Bridge construction triggers traffic concerns on Boulevard
ELIZABETH KEY
Special to The Sopris Sun
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Elizabeth Key is a resident of Redstone.
With summer coming, the Redstone community is preparing for some likely troublesome traffic, since the north-south thoroughfare has been converted into a dead end due to the reconstruction of the South Bridge — the main entrance into the village. Residents on the north end of the Boulevard, long accustomed to a cul-de-sac esque lifestyle, are now experiencing some anxiety over higher traffic volume and speeding.
Redstone is a rural community of about 93 residents in unincorporated Pitkin County, roughly 20 miles south of Carbondale. It sits at an elevation of 7,200 feet along the Crystal River near the base of Mt. Sopris. There is a small collection of businesses, including a general store, antique shops and a couple of restaurants, but it lacks a municipal government, post office, gas station and a modern grocery store.
With the closure, visitor traffic must pass through the residential area on the Boulevard twice, whereas before visitors would primarily use the South Bridge to get to the commercial core, near the Redstone Inn, and leave the same way.
In winter, Redstone functions largely as a bedroom community, while in the summer it draws visitors to its nationally-designated Historic District, known for its 1902 Victorian-influenced architecture and Swiss chalet style. On the Fourth of July, tourists flock to Redstone for a parade and fireworks, often picnicking and enjoying ice cream in the nostalgic, small-town setting.
Sarah Uhl, mother of Hukson, 6, Wylie, 4, and a baby due in May, said she has already noticed an increase in traffic, and cars exceeding the 15 mph speed limit.
“The day they closed the bridge, you could just feel the difference in speeding and the volume, and it’s not even tourist season yet,” she said. “People go over a speed bump [and] are already right back up to like 25 miles per hour.”
Despite recent concerns, the Boulevard continues to serve as an informal community gathering place where residents congregate outside their small historic homes. Without sidewalks, residents teach their children to ride bikes, walk dogs and socialize along the Boulevard.
Uhl emphasized the importance of preserving its community character.
“It’s important for people to understand that this is truly a village where people live and children are at play in a way that is perhaps more free and unrestricted than most places,” she said. Uhl suggested that visitors could be asked to park at Elk Park, between the Crystal River and Highway 133, and walk over the footbridge into town.
As the impacts ripple through the neighborhood, work on the new bridge continues to progress. The bridge is slated for completion in September, though the proposal included an early completion possibility. Project Manager Charles McManus, continued on page 14
Brothers Hukson and Wylie ask motorists to take their time down the Boulevard. Photo courtesy of Sarah Uhl
Travel thoughts
Some people are devout travelers. My friend Harry combined his love of travel with his gift of gab in a career that started as a traveling salesman and turned into life as a Costa Rican citizen and businessman. Zach, a hippy kid, interrupted his education for a year of traveling in India on a shoestring, earned an MBA in London, and, after moving back and forth between London and the USA for decades, is back living in India. When the urge hits, Greta, a physical therapist I know, periodically leaves her job to wander for months at a time, sleeping wherever she can, including occasionally in jail. These people are serious travelers who know far more about the world than I do.
Like Harry, Zach, and Greta, my father also liked traveling, but he never made it a lifestyle. He did it during vacations. That meant driving to as many places as we could get to from New York City in two allotted weeks, using as much (or little) money as we had available that year. Dad was content packing sandwiches for lunch and sleeping in rustic, inexpensive “cabin courts” where we could cook our dinners and breakfasts. As a Hitler refugee and recent immigrant who had waited 10 years to finally buy a car, every place we went was new and unfamiliar to him, and he wanted to see as many as possible.
Austria, Mediterranean cruises and occasional Italian vacations for attending operas, visiting museums, and dining in fine restaurants satisfied Dad’s middle-class wanderlust without unduly taxing Mom’s limited energy reserves. Then the Nazis showed up and ruined everything.
OPINION
Since my parents were exceptionally poor communicators, travel strategies were never discussed, much less agreed to, in advance. We’d leave on our trips without a clear understanding of how they would unfold. As money inevitably started running short, arguments started. Dad wanted to stretch the vacation by economizing in those rustic housekeeping cabins. Mom said it was hot. She wanted to stay in air-conditioned hotels and eat in air-conditioned restaurants. I usually sided with Dad because I liked the road and wanted to make the trip as long as possible. If there was a dollar to spare, Dad and I would rather spend it on entrance fees at Fort Ticonderoga than on air conditioning. Usually, Mom would settle for the cabin court, in return for which we’d stop earlier (more restful), and Dad would handle kitchen chores.
I admire Harry, Zach, and Greta, but I’m not like them. A month on the road is more than enough. I prefer traveling in comfort, and I’m certainly not going anywhere without having a secure home waiting for me. Like Dad, I have that middle-class, touristy kind of wanderlust. In my 30s and early 40s, I compromised on comfort, taking long bike-camping tours because that’s what I could afford, and I do like adventures to a point, but I haven’t slept on the ground since 1983.
MATURE CONTENT
By Ron Kokish
For Dad, experiencing new places had always been the most important part of vacationing. But Mom only enjoyed traveling if there was some luxury involved. She cooked all year, she said, and it was no vacation to her if she had to keep doing it. For Mom, “vacation” had always meant resting. She liked traveling as long as she could rest comfortably while doing it. In their native
LETTERS
Guided tours with first-class accommodation are how I see exotic places at age 85, but being on the road can still hold challenging surprises. In January, I visited Thailand. Half of our group caught a minor bug shortly after arriving, but everyone recovered quickly. Everyone except me, that is. My bug triggered my asthma, and I was still coughing painfully when we left for home ten days later. I started this column during the long, long night of the plane ride home because, as far as sleeping was concerned, I might as well have been on the ground.
Travel, it seems, is about different things for different people and about different things for the same person at different times of life. For Zach, it’s about learning as much as he can using all of the travel resources at his disposal. For Dad, it was learning what he could with the limited resources he was willing to commit. For Mom, it was about relaxing in new but comfortable places.
For me, travel has always been about education, and sometimes about adventure. At 40, I could handle the adventure of hauling 40 pounds of gear on my bike 70 miles a day, day after day, often in the rain. At age 70, a fully supported and guided bike tour was adventurous enough. At 85, it’s front cabin plane tickets, fine hotels, and door-to-door service, all planned and arranged by someone else, but I still love learning about the places and people I visit, no matter how superficial my growing physical limitations make those visits. If that doesn’t seem very adventurous, remember, there could well be an asthma attack lurking behind the next gourmet meal.
Mature Content is a monthly feature from Age-Friendly Carbondale.
CORRECTION: Overdose death certificates are sent to the National Vital Statistics database, and preliminary data through October 2025 is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Laird thanks C’dale
I want to thank everyone who was able to support me for town trustee. I look forward to continue serving and helping our community be the best it can be. It is a real honor to serve on the town board and I greatly appreciate your support. Carbondale is a special place, and with amazing people. Thank you all for being part of this community.
As always, if you have an idea, question or concern related to our town, please, email, text or call me.
Colin Laird Carbondale Trustee
970.309.2053
lairdcolin@gmail.com
Thank you, voters
Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve you for another four years. Thank you for exercising your right to vote and taking an interest in the current and future governance of Carbondale. I believe that strong local democracy is the first building block of sustaining any national democracy. We are privileged to inherit generally
wise prior governance, astonishing natural beauty and a special town character that is characterized by a diversity of people taking part in its ongoing creation. Protecting that character can be both a fraught and empowering process.
It’s best cultivated in an organic and grassroots manner that includes your input. I encourage you to make voting just the beginning of your civic engagement. You are welcome to attend regular trustee meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month or work sessions on the third.
Our volunteer boards and commissions could use your input or membership. Volunteer opportunities abound in more direct ways with local nonprofits and town events such as the upcoming Dandelion Day. Most immediately, you can give to our vital local media, like The Sopris Sun and KDNK which so beautifully express the spirit of Carbondale and the Valley while also holding people like me accountable to you. Peace on Earth.
Chris Hassig Carbondale Trustee
Mountain Family gives thanks Where else can you buy a pair of brandnew fuchsia suede penny loafers with a three-inch heel by Kork-Ease for $8? Or a vintage three-piece Ralph Lauren men’s suit for $65, and catch up with friends at the same time?
My favorite store in Aspen is the Aspen Thrift Shop. Whenever I’m in town, I make it a must-stop destination, even if only to browse the bestseller books, the cool sunglasses (I’m still thinking about the white 1960s cat-eye pair that made me feel like an Italian film star) or the skirts — my newest passion.
While you browse the aisles of the Aspen Thrift Shop and try on hats and shoes, you’re also supporting a remarkable volunteer-run organization, its donors and loyal shoppers that benefit the health and well-being of people throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.
We are deeply grateful to the Aspen Thrift Shop for its generous contribution to Mountain Family Health Centers Health for All Fund, which helps provide medical, dental and behavioral health care to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay.
As spring arrives, I encourage everyone to shop at the Thrift Shop; and to clean out those closets and cupboards and donate what you no longer use. It’s a wonderful organization that has supported nonprofits throughout the Valley for decades.
On behalf of our entire staff, please accept our sincere thanks.
Jan Carla Halperin Mountain Family Health Centers
Editor James Steindler 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com
Managing Editor Skyler Stark-Ragsdale
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Mother’s Day
Attention mothers and newborns of the Valley! There is still time to register to be featured in the annual Mother’s Day issue of The Sopris Sun, a longtime tradition carried over from the Valley Journal, the local publication that preceded The Sun. Every year, we hear a couple of mothers lamenting not having been included, so this is your reminder. Photo shoots will take place at the Third Street Center in Carbondale (Room 26) on Saturday, April 25, from 11am to 1pm, and at the Glenwood Springs Library on Sunday, April 26, from 10am to noon. Mothers can sign up for a 15-minute photo session by calling 970-510-3003 or emailing terrir@soprissun.com Spanish speakers can call 970-274-6513 or email klauskocherfotograf@gmail.com
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Garfield County announced it will be assessing “a large pothole and repairs” on the Thompson Creek Road bridge spanning the Crystal River near Colorado Rocky Mountain School. “A lane closure with stop lights on both sides of the bridge is in place to manage travel in a single direction each way,” a press release stated. One of the bridge’s lanes could be closed for an extended period. Engineers will determine infrastructure needs to ensure the bridge’s long-term viability.
