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UNA NUEVA PUBLICACIÓN SEMANAL CON NOTICIAS Volume 13, Number 40| November 11-17, 2021 LOCALES EN ESPAÑOL.
Celebrating life to honor death
Carbondale's Día de los Muertos celebration drew a thoughtful crowd for the traditional procession from Third Street to Main Street. This year, the Fourth Street Plaza resounded with performances by Aspen Santa Fe's Ballet Folklórico program, Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra and local fire dancers. The cherished event is a community-wide collaboration. Photo by Klaus Kocher. More photos on page 16.
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What the philtrum?!
BRANCHING OUT
By Geneviéve Joëlle Villamizar Why does placing my philtrum in the fur of a dog or cat calm me? Why am I drawn to placing said philtrum against the warmth of my daughter’s neck when we hug, or against a lover’s skin while we laze about? What the heck is a philtrum — and what drives it? It's a weird word for a uniquely special spot: the valley between the two upper curves of our lip and the bridge of flesh (columella) between our sniffer holes. I say “special” because this small valley, which — in me — craves stimulation, is formed in utero very early on, at only seven weeks. Does this mean it’s somewhat critical to how we function as mammals, I wondered? Also, it’s special because — I don’t know how you thought the human face formed — we actually start with a crab-like, caterpillar face. Five separate blobs at the head of a curled up, grub-like
kind of thing. And I grew one of these inside of me for nine and a half months! How had I not discovered this already? I had tracked her development daily, until she finally saw fit to join us in real time. So, yeah, five blobs: one on top and two symmetrical sets, below. All of ‘em moving, morphing, growing simultaneously and leading, somehow, to the formation of a philtrum — my happy place. The top blob moves down; its lower edge is our future nose. The middle set of blobs moves from sides to middle: our future eyes and cheekbones. The lower pair of blobs also moves from sides to middle and, at six weeks, these join to form our lower jaw. In a miraculous seventh week, the nose blob and the two cheekbone blobs all converge at one auspicious spot — the philtrum; our face fully fused, at last. I’m a sucker for the inexplicable and the ineffable, so it strikes me that this sensitive, pleasure-seeking part of me might not even be its “own thing.” Is a seam a “thing” or a metaphorical “in-between?” I have only finally dug into this research at 50 because, nose in, I had held and rocked my weeping 11-year-old for almost an hour, recently. Why, through all of the emotions — the listening, the talking, the fear, the worry and care — did I place this spot against
her, over and over? Against her silky, freshly-washed hair with light fragrance from shampoo at yesterday’s slumber party. Against her temple, concave and damp with smeared tears, tiny muscles moving. Against the crook of her neck, a soft, warm nook. Against this child of mine, whom I love and protect most fiercely. In trying to understand why I face plant the people and animals I love, I did the Google-dive. Most mammals have a philtrum. In dogs, the philtrum supposedly carries moisture from mouth-breathing, up into the nose. Thrilled over fresh snow, long ago, my dog trainer explained how moisture carries more scent molecules, stimulating my golden retriever into sharper pheasant prowess. When a dog smells, scent molecules lodge in the nose and message the sniffer part of the brain, painting a vivid, multidimensional picture in time. Pheromones are taken up through an additional system, entering through a small bump on the roof of a dog’s mouth behind the incisors, called the “incisive papilla” by vets. These biological chemicals are released by an organism to incite behavior or emotion, received specifically by the vomeronasal organ and shunted down its own pathways to the brain, separate and distinct from processing aromas — wow! Three centuries of debate confirm that we humans can
have vomeronasal organs; most babies are born with them. But the more recent literature declares it a vestigial remnant, unable to uptake or process pheromone messaging. The daughter and animal nuzzler in me was stumped. What, then, is happening in the mind-meld of nuzzling? I dropped the science angle and loosened up. The Latin and Ancient Greek root of “philtrum” is “love charm,” ascribing powers to what they considered one of the most arousing parts of the body. In humans, the shape of the philtrum is treated as a sexual commodity, even, subject to cosmetic surgery and shaping. Our first experiences with love, security or satiety involve skin and lips — rooting, nursing, nuzzling, kisses. All the warm fuzzy moments can lay down the tracks for our sense of stability in love for the rest of our lives. Skin on skin releases oxytocin, the “love drug” of birth, nursing and sex. This hormone lowers cortisol, influences bonding and increases trust. Just seeing a dog floods the human body. A second dose unfurls when we stroke and caress our dogs. Whatever it is, whatever is happening, nose to something soft and alive — I will cherish this feeling, because it connects me to those whom I love. And that’s reason enough for me.
LETTERS Just between us... The “average” distance between our valley communities is 10 miles. If we are five minutes late, pushing on the gas won’t magically transport us to our destination. To “make up time” these conditions would need to be met: no enforcement, no other cars ahead of us, all green traffic lights, a speed of over 90 mph. Take A Minute, think about it, take the pressure off with a phone call to your destination and leave sooner next time. Take A Minute/Slow Down in Town Diane Reynolds, committee member
Re: Ranching I greatly appreciate The Sopris Sun presenting a romanticized story about the ranching way-oflife in Colorado (Home on the range, Oct. 28). I'm not sure I read anything about the lands all those cattle were grazing on. You should know a great number of cattle in the American West graze on public lands for which ranchers pay about $0.05 per head per day. You should also know that cattle ranching is chiefly responsible for damage to our public lands and ranching is heavily subsidized. There's a recent PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) study called “Interior Wild Horse Focus Ignores Cattle Impacts.” It shows that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is 'blind' to their own data regarding the impact of cattle & sheep on our
public lands. Of most concern, BLM recently carried out an unprecedented removal of wild horses in the Sand Wash Basin, with a goal of driving them extinct. There's no way to romanticize ranching's impact on maintaining a sustainable, conscientious world which promotes respect for the integrity of all life forms. I am asking that The Sopris Sun incorporate recognition of the plight of the wild horses and the critical need for oversight of the BLM. I am asking for The Sopris Sun's consideration of this request, keeping in mind that the several facts regarding the Sand Wash Basin are only a small part of a much larger issue involving damage to public lands across the American West. Rick Karcich Centennial
R.I.P Kenny Last weekend I was sadly surprised to spot a picture of Kenny Reher on the beautiful Day of the Dead altar in front of Carbondale Arts. I had somehow missed his obituary. Kenny was The Guy at Ace Hardware for years. If you walked in with a question and saw that Kenny was there, you knew he would help you find it and figure things out. I appreciated him so much. He was also the artist who created bigger-thanlife snow sculptures in a field alongside Hwy 133, when the snow was just right for sculpting, by hand.
I think I am not alone in saying that I will miss him, tremendously. Thank you, Kenny, for your hard work and kindness for so many years. Diane Kenney Carbondale
5B A big thank you to voters in the Roaring Fork School District for a decisive YES on 5B! 5B will help pay teachers and staff a living wage, allowing the district to recruit and retain great people. We are deeply appreciative of all the campaign volunteers and generous donors who helped to make the campaign a success — thank you! The Basalt Junior Girl Scout Troop #1690 said it best with their campaign signs: "Teachers are Worth it and Students Deserve it!" 5B Campaign Committee co-chairs, Autumn Rivera, Mark Gould, Ellen Freedman
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Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+
Lee Beck & John Stickney Kay Brunnier Michelle & Ed Buchman Toni Cerise CoVenture Sue Edelstein & Bill Spence Deborah & Shane Evans Greg & Kathy Feinsinger Peter & Mike Gilbert Gary & Jill Knaus Carly & Frosty Merriott Mama Sandy & Lee Mulcahy James Noyes Ken & Donna Riley Patti & George Stranahan Anne Sullivan & John Colson Megan Tackett True Nature Healing Arts Elizabeth Wysong Alpine Bank
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Donate by mail or online. P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #26-B 970-510-3003
Climate change It is stunning to see how much faster climate predictions have come to fruition since 2010, when the questions in https://math.350.org were put forth. It's obvious that we have been reflexively frog walking to climate upheaval. We MUST drop fossil resource extraction and change our paradigm to diverse energy production where every home is an energy producer/mitigator. John Hoffmann Carbondale
The views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The community is invited to submit letters up to 500 words to news@soprissun.com. Longer columns are considered on a case-by-case basis. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday. 2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • November 11-17, 2021
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Nonprofit benefits outweigh the costs
By Dyana Z. Furmansky Sopris Sun Correspondent
If you can’t live without art or theater, if you are keen on keeping the rivers flowing, passionate about protecting nature, improving education, supporting the disabled, feeding the hungry, housing the poor, helping veterans, rescuing abused puppies, propagating native seed, building a church, listening to a local radio station and reading a local newspaper, what you value may be a write-off. Carbondale residents have a plethora of values, whether they write them off or not. “When we moved to Carbondale, we had no idea there would be so much opportunity to become engaged with nonprofits,” says one donor. “There are so many worthy causes, I can’t give my time or money to them all,” which is why she asks not to be identified. Tax return considerations are why so many nonprofit organizations are tirelessly asking for your money between now and Dec. 31. For donor contributions to be taxdeductible, a nonprofit must have a tax-exempt designation, part of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code since 1954. On Dec. 7, Colorado Gives Day, statewide charitable giving reaches a fever pitch. In 2020, Colorado Gives Day — sponsored by Community First Federation (CFF)
in Colorado Springs — brought in a total of $50 million for the 2,874 nonprofits that participated, says Beth McConkey, vice president of marketing and communications. About 3,100 organizations will be included this year, including many based in Carbondale. The Town’s Chamber of Commerce lists 27 nonprofits on its website. But this is a fraction of the 158 501(c)(3) organizations located in the 81623 zip code, according to the national nonprofit rating service Charity Navigator. The free service helps donors decide which nonprofits to support, based on how well they use charitable contributions to advance a public benefit or erase a social ill. In the latest Colorado Nonprofit Economic Impact study, the Northwest Region of Colorado, which includes Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties, has the largest nonprofit sector in the state outside of the Denver metro area. Nonprofit employment accounts for more than 5% of all jobs in Garfield County, the largest percentage of the tricounty area. At $283 million, or more than 80% of spending in the county, Garfield outranks nonprofit spending in Pitkin and Eagle counties as well, according to the nonprofit economic impact study. Mesa County has the largest nonprofit employment and
spending base in the Northwest Region. The loss of local property taxes that aren’t collected from organizations because of their tax exemption is made up for by nonprofit employment and spending, says Mark Taylor, a senior policy director with the Colorado Nonprofit Association in Denver. “They also are providing services that governments aren’t,” he says. However, with so many Roaring Fork charitable organizations competing in the same donor pool, some are concerned that there’s not enough money to go around. CFF’s Beth McConkey disputes this. “There are 85,000 people who give on Colorado Gives Day, in a population of 5.8 million,” she says. “There’s a lot more that can be donated, but we need to educate more people” about what contributing to nonprofits can accomplish. McConkey is also critical of what she calls the “overhead myth,” which states that a good nonprofit is one in which at least 90% of the funding goes directly to the mission. “That would mean nonprofits are not paying people enough to do the job and make a living,” she says. She acknowledges, however, there can be nonprofit saturation if too many serve the same purpose. “A person who has a
This photo, taken in May 2017, showcases the many workers who make use of the Third Street Center, itself a nonprofit that currently houses 25 other nonprofits, seven small businesses and six artists. Courtesy photo. passion for something should not automatically say, ‘Hey, I’m going to start a nonprofit,’” says McConkey. “There are times when existing organizations should join forces rather than duplicate their mission.” Another Carbondale donor who wishes to remain anonymous loves the choice of local nonprofits that focus on preserving the natural world. “I like to
diversify my nonprofits to support environmental advocacy, as well as education and stewardship,” he says. The anonymous donor says he has shifted most of his environmental giving from national nonprofits to local ones. “There are a ton of people here trying to make the world a better place, and not for financial reasons. How great is that?”
THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • November 11-17, 2021 • 3
SCUTTLEBUTT Self portraits
Climate action
In collaboration with YouthZone, a local nonprofit specializing in intervention, prevention and volunteerism for youth, Anderson Ranch will display young peoples’ self portraits, which incorporate photography and painting. The exhibit lasts through Nov. 19. More info at: https://andersonranch.org
A tri-county study funded by a Colorado Department of Local Affairs grant outlines the potential to grow community-scale solar in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties by 25-fold to meet nearly a quarter of these counties’ electricity use locally. The “ThreeCounty Solar + Storage Study and Action Plan” is the result of a collaboration between CLEER, CORE and Walking Mountains Science Center, and articulates next steps for local governments, utilities, nonprofits and other stakeholders to accelerate the development of solar and storage. The report is available to review at: www.wccleanenergy. org/3-county-solar-study/
Pitkin County survey Pitkin County invites people who live, work or simply spend time in the county to participate in their biennial survey through Nov. 30. The county will take into account received suggestions in hopes of preserving programs that are working for the larger community and tweaking those that are not. To complete the survey, visit: www. pitkincounty.com/survey
Share the road The Colorado Department of Transportation wants to give motorists a heads-up before installing new signage to enhance bicyclist safety along state highways. Colorado law states that it is a driver’s responsibility to give bicyclists three feet of space when passing. Motorists may cross a double yellow line to provide that space as long as it does not endanger oncoming traffic.
Introducing Tuesday Foods Good Clean Foods Delivered, a plantbased meal delivery service in the Roaring Fork Valley, has changed its name to “Tuesday Foods.” Along with the new name, Tuesday Foods will be expanding into more markets in the Rocky Mountain West and American Southwest. More info, including the menu, at: https://tuesdayfoods.co
True Nature heals True Nature Healing Arts has reopened following a brief closure due to COVIDexposure. “We are confident that our closure stopped the spread within our team,” says a press release. It continues, “In order to continue keeping our community safe throughout this germ season, we will be reinstating some of our previous COVID protocols, including taking staff temperatures prior to starting shifts and some additional cleaning tools, including an ozone machine after hours.”
Economic trends Small-business owners appear pessimistic about the immediate future, based on the most recent Small Business Economic Trends Report. According to the National Federation of Independent Business, the biggest factors to “the glumness” include
an inability to find employees, supply chain disruptions, inflation and the possibility of more federal regulations and higher taxes.
Rapid tests The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is distributing free rapid COVID-19 tests to people’s homes. The Rapid At-Home Testing Program (https:// bit.ly/COtestathome) is specifically designed for parents, guardians and caregivers with school-aged children, but is also available to government workers, service industry employees, and other categories as well as organizations. Over-the-counter rapid tests are also stocked at local grocery stores.
Hunger survey Colorado Health Foundation is asking folks to participate in a survey regarding food security. The foundation would like to learn about efforts being made to change local food systems and “how people who have experienced hunger have taken part in those efforts.” Submissions are confidential and will be used for future planning. The deadline is Nov. 24. To complete the survey, visit: www.bit.ly/coloradohealthfoundation
Powers Art Center The Powers Art Center will be closed through Nov. 29 for the installation of a new exhibit, “Warhol in Colorado (The Artist’s Relationship with John and Kimiko Powers).” For details about the museum and upcoming exhibit, visit: www. powersartcenter.org
Stop on by. We’re in the neighborhood. Ready for personal financial service actually in person? Or to just ... see a person again? Us too. Our doors are still open and likely not far from your own. So come on in. We sincerely can’t wait to see you.
Talk to a personal banker today at 970 -704 -1012.
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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • November 11-17, 2021
Sarah Rose Johnson of Wild Rose Education is in the thick of the Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 in Glasgow, Scotland. Here, she’s seen displaying The Sopris Sun article previewing her trip to the international climate summit. Johnson is attending as a non-governmental observer and has sent back audio interviews, as well as sounds from the streets of Glasgow where thousands showed up in protest. The clips have been aired on KDNK radio’s local newscast (www.kdnk.org). Courtesy photo.
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Jacquelinne Castro and Nicolette Toussaint (Nov. 11); Alex Achterhoff, Kelsey Freeman, Estefania Montoya and Lance Quint (Nov. 12); Bob Ezra, Maria Flores, Pola Oginska and Riley Skinner (Nov. 13); Amy Fulstone, Ron Leach, Sue Rollyson and Morgan Williams (Nov. 14) ; Rachel Baiyor and Joyce Leeman (Nov. 15); Thomas Cerise, Katie Hankinson and Robin Tolan (Nov. 17).
RFHS Rams play state soccer semifinals
By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor
The Rams left Wednesday morning to Frederick High School Stadium to face off against Atlas Preparatory School in the CHSAA Class 3A State Semifinals. Atlas has a win-lose ratio of 17-1, compared to 15-3 for Roaring Fork High School. If the Rams win their Wednesday game (played after The Sopris Sun went to print), then they will compete against either Jefferson Academy or Liberty Common on Friday, Nov. 12, at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs for the championship title. The team is guided by Nick Forbes who is
in his tenth year as head coach for the soccer team. Earlier in the season, he told The Sopris Sun, “I’m just excited to be back out here, and this group has been fun to coach.” The Rams made it to the state playoffs in 2019 and were defeated by the Kent Denver Sundevils 5-1. Junior Emiliano Magana has scored 24 of the Rams’ 74 goals so far this season. “He’s a little guy, but he plays like he’s a giant,” said Forbes. “He’s really good at finishing, and he’s calm in front of the goal. I’m proud of him.” The team was sent off on Wednesday with enthusiastic support from fellow students in the hallways of Roaring Fork High School, and other fans lining the streets of Carbondale. Go Rams!
Roaring Fork High School students and teachers formed the customary "tunnel of love" for student-athletes headed off to compete at state. Photo by Sue Rollyson. The Roaring Fork soccer boys secured their place in the state semifinals with a 3-2 victory over Faith Christian on Nov. 6. Photo by J. Ray Barlow.
Carbondalians flocked to Main Street to cheer on the Rams as they departed for the State Semifinals. Photo by Sue Rollyson.
The boys soccer team cruises out on Wednesday morning for their game against Atlas Preparatory School. Photo by Sue Rollyson.
THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • November 11-17, 2021 • 5
GARFIELD COUNTY BRIEFS
By James Steindler Contributing Editor
Bracing for 2022
The Garfield County Commissioners tackled yet another week’s agenda. As a reminder, all public meetings are available to stream online, during or after-the-fact, at https://www.garfieldcounty.com/
COVID update For this month’s COVID update, Garfield County Public Health Director Yvonne Long invited Dr. David Brooks with Valley View Hospital to speak to the commissioners about monoclonal antibody treatment for the virus. “Just to give you some idea of what monoclonal treatments are,” said Brooks, “These are laboratory manufactured antibodies that basically are originated from immune cells from infected individuals, then are administered to people after they have become infected with COVID-19. They can also be administered preventatively if someone has been exposed.” Valley View has been offering the treatment since December 2020. According to Brooks, the data shows that when someone has a high-risk medical condition and receives the antibodies after a diagnosis, “We can reduce the risk of hospitalization for those individuals by about 70%.” “In a vaccine we’re triggering active immunization, which means that your body is producing natural antibodies to the spike protein,” explained Brooks. “In this case, it’s called passive immunization, where we’re administering antibodies that aren’t naturally derived from your body, but rather from a lab.” This treatment is primarily reserved for patients hospitalized with COVID, “or those whose illness has already progressed to require oxygen therapy.” Brooks added that Valley View is giving between 10 and 15 treatments per week. Commissioner Tom Jankovsky, who called the meeting, said he did so because of a recent statement from Governor Jared Polis. On Nov. 2, Polis and his medical team gave a COVID update which gave some focus to monoclonal antibody treatment. “After he [Polis] got done ranting about people who are not vaccinated,”
led Jankovsky, “he finally came back and said that people know more or less what they’re going to do, and if they’re not going to get vaccinated, they’re not going to get vaccinated.” Because Polis had mentioned the treatment, Jankovsky said he wanted the public to be notified. In response, Brooks said they want to support individuals and providers that want monoclonal antibodies. However, he stated, “It’s not a substitute for the vaccination. Vaccinations are more effective. You get the antibodies from vaccination immediately at the time of exposure to COVID-19, so this is kind of post-infection, but it’s an effective early intervention and we would support it completely.” Long informed the commissioners that the treatment is reserved for eligible individuals. “[To] qualify for this monoclonal treatment is based on your high-risk underlying conditions,” she explained. Jessica Menu with Grand River Health in Rifle was invited to speak as well. Menu stated that Grand River is providing 15 monoclonal infusions a week and wanted to let the public know that the treatment is not just a quick shot, but takes a couple of hours. She agreed with Brooks that “it’s definitely not a substitute for the vaccination,” and encouraged the public to get vaccinated.
of $515,000 and a decrease in expenditures of $4.9 million.” The commissioners passed the amended 2022 budget and tacked on $25,000 in discretionary grant funding for the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle.
