members. They have been voluntarily directing the Center while the board searches for a new director.

Moore has a background in business and will handle the financial and operational aspects of the Center. Cesark has an MFA in ceramics and experience as a curator and educator. She will handle the ceramics courses, visiting artist workshops, artist exhibitions and curatorial duties in the Clay Center gallery.

Work at Main and Snowmass Drive postponed When Carbondale town officials undertook to reconfigure the dangerous intersection of Main Street, Snowmass Drive, County Road 100 and the RFTA bike path, they knew it would involve digging in the ground a bit.

But it didn’t occur to them that it would also involve digging into the history of the intersection as far back as the 1880s.

Carbondale Public Works Director Larry Ballenger said after the town received permission from Garfield County to work on 100 Road, which is within the county’s jurisdiction, the town had the intersection surveyed. This was because the county wanted the town to annex the portion of the intersection not already within Carbondale. The survey crew was unable to find corner markers, so research on the property boundaries was required.

The descriptions of neighboring properties simply say the property extends to the county right of way, which is no help at all.

So now, the county is researching the legal descriptions of the right of way owned by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, which preceded RFTA in ownership of what’s now the trail corridor. The D&RGW reached Aspen in 1887, by way of Carbondale.

“It’s going slower than what I thought,” Ballenger said. “Apparently, Garfield County’s filing system isn’t any better than mine.”

The Roaring Fork Valley’s Largest Liquor Store has the valley’s Greatest Selection along with Volume Buying/ Discount Pricing!

“It will be spring before we start,” he said. Asphalt is unavailable in winter, and winter concrete work requires so much additional heating and labor that it wouldn’t be practical, even if the right of way issues could be solved before spring.

NEWS BRIEFS page 16

Cop Shop Tuesday, Nov. 17 A police officer cited 31 cars on Wheel Circle, Wheel Drive and Barber Drive for parking infractions.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 At 3:40 p.m., police inspected a vehicle on South Fourth Street in which someone appeared to be living. Sure enough, a man was living inside it and there was a warrant for his arrest, to boot. Police informed him of Carbondale’s new ordinance that limits the amount of time a person can spend in a recreational vehicle.

Then they took him to jail.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 At 4:03 p.m., a woman reported that she had lost her wallet, probably in the vicinity of the Family Dollar store on Highway 133.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 At 6:24 p.m. two cars collided at the intersection of Main Street and Cowen Drive. One car remained on the scene; the other motored off toward Highway 82.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 At 7:30 p.m. a fender bender occurred at the intersection of Main and Eighth streets. No one was injured.

Thursday, Nov. 19 At 12:30 a.m, someone tried, and failed, to enter a house on Roaring Fork Avenue. The resident of the house called the police, but no suspicious parties could be found.

Thursday, Nov. 19 At 9:30 a.m., a man reported three dogs running loose on Euclid Avenue. One of the pooches had him worried, since it was a pit bull. Carbondale police caught one member of the pack, but the other two escaped.

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SOPRIS LIQUOR & WINE 1026 Highway 133, Carbondale SE Corner of Main St & Hwy 133 4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009

1st Annual Arts and Crafts Fair Basalt High School December 5th and 6th 9am to 4pm • Free Admission • Donations accepted • Shopping • Food • Kids Activities • Santa Claus • Magic Show • Entertainment and Music for all Ages • 20+ Local Professional Artisans

Economic stimu-what?

Carbondale’s economic rejuvenation plan is taking off, but how does it work?

By Terray Sylvester, The Sopris Sun Radio broadcasts? A handful of raffles? A $30,000 investment from the town? And, glowing on the horizon, an electric car for one lucky winner?

After about three months of planning, Carbondale’s “Go Green – Get green” economic rejuvenation campaign kicked off in earnest last Monday, Nov. 16. More than 100 Carbondale businesses began to hand out raffle tickets on Monday. Then, on Friday, Nov. 20, KDNK began broadcasting live updates on the impending drawing. By late afternoon,

the first batch of ticket stubs had been hauled over to the Chamber of Commerce office on Cowen Drive, and that evening a few members of the coalition behind the campaign selected the winners of the first set of prizes.

Carbondale resident Bob Olenick won the big prize: a set of tires and an oil change, all of it reportedly as friendly to the earth as a set of tires and an oil change can be. Other folks won a RFTA passes, $100 of “Carbondale cash,” a membership to the community food co-op, and more.

That’s all very exciting, but with more

START HERE

How to play: VISIT ANY OR ALL OF THE

makes a purchase.

Fill out the stub. Drop it in the box. Move on to step two.

prizes on the way, some Carbondale residents are asking, how does it all work? How do we play?

Well, let The Sopris Sun shine a little light.

Step 2: Enjoy the game

Step 1: Find yourself a ticket

Four raffles remain before the grand prize drawing on Feb. 20. Each ticket will be entered in the next scheduled raffle, and in the final drawing. The drawings themselves will be held during celebrations at local businesses, and those who stop by the celebrations can take advantage of extra prizes and store specials.

As of last Friday, 110 Carbondale businesses – from architects to cafes, banks to bike shops – were giving away raffle tickets.

The tickets are intended to be a fine incentive to shop locally, but anyone who walks in through a shop’s door is eligible for one ticket per day, regardless of whether he or she

DEC. 5 Drawing

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Jan. 23 Drawing

DEC. 19 Drawing

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Feb. 20 Grand Prize Drawing

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Design by Terri Ritchie. Photographs by Jane Bachrach THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 5

The

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Scuttlebutt Send your scuttlebutt to Scuttlebutt@SoprisSun.com.

Ron Robertson Update This update on Ron’s condition comes from Carbondalian Dr. Mark Cook who went to visit Ron at the hospital in Denver last weekend. Mark reported that, on Friday, Ron underwent his eighth surgery in another attempt to help clean out his system. Mark was quite impressed with Ron’s surgical team, who said, “Ron is a fighter.”

Go Ron! Keep up the fight so you can come home sooner rather than later. Mark also said that Ron was able to make it through most of the DVD filmed at the Rotary club meeting last week, and that Ron “loved it.”

The scuttlebutt on Sagitarians (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) There aren’t necessarily more Sagitarians in Carbondale than there are, for example Virgos or Aries, but you might think there are because Sagitarians are so vocal. They’re vocal about the fact that it’s their birthday and that they’re a “Sag” – as if their sign is better than any other.

Why are they so vocal? Our shrink has a hypothesis that Sagitarians feel they’ve been cheated because their birthdays are so close to the holidays. Due to the number of family gatherings and parities during the holidays, their birthdays don’t seem quite so special. This is in addition to the fact that Sagitarians on the whole don’t receive as many gifts as most of us do, so they feel it necessary to advertise their birthdays. We were advised to try and understand where they’re coming from. If you live with one, or know one, hopefully this will help you too.

Some of the Sagitarians around now include: Ruby Kimberly, Kat Rich, Ro Mead, Carol Craven, John Stroud, Amy Kimberly, Lisa Speaker, Leslie Johnson, Bob Johnson, Bill Laemmel, Holly Gressett and Lynn Burton. Happy Birthday to all!