Garden mentoring
Get garden guidance with one-on-one mentorship opportunities this summer through the Garden Mentoring project, an initiative organized by Roaring Fork Food Alliance, the Garfield Agricultural Extension Office and Garfield and Eagle Master Gardeners. The entities are leading the gardening mentorship program to help create long-term local food supply resilience. “We will provide installation support, supplies and one-on-one mentoring from a master gardener for you to create a successful and productive garden,” reads the sign-up form. For more information or to sign up, visit tinyurl.com/mr2ex38u
Middle school principal
Cora Carballeira will take the reins as the new principal of Carbondale Middle School (CMS), starting in the 2026–27 school year, Roaring Fork Schools announced on April 10. Carballeira served as a teacher leader at the middle school between 2002 and 2021, before joining the Roaring Fork High School leadership team as the dean of culture and assistant principal. “Middle school is such a pivotal time in a student’s educational journey,” Carballeira said in a press release. “I am committed
Dance Initiative is stepping up to preserve the pulse of Ballet Folklórico in Carbondale. Kids, ages 7-13, are in the midst of a class offered every Wednesday, 5-6:30pm, through May 20 at the Third Street Center, with guidance from Angel Peña and Juan Najera, “who bring years of experience and a deep personal connection to folklórico,” said Dance Initiative Executive Director Joan Dizon. “For them, this isn’t just teaching — it’s passing on something that was passed down to them.” Dizon added that she and the team honor the legacy of the previous Ballet Folklórico program, offered through Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and headed up by Francisco “Paco” Nevarez-Burgueño, for establishing and growing folklórico in the Valley. For details about Dance Initiative’s program, to sign up or offer support, visit danceinitiative.org Courtesy photo
to supporting CMS students as they build the skills, confidence and character that will prepare them for high school and beyond.”
Crystal River agreement
The Pitkin County commissioners recently approved the first reading of an intergovernmental agreement to protect the Crystal River from on-channel dams and transmountain diversions, reported The Aspen Times. The article noted that there is some concern that it won’t be enforceable, as any of the signers have “the ability to leave at will.” The agreement would be between Pitkin and Gunnison counties, the Town of Marble, the Colorado River Water Conservation District and the West Divide Water Conservancy District. The commissioners scheduled a second reading for April 22.
Rotary scholarships
Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Springs Sunset, Rifle, Snowmass Village and Aspen Rotary clubs have awarded $191,000 in student scholarships. The scholarships support higher education, technical training and career pathways for more than 70 graduating seniors this year. The clubs began presenting the school scholarships on Wednesday, April 15.
Phone scam
Garfield County advised the public last week to be aware of an increase in phone calls from individuals impersonating local law enforcement. “Multiple residents have reported receiving calls from individuals claiming to be a sergeant with the Garfield
County Sheriff’s Office, or GarCo Sheriff, stating that the recipient must pay or ‘settle’ a civil debt on behalf of the federal government,” a press release stated. “These calls are fraudulent.” The county said deputies do not handle any types of debt, do not collect the public’s money and will never call individuals demanding payment. Residents receiving these calls should not provide any personal or financial information, hang up immediately and are asked to report the call to Garfield County Emergency Communications at 970-625-8095.
Safe Passages
Roaring Fork Safe Passages, a citizen-led coalition determined to reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions in the Valley, was awarded a $200,000 grant from Pitkin County, matching what the coalition has already raised. They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Rachel Connor, Ylice Golden and Emma Rose (April 16); Monica Groom and Doug Stewart (April 17); HP Hansen, Hadley Hentschel, Stephanie Schilling, Chelsea Schneier and Irene Wittrock (April 18); Francisco Nevarez-Burgueno, Deborah Colley, Karen Dixon, Leslie Emerson, Jill and Alleghany Meadows, Louie Neil and James Surls (April 19); Julie Bomersback, Jack Bergstrom, Jared Carlson, April Clark and Molly Ogilby Jacober (April 20); Renae Gustine and Shannon Muse (April 21); Sage Dawson, Fred Malo, Kameron Miranda and Mendo Will (April 22); Rosemary Dewers, Lori Knotts, Nova Vhrin and Wendle Whiting (April 23).
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Bohmfalk reflects on the past four years as mayor
BETSY WELCH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
At 8am every Friday for the past four years, longtime Bonfire barista Lety Gomez has placed a small sign on a round table in the back of the café: “Reserved — Coffee with the Mayor.” And most weeks, unless he’s out of town or dealing with an emergency at home or work, Ben Bohmfalk has been there — coffee in hand, waiting to see who might stop by.
“I used it as a barometer for what people were fired up about,” Bohmfalk said during a recent visit to Bonfire, one of his final as mayor. “If someone emails me and says, ‘Here’s something I want to talk to you about,’ this is the time you offer to meet with people. It’s a barometer for community sentiment, public opinion and what the hot issues are.”
In a wide-ranging exit interview with The Sopris Sun, Bohmfalk reflected on the challenges that defined his tenure, from the sudden arrival of Venezuelan migrants to the completion of the Town’s largest-ever capital project, as well as the slower, less visible work of guiding growth, managing expectations and building consensus in a small town.
When did you decide you wanted to be mayor?
I became interested when I was teaching high school civics at Basalt High School. I was always telling my students to get involved — take on a local issue, go to town council. At some point I realized I should be doing the same. So I joined the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2006. It was really interesting. That was a time when there were big conversations about what Carbondale was going to become and how to manage growth and development. I got really interested in being part of those decisions.
I served on Planning and Zoning for six years, then I ran for the board of trustees in 2016. I learned a lot during that time and watched Dan Richardson as mayor. He was a great mentor.
As mayor, what are you actually responsible for?
What do people misunderstand about the role?
I think the biggest misconception is that the mayor runs the town. In our system, the town manager is the full-time executive. The mayor is almost a volunteer doing this on the side.
But it’s still a huge responsibility. There are a lot of things out of your control that are still your responsibility. Building consensus, getting the majority of the board to move forward on something. You’re the nexus between staff, the Board of Trustees and the community. You’re concerned about every decision: How will my board feel about this?
How will my staff carry it out? And how will my community feel about it?
You’re basically the communicator in chief. When there’s confusion or tension, it’s the mayor’s job to explain what’s going on and be accessible.
It’s a job that seems to require a lot of trust. Why do you think people trusted you? Where did you come from before becoming mayor?
I’ve worked for the Roaring Fork School District for over 20 years. I was a teacher, then in a tech support role and, about a year into being mayor, I became COO. I taught over 1,000 students over 10 years so I got to know their parents. Then, during my time on Planning and Zoning, I got to know the development community and got their respect.
You have to have some deep well of connection in multiple ways. People need to know you, trust your judgment and not feel like they have to be involved in every decision. That’s what’s broken down in higher levels of government right now.
What were the most challenging moments during your time as mayor?
The Venezuelan migrant situation, without a doubt. It was out of the blue, and we were totally unprepared. There was no state or federal support, no infrastructure, no staff. We were heading into winter with 50 to 80 unhoused people in our community. We had a choice to respond in a humanitarian way or not. We felt that if we didn’t, the impacts — for them and for the town — would be significant.
It was really hard. It lasted about five months. But I’m really proud of how we handled it. We didn’t have anyone die. We didn’t see a big increase in people sleeping in cars or human waste in the streets. The community really stepped up.
What are Carbondale’s biggest strengths?
The people. People here care deeply about the town and want to celebrate everything about it — the arts, the ranching, the immigrants, the culture. They show up, they volunteer, they want to make it the best it can be.
continued on page 18
Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk with longtime Bonfire Coffee barista Lety Gomez. Photo by Betsy Welch
Adventure
film is back
5 Point Flagship Festival returns to Carbondale
MYKI JONES
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Beginning on April 21 and running through April 26, 5Point Flagship Festival will kick off in Carbondale with a myriad of new adventure films, including a lineup of more than 30 short films and three features, filmmaker panels, live music and free community programming.
The festival returns at a lower cost this year, including a $100 discount on festival passes, cheaper nightly tickets and free
drinks and merch included with purchases — an effort to expand accessibility to the community as prices everywhere have risen.
“With this, we’re still providing the same 5Point experience,” 5Point Executive Director Aisha Weinhold said. “The world has been so crazy, and I think it’s been a challenging few years for people. We wanted to ensure we gave back to our community in a meaningful way. So this was a change we felt was a meaningful giveback to our community.”
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With an emphasis on community, attendees can anticipate films local to the Roaring Fork Valley. On Thursday night of the programming, “Buckwild” — a film by Los Angeles filmmaker Cameron Doherty, who grew up in Carbondale and credits 5Point as an inspiration — follows the story of local rancher and broncorider Nate Nieslanik as he details how he overcame legal and personal struggles in order to continue the legacy of his family’s ranch.
“I think this film is beautifully done, and it’s exciting to see this side of Carbondale be shown,” Weinhold said. “Oftentimes, it’s easy to get hung up on the biking, skiing, and the recreational part of the Valley and the recreational part of adventure. But then you look at ranching and these families who have dedicated themselves to the land for hundreds of years, and there are a lot of parallels and stories that aren’t necessarily told and get left out of the adventure arena, when in reality, we’re operating within the same set of values.”