Budget
Meals and more
Garfield County Interim Finance Director Lea Ann Zinnikas presented the adjusted 2022 proposed budget. The public hearing was advertised, as usual, in the Rifle Citizen Telegram. The 2022 proposed budget of some $112.9 million was initially presented to the commissioners on Oct. 11. “This budget proposed appropriations of approximately $94.6 million for operations, $11.3 million for capital and $7 million for discretionary expenditures,” said Zinnikas. “Estimated operating revenues exceeded proposed operating expenditures by approximately $2.2 million, resulting in a balanced budget.” Since then, deliberations between the commissioners with elected officials and department heads have resulted in some adjustments. “These changes reflect new information received and strategic direction throughout the public hearings,” explained Zinnikas. “In sum, the final budget represents an increase in revenues
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Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. Sketch by Larry Day.
On Nov. 9, Valley Meals and More, a nonprofit which serves hot meals to seniors on the east end of the county, joined the commissioners for a public work session. The nonprofit's director Mary Kenyon presented their pitch to the commissioners. Valley View Hospital’s Meals on Wheels Volunteer Coordinator Katie Lidel indicated that their service does not have the capacity to make enough meals at a time. Lidel further informed the panel that the hospital’s program will eventually expire. Kenyon hopes that Valley Meals and More can fill the void, but needs additional funding. “We’re asking Garfield County to step up and grant $85,000 [to the program],” said Kenyon. The majority of Valley Meals and More’s funding comes from other resources. The commissioners set Nov. 19 as the meeting for relevant parties to reconvene. Subsequently, the board plans to rule on a recommendation during that meeting.
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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • November 11-17, 2021
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CARBONDALE REPORT
RFTA’s bike share proposal underwhelms By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor
The most recent regular meeting saw all trustees in attendance. During “persons present not on the agenda,” three people spoke. First, Chris Hassig offered his “two cents” about budgeting to pave the Town-owned, dirt lot east of Town Hall. Hassig called it “premature” to include such a project in next year’s budget. “We had similar thoughts as well,” assured Mayor Dan Richardson. Next, Richard Vottero stepped forward to ask, “What is going on with community policing?” Richardson explained that Chief Kirk Wilson recently presented on The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and will return with priorities and a process to evaluate progress, including the implementation of a “Chief ’s Advisory Board.” “My feeling is that rapid progress is really welcome,” said Vottero. Third, Bryan Alvarez-Terrazas, project manager for MANAUS, asked the trustees about budgeting for the Town’s participation in their Equity Action Project. A new proposal from MANAUS has the nonprofit chipping in a third of the
total cost of $55,000 for the Town, including the police department, to attend the diversity, equity and inclusion training together with the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District. “We should make it work,” said trustee Ben Bohmfalk. “I think it’s a step in the right direction.” Trustee Lani Kitching shared that she spoke with some organizations that had participated in a previous training with MANAUS and their consultant, Full Circle Strategies. Kitching agreed that, at the lower cost, it’s worth it. Nonetheless, she expressed concerns that the program be flexible to accommodate participants during the transition of a new town manager on top of staffing shortages. “I’m hoping Full Circle tackles more socio-economic factors,” added trustee Luis Yllanes, who attended a similar training and found its focus to primarily emphasize racial equity. “I do think it’s important to support this,” said Yllanes. It was decided to include the training, for 10 people from the Town, in next year’s draft budget. The bulk of Tuesday’s meeting involved a presentation by David Johnson, director of planning
at Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA). In November 2018, voters in RFTA’s member jurisdictions approved a mill levy to fund strategic improvements, committing $1.2 million in capital funding, plus roughly $550,000 per year in operating funds. Among the initiatives is expansion of the nonprofit WE-cycle bike sharing program to Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, with the goal of getting more people out of their cars. WE-cycle currently services Aspen, Basalt and Snowmass Village and approximately half of all trips are to and from Bus Rapid Transit stations. RFTA contracted with Toole Design to conduct a “First and Last Mile Mobility” study. Outreach efforts saw diverse participation in-person, with nearly half of the people contacted identifying as Latino. Representation was less diverse with an online survey, where 81% of respondents identified as “white or European” and threequarters supported having the bike share service in Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The plan could see 17 stations operating with 85 bikes and 199 docks in Carbondale. Asked for “a ballpark estimate”
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of the costs, Johnson estimated between $5 and 6 million for all of the communities combined. “That’s the capital, and not operating costs.” Richardson clarified that the Town spends around $500,000 a year on all capital projects. Trustee Heather Henry surmised that the bike share option may not be realistic. Johnson clarified that the $1.2 million does not necessarily have to be spent on a bike share program. “It’s really going to be local communities that need to decide.” “I’m going to say this in the nicest way,” said Boden Hamilton, youth representative to the board, “Nobody would use this except tourists.” Hamilton also questions whether the system would operate year-round, to which Johnson responded, “WE-cycle doesn’t operate all through the winter,” also clarifying that it's not meant to be an amenity for tourists. He admitted that expanded circulator service has the advantage of operating yearround. “Lots of high schoolers would not drive to school if we had a solid circulator,” said Hamilton. “Kind of reminds me of a school bus,” said Bohmfalk, “which we
do have.” Bohmfalk made clear, “I want to get really excited about bike share, but I feel like we can’t.” He continued, “I feel like it is such a good fit for Carbondale at some point.” However, compared with a circulator, or other motorized, covered transportation: “that seems like the thing that comes first in most communities.” Finally, interim town manager Kevin Schorzman requested contracting The Land Studio, Inc. to assist with facilitating the annexation of the Red Hill parcel, for an estimated 33 hours of work at $150 per hour, or $4,950. The trustees agreed. Schorzman also requested approval of a contract for snow removal services. Trustees agreed to a contract that has Excavation Services helping when necessary, funding of which had already been included in the draft 2022 budget.
The public is invited to meet round two of town manager candidate finalists next week at the Third Street Center on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. The final steering committee meeting with Cushing Terrell and the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding the update to Carbondale Comprehensive Plan is on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. The Zoom link and details are at carbondalegov.org
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • November 11-17, 2021 • 7
BASALT REPORT
Basalt Council approves workforce housing By Dyana Z. Furmansky Sopris Sun Correspondent
The fifth time was the charm for BCC Basalt, LLC on Tuesday night. At its regularly scheduled meeting, Basalt Town Council members approved — in its fifth public hearing on the matter — the sketch plan for the threestory Basalt Center Circle. It will include a 9,000-square-foot grocery store with 67 residential apartments on the top two floors. Councilor Elyse Hottel did not vote and has recused herself from all discussions on the matter for the appearance of a conflict of interest. The long-awaited approval will fill the vacant commercial space once occupied by Clark’s Market and the Habitat ReStore. The Council resolution hinged on BCC Basalt agreeing to complete the grocery store no later than the apartments receive their certificate of occupancy, or alternatively, have a signed lease with the grocery tenant and deposit $250,000 in escrow with the Town as an incentive to get the store operational within nine months of residents moving in upstairs. Another key factor in the approval was that BCC Basalt agreed that 100% of the apartment leases would be for no fewer than six months. In earlier versions of the mixed-use plan, short-term rentals of 30 days had been included. “With all units subject to a six-month minimum lease, we are addressing valley-wide housing issues,” said
Mayor Bill Kane. “This is long-term workforce housing,” said Andrew Light, who is a BCC Basalt principal partner with Tim Belinski. Emergency responders, school district employees and grocery store employees would have priority for the 17 deed-restricted units, according to an Oct. 21 letter from BCC Basalt to the Town Council. Fifty of the apartments will be studios, about 430-square-feet each. Before voting “aye,” Councilor Bill Infante urged Belinski and Light to pursue “a more liberal use of the word grocery store.” A national chain “is absolutely, positively antithetical to what this Town needs,” he said. Infante asked the developers to think of the Denver Center Market as a model, where there are independent food stalls and places to dine. Belinski assured the Council that BCC Basalt was considering a “relaxed definition” of a grocery store. BCC Basalt has been talking with Skip’s Farm to Market, BLT and Jimbo’s Liquor, the Town’s longest continuing business, about moving into the new space. While most of the public comments on the final Basalt Center Circle plan were extremely supportive, complaints about parking and the mass and profile of the building persisted. Workforce housing, a variation on the equally buzz-worthy term “affordable housing,” occupied much of the Council’s time. After the BCC Basalt vote, the final site plan for
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8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • November 11-17, 2021
Basalt Center Circle conceptual rendering. Courtesy graphic. Front Fork Basalt LLC, the second workforce housing project of the night, sailed through with unanimous approval. Ramsey Fulton, principal architect with the firm Bldg Seed Architects, told the Town Council that leases under six months would be prohibited in the 12 one- and two-bedroom units, to assure that they would be occupied by people who work in the valley. The project will occupy a 12,000-square-foot site on the east end of Emma Road, close to downtown. At this final stage, no public opposition was expressed. While Front Fork will not qualify as “net zero” in terms of its carbon footprint, Fulton answered Council questions about the solar panels and air source heat pumps that would be installed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another energy-saving feature is that Front Fork will be “transit-oriented,” Fulton said, meaning near the bus stop so having a car is less necessary. Front Fork will provide what Planning and Zoning staff define as “community benefits,” including the extension of the Ponderosa Trail,
picnic tables and benches. One matter that must have made Council members happy was that the Basalt Forward $17 million bond initiative was passed by voters on Nov. 2. This will allow the Town to sell two series of general obligation bonds to build still more affordable housing, redesign a Midland Avenue Streetscape and fund various green energy projects. Bruce Kimmel, the Town’s municipal advisor with Ehlers Public Finance Advisors, said via Zoom that he anticipated the taxable and nontaxable issues would receive a Standard and Poor’s rating of AA+. The 2022 bond issuance is scheduled for Dec. 15. The longest-term issues will run until 2046. For the Board’s last action of the meeting, Councilors approved 7.5% water rate increases. Town of Basalt residential rates will go up to $55.57 for 10,000 gallons used. Carbondale residential rates for the same in-town water usage are $48.42.