We’ll tell you about more of them next week.

Working on the Front Range, for the frontrunner A former Carbondale resident can now be found working for the Republican frontrunner in Colorado’s gubernatorial race. She has also moved to Denver.

That former Carbondale resident is Liz Beerman, and the GOP’s gubernatorial frontrunner is Glenwood’s own Scott McInnis.

Beerman first moved to Glenwood Springs in 1971, then to Cattle Creek in 1976 and Carbondale in 1981 before leaving for Denver in 1990. In Carbondale she worked stints as director of admissions at Colorado Rocky Mountain School and as president of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. These days, Beerman lives in Denver where she does independent contract work, and one of her contracts is serving as director of operations on McInnis’s gubernatorial campaign. “I helped Scott during his first two (congressional) campaigns on the Western Slope and was eager to help him with his run at the governor's position,“ Beerman said in an e-mail interview with Scuttlebutt. “I do believe he is what Colorado needs now to help us with the economic, education, and transportation messes we have ourselves in.”

Stay tuned for Beerman updates as the campaign continues.

Gobble?

Photo by Jane Bachrach

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(970) 963-3380

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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009

Residents weigh growth, other issues, at county comprehensive plan meeting

By Jeremy Heiman The Sopris Sun At a sparsely attended public meeting Saturday morning, a diverse group of 16 area residents provided equally diverse feedback regarding their thoughts on the course of development in Garfield County.

Planning consultant Jeff Winston shepherded the group through a pair of opinion-gathering exercises in an informal get-together at Carbondale Town Hall. Winston’s Boulderbased firm, Winston Associates, has contracted with the county to manage the process of updating the county’s comprehensive plan, which was last modified about a decade ago.

Garfield County Long Range Planner Tamra Allen said it is typical for communities to update their comprehensive plans about every five years.

Similar meetings to gather public input were held in the other five communities in the county last week.

The county’s comprehensive plan is a document that records the desires of the public and is used to give officials general direction on such questions as where particular types of development are appropriate.

“Somebody on the Planning and Zoning Commission said the other day, ‘This is the people’s plan,’” Winston told the group. “We want your fingerprints all over this document,” he said.

The process is extraordinarily important, he said, because population in Garfield County has been growing at a rapid 4.5 percent per year.

In addition to where growth occurs, the comprehensive plan will influence county decisions that affect water quality,

resource use, agriculture, county roads, housing and transportation issues.

In the first exercise, Winston gathered participants’ opinions on a variety of issues. They voiced solid support for enhanced public transit and affordable housing.

A significant proportion of participants responded that growth should be managed. Some were concerned that growth would infringe on wildlife habitat and impact water quality. A little over half of the group suggested that growth should occur as infill in existing towns.

Half the participants said that Garfield County should support agriculture, and more than half supported preservation of open space and new trail construction.

About a quarter of participants opined that Garfield County should broaden its economic base.

For the second exercise, the participants sat at tables, and on each table was a map of the eastern sector of Garfield County, an area bordered by Eagle County on the east, New Castle on the west, Pitkin County to the south, and an arbitrary boundary north of Glenwood Springs.

Participants were to place game pieces representing residential and commercial development on the map where they thought each type of growth is appropriate. Winston informed the players that it is likely that as many as 3,000 new dwellings would be desired in the map area during the coming years.

All three groups called for the addition of 960 or more residential units within Carbondale. But from there, they diverged.

The players at Table 1 put 640 dwellings, some commer-

cial development and a school just west of Highway 82 at Cattle Creek. They placed 320 residences and some commercial development at CMC’s Spring Valley campus, where school officials have recently suggested expanding to a fouryear curriculum.

“At least we’re going off of things that already exist in the community,” said Sean Martin, one of the participants.

They called for 480 dwellings at Sunlight Mountain Resort, along with some commercial development, and added residences at Ironbridge and on the Bershenyi/Martino ranches just south of Glenwood Springs, even though Garfield County rejected a development application there in 2007.

Participants at Table 2 had different priorities. Their map had sparser development outside of town limits, and more commercial development in Glenwood Springs.

This group also worked with the possibilities of clustered rural development.

“Right now, there’s a wonderful, rural feeling up on Missouri Heights,” said Kit Strang, a Table 2 participant.

Table 3 had more green area, signifying preserved open space, than the others. It had no residential development in far-flung areas such as Sunlight or the CMC campus.

This group placed 800 residential units in South Glenwood Springs, and 120 residences at the CMC turnoff between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, with the addition of some commercial development.

Colin Laird, at Table 3, said their recommendations for commercial development were “kind of focused, recognizing where it is now.”

Thank you to all of our loyal customers!

äÎxä } Ü>Þ £ÎÎ U >ÀL `> i U Çä ÈÎ Îä{ä U ÜÜÜ°> « iL> °V Member FDIC THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 7

Students aim to install disc golf course at RFHS

By Trina Ortega The Sopris Sun Two students at Roaring Fork High School are “going for the hole” on a proposal to design and install a disc golf course at the school.

Seniors Wylie Adams and David Ackerman are working on a plan to install a nine-hole course with concrete tees and steel baskets.

They hope to have it constructed before the school year is over next spring.

“We’ve had some tentative ideas for a while,” Adams said. “We figure with a little more energy, we can make it happen.”

Both Adams and Ackerman “play a bunch” locally at the Colorado Mountain College course on the Spring Valley Campus. They also frequent the new course in New Castle and the alpine course on Snowmass Mountain.

Disc golf is similar to the traditional game but uses a small Frisbee-like disc instead of a ball and clubs. The “hole” is a steel basket with chains. The player tries to put the disc in the basket in the fewest number of throws.

The RFHS course would be open to the public and offer a close-to-home option for those interested in trying the sport and for more advanced players as well, Adams explained.

“This would be another course, something different that’s harder than Bert and Ernie [Gianinetti Park] but closer than CMC,” Adams said. As a competitor in tournaments statewide, Adams has played courses in Denver, Grand Junction and Frisco.

Ackerman additionally has played a number of disc golf courses, including a couple in Phoenix and Flagstaff, Ariz.

They agreed that playing other courses has

Wylie Adams, a senior at Roaring Fork High School, is working with school mate David Ackerman to raise money for, design and build a nine-hole disc golf course at the school.

Photo by Trina Ortega helped them learn firsthand what defines a good tee and basket. There has to be variety from hole to hole, with different lengths and different obstacles.

“You don’t want to just build a course and not have it flow,”Adams said.“The point is to get as many people interested as possible.”

Their personal favorite is the No. 2 hole on the CMC course. The CMC course itself is spectacular. With stunning views of Capitol Peak, Mt. Sopris and the Elk Range, a round

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of 18 holes will take you up and down ravines covered in sweet-smelling sage, juniper and pinon. The tee for hole No. 2 sits roughly 75 feet above a wide depression. The basket is about 200 feet away on the hillside on the opposite end. If your aim is right and the wind isn’t against you, you can sail a disc across the gap and lay up right below the basket.

