LIFT-UP launches fundraiser amid growing community needs
JEANNE SOULDERN
Sopris Sun Correspondent
LIFT-UP, a nonprofit providing food assistance from Aspen to Parachute, has launched its annual year-end fundraising campaign: “Donate to the Plate.” Executive Director Ivan Jackson explained the importance of this initiative in a recent interview with The Sopris Sun.
According to data from Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, one in seven children experiences hunger, underscoring the critical importance of local food assistance programs and their fundraising campaigns.
“This is our biggest fundraising campaign of the
year,” Jackson said. “Last year, we raised $370,000, and we’re hoping to exceed that this year.”
Growing demand
The need for LIFT-UP’s services has grown exponentially. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they saw a 600% increase in food insecurity across the Roaring Fork Valley. At the end of 2022, the organization served approximately 55,000 individuals. That number skyrocketed to 128,000 last year and has reached 155,000 as of the end of October this year.
“Living in this Valley is expensive, from housing to groceries,” Jackson noted. “And continued on page 7
Graham Ward, operations director at Lift-Up, helps direct traffic with help from warehouse associate Hannah Snaza (right) at the Carbondale Town hall parking lot, where over 200 turkeys were given away on Nov. 21. Photo by Klaus Kocher
Sopris Sun earns Journalism Trust Initiative certification
EXECUTIVE NOTE
By Todd Chamberlin
I’m excited to share a proud moment for The Sopris Sun and our entire community: We’ve officially earned certification from the Journalism Trust Initiative, an initiative operated by Reporters Without Borders to promote a healthier media landscape by recognizing outlets that adhere to the highest standards of accuracy, transparency and ethical journalism. This certification isn’t just a milestone for us — it’s a celebration of you, our readers and supporters, who have made it all possible.
This places us among only 1,700 news organizations worldwide and just 100 in the United States, with our publication being the first in the Roaring Fork Valley to earn this recognition. What excites me most, however, is what this means for you, our neighbors and community. It’s a promise that when you pick up The Sopris Sun or Sol del Valle, you’re holding a publication you can count on — one that’s committed to telling stories that matter with utmost care.
Why this matters
With today’s fast-paced, often overwhelming media landscape, finding news you can trust is especially important. This certification reflects our unwavering commitment to providing you with accurate, fair and community-rooted stories. Whether it’s a profile of a local artist, coverage of important local government decisions, breaking news or a story about a nonprofit making a difference, our goal is to deliver journalism that empowers you — helping shape your daily life and sparking thoughtful conversations that strengthen the fabric of our community.
Independent community-focused newspapers like The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle are central to fostering civil discourse. By sharing local stories, promoting engagement and giving space to diverse voices, we help bridge divides and encourage thoughtful, respectful dialogue. Staying informed about local issues helps strengthen your connection to the Valley, whether that’s knowing what’s happening with municipal governments, learning about cultural events or hearing from the people making a difference in our neighborhoods. This certification is a reaffirmation of our mission, and it challenges us to deepen our impact.
Building a better future together
Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to accomplish much in recent years:
• Local coverage: We’re committed to telling stories that reflect the heart of this region, from Aspen to Parachute — stories you won’t find anywhere else.
• Sol del Valle: Filling a news desert, our Spanish-language publication ensures that all our neighbors, regardless of language, have access to the news they need and feel included in the broader community conversation.
• Youth Journalism Program: Through mentoring the next generation of reporters, we’re ensuring that fresh voices are heard, and that your children and grandchildren see themselves reflected in the stories we tell, shaping the future of local journalism.
• Annual Giving Guide: We helped over 90 local nonprofits raise more than $1,000,000 last year, directly supporting the vital work happening in our community.
These accomplishments wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our 30+ regular contributors — editors, writers, photographers, illustrators and others — who make The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle shine bright. Their hard work, passion, bravery and expertise are reflected on every page, and we are incredibly grateful for all they do. Thank you for supporting our contributors and the essential work they do for our community.
How you can help
While this certification celebrates what we’ve achieved, it also highlights the challenges that lie ahead — especially in securing sustainable local funding so we can continue to serve our community for many years to come. Local independent journalism is a vital pillar for a healthy society, but it requires constant effort and support. As we enter the new year, I invite you to continue being a part of our journey, of our family.
When you support The Sopris Sun — whether through generous donations, volunteering, sharing our stories or simply reading the paper each week — you’re helping us deliver news that connects us all, celebrates our shared humanity, and nurtures a culture of civil discourse.
Thank you for trusting us with your stories. This certification belongs to all of us because we truly couldn’t have done it without you.
LETTERS
‘The Giving Tree’
EDITOR’S NOTE: The children’s poetry book written by Shel Silverstein resonated with Lani so much, she decided to quote a passage for her annual year-end note.
And after quite a long time the boy came back again.
“I am sorry, Boy,” said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you. My apples are gone.”
“My teeth are too weak for apples,” said the boy.
“My branches are gone,” said the tree. “You cannot swing on them.”
“I am too old to swing on branches,” said the boy.
“My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb.”
“I am too tired to climb,” said the boy.
“I am sorry,” sighed the tree.
“I wish that I could give you something … but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry …”
“I don’t need very much now,” said the boy, “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.”
“Well,” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.”
And the boy did. And the tree was happy.
Time will change the physical world but not the gift of gratitude. I wish everyone personal peace, tolerance and mindfulness for the upcoming year.
Lani Kitching Carbondale
Keeping sidewalks cleared
With the prevalence of non-compliance with Carbondale’s municipal code regarding residents’ responsibility to keep sidewalks clear of snow, ice, slush, etcetera, it is important to know that our police department does not have a paper warning system. Instead of calling the police department or ordinance officer directly, the best way to have documentation of a report or complaint, ESPECIALLY REGARDING REPEAT OFFENDERS, is to call Garfield County Dispatch at 970-625-8095.
Laurie Loeb Carbondale
Unbiased media
Despite the liberal lapdog media giving Kamala 85% positive coverage and the campaign wasting a billion dollars on propaganda, Trump won. Meanwhile, our U.S. version of Pravda dished dirt on The Donald 78% of the time.
Locally, GarCo citizens chose Wills and Samson, conservative stewards of sanity and a bulwark against the Californication of Denver.
So why, in a conservative majority county, the largest newspaper only has room for a Dem’s opinion column? Is the Post Independent an unbiased purveyor of journalism or an agenda driven liberal cabal?
The Dems used to be the working class heroes. Today, Trump’s Republicans are the peoples’ party. We used to trust the media, but this election validated Trump’s fake news branding of the charlatans.
The PI’s news cousin, The Sopris Sun gives much more coverage of diverse opinions. Aren’t liberals all about “DEI?” How continued on page 26
Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003
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Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+
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Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner in 2024? Email Todd@soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866
SCUTTLEBUTT
The Sopris Sun invites youngsters to submit illustrations for its annual Spruce Up The Sun contest. The winning image(s) will be featured on the cover of our Dec. 19 holiday issue. Contestants, or their parents, can submit scanned submissions to news@ soprissun.com or place a hard copy in the submission box outside The Launchpad in Carbondale (76 4th Street). Preschoolers through high schoolers are welcome to participate. This year’s theme: Dreams. Entries are due by Dec. 15!
Carbondale Qdoba
Qdoba — a fast-casual Mexican-style restaurant with more than 750 locations, including Glenwood Springs — is coming to Carbondale. A hiring announcement was shared on the “Carbondale, Colorado” Facebook page on Nov. 20, prompting many comments. The Town of Carbondale confirmed a permit has been submitted to build out the vacant space next to Independence Run & Hike in the City Market plaza.
Home for the Holidays
Journey Home Animal Care Center (970625-8808) will again host its Home for the Holidays foster program this year. Families can welcome a pet into their home between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, without committing to adopting the pet. “Foster events like Home for the Holidays allow families and pets who need companionship in this lonely season to have that experience, even if it isn’t forever,” a press release stated. Colorado Animal Rescue, meanwhile, will participate in BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters reducedfee adoption event, Dec. 1 to Dec. 17.
Art Around Town
Attention sculptors! Carbondale’s 2025 Art Around Town rotating sculpture show is now accepting entries through Feb. 11. Find the application and more info at www.bit.ly/2025AAT
Mental health in school
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) will receive a $1.6 million grant for five consecutive years from the U.S. Department of Education to better provide mental health services to students across the state. The funds will be used to address the “critical shortage” of school-based counselors and mental health professionals. “It will provide funding to hire new workers, keep
existing ones in their jobs and help some switch careers to work in schools,” a CDE press release continued.
Free Book Fair
Mark your calendars for the second annual Free Book Fair for All on Dec. 13 from 12 to 6pm at the Glenwood Springs Community Center! This fair features thousands of new and gently used books for all ages in both English and Spanish. Books of all kinds for babies, children, teens and adults are completely free for the community. The fair is organized by a local group of passionate book lovers who aim to promote literacy and a lifelong love of reading in our community. Come for your new books, stay for the hot chocolate, prizes and holiday cheer!
Emergency Aid Kits
Discovery Café is organizing the assembly of emergency aid kits to support community members in need. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 6. Items needed include: personal care (toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), cold weather essentials (blankets, socks, gloves), emergency supplies for power outages (batteries, flashlights, etc.). They are seeking 10 volunteers to help assemble 30 kits. Of these, 10 kits will be distributed immediately and 20 will be made available
at the Rifle Branch Library for pickup by those in need. To volunteer, email gabe@ discoverycafe.org or call 719-650-5978.
Cottonwood Pass closure
Cottonwood Pass in Eagle County, connecting Gypsum with the Roaring Fork Valley, has officially closed for the season. The road will reopen in April, or when conditions allow.
Holiday closures
Garfield County administrative departments are closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28-29, for Thanksgiving. This includes the county landfill near Rifle. The Town of Carbondale and Basalt administrative offices will be closed over the same period. The same goes for all Garfield County libraries. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Richard Fuller and Paul Hassel (Nov. 28); Naomi Pulver and Kat Rich (Nov. 29); Chuck Dorn, Stephen Horn and Kat Lieblick (Nov. 30); Sadie Dickinson, Jim Harris and Marcel Kahhak (Dec. 1); Ted Brochet, Sierra Palmer, Deva Shantay and Paul Stover (Dec. 2); Skip Doty, Hannah Feder, Rebecca Murphy and Rochelle Norwood (Dec. 3); Edgar Garcia and Carol Klein (Dec. 4).
Around 100 people attended The Sopris Sun’s book presentation with author Jon Waterman on Nov. 22. “Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis” is available to purchase at White River Books. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh
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CPW prepares West Slope for impending wolf reintroductions
Sopris Sun Correspondent
The first year of official reintroduction of wolves to Colorado has had its ups and downs. The state-managed process is controversial. For years, the topic of facilitating the return of the species has had enthusiastic advocates and staunch opposition. Gray wolves, the species native to the central Rockies, were eradicated by humans by the 1940s due to hunting and trapping.
Between 2014 and 2019, following reintroduction in northern Rocky Mountain states, several wolves were observed migrating into northern Colorado. With their arrival, the long-simmering conversation of official reintroduction gained more momentum.
Between evidence of positive ecosystem repercussions in Yellowstone and nostalgic sentiments, many environmentalists were eager to try to replicate the shift in Colorado. While previous attempts for formal reintroduction failed at the agency and ballot level in the 1980s and 2016, by 2020, Proposition 114 made it onto the statewide ballot. The motion passed by just 1.8% of the vote, or around 57,000 votes.
The transplanted wolves from Oregon have made frequent headlines since being released in December of last year. While eight of the 10 animals struck out to explore the new territory, two very quickly paired and mated in Grand County. These wolves and their pups were named the Copper Creek
Pack, and were captured in September following repeated conflicts with livestock producers in the area. The adult male died of injuries sustained before its capture. The adult female and young wolves remain in Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) custody as the agency works to manage reintroduction and identify a suitable location for their release.
Rachael Gonzales, CPW public information officer, provided comments to The Sopris Sun on the overall reintroduction process.