Vets heal trauma through music
By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent
The late songwriter and guitar virtuoso Michael Hedges once said, “I play guitar because it helps me dream out loud.” Challenge America, a national nonprofit based in Basalt, is hoping to give veterans the chance to dream out loud by participating in Challenge America’s Guitars for Vets donation program and music therapy retreats. Challenge America’s website states their mission is “to connect service members, veterans and their families to resources and solutions that build community and give purpose to their lives.” Director Dallas Blaney said their current project, a partnership between Challenge America and Basalt Regional Library, will donate 40 artistdecorated guitars to veterans. In the past, Blaney employed the HeartStrings Foundation to provide Challenge America with guitars decorated by artists to donate to veterans. However, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HeartStrings was able to provide the guitars but without the artistic flair. New partnerships came about as a result of the Basalt and Carbondale chambers of commerce hosting a joint November After Hours event on Nov. 17, promoting nonprofit chamber members. Kris Mattera, executive director of the Basalt Chamber of Commerce, said they had an idea to host the event for nonprofit organizations, “recognizing that it's been a challenging year for our businesses, but definitely for our nonprofits.” Aspen Strong, a local mental health advocacy nonprofit, is another organization involved in the project. Mattera said, “We've really tried to have open conversations, trying to eliminate the stigma when it comes to mental health and recognizing how healing things like music therapy and the arts can be. You know, I think this is a great collaboration between all these different organizations.” Cathy Click, coordinator for community engagement for Basalt Regional Library said, “The crowning meaning and achievement of this particular After Hours are the guitars.” She said she’s thrilled the library has the space. “Our office is open to the public and big so it makes it a perfect venue for this kind of collaboration, and we’re really happy to be able to do it.”
CRPS In September, Shannon von Driska participated in Challenge America’s Mount Elbert Challenge event, where a team of veterans journeyed to reach the summit of Colorado's tallest mountain. Now an executive assistant to Blaney, she spoke candidly about a rare neurological condition that affects her called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is also known as “suicide disease,” said von Driska. “We've had so many veterans in our lives commit suicide. And we don't want to have any other veterans out there thinking that they're alone, or that no one understands, or any of those feelings that you have at ‘the bottom.’ So our mission became overcoming hopelessness through purpose and community and showing that, together, you can overcome anything,” von Driska explained. In August, von Driska also participated in Challenge America’s first all-female music therapy program, with other veterans. They met virtually, via Zoom, two nights a week for three weeks. While von Driska had some previous musical experience, including playing the guitar, she revealed, “I did not know the techniques for music therapy at all.”
Basalt artist Joy Benenson decorated this guitar for the Nov. 17 event. Courtesy photo.
was eligible to have an amputation and was kind of debating it and trying to learn about it. And he says he's an amputee.” Now age 34, von Driska said, “I literally got this [CPRS] on Jan. 24, 2019. I never thought that I would just get sick one day and never get better. I've had so many surgeries and no issues. I should add that not everybody who gets nerve damage during surgery will develop CRPS — it's rare, really rare.” Currently living in Madison, Wisconsin, with her two children, von Driska works remotely for Challenge America. She hopes to move to the Roaring Fork Valley soon, but added, “as you know, it’s a little pricey.” The power of music Susan Bock, director of music therapy at Challenge America, is a board-certified music therapist who began working for Challenge America in 2019 by leading two music therapy retreats. One retreat was held at the Bison Peak Lodge at Puma Hills, located in Lake George, Colorado, and the other was at the farm of Amy Grant and Vince Gill in Franklin, Tennessee. The married couple, both successful country musicians in their own right, are honorary co-founders of Challenge America. Bock said, “It helps [the veterans] tell their story. It also just helps them process their story. We tell them that they can write [a song] about whatever they want to. It does not have to be about their military service, but just by telling their story through the song, which is considered nonverbal communication. It sometimes can convey emotions as well as a story easier than the veteran sitting down and talking to somebody.” Bock said veterans choose their guitars. She noted, “We set them all out and then we let them choose the guitar. I have them do a lot of bonding with their guitar. Another unique aspect of this is that holding a guitar can simulate holding a service weapon.” “I also encourage the veterans to leave their guitars out as a reminder to play them all the time and we send them a guitar stand. It's a reminder of the retreat. And what we have done in the retreat,” Bock shared. Ten veterans participate in the virtual music therapy retreats. A songwriter and a veteran co-write a song, which is performed by the songwriter at the end of the retreat. Bock said the veterans “come away with a real essence of self that they didn't quite have when they first came. In one instance, a veteran told me that after this retreat she had no more suicidal ideation, and beforehand she did.” Delving into veterans reacclimating to civilian life, Bock shared, “It's a culture that we, as non-veterans, don't often understand — how hard it is to come back into civilian life after being in the service, or coming back with PTSD from the service and then trying to integrate back in. So, creating art and creating beauty is a wonderful thing for the veterans to experience.”
While she said she was “expecting a really basic guitar lesson,” she found the program to be much more than that. “It was about using this musical instrument to basically help rewire your brain and connect different pathways and calm anxiety and other symptoms of PTSD.” Techniques, like not using guitar picks, help to focus on feeling the vibrations of the guitar strings. “It's really about focusing in on After Hours just the experience and something other than your brain and all the The public is welcome to attend the Nov. 17 event, from 5 to 7 craziness going on up there,” von Driska explained. p.m. as a part of the joint After Hours event at the Basalt Regional In 2007, while training to be an Army medic, von Driska fell Library. Pre-registration is at the Basalt Chamber of Commerce and crushed her leg. The injury wasn’t treated properly for the next website: https://www.basaltchamber.org/ couple of years, which “resulted in a bunch more issues,” she shared. Challenge America also partnered in October with The Art Shortly thereafter, her then-husband, also serving in the Army, Base in Basalt, to host two guitar decorating workshops, and the received orders to deploy to Iraq, leaving her alone to cope with the Aspen Art Museum, to offer free guitar decoration kits. physical, emotional and psychological aftermath. For more information about Challenge America, visit: https:// The music therapy retreat also helped her deal with the www.challengeamerica.com/ psychological aftermath of a military sexual assault, which von Challenge America also partnered in October with The Art Driska has spoken about publicly. She recalls, “I was still unpacking Base in Basalt, to host two guitar decorating workshops, and the all these things.” Aspen Art Museum, to offer free guitar decoration kits. She met Blamey by using the hashtag “#CRPS” on Instagram. “I THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • November 11-17, 2021 • 9
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THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • November 11-17, 2021 • 11
COMMUNITY CALENDAR THURSDAY NOVEMBER 11 UNDER THE SUN
Join Sopris Sun correspondents and guests for Everything Under The Sun, airing every Thursday on KDNK at 4 p.m. VETERANS DAY
The American Legion in Carbondale serves Veterans Day dinner, free for all veterans, beginning at 5 p.m. AUTHOR TALK
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Garfield County Libraries hosts author Brandon Hobson for a virtual conversation about his novel, “Where the Dead Sit Talking,” at 6 p.m. To register, visit www.gcpld.org/hobson LIVE MUSIC
Rodrigo Arreguín performs at Heather's in Basalt at 6 p.m. FAMILY ASTRONOMY NIGHT
Basalt High School Aerospace Club hosts a night of stargazing at the Basalt Library beginning at 6:30 p.m. IMMIGRANT VOICES
English in Action presents a live storytelling event at The Contemporary at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
Colorado Workforce doles out advice and technical assistance for job seekers at Basalt Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required. Call 970-927-4311 to register. YOGA DANCE PARTY
To celebrate its second year, The Yoga Collective invites people to a yoga dance party at its headquarters in Glenwood Springs. More info at https://yogaglenwood.com LIVE MUSIC
Josefina Mendez and Mark Johnson perform at Heather's in Basalt at 6 p.m.
Visit soprissun.com to submit events.