“It’s a really good feeling to watch your throw go really far,” Ackerman said, daydreaming about that hole. Additionally, he

said it’s better for teenagers to be outside, walking, instead of holed up playing video games.

Looking out the school’s library window toward a hillside outside, Ackerman described how it would be good to have a tee at the top of the hill so a drive could sail down toward the north to the basket.

The students have not completed the layout and design for the course. Their next step is to raise some money to fund the construction. So they are polishing their professional skills by writing a campaign letter to local businesses. They also plan to apply for grants to help defray the costs.

Although the numbers are preliminary, they have estimated each tee and basket to cost between $450 and $600.

Once they’ve raised the money, Adams said they will hold a community work day in the spring, with the hope of having students and community volunteers pitch in to make the course a reality.

“I’d like to get it done before the summer so we can play a few rounds before we leave for college,” said Ackerman, who will be applying for schools out of state. Adams, on the other hand, plans to stay close to home for college but also envisions having a course built by summer.

Adams said the experience of planning the course has been a good challenge so far and it will be especially rewarding to see people install the course and play it.

“It’d be really fulfilling to see people out there on the course,” he said, then added, “It’s a family game, too, so it could get them out there and get them active.”

A pre-anksgiving feast Left: A gorgeous gobbler. Photo by Jane Bachrach Below: Students, siblings, teachers and families gathered at Carbondale Town Hall on Tuesday to celebrate Ross Montessori's annual Thanksgiving feast. Photo by Jane Bachrach

There were plenty of smiles at the Ross Motessori School Thanksgiving feast on Tuesday. Photos

by Jane Bachrach

THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 9

Community Calendar

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is 5 p.m.

Friday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.

THANKSGIVING Nov. 26

PRESCHOOL PIX • Aspen Film presents the best in children's books on video for kids 3 to 6 years old at 10:15 a.m. at the Children’s Rocky Mountain School, 1493 106 Road, Bar Fork A. Spanish-language videos will be offered at 10:45 a.m. More info: 963-2524.

LIBRARY CLOSED • All six branches of the Garfield County Public Library District will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, in honor of Thanksgiving. Normal library hours will resume at 10 a.m., Nov. 27.

Further Out

FRIDAY Nov. 27 MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre shows “A Christmas Carol” (PG) at 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 27-Dec. 3, “Amelia” (PG-13) at 5:15 p.m., Nov. 27-28 and “Coco Before Chanel” (PG-13) at 5:15 p.m. Nov. 29. Closed Nov. 26 for Thanksiving.

SATURDAY Nov. 28 BOOK SIGNING • Novel Tea bookstore at 449 Main Street will host a book signing with Meredith Ogilby, author of “Voices of the American West,” from 6-8 p.m. More info: 963-2617.

MUSICAL FOOD DRIVE • Bring 10 nonperishable food items to Glenwood Music at 715 Cooper Avenue in Glenwood Springs and receive a free guitar re-string or 10 percent off a purchase. Food drive benefits LiftUp and lasts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More info: 928-8628.

CRIMSON PUB • The Wind Walkers’ therapeutic riding program holds its annual Crimson Pub fundraising event at 6:30 p.m. at Cedar Ridge Ranch on Missouri Heights.

Catered pub fare, live entertainment, and“the world’s most practical”silent auction.Adults, $40; children aged 6-16, $10. More info: 963-2909.

Dec. 3-5 SUNDAY Nov. 29 SPIRITUAL SPEAKER • Kimberlie Chenoweth will speak at 10 a.m. at A Spiritual Center at 695 Buggy Circle. More info: 963-5516.

LIVE POETRY • The Hotel Lenado in Aspen will host live music with Smokin’ Joe Kelly, an open mic for poets, and special guest poet Bruce Berger from 7:30-10 p.m. Info: (970) 379-2136.

TUESDAY Dec. 1 MAKE SOAP • Rock Bottom Ranch continues its Traditional Arts Series with Soap Making from 5:30-8 p.m. Create olive oil soap accented with texture and essential oils at 2001 Hooks Spur Rd. in Basalt. Registration: 927-6760. Info: aspennature.org.

WEDNESDAY Dec. 2 PIZZA TUNES • Dave Notor will play bluegrass at its finest from 7-10 p.m. at White House Pizza, 801 Main Court. No cover.

More info: 704-9400.

Rock Bottom Ranch

Traditional Arts Series Tuesdays, 5:30-8pm

Soap Making: December 1st Candle Making: December 8th Spinning and Knitting: January 12th Wool-dyeing and Knitting I: January 26 Wool-dyeing and Knitting II: February 9th

970.927.6760 s aspennature.org

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009

THEATRE • Thunder River Theatre Company presents “Visiting Mr. Green,” a comedy by Jeff Baron. A preview will be staged Dec. 3. Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m., all other performances start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets and more info: thunderrivertheatre.com or 963-8200.

Dec. 3 OPEN STUDIO • Clay artist Frank McGuirk and basketmaker Karen Aldredge will host an open studio on Dec. 3 in Aspen Glen. Show will feature handcrafted gifts by local artists. Email fmcguirk@designmosiac.com in advance to attend.

ECO-GODDESS TUNES • Eco-Goddess Edibles at 335 Main Street presents live music with Lyndsay Knox of Nebraska from 7-9 p.m. Lyndsay works wonders on the keyboard. No cover. More info: 963-7316.

CLIMBING WALL FUNDRAISER • To raise funds for a new climbing wall, Carbondale Middle School will screen a film about an Aspen local who skied Mt. Everest 7 p.m. in the CMS auditorium. Adults, $7. Children 12 and under, $5.

Dec. 4-5 SYMPHONY • Symphony in the Valley presents Beethoven’s triple concerto for piano, violin and cello at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 at Glenwood Springs High School, and at 5 p.m., Dec. 5, at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen. More info and ticket prices: SymphonyInTheValley.org.

HOLIDAY SHOW • Local artists will host the Whimsical Women of the West Annual Holiday Show from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, and from 9-4 p.m. on Saturday, at 432 North Eighth Street. Jewelry, vintage collectibles, fine art, baked and preserved goods, photography, fiber and folk art, cards, natural holiday decor. A portion of sales will benefit the Carbondale Bread Oven Project.

More info: 963-0977.

Dec. 4 BOOK SIGNING • Novel Tea bookstore at 449 Main Street offers a book reading and signing with Charlotte Graham, author of the new book, “Memoirs of a River … Up the Crystal: People and Places of the Crystal River Valley.” More info: 963-2617.

TREE LIGHTING • Carbondale's annual tree lighting with caroling and marshmallow toasting will be held at Fourth and Main streets, 5:30 - 8 p.m. Santa will be on hand to listen to children’s wishes.

FIRST FRIDAY • The First Friday art walk will take place from about 6-9 p.m. Galleries and businesses will host artist receptions and extended hours.

