07302026 Issuu

CAMPING OUT AT THE FAIR

Camp Bonedale was back in full force for the 55th Annual Mountain Fair, July 24-26, harkening back to a tradition started in the early ‘80s, when friends would gather each year in the same place to enjoy the fair together. The weather was hot, but didn’t stop Bonedalians and visitors from filling Sopris Park and Main Street throughout the weekend. For more photos, check out the Works in Progress page on 17, which includes contest results, and Parting Shots on 19.

(Upper left going clockwise) Morgan Williams of Beep Bop Boop takes in the crowd; limbo contest champion Courtney Conn gets low; Mother of the Fair Laurie Loeb conducts the annual Rhythm of the Heart Drum Circle; and Gabriela Mejia invites the spirit of the fair.

Photo by Will Sardinsky

Photo by Tommy Sands

Photo by Tommy Sands

Photo by Bob Rugile

Mountain Fair is history

As the town recovers from its annual Mountain Fair with this year’s theme of “Camp Bonedale,” it’s worth noting similarities to another famous gathering in the Rocky Mountains involving vendors, music, dancing, games and merriment.

Carbondale’s celebration was not the first mountain fair in Colorado. That distinction goes to a rendezvous that started in 1825, when hundreds and eventually thousands of people began gathering annually in the Rockies, as recalled in “Tales of the Old West” in the Steamboat Pilot, March 11, 1937:

The scene of the annual rendezvous where the traders, trappers and Indians gathered annually for the great mountain fair was a … shifting point usually along the Green River at some place previously designated. It might shift from Brown’s Hole in Northern Colorado to Jackson’s Hole in Wyoming.

While today we trade U.S. dollars for the wares presented at Mountain Fair, back then trading was the way merchandise changed hands. The “great mountain fair,” which came to be known as the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, was entirely based upon supplying fur pelts, mainly beaver, to the fashion industry for hats and coats popular at the time.

beloved stories, Richard “Old Dad” Morgan will be in attendance to regale audiences with his tall tales. “Pecos Bill,” “Paul Bunyan,” as well as gunfighter, animal and ghost stories are “Old Dad’s” bill of fare.

Native Americans have likewise been represented at our modern Mountain Fair through Indigenous artisans and musicians. For many years, Fred “Lightning Heart” Haberlain opened the fair with an Indigenous inspired blessing. And, of course, the now famous drum circle recalls and connects us to America’s ancestral communities.

OPINION

The rendezvous brought together French Canadian, American and Indigenous fur trappers who came to the native Shoshone, also known as Snake Indian, territory in the central Rockies to meet the fur company buyers who made a profit selling and shipping pelts to the East. Other goods were traded as well, including clothing, saddles, tobacco and whiskey.

HISTORIOGRAPHY

By Sue Gray

But the yearly event wasn’t only about commerce. James Beckwourth, who was born into slavery in Virginia and became a famous mountain man and trapper after he was freed, described the festivities in his autobiography, “The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth”:

Mirth, song, dancing, shooting, trading, running, jumping, singing, racing, target-shooting, yarns, frolic with all sort of extravagances that white men or Indians could invent were freely indulged in. The unpacking of the medicine water contributed not a little to the heightening of our festivities.

Carbondale’s rendezvous features similar activities. The Cantina supplies “the medicine water,” while wood-splitting contests, pie and cake competitions, horseshoes and sometimes tug-of-war give a nod to Colorado’s pioneer past. One fair even featured a self-styled mountain man telling “yarns.”

The Roaring Fork Valley Journal, July 17, 1980:

For those attending the Mountain Fair in Carbondale next weekend who have a yen to hear again some of the West’s most

LETTERS

Mountain Fair rollin’

The first Carbondale Mountain Fair in 1972 was inspired by a traveling musical event the year before called Chautauqua, an Iroquois name for a lake in New York state where an adult education movement started in the 1870s. Traveling Chautauqua festivals brought music, arts and culture to towns all over America. President Theodore Roosevelt called them “a source of positive strength and refreshment of mind and body … a gathering that is typically American in that it is typical of America at its best.” Perhaps the biggest correlation between the past Rocky Mountain Rendezvous and present Mountain Fair is the fact that two very disparate communities came together for commerce and amusement. In Carbondale, there were the recent implants from the 1960s hippie culture and the local ranchers who didn’t quite know what to make of them. In the 1800s, the Indigenous trappers and white traders found common ground despite being somewhat confused by each other.

The Steamboat Pilot, March 11, 1937:

The trade with the Indians and the whites was founded on mutual contempt. The Indians regarded furs as a common article, which they derived a little sport in taking. They could not understand why the whites prized them so highly. The whites in turn considered the geegaws, the rings and beads and copper wire, the gaudy cloth and blankets they exchanged for these furs as of little worth … They considered the Indian a fool for accepting these trifles in exchange for the valuable pelts.

By the late 1830s, the west’s beaver population was decimated, forcing the fashion industry to abandon fur and turn to making silk hats. Also, the construction of permanent trading posts throughout the western territory had replaced the need for the annual Rocky Mountain Rendezvous. The last one was held in 1840, having lasted only 15 years.

So, though Carbondale’s Mountain Fair may not have been the first, at 55 years and counting it is the longest-running.

For more Carbondale Mountain Fair history visit carbondalearts.com

Thank you, Carbondale, for walking and rolling to Mountain Fair! There was such an incredible sense of community and pride watching the continuous parade of kids and adults on foot, bikes, strollers and wagons. Imagine if every day felt like this!

Let’s pledge to walk or bike whenever we travel around town this year. Together, we can preserve the peaceful, outdoorsy, small-town feel we all love.

David Clair Carbondale

Fire-safe grants

The Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley has grant offerings for those who are concerned about fire mitigation on their property. I am fortunate to receive their offer. I was able to do extensive tree cutting around the perimeter of my home. Without their help, I would not have been able to complete the necessary steps to fire-safe the home. I thank Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District for the awareness inspection and Kelsy and Nick from

the Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley program for making this all happen.

Kathleen Enman Redstone

Climate thank you

Meeting climate targets requires active community participation, leadership, partnerships and long-term investment in solutions.

At last Tuesday’s climate progress discussion, the Carbondale community demonstrated once again why our small town has achieved impressive results on climate. Carbondale has reduced carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 30% since 2004 — but we have a lot more work to do to meet the 2030 goal of cutting emissions by 50%.

Thank you to all the people who took time out of their busy lives to learn more about Carbondale’s climate progress, discuss challenges ahead and brainstorm how climate progress can be accelerated. Thank you to our event co-sponsors and partners: the Town of Carbondale, the Carbondale Environmental Board and Garfield Clean Energy.

Thank you to Carbondale Mayor Erica Sparhawk for speaking at the event and providing important historical context and inspiring current leadership.

Thank you to Marble Distillery for offering craft libations in support of the discussion, and Beth Shoemaker of the Carbondale Environmental Board for catering snacks.

Finally, we thank The Sopris Sun for covering the discussion and sharing valuable insights in the July 23 edition of the paper. An informed public is essential to solving the climate crisis, and the communityowned Sopris Sun is a model of how a local newsroom can provide highquality, thoughtful reporting that inspires civic engagement and solutions.

Emily Williams Carbondale

Tree dweller

Regarding the Aspen tree dwellers’ treehouse eviction from the lands of the billionaire Chicago ownership of Aspen One (Aspen SkiCo): the State of Colorado has a long and regrettable history of

continued on page 18

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SCUTTLEBUTT

Sunflower contest

Where, oh where, is the tallest sunflower reaching for the sky in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys? Perhaps in your garden? Send photos and measurements by Aug. 31 to news@ soprissun.com for the chance to win a shout-out and bragging rights. The winner will be announced the first week of September.

Hoop D’Ville this Saturday

Members of the Roaring Fork High School girls basketball team will be playing in the high school division of the Hoop D’Ville outdoor four-on-four basketball tournament at Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs this Saturday, Aug. 1. The Lady Rams tip off against Rifle at 9:30am on the north court. Other participating teams will represent Coal Ridge, Glenwood, North Fork/Meeker and Grand Valley high schools, Rams head coach Mike Vidakovich said. An adult team division will also be playing on the south court. Spectating is free, and the competition will end around 1pm.

Limestone legislation

Alpine Bank

Colorado Mountain College

Nordic Gardens

Hilary Porterfield

Basalt Library

NONPROFIT PARTNERS

Two Rivers

Unitarian Universalist

Carbondale Arts

Colorado Animal Rescue

Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner? Email Todd@soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866

On July 23, Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Jeff Hurd introduced the Glenwood Hot Springs Protection Act in Congress to protect Glenwood Springs and the local hot springs from the impacts of Rocky Mountain Industrial’s (RMI) proposed limestone quarry expansion. The bill would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from processing or approving any application for an expansion. The Bureau of Land Management recently accepted RMI’s new application for a 56-acre expansion and mining modification plan. The application is now under technical review and is yet to be approved. On a press call about the bill, Marvin Pinnecoose, acting chairman of the Southern Ute Tribe, said the hot springs in Glenwood hold the power to heal and soothe the soul. “These are our sacred sites,” he said.