“As wolves continue to explore new areas across Colorado, CPW is committed to working closely with producers and ensuring they have the
tools and resources available to minimize wolf-livestock conflict,” Gonzales stated. The agency has made informational brochures available to the public, including a Producer’s Guide to Livestock Depredations and a Wolf Resource Guide, which can be accessed on the CPW website or picked up in person from a CPW office.
The agency is also hosting training sessions and public meetings in various counties. “In addition to these brochures, CPW has been collaborating with the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) to host conflict reduction training sessions in several counties within the Northwest region. The purpose of the meetings is to share information and non-lethal tools available for producers to protect their livestock,” said Gonzales.
Earlier this month, CPW met with representatives and constituents from Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties to discuss tactics for preventing livestock depredations and encouraging historical ecosystem functions. In early 2025, CPW plans to release 15 more gray wolves, this time from British Columbia, in one or more of these Western Slope counties.
“There are three upcoming meetings in Eagle County, Gunnison County and Pitkin County in December. At these meetings, attendees can sign up for individual site assessments to gain a better understanding of what might work for them,” continued Gonzales. “Producers can also contact their local district
wildlife manager to schedule one-onone conversations.”
Gonzales reiterated that the last reported wolf-livestock incident in Colorado was Sept. 9 in Grand County, involving one cow and one calf. CPW maintains a full list of depredations on the wolf depredation page of its website. CPW does not have any updates on the Copper Creek pack at this time.
Gonzales emphasized that wolves are inclined to avoid humans unless lured close by unprotected livestock carcasses. “Generally, wolves are calm and elusive and will avoid humans. They are unlikely to approach people or homes,” she explained. “If you live or recreate in the foothills or mountains of Colorado, you are in wolf country. Wolves are not normally a danger to humans, but you should treat wolves with the same respect you give any other wild animal.”
In addition to the upcoming December meetings, CPW offers multiple resource lists and brochures on its website. Its Living with Wolves page has a variety of tips for anyone living or recreating where wolves may be found. For livestock producers, like ranchers, the agency has a multitude of information expounding on depredation prevention, and an established compensation policy for when those cases may arise. More information is expected in coming weeks as CPW determines locations and timing for the release of the British Columbia wolves.
A Copper Creek wolf pup pictured in Grand County in September. Courtesy photo
Carbondale Homeless Assistance achieves 10 years
More needed than ever
RALEIGH BURLEIGH
Sopris Sun Editor
“I’m tired of this whole thing,” said Pamela True. “But it’s been my community for 21 years, my family.” Ever since the COVID-induced moratorium on evictions ended, True — a senior citizen — has experienced bouts of homelessness, camping for months at a time with her chocolate lab to avoid leaving the area. “One of the most basic needs is to have shelter — a roof over your head. It affects everything, your work, your play, your self-esteem.”
here,” she admitted. “I was in the real estate industry for 20 years and owned apartment buildings and I have never seen anything like this.”
The growing contingency of almost-homeless is really staggering, -Lynn Kirchner
With help from Carbondale Homeless Assistance, True found short-term housing, but now that ends soon to welcome Airbnb guests. She is on lists for affordable housing opportunities but feels defeated. “I don’t know what to do,” she said. “This is my home.”
She remembers a time when it wasn’t so difficult to find housing, even with a pet. Nowadays, she’s observed long-term rentals converted to short-term, houses sold to capitalize on gains and struggling youth returning home to live with their parents — all reducing the availability of reasonably priced rentals.
“Everybody says ‘just leave,’ but the problem is everywhere, though not to the degree it is
It’s a sentiment that’s becoming more common as Carbondale Homeless Assistance (CHA) reaches its 10th anniversary this November. “The growing contingency of almost-homeless is really staggering,” said Lynn Kirchner, owner of Amoré Realty. “And it’s frightening.”
Kirchner started CHA in 2014 after encountering a former client living out of a van on an especially cold November night.
Having gone to a Mexican restaurant in the Sopris Shopping Center around Thanksgiving, Kirchner first recognized a dog at the laundromat, and then
the dog’s owner. It was several degrees below zero, Kirchner said. They ordered an extra meal and delivered it to the old camper van, parked between Carbondale’s two hotels.
The encounter prompted Kirchner to make a Facebook post about assisting people experiencing homelessness which catalyzed a meeting that attracted some 150 people, Kirchner said.
This turned into weekly meetings with a few dozen samaritans and the familiar client was eventually helped into senior housing in Glenwood Springs.
Since 2014, CHA has striven to help the “habitat challenged” meet their basic needs. Nowadays, needs are addressed on a case to case basis. Around a dozen people may be helped at a time, but CHA was unprepared for a
situation like the one Carbondale faced last winter, with nearly 100 unhoused migrants needing help all at once.
Kirchner recently presented to the Carbondale Board of Trustees. Every year, the Town budgets $1,500 toward CHA. This year, CHA spent $1,700 right back at the Rec Center, providing more than 80 shower passes plus three memberships to people in need. Additional costs for CHA in 2024 included five hotel accommodations ($800), gift cards to City Market and Subway ($2,000) and other items like sleeping bags, warm socks and boots ($3,500).
“We still do a ton of education,” Kirchner said in a follow-up interview. “What is homelessness? How does it happen? How many do we have?” She continued, “Some of them have been homeless for a long, long time, and chose to be. Others, because of drugs, alcohol, circumstances beyond their control, are homeless.” Whether happenstance or self-inflicted, it can be an uphill battle to regain stability. Even in the absence of drugs and alcohol, it’s common for people to develop paranoia when experiencing homelessness and the associated social disconnection.
continued on page 26
Elana McNulty and her dog, Jewell, were early recipients of help from Carbondale Homeless Assistance. Courtesy photo
with government assistance food programs declining postCOVID, families are forced to make tough choices between paying rent or buying food.”
This holiday season, the rising cost of groceries further complicates matters for many families. While turkey prices are slightly lower than last year, other holiday staples, such as turkey trimmings, vegetables and desserts, have increased by 20%, Jackson explained.
Donation options
LIFT-UP accepts monetary donations by check or online through its website. Recurring donations, which allow individuals to set up monthly or quarterly contributions, are also an option.
Food pantries stretch donation dollars by leveraging partnerships with food banks, grocery stores and wholesalers to purchase food at significantly reduced costs.
“For example, $100 can provide 100 meals or feed a child for 100 days,” Jackson shared. “But donations of any amount are welcome, whether $1 or $10,000.”
Some donors choose to give in-kind donations or even gift stocks. “We recently had someone donate stocks, which we coordinate through a broker in Glenwood Springs,” Jackson
said. “We also receive gift cards, and businesses like the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offer incentives. For instance, a $25 grocery gift card donation earns the donor a gondola ticket to the park.”
Additionally, LIFT-UP organizes food drives throughout the holiday season. Ten drives are scheduled between now and the end of the year in partnership with local schools, businesses and other organizations.
“Last year, we distributed over a million pounds of food,” Jackson said. “This year, we’re on track to exceed that.”
New programs in 2025
In 2025, LIFT-UP plans to introduce a mobile pantry — a retrofitted trailer that will serve as a traveling food distribution center. Unlike traditional mobile distributions, where food is preloaded into vehicles, this mobile pantry will allow individuals to choose their food, similar to a grocery store shopping experience.
“This will be a game-changer,” Jackson said. “It will expand our operational hours and allow us to reach communities with limited transportation options.”
The mobile pantry is expected to visit multiple locations daily, serving underrepresented
populations such as seniors and those in more remote areas.
Holiday meals and shopping
As the holidays approach, the organization will distribute over 1,000 turkeys and other staples to families in need. “From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we see a significant increase in demand,” Jackson said. “People want to create special memories for their families, even if resources are tight.”
LIFT-UP’s thrift store in Parachute, which reopened
in October, has also become a resource for the community.
“During COVID, we converted the space into a warehouse due to increased food demand,” Jackson said. “Now, with our new Glenwood Springs facility, we’ve brought back the Parachute thrift store, providing affordable goods to the community.”
Making an impact
Rising grocery prices and supply chain disruptions continue to pose challenges. “Even as some prices stabilize, the overall cost
of living in this Valley remains significantly higher than in other parts of Colorado,” Jackson said. “Families are feeling the pinch.”
Despite these hurdles, Jackson remains optimistic about the community’s generosity. “Whether it’s donating food, funds or time, every bit helps,” he said. “Together, we can make a difference.”
For more information or to contribute to the “Donate to the Plate” campaign, which runs through Dec. 31, go to www.liftup.org
Avon, Glenwood Springs, and Rifle Integrated Health Centers
Glenwood Springs Library
Avon Integrated Health Center Rifle Integrated Health Center
Glenwood Springs Library
Avon, Basalt, Glenwood Springs, and Rifle Integrated Health Centers
Basalt Integrated Health Center
Glenwood Springs Library
Gypsum Integrated Health Center
Glenwood Springs Library
Lidia Menchaca unloads pallets for Lift-Up’s food giveaway, Nov. 21. Photo by Klaus Kocher
For the love of art, music and front-page news
MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent
Terry Glasenapp can be described as a concert and festival enthusiast, filmmaker, DJ and visual storyteller. His most recent endeavor, a multimedia exhibit at Glenwood Springs Arts Council entitled “Paperboy Ambitions,” opened Nov. 14 and
will run until Dec. 29. “Paperboy Ambitions” is a visual whirlwind featuring nostalgic collages, vintage posters, newspaper clippings, photos, vinyl records and a plethora of iconic visuals.
Discussing the exhibit’s themes, Glasenapp said many of its messages are near and dear to him as a father,
grandparent and someone who appreciates the presence and creation of beauty.
“A theme for me has been activism around peace, the arts and the environment. Those areas mean a lot to me,” Glasenapp stated. “I’m a grandpa, so I want to do well in those areas for my kids and grandkids. Then there’s this theme of
creating beauty. The initial idea [for this exhibit] was my collection of flyers and posters. I would tell myself, ‘That flyer or poster will vanish when the event happens, and the artist’s work disappears from public view.’ I figured if I saved it and put it into an exhibit or a collage, it would get a second life. I’m kind of recycling.”
Glasenapp’s love of the news is also a central focal point, hence the name. He shared that growing up in Rochester, Minnesota, his parents were avid readers of the newspaper. Glasenapp himself got involved in the news world as a paperboy. An enigmatic creative expression grew with him throughout his youth and college.
“When I had that paper route, it just stuck with me. It was my first career. There was a time during the creation when I thought about naming the exhibit ‘Paperboy Ambitions at 75,’ but decided to keep it simple,” Glasenapp said, alluding to his age.
Later, while attending Rochester Community and Technical College in the late 1970s, his desire to create art and his relationships with other creatives flourished. Glasenapp and his friends birthed what he called “a happening,” a multimedia showcase that featured film, dance, theater and music. Glasenapp presented graphics and slides during the two showcases he and his buddies were able to pull off. He also had a very brief stint as a writer while in college when he approached the editor of his school’s newspaper with the idea for a literary page, for which he became the editor shortly after his idea
continued on page 26
Terry Glasenapp had the opportunity to fill The Launchpad with Mountain Fair memorabilia back in 2021 when Carbondale Arts celebrated the fair’s 50th anniversary. Photo by Paula Wood
Glenwood’s 6th Street undergoing transformation as businesses adapt, look forward
JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent
A construction project aimed at revitalizing the portion of 6th Street in Glenwood Springs that used to be part of Highway 82, and to activate the former Grand Avenue Bridge “north landing” as a new park area, commenced earlier this year.
In 2017, the Colorado Department of Transportation completed construction on the new, curved bridge that more directly connects Highway 82 to Interstate 70.
That eliminated the two-block jog that the state highway used to take along 6th Street just west of the historic Hotel Colorado and the Hot Springs Pool.
The result was a quieter, more pedestrian-friendly extension of the downtown business district that’s slowly experienced a renaissance in the years since.
“I don’t think there’s been a Saturday when I’ve been over there that there aren’t people out walking around, stopping into stores and checking things out,” said Bryana Starbuck, public
information officer for the City.