FURTHER OUT next page

Further Out continued om previous page Dec. 4

HOLIDAY BAZAAR • The ďŹ rst annual Holiday Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Crystal Meadows Senior Housing on Hendrick Dr. Hand-crafted gifts, home made baked goods and other food presented by the senior residents. More info: 963-9326.

Dec. 5 WINTERFAIRE • The Waldorf School on the Highway 82 frontage road one half mile east of Catherine Store hosts a celebration with craft making, puppet plays and storytime for children. CafÊ Waldorf, holiday shopping, a sweet shoppe, live music and more. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info: waldorfcarbondale.org.

Dec. 7 ECO-GODDESS TUNES • Eco-Goddess Edibles at 335 Main Street presents Karen and Mateo playing live music after the Carbondale gathering of native elders and wiseones from 6-9 p.m. No cover. More info: 963-7316.

Dec. 8-9 HANDEL’S MESSIAH • The Aspen/Glenwood Community Chorus presents Handel’s Messiah in Glenwood Springs at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 9 at United Methodist Church, 824 Cooper Ave. Tickets $10.

Dec. 8 TRUSTEES MEET • The Carbondale Board of Trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

GIFT WORKSHOP • Dancing Colours at 968 Main Street holds a holiday earring workshop from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Create two pairs of holiday earrings from a plethora of

Ongoing

festive beads, pearls and crystals. More info: 963-2965.

p.m. Tickets and more info: thunderrivertheatre.com or 963-8200.

Dec. 9

Dec. 16

ROTARY SPEAKER • The Rotary Club of Carbondale will host a presentation by Avtar Perault of the Carbondale Food Co-op.

Weekly meeting starts at 6:45 a.m. at the ďŹ re station building at 645 Meadowood Drive.

More info: Jay Leavitt, (970) 379-1436.

GIFT WORKSHOP • Dancing Colours at 968 Main Street offers the ďŹ rst night of an “Artfeltâ€? holiday ornaments workshop from 6:30-9 p.m. Make felt birds on the ďŹ rst evening, then embellish them with beads, sequins and glimmering threads on Dec. 14.

More info: 963-2965.

Dec. 10 P&Z MEETING • The Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

GIFT WORKSHOP • Dancing Colours at 968 Main Street offers a LuminArte Ornaments workshop from 6:30-9 p.m. Create luminescent color combinations on clear glass balls. More info: 963-2965.

Dec. 11-12 MESSIAH • The Aspen/Glenwood Community Chorus presents Handel’s Messiah in Aspen at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 12 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 533 East Main Street. Tickets are $10.

Dec. 11-13 THEATRE • Thunder River Theatre Company presents “Visiting Mr. Green,â€? a comedy by Jeff Baron. Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m., all other performances start at 7:30

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GIFT WORKSHOP â&#x20AC;˘ Dancing Colours at 968 Main Street offers a workshop in making glass dome paperweights from 6:30-9 p.m. $35. More info: 963-2965.

Dec. 17-19

WEIGHT-LOSS CLASS â&#x20AC;˘ Principles of Effective Weight Loss meets at 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays, at the Carbondale Recreation Center. Minimal fees. More info: Valerie Gilliam, (970) 948-5877 or githens@sopris.net.

THEATRE â&#x20AC;˘ Thunder River Theatre Company presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Visiting Mr. Green,â&#x20AC;? a comedy by Jeff Baron. Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m., all other performances start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets and more info: thunderrivertheatre.com or 963-8200.

Dec. 21-23 WILDLIFE CLASSES â&#x20AC;˘ The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and the Aspen Art Museum present â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where do Animals Go When it Snows?â&#x20AC;?, a three-day exploration of winter animal habits. Students will respond with art projects. Each day has a different focus. Sessions last from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at 100 Puppy Smith Street. Space is limited.

Register at aspennature.org, or call 925-5756.

Dec. 21 BASKETBALL SIGNUPS â&#x20AC;˘ This is the deadline for registration for the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball league at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center. Play begins Jan. 3. Full payment is required to reserve a spot in the league. More info: 704-4115.

Dec. 22 TRUSTEES MEET â&#x20AC;˘ The Carbondale Board of Trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Carbondale Town Hall.

CHORUS REHEARSAL â&#x20AC;˘ Rehearsals for Handel's Messiah will be lead by Ray Adams, Director of Aspen/Glenwood Community Chorus, from 6-8 p.m. Mondays at United Methodist Church, 824 Cooper Ave. Glenwood Springs. Rehearsals will also be held in Aspen on Sundays at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, 533 Main St.

SUICIDE SUPPORT â&#x20AC;˘ Support group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs at 824 Cooper Street. For more information, call Pam Szedelyi at 945-1398 or email at pamsz@sopris.net.

REFORMERS UNANIMOUS â&#x20AC;˘ Reformers Unanimous, a faith-based program for those who are struggling with addiction, meets at 7 p.m., Fridays, at Crystal River Baptist Church, 2632 Highway 133. Info: 963-3694.

DANCE CLASSES â&#x20AC;˘ Learn African and Caribbean dances with live drummers and fun rhythms. All ages and abilities welcome. $10. Mondays from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Carbondale Community School, 1505 Satank Road. Call Steve at 379-8422 with questions.

GIFT WORKSHOPS â&#x20AC;˘ A variety of affordable, multi-session holiday gift workshops focusing on pottery, silver smithing and other arts are available at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts through mid-December.

Info: 945-2414. glenwoodarts.org/classes.

Holiday Open House Friday, December 4, 4 to 8:30 pm Sign up NOW for Holiday Gift Making Classes! dancingcoloursstudio.com

963.2965 968 Main Street, Carbondale â&#x20AC;˘ Tues â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sat 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 pm

BOOK SIGNING Novel-Tea

BOOKS

Welcomes

MEREDITH OGILBY â&#x20AC;&#x153;Voices of the American Westâ&#x20AC;?

Saturday, November 28th 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Join us for refreshments and good conversation

449 Main St. â&#x20AC;˘ 970-963-2617 â&#x20AC;˘ novelteabooks@comcast.net THE SOPRIS SUN â&#x20AC;˘ NOVEMBER 26, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ 11

Community Briefs School seeks lunchtime volunteers Crystal River Elementary School is seeking volunteers to help with the school’s lunch program. Volunteers are needed to help students at the salad bar, since children are often too small to reach across the salad bar. The children also need help choosing sensibly sized portions and remembering to punch in their lunch credit numbers.

“It’s really a fun time to teach a bit about nutrition,” said Julie Wiley, the classroom support parent coordinator for the Parent Teacher Organization.

Cafeteria volunteers are needed from 11 a.m. to noon each day throughout the school year. Volunteers can also set a schedule on a daily or weekly basis. English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parents are encouraged to volunteer.

For more information or to sign up for a volunteer shift, call Amanda Brooke at 309-1933.

RFHS traveler’s club hosts fundraisers The World Travelers Club at Roaring Fork High School is fundraising this school year to earn enough money to travel to Europe this summer. In December, the club will raffle off gift baskets, sell used winter gear and toys and wrap gifts. All events take place at the high school, south of town on Highway 133.