Wolf update

A gray wolf pack has settled in Eagle County, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and an uncollared gray wolf died in the northwestern part of the state this month. CPW announced on July 22 that pups born this spring in Eagle County are part of the Piney Ridge pack — the fifth to form since wolf reintroduction began in December 2023. Two days later, CPW announced the wolf death. No further details are available about the death except that it is under investigation. CPW’s annual report, published in May, shows an estimated 32 wolves in the state. Luke Perkins, CPW statewide public information officer, told The Sopris Sun that this total does not include the two recent wolf deaths or the exact number of pups born this spring.

CORE grants

The Community Office of Resource Efficiency (CORE) awarded nearly $1.42 million to 130 energy-efficiency and electrification projects (120 residential and 10 commercial) in Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties within the first half of the year, serving more than double the number of efforts compared to the same time-span last year. According to a press release, the projects will save 3,785 metric tons of carbon emissions over the lifetime of the projects, which equates to not burning 425,903 gallons of gasoline. “Awarding nearly $1.42 million across 130 projects in six months is an achievement our region can celebrate,” Cedric Gamble, CORE’s director of climate action programs, stated in the press release. For details, visit tinyurl.com/CORE2026part1

North Star closure

On Tuesday, July 28, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails announced a mandatory river closure on the North Star Nature Preserve section of the Roaring Fork River, east of Aspen, due to water levels consistently measuring below 20 cubic feet per second. All river access within the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails boundary of the North Star Nature Preserve, from just above South Gate to Stillwater Bridge, is now closed, according to the press release. Folks are still able to access designated areas, including the Wildlife Viewing Platform, James H. Smith Nature Trail and the beach area. Floating upstream or downstream of the beach area is prohibited, “and contact with the riverbed outside the beach area constitutes trespassing,” stated the press release. For more information, visit PitkinCounty.com/1534/North-Star-Aspen

Unaffiliated voters

Unaffiliated voters dominated the primary election, according to Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who, on July 24, certified the results. Of the 1.44 million ballots cast, 582,786 were cast by unaffiliated voters, or 40.35% of total votes cast. Democratic voters tallied the second-highest voter turnout, with 486,531 votes cast, or 33.69%. Republican voters tallied 371,181 votes cast, or 25.7%. Libertarian voters constituted 0.25% of the total vote, with 3,627 ballots cast, and the Unity Party made up 0.01% of the count, with 179 ballots cast. The 1.44 million Colorado voters who cast ballots in the primary account for 24.02% of Colorado’s 6.01 million population, according to July 2025 population estimates.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Nancy Barnett, Debbie Bruell and Cheryl Loggins (July 31); Anibal Guevara and Sarah Uhl (Aug. 1); Jeff Dahl, Hattie Gianinetti, Catherine Masters, Maciej Mrotek and Justin Patrick (Aug. 2); Margarita Alvarez, Gavin Dahl and Sara Preston (Aug. 3); Megan Gianinetti, Kallie Hyer, Tony Madrigal and Andrew Roberts-Gray (Aug. 4); Cilla Dickinson, Rosie McSwain, Shiloh Merriott and Ixchel Muniz (Aug. 5).

Literacy Outreach puts a call out for volunteer tutors

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Literacy Outreach is in its 40th year of community empowerment. The organization has been facilitating development of literacy skills since 1985, based on the belief that the ability to read is an essential survival skill. Literacy Outreach believes that illiteracy holds people back from their full potential, and that improving reading skills allows them to live fuller lives within their communities.

The Garfield Countybased nonprofit uses a model of peer-driven learning to help people develop general Englishlanguage skills and navigate professional and personal documents. Currently, 40 county residents serve as volunteer tutors, using curricula provided by Literacy Outreach to instruct a student or multiple students.

help someone in need!”

Literacy Outreach matches volunteer tutors with students who live in the same community and are available at the same time of day. The group is seeking community members who are interested in tutoring adults who are learning English as a second language in reading or writing.

“I am seeking one to two volunteers in Carbondale for some seriously deserving students there,” Webber said. “A lot of our students work during the day, so often they can only attend lessons in the evenings or when they’re not working.”

Our favorite way to think about it is, if you can read, then you can teach someone else to read.

- Megan Webber, Literacy Outreach

The organization is always looking for additional volunteers. Today, there are over 100 adults on the waitlist for a tutor countywide, with a particular need in the communities of Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and Rifle.

“Our favorite way to think about it is, if you can read, then you can teach someone else to read,” Program Coordinator Megan Webber said. “Volunteers do not need to have any prior teaching experience or foreign language skills — just a sense of empathy and a willingness to

Webber said that Literacy Outreach has had “so many success stories, it’s hard to choose one.” The organization has trained over 1,000 tutors and helped over 2,500 students improve literacy skills over the past 40 years. No knowledge of Spanish or teaching experience is required.

Emery Ellingson is a Glenwoodbased tutor who works with a student named Marcelo.

“Marcelo has a really good sense of humor, and is a very thoughtful person,” Ellingson said. “It’s been a lot of fun. The only time I’ve hiked Sopris was with Marcelo. He taught me the Spanish names of the plants we saw, and brought ceviche for us to share. His English has improved a lot from when we started, and he always wants to practice and get better.”

Ellingson said that he and Marcelo are able to schedule their tutoring sessions around their full schedules.

“Don’t get intimidated by the time commitment. Both Marcelo and I are really busy and work long days, but I look forward to our class every week,” he said. “Literacy Outreach does a great job setting up lesson planning and that structure is really helpful. At the end of the day, there are tons of people [who] want to learn. The more you work at it, the better you get, so don’t count yourself out. You get better as a tutor as you go — you both get better. You’re doing it together.”

“You create a personal relationship of trust,” volunteer tutor Liza Orchard added. “It’s a new source of friends as well.”

Jenny Zetah has tutored with Literacy Outreach for almost three decades. “After retiring, I was so excited to get back to tutoring adults for Literacy Outreach, and for the past two years, I have moved from

teaching one student to now working with four women each week,” Zetah said.

Zetah said she puts learning first, and encourages students to tutor her in Spanish as they practice their English literacy.

“My number-one rule in class is that it’s okay to make mistakes. I demonstrate this by having a picture prompt each class and, after discussing the picture, my students write a paragraph in English and I write one in Spanish. I share my writing first and ask them to fix my errors because I am a student as well. We support each other to learn from our mistakes and feel comfortable to communicate in a new language.”

More information about Literacy Outreach is available at literacyoutreach.org/ volunteer, including a volunteer interest form. Community members can also call 970-945-5282 or email literacyoutreach@ literacyoutreach.org with questions or to talk to a staff member.

Leave the logistics to us. Simply sign up and we’ll bring the meat to you. Delivery from Glenwood to Aspen!

Literacy Outreach student Marcelo (left) works with volunteer tutor Emery Ellingson. Courtesy photo

Time to pARTy

The Art Base going strong at 30

MYKI JONES

Arts & Culture

On Aug. 15, The Art Base in Basalt will celebrate 30 years of operation, education and creativity at its annual pARTy, where attendees can expect to dress in Oscarthemed attire and view and bid on its “10x10 Name Unseen” auction. Celebrations for this milestone have been taking place since May, when the nonprofit held a community open house and founder Deb Jones, along with her daughter, Reina Katzenberger, spoke to the community about the organization’s history and impact.

“It was a beautiful all-ages event where over 200 community members came to experience all that The Art Base had to offer,” Executive Director Annie Henninger said.

“Our annual fundraising party is always a joyous occasion, and this year we are presenting an Oscar-style award ceremony, which I believe will be entertaining, witty, fun and celebratory,” she continued. “The folks that are being honored really embody the mission … the spirit of the Art Base.”

Jones will be presented with the Visionary Award, Katzenberger will receive the Community Impact Award, Leah Potts the Inspiring Artist Award and Nicole Gogolack the Inspiring Art Educator and Instructor Award.

The auction exhibit, which goes up on July 31 and will remain on view through Aug. 15, features 10”x10” works donated by over 160 local artists. According to Henninger, the pieces come in several media styles. She expressed her gratitude to those who participated. In the spirit of the name, the artists have not been named, so as to encourage bidders and viewers alike to connect with the work itself on a separate level.

“Everyone is welcome to bid online, or come into The Art Base to see the artworks in person,” explained Henninger. “Artists are given a 10x10 panel and can respond however they like. The result is an incredible variety of individual works in all media. Every piece is unique, and there is something for everyone.”

Henninger, who has been with The Art Base since 2024, is looking forward to the upcoming event and getting to interact with the community.

Given that The Art Base is now completely self-owned, following the relatively recent payoff of the space’s mortgage in November 2025, the organization can

focus on providing even more access to opportunities for programming.

“Helping make art and art appreciation accessible to anyone is a personal and professional passion of mine,” Henninger stated. “For me, the act of making art is pure freedom, and art brings people together. It opens doors, and artists show us what is possible.”

“The Art Base is here to stay,” she said.

“We are not going anywhere and are so proud to own this beautiful building in the heart of downtown Basalt on behalf of the community,” Henninger added. “We can truly focus on inclusive, community-centric programming. Our goal is to ensure that our offerings are culturally relevant and responsive to our community’s needs and interests.”

The Art Base hopes to see the community come out for the lantern parade, as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, this fall. This event, which is sponsored by The Alpenglow Foundation, will be part of Basalt’s annual Merry on Midland event. People of all ages and art skills are invited to help create paper lanterns through a series of programming opportunities ahead of time.

“I want people to know that they can make a lantern at home and bring it to the parade,” Henninger clarified. We’ll focus on everyday materials.”

