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This Week: 5 ~ Voces Unidas 8-9 ~ Calendar 11-14 ~ Español 15-16 ~ Government 18-19 ~ Theater

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Volume 15, Number 38 | October 26 - November 1, 2023

Trick or Treat

It looks as if these cows are expecting a treat, or perhaps a trick, from this cattle dog, who greeted them as they arrived home to their winter pasture on Oct. 20.

Turn to page 20 for more Niesanlik cattle drive photos by Jane Bachrach

OPINION

CVEPA Views

By Dale Will

Early in my career, I clerked at the Environmental Defense Fund trying to help negotiate changes in California's massive irrigation system, trying to stave off the extinction of the Sacramento River winter run of Chinook salmon. The irrigation system, known as the Central Valley Project, irrigates a good share of the fruits and nuts produced in our country. The pumps and dams were hell on salmon, and the winter run Chinook had fallen to a mere 42 individuals.

As our negotiations failed, my task was to petition the federal government to list these fish as “endangered,” thereby forcing changes. With a species on the brink of extinction, and a billion-dollar farm economy pumping the river, that was a humdinger of a wildlife fight. In the high mountains of Colorado we are perhaps blessed that we have few species facing extinction.

Yet biodiversity protection remains no less important.

I don’t believe I have ever met another human who doesn’t care about wildlife. We humans are thrilled to share the planet with so many interesting and different creatures.

Perhaps for this reason, wildlife protection is a common foil for those wanting to stop various groups of humans from doing various things.

No one wants to be accused of indifference to wild things. Having

Wildlife McCarthyism, impact credits and the humility necessary to share Earth’s beauty spent a career working with these issues, I am increasingly concerned with what I might call “wildlife McCarthyism.” That is, accusing someone or something of being particularly harmful to wildlife as a mechanism to stigmatize that thing for selfish reasons.

Some years ago, in my work with Open Space and Trails we held a retreat to focus on biodiversity protection.

We spent a day with Rick Knight, then dean of conservation biology research at Colorado State University. Professor Knight is widely regarded as an expert on things like recreational impacts on wildlife. He organized his presentation into some basic phenomenon he wanted us to understand.

First, he noted that the ecosystem is complex and armchair generalizations are often wrong; some species are more tolerant of humans than others, their tolerance is more or less at different times of year, and site-specific studies of specific activities and habitat types are necessary to understand these relationships. Second, he observed that almost universally people tend to overestimate the wildlife impacts of others’ activities while underestimating their own.

Thinking of our valley in light of Knight’s observation, the ironies are endless. We have residences smack in the middle of habitats whose owners claim visitors threaten those same places. We have agrarians who want public grazing lands shielded from recreationists while opposing the restoration of keystone native species. We have leading environmentalists priding themselves on their personal access to wild spaces while condemning activities that might create access for the less privileged. To the general public it must be rather bewildering.

LETTERS

Doing our part

What about this fantastic fall weather? Carbondale's high was 71 degrees Monday, 8 degrees above our historic average.

But then, if you have been following the news, the world’s average temperature has been the highest in human history.

Actually, it is kind of hard living in such ideal circumstances, to know that there are serious problems around the world.

There is terrible war in the Holy Land, another in Ukraine.

The increasing heat is drying up rivers, melting glaciers, and raising ocean levels, ruining the fresh water at ocean fronts.

Other people's problems, right? Well, our winters are getting shorter. Local flora and fauna are getting out of sync.

Less moisture is falling. All kind of subtle, so far. Anyway, what could even be done locally? Most of us have heard of the “carbon footprint.” Many local residents are switching to electric vehicles, installing solar panels, and replacing natural gas heating with heat pumps. These folks feel a personal responsibility. My question is, what should our community be doing as a whole? Are there things that could be applied across the town to reduce climate change pollution from burning fossil fuels?

How about giving your local government and local service organizations a call or visit? Ask what can be done.

Let’s all do our part.

Patrick Hunter Satank

When listening to wildlife rhetoric I always ask myself two questions. 1.

Has the complaint been backed up by a qualified study of the specific species and habitat? 2. Are all human activities equally considered? If the answer to either question is no, one may assume the rhetoric has something to do with “turf,” i.e. the desire of one group to control a piece of the landscape. And that is just a disservice to the larger cause at hand.

None of us live without impacts.

Every time we buy an airplane ticket, start our car, or turn up our thermostats (carbon neutral homes excepted), we’re likely harming arctic animals. All of us need a dose of humility about these issues. If I were a science fiction writer, I might pen a sequel to “Ecotopia” wherein we live in a world where the biosphere’s tolerance for human impacts is both known and carefully allocated by some egalitarian formula.

Much as fuel was rationed during WWII, we’d all be given an equal amount of “impact credits.” One person might use their credit on a flight to Hawaii, while the next would use theirs on a season pass to a favorite hiking trail. The impacts would be objectively allocated on an equal basis. Fights over turf masquerading as wildlife activism would be over.

Of course my sci-fi fantasy will never happen; our knowledge of the biosphere and our systems for equitable resource allocation are both too imperfect.

In the absence of such knowledge and systems, I suggest that when approaching habitat conservation, we promote the best available science, we question all assumptions, and we check our egos at the door.

To learn more about the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, go to cvepa.org

Crystal River

Due to my love of the Crystal River, as well as that of my friends and neighbors, and my desire to ensure it is protected, I am happy to see Gunnison County, Pitkin County, the Town of Marble, and the River District working together to find ways to do just that. The river is extraordinary in that it is still connected to its source, the headwaters up beyond Marble.

It is kept alive and flowing by spring runoff each year which means flushing flows along the banks and saturated riparian wetlands in the upper and middle reaches.

Most other rivers have already been dammed somewhere on their main channels, cutting off the natural cycle of peak springtime flows. The uniqueness of the Crystal is worth preserving for us and for future generations. As water continues to become a more valuable resource in the West, there will inevitably be more and more pressure to store, divert or develop every last drop and there will always be demand for more.

Damming the Crystal would forever change the nature of the entire valley, severing the river’s direct connection to its source. My family has had property in the upper Fryingpan River for more than 70 years. I have seen and experienced what Reudi and the water diversion has done to that river and I would hate to see the same thing on the Crystal.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

continued on page 22

Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Sol del Valle Editor Vanessa Porras Contributing & Digital Editor James Steindler Editorial Designer Hattie Rensberry Advertising Designer Emily Blong Delivery Frederic Kischbaum Bartlett Hank van Berlo Proofreader Lee Beck Executive Director Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Board Members / Mesa Directiva board@soprissun.com Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke Lee Beck • Donna Dayton Eric Smith • Roger Berliner Elizabeth Phillips • Jessi Rochel Andrew Travers • Anna Huntington

The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m. 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+ Lee Beck & John Stickney Kay Brunnier • Frances Dudley Michelle & Ed Buchman Sue Edelstein & Bill Spence Deborah & Shane Evans Greg & Kathy Feinsinger Gary & Jill Knaus • Eric Smith Peter and Mike Gilbert Carly & Frosty Merriott James Noyes • Megan Tackett Patti & George Stranahan Anne Sullivan & John Colson Elizabeth Wysong • Alpine Bank Emily & George Bohmfalk Kathy & Carter Barger Sandy & Paul Chamberlin Karen & Roger Berliner Gretchen Greenwood & Lee Mulcahy Donna & Ken Riley

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-B 970-510-3003 soprissun.com/Donate The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District

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What's the word on the street? Let us know at news@soprissun.com

RFSD leadership

Art education

Artist opportunity

Farm-to-Fridge

The Roaring Fork School District Board of Education met on Oct. 25 at 5pm, shortly after our press deadline, to discuss, among other things, a resignation agreement with superintendent Dr. Jesús Rodríguez.

According to a press release, Dr. Anna Cole “will continue as acting superintendent until an interim superintendent is named.” The Sopris Sun will follow up in next week’s edition.

Carbondale Arts is commissioning five murals and three sculptures to beautify the new storage facility under construction along Highway 133, north of the electrical substation.

Trustees approved the 590-unit self-storage facility in December 2020 with the condition that a new public art area be established as an extension of the Rio Grande ARTway.

Applications are due by Jan. 22, 2024, with $4,000 to $7,500 available per mural or sculpture. Find details at www.carbondalecreativedistrict.com/ publicartarea

Call for artists RJ Paddywacks Cool Bricks Studio White River Books Alpine Animal Hospital

Nonprofit Partners

Wilderness Workshop 5point Film Festival Basalt Library Aspen Strong Carbondale Rotary Colorado Animal Rescue Carbondale Arts Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner in 2023? Email Todd@ soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866

Submissions are open for 5Point’s 2024 festival poster contest, sponsored

by El Dorado. All visual art forms are welcome, including painting, illustration, graphic design and photography. The deadline to apply is Nov. 17 and the chosen artist will receive $1,000 plus two VIP festival passes. Concept art and three work samples should be sent to info@5pointfilm.org

Digital wallet

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles announced that Coloradans can now add their driver license or state identification card to their Google Wallet. At this time, presenting a digital ID as a valid form of identification is only accepted at select airport TSA PreCheck security checkpoints.

Goats at Sutey

It’s that time of year when the goats are mowing the excess dry grass at Sutey Ranch. While they are present, dog walkers are to make sure that their dogs are leashed.

Working To gether For Pets A nd Their Peo ple 2801 Glenwood S CR 114 prings, CO (970)947-9 173

Glenwood Springs Parks and Recreation is offering two artsy workshops for ages 16+ this November.

Nov. 1-2, from 5:30 to 8:30pm, you can learn 2D and 3D animation using drawing, painting and photography techniques. Then, on Nov. 6-7 from 5:30 to 8:30pm, Brian Weller will teach picture book illustration at the Glenwood Springs Library. Register online at www. bit.ly/glenwoodrec-arts

The Farm Collaborative’s 16th annual community meal giveaway, “Farm-toFridge,” will take place on Nov. 14 from 2-5:30pm. Free ingredient-hearty bags of local produce will be available for pick-up at Cozy Point Ranch, located near the Brush Creek Park and Ride near Snowmass Village. Registration is required at www.farmco.org, and begins on Nov. 1. To volunteer or sponsor the event, call 970-900-3276.

Deputized

Bryan Alvarez-Terrazas, an employee of MANAUS, has been promoted from manager of the organization’s Equity Action Project to deputy director. In addition to continuing to oversee the Equity Action Project and associated speaker series, Alvarez-Terrazas will support other MANAUS initiatives like the Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition. Alvarez-Terrazas was born in Glenwood Springs to immigrant parents and graduated from Aspen High School before studying political science at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Pay as you throw

The City of Glenwood Springs is bracing to roll out its Pay as You Throw (PAYT) city-wide garbage service on Nov. 1. Through Oct. 27, Mountain Waste and Recycling — the company contracted for the PAYT program — is dropping off residents’ new bins. Previously used bins will be collected by either the trash hauler who owns the cart or by the city in the final week of October, or in early November. Visit www.cogs.us/payt for more details, including a map with pick up days and times. People may also call 970-384-6426 for information.

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The Sopris Sun high school interns conducted an interview with the manager of Colorado’s “I Matter” program, Paul Barnett, which was aired on Everything Under The Sun on KDNK Community Access Radio Thursday, Oct. 19. “I Matter” is a statewide program that provides up to six free therapy sessions for youth 18 years or younger, or 21 years or younger if receiving special education services. To find out more about the program, visit www.imattercolorado.org, or, for Spanish speakers, www.yoimportocolorado.org To listen to the interview with the interns, visit www.bit.ly/SoprisSun-KDNK Illustration

by Youth Correspondent Dominic Furer

Postal Service hiring

In anticipation of a busy holiday season, the Carbondale Post Office and others in the area are hiring. Starting pay ranges from $18.22 to $22.13 with paid vacation, health insurance and other benefits. Learn more at www.usps.com/careers

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: John Runne (Oct. 26); Chip Brotzman, Julie Lang, Katrina Nelson, Annette Roberts-Gray, Kay Schaefer and Ellen Stapenhorst (Oct. 27); Kaden Kirk and Gina Murdoch (Oct. 28); Zachary Cashin, Chase Fenton, Katee Peach, Daniela Rivera, Lisa Ruoff, Trinity Stebleton and Nicole Zugschwerdt (Oct. 29); Lowry Camp, Brendan Cochran, Andrea Harris, Gracyn Overstreet, Claudia Pawl and Trent Reeds (Oct. 30); Julia Lee, Jill Steindler, Marty Voller and Kaleigh Wisroth (Oct. 31); Angel Cruz, Justin Marshall, Don Parkison, Vanessa Porras and Jay Riley (Nov. 1).