JOYFUL RECIPROCATION
Author Jon Turk returns to Carbondale with a new book, “Tracing Lions, Myth and Wilderness in Samburu,” presented at the Third Street Center at 6:30 p.m. Turk will then lead a daylong Canyon Creek expedition on Saturday. For details, visit https://davinikent.com SOPRIS THEATRE
“The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse opens at CMC’s New Space Theatre at 7 p.m. — kicking off Sopris Theatre Company’s 2021-22 season. CRYSTAL THEATRE
“The French Dispatch” shows at the Crystal Theatre at 7:30 p.m. through Monday, except on Sunday at 5 p.m. with captions. THUNDER RIVER THEATRE
“As Close As I Can,” an original show by Cassidy Willey, premiers at the Thunder River Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and continues all weekend and the following. Showtimes and tickets at www.ThunderRiverTheatre.com
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13
PAINT IT AND GIFT IT
The Carbondale Clay Center invites all ages to paint pre-made ceramics the staff will glaze and fire in time for the holidays. Participants must reserve a 40-minute slot between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Register at https://www.carbondaleclay.org/events GRACEY IN CONCERT
John and Kathryn Gracey perform Celtic music at the Glenwood Springs Library at 6 p.m.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14 ART HEALING AND HOPE
Sheri Gaynor teaches expressive arts visual journaling at the Art Base from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Registration at https://theartbase.org or, for virtual participation, https://bit.ly/SheriZoom
MONDAY NOVEMBER 15
LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Basalt Library will host its monthly board meeting beginning at 5:15 p.m. It is open to the public.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16 WATER WITH LUNCH
The Colorado River District offers a free Zoom webinar called “NextGen Ag: Technology and the Future of Family Farms in Western Colorado” from noon to 1:15 p.m. Register at: https://bit.ly/NextGenCOAg AFRICAN DRUM AND DANCE
The Carbondale Community School hosts African drum and dance classes from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The cost is $15 for either drum or dance class, or $25 for both. All levels are welcome, and masks are required.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 17 SCIENCE AFTERNOON
Join the Aspen Science Center at the Carbondale Library for an hour of science and engineering activities for children and their caregivers at noon. LUNCH AND MURDER
org for the schedule of dates by legal topic. SMALL WONDERS
Aspen Chapel Gallery opens its 14th annual Small Wonders show, in partnership with Holiday Baskets serving people in need, at 4 p.m. The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Join Basalt and Carbondale chambers celebrating local nonprofits at Basalt Library with Challenge Aspen and Guitars for Vets from 5 to 7 p.m. C’DALE MANAGERS 2.0
The community is invited to a “Meet and Greet” with round two of the Carbondale town manager candidate finalists (Travis Elliott, assistant town manager of Snowmass Village, Lauren Gister, first selectwoman of Chester, Connecticut, and Brian Smith, parks and rec director for Glenwood Springs), at the Third Street Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18 FALL FESTIVAL
Roaring Fork High School hosts a fall fundraiser with a haunted house from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door. MIDNIGHT NORTH
Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh’s son, Grahame Lesh, will perform with his band Midnight North at TACAW starting at 8 p.m. More info and tickets are available at https://tacaw.org
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19 SOUND JOURNEY
Local hunters share stories at Marble Distilling in Carbondale at 6 p.m.
Basalt Library hosts a read-out-loud event, and the text is a murder mystery. This event starts at noon. For more info, email: laura@basaltlibrary.org
LATIN DANCE
ASK A LAWYER
KILTRO
TACAW hosts a night of Salsa, Bachata, and Cumbia music and dancing starting at 8 p.m. Visit https://tacaw.org
Alpine Legal Services offers a hotline clinic on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Call 970-368-2246 and visit alpinelegalservices.
Chilean-American rock group Kiltro will perform at TACAW at 8 p.m. Tickets and more info at https://tacaw.org
VOICES IN HUNTING
Zachary Cashin leads a sound healing journey at the Third Street Center at 7 p.m. Reserve a spot at https://davinikent.com
“Doing it the Hard Way”
Reverand Aaron Norris offers a reflection on the power and difficulty of nonviolent resistance to injustice. A method of change which is universally praised and rarely well-practiced, Unitarian Universalism has a deep connection to non-violence. We will ask the question, why and how do we go about doing things the hard way. Rev. Norris will be live and in-person at the Third Street Center and on Zoom.
November 20 & 21 Native American and Indigenous Film, Dance & Song Shining Mountains Film Festival is a documentary film festival presented focused on fostering Native American and indigenous peoples storytelling through film and live events that break barriers by replacing stereotypes with credible representations of indigenous history, culture, and community. Earl Biss: The Spirit Who Walks Among His People A master painter and descendent of great Crow Chiefs, Earl Biss brought inherent, ancient spiritual power to his dynamic oil paintings.
Women of the White Buffalo This is the story of the Lakota women living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, are how they are rising up against the forces that continue to suppress them.
Presented by the Wheeler Opera House in partnership with the City of Aspen and The Aspen Indigenous Foundation
For complete show listings and tickets visit wheeleroperahouse.com www.wheeleroperahouse.com
This community ad space is provided by Cool Brick Studios.
www.aspenaif.org
12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • November 11-17, 2021
Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Third Street Center, Community Room Susan Proctor Worship Aassociate For more info: truu.office@gmail.com
Sol del el
Conectando comunidades
Valle
A este su agrpadec nu e o y o e m o vo p par s ro y a ecto .
Volumen 1, Número 37 | 11-17 de november, 2021
Aspiradoras de la tierra
¡A trabajar! Goat Green LLC llevó sus 800 cabras al borde de la quema de Grizzly Creek para alimentarse de las hierbas invasivas allí, ayudando a prevenir futuros incendios. Foto por Will Sardinsky. Por Will Sardinsky Traducción por Dolores Duarte Es posible que la Country Road 112 ha sido la más transitada hasta ahora. Sin embargo, el tráfico no fue de carros, sino de cabras. En una reciente mañana otoñal llena de rocío, Lani Malmberg y su hijo, Donny Benz, copropietarios de Goat Green LLC, llevaron 800 cabras por la carretera para cargarlas en remolques que eran demasiado grandes para acceder al Sutey Ranch, propiedad de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras (BLM). "Algunos de los retos son que nunca tenemos un conjunto de corrales o salidas de carga que utilizamos regularmente, porque trabajamos en muchos
lugares. Muchas veces, recorremos cuatro o cinco millas por la carretera para poder llegar a un lugar donde podamos meter los remolques", dijo Benz. "Lo que es muy importante para nosotros al transportarlas es que no comemos a nuestros animales, así que recuerdan cómo subirse a los remolques, salir de ellos y que habrá comida en el siguiente trabajo. Nuestras cabras se remontan a 26 generaciones, así que están muy bien entrenadas". Las cabras estaban siendo cargadas para trasladarse a otro trabajo de la BLM en el borde de la quema de Grizzly Creek. "Estábamos en el rancho Sutey transformando un antiguo rancho de ganado en un hábitat nativo para la vida silvestre", dijo Malmberg. "Ahora, en esta zona, esperamos prevenir
incendios forestales como ése y también evitar deslizamientos de tierra. Las cabras se levantan sobre sus patas traseras para comer, por lo que comen y limpian desde el suelo hasta nueve pies de lo que en incendios forestales se conoce como combustible escalera. En el proceso, reciclan el material vegetal en sus tripas", explicó Malmberg. "Pueden meterse en zonas muy estrechas porque son animales de cuerpo pequeño con bocas estrechas y triangulares. Las llamo 'las aspiradoras' de la tierra", añadió Benz. Malmberg prosiguió: "Luego estabilizan la tierra sobre el terreno empinado con sus pezuñas. Ochocientas cabras son 3,200 pezuñas, todas compactando el suelo".
OPINIÓN
ESQUINA LEGAL Por Tony Mendez La Justicia Alternativa es una herramienta para la solución de conflictos. Tiene como propósito lograr un acuerdo entre los involucrados a través de la voluntad, la cooperación y el diálogo. Los jueces y magistrados, en vez de tomar una decisión dentro de un caso, continuamente ordenan justicia alternativa. Los procesos de justicia alternativa incluyen facilitación, mediación y arbitración. Quizás usted se pregunte, cuál es la diferencia de mediación, arbitración y facilitación? De los tres, facilitación es el proceso menos formal. El proceso, básicamente, usa a una tercera persona neutral, que ayuda a varios partidos llegar a una meta prevista. El
Buscando una justicia alternativa
proceso de facilitación asume que los partidos quieren llegar a la meta y la facilitadora usa varios medios de comunicación para ayudar a los participantes llegar a un acuerdo, incluyendo llamadas, correos electrónicos y mensajes de texto. A veces, la facilitadora tiene la pericia del tema sobre el cual los partidos quieren alcanzar. Mediación, aunque similar a facilitación, toca temas más pesados y ayuda a los partidos llegar a una resolución voluntariamente sobre los temas en disputa. La mediadora ayuda a los partidos a acordar sobre las decisiones que deben tomar, pero no necesariamente ayuda a los partidos cumplir con lo acordado. Una facilitadora, a cambio, puede ayudar a los partidos a llegar a la meta acordada. Es muy común ver a los mediadores usar técnicas de facilitación y viceversa. Finalmente, el proceso de arbitración, como muchos deportes, usa a un árbitro para tomar las decisiones. En una arbitración, los partidos acuerdan presentarse ante un árbitro, quien escucha ambos lados y hace la decisión por los partidos. Esta decisión es vinculante y ejecutable por un juez. En Colorado, por ejemplo,
los jueces ordenan mediación casi en todo caso de divorcio, y a menudo lo ordenan en casos de arrendamiento. Arbitración se usa mucho dentro de casos de contratos rotos, especialmente si el contrato contiene una cláusula donde los partidos han acordado, antes de tiempo, que se presentarán ante un árbitro para buscar resolución sobre cualquier problema. Muchos contratos de trabajo, en particular, contienen la cláusula de arbitración, causando que empleados entren en arbitración si hay algún problema antes de poder empezar un reclamo dentro del sistema judicial. Aunque procesos de justicia alternativa son esenciales para una resolución rápida de contenciones entre partidos, especialmente porque los procesos son considerados confidenciales, no es razonable entrar a un proceso de justicia alternativa en toda situación. Si un lado alega abuso psicológico o físico, por ejemplo, o si un lado busca alivio equitativo, entonces las cortes no tienen que ordenar a los partidos a participar en el proceso de justicia alternativa. Y si la corte lo ordena, uno puede pedir una excepción. El tema de procesos de justicia alternativa es tan
14 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 11-17 de november, 2021
amplio, que podríamos tomar todo un día platicando sobre las complejidades de cada proceso. Este resumen solamente toca lo más básico de cada proceso. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta sobre facilitación, mediación o arbitration, el cual quiere investigar como parte de llegar a una resolución sobre alguna contención que tiene, por favor contacte a un abogado para discutir su situación más a fondo. La misión de Alpine Legal Services (“ALS”) es asegurar acceso a justicia mediante la prestación de servicios legales de calidad que defienden y promueven derechos legales fundamentales. ALS se enfoca en asistir a aquellos individuos cuyos derechos fundamentales han sido rotos. Lo hacemos por medio de programas comunitarios y representación legal. Nuestro(a)s programas incluyen, por ejemplo, “Pregunta a un Abogado,” donde abogados de diferentes especialidades contestan llamadas y dan consulta gratuita de acuerdo al tema legal de esa noche. Para una lista de las noches del programa, y de los temas legales, visite nuestra página www. alpineservicioslegales.org
Donaciones por correo o en línea P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Executive Director Todd Chamberlin • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Editor Raleigh Burleigh • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Directora Artística: Ylice Golden Traductoras: Jacquelinne Castro y Dolores Duarte Distribucion: Frederic Stevie Miembros de la Mesa Directiva Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke • Lee Beck Megan Tackett • Gayle Wells • Donna Dayton Terri Ritchie • Eric Smith • Vanessa Porras The Sopris Sun, Inc. Es un miembro orgulloso del Distrito Creativo de Carbondale The Sopris Sun, Inc. es una 501(c) (3) organización benéfica sin fines de lucro. Contribuciones financieras son deducibles de impuestos. ¡ESCRÍBENOS! Para contribuir ideas y contenido al Sol del Valle, escribiéndonos a: sol@soprissun.com Para comprar espacio publicitario en español, inglés, o ambos, mándanos un correo electrónico a:
adsales@soprissun.com También se puede contactarnos llamando a 970-510-3003.