Counting on fire danger not alleviating, she said that “people can plug a headlamp in their lantern, or we’ll have battery-powered candles. There won’t be any open flame and we want to focus on sensible ways for folks to create and be a part of this process.”

“We are so excited to honor these incredible community members with a multi-award style show, as there are so many people that have made the Art Base a thriving community art center and this gives us a chance to highlight just a few,”

Communications Senior Associate Alyssa Bozekowski said of the award recipients to be recognized at the pARTy on Aug. 15. “These individuals embody the creative spirit, generosity, and dedication that have helped shape the Art Base and our community over the past 30 years.”

Catch an opening reception for “10x10 Name Unseen” on Friday, July 31, at 5pm. Find details for both the opening and the pARTy on Aug. 15, 5 to 9pm, at theartbase.org

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.

The Art Base was setting up the “10x10 Name Unseen” exhibit ahead of the auction’s opening on July 31 at 5pm. Courtesy photo

Mystery meat

SKYLER STARK-RAGSDALE Managing Editor

Meat removal is not listed in most contractors’ business repertoire.

But Two Man Crew, Inc. could very well add that to its resume — along with carpentry, drywall, paint, construction and the other, more typical focuses of the general contractor — after the company removed nearly 1.5 tons of rotting meat allegedly left in a Basalt commercial space at 216 E. Cody Lane.

“This is a first,” Two Man Crew Owner Gordon Altmaier said of the removal.

The last business with a Basalt business license that operated out of that location was Il Porcellino Salumi, but they haven’t renewed their business license since 2023, according to the Basalt Finance Department. Altmaier said, however, the meat packages were labeled Il Porcellino Salumi.

Il Porcellino Salumi’s Instagram account denied leaving the meat at the address in an exchange with The Sopris Sun on direct message.

The owners of the address were MinerTaylor, LLC until May, when the business was foreclosed, according to the Pitkin County Treasurer.

Roughly a month after the foreclosure, Sotheby’s International Realty, representing new owners 5Star Bank, hired Two Man Crew to change the locks and fix a water leak at the space. Around mid-July, two weeks after they were first hired to

work on the project, the crew discovered the meat in two unrefrigerated walk-ins. They spent the next two weeks restoring power to the space and refreezing the meat, before four Two Man Crew employees spent half a day removing the 1.5 tons on July 23.

Two of the crew members reportedly vomited.

“They just made it in the front door. They didn’t even make it to the meat,” Altmaier said of the vomiting crew members, adding that the meat smell affected them upon entry.

The crew transported the meat via dump trailer to the Pitkin County Landfill, where it was weighed and deposited. Altmaier did not know why the meat was left in the space.

The foreclosure process against MinerTaylor, LLC began with a Notice of Election and Demand for Sale listing the “Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof” as the reason for the notice, according to the treasurer.

The Colorado Secretary of State website lists William P. Miner as the registered agent of Miner Taylor, LLC. Bill Miner is listed as the owner of Il Porcellino Salumi in online news reports.

Il Porcellino Salumi said via Instagram direct message the business ceased

operations in Basalt in December 2025.

The business claimed it never owned 216 E. Cody Lane, but that Nathan Taylor had owned it at some point. The Basalt Town Clerk, however, said Miner submitted the business license application to operate out of 216 E. Cody Lane and had no records connecting Taylor to the space. According to news reports, Miner and Taylor were Il Porcellino Salumi business partners starting in 2018 until at least 2022. Taylor said in a text to The Sun that Miner was the president and CEO of the business, and that he himself had been an investor. He said he had been “f***ed out of this deal along with others” and planned to file a lawsuit against Miner “for

multiple offenses.” He added that he had no knowledge of the meat left in the space.

The notice said 5Star Bank had given a loan of $422,355 to MinerTaylor, LLC in April 2023. When the notice was filed in January, MinerTaylor still owed 5Star $413,768.76.

The foreclosure sale occurred on May 20 and a Public Trustee’s Certificate of Purchase was recorded on May 21 for $1.44 million by 5Star. Sotheby’s International Realty is representing the new owners as they seek further real estate transactions. This is not Salumi’s first location to cease operations. The business’ original shop in Denver, which opened in 2015,

SOFIE KOSKI

Checking out the Bells

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Picture the scene: Friends from out of town are visiting the Roaring Fork Valley for the first time and you’ve offered to show them around. The first place that comes to mind is Maroon Bells. It’s an obvious choice. They are, after all, among the most beautiful and most photographed landscapes in the Rocky Mountains.

You’ll need two cars for your family of four and your friends’ family of three. To park all day at the Aspen Highlands parking garage costs $40 on weekdays and $50 on weekends. Half-day parking costs $35 and $45, respectively. Shuttle passes to Maroon Bells are $16 for each adult and $10 for each child under 12. After a little math, a visit to the Maroon Bells for your group of seven comes to $184 — just for parking and shuttle passes. Suddenly, this fun family outing is starting to look like an investment.

made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service, the Garfield County Public Library District, Pitkin County Library, Basalt Library, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). It was inspired by a

The Maroon

can also create a financial barrier for many families.

The Forest Service launched the library pass program to help reduce those barriers that may prevent the people who live in this valley from enjoying all it has to offer.

“We’ve seen in our community surveys that financial pressures are a big concern for a lot of our service area,” Caroline McIntyre of the Garfield County Public Library District said. “The Maroon Bells are one of the jewels of Western Colorado, so giving people who actually live here the opportunity to enjoy one of the things that makes our state so great is an awesome opportunity.”

Bells are one of the jewels of Western Colorado, so giving people who actually live here the opportunity to enjoy one of the things that makes our state so great is an awesome opportunity.

- Caroline McIntyre, Garfield Libraries

But did you know you can visit the Maroon Bells for free? All it takes is a trip to the library …

At the Glenwood Springs, Basalt and Pitkin County libraries, patrons can check out a free Maroon Bells shuttle pass. Each pass covers both the shuttle fare and parking at the Aspen Highlands garage. The program is

similar pass program in Summit County for Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch, according to David Boyd of the Forest Service.

Like many of Colorado’s most scenic destinations, the Maroon Bells have experienced heavy traffic congestion, making reservations and shuttle access necessary to help protect the area. However, as the example above illustrates, those requirements

The partnership came together when CDOT and the Forest Service approached the local libraries about distributing the passes, something they are familiar with, having been offering Colorado State Park passes for years.

“We have a long experience with checking out park passes, and we know how well it can work to get people access to areas that they wouldn’t otherwise take advantage of, or maybe even be able to access,” said Amy Shipley of Basalt Library. “When they reached out about the bus passes for the Maroon Bells, we just

thought it was such a natural fit with what we’re already doing.”

Each library has seven passes available. A one-day pass may be checked out for up to seven days from the Basalt and Glenwood libraries, or three days from Pitkin County Library, giving borrowers time to use and return it. Because passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, calling ahead or checking the library’s website before making the trip is recommended.

The program launched on June 12, and has been a success, according to Boyd, with 21 passes checked out covering 51 people.

“The feedback we’ve had has been great,” said Bradley Peate of Pitkin County Library. “We’re very excited to be able to offer this resource, and it’s got us thinking on what other opportunities we might be able to offer to the community.”

“We are always happy to explore these types of mutually beneficial community partnerships,” McIntyre added. Now, all that’s left to do is visit the library.

For more information, visit basaltlibrary.org, gcpld.org or pitcolib.org

Art by Sofie Koski

Town weighs housing needs, supports development on Emma Road

WILL BUZZERD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

During this week’s meeting, Basalt Town Council was presented with a final report from the City of Aspen estimating that Basalt will need an additional 299 units of housing over the next 10 years in order to keep up with regional growth. In addition, the council unanimously and eagerly approved the first reading of the final plan PUD for Black Mountain, a 76-unit development at 431 Emma Road.

“In my opinion, the applicant had a near perfect match to master plan intentions. We don’t ever see that,” Councilor Angele DupreButchart said with regards to the Black Mountain application.

The housing needs assessment, prepared by Economic & Planning Systems on behalf of the City of Aspen, attempts to summarize both present housing needs across Pitkin and Garfield counties, as well as future housing needs based on projected growth in the region over the next 10 years.

The assessment finds that current housing needs are split approximately 50-50 between Pitkin and Garfield. However, based on estimated growth rates shifting westward, over 70% of

future need is expected to be in Garfield County. The entire region is facing a housing shortage of 3,490 units, with a need of 4,196 more projected over the next decade, for a total of 7,686.

According to the assessment, Basalt is currently experiencing a shortage of 213 units, with a projected need of 147 units over the next 10 years, grossing 360 units. Due to 61 units being in the development pipeline already, Basalt is currently experiencing a net housing need of 299 units.

However, that projected need may be propped up by the 64 residential units at Black Mountain.

Basalt Town Council first approved the sketch plan for Black Mountain in August 2023, which had required the annexation of two separate properties.

The larger property, once known as the Jadwin Farm, extends from Emma Road to the Roaring Fork River and falls within the Town’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). The other property, referred to as the “dog leg,” runs along the road and sits outside the UGB. Initially, the applicant, Jadwin Park LLC, intended to construct 68 dwelling units, 12 short term rental cabins, and seven glamping pads. After several updates since then,

the applicant now proposes 64 dwelling units and 12 commercial lodging cabins.

Because the larger property falls inside the UGB, the Master Plan requires associated improvements, including transportation, dedicated park acreage, a minimum of 20% affordable housing, trail connections and a childcare facility on the dog leg.