Tickets for the gift-basket raffle will be on sale on Dec. 3, 4 and 5 during the Brenda Patch Memorial Tournament. The baskets will contain numerous items.

The winter garage sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 12. The club will be accepting donations of gently-used winter gear and items appropriate for Christmas gifts, such as toys.

The club will wrap gifts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 19.

For more information, contact Jon Nell Loux-Reeds at (970) 379-5744, or call RFHS at (970) 385-5757.

Whimsical holiday gifts

Shop Local and Support Community Radio ON THE AIR Monday November 30 Thursday, December 3, 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, December 12, 10 a.m. - noon

SILENT AUCTION AND HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE at the Village Smithy on First Friday, December 4, 6 - 8 p.m.

Register NOW to Bid during the on-air closeouts Call 963-0139 Auction Catalog at KDNK or KDNK.org 88.1, 88.3, 88.5FM 12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009

Local artists will peddle their crafts at the Whimsical Women of the West Annual Holiday Show from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 4, and then again from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 5. The show will include jewelry, vintage collectibles, fine art, baked and preserved goods, photography, cards, natural holiday decor, and fiber and folk art. A press release promises this will be a “wonderful, whimsical, winter wonderland event.” A percentage of sales will benefit the Carbondale Bread Oven Project. The show will be held at 432 North Eighth Street. For more information, call 963-0977.

Art Briefs TRTC to stage “Visiting Mr. Green” The Thunder River Theatre Company will stage “Visiting Mr. Green,” by Jeff Baron, during three weekends in December.

A TRTC press release describes the play as “delicately funny, compact and compelling.”

According to a press release, Jeff Baron is “one of the world’s most-produced playwrights in the past decade, with well over 300 productions in 22 languages in 37 countries.”

The play itself is one of Baron’s best known, and has earned accolades in Israel, Mexico, Greece, Uruguay and Turkey. It was nominated for awards in France, Argentina and Austria.

The play tells the tale of Mr. Green, an elderly gentleman who wanders into New York City traffic and is almost hit by a car driven by a young executive. As a form of community service, the young man must help Mr. Green for six months, and there the story begins. Neither wants to be with the other, but they both learn to care deeply about one another.

TRTC member Richard Lyon plays Mr. Green. Gerald DeLisser plays the young executive. The play is directed by Brad Moore.

“Mr. Green” will play Dec. 3-5, 11-13, and 17-19 at the TRTC playhouse at 67 Promenade. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. except the Sunday matinee, which plays at 2 p.m. The Dec. 3 performance is a preview. Tickets and more info: thunderrivertheatre.com or 963-8200.

Grand Illumination comes to Redstone Tomorrow, Redstone will host a not-to-be-missed, local’s-favorite holiday event. The town’s annual Grand Illumination will include a precession by Santa Claus down Redstone Boulevard, the town’s traditional tree lighting, caroling and a bonfire. All the shops will be open and serve refreshments.

During the Illumination, The Redstone Art Center will hold an opening to feature artist Barbara Sophia. Sophia splits her time between Colorado and Hawaii and makes glass jewelry and silk scarves and kimonos. Her glasswork has been influenced by the glassblowers of Murano, Italy, who fashion translucent, colorful glass beads flecked with gold or copper. Sophia calls her line of jewelry, “Makawalu,” which is a Hawaii concept for abundance in one’s own thinking, and the capacity to draw from one’s own resourcefulness to honor the beauty around us.

The opening will be held from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Redstone Art Center, 173 Redstone Blvd. Sophia’s work will remain on display until Jan. 31.

Pressure to sell diminished, but still present continued om page 1 sell. If they have an old trailer out of compliance with codes, they’re barred from moving it elsewhere. If they have a new trailer, good luck finding a place to move it to.

“When somebody sees what comparable properties sell for, they see the underlying value of the land could be unlocked by redevelopment,” Hassig said. “That’s the risk.”

Hassig said he favors a system of conversion to allow trailer owners to buy the spaces their homes sit on. It’s worked upvalley at places like the Smuggler trailer park and Woody Creek, where trailer owners become landowners in what becomes deed-restricted affordable housing.

Even with two years, he figured, residents would never find another place in the valley they could afford.

“I said,‘We just can’t do this,’” Cooley said. “The people in the park were very nervous about getting kicked out and I didn’t blame them.”

Pressure to sell Given the struggling real estate market, the pressure to sell these trailer parks has diminished, but it hasn’t gone away.

“I’m less worried now than I might have been three or four years ago,” said Carbondale Mayor Michael Hassig.

Hassig said he sees trailer parks as an important part of the valley’s housing picture. Unlike formal, deed-restricted affordable housing, trailers don’t come with income qualifications and appreciation caps that keep housing accessible to people who can’t afford the free market.

But because buyers just own the trailers, not the land underneath, mobile homes have been insulated from real estate prices that have driven real estate out of reach for many valley residents.

“The American Dream is always that you move through that spectrum,” Hassig said. “You may start out as a single person renting a place to live. But the expectation historically has always been that you get a better apartment, you buy a condo, you figure out a way to buy a

Affordable – with a yard Hector Bailon stands outside his mobile home in Garfield Court, where he has lived for 15 years. “It’s a quiet place,” says Bailon, who owns two other trailers that he rents out.

“I don’t have any problems with anyone.” Photo by David Frey

house when the kids come along and so forth. My adult life has been followed from living in a cabin in the woods that didn’t have running water or heat in my hippie days to owning a house in town with a unit in back that I rent to someone who needs a place to rent.”

In the past two decades, though, Hassig said, valley housing prices have skyrocketed but wages haven’t kept pace,

leaving many unable to jump into the market.

Mobile homes have their downsides, though. Aging trailers can become barely habitable. Since residents typically don’t own the land, the properties can become eyesores if residents don’t take care of them. And trailer parks sit on shaky ground. Tenants can find themselves pushed out if the landowners decide to

Jacob and Becky Coski say they’d welcome the idea, too. Before they moved in, they were a little reluctant about calling a trailer home. Since then, they’ve become hooked.

It has its problems. On a cold November morning, Jacob pulls his Prius into their driveway loaded with a box of heat tape after the pipes froze overnight.

“I think a lot of people do have a bias towards trailer parks,” he said. Their park is about 90 percent Latino, he estimates, and that’s been a source of sometimes unspoken concerns among acquaintances, unTRAILERS page 14

THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 13

Trailers continued om page 13 masking racial undercurrents that often remain unseen.

It’s not a problem for them. The two speak Spanish and attend Spanish church service. They’ve become close friends with their neighbors. Their 2-year-old daughter Sofie plays with neighboring children and watches Spanish TV shows.

It was the “trailer” part of trailer park living they worried about, but they’ve transformed the space into another world. The kitchen counter is trendy poured concrete. Stylish low-watt lights hang from the ceiling.

Fresh bread sits on the butcher-block island in the kitchen beside organic butter as Jacob presses ground espresso into the stainless steel machine.