Other films with a local focus include “That One Friend” by Sara and Grant Robbins, which follows professional backcountry skier Sierra Schlag and Waverly “Waves” Chin as they share how their friendship has fueled their passion for the sport. There will also be a film on Thursday night about Aspen’s Kelly Hilleke and his success at the Kings & Queens of Corbet’s freeride competition on Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
In discussing what attendees can anticipate this year, 5Point Director of Programming Charlie Turnbull said that this year’s lineup perfectly balances
Then you look at ranching and these families who have dedicated themselves to the land for hundreds of years, and there are a lot of parallels and stories that aren’t necessarily told and get left out of the adventure arena ....
- Aisha Weinhold, 5Point
adrenaline and human-focused storytelling, which is sure to captivate and inspire those who attend.
“There are intense climbing films, stoke pieces from Japan and deeply personal stories set against a backdrop of adventure,” Turnbull said. “We always want the audience to be entertained and enjoy the experience. We put a lot of effort into the film program, and the emcees and guests we bring into town to make the evening as unique as possible. Ideally, people are walking out of there with a renewed sense of inspiration and empathy.”
For more information, a schedule of events, to purchase tickets or get involved, visit 5pointfilm.org
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Aspen Choral Society shares the beauty of grief
WILL BUZZERD
Sopris
Sun Correspondent
This weekend, the Aspen Choral Society (ACS) invites all from across the Roaring Fork Valley to “Luminous Night,” a poignant musical exploration of the nature of grief and loss in a moment not only significant for its organization but the world as a whole.
Aspen Choral Society, which has performed mixed choral and orchestral concerts since 1977, will be performing at three locations, beginning at the Third Street Center on Friday, April 17, followed by a concert at the Harris Concert Hall in Aspen on Saturday, April 18 and concluding at the Glenwood Springs High School auditorium on Sunday, April 19. Each performance will begin at 7pm. The performances will not only lend a space to freely explore the depths and significance of both personal and collective loss, but will also mark the final performance of Paul Dankers’ tenure as musical director of ACS and the culmination of his musical visions in the Roaring Fork Valley.
“One of the most fundamental truths of our existence is that it’s impermanent,” Dankers said in an interview, “but it seems like it’s come a little bit closer lately for some reason.”
The repertoire consists of two sections of music centered on themes of loss. The concert will open with a performance of contemporary English composer John Rutter’s “Requiem,” one of Dankers’ favorite pieces.
“Requiem” sets the Catholic Requiem Mass (or Mass for the Dead) to music in
IN A NUTSHELL
When: 7pm
seven movements, composed in memoriam to Rutter’s father.
The second part of the concert will consist of three pieces by contemporary Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo: “Dark Night of the Soul,” “Luminous Night of the Soul” and “Across the Eternal Sky.”
ACS performed these three pieces by Gjeilo several years ago. However, while that performance was more theatrical and carnival-esque — with Dankers himself taking part in the action onstage — this weekend’s performance will be focused more tightly on the music itself.
The theme of the performance has been informed by sudden personal tragedy after two ACS board members’ spouses passed
Where: Third Street Center in Carbondale on Friday, April 17, Harris Concert Hall in Aspen on Saturday, April 18, and the Glenwood Springs High School auditorium on Sunday, April 19
Tickets: aspenchoralsociety.org
away in quick succession. After receiving the news, Dankers said that it “clicked,” and he felt ACS needed to give a proper space for grief.
The concert also arrives at a significant moment for Dankers, after an increase in cost of living has led to his and his husband’s difficult decision to leave the Roaring Fork Valley community, terminating Dankers’ over 10-year career with ACS
and the married couple’s tenure at Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist Church.
“It’s been an incredibly meaningful time in this Valley and making music with ACS, and as precious as that is [equals] how much we will grieve it when it’s gone,” Dankers said.
Practicing for this concert series has also been emotionally affecting for ACS members. In the course of rehearsal, choir members independently created a book club to discuss Francis Weller’s “The Wild Edge of Sorrow” to further explore the themes at play after rehearsals. Dankers, as conductor, has also reminded the choir continually during practice of the fundamental impermanence of our lives, and urged them to consider how best to spend their time and to treat one another as members of a musical community and in the world as a whole.
Dankers said he expects that, in the course of the performance this weekend, there will be tears from himself, the musicians and perhaps from those in the audience. He bemoaned the ubiquity of apologizing for one’s emotions, and expressed that it is a goal of his to allow those tears to flow and to remove the stigma around expressions of sorrow.
“If we dissolve into tears and have to stop the concert for a moment, what better place, what better time, what better way to show honor to the music and to the things and the people we are grieving than to spend a moment weeping together?” Dankers asked.
continued on page 7
The Aspen Choral Society returns this weekend to present “A Luminous Night,” which promises to be a profound exploration of loss and the beauty therein.
Photo courtesy of Aspen Choral Society
THEATER REVIEW
A deep breath of fresh air
Sopris Theatre Company closes season with show restoring balance to life
KATALINA VILLARREAL Sopris Sun Correspondent
The Sopris Theatre Company has been around for over 50 years at Colorado Mountain College (CMC). “The Cottage,” written by Sandy Rustin, is the play closing out their 2025–26 season, performed at the New Space Theatre at CMC’s Spring Valley campus (3000 County Road 114) in the Quigley Library building. The play is a mischievous romantic comedy about affairs, desire, betrayal and finding oneself. The director, Brad Moore, has been with the Sopris Theatre Company for over 20 years and his dedication to the performing arts is reflected in the details of the show.
“The Cottage” is a much needed moment of playfulness that brings balance to the uncertainty of real life.
After the performance, cast members revealed that they put on this incredible show with only about two months of rehearsals. The enjoyment of the craft could be felt from all six actors. The talented and hardworking crew, mostly current CMC students, made this show possible.
We need to be able to sit back and be silly.
- Director Brad Moore
“We need to be able to sit back and be silly,” Moore said when asked what his favorite part of putting on the play was. He talked about the importance of community, connection, and how everyone deserves to have a fun night of laughs to break up the seriousness of the current times.
“I just want us to giggle,” he added. Well, there was more than giggling on opening night. There were full belly laughs and happy tears from members of the audience. The show was a deep breath of air, a sip of tea, and a collective sigh –– those who saw the performance will understand.
Moore gave a shout-out to scenic designer Tom Ward for bringing the cottage in “The Cottage” to life and repurposing the set from “Rumors,” a performance from Aspen Community Theatre.
The cast in order of appearance: Julia Whalen plays Sylvia, the catalyst of the chaos; Joshua Adamson plays Beau, the well intended playboy; Pax Wild plays Marjorie, a woman who knows what she wants; Gerald DeLisser plays Clarke, the dapper older brother of Beau; Marie LaBrecque plays Deirdre, the lady caught in between the family; and Michael Banks plays Richard, a man of many secrets and talents.
LaBrecque said her favorite part of being involved in the show was getting to perform with her friends. DeLisser agreed and they laughed at saying the same thing. This was also LaBrecque’s first acting role with
the company. She said she was previously involved with stage management and tech.
At intermission, sweet treats were offered from Annie’s Bakery. This was a highlight of the night because it allowed a moment for audience members to mingle and reflect on the first half of the show. The laughter continued even while the play was on pause.
The show is mature in content, creating comedy from affairs and sex, but anyone can attend.
ASPEN CHORAL
from page 6
Tickets are available at $15 for students and seniors and $20 for adults. The next showings are on April 17 and 18 at 7pm and April 19 at 2pm. There is also an option to livestream the performance on April 17. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/ CMCtheCottage or pick them up at the box office.
Despite the intensity of its tone, the performance also intends to accentuate joy and the gift of life. “We take away from joy and happiness by refusing shadow,” Dankers said. In avoidance, he said, “we are robbing ourselves of the joy which exists in contrast with the pain.”
Discounted presale tickets are available online at aspenchoralsociety.org. While tickets will also be sold at the door, ACS recommends purchasing in advance. Online sales will close the day before each respective performance.
Actors (left to right) Joshua Adamson (Beau), Gerald DeLisser (Clarke), Pax Wild (Marjorie) and Marie LaBrecque (Deirdre) channel their characters’ idiosyncrasies during a rehearsal.
Photo by Mason Marcy, CMC professional photography student
The right to hunt and a South Bridge permit
AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent
The right to hunt and fish in Garfield County was at the top of the Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) agenda on Monday, April 13. The meeting was short and devoid of public comment, which allowed the BOCC to jump right into the agenda.
First up, Commissioner Perry Will offered a resolution to protect the right to hunt and fish in the county. Will said that 24 states have a constitutional right to hunt and fish, and Colorado isn’t one of them. Will added that all states surrounding Colorado are on the list, but, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures, New Mexico is not. However, New Mexico’s constitution does include the right to bear arms for lawful hunting.
Will said that he’d like to see all the other counties in Colorado adopt the same kind of resolution and that Garfield County could be “the tip of the spear” on this issue. Commissioner Mike Samson said he’d take the resolution to the upcoming Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado meeting.
Will mentioned another section of the resolution that included access to public
MARBLE REPORT
lands based on the county’s 2020 Public Lands Resource Coordination Plan and Policies. But he did not mention how the resolution supports the principle that hunting, fishing and trapping are the “primary and preferred methods of wildlife population management, conducted in accordance with sound science and established conservation practices.” The BOCC approved the resolution unanimously.
Will took another few minutes to draw the BOCC’s attention to two new Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) commissioners, Dr. John Emerick and Chris Sichko, PhD, who are up for confirmation later this month. Will said that he opposes the appointments and has talked to state senators about the two men.
Will’s gripe is how the CPW Commission voted in March, against CPW staff recommendations, to advance a petition that could ban the commercial sale of fur from 17 furbearing species in Colorado. The vote was 6-4, with Commission Chair Richard Reading and commissioners Jessica Beaulieu, Jay Tutchton, Jack Murphy, Eden Vardy and Emerick voting yes. Sichko has not yet started attending meetings.