However, upon further consideration, the council decided against developing a childcare facility on the dog leg due to it falling outside the UGB. In lieu of a childcare facility, the council accepted the applicant’s proposal to provide a $700,000 contribution to general public benefit. In addition, the dog leg will also be contributed to the Basalt community as a public open space.

In terms of affordable housing, the final plan exceeds the minimum requirements of 20% of residential units and 25% of residential floor area being deed restricted as affordable housing. Jadwin Park instead proposes that 50% of the residential units and 35% of the residential floor area be deed restricted.

In addition, the applicant proposed that 20 of the marketrate units be prioritized for locals,

as part of what it calls the “First Tracks” program. First Tracks units are also proposed to be deed restricted such that, although they will not have price caps, they will be offered for sale only to individuals who have lived between Aspen and Glenwood Springs for at least one year.

During the first reading, council discussed the timing of the $700,000 contribution and suggested that it might be best used for buydowns. The applicant initially proposed to pay the contribution upon the issuance

of a certificate of occupancy for the seventh free-market unit. However, in order for the contribution to be used for buydowns, council requested for the payment to be made up front, to which the applicant agreed.

“Buydowns [are] the most optimal way to spend our money to preserve affordable housing and get the most bang for our buck,” Mayor David Knight said. Basalt Town Council unanimously approved the final plan on first reading. A second reading and public hearing will be held on Aug. 11.

DJ of the Week: Sugar Monkey

The Black Mountain development plans to include 64 dwelling units and 12 commercial lodging cabins between Emma Road and the Roaring Fork River. As part of the Basalt Master Plan, the development will include an open space and connected trails for public access. Courtesy graphic

Community urges Carbondale to withdraw from SPEAR

SKYLER STARK-RAGSDALE

Managing Editor

Five Carbondale community members urged the Carbondale Board of Trustees on Tuesday to withdraw from Special Problems Enforcement and Response (SPEAR), a local interagency task force that has been accused of working with Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).

At the heart of their argument was the potential for data sharing between the task force and federal agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ICE, which, they said, aids immigration enforcement in local communities.

Some of the public comments urging Carbondale to withdraw from SPEAR included:

Carbondalian

Debbie Bruell

Bruell voiced her concerns about the potential of data sharing between SPEAR, HSI and ICE, though she acknowledged that Carbondale Police Chief Kirk Wilson and Town Manager Ryan Hyland told her Carbondale Police wouldn’t intentionally share information with those agencies.

“What concerns me is that just being a member of SPEAR along with HSI allows HSI to access Carbondale data without

Carbondale police knowing it,” Bruell said. “Basically, I’m concerned that our local police force can’t control what data HSI can and cannot access, and what they do with that data.”

Bruell acknowledged her understanding that Chief Wilson doesn’t think HSI can access local police data and said she is “certainly no expert” in police data systems. She did say, however, that she spoke with two highly qualified attorneys who said it’s “very likely” that the data can be accessed by HSI.

She also reminded the trustees that Carbondale Police could be fined $50,000 for passing along personal information to federal immigration enforcement agents, under Colorado law.

Eden Steele

Steele has lived just outside of Carbondale for the past 25 years.

She reiterated some of Bruell’s concerns about the potential for Carbondale Police to lose control of their data once it’s in the SPEAR database.

“I would urge each of you to fully understand the information sharing system and to be transparent with the public about it,” she told the trustees.

She also referenced a ceaseand-desist letter issued to Garfield

County Sheriff Lou Vallario in February from Towards Justice, accusing the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and SPEAR of violating Colorado law by collaborating with ICE and making information available to them.

Steele quoted the letter:

“When residents, including citizens and non-citizens alike, fear that contact with local law enforcement could lead to collateral civil immigration consequences, they are less likely to report crimes, cooperate as witnesses or provide critical information during investigations.”

The letter alleged that SPEAR “creates a pipeline through which local law enforcement data, including non-public [personal

identifying information], is rapidly consolidated and accessible to HSI,” which it said gives unrestricted access to ICE.

In a letter released in late March, Vollario denied the claims that SPEAR and the Sheriff’s Department work with or provide information to ICE.

Town response

Hyland said he and Chief Wilson are looking forward to having a full conversation with the board to cover the “technical, legal, operational” components of SPEAR, and are awaiting a new draft of a Memorandum of Understanding clarifying that SPEAR will not enforce immigration law. He also invited the public

to return for an anticipated public meeting in August to discuss Carbondale’s involvement with SPEAR.

“It is going to be a collective, I think, conversation with staff, the public, the board [to] make sure we all have a comfort level with whatever those changes are, whatever those protections are — again technical, operational and legal,” he said of the Memorandum of Understanding.

In other news …

The trustees rejected a developer’s request to construct a three-story, mixed use commercial building at 242-256 Main Street — directly east of the Village Smithy — that would exceed standard building regulations in height and dimension. The developers, Carbondale-based architecture firm Forum Phi and local contracting company Smith Mountain Builders, had requested they exceed the 35-foot height limits and lower the ground level, floor-to-floor height below the standard 14 feet. The trustees were interested in an alternative design proposed by the developers that aligned with the standard town building regulations for the zone, and continued the discussion to Aug. 25.

Carbondale-bsed architecture firm partners (left) Ryan Lee and (right) Andrew Dillon as well as Zach Smith , owner of local contracting company Smith Mountain Builders, discuss their proposed three-story development with the Carbondale Board of Trustees on Tuesday. Photo by Skyler Stark-Ragsdale

UPCOMING EVENTS

CALENDAR

THURSDAY, JULY 30

TIE-DYE FOR TEENS

Teens and tweens, ages 10-18, are invited to tie-dye bandanas at the Carbondale Library at 2:15pm. Participants are encouraged to bring their own clothing to tie-dye as well.

‘GROUNDSWELL’

350 Roaring Fork screens “Groundswell,” a film about regenerative agriculture at 5pm in the Carbondale Library.

GALERIE MAXIMILLIAN

Galerie Maximillian (602 East Cooper Avenue in Aspen) hosts an opening reception for Sarah Graham’s solo exhibition, featuring nine monumental oil-on-canvas iris paintings, from 6 to 8pm. RSVP by emailing art@galeriemax.com or calling 970-925-6100.

YOGA EN ESPAÑOL

True Nature hosts yoga taught completely in Spanish from 6:30 to 8:15pm. Details at truenaturehealingarts.com

MUSIC AT STEVE’S

The Foggy Memory Boys perform at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at stevesguitars.net

‘MEGAMIND’

The City of Glenwood Springs screens “Megamind” in Bethel Plaza — under the bridge — at 8pm.

FRIDAY, JULY 31

UNDER THE BRIDGE

Rumors performs in Bethel Plaza — under the bridge in downtown Glenwood — from 4:30 to 7:30pm.

ART KIDS

Drop the kids off at “Art Kids Day Camp: Horsing Around” at the Glenwood Springs Community Art Center from 9am to 5pm. At night, the center will host “Art Kids Night: Make Musical Instruments” from 5:30 to 8:30pm, when kids will build their own percussion instruments. Register at coglenwoodspringsweb.myvscloud.com

UMBRELLA PAINTING PARTY

The Garfield County Democrats invite folks to paint umbrellas at the Glenwood Library from 5:30 to 7:30pm to walk with together in upcoming parades. Details at garcodems.org/events

CRYSTAL THEATRE

The Crystal screens “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” at 7pm. The theater will also screen it at 7pm on Saturday, 5pm on Sunday (captioned) and 7pm on Monday.

NO-SWIPE SOCIAL

No-Swipe Social takes over the pool at the Carbondale Aquatics Center from 7 to 9pm for “BAEWATCH: AFTER HOURS.” Open to adults only, the festivities include a live DJ, games, prizes and an after party at Sprazzo. Tickets at tinyurl.com/BaewatchBonedale

SOUND HEALING

The Center for Human Flourishing hosts a vibrational sound healing journey from 7 to 9pm at the Third Street Center. The event is centered around present-moment awareness. Register by emailing info@tcfhf.org

MUSIC AT STEVE’S

The Montvales perform at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at stevesguitars.net

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

COLORADO TURNS 150

The State of Colorado officially turns 150.

RFOV AT THOMAS LAKES

Help Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers improve Thomas Lakes Trail from 8am to 3pm. Register at www.rfov.org

GARFIELD COUNTY FAIR

The 2026 Garfield County Fair kicks off with a parade down Railroad Avenue in Rifle at 10am ahead of a week of events at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle. For a schedule, visit garfieldcountyfair.com

‘DIRTY DOZEN’ RACES

New Castle Trails’ “Downvalley Dirty Dozen” mountain bike races kick off today at 7am (20-miler) and 9:30am (7-miler) starting from Alder Park. Awards will be doled out at Down Valley Brewing at 3pm, followed by live music at 4pm. The 10K trail running race starts at 8am tomorrow from Alder Park, followed by the kids trail running race at 10am and kids mountain bike race at 10:30am. Register by July 31 at newcastletrails.org

HISTORY COFFEE TALK

Redstone Historical Society President Jeff Bier, along with a group of former fellow miners, discuss their personal experiences, including “underground threats, hazards and camaraderie,” at Coal Basin Ranch at 9am. Donuts and coffee will be served. RSVP by emailing info@coalbasinranch.com

PLANT-BASED EXPLORATION

Explore the benefits of a plant-based, whole foods diet with Brian Rossiter at the Glenwood Library from 2 to 4pm. Details at gcpld.org

ARTFUL STORY HOUR

Join the Artful Story Hour at the Powers Art Center while surrounded by art from Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and more from 11am to noon. Details at powersartcenter.org

RIVERFEST

Help clean up the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers while floating or walking down riverbanks at RiverFEST 2026. Meet at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs for the event, running from 9am to 3pm. Register at cogs.us/268/ RIVERFEST-2026

MAGICAL MOMENTS

The Redstone Magical Moments Summer Concert Series presents the Blue Canyon Boys bluegrass band from 6 to 8pm at Redstone Park.