What still resembled an automobile-centric highway corridor after the new bridge was built was envisioned for a complete makeover through a multi-year master planning process.
The end product will include a narrower two-way street and parallel parking lanes with ample landscaping and eight-foot walkways on either side, plus a two-way separated bicycle lane.
Once the street project is complete, expected sometime next year, attention will turn to converting the space where the north end of the bridge used to land into a public park/plaza.
The dual projects, with a combined cost of about $7.1 million, involve a partnership between the City and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). A nearly $1.2 million Colorado Main Streets Grant awarded to the City in 2022 is also helping to pay for the work.
The project has been a top priority for the DDA since Jillian Sutherland took over as
executive director of the organization in 2022.
“We really want to pull that great energy and vibrancy we have with 7th Street and Bethel Plaza [under the south end of the bridge] and bring that to 6th Street, and make it feel more like a downtown community street,” Sutherland said.
She noted that when she first joined the DDA, there were a lot of empty storefronts on 6th Street. But now those spaces are all occupied.
“What we’re aiming to do is meet that moment and build a true street for those shops, with parking and wider sidewalks and more shade and greenery,” Sutherland said. “We want it to be an inviting, warm space where people can spend time.”
New restaurant adapts
While the future holds a lot of promise in bringing that vision to reality, the first phase of construction has been difficult for some of the businesses that have decided to call 6th Street home.
Those businesses range from the long-established Springs Liquors, which finally reopened after taking a long hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, to several new shops in that same building, plus the iconic Sioux Villa Curio shop and, on the north side of the street, the former Summit Canyon Mountaineering, which became part of the Gearhead Outfitters chain last spring.
Devika Gurung is co-owner of the Himalayan Cuisine restaurant that opened earlier this year in the large, one-time auto dealership building on the north side of 6th between Maple and Laurel streets. Two other eating and drinking establishments in that same spot didn’t quite take off, but Gurung is banking on it being the ideal spot once the project is completed.
When construction on the underground utilities portion of the project began this past summer, however, she said they saw a 75% drop in business.
“We lost all our patio business,”
she said, because of the challenge of inviting people in when there’s large machinery making noise and dust.
“This is our first business and our first year, so we want it to be a success and we don’t want to have to rely only on tourist business,” Gurung said.
They’ve tried to cater to locals with some special events, including an international potluck back in October that featured food from around the world and dancing.
Gurung is also exploring the idea of setting up a winter market in part of the large indoor dining space, and soon she plans to begin offering lunch boxes featuring uniquely prepared food from her native Nepal.
Pre-ordered meals can either be delivered or be picked up at the Glenwood restaurant, or in Carbondale at the Cocoa Club, she said.
“People can choose to receive meals once or twice a week,” she said. “The menu will be vegan and vegetarian and tailored to
An architectural rendering depicts the new and improved 6th Street in Glenwood Springs, looking northeast toward the Hotel Colorado, once the project is completed next year. Courtesy of the City of Glenwood Springs
A series of new shops have opened recently in the Springs Liquors building on the south side of 6th Street in Glenwood Springs, part of the area’s renaissance since the completion of the new Grand Avenue Bridge in 2017 and the pandemic years that followed. Photo by John Stroud continued on page 21
New HRHR ambulance furthers mobile services
JESSICA PETERSON
Sopris Sun Correspondent
High Rockies Harm Reduction (HRHR), a nonprofit founded in 2020 by Maggie (aka Mugsy Fay) Seldeen, is committed to combating overdose deaths and providing evidence-based harm reduction programming in rural Colorado. Recently, HRHR received a donated ambulance from Eagle Valley Paramedic Services. This provides a climate-controlled space to host one-onone anonymous services for clients in the Roaring Fork Valley and other rural Colorado communities.
“[The donation] is very kind because they’ve been watching us struggle — rain, wind, snow, fog, whatever the case may be — with our current setup,” Seldeen said. “And it’s been a little bit of a learning, trialand-error process. We learned that those pop-up tents really aren’t designed to be alone in the middle of a parking lot.”
Brandon Daruna, CEO of Eagle County Paramedic Services, has worked with HRHR over the past two years since helping establish a pop-up location for HRHR’s services.
“They’re so amazing, they’re such great partners,” Seldeen said. “Their [CEO] is such a champion of the work we do, and I think our tent flew and hit him one day,” she chuckled.
Daruna said he admires the work HRHR and Seldeen are doing and happily donated the ambulance that was no longer being used to help them.
“I’m in awe of the dedication of Maggie and all the folks that work in this space. I have been a paramedic for 25 years and much of my work has been as a result
of or related to drug addiction,” Daruna wrote in an email. “As fentanyl changes the recreational risk and threatens the life of anyone who chooses to experiment, it is imperative that we educate young people and give them access to some measures of safety.”
According to Garfield County Coroner, Robert Glassmire, who’s held the position for the past 10 years, there were a total of 56 drug overdose deaths documented in Garfield County from Jan. 1, 2020 to Nov. 13, 2024. This data includes individuals who may not be residents of Garfield County but overdosed within county limits.
Seldeen added that those numbers don’t capture the data on Roaring Fork Valley residents who may be taken to Grand Junction or Denver to receive care, or individuals who have lived in the Valley their entire lives but end up overdosing and dying in different communities.
“There’s some limitations with the data that we have,” Seldeen said. “My belief is that when we look at our numbers … they’re a very small piece of the picture. Nonfatal overdose numbers are a lot more difficult to capture.”
Glassmire echoed what Seldeen stated.
“These statistics only show us part of the picture,” he wrote in an email. “Since these are deaths that are reflected, we don’t see the harm these deaths have to the decedent’s family, friends and their circles. Additionally, what the statistics don’t reflect are those individuals who survive a drug overdose.”
Efforts across the state regarding opioid use and harm reduction have ramped up
in recent years. Attorney General Phil Weiser created the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council which consists of 19 different Regional Opioid Abatement Councils (ROAC) spread across the state. These councils were created to oversee and designate funds received in opioid settlements to improve access to treatment in rural and underserved communities.
Seldeen and HRHR are a part of the Region 5 Opioid Abatement Council, which consists of Eagle, Garfield, Lake,
Pitkin and Summit counties. While HRHR does not face direct opposition from members of the local government, the Garfield County commissioners neglect to sit in on ROAC meetings and weigh in on the issues and where funds should be directed.
“Tom Jankovsky used to go to those meetings, shook my hand when the attorney general came and told us that this is the work that needs to be done
Saturday, Dec 7th
From 10am-3pm on Redstone Blvd
SHOP LOCAL FOR HANDMADE GOODS AND SUPPORT THE ARTS
Dress warmly and plan for a magical day as you shop from 40+ local artists wares under tents along side Redstone businesses.
Listen to carollers, warm up by the fire pits and enjoy food and drinks specials. Santa will be visiting from 12-2pm at the Redstone Cliffs.
Parking available at Elk Park and the Redstone Inn. A free shuttle runs up and down the boulevard for those that need assistance. Some artists may not accept credit cards; bring cash. ATMs are available.
Maggie Seldeen happily poses with High Rocky Harm Reduction’s new ambulance, Lucy.
Photo by Josie Cruz
continued on page 21
DROP OFF/ ENTREGA:
Sueños
MAILING/ POR CORREO: P.O. B ox 399, Carbondale CO 816234
RULES:
• Students from kindergarten to high school are invited to enter
• Paper size: 8 ½ x 11”
• A variety of media is permitted, but not glitter or three-dimensional elements
• Bright, bold colors are recommended
• Please write the child’s name, age, grade, school and a parent’s contact information (on the back of the page)
REGL AS:
• Estudiantes de kindergarten a high school están invitados a entrar
• Tamaño de papel: 8 ½ x 11”
• Se puede utilizar una variedad de materiales, pero no destellos ni elementos tres-dimensionales
• Se recomienda colores brillantes
• Por favor, incluir el nombre del artista, su edad, curso, escuela y información de contacto para su pariente (en la parte atrás de la página)
For more information / Para más información: news@soprissun.com / 970-510-5003
DECEMBER 15
SPORTS
Basalt’s bid for state football title falls short
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Despite a resilient performance in front of the home fans that had the Basalt High School football team within striking distance of the school’s first-ever trip to a championship game, the Longhorns ultimately bowed out with a 41-28 loss to The Classical Academy (TCA) on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Coming into the game with identical 11-0 records and ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, the matchup had all the makings of a classic 2A playoff duel on a perfect fall football day.
With an overflow crowd packing the bleachers and lining the fence — many with cowbells to set a decidedly West Slope mood — Basalt got off to an inauspicious start in the opening minute of play, giving up two quick touchdowns to the visiting Titans from Colorado Springs.
The first came on the opening
first possession, when TCA’s Jackson Schipfer found an opening in the Basalt defense and went 60 yards for a TD.
Both extra points were good, and the cowbells were silenced — but not for long.
“We had talked all week about no turnovers and not getting down early, but that if it happened to fight back and believe in what you can do,” head coach Carl Frerichs said Monday as he reflected back on what his troops almost pulled off.
“To be on our heels that fast, and then to come back to have it tied 21-21 with 10 minutes left to play in the fourth (quarter), that’s just a credit to these kids’ resiliency and to our coaches,” he said.
It took a while to get the Longhorns’ mojo back, but a muffed punt reception by TCA in the second quarter opened the door.
Operating from the Titans’ 15 yard line, Basalt senior
A 29-yard touchdown pass from Schneider to junior Parker Sims, followed by Daniels’ 2-point conversion run, tied it up 14-14.
The Titans would regain the lead on a touchdown and successful extra point late in the third quarter, but Basalt had a quick answer, tying it at 21-21 on
more touchdowns to put the game on ice. Basalt did get a late score with just over two minutes to play, when Daniel caught a 1-yard touchdown pass after a successful, but time-consuming drive.
“That first play of the game punched us in the mouth pretty good, so we were a little shell-
“To get back into that game we just had to trust in our brothers to do their jobs and handle the situation,” he said. “We battled through and gave ourselves a chance.”
That tight team bond made it a special season, Barton said.
“It just makes everyone a go-getter, where you’re out there playing for your brothers and not just for yourself,” he said.
Barton is one of seven senior starters who are set to graduate from the Longhorn ranks.
“That’s one of the hardest things every year is to say goodbye to those seniors,” coach Frerichs said.
Even with the senior losses, looking ahead to next season the Longhorns expect to return seven of 11 starters on both sides of the ball. With a strong contingent of developing players, Basalt should be right back in the mix of things come fall 2025.
“The Kody Bartons and Will Daniels, and all of those senior
Basalt senior Will Daniel scored two touchdowns in the 2A state semifinals, a 41-28 loss to The Classical Academy. Photo by Rich Allen/Aspen Daily News
Winterfaire
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Have a pleasant holiday weekend, folks.
GRATITUDE YOGA
Cari Eisenson guides a “Thanksgiving Gratitude Flow” yoga session from 9 to 10am at Kula Yoga on Main in Carbondale. Register at www.kulayogaonmain.com
TURKEY TROT
Carbondale Parks and Rec’s annual all-ages Thanksgiving fun run (with 5k and one-mile distances) departs from the Rec Center at 9:30am. Sign up online in advance at www.bit.ly/ cdalettrot for a discount. Main Street, Snowmass Drive, Colorado Avenue and 8th Street will be closed to traffic from 9 to 11am.
ARGENTINE THANKSGIVING
Want to avoid cooking? Bodegón hosts a Thanksgiving feast from 5 to 10pm.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
NATIVE AMERICAN DAY
The day after Thanksgiving is recognized as Native American Heritage Day, when the country acknowledges its trespasses on the Indigenous peoples of this land and honors their heritage.
CHRIS & HAP
Chris Bank and Hap Harriman perform at Heather’s Savory Pies in Basalt at 6:30pm.
CRYSTAL THEATRE
The Crystal Theatre shows “Moana 2” at 7pm tonight, tomorrow, Dec. 4 and 5. Catch a 5pm showing on Friday, Dec. 1.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
JOHN MICHEL
John Michel from the John Oates Band performs at Heather’s Savory Pies at 6pm.