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 3

The Painted Pig opens for business

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

“It all starts with wine,” Kade Gianinetti, owner of The Painted Pig, Carbondale’s newest restaurant, told The Sopris Sun. The Painted Pig venture at 689 Main Street began with Gianinetti’s business partnership with Courtney Gayer and Brandt Thibodeaux, founders of Aquila Cellars. Aquila Cellars is a winery and farm based in Paonia. According to their website, “We’re dedicated to responsible land management and simple, minimal cellar practices.”

“Aquila Cellars is a little winery that I'm a partner in, and we have been looking for a tasting room space or a direct consumer outlet,” Gianinetti said. “We couldn't find anything in the North Fork that we were super excited about. With my family owning the [689 Main Street] property, that popped up as an option.”

Gianinetti is descended from a five-generation Carbondale family that continues to maintain a working ranch. “I think as our community changes, it's nice to have a new

perspective on what we've been through before and how this community has already changed,” he said. “Hopefully, this can be a positive outlet for how Carbondale is growing and evolving — paying homage to the past but also looking toward a progressive future.”

What began as a small tasting room evolved into a café, restaurant, bottleshop and mercantile, “with the winery being the backbone,” he said. The store will feature wines from around the world, in addition to Aquila Cellars.

The Painted Pig’s tagline is “Carbondale’s living room.”

The cozy atmosphere, with several rooms and a front foyer with views of Mt. Sopris, certainly provides an intimate and familiar vibe.

You’ll find photographs of the Aquila Cellars winery adorning the walls. Choose a bottle of wine to take home from a shelf of reds or a cold storage case of white wines. Outer Range Brewing Co., a community-driven microbrewery based in Frisco, will provide a pilsner and IPA on tap. The Denverbased Family Jones Distillery supplies the spirits for the full-service bar.

The community café will be open from 7am to 2pm for food service, featuring Color Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster located in Eagle. Those who want to skip the line can get a cup of joe to-go at a selfservice station, paying on the honor system.

General Manager Dominic Cossentino said food-togo options are available for lunch and dinner, with sandwiches, rotisserie chicken and barbecue, along with a selection of seasonal side items that can be paired with a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer.

Head Chef Gino Farfán hails from Lima, Peru and has lived in Colorado for about five years. He has worked in many Roaring Fork Valley restaurants, including Carbondale’s La Raza, and Cuvée Aspen’s vacation villas.

Farfán said he cooks with flavorings, not spices — like aji amarillo (yellow pepper) paste with a light, slightly citrus flavor with subtle heat.

You can expect arroz con mariscos — a Peruvian paella — and, in the winter, daily soups of the chicken, seafood and onion variety. What’s more: chicken, beef, pork, side dishes, including risotto and mashed potatoes, and pastas

The Painted Pig crew, from left to right: Jill Thomas (manager), Gino Farfán (head chef), Liliana Silva (sous chef) and Adriana Palacios (sous chef) getting ready for a much-anticipated opening. Photo by Jeanne Souldern

made in-house such as ravioli, spaghetti and pappardelle.

One of Farfán’s specialties is Peruvian ceviche with bitesized pieces of fish or seafood, red onion and a leche de tigre marinade of fresh lime juice, aji amarillo, cilantro and garlic, served alongside slices of sweet potato (camote), corn kernels (choclo) and toasted corn nuts (concha).

Initially, The Painted Pig will open for morning and early afternoon service and will eventually extend their hours to 10pm, with full menu service in the evening.

There is an option for partial or full space rentals for private parties and events,

and the two boutique hotel rooms upstairs are available for booking through The Painted Pig website: www. thepaintedpigcarbondale.com Daytime restaurant service is scheduled to begin on Nov. 1, but you can get a sneak preview of the restaurant during The Painted Pig Harvest Party on Oct. 28, from 11am to 4pm, rain or shine.

This event is free and open to the public. There will be live music, Seed Peace produce for sale, simple wine and beer tastings, pumpkin decorating and face painting. The café will also be open for service.

RSHIP E D A E L NCED E I R E P ILIES X M E A F K R ING FO R A O R R FO

T O L L A B R U O Y N R U .

T h t E 7 R r e b m e v o N , y a d s e u T by Betsy After has been endorsed by RFSD Teachers and Voces Unidas TO LEARN MORE about why Betsy is the right leader for RFSD, visit betsyforrfsd.com

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

Grant assists Voces Unidas with parent organizing in school districts

By John Stroud Sopris Sun Correspondent

A national grant awarded recently to a prominent Latino advocacy organization is designed to bring more Latino parent voices to the table on critical issues such as the growing gap in student achievement for area school districts.

The Glenwood Springs-based nonprofit Voces Unidas de las Montañas announced earlier this month that it was awarded a $150,000 grant from NewSchools Venture Fund to help accelerate its efforts around parent organizing in rural school districts in the central mountain region.

The grant is being used to hire additional organizers focused on diversifying parent leadership. The initial focus is on the Roaring Fork and Eagle County school districts — both “minority majority” school districts that have significant achievement gaps between Anglo and Hispanic students, Voces Unidas CEO Alex Sánchez said.

“Our goal is to improve outcomes for all students by mobilizing parents to serve as change agents of the school system,” Sánchez said in a news release.

“We believe that by working together with parents, school districts, and community partners, we can create more equitable rural education systems that better reflect the needs and experiences of all students in our region.”

Sánchez notes that Latinos make up more than 50% of the student bodies in both the Roaring Fork (57%) and Eagle County (52%) school districts.

Yet, there are “persistent, chronic achievement gaps experienced by Latino, immigrant and underresourced students compared to white students” in those and other rural school systems across Colorado, he said.

According to recent Colorado Department of Education data, Latino students in the Roaring Fork

Art by Sofie Koski

Schools are, on average, academically 2.8 grades behind their white peers and, by the time they get to high school, are 1.9 times less likely to be enrolled in at least one AP (Advanced Placement) class.

The school district has been working to address the achievement gap, especially since state test scores dropped across the board following the schooling disruptions that came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the district rolled out a comprehensive Learning Acceleration Plan, which aims to close the achievement gap and put students back on track with their learning.

Still, that gap between Anglo and Latino students exists.

“The number one issue in our schools now is student achievement,” Sánchez said in a follow-up interview. “We must ensure that our schools are meeting the needs of all students.”

One way to do that is to ensure diverse parent involvement in the problem-solving discussions at the school and district levels, he said.

“Our schools are the pipeline to the future, and we have to depend on them for the next generation

of leaders, creators, problem solvers,” Sánchez said. “To help in that, we need more parents voicing their aspirations and we are creating policy and coming up with funding to address the needs and concerns for today’s children.”

Just this week, Voces Unidas hired its first local organizer using the grant funds to begin working with parents of Latino students in the Roaring Fork Schools.

Ana Chavira grew up in the Basalt area, and became a teacher in the Roaring Fork Schools after earning her bachelor’s and graduate degrees in teaching from Colorado Mountain College and CUBoulder, Sánchez said.

An additional full-time position is expected to be hired within the Roaring Fork District, and another in the Eagle County School District.

Long term, Voces Unidas is looking to expand its organizing efforts into the Garfield RE-2, Garfield District 16, Summit and Lake county districts.

Such parent organizing efforts are common in urban school districts. Yet, in many rural counties where the majority of public-school students are now children of color, that diversity is not reflected in parent participation, said Alan Muñoz Valenciano, regional manager of organizing programs for Voces Unidas.

“Latino parents want to be effective advocates for their children — in the classroom and at the school and district level — but rarely are local school districts prepared to include them,” Muñoz Valenciano said in the release. “We look forward to seeing more Latino parents engaged in district policy debates and advocating for better student outcomes.”

That also extends to encouraging more Latino parents to run for open school board seats, and to foster change from leadership positions within the schools, he said.

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 5

Meet Paulina Lopez, early childhood program director at CRES

By Jackie Ramirez Sopris Sun Intern

This school year, the Roaring Fork School District hired a new director to coordinate the early childhood program at Crystal River Elementary School (CRES). Paulina Lopez has happily stepped into the position to help create a school environment that meets the needs of all the students and staff.

Lopez was 3 years old when she and her family moved to Carbondale from California. Growing up in Carbondale area schools, Lopez was in third grade when she realized that she wanted to be a teacher.

It was always her dream to have a classroom of her own, but now, as director of the early childhood program, she has more than plenty.

“I get to be in all of the classrooms every week, so it’s a lot of new work and new things that I’m learning,” Lopez said. “There are just so many pieces, like communicating with the staff and with the parents. If there are any issues with any children or any extra support needed, they always come to me.”

Lopez began working in education at Carbondale Middle School as a paraprofessional for students with severe needs. Later in her education career, Lopez moved toward preschool education. This year marks her 15th year working in a preschool setting.

“Ten years ago, I got my own classroom and got to lead my own classroom. That was when I was like, yeah this is where I need to be and this is where I want to be with the kids,” Lopez said.

With her time in education and being involved in the Carbondale community, Lopez has been able to step into the role knowing that she has a great relationship with her staff and students. As a director, that has been important in terms of

communication and in making decisions that she knows will help the program.

As a child, Lopez only knew Spanish and learned English by attending school. Being bilingual is one of the many ways that Lopez helps the program, ensuring communications reach all parents including those who don’t speak English.

“Having a bilingual staff is really important to me because we have so many kids that don’t speak English. We have two kids this year who are from Brazil and speak Portuguese and we have a teacher that speaks Portuguese. It’s amazing,” Lopez said. “Anything I send home to anybody is always in English and Spanish because I know that we have many parents that need that, and I feel that it’s important for them to be able to have the communication in both languages.”

The director position also means facing new challenges. One of the issues that Lopez has dealt with is being understaffed. According to the Colorado Department of Education, a state-wide survey was done to help identify solutions for the 2022-23 educator shortage. While there has been improvement in filling vacancies, it still isn’t enough to provide full support to schools across the state.

“If I have two people call in, then I’m in trouble because it’s really just me that I have to cover the classrooms,” Lopez said. “We did start off the year with two support people but because we were already short in two classrooms, those two people are in classrooms, so it’s really just me.”

Lopez remains optimistic that within the next week they will be fully staffed. One of the ways that the state has helped with teacher shortages is through transfers across districts or schools and preparation programs.

Lopez mentioned that CRES receives support through

6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

Paulina Lopez (second from left) poses with her family.

Courtesy photo

Colorado Shines, a program that helps professionals receive training for early childhood education.

Regardless of the challenges, Lopez continues to show up for her staff and students. Recently, she has been preparing for a fundraising event, Halloween Happening. Lopez said she is excited that the event will be more inclusive than previous years in regards to staff participation.

“That’s going to be a huge accomplishment, because we’ve done it the past couple of years but the staff, the teachers, we were not really a part of any of the planning,” Lopez said.

Lopez’s overall goal as director is to involve the community more. Whether that’s by welcoming parents to come volunteer in classrooms or having staff and teachers help with events such as Halloween Happening, Lopez wishes to bring the community together to support its schools and students. This comes as no surprise, as Lopez is a mother of five and emphasizes the importance of family and community in her personal life.

“Being available to parents and staff and the children is the biggest part for me. I want to be there to help anybody that I can and I think that’s why I knew I would be able to do this, because I’m the kind of person that will offer help to anybody,” Lopez said.

Carbondale geothermal project wins Dept. of Energy grant

By Dave Reed CLEER Communications Director

A local team has kicked off the design phase of an innovative geothermal demonstration project in Carbondale, with test drilling likely to begin in early November.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gave the official go-ahead to the Carbondale Community Geothermal Coalition to begin work on the project this month. A $716,000 DOE grant will fund feasibility, modeling, design and planning of a large-scale system to heat and cool a 16-acre section of Carbondale comprising a mix of institutional and residential buildings.