ROOSEVELT DINNER

The Glenwood Springs Historical Society hosts its Theodore Roosevelt Commemorative Dinner at the Hotel Colorado at 6pm. It’s encouraged that folks purchase their tickets by July 25. Tickets and details at glenwoodhistory.org

UTE THEATER

The South Austin Moonlighters perform at the Ute Theater in Rifle at 8pm. Tickets at utetheater.com

EASY JIM

Easy Jim, Music of the Grateful Dead put on a performance on Jerry’s birthday tonight at Belly Up Aspen at 9:30pm. Doors open at 8:30pm. Tickets at bellyupaspen.org

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

AUTISM & SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION

Golden Sha takes a look at Autism’s place in the spiritual evolution of the collective from 10 to 11:30am at A Spiritual Center, Room 31 of the Third Street Center.

HALFSIES AND ICE PROTEST

Teenage punk band The Halfsies perform during an ICE OUT protest at Midland and Wulfsohn in Glenwood at 5pm.

Looking to get a little country back in your life? The Garfield County Fair will be underway in Rifle Aug. 1-9, including a parade and car show on Aug. 1 at 10am and noon, respectively, a PRCA/WPRA Pro Rodeo on Aug. 5 from 7 to 9pm, a demolition derby on Aug. 8 from 7 to 9pm, 4H shows throughout the week and much, much more. The Sawyer Brown band (pictured) with special guest Casey Donahew will headline the fair with a concert on Aug. 7 at 7pm. Find a schedule of events at garfieldcountyfair.com Courtesy photo

MONDAY, AUGUST 3

LIBRARIES CLOSURE

All Garfield County Libraries will be closed today, and possibly through tomorrow, for a region-wide systems update. Online resources will also be unavailable during the update. The Basalt Library will be closed today and tomorrow. For details, call 970-625-4270 or visit gcpld.org

INTRO TO ART FUSION

Kids learn the basics of glass fusion at the Glenwood Community Art Center from 10am to 12:30pm. Ages are split into two groups: 6-12 and 13 and up. Register at tinyurl.com/glassfusion6-12

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4

RFOV AT BABISH

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers return to Babish Gulch near Sunlight Mountain Resort for a second trail maintenance session from 4 to 8pm. Register to volunteer at www.rfov.org

OIL PAINTING CLASS

The Glenwood Community Art Center hosts an adult oil painting class Tuesdays, today through Aug. 25, from 6 to 8:30pm. Register at tinyurl.com/ GWSoilpainting

DRAWING CLUB

The Roaring Fork Drawing Club doodles together at Townline Trucks in Carbondale from 6:30pm till the sun goes down.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5

MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY

Ukulelist Sue Schnitzer performs at the Glenwood Library today at 5pm and the Carbondale Library tomorrow at 6pm.

PLANT BATHS AND ASPERSIONS

True Nature hosts “Building Spiritual Immunity: Introduction to Plant Baths and Aspersions” with Sondra Hamilton from 5 to 7pm. Register at truenaturehealingarts.com

MUSIC IN BASALT

Typical Ghost opens for Eric Slick at the Basalt River Park at 6pm. Tune in for the show from home at kdnk.org

BLOCK PRINTMAKING

Adults learn how to design, carve and print their own linoleum blocks at

ONGOING EVENTS

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

The Meeting Place in Carbondale (981 Cowen Drive) offers “Hole in the Donut AA,” Monday through Saturday at 6:45am, plus “Daily Reprieve” at noon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Find a full schedule at www.meetingplacecarbondale.org

PARKINSON’S EXERCISES

An exercise class for people living with Parkinson’s Disease, MS or any other neuromuscular conditions is offered at the Glenwood Springs Library every Monday from 1 to 2pm. For more details, email dnovak@parkinsonrockies.org or call 866-718-2996.

IN STITCHES

The In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 1:30pm.

RAGING GRANNIES

All are welcome to join the Raging Grannies, singing for a healthy planet and a kind world, on Wednesdays at the Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists office at the Third Street Center from 4 to 5:30pm.

ENGLISH IN ACTION

the Glenwood Community Art Center Wednesdays, today through Aug. 26, from 6 to 9pm. Register at tinyurl.com/ GWSprintmaking

MUSIC AT TWO RIVERS

Fireside Collective opens for Moonbeem at Two Rivers Park at 6:30pm — the second to final show in the Glenwood Springs Summer Music Series.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

HITCHING TO THE FAIR

Older adults are invited to hitch a ride to the Garfield County Fair from the Glenwood Community Center at 9am. Call Laine at 970-309-5911 or the front desk at 970-384-6301 with questions. Register by phone or at tinyurl.com/ ridetothefair by Aug. 4.

ADULT DANCE CLASS

The Glenwood Springs Community Center offers a jazz-funk dance class on Thursdays, today through Aug. 27, from 11am to noon. Register at tinyurl.com/ DanceGlenwood

BAND OF HEATHENS

The Band of Heathens perform at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at tacaw.org

‘ANGRY BIRDS 2’

The City of Glenwood Springs screens “Angry Birds 2” in Bethel Plaza — under the bridge — at 8pm.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

SENIOR ART STROLL

Seniors and locals are invited to a free stroll through the gallery of the Powers Art Center at 11:30am. Details at powersartcenter.org

UNDER THE BRIDGE

The Chaplains perform in Bethel Plaza — under the bridge in downtown Glenwood — from 4:30 to 7:30pm.

FIRST FRIDAY

Carbondale Arts hosts First Friday in downtown Carbondale, including performances from 5:30 to 6:30pm on the VOICES ARTery Stage, KDNK DJs spinning live tunes, live music in Chacos Park by Duncan Coker and The Flat Top Riders from 5:30 to 8:30pm and more. Main Street will be closed to traffic between Weant and 2nd Street to make way for the “recess” themed event. Details at carbondalearts.com

Volunteer English tutors and developing learners meet for informal conversational practice at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 6:30pm. Interested in becoming a tutor? Email angela@englishinaction. org or call 970-963-9200.

BIKE PROJECT

The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps people repair their bicycles on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm on the east side of Third Street Center.

FARMERS’ MARKET

The Carbondale Farmers’ Market takes place every Wednesday from 10am to 3pm through Sept. 30 at 4th and Main Street.

SENIOR LUNCH

Every Wednesday at noon, Garfield County Senior Programs provides a nutritious meal for seniors at The Orchard. To reserve a place at the table, call 970-404-1193.

ASK A LAWYER

Alpine Legal Services offers a hotline clinic on Wednesdays from 5 to 7pm. Call 970-368-2246 and visit alpinelegalservices. org for the schedule of dates by legal topic.

RODEO TIME

Rain or shine, the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo kicks off and continues every Thursday through Aug. 20. Catch a free shuttle from the Orchard Church or 4th and Colorado (Town Hall). Gates open at 5pm, Slack starts at 5:45pm and Grand Entry starts at 7:30pm. Details at carbondalerodeo.com

UNDER THE SUN

Join Sopris Sun correspondents and guests for “Everything Under The Sun,” airing every Thursday on KDNK at 4pm.

GROUP RUN

Independence Run & Hike leads a weekly group run on Thursdays departing from the store’s location, next to the Carbondale City Market, at 6pm.

REDSTONE LIBRARY

A Pitkin County Library staff member brings services to the Redstone Inn every Friday from 10am to 2pm.

BINGO AT 502

The 502 Diner on Highway 133 hosts Bingo night every Friday at 6:30pm.

SOBER QUEER CLUB

The Meeting Place hosts an LGBTQIA+ specific recovery meeting every first and third Saturday at 5:30pm. For more details, visit www.meetingplacecarbondale.org

Seeking fire

I remember my father weeping when President Kennedy was shot. For a 12-yearold to see their father weep uncontrollably — a bomber pilot who in 87 missions had seen the world’s pain, a man who in that darkness loved quoting the soaring idealism of Don Quixote — was wrenching and bewildering. He was heartsick.

Kennedy was a man my father admired, a man who earned respect in the war, a man who — in my father’s eyes — had an insatiable idealism, a fierce intellect and the courage to admit his mistakes as he sought to bring to life the inspired call of our country’s dream. I watched my father so filled with hope, ecstatic with Kennedy’s ascension to power. My father was a man of words, and Kennedy’s brilliant call, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country,” helped my father give shape to his idealism and make sense of the lives he had taken in the war.

phrase spoken sternly to me when my cause was unredeemable, and my ethical and moral evolution so precarious as to endanger my survival.) Our nation’s current identity today is unredeemable, mortally wounded and in desperate need of an intellectual and moral revolution. Our nation needs to grow up.