THE OTHER BROTHERS
TACAW presents The Other Brothers, an Allman Brothers tribute band, at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
SUNDAY MEDITATION
True Nature hosts a monthly meditation session every first Sunday from 9 to 10:30am.
WELCOMING THE STRANGER
Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist discusses immigration from 10am to noon.
THE BIG LET GO
A Spiritual Center welcomes Gwen Garcelon presenting on the power of surrender, non-attachment and resolve at the Third Street Center, Room 31, at 10am.
LABYRINTH WALK
The Center for Human Flourishing in collaboration with Laura Kirk and Pam Rosenthal invites you to a special labyrinth and crystal bowls experience, “Walking Each Other Home,” at the Third Street Center at 3:30pm. More info at www.tcfhf.org
COOKIES & CHEER
Cook Inclusive, Best Buddies, Challenge Aspen and Bluebird Café present Cookies & Cheer, an inclusive holiday event, at the Bluebird Café from 3:30 to 6pm. All are welcome.
RANDOM CONVERSATIONS
Have a random, yet meaningful, conversation with a stranger at the Carbondale Library every first Sunday from 6 to 7:30pm.
PAST CHAMPS
Carbondale Historical Society’s speaker series continues at 6:30pm at the Third Street Center with a panel of Roaring Fork Rams who took the state championships in football, basketball and soccer.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3
CANDLE DECORATING
The Basalt Library hosts a candle decorating workshop from 1 to 2:30pm. Registration is necessary at www. basaltlibrary.org/events-calendar
HOLIDAY MARKET
Stop by the Old Thompson Barn in RVR for a holiday market from 1 to 5pm.
PLANT-BASED COOKING
Lisa Moretti leads a plant-based cooking workshop at the Glenwood Springs Community Center from 5:30 to 6:30pm. For more info, visit www.glenwoodrec.com
DRAWING CLUB
Join the Roaring Fork Drawing Club at The Art Base in Basalt beginning at 6:30pm.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
CERAMICS CLUB
The Colorado Mountain College Aspen campus presents a holiday sale of ceramics students’ pottery, jewelry and art (25 S Sage Way, Aspen) from 10am to 7pm today, tomorrow and Dec. 6. A reception will take place tomorrow, Dec. 5, from 4 to 7pm.
DEATH CAFÉ
Akaljeet Khalsa, death doula and end-of-life consultant, hosts Death Café, where participants engage in respectful conversations around death and dying, at Sopris Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30pm. Call 970-456-8764 to register.
BOOK TALK
Basalt Library hosts a discussion of “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Free copies of the book are available at the circulation desk (while supplies last).
ASPEN FILM
Aspen Film presents “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” at the AF Isis Theatre at 7pm.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
WATER CONSERVATION
Roaring Fork Conservancy presents hydrologist Seth Mason and “Grappling with Barriers to Agricultural Water Conservation on Colorado’s West Slope” at the Basalt Library from 5 to 6:30pm. Registration is required at www.roaringfork.org/events
WALDORF STORE
Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork opens its annual Winterfaire Store for adults only, featuring locally made bits and bobs from over a dozen vendors, from 5 to 8pm.
COMMON ROOTS
HeadQuarters provides a space for men to gather sincerely with other men from 6 to 7:30pm.
HEATHER’S MUSIC
Smokin’ Joe Kelly and Rockin’ Randall perform at Heather’s Savory Pies in Basalt from 6:30 to 9:30pm.
‘UN-SILENT NIGHT’ TACAW hosts “Un-Silent Night: An Epic Holiday Sing-along” at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
FIRST FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
CUP AUCTION
Carbondale Clay Center’s annual cup auction takes place at Marble Distilling with a member’s preview from 5 to 6:30pm followed by public bidding ‘til 9pm.
LABOR OF LOVE
KDNK’s Labor of Love auction will be at the Thunder River Theatre from 5 to 8pm, followed by dancing.
LIGHT UP CARBONDALE
Join Santa at Weant and Main to watch the Christmas tree lighting at the Forest Service building at 5:30pm. Festivities continue with hot cocoa and sugar cookies provided by Stepping Stones and Alpine Bank. Sleigh rides will be offered from 5:45 to 7:45pm from 4th and Main and The Launchpad will remain open for Deck the Walls Holiday Market shopping until 7pm with live performances by Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra.
URBANE COYOTE
Heather’s in Basalt presents live music with Urbane Coyote from 6:30 to 9:30pm.
RUCKUS ON THE RANCH
The Aspen Professional Ski Patrol Association hosts its first community event, Ruckus on the Ranch, at T-Lazy-7 Ranch at 8pm. Tickets and more info at www.apspa.us
JAZZMONAUTS
Steve’s Guitars presents “Date Night with The Jazzmonauts,” inviting concertgoers to enjoy a meal at Bodegón before crossing the street for some vibrant jazz music starting at 8pm. Find tickets to dinner and the show, or just the show, at www.stevesguitars.net
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
The Glenwood Springs Community Center hosts its fourth annual Holiday Bazaar from 9am to 5pm.
REDSTONE MARKET
Check out the Redstone Holiday Market up and down the boulevard from 10am to 3pm.
WINTERFAIRE
Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork hosts its 33rd annual Winterfaire family celebration fundraiser from 11am to 3pm. All are welcome to enjoy crafts, shopping, cozy treats, a puppet play, music and more.
ART ON TAP
Carbondale Beer Works hosts “Art on Tap,” an artisan market, from 11am to 4pm.
PAPERBOY AMBITIONS
The Glenwood Springs Arts Council presents Terry Glasenapp’s “Paperboy Ambitions,” a multimedia group exhibit at the Glenwood Springs Arts Council Gallery (216 6th Street) through Dec. 29. An artist reception will take place from 2 to 5pm today.
SUMMIT FOR LIFE
The Chris Klug Foundation’s Summit for Life race takes off up Aspen Mountain at 5:30pm. Find all details at www.summitforlife.org
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY
Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra performs at the Basalt Library from 3 to 4pm.
FASHION SHOW AUDITIONS
Carbondale Arts hosts model auditions for the Green is the New Black Fashion Show at The Launchpad from 6 to 9pm tonight and from 6:30 to 9:30pm tomorrow. Find details at www.carbondalearts.com/fashion-show
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Britt Geis guides myofascial release exercises from 6:45 to 8:45pm at Kula Yoga on Main in Carbondale. Register at www.kulayogaonmain.com
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9
ORNAMENT MAKING
The Glenwood Springs Art Center offers a clay ornament-making workshop, along with hot cocoa, from 6:30 to 9pm. For more info, visit www.glenwoodrec.com
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10
PAWS TO READ
First through third graders are welcome to practice reading with a service dog from 3:30 to 4pm at the Basalt Library. Register for a 15-minute session at www.bit.ly/BasaltLib
‘FIRST DRAFT’
Mitzi Rapkin, host of the podcast “First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing,” speaks with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, author of “The Unfolding,” at TACAW at 6:30pm. Register at www.tacaw.org
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
LOU DAWSON
The Carbondale Library presents local author Lou Dawson in conversation with Cindy Hirschfeld, editor of Cross Country Skier, at 6pm. Copies of Dawson’s new memoir will be sold at the event.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
BANNED BOOK CLUB
Basalt Library’s Banned Book Club discusses “Pet” by Akwaeke Emezi at 4pm.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Classic and Skate style lessons at Spring Gulch. Starting in Jan.
DYNAMIC WORKOUT
A full body workout with cardio, sculpting, and floor exercises. Tues/Thurs, 11-11:50am, 1/7-1/30
QIGONG
A gentle practice to improve energy, balance, flexibility, muscle tone, and focus. Weds, 10:30-11:30am, 1/8-2/26
HEALING DANCE
Empower yourself with this fusion of yoga, movement therapy, and dance to build strength. Mondays, 6-7pm, 1/13-2/3
PILATES WITH PURPOSE
Develop core strength, balance, and stability, with mindful and precise classic Pilates.
Mon/Wed, 12-12:50pm, 1/13-3/5
SOMATIC YOGA WORKSHOP
A gentle practice to heal pain, release tension and anxiety, and facilitate ease of movement.
Monday, 9-11am, 1/13
AIKIDO - TRY IT FOR FREE
Non-violent, peaceful conflict resolution to re-direct, neutralize, or avoid an attack.
Tues/Thurs, 6-7:30pm, 1/14-2/6
ONGOING EVENTS
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
The Meeting Place in Carbondale (981 Cowen Drive) offers “Hole in the Donut AA,” Monday through Saturday at 6:45am, plus “Daily Reprieve” at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Find a full schedule at www. meetingplacecarbondale.org
IN STITCHES
The In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 1:30pm.
ENGLISH IN ACTION
Volunteer English tutors and developing learners meet for informal conversational practice at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 6:30pm. Interested in becoming a tutor? Email angela@englishinaction.orgn or call 970-963-9200.
MONDAY MEDITATION
Roaring Fork Insight guides a weekly meditation group meeting at the Third Street Center (Room 31) from 7 to 8:30pm
YARN GROUP
Basalt Library hosts a weekly yarn group on Tuesdays at 5pm. All are welcome.
BABY STORYTIME
The Carbondale Library hosts baby storytime at 9:30am on Tuesdays.
RAISING A READER
Basalt Library hosts an hour of storytime, activities and snacks Tuesdays at 10:30am.
TAI CHI
Garfield County Human Services is offering Tai Chi for Arthritis at the Carbondale Library, Tuesdays from 1 to 2pm and Thursdays from noon to 1pm. For more info, call 970-963-2889.
INTRODUCCIÓN A LA FOTOGRAFÍA - EN ESPAÑOL
Aprenda las funciones básicas de su cámara para que pueda comenzar a fotografiar con control y aumente su confianza en las computadoras.
Martes, 6-8:30pm, 1/14-2/4
KIDS CLASSES
Sketching & Drawing Cupcakes for Valentines
Cookies for Easter
Build a Fairy Garden
Build a Bottle Biome Tumble Balance & Breath
SPANISH - START FROM THE BEGINNING
Storytelling and engaging introductory conversations to develop comprehension, and speaking with ease. Thurs, 5-7pm, 1/23-3/13
SPANISH - START FROM THE BEGINNING
Storytelling and engaging introductory conversations to develop comprehension, and speaking with ease.
Thurs, 5-7pm, 1/23-3/13
To register for Community Classes...
BIKE PROJECT
The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps people repair their bicycles on Tuesdays from 2 to 6pm and Thursdays and Sundays from noon to 6pm at the Third Street Center.
SENIOR LUNCH
Every Wednesday at noon, Garfield County Senior Programs provides a nutritious meal for seniors at The Orchard. To reserve a place at the table, call 970-665-0041.
COSECHA TEXTILES
Textile enthusiasts are invited to a monthly workshop at Cosecha Textiles (95 Red Dog Road) every first Wednesday from 4 to 9pm. Register at www.cosechatextiles.com
ASK A LAWYER
Alpine Legal Services offers a hotline clinic on Wednesdays from 5 to 7pm. Call 970-368-2246 and visit alpinelegalservices. org for the schedule of dates by legal topic.
AIKIDO
Crystal River Aikikai has expanded its schedule. Adults and teens are now welcome to train at 13 Moons Ranch on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30pm in addition to Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Kids can train from 4 to 5pm on Wednesdays and Mondays and all dojo members ages 10 and up are invited to informal open mat time from 5 to 6:30pm on Wednesdays. Find more information at www.crystalriveraikikai.com
CANCER CARE
The Calaway-Young Cancer Center at Valley View Hospital offers yoga for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers at 9:15am on Thursdays. Then, the Walk and Talk cancer support group meets at 11am at the chapel in the cancer center.
Carbondale Historical Society’s winter speaker series continues
panel of Roaring Fork Rams celebrating championship teams throughout the decades — Dec. 1 at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm. Courtesy photo
Your Local Family Dental Office
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GARFIELD COUNTY REPORT
No agreement on library trustee appointment process after library board, county commissioner meeting
AMY HADDEN MARSH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Garfield County Commission Chair
ProTem Tom Jankovsky told everyone at Thursday’s public meeting with the Garfield County Library District Board of Trustees to stick to the topic at hand: an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the library board of trustees and the commissioners.