Will said that in his 40-year career with CPW, he had never seen its commission
vote against CPW staff recommendations. After his time with CPW, however, in July 2025, the commission did just that, when agency staff recommended against compensating more than $138,000 to two ranchers for livestock deaths due to wolf predation. The commission voted to award the ranchers.
Will was also one of several state senators in 2023 who objected to the confirmations of current CPW Commissioner Gabriel Otero and now-Chair Reading. “More and more, the [agricultural] community and the sportsmen community feel like they are not being represented on the commission,” Will said during their confirmation hearings.
On Monday, Will added that Governor Polis is “loading the commission” with specific appointments and “pushing his agenda.” The BOCC gave direction for county staff to craft a letter, opposing the confirmation of Emerick and Sichko.
South Bridge
The BOCC approved a letter to the City of Glenwood Springs requesting that the city submit a 1041 application for the South Bridge Project. During the March 16 BOCC meeting, commissioners voiced concern that the city had not submitted the permit application for the portion of the
continued on page 18
Wildfire concerns laid bare, mixed-use zoning debate continues
DJ SUGAR MONKEY
Special to The Sopris Sun
Residents of the Roaring Fork and Crystal River valleys seeking solace from wildfire-related jitters would have come away disappointed from April’s meeting of the Town of Marble’s Board of Trustees.
The key invitee was Rob Goodwin, chief of the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District (CRFPD), without doubt one of the busiest people in the Valley right now. Caught in the grip of a grueling schedule of public meetings, he has been tirelessly educating the community about this year’s elevated wildfire risk. Goodwin commended each of the local fire districts for their successful collaboration and recruitment efforts ahead of the fire season.
Wasting no time in laying out the facts, he described local communities as “buzzing with anxiety,” and current
conditions as “extraordinary.” This year has seen the warmest winter and the lowest snowpack with the lowest moisture content in recorded history. Nonetheless, he gave assurances that his team was “as prepared as we know how to be,” sharing his maxim: “Keep fires small and nobody dies.”
CRFPD will be making a presentation at the Marble fire station at 6pm on Friday, May 1, followed by another on Saturday, May 16 at 10am.
The latter will be attended by Dr. Hussam Mahmoud of Vanderbilt University, the developer of a groundbreaking modeling able to predict wildfire paths through communities with up to 92% accuracy. Goodwin praised the model for its successes, saying it “had been validated over and over.” Unlike other models, this one takes into account the varying construction characteristics of every building, an essential input to accurately predict the likely progression of a wildfire.
Results of the Marble model will form the foundation of a detailed evacuation plan for the town. Mahmoud has already completed a plan for Snowmass Village and is in the process of collecting data for the greater Carbondale area. Next on his hit list are Glenwood Springs and Basalt, with the ultimate aim of covering the entirety of the Roaring Fork Valley.
Marble will hold a fire mitigation day on April 18, the goal of which is to clear public rights of way of combustible debris. Town resident Mariah Villalobos will share information on how to assemble a “go bag” and what to do in an emergency situation. Volunteers are asked to gather at 8am at the truck and trailer parking opposite the entrance to the Millsite park. Sustenance in the form of hot dogs will be provided at 2pm and, for those wishing to fuel up ahead of their labors, the Marble Charter School will be putting on a pancake breakfast from 9am until noon.
Treasurer’s report
Next on the agenda was the Treasurer’s report presented by Amy Rusby. Of significance was an update
on the Town’s cash position, which now stands at $532,000, an increase of $75,000 from the same point in 2025. Rusby attributed the gain to reduced snow removal costs and compound interest.
Mixed use
The last item of note was the continuing discussion over the proposal to ascribe mixed use (commercial and residential) zoning to properties bordering the main thoroughfare through Marble. The proposition has attracted vehement opposition from some quarters, most notably from long term Marble resident Tim Hunter, who at March’s meeting cited concern about the Trustees’ business ties to the town, insisting the matter be decided by public ballot.
There is also anxiety that the proposal, for which Trustee Dustin Wilkey has led the charge, will erode Marble’s unique charm. Mayor Ryan Vinciguerra has spoken regularly of the need for informed public debate on the issue to determine the path Marble will take that respects the wishes of the majority of its citizens.
A motion was unanimously passed to hold an initial public hearing on the subject on Thursday, June 4, at 6pm.
Aside from Hunter’s feedback in March, the board has heard little from the broader community. A fact sheet is to be published ahead of June’s meeting, and a mailshot will go out to the town’s residents. Should these efforts be met with an apathetic response from the public or should a broad consensus prove elusive, the board may be left to settle the issue themselves. The debate continues.
To round off the meeting, Vinciguerra, owner of the Slow Groovin’ restaurant, announced the reprise of his popular annual fundraising dinner for the Marble Charter School, to be held on Saturday, April 23. Dinner will be served by the students and all proceeds will go toward helping fund a school trip to Boston.
The next meeting of the Town of Marble’s Board of Trustees will be held on Thursday, May 7, at 6pm in the Marble Community Church’s Fellowship Hall.
Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection Chief Rob Goodwin addresses the Board of Trustees in Marble. Photo by DJ Sugar Monkey
Trustees streamline process and expand eligibility for ADUs
SKYLER STARK-RAGSDALE
Managing Editor
The Carbondale Board of Trustees streamlined the process by which residents can add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to their properties.
The board unanimously approved an ordinance at the Tuesday, April 14 meeting amending town code to minimize the ADU review process. The amendment expanded residential districts in which ADUs are permitted, increased the number of bedrooms permitted per ADU and loosened ADU dimension limits and parking restrictions.
The amended code also allows the Board of Trustees to initiate the ADU zoning process.
“Our goal here has been to streamline the process for adding accessory dwelling units to allow for housing as infill,” Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk said.
The ordinance amending the code cites a “significant and growing housing deficit” in Carbondale, specifically to households earning below the area median income (AMI). It recognizes ADUs as “a tool to provide incremental housing opportunities within existing neighborhoods, while ensuring compatibility with surrounding development and minimizing impact on adjacent properties.”
According to a report by the Garfield County Housing Authority, the 2025 AMI
BASALT REPORT
for a one-person household in Carbondale was $105,600 and the 2025 AMI for a four-person household in Carbondale was $128,100.
The amended code reduces the ADU review process by only requiring that proposed ADUs undergo an administrative site review plan by staff, a less arduous review process than the minor site plan review by the Planning & Zoning Commission previously required.
The trustees also reduced the review processes to install ADUs in specific areas of town. ADUs are now fully permitted in Carbondale’s Old Town Residential zone, encompassing 16 downtown blocks south of Main Street. They were previously permitted under special use, requiring more extensive review processes.
ADUs in the town’s Residential/Low Density areas — including much of River Valley Ranch (RVR), Hendrick Ranch and parts of southeast and northeast Carbondale — were amended to permitted use rather than conditional use, also reducing the review processes required.
ADUs in Carbondale’s Residential/ Medium Density zone, including zones scattered between RVR, Hendrick Ranch, downtown and Roaring Fork Village on the northeast of town, were also amended to permitted use rather than conditional use. The code amendment, additionally, permits ADUs in agricultural zones.
Three elected to Basalt Town Council
WILL BUZZERD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
After a municipal election held on April 7, the Town of Basalt welcomed three new members to Basalt Town Council for four-year terms beginning April 28. Angela Anderson, Greg Shaffran and Elyse Hottel were elected to serve as councilors through mid-April 2030. During this week’s meeting, the council discussed new construction guidelines in Historic Basalt and preparations for a new season of the Sunday Market, and the police department pinned Sergeant Travis Still as its new lieutenant.
The municipal race was held between four candidates: Anderson, Shaffran, Hottel and Benjamin Fierstein. Anderson ran for a consecutive reelection, Hottel also ran for reelection but for a non-consecutive term, after stepping away from her 2020 term early. Hottel and Shaffran will be taking the seats of present councilors Ryan Slack and Dieter Schindler. The three electees
will take their seats and appear before the public on April 28.
Tuesday’s meeting opened with a pinning ceremony, officially promoting Still as Basalt Police Department’s next Lieutenant. Still was selected for the role after former Lieutenant Aaron Munch leveled up as the department’s chief of police.
Still joined the department in 2024. This year, he received Roaring Fork Fire Rescue’s 2025 Call of the Year Award. The award is given to any public safety official who demonstrates decisive action, teamwork and excellence towards saving a life. Still was given the award on Feb. 11, after he and his fellow officers delivered life-saving care to an individual who had cut an artery.
Lieutenant Still received hearty applause from his fellow officers after receiving his new pin from Chief Munch during the council meeting.
Another action item was to sign a resolution for the upcoming season of Basalt’s famous Sunday Market.
Ross Montessori third grader Mila DeMent (center) is recognized as a Student of the Month at the Tuesday, April 14 Carbondale
who were not present. Photo by Skyler Stark-Ragsdale
The amendment allows ADUs to contain two bedrooms rather than one bedroom and increases the maximum size of ADUs to 1,000 square feet, depending on the primary structure’s footprint size, rather than 850 square feet.
The trustees also loosened ADU restrictions on parking. Studios and one-bedroom ADUs are no longer required to provide off-street parking spaces, while two-bedroom ADUs are required to provide just one off-street space. All ADUs were previously required to provide one-to-two off-street parking spaces.
Bohmfalk said the town can analyze the effect the ADU code amendment has on short-term rentals through annual data collection.