The Carbondale Community Geothermal Coalition includes Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER), the Town of Carbondale, the Third Street Center, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Garfield County Public Libraries District, Roaring Fork School District and national geothermal consulting firm GreyEdge Group. CLEER assembled the coalition and will serve as project lead.

Additionally, the coalition plans to collaborate with Colorado Mountain College to explore how the project could be an opportunity for workforce training and development, according to CLEER Executive Director Alice Laird.

The project is one of only 11 nationwide to receive an initial design

Geothermal district map, courtesy graphic

grant through the DOE Geothermal Technologies Office’s Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment Initiative. It’s one of four recipients located in rural areas, Laird added.

“This is such an exciting opportunity to showcase a really innovative, impactful clean-energy solution right here in Carbondale. This will enable us to explore another approach to reduce or eliminate our dependence on natural gas for heat,” said Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk. He said the concepts being tested here could be replicated widely and become one of the key tactics to driving down

greenhouse gas emissions in other rural communities.

The project’s origins go back to a conference held in 2018 at the Third Street Center, where internationally recognized architect Ed Mazria presented the concept of “zero-energy districts” that eliminate fossil fuel use and emissions not just in individual buildings but at a neighborhood — or district — scale. This approach can support Carbondale’s efforts to meet countywide clean energy and emissions goals set by Garfield Clean Energy, which the town adopted earlier this year.

The DOE grant will fund the design of a shared geothermal system to serve a proposed district that extends from the Third Street Center to the Carbondale Library and east to include the townhomes on 2nd Street. The district was selected because of its range of building types and its highly visible location, according to CLEER innovation manager Dr. Jon FoxRubin.

The Third Street Center is an indispensable part of the proposed district, Fox-Rubin said, because it illustrates both the progress that the town has already made on clean energy and the opportunity for further improvement. The building is “net zero” in terms of its electricity consumption — its solar panels generate more electricity than the building uses — but at the same time, it is the biggest consumer of energy

within the proposed district and it’s heated with natural gas.

Technically known as an ambienttemperature loop, the proposed system consists of a field of dozens of narrow boreholes, a horizontal loop making a circuit of the district, and heat pumps replacing furnaces or boilers in each building. Unlike geothermal projects that tap into very hot water or steam, an ambient system harnesses the lowgrade heat found underground almost everywhere.

Fluid circulating through the system draws heat from the ground in the cold months and sends waste heat down into it in hot weather. The heat pumps function like reversible air conditioners, concentrating heat and moving it either into or out of the buildings. The entire system is powered by electricity, thus eliminating natural gas and its emissions. Geothermal heat pump systems like this are five to eight times more efficient than direct electric heating.

A similar system, designed by the GreyEdge Group, operates on the campus of Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. Fox-Rubin said, “Carbondale’s project is a big deal for the region, because it will be the first multi-building geo-exchange system designed for a small rural community.”

The work funded by the DOE design grant will take place over the next year. continued on page 17

I'm just waiting until you say the magic word…

Tre a t s !

Las hojas Fall Leaves Enricquesen el Suelo! Enrich the Soil!

El Jebel, Colorado 970-963-1700 RJPaddywacks.com

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 7

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Visit soprissun.com to submit events THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26

BRIDGE Experts and beginners play Bridge at the Basalt Library from 4-6pm.

CRYSTAL RIVER SUMMIT The Crystal River Wild & Scenic and Other Alternatives Committee is hosting a lively and informative community summit (with dinner) at Roaring Fork High School at 5pm. Registration is not required.

DEMS HAPPY HOUR Garfield County Democrats host happy hour at the Marble Distillery in Carbondale at 5pm.

SCOOBY-DOO SoL Theatre Company and Sopris Soarers present “Scooby-Doo Where are you!” at the Community Hall at the Third Street Center tonight, tomorrow and Saturday night at 6pm. There will be a dance party after the show on Saturday. Tickets at www.bit.ly/Scooby-DooinCdale CRYSTAL THEATRE The Crystal Theatre in Carbondale shows “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” tonight through Sunday at 6pm nightly.

DRESS REHEARSAL CoMotion Dance Company invites folks to a dress rehearsal of “Illuminate: Light on the Undergrowth” tonight at 7:45pm. Tickets at www.bit.ly/ CoMotionDanceRehearsal

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

Town of Carbondale

ENGLISH CLASS Valley Settlement provides free English lessons at the Basalt Library from 9am to 12:30pm. Visit www. valleysettlement.org for more info.

MEET THE AUTHOR Meet award-winning author Benjamin Alire Saenz, author of “Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” at Colorado Mountain College’s Aspen Campus today at noon, or at the Spring Valley Campus at 6pm. There is a livestream option for the latter.

Visit www.coloradomtn.edu/ commonreader for more info.

MARIO KART The Basalt Library hosts a Mario Kart tournament for kids, fifth grade and up, at 3pm. More info at www.basaltlibrary.org COMMUNITY MEAL The Redstone General Store serves beef and veggie stew with kale salad, shepherd’s bread and polenta fritters, from 4 to 8pm.

SPOOKY CLAY SLAY Carbondale Clay Center hosts a costume party where attendees also learn how to make a clay Jack-O-Lantern at 6pm. This is a 21+ event. More info at www.carbondaleclay.org SWEET JESSUP Mountain Heart Brewing (1831 Dolores Way in Carbondale) hosts Sweet Jessup & The Dirty Buckets for a Spooky Singin' Saw Halloween Bash from 6:30-9pm.

Craft beer, live music, costume and pumpkin carving contest and good neighborhood fun is to be had.

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

ACT PRODUCTION Aspen Community Theatre presents “Once Upon a Mattress'' at the Wheeler Opera House tonight, Oct. 28, Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 at 7pm, and matinees on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 at 2pm. Tickets at www.bit.ly/ACTProduction

COMOTION DANCE In celebration of their 10th anniversary, CoMotion Dance Company presents “Illuminate: Light on the Undergrowth” tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm at the Launchpad.

CONSENSUAL HALLOWEEN The Consensual Improv troupe delivers a spooky performance at TACAW at 8pm.

Tickets at www.tacaw.org HALLOWEEN PARTY Mugsy Fay and Basick VVitch perform at Marble Distillery in Carbondale from 8pm to midnight in celebration of Halloween. There will also be tarot readings, a costume contest and free Narcan available.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28

CARING CONNECTIONS Dede Osborn leads a three-part series “Caring Connections: Nurturing Minds and Hearts, Navigating Together,” today, Nov. 11 and Dec. 2, 10-11:30am, at the Third Street Center. Courtney Gabriel, owner of Roaring Fork Home Care, is today’s special guest. Email dede. osbborn@gmail.com for more info.

THRILL THE WORLD Mosey on over to Chacos Park (4th and Main in Carbondale) for a spooky surprise from the Bonedale Flashmob.

LEGION HALLOWEEN The American Legion hosts its Halloween Party from 5-10pm. For more info, call 970-963-2381 HALLOWEEN AT TACAW Those Crazy Nights, a Journey tribute band, performs for TACAW’s Halloween Bash at 8:30pm.

Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

OFRENDA BUILDING Bring photos and memories of loved ones who have passed on to the Glenwood Springs Library and create altars (ofrendas en español), ahead of Dia De Los Muertos, from 1 to 5pm.

Light snacks will be provided and “Coco” will be screened at 1:30pm.

ECSTATIC DANCE 13 Moons Ranch (6334 Highway 133) hosts another Ecstatic Dance at 6pm. Email alyahowe@ me.com for more info.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30

OFRENDA WORKSHOP Latina artist Mari Munet guides an ofrenda building workshop from 5:30-7:30pm at the Glenwood Springs Library.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

REDSTONE HALLOWEEN The Redstone General Store serves soup and hot drinks during Halloween festivities on the boulevard, from 5 to 8pm.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 LIBRARY BOOK CLUB Come discuss your favorite and least favorite books, and discover new ones, at the Basalt Library Book Club at noon.

FINANCE CAMP Teens are invited to learn the essentials of public investing from Ron Speaker, the founder of the Finance Camp, along with three students from its inaugural summer camp, at TACAW from 4-6pm.

Parents are also welcome. Visit www. thefinancecamp.com for more info.

"Defending the Freedom to Read"

by Jamie LaRue Jamie LaRue is the Executive Director of the Garfield County Public Library District and the former director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. In his over 32 years as an administrator, he has overseen over 1200 challenges to library resources. His essay, On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US (Fulcrum Publishing, available September 29, 2023) is available at White River Books in Carbondale.

Live in-person service. Live music by Jimmy Byrne.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founding member John McEuen and The Circle Band are slated for a show at Rifle's Ute Theater on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:30pm. The band will perform songs from Nitty Gritty’s platinum-selling album, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," originally released 50 years ago. Tickets can be purchased at www. utetheater.com Tune into Everything Under The Sun on KDNK Community Access Radio (www.kdnk.org) on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 4pm for a live interview with McEuen. Photo courtesy of Alan Nahigian

‘COCO’ Aspen Film shows a free family screening of the Disney film “COCO” at the Isis Theatre in Aspen at 5pm.

NATURE JOURNALING Practice, and get tips on, nature journaling using words and drawings at the Carbondale Library at 1pm.

Call 970-963-2889 for more info.

‘OLDBOY’ Aspen Film screens the 20th Anniversary re-release of Park Chan-Wook's iconic cult classic, “OLDBOY,” newly restored, at the Isis Theatre at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.bit.ly/OLDBOYAspenFilm

CLAY CENTER OFRENDA The Carbondale Clay Center will be closed this First Friday, but an ofrenda honoring some of its late potters, Sandie Gardner, Angus Graham and Peg Malloy, will be on display in front. People can stop by and contribute to the ofrenda.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

FAIR TRADE Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glenwood Springs hosts the Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade International Craft Fair today (noon to 6pm), tomorrow (10am to 6pm), Saturday, Nov. 4 (10am to 5pm) and Sunday, Nov. 5 (noon to 4pm).

TEEN LIBRARY COUNCIL The Basalt Teen Library Council convenes at the library at 4pm. Teens can join and make their voices heard. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

CHRIS PUREKA Genderqueer Americana artist Chris Pureka performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS The Valley’s largest celebration of Día de los Muertos, held annually on First Friday in Carbondale, begins with the creation of a community ofrenda (altar) in front of the Launchpad. At 5pm, the festivities commence at Chacos Park (Fourth Street Plaza) with performances, face painting and more. The annual procession, with traditional dancing by Aspen Santa-Fe Ballet Folklórico, sets off from the Third Street Center at 6pm, and ends at Chacos Park with more fun to be had. Visit www. carbondalearts.com for more info.

Sunday, October 29th, 10am at Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist Community Room @ Third Street Center in Carbondale or via Zoom Join Zoom Meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82605258305 Meeting ID: 826 0525 8305 - Passcode: chalice

truu.org

scan for zoom meeting

SISTER HAZEL Rock & Roll band Sister Hazel performs at TACAW at 8pm.

Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

EARLY LEARNING Grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbors, babysitters and nannies who take care of children, ages 0-5, are invited to a two-part workshop regarding early childhood learning.

The first workshop takes place at the Glenwood Springs Library, today at 1pm, and the second at the Rifle Library on Nov. 11, also at 1pm. Both workshops are bilingual.

Call 970-945-5958 for more info.

NIGHTMARE BEFORE XMAS Crystal River Ballet Company performs a rendition of “A Nightmare Before Christmas” at the Launchpad at 7pm. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Visit www. crystalriverballet.com for more info.

ZIKR DANCE ENSEMBLE Zikr Dance Ensemble, Denver’s nationally acclaimed contemporary dance company, performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5

GITNB AUDITIONS Dance auditions for the Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza take place at the Launchpad from 5:307:30pm. Reach out to Meagan Londy with questions at 303-775-7037.

HANDBUILD A MINI JACK-O-LANTERN CANDLE VOTIVE 21+ | $75 PER PERSON COSTUMES STRONGLY ENCOURAGED! REGISTER ONLINE AT CARBONDALECLAY.ORG/CLAY-SLAY

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 9

CRMS wins state mountain biking team title, and it’s playoff time for Rams soccer

By John Stroud Sopris Sun Correspondent Club mountain biking teams from high schools across Colorado descended on the Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley trails for last weekend’s state championships. In the end, it was a local team that was crowned as the top dirt riders.

