07092026 Issuu

This Week: 4-5 - FIRE SAFETY 7 - LIBRARIES DIRECTOR 8-9 - GOV. REPORTS 14-15 - OPINION 17 - WORKS IN PROGRESS Your nonprofit

community newspaper

Volume 18, Number 22 | July 9-15, 2026

Partying

in the USA

Communities throughout the area celebrated the Fourth of July in their own ways, including, as seen here, the traditional parade and festivities in Redstone — one of the most happening

places to be every Independence Day — and in Carbondale, where young and old(er) took part in the annual kids parade on Main Street.

Down the Roaring Fork River to Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs, about 200 people gathered for a reading of the Declaration of Independence — a nonpartisan event organized by resident Angie Parkison — led by Mayor Pro Tem Erin Zalinski and City Councilman Sumner Schachter.

Families displayed patriotism and unity at the parade in Carbondale. Photo by Indigo Michel

Carbondale Fire volunteer Emerson Kennedy led a group of kids in the fire hose games in Redstone.

Photo by John Stroud

The Propaganda Pie crew (from left) Lucas Bensch, Cade Craft, Amayah Clayborne and Zoe Csere held down the hamburger stand outside the restaurant in Redstone.

Photo by John Stroud

Glenwood resident Chris Babcock proudly waved the American Flag during the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Sayre Park.

Photo by Bob Rugile

Members of the American Legion Post 100 led the parade in Redstone before giving the 21-gun salute. Photo by John Stroud

“Betsy Ross” was on hand at Sayre Park, portrayed by Sharon Young.

Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh

The value of just a nugget of hope Sumaya Abuhaidar is a spiritual adventurer, writer and artist who finds inspiration in the wilds of Colorado’s mountains. Recently recovered from devastating chronic illness, she shares her story and insights on Substack through prose, poetry and art.

Four years ago, I could barely get out of bed. I was so chronFor the next two years, I tried every conceivable drug and ically exhausted that I couldn’t walk more than thirty or forty feet treatment, including three rounds of painful injections in my or take a shower without having to lie down the rest of the day. My neck. And I saw some of the best physicians in the country. But neck hurt so much that I couldn’t turn my head in any direction, nothing worked. Which is why, by May of 2022, I hit rock bottom. couldn’t lift a pot of water to put on the stove, or turn the sticky I was desperate and deeply depressed. I thought I was sentenced doorknob on our back door. to a life of pain, immobility and isolation.

Worst of all, I was so noise sensitive that I But, thank God, I was wrong. I got lucky and couldn’t even be around the sound of another stumbled on a nugget of information that sent person’s voice. Even my husband’s or my chilme on a surprising course to recovery. I was dren’s voices. And I had been in that agonizing visiting with a good friend, sitting on a picnic state for the better part of two years. blanket outside my house, enjoying a precious I spent so much time in bed staring at the respite from my isolation. In the few minutes of ceiling that I named all the knots in the wood conversation I could tolerate, my friend shared paneling. They were often my only company that she had been listening to a podcast about for hours at a time, hovering above me in the chronic pain and chronic symptoms and how silence and loneliness. The strangest part of they can be caused by the brain and nervous the story is that there was nothing technically system rather than by anything structurally wrong with me, or at least nothing that showed wrong with the body. And more importantly, up on any test or imaging. that there’s a way to rewire the brain and resolve VOICES It all started on Jan. 2, 2020. I was out feedsymptoms, even severe ones. Even ones that ing my horses on a cold, clear winter morning have been happening for years or decades.

RADIO HOUR in Crested Butte, where I lived with my husband A lightbulb went off. I somehow knew, withBy Sumaya Abuhaidar and two boys. It was the kind of winter morning out knowing any details yet, that this explained I love with all my heart — crisp, cold and blanketed in fresh snow. everything, that this was the direction I needed to look to find Suddenly, the early-morning silence was broken by the unexpected my way back to health. revving of a snowmobile at a nearby ranch. All four of my horses And I was right. Over the next four years, with the help of spooked as one. And I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. apps, books, podcasts, online programs, coaches and therThe horse closest to me spun toward me, collided with the apists, I threw myself, heart and soul, into brain and nervous left side of my face, and sent me flying into a snowbank, my nose system rewiring. spurting bright red blood on the pristine white snow.

It was a long, slow, hard process. But it was also a grand The accident left me with a concussion. That’s all, just a adventure that took me on a fascinating journey through the concussion. I had recovered from five previous ones, so I knew neuroscience of pain, the inner workings of our nervous systems, just what to do, and I didn’t think it was a big deal. But unlike and even self-discovery work and trauma healing. It led me to previous times, this one became the biggest of deals. Because, no a regular Qigong and meditation practice and to a new undermatter how hard I tried, I couldn’t recover. I did all the right things standing of just how important creativity and joy are for nervous and saw all the right practitioners. But I just kept getting worse. system health. I learned to paint and started dancing to express By early March of 2020, I was still a hot mess. Then COVID my emotions and invite joy back into my body. One small step hit. Many people don’t know that the Gunnison Valley was an at a time, I reclaimed my health and my life. Not my old life in early COVID hotspot, right behind Seattle and New York. Almost Crested Butte, but a new one here in Carbondale. everyone in town got it, including me. Within a few weeks, my My husband and I moved here two years ago, looking for concussion symptoms skyrocketed and, seemingly out of the lower altitude, gentler winters and better access to medical care. blue, I developed new debilitating symptoms like extreme And we really love it here. I can once again ski and run and hike, insomnia, neck pain and severe GI distress. My sensitivity went but I also have new loves like dancing, art, writing and gardening. from extreme to excruciating. The slightest sound made me recoil And I share my story whenever I can so that maybe, just maybe, and wince in pain. I spiraled further and further downward in a little nugget of information might reach someone at the right the months that followed until I could barely move, barely walk, time and change their life trajectory, just as my friend changed barely talk. I became unrecognizable to myself, unrecognizable mine that day four years ago, sitting out on a picnic blanket under to my family, my friends. my beloved Colorado blue sky.

OPINION

LETTERS CORRECTION: Last week’s article,“‘This administration is burning the rule book,’” stated that there are seven parcels on the Roan Plateau subject to a prospective natural gas lease sale slated for December. There are five parcels within the Roan Plateau Management Area (RPMA) and two with stipulations outside the RPMA.

of chickens, Gladys Knight and the Pips, which evolves into more fertilizer.

It is a commitment to chemical-free gardening practices in and out of the soil that truly makes MVG green!

Sara Sims Glenwood Springs

Thank you, Near New

Is your emergency go-bag ready? It should be.

As of July 2, 15 wildfires were burning across Colorado. Fortunately, FEMA is coordinating federal resources to provide financial aid and recovery assistance.

Unfortunately, after the 2025 Elk and Lee fires, FEMA denied Governor Jared Polis’ request for disaster relief. The governor appealed the decision and Rep. Jeff Hurd, whose district includes both fire areas, urged the Trump administration to issue disaster declarations. The administration issued a final denial in April 2026, leaving Colorado and local governments to shoulder the recovery costs.

In response, Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper introduced the Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026,

Many thanks to Near New for its donation of cutlery to Mountain Valley Greenhouse (MVG).

The dozens of forks, spoons and knives are used each lunchtime by the MVG gardeners who work in the supportedemployment program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disorders.

It’s important that the gardeners and staff use recycled cutlery because the ethos at MVG is one of green gardening that creates a sustainable, harmonious relationship with the local ecosystem.

The greenhouse utilizes solar heating and worm beds to develop soil and natural fertilizer.

The composting piles are enriched by food and plant waste given to the flock

Disaster relief

2 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

which would create a fast-track congressional process to override a president’s denial of federal disaster relief. A spokesperson for the representative said Hurd will continue advocating for disaster assistance and relief but has not said whether he will co-sponsor the specific legislation.

Please contact Rep. Hurd and urge him to co-sponsor the Disaster Declaration Transparency Act. Disaster assistance and relief should not depend on the whim of any one president.

And while you’re at it, prepare your own household. Pack that emergency go-bag and sign up for your county’s emergency notification system. Wildfires are a fact of life in Colorado. We should all be ready — and our federal government should be, too.

Nancy Peterson Carbondale

BikeThere!

On behalf of Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) and Garfield Clean Energy (GCE), we wanted to thank everyone who made this year’s BikeThere! event a success. continued on page 18

Editor James Steindler 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Managing Editor Skyler Stark-Ragsdale Sol del Valle Editora Bianca Godina bianca@soldelvalle.org Digital Editor Ingrid Celeste Zúniga ingrid@soldelvalle.org Lead Editorial Designer Terri Ritchie Partnerships & Engagement Manager Luise Nieslanik Advertising Department adsales@soprissun.com Sol del Valle Marketing & Development Manager Margarita Alvarez margarita@soldelvalle.org Advertising Designer Emily Blong Delivery Frederic Kischbaum Bartlett Proofreaders Lee Beck Tracy Kallassy Ken Pletcher Hank van Berlo Executive Director Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 todd@soprissun.com Board Members / Mesa Directiva board@soprissun.com Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke • Eric Smith Roger Berliner • Elizabeth Phillips Anna Huntington • Loren Jenkins Carlos Ramos • Gayle Wells

The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6pm on second Thursdays at the Third Street Center.

The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to inform, inspire and build community by fostering diverse and independent journalism. Donations are fully tax deductible.

Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+ Kathy & Carter Barger Lee Beck & John Stickney Karen & Roger Berliner Emily & George Bohmfalk Kay Brunnier Michelle & Ed Buchman Sandy & Paul Chamberlin Frances Dudley Sue Edelstein & Bill Spence Deborah & Shane Evans Greg & Kathy Feinsinger Peter & Mike Gilbert Michael & Nancy Kish Gary & Jill Knaus Jan & Warren Koster Bob & Dori Libson Lee Mulcahy Donna & Ken Riley Eric Smith Patti & George Stranahan Gayle & Dick Wells Elizabeth Wysong

Legacy Givers for including us in their final wishes.

Mary Lilly

Donate by mail or online: P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #26 970-510-3003 soprissun.com/Donate The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District

SCUTTLEBUTT

Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com

Hero support

OUR UNDERWRITERS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS!

Alpine Bank recently opened an account to help the families of the five firefighters impacted by the Snyder Fire, and invites the community to contribute. The bank started the account off with an initial $25,000. Donations can be made in person or over the phone at any Alpine Bank branch through Aug. 31; just reference the “Snyder Fire Fighter Family Benefit Account.” For more information, visit alpinebank.com/snyderfire

Warm waters As drought conditions persist and intensify, Roaring Fork Conservancy encourages anglers to “reel it in” when temperatures exceed 67 degrees Fahrenheit. “Rivers and streams throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed are flowing at one third of what is normal for this time of year,” they inform.

Low flows equal warmer water, which results in less dissolved oxygen for aquatic life, causing stress for these species.

Smoked out

FirstBank Alpine Bank Colorado Mountain College Nordic Gardens Hilary Porterfield Basalt Library

NONPROFIT PARTNERS Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist Carbondale Arts Carbondale Rotary Club Colorado Animal Rescue

Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner?