CHISME DEL PUEBLO Autorretratos En colaboración con YouthZone, una organización sin fines de lucro especializada en la intervención, prevención y voluntariado de la juventud, Anderson Ranch mostrará autorretratos de gente joven, la cual incluye fotografías y pinturas. La exhibición estará disponible hasta el 19 de noviembre. Para más información viste https://andersonranch.org
Powers Art Center El Power Arts Center estará cerrado hasta el 29 de noviembre para la instalación de una nueva exhibición, “Warhol en Colorado (relaciones entre el artista y John y Kimiko Powers).” Para más detalles acerca del museo y la siguiente exhibición, visite www. powersartcenter.org
Pruebas rápidas El Departamento de Salud Pública y Ambiente de Colorado está distribuyendo pruebas de COVID-19 rápidos a los hogares de la gente gratuitamente. El Rapid At-Home Testing Program (https://bit.ly/COtestathome) esta especialmente diseñada para padres, guardianes y cuidadores con niños en edad escolar, pero también está disponible para trabajadores del gobierno, trabajadores en el sector de servicios, y otras categorías además de organizaciones. Pruebas rápidas de ventanilla también están disponibles en tiendas locales.
Acción climática Un estudio entre los condados fundado por un subsidio del Departamento de Asuntos Locales de Colorado describe el potencial crecimiento solar comunitario de
25-fold a casi un cuarto en el uso de electricidad local en los condados de Garfield, Eagle y Pitkin. El “ThreeCounty Solar + Storage Study and Action Plan” es el resultado de la colaboración entre CLEER, CORE y Walking Mountains Science Center, y articula estrategias para gobiernos locales, utilidades, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y otras partes interesadas para poder acelerar el desarrollo de energía solar y almacenamiento.
Cura natura True Nature Healing Arts ha reabierto después del cierre debido al COVID. “Estamos muy seguros que nuestro cierre ayudó a prevenir la propagación dentro de nuestro equipo,” dijo un corresponsal. Continuó que, “con el fin de poder mantener a nuestra comunidad segura durante esta temporada de gérmenes, estaremos instalando algunos de nuestros protocolos de COVID anteriores, incluyendo tomar la temperatura de nuestro personal antes de empezar turnos y algunas herramientas de limpieza adicionales, incluyendo una máquina de ozono después de horas de servicio.”
Comparta la carretera El departamento de transporte de Colorado quiere avisar a los motoristas antes de instalar la nueva señalización para mejorar la seguridad de los ciclistas a lo largo de las carreteras. La ley de Colorado dice que es responsabilidad del conductor proporcionar a los ciclistas tres pies de espacio cuando pasen. Los motoristas pueden pasar la doble línea amarilla para proveer ese espacio siempre y cuando no ponga en peligro el tráfico en sentido contrario.
Directora de Crown Mountain Park Rebecca Wagner y Colorado Extreme entrenador Carlos Ross juegan en la nueva pista de hielo para hockey y patinaje de Crown Mountain Park. Colorado Extreme ofrece entrenamiento y presta equipaje gratis para jóvenes. Foto por James Steindler.
Encuesta de Pitkin El condado de Pitkin invita a la gente que vive, trabaja o que pase tiempo en el condado a participar en su encuesta hasta el 30 de noviembre. El condado tomará en cuenta las sugerencias recibidas con la esperanza de conservar programas que funcionan en la comunidad y retocar aquellos que no para completar esta encuesta visite http://pitkincounty.com/survey
Presentando Tuesday Foods Good Clean Foods Delivery, un servicio de envíos de comida a base de plantas en el Roaring Fork Valley ha cambiado su nombre a “Tuesday
Foods.” Junto con su nuevo nombre, Tuesday Foods estará expandiendo a más mercados. Para más información, incluyendo el menú, visite: https:// tuesdayfoods.co
Encuesta de necesidades Colorado Health Foundation le pide a la gente a participar en una encuesta con respecto a la seguridad alimentaria. La fundación espera saber más sobre los esfuerzos que se hacen para cambiar el sistema de comida local y “como la gente que experimenta hambre ha tomado parte de esos esfuerzos.” Las entregas son confidenciales y serán usadas para planes futuros. La fecha límite es hasta
el 24 de noviembre. Para completar la encuesta visite https://bit.ly/ coloradohealthfoundation
Tendencias económicas Los dueños de pequeños negocios parecen pesimistas acerca del futuro inmediato, basado en el reporte más reciente de Tendencias Económicas para Negocios Pequeños. De acuerdo con la Federación Nacional de Negocios Independientes, los factores más grandes de “esta tristeza” incluyen: la inhabilidad de encontrar a empleados, interrupciones de suministros, la inflación y la posibilidad de más regulaciones federales e impuestos más altos.
RFSD habla de vacunas y comunicaciones bilingües Por Jeanne Souldern Traducción por Dolores Duarte
La reunión de la junta de educación del distrito escolar de Roaring Fork (RFSD) del 27 de octubre, llevada a cabo a través de Zoom, se centró en las implicaciones de la vacuna COVID-19 de Pfizer para los niños de cinco a once años. Además, la junta discutió un plan de comunicación bilingüe para el distrito que cumpla con los requisitos federales de proporcionar acceso al idioma para familias que no son principalmente de habla inglesa. La reunión comenzó con el superintendente Rob Stein presentando actualizaciones de orientación del Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente de Colorado (CDPHE) sobre los protocolos de COVID. Stein dijo que el distrito continuará manteniendo el curso con un mandato de cubrebocas, señalando en RFSD "las tasas de incidencia son alrededor de nueve veces más altas que lo que se habría recomendado como condiciones para eliminar el uso de cubrebocas, por lo que de todos modos todavía no estamos realmente en la zona de seguridad, en el condado de Garfield en términos del nivel de casos de COVID que están presentes en nuestra comunidad". Sin embargo, las incidencias de cuarentena
han disminuido drásticamente con respecto a hace un año. Stein compartió que, en lo que va del año escolar, RFSD ha tenido un total de 12 cuarentenas, resultando en 35 estudiantes y dos miembros del personal en cuarentena. El año pasado, RFSD tuvo un promedio de 131 estudiantes por día fuera de la escuela debido a cuarentenas. La jefa de servicios estudiantiles y familiares de RFSD, Anna Cole, dijo que el distrito trabajó con socios locales de salud esta primavera para establecer clínicas de vacunación en high schools y algunas escuelas secundarias. Cole dijo que el CDPHE ahora anticipa el despliegue de vacunas COVID para niños de cinco a 11 años, a principios de este mes. Cole continuó diciendo que el distrito se asociaría con Mountain Family Health Centers para facilitar las clínicas de vacunación in situ en las escuelas primarias y secundarias del distrito y proporcionar otra ronda ofreciendo vacunas en high schools. Los servicios de vacunación en la escuela se proporcionan sin costo alguno para el distrito, de manera similar a otros servicios de salud como clínicas de higiene dental y exámenes de visión y audición, dijo Cole. "Lo ideal sería que las familias tuvieran acceso a dos dosis, para que los niños estuvieran completamente vacunados al
En octubre, el distrito puso en marcha llegar las vacaciones de invierno", explicó, "pero todo depende un poco del tiempo. Es un piloto de servicios de interpretación de una continuación de nuestro compromiso conferencias para facilitar las conferencias de con la equidad y el acceso a los recursos para padres y maestros llevadas a cabo la semana permitir que las escuelas sean un sitio para pasada y ofrecer servicios adicionales de eso". interpretación para los maestros o el personal Cole anunció que el autobús de vacunación que desee realizar llamadas telefónicas a los móvil del estado vendrá al valle de Roaring padres. Moreno también dijo que el resto de Fork el 16 y 17 de noviembre. Estará ubicado las políticas del distrito, que aún no habían en el estacionamiento de Basalt Middle School. Las vacunas COVID y las vacunas sido traducidas al español, fueron enviadas a de refuerzo estarán disponibles para el expertos en traducción legal para la traducción público en general. Se recomienda registrarse requerida por ley federal. Además, dijo Moreno, "Hemos coordinado anticipadamente, la atención sin previa cita previa es limitada. Para hacer una cita, visite: con nuestros enlaces familiares y el centro de recursos familiares en las mejores prácticas https://www.mobilevax.us/western-slope Una actualización de una de las diez para la aplicación de la interpretación, y cómo iniciativas estratégicas del distrito — utilizar mejor la información final de los comunicaciones bilingües — fue presentada líderes en nuestras escuelas". por Yerania Moreno, contratada en octubre Los detalles del plan de comunicación como especialista en comunicaciones bilingüe incluyen la solicitud de comentarios bilingües. de las familias y el personal para garantizar La iniciativa comenzó hace un par de años, que se cumplan los criterios. A principios con el desarrollo e implementación por parte de 2022, explicó Moreno, "desarrollaríamos del distrito de un conjunto de herramientas de comunicación bilingüe. El conjunto de un pequeño informe sobre las iniciativas herramientas se basa en las opiniones de las estratégicas, incluyendo la revisión por partes interesadas recogidas el año pasado. parte de la junta de nuestro conjunto de Este año se seguirá recogiendo información herramientas y la asignación de recursos para establecer las mejores prácticas en materia necesarios a través de la oficina de presupuesto del distrito para hacer este trabajo". de acceso y justicia del lenguaje. el Sol del Valle • Conector de comunidad • 11-17 de november, 2021 • 15
Día de los Muertos en Carbondale
Más de cien personas asistieron a las festividades de Día de los Muertos de Carbondale el 5 de noviembre. La tarde empezó con una dedicación de mural aficionado por FirstBank. Después, una procesión guiada por Baile Folklórico de Aspen Santa Fe Ballet caminó hasta la calle principal donde hubieron varias performancias. Fotos a la derecha por Sarah Overbeck/Carbondale Arts. Estela García tomó el papel de La Catrina, una figura interpretada por artistas contemporáneas como José Gualupe Posada y Diego Rivera. Foto de arriba por Klaus Kocher. Hundreds of people attended Carbondale's Día de los Muertos festivities on Nov. 5. The evening began with a mural dedication sponsored by FirstBank. Then, a procession led by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet's Baile Folklórico program walked from the Third Street Center to Main Street for various performances. Photos on right by Sarah Overbeck/Carbondale Arts. Estela García played the role of La Catrina, a figure depicted by contemporary Mexican artists like José Gualupe Posada and Diego Rivera. Top photo by Klaus Kocher.