Colorado Rocky Mountain School of Carbondale won the championship with 6,703 points, out-dueling teams from Durango (6,656) and Fairview (6,516) over the two days of competition Saturday and Sunday.

CRMS junior Canyon Cherney took second place overall out of 95 competitors in the boys varsity race on Sunday with a time of one hour, 12 minutes, barely 10 seconds behind the winner, Fairview senior Leif Bryan (1:11:50).

Two other CRMS riders, senior Eli Nolan (1:16:27.8) and junior Lucas Berry (1:16:43.1) finished 10th and 11th, respectively.

For Roaring Fork High School, senior Sam Friday was the top finisher in the varsity race, in 18th place (1:18:45.4).

The top local rider in the varsity girls race was junior Nina Villafranco from CRMS, taking 18th place (1:35:59.9) in a field of 56 riders.

Glenwood Springs senior Samantha Meskin finished in 26th (1:39:08.7).

XC girls qualify for state

Competing at the 3A Region 1 meet in Denver on Oct. 19, the Basalt/ Roaring Fork girls cross country team took third place behind regional champion Aspen and second place Middle Park to qualify for the state championships coming up this weekend in Colorado Springs.

Junior Isabella Moon was the team’s top finisher in third place with a time of 21 minutes, 28 seconds over the 5K course. Sophomore Caroline Cole was 11th (21:59.5) and junior Morgan Fink was 14th (22:09.2).

Two Longhorn boys qualified for the 3A state championship meet individually, senior Owen Lambert who took third at regionals with 17:51.8, and sophomore Towler Scott (seventh, 18:09).

Soccer playoffs underway

The Roaring Fork boys soccer team entered the 3A state playoffs Wednesday as the No. 8 seed in the 32-team field, facing No. 25 Timnath at home. The game concluded after the deadline for this story.

The Rams finished the regular season last week with a pair of home wins, 9-0 over Moffat County on Oct. 19, and 10-1 over CRMS on Senior Night, Oct. 20.

Roaring Fork goes into the playoffs at 10-3-2 overall and finished at 6-1-1 for second place in the 3A Western Slope League behind Vail Mountain, also at 6-1-1, but with the head-tohead advantage over Roaring Fork based on the Rams 1-0 loss to the Gore Rangers on Sept. 21.

Rams volleyball fights for playoff spot

The Roaring Fork girls volleyball team took a step closer to making it into the 36-team Class 3A regionals with a 3-2 win over Olathe for Senior Night at home Tuesday.

It was another thriller, as the Rams are accustomed to giving their fans, as they rebounded from losing the first two sets to the Pirates, 25-21 and 25-14, before claiming the next two sets, 25-17 and 25-19 and before taking the tie-breaker, 15-13.

Senior Ruby Denning finished the night with 15 kills, while sophomores Yakelin Hernandez and Nikki Tardif had nine and eight, respectively.

Junior Erica Crownhart served up 10 aces for the match and scooped up 25 digs.

On Saturday, the Rams downed Moffat County on the road, 3-0 (2516, 25-16, 25-17). Denning had nine kills and Hernandez had eight in that one.

Roaring Fork closes out the regular season on Friday at 4A Steamboat Springs, and will await the regional pairings to be announced early next week to see if they’re in the mix.

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

Top: CRMS junior Nina Villafranco was the top local rider in the varsity girls state mountain bike championship race at Spring Valley, taking 18th out of 56 riders. Photo by CRMS sophomore Juliana Pittz Center: Rams Volleyball seniors (left to right) Ruby Denning, Coach Karen Crownhart, Nora Lindgren, and Fernanda Ruiz embrace after the seniors’ final league game at Roaring Fork High School against Olathe. Photo by Sue Rollyson Below: Rams soccer seniors Cooper Chacos, Foster Hayes, Gabriel Salas, Noel Richardson, Jose Canas, Yandel Silva, Eli Cohen, Jake Barlow, Bennett Jardine, Jeffrey Candela, Maddox Stainton, Josh Hernandez and Yusbani Duarte. Coach Nick Forbes is held in the center. Photo by Sue Rollyson

Sol del el

Conectando comunidades desde 2021

Valle

Volumen 2, Número 35 | 26 de octubre - 1 de noviembre de 2023

De izquierda a derecha: Flor M Paz-Pastrana, Bryan Alvarez-Terrazas, Art Williams, Livier Cruz Guerrero y Claudia Pawl ensayan "Noche Mística" en TACAW. El espectáculo, que forma parte del programa "Nuestras Voces" con la organización sin fines lucrativos VOICES, es una comedia fisica, boba, pero con elementos místicos. Foto de Jem Moore/Cortesía de VOICES

Una comedia física en español anima el lado 'bobo' de todo el mundo Por Kaya Williams Aspen Public Radio Traducción por Global Language Services Muchos de los espectáculos producidos por VOICES, una organización local sin fines de lucro, ayudan a la gente a hablar de sus momentos más vulnerables: el momento en que llegaron a una nueva comprensión sobre su identidad, se enfrentaron a grandes cambios en la vida o dieron un gran salto hacia una nueva meta. Hay humor, y algún toque dramático, pero sobre todo, son historias desgarradoras que tienen una tierna conexión humana.

Pero la última producción, que forma parte de la serie en español "Nuestras Voces", fue diferente. "Noche Mística" es un espectáculo bobalicón y de comedia física, escrito de cero por el elenco y el equipo, sobre un juego que

sale mal. Se estrenó en el escenario de The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) el fin de semana pasado, la tontería fue el punto principal.

"Es una comedia - no es nada profundo ni (lleno de) filosofía", dijo Livier Cruz Guerrero, uno de los miembros del elenco. "Es sólo para reírse".

La obra añadió algunos elementos místicos al juego mexicano de la lotería.

Las figuras, como "el árbol" y "la chalupa" resultarán familiares a quienes hayan jugado este juego. En "Noche Mística", sin embargo, hubieron algunas sorpresas, como un hada embrujada y una médium psíquica que son invocadas accidentalmente durante el juego.

A veces, dijo Cruz Guerrero, uno necesita algo de humor en su vida.

"Como humanos, tenemos diferentes emociones, como la tristeza, la felicidad, (la ira)", dijo Cruz Guerrero. "Así que reír es realmente algo que te da vida, es

decir, como llorar. Tienes que expresar esas emociones".

Y en este caso, esas emociones se expresan totalmente en español.

Lorenzo González-Fontes fue el director de este espectáculo.

"Esa oportunidad de 'sacar la risa de la gente con nuestra lengua', es muy muy especial poder hacerlo, porque la risa es curativa, creo yo", dijo.

González-Fontes es artista asociada de El Centro Su Teatro de Denver. Es una organización sin fines de lucro que se centra en el teatro y la cultura chicanos, y las producciones allí son en una combinación de español e inglés.

Fue reclutado para este proyecto de VOICES en el valle de Roaring Fork, donde cerca del 30% de la población se identifica como latina o hispana.

"Es muy importante oír nuestra lengua en Colorado", añadió. "Creo que es bueno que nos aseguremos de que se habla español aquí en

Colorado, ¿verdad?".

Eso también les llega a los miembros del elenco, como Flor M Paz-Pastrana. Es la segunda vez que actúa en "Nuestras Voces", después de debutar en 2021.

"Es increíble", dijo.

"No hay muchos espectáculos en español, todo en español, así que cuando ves a la gente salir y están tan contentos de poder tener esto aquí en el valle, te sientes muy bien por ello", añadió.

"Como, ... sí, hemos creado esto, y la gente viene, y lo disfrutan y piden más".

Todos los aspectos de este espectáculo fueron en español, desde los diálogos en el escenario hasta la página web donde se pudieron adquirir las entradas.

En el espectáculo hubieron subtítulos en inglés para aquellas personas que no hablaban español, pero parte de la comedia física del espectáculo no necesito traducción ya que todos los espectadores se rieron a carcajadas.

La importancia de estar preparados frente a las adversidades

OPINIÓN

El Rincón del Sargento Por Carlos Cornejo

El reciente conflicto entre Hamas e Israel ha sacudido al mundo. Las imágenes que se transmiten desde el Medio Oriente nos recuerdan la fragilidad de la paz y la profundidad del sufrimiento humano que puede causar un conflicto. Miles de vidas han sido perdidas, y una avalancha de desgracia humanitaria se desborda en las calles, pintando un cuadro de desolación que desgarra el corazón.

Para muchos de nosotros en Estados Unidos, y más aún en nuestros pequeños pueblos, la guerra parece un fenómeno distante, casi ajeno, producto de circunstancias políticas, culturales y territoriales que no comprendemos del todo.

Sin embargo, estos eventos nos sirven como recordatorio

contundente de que el conflicto puede surgir en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar.

Aunque el suelo que pisamos parezca seguro y estable, siempre existe la posibilidad de enfrentar lo desconocido.

Más allá de los horrores del combate, la naturaleza a menudo nos plantea desafíos: incendios forestales, inundaciones, terremotos, huracanes. Aunque no estén teñidos con el sello de la guerra, tienen el potencial de desplazar y afectar a comunidades enteras.

Según FEMA (la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias) y otros servicios de emergencia, la preparación es esencial y puede marcar la diferencia entre la vida y la muerte. A continuación, les comparto algunos consejos para estar listos: 1. Plan familiar de emergencia: Todos los hogares deberían tener uno.

Asegúrate de que todos los miembros de la familia sepan qué hacer, a dónde ir y cómo comunicarse en caso de emergencia. Recuerda que las señales de celular son frágiles al igual que la electricidad.

2. Kit de suministros de emergencia: Este debe incluir agua, alimentos no perecederos,

una linterna, baterías, un radio, un botiquín de primeros auxilios (que incluya un torniquete), medicamentos esenciales, entre otros. En un desastre natural la ayuda puede tardar días en llegar. No cuentes siempre con que al llamar al 9-1-1 te resolverá el problema.

3. Informarse: Mantente al tanto de las alertas y avisos meteorológicos. FEMA ofrece la aplicación móvil "FEMA", que proporciona alertas y consejos de preparación. Los condados locales también cuentan con sistemas de alertas; búscalos y regístrate.

4. Capacitación: Aprende primeros auxilios y CPR. Estas habilidades pueden ser vitales en una situación de emergencia.

5. Conozca las rutas de evacuación: Asegúrate de conocer las rutas de evacuación de tu comunidad y ten un plan en caso de que necesites desplazarte rápidamente.

No hace mucho tiempo que era difícil salir de Glenwood Springs cuando había incendios y cierres por el clima.

Toma el tiempo de conocer el área donde vives.

6. Mantén documentos importantes a la mano: Guarda pasaportes, certificados de nacimiento, títulos de propiedad y otros documentos

Town of Carbondale

esenciales en un lugar seguro pero accesible.

7. Salud mental: La preparación no solo es física.

Es fundamental contar con estrategias para manejar el estrés y la ansiedad que puedan surgir en situaciones adversas.

Quiero enfatizar la importancia de conocer a nuestros vecinos. En tiempos de crisis, la solidaridad y el apoyo mutuo se convierten en recursos invaluables. Conocer a nuestros vecinos no es solo una cuestión de cortesía o convivencia social, sino una herramienta esencial para la supervivencia colectiva. Los lazos comunitarios pueden hacer la diferencia cuando enfrentamos adversidades inesperadas.

Cuando conocemos a nuestros vecinos, podemos identificar rápidamente las habilidades y recursos disponibles en nuestra comunidad. Quizás uno de ellos sea médico y pueda ofrecer primeros auxilios, otro pueda tener conocimientos en reparaciones básicas o alguien más cuente con provisiones adicionales. La cooperación y la distribución equitativa de recursos y tareas son esenciales en situaciones de emergencia.

Además, en circunstancias

donde la comunicación con autoridades o servicios de emergencia se ve comprometida, una comunidad unida puede organizar esfuerzos de rescate, refugio y abastecimiento de forma autónoma. Establecer redes de comunicación y apoyo entre vecinos puede ser la clave para superar desafíos y garantizar la seguridad de todos.