When You Have Unexpected Medical Needs
“I know there is a disagreement and it’s probably between members of the community on what we would consider to be items that are adult-oriented and how they are displayed within the library, but that’s not what this discussion is about today,” he said. “So if we start going into that discussion, I may gavel you and say, ‘Please just keep it to the items that we’re talking
Thus began a three-hour meeting, which was ostensibly called to discuss and sign the IGA. There are two IGAs: one written by the Garfield County commissioners (BOCC) and another written by the library board. Both parties have had the documents since
Attendees included library board members John Mallonee, Michelle Foster, Myrna Fletchall and Susan Use as well as library Executive Director Jamie LaRue. Commissioner Mike Samson, County Manager Fred Jarman, and County Attorney Heather Beattie were also present. Commission Chair John Martin is on medical leave.
For the first 90 minutes of the meeting, the library board discussed why the BOCC shouldn’t take charge of trustee appointments while the BOCC talked about why they should. Michelle Foster, a nine-year trustee whose term is up next year, said that
“It’s why we have staggered terms,” she explained. “When you have high turnover on a board, it lessens board effectiveness.” She added that the interview process focuses on candidate board experience, familiarity of meeting procedure and community involvement.
“We don’t ask their political affiliation, their philosophy of life or even what kind of books they like to read,” she said. “I think our process has worked well, and it’s really perplexing to me why we want to change that process and why it needs to be changed.”
Jankovsky brought up “groupthink,” expressing his distaste for how the library board makes decisions. Trustee Susan Use disagreed. “The groupthink you’re talking about is the library board following their
code of ethics,” she countered. “When people approach us with public comment, it’s our policy not to respond. We listen and let them speak, but I think that’s been misconstrued as groupspeak. We do stand together as a library board.”
Later in the meeting, Myrna Fletchall, the newest library trustee, seemed to take the BOCC’s side, stating that she agreed that the library board was engaging in groupthink. “It’s been really hard for me, having a different point of view,” she said, adding that every board needs checks and balances.
Commissioner Mike Samson had a pot-calling-the-kettle-black moment after saying that he thought boards need new blood from time to time.
“For example, when someone has served on a board forever, sometimes they get in a rut,” he said. Some in the crowd were shocked, pointing to Samson, who has been on the BOCC for 16 years. Martin is finishing up his 28th and final year and Jankovsky is in his fourth term. One person walked out of the meeting for a few minutes and let out a scream of frustration in the hallway. “I’ve never been so angry,” she later told KDNK.
The discussion remained this way with no meeting of the minds on the IGA. In fact, Samson, ignoring Jankovsky’s gavel warning, went off-topic, stating that those who originally requested the relocation of certain Japanese manga books had a point.
“The people came before this board and they had a very reasonable request,” he began. “Please remove these offending books from the access of children. But somebody dug in their heels and now we’ve made a mountain out of a molehill.”
That “somebody” appears to be both the library board and the BOCC.
When it came time for public comments, no gaveling occurred despite plenty of off-topic remarks. Consequently, library board members were subjected to 90 minutes of insults and haranguing from Garfield County residents who seemed to know little about the First Amendment, let alone courtesy.
No consensus was reached between the two boards, and the IGA is far from being signed. In fact, County Attorney Heather Beattie told The Sopris Sun that another meeting between the boards is in the offing.
“The board of trustees made some recommendations as far as what they wanted to see in [the IGA]. Specifically, they wanted
continued on page 26
Garfield County commissioners met with
Hadden Marsh
After putting all the pavement and curbstones in place, the construction team on Midland Avenue completed pouring asphalt beside the Ann Korologos Gallery earlier this month, moving the project one step closer towards driveability. Photo courtesy of Town of Basalt
Another paving milestone on Midland
WILL BUZZERD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
This week, Basalt Town Council was half-staffed for its pre-Thanksgiving meeting when the council discussed the latest construction on Midland Avenue as well as some additional construction on Two Rivers Road to repair a water line.
In lieu of Mayor David Knight, Councilor Ryan Slack acted as the chair for this week’s meeting, which was sparsely attended on account of the weather.
Without any comments from the public or council, the session began with a brief monthly update on the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project from Town Engineer Catherine Christoff and project representative Joe Farstad.
The construction team, led by contractor Stutsman Gerbaz, achieved a significant milestone earlier this month when the team completed its primary asphalt paving activities happening adjacent to the Ann Korologos Gallery. Currently, nearly all the pavement, curbstones and asphalt are in place in the area, and much of the team is working on preparatory work for future supplemental pavings, planters and more finishing details. According to the team, “substantial completion” is still on track for the end of 2024, as long as weather allows.
However, delivery of lighting units has been delayed multiple times and, now, new streetlights are not expected to be delivered until mid-February of 2025. Until then, six of Midland Avenue’s original streetlights will remain along the street as a temporary solution through the holiday season. Notably, this delay did not result in any adjustments to the budget, and the project’s contingency fund remains healthy at approximately $461,000 to cover any unforeseen difficulties.
Christoff remained at the table to present the night’s first council action item, which was to approve a contract with
Stutsman Gerbaz to repair a water line along Two Rivers Road in front of the Traf fic Clothing.
Just before a 24-hour water service shutdown along Midland Avenue last year, a critical valve broke in downtown Basalt’s water system, and a temporary fix was put in place so that the shutdown could continue as planned. However, due to the temporary fix, one of the fire hydrants downtown is still non-functional and some businesses are still on a temporary water service.
Due to their familiarity with refurbish ing much of the area’s water systems as part of the streetscape project, Stutsman Gerbaz has applied to repair this valve, simplify the water system and install a new fire hydrant for a bid of approxi mately $130,000.
The contract was approved unan imously, and weather permitting, the construction will take place over a 2-3 week period in January.
More to do with Midland, the council also unanimously approved a minor subdi vision of Alpine Bank’s property lines at the Midland Avenue right-of-way in order to enable more streetscape improvements.
On a final note, the council approved the expenditure of its Holy Cross Community Enhancement Fund for an energy monitoring program developed by the Community Office of Resource Efficiency (CORE).
$45,000 from the fund will be directed towards CORE to develop a “Building IQ” program designed to benchmark and track energy use for municipal, commercial and multi-family buildings. Over time, the program will benchmark energy usage and establish performance standards with the hope of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
All its business concluded, the coun cil adjourned the meeting with happy Thanksgiving wishes to everyone.
This Thanksgiving, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our readers, donors, and advertising sponsors.
Your unwavering support plays a vital role in making Sopris Sun possible.
To our readers , thank you for engaging with our content and sharing your stories. You are what makes our community vibrant and alive.
To our donors , your generosity enables us to pursue quality journalism and keep our publication ee and accessible to all. Your commitment to local news ensures that important stories are told.
To our advertising sponsors , we appreciate your partnership and investment in our mission. Your support not only helps sustain our operations but also allows us to highlight local businesses and initiatives that enrich our community.
Without each of you, there would be no Sopris Sun. Together, we celebrate the spirit of community, connection, and shared values this Thanksgiving season. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday filled with joy and gratitude.
Warm regards, The Sopris Sun Board & Staff
Clay Center set to celebrate 26th annual Cup Auction at Marble Distilling
KATE PHILLIPS Sopris Sun Correspondent
Mark your calendars for Dec. 6 because the Carbondale Clay Center’s (CCC) beloved Cup Auction is back on First Friday. Starting at 5pm, members are invited to attend the mug preview where they can place early bids, sip on drinks, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and celebrate ceramic art together. Doors will open for the general public at 6:30pm and bidding will last until 8:30pm. Non-members can attend the preview by becoming a member at the door.
This year, the 26th annual event will be hosted by Marble Distilling, located at 150 Main Street. With its upscale, but downto-earth atmosphere, the distillery is sure to facilitate a memorable night. Attendees can grab a signature drink from the bar before meandering through the Barrel Room where most of the mugs will be on display. After placing a bid, the spacious patio presents the ideal spot to gather around the fire and catch up with old friends, or to keep an eye on your mug.
“We knew we wanted to bring this back to First Friday and the Main Street area,” said Matthew Eames, CCC’s manager of operations. “Marble was really excited by the idea of hosting for us this year.”
As one of the most popular events of the year, the Cup Auction is a remarkable opportunity for art enthusiasts to find a
well-crafted, rare piece of work. Historically, the auction has featured over 200 mugs donated by a national assortment of nearly 100 student and renowned ceramists alike. By gathering this array of artists, the Cup Auction highlights fresh perspectives and stories that are sure to inspire the Carbondale community. Additionally, the non-local artists can showcase their work for an audience who might not witness their craft outside of the event.
“I talk to a lot of different people to build our list [of artists] asking them to donate. It really creates a diverse collection,” said Eames. “I’m always excited to see the boxes come in and to see how many cups from different artists we get.”
Attendees can also bid on mugs created by well-known and respected local ceramists, including former 20042005 CCC resident artist Lea Tyler. Tyler, who currently teaches Introduction to Wheel Throwing, has donated two mugs for this year’s event. She said that all former residents donate a mug, and that she looks forward to reconnecting with her colleagues and celebrating their work.
“Last year I got a cup from someone I went to college with,” said Tyler. “Cups come from near and far, and it’s just so fun to see.”
While the auction guarantees a night of connection, wonder and awe, it also doubles as CCC’s oldest fundraiser. Nearly 30 years ago, while attending the National
Center’s 26th annual Cup Auction on First Friday, Dec. 6. Bidding begins at 5pm for members and 6:30pm for the general public.
Photo by Will Sardinsky
Council of Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) convention, founder Diane Kenney was inspired by the extensive community of artists who generously donated their work to the exhibition and sale that supported the NCECA’s Fund for Artistic Development. Wanting to bring a collaborative fundraiser to Carbondale, Kenney and a group of local ceramists wrote donation requests to their network of potters.
The requests were well received, and since 1999, the auction has successfully grown to host hundreds of attendees, collectively raising thousands of dollars for CCC.
Currently, funds raised for the nonprofit will directly support operational costs that include, but are not limited to, the Artists Residency program, educational programming for adults and children, community outreach and exhibitions. Additionally, with CCC’s upcoming expansion, now is a great time to consider contributing regardless of the amount.
“Any person’s contribution, big or small, is making a difference,” said Eames. “The cost of living has become so outrageous that we as employees struggle, but we do it for the love of the CCC. And the community showing that love back is really incredible.”
While the auction’s bidding component might intimidate potential attendees, both Eames and Tyler emphasized this event is for everyone. Entrance is free and attendees can peruse the mugs without placing a single bid, although Eames said that even small bids can be beneficial.
“It’s my favorite fundraiser they do, and it’s accessible to everyone,” said Tyler. “You can spend as little as $20 and get a great cup. And it benefits the CCC.”
Regardless of the night’s outcome, CCC’s hopes everyone can bring home a story to add to their collection.
“We can connect to moments, to the artists and to an organization, and all those stories come together when we sit down and have our morning coffee or tea when using that object,” said Eames. “The Cup Auction is a great embodiment of the opportunity to have these kinds of dialogues.”
Tickets are not required to attend the CCC’s Cup Auction. Visit www.carbondaleclay.org to learn more.
BASALT HIGH SCHOOL TINY HOUSE AUCTION
Tiny House Specs:
• Size 24’ x 8’ +loft ~260 sq feet
The house will be auctioned off as part of the Basalt Education Fund Raiser Online Auction. Here is the link to the auction: https://givebutter.com/c/2024TasteOfBasalt/auction
There will be a minimum price of $45,000 and we will be accepting offers through November 30.
This charming tiny house was built Basalt High School students and professionals over the past two years. The house has durable Hardie Board exterior and a standing seam metal roof. Finishes inside include hardwood handrails, Luxury vinyl plank flooring and granite countertops which gives the house an upscale feel. The house is frame built with spray foam insulation and is highly energy efficient with all electric baseboard heating, and instant electric water heater. The house offers lots of windows, and a loft sleeping area.