OPINION SEEKING HAYSTACKS

By A.O. Forbes

In my Tomorrow’s Voices classes, we read author and philosopher Aldo Leopold’s “The Land Ethic,” a passionate call for moral evolution, as a requisite for the survival of Earth. He sees our separation from the earth as an arrogant addiction to self. He argues in “The Land Ethic” that throughout human history there have been ethical revolutions, from governing individual-to-individual relationships, to individual-to-society, and, finally, a fusing of philosophical and ecological tenets into a moral doctrine.

At his inauguration, Kennedy said:

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility — I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country, and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.”

I am heartsick today. I spend much time in class seeking to rekindle the fire that Kennedy alludes to, to inspire in students a predisposition to idealism necessary to face these times of “maximum danger.” And, ultimately, to ensure that my soul’s fire continues to burn bright.

Our world is literally on fire. Lethal climatic events reflect our total disregard for any ecological conscience, with global averages of heat and air quality hovering at or exceeding record highs. Our nation is engaged in an unprovoked war in the Middle East; at the same time, para-military thugs roam our streets, spreading terror and murdering people without any accountability. Our right to vote is being threatened; this arrogant disregard for the democratic spirit is unconscionable.

Our nation is on fire because we created a culture of mutual exploitation where social worth is conflated with economic value; our land a commodity belonging to us instead of a community to which we belong and respect. To smother any resistance, we punish thoughtful patriotism, commodify idealism and foster education where critical thinking is replaced by mindless consumption of dogma, intellectual courage replaced with obsequious obedience. Our nation shows no capacity for self-reflection or admitting mistakes. Our administration, our culture and educational systems have snuffed out the Kennedy-era fire that inspired my father and so many others.

And now it’s time, as my mother would say, to grow up. (This was a no-nonsense

Our survival hinges on this moral leap and compels us to redefine humans as “plain members and citizens” of the “biotic community,” shifting our relationship with nature from economic domination to moral responsibility. This evolution is ecologically and morally requisite to notions of resilience, justice and sustainability, to preserving the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community, of which we are an integral part.

I see this understanding in student writings, though unfortunately not in our public discourse. Student Anna Sophia Brown wrote, “We often separate ourselves (from nature). In fact, we have named nature as its own entity, unique from humanity and society. Energy, however, is recycled and passed and exchanged not just between living beings, but through the water, decay and rock. That energy connects each of us, and, like radio waves, you just have to tap into it or get the right signal. I truly believe you can learn about God, or power, or spirituality wherever you go, because it is everywhere. The world breathes beauty for us to inhale, but we have to be willing to fill our lungs.”

I have read Leopold’s “Thinking Like a Mountain” countless times in class. He reflects about his remorse after senselessly shooting a wolf. “We reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes. I realized then, and have known ever since, that there was something new to me in those eyes — something known only to her and to the mountain.” This was Leopold’s personal awakening.

Our country is primed for an awakening. We need to find our fire, and mind that light. All spiritual traditions speak to a light that illuminates an honorable way to live life, where words and actions consistently align. It involves accountability, telling the truth and doing the right thing, even when it’s the hard thing to do. It is where idealism lives.

I go to Yellowstone Park to see wolves. Wolves are my way to feed my fire; they tether me to my spiritual hunger to honor my time on earth. Years ago, in the Lamar Valley, a Ukrainian couple asked if they might take a peek through my telescope at two wolves I was watching. They looked, quietly watched and, seconds later, huge tears fell from their eyes.

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In the thick of change

We are in the thick of it — worldwide change, political extinction burst, restructuring of communities and ultimately a scarcely-seen rebirth.

There is near daily exposure of unbalanced power and egregious abuse as the oligarchs extend themselves, forcing an economic model that is rapidly becoming obsolete. After 250 years of a nation opposed to monarchy that has touted democracy as a core value, we are with a head of state who believes he is supreme, irreverent to precedent, balance of structure and civil order. The American empire is crumbling. The obsession with drilling comes from economic downturn, a Hail Mary to endless growth fueled by extraction.

of the shift of the lunar nodes to the Leo-Aquarius axis where they will remain until 2028. This is a prompt to examine our egos, our showmanship and our entitlement, and release them for increased humility, collective liberation and gratitude in action.

OPINION

Something oppositional is also happening. Working class people are re-establishing community connections. Food sourcing and industry are back in the vernacular, as are other systemic problems that have plagued our country through its history — racism, police brutality, wealth distribution.

The lunar eclipse on Aug. 28 is visible throughout the Americas. It is the last in Virgo with North Node characteristics of hunger, increase and new karmic lessons we need to learn. Since the first in 2024, we’ve been making real practices of oneness and finding daily rituals to connect us to the divine. This is prime time for journaling in reflection, especially if you have planets in Virgo.

COSMIC CHATTER

By Susanna Kitchen

You may be wondering what this has to do with astrology. Stay with me. If you’ve been following any pop astrology on the internet, you’ve heard of “Barbault’s Basket.” Named for a French astrologer who also predicted the pandemic, this year’s headliner astrological formation aligns with the longer cycles of civilization and forces outside of our control. Jupiter and Pluto make the open rim of the basket, the threshold into collaborating planetary energies. Neptune and Uranus make the foot of the basket, weaving it together. These four planets are co-working on a number of restructuring plans (Pluto) with support from our ideals (Neptune) and our most radical ideas (Uranus). You could also say that Uranus is innovating us towards new Neptunian dreams of Pluto’s future. There are many broad stroke analogies to make from these planets’ significations, and with Jupiter in Leo joining the party, the flames of stamina are enhanced.

It’s difficult to articulate specifics from our point of view, because from within it is near impossible to see the outcomes of a broad-scale, decades-long realignment of civilization. In ten years, we’ll look back and understand what is happening right now. This is no reason to dissociate, but rather an opportunity to engage with the visions of a better world you want to see, to find people who are aligned with you and join them in action. We are steeped in work-to-do By mid-August, Jupiter separates from the chaos crew, leaving Uranus, Neptune and Pluto to their epochal shifts. Saturn turns back to sober up the crew from Jupiter’s indulgences. August is a lot of nitty gritty, grounded labor focused on enacting dreams in order to stave off the shadow and uncertainty of eclipse season. On Aug. 12, we get a solar eclipse in Leo, a product

The Virgo eclipse lands just a day after Mercury meets the Sun — a moment that our minds align with our highest purpose. Here opportunities to integrate with service, find sufficiency in spirituality and understand the spirit-body relationship may be revealed.

In the last days of August, Jupiter and Saturn come into trine aspect, an end to Jupiter’s pomp and circumstance in Leo, trines being supportive so long as they are balanced. Mars and Saturn also square, with neither in a strong position. Watch out for conflict and drama, power struggles and anger. September is muddled energetically, still propelled forward by Pluto’s world rebuilding efforts in Aquarius, Neptune’s dissolution and idealism in Aries, and Uranus’ revolutionizing in Gemini.

Venus moves through pre-retrograde shadow in September, where the social group or lover imbalance arises. Pay attention to themes of exchange, to the give and take of relating that drives you. Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio on Oct. 3, bringing themes of the underworld to our personal relationships. Like Inanna, we shed what’s material to get to the heart of what’s worthy. This is a time of disconnection from loved ones, distance and examination of our values, and finally resolution towards clarity in better balance of engagement. Venus stations direct on Nov. 11, when we’re tasked to integrate what we learned through the retrograde period.

I can’t lie — the second half of 2026 ain’t easy. There are bright spots amid the chaos, but they are few and far between. Look to Venus in Libra in the first two weeks of August for sweetness and indulgence, though in opposition to Saturn there is a counter energy of rigidity and discipline. The reward here is longevity and success. The Moon in late Taurus on Sept. 29 is unbothered by the state of the world, a time to enjoy the season’s harvest.

As always, this astrological outlook is meant for insight, not fear. For more, follow Crystal City Astrology on Substack or book a personalized astrology reading at crystalcityastrology.com

Some thoughts on James Bogan, Richard Louv and childhood freedom

Pitkin County’s progress in piecing together the Redstone to McClure Pass trail has got me thinking about the fundamental importance of musclepowered travel options to the human psyche. One-hundred-thirty-six years ago, James Bogan was paid the princely sum of $1,750 to construct a wagon road from Penny Hot Springs to the Gunnison County line. The surviving sections are now being reconnected.

childhood in nature is long.

The basic ability to judge risk is born of children needing to understand their physical limits. Navigating dynamic environments teaches emotional regulation, reducing baseline anxiety and stress. And dealing with unexpected weather or physical obstacles builds mental flexibility.

OPINION

Bogan’s legacy is left both by the name of the nearby campground and the rock walls still standing along what locals now call the Bear Creek trail. In Bogan’s time, a person might walk the entire length of the Crystal Valley without fear of injury from iron horses or the lesser-fire-breathing vehicles that have since replaced them.

CVEPA VIEWS

By Dale Will

Nearly all of the debate over pros and cons of a new Crystal trail has reflected the perspectives of adults, who can otherwise choose to jump in their automobiles. But what about children?

I grew up wandering for miles along the Highline Canal Road in Arapaho County. My childhood friends and I thought nothing of 20-mile bike rides along the old dirt track (now paved as a bike trail). These journeys were unsupervised. My parents simply didn’t worry about us as we’d disappear down the road, often ending up on the far side of Denver before reluctantly turning back home.

The freedom to travel up and down the gorgeous river canyon, unsupervised and by their own muscle power, can be a portal to the personal growth of our next generation.