Outside, they’ve laid down new sod, a new garden and a sprinkler system.

“I feel like it’s this little secret that nobody knows about,” Becky says. “You can have affordable living in Carbondale – with a yard.”

The Coskis see trailer living not just as affordable, but sustainable. The construction uses few materials; the trailers are reusable; and because they’re more affordable, they’re easier to maintain, even in lean times.

Becky is a masseuse at the St. Regis hotel in Aspen.

Jacob runs a power washing business and strings together handyman work.

Instead of dropping thousands of dollars each month on a mortgage, they pay about $1,000 for space rental and utilities. They paid $50,000 for the trailer and put in about another $20,000 in improvements. If they sold, they figure, they’d have enough for a down payment on a home. Except, they don’t want to sell.

Stepping stone or stopping point?

“We would love to own our own house,” Jacob said,

14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009

Jacob and Becky Coski stand with their 2-year-old daughter Sofie in their remodeled mobile home at Mountain Valley Mobile Home Park. Reluctant mobile home owners at first, they have come to love their trailer. “The fact is, every town needs affordable living,” Becky says. “If you don’t do it this way, what’s the next step?” Photo by David Frey

“our own property, our own yard, but I would never pay what people pay.”

“It allows us to enjoy living here,” Becky said. “We aren’t working 80 hours a week to afford our mortgage.

We can go climbing and backpacking and do fun things.

That’s why people live here.”

Their park is a mix of old trailers and new, some scrupulously maintained, some less so. Some are single-

wides, some double-wides. A few have white picket fences in front. Some sport garden trellises. Some have ranch-style entrances with family names over the entry.

Late-model pickups and well-used Buicks are parked in front.

For newcomers, the effect can be a little intimidating, the Coskis admit, but they’ve come to love the place TRAILERS page 15

Trailers continued om previous page and its location. It sits along the bike path close to Red Hill’s trails and not far from downtown.

“I feel like, as opposed to a lot of other settings, these trailer parks are communities where neighbors look out for neighbors. Kids play with kids. I don’t particularly demonize them. I recognize them for what they are,” Hassig said.

“It all depends, a lot of the time, on the management and what their rules and enforcement and expectations are. There are lots of examples of well-managed trailer parks, which are, for what they are, decent places to live.

If you’ve got an absentee landlord who doesn’t give a damn about what happens in a trailer park, it just becomes kind of a no-man’s land. You can see how those things get out of hand. But I don’t think we’ve ever had any of that.”

‘Time to sell’ Across town, Garfield Court’s 32 trailers seem to occupy a practically-invisible corner of Carbondale, easily forgotten among the Victorians and mining cabins just a block away. Over a half-century old, the park was built in 1958 by coal miners for coal miners.

“It’s provided affordable housing for countless people,” said Bob Olenick, who has owned the park for over 20 years.

For Hector Bailon, it’s been home for 15 years. He lives in a trailer with his wife, three sons and their puppy Rambo. A cement worker, he rents out two other trailers for extra income.

“When I came here, it was hard to find a place to rent,” Bailon said in Spanish. That’s changed recently.

Work has dwindled. People have moved away. Vacancy rates that once hovered near zero have opened up, and

sky-high rents have dropped.

Still, Bailon said, he’d rather live in a trailer than in an apartment or a townhouse. Children’s screams don’t penetrate adjoining walls, and he can grill carne asada on the porch.

“You can’t do that in an apartment,” he said with a laugh.

The “for sale” sign down the road doesn’t worry him, Bailon said. It’s been there for two years, and no takers have emerged for the property, listed at $3.5 million.

“Is it more valuable as raw real estate or is it more valuable as a mobile home park?” Olenick said. “I’ve been climbing underneath trailers for 20-something years. How long do I have to do that? For us, it was time to sell.”

After the real estate market dried up, interested buyers have vanished, Olenick said. He’d like to see the town buy it for affordable housing.

“There’s a piece of property contiguous with the town,” he said. “They want affordable housing. What better place to put it?”

Prime real estate This isn’t the ideal time to be selling property, but trailer park supporters worry that the real estate market will start jumping again and these bastions of free-market, inexpensive housing will disappear.

“Someday this is going to be a prime piece of real estate for somebody,” Jacob Coski said of the land his family’s home sits on.

A Carbondale native, he said he feels for the people he’s seen forced from their homes when the town’s other trailer parks closed.

“They probably don’t live here anymore,” he said.

A “for sale” sign sits outside the Garfield Court mobile home park. Owner Bob Olenick says after 20 years he’s ready to sell, but since the economic downturn, buyers have dwindled. “Right now, it’s just a trailer park,” Olenick says.

Photo by David Frey

Becky agreed. Every time a trailer park closes, she said, Carbondale “is definitely losing something. If there are no trailer parks, there is a certain demographic that’s going to have to move out of the valley.”

Becky said she’d like to see Carbondale catch on to a movement that has happened elsewhere, where trailers have shed their downtrodden reputation and been remodeled into stylish living spaces.

“Trailers can be a really cool place to live,” she said.

“You don’t have to be trailer trash.”

This story is part of a series of articles examining affordable housing in Carbondale.

Starring Aspen local Mike Marolt Thursday, December 3rd, 7:00 pm Carbondale Middle School Auditorium $7.00 adults, $5.00 children 12 and under.

All proceeds go to building a climbing wall at the Carbondale Middle School.

Please come support the children of our community!

Sponsored by The Sopris Sun

THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 15

News Briefs continued om page 4 Christmas tree permits available as of Monday Permits for cutting Christmas trees on Bureau of Land Management lands were available at BLM offices in Grand Junction and Silt beginning Monday, Nov. 23.

Permits are $10 per tree and are for piñon pine and juniper trees only. More than one permit may be purchased at a time for family and friends, but the trees are for personal use and may not be resold.

Cross-country motorized travel to retrieve a tree is not permitted.

A map detailing where tree cutting is permitted is available with the permit, along with directions and a list of rules.

BLM recommends bringing along a handsaw, rope or twine, extra food and water, blankets, and plans for rough conditions.

Most BLM lands administered by the Glenwood Springs Field Office in Silt are open for tree cutting with the following exceptions: wilderness study areas, Deep Creek along Coffee Pot Road, Thompson Creek Natural Area, and Garfield Creek south of New Castle.

Permits can be purchased Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Field Office in Silt, 2300 River Frontage Road. For more information, call (970) 876-9000.

BLM closures take effect Dec. 1 Annual winter closures to motorized vehicles on land managed by the Silt office of the Bureau of Land Management will go into effect Dec.1 The closure projects are intended to protect critical big game winter range and prevent road damage.

The seasonal closures will last until April 30. Several points on Light Hill and the Crown in Pitkin County, in the Castle Peak area in Eagle County, and on East Elk Creek in Garfield County will close.

All of the areas continue to be open to non-motorized recreation opportunities such as hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and skiing.

For additional information or to report violations in these areas call the BLM Field Office in Silt at (970) 876-9000.