“We can watch, and say, ‘Oh my gosh, we approved 10 ADUs, and they all become short term rentals, and that’s not exactly what we were thinking,’” he
Trustee Chris Hassig questioned the effect the ADU code amendment would have on the proliferation of short-term rentals, ultimately suggesting the possibility of regulating short-term rentals through ADU regulations rather than through zoning regulations. But he added that he thinks the town is “good where we are” on the code amendment.
continued on page 14
The Market begins June 14 and goes through Sept. 27. As in years past, the market will run from 10am to 2pm, rain or shine, on the Midland Spur and at Lions Park. Visitors and residents can expect delicious food and produce as well as
handmade crafts from local vendors. For entertainment, the Lions Park stage will host live music performances, and kids can enjoy a bounce house and craft activities.
Basalt also invites folks from across the Roaring Fork Valley to its Earth Day celebration on Wednesday, April 22, from noon to 6pm. The event, hosted in Basalt River Park, will feature guest speakers, electric car demonstrations, solar power exhibits, tree and compost bins giveaways, performances by Natalie Spears and students from Basalt Elementary School and more. The theme this year is “My Future, My Voice” to encourage people to speak up for environmental causes.
Historic guidelines
Prior to this week’s meeting, councilors met for a public work session with members of GMSHAY Architects to further discuss the Midland District Design Guidelines, first presented on March 10.
The guidelines document is in progress and intended to provide a framework for all new
construction and remodeling of buildings on or near Midland Avenue for the purpose of preserving the area’s historic architectural character. The document also outlines how to treat what it designates as “contributing buildings,” which are considered some of the most notable examples of 19th and early 20th century architectural styles, such as the Alpine Bank building and the former post office.
While the guidelines provide checklists and guidance for everything from adding awnings to how windows should be framed, the document is meant to serve as an overlay to existing zoning laws, not a replacement. Applicants with projects that do not meet the technical requirements of the guidelines will be able apply for a waiver. Since the presentation on March 10, the team at GMSHAY had refined the document and provided councilors with drafted checklists to clarify how it might be used for construction applications. During the work session, the architectural team requested a resolution to adopt the guidelines at a later date.
Board of Trustees meeting, with her family present to support. Ross Montessori sixth grader Oliver Requeña-Argueta (right) also received studentof-the-month recognition, along with Ricardo Thiago Hernandez-Camarena and Annaliese Furmansky,
Basalt Town Council signed a resolution for this summer’s Basalt Sunday Market, coming to Lions Park and the Midland Spur on June 14. Courtesy image
Community Classes
RESCHEDULED:
PLANTING A NATIVE MEDICINAL POLLINATOR PARADISE
Plants that attract beneficial insects, and improve soil. Thursday, 7-8pm, 4/30
MEDICINE OF OUR TREES
Learn the healing properties of several RF Valley tree species. Thursday, 6-8pm, 4/23
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Explore the major traditions with readings and conversations.
Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm, 5/19-7/7
INTRO TO PILATES REFORMER A foundation class to build confidence and skill.
Tuesdays, 12-12:50pm, 5/19-7/14
MAT PILATES
Classic Pilates to strengthen and lengthen the entire body.
Tue/Thur, 11-11:50am, 5/26-8/13
BARRE PILATES
High energy and low impact to sculpt your entire body.
Tue/Thur, 12-12:50pm, 5/26-8/13
INTERCAMBIOLANGUAGE & CULTURE
All levels welcome in this fun, interactive Spanish/English class. Thursdays, 6-8pm, 5/28-7/2
Free Talks
UTE CULTURE CONVERSATION with Skyler Lomahaftewa Tuesday, 6-7:30pm, 5/19 Ute Exhibit on campus 5/15-5/29
US CONSTITUTION OF, FOR, AND BY THE PEOPLE with Eric Heil
*Call for info and registration. Open to community members. Senior discount applies.
CALENDAR
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
BIKING ON THE CROWN
The Prince Creek mountain bike trail opens for the season. For details and other trail openings, visit tinyurl.com/OpenSpacetrails
COSPLAY CRAFTING
Teens are invited to “The Wind Beneath Your Wings: Cosplay Crafting Workshop,” where participants “build a set of wings using feathers inscribed with words and affirmations written by others in the group,” at the Basalt Library from 4 to 5pm. Details at basaltlibrary.org
GROUP RIDE
Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association hosts a New Castle group ride at 6pm from Alder Park on the day many bike trails open for the season. Riders will climb Stairway to Heaven and Ole Roller trails and descend down East Colorow.
YOUNG ORIGINAL BAND
The Glenwood Springs Community Concert Association presents the Young Original Band — offering a “unique fusion of jazz, classical, folk and pop” — performing at Mountain View Church in Glenwood from 7 to 9pm. For details, email Kathy Kline at kathyann.kline@yahoo.com
FOLK ICON
Dar Williams plays folk music at TACAW at 8pm. Attendees can expect “an evening of luminous songs, vivid characters and reflections on modern life from one of the genre’s most cherished voices.”
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
COFFEE WITH A SUPERINTENDENT
Connect with Roaring Fork School District Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole over coffee at Bonfire Coffee in Carbondale from 9 to 10am. This informal meeting is open to all community members.
LAUNCHPAD OPENINGS
Carbondale Arts hosts two art openings: “Kindred Spirits,” a two-person exhibition by ceramic artist Christine Anderson and abstract painter Benjamin Strawn, and “Material Haiku MMXXVI,” a solo exhibition by Gaby Oshiro, from 5 to 7pm. Both exhibits will be on display through May 21.
‘THE COTTAGE’
The Sopris Theatre Company closes its season with “The Cottage,” a romantic comedy beginning at 7pm at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus. The play will also run at 7pm on April 18 and 2pm on April 19.
SIP, SAVOR, SUPPORT
The Little Blue Preschool hosts its “Sip, Savor, Support” fundraiser with tunes provided by Nick Lenio from 6 to 10pm at TACAW. Tickets at bluelakepreschool.org
‘A LUMINOUS NIGHT’
The Aspen Choral Society presents its spring show, “A Luminous Night,” at 7pm tonight at the Third Street Center in Carbondale, tomorrow at Harris Concert Hall in Aspen and Sunday at Glenwood Springs High School. Tickets at aspenchoralsociety.org/events
KIDS NIGHT AT GLENWOOD REC Kids, ages 5-12, take over the Glenwood Community Center from 4:30 to 9pm, offering parents a night out. This is an inclusive event; parents can request disability accommodations upon registration. Register at tinyurl.com/GWSkids
IMMAGINA
The Spring Creeks Ranch in Carbondale will host Immagina, an Italian-inspired evening with proceeds benefiting children and families affected by abuse. The event will include a live and silent auction, as well as a “Lighting the Piazza” honoring Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario and is open to ages 21+, with $100 tickets available at givebutter.com/imagine11
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
MARBLE FIRE MITIGATION
The Town of Marble is hosting a roadside brush cleanup to mitigate fire risk from 8am to 2pm. Volunteers should meet at the Millsite parking area at 8am. Homeowners can also drop off brush at the Millsite Hockey Rink from 8am to 2pm. Sign up by calling 970-379-1938, or visit townmarble.com for more information.
MARBLE GO BAGS
The Town of Marble hosts a hot dog cookout at the Marble basketball court where attendees can learn about preparing a “go bag” in the event of a wildfire evacuation. Sign up at 970-379-1938 or visit townofmarble.com for more information.
RAKU FIRING WORKSHOP
Experience the thrill of Raku firing during a daylong workshop at the Carbondale Clay Center from 9am to 5pm. Register at carbondaleclay.org
FIGHT CANCER
Support Kyle Ogren’s fight against cancer by attending “Ride for a Reason,” a car show fundraiser from 11am to 2pm at Crown Mountain Park. General admission tickets cost $20. All proceeds will go toward Ogren’s medical expenses. Donate to Ogren’s GoFundMe at www.gofund.me/a33181d86
GOAT AT THE CRYSTAL
The Crystal Theatre screens “Goat” at 5pm this evening and 3pm tomorrow.
SOUNDS OF SPRING
The Carbondale Branch Library hosts “Sounds of Spring,” classical modern music with Jennifer Gary on the flute and Karen Tafejian on the piano, at 7pm.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
STAY ORIENTED
A Spiritual Center hosts Meghan Gilroy for “Staying Oriented in a Disoriented World” from 10 to 11:30am in Room 31 of the Third Street Center. Gilroy will share knowledge of shamanic and spiritual tools to restore balance to life.
LEARN TO BELAY
The Glenwood Community Center hosts an introductory belay class at its climbing wall from 10am to 1pm. Register at tinyurl.com/GWSbelay
PIANO BAR
Celebrate Thunder River Theater’s 30th season with the company’s first Piano Bar, beginning at 6pm and featuring Michael McCassey on the keys. Tickets at thunderrivertheatre.com
MONDAY,
APRIL 20
FIRE RESILIENCY
Learn to make your home more fire resilient at the Fire Resilience Presentation, held from 5:30 to 7pm in River Valley Ranch. The presentation is put on in collaboration between the fire district and the Roaring Fork Wildfire Collaborative. Register at tinyurl.com/ PrepareCarbondale
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
HOT SPRINGS CLOSURE
The pool at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort will be closed for maintenance through April 22.
5POINT
The 19th annual 5Point Flagship Film Festival kicks off with feature films at the Crystal Theatre tonight and tomorrow at 7pm, and continues through Sunday, April 26 with pop ups, panels, parties and more films throughout downtown Carbondale, but mainly between the Crystal Theatre and Carbondale Rec Center. For a list of events and tickets, visit 5Pointfilm.org/ festival Adventure on!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
COMPOST
Pick up free compost at Hallam Lake in Aspen or Rock Bottom Ranch in Basalt. Compost is available between 9am and 4pm, with a three-to-five gallon scoop limit per person.
BASALT EARTH DAY
The Town of Basalt hosts an Earth Day celebration at the River Park, themed “My Future My Voice,” to include guest speakers, solar exhibits, electric car demos, compost bin and tree giveaways (while supplies last), kids crafting, vegan and local beef options and music by Natalie Spears. The daylong event goes from noon to 6pm.