By coincidence, writer and naturalist Robert M. Pyle shared my early sanctuary along the canal, and that inspired him to write “The Thunder Tree; Lessons from an Urban Wildland.” In that wonderful book, Pyle traces his personal development as a naturalist and writer back to a pivotal childhood afternoon taking shelter under a giant cottonwood during an extremely intense lightning storm. Hence, the “Thunder Tree” was the defining epic of his youth.

Pyle’s book connects the importance of the wild roaming spaces of his childhood with the development of a lifelong passion for writing about nature.

Another author, Richard Louv ties such youthful adventures to a broader and fundamental set of human qualities that he fears are increasingly stifled by childhood entrapment indoors.

In the “Last Child out of the Woods,” Louv links the freedom of children exploring natural settings to critical elements in the development of human competence and resilience. The list of critical human qualities Louv traces to an unsupervised

Just as important, outdoor adventure is driven by curiosity rather than external rewards and becomes the foundation of patience, self-direction and a resistance to addiction. Kids outside form key social collaboration skills because getting across a landscape as a team requires identification and agreement on goals. And, importantly, curiosity-driven exploration instills a broader sense of compassion for other living creatures. Louv’s book is a must read. It does not take much reflection to see how the lack of these basic qualities is affecting our society today. Louv predicts that the multitudes who never had to think on their feet as children will create a society of hapless consumers who expect easy gratification, are easily manipulated through social media and lack any ability to lead our society forward through the obvious challenges that lie ahead.

Looking through Louv’s lens, consider the options for kids growing up in the subdivisions and isolated neighborhoods along the Crystal River. State Highway 133 is too risky for most adults to travel along except in an automobile. Responsible parents are rightly unwilling to allow unsupervised roaming along this fearsome strip of asphalt. The State Highway is essentially a barricade in the lives of children in the Crystal Valley.

The reconnecting of Bogan’s wagon road into a safe route will fundamentally change the options available to youth in the upper Crystal Valley. I hope this freedom is embraced by parents. I can imagine the high adventure of coming home from school and heading for the summit of McClure Pass.

The freedom to travel up and down the gorgeous river canyon, unsupervised and by their own muscle power, can be a portal to the personal growth of our next generation. If writers like Pyle and Louv are correct, the future of our civilization may depend on it.

CVEPA supports public access to historic travel routes in the Crystal Valley. For more information, see cvepa.org

Two flags, one story

Some months simply pass on the calendar, while others stay with us forever. This July entered my life carrying two flags, countless emotions and one profound question: How many stories can fit within a single identity?

It arrived filled with pride and nostalgia, celebration and sorrow, memories and new achievements.

It became a month when my two countries, my two flags and my own story came together.

This year began differently after I voted for the first time as a United States citizen. That moment meant far more than exercising a civic right. It meant truly feeling that I belonged to the country I now also call home.

For years, I learned about its history, culture and traditions from the perspective of an outsider. But that day, I realized I was no longer simply living within its story; I was participating in it. My voice had a place, and my presence carried new meaning.

When I became a U.S. citizen in December 2025, I experienced many emotions at once. It was much more than receiving a document. It was recognizing what it means to belong to a country with such an influential history and global impact, while appreciating an opportunity that came only after years of effort.

I never saw that moment as the end of a journey, but as the beginning of a new chapter, one I want to honor — not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and respect for everything it took to get there.

Yet my new citizenship did not erase the story that came before it. As I celebrated the Fourth of July, my heart remained deeply connected to Colombia. On July 20, we celebrate the independence of the country where I was born, the place where my roots, my family and an inseparable part of who I am still live.

Independence stories lost to history

Over time, I have realized that the stories of nations and the stories of immigrants have much in common. No independence comes without struggle. Behind every nation that earns its freedom are people who endured, sacrificed, dreamed and stood firm through adversity.

The same is true for those of us who immigrate.

Our own independence begins the day we decide to leave. We leave

carrying dreams, but also fear. We leave behind people, places, traditions and an entire life. Leaving is one battle. Arriving is another. Staying and building a future far from home is a victory that must be earned every single day.

An immigrant’s battles are often silent: adapting, learn ing new ways of living, building relationships, starting over and moving forward even when part of your heart remains somewhere else.

When I left Colombia eight years ago, I felt fear, sadness and grief. My family is large, and leaving so many loved ones behind was not easy. You miss everything.

mattered, that he, too, was part of this achievement.

And when life took me far away from my family, it also gave me a companion for the journey. My husband believed in me from the very beginning. His unconditional support, his confidence and his love became the safe place from which I could continue building this new chapter of my life. Some accomplishments appear to be individual achievements, but very few truly are.

GUEST OPINION

By Gladys Arango-Marcon

But I also carried with me a strength rooted in my own story.

My father was a warrior. For many years, I saw his strength as something ordinary because he was my dad, the man of the house. As time passed, I came to understand the true magnitude of his battles, and I realized that same resilience lives within me.

My mother left me with words that still guide me today: “Fight for your dreams. Think about yourself and what you truly want.”

My father taught me through his example that battles are meant to be faced. My mother taught me that we also have the right to pursue our dreams. I know she would be proud to see me today.

My son has also been one of my greatest sources of motivation. He knew how much this dream meant to me, and his words gave me the strength to keep moving forward. I hope he always remembers that his encouragement

The truth is that no one comes this far without someone believing in them, even on the days when they begin to doubt themselves.

I want my son to be proud of a mother who never gave up, who never let herself, or him, down. We are so much alike. We face challenges with determination. Each of us is the other’s hero.

This July also brought two dates that touched my heart in very different ways. July 6 would have been my father’s birthday; a day filled with the longing for someone who is no longer physically here, yet whose presence continues to live through my values and the way I face life.

July 25 is my son’s birthday. He is in Colombia. It brings a different kind of emotion, the joy of celebrating his life mixed with the sadness of not being able to hold him. One absence comes from loss, the other from distance, but both are born from love.

Learning to belong to two places

This year, soccer also gave me an unexpected lesson.

For many years, whenever the World Cup came around, all my passion belonged to Colombia. But this time, I found myself following the United States as well, checking its results, becoming curious about its journey, and cheering in ways I hadn’t expected. It wasn’t planned. It simply happened.

That’s when I understood something important: Belonging does not mean replacing one place with another. It means making room for both. Colombia will always be my roots, and the United States is now part of my present.

Today I understand that belonging does not mean choosing between two places. It means honoring the roots that gave us life while appreciating the opportunities we discover along the way.

I have two nationalities, two flags and one story: a story shaped by loss and achievement, nostalgia and hope, battles won, and new battles still to come.

I have always believed that the best way to honor those we left behind is to show them that we made it, for them, because of them and despite everything. Despite the fear, the distance, the homesickness and the hardships.

Countries celebrate their independence after great battles. Immigrants celebrate our own small acts of independence every day, each time we overcome a fear, take another step forward and prove that it is possible to begin again.

My two flags are not in competition. One represents my roots. The other represents the life I chose to build. Between them stands the woman I am today, a woman who left with fear, walked with courage and arrived with gratitude.

And because I didn’t come here to leave one story behind, but to keep writing it ... ¡Nos vemos luego!, until next time.

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

Doing our damndest at the fair

Every year, folks put themselves out there in their Mountain-Fair best and compete in a slew of classic and new-age events during Carbondale’s favorite weekend of the year. Here are the results for Mountain Fair 2026, Camp Bonedale.

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

MOUNTAIN FAIR 2026

CONTEST

RESULTS

PIES

EXOTIC

1. Jeff Liddington

2. Georgia Chamberlain

3. Rachel Richards FRUIT

1. Peter Davidoff

2. Jasmine Liddington

3. Elizabeth Proctor CREAM

1. Jenna Koval

2. Jeff Liddington

3. Peter Davidoff

BEST OF SHOW - Jenna Koval CAKE

OVERALL

1. HH and Luke Wander

2. Jessica Davidoff Meyer

3. Peter Davidoff

EXOTIC

1. Anna Sophia Brown

2. Marija

3. Sydney Harris

ALTERNATIVE

1. Mike and Sim Rand

2. Rosio Lewis

3. Huck and Duke Taylor

BEST OF SHOW - HH and Luke Wander

MEN’S WOODSPLITTING

1. Danny Brown - 17.1

2. Aaron Maiscot - 26.6

3. Travis Twoey - 28.5

BEST FLAIR - Zach Scheisser

WOMEN’S WOODSPLITTING

1. Holly Parkin - 34.5

2. Georgia Ackerman - 41. 2

3. Jennifer Cleary - 43. 5

BEST FLAIR - Georgia Ackerman

LIMBO

1. Courtney Conn

2. Jean O’Bryant

3. Anne Britt Hakansson

PORCUPINE GROUP BIKE RACE

MENS

1. Beck Hamilton 45:01

2. Hadley Henschel 45:03

WOMEN’S

1. Annie Gonzalez 1:16:08

2. Judith Richard’s 1:21:10

3. Kerri Stokely 1:42:35

FLY CASTING MENS

1. Russ Criswell

WOMEN’S

1. Maureen Taufer

DOUBLE HORSESHOES

1. Marty Wickham and Baggs

2. Burley and Jostin Britnall

3. Brandon Reynolds and Robert Sullivan

SINGLE HORSESHOES

1. Justin Britnall

2. Stan Callies

3. Adam Quisenberry

CLAY CENTER THROWDOWN

OVERALL WINNERS - Team Fired Up

(Tessa Schreiner, Hannah Bare, Jared Carlson and Olivia Pedersen)

TALLEST COLLECTIVE CYLINDER - Slab Sluts (Kendra Sparks, Teresa Womack, Kelly Baker and Jonathan King)

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Hannah Carrese

MOUNTAIN FAIR FOUR MILER

MENS

1. Paul Davis (24:52)

2. Kevin Warner (25:24)

3. Josh Hejtmanek (25 :49)

WOMEN’S

1. Michelle Smith (27:02)

2. Caroline Bess (28:17)

3. Nicole Burkemper (29:21)

(From upper left going down, left to right) A contestant rounds the bend during the men’s woodsplitting contest; a camper dances like it’s 1969; Chrissy Leonard wields a cake with some wise words, “Let chocolate fill your space camp”; the Bonedale Flashmob steps out in their scouts gear; Deborah and Joe Burleigh are anointed as the 2026 Mountain Fair Queen and King; Russ Criswell cast himself into first place of the men’s flycasting contest; the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra Sidewalk Strings group performs at the Oasis tent on Main; and … bubbles!