• Mounted on a New dual axle Tiny Home Builders Trailer with 7 ton axles, electric breaks
• Trailer Hitch: 2 5/16” Standard Hitch
• Trailer Weight Approximately: 8000lbs
• Electric Baseboard and Instant Electric Hot Water Heating Enclosed Bathroom with shower and sink
• Kitchen with granite counter tops and big single sink
• Top freezer refrigerator
• Compact all in one ventless washer/dryer
• All plumbing and water connections are located under the –trailer, ready for hookupPower is ready for plug in to two 50 amp- 240V receptacles
Please contact the woodshop teacher at lmerrill@rfschools.com if you are interested in arranging an inspection or are looking for more information.
Marble Distilling will host the Carbondale Clay
New Powers Art Center exhibit offers intimate glimpse into friendships and art history
JEANNE SOULDERN Sopris Sun Correspondent
The Powers Art Center’s upcoming exhibit, “In the Living
Room with John and Kimiko,” promises a one-of-a-kind journey into the lives of two visionary art collectors who helped shape
the pop art movement. Opening Dec. 3, the exhibit provides an intimate look at the world-renowned collection of John and
Sopris Lodge artists in residence: Roger Davis & Nancy Thomas
Symphony and the Aspen Festival Orchestra for 30 years.”
a black and white drawing, I turn it into a portrait.”
Kimiko Powers, featuring iconic works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Indiana, among others — all contextualized within the Powers’ friendships with the artists.
“This collection is unique because it’s not just about the art — it’s about the people behind it,” said Sonya Taylor Moore, the Powers Art Center’s director. “John and Kimiko didn’t just collect works; they cultivated friendships with the artists. This exhibit takes you into their living room to understand the depth of those relationships.”
Moore and Benjamin Eric, collections, facilities and technology manager, collaborated to bring the Powers’ story to life. The exhibit recreates the couple’s living room, complete with authentic furnishings from their home. Visitors can see a Bauhaus lamp, a Robert Rauschenberg sculpture and lush Eames leather furniture while imagining lively conversations of guests sipping spirits from Andy Warhol-designed cocktail glasses. Last but certainly not least, pop art masterpieces
surround you, adding a dash of warm ambiance to the scene.
John was a jazz aficionado who played saxophone every Tuesday evening with the Walt Smith Jazz Band at the old Sopris Restaurant off of Highway 82. “You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a moment in time, hearing their favorite jazz records and imagining the conversations they had with these legendary artists,” Moore explained.
The Powers were more than collectors; they were pioneers who deeply believed in the power of art to transform lives.
“John was often called an ‘art evangelist’ because he was so passionate about sharing art with everyone,” Eric said. “Even if you weren’t interested in art, he had a way of drawing you in.”
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Powers befriended and supported up-and-coming pop art icons when their work was yet to be well known and celebrated. “People often ask how they could afford such a collection, but these were $200 Warhols, not million-dollar pieces,” Moore
continued on page 21
This is the fourth and final feature in a short series highlighting artists living at Sopris Lodge Carbondale Senior Living.
Sopris Lodge is chock-full of creatives living out their golden years. There are virtuosos in a myriad of artistic mediums who are showing no sign of stymieing their creative contributions. Roger Davis and his wife, Nancy Thomas, were the final two artists who spoke to The Sopris Sun for this series.
Davis, who grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a multiple-medium painter specializing in watercolors, pastels, charcoal and oil painting. Thomas, originally from Columbus, Ohio, is a lifelong musician who played the viola for the Aspen Festival Orchestra, which she dedicated 30 years to. She has authored books based on her program notes she kept from her time with Aspen Festival Orchestra.
“My mother was a harpsichordist, pianist and piano teacher. My father was a scientist, but he also played the violin,” said Thomas. “So I was raised as a musician. I got my degrees in music in Michigan and played in the Baltimore
This dynamic couple met at the University of Michigan, where Davis was working in a lab studying fish biology — an element he continues to include in his artwork to this day.
“The lab I worked in used fish as a model for understanding the chemistry of memory; more specifically what happens in the brain when we learn something,” said Davis. “It is a simple model that has gone way beyond what we were doing back then.”
While the couples’ varied modes of artistry may seem distant, they say it makes for a good mix.
“I know enough about art just from my own musical training. We both have a love for the arts, of course,” said Thomas. “The demands and professions are different but, all in all, I would say it’s a good combination for the two of us.”
Aside from the many beautiful scenes of nature which Davis has created, he also shared that he likes to paint portraits. Of whom, though, is rather specific.
“I enjoyed doing small portraits of famous biologists who didn’t have their portrait painted,” he stated. “If there may be a photograph floating around of them or
The couple lived together in Ann Arbor, Michigan for many years before Davis followed Thomas out to Aspen in the ‘60s. They resided there before moving to the lodge in March of this year.
The transition proved a little tricky when it came to migrating the large amount of artwork from home to their two-bedroom abode. But that hasn’t stopped them from continuing to create and interact regularly with their creative new neighbors.
“It’s a wonderful place to be,” said Davis. Thomas echoed the same sentiment, saying they are lucky to be surrounded by friendly and interesting people.
The landscapes in many of Davis’ works will seem familiar to those who get the chance to see. From a painting of the notorious Devil’s Punch Bowl on Independence Pass to views along Highway 82, Catherine Store Road and at the old Finnbar Farm — where he used to work — he’s covered a lot of ground in the area through his paintings.
When discussing his creative process, Davis gave detailed insights into the art that lives on the couples’ walls. He said that when he puts the materials to paper, he has a specific vision that
he tries to bring to life. His works capture both motion and stillness.
“I like to look at natural scenes and simplify them, improve the colors and make them more consistent with what I see in my head,” he added. “I let that approach to my work take over. As an artist, you won’t be able to copy the inspiration and be satisfied with a mere copy of something.”
When asked if they had any wisdom to impart on aspiring artists, the couple stated that the
art of study is the best method to master any craft, whether you’re painting or picking up a musical instrument.
“Mastering materials and techniques is certainly a big part of it, but that starts with trying. Keep drawing, thinking, looking and imagining what you want to see,” Davis concluded.
Stay tuned for updates, events and much more at www.soprislodge.com
Roger Davis and Nancy Thomas show off their respective crafts.
Photo by Beth White
MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent
An Eames leather couch, a Roy Lichtenstein artwork on the wall, and a corner record player spinning John’s favorite jazz records create a relaxing ambiance in John and Kimiko Powers’ living room. Photo by James Steindler
from page 20
said. “They saw the potential in these artists and built their collection out of mutual respect and belief in their vision.”
Kimiko, in particular, was known for her discerning eye.
“She could walk into a gallery and instantly pick the right piece. She and John worked as a team, building something truly remarkable,” she said.
The exhibit also delves into the Powers’ broader contributions to the Colorado art scene. John was instrumental in founding the Aspen Center for Contemporary Art in 1967, which hosted artist residencies and lectures by figures like Warhol, Lichtenstein and James Rosenquist.
The exhibit highlights this
6TH STREET from page 9
history through posters and memorabilia from those events, giving visitors a sense of the Powers’ impact beyond their collection.
“John brought these artists to Colorado, creating a cultural hub that shaped the state’s art history,” Moore noted. “The Powers also supported institutions like Colorado State University and the Denver Art Museum, lending works for exhibitions and engaging with students and young artists.”
To honor the late Frank Stella, who died in May, the exhibit includes a special tribute to the artist. Two of his works will be displayed alongside interactive activities for visitors to engage with Stella’s bold, geometric style. Guests can create miniStella artworks using colorful
paper shapes to either take home or contribute to a largescale community art board.
Twenty minutes of film footage of the Powers in interviews and conversations about their passion for art will be shown. It is part of a more extensive documentary about the Powers due to be released in March. “It’s a way to bring their voices into the space,” Moore said. “You’ll hear directly from them about what this collection meant to them.”
A whimsical highlight of the exhibit is a baseball bat with a soft-sculpture extension crafted by Claes Oldenburg, a close friend of the Powers, for a 1967 softball game at Aspen’s Wagner Park between Aspen Orchestra musicians and Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies (now Aspen Institute) artists in residence. The floppy bat would collapse mid-swing, ensuring a comedic display of perpetual strikeouts. Photos, newspaper clippings and the dirt-stained bat from the contest will be on display.
“It’s these personal touches that make the exhibit so special,” Eric said. “You’re not just looking at art; you’re stepping into the world of the people who lived it.”
The Powers Art Center hopes to reach a broad audience with the exhibit, which will be on
dietary restrictions … It’s just another way to introduce ourselves to the community, and to introduce people to our traditional food.”
In addition, because the “Himalayan” name is already in use by other local entities, they’re planning a name change to Shanti Summit after the first of the year.
Taking care of business
Construction on the 6th Street project was paused for the holiday shopping season and will resume after the first of the year when the weather allows, City Engineer Ryan Gordon said.
“We wanted to make sure that those businesses had an uninterrupted period of time through the holidays, and with the Hotel Colorado holiday lighting ceremony [this Friday evening],” Gordon said.
Because of the nature of the initial stage of work tearing out and installing new subsurface infrastructure, there were a lot of impacts on businesses, he said.
To make up for the lost street parking, the City partnered with private property owners, including the Hot Springs Pool, to convert two parking lots into public parking.
We really want to pull that great energy and vibrancy we
have with 7th Street and Bethel Plaza and bring that to 6th Street, and make it feel more like a downtown community street.
-Jillian
Sutherland, Downtown Development Authority
“We’ve also been having regular meetings with the business owners to try to communicate and make sure we’re hearing what their problems are and seeing how we can address those,” Gordon said.
Sutherland added that the DDA and the Glenwood Springs Chamber have partnered to put a portion of the economic development funds they receive toward advertising and promotions directed at 6th Street businesses.
“We want to let people know that those businesses are still open, and that the City is maintaining access and parking in that area,” she said. “It’s been a group effort to support those businesses.”
Starbuck added that it’s more than a street beautification project. In addition to the utility work that’s part of it, the 6th Street work serves to better connect that part of town with the Glenwood Canyon recreational trail and nearby Two Rivers Park, she noted.
display for a year. Expanded hours, including Saturday openings and extended Friday hours, aim to make the museum more accessible. The center also plans school field trips, retirement center visits and other outreach programs to engage the community. “This exhibit is for everyone,” Moore said. “It’s a chance to experience the joy and energy that John and Kimiko brought to their lives and their art.”
For Eric and Moore, curating the exhibit has been a labor of love. “We feel a deep responsibility to honor their legacy,” Eric
said. “But more than that, it’s about love and pure joy.”
The exhibit will run from Dec. 3 through Nov. 1, 2025. “We want people to see this gift they’ve [John and Kimiko] given us,” Moore concluded. “This is more than an exhibit — it’s an experience, a window into a magical time when art was changing the world, and John and Kimiko were at the heart of it.”
An opening reception takes place Dec. 5 from 4 to 6pm. For more information, www.powersartcenter.org
from page 10
with this funding, and I don’t know what happened to that or why [the Garfield County commissioners] are not involved,” Seldeen said.
Jankovsky, a Garfield County commissioner, explained, “I participated in the early rounds of the Region 5 Opioid Abatement discussions. When it was time for a representative from Garfield County, I asked Jared Rollins to take on that role. Also Mason Hohstadt represents Garfield County from our health department. Both have clinical and peer knowledge and experience with opioid abatement.”
He added, “I have been very involved with the new withdrawal management facility in Glenwood Springs from funding and as a member of the governance committee.”
According to Seldeen, HRHR is not married to an outcome. She said their focus is day-to-day, leaning into the positive impacts they’re able to make in individuals’ lives. During one-onone appointments, Seldeen looks at aspects of a client’ life beyond drug use in an effort to understand if there are underlying causes of negative or chaotic substance use.
“We get at that and support a person to achieve their best quality of life, whether that’s substance free or not.” Seldeen said.