EARTH DAY IN ASPEN
ACES and the City of Aspen host a community action fair featuring local environmental organizations and farms from 3 to 5:30pm on Mill Street. Then, speakers “explore the vital link between political decision-making and environmental survival” during a free lecture from 6 to 7:30pm at the Wheeler. Details and registration at aspennature.org
EARTH DAY PLANT SWAP
Trade plants, browse items from Earth-conscious vendors and celebrate nature at the Botany Houseplant Shop’s Earth Day Plant Swap & Pop-Up Market from 5:30 to 7pm. To join the plant swap, RSVP at bit.ly/4dOohWm
GARY SPRINGFIELD
Lisa McKenzie hosts a live teaching and meditation with Gary Springfield, author of “Source Dialogues: The Miracle Mechanism of Manifestation,” at the Third Street Center from 6:30 to 8pm. Register at tcfhf.org
The styling Roaring Divas host KDNK
Community Access Radio’s raucous Lip Sync Battle at 7pm this Saturday, April 18 at the Third Street Center. Judging will be based on five categories: stage presence and crowd feedback, costume(s), lip sync accuracy, dance moves and creativity and/or humor. Register to participate at tinyurl. com/KDNKlipsync or find general admission tickets at kdnk.org
Photo of last year’s winners, courtesy of KDNK
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
5POINT GROUP RUN
Start a day of 5Point adventure off on the right foot with a community group run, starting from Alpine Performance Labs at 9:30am today and tomorrow. All paces are welcome.
CODING
Attend Aspen Science Center’s Tech Club to build hardware projects and learn various coding languages, including JavaScript, Python and HTML. The workshop is open to fifth graders and older and will be hosted at the Carbondale Library from 3:45 to 4:45pm.
MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY
The Sileo Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana performs at the Basalt Library from 5:30 to 6:30pm.
ELVIS AT TACAW
TACAW will screen Baz Luhrmann’s documentary film, “EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” at 7:30pm. Tickets at tacaw.org
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
WATERSHED CLEANUP
Roaring Fork Conservancy is seeking volunteers for its 28th annual Watershed Cleanup happening today through April 28. Folks will be assigned to specific locations within the Roaring Fork Watershed, from Aspen to Glenwood and Ruedi to McClure Pass. Registration is required and due by April 19. Register at roaringfork.org/events
CMC FINAL PROJECTS
Colorado Mountain College will hold an online event spotlighting the final projects of students in the Integrated Sustainability and Ecosystem Science & Stewardship programs from 9am to noon. Register for the Sustainability & Ecosystem Science Conference at coloradomtn.edu/sustainability-conference
ADAPTIVE RIDE
Challenge Aspen hosts an adaptive ride on the Prince Creek trails, taking off from the lower Prince Creek parking lot at 10am. Register at 5Pointfilm.org/festival
CONCERT TOUR
Mateo Sandate and the Heartstrings celebrate their new album, “Believing in Beauty,” with a tour through the Garfield County Libraries. Performances occur in Parachute (today), New Castle (tomorrow), Glenwood Springs (April 26), Rifle (May 1), Silt (May 2) and Carbondale (May 3). All showtimes are at 2pm and the concerts are free to attend at the respective libraries.
Girls soccer finding their footing in league runup
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
After falling 3-0 to the 3A Western Slope League-leading Steamboat Springs Sailors on their home field April 8, Roaring Fork High School’s girls soccer team rebounded two days later to score a 10-0 confidence booster over Moffat County in front of the home crowd.
Sophomore Annalise Bumgarner collected three goals in the match, with one each coming from seniors Ella Gunshor and Kayla Kaufman, juniors Tess Hayes, Mia Jimenez, and Bianca Braun, sophomore Helena McCracken, and freshmen Kathleen Stuart and Jocelyn Rivera.
The Rams had a win-loss-tie record of 2-4-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the league before hitting the road to play the defending league champion Delta Panthers Tuesday evening (results not available at this writing).
“I think we have been doing well defensively, but offensively we needed some confidence to take that shot quickly, and this was a great game to do that,” head coach Nicole Cruz said after the Moffat win.
With a roster made up mostly of underclassmen, the team is also still learning with every game, she said.
“First touch for us is a big deal because it sets us up for the next play, as well as scanning the field as a ball’s coming to us,” Cruz said. “As they get older, it’s what you’re doing off the ball as well as on the ball. We have to make sure we’re supporting other
teammates when they have the ball, and see where the defenders are so we can make the best run or option after that.
Cruz has had the opportunity to coach a core group of seniors through her four years as head coach — Gunshor, Kaufman, Maya Lindbloom, and Mali Sparhawk.
“They know what I expect, which they can translate to the team,” she said.
Stepping into the goalkeeper position this season are junior Hazel Jenkins and freshman Ashley Bautista. Neither had played the position before this year.
“They have progressed so much in the last month, just building confidence and learning to do those dives and handle the
one-on ones,” Cruz said. “I’m excited to see how they progress.”
Next up:
Thursday at home versus Basalt, 4pm.
In other action … Roaring Fork’s girls lacrosse was 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the 4A Mountain East League going into a home match Tuesday against Eagle Valley (result not available by this writing).
The Rams fell 14-4 on April 9 at home against the Battle Mountain Huskies, who continue to lead the 4A Mountain East League. Three goals came from senior
Jordyn Miller, and one from senior Juliana Pittz in that contest.
The Rams baseball team is 3-7 overall after a 7-3 loss to Discovery Canyon on Monday in Colorado Springs. They’re 1-1 in the league after splitting a double header with Delta at home on April 10, losing 10-7 in the opener and winning the nightcap 11-0, unloading for 10 runs in the first inning.
The Rams are at Basalt on Saturday (11am game time), and have a long stretch of road games before returning home on April 29 against Rifle (3pm).
And, the Roaring Fork track and field athletes were at the Glenwood Springs Demon Invitational on April 11. Placing in the top seven of their respective events to score team points were:
Girls — senior Caroline Cole, sixth 1600-meter run (5 minutes, 55.5 seconds); junior Sadie Silcox, seventh 1600 (5:59.75); sophomore Kayla Steele, fourth 3200 meters (12:49.16); sophomore Kinley Richmond, fifth 3200 (14:32); and the 4x800 relay team of Steele, Richmond and sophomores Isla Friel and Sophia Warner, fourth (11:33.75).
Boys — freshman Colby Horst, sixth 200-meter dash (24.76 seconds); junior Quintin Galbraith, second 400 meters (54.18); sophomore Levi Friday, second 1600 meters (4:49.06); and the 4x100 relay team of Galbraith, Horst, senior Eli Norris, and junior Davey Noyola, sixth (47.08).
Roaring Fork is at the Coal Ridge Invitational this Friday, April 17.
Ram Lexi Filiss takes it up the field during the showdown against Moffat County on April 10.
Photo by Hana Creyts, Sopris Stars youth correspondent
More than training
Thursday group runs a way to connect, converse, cavort with other runners
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Four or five miles can go by pretty fast when you get lost in conversation with a fellow runner during a casual jaunt around Carbondale.
That’s often how it is at the Independence Run & Hike Thursday night Run Club, which can draw anywhere from four to 40 runners on a given week.
Who knows, it could even lead to romance.
“The running group is where I met my wife, Betsy,” store owner Brion After said. “We decided to go do a run up Arbaney Kittle [in Basalt], and she had just moved here and showed up.
“We’ve had several people who met at the group run who have gotten married. So on Valentine’s Day a few years ago we posted a picture of all of us who met there.”
The informal group runs have been a part of the culture at Independence Run & Hike since it first opened 20 years ago. They started on Saturday mornings, with options for longer or shorter road runs, and eventually adding separate trail run outings.
Former store employee Emily Steers (now Emily White) came up with the idea for the “Thirsty Thursday Beer Run” about 10 years ago. After the group run, participants would gather at a local watering hole for some food, drinks and casual conversation.
It became the more popular of the two group run days, so it stuck.
The Run Club meets at 6:30pm at the
store, located at 901 Highway 133, next to City Market, every Thursday (6pm during the winter months). There are options for a fouror five-mile loop at different paces, followed by snacks and drinks back at the store. Leashed dogs and kid strollers are welcome.
“The social aspect is huge,” After said. “That’s a big part of the world these days, is people just like to meet in a nice, safe setting and get to know each other better.”
And the conversations you might have!
After described one run chat he had with a woman who was in town training for the Leadville 100, who happened to be a cold-case crime investigator in Detroit. She told of a murder case she cracked. It was a little like running with an audiobook, but interactive, After said.
“We were out there for maybe an hour at Leadville pace, and it was probably one of the coolest stories I’ve ever heard. It’s stuff like that that makes the group run really fun.”
Former store manager Kyle Jones was a regular run leader before he moved back to Austin, Texas a couple of years ago. He was in town for a visit in March, and is planning to move back to Carbondale.
“We had group runs in Austin where I’m from, but I was always more of a solo run guy and didn’t really value the community aspect until I came here,” he said. “It’s such a close-knit, inclusive community and I sort of came to consider it to be like my family.”
Longtime Carbondale resident Michelle Smith was a competitive runner in college,
but had never joined the group runs until she started working at the store about three years ago.
“I had a job where I worked from home in front of the computer a lot, and I was feeling pretty isolated just doing that,” she said. “So when I started working here I also started coming to the run club and began making a whole new friend network. Now, they’re some of my closest friends.”
Sara Porter, Jessi Rochel and Garrett Holody are also run group regulars.
“It’s a great, super-inclusive group of people who all have the same passion for running and are welcoming to all kinds of runners,” Porter said.
Added Rochel, “Everyone is really great about chatting and being supportive of each other, and it’s a really good way to make sure you get yourself out of the house.”
Holody uses the weekly group run to supplement his training for some of the upcoming races.