A late October sunset on Missouri Heights. Photo by Jane Bachrach

DR. ANDREWS A. WHITE Optometrist, O.D. We have a nice selection of sport and fashion frames and sun wear protection for the whole family including babies, children and youth.

The People of the Carbondale Community United Methodist Church invite you to a

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Demand up in county as well continued om page 3 a startling variety of people has been walking through the homeless shelter’s doors.

“We have people who are used to working and living in a house who find themselves on the street,” Foulk said.

“The economy has just affected everybody. It seems like we’ve got people from a lot of different backgrounds – I’m surprised at how many. We’ve got a Web designer.”

Boyle echoed that sentiment.

“It’s surprising, some of the people that have gotten laid off,” Boyle said. “I see people you’d think would be bringing donations, but instead they’re humbly asking for food.

They don’t want to come – they’re embarrassed to come – but they find themselves in a place where they need help.”

To explain the increased demand at the Carbondale pantry, Boyle also pointed to the pantry’s location, explaining that it draws people from the Crystal River Valley, Basalt and El Jebel.

In a hard-hit county Staff members at the Western Slope branch of the Food Bank of the Rockies state that Garfield County is home to some of the highest demand in their service area.

The Western Slope branch, which distributes food to nonprofits such as Lift-Up, works in an area that extends from the Wyoming border to Ouray, and from the Utah state line roughly as far east as Dillon. Staff said they are seeing the highest demand in Garfield, Moffat and Mesa counties.

To Andrew Coonan, an employee at the food bank, the situation in Carbondale points to the fact that the Roaring Fork Valley is suffering along with the rest of the county, even if its residents are doing so for a different reason.

"There certainly is a higher need than people generally think in Garfield County,” Coonan said. “From Parachute to Rifle there are families distressed by the pull out of the oil and gas industry. When people think of the Glenwood

Springs to Carbondale area the general bias is that it’s a wealthy, affluent area, but during the recent economic times there’s been a pinch. … It's definitely had a greater impact than people realize. It’s affecting affordability and medicine and things like that."

“It’s surprising, some of the people that have gotten laid off. I see people you’d think would be bringing donations, but instead they’re humbly asking for food.

They don’t want to come – they’re embarrassed to come – but they find themselves in a place where they need help.”

Debi Boyle Carbondale Lift-Up coordinator Starlene Collins, who manages the Western Slope branch, estimated that the food bank is on track to distribute a total of 2 million pounds of food this year. In 2008, she said, it handed out 1.3 million pounds.

Wanted: macaroni and cheese So far, workers at Lift-Up say they have been able to cope with the demand.

Powell, Lift-Up’s director, said that the nonprofit has been receiving enough donations. He credits the particu-

larly generous community in the Roaring Fork Valley, not intensive P.R. work on the part of the nonprofit.

“It’s really not Lift-Up that’s helping, we’re just a tool of the community,” he said. “We live in an amazing community. Demand is up, but giving is up as well.”

Lift-Up reports that since January it has received about $687,000 in food and other in-kind donations. In 2008, donations over the same time period amounted to $260,504.

Collins, of the Food Bank of the Rockies, said that the food bank has held extra food drives this year and, so far, has managed to keep pace with demand.

But still, she says her shelves have “gotten a little bare” in places.

“There are some things we're a little low on,” she said.

“We desperately need macaroni and cheese. The kids love it, that's like a staple.”

Next Steps:

Donations to Lift-Up are being accepted at Mason and Morse Real Estate at 290 Highway 133, and at the Church of Carbondale at 110 Snowmass Drive. Lift-Up will distribute Christmas food packages from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Third Street Center in Carbondale. For more information, call 963-1778.

The Glenwood Springs branch of The Salvation Army will begin its main “kettle drive” fundraiser at 18 locations between Parachute and Aspen in the first week of December. Look for volunteers ringing bells near grocery stores and elsewhere. The Salvation Army is also holding a coat drive. For more information, call 945-6976.

Downvalley Opportunities

Four-plex apartment complex in Rifle $522,000

Peach Valley $395,000

Clean, great location, steady rentals. 3-two bed/two bath units, 1-one bed/one bath unit.

3 bedrooms, 2 baths 1,232 sq. ft.

Workshop with 12' doors on 2 acres.

Adjacent to BLM.

Quaint Cabin in Rifle $198,000

Elk Springs Building Site $297,000

1 bedroom (possibly 2) 1 bath, 735 sq. ft. cabin. Large lot approved for three dwellings.

Live in cabin while building new home.

1.9 acre lot with approved engineering and architectural plans for a 3,771 sq. ft. straw bale home.

970.963.5155 lynnk@rof.net

711 Main Street, Carbondale, CO 970.963.5155 www.amorerealty.com

THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 17

Gears, cogs and culture Local mechanics blend bikes, civic spirit

By Chris Van Leuven Special to The Sopris Sun If you get your morning cup of Joe at Dos Gringos, chances are youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen Darrin Broome or Nick DeGross shuttling bikes out front of Ute City Cycles as they open for the day. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made their acquaintance, then chances are youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed their low-key attitude. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re no better than anyone else â&#x20AC;&#x201D; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re no Lance Armstrongs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re professional at what we do,â&#x20AC;?

Broome says.â&#x20AC;&#x153;We welcome people to come into the Ute and hang out. We hold fundraisers, clinics and enjoy educating our customers. We hate that atmosphere of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pressure sells.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; We would rather establish a relationship than merely sell you something.â&#x20AC;?

With that ethic in mind, Ute City Cycles is participating in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Get Green Carbondale Stimulus Campaign,â&#x20AC;? a program aimed at revitalizing the local economy through rafďŹ&#x201A;es for eco-friendly prizes.

Broome and DeGross recently ďŹ nished constructing the second-place prize, a custom-made Extracycle â&#x20AC;&#x153;cargo cruiserâ&#x20AC;? bicycle, with a modiďŹ ed frame and a cargo attachment designed to make it easy to tote loads. The bike is worth about $2,000, and is supplemented with electric power. As Broome explains, it is built on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;all-around, versatile and utilitarian dynamic.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It can be used as a townie; for basic transportation such as commuting to the ofďŹ ce and for running errands; and it hauls tools,â&#x20AC;? DeGross said.

Broome and DeGross say they built the Extracycle on the same principles that they put into their work: service, education and culture.

So, who are these easy-going mechanics of service?

Tell your story in

Broome, 40, and DeGross, 31, have been in the bike business together for the last four years and have a combined 25 years in the industry. Broome was raised near Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended East Carolina University.

After graduating, he spent six years in the Army before moving to Hawaii. He worked for various bicycle shops on the Big Island before relocating to the Roaring Fork Valley ďŹ ve years ago. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been married to Beth Broome, a competitive triathlete, for the past three years.

DeGross was raised in Hudson, Wisconsin, and started racing mountain bikes while still in high school. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I stayed with it and turned it into a career,â&#x20AC;? he said.

But before doing so, DeGross spent four years in the Navy, stationed in San Diego. After completing his service, he felt out a few areas before settling in Carbondale in 2001.