Email Todd@soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866

Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment encourage Coloradans in areas affected by wildfire smoke to use available air quality resources, including Colorado.gov/airquality, the Colorado Smoke Blog, www.AirNow.gov and the AirNow mobile app. “Colorado is coordinating across state and local agencies to track air quality in real time and get accurate, timely information to every affected community,” stated Polis. “We’re urging Coloradans, especially those with respiratory conditions, children and older adults, to limit strenuous or extensive outdoor activity and stay informed as conditions change.”

Basalt land use The Town of Basalt is updating its land use code, which establishes the regulations that guide how land is used and developed. The update is intended to modernize the code, improve clarity and organization, make the code more user-friendly and align the Town’s development regulations with the community vision outlined in Basalt’s 2020 Master Plan. Find details and a public survey at letstalk.basalt.net

Basalt facility The Town of Basalt invites the community to learn about the proposed Public Services Facility project that would combine the Police and Public Works departments into one centralized building. An open house

The 12U Three Rivers All-Star Team, made up of players from the Roaring Fork and Vail valleys, won the District 1 Championship, beating Delta (7-4) in the final game on July 2 in Grand Junction.

The team will go on to play in the State Championship, starting July 23, in Colorado Springs, with a chance to advance to the Little League World Series Regional Playoffs in California. The team has dubbed themselves the Red Vikings, an homage to their coach’s Norwegian heritage. The Three Rivers 8-10 girls team also advanced to state! Photo by Jan Morton

will be held this Friday, July 10, from noon to 2pm at 101 Midland Avenue. Participants can meet the Wold Architects and Engineers team contracted to design the building, ask questions and offer feedback. A site visit is planned for Monday, July 20, from 5 to 7pm. Learn more at letstalk.basalt.net/ public-facilities

Educator recruitment and retention The Colorado Department of Education is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Educator Recruitment and Retention program, which offers up to $7,500 in financial assistance to help aspiring educators cover the cost of tuition and fees. The program supports individuals pursuing teaching careers in shortage areas who commit to serving in those positions for at least three years. Applications are due by Sept. 30. Find details at www.bit.ly/CDE-ERR

Wor For Pets Andking Together Their People

Fresh annuals, perennials, veggies and herbs are arriving weekly and trees and shrubs are fully stocked.

We have a variety of soils, mulch, amendments, saturday fertilizers, pest control supplies and more may 2nd for all of your gardening needs!

10am-2pm

2551 Highway 133 Carbondale, CO I NORDICGARDENS.CO (970) 963-3023 I Hours: Monday-Friday 8-6 Saturday 9-5 Sunday - Closed

28 Glenwood Sp01 CR 114 rings, (970)947-9 CO 173

Glenwood signage Residents in downtown Glenwood have likely noticed yield signs, and a few stop signs, popping up at intersections that previously went without, termed “uncontrolled intersections,” according to a press release.

“These sign additions were recommended as part of the recent Community Safety Action Plan,” the press release stated.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Kristin Garwood, Will Grandbois, Barbara Jackson and Judith Ritschard (July 9); Peter Gilbert and Rita Marsh (July 10); Joanne Kaufman, Monica Muniz, Danny Muse, Mellie Rose and Bill Spence (July 11); Ian Bays, Ariana Gradow, Solomon Liston, Rebecca Self and Summer Scott (July 13); Ben Isak Green, Andrew Halloran-Taylor, John Tolan and Britney White (July 14); Meghan Gillespie and Lauren Kaiser (July 15).

.A.R.E. CKS offers a “C ies, A W Y D D A P J R mil new adoptive fa lan package” for p ” ts n s for Poi including a “Paw % discount e 15 and a first timpet. ew n r u for yo

C.A.R.E. c 12 dogs anurrently has 1 hamster d 13 cats and Cricke t’s love adoption! up for touch - she en language is physical joys pe

ts, making bi and rubbing scuits, he around her. Sh r face on everything e is a friendly that may disa little void pp time to time, ear in your home from but you will always find her by her br LOVES watch ight, golden eyes. She in catio, then ta g chipmunks from the king a snooze RJ Paddywacks in th e su n.

If 400 E Valley Rd. # I/J li k e a gr ea t th is so un ds fi Next to City Market home, fill ou t fo r yo ur t an adoption in El Jebel survey today!

970.963.1700 rjpaddywacks.com

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 3

Glenwood Springs Fire Department faces $2.9 million funding gap WILL BUZZERD Sopris Sun Correspondent

As Stage 2 fire restrictions kick in in Garfield County, wildfires push the air quality index into the triple digits and emergency calls steadily increase, the Glenwood Springs Fire Department (GSFD) is enduring it all while staring down a $2.9 million funding gap. The word is being spread to Glenwood Springs residents to generate awareness of the issue, before considering a ballot initiative.

The City of Glenwood Springs receives a mill levy of approximately $3.1 million and another $1.3 million through the fire district. Costs in 2026, however, have reached $7.3 million. To fill part of that gap, the City has been diverting from the tobacco and marijuana tax funds, even though those accounts were not intended to cover fire department costs. According to City Manager Steve Boyd, these funds have been serving their purpose of discouraging tobacco and marijuana consumption, which has indeed decreased year by year.

Grant funding has managed to fill some holes, but only for specific operations. In 2025, the department secured $1.64 million through the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program and $641,000 from a Natural Disaster Enterprise Grant, which assisted significantly in wildfire mitigation efforts. While GSFD is pursuing

these funds again, the department faces high operational costs, which extend beyond wildfire even.

In 2025, GSFD responded to 2,520 incidents. This value has remained steady for the past three years but represents a general increase since 2020, which Boyd attributes to both an increased and aging population.

Emergency medical service and rescue calls accounted for approximately 64%, while only 2.34% of calls were for fires.

The department website states that “Operations personnel are faced with multiple calls at the same time on approximately 20% of our total incident count, stretching our available personnel very thin and occasionally requiring mutual aid assistance from our neighbors, Colorado River Fire Protection District and Carbondale Fire.”

While GSFD makes use of personnel assistance from nearby departments — for which Boyd says the City is extremely grateful — one of the issues facing GSFD is the competition with neighboring departments for hiring trained personnel. The department currently has 31 full-time and 23 part-time staff members, which makes up 75-80% of its total costs. A lack of affordable housing and increased costs of living in Glenwood exacerbate the problem.

According to Finance Director Yvette Gustad, the City is not currently hiring more full-time personnel. However, the

scores hyphenated together, one which covers the area within five miles of a fire station and the other for properties more than five miles away.

Currently, GSFD has an ISO score of 2-9. Boyd attributes the rating of 2 primarily to Glenwood’s exceptional water and fire hydrant infrastructure. However, the district only has three fire stations to cover its overall 72-squaremile response area, meaning that much of the district has a significantly lower ISO score.

What’s more, according to Boyd, is that Fire Station 71 in West Glenwood is in dire need of expansion if it hopes to service the area effectively.

As funding continues to run a deficit, it is possible that the ISO score could slip, which would not only reflect increased fire danger but mean increased insurance premiums The flags flew at half staff at Station 71 in West Glenwood for residents.

Monday evening, July 6, honoring the firefighters who During a Glenwood Springs lost their lives in the Snyder Fire. The station is due for City Council meeting on an expansion to better serve the growing population, June 18, members discussed according to City staff. Photo by James Steindler the possibility of a sales or property tax increase appeardepartment is seeking additional reserve ing as a ballot question, the likes of which firefighters to help fill gaps.

Fire departments are often measured other jurisdictions have already passed.

At this time, according to Communinationally by a 1-10 rating system created by the Insurance Services Office, hence cations and Engagement Officer Bryana its shorthand: ISO score. This score is Starbuck, a primary goal of the City is to weighted by insurance companies to set communicate to residents the nature and gravity of the funding gap before sending fire insurance premiums on properties.

Fire departments often receive two ISO out a ballot question.

30 years in business

Full Line Pet Store

RJ Paddywacks Located in the heart of the Roaring Fork Valley Established in 1995

Open 7 days a week From live crickets to organic and raw food nutrition. RJ’s is the one stop shop for all your animal needs Home delivery and Self Service Dog Wash available

4 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

RJ Paddywacks next to City Market El Jebel 970. 963.1700

Age-Friendly Carbondale wants you to prepare for wildfires AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent

The best part of the AgeFriendly Carbondale (AFC) booth at July’s First Friday was the Wheel of Fortune. Modeled after the TV show’s giant spinning wheel, this one was a petite, blue, yellow, red and green handmade version.

Instead of winning money, contestants won items to stock a “go bag,” like a flashlight, first aid kit, cellphone charger or emergency whistle and even had a chance to win the bright red bag itself. That is, provided they correctly answer a random question about wildfire preparedness since that’s what the booth was all about.

Carbondale resident and the Age-Friendly Treasurer Ted Zislis made the wheel and just about everything else in the booth, including two panels, each covered with a collage of information, photos and graphics from wildfire preparedness brochures by local fire departments, Colorado State University and the Colorado State Forest Service.

“This presentation is hopefully to encourage people who have not been concerned enough about wildfires coming into Carbondale,” Zislis explained.

“Everybody’s breathing the smoke, but everybody seems to have a general feeling, like, ‘It’s never going to affect us.’”

Age-Friendly Carbondale Treasurer Ted Zislis spins the wheel at a wildfire preparedness booth on Friday, July 3. Look for the booth at future First Fridays and the Wednesday Carbondale Farmers Market.

Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh

Zislis told The Sopris Sun that the 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles spooked him.

“We are similar [because] basically we consider ourselves a relatively safe, urbanized community,” he said. “But we live in what’s called the wilderness-urban interface, where we’re totally surrounded by wilderness and very susceptible to fire sweeping down.”

Over the past three decades, the Roaring Fork Valley has experienced several major wildfires, including the 1994 South Canyon fire, which killed 14 firefighters,

the 2002 Coal Seam fire that swept through West Glenwood Springs, the 2018 Lake Christine fire, ignited by tracer bullets at the local shooting range, and the Grizzly Creek fire in 2020 that closed the Glenwood Canyon for two weeks at the height of the summer tourist season.

Last summer, the Elk Fire threatened Rifle. This year, Western Colorado is dealing with smoke from fires east, south and west of the Roaring Fork Valley that have consumed thousands of acres and killed three firefighters.

So with the help of an AARP Community Challenge CapacityBuilding microgrant, Zislis took on a project to educate the community about how to prepare their homes for wildfire and what to take with them if they have to leave.

According to AARP’s website, these $2,500 microgrants support projects that benefit all ages. Categories include bike audits, walk audits, home modifications and disaster preparedness.

Age-Friendly Carbondale has already finished a walk audit which resulted in lighted crosswalks on Highway 133, said Marisa Volpe, associate state director for livable communities for AARP Colorado. ”Their due diligence in doing robust outreach, listening in two languages, incorporating communities of color — I really see them as the gold standard of Age Friendly,” she said, adding that Colorado is one of 14 Age-Friendly states.

Volpe said that AFC’s application was selected this year due to the group’s track record of getting things done.

“They are a tight-knit, strong community and we like to see that,” she explained. “They’ve been in the work in terms of a project that meets the needs of the community, and I can’t think of a better one than emergency preparedness for our state.”

Zislis, who is also a certified ambassador for Fire Adapted Colorado, used the grant money to purchase supplies that would support what’s going on in the booth. Other than the go-bag goodies, a plethora of information and the Wheel of Fortune, AFC has a fire resilience survey and the dreaded evacuation list.

