celebrated a grand reopening at its new and improved store in Basalt Center Circle on Friday, June 12, after having spent the past 18 months doing business out of a 360-square-foot trailer due to development. But its loyal customer base stuck by through the
Catch this story and others from the recent Women’s VOICES Theater Project, “When We Dance Again,” on Sunday, June 28, at 6pm on KDNK and archived at www.voicesrfv.org
There was a little girl in a kindergarten classroom who knew exactly what she wanted.
Over in the corner by the door there was a little house. A play kitchen. A space where the rules of the real world hadn’t quite arrived yet. One afternoon she got into an argument with another little girl about who got to be the mommy. The teacher came over and settled it the way teachers do. “Boys can’t be mommies,” she said. “You can be the daddy. Or the dog.”
The little girl didn’t have the words for what happened next. She just knew that something true about her had been looked at directly and called wrong. So she did what children do when the world tells them they are impossible. She put it away.
For a long time I didn’t think that story was about me. I thought it was just a memory. A strange little artifact from a Catholic school classroom in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. It took me 30 years and a pandemic and a kitchen table and everything falling apart to understand what I had buried in that corner by the door.
enough to fill a freezer for a child not yet in the world. In the delivery room I floated above my own body and watched. And then my parents walked through the door and my dad, who had come in strong the way dads do, cracked. And watching my father cry pulled me back down into my body like a ton of bricks. This is real. This is true. This is your life.
While all of that was happening, while I was learning to feed my daughter and becoming myself and falling into the life I had always been meant to have, other people were in rooms of their own, working very hard on a definition. A woman, they decided, is a person whose reproductive system is organized around the production of ovum. Clean. Clinical. They think they have finally solved the problem of me. They have been trying to solve the problem of women for a very long time. Too loud. Too quiet. Too ambitious. Too soft. Not the right body. Not the right choices. Every woman reading this has been measured against a definition someone else wrote and found lacking in some way. They have been doing this to all of us. They just tried to write mine into law.
By Ashley Stahl
I wanted to be a parent. That was the thing that kept coming back when I sat with the wreckage of my life trying to figure out what I actually needed. And following that wanting — really following it, all the way down — led me somewhere I hadn’t expected. Because I didn’t just research surrogacy that night. I researched hormones. I ordered a kit to preserve what my body had and a prescription for what it needed. In the same sitting. Like my hands knew something my brain was still arguing about.
I had never seen a reflection of what my life could look like. I had spent so long building walls against the parts of me that felt most true just to survive that I couldn’t see past them to what I actually was. The jump wasn’t into something foreign. I know that now. It was into something true that I had just never been given permission to see.
So I jumped.
My friend Becky agreed to carry my daughter. I had to tell her in the same phone call that I was a woman, that I was just beginning to live like one, that the person she was agreeing to do this with had always been there but was only now learning to take up space. She said yes anyway.
The months that followed were an exercise in hoping carefully. Never all the way. It became real when I started recording myself reading so my daughter could hear my voice through Becky’s skin. It became real when I learned that a woman’s body, whatever shape it takes, can breastfeed — and I started pumping every day into bottles that at first gave me nothing, then droplets, then
Water aware
Ah, the Annual Water Quality Report, so important to know that our water is cared for. I trust our water awareness is maturing. I greatly appreciate that only naturally occurring fluoride is in Carbondale’s water, which gives me the option to use in my dental care. We are water aware. Richard Vottero Carbondale
Wise words for Flag Day
My grandfather, John C. Lawyer, was born June 14, 1884 in Illinois and grew up on his parents’ farm. After long walks to grade school and high school, he went to the University of Illinois to study law, and graduated valedictorian of the entire university in 1907. His valedictorian speech could have been written this week. I quote him in part.
“We live in a glorious country. We are proud that we are Americans. We love our country because it fixes no bounds to the hopes we hold. America has come to mean unlimited opportunity.
“Bearing in mind that education is our country’s bulwark, it is not strange that its
And after every form and every waiting room and every judge and every insurance appeal and every person who decided I wasn’t worth believing, you know what actually made me a woman?
Someone who loved me looked at a photograph. A photograph of a child I had spent years learning to hate, a child whose image felt like evidence of someone I wasn’t. And she said: “Oh yeah, that’s definitely a little girl.”
A woman is someone who has been loved into knowing herself. And if I could go back to that classroom and kneel down next to that little girl and take her hands, I would tell her, “The social construct is bullshit. You don’t need anyone’s permission. Not the teacher’s, not the government’s, not anyone’s.
“You are going to become more of a mother than you could ever imagine. Not just to the children who come from your body and your heart and your friend’s extraordinary grace. Not just to the child you fought for in a courtroom and the child who came to you through love. But to children you choose. And to a community that desperately needs more moms.”
It was love. It was always love.
Ashley Stahl (she/her) is an activist, organizer and storyteller based in the Roaring Fork Valley. As executive director of PFLAG Roaring Fork Valley, she has dedicated her life to building queer communities in rural Colorado, and has become a fierce public voice for immigrants, trans people and anyone the system would rather ignore. She came to her womanhood the hard way, through fight, through love, through motherhood, and it is from that place that all of her work flows. A mother, a fighter, a woman on her own terms.
enemy should be ignorance in her various forms of corruption, vice and graft. Our country is today engaged in a life and death contest with corruption. Among the most valuable assets of the corruptionist is blind partisanship. The corruptionist’s success depends on his ability to confuse the people. He appeals to their passions and prejudices.
“Those who represent an honest difference of opinion, who seek honestly and conscientiously to discover the truths that will reconcile and solve the problems of the generation they represent, are an honor to their party and a blessing to their country.
“Our national disease of corruption is due to concentration of wealth and congestion of populations, which breeds poverty and want, the handmaidens of ignorance, disease and vice. It is, therefore, highly important that we redouble our energies, and correct these tendencies in three important particulars.
“We must educate and we must see to it that the fields of opportunity are left open to all, and thirdly, that each is secure in the fruits of his efforts. If we restore and preserve equality of opportunity in material
and educational pursuits, and insure to each and every one the full enjoyment of the results of his endeavors, the future of our nation is assured.”
I celebrated Grandpa’s birthday June 14, alongside the many flags of nations and states we are hanging in Carbondale to honor the origins of our townspeople. In diversity, Unity …
Illène Pevec Carbondale
As we approach the celebration of the 250th anniversary of our country, I think it is important to review the intent of our founding fathers.
Our Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The values of Americans today should be consistent with this sentence in the Declaration of Independence. continued on page 18
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Colorado River Fire Rescue responded to a fast-moving structure and wildland fire on June 10 that originated near Willow Creek Circle and spread along Government Creek to the Rifle Creek Apartments area, destroying four apartments. The fire was contained at 10 acres and an investigation into its origin is underway. The City of Rifle has now entered Stage 1 fire restrictions.
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In an effort to make outdoor recreation more accessible, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, White River National Forest and local libraries are teaming up to provide free daily shuttle passes from Aspen Highlands to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area. The Basalt Regional, Glenwood Springs Branch and Pitkin County libraries will have one pass available for check-out each day, valid for up to four people. The passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Jonathan Delk has been appointed by a unanimous vote to serve as chair of the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education. Delk was recently appointed to the board to fill a vacancy left by Betsy After. “It is a profound honor to begin my service on the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education and, on that same day, to be entrusted by my colleagues with the responsibility of serving as board chair,” said Delk. “I understand that this is an unusual moment to step into leadership, but I also understand the obligation that comes with it: to listen carefully, lead steadily and keep the Board focused on the students, families, educators and communities we serve.”
The Town of Basalt and Basalt Chamber of Commerce will host two community listening sessions to hear from local businesses and individuals about the Town’s economic landscape and future. The first takes place on June 23 at The Element (499 Market Street in Willits) and the second, June 25, at Basalt Regional Library, each from 8 to 9:30am with coffee and snacks provided. For those unable to attend, comments can be emailed to Gloria Kaasch-Buerger at gloria.kb@basalt.net
The Meeting Place in Carbondale, a nonprofit that hosts several free recovery meetings a week, is seeking a part-time
Age-Friendly Carbondale was busy Saturday morning, June 13, setting up flags representing town residents’ origins, with the American flag prominently waving as a symbol of unity, on the Rio Grande Trail behind Town Hall, all in recognition of Flag Day, June 14. The installation, done in partnership with the Town of Carbondale and its Public Arts Commission, will remain on display through Monday, June 22. According to a Facebook post, the Israeli flag was removed shortly after the installation. It was replaced, but cut down a second time. “Whoever is doing this is missing the whole point of the installation,” said Carbondale Police Chief Kirk Wilson, who added potential charges could include misdemeanor criminal mischief and theft and, if intent is proven, a biasmotivated crime charge as well. As of Wednesday, June 17, the police reported that a suspect has been identified and asked to come in for questioning. To listen to an interview with Age-Friendly about the installation, visit kdnk.org/podcast/everything-under-the-sun Photo by Indigo Michel
executive director, “passionate about recovery and community building,” to steer the ship. The outgoing executive director, Karlynn Fulmer, who recently graduated with a master’s in counseling and accepted a full-time position at Basalt Middle School, shared, in part, that “The Meeting Place is in a strong position, and I will continue supporting the organization through the transition process to ensure a smooth hand-off.” Interested candidates can find more information at www.meetingplacecarbondale.org
Avalanche Ranch, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort and Iron Mountain are all in the running for USA Today’s “Best Hot Springs” competition. Penny Hot Springs aficionados will likely be pleased to know it didn’t make the list. Readers can vote daily through June 29 at 10best.usatoday.com/ awards/best-hot-springs
Thunder River Theatre Company has announced its 2026-27 mainstage season,
kicking it off with “Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan Macmillan this September. “Beyond Reason,” by local playwright Kristin Carlson, will see its world debut in November. The first show of 2027 is “The Shark is Broken” by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon in February. “The Revolutionists” by Lauren Gunderson will conclude the season. Secondary programming has also been scheduled including a speaker series, cabarets, concerts and more! Find details and season passes at www.thunderrivertheatre.com
They say it’s your birthday! Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Tenzin Byrne, Bill Flanigan and Nancy Smith (June 18); Jennifer Bauer, Forrest Fulker, Matt McBrayer and Garrett del Castillo (June 19); Veronica Lamaak (June 20); Alyssa Barsanti, Robin Bundy, Ty Burtard, Todd Fugate, Arleen Ginn, Brandon Jones and Ernie Kollar (June 21); Jessica Kollar and Elliot Forrest Willey Lamb (June 22); Keith Edquist, Marc Loggins, Daniel Pulver, Hattie Rensberry, Donna Riley, Felix Tornare and Lauren Whittaker (June 23); Brian Keleher (June 24).