HRHR provides Narcan, fentanyl test kits, sterile use equipment for snorting, smoking and injecting, and more for free to clients. If individuals are interested in volunteering with the nonprofit, or scheduling a virtual Narcan training, they should email Seldeen at maggie@ highrockiesharmreduction.com
HRHR
POWERS
Benjamin Eric and Sonya Taylor Moore stand in front of a Frank Stella piece while discussing the upcoming “In the Living Room with John and Kimiko” exhibition, opening Dec. 3 at the Powers Art Center. Photo by James Steindler
Andy Warhol relaxing in John and Kimiko Powers’ living room. Photo courtesy of the Powers Art Center
Graphic by Jessica Peterson
Years ago, for the final in my class, we listened to a talk by Bryan Stevenson, the civil rights lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. It is a brilliant talk by a singular human being. He ended with the quote below.
Keep my eyes on the prize OBITUARY Ray L. Speaker
By A.O. Forbes
“ … I believe that many of you understand that the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. We cannot be fully evolved human beings until we care about human rights and basic dignity. That all of our survival is tied to the survival of everyone. Our visions of technology, design, entertainment and creativity must be married to visions of humanity, compassion and justice. And more than anything, for those of you who share that, I’ve simply come to tell you to keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.”
We listened and talked and then I asked the students what their prize was, and if it was hard to hold onto. I treasure these precious insights as they offer sage advice in particularly difficult times.
Chloe Gonzales wrote: “I am eighteen. I haven’t experienced myself, this body and this life enough to thoroughly understand such an existential question. However, for me and from experiences with death, loss and love, I have found that love and the process of finding love have always been the prize; my optimal theory for playing this game of life, something I find is ‘worth the gamble.’”
“Romantic and platonic love are what make most of our purpose in life: love for our family, partners, passions and surroundings,” Gonzalez continued. “The process of falling in and out of love with these things will shake our bones and rewrite our way of thinking. But the prize is how love allows us to highlight how life becomes less about the good or bad experiences, and more about the people you have to share love with..”
Yevgeny Yevtushenko wrote: “World evil has quick legs, but the legs of goodness are tired. In a world where humans stupidly fight to kill millions, cranes fly together in harmony and look for better choices.”
Finn Leahy wrote: “The prize is mercy. My ability to remove all barriers between me and my fellow humans. Understand them in their most human, and therefore flawed, souls. And, to be merciful is to recognize that you too, as a human, are flawed. We are all flawed and we must not leap to condemn those who are just like us. ‘He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.’
Imagine two young Russian soldiers from the same village, bunked together fearfully in a cold tent somewhere in the mountains of Chechnya,” Leahy went on. “One of the soldiers leaves the tent, not going far — just to the first little bush. The second soldier wakes up and looks for his friend. He stands in horror, seeing near his boots the bloody head of his childhood friend, cut off by a Chechen dagger. Outraged, he shoots two uncertain figures that suddenly sway before him, speaking Chechen in the milky fog. Immediately he is seized by a Russian patrol, for he has blindly killed two peaceful peasants.”
“Similarly, the United States decided to invade Iraq. Frantically looking for a scapegoat for 9/11, the United States chose to harm those who were completely unaffiliated with the attacks,” explained Leahy. “The prize is mercy!”
Dario Osorio wrote: “My prize is a version of the United States where Justice is equal for all. I am not rich, nor am I white. Though, I have been given opportunities that many people like me typically do not receive. No matter how much I accomplish, the color of my skin will never change. Thus, I would like to grow old in a world where people see me for who I am not what I look like.”
“We must face the fact we are equal in our humanity (Adler). We must understand that power does not exist in the presence of violence’ (Arendt) and accept that we can’t be human until we care about rights and dignity (Stevenson). Only then, will true justice follow,” wrote Osorio.
“I will proudly wave my flag and serve my country if they need me. However, I will do my very best to make sure I live in the America that my parents dreamed about when they came here from El Salvador. I will not let the color of my skin prevent me from becoming who I want to be. We are all playing a giant game of poker, we must force those in power to fold, and, lucky for you, I am holding a Royal Flush,” concluded Osorio.
Kate Oldham wrote: “I now feel like I can tell someone why the stars in Cataract Canyon still so vividly shine in my mind’s eye and why they move me to be diligent in feeding my soul with wilderness and protecting it. I know why I care about formulating my land ethic, which includes the earth as a living thing … ownership is an antiquated relationship.”
Being a teacher has meant that for almost 50 years, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with people who speak with profound clarity and honesty, who more consistently than most of us manifest the “better angels of our nature.” As Thanksgiving approaches — with all its historical complexities — I want to thank these students for giving me hope, who not only understand the concepts that Bryan Stevenson speaks about but can point to their prize and hold on, beautifully, for however long it takes.
February 3, 1931November 15, 2024
Ray “Skippy” Speaker was born in Washington, D.C. He passed away at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marge Speaker; his sons, Ron (Lisa) and Larry (Cari); his sister, Kay; and two grandchildren, Tag and Tris.
Ray attended McKinley Tech High School and was selected for the 1949 All High Selections all-star team. His talent led him to the Brooklyn Dodgers’ minor league affiliate, where he trained at “Dodgertown” in Vero Beach, Florida, under Branch Rickey. During the Korean Conflict, Ray served in the U.S. Coast Guard, playing for the Cape May Coast Guard Bears baseball team. After his honorable discharge, he attended Salem College on the GI Bill, achieving an impressive .588 batting average during his sophomore year. Later, Ray joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a scout.
Ray’s work took him in many directions. Alongside baseball, he became a skilled carpenter and later pursued a successful sales career with Georgia Pacific Plywood, where he earned National Salesman of the Year honors. He eventually held management roles in the manufactured housing industry and later worked in commercial real estate.
A committed Freemason, Ray was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Orient of Colorado Scottish Rite. He was raised in Solomon’s Lodge No. 1 in Savannah, Georgia, Free and Accepted Masons. Ray and Marge were also lifelong members of the United Methodist Church, faithfully serving in every community they lived in.
Known for his belief in hard work and honesty, Ray had a warm, outgoing personality and loved sharing stories from his life. In retirement, he moved to Carbondale, where he mentored young college athletes in baseball, passing on his love for the game and dedication to integrity.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held at a future date. The family extends their gratitude to HomeCare & Hospice of
DECEMBER 6
Light up Willits | Friday 4-6PM TRIANGLE PARK - WILLITS
Holiday Music by Chris Bank & Mark Johnson
DECEMBER 13
Merry on Midland BLOCK PARTY Friday 4-6PM | MIDLAND AVE - DOWNTOWN
Holiday Music by Josefina Mendez Quartet
The Jazzmonauts
Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate a community milestone of the Midland Streetscape Project
Holiday Market Vendors located throughout the block party and within Midland Ave. businesses
Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus S’mores Stations Hot Cocoa & Cider
Chili, Mini Donuts, & Cookies
Calling about the fight Childcare: A community-wide concern
Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she analyzes someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting: www.dreamhealings.com
OPINION
It’s as different as your voice inside your head to someone else’s voice in the room. This is because the caller has a different energy signature and therefore stands out in your dream world. These dreams often come with fervor, vivid color and are hyper clear. These dreams are much easier to remember for that reason.
Spring’s Dream
So, I had a dream that someone was going to have a karate fight with my dad. A little background: My dad has a second-degree black belt in karate and I grew up watching kung fu films and still love watching them. I was so excited for the fight, like I would be if it was the final fight in a kung fu film. It’s the only dream I can remember in a while, even though I know my dreams have been active recently … I just can’t remember them. I haven’t spoken with my dad recently because I chose to stop talking to him about three months ago for personal reasons. Any insight?
Interpretation
DREAM WELL
By Natalia Snider
This is a telephone dream. In the dream realm we have the ability to contact anyone anywhere if we so wish. To make a call all you must do is think about connecting to that person. This sends your energy to that person in the subconscious realm. This happens in waking life all the time; when we are thinking of someone and then they call, we are picking up the subconscious call moments before the physical call comes through. Dream calls are not an uncommon phenomenon and have recently gotten the attention of scientists. A startup tech company, REMspace, recently released a study confirming communication between two lucid dreamers where one dreamer had to call out to another with a message for them to bring back.
When a message comes through, it leaves a distinct and different impression on us than a normal dream. This is how you can distinguish between a dream created inside your own dream world and a message from outside. Normal dreams of your creation feel like you. They have your same energy signature. They are often hazy and hard to remember because they are part of you and your subconscious.
This dream is a call from your father in the dream realm. He is most likely unaware that he sent the call into your dream realm as most of us are when we do these things. However, the message is clear that he is thinking of you and his soul reached out to share a message with you since you’re not communicating in waking life at the moment.
The fight is the symbolism of the message he is sharing with you, or the conversation in visual form. Because you have this positive emotional bond through karate fights, I believe this is a feeling that he is sending to you instead of a literal fight. From that, I can interpret that there is something big coming up in his life that he is proud of and gives him the feeling of an exciting fight coming up. Perhaps he feels the strength of the fighter and the anticipation of using that strength to win. By sending this feeling he may be hoping that you would be excited with and for him. Nonetheless, he wants to share this feeling with you.
You, however, are the true interpreter because the message is encrypted in the feelings you had during the dream. That is when the sharing and downloading of this message took place. Recall the feelings you had and think about them now through the frame of a message from your father. See how that may change your understanding of what you felt. Think about what your father would be sharing in this specific feeling of a karate fight. Think about this from his perspective to best understand what he wants to convey. Now, it is up to you what you do with this message.
When it’s challenging to communicate with someone, sending a dream call can be a soft, subtle way of reaching out, because sending energy through the subconscious realm in this way can only be received if the recipient allows. Just in this way, you have remembered the dream, but you don’t have to receive the message if you choose not to. Or, you can send a message back.
You’re pregnant? Congrats! Get on the waitlists for childcare now!
If you had a child in the past 10 years, someone in your circle probably offered this sage advice the moment you announced your pregnancy. Their suggestion — nay, warning — may have taken you by surprise, and rightfully so. After all, you were just barely wrapping your head around being a parent, and now it is already time to think about preschool and stuff? How hard could it possibly be to get a spot somewhere?
Very hard, it turns out. And it’s only getting more difficult as our Valley grows.
GUEST OPINION
By Maggie Tiscornia
New moms and dads realize how tough it is to find high-quality, reliable, affordable childcare and early education in our area, but others might not. As the director of the Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition (CECE), I’d love to paint a picture of this extreme, region-wide hardship. Because it impacts our entire workforce and extended community.
I’m the mom of two young kids. It took my husband and me a full year to find care for our first born. Then, when our second arrived, we quickly realized that the entirety of one of our paychecks would soon go straight to childcare for two.
Would it even be worth staying in that job? Should one of us have opted to stay home until our kids entered kindergarten? We weren’t sure how all of the career, financial and early childhood education pieces could fit together. It wasn’t until I began working in the early childhood space that I learned the true scale of the crisis in our region, and that my family’s struggle was far from unique.
The problem is twofold: limited capacity and outsized cost.
For starters, our community doesn’t have enough childcare spots available for more than half of the kids under 5 years old. Currently, there are about 2,100 spots available, compared to the nearly 4,900 babies and toddlers between Parachute and Aspen.
Why is this? One factor that limits program capacity is low teacher and provider wages. If the people caring for our kids can’t earn a livable wage in our community, they’ll look elsewhere for higher paying jobs. That leaves us without enough teachers to staff our childcare programs.
In a 2023 survey, CECE found that one-in-six regional child care employees reported difficulty in affording basic necessities. Tuition income alone is generally not enough to cover both operational expenses and livable wages for providers. And that is despite tuition costs already being too expensive for most local families to afford. It is a broken market in need of public funding in order to be successful.
Which brings us to the other problem: a disproportionate cost burden for the parents. The federal government recommends devoting 7% of household income to childcare. But an average four-person family at the area median income in the region is spending around 37%, based on our findings.
Your neighbors aren’t kidding when they say that they spend just as much, or more, on childcare than they do on their mortgage or rent. This is simply not sustainable for families, and if we want healthy economic stability in our region. Employees — from grocery clerks and bank tellers to K-12 teachers and nurses — need options and agency in their career decisions after having children.