Es doloroso contemplar el sufrimiento humano, ya sea a miles de kilómetros de distancia o en nuestra puerta. Pero en lugar de simplemente lamentar estas tragedias, aprovechemos estos momentos de reflexión para tomar medidas proactivas.

Estemos preparados para lo que pueda venir, porque la única certeza en este mundo incierto es que lo inesperado siempre estará al acecho.

El dolor que sentimos al observar el sufrimiento humano, ya sea a miles de kilómetros o a la vuelta de la esquina, nos debe motivar a actuar. La preparación no es solo un acto de autoconservación, sino también un acto de solidaridad con nuestros vecinos y seres queridos.

¡ALEJE LA GRIPE – VISITE NUESTRAS CLINICAS! Clínica Abierta Sin Cita: Salud Pública del Condado Garfield ofrecerá una clínica comunitaria contra la gripe en la biblioteca de Carbondale 320 Sopris Avenue Sabado, octubre 28, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

¡Gracias a Sopris Sun por ayudar a crear conciencia sobre nuestras clínicas contra la gripe! $15/niño, $25/adulto | Vacuna de dosis alta disponible para mayores de 65 años. El spray nasal antigripal está disponible.

Medicare Parte B, Medicaid, CHP+, RMHP, BCBS y seguros médicos de UHC

Salud Publica: Rifle 970-625-5200 ext. 8116 Glenwood Springs: 970-945-6614 ext. 2030

Llame para agendar una cita para una fecha diferente.

garfield-county.com 12 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 26 de octubre - 1 de noviembre de 2023

OPINIÓN

Desde la Clínica

Por Judith Alvarez-Quiroz

En un mundo donde la dieta moderna a menudo está llena de alimentos procesados y pocos saludables, las clases de cocinar saludable están emergiendo como un faro de esperanza para comunidades en busca de un cambio. Estas clases no solo enseñan recetas y técnicas culinarias, sino que también tienen un impacto profundo en la salud y el bienestar de la comunidad en su conjunto.

Importancia de las clases de cocinar saludable

Promueven una alimentación nutritiva: Estas clases ayudan a las personas a comprender y seleccionar

Aprende a cocinar saludable y a nutrir a la comunidad alimentos más nutritivos, aumentando así su ingesta de vitaminas, minerales y fibra.

Previenen enfermedades: Destacan como aprender a cocinar saludablemente puede reducir el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas como la obesidad, la diabetes y las enfermedades cardiacas.

Desarrollo de habilidades culinarias: Las clases no solo enseñan recetas, sino también habilidades culinarias que empoderan a las personas para tomar el control de su dieta.

Ahorro de dinero: Al cocinar en casa puede ser más económico que comer fuera o comprar alimentos procesados, lo que beneficia a las familias y a la comunidad en general.

El impacto en la comunidad

Fortalecimiento de vínculos comunitarios: Las clases de cocina saludable pueden reunir a personas de diferentes edades y orígenes, fortaleciendo los lazos dentro de la comunidad.

Educación en nutrición para todas las edades: Estas clases pueden ser accesibles para niños,

CHISME DEL PUEBLO Oportunidad para artistas

Carbondale Arts comisiona la creación de cinco murales y tres esculturas para embellecer la nueva instalación de almacenamiento en construcción a lo largo del Highway 133, al norte de la subestación eléctrica. Los administradores de la ciudad aprobaron la instalación de un servicio de auto almacenamiento de 590 unidades en diciembre de 2020 con la condición de que se estableciera una nueva zona de arte público como una extensión del Rio Grande ARTway. El plazo para aceptar solicitudes vence el 22 de enero de 2024, con $4,000 a $7,500 dólares disponibles por mural o escultura. Más información en www. carbondalecreativedistrict.com/publicartarea

Paga según lo que deshechas

La ciudad de Glenwood Springs se está preparando para poner en marcha su servicio de basura Paga según lo que deshechas -Pay as You Throw (PAYT) en toda la ciudad el 1 de noviembre. Hasta el 27 de octubre, Mountain Waste and Recycling - la empresa contratada para el programa PAYT - estará dejando los nuevos contenedores de los residentes. Los contenedores utilizados anteriormente serán recogidos por la ciudad o por el transportista de basura dueño del contenedor, durante la última semana de octubre, o a principios de noviembre. Visite www.cogs.us/payt para obtener más información, incluido un mapa con los días y horarios de recolección. Para más información, llame al 970384-6426.

Convocatoria para artistas

El plazo para participar en el concurso de carteles del festival 5Point 2024 ya está abierto, y es patrocinado por El Dorado. Todas las formas de arte visual son bienvenidas, incluyendo pintura, ilustración, diseño gráfico y fotografía. La fecha para aplicar finaliza el 17 de noviembre y el artista elegido recibirá $1,000 dólares y dos pases VIP para el festival. El concepto artístico y tres muestras de trabajo deben enviarse a info@5pointfilm.org.

adultos y personas mayores, promoviendo una cultura de salud en toda la comunidad.

Sostenibilidad y conciencia ambiental : Cocinar en casa a menudo se traduce en un menor desperdicio de alimentos y un menor impacto ambiental, lo que beneficia a la comunidad.

El futuro de la cocina saludable en la comunidad

Programas de extensión: Es sumamente importante el encontrar maneras de cómo se pueden expandir y financiar programas de clases de cocina saludable para llegar a más miembros de la comunidad.

Aunque existen fondos para ellos en ocasiones es difícil obtenerlos e incluso el Dr. Feinsinger comentó, “Yo podría pagar para continuar con estas clases,” porque él sabe del poder e impacto que tienen en nuestra salud y bienestar de las familias.

Involucramientos de las escuelas: Es de suma importancia introducir la educación culinaria y de nutrición en las escuelas para inculcar hábitos saludables desde una edad temprana.

En especial ahora que en nuestro estado hemos pasado una propuesta donde ahora las comidas escolares son gratis y saludables y que existe una gran oportunidad de poder participar en la implementación de esta propuesta para que juntos, padres, escuelas, personal de las cafeterías y granjeros podamos encontrar las mejores soluciones y asegurar que esto sea exitoso para nuestra comunidad.

Las clases de cocina saludable no solo tratan de aprender a preparar comidas deliciosas, sino que también desempeñan un papel vital en la promoción de una comunidad más saludable y un futuro sostenible.

Este mes de septiembre empezamos dos series de clases de cocina saludable. Una a través de Cooking Matters de Garfield County en colaboración con SANA (Safe and Abundant Nutrition Alliance) a través de la plataforma virtual Zoom, desde la comodidad de su casa será una serie de 6 clases del 1 de Septiembre al 6 de Octubre.

Otra con el comité de médicos por una medicina responsable,

en El Jebel en las oficinas de Inglés en Acción (English in Action) en persona, esta será una serie de 5 clases llamadas “Activa tu salud” del 10 de Septiembre al 15 de Octubre así que si te gustaria participar llama al 970-989-3513.

Yo soy una paciente pre diabética tratada con metformina (una pastilla para bajar los niveles de azúcar en la sangre) con una hemoglobina Glucosilada, A1C de 5.7, triglicerídeos altos y colesterol bueno bajo, HDL y sobrepeso.

Decidí tomar las clases de como cocinar sin azúcar, ni sal y no aceite, y en el mes de agosto me mandaron hacer estudios de seguimiento y como era de esperarse mis niveles de A1C disminuyeron a 5.4 y también mis niveles de triglicéridos disminuyeron, así que estoy más que convencida del poder que tiene el comer saludable para cuidar la salud.

Al invertir en estas clases las comunidades pueden cosechar beneficios duraderos en términos de salud, bienestar y cohesión social ¡Comencemos a cocinar saludablemente y a nutrir nuestras comunidades para un futuro brillante!

Liderazgo RFSD

La junta educativa del distrito escolar de Roaring Fork se reunió el 25 de octubre a las 5 p.m., poco después de nuestra hora de cierre de la edición, para discutir, entre otras cosas, un acuerdo de renuncia con el superintendente Dr. Jesús Rodríguez. Según un comunicado de prensa, la Dra. Anna Cole "continuará como superintendente temporal hasta que se nombre un superintendente interino". El Sopris Sun hará un seguimiento en la edición de la próxima semana.

Educación artística

Glenwood Springs Parks and Recreation está ofreciendo dos talleres artísticos para mayores de 16 años este mes de noviembre. Los días 1 y 2 de noviembre, de 5:30 a 8:30 p.m, podrás aprender animación en 2D y 3D utilizando técnicas de dibujo, pintura y fotografía. Después, el 6 y 7 de noviembre, de 5:30 a 8:30 p.m., Brian Weller enseñará ilustración de libros gráficos en la biblioteca de Glenwood Springs.

Inscríbase en línea en www.bit.ly/glenwoodrec-arts

De la granja al refrigerador

El 16vo. reparto anual de comida comunitaria de Farm Collaborative, "De la granja al refrigerador", tendrá lugar el 14 de noviembre de 2:00 a 5:30 p.m. Se podrán recoger bolsas de productos locales con ingredientes gratuitos en Cozy Point Ranch, situado cerca de Brush Creek Park and Ride, cerca de Snowmass Village. Es necesario inscribirse en www.farmco.org, a partir del 1 de noviembre. Para ser voluntario o patrocinar el evento, llame al 970-900-3276.

Contratación en oficina de correos

Anticipando una ocupada temporada vacacional, la oficina de correos de Carbondale y otros en el área están contratando. El salario inicial oscila entre los $18.22 a $22.13 dólares, con vacaciones pagadas, seguro médico y otras prestaciones. Más información en www.usps.com/careers

"Sincronías" parte 46, por Leonardo Occhipinti

Delegado

Bryan Álvarez-Terrazas, empleado de MANAUS, ha sido promovido de gerente del Proyecto de Acción para la Equidad de la organización a subdirector.

Además de seguir supervisando el Proyecto de Acción para la Equidad y el ciclo de conferencias asociado, Alvarez-Terrazas apoyará otras iniciativas de MANAUS como la Coalición para la Convergencia de Educación Preescolar. AlvarezTerrazas nació en Glenwood Springs de padres inmigrantes y se graduó en Aspen High School antes de estudiar Ciencias Políticas en Swarthmore College de Pensilvania.

el Sol del Valle • Conector de comunidad • 26 de octubre - 1 de noviembre de 2023 • 13

Propuesta II Por Sandra Fish, The Colorado Sun Traducción por Dolores Duarte Los electores de Colorado aprobaron una medida en los comicios de 2020 que incrementaba los impuestos sobre los productos del tabaco y la nicotina y permitía al estado utilizar los ingresos para financiar un programa preescolar universal. Pero el aumento de los impuestos generó más dinero de lo esperado, por una suma alrededor de los $24 millones de dólares. Así que la legislatura aprobó un proyecto de ley que solicita a los electores este año a través de la Propuesta II, que el estado mantenga ese dinero extra - así como todos los ingresos futuros de los impuestos - y utilizarlo para extender el programa preescolar.

Si los electores rechazan la Propuesta II, los ingresos fiscales recaudados por encima de lo previsto se devolverán a mayoristas y distribuidores de nicotina y tabaco. Adicionalmente, las tasas fiscales sobre la nicotina y el tabaco serán recortadas para evitar futuros ingresos excesivos. ¿Por qué el estado necesita permiso de los electores para quedarse con los ingresos?

La Declaración de Derechos del Contribuyente, una enmienda constitucional aprobada por los electores en 1992, exige que el dinero recaudado por encima de los ingresos previstos de un impuesto se devuelva a menos que los electores permitan que el gobierno se quede con el dinero.

El aumento a los impuestos sobre

el tabaco y la nicotina se aprobó en 2020 a través de la Propouesta EE, que fue colocada en la boleta electoral por los demócratas en la legislatura. La medida, que obtuvo el apoyo del 68% de los electores, aumenta gradualmente los impuestos sobre el tabaco y la nicotina hasta 2027. Cuando se redactó la iniciativa, el personal legislativo no partidista predijo que el aumento de los impuestos generaría $186.5 millones de dólares en nuevos ingresos al año. Sin embargo, los ingresos han sido muy por encima de esa cifra, alrededor de $208 millones de dólares, razón por la cual la Propuesta II se incluyó en la boleta electoral de noviembre de 2023.