Fri, June 26, 5PM-Sat, June 27, 10AM
Get ready to unplug, unwind, and camp out under the stars! Join us for a unique overnight camping experience featuring activities, dinner, breakfast and more. Bring your own gear or reserve a camping kit. Registration required. Under 18? Bring an adult.
Natural Hormone Balancing
Discover how your hormones shape your life and simple, strategies to regain balance.
Thursday, 6-8pm, 6/29
Beginning Swing Dance
Learn the basics of Jitterbugturns, spins, dips, and fun moves. Wed, 6:30-8:30pm, 7/1-7/22
Exploring Loss, Grief, and Recovery
Personalize the vocabulary, explore thoughts, and create a sense of coherence.
Thursdays, 6-8pm, 7/2-8/6
How to Build a Successful
Consulting Career
Maximize your life and career experiences into a viable business and financial freedom.
Online Tues, 5:30-8:30pm, 7/7
Adobe Lightroom
Practical strategies for organizing, editing, processing, and sharing digital photographs. Tuesdays, 6-8:30pm, 7/7-28
Dickens and the Law
Explore legal themes, use of comedy and satire, and even some supreme court decisions based in Dickens’ literature. Tuesdays, 6-8pm, 7/14-8/4
Over Mother’s Day weekend in May, the Aspen Lacrosse Club hosted its annual Aspen Shoot Out Lacrosse Tournament at Crown Mountain Park, west of Willits. The event brought 99 teams to El Jebel (a 15-team increase over last year) as well as an estimated 7,000 visitors, between players and fans, thus inviting an economic uptick to the area.
The Shoot Out Lacrosse Tournament is often a major event both economically and socially for the Willits Town Center, beating out both last-minute Christmas shopping and New Year’s Eve celebrations when it comes to the number of attendees (read on for details on that).
“Based on conservative sportstourism spending assumptions, that one weekend likely generated on the order of $630,000 to just over $1 million in direct visitor spending on lodging, dining, fuel, shopping and related purchases, with a reasonable midpoint around $840,000 — and closer to $1.4 to $1.6 million in total economic impact, once indirect and induced effects are included,” Crown Mountain Park Executive Director Becky Wagner stated in an email to The Sopris Sun.
“People think we benefit from these events … For us, it’s just about creating healthy lifestyles,” she stated. Wagner went on to explain the importance of the lacrosse event through the lens of a local parent, consistently attending their child’s sports events all over the state, and beyond.
“I’m literally going to Utah for a basketball tournament next weekend. So just to put it in perspective, we consistently as a community are constantly trying to get our kids to Denver and Grand Junction and all over the state,” said Wagner. “It is very nice for us to have local tournaments. It’s just kind of a break for our families living here.”
While this year’s iteration had an especially large turnout, the Willits Town Center has had some opportunity to acclimate to such visitor booms. But that wasn’t initially the case.
It’s a very meaningful influx that our businesses are geared up for, ramped up for and supportive of.
- Tim Belinski, Developer Representative
She added that Basalt Chamber Placer.ai data identified the three busiest days in 2025 in Willits Town Center as May 10 (Mother’s Day weekend), taking the lead with an estimated 7.83K visits, Dec. 22 (last-minute Christmas shopping) with 7.28K visits and Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) with 7.25K visits.
Despite the economic influx from such events, Wagner explained that Crown Mountain Park itself isn’t making much revenue from it.
Watercolor: en Plein Air
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America 250 Exhibit 6/19-7/7
Scan to Browse Community Classes and Free Talks
Tim Belinski, a Willits Town Center developer representative, explained some about the first year trying to accommodate this massive crowd, and the unexpected challenges that came along with that.
“The first year that it occurred, most of the providers at Willits were overrun with business that they didn’t anticipate, to the point Whole Foods ran out of a lot of their food and the restaurants were running very thin,” recalled Belinski. “It was a good thing, but it showed how much of an impact it had.”
Today, locals are better prepared and mostly welcome the extra business.
“It’s a very meaningful influx that our businesses are geared up for, ramped up for and supportive of,” continued Belinski. “So there’s really an embracing of it that’s happening on those big weekends.”
Next year’s tournament will be the 20th annual, and it would be safe to assume another marked increase in the amount of guests.
For more information on upcoming events at Crown Mountain Park, visit its website at crownmtn.org
DELANEY MEYERS
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Summer in Carbondale is guaranteed to bring community-fueled fun and creativity to all ages — thanks in large part to Carbondale Arts! Mountain Fair and First Friday continue to be at the core of their summer work, but this beloved organization is in motion and serving our community all summer long. Whether you’re looking for a night out, a creative kids summer camp or opportunities to get involved and flex your artistic muscles, Carbondale Arts has something to offer.
Carbondale Arts’ mission of building an inclusive and vibrant community through the arts is exemplified in one of their most popular offerings: First Fridays. Community Engagement Director Michael Stout shared that “First Fridays are designed to support the community social fabric and bring folks out into our public spaces to share time together.”
July’s First Friday will feature talented local musicians in the annual Sopris Music Fest at Chacos Park, curated by Steve’s Guitars. Other community activations include a Freedom Skate on Main Street hosted by KDNK, performances on VOICES’ ARTery stage and more.
Following Mountain Fair the last weekend in July, August’s First Friday is often more laid back, hence the theme: “Recess.”
“Community partners will offer fun games and schoolyard nostalgia for folks to take it easy,” says Stout.
Carbondale Arts also offers several camps, including Songwriting Camp (June 22-26), led by Natalie Spears, and Jam Camp (July 6-10), co-led by Spears and Gabriela Mejia, both for kids ages 10 to 12.
“We are excited to offer an acoustic Jam Camp to support kids in learning how to create music together and learn songs they love,” Spears says, in a positive, low pressure atmosphere. While Songwriting Camp registration has closed, Jam Camp’s is still open and musicians of all levels are welcome.
For those more theatrically inclined, Nikki Beinstein will
host a Theater Camp based on her children’s book, “Breathe, Bison,” at the Carbondale Community School (July 20-24). Campers ages 5 to 10 will create an original short play around the main character’s journey, to be performed at Mountain Fair. The book centers themes of mindfulness, self-love and regenerative agriculture, and will also be the foundation of an Arts and Crafts Camp (Aug. 3-7).
Stout pointed out that despite timing and process remaining consistent, camp registration has been slow compared to previous years. The Mural Camp, which would have been in its fourth year, was cancelled due to this dilemma, likely caused by rising prices and families exercising more discernment with activities. Carbondale Arts does have scholarship funding available, but interest in that has been low, too.
Still, Stout mentioned that applying for a scholarship is easy.
“Just reach out,” he says. “We’re not scrutinizing people’s income; it’s just a matter of reaching out and requesting.”
Registration for all camps closes two weeks before their respective start dates.
In addition to these camps and events, Carbondale Arts presents gallery exhibitions at their homebase of the Launchpad. “Visceral Alchemy,” the current exhibition, runs through July 3 and focuses on fine art tattoo work, challenging perspectives on what belongs in a gallery.
“It’s been great to see reactions from questioning, and then really coming through with an appreciation for the level of talent and creativity that tattoo artists bring to both their tattoo art and their fine art,” comments Stout.
Artists from around Colorado can submit work for the next exhibit, “Tiny Print Showcase,” a juried group exhibition on display Aug 21 to Sept. 24. With special awards for categories like “Tiny Band Posters,” “Tiny National Park Posters” and “Tiny Protest Signs,” the exhibit will feature prints no more than six-square-inches small and celebrate how the tiny things in life can make a mighty impact. Submissions close on July 1.
Finally, local makers, vintage lovers and up-cyclers are
The 55th Annual Mountain Fair poster is official! Designed by Colorado-based artist Rowan Brown, the piece reflects the circus-esque, wildness of the fair, happening July 24-26 this year. For details and to sign up to volunteer, visit carbondalearts.com/mountain-fair
invited to apply for a vendor slot at the third “Bonedale Flea,” comprising September’s First Friday celebration. This handmade and vintage market will also feature a vinyl sale. Applications open this June and close mid-July. In addition to all of the above opportunities, volunteering is a welcome and necessary part of making many of these multi-faceted events happen. It’s a great way to support the arts, make new friends and enjoy being in community in this tiny but mighty town we call home. Visit carbondalearts.com for more details.
Sopris Sun Correspondent
This spring, members of the Crystal River Caucus have heard presentations from Treasure Mountain Ranch (TMR), which owns 700 acres of land in and around the historic town of Crystal. TMR is looking to exchange much of its land with the White River National Forest and place near the rest of it under conservation. It’d proceed with “limited development” on the few remaining acres. An official proposal has not yet been submitted to the Forest Service.
TMR’s current land holdings are significant in the Crystal River Valley. The property includes three miles of access to the river, the historic Crystal Mill and sections of forest on Bear Mountain that have been recovering from mining use. TMR representatives hope to place all but five acres of the property under Forest Service stewardship and conservation trusts.
The Sopris Sun contacted TMR representative Stuart Gillespie to learn more about the potential proposal.
“TMR has spent more than five years exploring how to protect the vast majority of the property from
development while maintaining a viable economic future,” Gillespie said. “Our plans have evolved significantly as we’ve listened to neighbors, conservation advocates, public agencies and others who care deeply about this place.”
Community input has helped inform TMR’s goal to preserve the historic townsite and most of the
land area, while developing the remaining acres of the property.
“Our plan is to concentrate all future development within a five-acre building envelope outside the historic townsite and work with historic preservation specialists to permanently protect the Crystal Mill and ghost town,” Gillespie said. “Visitors
would see no significant changes to the historic corridor — no new structures visible from the mill or ghost town and no meaningful increase in guest capacity.”
He continued, “Where we’ve landed — placing 99% of the property into conservation easements, exchanging heavily used valley-floor lands with the White
River National Forest and concentrating development within a small footprint — offers an opportunity to protect the landscape, preserve public access and create a financially sustainable future for the property.”
TMR is suggesting “conservation through recreation, rather than deriving value from private homes spread across the landscape and closing of public access.”
Social media has fueled interest in the picturesque Crystal Mill, Gillespie said.
“More than 30,000 visitors now travel to Crystal each year, generating an estimated $8 million in annual economic activity.” However, he added, “The burden of managing that visitation — the traffic, trespassing and liability — falls almost entirely on TMR.”
The ranch hopes to transfer the Crystal Mill to a nonprofit dedicated to its long-term preservation, “expanding public access and ownership along the Crystal River and permanently conserving the landscape that makes Crystal so special,” Gillespie said. “Our conservation and development plans hinge on a successful land exchange.”
continued on page 19
JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent
Residents of another of the Roaring Fork Valley’s largest mobile home parks (MHPs) are on the verge of achieving something that seemed impossible four months ago.