“It’s a great way to stay committed to the sport and share some training ideas, and it’s
nice to just meet other people who are doing the same thing and to be social,” he said. Independence Run & Hike puts on four of those races throughout the year.
UPCOMING RACES
Coming up is the 5 Point 5K on Saturday, April 25, in conjunction with the 5 Point Film Festival weekend. The 5-kilometer run starts and finishes near the store, beginning at 9am. Then there is the Mt. Sopris Runoff 28K and 10-mile trail races, taking place on Sunday, May 17. This is the third year for the revamped Runoff race, which starts on Prince Creek Road and heads up and over the Crown via the Prince Creek and Glassier trails, finishing at Rock Bottom Ranch where there’s a big party with food and drinks.
Down the road are the Mountain Fair 4 Miler on the last Saturday of July, and the Jingle Bell Run 5K in mid-December. More information and registration details are at independencerunandhike.com/ our-events-2-2/
Runners leave the Independence Run & Hike store in the City Market Plaza for the weekly Thursday night group run. Photo by John Stroud
with Myers and Sons, said he would like to finish the bridge before the Fourth of July festivities, but acknowledged that might be overly ambitious. Still, he said the project is trending ahead of schedule.
The bridge is undergoing a significant structural transformation, but one that also considers the village aesthetic. The original, built in 1947, was a steel structure made of two 40-foot girders and a central support column in the Crystal River. The new bridge will consist of five precast concrete girders from Denver spanning 90 feet. The length will eliminate the need for a mid-river support.
McManus described the concrete girders: “They’re kind of shaped like a box … They’ve got rebar reinforcement inside of them, but they are also hollow.”
As far as the rest of the plan goes, McManus filled The Sun in on what to expect.
“We’re going to set some rails, and then we [will] bring in a paving machine,” he said. “It’s a specialized paving machine called a Bid-Well.”
Pump trucks will spread concrete in a zigzag pattern, while the Bid-Well machine moves back and forth in a slow, steady progression to pave the bridge deck. A crown will be built into the bridge to shed water, followed by the installation of a sidewalk along one side and railings. Finishing work, including painting, will complete the project.
The temporary closure has also
sparked discussions among residents about long-term traffic management. Dan Sohner, father of Isla, 5, and Arbor, 3, said the closure presents an opportunity to address ongoing speeding issues on the Boulevard.
“It’s going to set us up for the next five years on how Pitkin County manages Redstone and how the town speaks up and advocates for itself,” he said.
Sohner said he would like to see a greater police presence in Redstone, adding that he always stops to wave at and thank deputies. He’s hoping for increased enforcement this summer.
Matthew Betcher, father of Bowie, 3, said he worries about distracted drivers, and that, in today’s accelerated society, people are often so focused on getting where they are going that they are not aware of their surroundings.
“All it takes is one person driving 35 mph, not paying attention and one of our kids runs out in front of the car,” he said. Betcher also suggested installing traffic cameras, at least for the summer, and a patrol car stationed at the entrance to East Creek Road.
“If getting to their destination means they might get a ticket, they’re going to snap out of it,” he said.
Uhl urges drivers to take in their surroundings, calling on them to “slow your roll” and appreciate the area’s beauty.
The Sun reached out to Pitkin County for this story, but did not receive a response as of press time.
at 3:03pm. Two heavy wreckers assisted turning the vehicle right side up and left the scene a little after 7pm.
CARBONDALE
from page 9
said. “But we have heard there needs to be a balance, and we need more beds, so I think that’s a very nimble way to do it.”
In other news …
The Board of Trustees reviewed an update regarding the opening of the Carbondale Aquatic Center. Town staff and contractors told the board that the center will open to the public at noon on May 23.
The board also unanimously approved an ordinance expanding the definition of Carbondale’s Historic Downtown Area to include properties in the Historic Commercial Core, encompassing blocks on both sides of Main Street, as well as Old Town Residential, the series of blocks south of Main Street. The ordinance requires projects that fall within the Historic Downtown Area — including the Historic Commercial Core, Old Town Residential and what the town defines as “structures of merit” — undergo a courtesy review.
Megan Hiles, MD, MBA, FACP
Hiles
A Colorado Site Services truck tipped over on its side at the Carbondale roundabout on Monday, April 13, after taking “the curve too fast,” according to the town’s public information officer, Anna Ramirez. The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by Carbondale Fire, Ramirez said. Carbondale Police were dispatched to the accident
Photo by James Steindler
Terral Edward Anderson
June 9, 1942 - April 6, 2026
Terral Edward Anderson was born in Martinez, California on June 9, 1942 to Robert and Aurelius Anderson. Terry had one older brother, Rodney Robert Anderson. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1961 and trained at Kessler Air Force Base in Mississippi prior to being deployed to Vietnam in 1962. He was stationed at Tan Son Nhat Air Base near Saigon, working as a radar and communications technician.
His training and experiences in the military spurred him to pursue a degree in electrical engineering, after serving his country for four years. He attended two years at a junior college then completed his degree at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. After graduation he worked for General Electric for several years, married and divorced before leaving the ocean for the mountains.
Terry moved to Rifle, Colorado soon after Exxon’s closure of the Colony Oil shale project, gutting 2,000 jobs on Black Sunday. He bought a house with a view above town near the Elks Lodge. He joined his childhood friend in the creation of Trusfab, Inc. in New Castle, manufacturing trusses for the upcoming resort communities building booms. Trusfab still exists today.
Adventures were soon shared with Mary Kroul Cerise, including winters spent in Mesquite, Nevada exploring the desert and casinos. Terry purchased a cabin in the White River National Forest in 1992 and wed Mary two years later on
tax day, April 15, 1994, at the We’ve Only Just Begun Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
Summer and fall found them at the cabin, fishing Meadow Lake and searching for arrowheads. Many hunting seasons would bring rowdy friends and family to the cabin from Iowa and they were exceptional hosts — however not many elk made it to freezers in the Midwest. Great memories were created there.
For decades, Terry enjoyed playing video poker and horseshoes, snowmobiling, cursing the Broncos and drinking Bud Light. He and Mary finally divorced in 2018.
Dementia then required him to live near family in Carbondale where he made new friends and played pull tabs during his weekly trips to the American Legion. Video poker was replaced with sudoku and scratch tickets, and he enjoyed hearing about his grandsons’ sporting events. A good black and white western on TV or sitting in the sun watching the elk in the fields near his home filled his days also.
Much gratitude to HomeCare and Hospice of the Valley for their compassionate care for Terry in his final days at home. Terry passed peacefully there on April 6, 2026.
Terry is survived by his family, Cassie Cerise, Tim, Cole and Chase Fenton, of the Crystal Springs area outside Carbondale.
Terry requested his ashes and favorite beer be spread around his cabin. A celebration will take place there this summer.
We don't charge for obits
Terry with his grandsons, Chase (left) and Cole. Courtesy photo
A taste of victory
Youthentity student from Carbondale wins culinary competition
FELIPE PEREZ Sol del Valle
EDITOR’S NOTE: Translation assisted by artificial intelligence tools and edited by Bianca Godina
The culinary talent of the Valley stood out at the state level thanks to Evony Mejía Montoya, a student in the Youthentity Culinary Academy who earned first place in the Italco Charcuterie Board & Hors d’oeuvre competition, an event that brings together young culinary talent from across Colorado.
Mejía Montoya is a secondyear apprentice in the Youthentity Culinary Academy and a senior at Roaring Fork High School. She secured the victory on March 4, during this major charcuterie competition held in Denver and organized by the Colorado Restaurant Association.
During the competition, participants had 45 minutes to design and prepare a charcuterie board and an hors d’oeuvre using gruyère cheese. Entries were evaluated by a panel of judges based on presentation, creativity, flavor and technique.
Sol del Valle spoke with Mejía Montoya, who shared some insight about that decisive moment.
“I was very nervous. I didn’t really know what to do or how to start putting the board together,” she said. “As time went on, it felt like winning was getting further away. But at one point, I saw how other contestants were doing it and thought that, deep down, I knew how to do it, too. I had done it before and I could put the board together easily, even better. And that’s how it happened. The judges liked it … and I won.”
Competing is nothing new for Mejía Montoya. She has participated in several culinary competitions in the past. In 2025, she was part of the Colorado ProStart team representing Youthentity and Roaring Fork High School. The team won
the state championship and later placed fifth nationally at a competition held in Baltimore.
“Winning this competition meant a lot to me because it pushed me to think creatively and trust my training,” Mejía Montoya said. “This is my third win, and it shows my parents that this is what I want to do with my future.”
Of Salvadoran heritage, Mejía Montoya is part of the Carbondale school system. Her journey has involved not only developing culinary talent, but also adapting to a new culture and language. The process has been meaningful for her, and she said that she feels proud of everything she has learned both at home and in school. She fondly remembers her cooking instructors, and, particularly, her elementary school English teacher.
Today, she is certain that her future “smells like pastry.”
“I don’t want to leave Colorado,” she said. “I’ve explored several culinary schools and options … to achieve my goals, but I want to stay close to my family.”
Bret Moyer, director of the Youthentity Career Academy, said in a press release, “Evony represents exactly what the
Youthentity Culinary Academy is about. She works hard, takes pride in her craft and continues to challenge herself through real-world opportunities.” He continued, “Watching her growth, from the 2025 ProStart culinary team’s national podium finish to winning the 2026 individual culinary competition, is inspiring. We are incredibly proud of her.”
For now, she remains connected to the Youthentity Cul-
inary Academy, where she continues to build her skills. The Youthentity Culinary Academy is part of the organization’s workforce development programs, offering students hands-on culinary training, mentorship from professional chefs and opportunities to build skills while exploring careers in the food and hospitality industry. To learn more about Youthentity, visit youthentity.org
Follow Leonardo Occhipinti’s “Nuevo Mundo” in Sol del Valle every week in Spanish.