Sue Zislis, Ted’s partner, carried the survey on her clipboard through Friday’s crowd. One thing the survey missed, she said, was renters, who can be fairly powerless to create defensible spaces around their homes. continued on page 18

What have you done to prepare in case of wildfire?

Scan the QR code and chime in on the conversation on Community Hub

(formerly Mountain Perspectives),

a homegrown digital dialogue page powered

by The Sopris Sun.

Meticulously Maintained Income Producing Duplex 430 & 432 Whiteriver Avenue, Rifle, CO 4 beds, 4 baths, 2,024 sq.ft., $700,000

Your Mid-Valley Real Estate Expert Professionally representing you with 19 years of experience.

970 319-5757 roaringfork-homes.com hilary@hilaryporterfield.com Call me. I love to talk real estate. ©2026 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated.

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 5

Marble’s Mill Site makeover DJ SUGAR MONKEY Sopris Sun Correspondent

People come to Marble for a variety of reasons. In summer months, oftentimes to the dismay of many residents, innumerable OHV enthusiasts flock to the town to enjoy the thrills and spectacular beauty of the Lead King Loop and the six miles of rugged, single-lane jeep road that leads to the iconic Crystal Mill, the most photographed man-made landmark in Colorado.

Some come to pig out at the only eatery, the popular Slow Groovin’ BBQ restaurant; others to nibble on the network of aweinspiring hiking trails which encircle the picturesque town. Then there is the historic Mill Site park.

Tucked away on the banks of the Crystal River, the 28-acre site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, a powerful draw for anyone interested in mining and historic preservation. Nestled in this riverside sanctuary stand the remains of the original Colorado Yule Marble Company’s finishing mill.

Constructed between 1907 and 1910, the 1,300-foot-long mill remained in operation for almost half a century. Considered by many to be the finest stone in its class, marble from the Yule quarry was chosen as the material for the entire exterior of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.

During its peak boom period between 1912 and 1915, the population of Marble reached approximately 1,500. Today, with the number of residents hovering around 130, what remains of the mill consists of

several imposing crane pillars measuring 10 feet by 10 feet at their base and 20 feet high, and two magnificent, free-standing walls 40 feet long and 30 feet high, all constructed from blocks of Yule marble.

Yet the town’s greatest asset is also its greatest liability. The last formal survey of the mill site was conducted by Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc. who produced a 76-page report. But that was almost a quarter of a century ago in 2002.

Since then, the Town’s limited finances have only allowed for general maintenance and upkeep of the site. Concerned about the precarious-looking structures and danger they might pose to the visiting public, the Board of Trustees wrote to Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs in November 2024 requesting a grant of $5,000 (to match the Town’s budgeted sum) to commission a qualified engineering firm to conduct a safety assessment of the park.

Mark Beckler, a resident of Hermit’s Hideaway immediately to the west of Marble and principal of Carbondale-based Sopris Engineering LLC, kindly donated his time to conduct an initial walkthrough of the site with Mayor Ryan Vinciguerra and Town Administrator Ron Leach.

Fast forward to the Town’s regular meeting of the Board of Trustees in June 2026, and enter Natalie Feinberg Lopez of Aspen-based Built Environment Evolution — “Preserving the past, protecting tomorrow.” A 27-year veteran architectural conservator and technical consultant in the field of historic preservation and heritage planning, Feinberg Lopez currently serves

6 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

The morning sun hits the Marble Mill Site just right. Photo by DJ Sugar Monkey

as a director of Climate Heritage Network International. She came to the meeting armed with impressive aerial footage, shot by a drone, of the mill site and a detailed proposal for its preservation. Accompanied by Beckler, Feinberg Lopez laid out a three-part preservation plan for the historic site. Phase one of the proposal comprises a general assessment of the area and its remaining structures at a cost of $40,000 to be 90% funded by the State Historical Fund (SHF) and 10% by the Town of Marble.

The board immediately made a motion to commit $4,000 to the project, of which all were in favor.

With great enthusiasm, Feinberg Lopez described the second step of the proposal, a three-month construction phase to

stabilize the dangerous structures in the park and address as many elements of deterioration as its proposed budget of $250,000 will allow, 75% of which would be borne by the SHF with the Town on the hook for the remaining $62,500.

Should the quarry agree to donate the necessary building materials, this sum may be significantly reduced. The project in its entirety could take several years to complete at a rough estimate of $2.5 million. Given Marble’s current cash position of $550,000, a significant fundraising effort will be required to proceed beyond stage two. For now, Leach offered some reassurance that the Town is sufficiently insured should one of the Mill Site Park’s towering edifices collapse and cause injury.

Abraham Korah checks in as next libraries director KATE PHILLIPS Sopris Sun Correspondent

manager position. He focused on daily operations, but most enjoyed community outreach and relationship buildA new chapter has begun for the Garfield County Public ing with his staff and patrons. With Korah as the manager, Library District (GCPLD), after its Board of Trustees voted Glenwood saw a reduction in staff turnover. unanimously to appoint Abraham Korah as the next exec“We added team members, but our turnover was utive director. Korah resides in New Castle and brings a extremely minimal. I think we had one person leave during wide breadth of expertise and community-oriented lead- my time,” Korah said. ership to oversee the six library branches, which span from “Our skills and knowledge grew as a team, which meant Parachute to Carbondale. an increase in our ability to be more responsive in our “The executive director role is focused on relaprogramming, events, services and making sure we tionship and community building,” Korah had the materials our patrons were wanting,” shared with The Sopris Sun. “This is really he continued. “I was most proud of helpa wonderful opportunity for me to ing that team develop cohesion and promote and bring the spotlight to build our expertise. All of that really the amazing work that essentially allowed us to meet the needs of the 100 colleagues in the library district community.” are doing for the betterment of our Under Korah’s leadership, the communities.” staff expanded programming An internal hire, Korah served and, ultimately, the library saw as the branch manager of the Glenan increase in patron visits. He wood Library for the past three added that it also helped commuyears. Prior to that role, he worked in nity members develop friendships, - Executive Director various academic and public library which helped result in return visits Abraham Korah settings, including as a librarian and so folks could mingle while exploring educational leader at Lone Star College in common interests. Korah and his team Houston, Texas, and as the library director at also boosted inclusivity when they impleColorado Mountain College (CMC) Spring Valley. mented a new layout, and at minimal cost.

At CMC, Korah connected with Jamie LaRue, GCPLD’s “For our Spanish-speaking patrons we reconceptualized former executive director, who now serves on The Sopris the layout of our collection to highlight our SpanishSun board, and admired his ability to directly meet the language materials,” Korah said. “We wanted to make sure needs of the diverse GCPLD community. that 30% of our community felt that sense of belonging in the “I got to know Jamie as a colleague when he was the branch. We wanted them to have materials, programs and new executive director for the district,” Korah said. “He was events that were designed to specifically meet their needs.” very generous with his time and I saw from a distance the Reflecting on this accomplishment, Korah credimpact he was having on the community.” ited LaRue for spearheading the Spanish Services team The opportunity for Korah to have a closer impact on and the Glenwood staff for their enthusiasm and desire a wider community arrived with the Glenwood Library to make Spanish Services part of the whole operation,

People come into the library for the books and resources, but what brings them back are the events and programming and our librarians and team.

Garfield County Public Library District Executive Director Abraham Korah and his son Noah strike a pose in front of the Carbondale Library’s Bee Garden. Motivated by community outreach and relationship building, Korah is excited to help each library reflect the unique needs and interests of their respective hometowns. Photo by Tracy Kallassy

rather than a special service.

As executive director, Korah — who holds a master’s degree in library science, a doctorate in educational leadership, another master’s in business administration and an undergraduate degree in finance — will rely on his deep catalog of skills, which include strategic planning, organizational development and team leadership, to bring the library district into its next phase.

“My role is to slow things down a little bit so we can make sure everything is working well,” Korah said. “We’ve been building. Now, we get to analyze what we are doing, and that requires a little pause.” continued on page 14

Growing Care for Our Community Aspen Valley Health is proud to welcome three experienced physicians to our Primary Care team—strengthening care for individuals and families across the Roaring Fork Valley.

Together, we continue a legacy of trusted care as part of Aspen Valley Health.

Bryan Gieszl, MD, FACP Internal Medicine

Mary E. Harris, MD, FAAP Pediatrician

Kelsea Loveless-Hoffman, MD, FAAP Pediatrician

Primary Care Medical Center | Aspen 0401 Castle Creek Road

Downtown | Aspen NEW! 101 Founders Place, Suite 109

Midvalley | Basalt 1460 East Valley Road

970.279.4111

Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm Virtual visits available

aspenvalleyhealth.org

Now accepting patients.

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 7

GLENWOOD SPRINGS REPORT

Council scrutinizes ride service pricing, enacts new panhandling, camping restrictions JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent

All Glenwood Springs City Council members were present for the regular July 2 meeting, which covered a variety of topics including wildfire risk modeling, a proposed fare increase for the City’s on-demand ride service and a new ordinance aimed at reining in panhandling at dangerous intersections.

No members of the public were present to speak on matters not on the night’s regular agenda.

Following approval of the consent agenda, including an ordinance stepping up education and enforcement of neighborhood watering restrictions and other codes, a proclamation was read declaring July as National Parks and Recreation Month.

Then it was on to a report from Angie Davlyn, executive director for the Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative.

She outlined the purpose of the organization and gave a report detailing the risk to homes in the Three- and Four-Mile areas in and around South Glenwood.

The Collaborative was formed under the umbrella of the Aspen Institute and now functions as an independent nonprofit organization. Its mission is to reduce wildfire risk and prevent loss of lives and property when wildfires do happen.

That’s done by taking measures to prevent accidental fires from happening, early detection of wildfires using camera

technology, rapid firefighting response, fuels reduction and creation of defensible space around homes and other structures, Davlyn explained.

A recent grant provided for a wildfire simulation exercise focusing on South Glenwood and the nearby Three- and Four-Mile drainages. It showed how a major wildfire would move into town, and specifically which properties would be in harm’s way. Thinning of vegetation in key areas, “not clear-cutting,” she emphasized, would significantly shift the fire away from those properties.

To complete the mitigation work would cost about $6.2 million and require cooperation from property owners. Fundraising is under way, she said.

A simulation can be done for the downtown Glenwood Springs area for about $200,000, Davlyn said.

Next, an explanation of Glenwood’s power grid and transmission system was given by Public Works Director Matt Langhorst; done in response to recent lengthy power outages. In a nutshell, given the complexity of the system and its limitations, it’s always good for homeowners and businesses to be prepared for up to 72 hours without power, he said.

Then came a lengthy discussion about the Ride Glenwood on-demand service and a proposed fare increase. Currently, the app-based ride order service costs a very nominal $1 per ride to and from anywhere within city limits.

City Engineer Ryan Gordon outlined options to increase that rate to $3 per ride across the board, or implement a zoned fare strategy.

As with most public transit services, just about any palatable fare increase still falls well short of the program’s actual cost, he and other City staff explained. To break even would require a fare of $12 per ride.

City Councilor Ray Schmahl compared the current $1 fare to a cheap heroin addiction, and suggested a much greater fee to prevent people from getting too used to it.