With word coming June 10 that the Colorado Health Foundation awarded a $4.5 million grant toward the $25 million effort to purchase the 98-home Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park, the residents’ cooperative, organized as the Sopris Mountain Collective, were able to beat a June 13 deadline to make an offer on the property.
The grant brings the total subsidy raised to $11.1 million, just $1.9 million shy of the $13 million necessary to supplement a $12 million loan that the residents would assume, the collective announced last week.
As of Tuesday, the cooperative’s board of directors remained in negotiations with the park’s corporate owners, Maryland-based Horizon Land Co., to seal the deal, said cooperative Vice President and 37-year park resident Monica Muniz.
If successful, it would represent the fourth park in the Valley to transition to resident ownership in the past year.
“When we first started on this journey, people looked at us like we were crazy,” board member
Maria Judith Alvarez said of the 120-day time period afforded by Colorado state law for residents to put together a purchase offer when their MHPs go on the market.
Though residents of MHPs usually own their homes, they pay rent to a private landlord for the land underneath them, leaving them vulnerable when those properties go up for sale.
Because resources had been exhausted on the previous three efforts and others across Colorado, residents of Cavern Springs were told that their effort would be a stretch.
“Many people would have given up, but we didn’t give up, and this gift is proof that our fight was worth it,” Alvarez said of the Health Foundation grant.
Instead of throwing their hands up, the Cavern Springs cooperative built on the momentum gained with those prior successes.
“We learned that it’s possible, but that it also takes a strong will and determination that us gals on the board have,” Muniz said in an interview before the grant was announced. “The residents here are a big part of the workforce in this Valley, so it’s a real win-win in the big picture.”
The residents are up against a Texas-based private investment group that’s also put a bid in to buy the property, if the residents were unable to come up with the funding within the allotted timeframe.
- Debbie King, Cavern Springs resident
Two other parks, the Mountain Valley MHP in Carbondale and the Aspen-Basalt MHP in Basalt, had just gone through the same process, working with the same lending and community organizing partners, to successfully place those properties under resident ownership.
A third, the Mountain MHP in West Glenwood, also became a resident-owned community last year, thanks to support from the City of Glenwood Springs’ affordable housing fund and the Boulder-based nonprofit Thistle ROC, which works with mobile home residents to secure funding to buy their parks.
School and Glenwood Springs High School, and many seniors.
People like Debbie and Byron King, who relocated to Cavern Springs in 2015 after having raised their family outside of Carbondale and desiring to downsize in retirement.
“We had a large property and didn’t want to have to maintain the acreage anymore because it was just getting to be too much,” Debbie said.
Two of their grown children and their families also live at Cavern Springs, so it’s convenient to spend time with the grandchildren.
“This is probably the largest MHP in this part of the valley, and I see every day how much the people who live here contribute to the Valley’s economy,” he said. “If anything were to happen, that’s a lot of people and families being displaced, and the trickle down effect of that happening would be pretty significant.”
Alvarez has been living and raising her son at Cavern Springs for five years.
That same investment group has purchased other parks in neighboring states, and proceeded to raise lot rents to the point that residents could no longer afford them, Muniz said.
“At the end of the day, these [private investors] don’t care about us, they care about making money,” she said. “We have the chance to make sure they don’t come into our community.”
Cavern Springs, located between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale just west of the Colorado Mountain College intersection on Highway 82, is home to about 350 residents. They include construction and service workers, veterans, young families with children attending nearby Riverview
“We’re all close by now and able to take care of each other, so it’s worked out perfectly,” she added. “And our plan when we moved here is that this was going to be our last home.”
Byron said it had occurred to him that the park could eventually be sold at some point, with no guarantee that it would even continue to be a MHP.
“MHPs have proven over the years to be a good investment, but the land does go up in value,” he said, adding those pressures also make it valuable for redevelopment, especially as neighboring properties do so.
“So, we came in with our eyes open to that,” he said.
Marty Klotz has lived at Cavern Springs since 2009, and also said he found it to be an ideal situation as a regular up-valley commuter and worker.
“It is the first time since arriving in the United States that I have had stable housing,” she said. “It fills me with great pride and satisfaction to be able to provide a roof and protection for my son.”
Park resident Enedina Garcia organized five community fundraisers to supplement the land purchase efforts, including a homemade tamale sale that raised $6,000.
“That is what this community does — we take care of each other,” she said.
Recognizing that larger community impact and assisting the resident cooperative in raising public subsidies and steering private fundraising for the Cavern Springs cooperative have been the intergovernmental nonprofit organization West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition and two other nonprofit organizations for which housing stability is a
AMY HADDEN MARSH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) killed, or “lethally removed,” an uncollared male gray wolf from the Copper Creek pack on June 12. The wolf had been shot at before and was on the run in Rio Blanco and Routt counties since August 2025.
This was the pup left behind when CPW trapped two adults and four pups in August and September 2024. The adult breeding male died shortly thereafter. He too had been shot, but CPW has yet to find the culprit. The adult female and four pups were kept in captivity for about five months and released in Pitkin County in January 2025.
This pup, born in Grand County, survived for almost two years on its own, traveling throughout Rio Blanco and Routt counties, where it made the fatal mistake of hunting sheep. The wolf did not wear a collar.
CPW Public Information Officer Luke Perkins told The Sopris Sun that the agency believed that the wolf had been shot during an August 2025 lethal control operation in Rio Blanco County, but the carcass was never found. That’s because the wolf survived, evading the Elk Fire, the Lee Fire and two more lethal control operations, including one last January. His luck ran out last week. CPW states that he was responsible for the death of 22 sheep.
An adult female collared gray wolf was killed in March but the incident did not come to light until early June. Ranch owner Susan Nottingham sent a letter about the incident to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) through the agency’s request for public comment on Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program.
She wrote, “A breeding pair established a den on private property, which I believed was prohibited under the CPW management plan. In the spring of 2024, they had four pups, forming what would become the King Mountain Pack.” Nottingham said that, within a 30-day period, in October 2024, CPW confirmed three depredations but would not issue a chronic depredation lethal kill permit “due to a CPW issue with a historic trash dump used by my outfitter during hunting season.”
Throughout investigations, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and collaborating agencies maintain a chain of custody of evidence to ensure it is not tampered with and uphold the fidelity of the investigation.
- Luke Perkins, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
After the breeding male of the pack died during a re-collaring attempt in 2024, Nottingham stated, the female and four pups moved into her hay meadows. “I lost three calves, which CPW would not confirm as depredation,” she wrote. “One of my employees ended up shooting the mother female.”
Nottingham told the Coloradoan that the employee fired two warning shots before shooting at the wolf, which then ran off. CPW received a mortality signal from the wolf’s collar on March 11. The case is still under investigation.
Art by Sofie Koski
proven that the wolf was actually in the process of killing livestock when shot. If so, Nottingham could be issued a lethal take permit after the fact.
Perkins told The Sopris Sun in an email that the exact process is “dependent on the circumstances at the scene.” But, in general, he wrote, “CPW commissioned officers respond to the site to gather physical evidence and interview involved parties to ascertain what occurred.” If the animal has died, officers inspect the carcass and maybe send it to a lab for a necropsy.
Perkins told The Sopris Sun that the livestock owner deployed range riders and herders and guard dogs, used scare devices and had applied for non-lethal hazing permits.
The USFWS’ 10(j) Rule, put in place in Colorado just before the first imported wolves were released, allows for lethal take of a collared wolf if caught in the act of killing livestock or guard dogs. Therein lies the rub — it must be
“Throughout investigations, CPW and collaborating agencies maintain a chain of custody of evidence to ensure it is not tampered with and uphold the fidelity of the investigation,” he wrote. Evidence and testimony is reviewed to determine if any state and federal laws have been violated. If so, charges, fines and penalties may follow.
In her comment letter, Nottingham stated that she has spent “tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees to protect myself and my employee from facing criminal charges.”
AMY HADDEN MARSH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
“The 64,000-pound elephant in the room that I don’t think ever really fully gets addressed is acknowledging what is the safe carrying capacity of Highway 82 and, by extension, I-70,” Garfield County resident Siri Olsen said at Monday’s Garfield Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting. Representatives from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) presented an update, after which they took questions and comments from the public.
Olsen said that housing developments in the Roaring Fork Valley have not been reviewed wisely, and should be reviewed for regional impacts.
She added that community leaders need to prioritize the safety of current residents and that maybe not everyone who wants to live here can actually do so. She pointed to the Paradise Creek Fire, which ignited in South Canyon during rush hour on June 9, as a prime example, stating that even though it was a smaller brush fire that was quickly contained, “It turned into chaos.”
Olsen urged the BOCC to pause, look at current impacts and come up with a better plan.
“Because I do not want to find myself like the people in the Pacific Palisades Fire, sitting in dead-stop traffic on [California State Route 1], running for my life out of my car to try to flee a fire,” she said.
“We did have gridlock last week,” said Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky. “And it just seemed like CDOT did play a part [in] that.” Firefighting efforts closed down I-70 in both directions for hours that afternoon and detour directions were confusing.
On Monday, CDOT representative Jared Morgan explained that CDOT was at the mercy of the Paradise Creek Fire incident command on June 9.
“The reason we had eastbound [I-70] closed is because they ran their fire hoses from the river up the mountain so
they would have more water capacity,” he said. “So we couldn’t let traffic flow westbound. It was gridlocked, and we were trying everything we could do to get one lane open.”
At the same time, he continued, for public safety, everybody had to stay out of the fire area. “But when that’s your only route to go West, we were looking at the northern detour route out of Wolcott, up through Craig and back down through West Rifle,” he said. CDOT held off, he added, because incident command kept giving possibilities of when the road could open and CDOT didn’t think they’d need the detour. Finally, after three hours, CDOT announced the northern route detour. One hour later, incident command gave the go-ahead to open I-70’s eastbound lane.
CDOT’s Joe Bajza, who was on-scene June 9, said that hindsight is 20/20. “We should have implemented the northern detour way sooner than we did,” he admitted. “That’s where our decision-making gets difficult, running off of incident command when those possibilities of opening get pushed and pushed and pushed.”
Missouri Heights resident Susan Sullivan cited similar concerns, including cumulative impacts of housing developments.
“Why doesn’t CDOT take all of these applications together,” she asked, “and evaluate the traffic impacts so that the developers can pay for the traffic impacts they create instead of the public, later when we find ourselves in gridlock?”
Officials from Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Rifle and Carbondale also provided general comments.
In other news …
Other items included approving contracts for construction projects at the Garfield County Airport and a final PUD plat along Sunlight Parkway. The county’s holiday schedule was approved, and a
continued on page 19
JAMES STEINDLER Editor-in-Chief
Two candidates, Brent Baker and Dan Loya, are running as Republicans for the Garfield County Sheriff position, to be vacated by longtime Sheriff Lou Vallario. They are the only two candidates who’ve thrown their hats in the ring, with no Democrat candidate, which reasons that whoever voters decide on in the upcoming June 30 primary will be the presumptive winner.