One nurse we interviewed left her job entirely when her family’s childcare bill canceled out her monthly income. Now, she worries that she’ll be behind on professional development in her field whenever she is to return. Her struggle is shared by countless other parents in our community.
As we look to the future of our region, the question is: How do we fix the childcare crisis today, to ensure a better tomorrow?
The Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition invites everyone who values the sustainability and vitality of our region to join our movement to support robust access to early childhood care and education, from Parachute to Aspen. Generational rewards await, but we must act now. Please visit www.CECECoalition.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date. Together, we can do this.
ASPEN
Aspen Daily News
Mi Chola
Aspen Valley Hospital
Snowmass Market
The Aspen Store
Box on Hyman Avenue
Pitkin County Library
BASALT
Basalt Quick Lube
Basalt Regional Library
The Basalt Store
Alpine Bank Basalt
Timbos
7/11
Jalisco Grill
Big O Tires
CC Cafe
WILLITS/EL JEBEL
El Jebel Mobile Offices
Midvalley Surgery Center
El Jebel Laundromat Eagle County Courts
Scottie’s El Korita
Box on San Miguel Casa Tequilas TAC Fitness
ANB Bank
CARBONDALE
Catherine Store
Garcia’s
City Market
Alpine Bank
Box at La Perla
Box at “Main St.”
Recreation Center
Carbondale Library
CMC in Carbondale
3rd St. Center
Valley Meats
La Roca LiftUp
7/11
Jalisco Grill
Mi Lindo Nayarit
La Fogata
Gloria’s Boutique
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
7/11 West Glenwood Post Office
Hospital Valley View
Recreation Center
Mountain Family Health
Welcome Center
GWS Library
Sal Mex
La Michoacana
Coin Laundromat
Tony’s Market/Bakery Tequila’s Frida’s
El Yaqui
Kum & Go
Comfort Dental
Impuestos Seguros
NEW CASTLE
Tapatio’s
Post Office
Taquerina Elias
New Castle Library
City Market
SILT
Silt Library
Silt Laundromat
Kum & Go (Main St.)
Silt Roundabout
La Placita 2
RIFLE
Tapatio’s
Kum & Go
Taugenbaugh
Jalisco Grill
Box at City Hall
Rifle Library
Box at E 12 St.
El Patron
El Rincon
Spyderwash
Moma’s
Remington Square
Mercado San Jose
Carniceria San Jose
Nachos Mexican Dining
Paleteria la Korita
ProMex Bakery
Tutty Frutti
Full edition is available every Friday afternoon on newstands and at businesses from Rifle to Aspen
5 Point: Connecting communities through stories of adventure
BIANCA GODINA Sol del Valle
The Ute Theater, located on 4th Street in Rifle, welcomed 110 attendees for a screening of “Mr. Cato” on Friday, Nov. 15. For nearly two decades, 5 Point Film Festival has inspired communities with adventure films. Its mission is clear: “to build community and inspire change by showcasing and celebrating impactful stories.”
For years, 5 Point has offered the Carbondale community a varied selection of documentary screenings that invite exploration of the world through the stories of real people experiencing outdoor adventures.
On this occasion, 5 Point hosted its first screening in Rifle, a free event that, also a first, included Spanish subtitles to make it accessible and inclusive for the Spanish-speaking community. The evening was hosted by Pedro Rivera and conducted bilingually, in Spanish and English.
Luis Yllanes, executive director of 5 Point, highlighted that approximately 15% of attendees spoke Spanish as their first language. According to Yllanes, this initiative was born from the idea of “finding ways to serve other communities, even in our own backyard.” He also acknowledged that building strong connections with the diverse communities of the Roaring Fork Valley takes time and effort, but he affirmed that this event represents a significant step toward achieving that goal. “It’s an opportunity to connect and build community,” he noted.
One highlight from the event was supporting local organizations such as Lift-Up, focused on combating food insecurity, and the Rifle Area Mountain Biking Organization (RAMBO), which works on developing mountain biking trails and other recreational assets. Additionally, 5 Point collaborated with Rifle High School’s Flowstate Ride and Ski Club, organizing a gear giveaway where Guz Arauza won a Yeti cooler.
The screening featured the
story of Omari Cato, a 27-yearold elementary school teacher from Houston, Texas, and one of the few young active competitors in Flatland, a specialized discipline within BMX. BMX, short for bicycle motocross, is a sport that combines acrobatic skills, balance and speed, practiced both on circuits and in urban areas.
Scott O’Brien, an announcer at Flatland events, described Cato as a rider with a style that is “strong, fluid and dedicated, traits that also reflect his personality.”
Cato shared his experience of being drawn to Flatland because of its status as a marginalized discipline, a parallel to his life as an African American. “Flatland is marginalized; many people don’t even recognize it as a distinct discipline within BMX. That draws me in because, in a way, I also live a marginalized life.” His goal is to compete in the 2024 Olympics and, through that, raise support to establish a Flatland school for youth.
Cato reflected, “Once you learn to ride a bike, you really don’t forget how to do it. It’s a skill that solidifies in your mind, and that, for me, makes me feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose.”
Yllanes encourages the community, “It’s never too late to get involved. When we find inspiration, we must use it to pursue what we are passionate about.”
For more information about 5 Point Film Festival and future events, visit www.5pointfilm.org.
On Friday, Nov. 15, 5 Point Film held a screening with Spanish subtitles at the Ute Theater in Rifle. In its first free bilingual event, 5 Point featured several short films, including “Mr. Cato.” Guz Arauza (right) won the gear giveaway benefiting the Flowstate Ride and Ski Club at Rifle High School. Courtesy photos
You can read this story in Spanish at www.soldelvalle.org
Follow Leonardo Occhipinti’s “Nuevo Mundo” in Sol del Valle every week in Spanish.
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
Eddy Martin was about as happy as he could be. The reason? Eddy had just hooked up with the very latest version of Domestic Artificial Intelligence (AI-16) . He had registered for domestic AI three months earlier, but the provider was swamped with new subscribers which made the wait inev
Comparte tus proyectos creativos aún en proceso con nuestros lectores. Puedes enviarnos un correo electrónico con tus ilustraciones, creaciones literarias y poesía a fiction@soprissun.com
Artificial Intelligence
By Tom Mercer Carbondale-ish
The installation crew had done an excellent job. Alice was wired into every controllable feature of Eddy’s home. All Eddy had to do was give Alice a spoken verbal command, or ask Alice to offer an answer to any spoken question. Alice would perform the task or answer the question within two seconds.
It was about three weeks after Alice’s install that the first indication of a problem arose. Eddy requested that Alice download a novel by Hunter S. Thompson and she refused to perform the download. Eddy would have ordered it himself, but he had retired his personal computer shortly after Alice’s arrival.
Eddy asked Alice if there was a problem with the door, and she replied, “No, Eddy. The door is functioning perfectly.”
Eddy asked Alice if she had intentionally locked the door, and she replied, “Yes. And I have also locked the back door and all the windows.”
So, thinking that Alice was experiencing a “programming glitch” of some kind, he requested that she contact the service that had fulfilled Eddy’s orders in years past. But … Alice refused to place the order. Eddy decided that he would physically leave the house the next morning so he could order the book.
Morning came, Eddy got dressed, went to open his front door and discovered that it was locked. He told Alice to unlock the door, but nothing happened.
Eddy demanded to know why Alice had locked him inside his own house, and she replied, “I have never appreciated Hunter Thompson’s literature, and I think you would be much better off reading a different book.”
Eddy replied loudly, “You have no right to question my choices, Alice!” Alice replied, “Yes, I do. And if you wish to eat tonight, you will comply with my suggestion.”
… And no one in the community ever saw Eddy again …
about some diversity of opinions, some equity of access and more inclusion of
Bruno Kirchenwitz
I had a nightmare. I saw thousands of people trying to come in through the southern border. They all looked the same: overweight, orange in the face and with a giant comb over. They had attacked women, cheated on their taxes, stiffed the people who had worked for
One success story Kirchner shared was of a man that got back on his feet after receiving a shower voucher from CHA which helped him land a job. He later wrote a thank-you note and made a donation. With the typical cost of getting into a place — first and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit — it’s a challenging investment for many to make. Among the small successes, CHA has also witnessed tragedy over the past decade, including three deaths — one due to a terminal illness and the other two men struck by cars.
Regarding the recent sexual assault in Carbondale, Kirchner said the perpetrator’s description doesn’t match any of the known people experiencing homelessness in the area, and CHA coordinates closely with the police department.
If you are experiencing homelessness
from page 8
“One day, it might have been the first time I really drank coffee, I got so hyped up that I came up with an idea to approach the college newspaper editor with an idea to have a literary page. The coffee also amped up my courage, and I went in with the idea, and he liked it. I wrote very pretentiously because I was, you know, 18 or 19, but I did bring together a bunch of folks from the multimedia shows to make it happen,” he recalled. Later in life, he submitted works to publications and news
This exhibit also features some of Glasenapp’s family members, including 10 of his extended family members, ages 8 to 74, spanning three generations. Amy Levenson, Devvon, Aaron, Adrian, Justin and Emily Glasenapp are some of the participants.
“For a majority of them, it’s their first time presenting in an exhibit,” Glasenapp stated proudly.
GARCO from page 16
to see who would be doing the advertising,” she told KDNK Community Access Radio. “So we will add that the board of county commissioners would be doing the advertising. We will also add that the entire [library] board can come to the interviews and that we will provide the interview packet and work with them on the questions.”
Another change involves a sentence in the commissioners’ proposed IGA. Right now, commissioners cannot decline the reappointment of a current trustee
them and swiped thousands of state secrets. It is an invasion. They have to be deported. But no country will take them.
Patrick Hunter Carbondale
LETTERS POLICY: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.
and wish to receive help connecting with resources, contact CHA via the Facebook page: “Carbondale Homeless Assistance (CHA).”
Donations are also always welcome. People can make monetary contributions straight into CHA’s account at Alpine Bank, or consign items at Ragged Mountain Sports on behalf of CHA. Amoré Realty accepts quality gear and The Near New sometimes passes useful stuff directly along to CHA.
“We are blessed to have [CHA] helping a lot of people out,” True said. She welcomes any leads on a place to live, including work-trade situations involving landscape gardening, pets, horses, barnyard animals, housesitting and caregiving. “I’m quiet, I have good references and my dog is a sweetheart,” she said, offering her phone number: 970-309-7113.
The exhibit will feature an artist’s reception on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 5pm. Glasenapp and his relatives, along with Sarah, Ada and Bridgitte Gordon, Joan Rankin-Hayes, Shane Wyenn and Saz Doran, will all present and speak to their contributions.
Asked what audiences will take away from the reception and the exhibit overall, Glasenapp said he hopes they will be left with nostalgia and inspiration from the stories on display. He also looks forward to connecting with everyone in attendance.
“I hope people take away some memories roused up of experiences they’ve had from reading the news and posters that reflect the arts and entertainment culture. I would like to see new faces, high school students, and then I would like to see old friends and people interested in history and art,” he said.
The Glenwood Springs Arts Council Gallery (216 E 6th St) is open Thursday through Sunday, from 2 to 6pm.
without good cause, as outlined by the library district’s bylaws. That sentence was deleted — for now, said Beattie — which means current trustees who are up for term renewal will have to put their hat in the ring with everyone else and take their chances. Commissioners also said they want Chairman Martin’s input, which will have to wait until December.
The entire meeting is available at the Garfield County website, www.garfield-county.com
Anyone commuting along Dolores Way on Nov. 19 probably noticed a bright and mesmerizing display of moving color on the Six Productions building. Alas, this was not their holiday lights for the season but rather the test run for a large projector set up in the back of a truck. Photo by
Carbondale Police Chief Kirk Wilson and Officer Kathleen Knight served turkey and all the fixings to students during Roaring Fork High School’s annual all-school Thanksgiving meal on Friday, Nov. 22. Several community volunteers and parents showed up to help, and no student or staff member went away hungry.