Ultimately, City Council would like to get a better idea whether the on-demand system is valuable, or whether it would be less expensive and more effective to expand the Ride Glenwood fixed-route bus system to serve currently under-served parts of Glenwood Springs.

“We haven’t really learned anything from this experiment,” Councilor Mitchell Weimer said. “We’re at the point now where I’m questioning whether we should fund this for another year.”

Council agreed to table the matter and have a broader work session discussion, and to get some input from the City Transportation Commission.

Following approval of an ordinance phasing in composting as part of Glenwood’s “pay-as-you-throw” trash collection services, Council dealt with a pair of ordinances aimed at controlling panhandling and unauthorized camping involving the

Jonathan Ford enthusiastically waves at commuters from the intersection near McDonald’s Monday evening, July 6. He says he does what he does to make people smile, and sometimes makes a few bucks in the process. City Council recently passed an ordinance prohibiting panhandling at various intersections in the interest of public safety, which will be back in front of the council for a second reading on July 16.

Photo by James Steindler

city’s unhoused population.

The first prohibits begging for money, or any activity that involves occupying space at all roundabouts, the Interstate 70 on/off ramps and some of the busier intersections. continued on page 14

REGION’S LARGEST NETWORK OF

PRIMARY CARE.

With board-certified pediatricians, internists and family medicine physicians on our team, primary care at Valley View is here to care for your needs, regardless of your age or circumstances. We are proud to have multiple offices and locations in Carbondale, Eagle, Glenwood Springs, Silt and Willits, providing multigenerational primary care across the region.

The best is ahead.

Because Valley View is behind you. vvh.org/primarycare

Eagle Valley Family Practice Pediatric Partners · Roaring Fork Family Practice

PeopleCare. That’s Valley View.

8 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

Silt Family Practice · Valley View Internal Medicine

Learn more & schedule

GARFIELD COUNTY REPORT

Land swap on the Roan, keep the Hogback, oil, gas valuations lower than residential AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent

A discussion about the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s (RFTA) Hogback bus route opened Monday’s Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting. During public comments, Rifle resident Rebecca Briesmoore urged the BOCC to support a temporary proposal to fund the Hogback route for the next year or so.

Briesmoore said she lives in Rifle for three reasons: She loves it, it’s cheaper than Glenwood Springs, where she works, and her husband’s job is in Grand Junction.

“We can’t find equivalent jobs closer to our home,” she said, adding that she takes the bus to work almost every day.

Her reasons for taking the bus are varied.

“I routinely check my work emails or pay bills, check in with family. I can read. I even sometimes take a little nap on the bus,” she explained. “I also love it because it’s safer than driving.” And, she said, it’s affordable and saves wear and tear on her vehicle.

She mentioned that putting more money into public transportation will be important to handle an increase in county population, citing the traffic jam a few weeks ago due to a fire in South Canyon.

“Thousands of vehicles were stuck in Glenwood,” she said. “Public transportation will help alleviate those issues.” She added that she would “enthusiastically vote in favor of a tax increase in Rifle to

increase the mill levy to RFTA.” On June 17, as reported by the Post Independent, RFTA presented a funding proposal to the Rifle City Council.

She fielded questions from Commissioner Mike Samson about cost per ride and the amount of riders on the morning route.

“Back in 2002, when Garfield County was actually fairly affluent because of oil and gas, we agreed to help fund the Hogback at $750,000,” explained Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky. “And at that time in the newspaper it said this will be a temporary solution.” He added, “We continued to fund that almost to 2020 at that level, and then we started seeing a downturn in our oil and gas revenues because there wasn’t as much production.”

He said that Rifle and Silt are participating for the first time. “Part of me says, ‘Well, let’s just not fund it, and we’ll go through the chaos and see what comes out of it,’” he continued. “However, RFTA’s proposal is to try to come up with a threeyear solution, keep it going, and at the end of that solution [there] probably would be a tax question.”

Land exchange Next up, Jeff Small, former chief of staff for Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, presented a federal land exchange proposal.

“It’s called the GAME [Great Access

“I love recess.” for Multiple-use Experiences] Act,” he explained.”It’s a draft land exchange.”

Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd and Garfield County Manager Fred Jarman have been involved in discussions, he added.

The exchange is between Out of Bounds cattle ranch owner Scott Smith and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). According to the GAME Act text, it directs the Department of the Interior to complete a target land exchange between the BLM and the privately-owned ranch

to consolidate fragmented “checkerboard” land ownership patterns. The bill would trade 2,158 acres of BLM land for 2,103 acres of private lands surrounded

by BLM land.

Small said that it is a legislative land exchange because the BLM does not have the resources to create an administrative land exchange. He added that Smith lives in North Carolina but has been coming to Colorado for 25 years and wants to make the ranch his permanent home. continued on page 18

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 9

CALENDAR THURSDAY, JULY 9

NONFICTION BOOK CLUB The Nonfiction Book Club discusses books based on animals at the Carbondale Library from 2 to 3:30pm. For next month’s topic, call the library at 970-963-2889.

WORLD CUP The Crystal Theatre continues screening the World Cup today at 2pm (France vs.

Morocco), tomorrow at 1pm (Spain vs Belgium) and Saturday at 3pm (Norway vs England) and 7pm (Argentina vs W96). For a complete list of upcoming games and times, visit crystaltheatrecarbondale.com/world-cup-2026 ANN KOROLOGOS The Ann Korologos Gallery in Basalt hosts an artists’ reception from 5 to 7pm highlighting the gallery’s “Continuum” show currently on display.

Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week 2026 In honor of World Breastfeeding week, join AVH for an Ice Cream Social to recognize the Roaring Fork Valley’s families.

Where: Aspen Valley Health Lawn When: Friday, August 7, 2026 Time: Noon-2 pm Enjoy complimentary ice cream and meet our team of experienced Lactation Consultants.

No RSVP necessary, just come by!

To stay up-to-date on all things AVH, join our social media community. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn, @aspenvalleyhealth, and sign up below for a chance to win a Mompush Ultimate 2 Baby Stroller. One lucky winner will be notified on Monday, August 10, 2026.

CARBONDALE ARTS Carbondale Arts hosts an opening reception for “The Way is Not a Way But a Place” by Chloe Wilwerding and “Cracks, Layers, Water” by GEOart Collective from 5 to 7pm, with an artist talk at 5:30pm.

RODEO The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo 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 FIGURE DRAWING Mike de la Rosa leads a figure drawing class at The Art Base from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Register at theartbase.org VOCABULARY CLASS Advanced English learners are invited to practice new vocabulary at the Literacy Outreach office in Glenwood (1127 School Street) every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Details at literacyoutreach.org

FRIDAY, JULY 10

‘LAND, PEOPLE AND PLACE’ The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies’ four-day, immersive field ecology course, “Land, People and Place: Field Ecology of the Colorado Rockies,” kicks off at 9am at Toklat. Register at aspennature.org BASALT SERVICES The Town of Basalt hosts a public open house for the combined police and public works building from noon to 2pm at 101 Midland Ave. ‘ROCK THIS COUNTRY’ Challenge Aspen presents “Rock this Country” at TACAW at noon. This event is free and open to all ages; anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Details at tacaw.org ART LUNCH Folks are invited to bring a bagged lunch and sit down with exhibiting artist Savanna LaBauve at The Art Base from noon to 1pm. Details at theartbase.org EXPRESS YO’ SELF The Glenwood Library invites teens and tweens to make their own jewelry sets from 2 to 4pm.

RISE UP GALA Bridging Bionics Foundation hosts its annual Rise Up Gala at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen from 5:30 to 11:30pm.

Tickets at bridgingbionics.org

10 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

CARBONDALE CLAY Carbondale Clay Center hosts Summer Date Night from 6 to 8pm, when parents are welcome to take time for themselves after dropping their kids at the Clay Center. Details at carbondaleclay.org

CLAY DATE Ages 21 and up are welcome to a clay date at the Glenwood Springs Community Art Center Clay Studio from 6:30-8:30pm. Attendees will throw pottery on the wheel and handbuild. BYOB. SOUND JOURNEY Krista and Zachary Kashin guide a sound journey at True Nature’s Kiva from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Tickets at truenaturehealingarts.com CRYSTAL THEATRE “Disclosure Day” screens at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm and continues Sunday at 5pm (captioned) and Monday at 7pm.

‘LARGER THAN THEY APPEAR’ Local choreographers perform original works within an 8-foot by 15-foot space at Old Town Yoga in Basalt at 7pm tonight and tomorrow night. Tickets at oldtownyogabasalt.com/events

SATURDAY, JULY 11

HISTORY HIKE The Hiking Club: History Underfoot explores Babbish Gulch Trail at Sunlight Mountain Resort from 8am to noon. Registration and meeting details at gcpld.org/summer-reading/ Next month, Aug. 8, the group heads to Sutey Ranch outside of Carbondale.

HISTORY COFFEE TALK Reclamation specialist Steve Renner gives a History Coffee Talk at Coal Basin Ranch from 9 to 11am. Renner will discuss the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety’s Coal Basin Reclamation Project, which sought to improve the environment after Mid-Continent Coal & Coke left the landscape in 1992.

COMMUNITY SCIENCE Wilderness Workshop teams up with the Eagle River Coalition for a bilingual, hands-on exploration of Homestake Valley, home to ancient fens, from 10am to 4pm. Register for free (donations are welcome and lunch is included) at wildernessworkshop.org/events BILINGUAL STORYTIME Bilingual storytime is back at the Carbondale Library every second and fourth Saturday at 10:30am.

HUMAN MEDICINE Jill Jordan teaches breathwork, somatic therapy and intentional activation at True Nature’s Kiva from 2 to 6pm. Register online at truenaturehealingarts.com HIP-HOP CLINIC The Glenwood Springs Community Art Center hosts its hip-hop summer clinic from 4:30 to 6pm for ages 7-13.

REDSTONE MAGICAL MOMENTS Delta Sonics perform at Redstone Park from 6 to 8pm as part of the Redstone Magical Moments 2026 Summer Concert Series.

TACAW Singer and songwriter Andrew Duhon performs at 8pm at TACAW, bringing bluesy, folk music and country sounds to the Valley. Tickets at tacaw.org

SUNDAY, JULY 12

AGGIE FLORES Aggie Flores performs at Heather’s Savory Pies from 11am to 2pm.

‘TAKE AWAY’ Experience “Take Away,” a playful picture book by Michelle Zinanti “to dismantle the backdrop of our lives” at A Spiritual Center (Room 31 of the Third Street Center) from 10 to 11:30am.

CELEBRATING A

Bob Sima performs at 6:30pm on Friday, July 10, at the Third Street Center.

“One guitar.

One voice.

One message.

Something unforgettable,” promises Sima’s flyer.

Local artist Marcel Kahhak will live paint the performance.

Find tickets at tinyurl.com/ bobsimatickets Courtesy photo

TRUU SERVICE The Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists welcome Christian de la Huerta speaking on “Soulful Power” with music by Ted Zislis beginning at 10am at the Third Street Center.

CACAO Join Nicole Lindstrom for True Nature’s monthly heart-led cacao ritual from 11am to 1:30pm. Tickets at truenaturehealingarts.com RECOVERY MEDITATION Join Natalia Snider and A Way Out in a guided meditation session from 4 to 5:30pm at The Meeting Place, 981 Cowen Dr. in Carbondale.