The Sopris Sun asked the same questions of each candidate for this Q&A, which has been edited for clarity and brevity. You can find an extended Q&A at soprissun.com
1 What prepares you for this role?
2 What are the biggest public safety challenges facing Garfield County?
3 What would you do differently from Sheriff Lou Vallario? What would you do similarly?
4 In the wake of immigration enforcement crackdowns locally and nationally, how would you handle the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office’s positioning in this current climate?
1 I’ve served in law enforcement for more than 24 years, nearly all of it with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. I’ve worked patrol, investigations, K9, field training, supervision and leadership assignments. I currently serve as patrol lieutenant. Along the way, I completed executive-level leadership training, earned several professional awards and obtained my bachelor’s degree in business administration. That combination of frontline experience, leadership training and education gives me a clear understanding of what has made our Sheriff’s Office successful, and what we must improve to meet the future.
2 The biggest challenge facing Garfield County law enforcement is delivering excellent service in a rapidly changing environment. Calls for service today often involve mental health crises, substance abuse and complex social issues. Deputies are expected to respond professionally, compassionately and effectively every time. We must continue adapting, investing in training and strengthening partnerships with mental health providers, schools, hospitals and community organizations. Public safety works best when law enforcement and community partners work together. My goal is to ensure our deputies have the resources, support and partnerships needed to keep Garfield County safe.
3 Sheriff Vallario has been an outstanding mentor and leader during my 24 years with the department. I respect the foundation he built, but my leadership style is different. I believe in measured, thoughtful decision-making and strong collaboration with other leaders and community partners. I will continue supporting the excellent team and positive culture we’ve built within the Sheriff’s Office. Recruitment and retention matter, and people want to work where they feel valued and supported. I also believe we must communicate more openly with the public through community meetings, social media and direct engagement.
4 Colorado law is clear: Local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration law. As sheriff, I will follow Colorado law and focus on the mission of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office — protecting the safety and security of everyone in our county. We will continue to serve all residents and visitors professionally and fairly, regardless of where they are from. Public safety depends on trust, and people must feel comfortable calling law enforcement when they need help or want to report a crime.
1 I have worked in law enforcement for 30 years. A large portion of my experience has been working complex cases (narcotics, undercover, sexual assault, homicides, child abuse, child sexual abuse, white collar crime, etcetera) as well as supervising such investigations. In 2020, during the COVID crisis, I was asked to absorb two command positions for Eagle County: patrol commander and undersheriff. I have been in this dual role since 2020. In this role, I create and implement policy, develop and manage budgets and negotiate and work closely with county officials when required. I hire employees, discipline employees and oversee the detention center, patrol operations and administrative staff.
2 Currently, the biggest challenges are drug issues. If you look at my Facebook Page, I have created a drug task force that has been nationally recognized. In the early 1990s, there was the “crack” epidemic, and today we have the prescription and fentanyl crisis. This could be catastrophic to a community if not addressed quickly.
3 I would be a sheriff who’s more outward facing and engages more with the public. I also feel there’s a better approach to community engagement and building community trust, which I believe is lacking, especially within the Latino community. I’m also big on accountability to the public and holding staff accountable. Being bilingual (Spanish is my native language), I would be able to connect with a large portion of our community that is scared, and does not trust law enforcement locally. Vallario has been a supporter of the Second Amendment. I would do the same. Responsible gun ownership is important, and those freedoms, along with all constitutional rights, shall not be infringed on.
4 I would create and implement policy that would require and direct staff to obey current state laws. If staff chooses to violate policy and state law, they shall be held accountable for their actions, not only by me but likely by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. Law enforcement officers are NOT above the law. In my opinion, this is relatively simple, local and state law enforcement have no authority enforcing immigration laws. Follow the law — no exceptions.
THURSDAY,
BERRY SWEET GAMES
Older adults are invited to an afternoon of “berry-sweet” trivia, interactive games and socializing ahead of Strawberry Days from 1 to 3pm at the Glenwood Community Center. Register at tinyurl.com/BerrysweetGWS
BOOK CLUB
The Third Thursday Book Club discusses “Culpability” by Bruce Holsinger at the Carbondale Library from 2 to 3:30pm. For next month’s book, call the library at 970-963-2889.
POWERS OPENING
The Powers Art Center hosts a special opening event for its current exhibition, “Roy Lichtenstein: Beyond Reality,” from 5 to 7pm. RSVP at powersartcenter.org
HOLOCAUST HISTORY
The Pitkin County Library hosts an opening reception for the “Americans and the Holocaust” traveling exhibit from 5 to 7pm. Details at pitcolib.org/ library-events
WINDSTAR BIRDING
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies offers a birding experience at Windstar from 5 to 8pm. Register at aspennature.org
CELEBRITY CHEF
The Aspen Institute welcomes celebrity chef Bobby Flay as part of the Hurst Lecture Series at 5:30pm. Register for free at aspeninstitute.org/events
CLIMATE ACTION
A “Hear & Now Tour: Building Local Resilience to Climate Disasters” organized by 350 Roaring Fork will be held at Buttermilk Lodge at 6pm. During this listening session speakers will discuss a climate superfund “and other ways to make polluters pay for climate disasters.”
WILD FLIGHT
Wild Flight roots-rock band will perform two live sets at 7pm at the Crystal Theatre as part of their Road River Railway Tour. The performance will include the screening of their new music video, “Road River Railway,” which was produced by Cool Brick Studios in Carbondale.
JUNETEENTH
Many government offices will be closed today in observance of Juneteenth.
GOLD LUSTER WORKSHOP
Ishara Sweeney guides a gold luster workshop — added on after a ceramic piece has been glaze-fired — at the Carbondale Clay Center from 9:30am to noon. Participants must bring finished, glaze-fired pieces. Register at carbondaleclay.org
PIE DAY!
Strawberry Days weekend begins with a homemade pie sale, organized by the Glenwood Springs Rotary Club, from 8 to 11am at the United Methodist Church (824 Cooper).
STRAWBERRY DAYS
The 129th Strawberry Days weekend gets underway at Two Rivers Park today from 2 to 10pm and continues tomorrow, 10am to 10pm, and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. For details, visit glenwoodchamber.com/strawberry-days
ROCK AT TOWNLINE
The Rock and Roll Academy hosts a family concert at Townline Trucks from 3 to 4:30pm.
FIFA
The Crystal Theatre Alliance invites you to experience the World Cup on the big screen. Today’s game between
Brazil and Haiti will screen at 6:30pm. Tomorrow, Germany vs. Ivory Coast at 2pm and Ecuador vs. Curaçao at 6pm. On Sunday, Spain plays Saudi Arabia at 10am and Argentina vs. Australia on Monday at 11am. Tuesday, Portland vs. Uzbekistan at 11am and Colombia vs. the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 8pm. Wednesday, June 24, Mexico vs. Czechia at 7pm. On June 25, USA v. Turkey at 8pm. Keep apprised of schedule updates at crystaltheatrecarbondale.com
TEEN OPEN MIC
TACAW hosts a teen open mic night at 7pm. This is an exclusive free event for teens, 13-18. RSVP at tacaw.org
MARK NUSSMEIER
Mark Nussmeier performs at Heather’s Savory Pies in Basalt at 7pm.
TUNES AT TOWNLINE
King David James and the Love, a genre-blending group from Arizona, perform at Townline Trucks at 7pm.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
WINDWALKERS
Windwalkers hosts “Rise, Restore, Reconnect,” a retreat guided by Dr. Terry Chase through the power of connecting with horses, at 1038 County Road 102, Carbondale from 9:15am to 12:30pm today and 1 to 4:15pm tomorrow. Details at windwalkers.org
STRAWBERRY DAYS PARADE
The Strawberry Days Parade heads down Pitkin Ave in Glenwood at 10am.
STRAWBERRIES & CREAM
Don’t miss out on strawberries and cream served up by the Kiwanis Club at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood from 11am ‘til the strawberries (or cream) run out.
TUNES AT TOWNLINE
Townline Trucks presents Big Daddy Dave from 2:30 to 5:30pm, followed by the Confluents at 6:30pm.
TOMMY EMMANUEL
Internationally acclaimed guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, CGP performs at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen at 8pm. Tickets at wheeleroperahouse.com
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
SUN DAY
Today is the Summer Solstice and Father’s Day — and International Make Music Day!
RFOV
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, along with the Independence Pass Foundation, Arc’teryx Aspen and Ute Mountaineer, hosts two trail projects on the Jr. Olympic Climbing Access Trail on Independence Pass from 9am to 3pm. Register to lend a hand at rfov.org
STRAWBERRY SHORTCUT
The 50th Annual Strawberry Shortcut, including a 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run option set off from Bethel Plaza (under the bridge in downtown Glenwood) at 7:30am, 9am and 10am, respectively. This year, participants can dress in their best ‘70s attire for the chance to win cash prizes. Register at strawberryshortcut.org
PANCAKES
In conjunction with the Strawberry Shortcut, the Rotary Club dishes up a pancake breakfast at Bethel Plaza (under the bridge in Glenwood) from 8 to 11am.
SPIRITUAL CENTER
A Spiritual Center presents “From Limitations to Thriving,” David Ault recounting a 19,000-foot stroll up Kilimanjaro, from 10am to 11:30am at the Third Street Center (Room 31).
Local soccer fans watched the USA vs. Paraguay FIFA World Cup game on the big screen at the Crystal Theatre on June 12. The energy was high in the mostly-full theater, from everyone standing for the National Anthem to standing ovations for each USA “gooooooooal.” The home team won with a final score of 4-1. The Crystal will continue showing several games over the course of the tournament, starting with Brazil vs. Haiti on Friday at 6:30pm. Admission is free and snacks and drinks are available for purchase. Visit crystaltheatrecarbondale.com for the schedule. Photo by Terri Ritchie
BIODYNAMIC CALENDAR
Welcoming the Solstice, Sustainable Settings (6107 Highway 133, Carbondale) offers a biodynamic planting calendar workshop from 10am to noon. Register at sustainablesettings.org
ORAN MOR
Oran Mor performs during brunch at Heather’s Savory Pies starting at 11am.
SKIN CANCER SCREENINGS
Doctors from Mount Sinai Dermatology offer free skin cancer screenings at the Carbondale Library from 1 to 4:30pm. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To register, call 970-963-2889.
DJ CAMO AT TOWNLINE
DJ Camo spins roots rock and reggae tunes at Townline Trucks from 4 to 7pm.
IDIOTKA
The Crystal Theatre screens “Idiotka” at 5pm (captioned). Tomorrow’s showing is at 7pm.