Evony Mejía Montoya with her winning dishes. Courtesy photo
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
Sun
“Hey bartender, can we get a little beer here?”
Comparte tus proyectos creativos aún en proceso con nuestros lectores. Puedes enviarnos un correo electrónico con tus ilustraciones, creaciones literarias y poesía a fiction@soprissun.com
“Though I know not where I’m going, I know I’ll get there yet.”
- Benny Blue, @freeradicalpress, from Aravaipa, Arizona
up a storm at the latest “Caption This” event on March 26, hosted at The Art Base, when teams competed to come up with the best gaglines for illustrations
this Larry Day original went to team Cap-italics, made up of members Brian Colley, Amy
With Us, Your Health is Personal
Sopris
cartoonist Larry Day drew
Day whipped up on the spot. The winning caption imprinted on
Maron and Dave and Terri Ritchie.
Aspen is on Ozempic
I recently read about the mass exodus of volunteer mountain ambassadors in Aspen. I served for one year, and I loved it. It asked more of me than I expected, but gave more in return. It reminded me through conversations with visitors and locals alike what Aspen can be at its best: open, curious and socially generous. This new “development,” along with some other recent provocative events, inspired me to share my internal conflict regarding the present and the past, and my infatuation with Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley —
My first visit was in 1995, for a family wedding at Sardy House. I stayed awake for nearly three days, afraid I might miss something. After the formalities, I drifted into late nights with staff from the Sardy House and Hotel Jerome — people in their 20s from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Spain, South Africa and across the U.S. It felt unscripted and alive, a place where energy came not from perfection,
That feeling has thinned.
Just before COVID, and especially since, Aspen has begun to feel less like a community and more like a place people pass through, or endure. So many here are no longer thriving; we are working to remain.
“Affordable housing” is an oxymoron.
from page 4
Happy hour may require a drive to Basalt or Carbondale, and, if you drink, that choice carries safety risks and potentially steeper consequences than a $30 glass of pinot grigio. The texture has changed.
Some of my most cherished clients, now in their 70s and 80s, helped shape Aspen into the place people still imagine. They speak with saudade, a longing for what was, softened by the knowledge that change is inevitable. But beneath that acceptance is something else: a quiet grief for what is being lost in real time.
Aspen is on Ozempic. It has shed more than excess. It has lost muscle. The grit, the eccentricity, the beautifully rough edges have been pared down too. What remains is sleeker, more refined and somehow less alive. Its grit and soul — once a beautifully imperfect, craggy essence born from passion, impulsivity and occasional gluttonous poor decisions — seems to be increasingly replaced and defined by access and optics, where substance risks being edged out by presentation.
And yet, Aspen still flickers. I felt it recently at Wheeler Opera House, at a retrospective honoring a local sculptor’s family. The artist’s work was rooted in Colorado’s landscape — textured, grounded, real and sustainable.
Candace Clarke Aspen
We also have a more resilient and diversified economy than people might think. We’re less dependent on tourism than upvalley communities, and during COVID we didn’t see the same drop in revenue because we’re a local-serving economy.
And its biggest challenges?
Housing, without question. We’ve made some progress — like passing a short-term rental tax that goes toward affordable housing — but we don’t have the kind of dedicated
There’s also a tension around tourism. Being off Highway 82 is a strength and a weakness. It helps preserve the character of the town, but it also makes it harder for local businesses. And then there are bigger projects, like the Town Center development. We have a strong plan and community support, but the costs are high. Those take time.
What’s next for you?
I’m going to take a break from public service. I’ll still be involved through my work with the school district, and I’ve offered to be a resource if the new mayor wants to talk through anything. But after 16 years of night meetings, I’m looking forward to sleeping a little better, worrying a little less and maybe laughing a little more.
GARCO
from page 8
project that will be on county land.
The county also posted a press release on March 18 about the matter, warning of legal action if the city did not comply.
“Key benefits of 1041 regulations include our ability to review projects that have a substantial impact on local water, wildlife and other natural resources or environmental standards,” County Attorney Heather Beattie explained. “Also, 1041 regulations permit the review of impacts on local transportation needs and development impacts on agriculture.”
Beattie mentioned an additional letter that she will send to the city, explaining the legal reasons why the county is asking for a 1041 permit. Through a Colorado Open Records Act request, The Sopris Sun obtained a copy of that letter, which was addressed to Jason Smith, director of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Nate Hunt, counsel for the city.
In it, Beattie provides a detailed explanation about events leading up to the current
impasse, adding that in February CDOT sent a letter to the county stating that the city did not have to comply with the county’s 1041 regulations. Two days later, according to the letter, the county received a letter from the city, pointing to the CDOT letter. Beattie’s letter provides a detailed legal analysis of why the county needs the 1041.
Bryana Starbuck, communications and engagement officer for the City of Glenwood Springs, told The Sopris Sun in an email that the city submitted a letter to the county on March 31 about filing a Location and Extent application for the project.
“City Council has not yet had an opportunity to review or discuss the county’s letter from April 13,” she wrote. “City staff plans to discuss the letter and timing of a response with City Council as part of the executive session on April 16.”
The commissioners also approved new county wastewater treatment regulations among other things.
You can find archived BOCC meetings at the Garfield County website.
A panel of Carbondale Mountain Fair leaders, movers and shakers led a wide-ranging, delightful, hilarious and often touching discussion of fairs past and present for a large and enthusiastic audience at the Third Street Center on April 9. In addition to the panelists (left to right: Brenda Buchanan, Laurie Loeb, Bob Schultz, Jim Ryan, David Thiel, Lee Beck, John Stickney and Drew Handy), many audience members also shared their anecdotes and remembrances. The event, “Legends of Mountain Fair,” was hosted by the Carbondale Historical Society, and coorganized and emceed by Amy “Miss Moon” Kimberly, who headed up fair operations for 19 wondrous years. Courtesy photo
Weant Blvd Pedestrian Crossing
Weant Blvd Pedestrian Crossing
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Weant Blvd Pedestrian Crossing
Weant Blvd Pedestrian Crossing
Issue Date: 4/10/2026 | Closing Date: 4/30/2026
Public Works Department
Public Works Department
Town of Carbondale 511 Colorado Ave Carbondale, CO 81623
Town of Carbondale
511 Colorado Ave Carbondale, CO 81623
Issue Date: 4/10/2026 | Closing Date: 4/30/2026
Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference: 4/21/2026 @ 2 PM at Town Hall
Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference: 4/21/2026 @ 2 PM at Town Hall
Sealed bids for the construcOon of the Weant Blvd Pedestrian Crossing will be received from invited Bidders by the Town of Carbondale (“OWNER”) at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave, Carbondale, CO 81623, unOl 2:00 PM on April 30, 2026, at which Ome the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The project consists of construcOon of asphalt paths, a concrete median island and two curb bulb outs in Hwy 133. The installaOon of four pedestrian acOvated rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) will also be included in the project.
Sealed bids for the construcOon of the Weant Blvd Pedestrian Crossing will be received from invited Bidders by the Town of Carbondale (“OWNER”) at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave, Carbondale, CO 81623, unOl 2:00 PM on April 30, 2026, at which Ome the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The project consists of construcOon of asphalt paths, a concrete median island and two curb bulb outs in Hwy 133. The installaOon of four pedestrian acOvated rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) will also be included in the project.
Bids will be received for a single prime Contract. Bids shall be on a unit price basis as indicated in the Bid Form. In the CerOficate of Insurance, the Contractor shall list both the Town of Carbondale and the Colorado Department of TransportaOon as addiOonal insured. Bidding Documents will be provided to prospecOve Bidders as electronic PDF files.
Bids will be received for a single prime Contract. Bids shall be on a unit price basis as indicated in the Bid Form. In the CerOficate of Insurance, the Contractor shall list both the Town of Carbondale and the Colorado Department of TransportaOon as addiOonal insured. Bidding Documents will be provided to prospecOve Bidders as electronic PDF files.
The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is Roaring Fork Engineering (RFE), 592 Hwy 133, Carbondale, CO, 81623 (Contact: Anthony Alfini | PE (970) 618-7073 | AnthonyA@rfeng.biz).
ProspecOve Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 AM to 5 PM and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below.
The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is Roaring Fork Engineering (RFE), 592 Hwy 133, Carbondale, CO, 81623 (Contact: Anthony Alfini | PE (970) 618-7073 | AnthonyA@rfeng.biz). ProspecOve Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 AM to 5 PM and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below.
Documents
Bidding Documents are available as electronic portable document format (PDF) files. AlternaOvely, printed Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office via in-person pick-up, for a nonrefundable charge of $25 per set. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to Roaring Fork Engineering. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmieed by the Issuing Office will be considered the date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. ParOal sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or parOal sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office. The project must be completed between June 4, 2026 and August 14, 2026 to avoid impact to school commuters.
Bidding Documents are available as electronic portable document format (PDF) files. AlternaOvely, printed Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office via in-person pick-up, for a nonrefundable charge of $25 per set. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to Roaring Fork Engineering. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmieed by the Issuing Office will be considered the date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. ParOal sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or parOal sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.
The project must be completed between June 4, 2026 and August 14, 2026 to avoid impact to school commuters.
opened vated Hall.
A pre-bid conference will be held at 2:00 PM on April 21, 2026 at Town Hall. Aeendance at the pre-bid conference is highly encouraged but is not mandatory.
A pre-bid conference will be held at 2:00 PM on April 21, 2026 at Town Hall. Aeendance at the pre-bid conference is highly encouraged but is not mandatory.
A 5% bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the InstrucOons to Bidders. Bidders shall submit proof of qualificaOons to perform the Work as described in the InstrucOons to Bidders.
A 5% bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the InstrucOons to Bidders. Bidders shall submit proof of qualificaOons to perform the Work as described in the InstrucOons to Bidders.
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