MONDAY, JULY 13

SACRED BROTHERHOOD Kyle Jason Leitzke offers a conversation series for men at True Nature’s Kiva at 7pm.

TUESDAY, JULY 14

COLORADO OPEN Golf at River Valley Ranch hosts the Colorado Open Qualifier from 8am to 2pm. Details and registration at rvrgolf.com NOISE GUY Garfield County Libraries welcomes the Noise Guy for events at the Glenwood Library at 11am and Carbondale Library at 2pm.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP In collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association, Sopris Lodge hosts a monthly caregiver support group for family members and caregivers of people living with dementia every second Tuesday from 3 to 4pm. More info at soprislodge.com/events AIRPORT CLOSURE Pitkin County hosts a public information event bracing for the temporary closure of the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in 2027 at the Limelight Aspen from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Learn more at aspenairport.com/communityevents TEE TIME YOGA Cari Eisenson leads a community yoga session every Tuesday from 6 to 7pm through the summer at the River Valley Ranch driving range. Participants

must be 12 years or older and bring their own mats.

DRAWING CLUB The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets at the Cocoa Club for informal artmaking beginning at 6:30pm.

OPEN MIC Marc Diemer hosts an open mic night at Townline Trucks from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

Life Well Lived

Linda Romero Criswell Feb 11, 1949 - June 3, 2026

JOIN LINDA’S FAMILY TO CELEBRATE

Linda Romero Criswell, Her many talents, great laugh, love of Carbondale, and a life well lived.

SUNDAY JULY 19TH 3:00 - 5:00 PM

THIRD STREET CENTER, COMMUNITY HALL 520 South 3rd St. Carbondale, CO.

THE PROGRAM WILL START AT 3:30 PM

If you would like to help (appetizers, flowers from your garden, or helping hands) to this celebration contact Phi (Phi.Filerman@gmail.com).

NOISEFLOOR 6 Catch some local youth music angst with Void Punk and Faces of the Yellow Garden at Steve’s Guitars at 7pm.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

ASPEN CHAPEL GALLERY The Aspen Chapel Gallery hosts an opening reception for its 268th consecutive show, this time featuring local printmakers with sales benefitting nonprofit English In Action, from 4 to 7pm.

ANDERSON RANCH GALA Anderson Ranch honors international artist Marilyn Minter at its gala this evening from 5:30 to 9pm. Register at andersonranch.org BASALT RIVER PARK Bella Rayne opens for Easy Jim for a Grateful Dead-inspired jam extravaganza at Basalt River Park at 6pm.

GLENWOOD MUSIC The Glenwood Springs summer concert series continues with the Awen Family Band and the Bill McKay Band bringing soul, funk and blues to Two Rivers Park beginning at 6:30pm.

PAT & LARRY Pat Winger and Larry Dutmer perform at Heather’s Savory Pies from 7 to 10pm.

THURSDAY, JULY 16

CHOREOGRAPHERS Catch a preview of Aspen Dance Connection’s “Emergence” show at the Carbondale Library at 10am.

CARE FOR CAREGIVERS True Nature welcomes caregivers to receive support from 5:30 to 7pm. Registration at truenaturehealingarts.com

Find more upcoming events at www.soprissun.com/tag/curated-calendar

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 11

Why Roaring Fork School District is pondering a property tax increase RAY K. ERKU Sopris Sun Correspondent

DID YOU KNOW? EDITOR’S NOTE: Data collected and presented by the Roaring Fork School District.

salaries more than $5,500 below peer districts, Cole noted.

“We have seen candidates decline job offers and employees Come November, you might be paying more in property taxes. leave for districts and communities where housing and overall In early June, Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) officials living costs are more affordable,” Cole said. announced a proposal to enact a mill levy override in order to Right now, RFSD’s budget faces an $18.8 million shortfall, combat a plethora of issues facing its schools. These include high and the reason why, according to RFSD Chief Financial Officer employee turnover, heightened salary and benefits competiChristy Chicoine, is based on a shift from state funding to tion from neighboring districts and unfilled positions. local when it comes to education.

The proposal itself, slated to generate an addiIn 2023-2024, only 74% of RFSD funding came tional $5 million for district coffers, will require from local sources while the state pitched in RFSD property owners to pay an annual 26%. For the 2025-2026 school year, however, $17.18 per $100,000 of actual home value, 85% of RFSD funding came from local which equates to $1.43 per month. District sources, while state support decreased to officials are now trying to decide whether 15%. The state paying less toward educathey’ll ask voters on the November ballot if tion comes from a recent policy change they wish to see the property tax increase. that reduced what’s called a cost-ofAccording to an educator shortage living factor cap. Colorado school districts, survey conducted by the Colorado Departhowever, are allowed to ask local sources ment of Education, RFSD has a shortage for more funding, per state policy. for positions like elementary classroom The $5 million generated from a new - Superintendent teachers, special educators and culturally and property tax would go toward: Anna Cole linguistically diverse education teachers. RFSD • 80% to staff salaries and benefits; of this, Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole later told The Sopris • 67% to certified staff (teachers), 33% to Sun that these are “critical positions.” classified staff (food/nutrition, transportation, RFSD, following statewide trends, currently has a 54% retenoperations/maintenance) tion rate.

• 10% to recruitment and retention “Our internal exit survey data over the past five years indicates • 0% to RFSD charter schools that employee pay, cost of living or housing (affordability factors) This is not the first time RFSD has called for a mill levy overwere cited as the main reasons influencing 60% of certified staff ride, which it did in 2021. If this year’s property tax increase members’ decision to leave Roaring Fork Schools,” Cole noted in is accepted, RFSD will also join many neighboring school an email. “If we exclude retirement as a reason for leaving, afford- districts calling for an override. This includes Aspen, Vail and ability is cited as the main reason for 68% of turnover.”

Steamboat Springs.

RFSD is not competitive with comparable districts, with expeRFSD is slated to decide in August whether a mill levy override rienced teacher salaries more than $11,000 lower and average will be on the November ballot.

We have seen candidates decline job offers and employees leave for districts and communities where housing and overall living costs are more affordable.

RFSD ranks first in health insurance costs in Colorado.

In fact, it costs $6,000 more per RFSD employee than Front Range districts.

RFSD has the seventh highest cost of living out of the 178 districts in Colorado.

RFSD is 16th out of the 178 districts in Colorado when it comes to average teacher salaries. In fact, it’s $11,000 below similar districts.

The average mortgage an RFSD teacher can afford is $164,000.

The closest average home RFSD teachers can afford, however, is $363,000 … in Parachute. The average single-family home in the RFSD is $1.38 million.

The average rent an RFSD teacher can afford is $1,818 a month. An average one-bedroom unit in RFSD is $2,000 a month.

For you. For life.

Supporting Your Vibrant Life Don’t let life’s surprises get in the way of making the most of every moment. After-Hours Medical Care in Basalt is here for you, offering convenient and compassionate services for non-lifethreatening emergencies—7 days a week.

12 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

After-Hours Medical Care

970.544.1250

Basalt 234 East Cody Lane

Weekdays: 2-10 pm Weekends: 8 am-5 pm

No appointment necessary, walk-ins welcome!

aspenvalleyhealth.org

‘Larger Than They Appear’ connects dancers, audiences, new venues KATALINA VILLARREAL Sopris Sun Correspondent

Mellie Test, multi-talented dancer and artist, noticed a performance gap for dancers in the Valley and decided to make a change. Test created a dance series called “Larger Than They Appear” to offer dancers more performance opportunities. Last April, she coordinated with local businesses and used their venues to bring dancers together.

“The whole idea is that we can pack so much impact into a small space and even a short piece with one person dancing,” Test said. “‘Larger Than They Appear’ is saying: ‘We may not look like we have a lot, but there’s a lot we are bringing to the table.’”

This weekend, 13 dancers will perform at Old Town Yoga in Basalt. This is Test’s second event since putting the first one together at Craft Wellness back in April. Because the first dance series went so well, Test hopes to keep this event in motion and coordinate another one during fall. Her goal is to have around

three “Larger Than They Appear” performances per year.

“It’s been really great to get the community involved and to give dancers something to work toward and more opportunities to create work and be seen,” Test said.

This event provides performers and audiences a chance to participate in the arts in a unique way. The dancers are self-motivated and choreograph their own work based on the theme. This time, the theme is “ripple effect,” exploring how memories, experiences, actions, etc., can have further-reaching impacts. Each dancer will take this theme and create their dance around it, specifically with the venue size in mind.

“It’s a unique challenge to say, ‘What can I create within these smaller dimensions?’”

Test explained.

As a busy mother, Test talked about how important it was to her that this event was accessible to people in the audience as well as for those who dance. She understands performances can

be expensive, a barrier that stops people from attending, and she knows that dancers are busy with families and work.

“You are in control of your own rehearsals, your own choreography, your own style, and then we put it all together and it’s got everyone’s authentic expression,” Test emphasized. “You don’t have to fit your style to look like anyone else’s. You just get to be you.”

This event is family-friendly and open to all. Test said that the first performance was enjoyable for everyone and allowed the dancers to be creative with their work in new ways. Some dancers used props like chairs and fans while others focused on the small space and choreographed based on those restrictions.

“For our April show, we had somebody using paint. She was moving with a lot of improv movements with paint on canvas,” Test mentioned, noting how joyful the show turned out.

There are many talented artists of all types throughout

Art by Katalina Villarreal

this wonderful valley. “Larger Than They Appear” offers participants the chance to see dancers in their element and witness one-of-a-kind pieces. The stages are modest and the audience gets to be up close, resulting in more personal connections between the art, the artists and the community.

“I just want to celebrate the artists in our community and seeing this show is a way to celebrate them and witness them,” Test said.

The performances take place Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, at 7pm. Find tickets for $35 online at app.arketa.co/ oldtownyogabasalt

Carbondale Open youth sand & grass volleyball tourney returns July 18 JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent

A batch of new sand at the Miners Park volleyball courts could be just what Carbondale needs to carve a new destination niche.

On tap to help spread the word is the return for a second year of the Carbondale Open youth doubles outdoor volleyball tournament on Saturday, July 18, at the Miners Park courts.

The inaugural tournament last summer, hosted by the Maroon Belles volleyball club, drew more than 25 youth, mostly girls, in the U14 and U16 age groups who teamed up to play in the double-elimination tournament, with games on both sand and grass.

It was noted then that the old aggregate river sand, which was dusty and full of gravel chunks, was not the most ideal playing surface for a competitive tournament.

“It wasn’t a good player experience,” Town of Carbondale Parks and Recreation Director Eric Brendlinger said. “The courts didn’t really get a lot of use outside the neighborhood, and the tournament let us know what improvements we needed to make.”

Brendlinger worked with the Maroon Belles and United

VBC, another youth volleyball organization, to successfully pitch the idea to the Carbondale Board of Trustees during budget time last fall.

As a result, the Town ponied up to replace the old sand with $35,000 worth of washed, fine beach-style sand, along with other improvements including new adjustable posts and nets.

The old sand was repurposed at the single Sopris Park volleyball court, the horseshoe pits at Glassier Park and at the Gus Darien rodeo grounds, Brendlinger said.

“When you look at what has been happening in Aspen with the Motherlode tournament every year, it can be a real economic driver,” Brendlinger said.