MUSIC IN THE PARK
StarFish Enterprise and Banshee Tree play at Sopris Park from 5 to 8pm as part of the Music in the Park summer concert series in Carbondale.
SOLSTICE KIRTAN
True Nature invites folks to “chant, connect, and open your heart through music, mantra and community” during the Solstice from 5 to 6:45pm. Register at truenaturehealingarts.com
SUMMER SOLSTICE FLOW
Kula Yoga on Main celebrates the longest day of the year with a special yoga class from 5:30 to 7pm. Register online at kulayogaonmain.com
SOLSTICE CEREMONY
True Nature presents “When the Sun Stands Still: A summer Solstice Ceremony with Kate Mulheron” from 7 to 8:30pm. Register at truenaturehealingarts.com
MONDAY, JUNE 22
BIRDING AT NORTH STAR
Rebecca Weiss guides a “Songs of Breeding Birds” excursion at North Star from 7 to 10am. Register at aspennature.org
‘NIGHT NIGHT, DINOS’
The Carbondale Library welcomes local author Deborah Holt Williams
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies hosts a sunset beaver walk at Hallam Lake Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30pm Details at aspennature.org
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
BIKE TO WORK DAY
The Town of Basalt offers free refreshments from CC’s Cafe at Basalt River Park, as well as from Open Sesame Bagel at Triangle Park in Willits, from 7 to 10am for Bike to Work Day.
DINO FILM
The Crystal Theatre shows “The Land Before Time,” a 1988 classic, at 2:30pm.
PIZZA BAKING
The Carbondale Library invites teens to make their own personal pizza beginning at 4:15pm. Space is limited to 10 participants, exclusively ages 10-18.
BOOK TALK
For this month’s Book Talk at the Basalt Library participants discuss “Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War” by Tony Horwitz from 5:30 to 6:30pm.
SHREK MUSICAL
reading her new children’s book, “Night Night, Dinos,” at 10am. The program is best suited for preschoolers and their parents or caregivers.
ASPEN IDEAS: HEALTH
The Aspen Ideas Festival kicks off with a health-focused spread of events starting today at 2pm and lasting through Thursday, June 25. For a list of events, visit aspenideas.org
KNOW YOUR TREES
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies hosts a weekly tree identification outing at Hallam Lake every Monday through Aug. 24 from 4 to 5pm. Details at aspennature.org
D&D DINOS
Learn about the histories of dinosaurs in Dungeons & Dragons at the Glenwood Library at 5:30pm.
PICKLING WITH ACES
Explore regenerative agriculture and how it can be used in your garden, while pickling (and tasting) vegetables, too, with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at the Basalt Library from 5:30 to 7pm. Details at basaltlibrary.org
PLANT-BASED POTLUCK
The Center for Human Flourishing hosts a plant-based potluck at the Third Street Center with an inspirational film from 6:30 to 8pm.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
ROCK BOTTOM BIRDING
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies hosts a birding outing at Rock Bottom Ranch every other Tuesday through Aug. 18 from 7:30 to 10:30am. Register at aspennature.org
DRAWING CLUB
The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets at Village Road offices in Carbondale at 6:30pm.
HUES AND BREWS
Learn to draw your favorite characters from your favorite cartoons at The Art Base from 6 to 8pm. Hues and Brews is offered in partnership with Aspen Out, inviting the LGBTQIA+ community to mingle, sip if they’d like and create.
OPEN MIC AT TOWNLINE
Marc Diemer hosts an open mic night at Townline Trucks from 6:30 to 9:30pm.
Stage of Life Theatre Company presents “Shrek The Musical Jr.” at Roaring Fork High School at 6pm today and tomorrow starring ages 10 to 12. Ages 7 to 9 will return to the stage on July 1-2. Find tickets at soltheatrecompany.org
HUMANITY 2.0
The Center for Human Flourishing offers a conversation about Aviram Rozin’s book “Humanity 2.0” and a vision for a regenerative future from 6 to 7pm at the Third Street Center.
BASALT CONCERT
Heady Hooligan opens for Pink Fuzz at the Basalt River Park summer music series at 6pm. Pink Fuzz takes the stage at 7:30pm.
PSYCHEDLIC
Skippy Mesirow presents a free fourpart “Psychedelics & the Future of Human Consciousness” series at True Nature from 6 to 7:30pm every Wednesday through July 15. Register at truenaturehealingarts.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
FOREST BATHING
Today and tomorrow, a certified forest therapy guide leads forest bathing at Toklat from 9am to noon. Registration at aspennature.org
ASPEN PUBLIC RADIO
Aspen Public Radio celebrates 45 years on the air with a station open house from 2 to 5pm at 110 E. Hallam, Suite 134.
ASPEN IDEAS ROUND 1
Aspen Ideas Festival 1 starts today at 3:45pm with a first-time attendee orientation hosted by Tommy Loper at the East Lawn Tent and continues through Sunday, June 28. For a list of events and a pass, visit aspenideas.org Festival 2 kicks off at noon on June 28 and goes through Wednesday, July 1.
WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies offers a plain air painting workshop at Hallam Lake from 5 to 8pm. Registration at aspennature.org
LIVE MUSIC
Hanna Von Bernthal performs music at the Hoffman Hotel’s restaurant from 5 to 8pm.
RODEO TIME
Rain or shine, the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo kicks off and continues every Thursday through Aug. 20. Catch a free shuttle from the Orchard Church or 4th and Colorado (Town Hall). Gates open at 5pm, Slack starts at 5:45pm and Grand Entry starts at 7:30pm. Details at carbondalerodeo.com
t ( S e e w h a t t h e y d i d t h e r e ) P l e a s e c o m e FREE* BULK 1/8TH ANY TIER (SELECT STRAINS) PER CUSTOMER F r e e $ 0 5
KATE PHILLIPS
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Pen in hand, local writer Deborah Holt Williams has achieved the dream of a lifetime with the release of her debut picture book, “Nighty Night, Dinos.” A whimsical, poetic delight, the book follows playful dinosaurs as they stomp, roar and soar through the swamps, forests and skies. Then, like all wild things, the big yawns begin and a cozy spot gently coaxes them to sleep. Showcasing her writing prowess, Williams masterfully flows the story’s poem to lull young readers to sleep — or more likely ask to hear it again.
“My goal has always been a nice, big, hardcover, 32-page picture book with beautiful illustrations,” Williams said. “I’ve wanted to write a picture book since I learned how to write. I didn’t think it would take quite this long — as I’m turning 75 this September — but it feels so wonderful.”
Illustrated by Anna Doherty, the book features soft tones and colors that create soothing bedtime scenes.
Little details like friendly bats bringing a bottle to a pterodactyl and a brontosaurus snuggling his teddy feel relatable to young readers.
“I love the illustrations. [Doherty] did a great job. She’s from Scotland, but she lives in Switzerland now,” Williams said. “I was so pleased with her work when I saw it.”
When asked why dinosaurs, Williams said, “In first grade my teacher brought in a dinosaur bone she found in a quarry. I begged my parents to take me and they did. I found a bone, too!”
It was also around that time Williams fell in love with storytelling. Following the too-soon death of her father,
Williams and her mother moved in with her maternal grandparents. Her grandmother was an avid reader who swept Williams away with tales of adventure, newspaper highlights and the “Little Golden Books” series. When her mother remarried, the family frequently moved and her beloved books became lost in the shuffle.
“Books weren’t treasured and they didn’t always come with us when we moved,” Williams said. “I came up with this brilliant idea that if I wrote my own books then I would never be without them. I loved making up stories and escaping into the world of my made-up stories.”
In the early 1970s, Williams and her husband moved to the Valley and she became a mother to five children. She chose to emulate her grandmother by bestowing her love of books upon them. In time she joined a local chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and with some encouragement from a friend, she began sending manuscripts to publishers. Within one year her stories
caught the attention of two teachers who had started their own publishing company. She wrote five early reader books for them that are still in circulation today.
Her passion for storytelling seamlessly integrated into a career. A former preschool teacher, Williams also worked at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library where she captivated small audiences at storytime with imaginative puppet shows. She still continued to write and her work has been published in Highlights for Children and Jack and Jill magazines. She also wrote a book, illustrated by her daughter, Molly, about Glenwood’s Christmas tree planted in honor of Louisa Schwarz, an original Glenwood Springs Garden Club member. Eagle-eyed Sopris Sun readers may also recall a few of Williams’s poems featured in the Works in Progress section.
For Williams, however, the goal was always a picture book that can be displayed on library shelves around the country.
“In 2020, the Institute for Children’s Literature had a bedtime story contest and I wrote a poem about dinosaurs going to bed. It did not win, but I really liked it,” Williams said. “Finally, I submitted it to Familius, a small publishing company in California known for beautiful books. The owner of the company, Christopher Robbins, wrote back the next day — which never happens — and said he really liked it.”
After years of waiting, editing and adding stanzas, “Nighty Night, Dinos” was released on June 16 with rave reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus. To top it off, Williams said she has been contracted to release two more books, “Nighty Night, Puppies” and “Nighty Night, Bears,” as part of a series set to release in 2028.
“It’s been a long journey,” Williams said. “But I am just so happy with everything.”
Folks can catch Williams reading “Nighty Night, Dinos” at Strawberry Days on Saturday, June 20. Presented by Alpenglow Books and Gifts, the reading will begin at 1:30pm followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase. She will also be reading her book at the Carbondale Library on June 22 at 10am. Visit Nighty Night, Dinos to learn more.
Sopris Sun Correspondent
On Sunday, June 21, Carbondale’s Sunday Music in the Park concert series will kick off at 5pm in a bid to revitalize the long-running summer staple which had recently fallen on hard times. Music lovers are invited to set up blankets and chairs in Sopris Park for relaxed nights of community-building over the course of four diverse monthly performances.
Sunday Music in the Park is a decades-old Carbondale tradition intended to draw Valley residents together in a casual, non-commercial setting. However, after a disheartening turnout in recent years, it was decided that Sunday Music in the Park was in need of new energy, management and funding to get back on its feet and be restored to its original vision. Following a transition of program leadership, Western Mosaic Fund has become the series’ fiscal sponsor to help provide the financial backing the program needs to succeed.
“I want to give new life to things that are already good,” said Kat Hardy, who is now leading event production for Music in the Park. “I’m like, ‘What have these amazing people built here that I can help take to a bigger level for our community?’ I feel so grateful that I get the opportunity to do that.”
Hardy, who has led event production for Dandelion Day since 2023 and Potato Days since
2025, led the charge on giving Music in the Park the love (and funding) she feels it deserves.
A deep awareness and respect for the program’s intergenerational legacy informs Hardy’s direction.
On June 4, Hardy interviewed the program’s founder and local music icon Amy Kimberly on KDNK to talk about the event’s evolution.