Una situación similar se produjo después de que los habitantes de Colorado legalizaran la venta y posesión de marihuana recreativa en 2012.

En 2015, los electores aprobaron la Propuesta BB, que permitía al estado quedarse con los ingresos del impuesto sobre las ventas de marihuana recreativa recaudados por encima de lo estimado y utilizar el dinero principalmente para la construcción de escuelas. ¿Cómo llegó la Propuesta II a la boleta electoral?

La legislatura colocó la Propuesta II en la boleta electoral a través de la aprobación del proyecto de ley de la cámara 1290 de este año. El total de los 31 republicanos en la asamblea general, así como tres demócratas, votaron en contra de la legislación. ¿A dónde irá el dinero si la Propuesta II es aprobada?

La tasa fiscal se mantendrá igual y el exceso de ingresos se destinaría al programa preescolar existente en Colorado, que este año comenzó a

ofrecer al menos 10 horas semanales de preescolar en el año previo al inicio del kindergarden, así como instrucción para niños de 3 y 4 años con discapacidades.

Ese programa ha sido popular, pero ha tenido un inicio difícil, con algunos distritos escolares demandando al estado por cuestiones de financiamiento y escuelas religiosas demandando por requisitos de no discriminación.

El dinero recaudado a través de la Propuesta EE se destinó a educación K-12, escuelas rurales y ayudas a la vivienda en los primeros tres años. ¿Qué ocurrirá exactamente si la Propuesta II fracasa?

Si los electores rechazan la propuesta, el estado tendrá que devolver casi $24 millones de dólares a mayoristas y distribuidores de cigarrillos y nicotina a través de reembolsos directos y reducciones fiscales temporales.

El estado también reduciría los impuestos sobre la nicotina y el tabaco en un 11.53% para evitar recaudar impuestos excesivos en el futuro.

Para ponerlo en contexto: Los impuestos sobre un paquete de cigarrillos en virtud de la Propuesta EE son actualmente de $1.94 dólares y está previsto que aumenten a $2.64 dólares el 1 de julio de 2027. El impuesto sobre otros productos de tabaco y nicotina es actualmente del 50% y aumentará al 62% a partir de julio de 2027.

Lo que dicen quienes la apoyan Quienes apoyan la propuesta, sostienen que los impuestos más altos sobre el tabaco y los productos de nicotina desalientan su uso. También argumentan que el aumento del

financiamiento para el programa preescolar universal de Colorado mejorará los resultados educativos y de salud para los niños que se benefician de las instrucción.

Entre los grupos que apoyan la medida electoral se encuentran Healthier Colorado, Colorado Children's Campaign, Children's Hospital Colorado y Great Education Colorado.

Preescolar para todo Colorado, el comité que apoya la Propuesta II, había recaudado más de $291,000 dólares a fines de septiembre y gastado sólo unos $34,000 dólares.

Los principales donantes del grupo son Healthier Colorado, con $90,000 dólares, Save the Children Action Network, con $86,000 dólares, y Gary Advocacy, con $50,000 dólares.

Healthier Colorado y Save the Children Action Network son organizaciones sin fines de lucro, mientras que Gary Advocacy es una sociedad filantrópica de responsabilidad limitada afiliada a la organización sin fines de lucro Gary Community Ventures.

"Tenemos una gran coalición de partidarios y queremos asegurarnos de que todos en Colorado entiendan que votar sí a la Propuesta II aumentará el acceso a la educación infantil sin aumentar los impuestos", dijo Craig Hughes, socio de Hilltop Public Solutions, la firma política que está administrando la campaña Preescolar para todo Colorado.

Lo que dicen los opositores Hasta ahora no hay oposición organizada a la Propuesta II.

the support of 68% of voters, gradually increases tobacco and nicotine taxes through 2027. When the initiative was drafted, nonpartisan legislative staff predicted the increased taxes would generate $186.5 million in new revenue a year. But the revenue has been much higher than that — at around $208 million — which is why Proposition II was placed on the November 2023 ballot.

A similar situation played out after Coloradans legalized the sale and possession of recreational marijuana in 2012. In 2015, voters approved Proposition BB, which let the state keep recreational marijuana sales tax revenue collected above what was estimated and use the money predominantly for school construction.

How did it get on the ballot?

The legislature placed Proposition II on the ballot through the passage of House Bill 1290 this year. All 31 Republicans in the General Assembly, as well as three Democrats, voted against the legislation.

Where will the money go if Proposition II passes?

The tax rate will stay the same and the excess revenue would go toward Colorado’s existing preschool program, which this year began offering at least 10 hours a week of preschool in the year before they start kindergarten, as well as instruction for 3- and 4-year-olds

with disabilities.

That program has been popular, but it’s off to a rocky start, with some school districts suing the state over funding issues and religious schools suing over nondiscrimination requirements.

The money collected through Proposition EE went to K-12 education, rural schools and housing assistance in the first three years.

What exactly will happen if Proposition II fails?

If voters reject the ballot measure, the state will have to return nearly $24 million to cigarette and nicotine wholesalers and distributors through direct refunds and temporary tax breaks.

The state would also cut nicotine and tobacco taxes by 11.53% to avoid collecting excess taxes in the future.

For context: The taxes on a pack of cigarettes under Proposition EE are currently $1.94 and set to increase to $2.64 on July 1, 2027. The tax on other tobacco and nicotine products is currently 50% and set to rise to 62% starting in July 2027.

What supporters say Supporters contend that higher taxes on tobacco and nicotine products discourage their use. They also argue that increasing funding for Colorado’s universal preschool program will improve educational and health outcomes for the kids who benefit from the instructions.Groups

supporting the ballot measure include Healthier Colorado, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Great Education Colorado.

Preschool for All Coloradans, the issue committee supporting Proposition II, had raised more than $291,000 through late September and spent only about $34,000. The top donors to the group are Healthier Colorado at $90,000, Save the Children Action Network at $86,000 and Gary Advocacy at $50,000. Healthier Colorado and Save the Children Action Network are nonprofits, while Gary Advocacy is a philanthropic limited liability company affiliated with nonprofit Gary Community Ventures.

“We’ve got a huge coalition of supporters and want to make sure everyone in Colorado understands that voting yes on Prop. II will increase access to early childhood education without raising taxes,” said Craig Hughes, a partner at Hilltop Public Solutions, the political firm that is managing the Preschool for All Coloradans campaign.

What opponents say There’s no organized opposition thus far to Proposition II.

Para leer el articulo completo, visite a www.soprissun.com/espanol

Proposition II

By Sandra Fish The Colorado Sun Colorado voters approved a ballot measure in 2020 increasing taxes on tobacco and nicotine products and letting the state use the revenue to fund a universal preschool program.

But the increased taxes generated more money than expected to the tune of about $24 million. So the legislature passed a bill asking voters this year through Proposition II to let the state keep that extra money — as well as all future revenue from the taxes — and use it to expand the preschool program.

If voters reject Proposition II, the tax revenue collected above what was projected will be returned to nicotine and tobacco wholesalers and distributors. Additionally, the nicotine and tobacco tax rates will be cut to prevent future excess revenue.

Why does the state need voter permission to keep the revenue?

The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1992, requires that money collected in excess of a tax’s projected revenue be refunded unless voters let the government keep the money.

The increased tobacco and nicotine taxes were approved in 2020 through Proposition EE, which was placed on the ballot by Democrats in the legislature. The measure, which got

14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

For the full length article from the Colorado Sun, visit www.bit.ly/ PropiiCOSun

CARBONDALE REPORT

BASALT REPORT

Skepticism over Emma Road Development

By Will Buzzerd Sopris Sun Correspondent

ANB Bank will relocate into a new building near City Market. Courtesy graphic

ANB Bank receives approval

By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor

After approving the consent agenda (accounts payable, a liquor license renewal for the American Legion and a fee to lease the town stage waived for First Friday’s Día de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 3), with no public comments, the Oct. 24 meeting began with trustee updates. All were present minus Luis Yllanes.

Among the updates, Lani Kitching announced the Garfield County withdrawal management facility will likely begin seeing patients in April 2024. Erica Sparhawk stated that there are 476 current members of the chamber of commerce, with 18 joining in September. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk said he had just signed the letter to the United States Forest Service approved at the Oct. 11 meeting.

Police Chief Kirk Wilson then presented his department’s budget, with $90,000 going toward 24/7 crisis clinician support from Aspen Hope Center, $3,000 for officer wellness, $66,000 overtime pay, $136,000 for two 2024 Ford Interceptors and $45,000 for fuel (a $21,500 increase to allow officers to take vehicles home).

Marty Silverstein asked about hybrid vehicles, to which Wilson responded they’re in conversation with CLEER about electrifying the fleet, but at present the performance of their hybrids “has been dismal.”

Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger then talked about their budget. This includes $20,000 North Face Bike Park maintenance, $35,000 for playgrounds, $38,000 for park improvements, $19,500 for cemetery improvements, $15,000 toward Red Hill trails, $23,000 on integrated weed management with manual labor costs and additional training with Bee Happy Lands, $30,000 for bathhouse roof replacement at Gateway RV Park, $22,000 on Rec Center maintenance, $40,000 for special events, $50,000 for the electrification of mowing equipment and $4,000 to make the Miner’s Park irrigation system draw from the Rockford Ditch.

Dog parks will receive new signage before the end of the year and a process will begin to plan Chacos Park. Brendlinger budgeted $75,000 for implementation of a Chacos Park conceptual plan by spring. Meanwhile, the Crystal River Restoration work will receive $405,000 in grant funding to complete work including plantings.

Some residents are concerned that small oil puddles persist on the riverbanks downstream.

The pool budget was then discussed.

Brendlinger predicted a $11,693,692 cost for a gas-heated building and pool. He explained that investigations into net-zero potential have resulted in “sticker shock.” He said, “it’s doable, but not for a project like ours,” insisting that the master plan should be followed “if we want to give the public what they asked for” including a

five-lane lap pool, a separate entertainment pool and a therapy spa.

Colin Laird insisted that Basalt’s pool has implemented air-source heat pumps with two bodies of water and a back-up natural gas system. Erica Sparhawk said there is funding available for these kinds of projects and they shouldn’t give up on heat pumps and electrification.

Next, trustees reviewed recommended changes to employee salaries with a 5% cost of living adjustment and 13.1% health insurance increase. Employees will receive more vacation days and Martin Luther King Jr. Day was made a staff holiday.

Quickly, “non-substantive” Unified Development Code amendments were approved to correct reference errors, reorder rows numerically and separate out a section of application requirements for clarity. The definition of “Household Living” was also changed to align with short-term rental regulations.

Little Blue Preschool’s approval on July 26 for a building expansion returned for final approval and trustees considered waiving certain fees in support of child care. “I’m very supportive of waiving the fees that we can on this,” said Laird. Staff recommended against waiving fees.

Director of Blue Lake Preschool Michelle Oger thanked Laird and emphasized that “Basalt has really jumped in and been huge supporters of child care, throwing property and money at people.” She said that it’s a difficult business and they rely on grant money to stay open and pay teachers.

“I agree on a dire need for more preschool,” Marty Silverstein said, “but if we want to support it … we need to come up with a funding mechanism for it.”

“I’m generally with Marty on this,” said Chris Hassig. He suggested waiving planning department and attorneys fees which passed 4-2 with Silverstein and Kitching voting “no.”

Attorney fees were estimated between $2,000 and $5,000 and planning department at $1,740.

The big item of the evening was ANB Bank’s application to build a two-story, mixed-use, mostly- electric bank with commercial space and 16 residential units (three deed-restricted and all rentals) on Highway 133 just north of 7-Eleven and the Remax building.

“Thank you so much for a project that responded to everything we said last time,” said Bohmfalk, referring to changes made since ANB Bank’s 2021 proposal fell flat.

After a presentation by the project team, trustees unanimously approved the application with two additional conditions: 1.

Reach out to the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority about possibly purchasing the ANB Bank property next to the Park and Ride and 2. Review the flow of bicycle and pedestrian traffic with staff.

This week’s Town Council meeting, Oct. 24, saw councilors Angela Anderson and Elyse Hottel absent as the flu makes its way through the Valley.