Photo by Will Sardinsky

Photo by John Alderson

Photo by John Stroud

Photo by Tommy Sands

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Photo by Jane Bachrach

siding with capital against ordinary people — most clearly demonstrated during the Colorado Labor Wars of the last century. Jury nullification has long been the people’s means of resisting such injustice. Mama Sandy and Lee Mulcahy, PhD Arlington and Basalt

Decentralization is safe

Many of you who read this have been voting for at least 30 years. There was Reagan, the Bushes, Clinton, Obama,

We used to all go to our local polling place or drop off our ballot, then, in the ‘70s we were able to mail our ballots in places, and it was convenient and more popular.

When the ballots were counted we found out who won and we accepted the outcome, no discussion about election integrity or rigging. The only controversy was in 2000 when the Supreme Court ruled that Bush had won. Not everybody was happy, but most of us accepted it.

Until 2017, when Trump became president and started talking about foreign influence and rigged elections. Sadly, he created fear in his base and the fear spread into the 2020 election, causing strife and then a riot at the Capitol when he lost the election. Interestingly, no talk about rigged elections when he won in 2024. But here we are in 2026 and the noise is starting again.

Election security experts say the decentralized U.S. voting system, with the power over elections residing with the states instead of the federal government, is a strength. Americans vote in more than 10,000 different jurisdictions with different rules, making the nation’s elections extraordinarily complicated but safe from Udelle Stuckey Carbondale

Last call: Medicaid restrictions

I am a family physician and daily see patients who rely on Medicaid. Medicaid provides coverage for individuals with disabling health conditions and who fall into specific income categories. Approximately 1.3 million Coloradans are on Medicaid, including 20% of our adults and 40% of our children. This may

Last year, significant funding cuts were enacted, including expansive limitations on who qualifies for Medicaid. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimates that between 4.9 and 10.1 million people in America may lose Medicaid coverage in the next two years because of new requirements.

The “new” work requirement is that physically able adults on Medicaid with low incomes and without dependents

MEAT

from page 6

closed in early 2024, according to Salumi’s Instagram.

Pitkin County Solid Waste Manager Tyler Carvell said a 2,900-pound meat deposit in the landfill is not common.

“In this quantity,” Carvell said, “not common at all.”

He said that restaurants, businesses and grocery stores do deliver food waste to the landfill to be composted. The 2,900 pounds of meat, however, could not be composted because it was still in its

will work or study at least 80 hours per month to maintain coverage. The reality is that most capable adults on Medicaid are already working at least that much. Statistics from the People’s Policy Project indicate that only 5% of Medicaid recipients are individuals who could be working and are not. The new requirement doesn’t significantly improve work activities among Medicaid recipients and doesn’t do anything helpful.

The harm comes from the new reporting requirements. Forms confirming appropriate work were required yearly, and now will be required twice yearly. According to the HRW, poorly administered enrollment and verification systems and technical failures frequently cause Medicaid loss. Increased reporting requirements provide more opportunities for enrollment, verification and technical failures, which directly translate to lost Medicaid coverage. Individuals with poor internet or phone access, unstable housing and limited in-person support will be at particular risk. Every dollar spent on administrative costs lowers the resources available to cover health costs.

Public comments on the new Medicaid requirements can be made until midnight on July 31. Go to www.regulations.gov and in the search line type CMS-2026-2047. And remember, your vote is your voice! Please vote in November!

Maria Chansky Glenwood Springs

ICE out

When it feels like the world is falling apart and everything is overwhelming, sometimes it’s best to take some local action. You can pressure Glenwood City Council members to stop the continued operation of an unauthorized, unpermitted, unsafe ICE detention facility in the City limits. The City can enforce code violations against JG Housing Solutions LLC, the private, Florida-based landlord. They plan to make a decision at the Glenwood Springs City Council meeting on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6:15 pm, at Glenwood Springs City Hall, 101 8th St. Peter Westcott Carbondale

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.

packaging and it had been sitting “for an unknown amount of time,” Carvell said.

“You just have concerns with bacteria getting into that stream that we don’t know or can control,” he said. “And people that buy our compost, they can grow vegetables in it and stuff like that. You don’t want that stuff to get passed on.”

He added that disposing of food waste in this manner generates methane emissions, which composting does not.

“It’s much better for the environment in general if you compost it,” he said.

PARTING SHOTS

LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

NOTICE is hereby given that on August 12th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., final settlement will be made with STUTSMAN GERBAZ, INC., 30376 State Hwy 82, Snowmass, CO 81654 by Basalt Sanitation District 0701 Emma Road, Basalt, Colorado, 81621 on a contract for labor and materials for a project known as FRYINGPAN RIVER CROSSING SEWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT and that any person, co-partnership, company, association of persons, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against STUTSMAN GERBAZ, INC. or its subcontractors, for labor and materials, may, at any time, up to closing of business the last work day prior to final settlement, that is, by August 12th, 2026, file a verified statement

of the amount due with the BASALT SANITATION DISTRICT (Attn. Ian Quillan i.quillan@basaltsanitation.org pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended.

Failure on the part of the Claimant to make such verified statement, prior to the final settlement on the contract with STUTSMAN GERBAZ, INC., will relieve the BASALT SANITATION DISTRICT from any liability for such Claimant’s claim.

PUBLISHED BY THE ORDER OF BASALT SANITATION DISTRICT.

Published in The Sopris Sun on July 30, 2026.

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

NOTICE is hereby given that on August 11th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., final settlement will be made with X FIELD SERVICES, LLC, P.O. Box 1313, Craig, Colorado, 81626 by the TOWN OF CARBONDALE, 511 Colorado Ave., Carbondale, Colorado, on a contract for labor and materials for a project known as ROARING FORK WELL VAULT PROJECT and that any person, co-partnership, company, association of persons, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against X FIELD SERVICES, LLC., or its subcontractors, for labor and materials, may, at any time, up to closing of business the last work day prior to final settlement, that is, by August 11th, 2026, file a verified statement of the amount

due with the TOWN OF CARBONDALE (Attn. Scott Wenning swenning@ carbondaleco.net pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended.

Failure on the part of the Claimant to make such verified statement, prior to the final settlement on the contract with X FIELD SERVICES, LLC., will relieve the TOWN OF CARBONDALE from any liability for such Claimant’s claim.

PUBLISHED BY THE ORDER OF TOWN OF CARBONDALE.

Published in The Sopris Sun on July 30, 2026.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Photo by Bob Rugile

Photo by John Stroud

Photo by Tommy Sands

Photo by Bob Rugile

Photo by Bob Rugile

Photo by John Stroud

Photo by Tommy Sands

Photo by Tommy Sands

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

(From upper left going down, left to right) Sisters Celeste Scoville and Stacia Desalvo cheers; a youngster runs to fill his cup; woodsplitting emcee Diesel Dan (left) recognizes one of the contest’s founders, Drew Handy; Caroline Ives gets her shop on; Hannah Barret of NYC (left), here visiting El Dorado Bar Manager Jess Clutter, sports a vintage Girl Scouts dress; a cowpoke gnaws on some cotton candy; Mugsy Fay Seldeen gives thanks to the spirit of the fair; Kay Clarke (left) and Alice Steindler help The Sun sling drinks at the Cantina; a double rainbow closes out the fair; salida!

Growing Care for Our Community

Aspen Valley Health is

Now accepting new patients

After a very successful Junior Varsity campaign in 2025, Roaring Fork Football will return to a Varsity schedule and a Freshmen/JV Schedule.

2026 will mark the return of one of the most successful High School programs in the State of Colorado.

3 Time Winner State Champion 1973, 1977, 1985

3 Time State Runnerup.

6 Time Semi-Finalist.

Dating back to the early 1900’s, Roaring Fork Football has been part of the fabric of the Carbondale community. Football has reflected the grit of our community.

Football has formed the future of youth to men of Carbondale. Work ethic and overcoming adversity are a trademark of Roaring Fork Football. These young men have become Navy Seals, Chiefs of Police, Chief of the Fire Protection District, Ranchers, Heads of Banks in the Valley and Important Business Leaders in the Valley.

Today’s coaching

Lisa Hicks, DMS, PA-C Women’s Health

Mary E. Harris, MD, FAAP Pediatrician

Megan Hiles, MD, MBA, FACP Internal Medicine

Kelsea Loveless-Hoffman, MD, FAAP Pediatrician