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16 • el Sol del Valle • soprissun.com/espanol/ • 11-17 de november, 2021
¡Dona! Apoya a The Sopris Sun Como una organización 501c3 sin fines de lucro, The Sopris Sun no existiría sin la ayuda de nuestros lectores y amigues. The Sun es más que un periódico — es nuestro conector de comunidad. La publicidad cubre solo una porción del costo de producción de la versión impresa y la mantención del sitio web, pero no la enchilada completa. En el 2020, tuvimos más de 300 donantes individuos donando cantidades pequeñas de $5 hasta una donación de $2,000. En cada publicación y en el sitio web, publicamos fuentes y donantes que nos ofrecen más de $1,000 anuales.
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Rivera thanks RFSD community By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent
Autumn Rivera, a sixth-grade science teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School (GSMS), was awarded 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year in a surprise ceremony on Oct. 22 at GSMS, with students, staff and her family in attendance. Rivera, after taking a deep breath, said, “And it’s been a whirlwind ever since.” Rivera, one of seven state finalists, said former Teachers of the Year called to congratulate her. She said they’re a tight-knit community, happy to welcome aboard a new award recipient. They told her, “‘This is just the beginning. Enjoy the moment; it’s going to be crazy,’” said Rivera. “I think a lot of people don’t understand — I didn’t understand — the enormity of this award; it’s a big deal! It’s a huge honor, and with that comes a lot of work and responsibilities.” Rivera spoke with 2021 Colorado Teacher of the Year Gerardo Muñoz, chosen in 2020, who “has been great, and helpful in processing through it with me.” Immediate plans call for Rivera to make a guest appearance on Muñoz’s podcast, “Too Dope Teachers and a Mic,” in a couple of weeks. After GSMS’s Thanksgiving break, Rivera will travel to Denver to meet Colorado Department of Education (CDE) staff members to learn more about her official duties while serving from January to December 2022. CDE is the principal department charged with administering the annual award. As the Colorado Teacher of the Year award recipient, Rivera automatically becomes Colorado’s nominee in the National Teacher
of the Year competition. Should Rivera receive that honor, she would become only the thirdever Colorado teacher to do so since the award’s inception in 1952. The last time a Colorado Teacher of the Year received national honors was in 1978. Teachers of the Year from every state are scheduled to meet in February. However, Rivera said their schedule is subject to change, depending on COVID-19 restrictions. For example, the 2021 awardees made the traditional visit to the White House just last month, when typically the visit occurs in April. The National Teacher of the Year will be named in December. If awarded those honors, Rivera would take a year off from teaching to represent teachers across the country. Rivera said she would focus on equity in education and ensure that all students have access to quality education, regardless of family income or background. Rivera said, “So much of our education right now is focused on the middle-class world, and not all of our students are coming from the same background.” Those educational inequities “have always been there and the COVID pandemic really brought it to light,” Rivera said. “Here [in the classroom],” she explained, “everyone is in their seats, and I don’t know what’s going on at home. But when we were teaching online, all of a sudden we were able to see that this kid has a quiet place where they can sit and do their work. They have their desk and computer; they’re ready to go. While this other kid is in the corner with other kids, each trying to pay attention, and they don’t have a quiet place. They have to babysit their siblings, so they can’t stay online and learn. Online learning took
away that even playing field of the classroom.” Rivera was a co-chair of the “Yes on 5B” committee that supported Ballot Initiative 5B, a school mill levy override to increase salaries for Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) teachers and staff. “Until we have education in Colorado funded at the proper level, schools are doing the best they can to offer support. We can do better; we can always do better,” she said. The measure’s success on the Nov. 2 ballot led Rivera and other teachers to show their appreciation to voters by standing on Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs with thank-you signs. “We stood on Grand Avenue before [Election Day] to ask them to vote for it, but it was even more powerful to stand on Grand Avenue with signs thanking them for voting for it,” Rivera shared. Regarding her award, Rivera offered a special thank-you to the RFSD community. She said, “I would not have won this award if it wasn’t for [me] coming to this community and then being allowed to be the teacher I’ve always wanted to be. This community has been so open, welcoming and supportive.” Rivera recalled a recent rafting trip with her students. “When we wanted to take the kids out rafting, we had local raft guides who were like, ‘Come on, we’ll take your kids out rafting.’ We’ve been really lucky and honored to have that support from community members,” she said.
When the Colorado Teacher of the Year announcement was made, Rivera said, "I was a little shell-shocked. There were a lot of cameras and a lot of people, but it was really cool and it was fun to celebrate with the kids." Photo by Jeanne Souldern.
thank you! together, we care for the places we care about. As one community under the leadership of Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, 2021 was a stewardship success! The staff and board of RFOV would like to thank everyone who volunteered with us and supported our efforts this year. Here’s some of our accomplishments:
91 partners total government
77+ miles of trail rebuilt and
and non-profit organizations with whom we worked
maintained
6,262 hours total stewardship
completed – that’s 105% higher than 2020!
64 sites we worked, from mountains to mesas to canyons
commit to stewardship. commit to rfov:
rfov.org/donate Community Powered Stewardship Since 1995 www.rfov.org PO Box 1341 970.927.8241 Basalt, Colorado
THE SOPRIS SUN • Your weekly community connector • November 11-17, 2021 • 17
Robotics meets farming in Silt By Raleigh Burleigh Sopris Sun Editor
On tour with Spring Born Director of Marketing and Sales Danielle Davis, the building is permeated with the dank stench of nutrient-dense peat. The recently-built, 3.5-acre lettuce factory, located in Silt, will deliver year-round, fresh greens that have touched no human hands. “The first time the greens will be touched is in your kitchen,” boasts Spring Born’s website. Natural light pours through large windows and greenhouse walls. Finnish-made machines propel gutters full of peat along conveyor belts to catch seeds then rotate for roughly 30 days through the growing space, sprinkled with well water. Eventually, the greensfilled gutters are sent through machines that chop, shake and package them. A few employees
keep an eye on the process, making adjustments as necessary. According to Spring Born, their lettuce uses 95% less water than outdoor growing and less land. With less trucking to reach local stores, thus producing less emissions, Davis sees the organicyet-mechanized model as both a “food waste” and “food mile” solution. Owner Charles Barr comes to Garfield County by way of Northern California. Previously, he founded WebPass, an internet service acquired by Google Fiber in 2016. Barr said he’s “always been a fan of agriculture,” and wanted to be a producer to “change the way things are done.” Initially, Barr had planned for the facility to be built in Gunnison County. According to Aspen Journalism, when that location fell through, his idea was relocated to Silt, minus a
geothermal power generating component. Because the building was financed with help from the USDA, it was important to remain within Colorado to keep that funding, and “Garfield County was receptive,” Barr told The Sopris Sun. Spring Born also received assistance from Colorado’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program, a financing tool that allows “commercial and multifamily property owners to finance qualifying energy efficiency, water conservation and other clean energy improvements on existing and newlyconstructed properties” (copace. com). Additionally, Spring Born made use of the Rural JumpStart Program, incentivizing new businesses “to start in or move into rural, economicallydistressed areas and hire new employees.”
The future of farming? Josh Budka, one of Spring Born’s full-time growers, evaluates the produce with detailed charts. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh.
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Peat is a carbon-sequestering, water-purifying resource that is regenerative, accumulating over centuries in swampy habitat. Peat has long been harvested and dried as a source of heat and energy by native peoples, and mined for its horticultural properties. Barr said that using peat transmits good flavor and nutrients into Spring Born greens, not found in other indoor cultivation systems, like hydroponics with no soil medium. Organic peat can only be used once for the lettuce, yet it is “some of the best soil you can get,” said Barr. The ranch gives Spring Born an opportunity to extend its use in hay production, and there’s even talk of planting an orchard. Asked if there are any rumors he’d like to dispel, Barr responded, “It’s not marijuana! We’re growing food,” with a chuckle. Currently, Spring Born grows six types of greens, including mustard greens, kale and arugula, selected from more than 60 varieties sampled by the employees. The product will be available in 100% recyclable packaging at Kroger stores, Whole Foods Market and Skip’s Farm to Market. Learn more at https:// springborn.us/
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“Sustainability means a lot of things!” said Davis, “in water and in business.” As the systems are dialed in, around 25 employees will enjoy livable wages and benefits, never a guarantee in agricultural professions. “I was working with high-tech vertical farms prior to working at Spring Born,” continued Davis. “So I've really studied all of the models of indoor farming. I think Spring Born is the best model — soil growing medium, sunlight, automation and skilled employees.” Spring Born recently participated in Coventure’s Pitch Summit, Barr said, “as a way to introduce ourselves.” The company is actively recruiting growers that want a career in horticulture. Barr called the opportunity: “a great first job, last job or anything inbetween.” “Spring Born is more than just a greenhouse,” explained Davis. The 2.6 acres of growing space in the operation is directly connected to packaging machinery and refrigerated storage. The facility exists on a 254-acre property that continues to be actively cultivated for hay by a traditional rancher. Barr sees his greenhouse as an extension of traditional agriculture. “They will come together,” he said. “We’re trying to reinforce the long history of agriculture in this valley.” Essential to Spring Born’s process is organic peat, bought from suppliers in Canada.