Laird Little is on the board of the nonprofit Maroon Belles club, and is the main organizer of the Carbondale Open.

He would also like to build more of a volleyball culture downvalley, especially on the youth front.

“There are a few youth tournaments in Denver, but nothing really up here in the mountains,” Little said. “Kids can play in some of the adult tournaments, but there’s nothing just for them.”

The Carbondale Open invites both boys and girls in the U14, U16 and U18 age divisions to double-up and enter for $20 per team. Games will be played on both grass and sand courts.

“We’ve changed it up from last year’s tournament with some great prizes this year to try to entice

more kids and make it more about youth sports in general,” Little said.

Prizes include four-day teen ski passes from Aspen-Snowmass, Carbondale Youth Rec Center passes, and youth day passes from Aspen SkiCo and Sunlight Mountain Resort as door prizes. “We are happy to have donations from local businesses and plan to grow those partnerships in future years,” Little said. “We are amping up the prizes this year and are offering experience-based prizes rather than physical ones.

“The idea of this tournament, open to all volleyball players regardless of club or school affiliation, is to promote youth sports and get local kids more active,”

The Maroon Belles volleyball club practices on fresh sand at Miners Park on June 3. Courtesy photo

he added.

The Maroon Belles youth have been practicing at the Miners Park courts every Wednesday, and are impressed with the improvements, Little said.

“They’re certainly getting a lot more use, and everyone playing on it really likes the new sand,” he said.

Outdoor, two-person volleyball is also a good way for young athletes to improve their skills for the indoor hard-court school seasons for middle and high school girls.

“The great thing about two-person is that you get to touch the ball more and really work to improve the passing and hitting skills,” said Little, who was a regular in the Motherlode tournaments for many years. “It’s a great way to let them have fun, get better at volleyball and enjoy the competition.”

He said the hope is to grow the youth tournament each year and make it a regular community event that could attract young players from around Colorado.

The tournament is run by volunteers, and the Town of Carbondale covers park use fees, so that the player fees can be put toward the prizes, he said.

For more information and to register for the tournament, visit carbondale-open-volleyball. eventbrite.com

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 13

Ice, literacy and the pursuit of happiness

OBITUARY

William “Big Bill” Ernest Dawe

BY ANNALISE GRUETER Opinion

April 30, 1947 June 27, 2026

William Ernest Dawe passed from this earthly realm on Saturday, the 27th of June, 2026, at the Veterans Community Living Center at Rifle after an extended series of health related complications. He was born in Niagara Falls, New York, on April 30, 1947, and is survived by his son, Wiliam Dawe II of Drake, Colorado, his granddaughter, Valerie Palmer of Fort Collins, Colorado, and his sister, Karyl Lewis of Harrisonburg, Virginia, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He served honorably in the Army and was wounded in an ambush while patrolling the perimeter of a military installation during the Vietnam War. He later served stateside after recovering from his injuries at Walter Reed.

“Big Bill,” as he was known by his friends, left New York on a bicycle and rode to Chicago where he met and married his former wife. Together they toured the western United States and fell in love with Colorado. After he graduated from Southern Illinois University with a master’s degree in fine arts, they settled in Carbondale, where he pursued his life’s love of blacksmithing. He studied and worked alongside many of the local blacksmiths including the late Francis Whitaker of Aspen, a designated National Treasure. Together, he and the Carbondale contingency of blacksmiths all rode the wave of the resurgence of the ancient art of blacksmithing into present times. In addition to his black iron creations, Bill also taught and fostered many aspiring artist blacksmiths over the length of his decades-long career.

He took many trips to Utah and Colorado’s high country with the Hi Country 4 Wheelers in his Jeep, “Over Easy.” He also loved to ride his yellow motorcycle and once toured the U.S. with his son on their bikes. Locally he enjoyed soaking in the Hot Springs Pool and rehydrating at the Glenwood Canyon Brewpub.

He loved living at the Veterans Community Living Center at Rifle along with the many Vietnam Veterans there and felt that, at last, they could speak among themselves of the memories from that time in their lives. He died peacefully of natural causes. May he forever rest in peace. A celebration of his life is planned at a future date yet to be determined.

KORAH from page 7 Korah said this phase is to help solidify the libraries so that they may continue to be responsive to the communities’ needs. He said that the library board is considering a 1.00 mill levy extension for the November ballot, and that communication about its intention and impact will be vital.

Noting the districtwide building refreshes (New Castle and Parachute are complete, Silt and Rifle are underway and Carbondale and Glenwood Springs are projected for the future) Korah said the

renovations keep the libraries a safe and meaningful place to gather.

“We need to remain nimble enough to meet the future needs,” Korah said. “Our knowledge and expertise is bringing the community together. People come into the library for the books and resources, but what brings them back are the events and programming and our librarians and team. Those rich interactions that our patrons have with our staff keep them coming back.”

GLENWOOD from page 8 Included is the main entrance to the Roaring Fork Marketplace (Walmart), at Highway 82 next to McDonald’s.

The prohibition applies equally to activities such as waving car wash fundraiser signs, soliciting for charitable donations or commercial “sign spinners,” all in the name of public safety, City Attorney Karl Hanlon explained.

Enforcement will be “robust,” Police Chief Joseph Deras said.

The second ordinance expands the prohibition on “camping” on any public

property within city limits from between 10pm and 7am, as currently spelled out in the municipal code, to a 24-hour ban, unless a special permit is granted.

Both ordinances passed 7-0, but will be back on the agenda for a second reading at the July 16 City Council meeting.

One final note from the meeting, Hanlon advised that the pending permit revocation for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility will be back before City Council at its Aug. 6 meeting for a “final decision.”

14 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

When I was younger, dreaming of a writing future, I knew that building a career in this field can take time.

I knew that so well that my ambition was tempered by it. As a pre-teen and a teenager there was this active thought: “I won’t have a book published until I’m in my 40s, probably.” It didn’t occur to me then what a combination of effort and serendipity might accomplish. But I also didn’t yet know the investment that would be required. Even a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and literature didn’t fully prepare me for that.

Professors taught classes on how to workshop, refine the scope of essays and dial the power of a specific sentence. They offered words of encouragement and of warning for facing long, long roads of rejection. What I don’t remember any of them mentioning is the time dedicated to query letters, book proposals, pitches, or the financial investment for juried workshops — should one be so lucky to get accepted.

Those are the pieces I’ve been learning firsthand the past few years. Thankfully, I’ve had some support from my fellow writing nerds throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, including Aspen Writers Network members who meet every month to help one another tune our skills and learn about the publishing industry. Thankfully, I’ve had incredible community support, which has helped me to attend some juried workshops and writing conferences.

Last month, I got to dive into the belly of creative form work. A family friend had been encouraging me to look into opportunities to learn from Pam Houston, who, among the contemporary American West writers, is a draft horse mare who pulls her weight, stands her ground and makes one hell of an impression. She lives further south in Colorado, outside of Creede, and has written such books as “Cowboys are My Weakness” (her debut when she was just 30!) and “Deep Creek.”

Houston was also recommended to me by my teacher at last year’s Aspen Summer Words, Joshua Mohr, who teaches a long-term manuscript development program with her. Late last year, a particular workshop with her caught my eye: “Mont Blanc.” A week of creative writing refinement in Chamonix was too amazing of an opportunity to let pass by. I applied.

I was honored to be accepted based on a submission that was, and still is as of yet, an unpublished travel essay. It gave me the chance to join a baker’s dozen cohort working on various prose projects, while learning from Houston and getting our work in front of other writers’ eyes. That workshop, which ran June 14-20, is how I’ve reinvested the majority of my freelance journalism income this year. That was a privilege I hadn’t previously known: To be given the opportunity to spend money on developing my craft.

Houston doesn’t mince words with her feedback. Praise comes without ornaments or flowers, but simple statements like, “These descriptions work well,” and “That scene is powerful.” Her constructive feedback is not different, though sometimes more vociferous: “The abstraction here is holding the work back,” or, “Be mindful about the way this frustration is being aired.” She’s not one for much interiority, in part because she thinks it has become too much of a buzzword.

Over the course of the week, I learned as much from the other cohort members’ workshops as from mine; the vastly different styles expressed, even in nonfiction, even in the narration of movement and descriptions of place.

I also was able to accrue some valuable experience: a visit to the Montenvers station above the Mer du Glace, once one of Haute Savoie’s largest glaciers, now shrinking beneath shedding moraine. The geologic body has collapsed and receded hundreds of vertical and thousands of horizontal feet in just the past six years.

That’s the manuscript I’m starting, the one I brought to the workshop. The beginnings of essays about experiencing glacier-shaped places. The immensity and power of those specific kinds of frozen water, the forces that once shaped the valleys in which we live.

I’m looking forward to applying what I learned, to one day contribute in longer form to the Annalise Grueter moseys down the path at Chalets genre Pam Houston has helped des Sapin in southern Chamonix, a historic mountain to define. Intimacy is important community in the French Alps near Mont Blanc, — I’d argue as important with where she recently completed a writing workshop place as it is with other humans. led by Pam Houston. Courtesy photo

Letter from Michigan: July 4, 2026 KEN PLETCHER Opinion

The firecrackers and skyrockets are banging away as I sit in our little cottage writing this. Unlike back home, there is zero chance of a wildfire. Weeks of rain, including showers today, have thoroughly soaked everything.

Fireworks are illegal in Michigan, with a few exceptions like July 4, when smaller types are permitted. The big stuff, however, must be bought in Indiana just a dozen miles away. Fireworks stands just south of the state line do a brisk business with Michiganders in the weeks up to the Fourth. In kind of a strange reciprocity, after Michigan legalized recreational marijuana last year, the highway this side of the border is now lined with dispensaries catering mainly to Hoosiers, in whose state weed is still illegal.

Fifty years ago today, I was sitting with a couple of my oldest friends just below Bill Cody’s grave on the side of Lookout Mountain at twilight in Jefferson County, Colorado.

We watched some 50 miles of firework displays going off from the Front Range cities, a fitting end to a happy 200th. The next day the three of us left for the east side of the Oregon Cascades to meet up with more longtime friends there.

We were riding part of Bikecentennial, a cross-country cycling route that had been created to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial. It literally and figuratively linked our country from coast to coast, with communities along the way providing camping spaces in parks and schoolyards and sometimes meals. It was an exhilarating experience, meeting townspeople and the hundreds of riders going in each direction, and it was a great metaphor for the healing and putting back together a country that had endured the painful ordeals of Vietnam and the Watergate scandal.

Fast forward a half century, now the 250th anniversary of when we declared ourselves free of monarchical tyranny and proclaimed America a land where all are created equal.

How are we doing?

As historian Jon Meacham quipped recently on NPR, “I hope we make it to 251,” when asked about the next 250 years. And he was only half joking, noting that, under Donald Trump, the country was as close as it had ever been to the autocracy that our founders were so vehemently rejecting. The exhilaration that many of us felt during the Obama presidency — the sense that we Americans are in this together, that inclusiveness was the great objective of our collective endeavor — had sadly spawned a resurgence of racism, divisiveness and xenophobia that Trump exploited to win the presidency in 2016.