While music in Sopris Park has happened in various capacities for several decades, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that a Sunday series became possible. At the time, Carbondale Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Jackel secured $15,000 in funding to bring vibrancy to downtown Carbondale. Kimberly, who was then working at KDNK, caught wind of the funds and suggested they be used for free, public concerts. The rest was history, and Kimberly, as executive director of the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities (now called Carbondale Arts) managed the new Music in the Park series for roughly a decade.
For the past 14 years, the concert series has been managed by Steve’s Guitars, as well as a team of volunteers, and supported by the Town of Carbondale through a community grant program. However, the Town’s financial support dwindled last year to only $2,973 from roughly $8,000 on average in years previous. The drop in funding correlated with a lack of promotion, and audience turnout for the series slumped.
“Last year was sort of a tragedy,” said Hardy. “Hardly anyone was at Music at the Park, and I couldn’t figure out when it was and nobody knew, and I was just like, ‘This is such a missed opportunity. It needs some new life breathed into it.’”
In response, Hardy pitched a revival project to various Carbondale community members and donors and found overwhelming support. At the Carbondale Board of Trustees meeting on June 9, Hardy was successful in securing $10,000 from the Town to support the 2026 season and proposed further financial support of $20,000 for 2027. Future funding will be discussed at the conclusion of this season’s series.
Besides booking the musicians, Hardy is directing the newfound resources toward — perhaps most important — ensuring people know that the Sunday concert series is back in action.
A new poster designed by local tattoo artist Brett Haynes not only provides residents with all the necessary details, but speaks to the concert series’ themes of intergenerational musical connection, respect for one’s legacy and respect for one’s surroundings. Hardy also hopes that, in keeping with the community-building theme, word-of-mouth will attract attendees once more to Sopris Park.
While Glenwood Springs, Basalt and Snowmass already have popular summer concert series,
Hardy hopes that Carbondale’s Music in the Park will be a comparatively more grounded, community-oriented experience. To that end, vendors will
not be present at the performances, and attendees are encouraged to bring picnic baskets or grab a bite from a nearby Carbondale business.
KDNK will also be livestreaming the concerts as they occur. The concerts will be held on June 21, July 19, August 23, and September 13 from 5 to 8pm. Attendees are reminded to follow regular park rules: no glass, no dogs, no substances.
MYKI JONES
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Colin Owensby, a multi-disciplinary recreational athlete, two-time Ironman and 100-mile ultramarathoner, model, community coach and stunt double from northern California, is set to compete in an upcoming Ironman race in France on June 28 in honor of Veterans suicide awareness and men’s mental health. Owensby also hopes to spend more time in Colorado, specifically in the Roaring Fork Valley, for the sake of skiing and bringing the tools of his practical framework, which he calls the Map of Resilience, to other athletes and members of the community looking to improve their day-to-day lives.
“I think it is important to treat everybody with grace. People have their hard days, and many of us have already experienced the hardest things in our lives. For me, delving into these pillars and finding and growing our horizons helps to bring a lot more gravity and grounding on this journey,” Owensby shared.
These pillars of success, which he shares on his website and social media, include: service to others, getting outside in nature, physical exercise, participating in and with community.
“An important step is to find something in your life that you can look at and say, ‘Hey, I’m grateful for that,’ and carry that
into tomorrow. I think that is the simplest thing a person can start with. It takes no money and no other people; it truly is within your own ears,” Owensby stated.
When he began mapping out what he hoped his life would look like, he knew he wanted to push the envelope after falling in love with triathlon training when he entered an IronKids event at age 8. Much
of his drive came from heartache in his life. Having been in the world of recreational sports since the age of 5, Owensby shared that same passion with his older brother.
“My older brother was the one who was leading the way for me. When he wanted to play football, I wanted to play football. When he wanted to play basketball, I wanted to play basketball. We were a tight unit as a family. We grew up liking to be active, going camping and hiking, anything outdoors or in sports, we were doing it,” said Owensby.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Owensby was 15 and his brother was beginning to scout schools. During a road trip home from one of these tours, his brother fell asleep at the wheel while on the freeway. His mother was in the passenger seat while Colin was asleep in the backseat when the vehicle went off the freeway and off a hill, leaving him folded in the seat pinned by luggage.
After being placed in a medically-induced coma to help monitor his status at the hospital while surgeries were conducted, he awoke roughly five days later.
“The doctors told my family and me there was a chance that I would not be able to walk again. They didn’t know initially that I had a much more severe spinal fracture that wouldn’t show itself in X-rays until about a week and a half later. They tried to
have me start walking as soon as I was able to, and the movement actually ended up causing my vertebrae to crack open further. It was excruciating,” Owensby explained. He continued, “As a 15-year-old kid who loved sports, I wouldn’t accept that. I wanted to get back out and be my normal self again. I not only had to heal my organs that were damaged in the crash, but I also had to regrow muscle and then retrain that muscle on how to walk again.”
The process was slow, but he accomplished it. He eventually began joining his brother at training and recreational games, one of the most near and dear being basketball, where another unexpected series of events unfolded in the blink of an eye. Just four months after his injury and recovery time, Owensby’s brother collapsed during a game of basketball and later passed away from an undetected cardiac issue.
“I kind of had closure almost instantly because I watched him die. This felt almost like a silver lining, if you could call it that, and helped me to show up for my family who didn’t get that closure,” Owensby said.
Despite these hardships, he has continued to show up for all of these goals and hopes to inspire more people to do the same.
To keep up with Colin visit www. thecolinowensby.com or follow him on Instagram @thecolinowensby
On Tuesday, I turned 56, and after this past year, that birthday felt very different. Many of you have asked how I am doing, so I wanted to share an update, and a nudge to the men in the Valley.
Early last June, I heard the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have cancer.” In my case, it was prostate cancer.
I still remember how time seemed to stop. Everything familiar gave way to uncertainty. There was fear, yes, but also a deep loneliness that comes with facing something I did not yet understand.
Over the next four months, I bounced from doctor to doctor, appointment to appointment, question to question, and, at times, from freak-out to freakout. Information became both overwhelming and necessary. I read everything I could, looked at treatment options and asked a lot of questions. Artificial intelligence became an unexpected companion, helping me translate medical language into something I could understand. It did not replace my doctors, but it helped me know what to ask.
In the end, I chose to have a robotic radical prostatectomy. It was not the first choice I had imagined for myself. But given my age, my enlarged prostate and the specifics of my diagnosis,
it became the choice that made the most sense. I wanted to do the least damage possible to my body, while giving myself the best chance at a cancer-free future.
Once that decision was made, I focused on what I could control.
First, I asked the embarrassing questions, the ones men often avoid. Questions about continence, erections, intimacy, recovery and quality of life. More than one doctor told me many men do not ask those questions; sometimes, if they are lucky, their partners do. But I knew I could not go into surgery without understanding what could happen to my body and my life afterward.
Second, I sought out a surgeon I trusted, someone skilled, but also someone willing to hear my concerns and priorities. I did not want to be treated only as a cancer case. I wanted to be treated as a whole person, a person with hopes, dreams and fears.
Third, I prepared. I started pelvic floor exercises before surgery. I researched foods that might support my recovery. I meditated. I went to the gym. I tried to get into the best physical condition I could. Preparing my body helped prepare my mind as well.
By the time surgery arrived on Nov. 18, I was scared, but I was also ready.
By Todd Chamberlin
The first few weeks were the hardest. Surgery is surgery. Recovery is humbling. But my family was there, and that made all the difference. I was also reminded how much community matters, the texts, the check-ins at First Friday, the casual run-ins at the grocery store and the grace people and co-workers offered while I was healing.
I was fortunate: I was continent from day one. Within days, I began to see small signs that my body was waking back up. Those signs gave me hope that perhaps I would not lose as much of myself as I had feared, or the quality-of-life fears so many men carry into prostate cancer treatment.
Since then, this journey has felt in some ways like a second coming out.
As a gay man, I learned early in life that being out of the closet was far better than living in silence. The same has been true with prostate cancer. I have shared the fear, the awkwardness, the questions, the setbacks and the hope.
Being single added another layer. In quiet moments, the question would surface: Will people still love me as I am? Just as many in the LGBTQ+ community have, I suspect many people facing cancer, surgery or any life-changing diagnosis know some version of that question.
That openness has been healing for me. It has also opened doors for other conversations. Men have reached out. Some are facing their own diagnosis. Others are finally asking whether they should get tested. Some simply want permission to talk about the things we are often taught to keep private.
That gives me hope.
There is hope for men with prostate cancer, especially when it is found early. Testing matters.
Asking questions matters. If you are a man over 40, especially if you have a family history or symptoms, ask your doctor about PSA (prostate-specific antigen)
testing. Do not wait until fear makes the appointment for you.
Today, at 56, I know how fortunate I am. My PSA is nearly undetectable. Physically, I have rebounded. I am even doing some things, like riding a bike, I could not do before surgery. Many of the fears I carried into surgery have not come true. Mentally and emotionally, I am still healing. Some days I still catch myself wondering, “What’s next?” But I am learning that the better question is: “What am I doing with this moment?”
None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Cancer makes that truth impossible to ignore. But it also clarifies what matters.
This past year was not one I would have chosen. But it has given me a deeper appreciation for my body, my family, this community, the work we do together through The Sopris Sun and the gift of being here. At 56, that feels like a reason to celebrate.
Todd Chamberlin is the Executive Director of The Sopris Sun, a community supported nonprofit newspaper. Help us to continue telling stories by supporting The Sopris Sun. Donate today at soprissun.com/donate
We are proud to introduce Dr. Megan Hiles to our community, joining our Primary Care team at Aspen Valley Health. As our new internist, Dr. Hiles focuses on preventative medicine and partners with patients to support lifelong wellness and
Age-Friendly Carbondale will screen “King of Hearts” at the Crystal Theatre as a fundraiser on June 27 at 3pm. Discounted tickets are available for seniors. Find details at www.crystaltheatrecarbondale.com
“Le Roi de cœur” — “King of Hearts” — is a 1966 Anglo-French comedydrama directed by Philippe de Broca. Set during the final days of World War I, the story unfolds in a small, picturesque French town called Marville. In an effort to hinder the advance of a Scottish regiment, retreating German forces have planted their remaining munitions in the town square, set to detonate at the stroke of midnight when a mechanical knight in armor strikes the bell in the church’s imposing clock tower.