If you can read this, If you can read help. Ifyou youcan can read this,help you can you can help. If you can read this, 970.945.5282 you can help. 970.945.528 970.945.5282 off970.945.5282 ice@literacyoutreach.org office@literacyoutrea office@literacyoutreach.org office@literacyoutreach.org www.literacyoutreach.org www.literacyoutreach.org www.literacyoutreach.org www.literacyoutrea
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The future of farming? Machines at Spring Born shake clean lettuce to be packaged below. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh.
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Industrial businesses support Carbondale economy Industrial space
By James Steindler Contributing Editor
Tucked within the nooks and crannies of Carbondale, light industrial operations persist. While these businesses miss out on the window-shopping foot traffic characteristic of downtown, you can easily find their addresses online or — dare we say — the Yellow Pages. These businesses range in utility from ski and snowboard wax to excavation services. The town planners who came before believed industry was considerable enough to name a street “Industry Place” between the Roaring Fork Valley Coop and the Carnicería, east of Highway 133. Within the town of Carbondale there are five sections zoned as “general industrial,” which vary significantly in size. The smallest is north of the RFTA park and ride, stretching roughly 400 feet, north to south, and 200 feet, east to west on the north side, with an acute angle making up the southern point. Across Highway 133, a large industrial sector spans the area behind La Fontana Plaza, creeping east along the Rio Grande Trail and south over Nieslanik Avenue and 12th Street. The latter has the most individually owned lots within an industrial-zoned sector. South of Nieslanik Avenue is another enclave where several small businesses are operated within the E.T. Plaza Commercial Industrial Complex. On the east side of town is another large industrial zone, north of the Rio Grande Trail and between Eighth Street and Merrill Avenue, where businesses are hidden within a labyrinth of fencing, demolished vehicles and shipping crates. The final zone is directly across Merrill Avenue from there, where The Balentine
Glen Underhill stands in front of his shop in Downtown North Carbondale's industrial zone. Photo by James Steindler Collection International is located, reaching east toward the Carbondale Nature Park. These last two sections have come to be referred to as “Downtown North.”
Resources and outreach Operating off the beaten path may sound alluring, but perhaps there are some drawbacks. Adam Miller, owner of Revel Bikes on Industry Place, claimed the company can use more support from the Town and Garfield County. “It’s been wildly frustrating as a small business owner here,” said Miller, who would like to see more public resources for light industrial businesses. Miller started Revel Bikes in Utah, and there, by comparison, he found more clear opportunities of support which local governments guided him to. “I do feel like there’s a significant lack of resources, whether it’s grant
`
funding or housing specific for employees who work full-time, hands-on, year-round,” Miller said of Carbondale. “We offer health care and benefits to all of our employees, but the town does not offer anything — that I’m aware of — in terms of support for housing or some of those other challenges that come with living in such a great place like this.” While Miller welcomes the idea of more affordable housing, he believes there should be a balance. He referred to local affordable housing prices as “a bit of a joke.” He continued, “I mean, housing is the number one challenge in this area for a business like mine; if we can have housing we can have our business here. To me, I’m wondering, what does the town of Carbondale want? Do they want more businesses or do they want more housing for people who have second or third homes here?”
Peter Arlein’s business, mountainFLOW eco-wax, is administered out of Coventure in downtown Carbondale. Eco-wax produces ecofriendly ski and snowboard wax and bike products. Back in 2016, when Eco-wax got its start, Arlein made the initial products on his kitchen table. “We don’t make anything here in Carbondale anymore,” explained Arlein. “It went from the kitchen table to Coventure, where we had a little bit more space. Then we outgrew that space in terms of the total number of units we were doing every year. Now we have everything made at manufacturing locations around the country.” While it’s not imperative for his business anymore, he added, “It would be great to have some more industrial space to do some of the small-scale production.” Nevertheless, the entrepreneur appreciates existing industrial zoning in Carbondale, which gives “people industrial space without having to go to Glenwood or Rifle.”
Downtown North Those who have been following Carbondale’s comprehensive plan update process, know that the Downtown North could be rezoned. According to the Oct. 28 public meeting, “Land use change will alter job sectors, and industrial businesses being displaced should still have a place to do business.” Glen Underhill has operated Underhill Excavating Inc. out of Downtown North for the past 12 years; prior to that in Glenwood Springs and originally in Rifle. He said that if he is forced to move, it will likely be back downvalley. He says his jobs range “basically from Glenwood to Aspen,” and added, “I’d rather not move my business to New Castle, but I may not have an option.”
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Congress ratifies spending to address western drought
By Michael Booth The Colorado Sun
Colorado will benefit from billions of dollars in climate change and water projects in the $1.2 trillion infrastructure investment bill passed by the U.S. House late Friday, conservation groups said over the weekend, with some of the money shoring up drought-stretched obligations to the Colorado River Compact. More than $8.3 billion in water projects alone earmarked for Western states will help pay for programs such as renting water from farmers to send down the Colorado River in extremely dry years, replanting and managing high country forests devastated by wildfires and recycling more water in cities, said Alexander Funk, director of water resources for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “It’s a really solid step to addressing some of the water resource challenges that we’re seeing in Colorado and other Western states,” Funk said. Water for Colorado, a broader coalition that Funk speaks for, called the bill’s final approval “a rare opportunity for Colorado to have funding flowing while our rivers are not. Colorado needs to be ready to use as much of these once-in-a-generation federal funds as quickly as possible to address the state’s water resource funding gaps through implementation of the Colorado Water Plan.” The coalition’s members include
Trout Unlimited, Environmental Defense Fund, American Rivers and others. Pew Charitable Trusts highlighted $1.4 billion of approved spending that will go to states, local governments and tribal governments for repairing and removing culverts, improving fish habitat, and removing barriers to fish spawning and survival, such as dams. The bill also includes $275 million in dedicated funding for the first time to fix roads and make other improvements at national parks and other public and tribal lands. Those are just a few of the provisions Pew director of public lands and river conservation Marcia Argust said “will help local economies that depend on healthy ecosystems.” State and nonprofit leaders in Colorado say the boost of federal money is needed to help them find water for the beleaguered Colorado River through diversions from agriculture and conservation in Front Range cities. The Colorado River’s runoff into Lake Powell has dropped about 20% in the past 20 years amid a long-term drought and longer-term climate change. The drop in available Colorado River water, which supplies 40 million people in seven states, has already forced cutbacks to the amount of water being sent to Arizona in 2022, for example. Arizona, Nevada and California suffer the first cutbacks under a federally-overseen compact
among the seven states. Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, where the Colorado River’s primary resources originate, will face cutbacks in the future if they fail to deliver an average of 7.5 million acre-feet of water to the lower compact states each year. Colorado leaders do not want to be forced into sudden, uncontrolled cuts in a compact “call.” They are experimenting with “demand management,” paying farmers for water in some years without drying up their water rights permanently, and putting that water in a “bank” in Lake Powell to satisfy the compact. Large-scale water renting or purchasing will take at least hundreds of millions of dollars. Other projects that would need federal aid include transforming agricultural watering to be far more conserving, alternate crops, payments for carbon sequestration in ground cover, and restoring high country wetlands that slow wildfires and harbor lush wildlife. “I would say the upland forest wetland ecosystems are huge winners in terms of this infrastructure package,” Funk said. Front Range cities and water districts who feel they have a case to make for water conservation will also seek shares of the new pot of money to complete their projects. Agencies looking for federal assistance include a group of providers in northern El Paso County, who want to build a $134 million pipeline to complete a loop
The Colorado River flows through the Glenwood Canyon. Photo by Olivia Sun of The Colorado Sun. recycling diminishing aquifer water. Other funded infrastructure projects highlighted by the water conservation coalitions include: 1) $280 million for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse municipal grants, 2) $500 million in community wildfire defense grants from the U.S. Forest Service, and $200 million in postfire restoration activities from the forest service and the Bureau of Land Management and 3) $300 million for river drought contingency planning, with $50 million specifically for Upper Basin states like Colorado. The conservation groups are hoping Congress will double-down on climate and drought spending by following up in coming weeks to pass the other part of Biden’s recovery package, the multi-trillion, oft-changed budget reconciliation bill dubbed Build Back Better. It includes more infrastructure spending alongside Democrat
priorities such as extended child care credits and family leave. Build Back Better, which many House members have pledged to vote on in November, includes Westernfriendly items like $10 billion for reducing tinder-dry fuel in the “wildfire urban interface,” Funk said. It also has $27.5 billion — “with a ‘b’,” he noted — for climate-smart agriculture that would encourage farmers to plant more cover crops and provide land for carbon sequestration. “There’s some very big ticket items that are in Build Back Better that we definitely want to see added to what passed,” Funk said. The Colorado Sun is a readersupported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com
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Sunburst Car Care Seeking full-time Cashiers, Car Washers, Detailers, and Lube Technicians and Tire Techs. Please Apply in person at 745 Buggy Circle, Carbondale Financial Education Facilitator Youthentity is hiring part-time facilitators to teach 5th and 8th graders about personal finance in Garfield, Mesa, Eagle, Pitkin, and Summit counties. Pay starts at $20 per hour. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume
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PARTING SHOTS
Cosecha Textiles hosted "Upcycle!" in partnership with Basalt Library last week, teaching participants to "breathe new life into old clothes" for a refreshed wardrobe. DIY sewing workshops are now offered at Claire Wright's new studio in Carbondale on the third Wednesday of each month, from 4 to 9 p.m. Bring your own machine or borrow one! These bilingual sessions provide access to a professional studio with guidance from an experienced seamstress. Alterations, repairs or custom sewing projects are all welcome. Masks are requested for persons not vaccinated and the workshops are capped at five people. To sign up, visit: cosechatextiles.com Photos courtesy of Cosecha Textiles Sewing Studio.
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