In my 2024 Letter, I wrote about elections having consequences. I was focusing on Michigan’s election results in 2016 when it went for Trump and then four years later for Joe Biden, in large part because of the vote in Wayne County (Detroit and surrounding suburbs). However, in 2024, the state, along with others like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that had gone with Biden, again helped elect Trump to the presidency — with Wayne County once more being a significant factor, in addition to some 110,000 votes for thirdparty candidates.

Voters here in southwestern Michigan consistently favored Trump in both elections.

Before the 2024 election, Trump signs, banners and flags (some with highly offensive slogans) were widespread throughout the area.

But with Trump’s second term, I’ve noticed a subtle change. Outside of the strip of resort communities along Lake Michigan, the region is largely agricultural with a fair amount of industry. It has been hit hard by tariffs and high fertilizer and fuel costs, the result of Trump administration actions. It’s unclear if support for Trump is waning, but nearly all of those signs, banners and flags are gone.

Michigan has important midterm elections this November, notably for governor.

Incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, leading to an open race.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, also term-limited, is considered the Democratic front runner against opponent Chris Swanson, a law enforcement officer. Four Republicans are vying for that party’s nomination. continued on page 19

The truth we never accepted “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” of color? The current administration is Not a lot of equivocation there. Thomas welcoming white Afrikaners from South Jefferson declared the words that followed Africa, while vigorously resisting nonwhite could only be refuted by someone with their immigrants from anywhere. head in the sand. “All men are created equal.”

Dark-complected immigrants without The man who wrote those words was documentation are brutally seized and definitely an enigma. Jefferson, along with locked in concentration camp-like deten41 of the 56 men who signed the Declara- tion centers. Seventy-five-percent of them tion of Independence, was a slave owner. have committed no crime at all, 20% are Unlike many of the Founding Fathers, Jeffer- guilty of minor infractions like traffic violason never freed his slaves, some 600 of them, tions, shoplifting, or trespassing and 5% including a woman he have perpetrated serisupposedly loved and ous, violent offenses. fathered six children with, The current form Sally Hemings. of slavery is the prison A renaissance man system. Forty-percent of and prolific author, the incarcerated popuJefferson was a poor lation is Black, while only manager of his money.

13% of the general popuHe had a taste for expenlation is. sive original manuscripts There’s an all-out and fine imported assault on Critical Race wine. Monticello was Theory, a strictly intelmortgaged to the hilt. lectual movement that’s Jefferson’s slaves were nowhere present in our just about the only fluid schools, Affirmative THE VIEW FROM capital he had. Yet, Jeffer- THE THERAPY POOL Action and Diversity, son described slavery as Equity and Inclusion,

By Fred Malo a “moral depravity” and efforts to level the playan “abominable crime” and, as president, ing field for minorities. These are described sternly opposed the spread of slavery to the as reverse discrimination. So what? We owe newly acquired western territories. these people.

The Constitution, written 11 years after Our present president began his politthe Declaration of Independence, is as ical career with the blatantly racist birther remarkable for what it didn’t say as it is for movement, claiming President Barack what it did. It didn’t found Christianity as Obama was born in Kenya. In 1973, Trump the state religion, capitalism wasn’t set as and his father were fined by the Justice the operative economic policy and English Department for prejudicial rental practices. wasn’t established as the official language.

Trump’s father was a heavy contributor to Tragically, what else the Founders didn’t the Ku Klux Klan. do was abolish slavery as Mexico did after After Trump won the 2016 election, he it won its independence from Spain in the thanked Blacks for not voting. In response 1820s. Southern enslavers would never to the 2017 Unite the Right protest by have stood for that. The United States would white supremacists and counter protespay dearly for that omission four score and tors in Charlottesville, Virginia, Trump said, seven years later.

“There were fine people on both sides.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said “I won the 2020 election” is Trump’s slavery was good for the Africans because biggest whopper, but right up there is the they learned a trade that would serve them one he told in a 2016 debate. “I’m the least well when they got their freedom. That’s a racist person you will ever meet.” classic example of why we need to examine Perhaps the most notable former slave American history — warts and all. was Frederick Douglass. In his famous Fourth Of the 12.5 million native Africans of July speech in 1852 “What to the Slave is the ripped from their homeland between 1501 Fourth of July,” Douglass said, “American slavand 1866, slapped into chains and loaded ery is inconsistent with America’s founding like cordwood into ships, 1.8 million died principles and with Christianity. It is terrible in transit from disease, malnutrition, dehy- for the nation and endangers the Union. You dration, violence or despair. should get rid of it.”

Once in America, they were forced to Or, as Richard Pryor put it at the nation’s do intense, physical labor white men were bicentennial in 1976, “We’re celebrating too lazy to do for no pay. Bullwhips were 200 years of white folks kicking ass.” White used for motivation. Family units were torn people seemingly have to put their race asunder. Slaves were bred like livestock. above others. Equality just isn’t in their DNA. Fresh young slave girls were taken advanYes, there’s been progress. We don’t see tage of by the “masters” and overseers. After a lot of chains, bullwhip and nooses these emancipation, the Jim Crow era produced days. I voted for third party candidates in lynchings, church burnings and the denial 2008 and 2012, but I cried tears of joy when of all rights.

I saw Obama and his family come out on As bad as the white American treatment the stage in Grant Park in Chicago after of African Americans was, how the Native winning in 2008. I couldn’t believe the most Americans were dealt with was almost racist nation in the world had just elected a worse. It was their land the whites stole. Black president.

What followed amounted to a genocide, as The Founders set a high bar in the the indigenous people were eliminated by preamble to the Constitution when they diseases they weren’t immune to, bullets sought “to form a more perfect Union.” when they tried to defend their land and What we have is far from perfect, but maybe starvation due to the wiping out of their it’s the best there ever was. If the American primary source of sustenance: buffalo.

Revolution was a seminal event, it didn’t So, on the 250th anniversary of Jeffer- end in 1783. A continuing revolution that son’s inspiring words, how far have we extends the principle that all men are come in granting full equality to people created equal is our responsibility.

OPINION

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 15

ASPEN & SNOWMASS Pitkin county Library Hyman Avenue Box Wheeler Opera House Box Snowmass Town Park Station Aspen Valley Hospital Mi Chola Snowmass Clarks Market Snowmass Mall Alpine Bank in Snowmass Alpine Bank in AABC BASALT & EL JEBEL Willits General Store Alpine Bank ANB Bank Basalt Quick Lube Basalt Regional Library Big O Tires El San Miguel Box Casa Tequila CC’s Cafe Whole Foods Eagle County Courts Crown Mountain Express Lube El Jebel Mobile Offices El Korita Hightone Autobody El Jebel Laundromat Mountain Family Health Cazadores Scottie’s The Basalt Store Timbo’s Hightone Automotive and Tires CARBONDALE 3rd St. Center Alpine Bank Carbondale Library Main St. Box Catherine’s Store Food Truck Carbondale Recreation Center City Market Carbondale CMC Edna’s Hair Salon Gloria’s Boutique Garcia’s Jalisco Grill La Fogata La Perla La Placita La Roca Lift-up Sunburst Valley Meats First Bank GLENWOOD SPRINGS Glenwood Springs Library Centennial Park Box Comfort Dental Coin Laundromat Glenwood Recreation Center Glenwood CMC El Yaqui First Bank Frida’s Glenwood Hot Springs Yampa Hotsprings Valley View Hospital Impuestos Seguros La Michoacana Mountain Family Health Post Office Garfield County Human Resources Sal Mex Tequila’s Tony’s Bakery Super Taco Alpine Bank on Grand Ave New Castle New Castle Library City Market Carniceria Elias Hacienda San Miguel Post Office Tapatios Alpine Bank SILT Silt Library La Placita 2 La Placita Market LeMora Pizza Silt Roundabout RIFLE Cafe y Pasteleria Galea East Ave & 3rd St. Box City Hall Box E 12th St. Box El Patron El Rincon Jalisco Grill Mercado San Jose Momma’s Nachos Mexican Dining Paleteria La Korita Promex Bakery Remington Square Spyderwash Tapatios La Baja Espresso Rifle Library Imperio Variedades Dinora Diversity Salon Alpine Bank on 4th St Alpine Bank on Airport Rd PARACHUTE Nalini’s Taqueria Jalisco El Tapatio City Hall Box Parachute Library Running Burrito Lift-up Fifty Shadz Salon Sinclair Vero’s Mexican Bakery

Look for stories like this in this week’s Sol del Valle!

Full edition is available every Friday afternoon on newstands and at businesses from Rifle to Aspen

Leonardo (Leo) Occhipinti: ‘The key that opens all those doors is art’ BIANCA GODINA Interviews Under el Sol

through their own experiences. In a way, the key that opens all those doors is art.

It’s also a tribute to my grandmother.

Right around the time I began creating “Synchronicities,” she transcended, and the comic became a way to honor everything she inspired in me as a child.

Leonardo (Leo) Occhipinti lives in El Bolsón, Andean Region of the 42nd Parallel in Argentina. An artist, illustrator and comic creator, he has shared his comic strips, “Synchronicities” (“Sincronias” en Español) and “New World” (“Nuevo Mundo”), with Sol del Valle and Sopris Sun readers for close to four years.

Why did you choose an inspirational tone instead of a comedic one?

Argentina has incredible comic artists. For example, Quino, the creator of “Mafalda,” is a true genius. I felt that humor was already in very good hands. I didn’t want to do the same thing or repeat what had already been done. I wanted to take it a step further and bring the creativity that I know I have.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

When did you realize art was part of your life?

Always. Ever since I was very young, art was my refuge. I was a pretty introverted kid, and art was always my safe place.

As the years went by, I came to understand that I was an artist, even though I often heard people say, “No, that’s not a good path for you.” Even so, I kept going because it was something that came from within me.

What led you to make art your profession?

At first, I studied graphic design because it seemed like a more serious or conventional option. Later, I realized that art is also something serious, and that I am an artist.

Leonardo Occhipinti, courtesy photo

Where did the “Synchronicities” and “New World” comics you share with Sol del Valle come from?

“Synchronicities” was the starting point for this entire universe. Its main character is Wari, a boy who discovers a mysterious place that serves as an analogy for both the imaginary world and our inner world.

I like each reader to interpret the story

How do you create the “New World” comics? Do you work digitally or traditionally?

I start with pencil and paper, then use pen, India ink and watercolors. After that, I scan the artwork and add the title. Paper has a memory in its own way. Tearing a piece of paper, feeling its texture and working directly on it is part of the experience.

I also like my work to exist as a physical object, something that can eventually be exhibited. Many times I make mistakes or the paper gets stained, and I leave it that way. I like people to see the human side of the process.

Follow Leonardo Occhipinti’s “Nuevo Mundo” in Sol del Valle every week in Spanish.

Bianca Godina — Editor • bianca@soldelvalle.org | Margarita Alvarez — Advertising • margarita@soldelvalle.org www.soldelvalle.org • info@soldelvalle.org • 970-510-0234

16 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com

Short-Term Rental Olivia Emery Carbondale

A few years ago, a robin built a nest on our back porch. She was as scattered and ditsy as I felt at the time — starting with a few sticks, changing her mind, tossing them on the ground, starting again. In the end she chose a spot two columns away from where she had started, on top of a beam that supported the roof framing. It was brilliantly concealed and her construction was a work of art — smooth, solid, even, swelling like the capital of a Doric column. Generations of chicks were hatched in that nest.