By DJ Sugar Monkey
Alerted to their plot, the buffoonish British commanding officer (Adolfo Celi) orders Private Plumpick (Alan Bates) to march on ahead and defuse the bomb. Plumpick, whose job it is to look after the regiment’s carrier pigeons, is hopelessly underqualified for the task. When he reaches Marville he is pursued by a small group of remaining German soldiers and seeks refuge in a psychiatric hospital seemingly forgotten by the invaders. The Germans soon abandon their search and Plumpick returns to the deserted town streets with a colorful cohort of mental patients in tow. Blissfully unaware of the war, the band of former inmates assume the roles of the departed citizens. Donning flamboyant costumes abandoned by their former owners, they dress up as barbers, shopkeepers, priests and aristocrats. The town at once regains its joie de vivre and an air of charming and care-free quirkiness, rendered even more so by the addition of several circus animals.
Confused by his surroundings after a knock on the head, Plumpick is crowned “King of Hearts” by the escaped lunatics. His plush coronation coach is pulled by a camel in a ceremony full of pomp, music and wackadoo festivities. In a surreal twist, the coronation turns into a mock funeral. Attracted by his kindness and apparent sanity amidst a world of violence, Coquelicot (Geneviève Bujold), a beautiful young French woman, falls in love with Plumpick. Shaking off his befuddlement, he dispatches two carrier pigeons (one of which is intercepted by the Germans) with the message: “Wrong town. Inhabitants odd.” Upon receipt of this, Colonel McBibenbrook assumes that Plumpick has lost his mind and is perhaps a German spy. Both Scottish and German soldiers march on Marville and with the clock ticking on the bomb the scene is set for a final showdown.
“King of Hearts” is a cult classic. Absurdity reigns supreme. In one delightful scene, Coquelicot walks a tightrope across the town in a canary yellow tutu with matching parasol. The comical German tanks look as though they were constructed from cardboard, music and dance (particularly “La Polka”) are employed to settle disputes, and there is a farcical bedroom scene set in the street.
The movie is a seductive and joyous series of street celebrations. There is plenty of clowning; in scenes reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin and Norman Wisdom movies, Plumpick dashes around Marville first in a kilt, then in a black suit and white shoes. For a 1966 production, some of the stunts are genuinely impressive. It is easy to see the influences of vintage Monty Python sketches and the UK TV series parodying the Home Guard, “Dad’s Army.” Bates is dashing as Plumpick and is not shy to bare his bum, a portent perhaps for the infamous naked wrestling scene with Oliver Reed in the 1969 movie “Women in Love.” The French are depicted as stylish, fun-loving and flirtatious.
I really enjoyed this movie. Hailed as a pacifist work, “King of Hearts” shines a spotlight on the absurdity of war and underscores the power of humor in the face of adversity. When asked in one scene what he desires, Pumpnick replies, “To lose my memory.”
The film builds toward a devastating climax; soldiers from both sides arrive and engage in a bizarre shootout in the town square while the asylum patients watch in bewilderment from windows and rooftops. The audience is left to question who the nutters really are: those who wage war and kill one another for no discernable reason, or the frivolous rejoicing lunatics. As one patient returning to the asylum observes: “The most beautiful journeys are taken through the window.”
What if I attempt to change everything I know? To throw myself into the unknown?
Although it’s an impossible task, to render one’s belief system completely inert on pure whimsy, I thought I’d give it a try… in a sort of “Yes Man” way. I wouldn’t say I’m an entirely concrete individual to begin with.
For about a decade I was a seasonal worker based in Michigan bouncing between the water (sea kayaking guide) and the slopes (ski school instructor and/or ski bum). I know many people in the Valley can relate. In my back pocket I held a math degree and a propensity for songwriting and art.
In the winter of 202425, I packed up my 2006 Toyota Sienna and left the Keweenaw Peninsula with no plan except to visit some folks I loved and a resting point at my cousin’s place in Carbondale. People asked me what I was up to, I told them I was on the Change Everything You Know Tour. This trip involved unplanned activities such as a Far West Texas canoe trip, getting my first tattoo (which I had been a firm “no” on my whole life) and working the Tucson Gem Show for a month during which I drank alcohol every evening with dinner (also “against”). There were many hot springs and random pitstops, new conversations and camping alone. After two months of wandering I landed in Carbondale.
an energy of “anything is possible.” For those “wanting more,” there may be resolution here. As a newcomer, it’s clear to me the Roaring Fork Valley prioritizes music and art, and there are many opportunities for a vagabond singer-songwriter like myself. Being from the tiny midwestern town of Holton, Michigan, it felt like an energetic boost, holy-shit moment to play music on a stage in Aspen. The music scene quickly revealed itself to me through the Mountain Fair songwriting contest at Steve’s Guitars. Open mics pop up everywhere. The community rallies resources and energy to keep the arts robust in the Valley. I also see that there is struggle in the DIY grassroots ability to just be.
By Lena Maude
After a few months in Carbondale, in the spring of 2026, I sold my little Keweenaw house to a friend so I couldn’t go back. Why the harsh severing? Since some time in 2020 I had been duking it out with mental health, which had outward symptoms of insomnia with anxiety around sleeping. I felt like I was turning into a shut-in in that house. I fought it for years. Did people know? Not really. Was it all bad during that time? Not necessarily. The lesson? In a nutshell: Let go, there’s nothing wrong with your body, but there is something up with your spirit. Do what the heart desires even though you are scared. Seems simple, but it can be tricky to execute. For me, being brave enough to travel and live in a new environment helped immensely.
The Roaring Fork Valley caught me and I hear it has similarly cradled others. Sopris and the mountains hold realms of possibility. In a direct way the surface area of the mountains is mind-blowing in comparison to a square mile of midwestern field. Mystery resides in every nook and cranny. There is an air of magic inherent in the scene of a lush river bottom backed by a central mountain, in a river cascading its path of least resistance down a picturesque craggy surface. The landscape holds apt metaphors for navigating life toward beauty and curiosity. This entire area holds
I am in this area through the blessing of a place to stay with my cousin and her partner. I see that it can be a daunting prospect to stay here and forge a path without long-term connections and/or family ties, especially if you come from a non-affluent region. This area has the quaintness of a small town and the pressures of high cost of living. It’s a conundrum to ponder. Can one immerse in the opportunities and make it as a musician and artist? Can one get by without grinding? Do the pressures harm the ability of creative types to settle here? Is it possible for me to make it here? I’ve met many people that love this region and work very hard to be here. Kudos to you.
All in all, Carbondale has been a brilliant place to land and discover more of what I am capable of. I have felt shifts while living here on approaching things differently, confronting belief systems and habits and self-confidence. Of course this comes with the apparent chaos of back-and-forth decision making, on-off confusion, yes-no, weird dating and other outcomes of questioning everything in life. While here I have been living a life of saying “yes” more (though it can get you into trouble sometimes) while learning to say “no” in the name of prioritized “yes” — “Yes” to identified dreams, “yes” to the discipline of doing, “yes” to immersion. For me, “yes” to music. Through the lens of the mountains and rivers here, perceived challenges contribute to the beauty, and epicness is an inherent outcome. Epic experiences are available should one decide to accept the challenge.
I’ll be releasing my first produced indie folk album called “JUST IN CASE LOVE” this autumn. Five of the eight songs were written in Carbondale in the past year. I am in the magic place of turning fears into excitements, and I hope you are too.
Immense gratitude to the Valley and all who call the Roaring Fork Watershed home.
BIANCA GODINA
Sol del Valle
Defiende Nuestra Tierra, a Latino outreach program through Wilderness Workshop, partnered with EcoFlight to highlight the Wild for Good initiative, a campaign focused on advancing lasting protections for landscapes in western Colorado.
During a recent aerial tour organized by EcoFlight, a nonprofit organization that takes people on educational flights to help communities and organizations better understand natural landscapes and the conservation challenges they face, participants were able to view several of the areas included in the initiative.
Alejandro Jáquez-Caro, Latino community organizer for Defiende Nuestra Tierra, explained that Wild for Good is “an initiative focused on securing lasting protections for important wild landscapes across western Colorado.”
The focus is on 10 landscapes: Greater Dinosaur, Roan Plateau, Colorado River Valley, Continental Divide, Homestake Valley, Red Table Mountain, Crystal River, Thompson Divide, North Fork Valley and Dolores River Canyon Country.
During the flight, participants viewed Sylvan Lake, a site Defiende Nuestra Tierra visited for ice fishing activities last winter, Red Table Mountain and the upper Colorado River — which is included in the Wild for Good campaign. They also observed Castle Peak, which Defiende Nuestra Tierra noted “is part of some of the highest-elevation lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Colorado.”
Jáquez-Caro said the aerial perspective helps people better understand the connections among ecosystems and communities.
“It shows how watersheds, wildlife habitat, migration corridors, recreation areas and communities are connected throughout western Colorado,” Jáquez-Caro said.
He also noted that approximately one-third of Colorado’s land is public, allowing people to enjoy activities such as camping,
fishing, hiking and other forms of outdoor recreation.
During the tour, Jáquez-Caro discussed the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, championed by President Donald Trump.
According to Jáquez-Caro, the act “limits the BLM’s ability to reject applications to lease public lands for oil and gas development, even when concerns have been raised by local communities.”
He also highlighted changes related to federal leasing policies.
“The Trump administration amended the Mineral Leasing Act, reducing royalties on federal leases from 16.67% to 12.5%,” he said.
“By reducing the amount companies pay to extract oil and gas on federal public lands, this
measure could reduce government revenue by millions of dollars, revenue that helps fund public services,” he added.
Jáquez-Caro said both Defiende Nuestra Tierra and Wilderness Workshop have closely followed these developments.
“It has been a priority for us to pay attention to those processes,” he said. He also encouraged community members to get involved in public participation opportunities.
The initiative also seeks to foster a broader conversation about the meaning of wilderness areas.
“When we talk about wilderness areas, we mean lands that remain undeveloped,” Jáquez-Caro said. “Often people think humans have never been there before.”
Jennifer Balmes, Wilderness Workshop’s marketing and philanthropy director, emphasized the importance of recognizing human history in these landscapes.
“It is important to honor the protection of these lands. These lands have always been shaped by the presence of the Ute people, preserving both the landscape and their history,” Balmes said.
Balmes explained that the Ute people have been present in the region for hundreds of years and have contributed to the stewardship and conservation of these lands.
Defiende Nuestra Tierra emphasized the importance of advancing new protections for natural areas that do not yet have official designations.
“We shouldn’t just be on defense, we need to be on offense,” Jáquez-Caro said.
Wilderness Workshop and Defiende Nuestra Tierra are working to advance initiatives such as Wild for Good in order to “designate more lands with wilderness protections.”
The organization invites community members to join the effort to support permanent protections for wild places that currently lack official designation. Their website states that “Permanent protection for the public lands and waters we care about is the best way to ensure these places remain Wild for Good.”