The meeting began with a series of presentations, the first led by the police department announcing its accreditation. For the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, accreditation includes a professional code of ethics and minimum professional standard requirements, all in service of clearly defining the role of police and improving the quality of their service. Basalt first received accreditation in 2017, but a review is required every five years.

Next, the fledgling Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative (RFVWC) spoke about its current and future projects. Representing RFVWC, Angie Davlyn led the presentation. She emphasized the rising danger of wildfires and the Valley’s particular vulnerability due to the proximity of urban areas and wilderness. “Fire is really a way of life when you live so close to the forest, and it’s our job as residents here to adapt,” she said.

Housed within the Aspen Institute, RFVWC is a multi-stakeholder, cross-county collaboration on a mission to reduce wildfire risk by creating fire-resilient landscapes while focusing on community engagement and education.

So far, RFVWC has completed fuel mitigation projects north of Redstone and Filoha Meadows, and plans to work in and around Sunnyside, Marble and Sopris Creek over the next couple of years.

The final presentation was a Midland Avenue streetscape update led by David Detwiler. Phase I of the Project, the Midland Spur, has been open for several weeks, and only landscaping work remains.

Next week, citizens can expect to see light poles coming up to illuminate this section of Midland.

With regards to Phase II, the portion of construction currently underway on the main drag of Midland, workers are now connecting water lines. A sanitary service was also found damaged and promptly repaired and won’t lead to any delay in construction. Services will continually be updated through the end of November, when the road will be temporarily paved. Phase II will pause until spring of 2024, at which point the much-contested surface improvements will begin.

The project team has stated that a comprehensive value engineering exercise is currently underway for this part of the project, and updated pricing can be expected at the Nov. 14 meeting.

In terms of council actions, a new financial policy manual was unanimously adopted to establish objectives, standards and internal controls for public funds. According to Finance Director Doug Pattison, the manual mainly compiles existing policies for the convenience of having everything in one place. After that, council approved the installation and maintenance of underground electrical facilities beneath Lion’s Park, just outside Town Hall.

The final major item of the night was a public hearing and consideration of a PUD application for the Jadwin/Black Mountain Sketch Plan. For those unaware, Jadwin Park LLC has applied for annexation, PUD and other development review actions to construct a large residential complex at 431 Emma Road, just east of the Basalt Regional Library.

The development, in its current state, includes 68 dwelling units, 12 short-term rental cabins, 7 glamping pads, a pond and a small open space bordering on the south side of the Roaring Fork River for easy fishing access. Jadwin Park LLC has proposed that 24 of the units will be deed-restricted rental units, deemed satisfactory by Basalt Affordable Community Housing group.

Councilor Glen Drummond argued, however, that this proportion of affordable housing is insufficient, and that in its current state the development is simply too large. Mayor Bill Kane agreed that the visual impact of the project needs to be considered and was apprehensive about three-story developments in town. Additionally, the plan requires the modification of Basalt’s Urban Growth Boundary, which Kane stated is a line not to be crossed unless the town was faced with some overwhelming need.

Councilor David Knight agreed that there wasn’t enough affordable housing in the project, especially in the multi-family units. “If we increase the footprint of the town, it’s just digging the hole deeper,” said Knight.

Council decided to continue the public hearing to Nov. 14, during which time the applicant will address concerns and citizens can present additional comments.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 15

LIBRARY REPORT

A WiFi suggestion and more

By Lynn “Jake” Burton Sopris Sun correspondent

Most regular Carbondale Library users know there is outdoor WiFi reception on the south side of the building and some know there is WiFi in the front. But, what if it’s winter, the temperature is 32 degrees and dropping, it’s after hours and you really need to do something on the internet? Hope could be on the horizon. But first, to backtrack, this reporter got to thinking about the Carbondale Library’s WiFi a few months ago after noticing there are a lot of connections bouncing around near the building, including the Roaring Fork School District office building’s WiFi and several neighboring houses.

“Hmm,” I thought to myself.

“If there is all this WiFi reception zapping around near the library, maybe the library can extend its range.” Before pursuing this idea, however, I figured I should do some on-the-ground research. First, I learned the library’s WiFi extends pretty far on the library’s south side, quite aways beyond the Bill Lamont memorial sculpture. Next, on the east side of the building: nope. There is also no WiFI at the northeast corner of the building. The parking lot on the west side has no WiFi. There is no WiFI across the street, but there is

RFSD WiFi, even though the building is probably 50 yards to the south.

In an email, I asked Carbondale Branch Library Manger Tracy Kallassy whether it’s possible to extend the WiFi range. She emailed back stating that she has requested an access point to get WiFi to the parking lot “but It may take a few months.” So, there you are. Increased WiFi outside of the library is possibly coming our way, so folks could sit in their car and do their internet business without freezing.

Although, sitting in the cold outside on the south side of the building would still be an option. * The email to Kallassy, and a few questions for Garfield County Libraries Director Jamie LaRue, set up some more Q&A, starting with queries from the suggestion box at the front entrance. Kallassy said she put out the box about two months, or so, ago and has received two responses. The first was a thank you for putting out the box. The second response was a suggestion that the library have a dedicated “express computer” for printing, which she thought was a good idea. “I’m looking into it,” she relayed.

Moving on to other library matters, LaRue said the libraries in Parachute and Silt are in the planning stages for being “refreshed” this year, with the New Castle library patio also receiving some attention.

The art wall at the Carbondale Branch Library might be removed in the future as the building stands in line for “refreshing.” Photo by Lynn “Jake” Burton

In Carbondale, he explained that he and a staffer are looking into whether to remove the wall in the kids section for safety reasons. Kids in that corner have no escape in an emergency “especially [in the case of ] an active shooter.” Removing the wall would also free up space for more shelving “which we desperately need.”

Kallassy explained that Carbondale is last on the list for refreshing because the building is in such good shape.

On a related note, LaRue said the library thermostats are controlled by the district’s facilities manager, Jon Medrano. And, speaking from experience, the study rooms can get a bit chilly in the summer, especially if you are on the phone and don’t want to open the

door to warm up the room. LaRue said the HVAC in those rooms is “very bad” and part of the district’s Facilities Master Plan calls for improvements to them when it’s Carbondale’s turn for a refresh. * Wrapping up, Kallassy said visits to the library have increased greatly. This year, through Sept. 23, the library had seen 10,039 visits, compared to 7,304 by the same time last year, and 6,216 in pre-COVID 2019.

More than 200 people showed up at the library to view the recent eclipse. “We ran out of (dark) glasses but people were really good about sharing. It was a great community event” Kalassy said. continued on page 17

The Power of Community:

Community Rewards An Easy Way for you to

Help Fund the Sun At No Cost to You Every Time you Buy Groceries

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.

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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 16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

Library

continued from page 16

Once again, the library will participate in Day of the Dead festivities on Nov. 3, and will remain open until 7pm serving up hot chocolate and other treats.

Speaking of extended hours, and if you haven’t visited the library in a couple of years, the hours and days of operation have increased. In January of 2022, the library added an extra hour on Mondays and Wednesdays, and in May of the same year opened on Sundays.

Geothermal

The days and hours of operation are: Monday – 10am to 8pm Tuesday – 10am to 6pm Wednesday – 10am to 8pm Thursday – 10am to 6pm Friday – 10am to 5pm Saturday – 10am to 5pm Sunday – 1pm to 5pm continued from page 7

After the design phase, the DOE will open up a competitive second phase that could provide additional funding to build the system.

Work will start with the drilling of one or two test wells on town property adjacent to the Third Street Center. A drilling company has been contracted, and Fox-Rubin said it will start in early November. The drilling and thermal conductivity testing should be completed in about a week.

The operation will be much like drilling a water well, although Fox-Rubin stressed that no water will be taken out of the ground. The purpose of the test well is to enable the team to measure the thermal properties of the ground under the site.

Over the course of the next year, the design team will analyze the site’s geothermal potential, model and design the geothermal system, design heating-system retrofits for some of the buildings and develop a budget and a funding proposal to DOE to actually build the system.

Fox-Rubin said that the majority of the DOE funding will go to the team of engineering, geothermal and building experts, as well as the test site drilling.

Fox-Rubin said that the Carbondale system will be designed to initially supply about a half of the district’s heating and cooling needs, with the ability to scale up to 100% over time. The team’s goal is to demonstrate that a geothermal district heating system can be economically feasible even with older existing buildings, he explained, and one of the keys to that will be to retrofit the buildings’ heating systems based on lifecycle economics and payback considerations. Thus, it may take five or more years to complete the transition for the entire neighborhood.

Democrat Caitlin Carey — currently a member of New Castle Town Council — is running to represent Garfield County in next year's election as the District 2 commissioner. Republican John Martin has held the position since 1996 and has not yet announced if he will run for reelection. “We need transparency, desperately,” Carey stated, emphasizing that the current three commissioners have opposed federal conservation efforts and shown an unwillingness to work with the Biden administration. Photo by Jane Bachrach

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 17

Aspen Community Theatre presents 'Once Upon a Mattress'

By Myki Jones Sopris Sun Correspondent

Aspen Community Theatre (ACT) will premiere the classic Broadway musical-comedy “Once Upon A Mattress” for two weekends at the Wheeler Opera House, Oct. 27-28 and Nov. 3-4 at 7pm with matinee performances on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 at 2pm. The show runs for two hours with an intermission.

This will be ACT's first showcase since lead-producer Rita Hunter's passing. She was involved with ACT since 1980 and received induction into the Aspen Hall of Fame for her involvement with the company. Tragically, she succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also called Lou Gherig’s disease) complications on July 1 of this year.

Current ACT producer Travis Lane McDiffett told The Sopris Sun that ACT's future was already being envisioned years ago by Hunter. “ It was a diagnosis that she was aware of, and as it progressed, she shifted in her role as a lead producer,” he said. "She was giving her all to us until the end, and making sure that we had strong groundwork as an organization to continue … I think we've done a good job carrying on that legacy with this production."

McDiffett also plays The Minstrel in this production.

“Once Upon a Mattress” first premiered at the off-broadway Phoenix Theater in 1959 and was later picked up

by Broadway theaters that same year.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, “The Princess and The Pea,” a kingdom is placed under a curse that can only be reversed when "the mouse devours the hawk." The curse will remain until Prince Dauntless, portrayed by Joshua Adamson, shares his marriage bed. This quest is made next to impossible by the overbearing nature of his mother, Queen Aggravain, portrayed by Gail Mizner.

"The most challenging thing for me has been memorizing pages of monologue,” Mizner stated. “I don't think I've ever had this many monologues in any show before, where I just go on and on and on. So that's a challenge, but it's also fun once it's memorized."

Sharing the spotlight in this 21-person ensemble are Gerald DeLisser as Sir Harry, Christopher Wheatley as King Sextimus the Silent, Allie Fifield as Lady Larken, Charlie Fields as The Jester, Brian Keleher as The Wizard and, in the leading role of Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, Julia Whalen.

"This cast has blended so well together," director Lynette Kidd Schlepp told The Sopris Sun. "They're a tight-knit group, and usually tight-knit doesn't come until you're

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actually in the performances."

A common sentiment shared among the cast is that this whimsical and fun show will be a treat for all in attendance. Additionally, leading lady Whalen expressed her excitement about portraying the character of Winnifred.

"Princess Winnifred is a quirky and authentic swamp girl,” Whalen said.

“She is unafraid to swim through the moats to get what she wants and flips the idea of sensitivity and poise on its head.

The most rewarding thing about playing Winnifred is finding the humor."

Whalen expressed gratitude for the freedom that comes with playing into silly and weird characteristics.

She looks forward to the show and encourages the community to come and enjoy a night of fun. "I think we

need more fun, more laughter, and not to take anything too seriously,” she said.

Her sentiment was echoed by Adamson, who Whalen recently worked with in Thunder River Theatre Company's production of “Zeus on the Loose.” He said, "I think what will resonate with [audiences] is the fun time we will have onstage. It's us being up there having a good time telling a classic fantasy story, and delving into all the tropes that come with it."

In addition to the fun, this show holds important messages about love, standing up for oneself, kindness and how being a good person matters.