Five years ago, DeGross was cruising the Ute Mountaineer in Aspen and met Broome, who worked there at the time.

Broome and DeGross are in the process of purchasing Ute City Cycles from its current owner, and though they are dedicated to the business, they certainly arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slaves to the daily grind. The Ute is open Tuesday through Saturday (10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and until 6 p.m. on Saturdays), and Broome and DeGross say theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve reduced the store hours for â&#x20AC;&#x153;morale and businessâ&#x20AC;? purposes. When not at work the pair can sometimes be seen riding together on Red Hill and elsewhere.

The recession has affected their business, but they se it as an opportunity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It makes us more creative. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to ďŹ gure out how to get more people in our shop, versus [actively] trying to slow down the ďŹ&#x201A;ow,â&#x20AC;? says Broome.

Added DeGross, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If nothing is hitting your business and making you think, then you get complacent. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

Nick DeGross (left) and Darrin Broome are planning to buy Ute City Cycles, and infuse it with fun. Photo by Jane Bachrach like complacency.â&#x20AC;?

These two riders are hoping the economic stimulus campaign will attract a few more people to the store. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here for ďŹ ve years and want to be here for another 20,â&#x20AC;?Broome says.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some people still donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know that we exist in this town. The campaign reminds everyone of what great businesses we have here in town. Locals donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to drive far out of town to purchase goods for Christmas, etc., burning fossil fuels in the process. They can simply walk or hop on their bikes and ďŹ nd what you need here in town.â&#x20AC;?

Broome noted that he appreciates the opportunity to both stimulate the economy and beneďŹ t the environment, and thinks the campaign will prove successful. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like sparking a ďŹ re,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It spreads.â&#x20AC;?

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A garden full of gratitude I am thankful this week, this season, this year, this chapter in my life.“Getting Grounded,”has me thankful to be writing.

When I asked the folks at The Sopris Sun if they’d let me pen a column, I thought I’d be doing the community a service. As in The Valley Journal for two years, I hoped to spotlight terrific gardeners. I wanted to open our eyes to the natural landscapes and plant communities just thriving out there with so little help. I hoped to inspire that in our own gardens. I’ve tried to impress upon us gardeners the importance of xeriscape landscaping under the guise of “water-wise” tips. I had

by Geneviève Joëlle planned on a season of how Villamizar to’s for all the new homeowners, and our Gen X and Y gardeners lying latent in the community.

In attempting to do all that, the community has served me.

For that, I’m a better gardener and richer person.

In seeking out gardeners that contribute to the commu-

Getting Grounded

Unclassifieds

HALF DUPLEX FOR RENT, available now. Bring your horses. Midway between GWS & Carbondale. Very nice 3BR/2BA, 1,550 sf. Appliances, water/sewer, trash included. End of road privacy with great views overlooking Roaring Fork River and Mount Sopris. On seven acres. $1600/mo. NS, one pet negotiable. 945-5980.

Legal Notices

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Board of Trustees for the purpose of considering amendments to the Community Partnership Planned Unit Development in the Town of Carbondale. The proposed amendments are intended to accommodate a potential public library site, additional school district housing, improved access and parking.

The applicant/owner is the Roaring Fork RE-1 School District. Land use for public schools is regulated by the State of Colorado. Unless modified by

ever, want to learn about soil because their first attempt at a veggie garden stunk. In meeting some of these Gen X and Y gardeners, I’m finally inspired to start my own veggie garden again – whether I’m ready or not!

Many of you have reached out to me in the coffee shops, at the dog park and on the streets, telling me how much you’ve enjoyed my column. Thank you for your appreciation and for telling me. Remember the scene in “Julie and Julia”: Is anybody out there? Is anyone even reading this?

Through “Getting Grounded,” I feel more a part of Bonedale. I feel more inspired, myself, to give back. We’ll be spending Thanksgiving with some of the new friends I’ve written about before. But really, they’re less “new friends” than they are kindred spirits. We met them over chard and greens I hadn’t grown in 11 years. Their first veggie garden is still growing and producing chard, lettuce greens and spinach. I’m sure we’ll have all of it in some form or another with our turkey dinner. And for that, I’m thankful!

Submit Unclassifieds to unclassifieds@soprissun.com by 5 p.m. on Friday

FARM FRESH EGGS, 2 dozen for $5.00. Vezzoso Farms, 963-1548 or 379-3153.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

nity, I looked not only to private gardeners but to businesses as well, which are, at times, our community leaders. I have discovered gardens and shops that make my every day obligations sparkle through their intent, creativity and commitment to all that’s green and alive. It’s not just dollar-driven lip service. Their spirit, actions and investments make our streets and shops welcoming. As I’ve watched the seasons progress through these establishments, I’ve learned new ideas, met local garden professionals and become motivated to do more myself.

In trying to learn more about our mountain and valley plant communities so that I can design successfully, share information accurately and stay inspired by nature, I have discovered so many new trails and open spaces with many of you. Puttering along with another person’s perspective has opened my eyes to new wildflowers, new pretty compositions.

New places have given my dogs endless hours of exuberant exploration and shown me parts of the valley I have never before experienced.

I’ve also come to accept that not everybody digs gardening. But I’ve also learned that there’s a whole wave of new homeowners buying in to green building and sustainability, and desirous of raising chickens and harvesting eggs so fresh they’re orange, not yellow. These younger generations may not care about the latest coneflower or the upcoming Henri Moore show at the Denver Botanic Gardens. They do, how-

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the PUD, the standards to be used for the residential districts will be based on the Carbondale Municipal Code development standards. The Third Street Center (parcel 4), location of the former elementary school building, is owned by the Town of Carbondale and zoned Community Arts.

The site is the Community Partnership Planned Unit Development which includes the former Carbondale Elementary School property, 600 South Third Street, and the former Carbondale Middle School property, 455 South Third Street.

Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale

Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO. at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 before the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Copies of the proposed application are on file in The Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO. and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Doug Dotson Community Development Director

Published 1x on NOVEMBER 26, 2009 in The Sopris Sun

Daily, weekly and monthly rates available. Long term also available 379-4766.

PROFESSIONAL WRITER AVAILABLE for press releases, annual reports, letters and special projects. Call Lynn Burton at 963-1549.

SPORTS REPORTER. The Sopris Sun seeks a volunteer to cover RFHS sports. Call 618-9112.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Board of Adjustment and Appeals for the purpose of considering a Variance seeking relief from the platted building envelope and 20-foot building height allowance to accommodate a 22-foot high second story on an existing garage. The applicants / property owners are Mark and Barbara Courtney. The property is located at 2272 Holland Drive (Lot 21, Hendrick Ranch P.U.D. Phase II).

Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO at

7:00 p.m. on December 16, 2009.

Copies of the proposed application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Kay Philip Assistant Town Planner

Published 1x on NOVEMBER 26, 2009 in The Sopris Sun

THE SOPRIS SUN • NOVEMBER 26, 2009 • 19