For more information about the initiative and opportunities for community participation, visit wildforgood.org/es/actua
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
By Trina Ortega Carbondale
At the “Visceral Alchemy: Fine Art + Tattoo” exhibit at Carbondale Arts, I find a temporary tattoo of a human heart, rendered more anatomically faithful than the two humps and sharp point of an emoji. But the aorta, pulmonary artery and venae cavae of this tiny tattoo heart are plants and vines. Planets float inside the left and right ventricles. It is delicate and whimsical but would never work tucked behind a real sternum, between two human lungs.
I moisten a sponge, peel away the clear plastic protector and place the fine-lined black artwork carefully on the inside of my arm, the soft flesh that doesn’t see much sun. I set it horizontally so both I and anyone looking can view it without craning the neck this way or that. I dab it with a warm sponge and press hard enough to feel the gentle, rhythmic throb of my pulse.
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
The tattoo is small, less than an inch tall and barely half an inch wide. I choose it to remind myself of
my nephew, whose heart was complicated like this one, with things jutting where they shouldn’t and misshapen parts throwing everything out of balance. A heart not built for aerobics, or growing past 29.
I don’t want to remember that, but I want to remember him: his thick brown eyebrows, carefully manicured; the way his eyes flattened into lines when he smiled; his sense of style, his impeccable wardrobe; his calculated nature, letting only certain people close; his car outfitted with a good sound system; his love for Spidey, Hulk and Cap.
He wrote me once and said his biggest fear about dying was that people might not remember him. He knew he would die young. Maybe I knew it, too, but as his aunt, I refused to face it. I haven’t faced it yet.
And so I get this temporary heart tattoo while passing through the art show in my small Western Colorado town. Maybe I should get a permanent one, a tiny forever-flawed heart on the vulnerable side of my arm, black lines criss-crossing above my arteries and veins, to let him know: Nephew, you are not forgotten.
The unalienable right of all men to pursue happiness requires that all children in the United States be given that opportunity. For example, it requires that even very poor children, who may have been abandoned by their parents, or possibly living with relatives in a public housing project, have an unalienable right to pursue happiness. A prerequisite for that pursuit includes adequate healthcare, nutrition and education. Since many poor children often don’t have parents who can help provide for their healthcare, nutrition and education, I believe that it is the collective responsibility of our society (our government) to provide for these unalienable rights.
Although we can individually help a few of the poor on a personal level, government programs can address the needs of millions of poor children in need. As citizens of the United States of America, we have a moral obligation to support these kinds of programs, and encourage our politicians to
Kevin Kreuz Carbondale
The Roaring Fork Valley is increasingly overwhelmed with development, construction and traffic. I find it disgusting. We arrived in the upper valley in 1970. That was a very different lifestyle. There was also very different weather. Two very destructive things are the cause of the changes. Two huge mistakes. Climate change is obvious. The second is zoning. Less obvious. Our communities are not conducting a concerted or effective effort to reduce the Valley’s greenhouse emissions. Just look at the increasing amount of traffic and the constant construction of
Why are these buildings, many in new developments, still getting built? Answer: ZONING. Our Valley is divided up into a number of jurisdictions with separate zoning regs. Years ago, people looked at the amount of land around them and designated different spaces to have different uses. But nobody sat down to understand what was going to happen if all of these spaces were built out. What would that mean to the highway? The ONLY highway, by the way.
How many employees would be generated? Will we have enough water? What about our air supply? What happens if the ski areas grow in size, attract more visitors and need more employees? Hey, there was money to be made.
So here we sit today, with a Texas developer wanting to use the zoning on the Cattle Creek property near Glenwood to put in some 1,500 units. What did not happen years ago, was for the Valley elders to look at what has been happening and cancel existing zoning where it hasn’t been used. Putting up more buildings is guaranteed to make our current problems worse. The Valley does not NEED more people.
Adding more people forces the addition of more infrastructure. That means raising property taxes and usually sales taxes. Case in point, Glenwood just passed a new half-cent sales tax to raise money to fix streets. That’s how developers gain wealth, they don’t cover the costs that are due down the line. The communities have to fix things later.
Change the zoning.
Patrick Hunter Carbondale
Weiser endorsement
Eight years ago, I sat, listened and got to know Phil Weiser at a dinner in Pitkin County. Although he was running for attorney general, his breadth of knowledge and interest in all Colorado issues was exceptional. From the environment, public lands, recreation, water, education, rural health care, small business and the rural community, Phil was surprisingly engaged and knowledgeable.
Phil clerked for justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Byron White, worked in the U.S. Department of Justice and White House and was dean of the CU Law School.
During his years as attorney general, he has built relationships with legislators, the staff of Colorado departments and leaders of all 64 Colorado counties. He will “hit the ground running” as our next governor.
Phil has the legal, administrative and leadership credentials to not only serve as governor, but perhaps be one of our greatest governors! He will support the next attorney general and implement all powers available to the state to stand firm against any affront to the liberty, freedoms and expressions of conscience afforded to the citizens of Colorado.
Phil will work with labor unions, agriculture interests, technology, healthcare, public safety and academic resources to coordinate solutions and improvements to Colorado’s greatest challenges.
Phil has an impressive set of endorsements, both local and statewide, who believe in his leadership. See for yourself at philforcolorado.com/endorsements and learn more about his stance on the issues at philforcolorado.com/issues
For you, your children and your grandchildren, vote for Phil Weiser, a unique talent, as our next governor of Colorado. Roger Wilson Former CO State Rep.
The enormous wisdom and tenacity that Phil Weiser has provided as Colorado’s attorney general confirms that we should elect him as governor.
As a high-school teacher and administrator for 35 years, I greatly appreciate Phil Weiser’s plans to rebuild and rethink education. He also provides invaluable support for my current work as a youth advocate, prioritizing the state’s support for kids who are struggling within so many parts of their lives.
I’ve always been a fan of both Phil Weiser and Michael Bennet, because they have done phenomenal work in their roles as attorney general and senator. There’s no question in my mind, though: Bennet should stay in the senate, and Weiser should be elected as our next governor.
Mariah Dickson Carbondale
POLICY: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, no smearing, cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.
TMR from page 6
TMR is working to build support for a proposal.
“The Town of Marble recently submitted a formal letter of support to the White River National Forest, noting the exchange’s importance to the local economy, historic preservation and the long-term character of the Crystal River corridor,” Gillespie said. The ranch is within Gunnison County, so TMR is working to earn support from its Board of County Commissioners, in addition to the broader Crystal River community.
However, this coalition-building is at a very early stage. While TMR has made presentations to the Crystal River Caucus and other parts of the community, they have yet to submit a formal proposal to the Forest Service.
Forest Service Public Affairs Officer David Boyd told The Sopris Sun that “We are aware of a potential proposal but have not yet received one. If we do, we will review it and determine whether to consider it
from page 7
focus, Mountain Voices Project and the Aspen Community Foundation Housing Justice Fund.
To date, local governments — including the City of Aspen ($2 million), the Town of Snowmass Village ($1 million), the Town of Carbondale ($500,000), Pitkin County ($1.5 million) and the City of Glenwood Springs ($500,000) — have contributed more than $5.5 million to the campaign. In exchange, long-term affordable housing covenants would be placed on the Cavern Springs property to ensure lot rents remain affordable.
Another $1.1 million has been raised through private contributions made through the Housing Justice Fund.
The additional $1.9 million that’s needed would primarily go to fund capital improvements to the park’s streets, water and sewer infrastructure, as well as the creation of a resident-led rental assistance program.
Fundraising is to continue through Sept. 30 to support those ongoing efforts.
Future leverage
A key component of the Cavern Springs deal has been to assess infrastructure
from page 9
ban is now in place through July 5 for the sale, possession or use of any and all fireworks in unincorporated Garfield County.
After some discussion with Mary Kenyon, director of Valley Meals and More (VMM), the BOCC gave $35,000 for home-delivered meals served to more than 240 at-risk elders in eastern Garfield County. VMM volunteers deliver meals four days a week.
Jankovsky and Commissioner Mike Samson said they would like to see Glenwood Springs and Carbondale invest more in the program. Carbondale provides over $18,000 annually to the county, said Kenyon, for weekly congregate meals for older adults. Kenyon told The Sopris Sun that 89 of the folks VMM serves live within Carbondale city limits; 24 live in unincorporated Garfield County.
After an executive session, the BOCC voted unanimously to file a lawsuit in Garfield County District Court against
further and begin the process of evaluating the proposal in more detail.”
When the Forest Service receives a proposal, that would launch a community input process, Boyd said.
“Land exchanges with the USDA Forest Service follow a detailed process that includes opportunities for the public to comment and typically takes a number of years to complete,” he said. “A land exchange would occur only if the Forest Service determines it is in the public’s interest.”
The long-term vision is a community-owned conservation ranch, according to Gillespie, made up of families who are passionate skiers and backcountry skiers. “Backcountry skiing has been central to our vision for the property since we started down this path in 2021,” he said.
“We are not developing a ski area at TMR,” Gillespie added. “Any lands acquired by TMR through the exchange would be protected by conservation easements.”
needs and identify the cost to make necessary improvements once the park is in the residents’ hands.
New state legislation that was signed by Governor Jared Polis earlier this month, and which will go into effect come January 2027, will assist park residents in making those determinations as part of sales negotiations.
HB26-1224 strengthens Colorado’s Mobile Home Park Act by ensuring that residents have an extra 90 days to conduct inspections once they’ve negotiated a purchase deal in good faith.
It requires a landlord to justify the list price of the property, the age and history of major infrastructure on the property, rental information and operating expenses.
Upon request, the bill would also require a landlord to disclose any financial ties to potential buyers of the property and any agreements between the landlord and the potential buyer.
And it bans anti-competitive practices that inflate prices above market value, which makes it harder for residents to purchase their MHPs.
enjoy a beautiful summer evening at the annual Wilderness Workshop (WW) Community Party / Fiesta Comunitaria on June 11 at Sopris Park in Carbondale, featuring tunes by Tommy the Animal playing in front of a banner reading, “Keep the Public in Public Lands.” Ted Benge, owner of Capitol Peak Outfitters and president of Western Slope Wildlife Advocates, and Mayra Rodelas, a dedicated advocate in WW’s Defiende Nuestra Tierra program, supporting conservation efforts in the Latino community, received the annual Conservation in Community Awards. Photo by Alison Osius
the City of Glenwood Springs over a 1041 permit dispute for the South Bridge Project.
“While the City has not specifically stated they will not file a 1041 application, it has become clear in their correspondence that they will not be filing [the application] as they continue to refer to a ‘disagreement’ regarding the 1041 process,” County Attorney Heather Beattie stated.
The county and the city have been at odds since April about whether the project needs a certain type of permit to build on county land. Beattie told The Sopris Sun in an email that the issue is not about the project itself.
“It is a lawsuit to have the court determine whether the city is required to comply with the county’s 1041 and floodplain regulations,” she said.
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