Last year — was it that same robin or another? Was it the female or both parents? Whatever, they decided to build a new nest right next to

the classically perfect one, but the new one was hastily built and much sloppier. Twigs protruded at abrupt angles and long curls of grass hung down in abandon. The whole thing looked as if a modest gust could blow it apart. Part of it trailed over the inside of the beam but the mud and worm casting reinforcement is evidently enough to keep it in place, for it was occupied again this year.

I went away for 10 days, leaving the mother robin dedicated to her nest.

When I came back, a mess of poop and detritus on the porch floor told me the chicks had hatched. Dark little heads bobbed up erratically above the rim of the nest, anticipating the next delivery of worm or bug.

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

We thought there were three chicks, but in a couple of days, a fourth emerged. It was definitely smaller and fighting for beak space, but there were now surely four in the roost. They grew with astonishing speed, maybe as much as ten percent a day.

How could they still fit and not fall out of the nest? Something had to give. But no: They had an ADU! One of the chicks moved right next door into the beautiful clean nest that was sitting there empty. I think it was the little one.

A day later, I was weeding under an apple tree nearby. I looked up and not three feet away was a tiny chick with a spotted front, no hint of orange yet in his breast. He

watched me from his leafy perch.

I watched him.

Three other big chicks watched from the porch nest. They were nearly fully clad in the regulation orange jersey, with just a few spots signifying their youth, but none had dared fledge yet.

Was the little one kicked out? Not fed? I like to think he was braver than the others. And smarter. He did solve his housing dilemma after all and perhaps he’s the one in the cherry trees feasting on prematurely ripening fruit.

I’m sure we’d have found a clutch of feathers nearby if he hadn’t gone to the second nest, just long enough to get the courage to fly.

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 17

LETTERS Over 400 people from Parachute to Aspen came together on June 24 and joined the BikeThere! movement, a regional celebration of Colorado Bike to Work Day. Given the common lengthy commutes in our region, it’s not always possible for people to ride their bike to work, but many of us can still choose to bike for a trip to the grocery store, library, bike shop and more.

That’s exactly what folks in Parachute/ Battlement Mesa, Rifle, Silt, New Castle, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt and Aspen did this year for BikeThere!

And if you didn’t have time to participate on June 24, you can still sign up and log your walking, biking, taking the bus and carpooling trips on Two Rivers Connect, now through July 24, during the Way to Roll summer campaign. Find out more at cleanenergyeconomy.net/ tworiversconnect/ A special thanks to all the station hosts who made it possible to have 18 stations from Parachute to Aspen and all the prize sponsors. Your time and involvement made sure everyone had plenty of good reasons to BikeThere!

Thanks to our partners: Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), City of Glenwood Springs and City of Aspen. We also want to thank our sponsors: Colorado Department of Transportation, Alpine Bank, Grand River Health, Watershed Environmental Giving Circle and Aspen One. BikeThere! wouldn’t be successful without the help and support from so many throughout our community.

Dova Castañeda Zilly CLEER and GCE

Inhumane, dangerous M-44 cyanide bombs are back, and we must act quickly.

M-44s, more descriptively called “cyanide bombs,” are inhumane, spring-loaded traps that are designed to spray sodium cyanide into the faces of unsuspecting wildlife

from page 2

lured by the sweet, scented bait.

After reintroduction by the current administration, a government agency with little oversight has partnered with private businesses to scatter deadly poison bombs across our public lands. A federal program called Wildlife Services, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been slaughtering wildlife deemed “undesirable” by agribusiness.

These traps are designed to indiscriminately kill predators — horribly, cruelly, releasing the toxic chemical cyanide.

They had been banned because of the deadly impact they have on wildlife, children and pets.

They’re even more dangerous now because of the volume of people and pets that venture out into wildlife areas and public land.

The bait used on these bombs attracts any animal that will eat meat.

Birds: Raptors, including our national bird the Bald Eagle, Golden eagles, turkey vultures and many other birds are attracted to the scent of meat.

Mammals: All omnivores and carnivores, including bears, foxes, bobcats and endangered wildlife.

Pets: Dogs, cats and any other animal that pulls on the baited trigger can suffer torturous poisoning followed by a slow, agonizing death or severe injury.

Children and adults: Any that may be curious or try to save a pet.

Contact your county commissioners now and ask that they immediately prohibit this practice on our public lands.

It involves a simple search that could yield profound and life-saving results.

Contact Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd and request that they vote down this legislation that was recently reintroduced.

Mary Harris, Chair Roaring Fork Audubon

LETTERS 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.

AGE-FRIENDLY from page 5 “They’re concerned about go bags and that sort of thing,” she told The Sun. “But they’re frustrated with their landlords who may not even be, you know, fixing a leak, let alone mitigating fire risk on the property [or] giving them information about what they should do.”

Ted and his crew will take the booth to First Fridays and the Carbondale Farmers Market this summer. He said that this is not about AFC telling people what to do.

“If I clean up my yard but my neighbor hasn’t done a good job of cleaning up his yard,” he explained, “it’s to my advantage to engage in a discussion with my neighbors to get them all to agree that it’s to all of our mutual advantage to work together.”

GARCO from page 9 Small told the BOCC that this exchange would accomplish federal goals, such as facilitating the needs of expanding communities and industries within the county and ensuring that areas of limited value to the federal government are made available for more appropriate uses.

It is also within Game Management Unit 22, and the lands acquired by the BLM would provide public access to hunting. The BOCC agreed to support it via a resolution or letter of support to be ratified at a later date.

In other news, County Assessor Jim Yellico presented his report to the County Board of Equalization. Of note, he told The Sopris Sun, is that the percentage of oil and gas valuations has declined.

“In 2025, it had fallen below residential value for the first time in over a decade,” he said in an email. “In 2025, oil and gas was 3% of the total valuation, while residential was 39%.”

You can find all archived BOCC meetings and agendas at the Garfield County website.

18 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

MICHIGAN from page 15 Unlike Colorado, with its relatively strong Democratic electorate at the state level, Michigan is much more divided. The state Senate is controlled by Democrats, while the House has a Republican majority. Thus, the races for both chambers will be crucial for the next state administration. The primary is Aug. 4.

The weather played havoc with Independence Day festivities throughout the country, no more so than in Colorado, where fireworks displays like I witnessed a half century ago are only a dim memory. Here, the annual cookout at the neighboring Prairie Club was cancelled, though a member still read the Declaration of Independence at the pavilion. The traditional bonfire on the beach, however, was rained out.

In our nation’s capital, extreme heat and severe storms stymied planned festivities on the Fourth that had already become mired in controversy and disappointed so many of us. The billed highlight, Trump’s speech, didn’t start until just before midnight and more resembled one of his political rallies (rife with personal boasting and disparaging Democrats) than an address that might truly celebrate our achievements as a country on this special occasion.

However, at this hour, when I’m feeling so let down, here comes the U.S. men’s World Cup soccer team, with thrilling games that have captivated the country.

Win or lose as the tournament progresses, the team has managed to bring Americans together at the most opportune moment.

PARTING SHOT

For folks living in the Valley, a bit of relief in the form of raindrops came down and the parched peaks and valleys quickly soaked up the short-lived moisture. A lightning storm ignited several small fires in West Garfield County Tuesday evening, July 7. Luckily, “A small rain cell that also proceeded through the area helped give a little moisture to [the] air,” according to the Colorado River Firefighters Facebook Page, helping firefighters quell the blazes.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Community Rewards An Easy Way for you to

Help Fund the Sun

At No Cost to You Every Time you Buy Groceries Step 1: Create your Digital City Market Account Step 2: Go to COMMUNITY ---> City Market Community Rewards Step 3: Choose SOPRIS SUN LLC as your preferred nonprofit Step 4: Shop as you normally do City Market then makes a donation to the Sopris Sun

Thank You to the 29 Households who have signed up for City Market Rewards and made Sopris Sun the benefactor of the rewards. You have helped us raise $342.15 so far this year. It's collective efforts like this that help keep the Sopris Sun financially stable for years to come.

The Power of Community: 10 Sign ups would support a weekly column 100 Sign ups would support our annual Youth Journalism Program 1,000 Sign ups would support the Annual Cost of our local Government Oversight - a journalist covering every local City/Town, County, School Board, Library Board meeting for a full year.

2,500 Sign ups would support the annual printing costs of the Sopris Sun and el Sol del Valle.

City Market Community Rewards Program™

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | July 9-15, 2026 19

Connection, Community and C.A.R.E.

CARBONDALE

Community Education Classes Watercolor: en Plein Air

July Events

Two-day workshop with tips and techniques then go outside to paint what we see.

Wed/Thurs, 1-5pm, 7/22-7/23

Paws for a Cause Pet Food & Supply Drive July 1 - 31 | Daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Provides non-profit professionals with development tools to build their resource base.

Online Tues, 5:30-8:30pm, 8/4

Free and Open to the Public.

Flavors of the Mediterranean Summer Cooking Demo July 23 | 2:30 p.m.

Philosophical Tools w/Bo Persiko

Coming this Fall

Citizenship Basics

Zumba

R E

High energy, aerobic fitness with upbeat world rhythms to make exercise feel like a dance party.

Mon, 6-7pm, 8/10-10/5

Aikido (TRY IT FOR FREE)

Re-direct, neutralize, or avoid an attack with this peaceful practice for conflict resolution.

Tue/Thur, 6-7:30pm, 8/11-10/1

Pilates Blend w/Natalie

Improve balance, muscle coordination, strength, and stability with Pilates principles.

Wed, 9-9:50am, 8/12-9/30

295 Rio Grande Avenue, Carbondale Assisted Living | Memory Care | Independent Living

Introduces ideas and strategies from philosophers’ writings and explores values and moral principles in this changing world.

Wed, 9-9:50am, 8/12-9/30 Prepares adults for the U.S. citizenship and naturalization exam and interview. FREE Sat, 10:30am-12:30pm, 8/25-9/15

Working with Others Manage or Lead

Decision making, delegating, managing creative and diverse groups, and working with difficult people and challenging groups.

Sat, 10:30am-12:30pm, 8/25-9/15

t

Learn More & RSVP soprislodge.com/events 970-540-4573

Fundraising for Non-profits

Registration Opens 7/13 Don’t wait for the printed schedule to sign up.

690 Colorado Avenue Carbondale 970.963.2172

WellAge Senior Community

Give the Gift of Local Journalism

by Leaving a Lasting Legacy Consider Planned Giving to Support Local Journalism HOW TO LEAVE A LEGACY •

Include The Sopris Sun in your will or trust.

•

Name The Sopris Sun as a beneficiary of your retirement account or donor-advised fund.

Planned giving is one of the most meaningful ways to ensure independent, community-powered journalism continues in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys for generations.

www.soprissun.com/ planned-giving

L

egacy Donor Mary Lilly passed away at the age of 100 in 2016. She included The Sopris Sun along with other local nonprofits in her will. At a time when The Sun’s finances were looking dire, that $55,000 gift helped pay off an outstanding line of credit and bolster our reserves fund.

20 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | July 9-15, 2026

JOIN THE SOPRIS SUN LEGACY SOCIETY

The Sopris Sun is a 501(c)(3) community nonprofit newsroom.