To purchase tickets and stay informed about ACT, visit www. aspencommunitytheatre.org

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Getting a 'Clue' from SoL Theatre Company at Thunder River timed; and each was received by the audience as though it was — and must’ve been — perfectly refined. Here are a couple of my favorites:

By Gus Richardson Youth Correspondent

On Saturday, Oct. 14, I was lucky enough to attend SoL Theatre’s production of “Clue: High School Edition” — a two hour romp through the insane murder-mansion of Mr. Boddy. While the run is over, The Sopris Sun gave some space for a review ahead of the company’s next show, and a collaboration with Sopris Soarers, “Scooby Doo, Where are you?” premiering on Oct. 26 at 6pm.

“Clue” was a staged version of the popular film of the same name, in which all of our favorite characters from the board game (plus a few extras) become locked in a massive home, each suspected, for one reason or another, in a truly compelling murder plot.

I was blown away by the quality of SoL’s show. It was hilarious and incredibly well produced, leading to one of the best theater experiences I have had in a long while. But, why was this play so good?

The first thing that comes to mind is the amazing characterization of every single person in the cast.

The play opens with every guest to Boddy Manor (the pun is funny, I’ll give it to them) having a short scene as they’re welcomed by Wadsworth, the butler, and Yvette, the maid. These scenes quickly establish what each character is all about: Colonel Mustard, the idiotic army man; Mrs. White, the femme fatale; Professor Plum, the self-important psychologist; Mr. Green, the easily-startled nerd; Miss Scarlet, the sarcastic seductress; and Mrs. Peacock, the Christian housewife.

Through the show, the actors are given opportunities to inhabit these archetypes, develop them and then break them. For example, early into the show, each character is revealed to owe money to Mr. Boddy to keep some dark secret. This is a great bit for characterization, because through the scene, the audience is able to find out what their secret is,

Wadsworth: “I’m a butler.”

Guest: “What do you do?”

Wadsworth: “I buttle.”

Professor Plum (after Boddy’s body is found again): “He’s dead!”

Guest: “You said that last time!”

Professor Plum: “I believe in second chances!”

Sam Stableford (Wadsworth) alongside Isabel Mischke (Mrs. Peacock). Photo by Gus Richardson

why they paid to keep it secret and how they react to said secret being shared.

This is incredibly well done, but the script isn’t the only part responsible for this amazing characterization. As Sam Stableford, who played Wadsworth, told The Sopris Sun, “I think all of us had a portion of ourselves that were our character.”

This is evident on the stage, as every person inhabited their role astonishingly well, so much so that it felt as though I was watching real people.

But the charm of this show isn’t just found in the incredible characterization, but also the amazing antics. I was bursting out in laughter every time a joke landed. Every gag was so on-point and perfectly

Let’s Get You

Covered.

The comical staging was just as charming, with multiple objects (and bodies) falling on top of Mr. Green, an improvised post-mortem makeout party to fool a cop, and an extended Scooby-Doo style chase sequence, just to name a few.

That brings up the point of how well choreographed this whole show was. There were multiple shared lines and bits of choreo that were exceptionally well executed, especially for not being a musical. All in all, it is seriously impressive, and worth major props.

Now, “What good is this article?” You may be asking, if you can’t see this show for yourself. Well, as I said before, the next show by the spritely SoL Theatre Company has already been announced and is coming up quickly. Catch “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” — a musical retelling of a classic Scooby episode — this weekend. There, perhaps, you’ll discover a Clue (eh?), and, of course, will get to show support for one of the strongest and most consistent youth theater groups on the Western Slope.

Thanks for showing up in advance. And just a tip, don’t accept any invitations to mansions owned by folks with easily punnable names — just in case.

Visit www.SoLtheatrecompany.org for tickets to the upcoming show.

Voices of the Crystal What in the late 1800s was gold, today that gold is called water. Go look at what has happened to other valleys that were not protected and ask, would you be ok if that happened here on the Crystal?

We need protection for the Crystal and we need it now.”

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Chuck Downey Ice climber, Redstone

learn more CrystalWild.org

Se Habla Español.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 19

Have you herd?

That’s right, on Oct. 20, the Nieslanik family, friends, horses and dogs moooved their cattle through the roundabout and over Colorado Avenue, which has always been a treat for the Carbondale community. As always, when they heard the “mooing,” residents and workers poured out of their homes and offices to enjoy the bi-annual event which brings them a taste of the past. There were a few stuck in traffic who didn’t appreciate the delay, and someone complained about a piece of cow manure on their new car. As the years go on, the drive takes more time because the riders and cows have to dodge more buildings and vehicles — which have to wait for them to pass. Clockwise from top: Moving along, managing four-legged traffic on Highway 133, horsing around, taking a break, Matt Nieslanik and his horse share a moment.

Photos and text by Jane Bachrach

20 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

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

Nature’s Plan

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

As the moon

By Jampa Carbondale

By Andrea Holland

Nature paints the hillsides golden orange red Then she drops her colors upon the forest bed.

Gossamer seed pods of wild clematis silvery as the moon Yearning to twine around the sun bright rabbit bush.

'Ghost of Cattle Creek' Shoutout

There they lie together like pages from the past windblown and forgotten edges browning fast Don’t mourn the passing season for nature has a plan she’ll cover leaves this winter by spring they’ll green the land.

The Quint family was the first to inform The Sopris Sun of their sighting of the Ghost of Cattle Creek, featured as a contest on last week’s Works in Progress page.

Congratulations, Quints, and thank you for participating — and sharing another photo. Have a happy Halloween!

I Support the SOPRIS SUN! I totally enjoy, support,

and serve on the board of the

Sopris Sun. The local community

stories and history of our valley are especially important to me. Close to home, nonprofit journalism is

vital for all of us and worth our efforts and donations.

-Donna Dayton

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Local and legendary musical man, Clay Boland Jr., posted sheet music and audio of his Halloween inspired song, “Ghosts, Goblins & Ghouls: A Halloween Graveyard Dance” on his YouTube channel, @claybolandjr.5149, to share with the world, and particularly the Valley. Visit www. bit.ly/GhostsGoblinsGhouls and boogie like the boogeyman this Halloween. © 2023 Boland Music L.L.C. P.O Box 493, Carbondale CO 81623

carbondale arts

De c k the

WA L L S save the dates:

Nov 16. member opening nov 17. public opening > runs through Dec. 24 <

carbondalearts.com THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 21

LETTERS

One option for the Crystal, Wild and Scenic designation, recognizes the benefits and creates durable protections from similar threats. I am happy to see that the collaborative stakeholder group is looking at Wild and Scenic designation as an option for long-term protection for the Crystal.

I encourage attendance and learning more at the community summit being hosted on Oct. 26.

Terry Langley Marble

Local elections

Off-cycle elections may be less flashy than presidential elections, but they are no less vital. Local elections enable voters to enact real change in their communities. The Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) board election is important for people who don’t have students in the schools because it is one of the biggest employers in our valley. I have dear friends who are RFSD teachers and their professional trajectory and work environment is important to me. Furthermore as a parent of elementary-aged students in our public schools, I care deeply about safety and quality of education. I’m sure all voters would agree on those issues.

I will vote for Betsy After for RFSD District B because she is the most qualified candidate for the District B seat. Betsy has served on local governance boards, has experience working with large budgets, and she is endorsed by Voces Unidas and the RFSD teachers’ union.

I’ve listened to the debates and have read each candidate’s platforms.

This election is not a referendum on the health curriculum. The voting public must elect the candidate who will work with the other board members to capably steer our school district in a positive direction. As citizens we have the solemn duty to become informed voters so that we elect the best candidates, especially in the local races.

Casey Livingston Basalt

DeFrates and After

22 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023

I am a lifelong local and proud beneficiary of the Glenwood Springs public schools. I support Lindsay DeFrates and Betsy After in the local school board elections for their commitment to serving all of the children and the community of the Roaring Fork Valley, and for their strong belief in the value of public schools.

Lindsay and Betsy are committed to closing the persistent achievement gap between Latino and white students in our Valley and ensuring that educational equity exists at every level of the school system. This means that no matter what a student’s background, language, race, economic profile, gender, learning capability, disability or family history, each student will receive the resources and support they need to grow, learn and reach their educational goals.

Our children and our community deserve leaders like Lindsay DeFrates and Betsy After, and we will all benefit

continued from page 2

from their vision and leadership. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor said: "Until we get equality in education, we won't have an equal society."

Claire Noone Glenwood Springs

City Market thanks

I want to say thank you to our City Market pharmacists and pharmacy techs. They have been working under almost wartime-like circumstances with staff shortages. It is not their fault at all. So when you go there, greet them and smile and do not be impatient. They are working hard to see that our needs are met. They are the greatest, and I appreciate the workload they meet every day when they come to work.

Vern Holmes Carbondale

Potato Day thanks

On behalf of the Carbondale Rotary Club, we’d like to thank everyone for joining us for our second annual Potato Day pancake breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 7. We welcomed the great turnout and pretty much sold as many pancakes we could make! It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed serving everyone at the park at 4th and Main Street.

The event simply would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of Bonfire Coffee and the Village Smithy. They provided us with coffee, pancake batter and sausages to make the morning a success. Charlie Chacos and everyone at both businesses went above and beyond and we cannot thank them enough.

We’d also like to celebrate Alyssa Reindel and everyone at EverGreen ZeroWaste for making our breakfast as low-impact as possible. The Carbondale Community United Methodist Church was kind enough to lend us their tables and chairs.

Big thanks go out to Glenwood Rotarian Joe Mueller for his excellent grill and his grilling expertise. Joe embodies the best qualities of the Rotary motto, “service above self.”

Last but certainly not least, Eric Brendlinger and Jamie Wall from the Town of Carbondale Parks and Recreation Department helped us put together an event that far exceeded our goals. It was a great way to kick off Potato Day on Saturday and celebrate the best of Carbondale.

Ann Harris and Leslie Shor, Carbondale Rotary Co-Presidents Michael Burns and Alan Cole, Carbondale Rotary Potato Day Organizers 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 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.

PARTING SHOTS

LEGAL

Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District Notice of Public Hearings On Proposed 2024 Budget and Exceeding the Property Tax Limit Imposed By C.R.S. §29-1-306(4) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District (“District”) for fiscal year 2024 (“2024 Budget”) has been submitted to the District’s Board of Directors (“Board”). A copy of the proposed 2024 Budget is on file in the District’s administrative office, which is located at 301 Meadowood Drive, Carbondale, CO 81623. The proposed 2024 Budget is available for public inspection between 8:00 am and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Any interested elector of the District may file or register an objection to the proposed 2024 Budget any time before the Board’s final adoption of the 2024 Budget. The Board will hold a public hearing to consider final adoption of the 2024 Budget on November 15, 2023 at 11 a.m. at its administrative office.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board also will conduct a public hearing on the Board’s intent to exceed the property tax limit that would otherwise apply pursuant to C.R.S. §29-1-306(4). If the Board approves exceeding the property tax limit, it will impose the same property tax of 10.472 mills that the voters have previously authorized the Fire District to impose, adjusted for any changes in the method of calculating the assessed valuation of one or more property class. At the public hearing, any member of the public may provide oral testimony (i.e., public comment) on the matter. The public hearing will be conducted immediately after the hearing on the 2024 Budget.

Upon conclusion of the oral testimony, and any Board discussion, the Board will make a final decision on whether to exceed the property tax limit.

By: \s\Michael Hassig, Secretary/Treasurer

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Cattle Creek Road is a little more spooky than usual, with ghosts and zombies up and down the windy way. At the same time, it's just as charming as ever with pumpkins spread to and fro, as is customary this time of year on various backroads around the Valley. Photos by Jane Bachrach

Correction:

The name of Hanna Arauza, Garfield County libraries board applicant, was mistakenly spelled with an extra “h” in the Oct. 12 and 19 issues.

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • October 26 - November 1, 2023 • 23

November 2-3 noviembre First Friday | Primer viernes

Community Altar | Ofrenda Comunal

Participating Businesses Negocios Participante

5:00pm

6:00pm

6:30–8:00pm

­

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4th St. Plaza

Third St. Center

4th St. Plaza

Details available at | Más información en carbondalearts.com

24 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • October 26 - November 1, 2023